Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, New Moon, or Eclipse. The characters in this story belong to Stephenie Meyer.

"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves" – Shakespeare

"With every great love, there's a great love story." – found this saying.

"Ok." I said as Edward carefully slid me off his back, planting me gently on the ground. I stood in front of him, seeing a small smile starting to inch its way across his lips.

I raised my eyebrows. "Is he in a good mood?"

Edward met my eyes. "He's watching TV. He seems to be."

I felt myself to start to relax but not by too much. In fact, I don't think I've ever been this nervous before. I could just picture Charlie's face right now, the image clear in my mind. I could even imagine Renee's right before the fainting or the freaking out, which ever comes first.

The sinking feeling fell back in the pit of my stomach but the strange thing was, I wasn't as nervous as I thought I was going to be. I was ready. But I was still nervous. I don't think I could stand to disappoint anyone else.

I reached down running my finger over the ring, my own small smile starting to form. It was weird.

"Bella."

Edward's voice brought me back to reality as I looked into his warm yet concerned topaz eyes. Staring deeply into his face, something I could seriously do all day, I saw something. A vision.

My future flashing across.

Me and Edward. The only future I knew I could ever really be happy. The future I truly want. Any other would never be enough.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

I nodded.

"Yeah, I was just thinking when telling my parents maybe we should kind of ease in," I suggested. "You know, the weather, tv, food, getting married…" I was getting used to the word or at least trying to get used to the word even if my initial reaction was to shy away. Not in a bad way, just in a way I never imagined me saying about myself.

Edward chuckled.

"I would be more than happy to do all of the talking." That sounded nice but I want to be the one to tell them also.

"Or we could ask Alice about their reactions." I suggested and to lighten up my nerves, I added, "Would that be cheating?"

Edward pulled me closer, his fingers dancing up and down my spine, making me tremble, my heart fluttering instinctively and hyperactively.

"Bella, you think too much." He said as his grin widened. Hearing my heart, I'm guessing.

"That's always a nice sound." He murmured as he leaned down to kiss the side of my jaw.

"Only you can make my heart do that." I told him as his face, the perfection, and the warmest eyes I've ever seen lit up.

"I'm glad."

I breathed out, his sweet scent so close. "Edward," I said right before I surprised him by pressing my lips to his, I wrapped my arms around his neck, closing my eyes as the kiss deepened. Really, I didn't think about the possibility of Charlie catching us or anything else, all I could think about was Edward kissing me back, letting the hesitation, like he has been, leave. My arms slid down until my hands were limp on the sides of his arms.

Edward was the first to pull back, I thought about bringing him back but I needed to catch my breath.

"You are nervous." Edward stated.

"How can I not be?" I asked him.

Edward held my face in his hands as I kept my hands on his arms. "Are you sure you don't want me to do most of the talking? As I've heard before, I can be pretty persuasive."

I frowned. "I can be too."

"Oh, I know you can."

The best possible way to do this, the way it should be and the way I wanted it to be was for all three of us to sit down and discuss this…and away from the kitchen and Charlie's gun and possibly any area where objects can be thrown. That doesn't narrow down a lot.

"Edward." I said right before he started to lead the way inside.

"Yes." His yes came out open minded.

I placed both of my hands on his face, holding his attention even though I knew I didn't need to. He would listen to anything I had to say. That's what makes him so incredible.

"You know I love you more than anything," I asked. "You know you're the love of my life and nothing can ever change that, right?"

Edward's eyes softened his face almost sad even. "It's always nice to hear."

I stroke his cold cheek with my thumb. "You'll be hearing it forever," I said with a smile.

Edward folded my hand into his, intertwining our fingers. "I know you do." He said.

I brought our hands up, kissing his and brought his arm over my head leading the way to the door.

"Bella, is that you?" Charlie called from the living room as Edward closed the door behind us. I could hear the TV humming faintly.

No, I thought to myself, out loud I said. "Yes, it's me and Edward."

I glanced at him by my side. Unlike me, he looked completely calm, completely content. I'm jealous. I'm jumpy and I can't stand still. I kept squeezing his hand gently, shifting back and forth.

