AN: a few of you asked me to email you, but didn't give me your emails, you silly rabbits! if you'd like me to send you a super-sexy email, just ask your questions and give me your email. make sure to break it up because ffn can be a mofo about these things.

eg. white_lies_is_awesome youreababe . com - note the spacing! that's not my email btw.

Now, on with the show.

Epilogue

"Like as the waves make towards the pebbl'd shore, so do our minutes, hasten to their end."

William Shakespeare

Bella POV

"You were right by the way," Liam said absently as he fiddled with my dress for what felt like the millionth time that day. He then reached up and minutely adjusted my fascinator, before doing the same with his own.

"Of course I was," I sniffed arrogantly, "but what was specific thing are you referring to?"

"The veil. It would have been too much."

I nodded in agreement.

"The fascinators look much cuter on us," I noted. "And this way, we get to match." He hummed, looked us over, and gave a satisfied nod.

"I can't believe this is happening. Did you ever, ever, in a million years think that this day would arrive?"

"Never," I confirmed. We looked ourselves over in the mirror once more before linking arms and walking out to take our place at the bottom of the aisle.

I wasn't lying. I never ever thought that Liam and I would find ourselves here… walking down the aisle together. We'd made a drunken agreement that we would give each other away at our weddings, but it had never once occurred to me that it would actually happen.

And yet, here we were.

"It's weird how right it feels that we're doing this together," he noted.

"Err, this isn't some kind of last minute I've-just-realised-I'm-straight-and-in-love-with-you-because-in-20-minutes-I-won't-be-able-to-have-you kind of thing is it?" I asked, feigning discomfort. He just laughed as we waited for our cue to start walking. He looked down, fidgeting with his tie slightly. I pulled his hand away.

"Stop. You look great."

"So do you, baby girl," he told me, looking uncharacteristically misty-eyed. "I'm so glad I got you into that dress, I knew the moment I saw it that it was the one." I felt my own eyes start stinging with unshed tears as we shared this last moment before the next chapter of our lives started.

"Promise me we'll always be friends, even when we're married and lame," I pleaded, and he nodded emphatically.

"Of course! And we'll never be lame."

"I love you, Liam," I said weakly, and he gave a watery laugh.

"I love you too, baby girl. Now stop blubbering, we're going to ruin our makeup." I giggled at that before the wedding planner gave us our cue and we linked our arms together tightly, leaning on each other for strength.

"We can do this," he said quietly.

"Yes, we can," I agreed before we took the first step.

We took the walk slowly, both of us taking in the beauty of the room around us. He really had done a miraculous job of planning the wedding, it was understated but beautiful. Flowers adorned ever surface of the marquee, but not in a superfluous way, and a crowd of about 50 guests sat in chairs lining the aisle. Natural light streamed in from the sides of the tent, basking us all in a warm glow (that would look very flattering in photos, Liam had pointed out).

It was perfect.

"Look," he muttered lowly, his lips not moving due to the constant flash of cameras. "11'o'clock."

I directed my gaze discretely to my left, only to lay eyes on a large woman, wearing a horrific pastel pink dress made of chiffon and a wide-brimmed, matching hat. Trust Liam to be critiquing people's outfits while we're walking down the aisle. Unable to stop myself, a loud, unladylike laugh burst from my lips, causing everyone in the room to look at me in surprise.

Liam elbowed me sharply in the ribs, silently telling me to get my act together, and I quickly plastered my most photogenic smile back on my face. I shot a small glance at Edward, sitting in the 2nd to front row, only to see him with a knowing smirk. Apparently, my outburst didn't surprise him in the least.

Liam's eyes were focused on the end of the aisle now as he starred at Garrett, who was waiting for him, tears already streaming down his face. The loving look in his eye was almost uncomfortable to gaze at, it seemed such a private thing. I knew without looking at my best friend that his expression was identical, I could feel the contentment and happiness rolling off him in waves.

Liam took his place at the small podium beside his fiancé, and I took mine, just beside him. I was the best woman, and Garrett's brother, Randall, stood at Garrett's side, looking just as happy for the couple as I'm sure I did. The pair clasped hands and the music ended.

The celebrant cleared his voice and started the ceremony, and I watched as my best friend gave himself to the man that he loved. I found myself quietly crying while they exchanged vows and rings, a little overwhelmed by the moment, and honesty, a little disbelieving that they'd ever arrived at this point, particularly considering how they'd met only 18 months before, as arch rivals for my friendship.

Now, Liam had moved to London, they were sharing Garrett's apartment, which was not far from mine and Edward's place, and today they were getting married.

The ceremony ended and the crowd burst into applause as the pair shared their first kiss as a married couple, then jogged down the aisle together, hand in hand with smiles on their faces. I was right, the veil would have been ridiculous, and his fascinator was perfect.

The crowd started dispersing, no doubt making their way over to the nearby reception tent. I slowly stepped off the podium and wandered over to where Edward was waiting for me. I reached out and took his hand, feeling a little bit weepy and girly. He smiled softly and pulled me to his body, then kissed my lips gently.

"You looked beautiful up there."

"Thanks… it's not like there was a lot of competition." I'd been the only woman standing up there.

"Shhh," he cut me off, looking around conspiratorially, "if Liam hears you saying that, it'd ruin his day."

I laughed and rested my head on his broad chest. He pulled back, coughing and I looked up at him confusedly.

"What's wrong?"

