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CHAPTER 14

EDWARD

I was going to ask Bella to marry me. I was going to ask her to be my wife. It was all I could think of. Those two sentences went around in my head over and over. It was why I didn't hear the plan that Tanya had designed. I was so consumed by the decision that I had made that I couldn't see past it.

Bella and I were closer than ever, and in the last few months, I don't think that I had ever been happier. After talking with Carlisle a number of times concerning Bella's desire to become a vampire, he'd convinced me that it was the only way for us to continue. I'd finally accepted it, but I wanted to marry her, as well. The thought was pure joy for me. Not only would we be together forever, but we would be bound to one another forever.

The night of the Christmas party, Bella had handled herself beautifully with Irina. I couldn't sit still with her for long. I was anxious for the party to be over and everyone to leave. My plan was to ask her when the house was empty.

I was pacing in the kitchen, trying to get myself under control, when Tanya appeared in front of me. She didn't say anything; she just grabbed my shirt and planted a kiss on me.

Tanya had always tried to get me to be with her; I'd just never felt the same. I'd tried time and time again to behave in a gentlemanly manner and explain to her that I did not reciprocate her feelings.

When the glass shattered, I shoved Tanya off me, disgusted. My heart broke at the look on my love's face. She was devastated. She ran from the room, begging Emmett to take her home. I tried over and over to stop her, to let me explain, but it came out sounding like every man that had ever gotten caught.

My whole family was angry. Rose pulled me away from Emmett's Jeep, asking what I'd done. I was just about to answer her, when Tanya came out and surveyed the whole scene.

"She's just a human, Edward. She'll get over it," she sneered. "You deserve better." Her mind sent flashes of sexual ideas that she had in her head for us. It made me sick.

My temper had finally reached its limit. There was a table in the garage that Esme was refinishing, and I flipped it, shattering it into a thousand pieces. "No, she won't!" I yelled, walking toward her. "I won't! Don't you get it? I want her. No one else. Just. Her."

Carlisle stepped into the garage between me and Tanya, who I was debating on ripping apart and burning. "Son, wait," he said, putting a hand on my chest. "You don't want to do anything you'll regret."

Before he had a chance to turn around, Alice flew through the room, pinning Tanya to the wall. "She's not just a human. She's family," Alice sneered. "How many times does Edward have to turn you down before you just look pathetic? How many times have you thrown yourself at him, and he's turned you down?"

No one knew what to do. Alice was so small, but when she was mad, she was unstoppable. Jasper tried to calm her and had to pry her hands from Tanya's clothes. Alice was livid, asking her how she could come here and disrupt our family.

Emmett pulled back in, slamming the door behind him. "What the fuck, man?" he asked me.

Rose walked up and said, "Tanya decided to kiss Edward, and Bella saw it. It wasn't a mutual thing," she said, glaring at Tanya.

"Yeah, I know she saw it. She's messed up, too," he said, looking sadly at Rose. "I didn't want to leave her, Rosie." In his mind, I saw the way she looked when he'd dropped her off. It was defeated and sad and broken, again. It was my fault, all over again. I growled, and Emmett said, "Sorry, dude."

I started pacing. "I have to talk to her, to explain," I said, fisting my hands in my hair.

"Edward," Alice said, "she won't see you. Look." Alice showed me Bella taking the key from the eave of the door and locking her window. Tears were streaming down her face.

Tanya finally spoke. "Edward, I'm sorry. I didn't know...the extent," she said. "Maybe we should leave."

"Oh, no, sister!" Rose said, putting her hand up. "You aren't going anywhere."

Tanya looked intimidated by my sister.

"Because when Alice over there says Bella will see someone, then you will be the first she sees. You're going to explain that this whole mess is your fault." Rose poked a finger in her chest.

I went for a hunt. I sat in my room. I avoided everyone... Nothing could stop the pain that I felt. I'd lost her again, but this time, I couldn't do anything about it. She wouldn't see me.

