The days leading up to the wedding were probably the most stressful days of my life. Not including the weeks that Max was missing, of course. My now 16-year-old brother, a proud 11th grader, stood in his little blue and black tuxedo, looking sharp for the wedding. His curly brown hair slicked back with a modest amount of gel and the lack of a mane made his freckles stand out against his pale skin.

"Aren't I supposed to be the overly happy one?" I joked, in reality, my chest tightened as I breathed, taking a fair bit of focus to keep my nerves from appearing on my face.

"No, you're supposed to be the scared and nervous damsel." He gave me a blank look, handing over the pearl bracelet.

"Why are you in here again?" I raised a brow at him, slipping the jewelry on and doing a falling test by twisting my wrist a little. Our mother stepped out to take care of some things to do with… I dunno, flowers probably. I wouldn't be surprised if she had sent in my little brother to keep me from running away.

"Mom asked me to help you finish getting ready." He shrugged, he was taller than me now, puberty was good to him. He filled out nicely and the gap in his front teeth was gone thanks to the braces on his teeth. How my handsome baby brother hasn't landed a girl yet is the second greatest question in the world, the first one being how the hell did Alice find snowdrops for the wedding decor when it's June!

"Where's Alice?"

"One of the guests knocked something askew and all her hard work was almost ruined so she's busy fixing that." He shrugged, taking some pins and a brush, carefully brushing out my hair.

"When did you learn to do hair?" I raised a brow at him through the mirror and he smirked around the hairpins in his mouth.

"Alice has been drilling hairstyling in my skull for the last 6 weeks." He shrugged carelessly, twisting my hair carefully and pinning the strands back. He was pretty good at it, no doubt thanks to Alice's hard work in training him. I barely felt the tug of his fingers as he shaped my hair to his vision.

"You're pretty good." I smiled at him, he flushed in embarrassment. "You should go into the hair industry with this kind of talent."

"I was actually thinking about that." He smiled sheepishly. "As like, a fallback, just in case the astronomer route doesn't work out."

I smiled widely at him. "You and your space."

He laughed a bit. Since puberty, his voice has deepened and he shot up like a bean sprout.

"You grew up too fast," I muttered softly, fidgeting with my fingers..

"I told you I would be taller than you," He smirked at me again, amusement glinting in his eyes.

"Yeah, and I told you, you will always be my tiny baby brother." I returned to my smile. If someone walked in on us, they would see two evilly smirking people and sparks flying from their heated glares.

"Fair enough." He relented, backing up with his hands up in surrender. "I'll refrain from arguing today since it's your big day."

I made a small noise of victory. "Thanks, baby brother." I looked back at the mirror as he finished with my hair.

It was a semi-elegant updo with gentle curls and faux curls on the side of my head.

I smiled a little more gently at him as I stood up and went behind a screen, looking at my wedding dress. Esme and Alice worked with my mom to help me find this dress. A multi-skirt, off-white, A-line dress with the underlayer being satin and the layers above-being tulle with embroidered floral lace at the base with a sweeping train. The bodice was covered in embroidered lace, covering my body in a comfortable square neckline, and long, laced sleeves that attached to my middle finger with a loop to keep it from riding up my arms. Resting against my chest was a single, silver necklace with a blue teardrop stone and nature-grown pearl.

"Max?" I called for him, having stepped into the dress before realizing my problem. The dress was buttoned in the back with small pearls. Twenty little pearls all the way up my laced back that I can't reach because the dress is getting hot and I can't breathe- Why did I agree to a dress that covered my back?! "C-can you get a girl?"

Max didn't question my request, rushing out to look for someone.

I was midway through a whimper when two sets of footsteps entered the room.

"Jess? Jessica?" Alice was in front of me, cupping my face and smiling with the warmth of a thousand moons. Someone is TOUCHING MY BACK-! "Shhhh, hey honey. It's okay. Rosalie is buttoning up your dress, it's just her, I, and you right now. You'll be okay, it's nerves. I've sent your brother to fetch you a little bit of granola and herbal tea. You're beautiful."

I breathed deeply and gave Alice a shaky smile. "Thanks Al…"

She gave me a bright smile in return. "It's no problem! Starting from today you'll be my sister!" She gently brushed my bangs to the side, subtly, or not so subtly really, inspecting my hair before she gave a small nod of approval.

"You really do look beautiful Jessica," Rose said from behind me, finishing up the last button.

"Thanks, you guys." Alice was giggling at me and I could hear Rosalie stifle a laugh.

Suddenly, Angela came in, her long legs looked great in the dress she was wearing. "Great news! Everything is in order! They'll be playing the song soon!"

I took a deep breath, honestly terrified.

"You look beautiful, Jess," Angela assured me, her smile offering a bit more comfort as her brown eyes sparkled with excitement behind her glasses.

I nodded at her, determination starting to swell into my chest. "Thanks, Angie! Let's go!"

Standing before Edward, with his back straight and his hair that same wavy curly coppery mess that I honestly loved. He was dressed in a grey silk suit that looked rather nice on him, a surprise considering silk suits always seemed… a little too shiny for my taste. I could tell he was reading my thoughts by the amused smirk on his face.

I fought the urge to stick my tongue out at him and instead smiled.

All in all, the ceremony was more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. There was light music, the lighting was almost magical. Edward would occasionally tilt his head, mostly to keep my focus on him as my eyes were wandering during parts of the vows.

When the officiant finally said, "You may kiss the bride" I barely had time to react before I was in Edward's arm and his cold lips were pressed gently against my own.

