Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. Even though I wish I did.
EPOV
I had been so nervous the past few days. I tried hiding it from Bella, but I knew she noticed the weird behavior going on around her.
I knew I shouldn't have told everyone what I was planning to do. Alice couldn't stop smiling at her and neither could Jasper. Then when we made it to Forks Charlie had to get all sad father on us, and kept hugging her, and giving me the 'I will kill you if you hurt her' looks. I knew this was a big deal in his life, his only daughter was getting married, at least I hope she was.
When we reached my parents house and she tried grabbing my bag I freaked out. The ring was in there and I didn't want her to see it. So I sent her inside, hoping my sister and mother could distract her enough so I could hide it. As I was grabbing our luggage to bring inside my mother ran out.
"Edward! Hi sweetie!" she said as she came to stand in front of me, she hugged me tight whispering in my ear. "Oh baby, I'm so excited for you, I can't wait until you ask her."
"Me either," I said, smiling at her as she helped me carry our stuff inside.
"Let me see the ring, oh please Edward," she begged.
"Ok, ok, Lets go into the kitchen," I told her, grabbing my small bag and bringing it with me. I took the box out, opening it up to show my mother the ring inside.
"Oh Edward it's gorgeous."
"Just like her, Rose helped me pick it out."
"Oh so she knows?"
"Everyone knows mom, it was a bad idea to tell them, since they've been acting so weird with Bella, but they do. I was just too excited and I let it slip out. I'm surprised I haven't just came right out and asked."
"How are you going to do it?" she asked, turning the ring in her hands and watching the light reflect off of it.
"Well, I was going to take her to the meadow and ask her there, have her swing a bit while I work up the nerve. It's where we figured out about our past and we had fun swinging on the tire."
"Oh sweetie, the tire swing broke. Your sister was out there on it and it just fell."
"Oh," I said disappointed, Bella and I had shared an amazing moment on that swing. "I'll think of something," I said nervously.
"When are you asking?"
"Tomorrow," I stated smiling, hearing her squeal in delight that it would be so soon.
"Oh Edward, I can't wait," she squealed some more, jumping in place like an excited child.
"Is everything ok?" I heard Bella asking as she walked towards the kitchen.
"Umm yes, everything is fine, stay there sweetie, there is uh.. broken glass everywhere," My mom said, as she put the ring back in the box and gave it to me.
"It's fine, I can help clean it up." Bella said, coming into the kitchen.
"Wait.." Esme said, as I shoved the box in my bag, hiding it just in time to see her enter.
"Uh, where's the glass?" she asked looking around at the clean kitchen.
"Edward cleaned it," My mom said quickly, looking at me and making sure I agreed. I nodded my head, picking up my bag from the counter and taking it upstairs to hide.
"Hey Eddie!" Bree said as she skipped up the stairs beside me.
"Hey baby girl, how are you?"
"Good, What are you hiding?" she asked seeing my flustered face.
"Nothing," I said, shaking my head and smiling at her.
"Whatever," she said, looking at me skeptically before she left me alone, running into the kitchen to help my mom with dinner.I wanted to tell her but I knew it would be hard for her to keep it from Bella.
I put the ring at the bottom of my bag, and put it in the corner of the room. Bella would never look through my stuff, so I hoped it was safe to leave it out.
When I made my way downstairs and found her outside I hoped she was ok. She seemed a little distracted, but she seemed to snap out of it. I knew she knew I was hiding something, and it bugged her not knowing what it was. But I also knew she would wait until I said something.
I just prayed it was a good surprise for her. We had talked about marriage constantly and I knew she had said in Vegas that all I had to do was ask, but I couldn't help but be a little nervous. We enjoyed a great dinner with my family before retreating to bed and falling asleep, wrapped up in each other, just the way I loved.
That night though, I dreamed I asked her and she said no. So when I woke up to an empty bed I freaked out, before making my way downstairs and finding her standing in the kitchen talking to my mother. As soon as I caught sight of her I wrapped my arms around her, burrowing my face into her neck to take in her scent.
"Hey babe, good morning," she said leaning back into me.
"Morning, I missed waking up with you in my arms," I whispered, as I kissed her neck, tightening my arms around her when the dream popped into my head.
"I'm sorry baby, I had to help your mom."
"I know," I said leaning down to kiss her, murmuring 'I love you' against her lips.
"I love you," she whispered back when we pulled apart.
