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Edward – The Proposal
Throughout the day I was nervous. What would she say? I tried not to think about the possible outcomes, but oh, that subject kept popping up in my mind. Bella, as her clumsy self, kept falling and breaking things. It was a welcome distraction. The gazebo was a cool shaded area, and we sat and talked for half the day. I took her out on a rowboat. She looked like an angel in the sunlight, trailing her fingertips in the water.
I found her immensely amusing. I knew that she was pleased with my surprise day, but she was greatly annoyed at my efforts to make this day perfect. She detested my spending money on her. I knew that she thought of this whole day as the surprise. The real surprise was something that would change both our lives for the rest of eternity.
"The surprise is yet to come, dear." I reminded her, seeing her pleasure. She would have to wait to be fully happy. I couldn't have her use up all her joy. We had an Italian candlelight dinner. I rested my chin in my hands as I watched her eat. It had been so long since I had ever eaten a real meal, and watching her fascinated me. Rather, she herself fascinated me.
As she finished her meal, it neared time for the true surprise to take place. I reached out and took one of her delicate hands in my own and led her to the clearing that I strung with Chinese lanterns. The clearing glowed under the soft light, and I set her down on the marble bench.
"Edward Anthony Mason Cullen, exactly how much did you spend on tonight? I demand to know." Her eyes looked accusingly at me.
I laughed. Money was no issue for me. She was worth all the money in the world.
"Enough," I said, "Nothing is too much for you."
I looked into her eyes, losing myself in their depths. I saw her attempt to send a scorching look my way, but she failed. Her chocolate brown eyes were so full of innocence. I steeled myself to ask her.
"Bella, would you want to stay with me forever? For all eternity? Would you love me forevermore?" I looked deeper into her eyes, looking for the answer.
I stared at her shocked face. Did she not love me? She did not speak for several minutes as she looked into my eyes.
"Of course! You are my love, my life." I was overwhelmed with relief and love. She did indeed love me, and would love me forever. I was reassured and ready. I bent down on one knee and produced the velvet box from my pocket. On her face ran confusion and worry. Looking up at her beautiful face, I spoke my proposal.
"Bella," I whispered, "Bella, I love you. You are all I adore, all I honor. Bella, will you take live with me forever? Will you take me as your husband? Will you join me in holy matrimony? Oh Bella, will you marry me?" My voice grew louder and louder as my anxiety took over.
Her eyes showed her feelings. Confusion, love, and surprise ran across her face. Surely she knew that I was going to ask someday? She was silent, her mouth open, torturing me by restraining her answer. Once more I wished that her mind was open to me as everyone else's was.
"This is a dream. This can't be real! I am having an extremely wonderful dream."
Why must she delay her answer? Her mind refused to accept the fact that I was proposing! She was torturing me more and more, making my impatience more impossible to bear.
"Bella! This is not a dream!" I said, aghast and full of agony. "You are really here, experiencing this! Please, Bella, answer me!"
She stared into my eyes, drawing me in.
"Yes," she whispered, her voice so low that I could barely hear it. She leapt up into my arms, hugging me close to her. "Yes, yes, yes! I love you Edward!"
Finally, we were joined together! She completed me, made me who I am. I breathed again, savoring her sweet smell. I had an eternity with her. We were betrothed.
"I love you too, Bella. I love you." I took her small hand and slipped the ring onto her finger. I stood back to gauge her reaction. She stared at it, to surprised to even ask how much it cost. I saw her finger it, and then look back up at me smiling. I smiled back at her, delighted that she liked it. I lifted the hair away from her neck, feeling the heat radiate off of her. Bella shivered slightly at my cold touch. I slipped the necklace onto her, laying the charm in the hollow of her neck. Her sweet scent billowed around me as the wind ruffled through her hair. My Bella, my sweet angel was to be mine. If I could have cried then I would have. Bella gently lifted the charm to take a look. Tears welled up in her eyes, making her chocolate eyes sparkle even more.
"It is perfect. It reminds me of your eyes. I love it. I love you."
I wiped her crystalline tears from her blushing cheeks. I reached out to embrace her, to hold her. Gently I pressed my lips to her skin, kissing gently up her arm. Her warm touch sent my head reeling. As I moved higher and higher, I sensed Bella's breathing become ragged and quick. I smiled against her skin and continued upward. I pulled myself up and looked into her deep brown eyes, feeling like I was floating. I was extremely aware of her lips only a few inches from mine, her breath floating around me.
I needed to know if this was what her true happiness would be. "Do you truly want this? A life for eternity with me?" Would she say no? Perhaps I was reacting too happily. Maybe she was only toying with me.
I was ripped from my line of thought as Bella pressed her lips forcefully onto mine, wrapping her arms around my neck. My eyes widened and then closed as I hugged her to me, kissing her back. My head swirled as her scent filled me. Bella's warmth grew and I heard her heart hammer against her chest. When we separated I heard her heavy breathing. I realized that my breathing was as heavy as hers, and I took deep, fast breaths.
"Mine, mine forever, for eternity." I whispered into her freesia-scented hair. I scooped her up in my arms so that she was reclining against my ice-cold chest and carried her down the path to the car. As we drove, Bella's hair flew in the wind. Her brown eyes were full of thought.
"Edward, please don't let Alice go overboard on this."
