Forks, WA - June.

"I'm going to be sick." Bella said as she stared out the window of Edward's Volvo at the front door of her house and then at the police cruiser sitting innocently in the driveway. "Like really, really sick."

"No, you're not." Edward smiled and caressed her cheek.

"Yes, I am." She pouted delicately, crossing her arms in front of her. She knew she was being childish but facing Charlie even if he had been more accepting of Edward lately, scared the crap out of her.

"Bella, we've talked about this." Repeatedly, he added in his head but didn't say it out loud. "You even said yourself that you hated wearing your engagement ring around your neck…that you wanted to put it on your finger where it belongs. In order to do that, we have to tell Charlie."

Bella sighed as she fiddled with the beautiful engagement ring she had just put back on her finger only moments before. "You're right." She conceded. "I know you're right. It's just that we haven't even graduated yet and Alice is chomping at the bit that the invitations haven't gone out yet. I mean, who knew you're supposed to send them three to four months in advance? And there's still so much left to do…caterers, fittings, flowers… I haven't even…"

Edward placed his lips on hers, coaxing gently until she gave herself up to the kiss. She moaned into his mouth, completely forgetting her anxiety as her fingers wound themselves in the tufts of his hair. Knowing he couldn't get into a full on make out session in front of her house especially because of where they often led, he pulled back only to gently rest his head against hers, breathing heavily.

"That wasn't fair." She pouted looking into his lust glazed eyes, feeling the heat of her own arousal.

"It worked though." He chuckled as he caressed her jawline loving her response to his touch. He would never be able to get enough of her.

"That's because when you kiss me you know I can't think of anything else." She frowned. "And that was the point" She said acerbically when the realization of his trickery dawned on her. "So not fair, Cullen"

He grinned at her. Tucking his finger under her chin, he coaxed her gaze to meet his. "It will be fine, love. Trust me."

Looking into his eyes so filled with love for her, totally wiped away all of her objections. He was right. It was time. She was eighteen and she was tired of hiding her engagement. Wasn't it only two months ago that she faced death square in the face and lived? Telling Charlie should pale in comparison.

Bella nodded, her fingers on the door handle giving it a pull. "Okay."

He grasped her hand in his as they approached the house, needing contact...always needing contact. He had only been somewhat successful in being able to temper his neurotic need and desire to always have her close to him, to have a physical contact in some way since they had returned back. As much as he would like to, they couldn't always be together, after all.

"Can you hear him?" Bella whispered nervously.

Edward smiled. "He's humming."

"Humming?" Well, that was out of character. Curious, she picked up her pace until Edward stopped her.

"Bella, wait."

"What's wrong? I thought this was settled." She wanted to do this now before she turned into the cowardly lion and lost her nerve. It didn't hurt that Charlie was in a good mood either. Nothing like striking while the iron's hot.

She turned to Edward. He looked nervous; his weight shifting from one leg to the other, his free hand fisting and unfisting by his side.

"It is." He placed a stray strand of hair behind her hair and cupped her cheek. "I just…when we go in there…I want …"

"Edward, what is it?" Now she was concerned. Edward rarely stumbled over his words.

"Call me old fashioned and I suppose I am but I would like to be the one to tell your father…ask for his blessing as it were. You see, I'm only going to be doing this once and I want to do it the way I had always envisioned…the way that I would have done it if we were in the era I grew up in. Please…it's…it's important to me."

Bella's face softened and she caressed his cheek. Was she terrified? Yes, absolutely. Would it possibly give Charlie a new respect for Edward? Maybe…if he didn't try to shoot him first. Could she sit there idly as an observer and not an active participant? It was doubtful. But she would try…for Edward.

"Of course…but if he takes out his gun..."

"I'll duck." He chuckled before giving her a quick kiss on the nose.


They sat on the couch across from Charlie as he watched them suspiciously over the beer he currently had at his lips. Bella's hand was clasped tightly in Edwards, his fingers stroking soothing circles across her knuckles. Was his palm sweating? Oh no, that was her. Gross. She tried to subtly extract her hand from his to wipe it down on her pants but he wasn't letting her go.

