Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, New Moon, or Eclipse. They are property of Stephenie Meyer.

Prologue

How did I get here . . . A month ago I was so sure of what I wanted for my life . . . A life with Edward. For eternity. It sounded so great. So what happened? Jacob. How could I be so sure of my decision one day, then totally do a 180 and think the opposite the very next day? How could the only thing I want for my life was for it to end and be a vampire with Edward and then want to be with Jake and have a family and children and grow old with him. How did I get here? How could this one decision leave me heart broken and torn?

The Engagement

My hand was sweating, despite the coldness of Edward's hand in mine, as we walked together hand in hand up to the front door of my house. I heard the faint sound of celebration and cheers and knew Charlie was in there watching the game. I looked over at Edward, trying to hide the nervous look I knew had to be plastered to my face. He lifted the hand that was holding mine and rubbed my cheek with the back of his hand while whispering soothing reassurances to me. I took a deep breath. I wanted to believe him, but I just didn't see how this would be alright. But there was no sense in putting it off any longer. Charlie would have to find out sooner or later. Edward let go of my hand as we walked in through the door. His talent of being able to read Charlie's mind came in handy sometimes and he knew how uneasy Charlie got when we were 'too close' as he had told me once. I ignored Edward's gesture to try and make this as easy on Charlie as possible. I needed him right now. Charlie would just have to deal with it.

" Hey kiddo!" Charlie said as he saw us enter the room and walk over to the couch beside the television. "What's wrong? You seem a bit uneasy Bella," he finished and looked at Edward's hand entwined with mine. I knew Charlie must have thought something Edward didn't want him thinking which was probably why he tried to release my hand again, but I quickly grabbed it again.

"Dad. I have something to tell you," I said trying to sound as calm as possible.

"Oh my god . . . Oh. My. God, '' was all Charlie said and I felt Edward stiffen next to me. "You're pregnant aren't you, Bella! I thought we had a talk about this! " Charlie began to scream as he jumped from his chair. I had never seen Charlie move so quickly. " Get out Edward! I do not want you around my daughter! "

" No! Dad no! I am not pregnant!" I screamed suddenly embarrassed by my father's jump to conclusions. Edward smirked beside me. I could see how he thought this was funny. " Dad. I am not pregnant. I already told you me and Edward are not like that," I told him. I was suddenly nervous to see his reaction to the real news.

I didn't have to wait for long. All it took was a simple movement. I quickly cursed myself for not pulling my hair back into a ponytail. If I had pulled my hair back then a stray lock of hair would not have fallen in front of my face, therefore making me swipe it away with my left hand. A tiny gold glint passed in front of my face and the look of understanding crossed Charlie's face. 'Oh no' I thought as I saw Charlie's face suddenly turn red and him giving Edward a death stare. "Bella . . . Go to your room."

"Dad! I don't have to go to my room!" I screamed, my teenage instincts suddenly taking over.

"As long as you live in my house you will listen to me!"

"Well news flash Charlie. I am eighteen. I could move out if I wanted to!"

"Bella! NOW!"

I had never seen Charlie so mad, which was probably why I stopped arguing with him and began the ascent to my room. I took a quick glance at Edward, but he didn't see me. He was staring right back at Charlie.

I got up to my room. They both should have known that I would be listening . . . I stood at my door to listen, but honestly I would have still heard them if I had closed it and sat on my bed.

"What are the two of you doing?! She is only eighteen! What kind of idea have you put into her head! You both are too young to even know what love is!"

" Charlie, I understand your concerns, but Bella and I are truly in love. Even if we waited ten years, our love would be the same . . . It only has room to grow," Edward said calmly, but loud enough for me to hear. I shuddered at the thought of waiting ten years. Even though that was what Edward really wanted. More time. I couldn't do that.

" That's what you two think know! But three years from now . . . Even though you say you two will still feel the same how can you be so sure. I do not want to see Bella get hurt! I will not see Bella get hurt! You have already hurt her once. I will not let you do that to her again!" Charlie hit a soft spot there. Edward gave himself a hard enough time after leaving me. Now Charlie would never let him forget it. At that moment I wanted nothing more than to run down there and comfort Edward and I knew with the silence that followed Charlie's comment that he was beating himself up even more.

" I know I left. I will never forgive myself for leaving her. I told her it was up to her. If she wanted to take me back. She didn't have to, but because she did I am making it my life's purpose to make it up to her every day. I will not hurt her again. I would harm myself before I ever put another tear in her eye."

" I can't let you two do this . . . It will ruin your lives!"

