Okay, so this is another super short update that I can't break up! Sorry but it is what it is. None of my updates are particularly lengthy away so...

And I KNOW this situation is NOT factual. These days, you can be single and get custody especially if you are a blood relative but that doesn't go along with my story so for FICTION'S sake, let's look the other way, shall we?

Bella raced up the driveway and parked. She got out of her car and wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans. She took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.

"Hey. I didn't think we were meeting up until later." Edward asked. He noticed the look on her face. "What's wrong?"

"I…I…oh God. Just when I thought nothing could get worse, it does. They don't want me to have Emma. They say I am not qualified…and I…" Bella started to pant, trying to catch her breath.

Edward quickly assessed the situation and took control. He led her to his couch and sat her down.

"Take deep breaths, deep breaths. In and out, slow deep breaths." He instructed. Bella followed his lead and soon her breaths were even and she had calmed down.

"Now, how are you not qualified?" He had an idea, but you wanted her to say it.

"I am a surgeon who has uncontrollable hours and I have no place to live, no experience with children and I…Iamsingle." The last part came out in a mumbled rush.

"Ah…why do I have a feeling that the single part is what they focused on?" Edward said.

"She…the caseworker…was really nice. She was just doing her job and I asked her what I had to do and she told me I have to…you know…"

"Get married? It's okay, Bella, you can say it. I bet you won't even break out in hives." Edward teased.

"This is so not funny, Edward. They are going to give her to strangers if I don't do something."

"So…do something."

"Oh…do something he says…yeah, sure no problem…I only have to get married. This is freaking impossible, Edward…I don't know what to do." She said.

"Yes, you do. You know exactly what to do which is why you are here. The caseworker told you to find a husband and you probably said that you aren't dating, right? And then she asked if there was anyone you considered and you thought of the only man you have ever dated…me. So you came here. Am I getting warm?" Edward said smugly.

Bella swallowed hard.

"Yes, I thought of you." She whispered. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come here. You have your own problems and we are just friends or whatever…so I am just going to go." She stood up.

Edward grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop.

"Where do you think you are going?" He asked.

"This was a bad idea. I don't know what I was thinking. Please let me go." She pleaded. She wanted to get in her car and make it out of his driveway before she died of embarrassment. Why the hell did she think she could ask Edward Cullen of all people to marry her? He deserved so much better than a wife who was using him for her own gain, even if it was for an innocent child.

"No. I don't intend to ever let you go. I have made that particular mistake too many times in the past." He said.

"Edward…"

"No, let me finish. You want Emma?" He asked.

Bella nodded.

"Well, I want you. In my house, in my arms, in my bed…so all you have to do is ask me." He said, putting all his cards on the table without using the L word that would surely cause her to run screaming in the other direction.

Bella took a deep breath. This was a giant leap out there especially for her. She never saw herself as a wife. But then again she had never seen herself as a mother either and look at her now. Could she do this? Could she be this person who was married to a boy and who had a little girl without ruining all three of their lives? She looked at Edward, who was watching her.

"Ask me." He demanded softly. His eyes bore into hers.

She sighed, closed her eyes and took a deep breath, exhaling with the question…

"Will you marry me?"

Would you marry him?