"So what's this about?" Charlie asked as he set the beer can down and looked at Bella.

She worried her bottom lip between her teeth to keep from speaking. This was Edward's show now.

Edward cleared his throat. "Well, Chief Swan…Sir…"

"I thought I told you that you can call me Charlie, son."

"Okay." Edward let out a breath and gave a small, uncertain smile. "Charlie." He looked directly into Bella's father's eyes which narrowed further in suspicion. It didn't help that he could read the man's thoughts and he tried hard to ignore the speculations being internally verbalized. "We have some good news." He couldn't help the wide grin that spread over his face at the thought of Bella walking down an aisle surrounded by their families and friends to become his...his wife.

"Good news?" Charlie questioned with a raised eyebrow, his eyes darting back between the two of them. "If it's so good then why are your sweating bullets, Bella?"

"I am not!" She squeaked out trying to ignore the urge to wipe the perspiration she felt gathering on her forehead under Charlie's intense scrutiny.

"My God, you're pregnant, aren't you?" Charlie exploded, catapulting out of his easy chair.

This is exactly what she was trying to avoid…what she knew was going to happen and they hadn't even mentioned getting married yet.

"No! Of course I'm not." She shot back infusing the most offended tone she could muster.

Charlie glared at her a moment using his professional skills to discern whether or not she was telling the truth. His face returned to it's normal color and he sat back down again. "Sorry." He mumbled.

Edward waited a pause until Charlie's heart rate return to normal before he continued. Giving Bella a reassuring smile, he squared his shoulders and turned back to Bella's father.

"Charlie, I realize that I've gone about this out of order. Traditionally, I should have asked you first. I mean no disrespect, but since Bella has already said yes and I don't want to diminish her choice in the matter, instead of asking you for her hand, I'm asking you for your blessing. We're getting married, Charlie. I love her more than anything in the world, more than my own life, and—by some miracle—she loves me that way, too. Will you give us your blessing?"

Edward watched as Charlie's eyes focused on the ring; his face turning a myriad of colors; peach to red, red to purple, purple to blue. Charlie's mind was chaos. Edward was treated to visions of an infant Bella, wrapped in a hospital blanket crying in her father's arms, Charlie's awe the first time he fed her a bottle, Charlie letting go of the back of her bicycle as she learned how to ride on her own, Bella trying to bait a fish hook under Charlie's guidance and getting the hook stuck in her finger, Bella as she stepped off the plane after she decided to move in with her dad, Bella as she walked down the steps, a vision in blue and a cast the night of the school dance.

There were painful memories too, the ones Edward had seen when he first came back two months ago but would never forget. They were forever burned in his memory; a constant reminder of his failings and near fatal errors. Edward then saw Charlie slowly resign himself to the fact that Bella wasn't his little girl anymore…not really.

He felt Bella start to get up beside him but he gave her hand a squeeze. "Give him a minute." He whispered so only she could hear.

Bella gave Edward a doubtful look and sat back down. She only relaxed when she saw Charlie's color gradually return to normal and look at them thoughtfully.

"Are you sure about this?" He asked and since he directed the question to her, Bella felt she had to be the one to answer.

"I am. One hundred percent."

"Getting married though. What's the rush?"

Edward could hear Charlie's thoughts revisiting the pregnancy speculation and he silently wished in that moment it could even be a concern. Part of him hated the fact that he and Bella would never be able to have children of their own. Even though she denied the desire to be a mother, he couldn't help but let his mind conjure two perfect children, one girl and one boy, with eyes and smiles identical to Bella's and hair like his. He banished the thought quickly not wanting his remorse over never having children with Bella taint this moment.

Charlie's question was valid, Bella thought. One she probably would have asked had she been in his position. She couldn't however, explain to Charlie that she was getting older everyday while Edward would remain in his seventeen year old perfection forever…that he wanted the sanctity of marriage before he changed her into a vampire like him. Edward was old fashioned that way. Nor could she explain that children were never a possibility.

"We're graduating in a week and we're going away to Dartmouth together in the fall, Charlie," Edward reminded him saving Bella from having to lie. "I'd like to do that, well, the right way. It's how I was raised." He shrugged.

