Chapter 1: The Heart Attack

"You ready?" Charlie asked me as he extended his hand.

No, I thought internally. I wasn't ready at all. Part of me didn't want to do this. No, that wasn't true.

All of me didn't want to do this.

I didn't want to marry Edward. At least not like this…

Why couldn't we have gone to Vegas? Or just not have gotten married at all. It was too soon! well, too soon for me.

I wanted to spend time with my friends and go to college but didn't Edward's heart matter too? He had spent thousands of years waiting for his perfect match.

I guess I was it.

With that thought I tried to gather my confidence and take my father's hand.

"Yeah. Just don't let me fall, Dad." I whispered. Charlie pulled my hand through his arm and then grasped it tightly.

"Never baby girl," he said softly.

Bella gasped; he had never called her that before.

With tears in her eyes, she allowed him to walk her down the aisle.

One step at a time, I told myself as we began to descend to the slow tempo of the march. I didn't lift my eyes until my feet were safely on the flat ground, though I could hear the murmurs and rustling of the audience as I came into view. Blood flooded my cheeks at the sound; of course, I could be counted on to be the blushing bride.

As soon as my feet were past the treacherous stairs, I was looking for him. For a brief second, I was distracted by the profusion of white blossoms that hung in garlands from everything in the room that wasn't alive, dripping with long lines of white gossamer ribbons. But I tore my eyes from the bowery canopy and searched across the rows of satin-draped chairs - blushing more deeply as I took in the crowd of faces all focused on me - until I found him at last, standing before an arch overflowing with more flowers, more gossamer.

I was barely conscious that Carlisle stood by his side, and Angela's father behind them both. I didn't see my mother where she must have been sitting in the front row, or my new family, or any of the guests - they would have to wait till later.

All I saw was Edward's face; it filled my vision and overwhelmed my mind. His eyes were buttery, burning gold; his perfect face was almost severe with the depth of his emotion. And then, as he met my awed gaze, he broke into a breathtaking smile of exultation.

And everything in me wanted to run away. I didn't want this. I couldn't do this.

Suddenly, it was only the pressure of Charlie's hand on mine that kept me from running away.

I was just a few steps away from Edwards's hypnotizing gaze when I heard my father gasp.

I turned to look at him and my heart stopped.

My father's face was pale. All the blood draining from his face.

His free hand that wasn't clasping my hand was covering his heart.

"B...Be.…Bella…" he croaked. His eyes were wide and filled with fear as he looked at her.

And then they rolled into the back of his head and her father collapsed.

"DADDDY!"

Was the ear-piercing shriek that exploded through the evening air.

Everything was a swirl of chaos. Carlisle was in full doctor mode now, barking orders and demanding an ambulance.

Bella had been pulled to the side by her mother as they looked on.

"come on Bella, let's get to the hospital." Her mother urged.

Bella felt her world spin.