Disclaimer: The characters of this story are the intellectual property of Stephenie Meyer alone.

NB: This chapter has been the hardest for me to write so far. So many possibilities, it's been so hard to figure out what I liked best and which would be most realistic to SM's style. I hope you like it, please read and review.

The Aisle

Everything was hazy. The cold medicine had kept me asleep until morning and when I woke Alice was sitting on the bed beside me, a blissful smile on her pixie face. The door opened and Renée came in with a tray of food. They chattered happily to me about my "big day" but I just sat up in bed, slowly ate the cereal and tried not to think. My third finger felt unbelievably heavy today. The weight made my left hand clumsy.

They got me out of bed, dunked my hair under the water for a wash, and then dressed me in sweats and a bottom up shirt, treating my right arm as delicately as it felt. Charlie and Phil were watching TV as Alice and Renée led me in my dazed state down the stairs and into the black Mercedes Alice had borrowed from Carlisle. The black tint made the passing greenery dark and gloomy. Alice drove at a human pace, chatting excitedly with my mother while the world slowed on its axis for me.

The clouds sparkled with silver light when we pulled in front of the glorious house. Yellow ribbons were tied around the porch lentils and I could just make out the huge white tent behind the house. Esme and Rosalie were there, waiting. They all ushered me upstairs to Alice's huge room. It was all I could do to blink and breathe.

Hair first, then make up, then the dress. That was the agenda for the first half of the day. My mother and future family preened and complimented me, but I didn't hear them. Not even my fluttering stomach could keep my attention. I was concentrating on breathing too much. The beautiful faces around me were growing more concerned by my silence. I couldn't bring myself to say anything. Nothing at all. I was certain I was dreaming. The face that was staring back at me in the mirror looked shocked and overwhelmed. Disbelieving.

I blinked as the room was suddenly emptied. I looked around and saw the strangest thing. A tall, pale, bronze haired, too perfect being, stood blindfolded in the door way. My face muscles finally moved and I grinned. I stood up and walked over to him, biting my lip and I threw my arms around his neck. I sighed against his cool body as he wrapped his arms tightly around me. His breath was uneven and his arms too tight around me. Something was wrong.

I couldn't bring myself to ask him what it was. I just clung to him and tried to memorize everything all over again. He seemed just as content to stay silent and caress my hair and run his hands gently over my face.

"You smell wonderful," he whispered into my ear. "Just like the first day we met."

I wasn't sure if he referred to my blood or my shampoo, which had not changed in the two years since we had met. Two years. It felt like only a day ago and also years past. So much had happened. Two years ago I could never have conceived of the notion that I would be getting married. To Edward, nonetheless.

He sighed. "Last night was the hardest for me yet. You have no idea how hard it was to stop myself from charging back to your room. I hate not being with you."

There seemed to be some other kind of message to what he was saying, but I couldn't figure it out. So I sighed and muttered, "Same here. I guess it's a good thing we're doing this, then." It was the first time I openly admitted to him that I actually wanted to get married. I had only ever mentioned it in conjunction with compromising or with proper closure for everyone else. Standing with him now, oblivious to everything, made me realize that marriage wasn't as awful as I'd feared. It was the boldest move I could make. It would prove to him and to the world, including myself, that he and I were going to be together forever. Through everything, no matter what happened.

"Oh." Was all I could add.

"I'm glad you agree," Edward whispered, his cool breath sending shivers down my spine.

He chuckled and a finger hooked under my chin and I stood on my tip toes to kiss him. It was the most passionate kiss yet. My heart stopped and somehow I managed to keep kissing him. When Edward pulled his head away from mine I drew a sharp breath, wondering if I was turning blue. The kiss seemed to have taken just as much out of him because Edward's marble chest was heaving under the white shirt he wore.

His hands reluctantly loosened around me and they slipped down my body until he could hold my hands. I reached up to kiss him once more and he gave me the crooked smile I loved so much. Then he put his forehead against mine and sighed heavily.

"Alice has been watching her thoughts, but Renée hasn't so I have to say now, you look. . . absolutely beautiful." He chuckled and I smiled at his masked face. A cough sounded and I looked over his arm. Alice was standing there, arms crossed and foot tapping. Edward flashed a smile at me and then, painfully, left me.

"He's right, you look absolutely perfect," she said and shooed me back to the vanity. The others returned as well.

Several hours later I stared at my reflection, the shock and disbelief still present in the face staring back at me. I looked. . . perfect. Alice was right, and it was the only word that really described. Radiant, stunning, all those descriptions fell slightly short. The dress, the make up, the hair; they seemed to add only a little, but that couldn't have been right. I've never considered myself to be beautiful. Pretty, on occasion, but not really beautiful. But looking at the tall, slender woman in white in front of me I felt so much more confident. Everything was as it should be.

"You look so beautiful, Isabella," my dad's voice said and I shifted my eyes off of myself and to Charlie's strained face. He swallowed audibly and stepped forward. His eyes were beaming with pride.

"Thank you." My voice was as quiet as his. I took a deep breath and looked in the mirror once more. Today I was Edward's equal. I deserved him and he deserved me. I was actually excited about getting married.

"I know he'll make you very happy," Charlie's voice cracked slightly with the cliché phrase and I gave him a hug.

"Yes, Dad. He really will." I was so confident now. So sure of myself and of Edward. Of our future together. Nothing would tear us apart.

We walked silently down the majestic stairs and towards the wide open doors leading out to the stretch of green. The soft sounds of Claire de Lune began to wash over me like soft waves. My face flushed and I felt moisture of happiness gather in my eyes. It was a good thing Alice knew me well enough to have insisted on waterproof mascara.

The pure white tent draped protectively over several rows of divided chairs. My father and I paused at one end of the aisle, Edward stood at the other. His face was more beautiful to me than ever. His mouth was slightly open and his eyes victorious. As we stared at each other, fascinated by one another's face, his split into a large grin and mine followed shortly after. Charlie and I walked slowly towards him. I did not hear people whisper, I did not see who was there. I could only see Edward. I could only see the reason for my existence.

I was breathing carefully, dedicating myself to the calm of the moment, when we reached him. Charlie moved my hand off of his arm and gave it to Edward. The moment our hands touched a jolt of lightening shot through me. I just kept thinking over and over, I do. I do. I irrevocably do.