Edward knew he had effectively argued his case. What father would prefer his only daughter living in sin?

Charlie remained silent for a few moments digesting this before looking back at Edward then at Bella.

"I knew this was coming." Charlie muttered knowing his hands were tied. Then he started to laugh.

Bella thought he had finally lost it….like off his rocker, truly gone fishing – lost it.

"Dad?" She looked at Edward for a translation, but Edward had his lips pressed tightly together, like he was trying to hold back laughter himself.

"Okay, fine," Charlie choked out. "Get married." Another roll of laughter shook through him. "But . . ."

"But what?"

"But you have to tell your mom! I'm not saying one word to Renée! That's all yours!" He busted into loud guffaws.

Telling Renee had been easier than telling Charlie as it turned out. After she stuttered and stammered out the relatively short sentence, her mother wondered why she had waited so long to tell her…that she knew where this was heading when she saw them together in Arizona at the hospital…even despite the fact that Edward left her. "Men just get scared sometimes and they run." She had said. "But he came back and that's what counts in the long run. You'll never have to wonder if he'll be happier elsewhere without you or you without him. You already know the answer."

"You're not… mad? You don't think I'm making a humongous mistake?" Bella knew she shouldn't rock the boat but she had to ask. All her life, her mother drilled into her head what a big mistake she had made by getting married so young.

Renee sighed into the phone. "You're not making my mistakes, Bella. You sound like you're scared silly, and I'm guessing it's because you're afraid of me." She'd giggled. "Of what I'm going to think. And I know I've said a lot of things about marriage and stupidity—and I'm not taking them back—but you need to realize that those things specifically applied to me. You're a completely different person than I am. You make your own kinds of mistakes, and I'm sure you'll have your share of regrets in life. But commitment was never your problem, sweetie. You have a better chance of making this work than most forty-year-olds I know." Renée had laughed again. "So August 13th, huh?"

"That's the plan."

"Hmmm, I just hope Phil is out of his cast by then and oh!...I have to buy a Mother-of-the-Bride Dress and plane tickets and there's your shower…Esme, Alice and Rosalie are helping, I hope…"

"Mom! Deep breaths." Bella reminded her. Renee was more nervous than she was and she wasn't the bride to be.

After a few more minutes of speaking to her mother, Bella had hung up the phone and tossed it uselessly onto the mattress.

"So how's Renee'?"

Bella jumped with her hand over her heart, stifling a scream. Perched in her open window sat Damon, smirking at her.

"Why do you insist on creeping up on me like this?"

"Why aren't you used to it yet?" He countered as jumped from the sill onto the carpeted floor. Shoving her text books aside, he sat on the edge of her bed.

"How long have you been sitting there?"

"Oh long enough to know that you dropped the marriage bomb and it didn't explode like you thought it would….so…" he looked around the room. "Where is tall, pale and twinkly anyway?"

Bella made a face at her brother trying to hide her amusement. Everyday, it seemed he had a new nickname for Edward. She would never admit that some of them she found funny. "He's still talking to Charlie. Something about showing him his portfolio."

"Ahh." Damon responded knowingly. "Charlie wants to make sure your "man" can support you. So what's he showing him? The mass amounts he acquired from his paper delivery route?"

"Actually, it was Edward's idea and it's a bit more than pocket change." She frowned. It was a lot more than pocket change. She had no idea that Edward, himself had realty holdings all over the globe and off shore bank accounts that had more in them than she could ever hope to earn if she lived ten lifetimes. All of it in his name. Thankfully, Edward was just going to show Charlie a small portion and explain it away as an inheritance and well placed investments Carlisle made on his behalf. Still it made her feel inadequate.

"Hey." Damon's voice broke through her thoughts, his eyes full of concern as he watched her. "Isn't being a moneybags a good thing?"

"Yeah, a good thing." She mumbled with a frown. "Don't you have papers to grade or something?" She asked to change the topic. Since he had left Mystic Falls and driven his way to Forks, he resumed his teaching position at least until the end of the school year. It gave him something to do, kept him out of trouble (or as much out of trouble as Damon could ever be) and they got to spend more time together.