Against Alice's advice, I went to the house anyway. I knocked on the door and the window, but she just stayed in her bed, not moving. It was killing me. I wanted to break the window or bust the door down, but I knew it wouldn't help anything. I tried calling her cell phone and home phone; she never moved, never answered. I was lost without her.

~oOo~

BELLA

I couldn't sleep. If I slept, the nightmares came. I couldn't move. If I moved, I threw up. I honestly thought that I was losing my mind, but then I decided that if I was going crazy, I wouldn't care about what I'd seen or felt.

I knew that Edward had tried to call and come in, but I'd ignored it all. I couldn't look at him. If I looked at him, I would lose it. I had lost him before; I could deal with this...but why couldn't I breathe?

The reality of the situation made some weird, surreal sense to me. Tanya was a better match for him. He didn't have to protect her, change her, be careful with her – all the things that I was sure he was tired of.

I was pretty sure that it had been two days, or was it three? Okay, so I wasn't sure, but I knew that there was a pounding on my front door. Maybe if I ignored it...

"Bells?" Alice was by my bed.

"Go away, Alice," I said from under the covers, trying not to let the tears come.

"No, Bells, you need to eat. Get up," she said, yanking the covers away.

"Jesus, Alice, what the fuck?" I growled, sitting up, and everything swirled. "Whoa."

She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and walked me toward my door. "Come on, Bells. Esme sent you something."

She made me sit down in the kitchen and pulled out a container, setting it in front of me. Pulling off the lid, she handed me a spoon. "Eat. You can complain later," she said, sitting across from me and studying me.

I took a sip of the soup in front of me. It was excellent. Before I knew it, I'd eaten the entire bowl.

"Here," she said, taking another container out of the bag next her. "Carlisle said you would eat the whole thing and to make sure that you had this, too."

I pulled open the second container, and it was a salad. I ate the whole thing and the rolls she handed me, smiling slightly. "Thanks, Alice," I said quietly. "Can I go back to bed now?"

"No. You can take your smelly ass to the shower. That's what you can do. Go!" she said, smiling.

I walked toward the stairs and stopped. "How'd you get in here without breaking something?" I asked, turning to look at her.

"I've been known to break and enter in my time," she said, snickering. "Hurry up. I'll get your clothes. We have to talk."

I groaned. I didn't want to talk. I just wanted to go back to bed. Talking wouldn't change anything.

"So you think," she said knowingly.

"Whatever, Alice," I said, and my voice sounded defeated. She'd won again.

After a shower, I felt somewhat better, and I wandered into my room wrapped in a towel. Alice had laid out jeans and a long-sleeved shirt for me, which shocked me. She was always trying to get me in something dressier.

I turned to look at my bed, but she had stripped it. "Don't even think about it, Bella. Get down here," she said from downstairs.

I walked into the living room, and she was sitting on my couch. She looked up at me and said, "Better. Sit."

I sat next to her, drawing my legs up and wrapping my arms around them.

"God, you and my brother have the same damn face on." She looked a little angry. "Bells, it wasn't his fault. Tanya caught him off guard."

I snorted. "Right, like he couldn't read her mind, Alice." I rolled my eyes at her defense of him.

"Edward was...distracted. She took advantage of it," she said, fists clenched in her lap.

"Right, and what was distracting him?" I asked, putting my forehead against my knees.

"No, that you will have to talk to him about. I can't tell you," she said, but when I looked at her, I saw a slight smile touch her lips.

"Sure, sure...I'll get right on that," I said, getting up. "Now, I have to make my bed back up and crawl back in it. You got in; you can get out." I was really angry, fuming.

"No!" she yelled. "Sit down. I let him screw this up one time. I'll be damned if it happens again." She pulled out her phone and texted a message quickly.

I sat down, looking at her and breathing hard. I wanted to throw something, punch something. "Dammit, Alice. It is what it is! I can't change the fact that she's better for him than I am. It's blindingly fucking obvious."

"You can throw something at me if you want, but you need to hear the truth before you go and make assumptions, Bella," Alice fumed.

This was the first real fight we'd ever been in, and it was killing me. I loved her like she was my own sister.

There was a knock at the door, and I said, "Go away."

