A/N Hey everyone, Hope you guys are all doing well. I'm sorry I didn't get this up sooner but things have been a little busier in real life, hopefully I'll be starting a new job this week. Don't worry though I promise not to stop me from getting this story finished, I'm still writing along and I've got a decent amount ready to be uploaded once it's edited. I do need to apologise though this chapter wasn't Beta'd so any mistakes that I've missed I'm sorry for. I've read it over a few times but I'm sure you know sometimes little things slip past.
I would like to make a quick note to one of my readers TrillionSchiffer has informed me that in the next update of Trillion's story there will be a recommendation for this story. That's huge so a massive thank you TrillionSchiffer. And any of you guys who haven't read Trilion's stuff you real should check it out, I've heard some incredible things and I am about to start Trills first story New Eclipse. There is already a sequel for it by the name of Horizon too so please all of you check out Trillion's work.
I'll leave you guys to the next chapter. Hopefully all things going well I may be able to get Chapter Eleven to you before the end of this week. Enjoy and let me know what you guys think.
RED DAWN
SUMMARY: Edward had always warned Bella that the pack were dangerous. Hostile, volatile and aggressive in nature. She ignored him, testing even Edward's own vampire instinct by staying friends with his enemy, Jacob. One event will change them all, Bella never truly understood the supernatural world. Didn't understand the aggression that lay dormant even in her controlled mate until it was too late. Warning: Violence and Character death.
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and all the Characters.
Chapter Ten
Bella slowly stirred as she was twisted in her covers feeling the firm body that she was nestled up against. It took her a moment to remember that she was no longer in hospital, and in her own bed. She'd fallen to sleep quickly once she'd settled under the covers the night before with Edward joining her. Bella's smile widened a little shyly then thinking of his closeness, of his touch. Almost wide enough was her smile, that it caused a slight sting against the stitches on her face. Even amongst the horrible tones of some of the conversation they'd shared she still couldn't quite believe that she'd felt so happy. There had always in the past been secretiveness about everything Edward revealed. She knew it came from a place of love, but she felt more an equal and his partner when he didn't shield her from things. When he let her know and adjust to what was being said to her, and then there had been the way he'd kissed her. She'd never believed that they'd share that type of intimacy even though she'd pushed for more, for them to make love before she was changed she'd not believed it would happen.
The way Edward had kissed her last night, then the way he'd looked at her with his dark seductive eyes as he'd held onto the back of her thighs she knew it wasn't so unlikely. She'd never felt more desirable and attractive in that moment when he'd appeared so playful and ready to take hold of her and take her, then in that very moment. When he'd pulled her into the bed she'd almost hoped that they'd try then. That Edward would show her just how much he wanted to enjoy touching her. She knew she was too tired though and knew that he was more than likely not going to push that part of their relationship too soon. It was enough though, hearing him tell her he was ready to give her more, that he was ready for them both to have more. It made her love Edward even more with how he made her feel especially when she'd almost broken down at the sight of her body when she'd changed in the bathroom. How he'd made her feel so special even when she'd moments before felt hideous and unworthy of him. She'd have to face those insecurities, they'd both have to stop letting insecurities cause them to have so many miscommunications.
Bella blinked away her sleep and turned her chin up to find Edward laying back on her pillow, she grinned at the way his chest raised with his breathing. Even if it seemed too relaxed for a humans breathing. His eyes were closed and his lips turned up in a slight smile, those beautiful long eyelashes that shouldn't ever be allowed for a man resting there. Anyone would have believed he was sleeping as he continued to lay there relaxed and content. Bella smiled pressing a kiss over his chest and he felt warmer under her lips then she was used to. She took the chance as he pretended to be asleep to look over him, his clothes rumpled from laying in bed with her all night but his shirt a little too high revealing the bottom of his toned muscled stomach. Bella had felt her mouth go dry at the perfect slither of pale skin and daringly reached out, her mind remembering him touching her and feeling justified to touch his skin on show.
Bella shifted closer against his side as her hand hovered slightly still a little unsure as she chewed on her bottom lip nervously. Then finally trailing her fingertips over the skin there that was on show. She watched Edward's face seeing that he'd leant further back into the pillow beneath his head as she touched him and grew braver. Her hand daring to slip further underneath his shirt now and tracing along the rigged lines of his stomach, he was so beautifully sculpted she couldn't believe there was a man on this earth who was as finely made as her Edward. She felt like a child with a new toy with the way she dragged her nails over his stomach feeling the rock hard muscles over his stomach tighten and then heard the sound of Edward moan in his throat.
"That feels incredible" Edward said finally parting his eyelids and looking down at Bella as she kept her hand beneath his shirt running over his skin, her small warm hands felt like nothing he'd ever imagined.
