Chapter Nine

I just looked at him for a minute, my eyes scanning over his perfect feature: the sculpted chest, perfect jaw, beautiful golden eyes, fiery lips. I remember each time when he would touch me, hold me. At first, yes, we had gone through a rough spot in our relationship. But he loved me, and he loved Mason and Parker and we loved him back, and to me, what was the only thing that really mattered.

"Yes!"

With a grin, Edward placed the beautiful diamond ring upon my finger, stood up, and then enveloped me in a hug. I burrowed my face into his shoulder, grinning, as he spun me around. When he placed me down, I glanced around at like large foyer, at the large glass chandelier hanging above me.

"This is really our place?"

I looked at him, still smiling widely, and he nodded. "Only the best for my fiancé," he said.

Again, I glanced down at the diamond on my finger. I felt the same tingling feeling that I always get when thinking of Edward erupt throughout my body, like electricity surging throughout a circuit. I wanted to hold him and kiss him and make love to him like I've never done before.

"I love the way that sounds," I said, grinning. "Fiancé."

"Shall we get the boys and see if they like it as much as we do?" Edward asked.

I nodded. "Absolutely!"

We slipped in the house and got Mason and Parker without drawing too much attention. I had wondered if Alice had seen mine and Edward's engagement in her head before now, but since she was gone out when we got inside, there was no way of really telling. Besides, even if she had, she would keep it a secret. Alice is like that.

Mason stirred in his sleep a little as I picked him up and placed him on my hip. His head fell onto my shoulder and he rubbed his eyes tiredly with his fists. "Mommy?" he asked, yawning. Edward reached down and picked up little Parker, who stayed asleep as Edward wrapped him up in a blanket and tucked him into his arms. "Where is we going?"

"Mommy and Daddy have a surprised for you and Parker," I told him, kissing his head lightly. "Can you wake up a little and get your coat on?"

Mason yawned again, but then nodded his head. I put him down and he lazily walked over to the other side of the room and grabbed his coat off of the rocking chair. Then he brought it back over to me, and I kneeled down in front of him.

"What is the swurprise?" he asked as I slipped one of his arms into a coat.

"If we told you that, it wouldn't be a surprise," Edward said, as he gently swayed back and forth with Parker in his arms.

I kissed Mason's nose. "Exactly." Then I stood up and reached down. Mason reached up, and I swung him up and placed him back on my hip. He put his head back down on my shoulder and held on tight. "You going to get Parker another few blankets? It's freezing outside."

"Of course." Edward walked over to the change table and placed Parker down. He was wearing a little jumper with red cars on it. Edward took several baby blankets from the crib and wrapped parker up in a swaddle. Then he grabbed Parker's hat and placed it on his head. With one final thick wool blanket, he brought Parker back to his chest.

"Now, let's go get that surprise," I said.

Mason fought sleep the entire way to the house, and Parker awoke halfway there and started to scream. His lungs were clearly getting a major workout.

Mason covered his ears. "Make him stop!"

I laughed and bounced Mason a little. "Parker's just cold, that's all." I placed Mason down and then swung off my jacket. I had a thick wool sweater on underneath, so the cold didn't affect me. I walked over to Edward and extended the blanket. "Wrap him up in his. It should help." When Edward wrapped Parker up, he stopped crying, and instead whimpered the rest of the way to the cottage.

At the front door, Mason looked around. "What's this?"

"This," I said, twisting the knob, "is our new house."

Inside was warm and lit with orange candles, making it look very warm and vibrant. Mason's eyes went wide and he stepped over the threshold. I held his hand, stepping over it with him, Edward behind us.

"We lib here?"

I laughed. "Yes, we live her now, sweetheart."

"I really like it," Mason said, then he yawned again. "But can I go back to sweep now?"

"Just a minute," Edward said with a smile. "We have to show you you're new room. You get a room to yourself now – you don't have to share with Parker anymore!"

"'Kay," Mason said tiredly, rubbing his eyes with his tiny fists. God, how much I loved him. And Parker. And Edward. And the rest of the Cullen's too, for being so supportive and understanding.

Edward lead up upstairs, where it was emaculate and gorgeous, just like downstairs. Lined on the walls were pictures of me and Mason, Parker, and Edward, along with some of the family. Finally, we get to the end of the hallway, where a large white door has the word MASON painted in blue on it. Across from it, the same door is had the name PARKER painted on it in a gorgeous forest green color.