" I left the decision up to Bella. I am more than willing to wait as long as it takes for her, but you know your daughter Charlie. She is headstrong." It wasn't all true. He left out the biggest part. The part where I wanted Edward to change me into a vampire himself and him using marriage as a trade for it. There was of course the latest amendment to our deal, but that was best left out as well. I couldn't help but smile when I remembered that conversation, but then I was abruptly brought back to Earth with Charlie's next words.

" What do you want from me?" he asked without emotion. I cringed at the sound of his voice. It had never sounded so empty.

" Well . . . I would love to have your blessing, but I understand if you don't give it to us. Bella just thought you should know. We both wanted you to know," Edward said truthfully.

" Just . . . Let me talk to Bella . . . I am sorry Edward, but I am going to try my hardest to talk her out of this."

" Go ahead. I have already tried," Edward said. I knew what he was really talking about. Of course he wanted me to marry him, but me marrying him meant him turning me into a vampire and that was what he tried so hard to talk me out of.

" Good bye Edward," Charlie said as he walked Edward to the door. I closed my door and walked over to my window.

In the next moment Edward was next to me.

" I won't be far. Listen to Charlie." He pleaded with me and was out my window just before Charlie's foot hit the top step.

"Bella!" he called to me. He tapped on my door and asked "Can I come in?"

I quickly walked over to my bed and said, " Yes."

" Bella . . . I need to talk to you," he said and I nodded back at him. I knew he needed a minute to think about what he wanted to say. " Why so soon? Why can't you wait? How do know that this is really what you want? How can you be sure he won't leave you again?"

" Dad . . . I know Edward hurt me in the past, but that doesn't matter to me now. I love him and he loves me. I know he would never leave me ever again if it wasn't what I wanted. I can't think of anything that I want more than to be with Edward forever. For him to belong to me and for me to belong to him."

" But Bella . . . You are so young. You are about to go off to college. You will meet new people. You will change. How do you know this is what you want for the rest of your life when your life has hardly begun?"

" Dad. Believe me. There is nothing I want more. I know I will be happy with Edward and I know he would never hurt me. Really. I would be in good hands. I love him and his family has even already begun to welcome me into their family. We are basically married now. The only thing is we don't have a little piece of paper saying we are.'

"And you don't live together," Charlie added quickly.

"And that," I said. Charlie didn't know that Edward frequently stayed over at night. That was best kept between me and Edward.

" Are you sure Bella . . . Don't you want to wait a few years?"

I had heard that before . . . Of course. It came from Edward. Why was everyone around me so intent on me waiting till I was an old woman to become a vampire? All right. So maybe I am being overly dramatic . . . I wouldn't be an old woman, but if Edward is going to be seventeen for the rest of eternity I refuse to be any older than nineteen. Although I would prefer eighteen.

" Dad . . . I have never been more sure of anything in my life. Even though I am only eighteen, I know I will never be so sure of anything ever again. Please believe me. This is what I really want."

'I just . . . I just don't want the same thing that happened to . . . me and your mom . . . to happen to . . . you." Charlie's voice broke on the last word. I crawled forward and wrapped my arms around him to comfort him.

"Dad . . . I am a big girl. I know what I am doing."

"Bella . . . You will always be my little girl. I can't help, but try and take care of you. I just don't want you to get hurt."

" I won't," I said truthfully . . . At least . . . I wouldn't get hurt mentally. Physically . . . Well . . . I vividly remember the burning pain I had when James bit me. But once again that was something I didn't want to trouble Charlie with. He had enough with the news of the engagement.

With one look at Charlie he knew I wasn't changing my mind. " Edward was right . . . You just aren't going to change your mind are you?"

"No . . . I won't. Do we have your blessing?"

"Bella . . . "

"Dad. It is really important to me . . . I don't want to marry Edward knowing that you hate the whole thing . . . "

"Then don't marry him," Charlie said hopefully.

"No chance . . . Sorry, but with or without your blessing we are doing this . . . I would just prefer to have your blessing. Also . . . If we have your blessing then it will make the conversation with mom a bit easier." I wasn't ready to take on mom just yet, but I knew I couldn't put that off for long.

" You have my blessing . . . " Charlie sad with a frown. I jumped up and hugged him with all of my strength. " That doesn't mean I completely agree with it . . . I am still hoping you will come to your senses and wait a while."

"Thanks dad," I said, ignoring the last part of his sentence. " I love you."

" I love you too, Bella, '' he said, then slowly closed the door.

A.N.-

This is my first fic so please don't go too hard on me. I do appreciate all reviews, just please don't be too harsh. I am on the fence of even posting this... I guess if people accept my story well, then I may continue. I am still not sure so please review!