He watched her skip happily into the piano room and sighed.
"You better talk to her," hissed Bella. "Don't do to her what you did to me."
"Look, I'm nervous about all this. Shouldn't you be here too?"
"She needs proof you won't leave her. I can't do that."
"I love you, Bella. And I love Nessa. I'll figure something out. Okay?"
She sighed. "Fine. I love you."
"As I love you."
"Good luck."
"I need it," he chuckled humorlessly before going into the piano room. He decided until after class was over to talk to her. After an excellent session, he sighed. "Nessa?"
"Yes, Edward."
"Your mom and I talked about something very important the other night."
"About what?"
"Um... I've been asked to do a concerts. All over the world."
"Cool!" she bounced up and down. "When are we leaving? Where are we going? Can we go to Austria?"
He cleared his throat. "Nessa-- I'm leaving in six months. You and your mum are not coming with me."
"But we have to! You're supposed to go everywhere with the people you love."
"I do love you honey. I just need to do this alone. You have school and mom has work."
"But I want to go with you! What will happen to my piano classes? You're leaving us, aren't you? Just like all the other boys mommy dated! You're going to leave us too! I hate you! I hate you!"
"Nessa, honey--"
"Go away!"
"I'll come back for you."
She stopped ranting and crying. "I don't believe you," she sniffed.
"Please honey. You mum believes me."
"Well my mom is stupid! She thought daddy would love us! She thought the other boys would! She thought you would, but she was wrong! She is always wrong."
"Now I won't tolerate you calling your mother stupid. That is rude and disrespectful. I promise you I will come back. You know why? Because I want to marry your mum."
She sniffed. "You do?"
"Yes. But don't tell your mom about it, it will be our secret. I have a ring for her and everything. But... I don't know if I should give it to her before I leave or after I come back."
"How long will you be gone?"
"A little over a year, honey."
"So long! Are you even gonna remember us then?"
"I can never forget you," he vowed solemnly.
"'Cause daddy always forgot me."
"I won't be like him."
She frowned, and he marveled at how closely the child resembled Bella then. "How do I know you are telling the truth?"
"You just have to trust me."
"I don't want to! You're leaving!"
he sighed. She was being more difficult than Bella. "Shh, honey. I promise we will keep in contact while I'm gone, okay? I don't know how to make you believe me. I love Bella and I love you. I would never leave you. Just because I have to leave you behind for a while doesn't mean I've stopped loving you. I will never stop loving you. I promise."
"Can I see it?"
"See what, Nessa?"
"The ring you got for mommy."
"Sure. Let me go get it." he went upstairs and to his nightstand where he got out the navy blue box that held three rings, all belonging to his biological parents. It was the only thing that he'd been able to salvage from the wreck of his old home, and the jeweler had to melt down the wedding bands to fix them. But here they were, glimmering and glistening in the dim light. Elizabeth's engagement ring sparkled differently, because of the blood ruby set in the middle. It was different than normal engagement rings, that was for sure. And it was so beautiful. And the way it would glow on her pale skin--
he hurried downstairs. "I have it, Nessa, come look." he rounded the corner flashing his treasure, only to find Bella there. "Oh..."
Nessa looked like someone being chastised for backstabbing. "I ruined the surprise, didn't I?"
He shook his head, studying her face. Her eyes were now on the open box in his hand. "Edward..." she breathed, and tears filled her eyes.
"Don't... cry. I'm sorry."
She shook her head fervently. "No! No, it's just... beautiful. It's for me?"
He chuckled a little and nodded. "Let's talk, okay? The three of us." They followed him into the sitting room and he watched Bella sit down nervously. He went over and kissed the top of Nessa's head before getting on both knees in front of Bella, leaning a little on her lap. "Bella baby?" he winked at Nessa, who giggled.
"Yes?" she whimpered, her voice cracking.
"i know I have to go away, and I hate that we will be apart. But that doesn't change the fact that my heart has been yours since the moment I saw you first. I love you so much. Will you please marry me?"
Tears spilled recklessly down her cheeks as she nodded.
"Does this mean you'll be my daddy now?"
he crawled over to Nessa, taking a similar position and looking directly into her eyes. "Is that what you want?"
She nodded and he hugged her, kissing the crown of her head again.
"Edward?" she barely whispered.
"Hmm?"
"Can I call you daddy now?"
On the other couch, Bella sobbed, and he frowned at the thought of her sobbing out of happiness. He nodded. "If you want to."
"I love you, daddy."
"I love you too, honey." his own voice became overwhelmed by the emotion inside of him, and his own eyes brimmed with tears of joy. He turned and smiled at his tearful Bella. "Come join us, Bella baby."
She grinned and hopped over to their couch.
A few minutes later, Edward smiled. The girls had fallen asleep in his arms, both of them. His heart was going to swell out of his chest with joy. He'd lost a love once. But, in retrospect, he had bought a ring for her. He swore that he would give his mother's ring to the woman of his dreams, but yet he'd felt compelled to give her something else. It was a sign, but he'd missed it. But now, he'd gained not only a love, but a family.
The issue now was how on earth he'd keep it.