"It will bring out the green in your eyes. Don't you think so, dear?" My sister fondly touched the dress and then turned around smiling, waiting for my response.

"It's... it's... it's hideous!" I exclaimed in horror. I stared at the dress Rosalie had picked out for me to wear to Bella's wedding. It was the most ugliest thing I had ever seen. It was pea-colored and looked like someone's Granny would have worn this from the 1900's, with it's up-to-the-chin neckline and length that hit the floor. 'Why the hell did she get me this!?'

"What on earth..?!" Rosalie seemed taken back at my reaction. "Now you wouldn't think that if you knew who designed it."

"I don't care who made it! That doesn't change what it looks like!" 'Is she blind?'

"No, I'm not." She returned, as-a-matter-of-factly."I know what looks good on people, Lanie. Don't you trust me?"

"Well, I did... up to this point." 'I can't believe she's serious. No person in their right mind...'

"Maybe you would change your mind once you put it on." She urged, taking the dress off the hanger.

"I am not putting that thing on my body." I stated boldly, backing away from it. I ran into my other sister.

"What's going on?" Alice asked. She would often do so, already knowing full well before it even happened.

I didn't say anything. Just pointed at the garment with a disgusted look on my face. She looked at the dress, then me and then to Rosalie, who I'm pretty sure said something under her breath but Alice's blank expression didn't give away what it was about.

"Whatever. Just don't be late. This day has to be perfect!" Alice declared, disappearing from the room. She obviously didn't want to get involved.

I glanced up at Rosalie. She was grinning at me, pulling her middle and pointer fingers towards her in this 'come hither' motion. I shook my head defiantly. She nodded her head back at me and continued her beckoning. That's when I bolted out of the room.

I ran as fast as I could down two flights of stairs, passing a few people along my way, and ran straight into my mother at the bottom of the steps. She managed to catch me before I fell down.

"Where are you off to in such a big hurry?" She wondered, steadying me. "Shouldn't you be getting ready?"

"Rosie wants me to wear this horrible dress!" I spilled out, still panting from my run. "It's most repulsive piece of sh..."

"Lanie, I'm sure if Rosalie picked it out, than it's absolutely gorg..."

"I know! You'd think so right!? But have you actually seen it?"

"Yes, of course I have. It's lovely!"

I scoffed. "Yeah, maybe for someone YOUR age. Only old people would want to wear something that belongs in a museum."

She laughed. "That's nonsense. It's the prettiest shade of lavender!"

'Lavender?!' I thought to myself and then pictured the nasty green-colored dress Rosalie had upstairs. I looked at Esme and tilted my head in confusion, knowing she'd seen the article of clothing as well. She seemed equally perplexed, especially after seeing the image in my head.

"Baby, I believe you are mistaken..."

I started to shake my head in disagreement when I heard Rosalie's angelically soft, syrupy-sweet, haunting voice calling me from upstairs. "Alaina, darling, where are you? There's no place to hide. This dress isn't going anywhere!"

I turned to my mother with a terrified expression on my face. "I gotta go!" I blurted out before taking off down the hallway.

"Lanie, wait!" She called after me but she was too late. I was already in my father's office and headed outside to get as far away from my sister as possible.

Unfortunately, a few seconds later I literally ran smack into Carlisle, who was in the middle of having a conversation with some people I had never seen before. I was about to continue with my escape plan but my father put his hand on my back and directed me towards his guests. I knew instantly that they were vampires. There were two Hispanic ones, a man and a woman, and three other woman, all with various shades of blonde hair. They were all glamorously dressed and had a friendliness about them.

"Slowdown, mia cara, and meet our cousins from Denali!" Carlisle said with a laughing tone and then began introductions. "This is Carmen and Eleazer and Tanya, Kate and Irina." He gestured towards the yellow-eyed vampires. "Everyone, this is mine and Esme's newest daughter, Lanie Cullen." He announced proudly, putting his arm around his wife, who had walked up that exact moment.

I instantly forgot about why I was in such a big hurry and stopped to take a gander at the new arrivals. My family had told me about these people before and promised I would meet them someday soon. All I knew so far was that they were old, close friends of my family and that they also fed only on the blood of animals. Maybe it was because I was just used to being around the Cullens all day but I thought this group of vampires were the most stunning creatures I had ever laid eyes on.

"Welcome to the family!" Tanya greeted warmly, putting her hand on the back of my hair and leaning forward to kiss my forehead.

"We are honored to finally meet you." Kate said like she really meant it. "We have heard so much about you... from everyone." I knew in the last part she was referring to the vampire world gossiping about my blood.

