Author's notes: This was my attempt at mixing hotness and ridiculousness. And because I have two long WIPs already on the go, I wanted to try my hand at a shorter and more light-hearted story. I'm not sure how many chapters there will be once I'm done, but I'm thinking it'll be around 7 to 10, depending on the interest. We'll see.

For those who are reading this, thanks for taking a chance on my story!

Oh, before I yield the floor to the story, I'll mention that, for simplicity's sake, I decided not to include Edward and Esme in this story. In this alternate scenario, they were never part of the coven.

Rated [M] for language and eventual lemons

CHAPTER 1

A CITY WEDDING

"Alice, have you seen my gray suitcase?"

"Your gray suitcase?" Her friend's muffled voice reached her from the other side of their hotel suite.

Sitting back on her haunches, Bella flung her damp hair away from her face, and considered the closet. Her black suitcase was there, along with an ironing board and two complimentary bathrobes. But her gray suitcase was absent. I could have sworn I put it there.

Perplexed, Bella gained her feet, and wondered where it could be. Discarding the bath-towel she had previously wrapped around her frame, she reached for one of the bathrobes, and slipped her arms through the sleeves. Of the finest quality, it was soft and warm against her skin. Hands working to adjust the tie-around belt, Bella searched her room, and called to Alice again.

"You know, the small one with the white zipper? My shoes are in there." The cute yet sensible ones she was going to wear tonight, and the sneakers for the drive back to Forks tomorrow. Trying not to stress, Bella peered in her private bathroom before scouring the room again.

Unless she found her suitcase, and soon, she would be stuck wearing flip flops tonight. Yeah, that's not gonna work.

"Sorry, I haven't seen your suitcase," Alice called in reply.

Peeking under her bed, Bella frowned before straightening. "But I remember bringing it up here when we checked in," she argued upon leaving her room. Did I leave it in the entryway?

Padding barefoot through their upscale suite, Bella was halfway to the door when she noticed her friend standing at the threshold of the second bedroom. Leaning against the doorframe, at the far end of the contemporary sitting area, Alice regarded her with a mischievous and self-satisfied smirk. Dangling from her elegant fingers was a pair of stiletto sandals, black and strappy, with rhinestones on the delicate buckles.

Suddenly, the picture was clear as day. As her friend watched with a mirthful expression, Bella crossed her arms, and tried in vain to smother her amusement. "You did this. You hid my suitcase."

Alice pushed away from the doorframe. "Those shoes you brought? No. Uh, uh. Definitely not."

"What's wrong with my shoes?"

Alice cast a look that said, you're joking, right? "I'm doing this for your own good, Bella." Halfway across the room, she bypassed the white sofa with its gray cushions. Five steps later, the petite vampire deposited the torture devices in Bella's hands. "What kind of friend would I be if I let you wear grandma shoes to a wedding?"

"Hey!" Bella tried to look offended, but her frown soon faded. She couldn't get mad at Alice. Annoyed maybe. Exasperated definitely. But actually mad? Never. Pointing a shoe in the pixie's direction, she raised her chin a little, and narrowed her eyes. "That's fashion coercion, I'll let you know."

"Maybe, but I make no apologies. And you're welcome." Turning, the vampire disappeared into her room for a moment, the words, "You're going to thank me later," floating in her wake.

Recognizing a lost battle when she saw one, Bella glanced down at the shoes. They were pretty enough. With a sigh, she turned them over and amended her thoughts. They were more than pretty. The sandals were downright gorgeous, sexy even. But stiletto heels?

I'll be lucky if I don't break my neck with these.

At least they weren't four inches high. Resigned to her fate, Bella regained her room. It was just past five thirty. The wedding was set to begin in less than ninety minutes. Hair and makeup aside, they still had to drive there.

When Charlie had informed her that Bobby Knowles, a fellow cop and long-time friend of his, was getting married in Seattle, Bella had never imagined that the Cullens would be attending. While they chose to live amongst humans, the vampire coven usually lived on the periphery of things, participating in their community just enough to blend in, but never to such an extent that it would betray their secret.

But Jill Jenkens, the bride-to-be, was a pediatrician at Forks Community Hospital. According to Alice, she got along well with Carlisle. "They might not be close friends," she had explained during the drive earlier today, "but they respect each other. According to Carlisle, in all the hospital, she is one of the few people who hasn't tried to seduce him."

The curse of being a vampire, Bella thought with an amused shake of her head. They were drop-dead gorgeous, every last one of them, alluring in ways humans were not. And Dr. Carlisle Cullen… well, he was the most stunning of them all, at least in her eyes.

The first time Bella had seen him, more than two years after she had met Alice and Jasper at NYU, the first words to come to mind had been, "movie star."

Actually, no. That wasn't true.

