I felt like I was being pulled underwater by a stone. No matter how hard I tried to free myself, I kept sinking and getting closer to drowning by each passing second. I let go, eventually. Why did it matter, anyway? No one loved me.

Then, faces popped into my mind. They were blurry at first, but they slowly grew clearer and took on familiar shapes. Em, Liz, Luxe... Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, Emmett, Esme, Carlisle, Edward... I felt stronger. Some of the bonds that tethered me to unconsciousness broke. I felt a dull ache in my mind. Was it a good sign, or bad? I ignored the pain and brought some more reasons to survive into my mind. That stupid, irrational promise I made to Edward all those years ago came to my head.

"Promise me you won't do anything stupid or reckless! Do you understand me?"

"Yes."

That brought me back to reality. The ache became stabbing pains and the blackness faded. I drug back my eyelids to reveal our living room. Em was hovering above me. She crowed, "Hey, Bells is awake!"

I winced; her yell echoed in my skull, making it pound. I grumbled, "Uck. I hurt all over."

Two other people appeared above me. They weren't Liz and Luxe, as you might expect, but Alice and Edward. I blinked, then shook my head. I mumbled, surprised, "Uh, hi?"

Alice reached down and grabbed my hand, grinning like the cat who ate the canary. I sighed, "Why do you look so cocky, Alice?"

She ignored me and said to Em, "Why don't we go outside and give these two—" Alice gestured to myself and Edward "—a little privacy?"

Em winked at me and said over her shoulder as Alice dragged her outside, "It's all gonna work out, hun! I don't think I'm gonna bet against Alice, here."

I thought, 'I don't wanna know.'

That left Edward and me alone. We were silent for a few minutes, each gathering courage to speak. He murmured, voice strangely pained, "I thought you were gone, Bella. We all thought you wouldn't make it. When that... that thing hurt you, it was unbearable. My pain, the girls' pain, and my family's. Everyone was shocked, as was I. Of course, we chased away all the others and Emalie took on the lead two. She barely let us come to you to take you here."

I could imagine Em doing something like that. I sat up, only to be rewarded with vertigo and stabbing pains in my side. Edward was quickly on the couch beside me, supporting me easily against his side. I let out a slight hiss as my stitches pulled. Edward pulled me close and I didn't resist. He was charming me already. I had told him he had to earn my trust back, but I had been lying. I just wanted to play the heavy, and I was breaking quickly. Suddenly, my choice was clear. I was going to let go of everything. I relaxed into him. We molded perfectly together, though we were as contrary as fire and ice.

He murmured, "Bella, when that woman hurt you... She cut so deeply and you lost so much blood. The world froze. To me, only you and I existed. I had to get to you, I had to help you. I will not live without you."

I whispered, "Okay, I trust you."

Edward gently kissed my forehead and murmured, "I love you, Isabella Marie Swan. I always have and I always will."

I said quietly back, "And I love you."

Comfortable silence took over and we lay on the couch in our own little world, with Edward gently kissing me and me snuggled back against his chest. It was perfect. It seemed like we finally had our happy ending.

OoOoOoOoO

"Bella, hold still! You'd think I was shoving bamboo under your nails," Alice snapped as I fidgeted once again, causing her steady hand to nearly slip as she finished my make-up.

I sighed, "Sorry, Ali. I'm nervous."

She grumbled, "Don't know why. You're beautiful, you have amazing bridesmaids, and you have me, the psychic."

I took a deep breath and said, "Ok, ok. I'll relax."

Alice smiled and swept into the closet, nearly bouncing up and down. She returned with two boxes, a garment bag, and a small hanging bag. The boxes and bag she lay on the couch, and the garment bag was unzipped and a dress was extracted. It was long, snowy white, and beaded around the bust. It had an empire style skirt and a cathedral train. I loved it immediately. Alice reminded me, "Deep breath, Bells."

I took a deep breath and let Alice dress me. She took a long veil from the smaller bag and fastened it in my hair. My nearly-sister made me close my eyes as she placed something on my head. There was a dull thud and Alice said, "Step into your shoes."

I carefully did so and Alice said, "Okay. Look in the mirror."

I opened my eyes and was astonished with how I looked. The woman staring back at me from the mirror was tall and appeared graceful, though not in motion. She was clothed in a beautiful ivory gown, a long veil, and a simple pearl tiara. Her dark hair was half up, half down and her cheeks were the same color as rose petals. Rosy lips were pulled up in a smile and her eyes were bright in excitement. I whispered, "Alice... You're amazing."

Her topaz eyes lit up and she hugged me, being careful not to mess up my dress. Alice sighed, "It's time. The girls are downstairs, with Rose. Carlisle's waiting by the door. Everyone else is outside. The Denali family got here an hour ago and they're out there. A few of our old friends are there, and a couple of the wolves from La Push. Seems they've—er—grown attached to the girls. Seth and Liz, Em and Jacob, and Luxe and Paul. It took me a helluva lot of work to get those three decent. I'm proud of myself, though."

I smiled. It seemed my girls were gonna run with wolves. Alice lightly towed me from the room and to the stairs. I descended carefully, though I was no longer clumsy. I didn't want to catch the dress on something and fall down. Em gently hugged me and whispered, "You look amazing, darlin'. I can't believe this is happening."

I smiled, "Maybe you'll catch the bouquet and it'll be you and Jacob next."

Em blushed and hugged me again before leaning back against Jacob. I smiled, "It's nice to have my best guy-friend back."

Jacob lightly crushed me to his chest and grinned down at me. He said, "It's like nothing's changed."

I smiled and said, "I never thought I'd have a best man."

The music changed and Alice danced over, her arm linked with Jasper's. She squeaked, "It's time! Oh!"

Em hugged me one last time and my line of four bridesmaids and the men left the Cullens' house and walked down the aisle in the backyard. I went to the door. My father-to-be, Carlisle, asked, "Ready, Bella?"

I nodded once. Then it was our turn. All eyes turned to us and I went pink. But it was over quickly; I blinked twice and we were at the end. I took Edward's hands, and it was just us again. I listened carefully to the minister and then, managed to whisper, "I do."

Edward then repeated strongly, "I do."

The minister said, "You may now kiss the bride."

Edward pressed his lips to mine, and I was higher than flying. He was mine. No one else's. Mine and mine alone. I suddenly realized something. I had imprinted. Not while I was shifting, but before-hand. That's why I'd felt a pull to him so strongly. We could find soul mates, human or shape-shifter. When we broke apart, we turned, fingers intertwined, to the aisle. A couple cameras went off and there was plenty of clapping. I didn't blush. I just smiled so widely that I thought my face might crack. I had family, I had friends, and I had love. It seemed like it would never, ever end...