A/N: Honestly this is kind of another fluff chapter. But that happens towards the end of a story. And this is the end of the story. I feel as though it's come to a natural end without me trying to end it. And that tells me not to draw it out. When people try to extend a story past a natural ending, it just seems too forced. This will not be the last chapter – well in a way it will be. You'll be seeing an epilogue after this one. Fingers crossed within the week it will be posted.

I hope you enjoy fluff – no lemons though. Sorry :-(

Chapter 13

EPOV

As I lay here in my…our…bed holding this amazing creature while she sleeps, I can't help but replay what just happened.

How is any of it possible? I'm not even going to lie; I was scared shitless when I realized what Jane's power was. I knew Bella would be protected – or at least I assumed her shield would protect her own self, but what about the rest of us?

As soon as Jane focused her mind on Alice, I panicked…a vampire actually panicked. My instinct was to jump in front of her and try to shield her, which of course wouldn't have worked. Well I guess it's possible it would have worked by keeping Alice free of pain, but I would have been on the ground.

But then I realized none of us were in pain. None of us were on the ground and Jane looked pissed off. More than pissed off really. Something was wrong, or right depending on how you looked at it. That's when Bella walked out of the house.

I was hoping she would stay hidden, of course I also knew that it was not possible. I was surprised she waited that long to appear actually.

I was still confused as to why Jane's ability wasn't working but then I saw the look on Bella's face and then she spoke to Aro.

Bella, my Bella, was keeping us protected with her shield. She had somehow expanded it to cover all of us. We were safe.

I only half paid attention to the following conversation. I couldn't pull myself away from Bella long enough to really listen except when Aro told the story about Bella's mother.

But I can sure as hell tell you, I snapped to attention when Bella started threatening him and walking towards him.

What the hell was she thinking?

Her approach spurred Aro forward to start the attack he had originally planned. I was his first target. He was resorting to Felix since Jane turned out to be useless against us. But then before Felix could even approach, he was thrown into the forest. In the next second, Jane as well had been thrown.

All I could think about was how incredibly…sexy Bella was. She did all of this. She single handedly fought Aro and his two goons.

Standing by himself in our yard, facing eight vampires without his backup, Aro relented to Bella and told her everything. She could have killed him, even after Jane and Felix joined us, but she spared his life. She spared it and did the best thing she could possibly have done. She left him with a threat. One he knew she'd follow through on one day. She told him to tell the world who we were and how strong we were.

She protected us for eternity.

She called us her family and swore to protect us for eternity.

I looked back down at the sleeping goddess in my arms and smiled from ear to ear. I couldn't help the thought that came to mind.

My girlfriend is invincible. Now that she's learned the strength of her powers, she is literally invincible.

She's amazing. She's beautiful. She's perfect. And she's my girlfriend.

Girlfriend doesn't sound good enough though.

She's my everything for eternity. I hope she's prepared for eternity. I know it's too early in our relationship to be thinking about this, but eventually she will be my wife.

A contented sigh escaped my mouth at the thought of that.

"What are you so happy about?" Bella said with a grin on her face. I hadn't realized she woke up. Hell she probably had been reading my mind, judging by the look on her face she probably had.

"How long have you been awake?"

"About a minute I suppose." She shrugged. "Why?"

"Were you reading my mind?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. She let out an exasperated sigh as she forced herself out of my arms and sat up.

"No Edward. I wouldn't have asked what you were so happy about if I had. I've told you I don't read my family if I don't have to. If you don't tell me what made you so happy though, I will start reading your mind." She said.

"No need to get hostile about it." I said wrapping my arms back around her and pulling back down to me. "I was just thinking about what you were able to do today outside and how amazing you are and how I can't wait to spend eternity with you at my side." I told her honestly – well I left out the marriage part.

"Oh. I can't wait for eternity either." She smiled then kissed me. My grip automatically tightened around her and pulled her on top of me. She instantly straddled me, placing herself perfectly to feel how excited I was about the thought of eternity. "Hmmm…I do believe someone is very happy right now." She said against my lips.

"You have no idea how happy I truly am right now, love."

"If it's anywhere to what I'm feeling, then I do know." She said then rocked her hips against me.

