AN: Up until now, I've kept the M rating confined to the occasional bad word. This chapter is going to get a bit lemony and is also a longer one then the others. I hope you all don't mind the back and forth from Bella to Edward; I go with the flow of my thoughts.

Chapter 14: Bella's POV

I can hardly believe that I'm sitting in Edward's Volvo and we're about to see my dad…together.

The last guy I introduced to my dad was Mike and look how well that turned out, but… Edward isn't Mike; thank goodness for that. I know that in his younger years, my dad would've loved Edward. I can just see them on my dad's old boat, fishing the day away or watching a football game in the living-room of the house I grew up in. My dad is one of my favorite people in the world, but I'm so nervous about today. Edward is important…the most important person in my life who is not related to me by blood. I want my dad to be himself when they meet. Even though he's been having a lot more good days versus bad ones, I worry that he won't even remember who I am. If Edward sees that my own father doesn't remember me, will he think I'm not worth his time… or his love? I know it's irrational, but I worry that he'll leave me when I need him the most…he's the first man I've felt safe enough with to actually let my guard down and see me at my worst.

"Bella, we're here, love." The man in question places his hand on mine and squeezes it, sensing that I need some reassurance.

I squeeze back and reach for the handle to get out, but he uses inhuman speed to get out of and around the car in order to open my door before I can.

"Bella, you need to get used to me opening doors and holding chairs for you. I like doing it and you deserve to be treated that way." Edward says as he holds my hand on the way to the door of the Windermere nursing home. The woman at the security desk buzzes us in and Edward, once again, holds the door open for me. Holding my hand, he follows me down the hallways and we reach the large common room where I see my dad.

He's playing checkers with Rhonda, his nurse's aid.

"Oh, look who's here, Charlie!" Rhonda says, pointing me out to my dad.

He stares at me for a long moment, frowning.

*Please remember me today, daddy?* I pray hanging onto Edward's hand for dear life.

"Isabella, who is this man you're clinging to?" Dad says.

I smile with tears in my eyes as Edward walks forward taking me with him.

Edward's POV

The smile that appears on Bella's face is breathtaking, as she realizes that her dad has remembered who she is. I take a deep breath and walk forward with her still holding my left hand. "Hello, Sir, I'm Bella's boyfriend. My name is Edward."

"Edward, you look awfully familiar…Have we met?" Charlie asks as we shake hands.

"We did meet once, Sir. It was almost ten years ago." I say wondering if he'll remember.

His face show signs of recognition after a few seconds. "It's him…" He looks at Bella and an expression of wonder takes him over. "Bella…I remember like it was yesterday! We met on your 19th birthday…you were there with me, too. Didn't your wife have a baby that day?" He frowns at me putting emphasis on the word 'wife'.

Bella nods and a tear leaks down the side of her face. "Nancy, his wife, died a few weeks later, Daddy."

I see Charlie grimace but he nods and reasons things out. "You're going to be 29 this year…which means that… our little girls are going to have a birthday…"

"Yes, Sir, in just a few months…" I agree.

"You can stop with the 'Sir' stuff, Edward." He smirks. "How is your little girl? I forget what your wife told me you'd named her."

I grin with pleasure that he recalls us. "Nessie is doing great, Charlie! She's in school right now, but I have a picture in my wallet, if you'd like to see it."

He nods so I pull out my wallet and hand it over. He looks at everything there. Pictures of my mom and dad along with my sister and Nessie are in the small sleeves. He stops at the picture of me and Bella.

I chuckle. "We'd gone to the movie theater and they'd just put in one of those little photo booths. She pulled me into it and insisted on posing in it. I humored her, and that's the result."

"You look happy together." He says. "Bella looks happy…that's all I care about, Edward. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

I swallow. "I think so, Sir."

He suddenly coughs, dropping my wallet on the ground as he tries to hand it back to me. A whole bunch of things fall out. "Bells, could you ask Rhonda for a cup of water?"

"Sure, Dad; I'll be back in a minute." She says getting up.

As she walks over to the aide, I reach out to start picking my things up but he gets to some of it first.

He stops and opens a receipt. "Hmmm…I had a feeling…"

"Sir… I mean, Charlie?" I ask.

"When I picked this up, I saw the logo of a jewelry store." Charlie replies giving it back.

"Oh, well, I hope you don't mind, Charlie…Sir, I wanted to ask you…I mean, I spoke with Emmett and he seems amenable. I-I'd like to marry your daughter, Sir." I stumble through my nervous speech. "This is the receipt for the ring that I'm having made for her. She's very special to me, Charlie. I love her very much…"

"And I love him too, Daddy. What are you two talking about?" She says handing Charlie a cup half filled with water. "What's this you've got in your hand?"

