A/N ~ Thank you to my lovely Beta Butterfly Betty, who reads and checks my chapters, encourages me, especially when I think I am here talking to myself! xxx

Hearts Collide ~ Chapter 10.

Rev Webber left a short while later and we prepared the food for the family meal between us. Well Edward, myself, Sue and Esme did, while our two dads discussed the sport on the TV!

"Leah and Seth can't come over this evening." Sue explained, they were both at school and would not be home till next weekend, the day before the party.

"We will tell them about the engagement tomorrow, once Alice and Rose know about it."

I sighed. "I really didn't want to be lying to them but I can't see Alice being able to contain herself."

I braced myself for the onslaught when I heard Emmett announcing his arrival!

"Make sure you have everything covered and tucked away!" He laughed. Charlie stood up and winked at me before opening the door to surprise Emmett.

"Are you suggesting that myself, my beautiful wife or your lovely mother are standing here in my Baby Girl's house naked Emmett?" His raised eyebrow and glared at Emmett who was stuttering his response.

"No sir I…"

"Do you think I would disrespect my daughter in such a crude manner?"

"No sir…I…"

"Just as well…Now, your father here however, is standing there, naked as the day he day born …"

"WHAT!" Jasper exclaimed in surprise.

"Ewwww NOOOOO!" Emmett shouted!

"Dad!" Alice screamed.

"Go Carlisle…" Rose laughed as she peered round the door in hopeful anticipation.

"Thank you Rose." Carlisle laughed, walked over and hugged his daughter in law before kissing her cheek.

"That's my Dad…" Alice shuddered.

"He is still a DILF…" Rose laughed still standing beside Carlisle who was nodding in agreement with his arm draped around her shoulder.

"Emmett…" Carlisle asked his son who was muttering about brain bleach.

"Yes Dad?" Emmett sighed.

"What is a DILF?"

"No, no, no, no, no, no…" Emmett was now rubbing his head hard and his face was screwed up in disgust.

Esme and Sue both shaking with laughter came over to join us.

"I am a DILF Darling." Carlisle explained.

"Yes you are my Dear." Esme agreed.

Everyone was now laughing except Alice and Emmett who were agreeing that they would need therapy to get this abuse out of their memories.

"Am I a DILF?" My Dad asked Sue hopefully.

"Well I think so…" She answered before kissing his cheek as she blushed.

I just laughed and asked everyone to come into the sitting room.

We had laid loads of food out on our large square coffee table, along with plates, napkins and drinks and were all helping ourselves when Alice spotted my ring and screamed…REALLY LOUDLY!

"BELLA!"

"Alice…indoor voice only please." Esme scolded her daughter, with little effect.

"You are engaged?"

I nodded and cuddled into Edward for protection while holding my hand out to show them the ring.

Rose grinned and gave me a hug and a kiss, winking at Edward before returning to Emmett's side.

We all started to eat but Alice was now in full planning mode.

"We need to have a party!" Alice squealed as she bounced up and down.

"We are having it next weekend at our usual end of summer BBQ." Edward tried to explain calmly.

"No…no…we need something bigger than that, and sooner, and …"

"Alice, this is Edward and Bella's engagement and they will have it how they want it." Carlisle tried to calm his hyper daughter down.

"Yes Daddy…now I am thinking what say 200 people for that…" She pulled out a notebook from under the coffee table and started jotting down ideas.

"Alice, I don't think we even know 200 people."

I took a deep breath. This was why I knew we needed to keep her out of the wedding secret. I looked at Esme for support, sighing as she discreetly nodded and patted my hand.

"Alice Mary Cullen, you have free reign on your own wedding, this is Edward and Bella's engagement party and they will have it just how they want it. You will not spoil this by high jacking it or make it everything they don't want and risk them not turning up at all!"

Alice blushed and looked thoroughly chastised.

Edward kissed my cheek and whispered softly that he loved me and it would all be ok.