"Good," I said kissing her once more before burrowing my head in her neck again, swinging us from side to side as she cooked. Hearing her say that she loved me helped push the dream out of my mind. She had to say yes.
My mother grumbled jokingly about how I didn't greet her, making us laugh. When I left them in the kitchen I went out back to hang out with my dad. I had missed him since the last time I saw him. We hadn't talked on the phone much the past month since we'd been redecorating.
"Hey dad."
"Hey boy, come help me with this wood," he said, dragging wood out of the shed.
"For the fireplace?" I asked, helping him lift it into the wheelbarrow.
"Yea, your mom wants a big fire roaring while we eat." I helped him fill the wheelbarrow before he rolled it inside, adding some to the fireplace to be lit later.
"So are you ready?"
"I hope so," I said bouncing my knee nervously, as I sat on the couch and watched him.
"She's going to say yes son, don't worry about that."
"I can't help it."
"Didn't she say she'd say yes?"
"Yea, but we were just talking about it then. This is the real thing, what if she thinks its too soon, or what if…"
"What if's will kill you if you keep thinking them up."
"I know, I just.. I want this so badly dad, I love her so much."
"I know you do, and she loves you the same, it's going to be perfect son."
"Thanks."
"So when are you going to do it?"
"Right before dinner."
"In the meadow?"
"Where else?" I asked smiling.
"I'm surprised the tree isn't carved up with property of Edward," he laughed, giving me an idea. "Well then, better start getting ready, looks like Bella is heading upstairs."
I turned my head, watching Bella run up the steps, loosening her hair from its hold and starting to unzip her sweater. She was going to take a shower, I thought smiling, following after her to join her.
When I reached the room she was already in there, tilting her head back to wet her hair. She was such a goddess, and I couldn't wait to call her mine officially.
We showered together, making love and washing each other. I had almost blurted it out while I was inside of her. She had said she loved me and she was looking at me with those big brown smoldering eyes filled with love that I almost asked then and there. I caught myself in time, kissing her to keep the words in. I'd ask her soon enough.
While we dressed I caught sight of her locket and an idea popped into my head. I had given her my number and told her I loved her with the locket; why not continue the little tradition. I wouldn't ask her that way, but I would use it to help me.
I grabbed a small paper while she was in the bathroom fixing her hair and I wrote 'look down'. I was hoping to have her look at the locket while I took the ring out and dropped to one knee, surprising her when she followed the instructions and looked down at me.
As we walked out I grabbed the ring from my bag and stuck in my pocket, tightening my fingers around it as my nerves skyrocketed, this was actually happening. I was about to ask this woman to be my wife. I held her hand as we walked down the stairs, surpassing the kitchen where everyone was gathered and walked us to the door.
"Baby what?" she asked confused, when she saw we were going outside.
"Come, we're going for a walk," I told her, lifting her onto my back when she complained about walking in the snow in heels. I walked us towards the meadow, the warmth of her body against my back calming the nerves that were running through mine. When we reached the clearing I put her down, pulling her with me towards the tree where the tire used to lay.
"What happened to the tire?" she asked sadly, as she leaned against the tree. I told her about it breaking when Bree was swinging on it and she seemed truly disappointed that it was gone. I decided that sometime this weekend I was going to put a swing back up, for us to enjoy and for Bree to use once we were gone. Maybe even make it strong enough to last so our kids could use it one day.
"That was a good memory here," she commented as she looked up into the branches.
"I know, lets make a new one." I said, pulling a blade out of my pocket. My dad had given me the idea earlier, it was cheesy but I didn't care, I wanted this to be our tree, in our meadow.
"What are you doing?" she asked looking at the blade in my hand in confusion.
"I'm going to carve our names into the tree."
"Edward that's cheesy," she giggled, but I could tell she loved the idea, and I called her out on it jokingly. She agreed, wrapping her arms around me as she watched me mark the tree.
"You know, it's been 3 months to the day since we started dating?" I asked randomly. I had chosen this day to ask her for a reason, it was our anniversary, and the past 3 months had been the most amazing of my life. She seemed surprised that I knew that, she didn't need to know I remembered every date, of anything that had to do with her.
"Yup, Happy Anniversary baby," I said stepping back to show her the tree with our names.
"I love you," she whispered in my ear, when she was what I wrote.
Edward and Bella forever.
When I saw her skim her finger across the word forever I knew it was time. She loved me and she wanted forever with me. I just had to make sure of it.