I shake my head a little.

He smirks and nods. "Nothing to worry about, Bells…just something important that fell out of your boyfriend's wallet. He's going to need it." He says, winking at me as he folds it up quickly and hands it back to me. "You wanna play checkers, Edward?"

"Sure, Charlie, I'd love to." I grin.

At one point, during the game he stands up and walks away.

"Its ok, Edward, it happens sometimes. He might come back and not remember what we're doing or talking about. When he comes back he might even have forgotten who we are. It's difficult, but we have to pretend it doesn't bother us." Bella whispers, seeing my confusion.

I nod and finish making the move I'd been making.

Moments later Charlie comes back and sits down. "Bella, who is this young man you've got with you today?"

"This is Edward, Dad. He's my boyfriend and he wanted to meet you." Bella says. I can see that her smile doesn't reach her eyes.

"Oh, well, it's nice to meet you, Edwin. I hope you're keeping my little girl happy." He replies.

"It's Edward, and I'm trying, Sir." I say as I squeeze her hand.

"Well, good, would you like to play checkers?" Charlie asks, winning the game soon after.

Bella and I go out to my car after saying good-bye to him. She sits on the bench next to the car and starts to cry. "I'm so sorry, Edward. I wanted you to meet him and you did, but he forgot you after just a half hour! I wanted him to be ok for your visit and he was but only for a little while."

"Bella, please stop crying, love. It's ok that he forgot me." I say taking her into my arms. "He didn't forget you, Bella! He doesn't need to remember me, sweetie. You're more important. You're important to me and to him. We both love you, Bella! That's all that matters."

She relaxes in my arms and lets me help her into the car.

We drive along in silence until I can come up with the perfect thing to say but it doesn't come to me easily. I know I need to acknowledge Bella's fear of abandonment, but I don't know how to do it without trivializing it or making it worse. I decide to stick with the honesty rule we both insisted on at the beginning. "Bella, I don't want you to think I'm making light of it or anything, but I need you to understand that your dad's disease doesn't affect my feelings or my commitment to you. I love you and I want us to be together. Don't shut me out, please?"

Her lip trembles as I pull up to my house. "I'm not shutting you out, Edward. I'm really not. I just didn't know what to say. I love you too. I need someone who can be strong when I'm not. I need somebody to hold me when I cry and feel like I'm falling apart. I hope you won't find me too needy or clingy. In the past few weeks you've been my shelter in the storm, and I'm grateful for that."

I lift her face so she can see me. "You don't have to thank me, baby. You don't have to stay strong and if you fall apart, I promise to pick up all the pieces and be the glue that sticks them together. You and Nessie are my life." I sigh. "I was going to do this in a much more romantic fashion but I guess now is as good a time as any."

"What are you talking about, Edward?" She shakes her head in confusion.

"Bella, I can't picture my life without you in it. I'm in love with you and I want you to be more than my girlfriend. I want you to be my wife and partner for the rest of our lives." I say trying to explain. "I love you; Nessie loves you; my whole family loves you!" Seeing her eye-roll, I adjust my statement. "Well, Jasper's still warming up to you but he just hates when people yell at him; especially when it's his fault."

She bites her lip. "This is all happening so fast, Edward. I feel like I'm in a time warp or something. Can I have some time to think? Or maybe I should take some time and not think." Her eyes flash up to mine. "That's my problem, isn't it, Edward. I think too much."

"Hold that thought, love." I say pulling out my phone. I dial my parents' house. "Mom, can you and Dad pick Ness up from school and keep her for the night, Bella and I want a little…?" I trail off as Mom interrupts me.

"Time alone...? Of course, Edward, it's fine. Enjoy yourselves…but have you asked her yet?" She inquires.

"Thanks, Mom, and no offense but…mind your own business!" I say, hanging up.

Bella has a shy smile on her face. "Do they know you want to marry a girl you've only known for a month and a half?"

I grin sheepishly. "I told them. Listen, love, I want you to think for a little bit. I'm going to go somewhere and then I want to take you to a special place. I want to do it right."

"So we're going on a date tonight?" Bella asks.

"Yes, we're going on a date and I hope you'll let me ask you officially…in a better, more romantic way…" I tilt my head and peck her on the lips as I escort her to her door. "Will you let me, Bella…please?"

"Ok…" She whispers.

"Just so you know, if Nessie hadn't picked someone who had already caught my eye, I wouldn't have dated her. I think I was always just waiting for our paths to cross in the right way." I tell her.