Edward opened Mason's door first, and we all stepped in. It was the same blue as his name on the door, and the furniture was wonderful. He had everything he could need: a crib, dressers, a changing table. I looked at Mason, who was looking around with an approving look on her face.

"Do you like it, Mason?" I asked.

Mason nodded and smiled. "Yes. But can sweep now? Me is tired."

I sat down on the rocking chair and began to help him take off his coat and shoes. I looked at Edward. "It's beautful. It's just screams..."

"Alice," Edward said with a chuckle. "It screams Alice. She designed it. Amazing, huh?" He gently rocked Parker.

"Indeed." I lifted up Mason and helped him remove his pants so he was in his diaper and shirt. The house was warm, so I didn't want to put pajamas on him. I walked over and placed him in his crib, watchng as he smiled and snuggled into the blankets.

"Goodnight, Buddy," Edward said, and I leaned down to kiss him goodnight. Then Edward turned to me and said, "Let's check out Parker's room."

We walked into Parker's room, which was done just as beautifully. I was amazed at how good the rooms were done, and I knew that Alice had to have been a part of it. It was decorated just like Mason's, but instead of a blue theme, the theme was green. It was so nice, and wonderful, and amazing. I loved Edward so much for doing this.

"Let's see if Parker wants to check out his new bed," Edward said, smiling. He walked over and placed Parker in his crib, and Parker just stayed asleep, looking very comfortably and content. I smiled and then leaned down to kiss Parker's cheek.

"While the boys sleep, let's go tell the family our news," I said to Edward.

He nodded excitedly. "It's been really hard to keep my thoughts sheild from Alice. She may already have had the hunch that I was going to propose... but if she did, I daresay she kept it to herself. You know Alice, she isn't really the one to ruin a surprise." Edward chuckled and grabbed my hand, and together we walked downstairs.

Edward called his family, and within a minute they were all the door, asking me how I liked the house.

"I love it," I told them honestly. Everyone smiled big, and Alice hugged me. When we parted, I looked at Edward, who nodded. "We have some news." So far, I kept my left hand covered by my right so that no one would notice. By the look of antisipation on Alice's face, I could tell that she already knew. But that was okay.

"News?" Esme asked, looking a little confused or maybe just playing stubborn.

"Edward proposed tonight," I said, holding up my hand now for everyone to see. "And I said yes, of course." I laughed and so did everyone else. Edward and I were launched into a series of congratulations and compliments on the ring, and I soaked it all in, loving the feeling of being so happy.

I had my babies, my family, and now, finally, I had my Prince Charming.

Carlisle, Jasper and Emmett all congratulated Edward for finally getting up the nerve to ask me to marry him, and they planned on a celebratory hunting trip soon. Alice, Rose, and Esme told me that they would help with the planning of the wedding, and that the honeymoon would be on them. It was, in one word, perfect.

When everyone left, and it was just Edward and I, we decided to lay in bed together and bask in the awesomeness of our life. I cuddled up close to him, feeling our bodies so close together. God, how much I loved this man. I haven't been happier.

"I love you," I told him, kissing his stomach. I trailed kisses from his stomach to his jaw, then from his jaw to his lips. He wrapped his arms around me and gripped me tighter, closer to him, and I felt a fluttering in my stomach. He kissed me passionatly, trailing kisses down my breasts, along my stomach, and then back up before finding my lips and kissing those roughly. I moaned in delight.

"I love you, too, Bella. I always have." Edward kissed me again, and I smiled. "I know I've made mistakes in the past, but I just know that this was mean to be. We were meant to be together forever, and I love you so, so, so much. Don't ever forget that."

"I won't," I said with a giggle. "I'll never forget that."

He chuckled. "Good," he said, then he kissed me again.

We kissed all night, and the next day when daylight broke through the window, I was up and tending to Mason and Parker. After they were both changed, I headed downstairs to the den to have some time with the boys. I was still getting used to the huge house, and felt kind of disoriented at first, but it didn't take long for me to get straight and figure out where everything was. Edward had stashed all their toys in a huge closet off of the den.

I placed a play mat on the floor for Parker, and then set Mason down on the floor with some blocks and toy cars. He loved those, and built up towers before ramming them down with his cars. He was such a boy, and it made me smile.