Damon knew what she was doing and let go. "Nope or have you forgotten no more papers…just one pesky final exam. Want the answers?" He asked waggling his brows. "Cause you know...I have connections."

"What?" Her eyes widened in shock. "No. Of course not."

"Figures." He said messing her hair before becoming contemplative. "So, have you spoken with anyone from Mystic Falls lately?" His tone was whispered with desolate curiosity shrouded under feigned casualness.

It hadn't been the first time he asked and as he fixed his direct arctic gaze on her, Bella was aware that each time it became more and more obvious he wasn't as indifferent as he pretended to be. Yes, he seemed to be doing well in Forks but it was apparent that his heart was always somewhere else.

These conversations always unsettled her; leaving her feeling like she was caught in the middle of something much bigger then herself. Did she tell him that Elena, whom she spoke with on a semi-regular basis seemed increasingly despondent with each communication; that her deep sighs and forlorn tone spoke of a deeper longing for the other brother that she refused to acknowledge? Would it be traitorous to Stefan if she did so? Not that Stefan wasn't aware his girlfriend was slowly drifting from him. Aghh, she felt so useless.

"Caroline texted me today." Bella finally said opting for keeping it light. It wasn't a lie. Caroline was actually asking for her for advice on an Elena intervention.

"So what did Barbie have to say?" Damon didn't do much to hide the disappointment in voice. Bella, it seemed, was ever cautious of mentioning Elena to him. Did she think he might break if he heard her name? Maybe he would…well not break…a bender was more like it.

"Not much." Bella said turning her gazer from his. "If you're so interested you could always call."

"And ruin my plans for a clean break?" He scoffed indignantly. "I don't think so."

Bella winced at the term before turning a sad gaze on him. "Breaks are dirty and jagged, Damon. They are rarely clean."


"Let's talk China." Alice said as she plunked herself in the seat besides Bella at lunch.

"China?" Bella said in a near state of panic. "Are we supposed to know that for the final exam? We didn't study Asia this year." Maybe she should have gotten the answers from Damon.

Alice giggled before she reached into her large Burberry messenger bag and pulled out a thick catalogue, dropping it on the table in from of them. "No silly. China patterns." She opened it to a page she marked with a pink neon post-it note and pointed. "I prefer Wedgewood but it's your call. You're the bride. Oh and we can't forget the crystal; Baccarat or Waterford…always such a difficult choice." She said with a shake of her head.

Bella's head was spinning suddenly as she stared at unseeingly at the pages before her. "What? Are you out of your mind?" Her voice came out a whispered hiss as she glanced around them making sure no one else was listening. She had just told Charlie yesterday about the engagement and yes, she was wearing her ring now but she still wanted to keep this information under wraps at least until after graduation. "I don't need fancy plates and goblets"

Alice looked almost insulted. "Every bride does." She rolled her eyes.

"Of course." Bella muttered under her breath. "I'll be the first, you-know-what in history to throw elaborate dinner parties on a…" She looked at the page "Vera Wang Vera Lace place setting and Waterford Lismore Red wine goblets."

"Oohh, those are nice." Alice said ignoring Bella's sarcasm as she wrote down them on a list.

"You're missing my point."

"Alice, let her be." Edward said coming over to sit down with a lunch tray and handing a slice of pizza to Bella. "This is about Bella's day. She can do what she wants."

"Bella." Alice began seriously completely ignoring Edward's demand. "People will expect you to have all sorts of things on a bridal registry. Regardless of whether or not you'll actually use it is completely besides the point. Can't you be a little excited over it?"

Now Alice looked hurt and Bella felt immediately contrite. Edward sighed and rolled his eyes. Alice could win an academy award if she ever went into acting.

"I'm sorry Alice. These things are just so expensive. It's wasteful for anyone to spend $400 on six wine glasses especially when I won't even use them."

Alice patted her friend's hand. "If it distresses you so, we'll sell them and donate the money to charity." She smiled once more and gave Edward a knowing smile while she spoke to her friend. "Now let's look at items you will use and use a lot of…the bedding."