Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer. The Dare belongs to me!

Thanks to B for editing (if anything's wrong - take it up with him!)

Songs for chapter: "Supermassive Black Hole" by Muse & "Love You Madly" by Cake

-The Dare-
Epilogue

~X~

Billy Black woke up in the middle of the night from a dream. The sweat running down his face and his back gave him chills at it hit the cool air in his home. He got up thinking perhaps some water would help. His throat was as dry as sand and his mind was scrambled. He couldn't seem to remember the dream, only shapes and feelings. Cold, pale hands, a shadow around the edges. As he stood at the small kitchen sink looking out the window he drank and drank. He could never remember being this thirsty. And like a flash of lightning, his dream came back to him fully. So much so it had him taking a step back trying not to fall.

What he saw was Bella Swan but not in human form. Bella was a white fox with sliver eyes. A creature who would stun you with both her beauty and agile movents. But she was battling a giant black wolf with yellow eyes. Just as the little fox was about to be taken over by the wolf, pale hands and a shadow passed over the dream. A man stood up to the wolf- blocking him from the fox. On second glance Billy wasn't so sure it was a man- He looked like a man, spoke and walked like a man but he was covered in shadow and death. It wasn't the type of death that would leave him in the ground. This man had fangs that shone in the glow cast by the fox. He took on the wolf with the strength and speed of nothing found on earth. And when the wolf finally fell, the little white fox jumped into the arms of the shadow man-they embraced right before he bit the beautiful animal. Billy found himself holding onto the counter in his kitchen as he saw it all play out in his memories. Blood, red and thick, ran down white fur and those sliver eyes turned right to look at Billy in his dream. He thought he would find the fox in pain and scared, but she was happy and seemed to welcome the shadow. Billy was terrified. He remembered himself whispering. "Little Fox what have you done? For your wild ways have finally caught up to you.."

X

"Little human what are you doing?" Edward hadn't opened his eyes but he could feel Bella doing something with his hair. Normally she would run her fingers through it causing him to purr like a cat. It did wonders for his ego. But right now Bella was doing something else. It felt like a whole lot of tugging going on and not in the 'Bella-is-making-Edward-see-stars' kind of way.

Giggling, Bella kept going. "I'm just braiding your luscious locks." That caused him to sit up faster than Bella could blink. He felt around and sure enough tiny little braids all around his face. How the hell had he missed those? And was that.. a flower? Blimey! It was most definitely a flower braided in.

Looking over his shoulder at a still laughing Bella who was layed out on the blanket they had brought, Edward stopped for a minute to watch her eyes shine with happiness and the sweetest sound of her giggle coming out of the mouth he had tasted and kissed more times than he could count. Last few months with Bella- drama free- had been like a dream. Only better because there was never any waking up. This was their reality. They had grown closer, she had met his immortal family and fallen in with them like she had always been by his side. They, like him, had instantly fallen for the little human with the big heart. In fact they got on so well that Edward sometimes regretted having introduced Bella to his sisters. Alice and Rosalie took Bella under their wing and, as far as Edward was concerned, corrupted his Bella. They loved to drive their brother crazy and make fun of him because having Bella in his life had turned the vampire into somewhat of a softy - to which Ro and Ali never let him forget. Fun times were had by all at his expense. But it was all good because he got her. He got Bella in his arms, in his heart, and in his life. Just where she would stay.

Leaning down to her face Edward traced around her eyes to the slope of her small nose, past its tip to those full pink lips. He traced the bow there and then moved on down her chin and circled the dimple that only came out when she had the giggles.. like now. But when his finger got to her neck and stoppped at her pulse point, Bella opened her eyes to look up at her vampire. His face was all she could see. His hair hung in his eyes, braids and all. She had to smile at that.

"Am I in trouble now?" She asked in a very flirty tone. Batting those long eyelashes she knew he loved.

In a mock frown and seriousness that wasn't really there, Edward nodded. "I'm afraid so. I mean just look at me sitting in a field with you as you braid wild flowers into my hair. What if someone came upon us here?" He looked around the open meadow they had found while out walking one day. It wasn't as nice as their meadow in Bella's dream world where they visited offten, but it was still lovely and a place that was all their own.

"Who would show up here in the middle of nowhere?"

Thinking about for a moment, Edward told her. "Bear Grylls"

Bella snorted. "Bear Grylls? The English survival guy? Pray tell what would he be doing out here? Teaching people how to live through rain?"

"Laugh all you want, however, you would feel bad if while we sat here with my braided hair, Bear and his crew came out of nowhere to tape me looking like your Barbie doll. Little human, would you humiliate me like that? Would you emasculate me in such a way?" His hand over his heart.