Alice said, "It's open." She sat down next to me, taking my hand. "You need to hear this."

I looked up and saw Tanya standing in my living room with Rose right behind her, glaring at the back of Tanya's head.

I looked at Alice and asked, "Are you fucking kidding me?"

Rose shoved Tanya in the back and growled, "Tell her. Now."

Tanya looked at Rose and then to me. "Bella," she started, "this whole thing is my fault. Edward has always been a conquest for me..." She paused, looking at Alice.

"So, congrats," I said darkly.

"No, no, that's just it. He's always turned me down. Always. But seeing him the other night, he was just so happy, so different. It was hard to resist. And he was distracted and didn't hear me coming like he usually could." She sighed, and for a brief moment, I felt sorry for her. I remembered what it had felt like when he'd rejected me. "He was so mad, Bella. I'm so sorry. I underestimated you because you're human. I thought I could take him from you. I was wrong. He's yours."

I snorted, rolling my eyes. "Right."

"No, you own him, Bella. There's nothing in the world to him but you, and if I screw this up..." She just shook her head and turned around to look at Rose, who looked like she hadn't said enough. "It's not his fault. He didn't know, honestly. I'm so sorry."

I didn't have anything to say. I just looked at her, trying to tell if she was lying.

"You have to talk to him. His family will kill me if you don't at least talk to him, please," she pleaded.

I looked at Rose and Alice, and they were both staring at her like she was an insect. They were obviously disgusted with her. I looked back to Tanya and said, "I'll think about it. Get out of my house, Tanya."

She nodded and walked toward my door.

"Oh, and Tanya?"

She stopped and turned back to me.

My fists were clenched, and I was shaking with anger. "Just because I'm human doesn't mean you can walk all over me. Do not underestimate me again. I've been through too much for you to scare me. Your conquest is over."

She stared at me for a moment and then walked out my door.

I flopped back down on the couch, putting my face in my hands, and sobbed. Rose and Alice wrapped their arms around me as I cried.

~oOo~

EDWARD

I couldn't go anywhere for peace. My room, my car, the living room – everywhere still smelled like my Bella. The only thing I saw was her face, broken and sad, leaving in Emmett's Jeep. I was sitting on the sofa in my room, trying not to call her again.

I had gone to her house so many times that I had lost count, and she wouldn't move. I knew she wasn't eating, and I couldn't stop the panic that was rising in me. Alice came in my room the third day, looking at me with pity and irritation. I couldn't even look at her.

Esme's cooking for her, Edward, she thought to me, and my head snapped up. I'm going over as soon as it's done. Carlisle said that if she starves herself any further, she's going to be in trouble.

I shoved my fists into my hair. I couldn't have this conversation. I should have killed Tanya when I had the chance. Maybe I still could.

No, Edward. I need her for what I'm going to do today. Tanya's the key to my plan, she thought and smiled wickedly at me.

I saw the plan in her mind. She was going to make Tanya tell my Bella the truth.

You see, I love her, too, and I hate the look on your face right now. I see what you're planning, and I won't let you do it. This is fixable. I won't be separated from her again, and neither will you.

I nodded to her, grateful once again for my very strong-minded little sister. I was shutting down again, and she knew it. She was not willing to live without my angel in the family.

Rose appeared at my door, leaning against the wall. "Alice, Esme's got everything all packed up, and I'll get Tanya in the car if I have to fold her in half and shove her in the fucking trunk," she said, smiling like the idea didn't seem so bad.

I snorted at the two of them. I loved them intensely, knowing that my family would do this for my Bella.

I had avoided Tanya since the night of the party. Kate and Irina were very upset with her, stating that she'd messed with another's mate. It was wrong, in their opinion, and she was in trouble for it. They told her that it didn't matter if Bella was human or not. Tanya had been completely humbled during this whole thing. They all waited for Alice to tell them what to do next.

I listened as Rose forcefully manhandled Tanya into the car like she was fighting going, which she wasn't. A spark of hope lit in my chest. If Bella knew the truth, then maybe she would let me talk to her...just talk to her. I needed to see her, hear her voice. Seeing the spark of anger in her deep brown eyes would be better than this, better than nothing from her.