"It does" Bella grinned in agreement as she took his words as invitation not to stop, her hand continuing to run along his skin, Edward's arm around her tightening and his large hand squeezing her hip.
"Kiss me" Edward demanded in a mock order as he gently moved Bella to lay on him and brought his hand up to tilt her chin and captured her lips against his.
They kissed then deeply and passionately all but forgetting everything around them once again, two teenagers happily allowing the beginnings of something much more than simply kissing. Both being completely consumed, by the pleasure and thrill of new grounds being found between them. Both feeling completely free, and yet wild at the same time. There was no fear of dangerous vampires, or shifting wolves to worry about as they were still tangled between the sheets, lips locked and hands wondering mindlessly. They finally broke apart both breathing a little ragged even for Edward who didn't need breath found himself inhaling deeper. His hands once again had found and worked their way to the uncovered skin of the back of her thighs as Bella nibbled softly at his Adam's apple. Edward was aware just enough to know that both Bella's parents were already up and that Bella's mom, Renee was thinking about coming upstairs to check on Bella. He knew while he wanted to continue that he'd need to at least for Bella's parents have to appear to have arrived, he'd need to get his car and a fresh change of clothes.
"I'm never going to get tired of that" Bella said as Edward enjoyed the quickened pace of her racing heart as she was pressed against him feeling the beat of it in his very body as if he still had a heart that could race.
"I'm glad. Especially, considering our plans of forever. It be rather disheartening to realise a decade in that you'd grown bored of my kissing" Edward said teasingly his hands slipping high on the back of her thighs following the curve of her bottom, and he laughed deeply at the wide eyed shocked expression that had washed over her beautiful face.
"I don't think you really know what we've started here love. I've had a century of waiting for you, for waiting for this. I hope you're prepared" Edward said in fake warning his hands rested on her panties covered backside while Bella wiggled against his hands.
"Maybe it's you who should be warned. You know what they say about today's youth and their wild libidos. You come from a much reserved age Edward, I wouldn't want to scare you" Bella bit back with her own jab at not only his age but the reserved way in which he'd presented himself all along with her. It made the idea of having to ever leave this bed all the more unpleasant he'd have been happy to remain here for the rest of their eternity together.
"Perhaps that would have held true were I human. Fortunately or unfortunately however you may see it my love. I'm not human. I'm a vampire, a vampire with an unending amount of stamina who never grows tired and has no need for sleep" Edward said his hand squeezing her bottom earning a soft peel of laughter from Bella as he captured it muffling the sound with his lips as he kissed her once again.
"So when I'm like you we could go for hours? Just keep going?" Edward grinned as Bella broke away from their kiss to question him on sex within his kind, and oh how he wanted to tell her. How he couldn't wait for the day that they finally came together both vampire's for the first time, to seal that bond they had as mates.
"Not hours love. Try days, weeks even" Edward chuckled at her gaping mouth and tucked his finger under her chin to close her mouth for her, then kissing her forehead.
"Of course we'd go hungry but if we were to say, be deep enough out in the wild we could just grab something to go then get back to what we were doing" Edward wiggled his eyebrows in a way that he was sure would have made even the likes of Emmet proud.
"What have you done with my Edward" Bella asked somewhat seriously as she gazed at him lovingly.
"It's me. Alice and a few others have made something clear to me recently. I've been so scared of you seeing me for all that I am. Knowing me in ways not a soul on this planet knows me. They challenged me told me I could never be who I'm supposed to be, who you deserve if I continued hiding myself. Pretending to be something I'm not. You told me last night you'd love me no matter the colour my eyes were and I guess it was all the proof I needed what a fool I've been. To hide my thoughts, to hide my desires, my fears and my dreams. We're mates I have nothing to fear with you Bella, and you having nothing to fear from me. Not even the monster" Edward cupped her cheek as he tried to explain to her the somewhat change in himself, he'd always told her how hard change was for his kind.
Perhaps he'd been wrong in that respect, maybe vampires were so used to being constant they never allowed themselves to change. He was ready now though, ready to stop mourning and fearing and hindering every possible happiness he could have in this life and just be more like those in his family. Even Rose who was burdened just as much by this life felt so much happiness in other parts of her life. He'd been wasting this second life. No longer, not when he had Bella to share it with.
"I never feared you Edward" Bella said confidently just showing Edward how much faith she had always held in him and his nature, and it was true from the very beginning she'd never believed he'd harm her.
"And I'll forever be grateful that you don't. That even now that you see me, know what I'm capable of and you still don't fear me. It makes me feel like I've been gifted something very precious" Edward pecked the corner of her lips sweetly hearing that Renee had finally made the decision to come and at least wake Bella, sure that she'd have made an appearance by now if she was awake.