"Do you have a man crush on Bear Grylls? Because maybe he would think the flowers were very pretty." That did it. Edward was on top of her and he showed no mercy in his tickling. It was a mean trick he used when he needed to win.

"Okay! Okay, I give. I'm sorry. I will take the braids out."

"Smart for a human."

"Well, one of us has to have the brains." Was her snarky comeback. God, how he loved that about her.

After they made love in between that blanket and the twilight sky above, Edward said something he never thought would pass his lips until he met Bella. "I want you to be my wife." Yeah, he said it. And going by the look on her face, Bella heard it loud and clear.

"I'm sorry can you repeat that. It sounded like you said you wanted me to be your wife?"

They both rolled over on their sides to face the other. Edward searched her eyes for any fear. But what he found gave him so much hope it was almost cruel to allow his heart to think it stood a chance at her saying yes.

He brushed her bangs back. "I did. Does that make you uncomfortable?"

Frowning, Bella shook her head. "No. It doesn't" Edward knew there was a but in there somewhere.

"But.. ?"

The narrowing of her eyes had him nervous. After six months with Bella, Edward had gotten to know her inside and out. He knew when she was thinking up trouble because she would get an excited gleam in her brown eyes. And when she was in her still, quiet moments he knew to let her be. He knew her like the back of his hand. She was his everything: Best friend, lover and faithful partner in crime. Even Charlie was welcoming to the fact his daughter was in love with one of the undead. After Charlie told Edward that if he hurt his baby girl he would go all Buffy on his ass- they ended up bonding over NHL thanks to copious amounts of ESPN while waiting for Bella to get ready for dates. Once Charlie learned Edward had season tickets to not only the Seattle ThunderBirds, but he could also get Charlie into any SeaHawks game he wanted- it was forever a match made in sports heaven. All in all.. it was kind of normal. But something was cooking here and now with Bella and her eyes.

"Okay. I will marry you. On one conditon."

"And what would that be my tiny ball of trouble?"

"If we are to walk this life together- We will do it as equals."

"That's what you want. To be at my side.. like that?" Edward was willing to admit the vampire in him got off on the fact Bella would be like him. That they could be on the same level and that he wouldn't have to worry as much about her getting hurt. And the fact his blood would run through her veins just as her's would be in his- That was something that made his body harden at the mere thought. The aspect of making love to his immortal wife.. put a bounce in his step. But the man in him knew what a sacrifice it would be. He had fought against her being like him.

"Yep. Just call me the corpse bride."

"Bella-"

"Edward." She said in the same tone he had taken on. Always the little snarky human. "Edward," She said again. She got up all close in his face. "I dare you to change me." And so the Gauntlet was thrown.

It would be counterintuitive to assume that Bella needed to be told all the reasons why she should remain human. Edward knew Bella was strong both in mind and heart and so if she wanted a life with him as a vampire, he wouldn't insult her by making that choice seem wrong. But who said a little reverse psychology would hurt?

Getting in closer to her, so close that he could taste her breath on his tongue, Edward countered her dare. "I dare you, Bella Swan, to remain a human .." As Bella was about to get pissed, Edward continued. "Until after our wedding."

"So after I marry you, then you turn me?"

"Consider it a wedding present."

"For you or me?" They both laughed. And like that a deal was struck. Edward would get his blushing bride and Bella would then get the seal on the deal of eternity with her love. Though both knew they each were winning. But what Edward didn't know was that Bella would marry him anyday, at any point, anywhere. She loved him and was ready to be his in every way possible.

Six years later..

"Dad! You're cheating. You can't pull your gun on my husband just so you can steal home!" Bella had her hands on her hips as She, Charlie and the Cullens played some baseball in her and Edward's backyard. Bella loved the home she shared with Edward. It was close enough to downtown Seattle to be able to go shopping, dining out or movies without being in the car for hours. Though, after becoming a vampire Edward bought his wife a brand spanking new BMW M3, Bella learned that driving fast and loving it wasn't just an Edward thing- it was a vampire thing. Every Sunday she and Edward would have the family over to hang out. Charlie fit in with the Cullens just as well as Bella had. You couldn't help but love them all.

"Bells, give your old man a break." Charlie said while trying to catch his breath. He was in very good shape, however, against a bunch of vampires he had to work it with all he had just to be on their level. Throwing his hands around, pointing at where Rose, Alice, Carlisle and Edward stood, he yelled out "If you want to get technical- they're all cheating!"

