Disclaimer: I did not create the characters utilised in this fiction. They and the Twilight series are the creation of Stephanie Meyer and they are used purely for entertainment purposes.

Summery: This is an alternative version of Breaking Dawn, picking up straight after the conclusion of Eclipse.

Explanation: I hated Breaking Dawn. I don't think I have ever disliked or been more disappointed in a book in my entire life. I hated it because it was (in my opinion) a horrendous conclusion to what had been, to that point, a wonderful, engaging series of books. I loved Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse but they, for me, were utterly ruined by Breaking Dawn. For this ending I got invested in the series? What a waste of time! Consequently, I lost all ongoing interest in anything to do with the books – including the then forthcoming film version of Twilight. Wasn't interested, wasn't going to see it.

But…

A friend dragged me along to the movie – she had only just read Twilight and was interested in seeing the film, she didn't want to go alone so off I went. Well, to cut a long story short – I loved it. I mean I really, really loved it. Saw it forty-two times at the cinema loved it (no, I'm serious – I could show you all 40+ ticket stubs), bought the soundtracks and even re-read the books; All of them. And….I hated Breaking Dawn even more. I wouldn't have thought it was possible, but there you go. The movie, reading the first three books again just reminded me of what I loved about the series, made me feel cheated by Breaking Dawn all over again. (My complaints against Breaking Dawn are similar to many who dislike the book: The story is a fiasco, repetitive and boring, the fact that she gets pregnant, that child, Edward's character deterioration, contradiction of mythology established in the first three books, Mary-Sue-ever-so-perfect vampire Bella, happy-ever-after-peachy-keen ending, and the fact that there was absolutely nothing bad about becoming a vampire after all. I could go on, but I won't)

Anyhoo – One night, and I tell no lies, I had a dream (ya, I know; very Stephanie Meyer). I dreamt a different ending. I got up at 3.00am in the morning and scribbled two pages of notes so that I wouldn't forget it. This story is the fruits of those notes. It's just my attempt to right the fictional world that I believe was wronged by the events of the final book. It's probably not that great, but neither was Breaking Dawn so, whatever. Originally, I planned on only rewriting part of the book and keeping the first six chapters in tact. However, on reflection I decided that there was a lot I didn't like about the beginning of the book either so went back and re-wrote that as well. I have retained Meyer's basic narrative structure by keeping the wedding at the front of the story (even though it would make more sense for it to be a post-climactic event) and I have retained 'Isle Esme' as the honeymoon location, both of which are due to my original intent of writing only a new ending. Helpful and constructive feedback most welcome. Please Enjoy.

"With every fibre of my being, I ached to be a normal man, so that I could hold her in my arms without risking her life. So that I could be free to spin my own fantasies, fantasies that didn't end with her blood on my hands, her blood glowing in my eyes."

Edward, Midnight Sun (p.141)

"Not us, not my family. We would trade anything to be human. But none of us had ever been so desperate for a way back as I was now."

Edward Cullen, Midnight Sun (p.263)

Chapter One - Second Thoughts

I had cold feet. Actually, my feet were beyond cold. They were freezing. I had freezing feet; freezing feet in danger of frostbite…severe frostbite. Frostbite so bad that my feet were probably about to snap off, just like what happens to cartoon characters…. well, you get the picture. I had cold feet.

We'd told Charlie about our plans to get married. To be more accurate Edward had gone and asked my Dad for my hand in marriage which was really embarrassing, not to mention completely old fashioned. Yeah, way to advertise the fact that you come from a different century, Babe! Charlie had a conniption. The poor guy turned purple and nearly choked on his beer. We really should have waited until he wasn't consuming food and/or a beverage before making the big announcement. He didn't say much while Edward was there; made it patently clear he wasn't happy, sure, but he didn't use many actual words. Once Edward had left it was a different story however. Then my non-communicative, emotionally restrained father let loose and told me he thought I was making the biggest mistake of my life, that I was rushing into this, that there was so much more in this world than Edward Cullen and hadn't I learnt anything from his and Mom's disastrous marriage, that was, he reminded me severely, carried out in much the same circumstances. When I didn't change my mind he went back to being quiet and resigned to the event and I hated that more than his fury.

I told my Mom over the phone. It was the first time I've ever heard her lost for words. I was glad I couldn't see her expression. Or the colour of her complexion. Renee is something of a free spirit. She couldn't for the life of her work out why I needed to rush into marriage at all. I gave her the standard College excuse, about Edward and me wanting to go off to New Hampshire together, but she still couldn't see the necessity of marriage.

"Well, Edward is kind of old fashioned you know" I offered as another explanation

"Humph, that doesn't surprise me" Renee replied with a noticeable hint of derision.

"Mom! I love Edward!"

"Yes… at the moment you probably think you do. Honey, you're about to go to college and meet a whole slew of new people. Who knows who you might meet there! Yet you're willing to throw your life away with the first guy you've ever had a crush on!"