"Renee is coming upstairs. I don't want to leave you but if we're going to have you meet the rest of my family, I'll need to get my car and a change of clothes so I can come back here" Edward shifted Bella off him and then slipped his legs off the bed turning back around slightly and pressing a long lingering kiss against her lips smiling crookedly.
"I'll be back soon love" Edward promised.
"You better" Bella feigned seriousness and then felt the swift movement of air as Edward blurred from his position beside her bed, and felt the strange girly giggle leave her lips as she held the cover to hide her face. She thought she should feel guilty for everything that was happening and not feel so happy, the changes in Edward the new laid back and happier demeanour around each other. She'd never seen him so, so easy going and the way he allowed things to move further still had her body tingling in all new exciting ways.
"Days. Weeks" Bella said to herself shaking her head even while still hiding under her cover, she wasn't ashamed of her thoughts linger on making love to Edward.
It had been something she'd wanted slowly more and more as time had gone by, now he was completely open to the idea and even open to changing her. It felt all too wrong that it had taken the death of her friend for this change to come about but she didn't believe that was the only reason it had. She wouldn't, she refused to feel guilty for her happiness, especially when Edward was so happy too she'd not let her own worries ruin this for them both. She knew Edward had carried so much self doubt and loathing for too long and now when he was showing signs of letting go and opening himself more she didn't want to risk ruining that for him.
"Well someone seems awfully happy this morning" Bella stiffened at the sound of her mother's voice moving the covers off her face to peer over them at Renee standing in her doorway.
Bella wasn't sure how she'd opened the door she'd been positive that she'd locked it last night before getting into bed, Edward must have unlocked it knowing Renee was coming up the stairs. Bella didn't know how to feel about that, if she should feel annoyed he'd set her up or thankful for how considerate he was if he'd done it so she didn't have to get out of bed. All she did know was that her face felt very warm and she couldn't help grow even more embarrassed as Renee looked at her half knowing the other half amused by the way she'd come in to find Bella reacting. Her mature daughter had never resembled a giddy teenage girl more than in the moment she'd just caught.
"I take it that reaction means you heard from Edward?" Renee asked resting her hand on her hip watching her daughter's reaction, even though Bella groaned humiliated by being caught and pulling the cover over her head to hide away from Renee. She'd known Renee had always longed for that daughter mother relationship. That spoke about boys and clothes, but Bella before she'd moved to Forks had never been interested in boys and even now didn't care much for clothes, much to Alice's dismay.
"Come on Bella don't be shy. I'm happy to see you so happy." Renee moved to Bella's bed sitting on the edge of it and placing her hand on the lump under the sheets that was her daughter shaking her slightly at Bella's shoulder.
"It's embarrassing" Bella said from under the covers even now feeling the need to tell Renee to get off of Edward's side of the bed because she knew right now it would smell like him and she didn't want Renee's perfume ruining that. Edward had kissed the smarts right from her she decided in that moment, stupidity inducing kisses. She wasn't nearly awake or aware enough to fend off her mother's questioning.
"You're in love its beautiful baby. I've always wanted that for you. I never get to see you all giddy and in love and Charlie wouldn't know it even with it right under his nose" Renee said refusing to leave as Bella pulled the cover down huffing seeing Renee grinning even wider now and still with that all knowing look, Bella wished Edward was here so he'd know what her mother was thinking.
"I spoke to him. We worked things out. He wants to take me to his house and introduce me to his cousins. They came when they heard I got hurt" Bella said but if Bella knew her mother, and she did very well Renee would have much preferred the reality instead of the lie. Renee would have loved the idea of her acting like a normal teenage girl and kissing her boyfriend behind her parents back. That was just the way Renee was. She was a true romantic and where Bella had always had a love for reading she knew it stemmed from her mother's love for romance novels. It was one of the few things in common they shared.
"Yeah Esme told me about them. It's very nice of them to come all that way. They all seem like a very close family all the Cullen's, they think the sun rises and sets with you" Renee teased enjoying seeing her daughter squirm a little.
"You should come down get some breakfast before you get ready for when Edward comes to get you" Renee said leaning over and kissing Bella's cheek and then moving off her bed and walking towards the door.
"Oh and Bella" Renee turned around, still grinning widely and then throwing something towards Bella as she flinched away as a leather wallet landed on her lap. Bella eyes widening, while recognising it instantly.
"Next time you have Edward stay the night make sure he doesn't leave any evidence" Renee winked, Bella's face only turned a brighter shade, almost at a loss for words.
"Mom it isn't what you..." Bella wasn't sure how to work a lie around it because it was clearly Edward's wallet, and he'd not been in the house except for downstairs as far as Charlie knew, he'd never stepped foot in her room.
