"You're WHAT?!" Bellowed Charlie.
I nervously twisted the engagement ring around my finger. It still felt so foreign to me.
"Edward and I are...engaged, Dad." I managed to mumble as I looked at my feet. I sneaked a quick peek at Edward, who was still standing near the door. He gave me a brief, half-crooked smile of encouragement, then took one long step to reach my side.
"No NO NO!!" Stammered Charlie, still obviously floored by my unexpected announcement. He moved his incredulous stare from me to my fiancé. "First you nearly allow her to get KILLED, then you leave her broken-hearted, now you want to marry her? Are you INSANE?!" He seethed. "You're lucky I even let you date her, much less marry her. Get the FUCK out of my house!" He screamed.
"DAD!" I interjected, as I wound my fingers with Edward's, willing him to stay. There was no way I could physically force him to stay, with his superhuman strength and all. That's what being a vampire did to you. "I LOVE Edward, and I am going to be with him." I breathed in, gathering my courage to continue. "I want you to be the one to walk me down the aisle, to be there when I start my new life." My eyes welled with tears as I thought of the other factors of this marriage that I would never be able to tell my father.
The "new life" I spoke of was, in reality, more like death. A death I wanted, longed for, dreamed of every night. An eternal death, that would guarantee that I would never be separated from my Edward. My thought jerked back to the present as I heard my father make a coughing sound. I finally looked into his eyes, and saw the indecision there. I could tell that he was hurt by my seemingly sudden decision, but that's not something I would be able to smooth over with words. I reached out and touched his arm, which was unusual for me. I wasn't one for touching people, even my own family, normally. Vampires, on the other hand...
"Dad, please. I know you want what's best for me, and I know this is it. This is the only way I am going to be truly happy, please believe that!" A tear trickled down my face as I watched his agonizing fight with himself between allowing me to be happy and being a stern paternal figure. Edward gave my hand a little squeeze, which gave me comfort, as his touch always did.
"Bella...I do want you to be happy, but are you sure you know what you are doing?" Charlie seemed to be calming down, at least. The angry red had left his face, he simply looked sad now. I took a deep breath, and simply said, "Yes."
I had never been more sure of anything in my life. I had known from the day Edward rescued me in Port Angeles that I would do anything to be with him. Even if that meant giving up everything that had been my life thus far. Edward wanted me to go on being a living, breathing human. For me, however, a life without him seemed like a fate worse than death.
"So Dad, will you give me away, give me to Edward?" I whispered, tears flowing freely now.
"I...well, you've made up your mind, and I won't stand in your way. Do as you will, Isabella." Charlie's voice was resigned. "But YOU! If you dare hurt her again, I swear to God, I will fucking kill you, do you understand me?!" He glared at Edward, taking a step forward menacingly. "I promise to do everything in my power to make Bella happy, Charlie." said Edward, meeting Charlie's gaze rather defiantly.
Charlie took a step back, and breathed a heavy sigh. "You're going to be the end of me, Isabella" He mumbled as he shook his head in disbelief. "I think I am going to call it a night, if you two do not have any more unpleasant surprises to spring on an old man."
"None tonight, Dad!" I said with a smile, and stepped forward to offer a rare hug. "Thank you so much!" I whispered in his ear. "Goodnight."
Charlie slowly climbed the stairs to his room, and closed the door behind him. I stood for a moment in the dim living room, unsure of what to say. I felt cold arms slip around my waist as Edward pressed his lips to my hair. "Well, that's over." he breathed, sending chills down my spine as always. "Now we just have to tell you mother."
I groaned loudly. I really, really was not looking forwarded to telling my mother I was getting married. Not only did she not think people should get married, especially not people as young as I, she was also one of the most emotional and overly dramatic people I had ever known.
"Well, I might as well get it over with." I grumbled as Edward stroked my arm gently.
I walked over to the phone and took a deep breath. My hands were shaking a bit, so it took me about three tries to get the number right. I stopped breathing as it rang on the other end. Part of me wanted to reach her voicemail, so I could leave a quick message: "Hey Mom! Edward and I are getting married! Love ya, bye!". I should have known I wouldn't have any such luck, however. My Mom's chipper voice answered after a couple rings "Hi Bella!" she chirped. "Hi Mom.." I said nervously as I fished for the words to tell her that I was engaged. Ah, what the hell, I thought. I might as well just go ahead and say it. "I've got news!" I said in the brightest voice I could muster. "I'm getting married!"
There was a pause, then a piercing shriek on the other end.
"You're WHAT?!"