Hey people! :) Ok, I know I wrote in the first chapter that Alice already had Bella's dress, but I changed it because I found the PERFECT dress for Bella! It's the one I imagine when I picture her walking down the aisle, so I had to use it.

And I'm so so so so so so so so so so so sorry about the long update!! Between job searching and writer's block and senior papers and college visits and so many other things, there was no time to update. But, lucky for you, I will update the next chapter I wrote during my science class right after this one.

Alright, on with the story!

Three: No More

"In order to create there must be a dynamic force, and what force is more potent than love?"

Igor Stravinsky

For the two weeks following Alice's insane shopping spree, Edward was very protective. He hardly let me go anywhere without him anymore (not that I minded), and when I asked him about it, he would tell me he just wanted to be around me more. But did he have to watch every movement I made? Did he have to pay close attention when someone came up to me to ask me a question?

I love him with all my being, but it was becoming a little insane.

As Charlie, Alice, Edward and I stood in the airport, I couldn't help but wonder if Edward was losing it. He had his arm around my waist, watching everyone that passed us by, tightening his grip if someone walked too close. It couldn't have anything to do with the kidnappings, they stopped a few days ago. I saw Charlie raise an eyebrow, but he didn't say anything. Alice kept him in an animated conversation about what tuxedo he preferred, listing some designers. Charlie was completely lost.

When the plane we were waiting for landed, I scanned all the heads coming out of the terminal for my mother. She came through the crowd of people, smiling and laughing at the sight of the four of us, then rushed towards me.

A part of me didn't think Edward was going to let me go to greet my mother, but he released me at the last moment, and I hugged her tightly.

"Oh, Bella!" Renée gushed, pulling back and looking me over. "You look so beautiful!"

I blushed scarlet, and she laughed. She turned to greet everyone else. "Hello, again, Edward," she said, happily, hugging him. I held back a laugh as he hugged her back awkwardly, then came next to me when she moved to Alice. They met before, but I doubted Renée remembered her that well.

"Mom, this is Edward's sister, Alice," I introduced, and Alice shook her hand.

"It's very nice to meet you." Alice's smile was dazzling, and Renée tried to match it, failing miserably. She turned to my dad, and the atmosphere became tense.

"Hello Charlie," she said, not making any movement to hug him. My dad shuffled his feet.

"Renée," he greeted, smiling lightly. The awkard silence lasted only a moment, and then Alice spoke.

"Well, Renée, Bella, my mother, my sister and I are taking you out now, since we have to get our dresses," Alice told my mother, talking at a normal pace. Renée nodded, and we started to walk out of the airport. Charlie took two suitcases, and Edward took the last three. I walked ahead with my mom and Alice, and I could feel Edward's gaze on my back.

The ride home was filled with talk, and since it was Alice, Renée and I in her Porsche. I could sense Edward's disagreement at him not being with me, but something Alice told him in her thoughts made him relax. I was going to have to figure this out soon.

My mom told me how Phil wanted to come, but he wouldn't be able to until August, because his baseball team were holding tryouts again, or something like that. I never really understood baseball, but I nodded enthusiastically at the story. We turned onto the road leading to the Cullen's house, and my mom stared out the window.

"Where are we going?" she asked, and Alice laughed.

"We're on my driveway," she answered, and Renée let out an impressed sigh.

Esme and Rosalie were waiting for us outside, and I heard my mother gasp at their beauty. I sent her pictures, but I understood: no photograph could ever do these women justice. Esme and Rosalie got into the backseat with my mother, and I turned around to introduce. As we drove out of Forks, Esme and Renée struck up a conversation about the wedding.

"Alice," I muttered, turning the radio on a little so my mother wouldn't notice. I was sure Esme and Rosalie could hear me though.

"Yeah?" Alice answered, low and quick.

"Why is Edward behaving so strangely? Did something happen? Did you see anything?"

Alice didn't answer for a moment, probably debating whether or not to tell me the truth. She sighed, then flashed me a small smile.

"Nothing happened and nothing will happen, Bella," she answered, her tone so convincing I couldn't help but believe it. I smiled.

"Thanks," I said, then leaned back and stared out the windsheild as we entered Seattle, much too quickly. Luckily Renée didn't notice.

We didn't have to go any further than the first store we went into. There were custom made dresses, and the short, squat, balding man with very large glasses came out and greeted Alice enthusiastically, then forced all of us to strip down to our underwear. I was completely embarrassed, but obliged, and he went on measuring our figures.

I didn't want a big, poofy, frilly dress, even though Alice tried to persuade me to get one. The man, whose name was Jack Perrille, ended up drawing several pictures for me until he designed one I loved. It was a sleeveless dress, made from silk with a layer of lace on top of it. A satin ribbon encircled my waist, becoming an elegant bow on my back. The dress was tight just to my calves, where it flared nicely, giving my legs enough room to walk without me tripping over myself. I adored it.

Alice's dress was strapless also, made completely of satin, and went to her knees. It was a pale green color, and it would go lovely with her skin. It was the perfect maid of honor dress.

Rosalie's dress was, well... Rosalie. It was a soft pink, made from satin, and had three layers of skirt that stopped mid-thigh. Emmett would be pleased.

Esme got a chocolate colored, strapless dress that had a square neckline adorned with sequins. It ended at her knees, and it had a matching bolero with three-quarter sleeves to go over it. Renée's dress was white underneath black lace, then became completely black as it fell to her knees. A white jacket with ruffled sleeves covered the straps so she wouldn't become too cold.

All in all, everything was beautiful.

Alice told us it would take a month for all the dresses to be completed, but that didn't mean we could slack off. She was going to take care of most of the arrangements, but she needed me to help her with decision making. I groaned inwardly at the thought.