"Hey, here, I got this for you, you forgot to put it on earlier," I said handing her the locket. My nerves came back suddenly, when the locket was around her neck. This was it.
"Open it."
"Ok," she said, looking at me curiously.
As soon as she turned the locket in her palms and opened it, I dropped slowly to one knee, hoping that I didn't catch her attention and she looked too soon. When I settled on my knee, I looked up to see her reading the note. I pulled the box out of my pocket and took a deep breath, watching a look of confusion cross her face, before understanding set in. She looked down at me, dropping the note when she saw me kneeling there.
"Baby," I started, grabbing her hand and smiling softly when the tears began to roll down her cheeks. "I have loved you since the moment you ran into me," I said making her giggle. "The day you told me you loved me was one of the happiest days of my life, I'm hoping today will top that," I slowly opened the box, revealing the ring her to her, hoping she loved it.
"Isabella Swan, I promise to love you forever, every single day of forever. Will you marry me?" I asked taking the ring out of the box and holding it up to her left hand.
"Yes," she whispered, a small smile coming onto her face. The moment the word left her lips I pounced, putting the ring on her finger where it would stay forever and kissing her like my life depended on her, which it did. I thanked her, kissing her repeatedly as tears began to run down my cheeks. She had just made me the happiest man on earth. She kissed me back, bringing her hand up to wipe my tears as I did to her.
"I told you I'd cry if you said yes," I joked kissing the ring on her finger. Thanking god that she said yes.
"And I told you I'd say yes. I love you so much, I can't wait to be your wife." She was going to be my wife.
She wrapped her legs around my waist, kissing me with all the passion and love possible. We pulled apart, as we heard the claps and cheers behind us; I turned my head to see my family lined up against the meadow entrance. I knew as soon as I told them where it was going to happen, that they would be there to watch. I looked at my father, seeing him mouth 'I told you so' jokingly before looking back at Bella.
"I love you." I whispered, looking into the eyes of my fiancée and kissing her.
"I love you too," she whispered back, tightening her legs and arms around me as the cheers got closer. She moved out of my arms as each member of our crazy family took turns congratulating us, but as soon as they were done she was right back in my arms, where she belonged.
"Alright, leave me and my fiancée alone, we'll be inside in a little bit."
"Fiancée," Bella murmured, as she turned around and kissed me. "I love that. You're my fiancée, we're getting married!" she said squealing the last part as she kissed me again.
"Yea we are," I replied grabbing her hand and kissing the ring once more, watching it glisten with the light as I saw Bella staring at it. "Do you like it?" I asked nervously.
"I love it, it's perfect baby," she said turning her hand in circles to watch it sparkle. "Thank you."
"No, thank you, for saying yes," I said lifting her into my arms again, wanting to have her as close as possible.
"As if I'd say no," she said, shaking her head at me. "Silly man."
We kissed for a while, soft loving kisses expressing our joy over what just occurred.
"Come on Mrs. Cullen, they're waiting for us," I panted when we broke the kiss. Bella bit her lip, looking at me with smoldering eyes.
"I really can't wait until you can actually call me that." She said huskily.
"Very soon baby, I don't want to wait, Mrs. Cullen," I practically purred, feeling Bella rub against the bulge in my pants.
"Please," she begged.
"We have to go inside baby, tonight, I promise," I said as I kissed her once more softly.
"Ok," she murmured against my lips, before she unwrapped her legs, rubbing herself against me as she slid down. "I'll hold you to that."
She grabbed my hand and pulled me with her towards the house before turning and asking me to crouch.
"Yea, I can't walk through this in heels," she said, laughing as I picked her up. As soon as she was on my back, I felt the warmth emanating from between her thighs.
"You know, if you had been wearing a dress I could've fucked you up against the tree, our tree."
"Edward," she whined, biting my earlobe as punishment for my teasing. "I hate you."
"No you don't, you love me," I said tightening her legs around me. "You even agreed to marry me."
"I did huh?" she said smiling at me, before kissing my cheek.
"You did," I said with a huge smile on my face, turning to kiss her properly.
"Ahhhhh!" I heard suddenly, Bree hadn't been among the family by the trees and now she was running down the stairs towards us with a huge grin on her face. "OMG why didn't you tell me Eddie?" she asked, hugging Bella tightly when I put her down and squealing. "Your gonna be my sister!"
"I've always wanted a sister," Bella giggled, hugging Bree to her side as she smiled up at me.
"That's why I didn't tell you Bree, you would have told Bella right away."
