A Matter of the Heart

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-set on Bella's wedding day in Breaking Dawn AU.

Prologue

Bella was a bundle of nerves. She didn't like being the centre of attention, in fact she actively sought the best way to avoid being in the spotlight. But today that was not an option. Today was her chance to shine, today was the day she was going to marry the man she loved, and it was his wish to have an extravagant wedding. He insisted he wanted to show the world what true love really meant as they exchanged vows in front of their friends and family. Bella loved Edward so much that she would grant him this one thing, even though deep down inside it was the last thing she wanted to do. She had often dreamed of her wedding day, especially as a child. What girl didn't give it some thought at least once in their life? But the wedding she had pictured in her head was nothing like this showy extravaganza. No it was quiet, sedate, with none of the traditional trappings which she was going to have to endure today.

She sighed as she fidgeted in her high heels. Another necessary evil! Why couldn't she just wear her flat ballet shoes? At least she knew in them she was unlikely to trip, but no, Alice, Edward's sister, had insisted she wear the expensive designer stiletto's she had so lovingly picked out for her. Again Bella had conceded to someone else's wishes. Alice had spent so much time planning and organising this huge event that Bella felt silly arguing over a pair of shoes.

"Take a deep breath, baby girl." Her mother's voice startled Bella. She hadn't heard Renee come in. "You look beautiful." Renee sighed as she fiddled with Bella's veil. "My little girl all grown up." Tears glittered in her eyes as she looked Bella up and down.

"Mom don't." Bella felt tears pooling in her own eyes. "I'll ruin my makeup."

"I can't help getting emotional, baby girl." Renee laughed softly as she leaned in and hugged her daughter, careful not to crush the dress as she did so. "I must say the dress is gorgeous, not something I ever pictured you choosing."

Bella brushed her hands over the smooth satin skirts. They billowed around her slim legs, accentuating her tiny waist. No, it was definitely not to her taste, but Alice had insisted she had seen a vision of her wearing this exact dress when they had been flicking through some bridal magazines to get some ideas. Bella had nearly fainted at the cost of the dress, but Edward had laughed at her and told her money was no object. Still, it felt too ostentatious to Bella and she was waiting for the whole ceremony to be over so she could take it off. It was moments like these she was glad her future husband could not read her mind.

"Is dad coming?" Bella asked Renee as her mother continued fussing around her, adjusting this and smoothing out that. "It's nearly time." The music outside had started. She could hear Alice issuing orders in her bell like tones to the caterers they had hired to provide the food. Bella fought a giggle as she thought about the Cullen's. Not one of them would be able to taste the gourmet spread that was waiting for the guests. Then again neither could she, not in the boned corset she was wearing. She could barely breathe.

"Charlie is on the phone." Renee's face showed her disapproval. "You'd think he could put the damn thing away on his own daughter's wedding day." She huffed as she smoothed some stray hairs back from Bella's face. "Then again that's Charlie, married to his job as always."

"Mom." Bella said irritably. She hated hearing her mother criticize her father. She had grown a lot closer to Charlie since she had moved back to Forks to live with him.

Renee was just going to hurry Charlie up when he appeared in the room. His face was ashen, his fingers pulling at the silky cravat on his morning suit as he hurried over to Bella. The two women exchanged worried glances. They had never seen Charlie Swan looking so harassed. "Dad, what's wrong?" Bella said in alarm. She was worried he was going to have a heart attack or something. He looked that ill.

Charlie took hold of Bella's hands, ignoring his ex-wife's protests as he pulled Bella into a tight hug, crushing her dress. "I am so sorry, kiddo. I'm going to have to go." He swallowed thickly before continuing. "I wouldn't run out on you like this if there wasn't a good reason, but I just got a call from Sue Clearwater. Billy has collapsed and is in hospital."

Bella felt like she had been kicked in the stomach. All the air left her body and she had to lean heavily against Charlie to stay upright. Billy? Billy was in hospital? Jake…she closed her eyes when his name careered through her head. She had forced herself to put him to the back of her mind as her wedding day approached. There had been no sight or sound of her best friend for months. He had gone wolf after Edward had sent him an invitation to their wedding. It had sparked the first ever real argument between Bella and Edward. She had been livid that he had taken it upon himself to go behind her back and send that to Jake. She knew how it must have tortured Jake, seeing it in black and white that she was getting married. It made it all the more real, and must have seemed as if she was rubbing her upcoming nuptials in his face. It had taken a lot of grovelling from Edward for her to forgive him.

The whole episode had dampened Bella's happiness as she began to plan her wedding. She was glad when Alice had insisted on organising the whole thing. It left Bella free to worry over Jake in secret. She hounded Seth daily for updates, but Jake's pack brother never had any news. Jake had cut himself off from everybody. Now this! His dad had fallen ill and he didn't know. She heard Charlie and Renee talking as if from a distance.

"You can't take off now. You are about to walk your daughter down the aisle." Renee hissed at her former husband.

"Phil can stand in." Charlie couldn't care less. Billy's welfare was more important. He had wondered why his best friend had not arrived yet. Billy had promised to come and support him. It was common knowledge that Charlie hated his future son in law, and thought the whole marriage was a farce. He was only going through the motions for Bella's sake. "Bells understands."

"I can't believe you're going to do this." Renee snapped indignantly. "But this is so you…."