"Baby I might be getting old but I'm no dummy. That smile and little giggle, that wasn't from a conversation. Just make sure that Charlie doesn't catch you two and please make sure you make that boy use protection. He's very beautiful and I can understand getting carried away but I am in no way ready for you and him making me a grandmother" Renee warned but even in her warning there was amusement as she took great pleasure in having caught Bella, her normally very mature child breaking her father's rules and sneaking a boy into his house.
"Oh god mom, please" Bella moved her hands to cover her face shaking her head wanting the ground to open up and swallow.
Bella suddenly believing that this was the reason why, Edward didn't get under the covers. It must have slipped out of his pocket while he'd been in bed with her and he'd not noticed that he'd lost it amongst the kissing and touching, and whatever else he'd been doing in her bed when she'd slept. Bella could hear Renee still laughing as she left her room heading back down the stairs. The only good thing about the entire situation had been that it hadn't been Charlie to have found it. Bella knew that had it been Charlie, all that progress with him would have gone up in flames with him finding out his daughter was sneaking Edward in at night. He'd probably put bars on the window if he ever learnt that Edward was using it to get in most nights, not that it would hinder Edward's ability of finding a way into the house. Bella didn't believe there was a manmade object on the face of the planet that hoped to stand between Edward getting to her if it was what he'd wanted. She was starting to see that now. Edward would cross the house threshold, even when Charlie had threatened him when they returned from Italy. He'd crossed the line of the treaty agreement to rescue her and she knew without a shadow of a doubt when it came to her, Edward would cross any line given to him to keep them together.
Even the lines she didn't believe herself capable of crossing.
Bella looked down, back at the wallet that had given both her and Edward away to Renee and turned it over moving to close it and put it somewhere Charlie wouldn't see, until she could give it back to Edward. Her attention though was caught as she saw the smallest of laminated corners that was far too thin to be any type of card. Usually she'd have felt guilty for looking but with it just sitting there she wondered what type of picture Edward would possibly carry in his wallet. Not believing he was the type to carry a memento like that, especially with his constant need to remain hidden. Bella slowly pulled it free and gasped at the small blurred image, she felt emotionally exhausted and like she'd cried a thousand tears for everything that had happened but the picture.
This picture both made her heart warm and ache for Edward. She'd always wondered what he'd have looked like human. He'd always warned her, the reason for needing to disappear after the changes was the differences in appearance. This small laminated image was of Edward, he couldn't have been much younger then the age he was changed at she could tell. His face was slightly more rounded and childlike but it was still him, still so very handsome with hair still untamed and a mess. She'd never seen Edward dressed outside of the clothing she knew he'd likely been given by Alice, so seeing him in this very old fashioned and somewhat unappealing little running outfit brought a wistful smile to her face.
It was the two people standing at his side though, those made her ache for him. Even in the image she could tell they were his parents. The beautifully elegant woman with hair tired up in a bun with a few strands that seemed to be loose from the wind was clearly Edward's mother, Elizabeth. On his other side a stockier man shorter then Edward with a thick neck and broad shoulders that screamed that he was an imposing figure but an easy going smile on his face and thin moustache, Edward's father Edward Senior. It pained her to see him still human here, celebrating with that crooked smile even then, with his parents who she knew he still missed and loved. She could understand looking at this picture how Carlisle and Esme had feared he'd been changed too young. Had been worried about the burden that he'd had to carry being frozen at such a young time in his life, a reason Edward himself had given for wanting Bella to consider remaining human just a few more years. He'd been part of a family for a century since this picture and yet she knew he'd felt alone, seeing that he'd kept this image of them made her wish she'd somehow found him sooner.
It made her wonder what would have happened if Isabella Swan had met Edward Anthony Masen junior in 1918 and not here in the present. She knew that answer though. She'd have fallen head over heels with the boy in the dreadful shorts and with an adoring love for his parents. She'd have loved human Edward just as much as her Edward. Before placing the picture back into its place within Edward's wallet she kissed her fingertip pressing it to his smiling human face. Wanting more than anything to suddenly know more about not only Edward but the human parts he always kept so tightly held to his chest.
Edward made quick time, even for him at getting back to his home, he was found with some of his siblings in the living room with both Kate and Tanya. The moment he'd stepped into his home he'd heard the teasing and taunts, already prepared for him in the minds of his siblings he'd noticed they'd been having a conversation about him and Bella's relationship. The sisters both very interested in the prospect that Edward the century old virgin may have allowed his virtue to become compromised made them both intrigued to meet the human. It had been very openly discussed topic in the past that both sisters had been more than willing to break him in, as they'd often referred to it. They hadn't earned the myth of succubus's for no reason after all and those first meetings between their respective families, had been awful from Edward's point of view anyway. Kate had been the most cunning of them all, she'd lulled him into a false sense of comfort masking her original thoughts then making him for a moment believe her initial thoughts on his attractiveness had waned to just wanting to be friends. He'd almost caught her errant thoughts of kissing him too late, he'd then politely excused himself and she'd not pursued him much further. Tanya had been a different story, she was aggressive and domineering in her personality and was completely not used to rejection. Her subtle but very effective talent, that seemed to go all but unnoticed by others around her, finding an opponent it could not work its influence over.
