It took eight long days for Charlie to ask about Edward. The first three days, I cleaned Charlie's house, cars, and boat top to bottom, every single surface I could reach. The next day, I cooked enough for Charlie for at least three weeks of food. I cleared everything in his freezer, then went shopping and restocked it.

The fifth day, I cleaned Billy's house. He stopped me when I tried to scrub the walls, and told me to go home. When I tried to argue with him, Sam came and dragged me back to Charlie's.

Alice had over-nighted my homework. I got all of it up to date, and sent it back to her. I didn't ruin Rosalie's notes.

Then the tears came; I had nothing to keep me occupied. Edward called twice a day and texted several times, but I ignored them. Every feeling crashed on me.

"Have you spoken to him?" Charlie finally asked. I could hear the anger in his voice, but didn't understand why he was angry.

"He's called and texted."

"Have you answered either?"

"No." I hadn't listened to a single voicemail or read any text.

"Why?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Bella..." He hesitated in a way that made me uncomfortable. He stared at me, like he knew something that I didn't. "Bella, I know."

"You know what?"

"Everything."

I played dumb. "What are you talking about?"

"I know the Cullens are vampires."

Silence. Could I lie and tell him he was crazy? I knew that humans knowing about vampires were dangerous, but I didn't tell him. I acted like it didn't bother me.

"Welcome to the club."

"Tell me what is going on with you."

Maybe it was having someone who knew, that I didn't have to censor the supernatural in my life, or maybe it was just Charlie.

Somehow, I sat and calmly poured everything out to Charlie. How I had begged Edward in high school to change me, why he left. About our compromise of my change, about the stress, my changing feelings. How I had not slept in eight days, because I knew Edward had not been watching over me.

How I was scared that I would push Edward away one too many times, and he would not push back. I told him how that, by Edward letting me age, I now wanted a career and a family and couldn't figure out how to balance everything.

My maternal time clock had hit me over night months ago, like a ton of bricks.

No one had informed Harper, who I still kept in contact with, that antibiotics would kill her birth control pill.

Last year, she had a baby boy. Alice and I attended the shower. Harper didn't know what she would be having. She had wanted to be surprised.

"It is the one of the only true surprises in life," she declared.

Alice still bought mostly boy items.

When Brylen had been about one, I had taken a weekend to stay with them, and everything changed. I ignored the feeling for a long time, convinced myself that Edward had been enough for me. I blamed stress from school every time anyone would question me about it. I knew it would make Edward feel worse if he knew the truth.

Edward and I could have gotten married; he mentioned it often. I always made an excuse. The last time he mentioned it, he had a smug smile. "You're running out of excuses, Isabella."

I told Charlie all of it.

Charlie said he had known for several months, but didn't know how to bring it up to me over the phone. I had seen him three months earlier and remembered several strange looks, but Edward had not been with me, so I had been left clueless.

"Why are you not upset that I am dating a vampire?"

"Bells, when your mom and I got married, I thought I knew what being in love was, but I didn't. I found love, real love, eternal love with Sue. When you first met Edward, I thought it was too intense..."

Jacob had told Charlie everything that happened in my junior year of high school. He said he now understood that it wasn't intensity; it was love and over-protectiveness.

"After Edward and I spoke on the phone last night..." he stammered out.

"You talked to him?"

"I saw he was calling, and you obviously were not going to answer. When you took a shower, I called him from my phone."

Traitor.

"We had a long talk. He doesn't know any of this. He thinks you hate him and that you are leaving him."

My tear ducts activated. We sat on the couch and talked for hours. I wanted to be angry with him, but couldn't find a fault in him calling Edward.

"Have you thought about what you are going to do?"

"It is all I have thought about for months. All I see is pain and sorrow, with or without Edward."

"What about alternatives?"

"What alternatives?"

"Just think it through before you decide anything, and call that boy before he drives himself and me crazy. I am tired of hearing the song that plays when he calls."

It had been the most powerful heart to heart I had ever had. Even the ones with Edward couldn't hold up.

I fell asleep on the couch and had a life altering dream.

Alternatives.

I woke at five AM and texted Edward. I knew he wouldn't be far; he wouldn't be on the other side of the country.

Where are you?

Forks

We need to talk. Be there by 8.

I'll be waiting for you.

I made Charlie and me breakfast, which turned into five werewolves joining us. It was almost nine before I could leave. I told Charlie where I was going, and Seth let me borrow his car.

I had not been to the house in Forks in seven years, but could drive the drive with my eyes closed. Everything was still familiar on the winding road.

Edward came and opened my door. He needed to hunt by the look of his eyes; he'd needed to hunt days ago.

"Hi."

"Hello."

We went inside and sat on opposite sofas, facing each other. I didn't know where to start, so I rambled. "I'm sorry for being late. I had to feed five wolves."

"Bella, just say it." He sounded broken and hopeless.

I couldn't make eye contact. I stared at his feet. "I've realized over the last week that I shouldn't have blamed school for my problem; I should have been honest with you."

He shifted his feet uncomfortably.

"You letting me age is the catalyst of the problem. I want more than just you, now. You told me that you wanted me to experience life before making my final decision of my changing. For years, I told myself, go to school, get the degree, get experience, love Edward. For a while, it was enough."

My throat was dry. He realized this and went out and came back in the room with a bottle of water. I continued without making eye contact.

"I know that my age doesn't matter to you. I know that now. I didn't for a long time, but I could be ninety, and your feelings wouldn't change. I'm comfortable with that, now."

"Yes."

We sat in silence for several more minutes, before I could continue.

"I want children."

More silence.

After talking to Charlie, I knew my next step.

I finally looked up at Edward; my heart broke for him. His head was hung low, and he was trembling. He had been expecting the worse, me saying goodbye forever.

I smiled to myself. He had one hell of a surprise coming. I spoke quickly.

"There's thousands of babies and kids who need adopted. We have the resources that we need. I am even open to cryobanks if you are comfortable with that. I know you can't get me pregnant, but I do want you to be the father of my children."

He snapped his head up. His vampire stare hit me full force. "Are you saying..."

I smiled and nodded my head quickly. He was kneeling in front of me in an instant.

"I know if this happens that I won't be able to change."

"It would be too dangerous."

"I am okay with that."

He peppered my face with kisses and laughs; his gorgeous smile lit up his face. "I love you. Whatever you want, it is yours; I'll support you."

I cried enough happy tears for both of us.

That morning, I had told Charlie of my plan and apologized for the horrible timing. He had been supportive, regardless. "Go get him, tiger," he'd said.

"Edward, there's just one order of business that needs to be taken care of." I grabbed his face between my hands and held his curious, intimidating eyes. "It's time that I make an honest man out of you."

His eyes grew bigger, darker, and he placed his hands on top of mine.

"Marry me, Edward."