Hello all! I know, I know, it's been awhile. I apologize. I've working on another story for a contest as well as this one. Can't tell you about it because it's all anonymous and that would be breaking the rules. I'm a teacher – I like rules. I will post it to my profile when the contest is over though.

A special thanks to LadyExcalibur2010 for recommending FTLOA in one of her chapters. She is the first that I am aware of and I will always be grateful! Besides, her story, The Bigger They Are is all sorts of kick ass! In it, Soldierward meets Bella James, a military widow trying to raise four boys. It's really sweet and funny and her knowledge of the military is incredible. I highly recommend it.

Beware – we're getting to the hard stuff.

AN: I don't own Twilight.

Chapter 37

Preparations

BPOV

I cried all the way home from the airport.

Strike that. Charlotte and I cried all the way home from the airport. It had only been two days, but that had seemed to be enough to time to confirm that Seth and Charlotte had indeed found their soul mate in each other. You wouldn't know it from the tears streaming down my face, but I was really happy for both of them.

"A little over a month. That's all we have to wait before we see them again." I said trying to convince myself as well as Charlotte. She was coming with me to Los Angeles as Seth's date to the premier.

"Actually, I'll see Seth in three weeks." What? That's no fair.

"You bitch. How did you manage that one?" I really was joking but I couldn't felt the pang of jealousy I felt knowing that I really would have to wait the entire month.

"He has to come up to have his bone marrow harvested." Duh, how could I forget that? I can be so stupid sometimes.

"I still can't believe he's doing this for Alice. He is such a great guy." Charlotte sighed beside me.

'Yes, he really is." We rode in silence for a few minutes deep in our own thoughts before Charlotte spoke again. "Hey, what are you going to wear to the premier?" I was glad the conversation was taking on a lighter tone.

"You know, I really haven't thought about it."

"Are you serious, Bella? You're going to be on the red carpet as Edward Masen's date. He's the star of the freakin' movie. You can't show up looking like you're about to teach a class or chaperone a dance." I knew she was right. I wanted; no I needed to look good that night, for Edward. He had assured me over and over again that I was what he wanted and I believed him, I really did. I felt like I deserved to be at Edward's side, but for one night, I wanted to prove it to the rest of the whole fucking world. I wanted to show them real, as Edward put it, and glamorous. I wanted to impress, I just needed a plan.

When I got home, I took a good look in the mirror. Running regularly kept me in pretty good shape, but it didn't take care of all my problem areas. I had been meaning to incorporate some sort of upper body workout into my exercise for awhile anyway. I also needed to start watching what I ate. I was notorious for living on Pop Tarts, pretzels, and diet soda. I refused to go all Kate Olsen, but a healthier diet would benefit me in a lot of ways. My hair was okay. It could use a trim and maybe be some highlights, but nothing too drastic. I didn't really want to change myself, just spruce me up a bit.

I had a month to do just that. First, I made an appointment at a salon in Port Angeles to have my hair cut and highlights added. I scheduled it for two weeks before the premier so if I didn't like it there was time to fix it. Then I talked to Emmett about being my own personal trainer. Being an athlete, he knew what I need to do to really get in shape. I told him what I wanted and how long I had to achieve it and he developed a tailor made regimen specifically to meet my goals. I was to run three to five miles six days a week in the morning, then in the evening I would work with Emmett on a weight training program. He worked my hard, real hard. I felt great physically and mentally after each session. Emmett was great at motivating and pushing me and I could see him doing something like this in the future. However, when I mentioned it to him, he just shrugged.

"Hey, what's that all about?" I asked as I wiped the sweat from my face and neck. He shrugged again. "You're going to be a senior next year. Haven't you thought about what you want to do after high school?"

"Yeah, I've thought about it, but…" He started fiddling with the zipper of his gym bag. All of a sudden he was anxious. I had never seen him like this, ever.

"Emmett, what's wrong? We don't have to talk about this if you don't want to. It's okay." I placed my arm on his shoulder but he still wouldn't look at me.

"You know, you're the first person in a long time that has asked me about what I want to do after I graduate. And I mean, I get it, I really do. How can I even think about my future when Alice…when Alice may…" The sobbing started before he could finish his sentence. Suddenly I realized what all this was about. Everything going on with Alice was just about all this family could take right now. The uncertainty of the future made it difficult for anyone to even think that far ahead, even Emmett. He wasn't jealous about not getting any attention; he was just scared as hell for his baby sister.

