I woke up in Sam's arms happier than I had ever felt before. I kissed his chest as I got up from the bed. I pulled on one of Sam's t-shirts and used the bathroom. Then I went out to the kitchen, turning on the coffee pot I hummed, singing softly to myself as I began to cook breakfast.

I felt Sam's eyes on me as I stood at the stove, "going to stand there and watch me all morning?" I asked not turning from my task.

Sam laughed lightly, "I can't help it, the sight of you in nothing but my t-shirt is stunning." He came over and wrapped his arms around my waist, and nuzzled his head into my neck, kissing along the bare skin. I could feel his already semi-erect cock against my backside.

I laughed at him, "Don't start anything if you want to eat Uley, you remember the last time that happened."

He kissed my neck one more time before pulling away, "Alright, you're right." He moved away to pour himself a mug of coffee and then stood leaning against the counter watching me again.

"Stop staring Sam it's distracting, I'll burn your eggs. Go set the table or something."

He laughed, "I can't help it if the sight of you, fresh out of my bed and cooking breakfast makes me want to throw you over my shoulder and carry you right back to bed."

"Great I can picture my future now, barefoot and pregnant with a spatula in hand yelling at toddlers to wait until their father gets home." I laughed.

He growled and stalked towards me, "Barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen huh." He said pulling me into his arms and kissing me soundly.

"Down Fido." I laughed pushing him away, "Let's worry about getting married before we start on the kids."

"Keep calling me Fido and I might start humping your leg." He said letting me go to turn back to the stove.

"Is it that season already? I thought I had a few months." I laughed.

"What else did Billy tell you?" He asked picking up his mug again.

"That about covers it. Why, is there something else?"

"It's nothing really."

"Sam?" I asked my voice going harder as I turned off the stove.

"It's nothing Baby-girl. Just that, well, we sort of need permission for the marking. You aren't Quileute so it might be different, then again Charlie knows so he can give it."

"That's it, Charlie needs to give his permission?"

"The council as well but they wont go against and imprint."

"So what's the problem?" I asked, plating our food.

"Nothing, I told you, it's nothing Bella. The council will hold a meeting, I'll ask your fathers permission for you, he gives it, then we ask the council for their blessing, they give it, then we have a bonfire, the pack gives a gift and you and I go home and complete the marking."

"So it really is sort of like a wedding."

"Exactly."

"Can we do it all at the same time? Council meeting in the morning, wedding in the afternoon and reception at the bonfire?"

"If that's what you want, the gift from the pack might have to be between the wedding and reception since the non-in-the-know guests will find it weird but it should work."

"What do you want?"

"Whatever makes you happy."

"Sam."

"Seriously Bella, all I want is to marry you and mark you, same day or two separate events I don't mind, though it will be hard not to mark you after I marry you since I already fight the urge so I think it has to be before if its not at the same time."

"Do we need the councils permission to marry?"

"No but we probably need Charlie's." He hinted.

"Right, well I think he saw the ring but he didn't comment and I didn't want to tell him until… until you were with me."

"We can tell him today?" It sounded more like a question than a statement so I smiled as I nodded.

"And we have to call Renee." I told him.

"Will you come to my mother's for dinner so we can tell her as well?"

"Your mother," I hadn't even thought about his parents, "does she know about imprinting?"

"No, she doesn't know about the wolves."

"Will she like me?"

"Why wouldn't she?" he asked kissing me lightly on the lips.

"What if she doesn't?"

"She will."

"But, if she doesn't?"

"Then she will learn to love you."

"Sam."

"Bella. I am a grown man; I do not need my mother's approval or permission. You are my imprint and I love you. I am going to marry you. And there is nothing to worry about, my mother will see how amazing you are and how happy you make me and she will love you."

"Fine. But do we have to see her tonight?"

He frowned at me, "Why not?"

I groaned, "I have nothing to wear to meet her."

He laughed, "You don't need to dress up Bella."

"She's the mother of the man I'm going to marry, she'll be my mother-in-law. I have to make a good impression."

"You will, regardless of what you wear."

"Sam." I whined.

"I don't know baby, ask Kim or Emily, or talk to Leah she and my mother get along great."

"Wonderful, your ex-girlfriend and your mother get along great." I rolled my eyes at him.

"There is nothing between Leah and I now. There hasn't been for a long time."

