*30th April 1989*

"Baby.. baby.." Michael wakes me up with a series of kisses around my neck and on my cheek.

"Ughn, wait a while.." I protest, pushing his away from me.

"You realise what day it is today?" Michael asks.

"It's.. Saturday? Friday? I don't remember, Michael," I groan from tiredness.

"Wow, you really are tired. What if I told you it's the 30th of April today?" Michael asks, and I sit bolt upright.

"Oh gosh!" I cry. "I know now!"

"And what is it?" Michael asks.

"It.. it's our wedding day!"

"Congrats, sweetie. Now, c'mon! Up, up!"

Michael drags me out of bed, and to the bathroom. He starts to brush his teeth, looking at me in the reflection in the mirror.

"You're so beautiful," he says, taking the toothbrush from his mouth.

"Is there someone else in the room with us?" I ask softly.

Michael spits into the sink, and looks at me properly.

"You can't be serious, surely? I wouldn't be talking about myself, would I?" he says.

"Normally, you do," I chuckle.

Michael drops his toothbrush, wipes his mouth, and pushes me against the wall.

He traps me, and leans his head close to mine. His breath is so minty because he's just brushed his teeth. He comes closer to me slowly.

"Well today, it's all about you, Mrs. Jackson."

"Soon to be, Mrs. Jackson," I correct him quietly.

Michael chuckles, and comes closer to me.

"It makes no difference now, Mrs. Jackson.."

He leans in and kisses my lips passionately, I wrap my arms around his neck and he does the same around my waist.

He holds on to me tight, letting me know I belong to him and he belongs to me. The kiss gets intense, deep, and I don't want it to end, not ever.

"I love you, baby," Michael tells me between kisses.

But then Ryder cries in the next room, causing us to cut our kiss short.

"I'll go," Michael says, heading out the room after one last kiss.

I stand in the bathroom, looking at myself in the mirror.

How can Michael see me as beautiful? I really don't understand. If I'd been wearing my wedding gear, I would've understood. But I'm not, so I don't.

Michael re-enters the room with Ryder in his arms. "I found the little troublemaker, see."

"Hi, sweetie," I kiss Ryder's forehead, then start to brush my teeth.

Once I've done that, along with other stuff, we all go back into the bedroom.

"Michael, you got your mother to look after Ryder, didn't you?" I ask.

"Of course. She's gonna be here any min--"

Michael's speech is interrupted by the doorbell.

"I'll go," I say, walking out the room.

I walk downstairs, and open the door.

"Katherine!" I smile, and hug her tight.

"Hey, sweetie! Oh, today is your big day!" she replies with excitement.

We walk upstairs to Michael and Ryder. Katherine has never met Ryder before. He's only been alive a nine days.

"Oh my--he's gorgeous!" Katherine cries, kissing Ryder's forehead and taking him from Michael's arms.

She starts to cradle him, and I watch carefully. Two different generations together, there. So beautiful.

"Anyway, I better be getting to Emma's house now," I say, walking over to Michael.

"Oh, you better be! Next time I see you, you're gonna be less than a half hour away from being my wife!" Michael squeals, before embracing me tightly, and kissing my lips once again.

"Our final kiss, unmarried," I say with a smile.

Michael nods. "It sure was. Oh, I'm so excited baby! You better go, I want this time to go faster! Go! Go!"

Michael pushes me out the door, and gives me one final passionate kiss.

"I was lying, that was our final kiss," he says. "Anyway, go. I love you!"

"I love you more," I say.

"I love you most!"

--

"Oh, I'm so excited for you!" Emma squeals, watching my make-up being done.

My hair has already been done, but I haven't looked in any mirror yet. My dress is also on, but I have an apron thing covering it so I don't get make-up on it. Clever idea, really.

"Aannndddd.. done!" the make-up artist, Karen, says with a smile.

She comes away from me, and looks at her handy work in satisfaction. She takes the apron off, too.

I've never worn make-up before, and I'm a little unsure on how I'll look. Emma catches a glimpse of me, and smiles.

"You look beautiful.. so beautiful.." she says, looking like she wants to cry.

