A/N Here we go! The start of Homecoming! I know you all are excited for Bella to ask the big question, but that'll be next chapter I believe (I need to reread it! haha) I guess my comment the other day had some of you thinking this story was almost over, but no. We're just over the halfway point. I wrote epilogue number one yesterday (there will be two) and that's 16 chapters from now, so yeah, plenty more to come. I have two outtakes to write as well, the shopping trip and another one I know is going to be wanted. As to any others, we'll see. But I like keeping OUT of Edward's head in this one bc we get to discover along with Bella what the boy is thinking/feeling, through his actions, and soon, his words. Very soon :)

I'm glad everyone enjoyed the extra posting this week! It's hard for me to keep up with reviews this way, but I love sharing the chapters with you. It's likely going to be 2 a week from here on out, but with the holidays I'm not making promises yet. We'll see what's going on. You'll definitely get your Sunday chapter (or maybe Sat next weekend due to travel).

Also, Dec 20 we're allowed to post our compilation pieces. I am likely going to break mine up into a few pieces and I'm probably waiting until into the new year to do it, but it'll be coming soon, so be on the lookout! I'll be expanding it as well, but not until after this one is all squared away. My days of doing 2 or 3 fics at a time are long done! I laugh when I remember writing WWF and WWS at the same time as First and then throwing Sideline into the mix. Crazytown! Those authors that can juggle so many earn my respect and awe.

At some point today I'm going to post links/pics on my Facebook of dresses/hair/etc. I'm Nole Bucgrl over there if you want to see!

I loved all the love for Elizabeth! We get some more of her now. Happy reading and I'll see you soon!

To All the Boys Chapter 20

"I can't thank you enough for letting me be part of this, Bella."

I sent a smile at Elizabeth through the mirror, seeing as I was unable to turn around while she styled my hair.

"I should be the one thanking you. I can't say that I'm an expert at the whole being a girl thing, not when it comes to hair and makeup."

"That's because you don't need an ounce of it. Your skin glows." She touched my cheek lightly. "I remember way back when I didn't need makeup either."

Please. "You could easily pass as Edward's slightly older sister if you wanted to." I might have been exaggerating a little, but she really did look to be much closer to thirty than to forty.

Elizabeth let out a delighted laugh. "Slightly older my not-so-toned butt! But you're sweet to say so."

I shook my head slightly, careful not to mess with whatever she was doing back there. "I'm being honest. You're beautiful."

She smiled at that. "Thank you. I'm glad you think so." She sighed. "It's been a long time since I've heard that."

No way. "Then you can't have been listening. I'm sure everyone thinks so."

Elizabeth just waved a hand that. "I'm a thirty-nine-year-old divorcee. Men aren't exactly lining up to date me."

Hmm. We were in some murky waters here, but I had questions that I wanted to ask, and whenever the subject came up with Edward, he tended to clam up or switch topics or kiss me. I preferred the latter option, needless to say.

"Well, I can't say anyone was anxious to date me either, until I had a run-in with your son."

She laughed at that. "I don't believe it. I think you probably weren't seeing it because you weren't looking."

I smiled. I had her. "One could say the same for you."

Her pretty green eyes met mine in the mirror as she thought about it. "Okay, it's possible. I haven't exactly thought about dating since my divorce."

And there was my opening. "Edward doesn't talk about it much."

She smiled ruefully. "That doesn't surprise me. I think he took the whole thing worse than I did."

That was strange. "Why?" Then I realized that maybe I was being pushy, and I didn't want to make her hate me. "Sorry. Maybe you don't want to talk about it."

"No. I don't mind. Edward was blindsided by it, the way that kids are because they're mostly oblivious unless their parents are fighting constantly, and we weren't. We'd been growing apart for a while, well before Carlisle met Esme." She scrunched up her face. "That's not to say that I was okay with it when he told me he'd fallen in love with someone else, but I wasn't surprised either."

That was sad. I couldn't imagine falling out of love with someone I was supposed to spend my life with. As awful as my mom's illness had been, she and Dad had been solid right up until the day she died.

"I'm sorry."

She smiled as she tucked a curl behind my ear. "Don't be. Ending it was right for both of us. I can't say we're friends, but I bear Carlisle no ill will."

That was a good thing. "But why is Edward so angry with him?"

Elizabeth put her hand on my shoulder. "Because he needed someone to blame, and Carlisle was the one who left, in his eyes. I couldn't stay in the house we'd started our lives in, so we moved, and even if it was only a few blocks, he got uprooted. And his father got married and had another kid. He won't admit it, but I'm sure he feels replaced. Carlisle tried to spend time with him when we first divorced, but Edward resisted, and he was old enough that we had to respect his opinion. You can't pass a teenager back and forth if he doesn't want it."

It made sense, but I was still sad for him. "I think he's missing out."

She smiled sadly. "He is. I've loved watching him with Alice these past couple of weeks. She's definitely filling the role of the little sister he never had."

I had to laugh at that. Edward and Alice had bonded like peanut butter and jelly. He happily helped her with homework when she needed it, they watched movies together while I finished mine, and though he wouldn't let her use colored nail polish on his nails, he did endure clear coats along with his manicures.

