Chapter 1: The News

Edward had just given me the ring-his mother's ring- that proved I was his. It was my choice to tell Charlie, but still…

"Bella," he breathed softly into my ear, "are you sure you are ready to do this? It can wait, you know."

"No. I have to do this now, otherwise I don't know if I will ever get it done."

And that was the truth. I was in no hurry to break the news- my engagement to Edward Cullen- to Charlie. I couldn't fathom his response! But, I would have Edward at my side, and that would make everything better.

I climbed onto Edward's back, as I had done so many times before, and he started running. I wasn't afraid anymore, I wasn't afraid of the nausea, frankly because I didn't get it anymore. I found it exhilarating!

We were flying through the forest, away from our meadow, to Charlie's house.

In no time at all, Edward deftly swung me off his back into his arms. My hair was all wind-blown, which couldn't have been very attractive, but I didn't care. We had stopped on the forest path next to my house. It no longer gave me chills to think about what had happened there- as long as I had Edward with me, I could face anything.

I reached up to his head, hooked my arms around his neck, and kissed him. He kissed me back for a minute, then broke away and set me on the ground.

"Time to go talk to Charlie, Bella. Do you want me to wait outside?" he asked me.

"NO!" I yelled a little too quickly. "I need you to be there with me. Please?"

I looked into his dark eyes- it had been weeks since he left me to go hunting- and he smiled at me.

"Alright," he sighed, "I will go in. But don't expect me to stay around if he starts shooting at me!"

He pulled me close to him and hugged me for a minute. I wished this moment would never end, but maybe I was just a little nervous about talking to Charlie…

I walked in the front door, holding Edward's hand, and called for Charlie.

He was in the living room, as usual. It sounded like he had found a game on TV, and by his response I could tell he was not as in to it as he usually was.

"Hey Bella," he greeted me casually, "hey Edward."

There wasn't quite the edge that used to be in his voice when he addressed Edward, but you could still sense it was there.

"Dad, I have something to tell you…" I started weakly.