"Stop, Emma! You'll make me cry! Ahh, thanks.. I'm a little nervous about all this," I say.

"Don't be nervous! You're getting married to a man you've known for nearly three years, had a child with, and you've been through everything together! You'll be fine!"

"But.. none of my family but Ryan'll be here.." I say, a little sadly.

I don't wanna cry, I just had my make-up done.

"But they will, Becky! In here," Emma pats her chest, by her heart. "They're all gonna be in here."

"Thank you.." I say softly. "You're the best friend I could ever wish for.."

I hug her tightly, being careful not to smudge my make-up.

"Now, c'mon! We gotta show you what you look like, Mrs. Jackson!"

Emma grabs my hand, and drags me upstairs. I lift my dress to stop myself tripping in the process, and we get to her bedroom.

She tells me to close my eyes, and I obey, shutting them fully.

"Ok, you're in front of the mirror.. you can open your eyes now.."

I open my eyes and--woah. Wasn't expecting that.

"That's not me, is it?" I ask, seeing a beautiful princess in the mirror instead of myself.

Emma comes up behind me, and places her hand on my shoulder. "Oh, but it is."

"I look so.. so.." I say quietly, in shock at my own appearance.

"You look beautiful, Becky. Beautiful is the word you're looking for," Emma assists my speech, and I look down with a chuckle.

I've only ever felt beautiful once before, and that was trying on this dress I'm wearing, in the shop the day I bought it. But now I look at myself, and I realise that what I saw that day.. wasn't beauty. That was just a different look. This.. this however.. this is beautiful. How I look now is beautiful. And I love it.

I actually look like a princess...

"Thank you," I suddenly realise I never answered Emma, and she smiles.

"I need to get a picture of this. Let me go find my camera," she walks from the room, and I'm left alone.

I look down at the ground, and start to speak to myself.

"Oh, if you could see me now, dad, you woulda loved giving me away today.. Jack, you'd have been a beautiful best man, just like Ryan will be. Grandmother, I always used to look forward to your speech that contained so many embarrassing memories of my childhood.. but now.. I won't get any of that. Oh, mum, if only you could see me now in this dress, with pretty hair and fancy make-up.."

I look up, and there it is again.

"But I can see you, sweetheart, we all can.."

"M--mum! And.. and.. dad!.. Jack, grandmother! You.. you came back!" I cry with excitement, seeing them all in the mirror, like in the shop.

Dad is smiling at me sweetly, and mum is gazing at me in wonder.

"You look beautiful, sweetie," dad tells me.

"Thank you, daddy.. I wish you were all here with me today."

"We all will be, in spirit.. sis, we're all gonna be there for you today, I promise," Jack says.

His voice is so deep, it's broken. I realise now that the last time I saw him, he never spoke.

So the only voice I ever remember is his innocent, childish one from when he was 11 years old.

"Jack, I can't believe how much you've matured.. you've grown up so much," I exhale, shocked at his development in the past 11 years or so.

"Yeah, well.. times change, right?" he chuckles.

I smile, and then turn to grandmother.

"Grandmother.. I.. would you have done a funny speech for me today?" I ask. Grandmother nods.

"Yes, dear. Of course I would've. And I woulda mentioned that time when you were 7 and--"

"Don't say it!" I chuckle.

Had she have been here physically, I would have slapped her arm, like I do to Michael.

Grandmother giggles playfully, and fixes her hair. I let out a sigh, and look at them all, standing there, all of them in my presence.

"So, what time's the big time?" mum asks.

"Oh, just an hour or so.. I'm a little nervous," I say.

I look at mum in the mirror, and she places her hand on my shoulder.

"Don't be nervous, Becky. I've been there, there's nothing to be nervous about. Honestly, it's all completely fine. There's nothing to be nervous about."

"Are you sure? Cos I'll believe you, if you're sure," I say.

"Believe me, darling. It's really nothing to be nervous about."

"Ok, mum.. so, you'll all be there for me, today. All of you?" I ask.

"Of course we will. You won't be able to see us, but we'll be able to see you, the entire time," dad assures me.

I smile, and try ever so hard not to cry and let my make-up run.

