I don't own any of the characters- unfortunately. They all belong to Stephenie Meyer but if you let me play with them then I promise I will put them all back where they belong……

A/N: My dad is actually sitting next to me with his arm around me as I type this (although he has no idea what I am doing). Our relationship reminds me so much of Charlie and Bella that it makes writing this story so much easier.

Chapter 7

"We need a date," I announced as I walked through the threshold of the house.

Edward was still sitting in the kitchen. He was beaming. This engagement clearly meant the world to him. I smiled, knowing that this made him happy made me even happier.

We drew me in for a hug and kissed me on the apple of my cheek.

"As long as it is before September thirteenth," he said mockingly.

"Oh Edward, are you telling me you wouldn't like to marry an older woman?" I joked.

I was amused at how lighthearted our conversation was. I enjoyed these moments, for some reason, there were never enough. We were still drawn in a tight embrace.

"We're home alone," he whispered into my hair.

"And every teenage couple except us would surely take advantage of that," I quipped back.

He drew back and looked at me in the eye intensely. I was breathless, before me I saw his eyes changing colors. Suddenly I was in his arms, he was carrying me. Our chests were pushed together and my legs were wrapped around his waist.

We stayed looking at each other.

Curiosity.

Fear.

Desire.

He carried me up the stairs and with his foot swiftly kicked the door open. I wonder if either the door or the wall would be scarred. Vampires weren't exactly gentle, and Edward wasn't all that gentle as the moment either, he threw on the bed somewhat roughly and yet carefully.

I wondered if that was even possible, "roughly and yet carefully." Was he finally driving me to complete incoherence?

I propped myself up on my elbows and admired him from where I lay on the bed. He was standing and looking over me longingly. I felt self-control radiating from him.

He stealthily moved so that he was positioned on top of me.

He slowly ran his lips from my forehead, down my cheekbone, to my neck which was without a doubt his favorite part of my body. I made a mental note to ask him about his fascination with my neck later. After leaving layers of light kisses on my neck he slowly moved down to the neckline of my sweater.

I gasped. Things between Edward and I were certainly not as chaste as they had once been.

Edward continued to place light kisses on the flesh that wasn't covered by my v-neck sweater, on my chest. With his teeth he moved the sweater to the side exposing much of my collar bone where he sucked and licked.

I couldn't move. I felt absolutely frozen until he moved back up and captured my lips with his own. As if I were Sleeping Beauty waking up, I finally was able to react.

I bucked my hips up, rubbing against him suggestively.

And then he pulled away.

His withdrawal didn't surprise me, what did surprise me was the coy smile plastered on his face. It wasn't his trademark half smile, it was a whole smile.

I raised an eyebrow and looked at him inquisitively.

"I have the control now," he started, I swore that if it would've been possible for him to blush in that moment he would've, "we just really should wait."

I sighed and threw my head back, banging it against my headboard in the process. The searing pain made me dizzy.

He rushed to my side and pressed his fingers against where I'd hurt myself, no doubt examining me.

"I don't know what I fear most these days," he mused, "me hurting you, or you hurting yourself."

His snarky comment provoked a snort from me.

"No concussion this time," I promised.

He laughed.

After some lighthearted banter we headed down the stairs and towards the Volvo. We were headed to the Cullen house where we would announce the good news.

"Should we set a date before we speak to your family?" I questioned, admiring him as he drove.

Edward always drove with confidence, which I found extraordinarily sexy. The fact that he also enjoyed driving meant he usually drove with a content look on his face, the same look he would have after we spent a day at the meadow together.

He looked comfortable when he drove, and I always felt safe. To me, the Volvo was like a fortress.

"First off, it is OUR family. Secondly, we already have a date," Edward replied.

"Really?"

"Just ask Alice," he said cheekily.

I rolled my eyes. Naturally, Alice had seen this coming which explained why she was waiting for us on the lawn of the Cullen house bouncing and clapping her little hands.

"The first of August, the first of August," Alice shrieked as I opened the car door to get out.

After having spent so much time with vampires, I couldn't help but wonder how regular people got by. How could people deal with not knowing other peoples thoughts? Without seeing what would happen next?

Edward was already at my side with an arm around me.

Jasper joined us on the front lawn begging Alice to calm down.

"You're killing me," he had told her.

He offered his congratulations to us and when he drew me in to hug me I felt a wave of emotion. Jasper had always been distant because he was so afraid he would hurt me, in his arms, I finally felt like I belonged.

Esme, Carlisle, Rosalie and Emmett joined us outside soon after.

Esme was lovely and welcoming as per usual, while Carlisle joked that I'd be losing less blood and requiring less of his medical services soon. I laughed, Carlisle had come to resemble somewhat of a father figure to me. Clearly he was much different than Charlie, my biological father, my blood-but I had come to see Carlisle as my vampire father.

I braced myself for what was coming next. Rosalie and Emmett. Rosalie seemed very composed. She told me she was glad that I could make Edward happy and that I completed the family, which meant the world to me seeing as the words we coming from her. She didn't hug me, and refrained from any physical contact, but the way she looked me in the eye showed me just how honest she was. I gave her a warm smile.

Emmett on the other hand, didn't feel he needed to use words to convey his emotions at the moment. He punched Edward on the shoulder in such a way that made me cringe. I was sure that if Edward were human his shoulder would be displaced and Edward would be writhing in pain. The two then embraced.

When their brotherly love Kodak-moment was over, Emmett reached over towards me and scooped me up. Although he was strong, and I didn't weigh very much, the way he did so reminded me of the way a parent would carry a toddler. It was if I weighed nothing. Emmett then proceeded to spin us both in circles until I closed my eyes because I was sure that I would vomit.

"I'm so excited you are joining our family, Bella, even if you are a human," Emmett said as he set me down on the ground.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I was placed on the stable ground.

Alice stood proudly in front of Edward and I.

"I knew it all along," she bragged, "I knew this from the first time at the meadow."

Edward scowled at her. I had to admit it was disturbing that she knew so much. It was somewhat disturbing how everyone in this family was so in tune with one another.

But I loved Alice, and unlike Edward, I didn't take her comment the wrong way.

"So Alice," I challenged her, "how long is it going to take me to find my dress?"

I winked at Edward who was laughing.

"Don't fear Bella, I know it is mid-June but…" Alice began to chatter animatedly and I couldn't help but feel elated. Everything was working out perfectly. Everyone was happy. I smiled.

And then it surged over me, a wave of realization- the complexity of the daunting task that lay ahead of me. As much as I loved the Cullens and was ready to accept them as my new family, I already had a family, albeit a very small one.

I was ready to give Renee the closure she would need before her daughter disappeared for at least a few years.

But Charlie…

The smile plastered on my face suddenly seemed very fake and when I looked up, my eyes met Jasper's. He looked concerned. He knew.