Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or the characters. Thanks a million to my beta, CrystalRaindrop!

: - Dedication - :

To everyone who is obsessed with this story. (GRINS) You know who you are!

A Child of the Night — Chapter Twenty-Five

Previously ...

Edward chuckled lightly as he reached up and brushed his fingers softly against my cheek. "There is absolutely no reason to be jealous, my love, because you are the only woman I'll ever need. You are my light in a world of darkness, my one point of reason. My everything."

"It's a good thing you're carrying me," I noted randomly, and I sighed happily against his skin.

"Why?" he asked, surprised at the sudden change in topic.

"Because I do believe my insides just went squishy."

Edward laughed deeply.

"My beautiful, blushing, squishy fiancée."

June 2nd, Monday - 8:32 PM - Edward POV

She was so beautiful, laying beside me in the moonlight, surrounded by the beauties of our meadow. Her pale face seemed to be glowing as the stars shone down upon her. And as she smiled, she looked just like the angel I always imagined her to be. Her eyes, so bright, were glancing everywhere, almost as if she could see. Instead, though, she was listening, and feeling.

"We should go home," I whispered, and she shook her head, determined to stay right where she was. I sighed, and reached out to shrug off my coat and wrap it around her shoulders. "Bella ... "

"I'm fine," she insisted, smiling as she crawled onto my lap and laid her head against my chest. "I want to stay here. With you. Just for a while longer."

I sighed again, but I couldn't help the smile that came to my lips. I wrapped one arm around my angel, and with the other, reached into my pocket.

"I love you, Bella," I whispered, and she smiled against my chest, her eyes fluttering closed. "So much. Marry me?"

She giggled, and looked up at me, her eyes sparkling. "I already said yes, Edward."

I grinned. "I know. I just wanted to do this right."

With shaking hands, I pulled the ring from the soft, velvet box and slid it slowly, sweetly, onto my Bella's finger. She gasped, and her cheeks turned the most beautiful shade of red that I'd ever seen.

"E-Edward ... "

"Your ring, my princess," I whispered, and I grinned, brushing my fingers over the small, yet very beautiful ring. The band was a such a light silver that it was almost white, and in the middle was a single, simple diamond that caught the light of the moon andcast beautiful shadows all around.

Bella's eyes were sparkling with tears as I turned her around to face me. I smiled, and brushed my cheek against hers, taking in her wonderful scent as I brushed my hands over the soft skin of her head. The hair was just beginning to grow back, and I laughed very gently as it tickled my skin.

"I love you, Edward," she breathed, and she captured her lips with my own. I wrapped my arms around her and held her close, breaking the kiss off before I could tire her out.

"I love you, too, my beautiful angel."

"This summer?" she asked, and I knew what she was talking about without even having to ask. I grinned brightly.

"As soon as possible, my love. I can't wait until I can call you my wife."

She blushed a brilliant shade of red, but smiled. I laughed joyfully, and scrambled to my feet, sweeping her up in my arms as I thanked whatever God was out there for sending me the amazing girl that was willing to be mine.

"God, Bella, I love you. I can't say it enough. I feel ... that you'll never know how much I love you. I love you, Bella. I love you. I love you. My wife."

Her blush only continued to darken, and her smile continued to grow. Soon, she was glowing with happiness, and I couldn't stop myself. I pressed my lips to hers, and hungrily claimed her as my own.

She moaned softly, and I felt a thrill of heat flash through me at the sound. I pressed harder, and deepened the intimate connection, letting out a moan of my own as our tongues met in a fiery passion of need.

"God, Bella," I groaned, pulling away though I didn't want to. She grinned, and laid her forehead against mine. She was breathing hard, and I frowned, all of my excitement fading as concern washed over me. "Time to go home."

She pouted, but didn't argue. She even let me carry her the few miles back to her house. She didn't utter even the slightest of protests, and when we arrived at her doorstep, I realized why. I laughed quietly as I shifted her in my arms, and kissed her sleeping lips softly.

I reached forward, and knocked lightly on the door.

Charlie answered it only seconds later. I pressed my fingers quickly to my lips, concerned that he would wake Bella if he became angry with me. Thankfully, though, he seemed to be just as concerned for Bella as I was. He opened the door further, allowing me entrance.

"I'll just take her upstairs and go," I whispered, and he nodded stiffly. I knew he was angry. He had reason to be. I just didn't understand why he was as calm as he was. Perhaps Bella had talked to him? I wasn't sure. It didn't matter, really. The only thing that mattered in this moment was the woman that in my arms.

I smiled again as I laid Bella, very gently, under the freshly washed quilts. I tucked them in around her pale, thin body, and kissed her gently on the forehead. I brushed my fingers against her cheek, and sighed deeply, knowing that, when I left, the ache of being away would return.

"I love you," I breathed, and I stared at her angel's face for one second longer before walking from the room. I didn't look back, because I knew that, if I did, I wouldn't be able to look away.