Edward's cold, smooth fingers softly brushed over my skin, making me relax some. Just by his touch, I'm still affected by it. In the best way.

Charlie looked over the couch at us.

"Hey you two." I was ever grateful he was finally coming around to accepting Edward again.

It's a start.

"Hello Charlie." Edward said polite as ever.

Edward dropped my hand placing his on my back as I absently touching my ring.

Forever is all I want.

"Dad, can we talk to you?" I asked.

"Sure, come on over, I wanted to talk to you as well." Charlie motioned us over to sit down.

Is it hot in here or is it just me? I mean, is it?

I followed Edward over to the couch, both of us sitting at the same time.

"Well," I began and that's basically as far as I got.

Charlie grabbed the remote from his side and turned the volume down.

"I was thinking about a father/daughter outing before you go off to college." He said. From the way he said it, it sounded like he's been planning the day for a while now. This was surprising.

"Oh," I said. "That sounds great dad." I started folding and unfolding my hands in my lap nervously. I felt Edward playing with a strand of my hair, waiting patiently for me to give him the ok to step in.

"I'm thinking about getting a cake." I blurted out before I even had time to think of what to say.

A cake. Stupid, stupid. As soon as I said the words, I got confusing looks from both Charlie and Edward. Edward's was more on the verge of laughing then anything else.

"A cake." Charlie repeated. "That's…interesting."

I looked down at my hands. "Maybe for a celebration…on the thirteenth of August."

Charlie grew more confused over my lack of making any sense at all.

"Bella, you don't like parties."

I'm not doing this right. I don't know what to say.

"Charlie," Edward spoke up, seeing I'm digging a hole here. I looked at Edward, who was looking directly at Charlie.

"Sir, I love your daughter very much and I promise I will do anything and everything to make her happy and make sure she's safe. I respect you and your opinion," Edward paused and I knew it was coming. "I would like to have your permission for you're daughter's hand in marriage."

The whole room grew silent. I think I could actually hear the blood traveling through my veins, my nerves scattering through my whole body.

I could see each breath Charlie was taking, his eyes widen, looking from me to Edward and back again. The silence was much more then I could stand but I couldn't think of anything to say. All I wanted to say was at the tip of my tongue unable to come out.

He looked stunned to say the least.

"Dad." I said slowly.

Charlie was surprisingly composed. Sort of. Out of all the arguments we've had over the past couple of months, we finally got the peace back. I'm hoping this won't be another argument or another disappointment. After the days I've had, I can't stand the thought of hurting or letting down anyone else.

"Marriage." Charlie said the word as if it was a foreign word.

"Do you two have any idea what you're thinking about doing?" his voice somehow both steady and stern at the same time with an edge. I wasn't sure if this was better or worse then him yelling.

"We have thought and talked a lot about it. Bella will still be going to school; we'll both have jobs and be well taken care of. We're prepared for whatever obstacle may come."

Charlie looked like he was about to have a heart attack.

The whole time I was sitting on the outskirts, waiting for the end result.

"You both are way too young to make this kind of an important decision. Marriage isn't something you take lightly. It's something you wait until you're older to decide. Marriage is a serious commitment."

At the word commitment, I suddenly though of another one I was going to be having. The one I've been waiting for. To become a vampire, be with the Cullens, be with my Edward. Forever. My future family.

As the weeks, just like not too long, began to narrow down, it was all becoming too hard to believe.

"Dad," I said. He took his glare away from Edward, who I can only be guessing he's blaming him to me. "Dad, you know I'm responsible and you know I always think things through at every angle and see all of my choices before I get into one. I know my choices." I said feeling Edward's gaze upon me.

It took all I could not to flush or freeze up. "I've made my choice. This is what I want and I know it will be the only thing that will ever make me happy. Dad, I really love Edward. I want to be with him, he makes me happy." My face flushed and I knew Edward could feel it.

At my words, more then anything, I hope Edward caught the deeper meaning.