"I know." I told him pouting.

He leaned over and kissed me again, "Please Bella."

It was the only thing he had really asked me to do, how could I say no, "Fine, we'll have dinner with your mother."

He looked into my eyes a minute and a little frown formed between his eyes, "We can do it another night Baby-girl, it's ok."

"No," I tried to assure him with a smile, "I'm just nervous. Tonight is good."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'll call Kim, she had to meet Jared's mother. And maybe Leah too, she'll be able to tell me more about your mom so I don't go in blind."

"It will be fine, baby-girl."

"Yeah." I told him, "Of course it will." I leaned forward and kissed him. "Let's clean up and head over to see Charlie."

"I'll clean up, you go shower."

"Hmmm," I hummed as I stood up, "Does that mean you wont be washing my back?" I asked innocently.

He growled and swung around in his chair at the same time as he reached out and grabbed my wrist pulling me into his lap for a kiss.

Two hours later we climbed out of my truck at my house.

"Dad!" I called as we walked in.

"In the kitchen Bells!" he called back.

I walked in the kitchen to see my father at the stove, "Oh no, what are you doing Charlie?"

"Making a grilled cheese for lunch. Geez Bella, I can work the stove you know. Before you came to live with me I even used the oven."

"To make what? When I got here all you had was a freezer of fish, some potatoes, bread and coffee."

"You forgot the Mac and Cheese and soup in the cupboard" he laughed, "I made that, grilled cheese sandwiches, and I baked fish and potatoes and carrots."

"And the rest of the time you ate at the diner." I laughed. "It also smells like the bread is burning, want me to take over?"

"Damn." Charlie turned back to the stove, "Just rusty is all, need to practice, you wont be with me forever Bells."

"About that Charlie," Sam said, his arm snaking around my waist and pulling me back into his chest, "I asked Bella to marry me."

"And?" He asked flipping his sandwich onto a plate before turning to face us, "obviously she hasn't run off to Seattle or Jacksonville."

"Dad!"

"Well Bella, you run off on a man after…" his face went red, for that matter so did mine, "well, one might expect you to run off at the mention of marriage."

"This is different, I know what's going on now, before I just thought I might be going crazy."

"So I take it you said yes then?"

I nodded and Sam spoke up again, "I didn't ask your permission and I'm sorry, the conversation came up rather sooner than I'd thought but I would like your blessing."

"Well of course, as if I wouldn't have given it, I mean you know you had it when," Charlie went red again, peaking my curiosity, I would have to ask Sam about that later, "well, with the imprint and all, of course I support your relationship. Bit fast for marriage but I suppose in your case it don't make much of a difference, not like you'll change your minds."

"No sir, no chance of that." Sam grinned.

"Can I offer you a sandwich?" Billy asked, holding out the plate with the slightly burned sandwich on it.

"I'd never say no to food." Sam laughed taking the offered plate.

"Bit burned on the one side." Charlie shrugged.

"Tastes great." Sam assured him.

"How about you Bella?" he asked turning back to the stove.

"I can make them Charlie."

"Nonsense, I told you, I need the practice besides looks like you'll be moving out sooner than I had thought. When will that be by the way?"

"Oh, um, I'm not sure, we haven't talked about it."

"I'd move her in today but I wont steal her away from you like that." Sam told him putting the already empty plate on the counter.

"Hah," Charlie laughed, "You know I'd not part with her for a lesser man Sam Uley."

"Thank you sir."

"You give me a few days to get used to the idea huh. Maybe we can have another movie night this Sunday before you leave?"

"Sounds great Charlie, maybe we can make it a weekly thing, I can come over and make dinner, spend the evening together?"

Charlie's voice had gotten a little gruff as he answered, "I'd like that kid; I'd like that a lot."

Charlie made three more sandwiches and we all sat down to eat together, they were all nicely golden brown with perfectly melted cheese. Who would have guessed, Charlie made a mean grilled cheese.

"Charlie, there's uh, one more thing." Sam shifted in his chair.

"She's not pregnant is she?" his eyes flashed over to me, "I mean, you aren't pregnant yet right? I don't think I'm ready for that."

"No!" I assured him, "I'm not ready for that yet. Not at all, in a few years maybe but not now and definitely not before we're married."

"Right, well, good. So then, what is it?" Charlie asked turning back to Sam.

