Author's Note: This story is a sequel to my first story, "Second Chances". If you have not read the first story, please go read it before you read this one. It will clear a lot of things up.

If you read "Second Chances" but need a recap, here it is:

Five years after Edward leaves Bella, she is still heartbroken and diagnosed with leukemia. Edward, who has earned his medical degree and is now a doctor at a London hospital, sees this diagnosis through Alice's visions and takes the family to Seattle to care for Bella...under the guise of Carlisle. Bella starts to fight cancer and chemotherapy with Carlisle, unaware that Edward is lying next to her every night and treating her condition. Edward struggles to stay away from Bella, and his family begins to question his decision to stay away. Finally, with some secret plotting between Alice and Emmett, Edward has no choice but to reveal himself to Bella. She welcomes him with open arms and they fall in love all over again. The Cullen family now surrounds Bella and they plan a scheme to get her out of the hospital for one night--for a date with Edward. This date reveals how much they love each other and where they see their future going. It's an unclear future as Edward wants a human, platonic marriage and Bella wants promiscuous immortality. However, one thing is sure: Edward will never leave her again.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, because I'm not Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter One: "Question" Bella's POV

I woke up to an empty bed--something that did not often happen nowadays. A little confused, I forced my sleepy eyes to brave the sunlight and scan the bedroom for my roommate.

He wasn't there.

"Edward?" I called, falling back on the bed and shielding my eyes from the bright light with a pillow. "Edward?"

"I'm here, love," he said, and I felt the pressure of his body as he crawled on the huge mattress toward me. He lifted the pillow from my face and kissed my lips quickly. "Peek-a-boo."

I laughed. "Good morning," I said, rolling on top of him. "Where were you?"

"Talking to Esme on the phone," he shrugged, taking my face in his hands. "She wants us to come over for dinner tonight."

"That sounds good," I nodded. "Are we having mountain lion or elk?"

He rolled his eyes. "You are probably having tilapia fish or something to that effect. We will be eating nothing."

"I know," I groaned. "That was my attempt at a joke."

He smiled. "How is it that you look so beautiful with no makeup on and a bed-head?" His fingers gently wove through my hair. It was cut in a short bob that I hated--the little bit of hair that had grown back after my experience with chemotherapy. But, as Alice pointed out everyday, it was growing longer.

And, of course, I loved having Edward run his fingers through it, no matter how short it was.

I shrugged. "You've been rubbing off on me," I said.

He laughed and pulled my face to his so his lips could move against mine. A minute later, he stopped. My lips automatically slipped into a pout.

"Don't give me that evil look," he chided me. "I stopped for a reason."

"Oh?" I sat up so I was straddling him and ran my fingers down his cold, bare chest. It was the most I had seen of him.

"Yes," he nodded. "I sort of have a question."

I looked at him suspiciously. "I am not going to let you buy me a new car."

He sighed. "Not that, love. Can you close your eyes?"

"Why?" I asked dully. I hated surprises.

"Because I have a surprise for you and I want it to be just that--a surprise."

"Fine," I sulked, covering my eyes with my palms.

I was distracted as I felt his very cold hand touch my leg and move it. I had worn shorts to bed last night--the skimpiest outfit I could get away with. He gently rubbed my thigh as he pulled something out of his pocket. A second later, he patted my leg. "Okay. I'm ready."

"I can actually look now?" I asked sarcastically.

"Yes. Don't be difficult."

I laughed and removed my hands from my eyes, but I kept my eyes closed. "If this cost a lot of money, I'm going to be really angry with you."

"It didn't cost anything, my love. Open your eyes."

I did, and I froze.

Wedged between his thumb and forefinger was a glittering diamond ring. I covered my mouth with my hands and stared at his face--he looked exuberantly and unequivocally happy. There was also something else in his eyes that I recognized. What is it?

And then it hit me.

Hope.

"Isabella Marie Swan?" he murmured softly. "I love you more than life--you are my life. So will you spend the rest of your life with me as my wife? As Mrs. Bella Cullen?"

I didn't say anything, frozen in shock.

He tried to suppress his laugh, but failed miserably. The crooked smile I loved most escaped along with a chuckle. "I guess I'm asking…will you marry me?"

And suddenly, the world made sense. I was twenty-four years old, in bed with the man I loved, and he was practically begging me to spend the rest of my life with him. Marriage suddenly made sense.

And so I nodded. "Yes," I breathed. "Yes, I will!"

Shock dominated his face. "Thank you," he gasped. At inhuman speed, he had my left hand and was sliding the ring onto the appropriate finger. Not even bothering to admire the surely-beautiful ring, I laid down on top of him and kissed his mouth openly.

"I love you," he whispered under my kiss.

"I love you, too," I whispered back after I pulled away.

He smiled, radiating pure joy--and smugness. "My fiancée," he gloated, taking my hand and kissing it.

I groaned. "I sound so old."

He laughed. "What made you say yes?"

I shrugged. "I don't want to argue. And there is something about the name Bella Cullen."

He nodded. "I like it, too."

"I hope you do," I grinned. "You're going to be hearing it for a very long time."

"Good," he breathed. "I'm so ready for it."

I smiled and kissed him again. He wrapped his arm around my waist and rolled over so we were on our sides. Laughing, he started caressing my neck with his lips. Curious, I looked at my new ring.

It was beautiful and expensive-looking, but simple. It looked like an antique. "Seriously," I said. "How much was this?"

"Nothing," he said. "I inherited it from my mother. Do you like it?"

It was gorgeous and unique--just like Edward. "I love it," I told him. "It's beautiful."

"Just like you."

I chuckled sarcastically as I thought of how he had just compared me to something that reminded me of him. Somehow, it didn't fit. I wasn't anything like this Greek-god-like creature who was now kissing along my collarbone.

"God, that feels good," I breathed as I felt his tongue lick at my clavicle. I was a little bitter, though. We had been "together again" for a year, and we hadn't had sex at all. However, he insisted on being a tease, going shirtless and using his tongue on my skin. Not that I was complaining--it was great.

But I was so sick of being teased.

"Mmm," he said. "I guess you know you're having an engagement party tonight."

"What?" I asked. "Dinner?"

He chuckled. "Yes. Alice has been planning this since she first got the first inkling of my intentions."

"Greeeat," I sighed dramatically. "I don't suppose I have a choice."

"No, you don't," he said perkily. "Get used to it. You're about to be a Cullen, too."

"I love the sound of that," I told him, taking his hand in mine so I could lace my fingers through his. "We don't have to get out of bed until this afternoon, do we?"

He laughed. "I guess I can bear a day in bed, snuggling next to you. God bless electric blankets."

"Agreed," I nodded, sliding further into the hot cloth. Knowing that I was getting even warmer, he pulled me close and kissed my mouth.

"I am so happy," he told me a minute later.

"Me, too," I admitted. "Though I'm worried about the party."

"Mrs. Bella Cullen," he murmured, kissing my neck and intentionally ignoring my comment.

"Mrs. Edward Cullen," I added.

"Isabella Swan Cullen…" His lips traced a line up to my face. "I love you."

I laughed as his cold lips tickled various parts of my face. "I love you, too." Just as his lips pressed underneath my jaw, I said, "Do you think we can skip the party tonight without hurting Esme's feelings? I'm not afraid of Alice, but I don't want to be rude to Esme."

He sighed and put his mouth to my ear. "Bella?" he whispered.

"Yes?"

"Shut up and let me kiss you."

And then his mouth crushed mine.