A/N: Just to refresh your memory, Delilah is Alice's dog (mentioned in Ch. 8), and Fang is Bella's cat, a gift from Emmett (Ch. 5 of More Than A Beautiful Mess).

Links for all the dresses are on my profile.

Thank you to my betas for keeping my grammar in check: bittenev, Tracey, halojones.

Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. I just made up this story and borrowed her characters for their star power.

…and so the story continues…

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Ch. 20 Let's Go Shopping Part I

BPOV (Memory)

The day had finally arrived for me to go shopping for my wedding dress, and other wedding necessities. Of course, Alice and Rosalie could not be more thrilled. I must admit for once I was actually looking forward to this outing with my friends, and both of my mothers, Renee, and Esme. It wasn't hard for me to be a happy camper because honestly, I was. I, Isabella Marie Swan, soon-to-be Mrs. Edward Anthony Masen Cullen, was buzzing with excitement.

I could hardly sit still waiting for Renee and Esme to arrive. This must be what it feels like to be Alice. How could I not be excited, this was just one more step towards Edward and I being bound together for eternity. It was impossible for me not to be happy.

I handed most aspects of the day over to Alice, who more than willingly accepted the challenge. I told her as long as our first destinations were to area bridal shops where I hoped to find my dress, then I would go along with whatever else she had planned for the day without complaint.

As I sat on the couch lazily running my feet over Delilah's plump belly trying to calm my nerves, Fang sauntered over and made himself comfortable in my lap. How is it, that pets had the uncanny ability to sense your moods, and know exactly what they need to do to help sooth your soul?

Alice had been hounding me about this day from the moment we'd arrived back in Seattle after our trip to Vegas, saying, "we have to get out there, or we're going to miss out on all the best dresses," noting that June was the busiest month for weddings. I'd put her off for three months, and now she had me worried that I wouldn't be able to find the dress that just "screamed" me.

It didn't help that I had absolutely no idea what exactly I wanted in a dress. None of the endless hours we'd spent perusing Alice's stacks and stacks of bride magazines had even begun to help me narrow my focus. I just had this strange feeling it wasn't for me to find a dress, but for a dress to find me.

Alice bounced around, prattling on and on about our plans for the day, her adorable maternity shirt sprung along with her. She had recently given up, throwing in the towel so to speak, trying to fit into "normal" clothes any longer. She unconsciously ran her hand soothingly across her now prominent baby bump. I don't know if it was her petite size or if she was just going to be one of those women that became unusually large as her little one grew inside her, but her belly was growing at an alarming rate. She was just three months along, but looked to be much, much farther along. Yikes!

While she and Jasper were ecstatic at the prospect of becoming parents, the pregnancy had in no way been planned. They had merely been too "liquored up", as Emmett liked to put it, that suiting up before the mission never even crossed their minds on their wedding night. I know it seems cliché, but they were havin' themselves a honeymoon baby. Now here they were the first in our little gang on their way to becoming parents.

Wow, I never saw that one coming; I don't think any of us did. Rosalie and Emmett yes, but Alice and Jasper no. It was Rose who adored children the most out of the three of us girls, and longed to be a mom more than anything else in the whole world. I mean,she already had names and everything picked out. She even had a small hope chest filled to the brim with everything baby. But, her sensible side was in control at the time, and she and Emmett vowed to do their best to hold out until the both of them had graduated from college. I had a feeling once she held Alice's little one she was going to be itching more than ever to expand her own family sooner rather than later.

No sooner did we hear Renee and Esme pull into the driveway and Alice had me on my feet, tripping over the dog and sending the cat scurrying away. Clutching my hand tightly she dragged me out the door, and towards Esme's awaiting Mercedes. Rosalie followed behind us laughing at Alice's enthusiasm. Her behavior did not surprise us in the least; it was in her nature to be over zealous, especially when it came to shopping.

"Hey moms," I smiled at Renee and Esme as I leaned over the front seat to kiss both of them on the cheek. Esme's eyes sparkled as she beamed with sheer happiness; this was the reaction I got from her every time I referred to her as mom. Calling her mom just seemed the natural thing to do with the wedding only a few months away. She had been a second mom to me since Edward and I first started dating, and I was thrilled to finally get to call her by her rightly earned title. If Renee had a problem with it, she never let on. She and Esme had become the best of friends over the past few years. She seemed honored to share the title and me with her dear friend.

I had insisted that our first stop be at Bridal Encore, an upscale consignment shop. I had no intention on blowing a crap load of money on a dress I'd never wear again. I had suggested even renting a gown, but Alice wouldn't hear of it.