The more he'd refused the more she tried, as the years had gone on she'd been the only one to remain interested that had been until the day he'd gone to Alaska to hide from Bella's scent. He'd already been in love with her then, too blind to recognise it for what it was but Tanya had seen that change and then sent him on his way. She'd convinced him to face what was haunting him and he'd forever be grateful to her for convincing him to return to Forks.
Now though both Kate and Tanya were simply eager to be allowed to tease Edward for finally being on the edges of finally giving up something they'd once considered a prize. They had both planned on congratulating Bella on meeting her for winning but he hoped deeply that they'd refrain themselves from saying anything. He'd not helped his own case by playing at Emmet's own game, mentioning make up sex before he'd freed them up from guarding Bella's home the evening before. The one person who could have told them all that Edward and Bella's night had remained very tame in comparison to what some had imagined had remained completely silent. Alice had opted to not help Edward with what he was about to face and he'd be sure to remember this for the future. When Edward finally moved into the living room Emmet was up and out of his chair standing in front of him with a wide grin and mischievous eyes. Emmet's intentions, all too clear from his thoughts, as Edward saw them loudly amongst the other internal voices in the living room from his family.
"So do I need to have Carlisle check over Bella I can't imagine that after a century of tension things didn't end with her at least popping a hip out of place" Emmet said loud enough that Edward believed he might have been trying to get every person within the houses attention to what he was saying.
"While I'd like to amuse you further I've only come by to change my clothes and collect my car. I'm bringing Bella to the house to meet the rest of our family" Edward shook his head moving around Emmet and further into the room.
"Don't need a shower to wash off what you did last night? Or did this morning's events lead to some shared shower time?" Emmet tried again as his siblings laughed Edward reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose
"Nothing happened last night. I am still pure and untouched if you must know. When and if Bella and I complete our bond it'll be none of anyone's business. She only got out of hospital yesterday and I'd much prefer keeping her out of hospital for the foreseeable future, thank you" Edward said in a tone that left little argument though he could see Tanya's arched eyebrow and puckered lips.
"While you say there was no sex last night. You certainly smell of lust and human Edward. It's practically covering your own scent seems to me while there may have been no sex it didn't mean both didn't want there to be" Tanya challenged as Emmet laughed loudly slapping Edward on the back roughly as he shook his head at them all, they clearly had far too much time on their hands that this had been what they'd turned to talking about.
"So not as much of a prude as we thought" Emmet added wiggling his eyebrows at Edward, while Edward shrugged his shoulders free of Emmet's hand.
"And with that note I'm going to get ready to collect Bella. I don't think I need to warn any of you should you try and embarrass her the way you have tried with me, things will not end pleasurably for you all. Today if you should attempt to make my Bella uncomfortable" Edward said daring any of them to try and bring this up around Bella, he didn't want his family scaring her off and he certainly didn't want her to become self conscious about the intimate parts of their relationship.
She'd learn all too soon about how little privacy there truly was being part of a family full of vampire's, especially when some of them had talents that gave them a very detailed look at such things. Edward knew that burden as much as any with his intimate visuals he garnered from their minds, he saw in his mind through their eyes, he could hear the words unsaid and could feel the phantom touches shared. It hadn't been easy being the only one unmated amongst a house of couples for decades of his life, while he'd never voiced his desire for a mate and refused all attempts, he'd wanted someone. Waited and yearned with an aching loneliness for the time when he'd finally have his other half, last night had truly meant so much to him. Even though Bella had slept leaving him for hours throughout the night as he laid awake he'd never felt closer to someone as he had while he held her and allowed himself to just be happy.
As Edward thought on this, on how truly happy he had been with Bella last night as they'd shared that special moment curled together. Not human and vampire, but man and woman, he thought of that long ago desire that he'd tried to convince her to accept. He'd placed the thought out there trying to hide how much he'd wanted it and while he knew Bella's reluctance he couldn't help that pressing fantasy of having it still. He'd told her once before of what marriage meant to him, of how modern society may view it as something as insignificant as a document or piece of paper. It had always carried so much more meaning to him. Raised within a loving religious family marriage had been the ultimate sign of love and commitment to Edward. It was something he still very much wanted, he almost found himself opening the velvet case that held his mother's engagement ring. It was old fashioned and held lots of tiny sapphires and diamonds in the round setting, he couldn't remember his father giving it to his mother but he knew it wasn't the ring he'd given her when they'd first gotten engaged. Edward had in his early life made sure to bury his mother with that ring, she'd loved both but even in the extravagance and expense of the ring he had now that she'd worn nearing the end of her life she'd always loved the one his father had scraped and battered to buy more.
