A/N – Thanks so much for the reviews once again!!

Secluded

Chapter 20

Disclaimer – I do not own Twilight, or its characters.

Bella's POV

"I can't do this." I said while Edward was pulling my hand, and my entire body towards the front door. "Bella, it's okay." Edward retorted looking back at me. He was trying to calm me down. I might have looked calm from the outside, but there was an internal battle waging itself on the inside. "Do this for me?"

He requested by squeezing my hand, and using his other hand to wrap around my waist. He had already steadied me, sensing the fact that I might fall over my own feet once again. I took a few short breaths, and walked the rest of way up the path to the door.

I wiggled the handle to see if it was left open, and it was. So we quietly invited ourselves in, while Charlie had still been undisturbed watching a police chase on the t.v. "Hey dad." I called out to him to gain his attention. Edward's hand was still covering up my whole left hand, masking the stunning diamond ring he gave me.

He let go when Charlie extended his hand for him to shake. I fumbled with my hand, that was now bare, and used my other to cover up the ring. Edward saw this, and his face told me how disappointed he would be with me soon. I just couldn't tell Charlie straight away about this.

I needed for him to be sitting down, and I needed to know if that damn weapon was locked up. "Uh, I'm going to go pour myself some water." I told them, and I hurried along into the kitchen. I could sense their eyes following my fleeting form, but I didn't dare look back. I poured myself a glass of wine secretly instead.

Hoping it would calm my nerves. I had a few sips until I heard footsteps behind me, and I spilled the rest of the wine down the drain, while turning on the tap, to clean out the glass. "Are you alright? That was really weird back there." Edward said, and it made me feel awkward once again. "I'm fine now. Let's just get this thing over with."

I said in a flushed tone, and he noticed my wording. "This thing?" He let out in a low growl, and his face showed all the pain in the world. I once again fucked things up by opening my mouth too much. "Oh fuck, I'm sor-sorry, I didn't mean it that way!" I said in a high pitched voice, greatly surprising me by the tone I just let out.

He exasperated, and just took my hand. "We'll talk about that later, but right now you have to tell your father, or else you leave me no choice." He threatened, and I knew right then, and there that he would have to take matters into his own hands, and tell Charlie himself. Even if there was that damn gun pointed at his head.

"Alright, I will. Let's go." I said, dragging Edward along because my new found persistence, made his eyes go wide, and he momentarily forgot how to walk. "Dad, I have something to tell you. Please don't become mad." I had no experience with this shit.

I mean Edward is my first boyfriend, and It's even harder having to tell your father about everything, and having no maternal figure to speak to. Charlie bolted from his favorite spot on the couch, and was in my face in an instance. "You're not pregnant, are you? Or I'll swear," I cut him off. "Dad, no I'm not pregnant" I said in higher volume.

He completely didn't hear my request for him to listen to what I had to say. I know my wording once again was a cause for concern for any parent. Which made me cringe because thinking back to what I said, I could see how he would think that I might've been pregnant.

"Dad, Edward proposed, and I said yes." I said it so fast, that it left both of the men in my life flabbergasted. "What did you just say?" Charlie bemused, and I had to say it once again, slower this time so that it could sink into my father's mind. "Edward, and I are getting married." I finally let out again, and I slowly showed Charlie the ring.

"You're eighteen years old, and he's, he's..." Charlie couldn't even think about anything to use against Edward, because he wasn't my teacher anymore, and he was only five years older than me. It's not that big of a stretch I told myself. "Dad, don't do this now. You're embarrassing me." I let out a small chuckle trying to maybe ease up the tension in the room.

"I thought you two were just starting out this relationship. How did you get this far?" Charlie asked, while flopping down onto the couch, and he cradled his face with both of his hands. Edward took it upon himself to add to the conversation.

He had been a silent listener in the background hearing father, and daughter exchanges. "We've been together for a while now." He said calmly, too calmly for Charlie. "You, were with my daughter at the camp?" Charlie asked in a daze of confusion. "Well I was there, but the boys, and the girls were separate."