"Absolutely not, Isabella Swan," she had chided. "It will be a cold day in hell when I allow you to wear a rented gown for the most important day of your life. Not happening." The fierceness in her eyes had been absolutely terrifying.

She wasn't thrilled about the fact that I was actually considering wearing a used dress either. But I assured her that fabulous treasures could be had in consignment shops just like any other bridal store. I even showed her photographic evidence from my cousin's wedding proving what I said was true.

My cousin Mindy had the most beautiful gown I'd ever laid eyes on, and had only paid a fraction of the original price because someone else had worn it once. With a simple cleaning and a few alterations it fit her like it had been tailor made just for her. No one could tell someone else had worn it previously.

"Recycled bridal wear," Alice threw her hands up in disgust. "What is this world coming too? Please tell me you're not going to fill the rest of your trousseau from one of these shops. I won't hear of you wearing used panties. Rose, a little help here," she pleaded for someone to side with her.

Renee and Esme chuckled from the front seat, knowing for once this was a battle I was willing to fight, and would in the end win. But like the good mothers they were, they stayed out of the whole 'sibling' showdown. They would have taken my side in a heartbeat should I have needed assistance getting Alice under control though. I was the bride after all, and what the bride wants, the bride gets, even if her best friend just happens to be the world's most opinionated fashion diva.

"Really Alice, what's the harm in looking? What will it hurt? If it makes Bella happy, then that's all that matters. I'm sure if we're not successful in finding a dress at the stores she has selected she's going to ask you for advice. End of story, now quit your fussing it's not going to change a thing. Plus we are here, we may as well go in and see what they have," I sent Rose a warm smile of thanks. She was the only one Alice would ever listen to without giving any lip in return. She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest like a six year old in defeat.

Rose's wedding gown my not have been second hand, but it wasn't ordered directly off the runways of Milan either. If Alice had her way, we'd all be on a plane heading to Italy right this minute.

My eyes brightened as we entered the store. I was amazed that such a little shop would have this large of a selection. Of course each dress was one of a kind and only came in one size, but that challenge only seemed to excite me more. Surely if I found my dress ina store such as this, it was a sign it was meant to be.

I quickly tried on the few dresses they had in my size, none of which I found the least bit appealing. This was obviously going to take longer than I'd first thought. We all piled back into the car, and were off to Déjà vu, the next store I had listed for Alice.

She rolled her eyes shaking her head. "Please can we go to one of my stores if this one doesn't pan out," she pouted and fluttered her eyelashes at me. Neither I, nor the rest of the world would ever be able to escape the signature 'Cullen family puppy dog eyes', it was just too powerful.

"Okay, Alice. But just one," I agreed to appease her. It really was hard to see her unhappy. She did have a knack for getting her way by laying on the guilt pretty thick. I was waiting for her to say the baby had a problem with my choice of stores. I definitely wouldn't put it past her.

When we got to the store, I quickly went to the rack designated for my size. Alice plopped down on the bench at the front of the store in a huff. As soon as my hands fell on the strapless corseted gown, I knew it was the dress for me. I didn't even have to try it on to know I wanted it. In Alice's own words this dressed definitely "screamed" me. My heart fluttered with anticipation of seeing what it would look like when I tried it on.

"It's perfect," the sales associate nodded, seeing my appraising expression.

"I know," I smiled. "Can you help me get it on without the others noticing," I asked. She motioned for me to move towards a fitting room. I did my best to contain my excitement that was threatening to bubble up.

With everyone else off looking at other things, it wasn't hard to slip into the fitting room unnoticed, and slide the dress on. I opened the door so that the sales girl could zip me up. Exiting the dressing room, I stepped up on the platform with her assistance, still surprised that everyone else was still preoccupied with their own treasure hunts. As I turned towards the mirrors I gasped, my eyes instantly filling with tears. This is it! My mind screamed.

Other than the hem, no alterations would be necessary. The bodice fit me like a glove, the pleated skirt reminded me of one of those period movies where you see the bride running through a garden with her hair and dress flowing sinuously in the wind behind her.

"This is it!" I said jovially, as the sale girl handed me a tissue so I wouldn't stain the dress. I swear she too had tears in her eyes. Wow, it must look as good I think it does.

As I began to turn to the right to examine the dress from a different angle an ear-piercing squeal rang throughout the store. "Oh my goodness! Oh! My! Goodness!" Alice cried as she ran towards me propelling herself onto the platform. Pregnancy had not slowed her down one bit; she was just as spunky as ever.