I nodded hesitantly, not completely convinced.

We carried on eating but I knew this was not sorted, picking at my food; I started to feel sicker by the moment.

I knew I needed to make sure she knew how I felt about this party.

"Alice, Esme has one thing right, I love you but if you insist on making this everything that Edward and I don't want, you will have the happy couple missing as we will stay at home."

Alice looked shocked; I don't think I had ever stood up to her on anything like this before.

"Bella, you would stay at home?"

"Yes, Alice this is what we want. Just the people we usually have over to the BBQ and a few others who we will invite, to enjoy food and celebrate our engagement."

"Then after that, do you have a date in mind? We need to get you registered for gifts, talk about flowers and and…"

"Alice, stop…take a deep breath and just stop." I closed my eyes and shook my head slowly.

"Sorry…" she whispered.

I nodded.

"It is just if you don't start planning straight away, you will have problems getting the venue, the band, the dress…the…"

"Alice honey, take a deep breath and listen to Bella." Jasper talks to her like she is an over excited child.

"I have the invites we made here Bella." Sue shows me the samples she has made. Edward and I pick them up and smile at her.

"These are just perfect."

I show Edward the one I like the best. He nods and agrees this is the one he wants too.

They are simple and classy looking, our names and two small hearts in the corner.

Alice bites her lip but says nothing as she reads the invite until she suddenly shouts out in surprise.

"Casual dress, what the Fu…"

"Alice…I am warning you. ENOUGH!" Esme is furious.

"Alice we love the BBQ every year, it is just what we want and you need to get this out of your system as we are not backing down." Edward is now unusually strict with his sister.

Emmett shook his head at her before he got up and left to go to the bathroom.

"Rose, you understand what I am talking about, they need to do this right?" Alice tried to call in support. Rose looked at me; I sighed and bit my lip, tears starting to fill my eyes.

"Alice, this is not what you and I want… this is Bella and Edward. This is about what they want."

"Alice, why is it so hard for you to just be happy for us and accept our wishes?" Edward asked.

I closed my eyes tighter. I had always given in to Alice and her requests, when she wanted me to be Bella Barbie, when she suggested I cut my hair short and I hated it, but this time I was trying to be the woman I knew I could be.

"Alice, please…" I whispered.

Carlisle and Charlie now realised how I was upset, they were both getting ready to stand up and walk towards me.

"Baby…please don't cry." Edward held me in closer as our Dads stood and watched us interact.

"I just want what is best for you." Alice was now in a real huffy mood, her arms were folded across her chest and she was not going to listen to anyone.

She turned away from us muttering.

"We need to get you a dress." She continued to look at her notebook.

"I have one." I whispered again.

"I think a nice pink dress. I like you in pink"

"I have a dress Alice." I tried again.

"You can wear your hair all straight, no wait piled up high in curls." She ignored my efforts to tell her what I wanted.

"I have shoes that you can practice walking in… you will need to wear heels."

I shook my head.

I was now just ignoring her, shielding myself from her verbal vomit.

I lifted the invites and started running my finger over the corner where our names had been written.

Carlisle and Esme were getting really angry with their daughter. Sue was trying to calm everyone down; Charlie didn't know what to do, Jasper was getting really cross with Alice while Rose was still trying to reason with her.

Edward picked up a pen and wrote in the invite.

He lifted it up and shouted at his sister.

"Alice!"

She looked at him glaring.

"Jasper, you are welcome to join us on Saturday at our party." Edward tore the invite in half and handed him the part with his name on it.

"Alice…you were a guest, but no more." He tore the invite into shreds and threw it at her."

Alice was stunned by her normally placid brother.

The whole room was suddenly quiet and still.

Emmett bounded back in not aware of the atmosphere and lifted up Edward's razor.

"Dude! Have you moved in here talk about being a fast mover?"