"It's more than a crush."

"Okay, fine. I know you love him, but Bella, this is crazy. This is the twenty-first century; you don't have to get married at the tender age of eighteen! Believe me; I know what its like. I've been there. I've done that, and apart from you, it was the worst mistake of my life. Oh your Dad and I were very much in love too, couldn't keep our hands off each other and we were going to do so much, see the world together. It seemed so romantic to be married and joined forever. But you know what Baby, we didn't see the world and life wasn't real romantic, what with bills and crappy jobs and being stuck in Forks for all eternity. Truth is; love finds it very difficult to survive discontent. It's all moonlight and roses now, but won't always be this way."

It was my turn to be bereft of speech. I wanted to tell her that Edward and I were different. That all her dire predictions wouldn't happen to us because we were going to be together forever, for infinity…but of course, I couldn't share that part of the story so I stayed silent.

"What do you want Bella?" she asked and emphasised the 'you'

"Edward" the word came out in a tiny peep.

"So you've said. But I'm yet to hear any evidence that you want to marry him, you've said you love him but I haven't heard any enthusiasm or excitement for the marriage part."

Again I fell to speechlessness. She knew me so well. I found I couldn't lie to her and profess to eagerness I didn't feel.

"Bella, sweetie, I don't want to upset you but you need to hear this! You need to think carefully before you make a decision that you'll regret forever. Think about it. Please."

I'd hung up the phone determined to dismiss all the parental objections from my mind but it didn't quite work that way. Every time I was alone I could hear my parent's worries echoing in my mind and I remembered all my own objections to this whole plan and only succeeded in confusing myself further because all these thoughts really weren't so different.

I kept my fears hidden; quite a feat with a mind reading boyfriend (oops, I mean fiancée) and a future-seeing-nearly-sister-in-law. I thought a lot about everything and went over and over the pros and the cons and went round and round in circles. And finally, after nearly a month of contemplation I came to some conclusions. Of four things I was completely certain. One, I loved Edward more than anything in this world. Two, I wanted to become a vampire and be with Edward forever no matter what. Three, I wanted Edward to be the one to change me, and four, and this one was the real surprise, I actually wanted to marry him. Somewhere along the way I had begun to like the idea of being Mrs. Edward Cullen. And that part was new.

However, along with this, there was something else I was beginning to suspect. If it wasn't the marriage or the impending change to vampirism that was giving me cold feet then it must be…..the wedding itself.

This suspicion, once I'd identified it, was rapidly confirmed as an irrefutable fact. Alice had thrown herself into planning the wedding. She loved it that I was compliant and easily persuadable; it meant that she had free rein with everything. In the month following the announcement of the engagement I'd said nothing. I had looked with feigned interest at everything that Alice had shown me and accepted her decisions as inevitable. She could see the future so she must be right, right? After my suspicion dawned, I still didn't say anything; she'd gone so far with the planning and preparations that it seemed cruel to say anything now. But the sick feeling in my stomach, the panic that gripped me every time she mentioned any aspect of the wedding day only corroborated my worst fears. This big, elaborate wedding ceremony was not a good idea.

The Wedding was just a month away and now my internal struggle had become an almost continuous debate on weather I should voice my feelings and try to get out of it or just go through with it regardless of my grave misgivings. I didn't want to offend Alice who had put in so much time and effort into the planning and I didn't want to hurt Edward who was obviously looking forward to the day. But, on the other hand, I didn't want to get to the actual day and then not be able to go through with it; and my trepidation was so severe I was fairly positive that I would baulk at the gate, so to speak, when push came to shove. Surely jilting Edward would be worse than calling the whole thing off? Wouldn't it?

Things had to come to a head sometime. The three of us sat in Charlie's kitchen (Charlie was out, he always made himself scarce when the wedding was under discussion). Alice had all her lists and brochures and she was showing me that just about everything was under control. She had even drawn up an itinerary of events for the wedding day detailing where we had to be and at what time from the moment I woke up till the moment Edward and I left the reception (that was scheduled for eleven pm on the dot, in case you were wondering). The list was the straw that broke the camels back. I looked at Alice's neat, colour coordinated bullet points and wanted to vomit. I slowly put the list back down on the table and then fled with speed that would make a vampire proud to the bathroom, only just making it to the toilet in time. I flushed then went to the sink to rinse my mouth out a few times before retuning to sit on the toilet. I started to cry.

Not surprisingly, Edward was very soon at my side. He felt my forehead.

"Are you sick?"

I shook my head and a fresh batch of tears spilled out of my eyes. Edward knelt on the floor before me, now obviously concerned.

"Bella, what's wrong?"

I took a couple of deep breaths and tried to get my crying under some sort of control before finally managing to say through stuttered breaths, "I can't do it."

"What?"

I bit my lip and took another series of deep breaths.

"The wedding."

