I made a polyvore page for the fashions in this chapter. Check it out here: http:/www(dot)polyvore(dot)com/cgi/set?id=31148538

Many hugs to HollettLA & TheOtherBella for spending their time to correct my mistakes.

This chapter is short but sweet but important, too. Pay attention to the dates guys.

I don't own, I just play.

Chapter 22, A Chic Wedding

BPOV

May 28, 2011

"Alice, do I even want to know how?"

I was wearing, hands down, the coolest, sexiest, most stellar, gorgeous dress that had ever been on my body. It was a black and white polka-dotted, asymmetrical, strapless Vivienne Westwood. The real shocker was that I wasn't paying a thing for it!

"It's all in who you know!" She said bouncing in place looking from me to Rosie, who was wearing the same dress. "Seriously, you two look so amazing!"

I couldn't help but agree. We didn't have shoes or anything yet, but the dresses were perfect.

"I just called Angela. I told her I was getting hitched, that I needed my two best bitches to look fierce, and she came through... and how! All she wanted was some pictures to brag about... maybe send to a few publications if they came out well. Of course they will though, we're the hottest women in New York!"

Angela, Alice's stylist friend who we had to thank for putting our company name out in the fashion world, had come through for us again. All she wanted in return for the insane fashion she was throwing our way, was some pictures of her work to shop around the fashion magazines, blogs, and other sites. She sent over about six dresses, one each in both my and Rosie's sizes. The Westwood was the third dress we tried on. As soon as we'd tried all six on, we came back to it.

"I'm thinking red, right?" said Alice.

"Red what?" asked Rosie.

"Shoes! Duh! Nothing is chicer than red shoes with polka dots."

Rosie and I shared a look.

"And what about you, our bouncy little alien? Where's your dress?"

"Do you wanna see? It's sooo incredible!"

"Of course!" We said in unison.

The dress that the seamstress had made for Alice was trashed. It wasn't awful, it just wasn't special enough. Alice was beside herself about it, though. It was mere weeks before the wedding and she had no dress, well none that fit her standards, anyway. She called Angela in tears, pouring her fashionable heart out. Angela, being the sweetheart that she was, went on a mad dash search for a green satin dress that was worthy of Alice. Rosie and I hadn't seen it, but we knew it was an Elie Saab number and therefore had to be amazing.

As Alice dashed off to wiggle into her dress, we got out of our own masterpieces and hung them up. I had my shirt stuck above my head, caught on my watch, when I heard Rosie gasp. The more I struggled, the worse my state got. Eventually I called for help, got laughed at, then was saved. When my shirt was firmly in place, I turned to look at Alice. Tears sprang to my eyes. She was spectacular. The dress was a dream. Soft green satin, gathered at the hips and tied at the waist in a bow. The deep cowl neck was offset by criss-crossed straps in the back. It was too long for her and pooled at her feet, her hair wasn't done, she didn't have a stitch of makeup on, but none of it mattered. She was stunning.

"Oh, Alice," I sighed.

"Right?" she sighed back.

"It's just... I mean..." Rosie was at a loss for words, too.

"Purple?" Alice asked out of nowhere.

"Huh?" Rosie and I said in unison.

"You know, shoes. Purple?"

We helped her out of the dress and left it in the guestroom where we were playing dress up. Alice didn't want any of our guys seeing our dresses, so she thought it best to keep them there. Once she was dressed, we headed out for shoes and accessories. At Henri Bendel, Rosie and I found hair accessories, and Alice found an antique brooch to put in her hair. At Saks we all found our undergarments and lingerie and at Bloomingdales, we found our shoes. By the time dinner rolled around, we were beat. After treating ourselves to ice cream sundaes for dinner, Rosie and Alice headed downtown and I called Felix to pick me up and take me back home.

I only half believed Edward when he said he wanted me to move in with him "tomorrow." He meant it, though. The afternoon after he had asked me to move in with him, he had come to my apartment and helped me pack. The whole thing only took a week. Of course, I didn't have that much stuff and my apartment was tiny. Besides clothes and some kitchen items, everything else was donated to the Red Cross or left out on the street. Edward even worked his magic and got me out of my lease somehow.

He asked me if I wanted anything changed in his place. He was more than happy to call his mother or even a designer to come over. I told him to leave it, at least for the time being. I was comfortable and at ease there, no need to rush into changing things. He did have the walk-in closet expanded in the - our - bedroom, though. I had more space than I knew what to do with.