"I'm so glad Daddy and Emmett didn't scare you away. You know, back in the day, Dad would've been cleaning his shotgun when you'd come over to visit or to pick up his little girl for a date. If you wanted to marry me then, you would've had to ask his permission…" She sighs lost in her thoughts already.

I allow some of my surprise to show. "Bella, do you think that I didn't think all this through? Do you think I wouldn't do things properly? I've thought about you and me, and I've thought about Nessie and your family and even my family and friends. You're not just some girl I met, Bella. I promise you I'm doing the things I've done over the past few weeks because there's something about you that draws me in. I want to be your strength and shore up your weakness. I want to see the light in your eyes every day for the rest of my life." I wrap my arms around her. "I've spoken to your brother, Bella, and I've spoken to your dad, as well, but I thought talking to the member of your family whose memory is still fully in tact was a more solid way to go. I'm a traditional man, Isabella Swan. I'll come back for you in a little while, love."

She blushes and nods going into her home.

Bella's POV

*He wants to marry me?* I think to myself as I close the door behind me and begin to wander the rooms of my house as the idea sinks in. *What is he thinking? We just met a few weeks ago! How does he know we're meant to be? What does a bunch of crazy coincidences really prove? I'm not against marriage and commitment, but what kind of relationship can we build on such a shallow foundation? This is such a bad idea…isn't it?* Then one doubt floats to the surface. *Is it really such a bad idea? I love him. Emmett likes him… He said he spoke to Emmett! I need to talk to my brother!*

I run to the phone and dial. "Emmett…?"

"Yeah, Sis…?" He says, sounding expectant.

"I need to talk to you. Come over here." I say.

"I'm on my way, Sis." He agrees and hangs up.

30 minutes later, my brother's car pulls up outside. I'm already dressed in a blue silk halter dress and I'm almost ready for Edward to pick me up, so Em takes one look at me and gives a low whistle.

"Someone looks ready to paint the town!" He jokes. "Got something to celebrate?"

"He told you! He really told you! Don't you think that getting engaged after only a month and a half is going little too fast?" I ask.

He nods slowly. "For most people it would be, Bells, but you two have a deeper connection than I'd expect for only having been together for a few weeks. He loves you, Bells. I don't doubt his ability to make you happy and keep you healthy and safe. He asked me and I know you were taking him to see dad today. I wonder if he asked Dad…"

"He says he did and they were alone together for a few minutes before Dad forgot again." I confess. "Oh, Em, Edward is so sweet. He held me when I cried after we left dad's home and he told me that he loves me and wants to be my strength and the glue that holds me together…Em, what do I do? It seems so reckless but I love him so much!"

"Bells, as your brother, I'm naturally protective of you. I'd tell you if this guy was no good. I've known him for these last few weeks and I've got a really good feeling about him. His family is a rock. It's a solid foundation to build a life on. They love you almost as much as he does and that little girl of his just adores you." He hugs me. "Big sister, you've been taking care of me and Dad for so long; let Edward take care of you, now. You deserve to have this, Bella, so go put your face on. I'll let him in when he gets here."

"Em, you're such a great brother! I love you!" I hug him back briefly and run for the bathroom to finish getting ready.

Edward's POV

After escorting Bella to her door I went to the jewelry store to pick up the ring.

The store is owned by a group of Italian jewelers who had been in business for nearly a century, so I knew they would have my order and design fully made by today. My faith was rewarded as I walked into the lobby and was greeted enthusiastically by the eccentric proprietor Demitri Vitale, who only speaks of himself in the third person.

"Mr. Cullen, Demitri is so happy to see you!" He said. "Your first piece, the ring, is finished. The coordinating pendant and earrings will be done within the week, and this set will be Demitri's masterpiece!"

I grinned in true delight. The ring is the most important thing for now, but the secondary pieces will be a wedding gift. "Can I see the ring now, Mr. Vitale? I'm popping the question tonight and I can't wait to see your work."

"Yes, yes, Mr. Cullen…Demitri's viewing room is right this way." He said as he led the way to a locked room with a table, two chairs and a safe. As I sat at one side of the table, he opened the wall-safe and took out a navy-blue velvet box.

I took the box into my hands and stroked the soft fabric for a second before finding the courage to lift the lid. I was amazed to see that this work of art had come from the stone that was just a round lump half the size of my palm. The center stone is 1.5 carat 'Princess' cut and on either side there is a .75 carat 'Trillion' cut. The pendant will be a vertical version of this in slightly bigger carats. The earrings will be 'Princess' cut posts with a dangling 'Trillion' cut diamond pointing up and will match the ring in carat size.

