Breaking Dawn

Chapter 1: Charlie

Edward drove into my rainy driveway and parked next to Charlie's cruiser.

I couldn't move. I could barely breathe. Telling Charlie was going to be impossible. How could I even find the words? I haven't even left the car and I was already starting to panic, Charlie was going to have a heart attack. Edward was a very touchy subject with Charlie, he barely let him into the house and here I am getting ready to ask him to walk me down the aisle and give me away at the altar. I would be lucky if Charlie didn't try to kill him right there and then. Sensing my lack of courage, Edward gently squeezed my hand.

"Bella, we have to tell Charlie the good news eventually." He said. "Alice will be ready to send the invitations out soon and its better that he hears it from us before the rest of the town knows."

He had a good point. The news of a beautiful Cullen marrying the police chief's daughter right out of high school was sure to cause gossip. I could just hear it now. I still couldn't form the words in my head. I had no idea how to tell Charlie.

He gently grabbed my chin and pulled my face so I could look into his eyes. He was dazzling the panic right out of me. "We're going to do this the right way and were going to do it together." Edwards's words calmed me.

I smiled still gazing into his topaz eyes. "Alright, we better go in then." I tried to fake all the courage I could in my voice. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, when I opened then again Edward was at my door opening it for me and reaching for my hand. Together we walked up to my house and into the front door.

Charlie was sitting on the couch watching ESPN. "Hey kiddo what's for dinner?" he said.

"Actually Dad, I need to talk to you about something first." I sat down next to Edward on the love seat, our hands still intertwined.

Charlie sat up straight and turned off the TV. "Okay Bells, shoot…" he said suspiciously. He looked at Edward and then his eyes found our hands clasped together and he stared.

"Dad… umm… Edward and I… well you see he…" I couldn't think. The words weren't coming. I was already drowning in the tension of the room and the conversation had barely even started.

"Charlie," Edward said bursting into the conversation to save me, "we have some great news. Bella and I love each other and since we will be going to Dartmouth in the fall together, well, I've asked her to marry me. I love her more than anything in the world and somehow she feels 

that I deserve her. I think that I can make her very happy, hopefully as happy as she makes me. I know I should have asked your permission first and for that I'm truly sorry but she's accepted my offer to be my wife and we are here now to ask for your blessing."

Charlie was stunned. This obviously wasn't what he thought that Edward would say. But he seemed to be taking it well. At least his head hadn't blown up and no one was yelling yet. "Marriage…? Are you sure that your ready Bells, that's a big step." He asked me quietly.

"Dad, I really do love him. We'll be living together across the country and he wanted to make sure that it's done the right way. He makes me happy, Dad, and I want to be his wife," I looked at Edward, "I want to be with him forever…"

Charlie finally looked at me again. Then he looked down and saw the ring on my finger holding Edwards hand. "Wow, Bells… If you're sure, if you know that he will make you happy, then I won't stand in your way." I was shocked. My jaw dropped open and I was there staring back at Charlie. Edward coughed to hide a chuckle from my expression. "Bella, don't look so surprised. I am your father. The one thing that I want most is for you to be happy, if Edward is what makes you happy then I support you, although I do think that it would have been better for you two to wait a while longer. Is there some other reason for this mad dash to the altar?"

My face was suddenly hot as I realized what he meant. My own father thought that this was a shot gun wedding. Pregnant was the last thing that I would ever be.

"No Charlie, this was a choice that we made so that we could start our life together." Edward's eyes showed only the truth.

"Oh, okay." Charlie said. He became really quiet.

"Well, Bella and I need to go tell my family the good news." Edward got up and started walking with me towards the door.

"Goodnight Dad… I'll be back later" I called as I shut the door.

Edward smiled as we got back into the Volvo and headed towards his house. "Edward, why are we going back to your house? The family already knows?"

"Charlie accepted what we were saying very well. It was shocking how well he took it but he desperately needed to be able to sit alone for a while and regain his thoughts." Edward explained.

The hardest part about the wedding was almost done. First thing tomorrow, I was going to do the unthinkable and call Renee.