"No I wouldn't have," she pouted.
"You would've kept a secret from me?" Bella pouted at her teasingly.
"Ok, I would have told," Bree laughed. "Oh, but I'm so excited, you guys are getting married, and then you'll have babies and I'm going to be an aunt and…" she rambled, talking excitedly about our futures and practically planning our wedding.
"Bree, let them breathe, they can plan their wedding on their own." my mom said, walking out of the kitchen to tell us dinner was ready.
"Sorry," she blushed.
"Its ok Bree, you can help me with some stuff, don't worry," Bella told her with a wink.
"Thanks B."
We all walked towards the kitchen, Bella and I hand in hand as we took our seats at the table.
"About time there, huh Edward?" Charlie joked as he pulled out a chair for Irena.
"What are you talking about dad?" Bella asked.
"He asked me for my blessing back when we you guys first came down to Forks, I'm surprised he waited so long to ask you."
"You knew back then that you wanted to marry me?" Bella asked, looking at me with tears in her eyes.
"I knew from the very beginning baby, the moment I looked into those big brown eyes," I replied, wiping under her eye, as I leaned down to give her a soft kiss, feeling her smile against my lips.
"Awww," all the women at the table cooed at the same time.
"So cheesy Edward," Jasper taunted, causing Alice to elbow him.
"I'm allowed to be cheesy, we just got engaged," I replied, rolling my eyes at him.
"Yea, shut up Jasper, I think they're cute, you should learn from him."
"What? Babe I'm always cute with you."
"Sure," she said rolling her eyes. I wondered shortly if our engagement bothered her, she and Jasper had been dating a lot longer than we had, and they hadn't taken that step.
"Aww Allycat, you know I love you sugar," Jasper cooed, nuzzling his face in her neck and kissing her sweetly. Alice giggled, turning her head to kiss him softly, before pushing him away.
"I love you too jerk," she said, making everyone at the table laugh, before she snuggled into him. "Oh Bella, I'm so excited for you, I can't wait to help find your dress and then colors and schemes.." she rambled excitedly, just like Bree had. Guess she didn't mind that we we're marrying before her.
"Don't worry, once we set a date you can all help me plan," Bella stated to the women at the table. A knock on the door interrupted all the squeals.
"Hola," Jake shouted as he walked into the dining room, pushing his father's wheel chair. "Aww, were you guys waiting for lil old me?"
"Yes, now sit so we can eat," Bella demanded playfully, pointing at the seat across from her with her left hand.
"Edward liked it enough to put a ring on it?" he screeched, staring at the rock on Bella's hand.
"Yes," I chuckled at his words. "I liked it very much."
"Damn I could tell. Bellybutton that is one beautiful ring, he's a good one, you should keep him," he joked as he hugged her.
"I just might," Bella said with a wink in my direction.
"Congrats honey. You deserve it," he told her before turning and hugging me. "You too Edward. You've brought so much back into her life, I can't think of anyone better for her. Well maybe me, if I wasn't gay," he joked as he pulled out of the hug, barely avoiding my punch to his shoulder as we all laughed.
The dinner continued this way, jokes and laughter in between wedding talk. Of course everyone kept bringing up when we should get married and by the fifth time someone gave a suggestion I blurted out my desire.
"New Years."
"What?" They all asked as they turned to look at me.
"What about New Years baby?" Bella asked as she leaned her head on my shoulder. I looked down at her pushing her hair behind her ear and keeping my hand on her face while I caressed her cheek.
"I want to marry you on New Years Eve and start off the New Year with you as my wife," I said as I leaned my forehead on hers.
"Really?" She asked quietly.
"I'd marry you tomorrow if I could. I love you."
"I love you too," she whispered, stretching her neck to kiss me.
"So?" I prodded, ignoring Alice's complaints of not giving her enough time to plan a wedding.
"Yes, I want to start off the New Year as your wife," she barely got the end of the sentence out, before my mouth descended upon hers. This beautiful woman was going to be my wife in just a little over a month, I was beyond happy.
"Alright, stop molesting my daughter son," Charlie joked, making everyone at the table laugh and Bella to bury her red face in my neck as she giggled.
"Sorry Chief," I panted. "I couldn't help it. She's going to marry me," I stated incredulously.
"Yes son, we all see the ring on her finger. Believe it. You're stealing my daughter away to make her your own," he said, winking at me to show he was joking.
