A/N: Here is my next story, it will by my first planned multi-chapter story. I hope you all enjoy it! I have never been to Seattle, so bear with me. I want to be as accurate as possible about a city that I love from afar. One day I will get there.

This story is rated "M" for future lemons and language. You have been warned.

Inspiration: "Once" by Rascal Flatts

Disclaimer: Twilight is owned by S. Meyer, that lucky woman. I own nothing, just like having fun with our favorite gang. However, Rob does own me.

-oo-

Ch. 1

Five years. Five long years since I had stepped foot inside the town limits of Forks, Washington. My hometown. The scene of some of the best moments of my life and ultimately, some of the worst.

And now that was all going to be shot to hell because Emmett and Rosalie just had to get married there. Since they have both been some of my closest friends since I was five, I saw no way of getting out of being there.

I could feel the tension bubbling up into my chest, the kind where you had to labor your breathing nice and slow to keep from feeling light headed. This is why I decided to go on a run, in the middle of December, in Seattle. Call me stupid, but I needed that chilly air to penetrate through this thick fog of dread.

So with that in mind, I threw on thick, fleece jogging pants and a matching fleece hoodie. I knew that the ground outside had started icing over once the sun set, but that wasn't going to stop me. With iPod in hand, I set off on my familiar route.

I am not much of a runner. Not much of an athletic person; especially since I have been known for my clumsiness. But whether it is outside or on a treadmill, running had become my form of relieving the stress over the last five years.

-oo-

As I rounded a corner near my favorite coffee shop, I replayed the events that went down at dinner earlier that evening.

Rosalie had called me up the day before asking if I would join her and Emmett at Il Bistro, which was our favorite Italian restaurant in Seattle, for an early dinner the following day. I quickly agreed and told them I would meet them there.

I showed up about fifteen minutes late because a meeting for work had run over time. I wanted to run home and switch out of the black pencil skirt and white button down blouse I had adorned for work; but that was not an option, so it just had to be good enough for dinner.

I noticed that Alice and Jasper were already seated, leaving one open for just me. After a quick greeting to them all and an apology for being late, I was handed a glass filled with Angelo Gaja wine. .

"Um, you ordered one of the priciest wines on the menu?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at Emmett and Rose.

"Yes we did, which is also a great lead in to why we called you guys here" Rosalie answered, "we have an announcement that we wanted to share with you."

"Ready for it?... I asked Rose to marry me!" Emmett bellowed, looking like he had won the lottery twenty times over.

"That's great man! Congratulations to you both. About damn time too" Jasper said, slapping Emmett on the back.

Suddenly a squeal erupted to the left of me and we all whipped around to stare at the vibrating pixie named Alice. I could have sworn I felt heat radiating off of her because she looked like she was about to overheat.

"Oh my goodness. You know what this means right? Have you set a date? What season? Do you know your color palette? We need to go shopping for dresses! I am in the wedding party right-"

"ALICE! Shut up for a minute. Jesus. One question at a time. I just got the ring on my finger two days ago, I haven't had any time to think much passed that" Rosalie said in her commanding tone, about the only thing that could get Alice to shut her mouth.

"The only thing we know is where we will be having the wedding" Emmett spoke up slowly, looking at me the whole time.

I gave him a weird look and took the bait, "And where might that be?"

"Forks of course. I mean, we all have roots there. That is where our families are, where we all started off. It just seems like the best location to cement the moment" Rosalie answered.

"Forks? B-but…" I said, stuttering. I quickly felt the need to find something to occupy my hands. The full wine glass was closest to me and I quickly snatched it up and drained it.

"C'mon Bells. It's been five years since…well everything happened. You haven't been back, it's about time, isn't it?" Emmett spoke softly.

"Em, you know how hard this is for me. Okay, so say I actually step foot back into that town, does that mean everyone is invited?" I asked, knowing I only wanted to hear about one person.

"Of course that means everyone is invited. Even though you refuse to hear anything about him, we all have kept in contact with Ed-" I grimaced a little at his name "him, and he is still a part of this group Bella. So of course he will be invited" Rosalie stated.

"I…I just need to think about it guys. I am happy for you, I really am. And of course I want to be there, but you have to understand how hard it is to think about that place. The last time I was there…" I trailed off lamely.

The topic was quickly changed after that. Emmett picking up the role of life of the party and Alice quickly delving into the fine details about the upcoming wedding. I made my way through two more full glasses of wine before thanking the newly engaged couple for a lovely dinner and sulking out to my car.

I quickly snapped back to the present, feeling a freezing tear slide down my face. I quickly wiped it away and tried not to think about the one reason I was hesitant about all of this.

Instead I focused on Rosalie and Emmett. They had been together since ninth grade. Rosalie had always had a slight crush on Emmett since they were ten years old. Of course, the summer before their freshmen year, Rose's parents had whisked her off to the south of France for the summer and when she returned, well she didn't look like the same flat-chested girl that Emmett remembered. A slight mishap of him making an obscene comment to her and Rose slapping him across the back of the head and they had been together ever since. A match made in some off-the-wall heaven that only Emmett and Rosalie can fit into.

I had most of the usual two mile route that I frequented done. Maybe about half a mile to go to get back to my town-house. The temperature had dropped a good ten degrees in the half hour I had been out and I quickly cursed my decision to venture into it.

Coming to a mostly deserted intersection, I looked both ways before jogging across the road. I was halfway across when I suddenly found myself airborne over a very slick piece of ice that I had failed to notice.

Before I had time to register what happened, I slammed onto my back, hard. I had somehow got my arm caught under me and I could feel a hard snap that could only mean one thing, the breaking of bones. I cried out and tried to curl into a fetal position, but the pain was severe. The problem was, it wasn't coming from just my arm.

I felt a growing warmth rush from my head that could only mean blood and my vision blurred. Before I completely lost counciousness, I heard sirens in the distance.

Funny, I didn't notice I had gathered a small crowed. That was the last thing I registered before I blacked out.