"Emmett, sweetie…" I pulled him down for a hug and just let him cry. I had not seen him get emotional once since this whole thing started and he needed to get it out. He was hurting just like everyone else. I rubbed his back as he let out months of frustration and hurt. I didn't speak again until his tears began to subside. "Now I want you to listen to me. It's true, we do not know how this is going to end and it may not be the way we want it to, but that doesn't mean we can't have a positive outlook. It also doesn't mean that everyone else should just shut down and wait for the worst to happen, even you. The best thing you can do for Alice is continue to live your life to the fullest. Make plans, do things, and share it with her. How do you think she would react if she knew you were? We both know she would kick your ass." Emmett started to chuckle.

"Yeah, I guess she would." He sniffed and pulled away from my embrace. "But Mom and Dad, they just don't have the time..." I cut him off.

"Have you approached them and told them what you've been thinking?"

"Well no, but…"

"But what? They do need to focus on Alice's needs but you are their son too and they need to be mindful of your needs as well. They just need a little reminder. Talk to them, Em. They love you very, very much."

"I guess you're right."

"I'm always right. You know that." Emmett laughed as we started cleaning up the weights. "By the way, I think you would make a great personal trainer."

"It is something that I've thought about doing. I want to study sports medicine or something."

"Sounds like a perfect goal to me. I'm sure there are others who would think so too." I gave Emmett a knowing smile and was happy with the grin I received in return.

o~o~O~o~o

"I think…I think…" One look at Alice and I knew what she was thinking. I immediately grabbed the garbage can next to her bed and brought it up to her. Hugging it to her chest she emptied the contents of her stomach, which wasn't much. With the Moving Up Dance behind us, reality had set in. Chemo had begun. Intense chemo that was expected to knock the shit right out of her.

And it did.

One week. One week since Alice began chemo and already she looked like she did at the end of her past rounds. This chemo was meant to kill just about everything. It was literally breaking the cancer and her body down so that the bone marrow transplant would have a chance to succeed. Chemo treatments had not been kind to Alice in the past, but this was just devastating. She lost her hair, her energy, and everything she put into her stomach. It was just a matter of time before she wouldn't be able to come home in between treatments. We knew that this was going to happen, but no one was prepared for just how much Alice was going to suffer for this. It was obvious early on that she needed to have someone with her at all times.

The Cullens never asked and I never offered. They knew that I was helping simply because I wanted to and I knew just how much they appreciated it. We never had to say the words, it was just understood. I just started showing up at their house or the hospital, wherever Alice was at the time, with my laptop. I told them that I wanted Alice to help me pick out my dress for the premier. Alice, despite being battle weary, was ecstatic. I knew we would be combing through every designer site on-line until we found what Alice thought was the perfect dress. It would make things a little easier on Esme and Carlisle, make Alice happy, and help me find a dress. Let's face it; I was getting the best part of this deal. I had no fucking clue about picking out movie premier attire. I needed help and Alice knew everything about fashion.

I rubber her back until she felt like she was finished and handed me back the garbage can. She leaned back onto her pillows and I brought a cup of water with a straw up to her lips. She sipped it gingerly until her breathing evened out. I used a cool washcloth to wipe her forehead and face. "You okay, Hun?"

"Yeah, I feel a little better." Alice tried to smile a little but you could tell it was an effort. Can we go back to that Versace site? I want to see that black one again." I smiled and complied with what she wanted. She was so brave, much braver than anyone at her age should ever have to be.

The next few weeks pretty much followed the same routine: run, visit with Alice, work out with Emmett, and talk to Edward. I slowly noticed my body responding to my intense work out training and was pleasantly pleased. Overall, I was much more tone and all my curves were in the right spots. I was proud at my progress. I did it all through a healthy diet and exercise.

Take that all you liposuction/anorexic/bulimic Hollywood bitches. Especially you, Tanya Denali.

Alice and I finally found a dress that we both agreed on. It only took two weeks of on-line searching, but when Alice saw it, she knew it was the one. I, on the other hand, wasn't so sure. It was red, very red, and very form fitting. Alice called it a bandage dress, which was fitting because that's what it looked like. It had had little off the shoulder cap sleeves and hugged the body everywhere. I had never in my life has worn anything so…sexy.

"Why the heck have you been working so hard for if you aren't going to show off what you got?" Alice had her hand on her hips as she sat up in bed. "You show up wearing that dress and a killer pair of heels, Edward ain't gonna know what hit him. Isn't that what you want?"

