DISCLAIMER: Stephanie Meyer owns all things Twilight AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks for all of the wonderful reviews. Do you think we can make it to 300 now? I bet you could do it. Lol. Here's the chapter you've all been waiting for. EPOV!!! I hope you enjoy it and that it answers some of the questions about how he feels about her
-EPOV-
I suddenly felt very nervous sending her off on her own.
Maybe I should have tried to convince my sisters to let me join them. I couldn't imagine how difficult this had to be for her. To walk into a house full of strangers, stripped of all familiarity, and after all she had already been through.
My jaw clenched and my hands balled into fists at the thought of everything that she had already been through. And after all of that she still couldn't move on with her life because some worthless, waste of skin, dog was threatening her. I had never met Jacob Blaque but I knew that if I ever did I would kill him for everything he has put her through.
I might not have been able to be there for her in the past but no one would ever hurt her again now that she had me. I would make this right or I would die trying.
"Hey Edward!" Emmett called from the living room.
I sighed.
"Coming Em!" I called, glancing around the room once more before leaving.
There was nothing more I could do but keep an eye on her and make sure she felt welcome.
"The game is set up and you forfeited the right to pick the team first." My brother in law informed me as I entered the room.
Emmett and I had known each other since we were little kids. We had been best friends since I was ten years old. We had always been more like brothers than best friends and then he had married my sister when they were nineteen. I was happy for them. Everyone knew they were madly in love and they had Abby a year later. My big sister had never been happier.
"Since when have you ever let me pick first?" I asked skeptically.
"Shut up or you have to play as the Bronco's." He threatened.
I held my hands up in surrender.
"Fine." I relented. "Fine. What team did you pick?"
He grinned.
"Patriots Baby!" He cheered.
I rolled my eyes.
"I call the Colts then."
He shrugged, passing me a controller and scooting over on the sofa so that I could sit as well.
"I can only play one game." I informed him, lining up Peyton Manning on the screen. "Then I have to go run some errands."
Emmett snorted.
"You sure you aren't going to go 'accidentally' bump into the girls?"
I raised an eyebrow.
"Why would I do that?" I questioned.
"Oh, I don't know." He shrugged. "Maybe because you just sent your new wife out with your sisters and you're starting to seriously regret it."
I frowned. Emmett was a goof ball, complete and utter. But he wasn't dumb and he knew me well.
"What makes you think that?" I asked, trying to sound disinterested.
Emmett chuckled.
"We both know Alice and Rosie can be real sweet when they want to be." He said, intercepting a pass on the screen. "But they're also diabolical. You come home married to a girl they've never met and know they've got her alone for an entire day."
He looked at me from the corner of his eye, a smirk firmly in place.
"You practically fed her to the sharks."
I frowned.
"I think Alice will behave." I said.
I'm not sure who I was trying to convince now.
"I think she likes her."
It was evident that Alice was upset with me and probably more than a little hurt but I don't think she would take that out on Bella. Alice was not one to keep her thoughts to herself. If she didn't like you you usually knew it and she seemed genuine in her acceptance of Bella.
"What does Rose think of her?" I asked.
Emmett sighed.
"She's surprised." He said. "Just like the rest of us."
I nodded, feeling that pang of guilt again. I hated bringing my family into this. I hated lieing to them but I had known as soon as I had read that case file that I would do anything to keep Bella Swan safe. It's for people like her that I truly got into this line of work. If there were more people like her out there maybe my whole life might not have changed eighteen years ago.
"You know how protective Rosie is of her family." Emmett said, breaking me from my reverie.
I nodded.
"But Abby definitely likes her." Emmett chuckled. "So that probably softened her up a bit."
I smiled. I loved my niece!
I tackled him right before the end zone and he cursed under his breath.
"They'll probably end up bonding over embarrassing stories from your childhood." He said, grinning vindictively.
I sighed. Knowing my sisters that was probably the most likely scenario.
"Maybe I should go find them." I only half joked.
I was actually getting very antsy, casting longing glances at the door every few seconds. I didn't like not knowing where Bella was. It was very... unsettling.
Emmett chuckled.
"You're willing to face the wrath of Alice and Rosalie to save Bella?"
"Yes." I said unthinkingly.
