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Aw, shit, guys. Sorry! What else can I say? I won't do it again?

I'm just going to let you guys know that once this story & Coffee House are done and dusted, I probably won't write any more. I guess that part of me is going. It's somewhere very far away.


Chapter 37- Contended

My back arched and I dug my nails into Jasper's chest as he shuddered beneath me.

"I love you," I managed, before my world shattered again.

The high was indescribable when Jasper and I joined. When I finally came down, I slumped against Jasper's chest and he kissed my forehead. It reminded me of a previous time on an uncomfortable sofa when my forehead was slick with the sweat of exertion and ecstasy.

I eyed my third finger as it lay on Jasper's chiseled chest. "This probably isn't the time-" I began, drawing circles on his collarbone, "but I have a question I need to ask you."

"And what's that my beautiful?"

"How can we get married when Edward and I are still...technically married?"

"Well, put some clothes on, because you have about 50 seconds."

I jumped up and pulled clothes on before saying, "50 seconds until what?"

"Until I come in to explain, silly!" Alice said, smiling from the doorway.

"Al, that was way less than 50 seconds," Jasper chastised.

Sometimes I thought that if Flynn and I died, Jasper and Alice would reunite. Especially when they looked at each other like that.

I quickly pushed away the thought and started talking. "So, would you like to explain?"

"Before Edward left, I had him sign some documents – seeing as how he owed me a favor. And later on, I got you to sign a credit card bill. Using some cunning, I had you and Edward successfully divorced before you and Jasper even started considering the prospect of marriage."

"So...I haven't been legally married to Edward in years?"

"Decades." Alice said.

I was slightly conflicted for a second, before simultaneously hugging and hitting Alice.

"I hate to steal your thunder, Bella, but Flynn and I are also engaged to be married." Sheepishly Alice looked from under her eyelashes.

"Oh, of course not! I'm so happy for you, congratulations!" I paused. "That means we can have a-"

"I know!" Alice cut in, having seen this already. "And guess what- I've already planned a large wedding for you, so fitting us all in won't take much work! I've already sent out invites this morning!"

"You've what?" I spat. "Without telling me? When is it? What about my dress?"

"I know you'll like everything, this just saves time because the wedding is next Thursday, and your dress is measured exactly to your size and is in the back of my closet."

"Next Thursday? It's Sunday today Alice! For God's sake!" I stared furiously at Jasper while he tried to control his laughter. I inhaled, and turned back to Alice. "Okay. Thank you for going to all this trouble. Can I see the dress?"

"Yes, I suppose you can," she smiled. "Would you like to see mine?"

"I'd love that," I said, grabbing a jacket and following her. "Have you gotten Esme and Rosalie's dresses too?"

"Yes, I'm assuming you're steadfast on your decision to have Rosalie as your Maid of Honor?"

"Yep – and what color are the dresses?"

"A candy pink – they're quite Grecian styled dresses." I nodded as we slipped into hers' and Flynn's room.

My dress was fascinating. A beautiful monstrosity of silk and tulle, it was whiter, larger, and more extravagant than my first wedding dress by more than a mile. I loved it.

Alice's dress was pleated, a simple a-line dress, small compared to mine and I wondered why she hadn't gone full out, but she answered for me.

"My first wedding dress was rather a simple one, and I like the idea of cementing the relationship simply. When we renew our vows I'll wear a big dress- it would have swamped me anyway." She smiled cheekily.

Esme and Rosalie's dresses were a pastel pink, strapless and silky. I imagined it would fit Esme's look better than Rosalie with her voluminous hair and striking beauty, but Alice would undoubtedly soften both.

The two then appeared in the door, watching us trying on our dresses and ooh-ing in the correct spaces.

After I'd slipped my dress back into its protective bag, I turned to Rose.

"I know Alice has probably already told you, but I want to ask you officially – will you be my Maid of Honor?"

Her pale face lit up and she rushed forward to wrap her arms around me. "Thank you so much Bella," she pulled back to look at me. "I'm so glad it's finally happening for you and Jasper, it's taken you two so long, and now it's all falling into place."

I beamed back at her, ignoring the nagging feeling that the war might pull us in opposite directions from one another.

Alice and Rose went to the bathroom and began to talk about hair and make up for the wedding at length.

I turned to Esme, suddenly wishing I had something to say to her. Was she wondering why I had chosen Rosalie over her, when she and I had been practical enemies for most of my human life? She sat down on the swelling cushions of Alice's sofa.

"I can't believe it's finally happening," she said, breaking the silence. "In the best way, of course. Yours and Jasper's wedding – there was a long time where I thought it would never happen. When I thought you'd never get your memory back."

"I suppose there was a long time where I thought so too." I smiled gently.

"You've changed so much. Truthfully, in good and bad ways. Sometimes it broke me to watch the bad ways, and think about how this was now normal for you but the Bella I had met and instantly taken to, the Bella who loved Edward would never do anything like it." She inhaled, having gotten slightly flustered. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright. Thinking back, I can see why you'd have felt that way. I like to think we're still close...maybe not as close as we were..." I swallowed awkwardly.

"Yes, maybe not as close as we were, but I still consider you as part of the family Bella, and I still love you."

"I love you too, Mom. Sorry if I don't show it all the time."

"Come on you two," Alice called. "We've got some major hair and make-up prep to do!"