I growled as I flipped us over. "You little minx."

She just giggled. She actually giggled and smiled the biggest smile I had ever seen on her face. She looked as if the world had been lifted off her shoulders. She looked as if she didn't have a care in the world. I never noticed how worn down she had looked until this very moment. She was now glowing.

"Edward?" Bella asked running a finger slowly down my jaw line regaining my attention.

"Today really helped you didn't it?" I asked.

"Oh so much." She said and I watched as tears filled her eyes. "I've always needed to face him, I just never knew who I needed to face until I met you. I was able to gain closure on everything in my life. I've always pretty much blamed myself for my mother's death and Nina's and Neil's, and in a way I will always, but now I blame him. Finally being able to just say everything I've always wanted to and face the monster that took my mother from me…I've always wondered if…if he had stayed around, could he have saved her after birthing me? Couldn't changing her have saved her life? But I know that that's not how things were supposed to work out. If it had been that way, I never would have ended up here and with what I know is meant to be my family. I've just never felt so light before." She said then paused. "Of course I feel pretty freaking great knowing I'm all but invincible." She laughed.

I had to laugh at her with her comment regarding her strength, but then I also needed to acknowledge the other things she said. "Love, I want you to know I am so…honored…to know you. There will never be another creature on this planet that will even close to you. And I want you to know, nothing makes me happier than to know you know you belong here with me, with us. You're a Cullen now." I said then immediately started wondering if I had stepped too far too soon in our relationship.

"Hmmm…Isabella Marie Swan Cullen. I like it, but…I think, if it's alright with you, I will keep Swan..."

I'm pretty sure if I had a heart, it would be beating out of my chest. Did that mean she never wanted to marry me? Would she always want to remain a Swan? Did she not want to be with me like that?

The room was actually spinning. I fell to the side of her on the bed and just stared at the ceiling. In a matter of less than a minute I went from euphoric happiness to the darkest depths of hell.

"Edward?" She asked as she moved to face me. I didn't respond. "Edward?" She asked again a little more frantic. I still couldn't find words. "Damn-it Edward Anthony Masen Cullen! You over-reacting idiotic vampire." She growled before huffing and getting off the bed. She paced around the room for a second before standing directly at the end of the bed. I saw her but couldn't make direct eye contact with her.

"You know, you act like a chick sometimes. It's like you only hear what you want to hear. You pay no attention to anything else. If you can sit there and honestly think for one minute that I don't want to spend all of eternity with you, you're ridiculous. If you think that for one minute that I don't ever want to share you last name, you're a complete imbecile. My god Edward! We only just met, but Jesus…you make me feel like I need to marry you now or you're never gonna believe that I love you and that nothing could ever change that…"

Wait what?

I snapped my head up and looked at her.

"Yeah…that's right. Marry you. I know what your little freak out was about. I don't want to take on the last name Cullen until it's because we're married. I want to take on Cullen, only from you. I don't want it to be an adoption situation. I don't want to get the last name Cullen via Carlisle. I want to get it via you. I want you to be the only reason I claim that name. I want to be Isabella Marie Cullen. I can't believe you actually thought…" She said as the anger started falling out of her face and tone.

I jumped out of the bed and was at her side taking her hands and pulling her into my embrace before I knew I was doing it.

"I'm sorry love. I should never have questioned that you…"

"You damn well shouldn't have." She said into my chest causing me laugh a little.

"I won't ever do it again and I promise to stop overreacting to everything. I've always been the dramatic one in the family." I chuckled.

"I want you to get it through your thick skull that I love you. I will always love you and nothing will ever change that. I am never leaving you…I don't think I could if I tried. I know just a few days ago I was trying to figure out a way to leave, but it was to keep you safe. I now have no reason to worry about that. Not only is James out of the picture, but I think it's safe to say we will never have to worry about Aro ever again either. I have absolutely no reason to leave this family."

I couldn't think of anything to say in return, so I just kissed her. And I kissed her with as much emotion behind it as possible. She immediately responded to my advances and started walking me backwards back to the bed.

I fell on to it and she began crawling up my body, running her hands up my sides, pulling my shirt up with her placing kisses everywhere she could.