"I just got a mouthful of feathers," he grumbled, poking his tongue out. "What's with those, anyway?"

"A veil would have been too much," I deadpanned, and he laughed. I was wearing a small, feathered fascinator, a more low key version of Liam's rather extravagant headwear. When we saw them, Liam recalled that he'd been wearing a peacock feather on a necklace the day he and Garrett had first met, declared it an omen, and bought them at once. It was sweet, but in a very Liam way.

We walked slowly hand in hand across to the other tent, where Liam and Garrett were standing, surrounded by their friends and family, doing whatever it is brand newly-wedded couples have to do. Liam was wearing a white blazer as part of his suit, saying that just because it was two men getting married, didn't mean that they couldn't wear white. I reminded Liam that he was in no means in a position to be wearing white, and he'd flipped me off and ignored me. Garrett was in a conventional, albeit extremely well fitted suit, as with the majority of the other guests. It was a beautiful picture, and I pulled out the small digital camera I had stashed in my purse and took a few snaps. Edward chuckled beside me, used to my doing this at the randomest of times.

Toasts were made, food was consumed, and the newly married couple took to the dance floor, folding into each other's arms like there was no one else in the marquee with them. Shortly after, others joined them on the floor, and Edward, being Edward, dragged me up there with them. As much as I pouted about the idea of this kind of dancing, the idea of getting close to him was enough of an incentive for me.

Frank Sinatra's voice filled the marquee, crooning gently as the couples swayed.

"Some others I've seen,

Might never be mean,

Might never be cross,

Or try to be boss,

But they wouldn't do,

For nobody else,

gave me a thrill,

With all your faults,

I love you still,

It had to be you,

wonderful you,

it had to be you."

In the context of Liam and Garrett's relationship, the song seemed a little ironic, but that made the moment all that much sweeter. I peeked over Edward's shoulder to see the pair completely absorbed in each other as they drifted around the floor.

It was almost sickening, but my heart swelled for my best friend.

"You really don't want to do this, ever?" Edward asked as he wrapped his arm around my waist and knotted our hands over his heart. I nodded.

"As beautiful as today has been, I can't think of anything worse than it being me in Liam's shoes. Would you really want to do it again?"

He looked at me thoughtfully.

"Maybe," he murmured with a squeeze of my hand, "if I found the right girl to do it with. I'll let you know when if I meet her."

I scowled.

"You're hilarious."

"At least one of us has to be."

I pinched the arm that my free hand was resting on, and he stared at me, horrified.

"Always with the abuse with you. Learn to use your words, Bella."

I pinched him again. He laughed, and I rested my head against his chest as he effortlessly manoeuvred us around the floor.

"Anyway," I said, reopening our conversation, "there's nothing that a marriage will give us that we don't already have. I know you're mine, I don't need the piece of paper to prove it."

"So possessive," he murmured, "I think I like it."

"Shut up. Obviously, sex before marriage isn't a problem for you, so I'm happy."

"Why buy the cow when you're getting the milk for free, right?" he teased.

"Exactly," I agreed. "And I'm much too fickle with my jewellery. Imagine having to commit to either wearing gold or silver every single day," I shuddered. He laughed again, and I smiled as the vibrations ran through my cheek.

"But," I concluded, "if I ever change my mind, you'll be the first to know."

"I would certainly hope so," he said seriously, and I just giggled at the fake suspicion in his voice.

The song then changed to another I recognised, so I sang quietly along with Doris Day as we floated around the room. Edward pulled back, looking at me with a shocked expression.

"What is this? My little music snob knows Crosby?"

"Yes," I huffed, scowling at him until the playful smile on his face made it impossible for me to even think of being grumpy with him.

"Think of my life long sorrow if you caught pneumonia and died," he sang along with the song, and I couldn't help but swoon at a little at his velvety voice.

"Sing about my death, how charming," I sniffed, and he chuckled before spinning me out and then pulling me back to his chest. Instead of holding me there, he dipped me low, getting a shocked, high-pitched giggle from me in return. He pulled me back up and kissed me firmly, using the arm around my waist to lift me off the floor a little.

Of course someone like him would have been taught to dance like that. Esme strikes again in raising the world's most perfect gentlemen.

When he set me down, I crossed my arms across my chest, pretending to be peturbed. In reality, I was light-headed and more than a little turned on.

"You think you're so smooth don't you?" I bristled.

"Is it working?" he asked, completely unaffected by my grumpiness.

"No," I huffed. A moment passed before I dropped my hands abruptly to my sides and stepped back into his embrace. "Completely," I admitted reluctantly. He laughed lowly in my ear, holding me tightly to his body.

"Do you wanna get out of here, princess?" he cooed in my ear, and I shivered.

"Absolutely."

…and they all lived happily ever after.

AN: Here's a secret. I'm a huge, HUGE jazz nerd.

The songs are It Had To Be You by Frank Sinatra, and Baby It's Cold Outside by Bing Crosby and Doris Day. Nothing is more romantic than old jazz. Nothin'.

Alright, enough stalling.

We've reached the end of our little tale.

*Tear*

I can't believe this is over. I've loved writing it, and getting to chat with all you flooze-bags about it, and every single detail of the whole experience. So thank you, each and every one of y'all. Special love to Fangmom, who has talked me off the cliff more than once, and of course, AmeryMarie. Smooches and robporn and pics of me in ridiculous costumes for you, big.

I'll catch you ladies on the flip side.