Smiling and shaking my head — and plotting exactly how I could sneak in through Bella's window in the middle of the night — I walked back downstairs.

"Can I talk to you for a minute, Edward?"

I grimaced; Charlie had gotten my name right. That meant he was serious. But I nodded, and followed him into the living room. I sat in the chair, and he sat across from me. We were both silent for several moments.

And then he spoke.

"Thank you," he whispered, and my head snapped up. My surprised eyes met his, and I was shocked to see that he was smiling.

"S-sir?"

He laughed, no doubt amused by my shock. "Bella told me something that got me thinking. She said that, even if her illness had been your fault, she would have forgiven you in a heartbeat. I ... I guess that, if she can, I can, too."

I was silent for several moments, unable to speak.

"T-thank you, sir," I finally choked out, and he shrugged, clearly uncomfortable with my gratitude.

"You're welcome. Now," he said, and his voice was gruff not with anger but instead with repressed emotion. "You'd best get going. I'm sure your parents are worried."

I smiled and nodded, though I knew that my parents would most definitely not be worried, even if I didn't come back at all tonight. They knew that I would more than likely be sneaking through Bella's window in the middle of the night, unable to stay away from her.

"Yes, sir," I finally said, and he led me to the door. I noticed that he let me call him 'sir' without correcting me, as he'd done before, so I probably wasn't completely forgiven. That, or the wrong that I'd done was forgiven yet not forgotten.

"See you tomorrow, Edward," Charlie said, and I laughed lightly as I waved.

"See you at five in the morning, sneaking in to check on Bella," I whispered, and I laughed joyfully. And it was in that moment, as I closed my eyes and raised my hands to the sky, that I realized I no longer felt any pain. It wasn't merely numbed this time: It was gone. Forever. For as long as Bella was by my side.

I love you.

June 3rd, Tuesday - 6:00 AM - Bella POV

When I woke up in the morning, I smiled, curling myself closer to the warm body beside me. I moaned sleepily as my fingers ran absently over my ring — my wedding ring. The ring that I couldn't see but, despite that fact, was beautiful simply because of the promises it held.

"Good morning, love," a soft, velvet voice whispered. I smiled, and breathed a sigh of happiness.

"Am I dreaming?" I asked, and Edward laughed as he ran his fingers softly through my hair.

"No, love. Why?"

"Because you're here, beside me. Because I'm home. And because on my finger is the most beatiful ring in existence, and it symbolizes your love for me andthe eternity that we're going to spend together."

"With a few beautiful, clumsy, bronze-haired babies. Don't forget that."

I blushed and nodded, my heart pounding faster as I, once again, imagined myself pregnant with Edward's child. His baby. The most beautiful baby in the whole world, the one I wanted so badly to have. But I also wanted to do other things — things that I couldn't do with a baby on my hip.

"No babies until after college," I warned, and Edward laughed.

"Love, we're not even close to the baby making act in our physical relationship."

"Yes," I countered, and I was sure I was blushing like crazy. "But sex comes with marriage, and if we're getting married this summer ... "

I trailed off, unable to continue. Edward gently brushed his lips across my forehead, and I could tell that he was smiling.

"Not until you're ready, Bella. Even if we get married this summer. If you're not ready until next year, I'll wait."

"Thank you," I breathed, and I knew I wouldn't be ready for a long time. Not only physically, but emotionally, too. Physically, I was very weak and would be for quite a long while. My body was worn and tired. Emotionally ... I just wasn't ready. I loved Edward more than anything, and marriage was a big step. But taking our physical relationship to the most intimate level was something different. Something bigger. Perhaps I would be ready after — I smiled — our wedding. Maybe I wouldn't, though. But I knew one thing: That Edward spoke only the truth, and if I wanted him to wait forever, he would. For me.

"Time to get up," he whispered, interrupting my train of thought. I nodded, but curled closer to him.

"But I'm sleeeeepy," I whined, and he laughed, kissing me softly.

"Then sleep, my angel. I'll make you some breakfast. I can haul the TV up here, too, and we can spend all day in bed lazing around."

I smiled; I liked that idea.

"Mm'k."

"Love you," he whispered, but I was unable to whisper the words back, because I was already falling back into dreamland.

1:30 PM - Edward POV

"This movie is insane."

"Twue wove!" I quoted, and she burst into another bout of laughter. Her bright blue eyes were sparkling, and her tiny body shook against mine as I pulled her softly, gently, against my chest. "Mwarrige is what bwings us togwether today! Mwarrige, that bwessed rewunion — "

She clapped her hand weakly over my mouth, her eyes closed as she continued to giggle. I grinned brightly, happier than I'd been in a very long time.

"Wait!" Bella interrupted once more. "How can he be just mostly dead?"

I shrugged, trying to hold back a chuckle. "It's a movie, love."