"Let's go play some ball!" Emmett boomed as he flung our bedroom door opened. "Haha…oops! Sorry didn't mean to interrupt anything." He said but was smirking.

"Emmett…" I growled and started to get off the bed.

"Don't worry babe…I got this one." Bella said in my ear before jumping up off the bed. She crouched down into a hunting stance and glared at Emmett. "Emmett…run." She growled before leaping towards him.

"Oh shit..." Emmett said before taking off down the stairs.

"Hey where are…" Rose yelled as they blurred by.

"Meet you in the field!" Emmett yelled before they disappeared into the woods.

I made my way downstairs to where the rest of my family was standing looking at the front door with wide open mouths. Well everyone except Alice. I couldn't help but notice the smug expression on Alice's face.

"Alice…" I said in a disapproving tone.

'What? I didn't do anything. I just didn't tell him how it would end if he went up there and got you two. He knew he would be interrupting, but…I want to see him get beat for once. So sue me.' She thought as she shrugged her shoulders.

"You're evil." I laughed.

"Oh whatever. You know you want to see it too." She said then pranced out the front door. "Well…aren't you all gonna follow me? We have a game to play."

We all laughed and followed her to the field. When we got there the scene before us sent all of us into hysterics. Bella and Emmett were facing off and Emmett was actually backing away from her.

'Edward…get your crazy girlfriend under control.' Emmett said but there was a slight humorous undertone to his thoughts. He was actually enjoying this little game.

"Ahh…I thought you wanted to see what it felt like to get thrown across the forest." Bella said with a smirk.

"Oh!" Emmett said then started jumping up and down clapping his hands anxiously. He suddenly reminded me of Alice.

"Jesus Em…you look like an overgrown Alice." Jasper laughed echoing my own thoughts.

"Hey!" Alice pouted crossing her arms against her chest.

"Throw me Bells! Please!"

"I dunno…it's not really any fun when you know its coming."

"Oh come…" He said but was cut off when he went flying through the air. All we could hear was his boisterous laugh and then the crack of the tree that he hit. "Holy shit that was awesome!" He yelled from somewhere in the forest before he reappeared in front of us.

"Emmett you truly are a child." I said.

"And you're a pussy. That didn't hurt at all." He said.

"I am not a pussy." I growled.

"Are too."

"Am not."

"Are…"

"BOYS!" Rose, Alice, Esme, and I all four yelled at the same time.

"Lord. You'd think you both were children." Esme mumbled.

"Emmett, honey, I didn't hit you full force. I'm not mad at you so my power isn't full strength. When I threw Edward I was defending myself from an unknown threat."

"Well shit…remind me never to piss you off for real then. Although I was pretty scared shitless when you first came after me. I mean, you're like unbeatable. Untouchable. You're the strongest vampire in the world…"

"Yeah so don't you forget it." She said pointing a finger into his chest.

"Ouch." He laughed then rubbed the spot she had just pushed her finger.

"Okay children. Let's play some baseball. Alice is it time?" Carlisle asked.

"Yep!" She chirped then took her place on the pitching mound.

Carlisle split us into teams, making sure that Bella and I were not on the same team. Something about having two mind readers on the same side wasn't a fair fight. Bella wanted to play girls against guys.

"No way!" Jasper, Emmett, and I all shouted when she brought it up.

"Why not? Too worried about getting beat by a bunch a chicks?" Rose chimed in.

Yes. "No." I answered then scanned Alice's mind.

'Get out of my head Edward! I'm not showing you the outcome of the game. You know I never do that.' Alice said then started reciting the periodic table, backwards, in her head.

School.

Shit. I forgot about school. None of us had been there for the past week. Rumors are going to be flying like crazy. We have to go back and soon to stop them before it forces us to leave town.

'Quit worrying about school. I've got a plan worked out already.' Bella's thoughts entered my head.

I thought you never read your family…

'I do when they look freaked out over something and your brother who can sense emotions starts throwing concerned looks between you and myself. You really do worry too much.' She said then smiled.

"So is it women against boys?" Rose asked glaring at us.

"Alright fine." We all said.

"When we beat you ladies, please try not to pout." Carlisle chimed in.