"I'd like your permission to mark her."

"To bite her you mean?" Sam nodded, "Well I suppose that's up to her son."

"I asked him actually."

"It's marriage to the pack." He added.

"Well alright then, you have my blessing for that to then."

"We'll need your actual permission in a formal council meeting." Sam told him, "Billy can explain it, if you like."

"Sure, sure. You just let me know when."

"We haven't picked a date or anything yet dad, but I want it to be the same day as the wedding."

"Ok, kid. Whatever you want. I suppose that will take some planning. Have you told your mother yet? Is she going to help you?"

"I'll call her later today and tell her."

We moved on to talking about minor things, while we finished eating. After lunch Charlie was heading into the station for a few hours and Sam had to check in with the pack and the council, so I shooed them away and tidied the kitchen before picking up the phone.

My fingers automatically found the familiar keys, as it rang I briefly wondered at the urge to call Rylan before my mother but shrugged it off, I loved Renee but I couldn't imagine telling anyone before Rylan.

"Isa? Tell me you're ok. Things didn't get worse after I left did they? Are you still fighting? Did he hurt you? Is everything ok down there? Do you want me to fly back? I can be on a plane in a couple hours." Rylan said, as he answered his cell, not even giving me time to say hi.

"Hello to you to Rylan. I'm ok. No, they got better. We aren't fighting. He would never hurt me. Everything is wonderful down here. I do want you to fly back. Oh and I'm getting married."

"Sorry honey. Hello. Wait, did you say married? As in he proposed!" Rylan's voice had risen and he was now yelling into the phone.

I laughed, "He asked, I said yes. We just told Charlie. I have to call Renee when we hang up and I'm meeting his mother tonight."

"Wait you called me before your mother? I'm touched honey. Now tell me everything!"

I laughed again, I felt a twinge of guilt at having to edit the truth but I knew I wasn't allowed to tell Rylan about the pack, no matter how much I wanted to, "We were talking about the future and Sam said he wanted to marry me. I said yes and he froze, just staring at me for a minute, then he asked if I really just said I would marry him and when I said yes he bolted from the house yelling at me not to go anywhere." I laughed, "I was a fucking wreck waiting for him to get back."

"Wait he said he wanted to marry you, then ran away when you said yes?"

"Yes, well no. He ran to his mother's house to get his grandmothers ring. He got back twenty minutes later and dragged me down to the beach behind his house to ask me properly. It was so sweet Ry, he got down on one knee and everything."

"So you're actually engaged? You're going to marry him?"

"Yes. I am. Can you believe it?"

"No" he sounded serious, "Bella, are you sure? I mean, you were freaking out about sleeping with him only a few days ago."

"I know, I was just scared because of David, but I'm not any more. I love him Ry and he really loves me to. I swear I wouldn't do this if I weren't sure, more than sure. This is it, he's my forever."

"About David Isa, Kim called about your ex, I told her his name; I know you didn't tell me but the wealthy run in small circles. I had to find out who he was, it wasn't hard, when I approached him, he made some sick comment about you, I warned him to stay away from you, that you were under my protection and if he tried to contact you again I would make sure everyone knew all his dirty little secrets. Even if you wouldn't press charges he'd be ruined."

"I know you told her. I didn't know you confronted him, thank you Ry, for everything over the last year, you really saved me." I bit back tears; I really loved Rylan. "Sam knows everything about my past The bastard won't ever hurt anyone again, but please don't ask, I can't tell you, I would but I really can't."

"I wont even ask Isa. I'm just glad your safe. Whatever he got, he deserved. I love you honey."

"I love you to Ry."

"So Sam knows everything."

I nodded even though he couldn't see me, "yeah."

"And you're sure you want to marry him?"

"Positive."

"And Charlie was ok with it."

"He gave his blessing."

"So you're getting married."

"I'm getting married."

Rylan squealed, "ok, call me as soon as you get back from the mother's tonight, I want to hear everything. What are you going to wear? When is the wedding? I'll clear my schedule so we can start planning."

"I have no idea what to wear. What if she doesn't like me? We haven't set a date yet but when do you think you can come down?"

"Is it warm there? Wear that cute v-neck white sundress I bought you in Seattle with the black spaghetti straps and tie under the bust and black and gray paisley flower type pattern around the skirt. With your white tie wedges if its more casual or your black strappy healed sandals if it's more formal. Take a black cardigan for the casual or a black pashmina for the more formal."