Yes, it was what I wanted. Edward had already proven with his words and actions that I was all he wanted. He told me everyday how beautiful and sexy I was and that if anything, he didn't deserve me. I knew that was far from being true, but dammit, my goal for all this was prove to the world that I belonged with him. I wasn't going to do that looking like Miss Frumpadump. This dress was anything but frumpy and the red color would make me stand out whether I wanted to or not.

"You're right, Alice. E-mail it to Angela before I chicken out." I blurted out before I could think myself into not going through with it. I think Alice was worried about it too, because in less than two minutes she had already sent Angela everything she needed to know in order to get that dress. She had offered to order anything I and Charlotte needed so we didn't have to carry it on the plane.

"You are going to look so hot."

"That's the plan, I guess." Alice rolled her eyes at me. "Just don't tell Edward anything about the dress. I want to…surprise him." Despite his busy schedule, Edward had been calling Alice two or three times a day.

"Oh, he's going to be surprised alright. You just might shock him into nakedness."

"Alice!"

"What? Women all over the world would be on their hands and knees thanking you. Me, I'd rather not see the goods. It would be like that one time I accidently walked in on Emmett while he was getting out of the shower. So gross! I still knock at least four times just to be safe." She made a pretend gagging sound to emphasize her naked Emmett point.

"Okay, then, I think that's my cue to leave." The there was no way I was going to discuss Edward's nakedness with Alice, especially since I wouldn't be able to do it without turning bright red. "See you tomorrow, Hun?"

"Sure, but we've picked out the dress. Don't feel like you have to come over just for me. I know I'm not much fun to be with these days." She broke my heart.

"Nonsense, girl, you are fifty different kinds of fun. Besides, I need your help picking out shoes and accessories." Her grin could have lit up the Empire State Building."

"You better get here early then. We have work to do."

"I don't doubt that. See you tomorrow." I said as I gave her a kiss on the forehead.

o~o~O~o~o

The next few weeks were hectic to say the least and everything started to happen at once. A week before Alice was scheduled to receive her transplant she began to stay at the hospital. The chemo treatments were torturing her body and the doctors were afraid of her catching something due to her weak immune system. They thought they could isolate her and lessen the chances of that happening is she was admitted to the hospital. Alice didn't like it, but she went without a struggle. I think she secretly was relieved to go.

Seth flew in for his part of the procedure and I agreed to go with Charlotte to pick him up at the airport. I drove back while they got…reacquainted in the backseat of the car. Seeing them whisper and giggle and just be totally in love with each other made me miss Edward all the more. He had absolutely no time whatsoever. The movie premier was a little over two weeks away and he was booked solid.

A couple days later I went for my hair appointment in Port Angeles. I had about two inches of split ends cut off and still had hair that was pretty long. I hadn't even realized how bad my hair had gotten since getting it cut last…when did I get it cut? It's been so long I couldn't even remember. The hair dresser put in some subtle red highlights and I must admit, the looked remarkable. It wasn't extreme but it brightened me up considerably. Between the dress and the hair, I was feeling pretty confident about my appearance on the red carpet.

The bone marrow harvest went without a hitch and Charlotte was more than willing to nurse Seth back to health. His part of the procedure was relatively easy and there was only some mild discomfort that came along with it. Seth was still as proud as a peacock that he could do this for Alice. Still a little loopy from the anesthetic, he announced to everyone that there was 'more where that came from' as they were wheeling him out of the operating room. Charlotte was going to have her hands full with drugged up Seth.

Two days after Alice's last chemo treatment, the transplant was given. Alice was given a central line in order to administer the bone marrow as well as take the numerous blood samples needed without having to take it from her arms every time. I didn't know what to expect, but the actual transplant was uneventful. It was given kind of like a blood transfusion and it appeared that all was going well. But I guess that was supposed to be the easy part. The next two to four weeks was just a waiting game to see if Alice's body would accept Seth's bone marrow. She was going to feel like utter shit the whole time. The flu like symptoms would be ten times more intense than if she actually had the flu and she could have them for over a month. Probably the worst part was that contact with her had to be very limited. The chance of infection was too great and it was too much of a risk to let her have a lot of visitors. Anyone who did visit with her had to wear full scrubs, a mask, and gloves. Carlisle and Esme were the only ones who had unlimited visitation and that was only because Carlisle was a doctor who worked in the hospital.

As the days went on, everything the doctors said would happen happened. Alice suffered tremendously. I could see it in Esme's eyes every time she came out of her room that Alice was getting worse. Even though I was only allowed to see her for a couple of real short visits, I tried to be at the hospital for a couple hours a day just in case Carlisle or Esme needed something. Emmett, Jasper, and Rosalie were there any free time they had. Charlotte and Seth, who decided he was going to stay until it was time to leave for the premier, also came to the hospital every day to be supportive. Edward called me every few hours for an update. It was literally killing him that he couldn't be here.

