Bella POV

She was gone. Victoria was gone.

There probably should have been a million more things running through my mind as I woke up, but instead that was my first thought. It was over. No more over the top patrolling for the pack, no more missed hunting trips for the Cullen's. We didn't have to stress and worry. We could just be. And that made every mile of struggle and fight worth it because of what we had found here.

I realized I was in Edward's room, and wondered what time it was. The curtains around the room were drawn, and I saw him sitting in the corner, balancing a small box on his knee. It must have kept his attention enough that he didn't realize I was awake.

"Hey." I was relieved that my voice sounded normal as I sat up.

He looked over and smiled, pocketing the box. "Is there a particular reason you're trying to get up?" He walked over and moved in to the bed next to me.

"Charlie must think we're impure by now."

"Probably, but he buys the lie of you spending the night in Alice's room. How are you feeling?"

"Alright." I pulled back the blankets to lift up a shirt and the cut was bandaged. "Stitches?"

"Just a few." He grimaced. "Carlisle was sure you were only borderline hypothermic, so you didn't need to go to the hospital."

"I'm tougher than I look." I smiled and cupped his chin. "Are you ok?"

"Better by the minute." He pulled me closer and let out a little laugh. "I can't believe it's finally over."

"I was just thinking similar a minute ago." I traced a pattern over his skin. "Edward did you hear me again?"

"You screamed my name." He tensed as if reliving it. "I don't know how it's possible when I can't hear you any other time."

"It was the only thing I could think of. Just like in Volterra, I was panicked trying to get your attention before it was too late. Maybe fear fixes whatever glitch I have that makes you unable to hear me."

"Let's not test it. I'm done being panicked for a while myself. You felt so cold. Even colder than me." His fingers danced along my lips. "You had gone blue; it was the scariest thing I had seen."

"Over now. It's weird. No one wants me dead anymore."

"Except the Volturi, but I'll let that technicality slide."

My eyes widened and I sat up. "Shit!

Edward sat up with me, holding my shoulders. "Bella, relax, I only meant they want you to be one of our kind."

No no, not that, I'm more than fine with that. Your birthday! Did you get my card? Where is everyone? Wait what time is it?"

"I got your card before I realized you were gone, everyone else is probably getting home from work and school soon since its three thirty Wednesday the fourth."

"Damn I slept a long time." I rubbed a hand over my face. "Ugh we're missing school."

"Nothing I haven't done before."

"I'm going tomorrow." I dared an argument, but just got a smile. "I'm sorry your birthday was spoiled. I had a good night planned."

"It could have gone a lot worse. There's always next year if you're going to keep up with these birthday celebrations."

"I just might. Hold on." I winced as I started to scoot out of bed. "I have something for you." I moved slowly, testing how the stitches tugged. "This better be my last injury since I'll be changing soon."

"With your luck added to your clumsiness, I'm doubtful about that."

"Thanks for the support babe." I reached under his bed and pulled out the simply wrapped gift, handing it to him. "It's nothing too amazing since I didn't want to completely empty my weak college fund. Just in case I change my mind about going."

"Eternity is a long time, I'm sure you'll go more than once."

"Not for at least a year after changing. Or as Charlie thinks, not until I save more so I don't have to go in debt. And don't roll your eyes, we've discussed this. When I go to college it'll be my responsibility and that will make it mean more to me."

I could tell he wanted to argue, and I knew it was for the right reasons. Money to the Cullen's was a small thing. Not because they had so much, but because when you have so much time, it's just something you collect, and to them it was something to share. It was honorable, I just knew me. I had the same pride as my mother and would want to make my own way as much as possible. Edward understood me though, and despite him wishing I'd let him help, he accepted who I was. It was one of the many reasons I loved him. Along with the care he took unwrapping his present, as if he would save the wrapping paper, just because I gave it to him.

"Would you look at that?" He smiled wide, lifting out the book of music paper. "I was going to pick up some more since I have a few song ideas in mind, but this looks a bit more special."

"It's as old as you are. I figured that made it a perfect birthday gift. I filtered through ebay for an antique I thought would fit you. These belonged to a French composer from your time. He wrote his name on the back inside cover."

I smiled when he whistled at the signature. The man's name had been Edmond.

"Well that is just the perfect ninety third birthday present." He reached for my face as I lowered back into bed, and kissed me. "Thank you." His voice muffled on my mouth before backing up to look at me, still holding my face. I reached up to put my hands on top of his.

"Did you say it was the fourth?"

"Yes."

I smiled at him. "It's the day we met."

His eyes burned as they locked on mine. The emotion in them made mine fill. And then his smile was brilliant, in the same second we were standing, making me wince and snicker at the same time.

"Jesus, what's gotten into you? Have you decided to kill me on the anniversary of the day the thought first crossed your mind?"

"That wasn't the only thought that crossed my mind when I met you. If it had been, we wouldn't be here right now either of us."

I smiled knowingly, linking my fingers through his. "Maybe it wasn't your first thought then. It was probably something along the lines of 'klutz' since I fell right in front of you." I smiled wider at the memory. Yes. It had all been worthwhile to get to here.

"I caught you though. And even though I didn't know who you were, I knew you mattered. Not just because of the visions, but because I felt it here." He placed our linked hands over his heart. "I felt that recognition, even if I fought it." His eyes suddenly looked very old. "I've been waiting for you. So long I was lost and lonely. And then I found my best friend. I found the person that makes eternity seem like an adventure and not a sentence. I'm filled with a love I never truly believed I would find. And now I believe anything is possible, because you showed me it was. You've showed me how incredible things can get."

"Edward." I moved closer, but he kept me in place, his hand going into his pocket and taking out the box he had been toying with. I looked back up to find his eyes still on my face as my heart jumped. My eyes filled again as he smiled, kneeling on his right leg.

"I love you Isabella. All of my life, forever." He flicked open the box, revealing a ring I couldn't even see through my tears. I only saw him.

"Will you marry me?"

I had thought I loved before. I thought what I felt for him was so big, but it grew. Had I once feared the idea of getting married? What was there to be afraid of when the man I loved was asking to belong to me and me to him for the rest of our lives. That love grew. And the answer screamed in my mind so loud, it was hardly a wonder he couldn't hear it.

"Yes."

"You will?" He smiled, and laughing leaped up as I threw my arms around his shoulders.

"Be careful!" Jacob shouted from the doorway, dropping his backpack as Edward turned us to face him. "You're going to bust her stitches, what the hell are you thinking?"

"Sorry, lost my mind for a minute." But he didn't set me on my feet. Instead he kept one arm holding me up as the other reached for my left hand. "This is yours now." He circled the ring onto my finger, the emotion of it moving his face.

"Wait, you, holy shit!" Jake laughed.

"I know!" I shouted and pressed my lips to Edwards, still hearing the shouts Jake sent down the hall for the others. "We're getting married." I said low for only Edward, "Get a grip on me will you, I'm not made of glass." I laughed as he held me tight, and then turned around to Jacob. "No fighting an eclipse for us."

"About damn time." He smiled at the two of us, and the others rushed in.

There was a mixture of gushing, hugging, and screaming as over the next hour my family gathered at the Cullen house to both express reliefs over seeing me in one piece, and congratulate our engagement. I had never seen everyone so happy and stress free. Finally, we were there. We were at that point where we could do nothing but enjoy what we had. To enjoy these people we were all connected to. To belong.

We had finally gotten there. And we wouldn't fight it, but would fight to keep it. Forever.