Edward looked shell shocked. His face fell in such disappointment and I felt like the worst person on earth.

"You don't want to marry me?"

I grabbed his hand and held on for dear life. There was no hiding the truth now.

"I do. I do want to marry you! And not just because of the biting thing. I really want to marry you!"

"Then…?"

"I don't want…that" I pointed to the floor. Edward as not slow.

"You mean the wedding that Alice has arranged?"

I nodded, completely shamed by my feelings.

"Why not?"

"I know, I said she could organise it but it's too big, it's too elaborate. It's just not me. And I don't like the dress. And I don't think my dad will like it, you know, being on show and having all that attention on him and…" Fresh tears began to stream down my cheeks. I wiped them away with the back of my hand, "and, I don't really want to be on show either."

"But you do want to marry me?"

I nodded with absolute certainty. Suddenly I found myself gathered up in two strong arms with both incredible speed and divine gentleness. Before I knew it I was sitting on Edwards lap and he was where I had been sitting on the toilet in my father's too-small bathroom.

"Then we don't have to have that wedding, or even get married straight away. Whatever you want."

"I don't want to wait. I want us to get married. But how can I tell Alice. She'll be crushed."

Edward laughed. I looked at him with a questioning expression. He explained,

"Don't worry about Alice. She would surely know; and if she didn't know before, she certainly knows now."

"I've been in doubt for some time but Alice kept seeing things and saying that this is what I was having so, I figured, how could she be wrong."

"Alice wanted the big wedding. She loves organising these kinds of occasions and, the bigger the better. She was so busy enjoying herself she wasn't looking for your doubts, or…she deliberately ignored them. Why didn't you tell me how you felt?"

"I know you want it too."

"The only thing in the whole world that I want is you. I don't care about a big wedding. I want whatever makes you happy."

"Really?"

"Of course. You want to marry me. You tell me where and when and I will be there. Deal?"

I nodded enthusiastically, "Deal."

We sealed the pact with a kiss. A beautiful, slightly chilled kiss that made my moist cheeks very cold indeed but beautiful none the less. Edward pulled away and smiled to himself.

"And now, my sister is starting to wonder where we are and if you're going to explain where the vision of her epic wedding has disappeared to."

"Okay, I'm going to go and tell her everything. Aren't you going hunting with Jasper? You don't have to hang around. In fact, it might be easier if you're not here."

"Yeah, you could be right. She's thinking that if I wanted to I could talk you back into the big wedding." Edward paused and grinned, "But she knows I won't because, to quote her thoughts, I'm completely besotted with you and let you have whatever you want."

"Any chance she's right?" I said as I stood up.

"Little bit." He smiled his most dazzling smile, then said "Bella, you, like every other bride in the world, are entitled to have whatever kind of wedding you want. I'm just happy you want me as your groom."

"I love you"

He kissed me again.

"Love you too; I'll be back sometime tonight. Give Alice my sincere apology."

He was gone faster than my eyes could register and I was left to face Alice alone. I went down the stairs and was met by a pair of very frustrated topaz eyes.

"Well you could have said something sooner! I've put so much work into this!"

"So you know?"

"Yeah, it hit me in a blinding flash when Edward raced up after you. I thought he was going to try and talk you round. But he didn't. He's so..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know; besotted. I am sorry Alice."

She shrugged. "I should have paid closer attention. I have been sensing some turmoil around you but I just thought it was pre-wedding jitters. At least that's what I told myself. I suppose the truth is I didn't want to see anything else, I was having too much fun."

"So you never really saw me in that dress?"

"You're wedding dress? Well I imagined you in it and you looked so pretty but was it a future vision? Probably not, more like wishful thinking."

"Do you see me wearing in the future?" I asked, more out of curiosity to how she'd react than any need to know the destiny of the big fluffy gown. Alice considered the question for a moment then replied, "No, I don't see you wearing it," then added with some astonishment "You don't like it?"

"It's nice, but it's not really me."

"Boy, did I get this whole thing wrong. I'm sorry Bella. It was just eagerness for you to be my sister."

"We're still going to be sisters Alice."

"You're still going to marry Edward?" I nodded in response to her surprised query. "Cool. When and where?"

I smiled, "I haven't decided yet. No doubt you'll know when I know."

We were quiet for a moment. Alice gathered all her papers and I sat contemplating what sort of wedding I might like for Edward and me.

Suddenly Alice was looking at me with a look of disbelief on her face. "You're not serious?" she asked with a note of horror.

"What?" I asked with mock innocence, knowing full well the decision I'd just reached that she now also obviously knew.

"You want to get married in jeans and sneakers?"

"Yeah, I think I do," I replied with a satisfied smile on my face.

Alice made a dismissive sound and rolled her eyes. She thought for a moment, and then looked at me with a grin, "At least you're going to let me buy you a nice blouse to wear. Hmmm, I don't like it much, but you will."