"It's perfect, Demitri! I can't wait to slide this onto her finger! Thank you so much!" I slip the box into my pocket and ask how much while taking out my checkbook. We settle on a steep but fair price to be paid in four installments. He did do all the hard work after all.

"Mr. Cullen, Demitri thanks you so much for your business and the faith you put in us to make such a treasure into reality and he looks forward to your next visit!" The strange old man says as I walk out of the store and get into my car.

Locking the doors instantly, I cling to the hope that a few short hours from now Bella will be mine. Next on my list is to shower and dress; then I'll figure out how to articulate my feelings and desires properly.

I pull up to my house and notice Emmett's car out in front of Bella's place. I wonder why he's there for a minute until I realize she must have needed him to confirm that I spoke to him and ask some other questions. I hope everything is ok with my lovely Bella.

On the way to my room, I grab the phonebook and dial the number for a restaurant I'd recently seen advertised. There's dinner and dancing all night long at 'Dusk 'til Dawn'. I make a reservation and hang up, feeling very proud of myself. A nice hot shower and the hope that she likes the scent of my Irish-Spring men's body-wash, has me anxiously grinding my teeth. The water pounds onto my back as I contemplate the best way to ask her. I lather my face with shaving-cream and as I pull the razor over my skin, I realize that I'd already said the best lines to her this afternoon. Sighing, I wrap a towel around my body and dry myself off. I hear Nancy, suddenly, as I slip into my dress pants.

C'mon, Eddie, you know what to say. The things you said earlier are taking root in her mind right now. Keep it simple and back it up with the truth. The ring is a big enough gesture for Bella; don't go overboard with fancy words and over-the-top displays. She loves you, but those kinds of things make her uneasy.

"Aww, Nancy…you always know just what I need…I'll always have a spot in my heart for you. Thanks…" I whisper, feeling teary as I put on my cuff-links and check myself in the mirror before leaving the house.

Walking up the sidewalk to Bella's house, I smile as Emmett opens the door.

He's holding a toy shotgun and wiping it with a paper towel.

I grin and chuckle at his antics. "Is there something you'd like to say to me, Em?"

"Yeah…" He glowers at me. "If you hurt my sister, I'll hurt you…You got me?"

My smile softens. "Yeah, Em, I've got you." I give the door a token knock and call out her name. "I'm here, Bella-love."

"I'm just about ready, Edward." Her voice calls. "I'm just going to save my file and then I'll be done."

I stroll down the hall and stop next to the open door of Bella's office. "How are you, love? Is everything ok?"

"Yeah, I think I'm ok." She says standing and as she turns to face me, I take in her appearance. Her body is draped in blue silk and it looks amazing on her. Low heeled strappy sandals complete the look and her beautiful face has only a light touch of make-up to enhance her natural charms.

I look intently into her eyes. "Isabella Swan, you look absolutely beautiful. Thank you for joining me tonight. May I escort you to dinner and then maybe to my humble home?"

She nods and places her hand into mine. "Yes, please, Edward. I'm looking forward to this."

Bella's POV

As I stand up and face the man I have decided to trust with my fragile heart, I feel his gaze glide from my slightly waved tresses all the way down to the glittery tips of my strappy sandals. I've been 'checked out' before, but the way Edward is looking at me feels nothing like that. This is a man appreciating the beauty of his woman, not eye-fucking a hottie from across the room. This is a man who knows I'm his and he's willing to do what it takes to make sure I see it too. Giving him my hand, I tell him that I have hope for the future.

Edward leads me out to the Aston Martin and helps me in. Emmett waves as we pull away from the curb. No matter how hard I try, Edward refuses to tell me where we're going, so I recline my seat a little ways and relax. Before I know it, we're there…It's a restaurant called 'Dusk 'til Dawn' and the signs I see tell me that there's dinner and dancing with live music all night long.

The valet takes the car into a lot down the road and Edward leads me in the large, frosted glass doors. We are soon led to our table and he sits at a right angle to me, on my left.

I grin at him. "Nobody has ever taken me to a place like this, Edward. It's very romantic… candle lights and dancing. I'm going to get spoiled if you continue on this path."

He chuckles. "Maybe I want to spoil you, Bella… I'm in love with you, and I like doing things to please and surprise you."

The waitress joins us and takes our drink orders.

Edward asks for a bottle of their best white wine; he'd found out a while ago that I'm not fond of red. "I've been here once, love, may I order for you?"

I nod my consent as she brings over a bucket of ice and glasses with the bottle of wine. When she asks for our food choices, Edward orders a fish fillet for himself and a shellfish medley for me. After she's gone, I ask what's in the shellfish medley. He tells me it's a surprise.

