Disclaimer: I'm not Stephenie Meyer, and I don't own Twilight. I just play with the characters.

XOXOXOXO

July 22, 2006

Bella

The brick edifice standing in front of her seemed commanding. The white molding on top of the building screamed old fashioned elegance, but Bella wasn't seeing any of it. She only saw a large, imposing structure, staring her down and making her feel small and insignificant.

It was her wedding day, and all she could do was stare at City Hall.

She wore a simple white, spaghetti strapped summer dress that fell at her knees, a thick, dark red bow cinched under her breasts. Adorning her feet, in the same color as the bow, was a pair of ballet flats. Her hair hung in loose waves around her face, which held the barest amount of makeup.

"You know, you don't have to go through with this if you don't want to," her father said as he came up behind her, putting a soothing hand on her shoulder.

Bella turned to him, her eyes searching his. "No, it's not that I don't want to. It's just…City Hall. This is crazy…" she trailed off, gesturing around her.

"What's wrong, then?" Charlie asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"I see City Hall, and I think court system, paperwork and permits, not wedding ceremonies. I'm getting married. At City Hall," she scoffed.

"Did you want something different? There's still time, you know."

Bella snorted. "Technically, there's no time left, and really, I didn't ever picture myself getting married." In response to Charlie's raised eyebrow, she added, "I grew up with only you, Dad. I realized I didn't need to be married to be happy."

He pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and placing a kiss on the top of her head. She breathed in his scent, uniquely her father, from his suit jacket. "Kiddo, just because your mother and I didn't work out doesn't mean that marriage isn't worth it. I loved her; I will always love her in some way. But it wasn't in the cards for us. You, on the other hand, are the type of person who takes care of others. I see the way you look at him, Bells. I'd be blind not to. It's in your cards."

"You remind me so much of her, you know. I wish she could've been here to see this."

"She didn't call you back?"

He sighed. "No, she didn't. The last time I actually talked to your mother, it was about your something or other. Did I tell you I tried to get a hold of her about your graduation, too?"

"No, you didn't."

"I tried, Bella. I really did. She'd be so proud of the woman you've become. I know it."

She didn't want to talk about her mother anymore; the thought alone made her heart ache. "Will you be okay without me, Daddy?" she asked as she drew back enough to look into his brown eyes. Suddenly, he looked older to her, more weathered and tired. Age lines made his eyes look crinkled at the corners, his forehead creased whenever he scowled.

"Don't you worry over me, kiddo. I'll be fine. I did manage for a while before you came along," he said with a small chuckle.

"I'm keeping my last name, or at least hyphenating it," she said abruptly.

Surprise colored Charlie's features. "Why would you do that?"

"I can always be a Swan that way," she explained with a casual shrug of her shoulder. She didn't want to tell him the real reason; she felt obligated to Charlie to keep his namesake going.

Whether he knew it or not, he didn't show it to Bella. He smiled down at her, still in his embrace, and tightened his arms around her.

"I hate to break up this intimate moment, guys, but if you two don't get in there soon, they'll skip over you and go on to the next couple," Rose said as she gently tapped Bella on the shoulder.

As Bella's bridesmaids, Rose and Alice wore the exact same dress as Bella, but with their shoes and bows a different color, steel grey. Rose's blonde hair had been curled and pinned back, her long tresses framing her face and a white Star of Bethlehem flower perched behind her ear. The scar from Royce's attack was a barely noticeable line on her cheek.

They broke apart, Charlie keeping an arm around Bella's shoulders as they walked up the steps and into the building. Alice bounded up to them, black hair flying in all different directions with a white Violet behind her ear, whisking Bella away from her father and over to a secluded corner. "What took you two so long? The judge just got back from lunch, and you should be called any minute!" Alice exclaimed, her hands running over Bella's features, and smoothing out any imperfections she might've seen.

Bella's heart beat quickly in her throat, her palms started sweating. "Masen-Swan Wedding, please start filing in," a man she didn't recognize said. Bella assumed he was the clerk for the judge.

"Edward and the guys are already in there, so we'll just give everyone five minutes to get settled and go on in," Alice said, squeezing Bella's shoulder.

She nodded, not trusting her voice; she desperately needed a drink of water. A water bottle was thrust into her hand, and Bella looked at Rose in shock. "You keep swallowing. Here, take a sip. It'll help," she said kindly.

The cool water bolstered Bella's nerves, brought her back to herself. She swallowed thickly before nodding her head. "You guys are my best friends, you know that, right?"

"Psh, honey, we're your sisters," Alice said, waving a hand in the air.