"Yeah," she agreed, rolling her eyes. "An insane one."

"The whole point of this movie is love — and love is insane at times," I reasoned.

"Edward, the point of this movie is comedy."

I shrugged, allowing that.

"What now?" I asked a few minutes later, after the movie had ended. "You're not moving from this bed today, so we can either watch another movie ... or ... I could read to you."

Her eyes grew very wide and bright, and she looked up at me in excitement. "Really?" she gasped, and I nodded, laughing at her eagerness.

"Really. What do you want me to read?"

"Wuthering Heights," she said without a second thought, and I rolled my eyes.

"But that's an awful book, Bella!" I whined, and she looked deeply into my eyes, and though she couldn't see me, I felt as though I was staring into her very soul.

"Do you love me?" she asked, and she trailed her soft fingers slowly down my cheek. I let my eyes flutter closed as my breathing picked up. Her touch was so soft ... "Do you love me, Edward?"

"Mmm hmm," I replied, a goofy smile making its way to my face. "I love you, Bella."

"Would you do anything for me?"

"Anything," I agreed quickly, though I had a bad feeling about what my words would lead to. I could barely think, though, because she was consuming my thoughts. "Anything, Bella."

And then she giggled, and broke me from the love induced haze that had set over me. I realized in horror what I'd just said, and groaned as she pointed toward her bedside table, where the horrible ... horrible book sat.

"I can't read braille," I said feebly, knowing full well that the copy sitting beside me was a normal copy. I picked it up, and sighed, opening it to the first page.

And then I began to read. And though, to me, the book was still awful... to see the look of absolute happiness that spread across her lips ... it was worth it all.

5:20 PM - Bella POV

"Can't we just wait a week?" I begged, knowing that, in less that a couple seconds, Charlie would be walking through the front door. "A day. A week. Or we could just get married without tell him at all, and we could go somewhere far away — like Africa — and tell him over the phone."

Edward, beside me, began to laugh, and I frowned, tears beginning to well up in my eyes. I didn't know why I was crying. I just was.

"Oh, Bella," he whispered, all traces of laugher gone. He must have seen the tears that were slowly making their way down my pale, thin cheeks. "I'm not laughing at you, love. It's just ... what you said just now. I said almost the exact same thing to my father a few days ago. I like that idea. But no one else seems to think it reasonable. Besides," he murmured, and he brushed his fingers softly across my cheek. "You want him to walk you down the aisle, don't you?"

I nodded, wiping away the tears that were still clinging to my eyelashes. "Y-yeah," I said shakily, and Edward pulled me close as he began to play with the ring that sat, so softly, on my finger. "Do you think he'll hate us? Do you ... do you think that he'll hate me so much that he'll refuse to walk me down the aisle?"

I heard Edward's sharp intake of breath, and I could almost feel his anger. He wasn't angry about anything I'd said, though. Instead, he was angry that I thought so little of the love we shared.

"Oh, Bella ... he won't hate you. He might hate me, that's true — " we both laughed softly. " — but he could never ... never hate you. He loves you too damn much to hate you."

I smiled, and nodded weakly, and then laid my head on Edward's chest again, comforted but not totally convinced.

"Do want to wait until tomorrow?" he asked softly, quietly. "You're tired."

"I'll be tired tomorrow, too," I said. "Let's tell him tonight."

I knew Edward was smiling, because I could feel his lips lifting against my skin. I sighed in content, and closed my eyes as I waited.

And then Charlie opened the door, and I took a deep breath in.

"I'm home!" he called out, and I knew — though I couldn't, through the nervousness that had set over me, hear — that Edward had responded. And then Charlie sat down across from us, the chair squeaking under his weight.

"You guys look ... " he paused. "Serious. Is something wrong? Oh, God, please don't tell me that the cancer's back!"

"NO!" Edward reassured him quickly. "God, no. Nothing like that."

I could almost hear Charlie relax. He breathed out deeply, and I did, too.

"We have something to tell you, Daddy," I whispered, and I played with the ring on my finger as I spoke. "Something important."

Edward gripped my hand tighter, and spoke softly, clearly.

"I've asked Bella to marry me, and she said yes. Charlie, we're getting married this summer."

Ouchie. What's Charlie gonna do? I bet you'll all be surprised. Try and guess! Lol. Although there is not prize ...

NOTE: I didn't mean to leave you with the came cliffhanger twice. I really didn't. It just happened! SORRY! Oh, and if you didn't get the sneak peak, it's because you reviewed sometimes between when I left for school and when I got home. I figured, though, that I shouldn't waste time sending sneak peaks because I think everyone would appreciate the chapter more than a peak.

Please Review! ( I allow anon. reviews, so you don't need an account to review. )

NEXT CHAPTER:

"We're going off to college this fall," I said softly. "And I don't want Bella living in a dorm. I want us to live together. And I want to do this right."