Edward had told me earlier that he was going to go out and hunt. He had asked me to go, but I told him that I would stay here with the boys instead, and enjoy the first morning in our new house. He smiled and then kissed me, and then was gone.

I was just about to get the boys some food when the doorbell rang. I figured it must've been Alice or someone, so I got up and answered. The door was barely opened before Tanya punched me in the face, knocking me backwards and nearly taking me off of my feet.

I barely had any reaction time, but my vampire instints kicked in quickly enough before she got the chance to take another swing. I reached forward and grabbed her hair, yanking her down with my strength. She had obviously underestimated my abilities as a newborn. She got up in a flash and then was behind me, reaching for my throat. I managed to swivel and kick her hard in the stomach – hard enough for her to let our a scream of agony. But that only lasted a moment before she jumped on top of me, hands still reaching around my neck so she could probably snap my neck and take off my head. For a moment I felt useless and almost gave up, but then I thought about my kids in the other room, and had a sudden burst of energy. They were not going to be anywhere near my death site if I had anything to do about it.

I pushed her off of me, using my legs and arms, just far enough and hard enough so that she didn't damage anything in her landing. I got up in a flash, just as arms wrapped around my waist, stopping me.

"Stop it! Stop it, now!"

It was Edward's voice, and he was talking to Tanya. I still tried to lash forward, but Edward held me back with his strength. Tanya didn't seem to want to stop, but she didn't want to attack me when I was clearly vunerable. Going after me only when I was weak would make her look stupid, and she didn't want that.

I calmed down, and Edward released me slowly.

"'What is going on?" Edward demanded.

Just as Tanya was about to speak, the front door opened, and Alice rushed in. She looked at Edward. "I saw everything," she told him. "I got here as soon as I could."

"Take the children," Edward told her. Alice nodded and then went into the den. She came back with Mason following alongside her, Parker in her arms asleep. Edward gave her a nod, and they shared a moment of communication between the two of them. "Thank you."

Alice left, and I knew my kids were in a safer place.

"Now," Edward said, "I want you to tell me what is going on."

"She attacked me," I said. "When I opened the door, she came in and attacked me."

Edward growled at Tanya. "Is that true?" he demanded.

"Yes," Tanya said unflinchingly.

"Outside," Edward said. "Now."

We all went outside, and the morning air was crisp. Wind blew my hair around my face. I knew Edward just wanted to go outside so we could seperate ourselves from Tanya even more and get her out of my house, but Tanya had other plans.

She went for Edward first. She was fast and momentarily caught him offguard, but it didn't take long for him to fight back. He flicked her off of him, making her fly backwards and land far away. This gave Edward enough time to tell me to help restrain her.

So I did.

When she started to run back, I braced myself, ready for a fight. When she came back and rammed into me, it didn't do what she had wanted. I stayed on both two feet and pushed her away. Edward then grabbed her by the shoulders and flung her on the ground, sitting on her chest, his legs on either side of her stomach. He looked back at me, and said, "The family is on the way down. I told Alice. They will take care of her."

I was shaking, I realized. And, just as Edward had said, the rest of the family came down. Well, minus Esme, who was probably watching the boys back at the house, away from all this madness. Emmett and Jasper got Tanya first, and then Rose did what was needed to stop Tanya. Tanya's body feel limp on the ground, and then it was done.

"We're going to take her body somewhere in the mountains to catch on fire. We don't need any of this around the children."Carlisle nodded at us, and then everyone was gone as quickly as they came here, taking Tanya's dismembered body with them.

"I... I..."

"Sshhh," Edward said soothingly, coming over to bring me into his embrace. "It's okay. It's not your fault. She had it coming. She had to go. She could have hurt the children if she didn't stop her."

I nodded to his chest. "I know. Thank you."

"Anything to keep you safe, my love. You and Mason and Parker, I would do anything for you guys." Edward kissed my forehead. When he parted, he smiled. "Let's go inside. We have a wedding to plan."

A/N- I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING! I feel terrible for not updating in so long, but I'm updating now, and I hope you all like it! I'm not going to give you my list of excuses, as they would probably take up the entire page and bore you to death. I'm just going to say that I'm sorry, and I am committed to finishing this story and As You Wish by January. Or, maybe February. But soon, I promise! Then I can start something new and exciting! Please review!