I started pacing, hoping, planning on a way to get her to talk to me.

Emmett leaned in the doorway a few hours later. "Esme said to stop pacing, that she'll have to replace the carpet," he said, snickering.

I looked up at him.

"Have faith in Rosie and Alice. They'll see this through, little bro. I miss her, too." His mind ran through all the little arguments they had been through and all the flashes of moments when they were laughing at each other.

I couldn't help but smile at her face in full glorious laughter. "Thanks, Em," I muttered.

"Relax, man. She's smart. Once she realizes the truth, I guarantee you that she lets Tanya have it. I love her sharp tongue, man. She puts up with zero shit." He laughed loudly. "Especially from you!"

"You have no idea!" I said, smiling and shaking my head.

A few hours had gone by before I heard the girls and Tanya come back. Alice's mind reached out to me. Give her a few, Edward. She's trying to let it sink in and get herself under control. I promise she's going to call you when she's ready.

I fell back on the bed, the breath I had been unaware that I was holding whooshing out of me. I lay there, trying to calm my breathing. I hated that I couldn't fix this on my own. I was guilty of many things when it came to my Bella, but this one was out of my hands, and I had to wait for her.

My phone rang in my pocket, and I practically ripped my pants trying to get to it. It was her.

"Bella?" I asked carefully.

"Hey," she sighed, sounding like she was still crying.

"Hey, sweet girl," I sighed, relieved just to hear her voice.

"I should've let you explain," she sobbed. "I should've had more faith in you, in us." Her breath was hitching. She was killing me.

"Love, please don't cry," I said, walking to the window and leaning my forehead against it.

"I can't stop," she sobbed. "I can't stop crying. I'm sorry, Edward." Her breathing was ragged.

"Please, let me see you," I begged, closing my eyes. "Please, I'll do anything to try to make it better."

"That was my worst...nightmare, seeing you with someone else," she wept into the phone.

I banged my head on the glass of my window. "Please, Bella," I pleaded. "Let me come hold you, please. Let me come talk to you." I heard a dry sob escape my throat. I'd never wanted to be with her so bad in all our time together.

"Alice left the front door unlocked," she said softly, and my head snapped up. I looked at the phone, but she had hung up.

I heard and felt the relief go through the house. They could hear our conversation but would never say anything. They tried to give privacy when needed.

I didn't drive; I ran to her house. I opened her front door quietly, listening for her heartbeat, the beacon that pulled me to her. I found her in the living room, sitting on the couch, curled up in a ball.

I knelt down beside her and brushed her hair from her face. Tears were silently leaking down her face, and I tried in vain to wipe them away. Finally, her arms reached for me, and I scooped her up and sat down with her on my lap.

I buried my face in her hair, and she cried softly into my neck. Her face was so hot and wet from tears. "Please, don't cry," I whispered, brushing the hair from her face and rubbing her back with my other hand. "I'm so sorry. I love you so much," I said, drinking her scent in. "It wasn't real. This... This is real."

I felt her start to settle down, taking deep breaths. "I should've let you explain, Edward. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. I should've aimed the glass three inches more to the right," she said through clenched teeth.

I chuckled and pulled her back to look at her. "No, love, I should've been paying more attention. I was preoccupied and didn't hear her coming. Maybe you're right. Maybe you do need to put an alarm on me."

That did it. She started giggling, and I tickled her sides, smiling at her. She pulled back, raising her perfect eyebrow at me. "Hmm, but where to put it..." she mused, looking me over. Her face got serious again, and she said, "Everyone keeps telling me that you were distracted. What were you thinking about that you didn't hear her coming, Edward?"

I felt myself freeze. Was I ready for this? I looked at her and saw the worried expression on her face.