As Edward stood there in his room holding his mother's engagement ring he tried to imagine it on Bella's small hand glistening with her dressed all in white. Watching her rosy cheeks and bottom lip chewing between her teeth as Charlie walked her down the aisle to him. Of turning to see Carlisle standing at his side as his best man and finally being together, married before god and for once truly doing this right.
"You're going to ask her right?" Alice said startling Edward almost as he turned to look at his almost leaping out of her skin sister. She was excited to see the ring out again. She'd seen countless visions of him deciding to ask Bella over the last year before they'd left and then again when they'd returned.
"You'd know the answer to that surely Alice" Edward teased trying to hold of talking to Alice about it knowing full well how little she had been able to see recently. He knew he shouldn't joke about it though, while it wasn't malicious intent with what he'd said he knew how deeply upsetting it was for Alice to be blind in situations she was used to seeing beforehand so she could guide or interfere however she deemed best.
"You'd have to make up your mind for me to even hope to see anything and that isn't likely with everything that's going on. I was lucky to see just you and Bella last night cuddling" Alice said while Edward could see the vision she'd had of him holding Bella in his arms both eyes closed to the world in bed together.
"I think my mind was made up the moment I laid eyes on her Alice" Edward said more seriously than, setting aside to keep Alice in the dark like he would have usually especially with her incapable of willing visions to appear.
"When Carlisle gave me this back a few weeks after I awoke to this life I remember thinking I'd never find anyone worthy of it. For what woman on this earth could love a monster, even then I knew on some level she'd have to be human. For all myself loathing of course I'd not fall in love with a vampire" Edward chuckled as he shook his head closing the box of his mother's engagement ring, of the ring he hoped Bella would accept as her own soon.
"Bella was everything you need. Kind, selfless, forgiving. Silent mind, human she's the counter to every argument you could have held against her. She's innocent and good and what you deserve" Alice said moving closer to Edward and resting a hand over his closed fist that held the ring in its palm.
"It's about time you made an honest woman of her too. You've been a bachelor far too long Edward time to settle down" Alice laughed softly as Edward smiled down at her crookedly.
"And it isn't the wrong time. With all I've done recently. With what I'm going to continue to do. Shouldn't I allow her the freedom to leave should she find herself unable to look past it?" Edward asked and even though he didn't want Alice to tell him he shouldn't try to tie Bella down he needed to hear that he was doing the right thing. He wanted this so much, wanted it more than anything.
"You've already made up your mind Edward" Alice grinned even wider then as Edward looked at her contemplating what she said and then nodding as he agreed. She'd not come here because Alice had seen nothing she'd come here because she'd seen that he'd decide on asking Bella, of course Alice wouldn't know the result in the answer because that rested on Bella. She'd always been against it in the past, she'd never had much belief in marriage before and had used many excuse to why it wasn't needed.
"You'll distract her so I can do this right then?" Edward asked Alice knowing if he was going to do this today he needed to talk to Charlie and Renee.
For all the teasing of him being old fashioned, he was a man of his own time period and he held this all very highly in regard of what was considered appropriate and respectful. If he wanted to ask Bella to marry him he'd need her parents blessing, he'd need to first ask them and he knew while they could say no he'd still ask but he'd at least need to speak with them first.
"Come on" Alice tip toed and pecked at Edward's cheek grinning and spinning away from him.
"If we get there soon enough we might catch her before she's decided what she's going to wear" Alice decided, though Edward knew that he'd need to remind his ever persistent sister that Bella would need to dress rather for comfort then fashion with her stitches still new and the wound still somewhat fresh they didn't want her irritating the injury.
Before Edward knew what hit him Alice had given him clothes to change into and they were already heading back towards the Swan home in Edward's Volvo. Alice was already making arrangements for what they'd want for the wedding and he didn't have the heart to explain to her that he doubted the wedding would take place in Forks. They still had both threats to deal with and they'd have to leave after that, there would be no choice in the matter or else risking exposure. Edward also knew Bella and he knew her complete loathing of being the centre of attention, so she'd not want something big he safely assumed. Edward was nervous most though on what Bella would say, they loved each other, they wanted to be together for eternity but she'd wanted that before but still held a very negative view of marriage. He could only hope that her mind had changed over the last few months that perhaps she'd come around to the idea of not only being his mate but his wife too. They'd be bound to each other then in both the supernatural world and the human one, it would be a final goodbye to Charlie and Renee also. To see Bella walk down the aisle to him to witness their daughter get married before they lost her, before they had to fake her death and have Bella vanish from their lives forever. Edward wished that there was some way around it knowing how it would hurt Bella, there wasn't though and he knew the sacrifice Bella was making to be with him. Edward could only be thankful Bella deemed him worth making those sacrifices for a life with him forever.