"Just remember Chief it's all fun and games 'til someone gets shot." Edward teased his Father-in-Law. The relationship between those two was something that Bella still didn't understand. But she didn't need to. Her Father and her husband had an understanding and something in common: Bella and loving her. Because both men did- in very different ways, but still she was everything to them. That was the foundation to which they both seemed to have built their friendship on. Charlie even thought about joining the Cullens in their lifestyle for about three minutes then deemed himself too old to live forever. After that he started dating Doris from the diner. It made Bella's day to have Doris in their lives. Even if they hid the vampire parts from her. Not only was Doris an amazing person, fabulous cook, but she and Charlie cared deeply for one another. To know her Father wouldn't be alone anymore lifted a weight from Bella's chest she didn't realize had been pressing in on her. She just knew her Mother would have approved of the match.

The only thing now was it was time to move on from Seattle. Vampires didn't change and so sticking around longer would cause raised eyebrows. The Cullens had several homes throughout Europe and so Edward and Bella decided to move with the family. Bella could write from anywhere and Edward had long since learned to run his various businesses from anywhere around the globe. The hard part was leaving Charlie and Seth. Seth. He and Claire were together now and she had a feeling would be for a long time to come. Just as Charlie and his lady love would be. They had all come a long way. Bella would never forget that night when they have stopped Paul. After Edward had left to.. get rid of the wolf's body, Bella remembered going into her Father's room and picking up a black and white photo he kept on the dresser- it was of the day he and Renee got married. The smile her Mother wore was exquisite. The smile her Father had was of pure pride.

Flashback

"You look so much like your Mom, Bells." Bella turned around at the sound of her Father's voice.

She studied his face for a moment. He looked worn out and half-way buzzed. Turning back to the frame and photo in her hand. "I remember always looking at this picture while Mom got ready for the day. She would be putting on her make-up and brushing her hair in the bathroom. I would sit here on the bed and just stare either at her or this photo. I used to think she was a Princess. I was convinced she was and you were her handsome Prince. I even thought you had gotten married in a castle like in DisneyWorld." Bella smiled at the memory.

"And now. Now what do you think?" She could hear her Father come and sit down on the edge of his bed.

Putting the frame back on the dresser, sighing she said. "Now I know she was. I miss her so much, Dad." When she turned around her Father had his arms open. And just like when she was five, Bella took a leap and fell into her Daddy's arms.

As she started to cry, Chief Swan knew that it was hard for Bella. So many damn things had been hard for his daughter because she lost her Mother. He tried the best he could but there is only so much a single Father who knows nothing about the world of females could do. Hell, Bella spent most of her childhood down at the station or at the gun range. The fact she liked shopping and make-up at all was a shock. He called her his girly tomboy.

"That's okay Isabella, you cry as much as you want. I'm here for you kid. And I ain't going anywhere. I'm too damn stubborn and mean to die." He felt her laugh a little bit. Mission accomplished.

"Dad? How did you know?" Bella looked up at her Father. "You didn't seem shocked to walk in on all.. that."

"Bells, here's the thing: I've been a cop for a number of years. I've seen things that most people wouldn't believe in a thousand years. As an officer you see a lot of evil. And not just in human form. As Chief it's my responsibility to look after my town and the people who live in it. That means I keep an eye out for shit. Not just your regular shit like old man Jenkins flashing everyone down at the gas station- but the things that go unseen by most people. I knew we had a werewolf problem. Somehow I could just feel it. And when those students turned up dead.. I knew for sure one had landed here in town."

"But how did you even discover such a thing was true?" It made no sense. None of this did. The fact she was talking to her Father calmly about this was crazy. But then again.. looking back over last few weeks, crazy seemed to be the theme.

"I know you don't really remember your Grandpa Swan. He died before you were three, but he and I used to go hunting all the time up near Mount Skokomish. We had gone up there to get it away from it all. Or so your Grandfather said. But I knew 'all' was code for get away from my Mom. She drove Dad crazy." Charlie's laugh was warm and full of fond memories. "I guess I was about 19 or so and even then knew my way around a gun. We were making our way in after having had a full weekend of fishing, hiking and I even got some rock climbing in, when we heard something. It was a deep growl. Nothing like I'd ever heard. I've been around grizzly, mountain lions, even a few wolves- this wasn't like anything I'd heard before. Dad and I looked over behind us, some fifty yards back on a ridge stood the biggest wolf I had ever laid eyes upon. We both went for our guns, but one look in that animal's eyes and I knew it wasn't your normal wolf. His eyes looked like a human- he looked right through me. We kept our guns raised, but waited it out. The wolf studies us like he was looking to see if he had a chance at taking both of us. Then he just backed away, going deeper into the wilderness until we couldn't see him anymore. Damnedest thing I ever saw."

"But that wasn't really proof it was a werewolf. I mean, it could have just been a very large wolf."