Her very first thoughts had been "intruder" or "serial killer", but only for a fleeting instant. As memories of that embarrassing night replayed in her mind, Bella couldn't quite smother her amusement. Even now, she could feel herself blushing.

But back to "movie star", it was no exaggeration. He really did look like a leading man in a classic Hollywood film—with honey-gold hair, a perfect yet unassuming smile, and the kindest eyes Bella had ever seen. But unlike the stereotypical movie star, Carlisle was quiet and reserved. Caring and compassionate, he had devoted his life to healing others.

Medicine, music, and the arts. The man loved it all. Multifaceted, that's what he was.

To top it all off, Carlisle shared her love of reading. Of all the things he owned—the fancy house, the expensive cars—Bella had been most impressed by his personal library. When he had finally given her the tour, a few months ago, Bella had gaped at the shelves like a mesmerized idiot. His collection of old manuscripts and rare first editions wasn't merely special, it was out of this world.

Though rather unexpected, that evening had been a turning point of sorts, for up until that visit, the two had only spoken once or twice. Enthused by their common interests, they had laughed and talked long into the night, becoming friends in the process.

"Are you almost ready, Bella?" Alice said from the other room, drawing her from her musings.

Smacking her lips to smooth out her lip gloss, Bella fluffed her wavy locks, and contemplated her reflection. Though her sense of style tended to be on the simpler side, she rather liked the way she looked tonight. The fact that Alice had refrained from dolling her up had come as a surprise. Normally, her friend lived for such things: hair, makeup, and clothes. So much clothes.

"Yeah, I'm ready," Bella called over her shoulder. With a downward glance at her attire, she smoothed the front of her wine-coloured dress and adjusted her scarf-like over-piece.

Contrary to Alice's dress, her ensemble wasn't Hollywood flashy, but it suited the occasion just fine. The classy off-the-shoulder dress had narrow sleeves. Fitted and flattering, it fell in a straight hem down to her knees, where a small slit showed off a few tasteful inches of her left thigh.

"You look stunning, Bella!" Alice exclaimed once she saw her. Seemingly moved by the sight, she then brought a hand to her chest, her voice tinged with hidden meaning when she whispered, "You're going to have a great time tonight."

A great time? Given her clumsy history in regards to dancing, it seemed unlikely that she would have the time of her life tonight. Weddings—or more precisely wedding receptions—had never been her thing.

Honestly, all she was aiming for was an okay time. If I can sit on the sidelines and enjoy a few drinks, it shouldn't be too bad. After all, she reminded herself, I'm doing this for Charlie. He and Sue had been invited, and they had both expressed their wish that she would attend with them. "Bobby's like family. It would mean a lot to him if you came," her father had assured her, and handed her an envelope. "In fact, here's your invitation."

Back to the here and now, Bella motioned to Alice's dress. "You look great." Tonight, the petite vampire wore a sequined cocktail dress of the same midnight blue as the clutch she held in her hand. Additionally, her hair was styled in a side-swept pixie cut. Sleek and polished, it accented her delicate features, suiting her quite nicely.

By the time the two made it to the car and left for the wedding, dusk had already descended upon downtown Seattle. While today had been mostly overcast, the sky beyond the surrounding buildings had cleared a short while ago, exposing a gradient canvas of bronzy orange and the deepest, darkest blue.

"How far is the Seattle Grand?" Bella asked as they stopped at a red light.

"Not very far."

Initially, the Cullens had planned on staying there as well. But one of Alice's precognitive visions had prompted them to change their minds. Because it was supposed to be sunny tomorrow, the entire family would be forced to shut themselves in. It was one of the downsides of being a vampire. Sunlight on skin equalled sparkles. Lots and lots of sparkles. "Some of the nurses who work with Carlisle will wonder why we refuse to leave our rooms," Alice had said by way of explanation. "A few of them will show up and try to convince him to go to breakfast. They're nosy, and they like to gossip. They'll start asking questions. No, it's best for all of us if we stay elsewhere."

And just like that, the matter had been settled.

"This traffic is pretty heavy," Bella said as she spied the long line of cars ahead of them.

"Don't worry. We'll be there on time," Alice assured her, and activated the turn signal. With a smooth turn of the steering wheel, the fashionista guided her Porsche 911 Carrera S onto a side-street, and continued along toward a cluster of high-rise buildings. The way the vehicle handled the corners, there was no denying it was an agile little car. With a gray metallic paint job and a red leather interior, it was pretty stylish, too. Just like its owner.

Because she could see flashes of future possibilities, Alice could time their route to perfection, navigating the streets at precisely the right time to avoid the worst of the traffic.

A few more clever turns and they were driving down one of the city's main avenues.

"There it is," Alice declared as the hotel finally came into view. Located near the Seattle Waterfront, the high-rise boasted some of the best views in the city. At least, that's what Charlie had said when he'd looked it up online.