She saw the tension in my face and said, "You don't have to tell me—"

"No, I do," I said, cutting her off. "It was you that I was thinking about." I took her hand in mine and played with her fingers. I loved this woman more than my own life, but it still didn't make me any less nervous. "I was thinking all that day about how much I love you, about how I never want to let you go. I was thinking that I want to make love to you every day, and it still wouldn't be enough." I heard her heartbeat pick up and smiled at her. "I was thinking that I wanted to be with you every day of forever, never letting you go. And I was hoping and praying that you would say 'yes' to being my wife."

I looked up at her, and she was barely breathing, new tears welling up in her eyes. I brushed away the tears with my thumb and cupped her face. "Will you marry me, Isabella?" I asked, putting my forehead to hers.

~oOo~

BELLA

I felt like I was dreaming. How did we go from the disaster of that stupid party to Edward proposing to me? No wonder he was distracted. Looking at him now, it looked like he would be sweating, if he were able.

"Forever, Edward?" I asked, barely able to speak.

He nodded against my forehead and whispered, "One lifetime isn't enough, Bella. It's selfish, but I don't care. I need you. We can't be apart." He opened his eyes, waiting for my answer.

I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face as I nodded, saying, "Yes..."

Before I could say any more, I was being swung around in his arms. His face was so beautifully happy.

His lips smashed into mine, and I melted to him. Edward's mouth was sweet and tender with his kiss. He lightly brushed my lips with his tongue, and soon, we fell back on the couch, breathless.

We stared into each other's eyes for what seemed like hours. He kissed my nose, saying, "I'm sorry I don't have your ring with me." His face was glorious, almost glowing, he was so happy.

"You really were planning on asking me the other night?" I asked, cupping his face in my hands. I had a whole new reason to hate Tanya.

He nodded, still smiling. "It was all I could think of. I couldn't even sit still," he chuckled. "Everyone was going to leave us, and I was waiting until we were alone. I was pacing in the kitchen, when Tanya walked in on me."

I frowned at the mention of her name. "Yeah, she told me that you were so happy that she couldn't resist you."

He studied my face and asked, "What else did she tell you?"

I shrugged and said, "She said that you'd always been a conquest for her, and that because you were different, she couldn't resist. She said that it wasn't your fault, that you'd had no idea. She also said that she'd underestimated me because I was human, that she'd thought she could take you from me." I seethed at the memory. Then I smiled and said, "She told me that I owned you."

"That you do, love," he said, chuckling and tucking my hair behind my ear. "I'm so sorry. Tanya has always tried, but I was never interested. I was waiting for you." He smiled and continued, "She never could take no for an answer. What did you say to her? She came back pretty quiet."

I snorted at the thought of her being quiet but said, "I told her to get out, that just because I was human didn't mean she would be able to walk all over me. That I had been through too much. I told her that her conquest was over." I smiled smugly.

He laughed and said, "Emmett's going to be proud. He said you would let her have it." He kissed me again until I was breathing heavy. "I love you so much. Thank you," he whispered.

"For what?" I asked, laying my head against his shoulder.

He hugged me tightly. "For saying yes."

"I love you, Edward," I said, "and it's better that you asked me tonight." His brow wrinkled in confusion, and I couldn't help but kiss him. "It's Christmas Eve!" I said, smiling.

He put his forehead to mine and said, "Merry Christmas, love."

We spent most of the evening cuddled on my bed, making love. We both had been hurting during the whole Tanya incident and just wanted to relish the new step that we were taking. I fell asleep in Edward's arms, watching the snow fall outside.

I awoke Christmas morning to my cell phone ringing. Alice's ringtone filled my room. I didn't know how late we'd been up, but I wasn't ready to get out of bed. I definitely wasn't ready for leaving Edward's arms yet.

I groaned and pulled a pillow over my head, and then I felt the bed shaking with laughter. "She's just going to keep calling back, love," Edward's silky voice said, pulling the pillow from my face.

Just as he said that, the phone went off again. I reached over and snatched my phone up, answering it with, "What, Alice?" I felt cool air hit my upper body.

"We were just wondering how long you guys will be. Emmett wants to open presents, and he's driving us all crazy," she said, giggling into the phone.

I could hear Emmett in the background, acting like a child.

