Author's Note: Hi, guys! I was getting some really positive responses about the last chapter. Some people were disappointed that it was an arranged marriage, and not Edward proposing to Bella. Ha, ha, ha. Oh, gee. I hope you get a surprise when you read the chapter below. You know how much I love to surprise you guys. ;) Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Chapter 10

I sat morosely on the hammock in our garden. I was swinging lightly and slowly, deep in thought.

It was dark now. It must be nearly nine o'clock. The wind was blowing gently, but I wasn't cold. It was spring, and I could smell the light fragrance of the flowers that Renee had planted with the help of Esme.

Only a day had passed since our families had dropped the wedding bomb. I still wasn't sure about this. I hadn't talked to Edward about it, too embarrassed to even make eye contact. Whenever he tried to speak to me, I merely escaped by making excuses. I had no idea what he'd been planning to say to me, but I was sure it was nothing pleasant. I had a feeling he was going to tell me that he didn't appreciate this either.

And I would literally die.

After all, Edward was my crush. He'd been my first love for a long time now, and if he told me that Charlie had been wrong, and that he didn't like me, I would die. Of embarrassment.

Jasper had told me this afternoon that no one had ever died of embarrassment. I might just change history and be the first one who ever did die out of shame.

Who gets married at seventeen? I wondered. And especially because your parents were forcing you to?

I knew that Renee and Esme were getting ready for the wedding. They'd been busy all day, and I probably wouldn't be able to talk to anyone properly until after the wedding was over.

To make matters worse, Alice had offered to help the women, which meant that the wedding was going to be huge. Luxurious, and everything would go exactly the way Alice wanted it to.

If only this wasn't an arranged marriage. I probably wouldn't feel this pathetic then. What if Edward had really confessed to me? I probably would have accepted my fate gladly. What kind of a girl would refuse to spend her whole life with a glorious god like Edward?

Sighing miserably at my luck, I gazed up at the sky. I could still see the clouds. There were no stars out tonight. The moon was full, but it was orange-red. I knew I must be seeing a lunar eclipse.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

I blinked and planted my feet on the ground so the hammock would stop swinging. I gazed at the newcomer. It was Edward.

Of course. He wouldn't let anything he wanted get away from him. If he wanted to talk to me, he would do anything to make that happen.

A crooked smile played on his lips. His green eyes were warm and twinkled in the dim lights that were lit all around the garden.

"Hi," I said glumly.

"Am I not welcomed?" Edward asked playfully.

"Are the others asleep?" I asked, frowning slightly.

The Cullens were all sleeping over at our mansion tonight. Renee and Esme had said something about being under one house would be much more convenient to plan the wedding… I couldn't believe Charlie and Carlisle would agree to something like that. The four of them must be excited.

Edward pursed his lips. "You're avoiding me."

I looked away. "What did you expect?"

"I didn't want that," Edward said reproachfully. "The least you could've done is give me a chance to talk to you."

"So that you could tell me that you don't want this?" I guessed sullenly. "I already know. I don't need you to repeat it."

Edward looked amused. "What makes you think that?"

"Why else would you want to talk to me?"

He smiled crookedly. "You're silly, Bella. You're jumping to the wrong conclusions. Didn't you hear what Charlie said?"

"I heard perfectly well what he said," I grumbled, swinging the hammock again. "I'm getting married. At seventeen."

"Not that," Edward said, leaning on the pole of the hammock. "About why they chose us."

"What are you talking about?"

Edward gazed at me steadily. "You like me, Bella."

I bit my lip, looking away from him carefully. How could he say that so calmly? It wasn't fair.

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about," he said. "I already knew."

"Of course you did," I muttered under my breath. "Everyone knew. It wasn't much of a secret with Jazz and Alice and Em shouting it out all the time."

Edward smiled. "Well, I guess so. But I was never annoyed with them for teasing us all the time. Do you know why?"

I shook my head.

"Because without them shouting it out, I never would've guessed. I would have been discouraged a long time ago, and I would've given up on you. On us."

I stared at him. "What are you talking about?"

"Charlie and the others was right, Bella," Edward told me. "I've liked you ever since we were young. You weren't the only one who had a childhood crush." He didn't look a bit embarrassed admitting it.

My lips parted in shock. Why was he telling me this now?