Alice's shrieking alerted the rest of my bridal entourage, and they all immediately made their way to where she and I stood admiring the fine ensemble of silk and lace. As soon as Renee and Esme saw me they both gasped, their eyes welling with tears. I hope this store has stock in Kleenex because we were going to be using a lot of them today. Rose smiled her award-winning smile, and nodded showing me she approved. I think her and Alice were the only two with dry eyes in the store.

With my mothers on either side of me we all gazed at my reflection. As our eyes met they both said as if they shared the same mind, "It's beautiful. You're beautiful," they cooed.

Renee reached for my hair, twisting it up behind my head. "Yes," Esme agree. "You should definitely wear your hair up," she ran her hand along the side of my head to smooth my hair back.

"Great minds think a like," Alice chirped, in complete agreement with Renee and Esme.

"Wrap it up. We're taking it," Renee instructed the sales girl.

"Well, that was easy," Rosalie chimed in. "With our biggest challenge accomplished, now all we need to do is find dresses for Alice and me."

Alice jumped up and down clapping her hands, no doubt excited at the prospect of finally getting to go to a store of her choice. But unbeknownst to her, I'd already found the dresses I thought would work perfectly for the two of them. A few weeks ago I stopped at Macy's to buy my mom a birthday gift and on a whim decided to see if they had anything that would work for bridesmaid dresses.

I was thrilled to find exactly what I wanted and they even had something in a maternity size that would work for Alice. The dresses complimented each other perfectly. I had even found shoes that would look great with both dresses. I believe once they saw what I'd selected they be proud to see that all their years of fashion advice had finally come full circle.

Now all I had to do is convince Alice that brown was a perfectly acceptable color for a wedding. I mean it was neutral, and would make a perfect backdrop for the array of bright and colorful flowers Alice was insisting I had to have. I couldn't have agreed with her more on that point.

Once again Alice sat in the car and hummed and hawed about where we were going. She sure was being moody today. I wonder if she'd finally reached that point in her pregnancy. I told her that if she and Rose didn't like what I'd selected, I'd take a step back and let her have full reign on the selection of the matrons of honor dresses, but she had to at least try on what I'd picked out. I think she was more miffed about the fact that I'd taken a trip to the mall without her than the fact that I'd found dresses that I liked.

I had Rosalie's interest piqued when I explained the dresses I'd found. She was looking forward to seeing what I'd picked out, but mostly she wanted to see if all to the fashion training she and Alice had put me through had finally paid off.

I had everyone wait at the dressing rooms while I went to get the dresses I had on hold. I didn't want to risk them being gone by the time my shopping day arrived. When I met them with the dress in hand, Alice's signature mood had returned, she was bouncing with anticipation. I don't know if someone had given her a talking to or if she was just having another hormonal mood swing. Whatever it was, I was happy to see our Alice back in action.

"Brown, Bella, that's perfect. That is so the in color now," Alice beamed as she retrieved the dresses from my hand.

"Well, Alice. It looks like all those endless hours of mall training weren't a waste after all," Rose cooed as she held her dress up for appraisal. "They're beautiful, Bella. I think they are going work perfectly with what you and Alice have planned."

My heart swelled. This was a first. I had finally arrived. Isabella Marie Swan was finally in the know when it came to fashion. A thrill of satisfaction ran through me. I wonder if this meant fewer trips to the mall? Oh, that's wishful thinking Bella;with two shop-a-holics as your best friends, that is never going to happen.

They quickly tried them on and absolutely loved them. I'd even selected the correct sizes for both of them. Yes, I had finally arrived, fashion diva Bella was in the house.

My mind wandered as Esme drove us towards our next destination. Alice and the others chatted excitedly about what was next on our agenda. I probably should have been paying more attention; but with my dress tucked safety in the trunk of Esme's car, all was right in my world.

In my mind I had everything I needed for my perfect wedding, my Prince Charming, and the world's most beautiful dress. Seriously, what else could a girl ask for? I'd be even happier if I was marrying the love of my life this weekend. But I was a big girl; I would be patient and wait three months, UGH! Three months, I kept telling myself, would be here before I knew it.

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A/N: I hope you got a chance to check out the dresses. I actually based part of this chapter off of my sister's discovery of her wedding gown. Her dress was absolutely beautiful, and oh-my-goodness, was second hand. lol Also, I have nothing against rented dresses either, my grandmother's rented gown looked it came right out of Queen Elizabeth's wardrobe.

THANK YOU for reading my story. I know this is not a recent post, but I still read, appreciate, and respond to all reviews. Just a couple of words would really make my day. :)