At first, Bella had been surprised by the wedding's location, but the bride, Charlie had told her, had grown up in Seattle, and most of her family was there. And from what she had learned, hers was a large family, hence the reason the couple had chosen to marry in the city.

They were nearly at the hotel. Her features bathed in the reddish glow of tail-lights, Alice followed a line of cars into the underground parking garage.

"Charlie in Seattle. Now that's a sight we don't see everyday." Bella smiled when she spotted his truck, parked amid the many vehicles in the multi-level garage. "This level's full. I think we're going to have to park further down."

"So little faith," Alice teased in that singsong voice of hers. "I'll park us right by the doors, you'll see."

"Did you see that in a vision?" Bella couldn't suppress a chuckle.

"I might have." Alice's golden eyes sparkled in the dimness. As they drove by a red BMW, she nudged her head, and said, "Rosalie and Emmett are here."

They drove onward.

"What did I tell you?" Alice beamed as a car started backing out of a spot a short distance ahead. No sooner had the Toyota exited the parking spot than the Carrera took its place. "Right by the doors."

"I really should stop doubting you."

"You really should," Alice countered as Bella unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out.

Because this was the height of summer, the air was on the warm side this night.

As her friend exited the car, Bella allowed her eyes to scan the neighboring parking spaces. "That's Carlisle's car."

Like the rest of his coven, the senior member of the Cullen family had recently swapped his vehicle for a newer model, the very latest even. Like it's predecessor, the car was a Mercedes, but instead of going with the standard black, he had opted for a classy silver this time.

"Come. He'll be waiting for us." Not knowing what to make of the glint in her friend's eyes, Bella watched as Alice shut the car door and activated the alarm.

Once inside the building, the two took an elevator up to the ground floor, where the doors parted to reveal the hotel's lobby.

Like the hotel they were staying at, the Seattle Grand was rather upscale. Contemporary yet cozy at the same time, the lobby had shiny sand-colored floors, and a geometrically intricate ceiling that was comprised of various shades of wood, from light to dark. As if that wasn't impressive enough, bronze accents adorned the wide internally lit columns that acted as support beams.

"Whoa… Talk about classy chic." Her heels clicking as she went, Bella slowed to admire the ceiling again. A series of square glass-ensconced lights illuminated the main area of the space, their brightness just soft enough to be soothing.

At present, a number of people were lingering around, or striding through the space. Judging by their fancy attires, it seemed most of them were wedding guests.

"There they are!" A male voice suddenly called from across the lobby, the deep, energetic tone leaving little doubt as to who it was.

Following the sound, Bella craned her neck to see beyond an elderly couple, her smile broadening when she finally caught sight of him.

Like most everyone here, Emmett was dressed to impress tonight. Smiling that bright smile of his, the muscled but fun-loving beast of a vampire waved them over to where he and Rosalie were standing, by a sitting area set before a decorative fireplace.

"Hi, Emmett. Hey, Rosalie," Bella greeted the couple as she neared. "Wow. You both look amazing."

"Did you hear that, babe?" His face split in a shit-eating grin. "Swan Girl thinks I clean up nice."

Her perfectly coiffed hair burnished by the light of the fireplace, Rosalie smirked at her husband. "You do clean up nice. Hey, Bella." While the blond vampire had never been her closest friend, she didn't seem as cool or aloof with her tonight. Bella briefly wondered why.

Arm in arm with Emmett, Rosalie wore a scoop neck dress that would be the envy of many this evening. Deep violet in color, it hugged her statuesque figure in a way that was sure to gain a lot of attention, from men and women alike. She really was that stunning.

"Where's Carlisle?" Alice inquired, her tear-drop earrings swaying and sparkling as she looked about the lobby.

"Not sure. He was here a moment ago," Emmett answered on a shrug.

"Too bad Jasper couldn't be here," Bella chimed in, then glanced at Alice who said, "He's been doing really well, but it's not always easy for him." They all knew what she meant. Because he hadn't fully conquered his desire for human blood, being around people remained a challenge to Jasper. Though he saw it as a failing on his part, the rest of his coven understood and sympathized with his struggles. After all, Jasper had been the last to convert to the family's "vegetarian" diet, and change did not come easy to vampires.

"He's trying really hard, and I'm proud of him,"—now Alice spoke in whispers—"But a wedding reception… all those people dancing and sweating…" She rubbed her arms and shuddered, no doubt recalling a troubling vision she'd had. "It was best if he stayed home this time."

With a glance at her diamond encrusted watch, Rosalie suggested they head to the room in which the wedding would be held. When they got there, Bella couldn't help but stare. Coming to a halt just inside the threshold, she skimmed a gaze over the slip-covered chairs. White with beautiful bows on the back, there must have been two-hundred seats. The bride being originally from Seattle, most of the arriving guests seemed to be filing toward her side. Her attention going to the ceiling, Bella had to admire the architecture, and the large chandelier that defined the space. This hotel was quite splendid.