Charlie didn't say anything for a minute. When he finally did, he said, "I can understand that Bella, I can but you're too young to get married. You're too young to understand. If it's meant to be it can wait. You're not getting married and that's final."

I was taken back. "Dad, I'm not a little kid, I'm an adult and you can't tell me what I can do and tell me what I want," I protested.

"Bella, that's enough. Good-bye Edward."

Edward was about to get up but I put my hand on his arm. "No, dad…" Edward cut in before I was able to say anymore.

"Charlie, I don't want you and Bella to argue over this." He said, his voice holding a note of finality in it. "If you prefer us to wait, I understand, and I will. I'll wait forever if I have to."

I widened my eyes up at him. Does he not remember our discussion earlier?

Charlie got up and I was afraid he was going to do something rash like find a reason to arrest Edward.

"We'll finish this discussion later." Charlie said abruptly. Without another word or a look our way, he left the room, the sound of the front door shutting.

He actually left me and Edward alone. I was kind of surprised along with sad about his reaction. I wasn't expecting him to take the idea in with open arms, I knew my parents weren't going to take it lightly but deep down, I was hoping they would.

"I think that went better then I expected." I said, finally able to break the silence.

"He did have various words directed at me but he doesn't want to start an argument with you, he'll be talking to you when I leave."

I turned around to face him, one leg tucked underneath me. "I'm so sorry Edward." I said really meaning it.

Edward tilted my chin up with his finger. "There's no reason for you to be sorry."

There are a thousand reasons why I should be.

"You'd wait forever if you had to?" I repeated. I didn't mean to sound any way about it but it must have came out in some way to make Edward laugh. My favorite sound in the world.

"That wasn't a lie. I'd wait for you." He leaned forward kissing the side of my neck, inhaling in as his lips traveled up the side of my neck.

My hands were on his knees, trying to keep focus which is always hard whenever he's so close.

"Did you forget our deal already?" I asked him. My voice shaking as I felt his cool breath on the side of my neck. Wow, how embarrassing. Still.

"Do you think I could forget?" he asked his lips moving against my throat.

"No." I replied as he looked up at me. I kissed the tip of his nose, my hand on the side of his neck. "No I don't."

Edward kissed my forehead. "Don't argue with your father over this, please." He asked. I nodded. I don't want to argue either.

Charlie came back a little bit later, ignoring Edward as he left and avoiding me by going into the kitchen.

I took a deep breath and let it out, getting myself to get up and go into the kitchen. When I reached the entrance way, I saw Charlie going through the fridge.

"Dad." I said.

"Hmm." He said not looking my way.

I glanced down at the floor, hating this. "Dad, I don't want you to be upset." I said, my voice sounding pleading.

Charlie finally looked at me.

"I don't want you to be disappointed either." I finished, my eyes watering up with tears I didn't even know I had. I reached up rubbing my eyes before they fell.

"Honey, I'm not disappointed in you." Charlie said shutting the fridge.

I must have looked confused because he sighed. "I just don't support this." He said. "You have your whole life ahead of you, you're going to college, you shouldn't be settling down now."

I took a step into the kitchen. "Dad, Edward is a big part of my life and I know there have been some ups and downs but I love him and he loves me. I want you and mom to know before I go off to college, before I start my own life to know I'm happy, to know I'm okay, to know Edward and I are together, that I'm living my life the way I want to and for once putting what I want before what everyone else does." Once I started talking I found it hard to stop, all of the words just flooding out. "All of my life I've always thought of other people first, trying to be what they needed me to be. I've always done what everyone expected of me, I've always tried to be enough for everyone and sometimes that got really hard because I've found out I can't be what everyone needs from me all of the time. Dad, I want you to give Edward a chance. I want you to trust me on my choice. I want you to walk me down the aisle and I want you and mom to be happy for me."

Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I didn't mean to start crying. "Please dad." I begged.

Charlie just looked at me with an expression I couldn't read. "Bella, I don't know. I just don't know."

I closed my eyes. It was going to take a while. "I'll be in my room." I said before turning around and leaving the kitchen. Now, I need to tell my mom.