A/NThank you again for all of your reviews and support. Thank you HollettLA for her little comment bubbles. x

Off Piste

- 25 -

I followed Edward off the chair, letting him take the lead on his supposed "secret" off piste run.

He was toying with me, cutting in close as we made tracks into the fresh powder on the first leg. When he dropped off a small ledge out to the right, I realized Edward was correct. I'd never been out to this part of the mountain before. The view from over here was incredible.

On a small crest before another drop off he stopped, flinging up a smooth spray of snow as he dug his edges in. I pulled up right next to him. There was not a soul in sight, just us, the snow and a panoramic view.

"This is fucking stunning, Edward." I took a couple of heavy breaths as my heart rate eased.

"I'll take that as me winning the bet." He smiled. "You have to make out with me now."

"Poor me," I droned, leaning over to meet his mouth.

Time and place slipped away as tongues and lips melded, the warmth of our contact visibly meeting the cool mountain air.

Edward reluctantly pulled away with a moan, touching a soft, fabric-covered finger to my pink cheeks. He pulled off his glove so he could meet skin to skin. I smiled into his hand.

"You know how I said that you were off piste to me?" Edward said carefully.

I nodded.

"In two years, I've changed my mind. You're better than off piste. There's not even anything that I can compare you to anymore; you're beyond all of it."

He looked away from me momentarily, swallowed, and looked back.

"I said that you were my ultimate, and that still stands. I also said you were my girlfriend-material girl, because you were perfection I wanted to experience everyday. But it's so much more than that, Bella. I don't even know how to put words to it anymore. So, all that I figured I could do was try and show you. There's only one thing that speaks that for me - that will tell you every day for the rest of your life that you're my one and only. That you're all I need."

It felt like I was out of my body, watching this happen to me. Time slowed down, as I wondered if this might be more than our average day skiing. His words were smooth, echoing in my brain, registering their presence on my memory forever. My heart was beating at a hundred miles an hour, filling with anticipation on each pulse.

His hand shifted between us. I looked down to see a big glint of sparkle in the sunlight, held delicately between his thumb and forefinger.

"I was so lost for four years, remembering what it felt like to be so happy and carefree with you. The best nights of my life have all been with you. The very best was when you said you'd be mine. The only thing that could top that is seeing you wear my ring. I've loved you, every day, for two indescribable years. I want the honor of loving you, every day, for all the rest…I want the honor of calling you my wife."

He took a deep breath, and then spoke those final words.

"Isabella Marie Swan, will you marry me?"

My eyes darted between his, the bright green especially vivid in the white light of the mountain. What I saw there was everything I needed to know. All that he had just put into words was present in his expression. Edward Cullen would never break my heart; he'd do everything in his power to take care of it.

"Fucking yes," I whispered emphatically.

He grabbed me into his arms, squeezing me tightly before pulling back to kiss me with more meaning than ever before. I hadn't noticed the tears that were dripping down my cheeks.

"The ring," he said, bringing his arm back from around me.

"God, Edward. That's the most stunning ring I've ever seen."

My left hand was shaking from the high of emotion when he held it in his. Pulling off my glove and dropping it to the snow, he held the diamond encrusted band at my fingertip before slipping it carefully on.

"Do you like it?" he asked, nervous. He'd managed to say all those amazing words, and his voice shook when he was worried about the ring. He didn't need to worry about the ring. He knew me well; I would have chosen it myself.

"I feel way more than just 'like' for it. It's perfect. It looks like it was made just to be there, I couldn't imagine it any other way. God..." I tore my eyes away from the sparking brilliance and kissed him again.

I never imagined I'd react like this when the day came that I was proposed to. I bet Edward didn't think he would either – we were all romantic and giddy. It was totally bizarre, but so natural.

"Good place to propose - the sun and refection off the snow on that diamond is fucking blinding," Edward laughed.

"It's fucking blinding without all that helping it."

It was a princess cut centre stone, not too big, but remarkably cut, set above a band of tiny emerald-cut and brilliant-cut diamonds. I looked at the new part of me, so at home on my finger, and the extension of me standing, grinning in front of me.

"I can't even, Edward...seriously, I had no idea I could be this happy. Thank you for not giving up two years ago when I was a stubborn bitch. I just...fuck, I just love you. I love this. I love us."

"Wanna roll around in the snow?" He smirked.

"Fucking yes."

-x-x-x-