I found her troubled face amusing. I chuckled. "She is, and there's nothing I can do to stop it."
Her frown lessened, but was still there. Suddenly, her gaze turned to me.
"What about your previous offer?"
"What offer?"
"I marry you, you change me?"
"You remembered?" I frowned at the thought. Damn my beautiful angel's soul? My heart sank.
"Yes, and I'm holding you to it."
"Then the trade is still in order." I knew that I would regret saying that, but I could not say no to those big brown eyes, especially after I had promised her something. I could not hurt my Bella.
She squealed in delight, unlike her ordinary, calm, quiet self. I was lost in thought. Changing Bella meant harming her soul, hurting her. But then, I could make her the happiest that she has ever been. I could have her forever. But hurt her? How could I?
"Edward!" Bella screeched, jolting me out of my trance. My head whipped to look at hers.
"What's wrong? Did something scare you? Are you hurt?" What did I do to her? I frowned, seeing nothing wrong.
"You're going slow! You're under the speed limit!" Bella's eyes grew wide with worry and shock. My frown turned back into a grin. She was fine.
I laughed out my relief. "Bella, a vampire can drive slowly too. It's not like vampires have to go fast or they'll die … um … or whatever it is that we do."
I shivered at the thought that distracted me. I definitely did not talk about that again, not after such a wonderful day such as today. Bella did not need to be troubled now. Unfortunately Bella, my observing angel, noticed my discomfort. I glanced over at her. Her gaze held mine, staring intently. I gave up.
"Okay, okay. I was thinking about the possibilities of what might have happen when you are turned. I will always love you, but you might want to change your mind. Do you really want to spend an eternity lusting for human blood, and then repenting the murders you committed? Do you really?"
Bella looked into my eyes, shocked. Her brow furrowed. "As long as I was with you, and you are all right, I will do anything – anything at all. You are my life. I love you."
I stopped the car and pressed her lips to mine. I felt like I was flying. Stars flew around my head, and Bella the comet danced in my eyes, lighting up my world. Even the sun seemed dim. I felt Bella's pulse quicken and her breathing grow deep and sharp. I heard her gasp as my tongue touched her lips for a brief moment. I pulled away from her.
"So, how do you want the wedding to be?" I asked, smiling.
Bella's eyes widened as the shock hit her.
"We're actually getting married! I'm getting married, I'm getting married!" Her voice jumped up a notch, she was ecstatic.
I smiled and laughed. She was just realizing that?
"Yes, my Bella, we are getting married. Unfortunately, Alice and Esme will certainly be the planners of the ceremony and the gowns."
Bella frowned in the cutest way, her nose wrinkling up. She shuddered. I understood her pain. Alice and Rosalie's makeovers were horrors and hell. May god help Bella when the time comes. We pulled up to my house, and I heard Alice squeal. I heard all of their thoughts.
Ohhhh, he finally did it! Yay! Bell looks so beautiful – the wedding's perfect, OH MY GOSH! Alice, of course. She would see our wedding in one of her visions.
Edward proposed! I will so love planning the wedding. A rose corsage! Freesia flowers everywhere and --- Esme of course. Mom the decorator.
He proposed?! How could he? That little twit of a gir – sorry Edward. I … didn't mean anything. I glared at Rosalie's general area. How dare she!
Within moments Alice was beside us, jumping up and down with joy. Within a split second Alice was hugging Bella, and Bella's feet were no longer touching the ground.
"I saw it all! I saw everything! And the wedding! It was so beautiful! There was-"
"Alice!" I shouted, "We don't want to know about our wedding before we actually have it!" Alice looked down at her shoes sheepishly. Did we really have to know exactly how our wedding is going to be? This was our wedding for heavens sake. Sorry Ed. Didn't mean anything bad about it.
"But-"
"No!"
Alice sighed, then obliged. My family sped here as fast as they could. They were all definitely excited.
"Congrats, bro!" cried Emmett grasping my hand and pumping it with full force. What 'cha gonna do for the honeymoon? Where ya gonna go? Gonna explore somewhere?
I simply shrugged.
"Congratulations! Now this family is going to be whole! Everyone's got someone else!" We all felt ecstatic as Jasper broadcasted his feelings. Finally! 'Bout time you found a girl.
I shot Jasper a glare. They always went on with that idea.
"I have a new daughter!" Esme cried, kidding Bella on her blushing warm cheeks. I could feel the heat of the blood rushing us to redden her face. I could feel the monster inside me tug at its chains once more. I gave it a push back into its hole.
Congratulations Edward! You've staked your claim on the love of your life! Could I please decorate your wedding? Please? I smiled grimly and sighed, then nodded to Esme. She gave a little jump and a wide grin.
"Congratulations Edward." Rosalie said grimly, almost sarcastically. Her mind was blank, but I could feel a sense of rebellion. I glared at Rosalie, warning her. Bella seemed completely oblivious of this exchange.
"Welcome to the family, Bella. We all love you. We've never seen Edward happier." Carlisle took Bella's hand and patted it warmly. Congratulations Edward. You finally settled down and asked her. I'm proud. You'll make her happy. She makes you happy. I smiled at Carlisle and nodded.
I turned toward Bella, making my welcome to the family. She was my angel, and we were engaged. My Bella, mine forever.
"Welcome to the family, Bella." Silently, I added, welcome to eternal damnation. Welcome to love in hell.