"How am I supposed to plan a wedding in a month Edward? We won't be able to get everything done on time."
"You're not planning it, I am, it's my wedding," Bella told her. "And I just want something small, just us and a few friends."
"Fine," Alice pouted.
"You can help me plan it Ally, I just don't want you taking control and turning into some big over the top thing."
"I was just hoping to do your wedding since Rose eloped."
"You still can, I just have the veto power, besides you can go big when it comes to your wedding."
"I guess," she sighed.
"I promise we can have a huge wedding when the time comes baby," Jasper told her, creating a huge smile on Alice's face. Crisis averted. I loved the girl, but I honestly don't think she wouldn't have gone overboard with our wedding. I wanted something small and simple, just like Bella did.
We talked a bit more about the wedding before spending the rest of the night in each others company, talking about nonsense and showing exactly how thankful we we're for our families. All in all it was the best Thanksgiving I'd ever had, thanks to Bella.
BPOV
The day had gone so much better than I had expected. I was just hoping for a nice casual thanksgiving with both of our families and friends, and I came out of it engaged.
I couldn't help but constantly twirl and stare at my ring, it was so surreal to know, that in just one month, I was going to be married to Edward. I was going to be Mrs. Cullen. He was going to be my husband. I looked up into the mirror, smiling at what I saw in the reflection. My eyes we're bright and my cheeks we're flushed, and you couldn't wipe the smile off my face if you tried. I don't remember ever seeing myself this happy, and I didn't want it to ever go away.
"Love? Are you almost done?"
"Yea I'll be right out," I called out as I finished washing my face, smiling again when I saw the light reflect off my ring. I walked out of the bathroom, crawling naked into bed and immediately curling into an equally naked Edward.
"Hi," I whispered when we we're cuddled up, face to face.
"Hi love," he whispered back, kissing me softly before bringing my left hand up and kissing the ring. "In just 36 days you're going to be all mine."
"I've always been yours," I said softly bringing my face closer to kiss him, pushing all my love and happiness into the kiss. I ran my tongue across his bottom lip, smiling when he allowed me instant access to his mouth. Our tongues danced, caressing each other as our hands caressed our bodies. I threw my leg over his hip, groaning when our centers came in direct contact. "I think you have a promise to follow through on."
"Mmm, I sure do, soon to be Mrs. Cullen," he purred, licking down the side of my neck as he lined us up. He entered me slowly, torturing me with every inch.
"Baby please," I begged, wanting to feel myself filled and smothered in him and only him.
"Be patient with me baby, I want to take my time. I want to feel every silky inch as I slip myself inside of you," he said into my ear as he pushed into me, before sliding out and doing it again, going a little deeper each time until he was settled completely inside of me. "So fucking perfect. I will never get tired of being inside of you Bella."
"Me either. I love you."
"I love you too," he muttered as he kissed me, rocking inside of me slowly as he kissed my lips. Sucking my bottom lip into his mouth before doing the same to the top one. We continued this way until we both came, soft and sweet and full of love, never breaking out of each others arms or pulling our lips away from the other. I fell asleep in the arms of my fiancée; my left hand in his as he fiddled with my ring, until he too, fell asleep.
The next morning I woke to the feeling of lips against my inner thigh, leaving a trail of warm, wet kisses up to my core.
"Mmm," I moaned when those lips reached my clit.
"Good morning baby," Edward mumbled against my pussy, making me groan as the vibrations rocked through me and bury my hand in his hair.
"Mmm," I moaned back, not coherent enough to mutter an actual response, making him chuckle and causing an even louder moan to fall from my lips at the feeling.
He ran his tongue up my slit, swirling his tongue around my clit before doing it again, licking me from bottom to top. I lifted my head looking down at him, only to catch the sight of the ring on my hand that rested on his head. Yesterday was real, it actually happened, we we're going to get married. I moaned loudly at my thoughts, dropping my head into the pillow as he nibbled on my clit.
"Oh shit.. baby. Uhh.. more," I moaned when he slowed down, teasing me with only the tip of his tongue. Suddenly the pressure of his tongue intensified. He licked and sucked at a frenzied pace, bringing me closer and closer to the edge with each pass of his tongue.
"Oh god .. fuuuuck .. Edward!" I screamed.
"Mmm, so delicious baby," he moaned against me before taking my clit into his mouth and sucking hard.
"Uh, Ah.. Edward.. god baby," I moaned as he attacked my pussy, licking, nibbling and sucking on my sensitive flesh.