I was just about to answer her, when I felt Edward's tongue circle my nipple. I gasped, and my eyes rolled back. His hand went to my other breast, cupping it. My back arched up to him, and I forgot Alice was on the phone.

"Edward Cullen!" she screamed, making him jump. "Let her answer me!"

I started laughing at his face. He looked totally busted. A sheepish smile crept across his face, and he raised his hands up in surrender.

"Give me like an hour," I said, giggling.

I heard a commotion on the phone, and Emmett's voice boomed, "Come on, Bells! I want my presents!"

"Emmett, are you eight years old?" I asked into the phone, and Edward started to laugh and nod at the same time. "Can you not give me an hour?"

He mumbled to me that he could, and then the phone was back in Alice's possession.

"Oh, and Bella?" she asked.

"Yes, Alice?" I said, feeling Edward's hands ghost across my stomach.

"I love what you're giving me for my present," she said, laughing.

"You know, Alice," I said, my voice shaking as Edward's mouth was at my other ear. "It's no fun trying to get you anything."

She giggled maniacally, saying, "I'm not talking about what's under the tree."

I had no idea what she could possibly be talking about, but I said, "Whatever, Alice... An hour." I hung up and tossed my phone onto my desk.

"What's she talking about?" Edward asked against the swell of my breast. His other hand was lightly grazing from my breast down to my thigh.

"No idea," I said, weaving my hands into his hair and bringing his face to mine.

The kiss started slow and sweet. Edward kept most of his weight off me by propping himself up on one elbow. Our tongues caressed each other, reveling in one another's taste. As the kiss deepened, our breathing became heavier.

His hands caused my mind to go blank, skimming over my body and hitching my leg up over his hip. My heated, wet center made contact with his hip bone, and I groaned at the friction, grinding into him again.

Edward pulled his face away from me, and his eyes were dark with lust. "What do you want, love?" he asked, cupping my bottom and squeezing lightly.

"Your hands," I gasped. "Don't stop touching me." My head arched back into my pillow when his cool hand cupped my breast.

"Like this?" he asked, lightly pinching my nipple, causing my breath to hitch. I shook my head no. He skimmed his fingers across my stomach, tracing lazy circles around my belly button. "Or like this?"

"Edward, please," I begged, grinding my now soaking wet center on his thigh.

A moan escaped his lips, and his eyes grew darker. His hand kneaded my thigh lightly, pushing my legs apart. When his hand cupped my throbbing core, my hips bucked involuntarily.

"Ungh!" I gasped, writhing at his touch.

He slipped a finger into my center, and I cried out his name. "Always so wet for me," he murmured, slipping another finger in, his thumb circling my swollen bundle of nerves. He worked his fingers in and out of me, curling them to touch a spot that caused me to cry out again, gripping his shoulders. "Look at me, Bella," he said. "I want to see your beautiful face when you come for me."

It was his voice that pushed me over the edge. I could feel its vibration in every pore. My body clenched around his fingers, shuddering. He rode out my spasms, staring at my face and murmuring, "My beautiful Bella." He placed feather-light kisses across my face and neck.

A feeling of possessiveness came crashing down around me. I never wanted to let him go. He was mine, and he wanted me...forever. I rolled him over on his back and straddled his waist.

Both his hands rested on my hips, but I took them both, lacing our fingers together. Using his hands for leverage, I pulled my body up his, and he moaned in response. I pinned his hands to the bed by his head and slowly brought my lips to his. He moaned again as our kiss deepened, and his hands twitched in mine. He wanted to touch me, but I held them.

I broke from his mouth, trailing kissing down his jaw and his neck. At his ear, I whispered, "Say it again, Edward," taking his earlobe in my mouth and swirling my tongue around it once. "Say the word you said last night."

"Forever," he gasped when my teeth grazed his ear. "I want you forever, Bella."

I closed my eyes and stifled a moan. It was the words I'd always wanted to hear from him. Forever.

His hands twitched again, but I squeezed them to let him know not yet. I lifted our hands up over his head and said, "Those stay there. Don't move them." All he could do was nod when I slid my body back down his torso. His hips bucked underneath me, causing me to dig my nails into his flesh. "Do you mean it, Edward?" I asked, laving my tongue across his chest and swirling it around his nipple.