"True. But here's the rub.. I walked back over to where the wolf had been, I tracked it to the edge of the trees it had gone into. Dad wasn't happy I was going after it, but something told me to look. And there I followed the wolf's paw prints. The things were almost as big as my prints. But as I got close to where we lost sight of him, the wolf tracks stopped. Just ended. No veering left or right. Nothing. Where the wolf tracks stopped, a man's large footprints began."

"So that was just the start of weird things, unexplained things that I have seen. As for you dating a vampire- I did a background check and some things didn't add up for me. Again, I went off a hunch. Then I met with Dr. Cullen one day up in Seattle." Charlie looked somewhat ashamed. But not enough to get him to regret looking up Edward's Father. Not when his daughter's safety was on the line.

"Dad! Oh my God. You can't just.. Does Edward know about this?" He hadn't mentioned it, but then again they had been busy lately..

"No. Carlisle Cullen and I have an understanding. Father to Father. He promised me his son was a good person who would treat you right, and then I promised not to park an evergreen in Edward's heart." Bella sat there with her eyes wide and her heart going crazy because not only did Charlie know that her boyfriend was a vampire, she knew he would in fact 'park an evergreen' in said boyfriend.

"Dad, I'm like ten shades of confused here. You know everything and you're okay with it?"

"Bella, what I walked in on back there," Charlie ran a hand down his face. He looked so tired. "I haven't been that scared since your Mother left us. When I saw that wolf near you, it was a nightmare come to life. Then I saw the rage that Edward had behind his eyes. The rage and the fear that he might lose you.. and when he layed hands on that dog, I knew right then and there. As a Father I knew and was thankful that he would do anything for you. I'm right aren't I?

"Yes. And I would do anything for him."

"I thought so and that is why I'm okay with your boy. I've seen a lot of evil in this world. But I've also seen a lot of good. What you have with him is good baby. It's real good. I had good with your Mom. And when you find that- you hold on with both hands. Even if the good comes from the most unconventional places. But Bells? You're still in deep shit for not introducing me and your vampire boyfriend the right way. Oh, you are sooo in trouble." Charlie chuckled at the annoyed face Bella was sporting.

Bella had gone to sleep that night thinking about her life. A few months before she thought it was at the lowest point because Jake had left her all alone. Bella knew that fate had stepped in. Just as she knew Paul and Edward were meant to collide: Edward fighting for his Father against what Paul's Dad had done, she knew she was meant to be apart of it all. No matter how many times she had walked the earth in some form or another, she wouldn't have gotten it right until she met her Undead hottie.

End Flashback

"What are you thinking so hard on my wife?" Bella was brought out of her thoughts by Edward wrapping his arms around her. She sat on the back deck watching the flames from the candles they kept out there flicker and dance. Everyone had long since gone home and it was quiet and peaceful.

"I was thinking about everything that has happened since I met you." She leaned up so he could slide in behind her.

"And are you still happy you met me? It's been a wild ride." His voice, his touch still had her feeling butterflies and made her blood pump in her veins more than any dare could have ever done.

"I was thinking how lucky I am."

"Lucky?"

"Yes. Because one dare lead me to where I am now. One silly, reckless dare changed my life forever. No.. scratch that. I'm not just going to down play it because we were meant to be- so not just 'one dare' got us here. The Dare got us here." And as she felt Edward's kisses start on her neck and his fang run along her collarbone, his hands went around her waist to move them closer, she was never so thankful she had been a trouble-making teen with a point to prove.

"True love stories never have endings."

A/N: Thank you all for reading! Thanks to those who gave reviews: PatchsFallenAngel, Sujari6, Spunkransom12, XxLikeanAngelxX, alsin, DarkAngelRakell, ButterballBabe, Zdra8351, HallieAnna Lissette, Ashlie-Marie Cullen, Oscarkittens, HalloweenRocks14, Joykohl, eli-Rose, PJ littlefoot, TheMaskPerson, DiMpLeS09, and to KStuart. You all made my day. Especially PatchsFallenAngel and Sujari6 for reviewing every chapter! You guys are like my Pop Rocks! Hope you enjoyed the story. Love, peace and chocolate to all (except PatchsFallenAngel who doesn't like chocolate- Patch gets gummy bears or something)

Also, I'm going to be doing some outtakes of Charlie and some of Seth- not them together because that'd be weird. But I want to write about Seth and Claire and then we have Charlie and Doris. I also must say that Charlie is based off my own Father who's a cop and was a Navy SEAL. Yep, dating was always a pain because of him. Lol I don't know when it will be added because I have my other story to finish. Just keep an eye out for it if you might want to read it. Rock on good people!

Quote by Richard Bach