"Are you gonna come baby?" he asked around me, not giving me a chance to respond before he dove back in, shaking his head back and forth as he moaned against me.
"Edward.. baby oh god.. soo good. Ah," I screamed as he sucked as much of my pussy into his mouth as he could, "Ooh shit, I'm uh.. Edward!"
"That's it baby, come on my tongue," he urged as he continued his attack, bringing me to orgasm twice before finally releasing me.
"Oh my god Edward. Baby that was.." I trailed off panting and trembling as he kissed up my body.
"Good?" he asked in my ear.
"Mmm no, really fucking amazing."
"Well thank you," he chuckled, laying his head in the crook of my neck as he laid his body atop of mine. I wrapped my arms and legs around him, holding him close to me while I kissed his neck and he did the same. He lifted his face from my neck and kissed me properly, pulling back to look at my face.
"I love you."
"I love you too, so much," I replied, hooking my legs around him tighter and making him grind into my body.
"Last night was sweet and perfect, but right now, I want to fuck my fiancée, can I do that baby?"
"Yes please," I moaned, crying out his name when he entered me hard. "Ooh just like that baby. God.. so good."
"Just like this baby? You want it hard? You want me to pound your little pussy?" he asked, moving deeper inside of me with each thrust.
"Yea baby, give me your cock. Ugh.. right there.. Mmm."
"Right there?" he asked, swiveling his hips just right to hit my sweet spot.
"Yesss!" I screamed out. "Edward.. god.. ah yes."
"So perfect," he murmured against my neck where he was nibbling. "So wet and tight. God baby, I swear your pussy was made to house my cock."
"Edward.. oh yes yes yes," I moaned, both at his words and his increased pace.
"Look at me baby, I want to look in your eyes when you come," he demanded as he rested his forehead against mine.
"Edwaaard," I screamed out, writhing in his arms as I came, staring into the deep green eyes I hope our future kids will have.
"Bella.. baby oh god," he moaned, stilling above me as he came.
"I love you," he panted against my face, breathing into my mouth as he kissed me.
"Love you," I mumbled against his lips as I tried to catch my breath.
The weekend passes in this fashion. Hanging out with the family and mind blowing sex at night, I'm surprised they don't mention anything. Once we settle back at home the sex continues. Getting engaged just made us more insatiable, any moment Edward caught sight of my ring sparkling in the light he kissed me, which of course usually led to sex, unless we we're in public or with company.
It worked both ways though, any time he mentioned anything wedding related I jumped him. Of course wedding planning and school soon put a damper into our sex life. As the month of December went on I found myself in wedding shop after wedding shop, I had told Alice I wanted to go back to the little boutique we found Rose's dress at but she insisted we had to look at other places first. Of course after the 5th shop we visited, and I still hadn't found anything we went to our place. When we walked in Emily greeted us immediately, recognizing us.
"Hey Emily," we all greeted.
"Hey girls, what brings you guys by?"
"It's Bella's here turn to get married," Rose explained.
"Oh, congratulations sweetie. Let's go find you the perfect dress huh?"
"That's why we're here," I smiled.
"What do you want?"
"Something simple, but not as simple as Rose's. I want lace, long and white and classic."
"I'll see what I can find for you honey."
Emily brought out a few dresses. I tried on a few, and although they were beautiful, they weren't what I was looking for. Finally after the 3rd dress, I found it, my perfect dress, exactly as I had envisioned it. All lace with a V-neck front and an open back, tight against my torso and hips before flowing out elegantly to the floor.
"Oh Bells that's the dress. You look absolutely perfect in it," Rose cried.
"Thanks," I sniffled, smiling as I looked at myself in the mirror. "This is it."
"Edward is going to die," Alice commented as she pushed my hair to the side, exposing the lace behind my neck and the opening in the back. I purchased the dress, taking it home and immediately hiding it in the spare room closet.
"I can't believe you're getting married in two weeks," Alice said as we sat on my couch in the living room.
"Me either," I admitted. The time had gone by so quickly, Edward and I had done well on our finals and we're finally able to relax and plan our wedding in peace, without the stress and hassle of tests.
Christmas was next week, and the whole family was coming down to celebrate and then staying the week for the wedding. It was the first holiday we we're hosting in our house, we we're lucky we had the crew to help us and all the wedding stuff was set. The girls and I spent the rest of the day decorating the house, the guys were bringing a tree and we were going to spend the night decorating it together, it had been a while since we hung out as a group.