"Honey, it's okay. She's asleep most of the time anyway. She doesn't have the energy to stay awake more than an hour or so at a time. Once the premier is over you'll be able to see her and hopefully she'll be much better by then." I tried to explain to him one night after I had gotten home from the hospital.

"It's not enough. I should be there for her, for you, for everyone." He sounded so frustrated, so helpless.

"You are right where Alice wants you to be. This is her movie too and it's your responsibility to be her voice. Be there for the both of you." This was not a new conversation. In fact, it seemed like we had this conversation at least a couple of times a week. He would be feeling so guilty for no being here and I had to remind him that he owed to Alice to promote the hell out of it. He also owed it to himself because he had worked really fucking hard on that movie too and I knew he was proud of it.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." He paused before speaking again. "I miss you."

"I miss you too. Only a couple more days. I can't wait. So what's on the agenda? I've never been to a premier before." I subtly changed the subject.

"Well, you're flying in Thursday morning, right?"

"Yeah, I think our plane lands around ten."

"Unfortunately I'm going to be stuck all day doing pre-premier interviews and such, so I won't be able to see you until it's time to go. Angela is going to pick you and Charlotte up and then the three of you are going to have a spa day. Then you'll go to Angela's apartment to get ready. Ben, Seth, and I will come meet you there. We'll have a drink and then head over in the limo."

"I'll be in California eight hours before I get to see you. That's not acceptable." I whined.

"Sorry, baby. It can't be helped. But I totally plan on making it up to you after the premier. Friday is ours. There's nothing on the schedule except you in my bed, all day." I could feel myself getting wet just thinking about it.

"That sounds heavenly." I sighed.

"You're gonna think you're in heaven. I'll make sure of that, multiple times." His voice took on that low, husky quality that made me unscrupulously horny. My inner slut was just begging to come out and play.

"Is that a promise?" I tried to be seductive but I was sure I just sounded ridiculous.

"Oh, you have no idea Bella." I shivered with delight.

"What about Saturday? Can we stay in bed that day too?"

"As much as I would love to, we can't. We have to go to the run." Oh yes, the run. I can't believe I forgot. Edward and the National Bone Marrow Donor Program had teamed up to organize a 5K Run to support the organization. Donations would go directly to the program and there was also going to be a mobile testing station. They thought it would garner more participation by doing it in the wake of the premier hype. Edward had also called up celebrities personally and got them to commit their participation. Anyone could sign up and having those celebrities would certainly bring out a lot more people. Edward also planned on running. That alone would attract women who just wanted to watch, because who the hell wouldn't want to watch Edward run? Edward and sweat are a great combination. I know first hand.

"Oh, that's right. Hey, can you sign me up? I'd like to run." I could hear Edward chuckle a little.

"Sweetie, you do know that 5K is really 3.1 miles. Are you sure you're up to it? It's kind of long." I hadn't told him that I had been running five miles a day for a month because I wanted to surprise him with the results. But now this was an opportunity I could not pass up.

"Really? That is a long distance." I said a little tentatively. "I think I could do it. In fact…" I paused for effect. "...I think I could beat you." I knew he had absolutely no time to train for this. His ass was grass.

"Now, now little girl. Don't be betting out of your ass. You know how I am with bets. I take paying up very seriously."

"Yes, I know. I have a picture of you with your autograph written with a hot pink sharpie on display in my bedroom to prove it. I still think I could take you." That little dig just spurned him on even more.

"Okay, what are the terms of the bet?" I could tell he was plotting and planning. He thought he had this one in the bag.

Sucker.

"I'm going to have to think about it. How about if we discuss the terms when I get there after we've had a little time to really consider what we would like."

"We could do that. But I have to let you know, I won't go easy on you." His tone was threatening and sounded so sexy.

And then he yawned.

As much as I would have liked to take this conversation further in more ways than one, we were both exhausted and needed sleep.

"I wouldn't want it any other way, cowboy." I responded before yawning myself.

A few minutes later I was snuggling under my covers thinking about what I wanted out of the bet. There were so many possibilities. It was going to be hard to narrow it down to just one. Whatever it was, it had to be good, because there was one thing I was absolutely sure of.

I was going to fucking win.

Poor Alice! We knew this was going to happen but it doesn't make it any easier. The premier is next. I've posted a link to Bella's dress on my profile. Looking forward to all of your wonderful reviews!

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