"Take me out of here Edward please." I was now crying uncontrollably, I always hated confrontation. Edward stood up with me in his arms and took off to our bedroom, shutting the door behind us with his foot. He lay me down on our bed and tried to sooth my tears.

A few movements later there was a soft knocking at the door.

I shook my head, "I don't want to see anyone."

"I will tell them all to go."

The door opened and Esme peeked in. "Can I come in please Bella?" I nodded reluctantly.

We could hear Alice shouting about them not understanding what every girl needs to do when getting married. Carlisle was furious and calling his daughter a spoilt brat.

Esme closed the door and sat on the bed beside us, her hand started rubbing my hip to soothe me.

"I hate shouting." I tried to tell Esme through my tears.

"I know baby girl."

"I just want her to let us have this." I continued.

"We will make sure you both get the wedding you want, this is not about Alice or what Alice wants." She promised.

"She will not back down." I sobbed.

"She will, we will not let her take over."

"She will be so angry when she finds out it is our wedding."

"Then she will be asked to leave." Edward whispered, I knew this was breaking his heart. He loved his sister.

I shook my head. "You can't do this to Alice."

"Bella, she can't do this to you, I didn't raise Alice to behave like this. I am appalled by her behaviour." Esme said as she ran her fingers through my hair.

There was a second gentle knock at the door, Sue came in. "Bella, Carlisle has told all the kids to go home, but Alice wants to talk to you."

I shook my head; I did not want to do this anymore.

"Rose is trying to talk to Alice; I will tell them all to go."

"Thank you."

"Sue, I am so sorry about your beautiful invitation…" Edward apologised, "That's ok dear we will make more of the one you liked." Sue kissed us both on the cheek before leaving us alone with Esme.

"I am serious about her behaving or not coming." Edward whispered and Esme nodded, "I know Son."

"I will not let her bully her way into getting what she wants."

I shuddered.

"Bella, Sweetie, this is not about what she wants, this is about you and me."

"I love you Edward." I whispered.

Esme stood up and kissed both of us gently, "Come back through when you are ready."

I just wanted to stay locked away with Edward; it was safe here with him.

"It is just like when my mum left, people shouting, me hiding with you in a bedroom." I tried to smile; he nodded before lowering his lips to mine. We kissed softly for a few moments; Edwards thumb wiped away my tears. "You never did that when we were little." I giggled.

"Just as well, your Dad would have hunted me down with his gun!" He laughed before pulling me closer to him.

"Come on, let's go and splash your face with water and see what's going on Baby."

I sighed and started to get up off the bed.

"One more kiss first please my Beautiful." Edward smiled and everything felt a little easier...it would be ok. All of it would be fine.

After a few more kisses we went to the bathroom, I splashed my face; Edward kissed me again and wrapped his arm around me before we returned to the living room.

Alice was still there but Jasper was shaking with anger now. He was so furious he was unable to speak to her at all; I had never seen him like this.

"Bella, I am so sorry about this." Carlisle started to apologise, as he pulled me into his arms.

"We have told her it is not acceptable."

"Vegas is sounding more and more appealing." I admitted.

"Is that what you want to do Bells?" My dad asked but

I shook my head. "No, I want what Edward and I have discussed with you all." I sighed.

"Then that is what we will have." Edward promised. "But at what cost though Edward?" He looked at me confused by my question.

"I will buy you anything Love."

"No, I mean, what about Alice."

"Bella…Honey, your whole life you have put everyone else first, this day is all about you and Edward." Carlisle said as he shook his head. "Alice will get over this, and you will have what you want."

Alice glared at her father, but said nothing.

"If you want Vegas…" Edward looked at me. "We can go tonight." He whispered.

I looked at my four loving parents around us. They all nodded.

"Is that what you want Honey?" My Dad asked.

I shook my head. "No…we are adults and we want to get married like we planned, but we will do it our way."

"Alice." I sighed as I called her name.

She raised her eyebrow at me and looked me in the eye.

"Why do you feel we have to do this your way?"