Edward interjected, trying to make Charlie understand. "I see. How long have you two been engaged?" Charlie said with a bit more ease. "Just a couple of hours." We both said at the same time. I took Charlie's hands, and led him to a private corner. Edward looked on from his seat, knowing that this needed to be done.

"Dad, I know this all seems rushed. But, I swear to you that he loves me, and will take care of me. I love him also, and I can't see a life for myself without him being with me." I said, while the tears burned my eyes, and then I let some escape when Charlie sighed.

"I know that this is your choice, and I can't do anything about it. I just hope it turns out well." He let out, and the ending sentence made me nervous. But, in the end he hugged me, and grabbed my hand. He led me back into the living room where Edward patiently waited. When he saw our entrance he stood up, and Charlie handed my hand over to him.

Edward took my hand into his large one. "Thank you Chief Swan." Edward gracefully extended his own hand out, and Charlie hesitated at first, but then shaked Edward's hand twice confidently. The exchange made me settle down my nerves just a little bit. Edward's beauty would never calm her down though. She would forever be entranced by him.

Edward's POV

"See, that wasn't so hard." I told her after we said goodbye to Charlie. "I had a mini breakdown in there." She said while clutching her heart to stop from thudding so hard out of her chest. "A mini breakdown? You almost had a heart attack in there." I joked with her, or at her.

I knew that I was joking at her when she gave me a look that she was about to kill me for making fun of her. "Sorry." I said with a small chuckle. She grabbed my hand, and kissed my knuckles. Her small breaths were tickling my hand, and I didn't want her lips to leave my skin.

"We still have some time left. What do you say about dinner?" I left it up to her, to see what was on her mind. "Oh that sounds great actually. I'm starving. I gladly agreed with her by the nodding. "Where would you like to go?" I asked her by momentarily taking my eyes off the road, and looking at her.

The sligh moonlight outside shined on her face, and her beauty captivated me. "Lets go to that little Italian restaurant in Port Angeles." She asked, and I greatly accepted the offer. "Your wish, my command." I said, and drove the rest of the way to Port Angeles. I ushered Bella into the restaurant, and the hostess seated us to a table close to the windows.

"Is this table alright for you?" I asked her taking off her coat. "This is absolutely fine, Edward." She said, and he pulled out her chair. Just as I sat down, "Running Up That Hill" by Placebo started echoing throughout the restaurant. She noticed me listening intently to the song.

"Is it a song you like?" She asked being interested in hearing what I had to say about the musical arrangement. "Very much so. One of my favorites. It actually reminds me of the times we've been together from the beginning, until now. When I listen to the song, I know will be together forever."

Her breathing hitched as she listened to me talking about our past, present, and future. "That has to be the most beautiful, and intense thing anyone has ever said to me." She leaned forward, and kissed my lips. The soft pressure made me want more when she pulled away because the waiter had made his presence known.

"What beverage can I get you started with?" He asked politely even though the tension surrounding all of us at the moment was purely embarrassing. "Water for me." Bella said, "and I will have a diet coke." I told him.

He said he'd be back with our drinks, and if we were ready he'd take our order. "You want to feel how it feels." The song played, louder now. We both looked at each other silently reading each others' minds. "So much hate for the ones we love. Tell me we both matter."

I mouthed the words at her singing along with the song, and she leaned forward, and cupped my face with her hand. "You and me, won't be unhappy." She mouthed back at me. "You know the song?" I said genuinely surprised. "Of course I do. It's one of my favorites also."

She said, and silently laughed at my shocked face. How did I even find this girl to begin with? She was, and is my other half. "Be running up that road, be running up that hill, be running up the building." The song started to slowly end. The song fit our adventures to the max.

From me running beside her on the camp grounds, the hilltop where she escaped the wrath of Tanya, and I ended up finding her in that deserted cabin, and when she'd come by my house, and we held our bodies close. "Sir. Would you like to order now?" The waiter asked bringing me out of my daze.

It seemed Bella had already accomplished ordering for herself, and they were both waiting on me. "Oh, I'll just have the same as her." I said not caring what it was. "What were you just thinking about?" She asked, and then taking a sip of her over-iced water. "You." I said sheepishly, and she grinned.

