Chapter One: I'm Gonna Marry That Boy

Bella POV

I was escaping. Breaking out. Making a run for it. Well maybe not literally running seeing as I would fall and break all the bones in my face. Either way, I was pulling a Houdini.

It had been a month since I had a moment to myself. Here I thought getting rid of Victoria, graduating from high school, and even moving out of Charlie's house; would give me some much needed relaxing time.

Wrong. I was so wrong.

Days after graduation I had moved out of Charlie's house to live with Ripley and Morgan. After they had graduated they decided they would get an apartment together for at least the next year. Ripley had proposed to Paul moments after graduating, but they were waiting a little while to get married. She wanted to live away from her parents first, as did Morgan, so them getting an apartment with each other made sense. I also didn't want to move in with the Cullen's yet.

Charlie had been the one to offer that view to me. Not as much as a father, but more an observer, that I should have a bit of fun. Live with the girls, and act eighteen rather than as a fiancé. He recognized that just because I was getting married at eighteen, didn't mean I was him and Renee. Though he didn't understand why we were getting married six months after the proposal, he understood we were marrying for the right reasons. I was merely starting my life, not missing out on the fun I could have been having. However, he wanted me to take the time to have a little single girl life.

The apartment was on the border of the reservation so I had to get permission to live there. Though Morgan wasn't Quileute, being an imprint made her living on La Push acceptable, though apart from the pack and the elders counsel, no one knew that reason. I got permission from the elders as well, on the grounds of only being there for a little over a month. And for being a sort of honorary Quileute since I was close with the pack and imprints.

It was at the apartment where I was now planning my escape. I had been there a month and while I truly did enjoy living outside of with a parent, I didn't feel the least bit on my own. My life was split between work at the diner, and being bombarded by all of the girl members of my family on wedding plans. Even Leah had been a traitor since she had accepted her imprint around the same time Edward and I got engaged. She and Athan were now very happy together, and while I couldn't be happier for them, I wished for cynical Leah on my side. And I wasn't going to get her.

Even Jess and Angela would show up on the reservation or even at the Cullen house to pour over plans with the others. Whoever thought a wedding was for a bride, had never met my wedding.

Though I had never taken much time to picture what my wedding would be like, I knew a few details. It would be only family and close friends. I wanted to be able to know every person there. It would be a small, intimate gathering, and blissfully short. I wasn't much for a drawn out affair. I wouldn't wear some crazy dress when I was only wearing it once. Heels would not be involved. There wouldn't be pounds of decorations and fanfare. It would be quiet, simple, but meaningful. However, the only thing that was taken into consideration was that I knew everyone on the guest list, save for a few of the Cullen's old friends.

The wedding was still going to be a great day. I knew that. And I knew why Alice, Rosalie, and Esme wanted to make it a big production out of it. It was for Edward. Even though I had waited what seemed like forever to find someone to understand me and share a connection with, Edward had waited much longer. He was finally getting the life he had craved for a century. He wanted to show that off, and I had no problem letting him.

That didn't mean I enjoyed never having a single moment alone. Whether it was wedding plans, or fitting in Charlie time, or friend time, family time, working at the diner; it had been non stop. I had barely even seen my future husband in the last month except for making decisions on music and flowers. It had been crazy. And I was at my breaking point.

After my shift at the diner I planned the first part of my escape. It was three days before my wedding and I was going to have a goddamn moment by myself. I was. So I drove as fast as the truck would allow to the apartment to change out of my work clothes, and try and break away.

It was a nice place. I could see Ripley and Morgan being comfortable there for the year the lease indicated. They each had their own room, and we turned the den into a make shift room for myself or whoever else would end up staying there when I left.

The bed was an old on the Clearwater's had in storage and were nice enough to give us. I had felt wrong taking the one from Charlie's house. The rest of my stuff crammed into the small room well, while the rest of it waited until Edward and I were living together. For the time being we weren't sure where that would be.

We planned to go on a honeymoon after the wedding, and then after that, Edward would change me. Depending on how I reacted to the change, that's when we would plan what came next. If I didn't take to it to well, it would probably be wise to stay in the Cullen house with as many people watching me as possible. If I did, then Edward and I would move on our own.

I also wasn't sure how long we would stay in Forks after I changed. Certainly my human friends and family would notice so even if I was fully in control, we would have to leave. It was a subject I didn't like to dwell on. Leaving Charlie, Angela, my other human friends. I knew I could do it, but in some ways I didn't feel ready. But the Volturi had not left much wiggle room, and I certainly didn't want to hit nineteen before I changed.

I shivered that thought away as I tugged on a tank top at the same time trying to pull up my shorts and find my flip flops. Once I was dressed I worked my hair into a braid and grabbed the wallet I had forgotten to bring to work.

I'd go to a bookstore. I would go to one on the edge of town for a little breather of space. I would get a new pile of books for the honeymoon, and maybe even read one sitting on the floor between the shelves like I used to. I would grab an iced coffee and take an hour. Hell two. No wedding plans, no taking care of my family, no thoughts of my vampire change. Just me.

