DISCLAIMER: Stephanie Meyer owns the Twilight universe

One week earlier!

-EPOV-

I had been insurmountably nervous when I had asked Bella to join us when we visited Alaska, I had been anxious when I stood beside her as she asked Charlie. Neither of those instances compared to the unease I now felt.

It was borderline dread I felt as I sat in the kitchen with the Chief Swan on this routinely rainy day in Forks. He had asked me to call him Charlie but I figured after this conversation had begun he would revoke that proposition. Quickly. So I was making sure I was accustomed.

"What is it Edward?" asked Charlie with an eyebrow raised in a way that clearly stated, 'I don't have all day!'

I cleared my throat and ran a nervous hand through my hair. I had known this was going to be difficult but I had not fully understood the extent. Anxiety embedded itself into the pit of my stomach and my nerves wound tightly. If I was this nervous now I didn't even desire to think about what I would be feeling when I asked Bella. Yes, I said when. As fearful as I was at this moment I was still utterly determined, almost to an defiant degree.

"Well Chief Swan, I need to talk t o you about something very important." I finally got out and I wasn't certain if I should be proud of myself for not stuttering or ashamed of the high octave my voice had taken.

"Go on…" Charlie prompted, looking curious.

"I do not mean any disrespect to you in any way Sir but I am not going to ask for your permission since I believe that would be demeaning to Bella but I will ask for your blessing."

Understanding flared on Charlie's face and he sat rigidly in his seat, giving me time to finish my thought. I wasn't sure if I was grateful for this or not yet.

"I am going to ask Bella to marry me." I stated simply, the wavering disappointing from my voice as I thought of a future with my Bella.

"You know I love your daughter more than anything in the world and I want to assure you that I am looking at this in a logical, realistic way. I realize that marriage is difficult. We are going to have hard times, especially since we are so young and we are not going to be happy at all times." I understand that this was not very convincing or reassuring to Charlie but I needed him to know that I fully comprehended what I was getting into, that I wasn't anticipating a Hollywood love story where nothing ever went wrong.

"But I know without an inkling of a doubt that there will never be regret, that I will always love her, and that I will spend every day of the rest of my life making sure she knows that she is the single most important thing in my life."

Saying what I had come to say I remained silent, my hands resting calmly on the tabletop, although my foot was tapping spastically under the table.

Charlie ran a hand over his face and sighed.

"I know you love her Edward." he said and I nodded without hesitation.

"But you are both so young. You've only just graduated and you have your entire life ahead of you."

"I want to share it with Bella." I stated resolutely.

Charlie exhaled slowly, shaking his head.

"What are you planning on doing after you… get married?" he asked, cringing visibly as he mentioned marriage.

His questions didn't take me off guard. I hadn't been lying when I said I had been thinking about this logically. I had thought about every detail that he, or Bella for that matter, might question.

"I have a rather large trust fund that enables me the capability to provide quite comfortably for two people. Bella was going to have to move when she went to college in the fall anyway and as far as I know she hadn't chosen a college yet. I will apply where ever she decides to go and we can move back to Forks after our education is complete or we can stay where we are and obtain jobs there. I leave that choice up to Bella."

Charlie looked slightly taken aback by my detailed response; perhaps a bit angry that he had nothing else to worry about, other than the natural worries of a father who desperately does not wish for his little girl to grow up.

"What about children?" he asked suddenly.

Perhaps I hadn't thought of everything. His latest question had startled me and I tried my best not to let him see how off guard he had taken me.

"what about them?" I asked.

He didn't but my act in the least, a small smirk playing at his lips as he no doubt reveled in the glory of stealing my confidence.

"Do you plan on having children? Does your nifty little trust fund have enough to take care of three people if it were to come to that?"

I swallowed before gathering my response.

"To answer your last question sir, yes. My trust is quite sizable and I do believe I would be able to support Bella and a child. Although I do not plan on relying on my trust fund. I would become employed, hopefully attaining a job as a composer so that I will be able to work mostly from home, allowing me to move where ever Bella decides. And to answer the first question… that isn't something I would be able to answer without discussing it with Bella first."

Charlie narrowed his eyes slightly and grunted.

"You seem to have thought of everything."

I chuckled, partly out of relief and partly because of the defeated look on his face.

"Do I have your blessing to ask your daughter to marry me?" I asked seriously.

Charlie closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the back of his chair, looking thoroughly exhausted.

"I guess I should be thankful it's you and not one of the other hooligans running around town."

I smiled. I couldn't help it. I had a feeing that was as close to acceptance as I was going to get with Chief Swan.

"I knew this was coming." Charlie said sullenly.

I chuckled. Everyone always saw it coming before we did. I suppose we were always running late but with Bella it was always worth the time.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: reviews are always welcome. Please let me know what you thought. Longer chapters are coming… I promise. Much love!