"They're so cute together."

"They are. And I hope being around her makes him start to think about the little brother he barely knows. I know someday he'd regret not getting to know him."

He would. I was going to have to try to find a way to get Edward to see his little brother without making him angry at me. I'd have to think about that some more.

"Okay, it's perfect. Face me."

I stood and turned toward Elizabeth. She held up a mirror so that I could see the back of my head in the big bathroom mirror. Holy crap.

"Wow."

My hair looked amazing. I mean, it looked like a model's hair, because mine had never looked that good before. I had no idea how she'd done it, but somehow it was all up, pinned and shellacked in place by the hairspray she'd kept squirting. I had two pretty flowered combs in, one on each side, and my hair was a mass of curls, most of them curling back into each other and staying up, with several strands hanging down on the sides and in the back. It was stunning.

I turned and gave Elizabeth a hard hug. "Thank you! It's beautiful!"

She laughed and hugged me back. "I always loved doing my hair and wished I had a daughter whose hair I would have played with for hours on end. But I got a son who never had any interest in having long hair."

I giggled at that and pictured Tanya's new boyfriend with his ponytail. Thank God Edward wasn't into that. It just didn't work for me.

"Now, put on that gorgeous dress my son helped pick out, and I'll help finish your face."

Wasn't my face finished already? No, I needed darker make up to go with the dress and the fantastic hair.

Elizabeth left me while I stepped into the dress and slid it up my body. Man, it was pretty. And I was pretty in it. Last night I'd felt beautiful, but tonight I somehow felt even more so.

"Can you zip me up?" I called.

She came back in and let out a little gasp when she saw me. "You're going to put every other girl at that dance to shame."

I didn't know about that, but I knew I looked like I belonged. Elizabeth zipped me up and then started in with the makeup brushes and such. I just closed my eyes and held still while she powdered and penciled and all that stuff.

"There." She stepped back and beamed at me. "Take a look."

I glanced in the mirror, and oh boy.

"You're absolutely stunning." Elizabeth took out her phone and started snapping pictures. "Edward's going to swallow his tongue when he sees you."

I smiled, because really, he just might. And wouldn't that be awesome?

"I hope so."

"It won't be long before we find out. He should be here in about ten minutes. Let's put on your shoes, and see about some jewelry."

"I don't have that much," I told her as we went back into my bedroom. I put on the pendant Edward had given me. "I can see what my mom…" I broke off as she reached into the huge bag she'd brought with her with all the hair and face stuff, bringing out a couple of velvet boxes.

"I brought these. I think they'll look perfect on you."

She flipped open the smaller box, and holy crap, they were diamond earrings. At least they looked like diamond earrings. Two long white-gold drops that fell straight down to a pear shape, covered with a bunch of tiny diamonds.

"I couldn't possibly wear those." If I lost them, I would die.

"Of course you can. They're doing nothing but sitting in my jewelry box." She held one up to my ear and gestured to the mirror over my desk. "They're perfect with your hair and dress. You need something dramatic in your ears with your hair all up like that."

I couldn't deny that they looked like they were made for the dress. Elizabeth, sensing victory, slid the first one into my ear and then did the other.

"Yes! Now, one final thing."

And out came a bracelet that was also probably made out of diamonds. "I can't."

"You can." She cupped my chin gently. "They're just things, Bella. I want you to wear them, to thank you for letting me have this time with you and for the happiness you've brought to my son. I know he was down after Tanya broke up with him, and I hated to see him hurting. I didn't like that girl, but he saw something in her that I didn't." She shrugged. "I worried that he'd wait around for her, but then you came along, and he's smiling more than I've seen him smile since his dad moved out. You did that. Let me do a little something for you, something your mom would have done if she'd been here."

I sighed as she slid the slim bracelet around my wrist. "My mom didn't have diamonds like this." We couldn't begin to afford them.

"It doesn't matter whether the jewelry is expensive or not. It's the meaning behind it."

I touched the pendant Edward had given me and knew that she was right about that. "Thank you. I promise that I'll get them back to you in perfect condition." Seriously, if it came down to choosing my bodily harm or the diamonds, I was going to take the bullet.

She smiled. "I'm not worried about that." She snapped the bracelet box closed. "I had a necklace for you to wear too, but I think I like you wearing the one my son gave to you."

I clasped my hand around the little book. "I only take it off to shower and sleep."

"And that's what I meant about the meaning behind jewelry." She hugged me. "I love that. Now, let's go show your sister and dad how beautiful you are."

I held on to Elizabeth's arm walking down the stairs, not wanting to tumble down and hurt myself, ruining the night before it really started.

"Oh my God!" Ali shouted as I stepped into the living room. "You're so pretty, Bella!"

"Thanks, Ali." I planted myself as best I could as she launched herself into my arms.

"It looks so good on you! And your hair! Can you do that to my hair, Miss Lizzie?"

Elizabeth chuckled and tugged on Alice's locks. "I think you deserve your own hairdo."

"Yay! Can you do it after Edward and Bella leave?"