I was as sneaky as I could be as I crept from the apartment and back to my truck. I knew Ripley and Morgan were still working, the pack was scattered about, but I didn't expect to see any of them. Half the Cullen's were hunting and the other half were wrapping up wedding prep. Since I wasn't planning to drive by the house, I could certainly dodge them as well.

The relief slowly kicked in when I past not only the reservation, but from Forks too. I did it. I could be normal and have normal me time.

In another fifteen minutes I had left the dunkin donuts drive through and with iced coffee in hand I got out of the truck to fall in love with the vintage style bookstore I had found. I dove in.

An hour and a half later I was hauling out sixteen books with dust pluffs in my hair an ache in my back from bending over to try and investigate the bottom shelves, which of course held all the best finds.

I had gotten half a dozen texts during that time, and while I answered all of them saying I was fine, but didn't tell them where I was or that I was having me time. I refused to go back until I was ready to. At the same time, I didn't want to tell anyone I had escaped. Especially when the guilt had hit me ten minutes into my me session.

Usually I would have liked to think that I had handled a lot without losing my cool. Through the move, finding out about vampires, Edward leaving, the nomads and issues with Victoria, the Volturi, never once did I complain. Honestly, I hadn't felt the need to. I handled everything and preferred to handle everything.

So why now? Nothing was wrong now. In fact things were finally going our way. I was getting married, and I couldn't be happier to do so. There was nothing to complain about right now. So maybe I had merely reaching my breaking point. Now that I had more time to realize all that had happened, the past year was finally getting to me. It had technically been a lot longer than a month since I had time to myself after all. At least we could move on, and I didn't need to be protected all the time or watch out for the others.

I tossed the pile of books into the back of the truck and looked around until I found a garbage can. I was walking over to throw the empty coffee cup out that was dripping from condensating, when a bag of some sort was thrown over my head and a hard body wrapped around me, forcing me to drop the cup.

Though I considered screaming, I sensed whatever had me wasn't human, which would make it pointless. Instead I reared my head back for a reverse head butt, only to meet empty air. The move had whoever this was swinging me over their shoulder. Judging by the sudden quickness we were moving at and the sudden coolness, I knew it had to be a vampire. Terrific, just terrific. I bag a vamp I fall for and he wants to marry me, only to have one of his kind swipe me away, three days before I have to trip down the aisle. Well screw that. I was going to marry that vamp, and this one wasn't going to stop me from doing so.

Before I could come up with a plan, I was being placed gently back on my feet, and since my hands were free I yanked the sack from my head, and turned my gasp into a curse.

"Goddamnit Alice, what the hell was that?"

My less than five feet sister in law grinned up at me. "Did you forget something?"

I slapped a hand on my forehead as I realized my mistake. I made a decision. Alice would have had the vision of it and known where I was. "Ok fine so I didn't have the most successful escape plan, but was it really necessary to kidnap me and bring me….wherever we are." I looked around the parking lot.

"I thought it would be funny. We had this planned before I had the vision, we just had to wait for the perfect moment. This is."

"Why is that, and for what, and who is we?"

"Because it's the sort of thing you and I would have laughed over before we left. Before Victoria. Before we all stopped remembering to have fun and relax. Take time to ourselves. That's why we waited until you were done having your time alone. You think we all can't notice how much you've taken on? How much you needed this?" She rubbed her hand on my shoulder. "You should have taken it weeks ago. And we meaning the girls and I."

I shook my head with a smile. "Thank Goddess I moved here."

"I concur wholeheartedly." She linked her arm through mine and turned me around so that we faced the back of a building. "I'll take you back to your car after we're done."

"Doing what?"

She pushed me into the building and I started laughing. "Since when do male strip clubs open at seven at night?"

"Since Mommy Esme is rich." Rosalie skipped up to me and put a white sash over my shoulder. It read 'Bride.'

There was no one else in the place except my own family. Kim, Lulu, Morgan, Ripley, Esme, Alice, Rosalie, Leah, and Emily. Esme walked up to me first. "I hope you don't mind me crashing your bachelorette party, but since a couple of our girls are underage I thought I should be here."

"I wouldn't want you anywhere else." I put my arm around her as we walked to the long table that was placed in front of the stage, which was empty. "I can't believe you rented out a strip club. Very interesting mother in law duties you have here."

"Not every day your only human daughter in law marries your surrogate vampire son."

"Certainly justifies celebration." I laughed and went to hug all the other girls.

At first the evening was a bridal shower where I opened gifts that were mostly the silliest and girliest things I would own. Edward would certainly enjoy some of the nighttime clothing I got.

We played games, the human ones of us ate junk while Esme, Rosalie, and Alice told us stories of their weddings as we all awed and laughed. It was just what I needed. Some relaxing alone time followed by some much needed girl nonsense. It couldn't get any more perfect than that.