"You know what I mean, Aly. We'll always be best friends, even though—"

"Even though Edward's your first best friend. Yes, we know. The order goes Edward, me, then Pipsqueak over here," Rose interrupted, laughing.

Alice turned to the blonde. "You're lucky I don't stomp on your toes right now," she said menacingly, narrowing her eyes.

Rose put her arm around Alice's shoulders, drawing her close. "I love you, too, Aly."

Bella joined them, throwing her arms around her adopted family. "It's not going to be the same, but we'll never leave each other."

"Jesus, Bella. You're acting like someone's dying, or moving fifteen thousand miles away. Chill out. You're just getting hitched to ol' green eyes in there," Rose said, her actions belying her words as she drew Bella closer.

"Okay, no blubbering, kids. We've gotta go in soon, and I don't do well when Bella cries," Charlie said as he came up behind them, stuffing his hands awkwardly in his pants pockets.

The three girls took a step back, each of them dabbing at their eyes. "We're not crying, Chief. Just extra moisture in the room," Alice said with a sniffle.

"Right, try using that one twice. Bells, it's time. Are you ready?"

She took a second to breathe deeply and looked at her smiling father. "Yeah, I'm ready, Dad. Let's walk down that aisle."

XOXOXOXO

The ceremony itself was simple. Edward and Bella, along with their wedding party, stood in front of Judge Mathison as he spoke about undying friendship and trust, love and responsibility to the other. Edward and the boys wore white button up shirts with black pants, keeping the feel of celebratory, but casual, in the air.

As Bella and Edward promised to be each other's everything, smiles took up their faces, and tears swam in both of their eyes. And while Edward slipped on a modest sapphire ring onto Bella's finger, Bella thought her heart would burst from the many emotions running through her.

The judge pronounced them husband and wife. Edward's hands framed her face, his glittering eyes searching hers as a small smile played on his lips. He whispered his love to her before his lips found purchase on her own.

Their friends and families clapped and cheered, happiness exuding from everyone. They all filed out of the court room and headed to where the reception was taking place, in the Masen's large backyard, while Edward and Bella signed their marriage certificate.

The reception itself was festive, Emmett doubling as DJ and food server, commenting on everyone's choice of meal as though he was giving approval or rejection.

It was the same with music requests.

Alice, ever the party planner, had decorated the wide expanse of the green yard with every kind of flower she could find, going into detail of each one of their meanings for the newlywed couple. While she had primped and pampered Bella to her heart's content, having no say over the wedding itself, Alice took pride in showing off her artistic eye for colors and table placement.

Jasper's sole duty was to make sure anyone and everyone got home safely, and to run interference when necessary. After the incident happened at Mike's party, Charlie had seen fit to demand that no alcohol was to be served, and that every person who had partook of the substance was required to attend at least one alcohol abuse treatment class and do fifty hours of volunteer service. If they did so before the summer was over, no official charges would be presented on the records. That being said, it didn't mean everyone abided by the no alcohol rule, and a few people brought their own flasks to the event.

Rosalie was in charge of the after party clean up. She walked around the party with a garbage bag, attempting to keep the mess to a minimum and avoid any kind of litter on the pristine ground. Though the news of what had happened to her had spread like wildfire, she was determined to not let any stares and whispers that passed around the party get to her. The truth of the matter was that she still woke up in the middle of the night in cold sweats, fear gripping her and a scream sticking in her throat. If she closed her eyes, she could still feel his vice-like grip on her wrists. She vowed that no girl, no person, should ever feel that way again and was taking her future studies in a different direction. After the reception, she had her first training shift at the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

They did the traditional things, mother/son, father/daughter dances, first wedding dance, and even towards the end of the festivities, the funky chicken.

Edward and Bella sat at the main table, her leaning back into his shoulder as he stroked her hair, while they watched their friends and loved ones act silly.

"I love you, you know that?" Edward said softly as he placed a kiss on the top of Bella's head.

"You'd better. I'd hate to think you married someone you didn't love," she replied just as softly, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

He tugged softly on a lock of her hair, causing her to chuckle. "Oh, you know I love you too, you big baby. I wouldn't have promised you my forever if I didn't."

He grumbled. "That's better." They shared a brief kiss before a throat clearing and tapping on the microphone brought them out of their bubble.

Their parents, including the short, plump Reeny, Bella's stand-in mother figure, stood on the dance floor in front of them. Bella was vaguely reminded of a king and queen holding court. Though she was blissfully happy, holding some sort of modesty around her father still seemed necessary, so reluctantly, she hauled herself up from Edward's grasp and, instead, took his hand in hers underneath the table.

