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If I haven't said it before, Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer not to me. I own Valerie/ Janet/and Ryan.
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Chapter 11
My thoughts begin to race…back to the kitchen…Edward said something very important in the kitchen before we came out here… "Dad, I truly love him and trust him…with my life and my heart. Please, trust my faith in him…He 'fully intends' to never leave me again." I plead glancing at Edward. "I just know it…"

He glances at me with a raised eyebrow, but gets the idea. I see him focus on Charlie. "Sir, would it help convince you if I tell you that my intentions are totally honorable? I have marriage in mind for us, sir, eventually. Not for at least a year or so but I have already pledged my heart and life to making Bella happy. I'm ready to make it official whenever she wants." The pack and rest of the Cullens join us silently. Jasper and Emmett are looking at Edward strangely but I'll think about that later.

My eyes widen with hope as I look at my father's confused/ surprised face. "Is that what will make you happy, Bella? Do you want to marry this…him? Because I only want what will make you happy." Charlie's eyes are filled with distress.

Alice slips out of the room…A tear rolls down my cheek as I nod. I glance over at Edward then back at my dad and whisper. "Yes, Dad, being married to Edward would make me very happy." I watch as my father appears to argue with himself for a long moment. I'm tempted to hold my breath as I wait but I know I would most likely pass out.

Charlie speaks briskly, so his voice takes on a slightly menacing tone. "Ok…these are the rules…You live here with her only if you're officially engaged. My Bella is not a cheap hussy. You get me? That means physical proof of your connection… a ring in other words…and I have a few more conditions. If you leave her for more then a weekend trip with your folks during the engagement… It's over and I never want you to darken her doorway again. D'ya understand?" Edward nods. "If I hear that you've done anything to upset her as bad as it was the last time, I'll come out here and take her away and then shoot you for good measure. Got it?" My love nods again. "The engagement lasts for a year or more, then you can get married… but not before." He thinks for a minute. "And you will come see me for all major holidays same as always. I don't care if it's for 2 days or a week, but I want to see you… both… and that's about it I think. Is that agreeable to both of you?"

I grin and hug him. "Yes, Dad. Thank you so much, I love you!"

Edward shakes his hand. "Sir, I promise you will not regret giving me this chance." I start to get up. My thoughts are trying to sort through all the craziness that just happened, when Edward catches my hand. "There is one more step to this process, I believe…Indulge me, love…" He keeps me on the couch and motions to Rosalie, who sits at the piano and begins my lullaby. He takes a small 'something' from Alice, who then sits at my side. Then the reason for my existence and love of my life kneels at my feet with a small black box in hand… as he places the box on my knee he says: "Bella, before you, my life was like a moonless night with few points of light and reason. When you came along, you lit up my world, changing my life so entirely that I now feel like I live in the sunlight. You are the best thing that ever happened to me…When I left… it was like I had a blindfold on. Those few points of light that I used to see were still there but I couldn't see them. Bella, you are my world and I promise to love and cherish you for the rest of my existence. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" He opens the box, but I'm too busy getting lost in his topaz eyes to look at the ring.

"Yes, Edward… Yes, of course, I'll marry you." I smile with tears in my eyes as he slips the ring onto my left hand. *He's finally going to be truly mine…* I think as he takes me into his arms…Our lips meet in a sweet, chaste kiss.

As my feet hit the carpeted floor, Alice sweeps me into a hug whispering, "You know I'm planning your wedding right?" Before I can answer, I'm being passed from Cullen to Cullen. Rose and Esme are first, then Emmett, who picks me up and spins us so fast I'm dizzy. Jasper and Carlisle keep me steady.

My new 'father-in-law-to-be' whispers into my ear, "Finally, I can officially welcome you to the family, Bella…"

I kiss his cheek as Valerie comes to hug me. My step-siblings are next; Leah just shakes my hand, but Seth kisses my forehead. Finally, I stand face to face with Jacob Black…Alpha wolf - leader of his pack…the man who put the pieces back together for me during the darkest days of my life… my ex-husband… and the father of the only child that I will ever conceive. We have shared so much in the last 9 years that can never be erased. I see the emotion in his eyes… the distress that he can't hide from me. I know what he's going through … When he imprinted right in front of me, I had to deal with the same feelings and thoughts. *Thank God that Edward can't read my thoughts right now.* "Jacob, I don't know exactly what to say…You're my best friend and so much more…You loved me and protected me over the years. We've both found our soul-mates… our true loves …I'm not a member of your pack but I hope I'm still a member of your family…"

"Jacob…I just want to say… Thank you." Edward's voice sounds rough and emotional. I turn to face him. "You took care of her while I wasn't able to. You kept her alive…when I… didn't. I'll never be able to express how grateful I am for that. I owe you… so much."

Jake nods at Edward but takes the opportunity to hug me. "Bells, you know I'll always love you. I loved you as a husband for a few good years… Now it has become brotherly love, so you'll never get rid of me." He looks up at my fiancé. "Never."

Edward nods and they stare at each other for a moment longer before he takes his place at his piano. Edward plays Esme's favorite tune and Jacob decides to dance with me before passing me off to my dad. We had learned ballroom dancing in college just before we got engaged… I remember the day Jake proposed…

Flashback:
We'd been dating for about a year and a half. We were walking along LaPush beach, holding hands. He led us over to the driftwood tree and sat down to watch the waves and rest for a few minutes before he turned to me and said, "Hey Bells…? We should get married… What do you think?"

I recall the look in his eyes…Even as I said 'yes', we both knew I was wishing it was another voice saying those special words, 'Marry me, Bella…', and another pair of arms encircling my waist, and another pair of lips kissing mine. At the time, perhaps it wasn't the best idea to marry him, but I knew my love for him would grow.

Soon enough, Jake was in my every day thoughts as much as Edward was. Today my wish came true…
End flashback…

Looking into Jacob's eyes now, I can tell he knows. "Bella Black, I want you to know that I will never regret any of my time with you. I hope you feel the same. We were good together, Bells. I was happy while it lasted and I think you were happy too. Don't tell me if I'm wrong about that. After Charlie's asleep, you and the bloodsuckers meet me and the pack outside on the porch. We need to talk about stuff."

He quickly hands me off to Charlie and I sway with him to the music. Edward smiles at me from his seat at the piano and mouths 'I love you'. I wink at him.

Carlisle and Esme start to dance as well. I let Charlie off the hook then because there's not enough room in the living-room for more than two couples to dance at a time. Alice and Jasper take that as their cue to dance. Carlisle and Esme sit just as Em and Rose take their turn and I take a human moment. I hear voices from my room as I leave my bathroom. I stop at the door and peek in. Jake and my dad went to get his gun from where he left it. Jake sees me in the reflection of the mirror above my dresser. I put a finger to my lips and he looks away. He picks the gun up and is looking at it. He opens it and says to my dad, "It's empty…"

Charlie smirks. "What, do you really think I'd have shot the apparent love of my only daughter's life? Not to mention… I'm a cop. I'll shoot perps in the line of duty and in defense of a life, but I just wanted to put the fear of God and Charlie Swan into the undeserving man my Bella has given her heart to."

Jake gives the gun back to my dad with a grin and clears his throat. "I hope it worked, dad… I hope it worked."