You can do this. Over the past hour I had lost count of how many times I had repeated this sentence to myself. Today was the beginning of the rest of my life; as everyone I encountered kept reminding me with their sentiments of "Congratulations on your big day". I sighed and tried to keep the horror of what I was doing out of my expression as I looked in the mirror.

I didn't look like myself; Alice had made sure of that. The slight purple under my eyes that had become normal for me in the weeks leading up to today (I couldn't bring myself to say the word) were now covered up with high-quality concealer and foundation. My hair was slicked back to perfection, held in an uncharacteristically elegant twist by several crystal pins and who knows how much hairspray.

"I do believe I outdid even Rosalie's last wedding this time," Alice whispered to herself. I felt myself gag at the implications Alice's words might have if Rosalie had heard them. A knock on the door reminded me Rosalie was the least of my worries at the moment.

Esme entered the small dressing room looking resplendent in a dress of lavender silk. "Bella! You look absolutely stunning; I don't know how Edward will be able to control himself." She smiled warmly down at me before turning to Alice. "It's almost time now: Charlie is waiting for her outside." Alice nodded gleefully and turned to gather the train of my dress.

"Come on Bella! It's time to go!" She giggled in her normal bubbly manner and ushered me out the door, handing me a bouquet of white roses on the way. I felt my knees begin to weaken as I saw Charlie in his designer gray suit, standing at the beginning of the long pathway towards the altar. You can do this, I told myself again.

Charlie beamed as he took my left arm into the crook of his elbow. "Are you ready?" he asked. I could only nod helplessly.

I was dimly aware of the string quartet beginning to play as I started the horrific journey down the aisle of rose petals. I tried not to see the faces of my friends and few family members that had come to witness the event, but I was unsuccessful. Everyone I had ever known, and then the rest of the town of Forks, seemed to be there. My school friends Jessica and Angela, Mike and Ben, their parents and my other classmates, even Billy had come to wish me well, though to my sorrow he wasn't smiling. In comparison to little Seth Clearwater, who was not so little anymore, he looked like the living dead. Seth's face was lit in a beaming smile that dominated his face from ear to ear. Seeing him there, happy for me, made me smile for the first time that day. I kept walking with my father tugging on my arm, and nearly burst into tears when I saw the other faces of the people I loved most; Renee and my soon to be in-laws standing in the front rows.

Finally I was free of the staring eyes and I at last permitted myself to glance to the altar. Edward stood there, the happiest I had ever seen him, radiating an aura of bliss that filled me to the brim. The sight of him, in utterly perfect splendor, erased all anxiety from me.

Charlie turned to me then, the tears in his eyes framed by the beginnings of crows' feet. "I love you Bells," he whispered as he kissed my cheek.

"I love you too dad," I whispered back.

I turned to hand my bouquet to Alice, when I could have sworn I saw a flash of russet fur flash past a brief interruption in the silk canopy surrounding the guests. I blinked and the sight was gone. Alice smiled at me in encouragement, and I turned back to face Edward.

Carlisle, who happened to be performing the ceremony, began with the traditional words, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the the joining of Isabella Swan and Edward Cullen in the event of matrimony…" My mind trailed off, for I became lost in Edward's gaze. He was re-memorizing my face, as if we had been separated for a long time. His golden eyes smoldered as he gazed at me, a crooked smile playing at the corners of his lips.

I subconsciously heard Carlisle announce that Edward had written his personal vows, when Edward's velvet voice rang in my ears. "Bella, I love you. You are the only one I have ever loved, and it will always be that way, for all my existence and beyond. My love for you is unconditional, and death is only the beginning of where I would willingly go for you if you wished it. I am yours now, always, and forever…"

At these last words Edward slowly slid his mother's ring onto my finger. I saw Carlisle turn to me and knew it was my turn. I felt the words tumble from my lips, the words that would bind me to him, though I had already been his since I had seen him. I slid his wedding band onto his finger and I murmured, "…now, always, and forever."