BxExBxExBxExBxExBxE

My mother and I were dropped off at Charlie's house sometime around nine, and I wanted nothing more than to go up in my room and be with Edward. Crazy as he was acting, I still loved him and I couldn't wait to be in his embrace.

Charlie was still awake, but went upstairs when we came in. He told us he was tired and had to get up early for work, but I had a feeling it was because my mom had to sleep on the couch.

I got blankets and pillows for my mom and put them on the couch, and she kissed my forehead before I went up the stairs.

"It's all too surreal," she mumbled to me as I ascended. "You getting married... Boy, does time fly..."

I faked a small laugh, told her I loved her, and finished my climb. I rushed myself in the bathroom, jumping in and out of the shower, then ran as fast as I could into my room. But speed and I do not mix, and I tripped on something small and watched as the floor came closer to my face.

But stone cold arms wrapped around my waist and held me up. "You really should be more careful," Edward murmured, a smile in his voice. "I don't want my bride in a body cast when she walks down the aisle."

I beamed up at Edward, then, when he set me on my feet, I lunged at him. He caught me, and I pressed my lips to his happily. He ended up pushing me away after a moment, but I was still out of breath. He chuckled.

"Sorry," I smiled. Seeing him after a long day away made my mood shoot up way past happiness. "But I couldn't help it."

"I don't mind," Edward replied, leading me over to the bed. I got in under the covers, and he laid down over them, wrapping his arm around me and holding me to his chest. "I just don't want to risk anything."

I rolled my eyes, but didn't persist it. Soon enough, I would be strong and durible, and we would have no excuses to not go further. My heartbeat increased at the thought.

I put my hands on his chest and snuggled closer to him, feeling his cold skin through the layers of cotton. He kissed my hair.

"It's going to be sunny tomorrow," he muttered, and I made a face. That means- "We're going hunting, so I won't see you until dusk. Could you promise me one thing?"

"Anything," I vowed, without hesitating. He was quiet for a moment before replying.

"Don't go anywhere alone, please. Stay in the house, if you must, but please have someone with you at all times."

I looked up at him, raising an eyebrow, but agreed nonetheless. He smiled his crooked smile and kissed my nose, then hummed my lullaby to me. I drifted off into sleep in the arms of my love.

BxExBxExBxExBxExBxE

I woke up to some delicious smells wafting into my room, and as my eyes adjusted to the rare sunlight pilfering through my window I became wary. Charlie was never a cook, so that meant that Renée was cooking, and... I shuddered as I thought of the havoc that women could cause in a kitchen.

I slowly descended the stairs to see my mother making chocolate chip pancakes and singing along to an upbeat song playing on a radio that she must've brought. She flipped the pancake expertly, and it was a perfect golden color. My eyebrows raised.

"Wow, Mom," I started, and she jumped in surprise, then laughed at herself. "When did you become a chef?"

She wrinkled her nose at me. "I took lessons a couple of months ago," she replied, then blushed lightly. "I only know how to make these and belgian waffles. I didn't stay after the breakfast course."

I nodded and sat down at the table, and she placed two pancakes in front of me. I took a bite, and she waited for my approval. I smiled when I swallowed, and took another bite. She got herself a plate and sat in Charlie's seat.

"Any plans for today?" she asked casually, and I shrugged. I remembered Edward's request, and looked out the window.

"Maybe we could go down to La Push, or something," she mused. I looked at her quickly, to see her staring out at the perriwinkle blue sky, probably lost in her memories from when she lived here.

I felt the blood leave my face as I thought of La Push. And the werewolves. And Jacob... We couldn't go there, I couldn't face him, not after what I told him. I still felt horrible for what I did, but it wasn't as severe as before. Not after my crying fest with Edward. I had more guilt for that than anything now.

But still... I couldn't hurt Jake anymore, and the only way that could happen would be if he never saw me again. My hand started to shake slightly at the thought of never seeing him again.

"Are you okay, honey? I didn't put anything in the pancakes, I promise." My mom's teasing voice brought me back to reality, and I willed my hand to stop. I smiled weakly in response to my mother's comment.

"I don't think we should go to La Push," I said, quietly. "Maybe we could go to Port Angeles instead?"

My mother stared at me for a moment, then shrugged and agreed. We finished eating, then I went up to my room to change. I put on a pair of my most comfy jeans, sneakers, and a plain, navy blue t-shirt. I grabbed a denim jacket Alice bought me, just in case. After all, the sun couldn't last all day here in Forks.

I wanted to skip down the stairs, but I decided not to risk breaking my spine until Edward was here, and went down at a normal pace.

There was a sudden, soft thump from the living room, like someone dropped a rather heavy pillow on the floor, and it unnerved me for some reason. I went down the stairs faster to see if Renée was alright, and my heart just about stopped.

Renée was unconscious and laying on the couch, her mouth open in frozen surprise. And there, standing two yards away from her in the midst of my living room, her skin sparkling from the sunlight coming in from the windows, her face lovely and spiteful was a female vampire.

I knew I was in danger, but I couldn't help but admire this strange vampire's beauty. Her skin was, like all other vampires, chalky pale and hard as stone. Her facial features were arranged differently than the Cullen's, but they were still straight and perfect. Her eyes were scarlet as they stared at me.

Before I could work up a scream (not that my voice was with me anymore), the strange vampire was in front of me, a wide smirk on her face. In a flash, she put her hand over my mouth and pinched my nose with the other, blocking off my oxygen.

I heard my hearbeat in my ears and I slowly lost consciousness, and my eyes swivled over to Renée, hoping she was alive. When the blackness overcame me and I fell limp into the vampire's arms, Edward's face flickered in my mind.

And then I could remember no more.