Disclaimer: I most unfortunately don't own any of the characters of this story. That credit goes to the phenomenal Stephenie Meyer.

Authors note: This is my very first fanfic

This story is set between the end of Twilight and the start of New Moon, in Bella's POV.

Chapter 10

"Well, it's nothing, really, I just . . ." Would it seem silly to him? I bit my lip and mumbled the next words.

"Do you think your parents would've approved of me?"


He hadn't been expecting that, that was for sure. A look of shock and surprise flitted across Edward's face in response to my barely audible question. I tensed, ashamed a little, but not quite enough to change the subject.

"Yes," he said without hesitation once his brow had smoothed out. His voice was clear, level, completely sure; no hint of doubt was heard in his musical tone as it rang out around the silent room.

That caught me off guard. His utter certainty, without even thinking about it, when he'd just told me he couldn't remember his parents well at all.

"What? You're not going to even think about it?" I asked sceptically. I was louder than I had been before, and the contrast between the levels of my voice sounded strange. "That's it?"

Edward's frown was back; he was confused. "What do you mean, 'that's it'?"

"I just assumed you'd at least take the time to think about your answer. I didn't just want to hear what would be nice—I am really wondering about it, so the truth would be good." I blushed faintly and continued to stare at the ceiling pointedly. "I mean, it's kind of important to me."

Edward's hands reached out to cradle my face gently, and I finally turned my body to compliment his. He stared broodingly at me for an endless moment, seeing deep into my eyes, leaving me feel terribly exposed. I couldn't move my head to look away because he held it tightly.

"Bella," he said lowly. His thumb of his right hand brushed back and forth across my cheek. "Bella, I don't need to think about it. Of course they would approve. Not only do I feel confident that they would've been happy with anyone that I was happy about, I also know they would've been absolutely delighted that that person was someone like you." A hint of a smile threatened his otherwise perfectly serious, and also desperately glorious, face. "Even under the unusual circumstances, they would be proud."

My face was red from his words, but I was still not utterly convinced.

"But . . . Wouldn't they have expected . . ." I wasn't at all too sure about how well-off Edward's family had been, but I simply assumed they would've been pretty high-class.

Before I could continue my half-formed sentences, he interrupted me.

"They wouldn't have expected anything. Bella, the only thing my parents would've been expecting was that I would've been pleased with my choice. And I am—pleased doesn't cover it. I can't believe my luck in the way this has turned out. I want you, Bella. Nothing else matters but that, except that you want me too.

"Of course I know they would've approved. They would've loved you, because you are perfect, and because I love you. I don't want you ever doubting that."

His velvet voice was beautiful, his words pouring out with a burning passion that set his golden eyes ablaze as they bore into my own.

"Right," I whispered. My lips turned up at one corner of my mouth in a half smile.

Edward nodded, and whispered back, "I love you." He then leant in slowly and brushed his smooth lips across mine as I held perfectly still. I let out a deep sigh when he was done.

"Okay, time for lunch?" I asked hopefully, and my stomach snarled, enforcing my words. We both laughed.

"Time for lunch," he agreed, and sat us both up.

The fog outside was so thick it appeared to be almost solid, a penetrable wall of mist that clung to your skin and made you cough when you breathed it in heavily. I stared out at it from the small window in the kitchen; I felt so comfortably safe, inside away from the bitter cold. I squinted, wondering what exactly was out there, what the unidentifiable shapes presented, if it really had looked like this all day. The hearty fire was crackling once more, sending smoke into the night air that could not be distinguished as it swirled into the fog, blended in.

I felt all the more surreal, because I could hear the starting of rain on the roof—little droplets of water, splattering the window panes and bouncing off the stone walls—and I could see how icy it was outside: and yet I was perfectly contented; warm, comfortable, well fed and rested. There was nothing better than being in the middle of a storm, an onlooker as you took cover under a safe haven.

Having company in it was a plus, too, of course. I saw Edward's reflection in the window I was staring out of, as he silently walked up behind me. We didn't say anything for a long moment; he stood behind me, looking out as I did as I sat on the counter, my head resting on the wall, my legs dangling off the side. The rain was picking up; a drumming that's tempo gradually increased as it did so in velocity.

"Are you warm enough?" he wondered quietly. His voice was a hushed monotone; the wind outside would've picked it up and swallowed it in an instant.

I watched a raindrop trickle down the glass window, and I traced its path with my fingertip—the glass was cold.

"Yes, I'm fine." My tone matched his, low and soft.

Edward and I had played out the rest of the afternoon peacefully, just enjoying each other's company and revelling in the isolation. It wasn't isolated when I had him with me.

"How would you feel about a skiing trip?" he asked me out of the blue. I started, a drop of water splattered off the window pane, and turned so I could read his face.

"A skiing trip? You mean we'd get out of Forks?" That idea definitely had some potential, as crazy as it sounded to me in this moment.

"Yes," was his simple reply.

"With your family?" I checked curiously.

"And our friends from school. Wouldn't that be good? I'm sure it's what normal humans would do in their holidays—spend time with friends out of school." His face was completely serious, and I suddenly had a vision of what it would be like to get out of here with the Cullens, along with others . . .

And then I remembered the key part to his wonderful idea.

"Skiing? Doesn't that include snow?"

"Usually, yes." His eyes sparkle with amusement at my shocked and horrified expression.

"I can't ski," I said immediately.

He rolled his eyes. "I'm sure you can learn, Bella. Besides, I'd be with you the whole time."

"But . . ."

"Look, don't worry about it now," he urged. "It was just an idea. We can discuss it later, okay?"

I nodded, and went back to staring out of the window. The rain was picking up, the howling wind occasionally rattling the window. I felt rather than heard Edward approach me closer, and he gently stroked the back of my hair.

Just at that moment, a bolt of lightning lit up the sky in a spectacular show. I froze, and a few seconds later I heard the thunder follow after.

"Come on," Edward said, taking a step back. I looked around at him, and he beckoned me with his hand.

I hopped off the counter, unsure what he was up to, and he led me to the door.

"After you." He waited for me, and giving him a quizzical look, I turned the doorhandle and cranked the door open a few inches. The wind whipped into my face, but it was gentle, muted by the rest of the door.

My face was bewildered, but Edward was grinning. He slipped past me and opened the door the rest of the way, pushing it closed behind us as we were met by the pelting rain. Of course, we were under the little cover the porch provided, so I wasn't getting soaked—it was still freezing.

I shivered. "What are you doing?"

I hadn't noticed before, but Edward held something in his hands. He held it out to me, and I realized it was a thick woollen blanket. He gestured to the end of the veranda were a wooden bench was situated.

"Let's just watch this," he suggested, and before I knew it, I was snuggled up into him on the bench, wrapped up in the thick blanket. The rain wasn't on a huge angle, so not much reached the wooden decking. I was safe, in his arms, and I had a wonderful view of the aspiring night.

The whole place smelt like a storm; the wild trees thrashed in the wind, and it was damp. The mist had receded a lot, thanks to the lightning flashing in the intervals, followed by the loud rumbles of thunder. My breath came out in fog. I smiled up at him.

"This is great."

Edward looked down at me, tucked under his arm, and stared at me intently. "Yes it is," he agreed, but I wasn't sure if he was talking about the storm any more.

Ahhh. Glad I finished that :)