My parents, especially Sue, were thrilled about us reconciling and moving in with each other. In fact, they were coming for a long weekend in June to see my new home. Home. Home with Edward. If you had asked me when I moved to New York if I had ever expected to call a massive penthouse overlooking Central Park, complete with terraces, doormen, a car, a driver, and any luxury I could think of, "home," I would have asked you what you were smoking. But being in that penthouse felt more like home than even my old bedroom in my father's house did. And why wouldn't it? Edward was there.

The wedding was weeks away and Alice was a nightmare. For the most part, we left her alone. We only did what was asked of us and we only spoke when spoken to. A week before the event, the tent went up. The day before the event, the chairs were set up. The day of was a mad house. Between the caterers, the florists, Angela's crew, which included Angela (she handled all the men's suits, too), a hairdresser, and a makeup artist, it felt like we were getting ready for the Academy Awards and not a wedding for under 30 people.

The weather was perfect, thank God! None of us knew what it would take to console the alien should it have rained. It seemed everyone was nervous for their own reasons. Alice was worried something was going to go wrong. Edward was nervous about seeing people he hadn't seen in years and also meeting a few new people (I couldn't stop telling him how proud I was of him and how extraordinarily brave he was being), and I was nervous because I was meeting his parents, Esme and Carlisle, for the first time.

Alice was being a tyrant about people seeing any of us. She relished the drama of a big reveal. So, Rose, Alice, and I were cooped up in a guest bedroom being poked and prodded while the men were allowed to roam about. When the makeup artist told me she was done, I got up to look at myself in the mirror. Damn, I looked good. I looked really, really good. My hair was an artfully teased, curly rat's nest of mess with the black and white feather headpiece resting in the chaos. It was very runway-chic. The dress hugged and hung perfectly, and the shoes were to die for.

All in all, I thought I gave Rosie a run for her money. All bets were off when Alice stepped out of the bathroom, though. She was incredible. Everything was so perfect. Her short blue hair was in slicked waves across her head. The antique brooch rested just above her right ear. Diamond studs, a wedding gift from Jasper, glittered in her ears. Green satin wrapped her body and when she moved, her purple shoes poked through from beneath the hem of her dress. Only she could have pulled off something like that. Her matte red lips matched her bright red bouquet and she seemed to be in a bubble of serenity and calm... a rarity for our little alien.

A knock at the door was followed by a deep southern voice, "Y'all decent, ladies?"

"Yes, Pop. Come in," answered Alice.

"Pop," or Captain Archibald Lewis Whitlock, Jasper's father and a retired naval officer, was walking Alice down the aisle. A large, imposing Texan with a commanding presence, Archibald was all bark and no bite. Oh I'm sure he was once a cut-throat captain, but these days he was a just a teddy bear and a sucker for Alice - he only ever had Jasper and his troops to father, after all. Alice's real father ran away with an 18-year-old stripper years ago. Last anyone heard, he was living in the Bahamas with her. He didn't keep in touch with his family and no one bothered to waste any time in trying to find him. Alice had originally asked Edward. He was honored, but bowed out gracefully; he didn't want to be in more pictures than necessary. Alice understood. I did too, although I wish I hadn't needed to.

"Alice you look amazing, darlin'. Jasper won't know what hit him!"

"Thanks, Pop."

"You ready, ladies?"

We all looked to Alice who nodded. Rosie and I walked ahead and Alice took Pop's arm. When we were in the living room and could finally see everything, I was amazed. The city was putting on a show. The violet light of twilight hung over the terrace where thousands of twinkle lights lit trees, tents, and shrubs. A long red carpet led a path from the French doors to a very dapper looking Jasper in a black pinstripe suit. Rosie walked out first while the guitarist from the jazz band quietly strummed, "I've Got a Crush on You."

Emmett stood next to Jasper, a massive smile on his face from looking at Rosie. When she was halfway down the aisle, I stepped through the doors and caught a glimpse of Edward in the back row of chairs. He smiled his half smile and winked at me. It made me stand that much taller and sashay that much more. I knew when Alice was on her way by the audible gasp from everyone. While everyone looked at her, I looked at Jasper. He looked shocked or awed, or probably both. His mouth was open and his eyes were wide.

When Alice and Archibald stopped, I took her bouquet and Pop sat down next to his wife, Jasper's mother, who had tears in her eyes.