"Me siento muy feliz de que se le ha enviado a nuestras vidas, nina. Esperamos pasar un mont n de tiempo con usted!"* Carmen said with soft enthusiasm, kissing either side of my face. Eleazer did the same and then stood next to his wife smiling down on me. Obviously agreeing to whatever it was she said. I hadn't been kissed like that before, especially by a man, and I think it made me flush a little.

"You are such a blessing everyone you are around." Irina added, taking me in her cool and hard, yet friendly, embrace. "I hope we become the best of friends."

'Wow! They're all so beautiful!' Was the first thing that came to my mind.

Each member of the Denali clan all gasped a little in pleasant surprise at hearing my thoughts for the first time and exchanged glances with each other. It was always like this when I met someone. It was like they were discovering a new gift of their own for the first time. They always thought it was fascinating... but I didn't. This Denali Clan was family though, so I didn't mind quite as much.

'Oohh... That explains why Bella was so jealous when she found out Edward went to visit them.' I couldn't help but think to myself, taking note of their exceptional looks. I heard light laughter from them and my parents. I winced, being distraught over having accidentally revealing something personal about Bella, especially on her wedding day. 'I'm so sorry, Bella!' I thought to her, not that she could hear me.

"Speak, mia cara." My father gently ordered. That's when I realized I hadn't actually spoken to them directly yet.

"I'm very pleased to meet you, ma'ams and sir." I said politely, bowing a little. "I also have heard some about you... all good things!" I added with a smile, which they returned.

"And what was it that you've heard?" Kate asked with raised eyebrows, probably expecting to be amused.

"That you're way older than even my dad is and that you sorta found your conscience on your own." I recalled and then sifted through my memory base. "Oh... and Edward said ya'll have had lots of boyfriends. He once referred to you in his mind as 'succubus'."

Tanya seemed pleased by that. "Yes, we've had our fair share of lovers and even a few 'evening rendezvous'."

"A few evening ronday -what?"

"What humans like to call, 'one night stands'." Kate clarified.

"What are one night stands?" I asked.

"It's like having a boyfriend... but only for just one day." Irina answered.

I briefly remembered all the little crushes I had throughout my short life and the few times I had gone to a movie or dance a boy. 'That must be what they're talking about'. "I've had lots of one night stands too!" I announced.

The three of them chuckled silently but my parents, along with the dark-haired couple seemed slightly disconcerted by my response.

"Well, I certainly hope not!" Tanya said glancing at Carlisle and Esme humorously.

My mother opened her mouth to say something but was cut off by Alice who had just appeared into the room. She looked at me and her eyes got wide as saucers. "Lanie, why haven't you gotten ready yet!?"

"I'm not going to, Alice! By wearing that thing, I'll be laughingstock of the whole..."

"No, you wont. That dress is not the one that I..."

"What's going on?" Kate inquired.

"Rosalie wants me to wear the most butt-fugly clothes on the planet!" I told her.

"The most what?" My mother asked, confused by the modern term.

"Fugly is a combination of the words ugly and f. . . f. . . freaking." I explained hesitantly. Esme shook her head at me. She wasn't stupid. She knew that was the g-rated version.

"Get upstairs now!" Alice demanded impatiently, making me jump.

"Hell, no!" I shouted and roughly brushed past Eleazer on my way out the door. Behind me, I heard my father apologizing for my behavior on my behalf.

Once I was finally outside, I took a deep breath of relief and searched for a place to hide. I located some potted bushes on the porch. Perfect! I crawled behind them on my hands and knees but just as I was getting situated underneath the large plants, I came across an occupied pair of shoes. I paused and my gaze slowly went up the legs and torso and into the eyes of my big, black-haired brother who was standing there grinning at me with his arms folded across his chest.

"Emmy Bear!? She got to you too!?" I groaned and hit my forehead down on the porch in defeat. "Is there no one left to defend me?"

"Come on, now." Emmett playfully urged. "Time to face the music."

I remained in that position and shook my head back and forth. "No. I refuse to subject myself to that kind of humiliation."

"Lanie, you better get up or I'm going in there after you." He warned in a teasing tone.

I quickly jumped up onto my feet and dramatically said, "You'll never take me alive!"

I turned away from him to run but before I could take off, he grabbed me from behind with one arm and put his other hand over my mouth, kidnapping style. He must have decided carrying through the house like this would have caused too much of a scene so he began effortlessly climbing up the side of the house and slid right through his and Rosalie's bedroom window. There, he let me go and pushed me towards his wife.