"Shut up." Bella finally recovered her voice. She couldn't stand hearing them argue. Not about this. Billy, Jake…their names reverberated around her head. She wanted to rip the confining dress from her body. She was having trouble breathing.

"Bells?" Charlie caught her as she stumbled a little. "Are you okay?" His daughter's face had turned white under her heavy makeup.

"Jake." Bella finally said his name aloud and her world came crashing around her. The wedding march had started and it sounded loud to her ears. Perspiration coated her brow and she clutched wildly onto her father's shoulders. "Jake doesn't know."

Charlie sighed heavily and steered his daughter toward the only chair in the room. "Jake came back this morning. Just in time thankfully. He is at the hospital with Sue and some others." He hesitated when he saw Bella's brown eyes widen in surprise. "I wasn't going to tell you that. Look I have to go, kiddo. You don't mind Phil replacing me, do you?" He was getting desperate to leave. Billy's health had always been fragile, after losing Harry not too long ago, Charlie was determined not to lose Billy too.

Bella felt like her world was closing in around her. Jake was back? He came back? All the worry and anxiety she had felt on his behalf when he had gone missing consumed her. How terrible for him to come home only to find that Billy was in the hospital? Why had he chosen to come back today? Had he intended to come and see her? She brushed this thought aside. As ever she was being completely self-absorbed. His return on this day of all days probably was a coincidence. God, he must be in turmoil. The music got louder and Bella winced. She heard a frantic knocking on the door as Alice called to her that it was time. Renee was telling her to breathe deeply and get ready to leave the room. Charlie was kneeling in front of her, his brown eyes, so like hers, studying her astutely. "He needs his best friend." He whispered quietly so only Bella could hear. She raised her head and met his eyes and nodded. Charlie's face softened as he smiled at her sadly and patted her hand. He stood and stared authoritatively at his ex-wife and Alice who had slipped silently into the room. "There will be no wedding today." He stated firmly. "I would appreciate it if you gave my daughter space." He turned to face Alice. Edwards's sister was staring at Bella in horror. "I assume you'll be able to tell the groom."

Charlie and Bella slipped quietly out of the mansion. She had changed out of her wedding garb and back into her old clothes, a pair of jeans teamed with a plaid shirt. It soothed her wearing her old clothes. She felt more like herself and not some dolled up mannequin. There had been no time to see Edward or talk to him. Alice had been left to deal with the aftermath of her departure. Charlie had phoned Sue again only to find there was no change in Billy's condition. He was desperate to get to the hospital, and Bella didn't want to delay him. Renee had been aghast that Bella was going to walk out on her own wedding, and she expressed her disbelief.

Bella knew her mother didn't understand her tie to Jake and his father. She had no idea of the sacrifice the Black's had made for her and the Cullen's. She wouldn't be alive today if it hadn't been for Jake and his brothers. He had done so much for her, the least she could do was be there for him in his time of need. Even if it meant walking out on her own wedding. She could get married another time. This was much more important.

The drive to the hospital had seemed to take forever. Father and daughter were both tense and anxious as they willed the hired car to go faster. Neither spoke, both their minds far away as they worried about Billy and Jake. It was with relief when they reached the hospital and parked up. Bella felt her heart lurch in her chest as she unsnapped her seatbelt and climbed out of the car. It suddenly hit her that Jake might not be best pleased to see her. They had parted on less than amicable terms. She had broken his heart and he had asked her to stay away from him while he tried to come to terms with her decision to marry Edward, even though she had confessed he held a large part of her heart too.

Bella tried to dampen down her own fears as she accompanied her father into the hospital reception area. The last thing she wanted was to upset Jacob by being there, but she had to at least show her face, if he demanded she leave, then she would abide by his wishes. At least he would see that she had tried. To her surprise she saw the whole pack lounging in the waiting room. She felt all eyes turn her way, some hostile, some shocked and some bemused that she was there. Of course they wouldn't have expected her to turn up. Bella tried to ignore the intense stares as she sought Jacob. He wasn't with them. Charlie seemed unaware of the tension; his sole focus was on getting to his friend.

It was Sam who approached them. He greeted Bella warily, his face showing his confusion mixed with a little respect that she had the balls to show up here, especially on her wedding day. "The doctors are assessing Billy now. Jake and Sue are down the corridor to the left near the entrance to the ER. We couldn't all go with them, too many of us." He smiled wryly as he glanced back at the pack. "It should be alright if you two go through. I know Sue has been waiting anxiously for you Charlie." He said to the older man.

"Thanks." Charlie swiftly left. Bella followed him, shooting Sam a grateful smile as she did so.

Nerves were building up inside as she counted the seconds before she caught her first glimpse of Jacob in months. And then suddenly he was there, right in front of her. He must have heard and smelt her coming toward him. Bella had forgotten how tall he was, how strong and vital. He filled the small corridor with his commanding presence. She heard him inhale sharply, his dark eyes staring at her in disbelief. It was only then she noticed his shaggy hair and the dark circles underscoring his eyes. He had lost a little weight and seemed uneasy surrounded by so much humanity.

"Bella." Her name was torn from his throat; his voice was deep and husky with disuse. Bella saw the shimmer of tears in his eyes and it was her undoing. She didn't hesitate any longer. She ran over to him and flung herself into his open arms.

A/N-thanks for reading!