"I love you all," I say.

"I love you," grandmother replies.

"I love you too, sis," Jack says.

"I love you, sweetheart," dad smiles. "Can't wait to give you away today."

"I love you, darling," mum says. "And you look beautiful in your dress, I'm so very proud of you, baby."

I smile, and look away for a split second.

When I turn back around....... they're all gone. All completely gone, just like that time in the dress shop, which was only a few weeks ago.

I sit back on the bed, trying not to cry. But it's hard, real hard, and I keep having to fan my face with my hands to avoid crying fully.

Emma really has lost her camera hasn't she? It's been, like, five or ten minutes since she left the room.

I sit, still waiting for her to come back. Finally, she returns with just her phone.

"Couldn't find the damn camera! Soooo.. it looks like it's selfie time!" she squeals.

Really? Selfies? I've never taken one before, I've only ever taken pictures.. the right way round on a phone, or on a camera.

Emma drags me in front of the mirror, and asks me to smile.

We take a few pictures, and she looks through them, complaining about each and every one of them.

"Oh, my hair looks crazy in that one!"

"Oh, my lipstick's smudged!"

"Oh no! My outfit makes me look ridiculous in this light!"

"Oh my! I was born ugly!"

"Stop complaining!" I cry, trying to add a chuckle to make it sound jokey, taking the phone from her hands and taking more for her, forcing her to smile. "Here, see?"

I show her the pictures, and she smiles.

"They look better," Emma smiles. "I don't look so bad now."

"Good!" I chuckle, trying to hide the sadness that my family just disappeared in front of me.

"So, not long until the wedding, huh? You excited?" Emma asks.

"Yeah.. hmm, but I'm a little nervous," I reply honestly.

Emma sits us down on the bed, and places her hand on my shoulder, like mum just did.

"It's normal to be nervous in situations like this, Cozzy. But you don't have to be. Don't be nervous, Becky. There's nothing to be nervous about. Honestly, it's all completely fine. There's nothing to be nervous about."

That sounds just like what mum said.. everything Emma's doing and saying.. is reminding me of mum.

"Thanks.." I say quickly. "Are you sure? Cos, you've never been there.. what if it is scary? Y'know, no one really is fully sure until they've been there and done it."

"Becky, you'll be fine. Trust me. Best friends honour," Emma raises her three middle fingers, like some sort of Scout or Brownies member.

"Alright.. ok, I believe you," I say with a faint smile. "I believe it. I'll be fine."

Emma hugs me tightly, a best friend hug. Then the doorbell goes.

"Oh, I'll get it," Emma says, dashing from the room.

I sit and wait, and I hear her open the door downstairs. I look one more time at myself in the mirror, sitting down on the bed.

Then I see it. Mum, dad, Jack and grandmother, standing there, waving and smiling.

They all blow a kiss, then.. they're gone again. But I'll admit, it was nice seeing them that last time, just that last little spark of courage and reassurance. I feel happier now.

Emma arrives upstairs, with Janet. Janet's eyes widen as she sees me.

"Oh my--Becky!" she pulls me off the bed and hugs me. "You look beautiful!"

"Thank you," I say, exhaling as I do so. "Not long now. What is it? Less than a half hour now?"

"Looks like it," Janet checks her watch. "Yeah, not long now."

"Well, you guys better go get changed. I see you're both made up already, so go, get changed!" I squeal, and both girls leave the room.

A few moments later, they both return with their bridesmaid dresses on. They both look beautiful, real pretty.

"Oh gosh, you both look stunning!" I compliment them both, and they both smile and say thank you.

Janet and Emma both take my hands, and we walk outside, where a beautiful black car with purple--of course--ribbons decorating it.

We get inside, and Emma and Janet sit either side of me. They're still holding my hands.

"This is it," Emma says.

Then Janet adds. "Are you ready?"

"I'm a little nervous.. but yes," I say with the biggest smile I've had on my face all day.

"I'm ready to be Mrs. Jackson."

Author's note: Yaaaaay!! The wedding is gonna be the next chapter! Yayayayayay! Soon, Becky will be a Jackson! Woo! :D Oh, I'm so excited!