And that's when Jacob took the stage.

"What the f…"

"Hello ladies. I'm Jacob Black, Isabella Swan's man of honor." He cut me off and bowed.

I grinned as the girls clapped with mischief in their eyes at his introduction.

"We're here to make you ladies laugh a little, and maybe feel lucky that you're stuck with the likes of these less than human men." With a flourish of his arms he jumped off the stage and walked over to me as music began.

"What the hell are you about Jacob?"

"Hey this was not my idea." He winked over to Rosalie. "That's on your big sister."

"Oh god." I slapped my hands over my eyes as the oldest of our men walked out to the stage and began to strip tease his wife. "That's Carlisle. Dancing to We Found Love In A Hopeless Place. Oh my god is that Jasper? Holy shit. That's appropriate. This is so not normal."

"Since when has this crew ever done anything normal? Not our style kid." He glanced back at the stage and winced as his pack brothers started to make their way to their girls. "I did not need to see that."

I laughed as the pack turned from their girls to each toss their shirts on top of me. "What is with you dogs and going shirtless?" I pushed Embry's shirt out of the way when I heard someone else take the stage, and saw Edward.

Staring at him from across the room I realized he was wearing the same shirt as the day I met him, and as he stripped it off the girls began to clap as it flew over to my lap. I smoothed out the faded green material and whistled.

"Down girls. This one is mine." I grinned as he very expertly moved his way over to my chair, straddling my lap much like a pro would. "Well hello sailor."

"My research over the past few decades showed me this is what you ladies do at bachelorette parties. Hope you don't mind we crashed it." His crooked smile shined.

"I happen to find this much more entertaining." Though I wanted to blush as he shifted his weight, I reached an arm up and caught the single Ripley had wadded up to toss at me. "I believe you've earned this." I said and placed it in between his teeth to bite. "You're awfully pretty, you wanna marry me?"

He leaned forward to kiss me as the others, now grabbing their shirts to be more civilized, whistled and clapped. It might not have been the most conventional bachelorette party but it loosened every nerve of mine that had needed to relax. I had laughed with my insane family, and I now anticipated my wedding and new life more than ever. Because finally we could all breathe that sigh of relief that we had gotten what we had been waiting for.

A family.

Aro POV

Nearly three thousand years of true life and I had never found a romantic site than the lightening crashing and flashing its way through Volterra. Even the woman in my bed couldn't keep me as I stood on the terrace to watch the ice disguised bolts dance through the city. Though they moved fast, I saw every detail of their strike. It was one of my favorite parts of vampire life, the gift of true sight.

As the woman shrieked in tune with a boom of thunder, I was reminded of my other favorite part.

I turned away from the terrace, leaving the wide doors open to turn to her. Naked, she writhed against the red satin sheets, red not from a dye or thread, but from her blood.

"Now now, if you keep moving my dear you're going to waste it." I clucked my tongue and flashed, much like the lightening, to her side. "I won't have that." I shook my head and parted her thighs to the spot where I had moments before bitten, and did so again, taking another long pull of the lime tasting blood. All she had eaten for months I remembered. The salt of her blood combining with the limes and lemons had left a margarita flavor through her stream.

"Aro you told me you would wait for me." Athena, the only wife of mine that I shared a room with walked into ours, pouting at the pruning girl. "Is she still fresh?"

"The rest for you." I waved a hand at the girl as Athena leaned over her, frightening her further to get the blood spiking once more. "You were later than you said."

After Athena drained what was left of the girl she rang the bell to have her disposed. "You shouldn't have let her lie on the bed, we're forever getting new linens."

"Placing her on the Persian was hardly an option, and I wasn't about to have her amongst everyone else. I wanted privacy and the storm through the windows." But I turned to Athena now, stroking a hand down the corner of her mouth, where our dinner had collected. "What kept you?"

"I was going through the weeks mail. It seems we got a letter from Edward Cullen."

"Had he changed the girl then?"

"He is requesting your understanding that they are waiting until after they are wed."

"Oh a wedding." I clapped my hands and smiled. "I do love a wedding. A shame we can't be spared from the castle to go just now. Did he say a date when she is to be changed?"

"It seems their plan is for after the honeymoon. The wedding is in three days time. Does this delay dissatisfy you?" Athena's opaque eyes gleamed. There was little more that she liked more than something to anger me. It would mean a fight.

"I've waited eighteen years for Isabella Swan to become a vampire. Since our psychic first saw the asset she would be." I smiled at the memory. "The treasure. And we all know how I enjoy collecting my treasures."

"How much longer will you wait for her to be of us?"

As the servants came to pick up the body of the small, but curved woman I looked over her long mahogany hair and now empty brown eyes. Not long now I thought in answer, turning to watch the lightening strike at the mountains miles away.

A/N The first chapter of my first fan fiction and the first chapter of my last, the same. Bittersweet to post my last story on here. Read it, review it, and above all, enjoy it.