The answer had been automatic, not something I had planned in reference to how it would sound with our cover story. What did that mean?
"Man, you must love her!" Emmett crooned.
"I did marry her." I reminded him but I was still thinking.
Suddenly an image from this morning reappeared in my mind. Bella's face inches from mine, her warm breath wafting over me. Her little hands resting on my chest gently. When she had awakened from her nightmare last night her screams had torn at my heart. They had sounded so pained, so anguished. I didn't know what she was dreaming about but I could guess and I was instantly beside her. That had been another automatic reaction. I didn't like not having control over my actions.
But I had felt so comfortable there beside her after her cries had died down and she had drifted back off to sleep that I couldn't bring myself to move from her side.
"So what's that all about anyway?" Emmett asked.
He actually paused the game and turned to look at me.
"What?" I asked.
My own wanderings had taken me so far odd course that I didn't remember what we had originally been speaking of.
"Springing this on us like that." He explained. "Esme almost had a heart attack."
I grimaced, running my hands through my hair. I couldn't stand the thought of hurting my mother. She had done so much for me.
"I love her." I said lamely.
All of a sudden my carefully crafted story didn't seem like all that much. Because if I had met a girl like Bella in any ordinary situation I would have been dieing to introduce her to my family.
"I believe you man." Emmett said, serious for once. "And I'm happy for you but why couldn't we have met her? Or at least pick up the phone and tell us about her."
I looked down at my hands. After all of that training on how to look an enemy in the eye I could hold the gaze of serial bomber and talk him down. I had done it before. But I couldn't look at my closest friend and brother's disappointed gaze.
"I'm sorry Em." I sighed, hoping that he could tell just how sorry I was.
"I'm not mad little brother." He said after a moment. "I'm glad you've found someone. We were all worried about you."
I frowned.
"But is she really worth it?" He asked. "That's all I want to know."
I looked up at him then. That's the one question I had never doubted. The one I wouldn't have to lie about.
"Undoubtedly."
----
"You only brought four outfits?" Came the indignant voice of my little sister over mu ear piece as I sped down the highway to Port Angeles.
My sisters always went to Port Angeles on the girls days out. Forks didn't really have much of anything that could hold their attention.
"Yeah." Came Bella's nervous voice. "I didn't really know how long we were staying."
Why didn't someone try to make her more comfortable? It was clear just in her tone of voice that she didn't feel at ease.
"You can borrow some of my clothes Auntie Bella." I heard Abby volunteer sweetly.
That's my girl.
"Thank you Abby." Came Bella's voice. It held a hint of laughter but I could tell she was holding it in, probably hoping not to hurt her feelings.
"That's a very pretty dress." She commented. "Do you think I could borrow that one?"
"Sure." Abby agreed willingly. "It's my favorite."
"How about we go to the store so Bella can pick out her own dress?" Rosalie suggested.
Her voice was formal and controlled, showing her reluctance but at least she was trying. I'd have to thank her somehow later.
"How about La Tua Cantante?" Alice suggested, happy at the prospect of shopping.
"I've never been to Port Angeles." Bella admitted. "So I won't be much help in choosing."
"Oh, La Tua Cantante is fabulous!" Alice exclaimed. "You'll love it!"
I programed the store into my GPS. It was still about fifteen minutes away from where I was so they must have been nearing it now.
I'd have to turn the ear piece up soon, when they were out of the small quiet confines of the car. But I should still be able to hear them adequately and if I remembered correctly there was a little cafe on the same street. That was perfect. I could sit in there relatively inconspicuous and still be able to keep close to them.
"So Edward never told you about Port Angeles?" Rosalie asked. "He used to come here all the time."
My hands tightened around the steering wheel. This was a bad idea. I don't know what I had been thinking.
"He told me about Port Angeles." Bella said softly. "He never mentioned any of the specific shops though."
"Edward hates shopping." Alice allowed, not trying to hide the note of disgrace she felt.
I released the breath I had unknowingly been holding.
"So what did Edward tell you about it?" Counted Rose.
Silence.
I wracked my mind trying to remember if I had told her anything at all about the town on our flight over. I couldn't think of anything.
"He just told me that Forks was a really little town so if you wanted to do anything you had to go there." Bella said finally.