The waiter brought us the food fifteen minutes later, and we ate in a peaceful silence. We both finished one after, the other, and I excused myself giving Bella a kiss on her forehead. "I'll just be a minute." I told her, and walked into the direction of the waiter. "I'd like to pay the bill now."

I told him, and he fumbled out the receipt. He finally gave me the piece of crumpled paper, and I went to the front. While I was taking out my money, I heard a familiar voice. I voice I wish I could never hear. The hostess from before wasn't here now. Except in some wild insane dream, she was replaced by Shannon.

Why couldn't she just leave me alone? Leave us alone. "Well it seems you don't want to escape me Edward." She said in a fiery voice. Which he just pushed back into his mind, thinking she sounded ridiculous trying to still flirt with a taken man. "Just take the money, and give the tip to the waiter." I spat back, and didn't even look at her.

"I see her clearly now, and I don't see the appeal Edward. She's plain." She rang up the register, and once it opened I went full out. "Listen here, you are nothing special. Actually you're nothing. Bella is everything. You're just a judgmental bitch, and you don't even know what love is." I said, and her mouth remained open. "What's going on here?"

The waiter asked, and so did Bella. "Nothing. Let's get out of here." As I escorted Bella out, I turned around quickly to add some more insult. "Oh, and I will be calling your manager tomorrow." After that I let the door close louder than when we arrived. Bella was clutching onto her coat with her tiny arms in front of her.

"Was that her?" She asked in a low disgruntled voice. I didn't have the patience for this once again, and my tone was still seething with hate. "Yes, that was the bitch." I said once again. "She's beautiful." Bella said it lowly, but not to low that it couldn't be heard. "Don't you ever say that about that her. She's can't even compare to you."

I told her after whipping around to grasp her face into my hands. I put my arm around her waist, and escorted her back to my car quickly. The drive back to my house was too silent, and it made me tense, and nervous. I stole glances at her, but her face remained still. Showing absolutely no emotion.

I took her into the house, and she said she was going to change into some of my sweats. I would make a mental note to ask her to finally move in her things to my house. We were practically living with each other anyway. I made my way over to the kitchen, and opened up a bottle of beer. I swallowed half the bottle quickly trying to calm my ass down.

I knew Bella, and she would obviously want an explanation soon. I didn't know what to say. "Yeah. I have my very own personal stalker, in my first girlfriend." Just didn't seem to cut it. She came downstairs in a plain white shirt, and grey boxers. I put the bottle down, and went straight for her. I picked up her petite body, and placed her on my counter.

"You know you could be wearing absolutely nothing, the most beautiful dress, or the most ugliest outfit, and you'd still be the most beautiful girl to me." I said placing kisses all over her neck, face, and semi-exposed chest. She swallowed, and I could tell that my words had got to her.

She wrapped her arms around my neck, and her legs around me waist, and just attacked my mouth. I held onto her tight, and made my way over to our couch. My back hit the cushion, and her position was now was to straddle me. I knew that not much longer, and I would be a goner if she started to grind into me.

Just as I was thinking this, her little movements were evident, and so was my hard erection. Not even a minute had passed, and I was already aroused. She definitely didn't know what she does to my body, my aching heart for her, and my soul that had finally found a partner for eternity.

I didn't want her to experience love on this couch. I picked her up, lifted myself off of he couch, and carried her upstairs to my room. After each completed step she would leave a kiss either on my ear, my nose, my eyes, forehead, jaw, it just went on, and on. I laid her onto our mattress, and hovered over her.

I smoothed her hair back, and positioned my forearms beside her, so that not all of my weight was on her. The kissing lasted forever with us both taking turns, and smothering our now naked bodies with gentle pecks. "I love you." I said while rubbing her cheek with my thumb. "I love you to." She said while putting her hand above my hand that was on her cheek.

She turned erotic in a split second when she took my thumb, and sucked on it. I felt my erection grow even more, and I knew she did to. We were prolonging this for too long, and it was only a matter of time before we both felt each other. I didn't know what came over me, but all I kept saying was "I love you Bella."