"I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe just the touch of a hand
Well, me, I fall in love with you every single day
And I just wanna tell you I am"
~Thinking Out Loud~
Ed Sheeran

We danced under strobing lights, our bodies bumping into strangers, singing loudly and laughing. I felt a bead of sweat run down the back of my neck and closed my eyes, reveling in the freeness of the moment and the way the music pounded through my veins.

"Gonna go grab a drink, be right back!" I shouted at a few of my girlfriends. They had decided to surprise me with a going away slash girl's night out before I left. It was super sweet of them. The college crowd was in rare form; high on the football win and filled will boisterous energy.

I ordered a beer and checked my phone, it was just after midnight but I hadn't heard from Edward in a few hours. Part of me was a little embarrassed at how often I glanced down at my phone hoping for a text or phone call from him. The screen came up empty and I debated messaging him again but decided he'd probably gotten busy with Pie and fallen asleep.

"Your beer." The guy behind the bar smiled and I paid him, dropping a tip in the glass fish bowl next to a stack of napkins.

"Thanks!" I pushed my way back through the throng of sweaty bodies and found the girls at a table.

"Bells! We're gonna miss you so much." this from a highly intoxicated Kate who proceeded to drape herself all over me in a sloppy hug. I'd met Kate in college and we hit it off immediately. She worked for a local publishing company and didn't typically escape work much. Apparently three margaritas was her limit.

I laughed and hugged her back, "I'm going to miss you all too. But I'll be back to visit often and we will have to do this every time I do!"

"Deal!" Her voice squeaked sharply and she perked up, "Oh my god! I love this song! I'm headed back out to dance."

My phone buzzed against my leg from the pocket of my jeans causing me to nearly pour my entire drink down my front scrambling to reach it. My heart was thumping hard against my ribs and I made a quiet wish for the message to be from Edward.

Edward - Hey you. Sorry it's so late. You still out with the girls?

Oh my god, my heart nearly sailed through the roof and my face burned from the smile that stretched across it.

Bella - Hey. Yeh, still out. How are you?

Edward - Could be better.

And just like that, my heart bottomed out and my smiled vanished.

Bella - What's wrong? Is Piper okay?

Edward - She's fine. Nothing's really wrong, just would be a lot better with you here.

Bella - Oh. Shit. You scared me.

Edward - I'm sorry. It's just been a long day.

Bella - You want to talk about it? I can check out, a few of the other girls have already bounced. It's just a short walk for me to get to my mom's place.

Edward - No. Don't leave your celebration. Trust me, it's all good over here.

I frowned.

Bella - Okay. I trust you, but I'm still going to call it a night here. I need to be up early to finalize the moving truck etc.

Edward - Message me when you get back to your mom's so I know you're safe.

Bella - Will do.

Edward - I love you.

Bella - Love you, too. xOx

I ran out to the dance floor to find Kate and Lisa to let them know I was headed out, thanked them for the great night and hightailed it out the door.

"Brrrr!" I grabbed at my lightweight sweater and wrapped my arms around my waist. The temperature had dropped significantly since we'd gotten to the bar. It felt cooler than normal which just pushed me to move faster.

I checked my watch as I walked up the street to my mom's place. It was 12:30 and the lights were still on in the living room. Renee had always waited up for me. Didn't matter the time I walked in the door, she was always on the couch with tea and a book and the TV muted in the background.

Closing the door behind me I twisted the lock, "I told you you didn't have to wait up for me, Mom."

I kicked my shoes off and dropped my wallet and keys on the entry table and made my way into the kitchen to grab a water bottle before seeking her out in the living room.

"You can go to bed now, Mom."

I stopped short in the doorway when I realized that she wasn't alone.

"You're home!" Tiny arms wrapped tight around my leg.

"Oh my god."

"It's me, Piper! I'm here to get you."

My legs trembled and I moved to my knees to see her face, "I've missed you, Pie."

Her warm hands pressed against my cheeks and she nodded, "We missed you too, Bella."

My throat closed up around a thick ball of emotion. I hadn't realized just how much I'd missed her, her sweet smile, her voice and her hugs. Warm tears ran down my face and I wrapped her in my arms.

"Don't cry, Bella." She cooed softly and patted my head.

"Sorry, Pie. I'm just so surprised to see you. And I'm so unbelievably happy."

"I came here on an airplane! I got to be on two airplanes, Bella and I got wings!" She stepped back and puffed her chest out pointing at a small plastic pin on her shirt of the airline wings.

"Wow, that's so awesome. Did you get to meet the pilot?"