I grinned.
The girl was better than she gave herself credit for.
"So, Bella." Alice said after a while of uncomfortable silence. "You met Edward at a bookstore?"
"Yes." She answered immediately, sounding relieved to be going back to safe waters.
"What's the first thing you noticed about our little Eddie?" She giggled.
I frowned.
I was three years older and at least a foot and a half taller but she always managed to sound like the older sibling. And how often did she call me that when I wasn't around?
"His eyes." Bella blurted without hesitation.
My eyebrows raised of their own accord. She had spoken it as if it were fact, some little truth amidst all of these lies.
"Really?" Alice prompted, sounding curious. Almost as curious as I was.
I felt a small pang of guilt for listening to their conversation. It sounded very personal all of a sudden. But I had warned her I would be listening.
"Most people notice his hair first." Rosalie snickered.
I scowled.
I had gone through a faze when I had tried to tame my unruly hair every morning. But it had proved pointless and time consuming so I had given up.
"I noticed his hair second." Bella admitted and I could just imagine her delicious blush.
"But I noticed his eyes first. I've never seen that shade of green before."
I wrinkled my brow. I didn't realize I had a specific shade of green, and definitely not a rare one. They were just... green.
"We're here!" Alice exclaimed excitedly.
I sighed, knowing that would be the end of that conversation.
Oh, how I wished I was able to hear that intriguing girls thoughts.
-BPOV-
His eyes? What was I thinking? And then I had to go and make it worse by sprouting something about the oddity of the shade? Maybe he hadn't been listening yet?
"So how did he propose?" Asked Alice conversationally as she passed me a blue camisole.
I smiled, remembering his smug grin over his imaginary accomplishment.
Besides this was something I was prepared to answer. Finally.
"He made me dinner." I began.
"Did he hide the ring in the food?"
I laughed.
"That's what I said!"
"What?" She asked, confused.
Oh no.
"Nothing." I mumbled pathetically. "Never mind."
Alice studied me for a moment before shrugging.
"So where was the ring?" She asked.
I let out a breath.
"After dinner he gave me a present."
"I love presents!" Alice chimed.
"What did he make for dinner?" Rosalie asked, showing a real interest for the first time.
"Mushroom ravioli." I supplied. "It's my favorite."
She nodded, smiling softly.
"What was the present?" Alice asked excitedly, her eyes shinning.
I snickered.
"I'm getting to that."
Alice huffed, trying to wait patiently.
"It was Wuthering Heights." I smiled. "He had noticed my old copy was worn down."
I chuckled, thinking of my real copy of Wuthering Heights sitting on my night stand at home, the cover falling off and the binding all but gone.
"A book?"
Rosalie and Alice shared a look and then turned to me.
"What?" I asked.
"Well Hun..." Alice began tentatively. "A book isn't exactly the... ordinary engagement present."
I frowned.
That was kind of the point I had thought. And I could see where some girls might fail to see the simple perfection of his proposal but it was perfect for me. That's what had left me speechless, with that warm fuzzy feeling, that this man whom I had known for only two hours had come up with a genuine unique way to propose that was perfect for me. It wasn't a score board at a baseball game. You've got to give him that.
"I loved it." I defended. "It was perfect."
Alice giggled and a blush swept up my neck and across my cheeks.
When had that dreamy tone crept into my voice? It wasn't even a real proposal for goodness sake.
"Continue." Alice prompted. "He gave you a perfect book..."
I ducked my head down, fiddling with the hanger of the camisole I was holding.
"He told me to look at the front cover." I mumbled. "And he had written just... paragraphs. When I finished reading I looked up and he was on one knee with my ring in hand."
"Oh!" Alice screeched, clapping her hands. "Did you cry? I would have cried!"
I giggled, the sound somewhat anxious and embarrassed.
"Of course I cried." I said because in all honesty I knew if I would have really gotten that proposal I would have cried.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Somewhat shorter this time but the next one is longer I think. What do you think of the talk between Emmett and Edward? He's not as dumb as he looks hm? I always loved the aspect of Edward listening to others to see what Bella was thinking in Twilight so I had to put it in here somehow. What do you think? The next chapter is the shopping trip continued and some more Eddie/ Bellie time. Don't forget to review.