The music starts and I allow Edward to lead me out onto the dance-floor. I can't tell what they're playing but Edward has a strong leading movement as we float across the room. I barely feel my feet touching the floor until he tells me that our food has arrived.

My Edward is a gentleman, holding my chair as I sit. He points at my dish. "Look, it's all your favorites, love. Shrimp, scallops and crab with lobster covering angel-hair pasta in a creamy garlic-alfredo sauce."

Suddenly, a man takes the microphone and makes an announcement. "Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight is Champagne night. Your waiters and waitresses will be bringing you each a glass of our finest champagne. Please enjoy!"

I raise my eye-brow and smirk at Edward as the waitress comes over with two glasses. She places one before me and the other in front of Edward. Mine has a pink ribbon around it and I turn the glass around. The most beautiful ring I've ever seen is dangling from the ribbon. I gasp. "Oh, Edward!" My hand shakes as I try to untie the ribbon.

He takes it from me and slips it onto my left ring finger. "Bella Swan, I love you with all my heart. Nothing in the world would make me happier than having you become my wife. Please say you'll spend the rest of your life with me?"

Tears fall down my cheek as I smile at him. "Edward, this is the most amazing thing anyone's ever done for me. Yes, yes, Edward, I'll marry you."

He grins and stands up. "Yes…? Oh, Bella, you have no idea how happy you just made me. I love you so much!" He pulls me up out of my chair and into his arms. Our lips collide and for a moment we're the only two people in the universe.

The waitress clears her throat from behind me. "Congratulations, sir and miss, would you like to finish your meals or would you rather have me wrap it for you to take home?"

"We'll finish it here, thanks." He says as we sit back down.

The rest of the meal goes by in a blur since I'm staring at either my hand or Edward's face the whole time. We dance a few more times before he calls for the check and the car.

"Bella, would you care to have a cup of coffee or something?" He asks awkwardly as we sit in the car outside of his house.

I nod so he opens the door for me. As we pass his room, I grab his hand and pull him in behind me.

"Bella, what the…?" He is understandably confused.

I place a finger on his lips. "Edward, you give me so much and get so little…You make me feel happy and safe. I love you; I trust you…I want you, Edward." I turn and move my hair. Seconds later I feel his fingers untying my halter straps.

"So beautiful…my lovely Bella…" His lips touch my neck and let the top of my dress fall. I pull his hands to my chest and feel his nimble fingers caress my breasts.

"Yes, Edward, I'm yours." I whisper as he turns me to face him.

"Are you sure, love?" He asks.

I nod and kiss him deeply. "Make love to me, Edward…"

He finishes undressing me and lays me on his bed. "I love you Bella." He says as he places his hands around my waist, holding me close before allowing himself to give in to our need.

I moan in impatience dragging his left hand to the place I most desire it.

One finger slips into my haven drawing a whimper from my lips. "God, Bella you're so wet…"

"Edward, I want to touch you too. Please?" I ask.

He stands and undresses quickly.

I smile as he lies next to me.

Our kisses grow more impassioned as our touches bring us higher up into the mountainous cliffs. Edward fingers my womanhood and finds my clit quite easily. "Would you mind very much if I got a closer look at what I'm doing? I don't think I'll need a map though; I'm pretty sure I've found the treasure."

I frown at him in confusion until I remember that I'd told him about Mike. I smirk as he kisses a line down my chest and over my belly. He finally settles in between my legs and begins to use his mouth to make love to me. I moan as his tongue slips into my opening. My hips lift as he delves into me, but he sits up and moves for me to straddle him.

"Bella, please… I want to be inside you…" He whispers as I hover over his member.

"Edward…" I pant. "Condom…please…?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, love; it's in the top drawer of the nightstand." He moans as I begin to stroke his firm manhood.

I stop for just a minute to get the condom and roll it down over him.

His whimper forces me to get back on top. "Bella, please, love?"

I smirk. "Please…what, Edward?"

"Don't tease me, Bella… I want to be in you… now…please!" He sounds very determined but also desperate.

I lower myself onto him.

His groan and my whimpering sigh mingle in the air around us as Edward lifts his hips into mine.

I meet him thrust for thrust and with his mouth on my breast; I shout my pleasure in the form of his name. As his voice joins mine, I can't help but think that if this is how he is going to be treating me, then I know I will be a very happy woman…

Edward's POV

The next morning, I wake to see a lovely woman sleeping next to me. I move close to her. We'll need to talk about a few things today…

hnwhitlock2000, you're the best! Thanks for doing your thing so well!