When we all got settled in the large, canopy tent. Angela stood up to make her Maid of Honor speech. She held the microphone in her hands and her body did that little side-to-side hip sway she tended to do when giving out presentations.

"When I met Jessica, we were 9 years old and I had gotten gum in my hair. Jessica, after spending all of recess to try to help me wash it out, had the brilliant idea to trim my hair. And that's how I learned that short hair does not work on me." Most of the humans at the wedding laughed, especially from my family's side. The Cullen's awkwardly shifted in their seats, not sure how to take this news. "I got back at her… she doesn't blond very gracefully."

Angela bowed her head, chuckling lightly then cleared her throat. She licked her glossed lips, made a face at the taste -cue half of the women in the room snickering- and continued.

"No one really expected us to stay friends for very long. Jessica was the girl in the pink sparkle crocs and the diva shirts, while I was that glasses kid who wore three layers because Washington weather was too much for me. And yet, here we are at my best friend's wedding." She turned to me. "Jessica, you're the sister I never got to have, and I'll always treasure every moment we shared. I love you with all my heart and if your new hubby doesn't treat you right, I'll be back with a witch hunt for him. But… I think you two will be just fine. To the newlyweds."

"To the newlyweds." Everyone echoed back, raising their glasses.

There were a few more toasts, more tears being shed, but then everyone cleared a spot and Edward took my hand. "Shall we put your dancing lessons to the test?"

I nodded, not trusting my mouth, and let myself be led to the dancefloor. I vaguely remembered this song. Beautiful in White by…

"Shane Filan," Edward whispered in my ear before slowly spinning me out then pulling me back into his arms. "We listened to his demo while in the UK, I thought it would be a fitting song…"

"It's perfect."

We ended the song with a dip and a kiss, and then another song came up.

"Come stop your crying, it will be alright…"

"May I dance with my baby girl?" I looked over my shoulder to see my dad, his hand outstretched and waiting. I bit my lips and sniffed, taking his hand.

Edward was already entranced in a dance with Esme.

"I know I was never really that good of a father…"

"Are you crazy?" We easily twirl around the other dancing couple. I noticed that some guests took the opportunity to dance with their children, Angela dancing with her father while her brothers were dancing with their mom. "You were a great dad, I'm just thankful you were always there in mine and Max's life."

My dad smiled, nodded, and then placed a kiss on my forehead. "I love you, Jessica."

"I love you too, Dad," I let out a happy sigh when all of a sudden my dad spun away from me midway through You'll Be In My Heart and in his place- "Mom?"

"Esme's idea," Mom responded, placing her hand at my waist and resuming the role of the male dancer. "We spent weeks coordinating movements so both parents could dance with their babies."

"Both…?" Mom led me so I could look past her shoulder and I had to bite down on my glossed lips to keep from laughing. Edward and Carlisle were dancing together quite gracefully, both assuming a male role and somehow made it work.

I chewed my bottom lip, my brow burrowing as I remembered. This will be the last time I see my family. I looked at my brother, his eyes sparkling as he danced with his best friend Davis. The both of them were grinning widely. I looked up at my mother, her blue eyes bright. I smiled softly. This is how I want to remember them. Happy.

I leaned forward and kissed my mom on the cheek. "I love you mom. Thank you for everything. Thank you for giving birth to me and raising me."

"Thank you for being the best daughter I could have ever asked for," My mom responded back, also giving me a kiss on the cheek. "I love you, Jessica. My strong girl. You'll do amazing things, you and Edward both."

"You'll be in my heart… always~"

~~~O.O~~~

They were not exaggerating when they said that being turned felt like having molten lava injected into your veins. I could feel my cells dying.

The pain was excruciating, it felt like I was being melted from the inside while simultaneously being dehydrated and swiftly rehydrated over and over again. I flitted back in and out of consciousness and every time my eyes could open, my throat felt like it would tear open from the screams.

When I awoke after the pain, Edward had to sit on me for three hours, forcing a blood bag's tube down my throat to stifle my cravings for blood. After that though, let me tell you, by the time we were done, 4 days had past and there was barely a bedroom left… We uh, did the couple's midnight tango and the room was completely destroyed by the time we finally stopped...

After that… there was heartache. Sitting there across from Edward as he spoke on the phone. I could hear my mother's wails, my brother's seething anger as he yelled and screamed at my husband, blaming him for my drowning. That was the cover-up story. I fell into the unforgiving, rough ocean a week into the honeymoon and my body hasn't been seen since. My dad wasn't home to hear the news, but my mom managed to choke out that she would be telling him herself.

I had to cover my mouth, holding a breath that would never exist again. I had no heartbeat, but I could almost feel the phantom drumming in my ear as I listened to my mother's broken voice.

I felt my mate and husband's arms wrapped around my body, pulling me close after he hung up the phone. I nestled my head on his shoulder, comforted in his embrace.

"It's for the best." He murmured into my hair, holding me tighter than he ever has when I was human.

"I know," I mumbled softly. "There was no going back the second you sunk your teeth into my flesh, I won't regret my decision." I stared up at him, his golden eyes reflecting my slowly changing ones. For now, they were dark crimson, but soon… my eyes will match his.

He smiled down at me. "I know." He murmured, kissing my hairline. "I love you."

I could feel my chest fluttering, not literally but the phantom feeling was still there. "I love you too."

Sorry for the long wait! Here is chapter 20! I hope you enjoyed it! Work got really stressful and all that fun stuff, I won't go into the dirty bits! Let us know what you thought! Constructive criticism is encouraged!