"Because… I don't want you to miss out," she shrugged.

"What am I missing out on?"

"The big dress, the whole being like a princess…"

"That is your dream, not mine; when have you ever seen me excited about being a Princess or wanting to wear a big dress? I just want you and the people I love there. No more than that."

I walked towards her. I could see her pride was damaged, she knew this had all got out of hand. It was like she didn't know how to back out of this now.

"I want you to have everything that you missed out." She admitted.

"I have not missed out on anything…" I replied.

"You have, you had no siblings, no mother, I want you to feel loved and spoilt." She whispered taking my hand.

"I had you and Emmett; you were my brother and sister. I had your Mom and Sue. I had two fathers, and I had my Edward, everything I needed."

Alice looked at me and Edward who was standing behind me with his arms wrapped around me, his head resting against mine.

"He was never just your brother was he?" She asked quietly.

I looked back up at Edward and smiled. "No he was always more than that to me." I closed my eyes as his lips touched my skin.

"I have always been jealous that I wasn't you best friend like he was." She shrugged her shoulders.

"You didn't even tell me you loved him."

"I didn't tell anyone Alice. You found out when he did, when Emmett, Rose and Jasper did, and now you all know."

She nodded her head and stayed silent with her thoughts.

"If you love me Alice, if you want to be the best sister I could ever have… then be there for us as we do it our way."

Sue came over and placed her hand on Alice's arm.

"Honey, tell me all about your dream wedding." Alice smiled and spent the next ten minutes telling us about a crystal studded dress, her flowers, the band she wanted to play, the long flowing veil…"

Sue nodded and smiled. "I have been lucky and privileged to be loved and to love two wonderful men in my lifetime. I wore my Cousins dress when I married Harry and a brand new dress when I married Charlie. The best bit for me, was I simply knew that the man I loved was waiting for me to be his bride."

Charlie stood beside Sue, giving her a gentle kiss before he leaned over and kiss Alice on the forehead.

"Does that make either of my Weddings less than perfect in your eyes?" Sue asked softly.

Alice shook her head, suddenly realising how childish she had been.

"Bella, tell Alice what you want, your dream wedding Honey." My Dad asked.

"I want to feel pretty without being all made up, I want a dress I can sit down in and be able to go pee in, I want flowers that smell like home, I want my family there, no strangers I don't recognise, I want home cooked food and my guests to sing and play their music or listen to our favourite Cd's, I want everyone to be wearing clothes they feel special but comfortable in. I want Edward to smile when he sees me walking towards him. I want to be somewhere that feels safe and no worry I will trip over my own feet in shoes I can't walk in."

My voice was becoming stronger the more I told her what I wanted.

"I want Sue's homemade cake to share with my husband; I want to be relaxed and carefree so we enjoy the day. I just want to be Edward's wife." I smiled at my best friend and lover before looking at Alice who was in tears.

"You want to get married at the Summer BBQ don't you?" She smiled understanding what was going on.

"Yes." I nodded.

"This is your wedding we are planning isn't it?"

"Yes." Edward and I both said at the same time.

"Why do you have engagement announcement cards?" She asked us quietly. "Because I could not take the risk you would not understand and go all Alice on us." I said with a sad voice.

"Oh Bella, I am so sorry, I really am." She sobbed.

"We are going to sort this out Alice, but we are getting married at the BBQ and you need to go with whatever we plan." Edward said strictly but smiling at his sister's understanding.

"No more secrets though…" Alice muttered.

"They wouldn't be secrets if we told everyone now would they?" Edward asked.

Alice looked at him and stared into his eyes trying to read his mind.

"Alice…seriously though…we will go to Vegas if you don't calm down and just be happy for us." He promised.

"I love you both, you know that don't you?" She asked suddenly looking very small before me.

"We love you too, even when you go all psycho Pixie on us!" Edward laughed.

I pulled Alice into a hug with Edward and me.

Things were starting to feel much better.