"Shit," we heard coming from outside, followed by a thump and a few more curse words. We walked to the door, opening it to find the guys trying to drag the tree up the driveway and into the house.
"Damn it Emmett, help us!"
"I've got the ornaments!"
"I don't care, put them down, we need your help with the tree, its fucking heavy and it was your idea to get such a big one."
"Bigger is better my friend," he said, coming to help the guys. We all laughed as we watched them struggle with it.
"Baby don't laugh!" Edward shouted. "Lead us on how to move this thing."
We spent the next 15 minutes, leading the guys on where to move the tree before we finally got it inside. It was huge, but it looked perfect nestled in the corner of our living room.
"See, I told you bigger was better," Emmett stated smugly as we stared at the finished tree. It did look amazing. We had spent a good while decorating it, laughing and joking as we strung lights and ornaments here and there. "Good job guys."
"We should make this a tradition," Alice said, holding up her hot chocolate. "Every year we get a tree and decorate it, even if we're not spending the holidays together."
"Deal," we all said, knocking our mugs together in agreement. Soon enough it got late and they all went on their way. After they left Edward and I sat on the couch for a while, snuggling as we talked, the only light coming from the tree, before retreating to our warm bed.
The next morning the trilling of my phone woke me.
"Hello?" I answered, voice still husky from sleep. "Hello?" I asked again when no one answered. "Hello?" I was about to hang up when the person finally spoke up.
"Hello Is- I mean Bella, hi."
"Renee?" I asked sitting up in bed before walking out of the room, not wanting to wake up Edward. "Can I help you?"
"I was just hoping to speak to you, could you meet me today?"
"I really don't think that's a good idea."
"Is- Bella, please. I just want to talk."
"Ok," I said reluctantly. What the hell could she possibly have to say to me? Could she finally be apologizing for all she put me through?
We set a place and time and hung up. I still couldn't get it through my head why she was calling.
"Hey love, I got up and you weren't in bed," Edward said, padding into the living room. "What's wrong?"
"Huh? Oh nothing," I answered.
"Baby, tell me," he said, sitting and taking my hand in his.
"Renee just called me," I whispered.
"What the fuck did she want?" he said harshly, making me flinch at the anger in his voice.
"She wants to meet up and talk."
"No," he answered immediately.
"What do you mean no?"
"No, you're not meeting up with her."
"Edward she's my mother, I can't just not go," I said annoyed.
"Why not? I thought you ended this when she kicked you out."
"Yes, but I also told her to not contact me unless she changed her ways, maybe she wants to apologize Edward maybe.."
"No, you really think she's just going to become world's best mom in 2 months Bella? No huge changes happen that fast."
"We fell in love and moved in together in 2 months," I pointed out.
"Don't you dare compare our relationship to that, baby it's just not possible, I won't let her hurt you."
"Edward I have to, she's still my mother and if I don't do this I'll always wonder.."
"No."
"Just give it some thought."
"No, you're not going, I forbid it."
"You forbid it?" I asked angrily.
"Yes."
"And who are you to forbid me to do anything? You're not my father."
"And that woman is not your mother, she never was, what makes you think she suddenly wants to be."
"I have to try Edward," I pleaded.
"Why?"
"I don't know, I just do. I can't live my life knowing that my mother once hated me, if there's any hope that it could change I want to know."
"Bella it's not going to make a difference! She's going to try to manipulate you like she always has! I can't watch you go through that, you kicked that woman out of your life, let her stay there."
"I can't."
"Your not going!" he shouted, and suddenly I was mad again.
"What gives you the right to boss me around Edward? It's my decision."
"Damn it Bella, I'm your husband!"
"Not yet you're not! Is this how it's going to be when we're married, you tell me to jump and I'm just supposed to ask how high?"
"Of course not! But I just don't want you to get hurt."
"I need to do this Edward, please just understand that."
"I can't, I can't understand that."
"Well then you'll just have to live with it. I'm going." I said turning and walking away from him. I dressed quickly, not looking at him as he watched me from the doorway.
I knew he wanted to say something else, and I understood where he was coming from, but I had to do this. I needed a conversation with Renee once and for all. I needed to make sure it was all aired out before I moved on with my life, with Edward.
I walked past his still glaring form, grabbed my keys, and walked out the door. When I showed up to the restaurant, my nerves skyrocketed, I shouldn't have come here, Edward was right. But then I saw a glimpse of Renee sitting at a table; she looked as nervous as I felt. I went in.
