*******************************************************************************************************

AN: There has been some concern shown for the level of Edward's morality in this story. I hope that this chapter will explain somewhat the things that must have been going through his mind when he decided to change her and as he made love with Bella while unmarried. Please realize that they are not excuses, just an explanation. My personal views on the matter of pre-marital sex, while not asked for, will be made known in another Author's Note at the close of this chapter.

********************************************************************************************************


Chapter 10
I dawdle in the kitchen. After doing as I'd asked, Edward watches me as I text Jake, make the coffee and put some donuts out for dad. The back door opens. Alice and Jasper walk right past us. "I'll keep Charlie busy for a bit… You two need to talk about the last few hours…Carlisle will be here soon so make it short, sweet and to the point, Edward."

He nods and faces me. "I'm sure you have questions… or concerns… Talk to me Bella. What are you thinking?"

"Well…I guess, I was wondering about…well, we never got past second base while we were dating, Edward…I'm SO not complaining and I don't want to discourage more of that behavior but… I am curious as to what happened in the last 9 years that would suddenly make it all different? The love-making… The changing me… You were so reluctant 9 years ago…" I speak softly but with a tone in my voice that betrays my awkwardness.

He takes an unnecessary breath. "Well, I suppose it's partially the fact of you being older and knowing your own mind, heart, body and… soul. 9 years ago, I guess, I thought of you as someone who needed to be 'taken care of' or 'guided'… almost a child." He looks at me apologetically. "At 18, you had no knowledge or under-standing of yourself or either of our worlds. Now, not only have you gotten that, you've lived in the slightly mythical world of the wolf pack and had more human experiences than most humans. The love I had for you then and the love I feel for you now are different only in that now it feels deeper. Yes, we were always soul-mates, but now it feels like I didn't lose my soul when I became a vampire… I lost it when I left you. Now that I have you back, I feel like my soul has returned to me. Did I ever tell you how just realizing that I loved you changed the very fabric of my life?" He stopped to see my nod before continuing. "I believe that leaving you had a similar affect. These instances have psychologically changed me. I guess I just feel like you're an adult now…and have a better idea of what you're getting yourself into… I would only want it to be me who turns you. I wouldn't want it to be someone else who maybe doesn't care for you as much as I do." His face holds a tenderness I know he reserves only for me. I consider this silently as he slowly comes close. His hand brushes a strand of hair back. His lips touch mine softly before he continues. "As for uhmmm…how close we got and my disregard of the boundaries I kept us to in the past… The reason we never got past 'second base' is basically that I didn't want to hurt you and I also wanted you to be fully committed to me before we… and I always harbored the dream of being married to you. I realize that this is no excuse but… I guess, I was overwhelmed by several things which over-rode my previous values… Your ability to forgive is inspiring… The way you have repeatedly declared your love and devotion to me (both in public and in private) gives me such a powerful feeling of love and dedication. Also an intense desire overcame me, not for your blood or body. This was a desire to physically show you how much you mean to me. I needed you to know that you came before me and my issues…" He hardens his gaze into my eyes. I know he's serious about what he's about to say. "Make no mistake, Isabella, I fully intend to marry you…"

"Good…" I smirk at his surprised expression. "Because it's time for us to face the music…" I pour coffee into a mug and carry it in to Charlie. "Good morning, Dad. You obviously remember Edward. Jake… well, I don't know where he got off to …I texted him while I made the coffee, so he should be around any time now. I'm sure Alice told you but Dr. Cullen will be here soon. Uhmmm, Dad… what are you doing here? I thought I told you I can take care of myself…"

He took a sip of coffee and a deep breath. Ignoring me, he starts to rant by pointing his right index finger in Edward's face. "What the Hell do you think you're doing here? I can't believe you have the nerve to even talk to her, not to mention put a bunch of your stuff in her house! How the Hell did you talk yourself back into her life?? I almost can't believe I ever thought you were a good guy!" Edward's face had a strange look. "Yeah, you and Bella started dating and I thought: 'Heck, Dr. C is a good kind of guy so why not let his son date my Bella…Edward has got to be better then half the crazy yahoos in this town'…The 'Phoenix incident' happened then and I began to have my doubts about you… But when you just LEFT HER and your family left town too with no notice or contact… Damn you, she fell apart on me, and it was Jacob and the boys from LaPush that saved her." Charlie's face is an awful red color. "Edward, you have been nothing but trouble for her! You don't deserve her. She'd be best off if she'd just stay away from you and your whole family!" He turned his finger my way now. "I thought made it clear you needed to stop seeing any of the Cullens!"