"God, what would I do without you?"

Rylan laughed, "lucky you don't ever have to find out honey. Let me clear my schedule since it's not an emergency and I'll be there more than a couple days. You'll have to give me a day or two but I'll send you flight details as soon as I have them."

"I love you Ry."

"I love you to Isa. Always."

"Forever."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Rylan laughed, "Go call your mother." He laughed again, "My Isa, getting married and I never even met him."

"Well he'll have to pass the Rylan approval test before the wedding, but I'm not worried. You'll love him."

"Honey if he makes you this happy, I already do."

"I'll call you tonight."

"I'll be waiting. Don't worry though Isa, she'll love you, who wouldn't."

"Thanks Ry."

We hung up and I picked up the phone to call Renee.

"Hello?"

"Phil, it's Bella."

"Hey, Bella, how are you? How's Forks? Your mom is right here."

"I'm great, Forks is good and can you put me on speaker phone?" Geez, what was with people and running questions together today?

"Hi, Bella. Oh my god, it has been ages since we heard from you! How are you? How's Charlie? Are you liking Forks? Do you want to come home? I can book a flight for you right away, you'll love Jacksonville baby, it's sunny everyday, and you'll have your own room; it even has a little bathroom attached just for you. And you can take art class with me, we're painting bowls of fruit now but next month we start painting people and there will be a nude model coming in, its down at the rec center and they have self-defense class to, I think I'll take that one next time. Oh and Phil and I are taking a cooking class together, it's a wine and cooking pairing class, I'm not to bad so long as I remember the stove but I take a timer with me when something is in the oven so I don't forget. I'll make you pasta with clams in white wine sauce; it's lovely. And there are lots of places hiring or you could apply to the university, I know its to late for September but you could start in January and we'd have all summer and autumn to just spend time together and go to Phil's games, it will be much better now you've graduated. Sorry I didn't make it down for the ceremony baby but Phil had that big game and I broke my toe and twisted my ankle in that silly Jive class, I mean who dances the Jive now a days? Oh Bella it will be wonderful, we can book your flight home right now."

I listened as Renee prattled on in her usual hyper speed, waiting for her to come up for air so I could get a word in.

"Renee honey, let's see why Bella called before we go booking plane tickets." Phil finally broke in.

"Of course, tell me everything baby, I want to hear all about graduation and what you want to do now, I mean if you don't want to go to school right away that's ok. We can spend the year travelling with Phil and taking classes, and you could get a little job part-time."

"Actually mom, I'm calling because," damn this was harder than I had thought it would be, she was so excited about me coming back to live with her and I had never even hinted about thinking about it.

"What is it Bella?" Phil asked.

"Is everything alright baby? Are you ok? Do you need me to come and get you?"

"No mom, everything is fine. It's great actually." I took a deep breath, "I'm calling because I met someone."

"You did?" Renee gasped, "Bella that's wonderful! When? Where? How? Who is he? Has he asked you out?"

"I met him when I first moved down, he's from the reservation, his name is Sam and I met him through Jake, Billy Black's son. He's not exactly asked me out, I mean we are together, I'm calling because, well, because he's asked me to marry him."

"Oh my god!" Renee screeched. "Did you say yes? How did he ask? Is he gorgeous? Does he have a job baby, because you don't want to marry a man who can't hold a steady job, I don't mean that in a racist way, I don't have anything against Indians but the reservation doesn't have the best reputation and regardless of where he's from you want a man with a good job baby. How about his family? When will the wedding be? I can't believe my baby is getting married."

"He has a great job mom, actually he owns a construction company that does most of the work on the reservation and some work in Forks."

"His own business, that's wonderful baby, a man should be able to support his family. But is he older than you?"

"He's twenty-two next month."

"Are you sure this is what you want baby, it's awfully fast? You aren't pregnant are you?"

"No, and we're sure mom. I love him and he loves me. We want to get married."

"Well baby you always had a good head on your shoulders, I just hope you aren't making the mistake I did with your father, I mean, the reservation is even smaller than Forks and if he has his own company down there I don't think he plans on leaving."

"He doesn't but I like it here, honestly mom, I'm really happy here. Sam makes me really happy."

