Disclaimer: I own nothing but my overactive imagination. Stephenie Meyers owns TWILIGHT!

Written with kpeabody- this chapter is where you will catch the differences between the T rated and the M

Two Too Shy

Chapter 10

Charlie's POV

I had a feeling when Carlisle called and asked for a meeting without Bella that it might be worst than he had already predicted. We decided to meet in Port Angeles on the waterfront near the fishing pier away from prying eyes.

"Good morning Carlisle." I extended my hand out which he accepted.

"Same to you Charlie, thank you for agreeing to meet with me," he seemed more somber than usual.

"Is this about Bella?" I prayed he had a new idea to get the kids together and not that she was declining faster then predicted.

"Yes and no…I am going to break a cardinal law here and I just hope you will hear me out before you decline my offer." he motioned for me to take a seat on the bench next to him.

"Okay…shot." I prompted.

"Charlie, how old do you think I am?"

"Well…the hospital says your 35 but I have to say you don't look a day over 25..." I shrugged.

"What if I was to tell you I am over 350 years old?" Is he kidding?

"I would want to know where you buy your crack because I need to get that shit off the street." I chuckled.

"I wish I could say you're right but I am drug free. Haven't you heard crack kills?" he smiled and for a second I could have sworn I heard him growl.

"Look Charlie, time is running out for Bella and I was going to do this a different way but I decided last minute to just come clean with everything." he released a deep breathe before continuing. "My family can offer Bella something you can't. We can offer her an eternal life with us…"

I opened my mouth to cut him off only he cut me off first. "Please…just let me get this out. I wasn't kidding when I said I was over 350 years old. Next to me, Jasper is the next oldest in my family, followed by Edward who is now 109 years old," I just gasped at him. I mean really what is someone suppose to say to that.

"We're not human Charlie, incase your trying to figure how that is possible. Your friends at La Push call us, 'The Cold Ones.'"

"You're the same ones from the Legends? The ones they tell stories about at the bonfires?"

"One in the same, we have a treaty with the tribe. It's one of the reasons I wanted to talk to you. Bella has decided to join us to save her life. The problem is we are not allowed to do it without breaks the treaty."

"So…she knows what you are? Does she know you have been murdering people around here for months now…" I sneered.

"Charlie, we haven't killed anyone in centuries or decades depending on which member of my family we are speaking about. Remember the legends say we only drink from animals. Your problem is a nomadic problem. Nomads like to travel around and never staying in one place too long."

"And Bella? Why do you want to make her like you?"

"Vampires mate for life, Edward has finally found someone he bonded to. He loves Bella and always will…," I blew out a deep breathe.

"What do you mean by 'mate'? He hasn't…," I would have to kill him if he touched my girl.

"The human equivalent would be a marriage." he finally took his eyes off his clenched hands and looked me in the eye.

"Are you saying they're MARRIED?" he shushed me because lets be honest, I was yelling.

"Not in the court of law sense. There is no way for Edward to fall out of love with her, it's not physically possible. If she dies Charlie, Edward will find a way to destroy himself and we will both lose our children…," I had a gut feeling he was right.

After knowing Bella was going to die for a few weeks, I would not wish it upon my worst enemy. I have to say, just the thought that Bella might be able to survive, even as a vampire…I could not deny the fact that I would do anything to save her.

"So…she's okay with this idea?"

"Yes Charlie, it was her choice but we still have the problem with the tribe and they are still reluctant to make the final human step."

"Who can I talk to? Who can make the exception?"

"That's up for debate. Jacob Black carries the gene of the tribe leader but he has turned control over to Sam Uley. So…I guess to be safe, we need for both of them to agree," I nodded I could ask them to save my daughter.

"What's the final human step?"

"Marriage, even though he is unable to go backwards, he will not move forward without it," he shook his head.

"I see, so…because of when he was born, he wont…you know?"

"No, he won't…but he also won't come to you for permission and without it, he won't ask her. So…I am stuck up the stream without a paddle."

"Look…I can go to the tribe and beg them on my hands and knees if that's what Bella wants. My concern is sealing them together, if they both want to but cant make the necessary steps maybe we should…," I could not believe what I was about to say.

"Should what?"

I sighed heavily, "Maybe we should just set up an arranged marriage for them. I can tell from your slight accent you are from England, right? Didn't well to do families in your country do this sort of thing all the time?" I shrugged expecting him to laugh at me.

"Yes, when I was human it was a common thing for families to chose who we married. You would really do that? I mean…I know I would but would you?"

"If Bella really loves Edward and they're too shy to over come this hurtle, yeah…I would. Besides if she doesn't make it, I want her to die with the man she loves," it was all I could hope for.

"So…we agree then? I have all the blood samples I need to sign the necessary forms, we just need to see my lawyer and make it official. Then Alice can plan it for next week at my house. Do you have the time right now to go see my lawyer?"

"Yeah, I am off today but its Saturday. Are you sure your lawyer is in today?"

"My lawyer is always in for my family," he smiled smugly.

He was right. With one phone call we were on our way to the Law office of Jason Scott in Seattle. His lawyer even had all the documents printed up and ready for us to sign.

"I would just like to take a moment and go over the terms for the marriage contract," Jason started.

"The terms you requested are all here:

1- The two seventeen year old minors are to be married in Forks Washington.

2- The Swan family will receive a dowry of one million dollars to be paid upon the completion of the ceremony."

"Wait no one said anything about money…," I interrupted.

"Charlie you said you wanted a standard arranged marriage. Well, a dowry was always included back in England. Therefore, your choices are a million dollars, which to me means nothing compared to my sons happiness or I can give you a piece of property we own. What is it going to be? Before you answer...remember, I have access to the medical bills that have been piling up over the last two years for Bella's treatments," He had me there I could not deny that I was well indebt over the cost of her medical care.