"I did! I want to fly airplanes when I grow up."

I laughed at her enthusiasm. "A noble profession, Pie."

"Does that mean it's good?" Her nose scrunched up in confusion.

"Yes, that's exactly what it means." I laughed and swiped at my damp cheeks, "You are up very late tonight, you must be so tired."

"I took a nap. But I'm probably tired still."

"Hey." Edward's voice was soft, interrupting our conversation. He knelt down next to us, his eyes tired, he smiled and my heart rolled over and showed its belly. His mussed hair and wrinkled shirt, that wicked eyebrow, it did me in.

"Hey." Once again I was fighting tears. How did I not know how much I was really missing these two people? I felt more at ease, more complete, in the last five minutes than I had since I left Forks almost two weeks prior.

Edward leaned in, pressing his lips to mine, his scruffy lip tickled at my sensitive skin.

"Missed you." His words whispered into the kiss.

"I've missed you so much."

"Bella?"

"Yes, Piper?" I smiled at her sweet little face.

"Are you coming home with us?"

"Well, yes, I'm going back to Forks with you."

"Daddy." Pie shook her head back and forth. "Tell her."

Edward cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Do it, Daddy." Her eyes met mine solemnly, "I want you to be my mommy. And my daddy wants you to marry him. We want you to come home with us."

"What?" My eyes darted to Edward, who was now holding a ring between his finger and thumb. "Oh my god." I sat on my butt and stared at him.

"Bella, I was thinking out loud that sometimes it doesn't take much to know it when you meet your forever. We can't imagine not having you in our lives. You're so beautiful, smart, so kind and caring. You've given us so much since you've been in our lives, and we've honestly been a little upside down without you these last two weeks. So Bella, I was wondering- "

"Ahem! Daddy, we were wondering.." Piper looked at her dad and then back me, "Both of us wonder if you want to marry him."

"So, will you marry us, Bella?" Edward took a deep breath, "We love you."

"We do, Bella." Piper chimed in once again.

I sat dumbfounded for all of three seconds. There was no doubt in my heart that this was exactly where I was supposed to be. These were my people and I couldn't imagine not having them in my life.

"Yes. Yes I will marry both of you."

Piper whooped and jumped into my lap before I could move, hugging me and kissing my face.

"Thank you, Bella." She whispered into my ear.

"Thank you, Pie."

"That little girl is about the sweetest thing, except for my little girl, that is." My mom laughed and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

"Yeh yeh, Mom."

"I'm so proud of you, Bella. I always knew that you would grow up to be an amazing woman, and here you are."

Renee rinsed her tea mug and loaded it into the dishwasher, "So," she turned slowly, a smile spread across her face. "My baby is getting married and starting her own little family."

"Looks like it."

I hung the hand towel on a hook and hopped up on the counter, swinging my legs. It was definitely going to take some time for all of the excitement to sink in.

"Hey, ladies." Edward sauntered into the room after putting Piper to sleep in the guest room, a tired grin on his face.

"Well, listen, you two get some rest, it's late and I know it's been a long day for both of you. Please, do not hesitate, Edward, you're welcome to anything here, please make yourself at home." My mom kissed my cheek and did the same to Edward, "Sweet dreams, kids."

"Night, Mom."

"Good night, Renee. Thank you for taking me and Pie in for a few days."

"Any time, Sweetheart."

"So." Edward's hands rested on my thighs. "Pie is passed out, she found a stuffed puppy in the guest closet." He grinned and I knew where this was going. "Sheep" had been my snuggle puppy since I was a kid. I'm not ashamed to say that I took him to college and didn't let the movers touch him when they packed up my house. "He's a fairly interesting dog."

"His name is Sheep. I painted his toenails ten times, which is why his paws are crusty and glittery. When his nose fell off, I made my mom sew an old purple button in place of the brown lump of plastic. He's been patched and stitched and washed so many times over."

"Well, I hope you don't mind that she's snuggling him for the night? If it's a problem I can go back in there and put him away."

"No. Don't take it away from her. I don't mind sharing."

Edward silently lifted my left hand, his eyes inspecting the silver band that held three small, sparkly diamonds clustered in the center of the ring. My breath caught in my chest when he tilted his face, meeting my gaze.

"It may be an ass-backward story, Bella, but it's ours and I wouldn't change it for anything."

The End

What a ride.. and thank you for joining me on the journey once again. I hope that Pie brought you all a little happiness and maybe a few laughs. I can't say enough how thankful I am to all of you for your likes and sweet comments. I appreciate each and every single one of you.
Until next time…

xOx

QW