Chapter One

Bella

How could I be so unlucky? Three weeks before my wedding and I go down with a stomach problem. At first I thought it was nerves, after all I really didn't want all this fuss and a white wedding with all the trimmings but I'd agreed and it was way too late too run now! Charlie had been like a bear with a sore head, whenever Edward was here he made an excuse to leave and the meeting between Esme, Carlisle, and he had been little short of a disaster. He couldn't have made it more clear that he disapproved if he'd knocked Edward out and even poor Esme found it difficult to keep the conversation going at more than a snails pace. He refused their offer to organise his suit or transport for himself and me as if insulted they thought he couldn't afford a decent suit and a limousine. By the time we left for the drive home I was so embarrassed I could hardly say goodnight. Once in the car Charlie started once more.

"What do they think I'm going to show up in? My uniform? I know how to dress for a fancy wedding and it should be me organising it with Renee not the Cullens."

"Dad they are only trying to help. Its Edward's idea to go for the full works and they just wanted to help."

"I don't need their help and I don't want it but I get no say. I've been steam rolled into all of this and I think you have too Bella. Are you sure its what you want? You can still change your mind you know"

"I know and I don't want to"

He knew I wasn't comfortable with all the fuss but this was a Cullen occasion and they intended to make the most of it, or at least some of them did. Rosalie would have been happy if I changed my mind and left Forks while Edward tried to be supportive but I could see he didn't understand why I was so nervous and I guess disappointed with all the fuss.

"Bella every girl enjoys her wedding day. You are a princess for one day, the centre of attention, please try to enjoy it"

Try? Well I was trying but not all together successfully. Alice went round looking like a puppy who had been kicked whenever I wasn't a bundle of joy and sometimes I wished it was her getting married, it certainly seemed like her perfect day rather than mine. Jasper had spoken to me just once since the fight with the newborns. To ask if I was OK,

"You seem so upset Bella. Don't let Alice and Edward bully you so much. Just tell them you don't want all the fuss, after all its supposed to be your day, not theirs"

I didn't know what to say to him so I just hung my head.

"I'm sorry, its none of my business, I just thought you looked sad."

"Thanks Jasper, I think I feel that its been hijacked and become a snowball running out of control down a mountainside."

So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when I woke up with a pain in my stomach and a fever. At first Alice and Esme thought I was hiding from them but when she came to visit Esme became concerned.

"Perhaps you should let Carlisle take a look Bella, you're very pale and much too hot"

Although Charlie was put out that she'd appeared to nurse me he had to agree I wasn't well and when I started throwing up he gave in and Carlisle was called. Edward appeared too and my bedroom started to resemble Grand Central Station! I couldn't help a sigh of relief when Carlisle sent everyone out so he could examine me.

"How long have you had the pains?"

"About a day and a half now but they've got worse."

"And the fever?"

"About the same I guess but it was worse when I got back last night, and the pain"

"Well you didn't have anything out of the ordinary to eat and Charlie ate the same so I think we can rule out food poisoning. Esme said you'd been sick, is that new?"

"Yes, I can't seem to keep anything down today, not even water, I think its just nerves Carlisle."

"Nerves might account for a tummy ache and sickness but not a fever Bella and you are running one. Now lay down and tell me where it hurts when I press down."

It didn't take him long to come up with a diagnosis, my appendix needed to come out and I wondered just for a second if this might mean the wedding would need postponing but when Edward heard he asked Carlisle and back came the answer

"No, an operation and a few days rest then take things easy and Bella will be fine for her big day."

I felt cheated, deflated but the idea of an operation made me nervous, I didn't like hospitals, blood, or needles, and an operation usually involved all three in my experience. I had no choice though. I tried the medicine Carlisle gave me to stop the sickness but it didn't work and the pain got so bad he had me rushed in that night and operated first thing the following morning. I felt stiff and sore, my mouth was dry, my throat hurt, and the last thing I wanted was visitors but when I opened my eyes I saw Edward and Alice sitting watching me.

"Bella love how do you feel?"

"Tired and sore Edward but I'm OK. Have you been here long?"

"No, Carlisle told us you'd be waking soon and we just wanted to make sure you were all right."

He got up and bent over the bed to kiss me on the forehead, all very chaste, while Alice just smiled, I think she just wanted to be sure I'd woken up so as not to spoil all her preparations.

"You sleep love, I'll be back tomorrow. Carlisle says he'd like to keep you in a couple of days, just because of the upcoming wedding that's all. I think your dad might call in later too, I'll ring him and let him know how you are"

That was going to go down well, Edward telling Charlie how I was when as my dad Carlisle should have rung him first with the news, yet more to worry about. Sometimes I wished I hadn't fallen so deeply in love with Edward, so much that I only felt whole when I was with him and especially when the rest of his family was around. As if I belonged in the Cullen family, annoying sister and all.

When they had gone the nurse came in to take my vitals,

"So that's the bridegroom is it? You are a lucky girl Isabella Swan, he's gorgeous."

I couldn't help smiling,

"Yes he is isn't he."

"Would you like something for the pain? Dr Cullen has left pain relief for you."

I nodded, hoping it would make me sleep, I still felt a little sick and I could feel the stitches although I knew the keyhole surgery didn't leave a huge scar, and my shoulder ached, who knew? I have a stomach operation and my shoulder hurts. The nurse came back with a hypodermic which she injected into my thigh and I found myself drifting on a cloud as I fell asleep.

I dreamed while I slept, all wonderful dreams, the first time I saw Edward as he entered the cafeteria at school, the way he saved my life when Tyler's truck almost hit me, his face as I woke after James attacked me in the ballet studio, his face when he saw me in Volterra and knew I hadn't died. All these memories showed how much he loved me and they were only the tip of the iceberg. I remembered how I felt whenever I was with him, at his place, at the baseball game when he stood in front of me, the way he stood up to Jake, I knew I was doing the right thing despite hating the idea of actually getting married. All my nightmares had been related to the wedding, Alice and her crazy ideas, how it all got so wildly out of control until I felt I was just a puppet and Alice were pulling my strings but soon it would be over, Edward and I would be married and very soon I would be joining him as a vampire. He had promised me, be his wife and he would turn me and it would all be true in only a couple of weeks.