Alice grabbed my hand and squeezed it encouragingly as she led through the house to the back patio doors.

“Alright,” she grinned, “Jasper and I are going to walk down the aisle first, and then when you hear the music change -” she gestured to Charlie and I, “you guys can start walking.”

She surveyed our small group momentarily before frowning slightly

“Charlie, where’s Renee?” I could feel my eyes bulge as she said it.

“Here!” The answer came from across the room where Renee had just entered.

I was shocked again. I knew Renee was coming – but I also knew that she was very skeptical about my young marriage. She had taken the news better than Charlie, but it was apparent at the same time that she did not approve. As if her willingness to walk me down the aisle wasn’t enough of a surprise, she also looked genuinely excited for me.

Almost as if she had read my mind, she excused her late arrival with a breathless – “Sorry, Alice. I was talking to your brother.” So that was it. Edward had worked his magic on my mom, too. If it was possible for me to love him more, that moment would have made it happen.

My mother’s eyes fell upon me and she smiled.

“Bella, you look stunning.”

“Hi, mom.” was my only response as I fell into her loving and greatly missed embrace. With tears in her eyes, she whispered “I’m really happy for you. He loved you so much.” in my ear.

I grabbed her hands. “I know mom, thanks.”

Jasper hesitantly interrupted. “Its time, Bella.”

On cue, the joyous music switched over to a slower waltz.

“You have no reason to be nervous.” Jasper winked at me.

I mouthed my thanks to him as we all fell behind Alice and stepped out into the yard.

The set-up was breathtaking. Everything was covered in brilliant white silk. There were purple lilacs and other beautiful flowers placed everywhere among the lace and ribbons. Just feet in front of me were the chairs. Easily one hundred of them, all covered in silk. In these chairs sat my biggest fears My friends, and my family. In the front row was the Cullen family, all smiling at me. Next to them, across the aisle was an awkward looking Phil, sitting between the only two open seats which were reserved for Charlie and Renee, I guessed. Behind the Cullens were an unfamiliar and painfully beautiful family that I recognized as the Denali clan. Out of them, Tanya was easily distinguishable by the sour and unhappy facial expression she possessed. No doubt she would have taken my place in an instant if the opportunity presented its self. I fleetingly hoped that she kept her mouth shut during the objection part. I scanned the rest of the crowd, picking out my friends, some fully uniformed police officers that I assumed were Charlie’s co-workers, and then….. Jacob. He was out of the ordinary. Even sitting down, he still towered above the rest, and instead of stating at me like everyone else, he was examining his black, shiny shoes very carefully. I only allowed myself to linger on Jacob for a moment though. I raised my gaze finally to rest on Edward He looked like an angel. Every other face on the out-skirts of my vision disappeared. I could only see him. Edward and his surreal beauty and perfection stood gracefully on the other end of the white silk path. His eyes held minr and I had to strongly resist the urge to just run into his arms and scream “I do.”