i am tring to attach a label on a before submit

var id = record.attach({
													record: {
														type: 'file',
														id: fileId
													},
													to: {
														type: 'itemfulfillment',
														id: rec.id
													}
												})

If you want this to work for the create type, then move it to afterSubmit

then I am submitting twice once to save the record and 2nd to "update" attaching

You cant attach a file to a record that doesnt exist yet

true

Yes

can they be combined as one? ( because now I'm submitting 3 times)

No