"Yes, love," he groaned, his hands jerking against my headboard.

I pulled back and looked at his face. "Don't break my bed, love," I whispered in his ear and watched as his mouth twitched up slightly in a half smile.

His body was practically vibrating. His hips bucked again under me, and his hands gripped the headboard, causing the wood to groan.

I sat up, positioned my core over his erection, and slid down. We both groaned at the feeling. He matched my rhythm smoothly, but he was straining against the headboard.

"Please, let me touch you," he begged. "I need to touch you."

"Yes," I breathed, and he sat up, enveloping me.

The position was so intimate for me. Edward was all around me, and I melted into him. His knees came up behind me, and he had a hand splayed on my back with the other on my breast. His lips met mine in an urgent kiss, tongues twisting around each other. The coil in my abdomen tightened as his pelvic bone rubbed against my sensitive clit.

I broke our kiss, and my head fell back. Edward's mouth was on my neck, laving my flesh with his tongue. My body clenched down on his, and we came, gasping each other's names. I clung to him, still shaking, my forehead on his shoulder.

"I love you so much," I breathed.

"I love you, too," he said in my ear.

"I think we're going to be later than I told Alice," I said, smiling into his neck.

"Why's that, love? We have plenty of time," he said, pulling back and trying to look at me.

"Because I don't want to move from this spot," I said, snickering, and he chuckled with me.

Edward held me for a while, and then we eventually got up, showered, and dressed. Just as we were walking out the door, Renee called to wish us a Merry Christmas. She caught me up with her and Phil and what they were going to do for New Year's Eve. By the time I got off the phone with her, we really were past the hour that I had told Alice.

We walked into the house, and I was immediately wrapped up by Alice. "Merry Christmas!" she squealed.

I kissed the top of her head, walking into the living room with her wrapped around me.

"You're late!" Emmett was pouting from the floor in front of the tree.

"Thank you, Father Time," I quipped back, causing everyone to chuckle. "I'm allowed to talk to my mother on Christmas, Emmett. I apologize if it delayed the partaking of your presents." The sarcasm dripped from me, but he always took it well.

"Yeah, but..." Alice started, "that's not why you were late. You were—"

My hand went from her shoulder to her mouth faster than I'd thought it could. "Don't you dare finish that sentence, Alice. If you ever loved me...if you ever want me to go shopping with you again, no matter what event might be coming up...you won't finish it." I looked at her and raised an eyebrow.

Edward was laughing hysterically, of course, and everyone else was just confused. Alice, eyes wide, nodded in my grasp, and I let her go.

Emmett handed out the presents from under the tree. I truly think it was because he wanted to get to his faster. He ripped through his with amazing speed. Both he and Jasper argued over which Xbox game I'd given them they could play first. Being an only child, I got a glimpse of what it would be like to have real brothers.

I had asked them repeatedly not to get me anything, and so far, they had complied. I was avoiding getting trampled by a wrestling Emmett and Jasper, when Edward said, "Charlie's calling your phone, love." He handed it to me.

"Hey, Dad," I said, answering and walking away from the noise. "Merry Christmas."

"Hey, Bells, are you having a good time?" he asked, and I could hear noise in his background, too. I wasn't the only one with a loud family.

"Yeah, Dad," I said. "How about you? Did you kiss Sue under the mistletoe yet?" I heard him grumble. This was my tease for him ever since he had told me he was taking her to Portland for Christmas. He would get so flustered.

"If you must know, I did," he said, sighing.

"I do, and good for you," I said, giggling.

He sighed again, but I could hear the smile in his voice. "Bells, I'm calling you to tell you about your present."

I realized the whole room behind me had gotten quiet. "Dad, I told you not—"

"I know, I know...but here's the thing," he said, pausing. "Since your truck is no longer functioning, you need something to get you around. Edward and I kind of talked about..." The rest was mumbled.