"Oh yeah? Well when we beat you please try not to act like two year olds." Esme chimed right back in causing us all to laugh at their banter.

Alice threw the first pitch to Jasper which was of course he hit and it headed well into the trees of the surrounding forest.

A run for sure.

Then it hit something. Something invisible and feel down into Bella's waiting hands.

"No fucking fair!" All us guys yelled as the girls laughed.

"You can not use your shield to stop a ball!" Emmett whined.

"Fine fine fine. Jasper you can bat again." Bella said throwing the ball back to Alice. "And I promise I won't use my shield anymore."

"Let's make this a fair game." Carlisle said as Jasper took his place back in the batter's box.

---

"So how's it feel to lose to a bunch of girls." Bella taunted later after we got home from playing.

"Not too bad actually. Surprisingly really good. Does the loser get a consolation prize?"

"Hmmm…only if the winner gets to claim her prize." She said then kissed me.

"I think that can be arranged." I hummed.

"I hope you know I plan on collecting my prize for the next thousand or so years, right?"

"I certainly hope you're right." I said as I laid her down on the bed to pick up where we had left off early in the day.

---

The following Monday, we headed back to school, armed with the story that Bella devised to explain all of our absences. Why we were told the story was beyond me, none of the humans would ever talk to us. In fact I'm pretty sure the only humans that spoke to Bella all day were Angela Weber and the teachers.

"Ah so good to see you again Miss Swan, Mr. Cullen." Mr. Banner our Biology teacher greeted us when we walked into the door.

'Oh look the honeymoon must be over.' Mike Newton sneered. I almost turned and growled but Bella's sweet voice kept me in check.

"Hello Mr. Banner." Bella said smiling sadly.

"We are all sorry for you loss Bella."

"Thank you sir. It's been hard, but I was lucky to have the Cullens by my side through the whole ordeal. Dr. Cullen's expertise was the best we could hope for. Everything happens for a reason."

'What the hell happed to Bella?' A chorus of thoughts bombarded me from behind us.

"Mr. Cullen it was awfully kind of you and your family to assist Bella in her time of need. The loss of ones parents is so difficult. I am glad she has you and your family in her life. She needs friends like you right now."

"Yes sir. I know. We love her. She's a part of our family now. We're taking her in. My parents have graciously opened their doors to another."

'Bella's parents died!? Oh how horrible!'

'Probably just a lie they've concocted.'

'Leave it to the Cullens to take in another…it only makes sense seeing how she's dating Edward. It's still just gross…they're like siblings. Ghaw…'

I just rolled my eyes at the thoughts from behind us as I heard a very quiet chuckle from beside me.

"Does that make what we did in the car on the way to school against the law?" She whispered too quiet and fast for humans to hear. She was listening to their thoughts as well. It was everything I could do not to laugh out loud but then I thought about the excursion on the way to school and was now groaning with the memories.

"Well we're glad to have you back with us. Please take your seats and we'll begin. If you have any questions or feel lost…although I highly doubt either one of you will…just let me know."

"Thank you Mr. Banner." Bella and I both said trying to hide our smiles and headed back to our seats.

The whole day was like that so when we finally were able to leave high school hell, we locked ourselves away in our bed room. We had all been relieved to know that the story Bella thought of was going to actually work. Not that we were planning on staying around Forks much longer. We were heading towards up-state New York next and starting college. But for the next ten or so months, we could live without worrying about anything. Nothing at all.

"Edward?" Bella broke the silence we had been laying in for the past hour or so.

"Yes love?"

"Do you really think it was smart of me to leave the threat hanging over Aro?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Do you think I'll ever have to actually back it up and go to Italy?"

"I don't know. Maybe. If you do ever decide to follow through with it, I will go with you."

"I think if it ever happens it won't be for quite a while. I'm thinking letting him sweat it out for a couple hundred years is good for me."

"I think you're right." I said then we drifted into silence again until she broke it again.

"Edward?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"Thank you for what, love?"

"For loving me and for not walking away saying I was a crazy half-breed with too much drama for you." She said then sniffled. "Thank you for loving me."

"Oh Bella. I should be thanking you. Thank you for allowing me to love you."