Edward pulled his car up behind Charlie's cruiser and found himself exhaling around his nerves. He'd faced down the threat of wolves without much of a thought, and yet here facing Charlie and Renee was worrying him. He'd known the lengths in which Charlie's opinion had come of him in the recent days since Bella being hospitalized. Edward wanted them to accept him. Wanted them to see him as worthy of their daughter, knowing that they trusted him with her it would certainly make him feel more comfortable knowing that at least when he took her away from them they'd at least been happy with them being together. He knew he'd never be able to explain to them that Bella was his one and only, they'd not be able to understand it in a human regard. Human's divorced, remarried and people at Bella's age marrying never lasted often both Charlie and Renee were examples of this. Edward couldn't explain to them that vampire's didn't divorce because they never fell out of love with their mate. It was ever lasting it was unconditional and unbreakable. It was till death in every literal sense of the word.
Edward tried to ignore Alice's amusement in the way he was dealing with this as she rolled her eyes and climbed out of his car ahead of him. Edward moved to join Alice as they stood on the Swan house front porch and Renee opened the door to them both smiling widely.
"Alice, Edward it's great to see you this morning" Renee grinned and moved to hug Alice and then even moved to Edward, pulling him down into a hug too.
"Bella said you were going to be introducing her to the rest of your family. You've got cousins in town?" Renee said opening the door wide and waving the both of them inside the house.
"Yes, our Aunt and Uncle have brought our cousin to visit. They wanted to be close by if we needed anything while Bella was recover" Alice filled in as Edward nodded and smiled still trying to form the words in his mind of what he was about to say.
"That's very nice of them. It really makes me happy knowing Bella has a big extended family here when I'm not around. I worry, leaving her and Charlie alone up here" She said and it was evident from her mind that she missed having Bella around, while she'd never want to take Bella away from Forks now she did regret ever letting her leave. Renee felt like she was missing large milestones of her daughter's life by not being present for them.
"Bella went upstairs to change you can wait down here for her. We've got coffee if you want a cup or I can grab you kids a soda" Renee offered as she walked in the direction of the kitchen both Edward and Alice following behind closely. Charlie looked up from the table still drinking his own coffee as he nodded and smiled at both Edward and Alice but pretty much stayed quiet.
"I was actually hoping I could speak to you and Charlie privately if that's okay?" Edward asked finally breaking his own silence he knew he wouldn't have much time and so he'd need to speak to them now. He turned to look at Alice letting her know he'd need her to go and distract Bella at least for a short time.
"I'll just go see if Bella needs help getting ready" Alice excused herself sending a mental good luck, to Edward through her thoughts as she skipped away from the kitchen and headed up the stairs to Bella's room.
"What is it sweetie?" Renee said taking a seat just across from Charlie as Edward looked between them both now watching him closely as he stood there. Edward sat down then across from the both of them, looking from Renee the easily more accepting of the two then Charlie but he knew Renee's complete desire to have Bella act young and free of responsibility might not work in his favour. Renee may be more against the marriage then Charlie.
"I wanted to speak to you both privately because I was hoping that I could have your permission. You're blessing to ask Bella to marry me" Edward said quickly not wanting to leave them waiting for him to get it out.
"I wanted you both to know that I love Bella very much. That I'd do anything to make her happy, it's all I want in the world to make her happy. With everything that has happened, it's only shown me just how much I want Bella to be mine for the rest of our lives. I don't want to waste a moment knowing that I've already found the love of my life. I know you both may have concerns but I just wanted you both to know that I'd always take care of her. I'd always give her whatever she wanted. I'd spend every day of my life trying to give her the type of life you both want for her" Edward found himself almost rambling on his own words as he tried to keep eye contact with the both of them as he asked for their blessing to ask Bella to marry him.
Edward found that he'd made both Charlie and Renee speechless. Charlie's mind had almost gone completely silent in his own surprise where Renee was thinking about how she'd expected this to be coming. Edward even saw the memory Renee had of this morning of Bella giggling under her sheets as she'd gone to check on her and Renee curiously wondered if Edward had already asked Bella during the night. That thought shocked Edward, as he found that he'd dropped his wallet amongst the sheets of Bella's bed while he'd been lying with her and Renee had found it and deduced that he had spent the night with Bella. Thankfully Charlie was unaware of this.
