Bella:
"What are we doing?" I asked for the millionth time since Alice put me in this ridiculous dress and insisted on playing Guinea Pig Barbie with me all day. I guess that was my sign that she missed me as much as I had missed her, but this felt oddly reminiscent of prom and I shuddered internally. She had barely let me out of her sight since Edward and I went back to Forks to visit, even though we had just visited two weeks ago. We could only stay for a week since I was off for Spring break and most of that time had been spent in her huge bathroom in the white mansion by the river. Edward had barely been able to pull me away from her all week but tonight it was just going to be the two of us.
It was Friday night and for the first time in a long time I had something to do besides homework and it felt lovely. This, being here with Edward, heading to a surprise like old times, just felt so right. Unlike the last time he got me all dressed up for the prom when we were still in high school- I wasn't going to complain.
But just because I wasn't going to complain didn't mean that I wasn't curious.
"It is a surprise love, and I know how much you hate those but I really hope that you will like this one," he said as he started the car.
"Hope?" I asked with my eyebrows raised.
"I didn't let Alice look so I don't know what your reaction will be, I wanted to see it first hand," he said with a shrug.
"Should I be nervous?" I asked.
"No love, you should just enjoy the night," he said with a smile.
"Can I at least know where we are going?" I asked.
"I suppose since you were such a good sport today, letting Alice torture you and all, I can afford to give you a small hint," he said.
"And what hint would that be?" I asked.
"We are on our way to Olympia for a while" he said with a smirk.
"That's all your going to tell me isn't it," I said. I knew that that was all I was getting.
"You would be correct," he replied with his wonderful crooked smile that made my heart stop.
"Oh well, that's more than I expected," I said as I took his hand.
It was a very nice ride, we just sat in silence and enjoyed each others company occasionally saying something random, but it was nice to just be together. He had practically moved into my room at school and it almost felt like high school again because no one could know that he was there. Not that that mattered to us, he was not allowed to leave my side except to hunt and he seemed perfectly fine with that. We had fallen into a very comfortable routine almost immediately. It amazed me how much my life could have changed in a little over two weeks, how completely different I felt since he returned. I would have never expected to be this happy again. My happiness was tied undeniably with Edwards.
We arrived at a park a little after sunset; twilight. Edward parked the car and came around to open my door. I stepped out and my breath was taken away. We were at the Heritage Park Fountain. It was all lit up with fairy lights and a small table with candles was set up away from the fountain next to a grand piano. You could see the Washington State Legislative building in the background and it was prefect.
"Do you like it?" he asked quietly with a grin on his face.
"Are you kidding me? It is gorgeous! Thank you Edward," I said as I stood on my tippy toes to kiss him.
"Come on," he said as he took my hand and led me over to the table.
"This is too much Edward," I said with awe in my voice.
"Never," he said as he removed the cover off of my dish.
I looked down and smiled at what I saw, my meal was mushroom ravioli and a coke. I smiled and looked up at him, "This is what I had on our first date," I said fighting the sudden tears.
"I know. I loved you then and my love for you has only grown stronger each day. I really want to thank you for forgiving me and never giving up on me. You never saw the monster that I saw when I looked in the mirror. You always believed in me even when I couldn't. For that I am ever grateful Isabella and I love you."
"I love you too, Edward. Thank you for deciding to keep me," I said as I choked down a sob. I couldn't explain what this man had done for me. I couldn't express in words what it was I felt for him. Perhaps I would ask Jasper if he could show Edward for me…
"Eat Bella," he said softly and I obeyed. It was amazing, so simple and so perfect. I would never understand his ability to amaze me in everything he did.
When I had finished my food he stood up and held out his hand for mine. I took it and let him pull me up. Holding my hand he led me over to the piano. He sat down and began to play very quietly. It was a very simple yet sweet melody. I was not expecting him to start singing and it took my breath away when he did.
Forever, All, and Always
Words I've used before
On all the wrong faces.
But I'm going to use
The rest of my life,
Proving to you
Those words were lies.
And of the million things
A heart can hold
And of all the things
I've come to know,
I Love.
I need Love
I can see I'll be alright
With you now by my side.
But if tomorrow you're gone
And I still go on
I promise to
Spend the rest of me on you.
People say we are where we belong.
We hold each other's hands
As if we're holding on.
And to me a little of your you
Is like
A little bit of sun
That makes the moon.
And if the "If's" we plan around become "When's."
If our center aisle narrows and bends
our Love.
I need love.
I can see that I'll be alright
With you now
By my side.
And if tomorrow you're gone,
And I still go on
I promise to
Spend the rest of me
On you.
And
If there ever was a shred of doubt
This hopelessly romantic now
And
I hope that time can slow us down
And minutes pass like hours now
And all the clocks counting down
To Love.
I need Love.
I can see that I'll be alright
With you now by my side.
And if tomorrow you're gone
And I still go on
I'll promise to
Spend the rest of me on you.
(A Song You Might Hear In A Wedding- Jon McLaughlin)
It was so beautiful that I could not stop the tears from falling down my face. How I loved this man before me. I knew right then that there was no way that he did not want to keep me forever.
"Edward," I said through my tears as he stood and walked over to me. He held my face in both of his hands and kissed me tenderly on the lips before getting down on one knee.
"Isabella Marie Swan, I promise to love you and ask that you do me the greatest honor of completing my soul and becoming my wife?"
I could not believe this, after everything we had been through I never thought that anything like this would happen. I had given up all hope of having a happy future and here my future was back and waiting for me. My future was waiting to unite with me and to complete me.
"Edward, I… yes," I said through my tears.
He stood up and took my face in his hands so that he could see my eyes. "Yes?" he asked unbelieving.
"Yes, Edward. Yes, I will marry you," I said breathless.
"Bella!" he shouted as he picked me up and twirled me around in a circle. He sat me down gently and let go of me only to take my left hand in his as he pulled out a small ring box. He opened it and held it out to me. I took it carefully and saw a beautifully elegant gold ring with slanting rows of diamonds. I had never seen anything like it.
"It's beautiful," I said reaching a finger out, hesitantly, as if to touch it.
"It was the ring that my father gave to my mother when she agreed to take his hand," he murmured quietly.
"It's perfect, thank you," I whispered as I looked fiercely into his eyes.
"Do you mind?" he asked as he reached out for the ring.
"Not at all," I replied and he removed it carefully from the black satin box. He looked deeply into my eyes and he moved the ring to the tip of my ring finger.
"I love you so much Isabella and I look forward to the day that I can call you my wife," and with that he slipped the ring on my finger.
"I love you too Edward," I said quietly and threw my arms around him. I was going to be his in every way possible and he was going to be mine. My heart swelled and I could not believe this reality. I was truly happy.
The End
Now, please do not freak out. Yes this is the end to this story, but not to their story. I am working on a second instillation to this but it does not seem appropriate to write it under the title of "Broken Dreams and Long Lost Love." The dreams have been repaired and love is no longer lost. They have struggled and hurt and healed and now it is time for them to move forward with their future. I hope that you will join me in my next story and that you all loved this story as much as I did. Here is the link for a picture of what I think Bella's ring might look like based on Stephenie's description. I spent hours looking for rings that I thought might be close:
i15./albums/a391/jenniblue421/Twilight/ring5.jpg
or maybe
i15./albums/a391/jenniblue421/Twilight/ring4.jpg
I want to extend a thank you to every person who reviewed and gave me support. I would not have made it this far without the help of all of your encouragement. I especially want to thank dsutton7 and short1x2005 for talking my through all the rough patches, making sure that I kept going, and editing for me. You guys kept me writing and I appreciate that!