I'll bet Edward is getting quite a few images from Dad's memory. He's staying stoic and silent with his eyes watching the floor for Dad's whole speech, but I'm starting to get angry now. I stand up and with a hand on my hip, I answer back at him. "And I thought I made it perfectly clear on the phone when I reminded you that I am 27 years old and I can and will take care of myself. You don't have the right to push some of the best people I've ever known out of my life just because of some misunderstanding that's over 9 years old!" I huff. "Damn it, Dad! I didn't argue when you 'got over' Mom and married Sue…I let Jacob have Val! And you know, it's not that I didn't still want him…" I see Edward wince. The doorbell rings and we hear Valerie yell that she'll get it. "I did…do still love him. We told you Jake's secret so you'd understand the divorce. The fact that he had imprinted was and is a wonderful thing. I don't begrudge you the loves of your lives. All I ask is that I get to live my life… with the people I choose. I see you every major holiday and that won't stop just because I'm with Edward, but he is one of the few people in this world that I would walk through fire for… other than you and Mom. Do you understand me yet, Dad?" I point at the love of my life. "He will never ask me to forget about my family... He'll never even ask me to forget about Jacob or the baby I lost. Edward would probably even subject himself to your attitude whenever we visit Forks to see you just because he loves me! I have never gotten over him, Dad! I love him too…so much…and I forgave him a long time ago!" I sigh. I look my father dead in the eye. "I need you to finally do the same. Forgive and forget, dad…Please…"

"Or we'll lose her, Charlie… We'll lose her forever if we don't." Jake walks into the room and stands next to me. "That's why I helped her 'convince' him to come back. See… I found out why they left in the first place. It seems that Edward was being hassled by some dangerous characters from his past. He thought Bells would be better off without him around drawing troublemakers. He knows now that he should've just come and told you about them... But one of the kids had ties to a cop so he really didn't know who to trust. I've been watching them together Charlie. I think she really would be willing to give us all up for him…if he asked her to…"

Carlisle has a very serious face as he steps forward to greet Charlie. "Chief, I just want to start out by saying that I trusted Edward's judgment in this. He really is a good man and I truly thought Bella would be able to move on if Edward and the rest of us left. Perhaps we should've told her we were going… if not where, but the past can't be changed. Bella is an extraordinary young lady. She has forgiven all of us… not just my son. Now, they've decided to move in together, and they are both happy with this arrangement. I hope you can find it in your heart to give them your blessing as we have."

Jake places a hand on my dad's arm. "Charlie…Dad… Please… He has promised her… and me that he'll never hurt her again. I believe him. He's said… Well, Edward, I think you should be the one to tell him exactly what your promise to Bella is…"

I look up into Edward's face as he stands up to be formal about it. "Bella, Chief Swan… I swear to you… that I will never be the cause of Bella's pain again. I love her dearly, sir. I've promised her that I will never leave her side again, and I mean it. I've made plans to stick around. Bella is my one and only love… I've told her 'I'm sorry' and I've told her that I don't deserve her forgiveness… But Jacob is right. Her opinion is what matters, and she will not be happy if I'm not in her life. I've given up believing otherwise. Chief Swan, your daughter is my life, sir. Please don't forgive me for my sake…but for hers."

My father looks like he's wavering. What would give him that last nudge…?

**********************************************************************************************************
AN: My personal view on pre-martial sex is that it's a case to case thing. I, personally, was not mature enough for the complications it presented. I was a virgin til the first night of my honeymoon, as was my hubby. Those of you out there who choose or chose differently, I will not judge or persecute you in the least. Perhaps it was the right decision for you... Perhaps not... Either way, I hope for happiness for everyone.

*********************************************************************************************************