"Very brave...first he stays the night. Then he asks both of us straight if he can have Bella's hand in marriage. So sweet, and young. So very handsome how does Bella say no... I doubt she does..." Renee's mind humoured at the last part not believing for a second that her daughter was possibly going to be wearing white on her wedding day.
Renee couldn't imagine a world where someone who looked like Edward hadn't already seduced her daughter in the time they had been in a relationship and marriage seemed to only prove her suspicions.
"Are you sure Edward? You and Bella are so young I know you both love each other very much but there isn't any rush. You could both wait a few years" Renee said not wanting to upset Edward knowing if Bella had already said yes that she'd risk ruining the relationship she had with her daughter if she hurt Edward. It wasn't that she was against them marrying but she couldn't help but look at them both and see herself and Charlie getting married too young and making so many mistakes. She wanted better not just for Bella but for Edward too.
"I'm completely sure Renee. I... when I found her. I thought I was going to have her taken from me. That I'd never get to tell her how much I wanted to be with her how much I loved her. Every day in that hospital was hell not knowing and then even after not knowing if she'd want me. I know that you're looking out for Bella. I know your worried about our age but I believe that Bella like me is a constant creature" Edward said using words he'd heard Charlie think in the past, he'd often heard Charlie referring to himself and Bella as constant creatures that was the Swan way they fell in love and that was that. Charlie hearing that finally opened up his own mind looking to Edward then, he'd certainly come around to having Edward around and while he wasn't going to deny worrying he knew that it came down to Bella and what she wanted. Charlie knew she'd want Edward, knew that if Edward asked his daughter, Bella would say yes. If he and Renee said no now, he knew Bella would eventually hear about it and that she'd be heartbroken by it, devastated by them not giving Edward their blessing.
"You'll take good care of my little girl" Charlie said more as a statement then a question as he cleared his throat the thought again of Bella as a little thing with pig tails and no front teeth filling his mind.
"With my life Charlie I swear" Edward rushed out
"You've got my blessing. We've had our rough parts you and I but I believe you'd do anything for Bella. I won't stand in the way, I agree that you're both young but if this is what you want I'll support that" Charlie said surprising Renee more than Edward, he'd seen the change that Bella's injuries had had on the man. How he'd known that opening himself up was the only way of salvaging his relationship with his daughter.
"Well I certainly can't be seen as the stricter parent. I wish you'd both wait but I don't for a second think you and Bella are going to drift apart. You have my blessing too" Renee said knowing that if Charlie would accept this that she'd be fine with it, she'd always believed Charlie to have a good gut instinct on most things he was a cop after all.
"Thank you Charlie... Renee it means a lot to me" Edward said relieved as he ran his fingers over the grain of wood on the kitchen table that his hands rested on as he exhaled a little and both Renee and Charlie chuckled a little at his expense.
"Do you have a ring?" Renee asked now her mind now accepting that Edward was going to ask Bella to marry him was excited at the thought of what would need to be planned for a wedding. She wondered about what Bella would want to wear for her dress, what kind of music they'd dance to as their first dance.
"Yes" Edward nodded then reaching into his pocket hearing both Alice and Bella upstairs above him still and pulling it out and flipping open the old velvet box to let both Charlie and Renee see the engagement ring.
"It was my birth mother's. She left it to me to give to the woman I'd spend my life with" Edward said as Renee gasped covering her mouth as she looked at it and Charlie gave out a low whistle.
"That's one hell of a ring kid. Bells isn't going to know what to do with herself" Charlie said impressed that Edward would have anything in his possession worth the kind of money that he assumed the ring would cost even knowing how well off the Cullen family was.
"It's beautiful. Old fashioned but it'll suit Bella perfectly. Your mother must have had very good taste" Renee said grinning looking at it a little awe struck.
"Expensive taste" Charlie said a little teasingly as Renee turned and smacked at his arm worried that Charlie would offend Edward by saying such a thing.
"It was in my family for a long time. Since the early 1900's passed on to the first son from the mother. It was actually my mother's second engagement ring. She loved it but always preferred her first ring over this" Edward said a little wistfully talking about his biological parents who he loved and missed, Elizabeth and Edward Masen they would always be a large part of him even though he was no longer human.
"I'm sure they'd both be very proud of the man you are Edward" Renee reached forward across the table and squeezing Edward's cold hand in reassurance and he couldn't help but smile at hopefully his future mother in law. Now all he had to do was ask Bella the question and hopefully she'd say yes, and make all of those dreams he'd long once believed impossible become reality. He'd never been one for strange superstitions but he found himself crossing his fingers under the table hoping beyond hope that she'd say yes and all would be right. He hoped Renee was right and that somewhere his mother and father could see him and he hoped he had made them proud, he at least knew they would approve of the woman he loved. They both would have loved Bella.