As Alice, Emmett, and Rosalie, headed for their seats, Bella lingered behind, taking in the little white lights and floral arrangements that had been woven into three separate archways, set at interval along the aisle.

"Good evening, Isabella." That voice, combined with the use of her non-abbreviated name, immediately revealed who it was.

A shy smile finding light on her mouth, Bella bit her lower lip before turning toward the newcomer. "Carlisle. Hi." Swallowing hard, she motioned toward his suit. "Wow, you look…" Perfect. Sexy as whoa. Honestly, the guy looked like he belonged on a two-page spread in GQ Magazine.

His charcoal suit was pressed to perfection, his jacket and vest a shade darker than his silk tie. In contrast, his dress-shirt was white, the crisp color helping to mask the paleness of his vampire skin.

Rendered stupid by the God-like vision before her, Bella forced her gaze upward. Awkwardly, she said, "You changed your hair." An observation rather than a question.

Ever since Bella had met him, Carlisle had always parted it on one side. But now his golden locks were swept back in a seemingly effortless yet professional style. Though she had liked his previous hairstyle, Bella found she rather liked this one. He looked… younger this way. Not that he had ever looked old.

"I thought it was time for a change," he stated at length.

"Well, it looks good."

Carlisle inclined his head in thanks, his voice honey-soft when he returned the compliment. "You look enchanting."

As heat bloomed on her cheeks, Bella toyed with her scarf-like over-piece, then glanced about the room. "Beautiful venue."

Carlisle's hands were in his pockets. He, too, looked around the room. "Yes, very. It's going to be a lovely wedding."

"Hey. You finally made it." Charlie's voice sounded from somewhere behind her left shoulder. Turning, she watched as her father and his wife made their way over.

"Hi, Ch… dad. Hi, Sue."

Used to seeing him in uniform or in a plaid shirt and jeans, Bella found it strange seeing her father in a suit.

Clad in a simple coffee-coloured dress, his wife happily returned the greeting, while Charlie nodded to Carlisle.

"Dr. Cullen," he said.

"Chief Swan."

The two exchanged a brisk handshake.

"Feels kinda strange running into you outside of work," Charlie said, for though their respective careers differed, they often crossed paths on the job. "Especially way out here in Seattle."

"Indeed, it is. But since we're not acting in our professional capacities, how about we forego our titles for the evening? Please, call me Carlisle."

"Sure thing." To Bella, he said, "How was the drive over?"

"Good."

"You all settled over at your hotel?"

"Yeah, Alice and I checked in earlier today."

"This hotel is something else, isn't it?" His eyes sweeping about the venue, Charlie tucked his hands in his pockets. By the way he kept balancing his weight from his heels to the balls of his feet, Bella could tell he was feeling out of place.

"It's certainly a far cry from that run-down motel in Forks," Sue broke in, then told Bella about their unexpected upgrade. "They gave us a room with a king size bed!" Laughing, she shook her head. "That mattress wouldn't even fit in our bedroom at home."

"Excuse me," one of the ushers said as he approached the group. Keeping his voice low, he apologized for the interruption, and informed them that the ceremony was about to begin.

The drone of lowered voices filled the space. A glance at the room confirmed that most everyone had taken their seats. As a nervous excitement filled the room, Bella, her father, and Sue made their way to the groom's side, while Carlisle went to sit with his family on the other side, two or three rows behind them.

"Bobby seems nervous," Bella said to Charlie, but kept her voice low. "That's the third time he's wiped his brow."

"Can you blame him? Weddings are nerve-wracking." He would know, having married twice. The first had been a Vegas wedding with Bella's mother, Renée. Whereas his second wedding had been more low key. A private ceremony at the court house, just over a year ago. Casting a loving glance at his new wife, Charlie gave an amused chuckle before looking at Bobby. "Poor bastard."

On one side of the room, a string quartet started playing. Then the bridesmaids walked down the aisle. When the bride finally came into view, all the guests stood. Jill Jenkens looked stunning. And as nervous as he still seemed, the groom only had eyes for her.

As far as weddings went, this one wasn't half bad. The ceremony itself was simple but lovely. As the bride and groom shared a kiss, Bella clapped along with the other guests. But while the applause continued, she thought she sensed a gaze on her, from somewhere to her right. Turning her head, she searched the crowd, and soon concluded that she had imagined it. The Cullens, along with everyone else, were staring and smiling at the newly-wedded pair up front. Resuming her clapping, Bella did the same.

Alright, so this chapter didn't have much in terms of ridiculousness, but to be fair, wedding craziness usually starts during the reception ;-)

Anyway, thanks for reading! Reviews are much appreciated (in fact, they're writing fuel). Favs and follows are cool, too.

Until next time, take care!

CygnusRift