She stood in front of me with a cat-who-caught-the-canary expression. "Attempting to escape a house full of vampires? Brave... but not very wise. Props for trying."

"Rosalie," I began in an exhausted voice, giving her the most pitiful face I could muster up. "Please! I'll do anything..."

"Good. Than start taking off your clothes... and don't bother trying to flee. I'm blocking the door and Emmett's blocking the window. "

"Sorry, kid!" Emmett said in a very un-sorry way behind me.

I knew there was no way out of it so I heaved a sigh, grateful that I didn't really know anyone that was coming to the wedding anyways, and pulled my shirt over my head and dropped my capris. I stood there with my eyes closed, trying to find a happy place, and allowed my sister to put me in the dress. Then I felt her move me over to the other side of the room.

"Open your eyes." She said.

I obeyed and when I did, I was standing in front of her full-length mirrors staring back at myself. My mouth was hanging open. I wasn't wearing the disgusting, pea green-shaded dress at all but a gorgeous, elegantly-styled, light purple one. Not only was it the most beautiful dress I had ever seen, but it fit my form perfectly! I quickly peeled my eyes away from my reflection to stare at Rose, who was admiring me... her handiwork. I glanced at the old dress hanging on the closet door and then tilted my head in confusion.

"Oh, please." She gave me a smirk. "You didn't really think I was that cruel, did you?"

I just stood there, more bewildered than ever.

"Remember... I don't get mad. I get even." She said it like it was a well-known fact and began getting out some things to do my hair.

"This is true!" Emmett interjected, still perched by the window.

"Oh, my gosh! Was all of this about the whole car incident?"

She didn't answer but carried on setting up the vanity for me like it was no big deal.

"That was the cruelest mind game ever!"

She continued to ignore me.

"Rosalie Lillian Hale Cullen, do you know what you did to me!?" I shouted. "I was so... so..."

"Oh... Poor, wee lamb." She replied very un-apologetically, giving a fake frown and completely unphased by my distress. She pat the seat of a chair. "Now come sit. We haven't much time."


I stood in the breath-taking wedding ceremony area watching various members of my family interact with all the people at this event. It struck me how human-like they could be when they wanted to and how well they blended in. Jasper and Alice were speaking with the officiating minister, Esme as talking to the Denali, who also were pros at putting on a charade. I smirked, noticing Emmett flirting with some woman who were clearly smitten by his charms.

"Good afternoon, Miss Cullen." I heard a voice behind me. It took me a second to realize the person was speaking to me. I turned around and was face to face with a happy, green-eyed, brown-faced boy

"Um... Good afternoon, Mr. Clearwater." I returned the unusually formal greeting.

He stared intensely at me and took a deep breath like he was fighting against his nature to do something. Instead, he straightened up his posture, put one arm behind his back and uncharacteristically took my hand in his and kissed the back of it.

I tried not to laugh at his attempt of having near-perfect manners. Did he read an Emily Post book on it before coming over or maybe watched a few Jane Austen films? It was a sweet gesture.

"WOW! Lanie, you look... you look..." Seth was attempting to find a word to describe me but couldn't find one that was adequate enough to express his thoughts. He was clearly mesmerized.

"Thank you, Seth." I said, saving him from hurting his brain too much. It didn't really matter which adjective he would have decided to settle on. I got the jist of it. "You don't look so bad yourself." I said with a wink.

His smile got big and his chest puffed out a little. "Ya think so?"

I grinned and nodded, amused at how much my very indirect compliment affected him. He started subconsciously pulling at the collar and sleeves of his coat in irritation. "So, I'm guessing you don't wear a sport coat very often?"

"No. I don't go very many important places." He shook his head. "Man, I thought I hated them before but now that I've gotten so used to not wearing clothes at all, it's almost unbearable!"

I tried not to giggle at that. I wondered what the thoughts of some random stranger would be if they happened to pass by us at that exact moment and overheard him.

"Your dress sure is pretty." He said casually.

"THANK GOD!" I almost shouted in exasperation.

He turned to me with raised eyebrows, surprised and puzzled by my sudden outburst.

I shook my head. "Don't worry about it." And we got left to find our seats.

*I am very happy that you have been sent to our lives, little one. We hope to spend a lot of time with you.


Sorry, I know it's been too long! Please send me a review and tell me what you think. They are THE reasons I write. OXOX

Special Thanks to caribou, Spawn, Alexa 6, Klaroline1, SIM and Utakataka-caca-98 for their reviews. Spawn, this chapter is for you. ^_^