"I know it seems strange for me to confess to you right now, what with everything that's going on," Edward said, now gazing at the garden thoughtfully. "But that's just it. I'm doing this because all this is happening. We're getting married within a week, and it's all because we don't have a choice. It's an arranged marriage, and it's all for business. But I'm not satisfied with that, Bella." His eyes flickered back to me. "I won't get married to you because of something that we have no choice over. If we do get married, it'll be for a good reason."

My heart sank. I knew it. He was going to break it off. He was going to tell me that he wasn't going to marry me.

Edward smiled amusedly, as though he knew exactly what I was thinking about. Maybe the panic showed on my face.

"Do you mind getting married to me, Bella?" he asked. "Even if it was for business, do you think you can live with me for the rest of your life?"

I didn't understand what he was talking about.

"Do you like me enough to marry me?" Edward clarified, speaking more slowly now. "Answer me honestly."

Did I? I asked myself. I thought carefully. I did feel very strongly about Edward. And if he were to be my husband, I thought I wouldn't regret marrying him. Ever.

"Yes," I replied truthfully. And I blushed red.

He smiled affectionately at me. "I believe you."

My lips were pursed. He was going to say it now. He was going to say it.

"I'm not going to break off the marriage, Bella," Edward said, as if he'd read my mind. "I'm not stupid. I feel the same way you do."

My eyes flashed up to him in surprise.

"But like I said," he said. "I'm not going to get married because our parents told us to. No, I'm doing this properly. And if we get married, it'll be because we want it."

I blinked, wondering what he was doing as he slowly kneeled on one knee. I stared at him, bewildered.

"Isabella Marie Swan," Edward said softly. Suddenly, there was a velvet box in his hands. He opened it to reveal a beautiful diamond ring that sparkled, even in the dim light.

I couldn't believe it. Was he really doing what I thought he was doing?

"I promise to love you every single day of my life," Edward continued. His voice was gentle and compelling, and there was no hint of hesitation on his face. He looked absolutely, positively sure about his actions.

"I promise to keep you safe and protect you from any harm," he said. He smiled widely as he studied my shocked face. "Will you marry me?"

I forgot how to breathe. I forgot where I was. I forgot everything. The only thing I could understand right now was that Edward was proposing to me. He was actually proposing to me. He really wanted to get married to me.

Edward Cullen was asking me to marry him.

I must be dreaming. Was this really happening?

I exhaled sharply. "Edward…" I was shocked. I didn't know what to do. And you could hear it in my voice.

Edward merely cocked his head, waiting patiently. He seemed one hundred percent sincere. There was no hint of mocking or teasing upon his face. I could only see sincerity.

"I don't get it," I whispered. "You want to marry me?"

"Of course," Edward said, looking surprised. "Why wouldn't I want to?"

I was still afraid. "Why are you doing this?"

Edward chuckled. "Are you having second thoughts about your answer to my question? I thought you would be happy to marry me, no matter what it was for."

"Yeah, but…" I paused. I still wasn't sure.

"You doubt my words?" Edward asked, his eyebrows raised. When I didn't answer, he looked thoughtful. Then, he got up, slipping the box inside his pocket again. He reached over and took my hands in his, helping me stand up.

"Maybe I need to force you to say yes," Edward said, humor in his beautiful eyes.

He was awfully close to me. In fact, he had slipped his arms around my waist and was pulling me closer to him.

I could feel my ragged breathing. My heart pounded loudly. This was embarrassing, but I was starting to really think about his proposal. He wanted it. He wanted me.

He was leaning closer and closer… And his lips touched mine.

I didn't know how much time had passed. It seemed like hours. I felt as though everything had stopped around us. The two of us were the only ones that existed. Nothing else mattered.

And I knew what my answer was.

He pulled away, his eyes warm as they bored into mine. "Have I convinced you yet?"

I smiled shyly. "Yes."

"Yes, I've convinced you, or yes, you'll marry me?"

"Yes to both."

Edward smiled widely. He looked extremely happy. "Good."

And as he leaned down to kiss me again, I felt as if nothing in this world could go wrong. My childhood dream wasn't so pathetic after all. I'd gotten what had mattered most to me ever since I was young. I'd gotten Edward.

He was mine forever. Nothing would go wrong.

I didn't know that the darkening orange moon was going to be an omen.

AN: I know I just gave you a really sweet chapter to read, but what'd you think about that last line? Foreshadowing…eh? Best way to find out what happens next? Hm, let me think. Well, of course, updates wouldn't be up very often if no one reviews… I think I can update another sweet chapter or two if you guys just click on the little review box… Hint, hint.