"Uh, if that's okay with your dad," Elizabeth said uncertainly because Dad was just sitting there staring at us.

"Dad?" I asked.

A slow smile stole over his face as Dad got to his feet. "Bells. You're beautiful. You look so much like your mom."

I felt tears prick my eyes as he pulled me into a hug. Only fear of ruining Elizabeth's work kept me from letting them fall. I'd never looked like Mom. Rose had.

"Do you really think so?" I asked, thinking maybe he'd said it to be nice.

"Of course, baby." He pulled back and smiled at me. "Your coloring is all mine, but that gorgeous face is all your mom's."

"Thanks, Dad."

He smiled. "Edward's going to be blown away." He turned to Elizabeth. "Thank you for getting Bells all done up. I can't say that I've ever been any good at that stuff."

I giggled as I remembered some very lopsided ponytails. "But you tried, and that's all that mattered."

I was pretty sure Dad blinked away a couple of tears. "You're all grown up. I don't think I'm ready for it."

"You still have me, Daddy," Alice chirped, throwing her arms around his waist.

"That I do, sweetie. No growing up like your sisters did, okay?" He ruffled her hair.

"But I want to grow up so I can wear pretty dresses and do my hair up, like Bella!" she declared.

Dad laughed. "Okay, but let's wait a few years yet, baby. Give your old man some time."

"Okay. I guess."

We all laughed at Ali's begrudging acceptance of staying young for a while longer. Like she had a choice in the matter.

The bell rang, and I felt my stomach flutter a little bit as Elizabeth lit up and grabbed her camera from the hall table.

"One second. I want to get a picture of his face the second he lays eyes on you."

The fluttering got a little faster, but Dad waited until she waved at her hand at him to open the door. I stood off to the side, just out of view.

"Hello, Edward," Dad said as his mom declared him "so handsome." I hadn't even seen him yet, and I knew that to be true.

"Okay, Bella," she called, and I took a deep breath before stepping into the hallway.

I kept my eyes on Edward's face, wanting to see what his mother was so anxious to capture. What I saw was a slow, sexy grin stretch across his face, followed by a little gulp. I wasn't sure what that was, but I was sure that he liked what he saw, when he said my name and held out a hand for me.

I took his hand in mine, and then I laughed because he twirled me around, swinging me out and pulling me back to him smoothly, much like he had in the cafeteria with the whole pocket move the day we became a "couple."

"You're absolutely gorgeous," he murmured, still with that dazzling smile.

"Thank you. So do you."

It was nothing but the truth. Edward Cullen was handsome on a regular day, but him put in a tux and that got multiplied by infinity or something. His tux was black and fit perfectly, and I suspected that he owned rather than rented. Lucky rich people. I loved that his little pocket square was navy blue to match my dress.

I vaguely heard the snap of Elizabeth's camera, over and over, and noticed that my dad was also wielding his phone and getting our picture. Ali was bouncing up and down, clapping her hands.

"You look like people in the movies," she told us, which was a high compliment indeed.

Edward chuckled and pulled a white rose out of nowhere, handing it to my sister. "A small thank-you for picking out that amazing dress your sister is wearing."

I swear to God, my little sister's face flushed and she fluttered her hands before taking the rose. "Thank you. It's pretty."

"So are you," Edward told her, kissing the top of her head. Mr. Smooth was on his game tonight. I was in big trouble.

He grinned at his mom. "Do you have it?"

Have what? It better not be any more jewelry. I already felt like I should have armed guards shadowing my every step.

"Of course, honey. Let me go get it."

And with that, she was off to my kitchen for some unknown reason. I was mystified until Elizabeth came back with a box with some flowers inside and handed it to Edward.

He opened the box and took out the corsage, which had white roses and navy and silver ribbons entwined together. It was so pretty. Edward took my left hand, the one without the diamond bracelet, and slid the corsage onto my wrist.

"There. Now you're perfect."

I started to shake my head, but he reached up and cupped my cheek. "Perfect." And the camera was clicking away as his lips met mine in a sweet, soft kiss.

Dad cleared his throat, which had us breaking apart quickly.

"Ahem. Well, we can all agree that Bella looks perfect. And I trust she'll come home in exactly the same condition?"

Edward nodded, his eyes still on me.

"Good." Dad turned to me. "Have a wonderful time tonight, baby. You're so beautiful."

I felt the tears wanting to start again and tried to frantically blink them away. "Thanks, Dad."

Elizabeth stopped taking pictures long enough to hug both of us. "Have a great time! Buy the biggest picture package they have," she ordered her son, who laughed and agreed.

"You're so pretty, Bella," Alice murmured, wrapping her arms around my waist.

"I had to start taking after my sisters sometime," I told her, making her giggle. "Thanks, Ali."

She hugged Edward. "Thanks for my flower."

"Thanks for being an awesome shopping buddy, Cat. I expect you to help me with Christmas this year."

She giggled some more. "Okay. I have ideas!"

"I just bet you do."

Edward turned to me and offered his arm. "Ready?"

And for once, I really was. "Yes. Let's do this."