"Oh baby, tell me everything. What does he look like? How did he propose? Have you told Charlie? When's the wedding? You know Phil has play off's in the spring so it wont be a good time."

"Bella, congratulations, if you are sure this is what you want and you love him I'm happy for you."

"Thanks Phil."

"I'm going to go now and let you two chat about all this alone. I love you."

"Love you to Phil. I'll talk to you soon."

"Ok, he's gone, now tell me everything." Renee gushed a moment later.

I laughed, "He's gorgeous mom. He has these chocolate caramel eyes I could swim in, I get tingles on my skin whenever I feel him look at me. He's really tall, like 6'5 and muscular with broad shoulders and a washboard stomach. He also has a smile that makes my knees weak." And a growl that makes me soak my panties, I mentally added. "His name is Sam Uley, and he is really involved with the reservation," if you call turning into a wolf and secretly patrolling its boarders to keep it safe from vampires involved, "he does work for the council sometimes to so Charlie knows him through Billy. We told him at lunch today and he's given his blessing."

"And how did he ask?"

"On the beach behind his house. It was really sweet, he even got down on one knee."

"And you've slept with him."

"Mom!"

"Bella, you need to test the car, not just admire it, before you buy it."

"Mom!" I was bright red at this point.

"Well?"

"Yes." I finally admitted, going a new shade of red, even for me.

"And? Come on Bella, you know you can talk to me about this. Are you still on the pill? Have you talked about kids? You did say you weren't pregnant yet."

"No, I'm not pregnant, I am still on the pill and kids are a couple years off I promise."

"Is he good?"

Okay, now I think I might have turned magenta, "He's, it's, well,"

"You don't want to marry someone you aren't compatible in bed with baby. Your father and I had a great sex life and with Phil it's even better, we have sex several times a week, sometimes even in the afternoon."

Gross! "TMI mom, I don't need to know about you and dad, or you and Phil."

"Bella, sex is a very important part of the relationship, even the best relationships can fail if the sex is bad."

I cannot believe I am having this conversation with my mother. I sighed heavily, "Mom, you don't have to worry, Sam is great, we are great together."

"So the sex is good?"

I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath, "It's amazing mom."

She squealed, "is he big? Do you orgasm? How often do you do it? It will slow down after you're married, especially after the first year, you need to mix it up a little to keep it exciting, you should think about getting nicer under things, also try roll playing, Phil wears his uniform sometimes and I dress like a school girl fan, or he also really likes…"

I quickly interrupted, "Mom, mom, I'm begging you, please, stop, please, TMI, way TMI."

She laughed, "oh Bella, you're so old fashioned, there is nothing wrong with talking about sex."

"There is when it's about your mother."

She laughed again, "alright baby, I was just trying to help."

"Thanks but I'm good. Really, Sam and I are good. The sex is great. We stop doing it several times a day and I'll start to worry about spicing things up ok."

"Several times a day? How often are you doing it now?"

I blushed realizing what I had said, "Um, I don't know, I don't see him everyday."

"But every time you are together?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"And more than once?"

"Sam has a high sex drive."

"And you?"

"Oh, I keep up with him just fine." I admitted ruefully.

"That's my girl." Renee laughed.

I blushed again, after this conversation I might be permanently red, "Yeah, ok, can we stop talking about it now?"

"Alright baby. Just remember to be vigilant about taking the pill, until you're ready to be a mother."

"I will, I promise."

"You let me know as soon as you pick a date and we can go dress shopping together, maybe go to New York."

"Sure, maybe. I'll call you soon, ok." I knew I wouldn't be going to New York, I wouldn't leave Sam; he was still getting over the last disappearing act.

"My baby girl is getting married." Renee sighed.

"I love you mom."

"I love you too."

I hung up the phone and sat back into one of the kitchen chairs exhausted.

So that was my family done, now we just had to tell Sam's. Oh god. I hope she likes me. What if she doesn't take it as well as my parents? What if she thinks we are moving to fast? Why wouldn't she, we were moving fast, I mean my mother was unique and Charlie knew about imprinting, what would his mother think? Oh god, she'd probably think I was pregnant. I looked at the clock; Sam was picking me up in a couple hours. I would bake to take my mind off things before getting in the shower, thank god Rylan had picked out an outfit. Maybe I should call Kim or even Leah for advice. Oh god I hope she likes me.