I sighed heavily, he knew he had me over a barrel, "Fine I'll take the money but what ever is left over is going back to Bella when I die, understood?"

"Completely," he smirked knowingly.

"Back to the subject at hand gentleman, like I was saying,

3- The Cullen's are responsible for all her needs from housing to an education.

4- There are no childbearing requirements as you requested.

And lastly, there is no requirement on the length of the marriage again at your request," Jason passed us each a copy to sign and then we swapped so we each had a copy signed by both of us.

Together we signed the last copy for the courts. It was final now. The only thing needed was for us to drag our kids to the courthouse on Monday since Bella is still under eighteen I would have to grant my permission. When we reached the house I was really nervous that maybe I was doing the wrong thing to make my daughter happy. That thought quickly left my mind as Edward walked out of the trees carrying a giggling Bella on his back. They were both smiling like they had just hit the lottery.

Everyone was gathering in the living room when we came through the front door. Edward and Bella froze when they came in the backdoor and saw us all looking at them expectantly. I forced myself not to think about what we were about to announce. As if not thinking about it would make it any less real.

"Have a seat guys, we need to talk to all of you." Carlisle seemed like he was calling a meeting together.

"Charlie and I have made a decision that will affect all of us but mostly Edward and Bella," he put his hands out towards Edward as if he was willing him to be calm.

Carlisle's POV

I know Charlie could not see Alice vibrating in her seat. She was about to loose her mind after I am sure she saw what we were about to announce. Edward looked like he was about to run from the room.

"Charlie and I have made a decision that will affect all of us but mostly Edward and Bella," I put my hands out towards Edward warning him in my head, he was not allowed to bolt from the room.

"We have entered into an agreement, Edward and Bella are to be married next week…," the whole room gasped at me.

"You don't even know if they want this!" I knew Rosalie would be the first to speak out.

"YOU are right, we haven't asked them because you know as well as I do they wouldn't answer us even if we did ask!" My temper was reaching a boiling point like never before.

"I stand with Carlisle and Charlie, we only wants what's best for them and if we have to do everything for them, so be it, Bella will be a member of this family," Esme walked to me and placed her hand in mine.

"Well at least I get to plan it!" Alice leaped up and joined us in the middle of the room.

"Carlisle, this really should have been discussed before you went to Charlie. There is so much he doesn't know about us," Jasper raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"He knows, I told him…," a second set of gasped rang throughout the room.

"I know and as long as you aren't eating people I can live with that."

"Well, if that's the case I'm on board," Emmett bounced to our side.

"What about the tribe?"

"I am going to beg for them to allow me the chance to save my daughter," Charlie answered Jasper.

"Alright then…count me in," Jasper smiled as Alice bounced over and leapt onto his lap.

"I will only agree if Edward and Bella say yes to it. I told you all along that I would only do this if it was Bella's choice." Rosalie crossed her arms over her chest.

Edward and Bella had yet to say anything but that was to be expected. From where I stood, it looked like they were trying to read each other's souls through their eyes. It was his next move that surprised me. Before Charlie could blink Edward was gone, I heard him rummaging around his room. Charlie chuckled when he flashed back into the room. Edward shocked us all when he walked straight up to her, kneeled in front of her feet and held out a black velvet covered ring box in the palm of his hand.

She gasped as she looked at the box. Her little fingers were trembling when she picked it up and opened it. She sighed when she saw the antique diamond ring. One day we would have to tell her the story behind its meaning. We all held our breath and waited for one of them to say something, hell, anything. Bella started biting her lower lip to keep it from quivering. She shyly nodded her consent and it was done. I heard Edward possessively growl under his breath as he slid the ringer onto her waiting finger. She would official be his in a week but emotionally she was already his.

"So…can I hug my daughter?" Charlie asked with his arms out.

Edward looked like he wanted to pull her into his embrace, away from anyone who might challenge what he now considered his. Alice was a maniac as she sprinted into action dragging every woman in the room behind her to get everything ready. Our jobs as men were relatively simple call everyone we knew and invite them to the wedding, which Alice declared would take place next Saturday October 11, 2008 at twilight. Everyone had their cell phones out and was calling everyone we could think of. Esme was using a chalkboard from my office to keep track of who would be attending. Between Alice and Rosalie's internet shopping spree, our credit card company actually called to confirm some of the purchases. I really did not want to know what they were spending because in the end it did not matter.

After awhile of planning for Monday, Charlie departed. It was time for Edward to put Bella on her dialysis machine, so silently they made their way upstairs and disappeared into her room.

Alice's POV

The day Carlisle told us to buddy up to Bella Swan, I had three visions. Only one was ever seen by Edward. Now that Carlisle has announced their arranged marriage that made vision number two, now complete which left the last vision and I was going to do my damnedest to ensure it went off without a hitch. I had seen their wedding and it was going to be perfect if I had to hurt someone to make sure of it.

Since that night I have spent every minute I was alone for the last six weeks working on her dress, I had seen it was a perfect rendition of a 1918 wedding gown. As for the groom, I had already ordered his tuxedo from an antique dealer I had found on the internet. Even though I had already known who would be in attendance, we still had to go through the motions of inviting everyone. I left that up to the men while Rosalie and I shopped on the internet for everyone else's attire. Within four hours, we had found everything I had seen in my vision. When Esme made her decision to start a new remodeling project I was treated to the outcome and it was going to be perfect. Thankfully, they were getting married on a long weekend that would give us the three days they would be gone to finish it for her.

Up next will be their side of today and Monday at the courthouse! Have no fear it will not be an imaged copy of this one. It will be of their day before and after this.

A/N Okay, Jasper needs to feel your love so how about a quick review.