I turned around and narrowed my eyes at Edward. Still talking to my dad on the phone, I asked, "What was that you and Edward talked about?"

Edward looked like my dad sounded: scared.

"I said, we thought we could get together and get you something... A car... Bells, don't fight it. You need it." I could hear himself bracing for impact with me.

"All right, Dad, then what's the deal? This is the first I've heard about it," I said, turning my back on the room and sitting down at the table in the kitchen. I could hear Emmett telling Edward he was in trouble, and I smiled.

"Okay," he said, sounding relieved. "So, you're really not fighting this?" he asked, as I watched Edward come in and sit with me. Sometimes, the simplest moments took my breath away. He was so beautiful, sitting down and pulling my legs into his lap.

"No, Dad," I said, "I'm not fighting anything." I was tired of fighting with everyone. I had fought with Jake for two years and most recently with Edward. It wasn't worth it.

"Okay, well, Edward said he's going to take you to pick something out. Just know it's from me and your mom, too, okay?" he asked, spilling his words out quickly.

I looked at Edward, who looked worried that I was going to be mad. "Okay, Dad. Thanks, really," I said, smiling. "So...what else did you and Edward talk about?" I asked, snickering at Edward's eyes growing large.

"Um, well..." Charlie started to stumble. "Just, well, you and the car..."

Edward reached across the table, taking my left hand into his, and tapped my ring finger, meaning he'd talked to Charlie about proposing. He was chuckling at Charlie, who was still trying to not tell me.

"Dad, it's okay," I said, laughing. "Relax."

I heard Charlie take a deep breath on the phone. "Oh, he must have asked you, then," he said, sounding relieved that he didn't have to lie.

"Yes, that he did," I said, and Edward picked up my hand, kissing where my ring would go. He still hadn't given it to me, but we hadn't been alone since we'd gotten to his house.

"Well, good. Congrats, Bells. He certainly does love you," he said, snickering. "I see that now."

"Yes, he does," I said, smiling at Seth in the background with Charlie. "Tell Seth hello from me, and give Sue another kiss under the mistletoe."

I snickered when Charlie grumbled again. "Okay, Bells, Merry Christmas, and I'll see you in a few days."

I ended the call and set my phone on the table. "A car, Edward? Were you tired of me borrowing the Volvo?" I asked, laughing.

He chuckled, saying, "Not at all, but it's something you need. Come with me, love."

I followed him up to his room, where he closed the door. He walked over to a drawer in his nightstand and pulled out a little box. "This is more important. I wish I'd had this last night," he said, placing it in my hand.

My hand shook slightly when I opened the box. It was the most beautiful ring I'd ever seen. It was an older look, but not really outdated. It was white gold, with small sapphires surrounding a large diamond in the middle. There was a filigree vine design snaking around the whole ring. I suddenly realized I had stopped breathing.

"Oh, God, Edward, it's gorgeous," I gasped, looking up at him.

"You like it?" he asked, taking it out and sliding it on my finger. It fit perfectly. "It was my mother's. Carlisle saved it for me." His face was so tentative.

I looked down at the ring, which I now realized was well over a hundred and ten years old. Of anything that Edward had ever told me about his past or given me as a present, nothing meant more to me. His whole history was wrapped up in this one, not-so-simple ring.

I felt the tears welling up and sliding down my face. "It's perfect," I whispered.

He smiled the most beautiful smile, wiping the tears from my face and pulling my face up to his for a sweet, tender kiss. He pulled away and said, "I know you don't like a big deal, and I don't care. I just can't wait until you are my wife." He put his forehead to mine.

I smiled, kissing his nose. "Maybe we should just let Alice do the whole thing," I said, snickering, and he chuckled with me.

Just then, his door busted open, and Alice flew into my arms. "That's the best Christmas present you could have ever given me!" she squealed.

"Is that what you meant this morning?" I asked, laughing and kissing the top of her head.

She nodded and asked, "Can I tell them downstairs? Please, please, please?" She didn't wait for an answer. I'm sure she'd had a vision that she was telling them anyway.

I rolled my eyes at Alice's excitement and went back to kissing my fiancé.