"We, uh, wanted to give you kids our gifts. Well, actually, we all went in together," Bella's father said with a flush on his neck as he stepped forward and handed Bella a small key ring. She took it quizzically.

"The keys to your new apartment. I know you two had one in mind in Port Angeles, but we found something closer here in Forks. We've taken care of the security deposits as well as your first and last month's rent. But you've got to take care of everything else, all the monthly utilities."

Tears formed in Bella's eyes as she looked at the keys in her hands in astonishment.

Before she knew it, she had bounded out of her seat and into the arms of her father. She hugged him tightly, the tears flowing down her cheeks at his gesture. All her life, Charlie had given her everything she needed, and now he was giving her the start of her future with Edward. It was amazing.

"Carlisle and I took care of all the furnishings. I hope you like my choice of decorating," Esme said softly from beside her.

Edward hugged his mother, murmuring his thanks in her ear while Bella hugged Carlisle next. "This is all so much; thank you, Carlisle, Esme," Bella said.

"Please, we're your mother and father now, too. No matter what, we still want to take care of our kids," Esme responded with a smile.

"We also got you both a car. It's got a lot of miles on it, but it'll still be helpful. You can't always use theirs," Reeny added with a giggle, stepping forward to give Bella a new set of keys.

A fresh round of hugs was passed around. "This is all just too much. Thank you," Bella said, sniffling, as she went back to stand with Edward in front of all of their parents.

"You kids deserve it—a chance at being happy. That's what marriage is, finding another person to share a happy, fulfilled life with," Carlisle explained, tightening his hold around Esme's waist in affection.

"That's your cue to leave if I ever saw one," Emmett boomed into the mic, startling the intimate bubble that had enclosed the small group. Everyone laughed.

"Emmett Daniel! You've been wonderful so far. Don't start making a mess of this beautiful night by saying something rude," his mother exclaimed, whirling around quickly.

He had the decency to look ashamed. "Sorry, Mom."

"But you're right. These kids have got to fly the coop, and now is as good a time as any. The directions to your new abode are sitting in your car," Reeny said with a wistful sigh as she grabbed Bella around the shoulders and redirected the pair toward the house.

"What kind is it?"

"You'll see; just be patient for another minute."

As Bella and Edward walked through the Masen home, an entire posse of guests followed them. Bella felt a knot of nervous apprehension in her stomach.

When they reached the front door, and Reeny had thrown it open, Bella knew exactly which kind of car was theirs.

Sitting at the head of the U-shaped gravel driveway was a black Honda Civic. Though, the make didn't set it apart in Bella's mind.

The wedding decorations all over it did.

Toilet paper had been rolled around the car, she didn't know how many times. Painted on the read window, in red paint, was "Newlyweds—They're about to hit the sheets!" in Emmett's blocky handwriting. Tied to the fender were countless empty soda cans. Ribbons and balloons hung from each of the door handles. And lastly, stuck to the antenna was a small wedding cake topper.

Bella couldn't help the giggles she shared with Reeny while Edward laughed loudly beside her. They were enveloped by their friends, Rose, Alice, Jasper and Emmett pounced on them, forcing them into a group hug.

"While your parents might have gotten you the car, we decided to really make it your own. And what better way to do that than to graffiti the hell out of it?" Emmett said jovially.

Edward stepped out of the embrace and toward the car. He eyed it in thought before reaching out and tearing at the toilet paper. It came off easily. "You guys could've at least made it harder to get off—"

"That's what she said! Ow, Mom!" Emmett broke in, yelling, as his mother hit him upside the head.

"You guys are cheap. One-ply, really?" Edward asked with a smirk, holding up a trail of the thin paper.

"Hey, that's what you get for Alice not letting us at the crepe streamers," Jasper spoke up, his arms wrapping around Alice's middle and hugging her tightly. She turned in his arms with a pout. "You would've used them all up, and I had plans for them!" she replied in indignation.

Edward came back to stand in front of Bella, holding his hand out to her. "Mrs. Masen, shall we go home?"

The playful smirk on his lips made Bella feel hot all of a sudden as a thrill of excitement shot through her. She took his hand, a smile of her own pulling at her lips.

"Let's go home."

XOXOXOXO

A/N: Many thanks go out to Shelikesthesound, Lauren, and my mom. They all know why.

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So sorry it's a week later than I promised. It's our last "past" chapter and I guess I just didn't want to let it go yet. Thanks for your understanding.

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