They exchanged simple vows, kissed, and were pronounced husband and wife. We all cheered. I handed Alice back her flowers, they made their way back into the apartment where Jasper kissed her again. They spoke quietly, smiling and pecking each other until the photographer interrupted them.

"You look stunning, you know that, right?" A pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around my waist.

"Yes, I do. You're looking pretty good yourself there."

"I did my best, but nothing compares to you."

"Love you. I have to go take pictures soon."

"Love you, too. I'll be here waiting for you, beautiful."

I kissed him quickly before finding everyone else for photos.

What seemed like hours later, we were free from the evil photographer and his assistant and were finally able to enjoy the party. When I was introduced to Esme and Carlisle, I was shaking with nerves. I needn't have worried. They were gracious and so incredibly happy to meet me. Esme actually cried when she hugged me. She whispered thanks for "giving me back my son." I thanked her back for "taking care of him when I was too blind to."

Carlisle was everything I imagined him to be. Handsome, tall, confident, well mannered. I could tell he was a little uncomfortable, but it was understandable. After dessert, he and Edward walked off together. Esme and I danced and shared some really good laughs. When the men returned, they both seemed more at ease. I knew it would take some time before things between the two of them were relaxed and easy, but I was glad to have witnessed the first step.

It was three A.M. before the last caterer, cleaning person, guest, and musician had left the apartment. Edward and I fell on the bed in unison and sighed. It had been an exhausting, but incredible, night.

"Edward?"

"Yes?"

"Do me a favor?"

"What?"

"Take off my shoes, please? I don't think I'm strong enough to pull them off my swollen feet."

He laughed before shifting his weight. A moment later I could feel his calloused, scarred hand grab my ankle and struggle with the shoe strap.

"Man, you weren't kidding!"

I reached over my head, grabbed a pillow and launched it at his head.

"Oaf!"

"Sorry, sorry!" He kissed my foot as he finally pulled the shoe off.

When the second one was off, I moaned in relief.

"Now what the hell am I going to do about my hair?"

He laughed. "I was kind of wondering that myself," he admitted.

"I think my only option is dunking it in water repeatedly and conditioning the hell out of it."

"Shower it is. Come on, I'll help you out of that dress."

"Carefully, please. This is a Vivienne Westwood," I said with pride.

Carefully, he helped me unzip and step out of the dress. When it was off and I was in nothing but my bustier and panties, Edward groaned.

"What?" I asked.

"I really wish I had the energy to fuck you right now. You look entirely too sexy for three A.M."

"You say the sweetest things."

When we were both naked, we stepped into the shower. Edward helped me untangle and slather my hair with almost half a bottle of conditioner. When my hair was once again manageable and back to normal, we stepped out, dried off, walked to bed half asleep, and collapsed. I made my way to his side, put my head on his shoulder, and let his arms cradle me. I was so comfortable, so ready for sleep...

"You know," he whispered, "last week was the anniversary of my accident."

I didn't even breathe.

"I didn't realize what day it was until I saw the article in my email box. Years ago, like some crazed masochist, I set up an alert for any mention of my name in any of the Boston area newspapers to be emailed to me. Alice usually sends scotch to my father and peonies to my mother on the anniversary on my behalf. This year, with the wedding, Alice forgot, too."

I was about to apologize, or ask him if he was okay - say anything really - when he started speaking again.

"I never thought I'd see the day when I could so easily forget. Between the wedding, my mother, life in general, and of course you, it just didn't matter so much anymore."

My heart swelled.

"I canceled that stupid alert that very afternoon, by the way..."

I could feel my eyes tearing.

"Maybe next year May 20th won't be anything other than a regular day of the week."

I forced myself not to cry. No more tears needed to spilled over that fateful day.

"I'd like that. May 20th, just another day," he mused.

I took a deep breath and let contentment in his words wash over me. I could see him smiling in my head without even looking at his face.

"Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that."

I swallowed my outburst and instead, gave him a simple and quiet "thank you."

"It's almost dawn. We really should get some sleep."

I nodded into the crook of his body, snuggling into the man who was letting his past go. The air around us seemed so much lighter... so much sweeter.

"Love you, beautiful," he said sleepily, yet sincerely.

"Love you too, Edward," I said, before closing my eyes and falling asleep.

A/N

Just the epi left. I hope you enjoyed this ride as much as I did. I'll get a little more emotional at the end of said epi.

Reviews are as good as Vivienne Westwood dresses... sigh.