A/N: LOL 3 years later, and here is the epi I never thought I would write. I hope you enjoy seeing where they've all ended up :)

The Phoenix sun blazed down on me, showing little mercy. I was thankful that Renee wasn't exactly concerned about showing too much skin. The fabric on me covered just enough, though the lilac-colored satin did more of insulation job than a cooling job. Renee postponed her wedding until after my first year at the University of Washington finished. She said she would wait for as long as her Maid of Honor needed.

Rows of fold-out chairs lined Phil's backyard with a carpet down the middle. A small tent was at the front, where the bridal and bachelor parties would crowd under behind the officiant, bride and groom.

"Bella!" One of Renee's two other bridesmaids called in from the backdoor. "Renee needs hair approval!"

I rolled my eyes. She'd needed hair approval twice already before ultimately deciding to switch styles.

Charlie decided not to come. He'd said it was a chapter from his life that was over—he wished Renee well, but he didn't feel the need to attend. Besides, he had better things to do, like take his girlfriend, Sue, on a fishing trip. When I found out at Thanksgiving that Charlie had been dating Sue since a little before Fourth of July, I started teasing Seth that soon we'd be siblings.

My first year at U-Dub had been really good. The beginning was a little rocky, but luckily a lot of friends from high school had come, or were in the Seattle area. Alice went to the Art Institute of Seattle for design. Angela, Ben and I all matriculated to U-Dub. Angela and I debated rooming together first year, but in the end decided we should try to meet new people. However, my roommate, Jane, turned out to be a psycho so Angela took pity on me and moved off campus with me for this coming year along with her freshman roommate, Emily.

Mrs. Stanley saved Mr. Stanley's life insurance for Jess to use for college, if she wanted. She wanted. Jess applied early to NYU and got in. We exchanged texts for a while along with a few phones calls here and there, but we both became busy in our new lives. She'd be working in Seattle this summer, though, so I would be able to see her. Mike came with us to U-Dub, too. I liked seeing him around every now and then. He and Jess couldn't make the distance work, but it seemed for the better. Jess had a girlfriend, now, named Charlotte. They were much better matched.

I looked at Renee, perched at her vanity—her short hair wavy. She was lucky—I had to administer copious amounts of hair products this morning to avoid the frizz. Her hair was pulled back slightly at either side. "Wow, you look beautiful," I said.

"Yeah, I think this is good." She turned to me, expression anxious. "Right?"

"Mom," I said, putting my hands on her bare, freckled shoulders. "You look perfect."

We stared at each other through the mirror. Next to each other, we could've been sisters, not mother and daughter.

"The guests will probably be here soon," I said. "Are you ready?"

She smiled softly. "On your wedding day, Bella. I hope you feel just like this."

I laughed. "And how do you feel?"

"Completely at ease."

I raised an eyebrow.
Renee chuckled. "I know, I know. I'm a wreck—but that's about all the logistics. When I think about Phil, I don't feel nervous or ready to bolt."

"You're sure," I said. I hoped to feel that, too. I briefly thought about what her wedding with Charlie was like—if she wanted to bolt, then. But I pushed it away, because that was different. In a lot of ways, that was a totally different person.

"One hundred percent," she said.

xoxoxo

The string quartet began Pachelbel's Canon in D exactly on time. There were no last minute freak-outs, no emergencies—it all went off without a hitch. Phil's best man was an old baseball buddy of his, Clark. Clark took my arm, and together we walked down the aisle. I tried not to squint, so that the wedding photographer could get at least a few good ones of me.

It wasn't a long aisle, only a few rows on either side. Phil and Renee wanted it to be small—only the most imperative of friends and family. Phil gave me a nice smile. When I got to my position, I tried not to look at the right side of the third row. I told Edward that he shouldn't wear a suit—light khakis and a polo shirt would be fine.

But he didn't listen. "I need to impress Renee and Phil," he'd said.

"Edward, it's going to be June in Arizona, and the service is outside."

I couldn't resist looking over. His jacket was off. He fanned himself profusely with the wedding program. He stared directly at me, and winked. I blushed. Luckily, I was in the shade and didn't have to endure more of the brutal weather than necessary.

When Renee came out of the house, her spaghetti-strapped dress falling at her knees, I peered momentarily at Phil. I saw his quick intake of breath and his tender smile. Yes, this would be good.

The wedding itself was fairly short, which was good for the guests in the sweltering heat. After the happy couple went to their car to go to the reception at the local community center, the rest of the guests practically stampeded to get out of the sun. Edward and I had volunteered to lock everything up before heading over, so we took some time getting to his car.

We both moaned at the burning leather interior on our skin.

"Air conditioning! Stat!" I said.

He fumbled in his haste to turn the knob. We idled for a few minutes before the cool air was on full blast.

"Y'know," he said. "You look really beautiful."

I snorted. "Sweat stains and all?"

He laughed, pulling off the side of the street onto the road. "You'd look beautiful in a burlap sack."

"Ahh, you're biased. I see now. I shouldn't believe any compliment you give me," I said, smiling.

"You should believe every compliment I give you because you love me."

"Look, I know it took me a while, but even I don't think that's how love works," I laughed.

He rolled his eyes. I took his right hand from the gear shift and brought his palm to my lips. I whispered: "I really love you."

"Yeah?"

I nodded, relinquishing his hand. "With my whole heart." He put it on my knee and squeezed.

"Must be the long distance—distance makes the heart grow fonder and all that."

I shook my head. "No, it's just you."

Long distance was hard—but we were both pros after doing it for two years. This summer would be the first time since Edward had graduated high school that for longer than a month, we'd be in the same place. He got this amazing opportunity at an advertising firm in Seattle, and would sublet from one of Emmett's roommates who would be in New York for the summer.

Tomorrow, we would drive back to Seattle together, leaving the newlyweds to their stay-cation. It would take days, but we were going to stop at various National Parks on the way back, a small vacation between school and summer jobs.

"I'm excited to hear your Maid of Honor speech," Edward said.

"Ugh," I said. It took me hours to come up with it, and I still wasn't sure if it was any good. "Don't remind me. I'm just looking forward to our romantic getaway." I wiggled my eyebrows at him from the rearview mirror.

"Ah yes, hiking and being sweaty. How romantic."

"You should feel lucky to spend so much time cooped up in a car with me!" I laughed.

"Believe me, I do." He intertwined the fingers of his free hand through mine.

"Just in case you forgot, I love you," I said.

"I love you, too, Bella Swan. So much."