When I sat at the table she looked up surprised.
"Bella!" she shouted. This was the third time she's called me Bella. It was weird to hear it come out of her mouth since she usually called me Isabella.
"I'm here," I said warily. "Let's talk."
"You look well," she stated.
"You too." And she did, she was in her usual dress suit but her makeup wasn't as harsh.
"How are you?"
"Fine."
"Good," we stared at each other.
"Why did you call me?"
"I- well I missed you, and I wanted to apologize." The words were something I'd always wanted to hear, but for some reason, they sounded wrong.
"For what?"
"For kicking you out and mistreating you, you are more than welcome to have the apartment back."
"I'm fine, thanks."
"You're still living with that man?" she asked trying to sound polite but I could tell she didn't like that I refused.
"Yes," I was interrupted when the waiter came to ask our orders, I handed him the menu when I was done, and felt Renee grab my hand.
"What's this?" she asked looking at my engagement ring. "You're engaged?"
"Yes," I answered politely.
"Oh," she tried to appear indifferent but the spark of anger in her eyes couldn't be hidden.
"How are you?" I asked.
"Fine. Except, oh Bella, Phil left me, he met a much younger woman and now he's off somewhere," she said sadly, she must've mistaken the sadness in my eyes to be towards her situation. "I'm fine dear, I don't need him. I still have you."
"Is that why you contacted me? Because you're all alone now?"
"What?" she asked flustered, I knew she was faking. I could see the anger in her eyes at getting caught. I was wrong; she didn't want to fix us.
"What? You're husband leaves you so you come to me so you won't be alone?"
"No, I just missed you."
"Tell the truth Renee," I growled at her.
"Ok, fine, but it was only a matter of time before you came crawling back to me."
"Really? And how do you suppose that? I'm getting married."
"Right, are you pregnant?"
"What? No!"
"Then why is he marrying you?"
"Because he loves me! Don't you get that? Obviously not, since Phil didn't love you."
"I know what love is, your father and I still have it. Don't you see, we can be a family again. Now that Phil is out of my life, your father and I can start over, and you can be a part of that."
"Are you delusional? Like he would ever take you back."
"You don't know that."
"He's married."
"Liar! He still loved me, who could he possibly marry?"
"Irena," I said smugly.
"That bitch."
"Don't you dare call my mother that."
"Your mother?"
"Yes, my mother. I thought you wanted to fix us Renee, but you're only here for your own selfish purposes. Well let me tell you one thing, I'm officially done with you, I'm finally happy and I'm not going to let you bring me down, stay out of our lives for good."
"Isabella!"
"There it is! What happened to Bella?" I laughed sarcastically.
"That was when I was trying to appeal to you, are you really just going to abandon me like that? Your own mother?"
"My mother? Tell me, when have you ever acted like my mother? When you put me down? When you yelled and bossed me around?"
"I did what I had to, you could have been perfect. You could be up on some stage in some world tour right now if you had just followed my rules."
"And you would be living the high life wouldn't you?"
"Of course, it's what I deserve."
"I'm done," I said standing up and walking away from her.
"Isabella! This is your last chance. Come back with me, that man is just going to hurt you, everyone will abandon you when they see how weak you are!"
I rolled my eyes and continued to walk away. Renee was no longer a part of my life, this was for sure. Either way, I was glad I had gone; I needed to know the truth so I could finally move past it.
When I got home, I walked in to find Edward sitting on the couch, staring at the door with his hands in his hair. I knew he had been worried, and I wanted to calm him. I took the steps toward him before dropping in his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck as I leaned my forehead against his.
"Hi," I whispered.
"Hi," he whispered back warily.
"I'm sorry, but I needed to do that."
"I know, and I'm sorry too, I have no right to forbid you of anything."
"You we're trying to protect me."
"Yea, but still, how did it go?" he asked nervously.
"We're done, she's out of my life for good."
"I'm sorry about that."
"I'm not, It was what I needed, I needed to know she hadn't changed, so I could leave it all behind."
"I'm sorry for yelling."
"Sorry, for walking away from you."
"Did we just have our first fight?" He joked.
"Disagreement," I laughed shaking my head.
"I love you."
"I love you too," I replied leaning down to kiss his lips.
Reviews are love, leave me some.
Tell me what you think.
-Angie
Pictures of the outfits in each chapter are on my profile. Go check out BELLA'S DRESS.
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