Hey friends. I'm really sorry that this chapter took so long. It isn't very long, but RL has a way of interfering with me. I am a teacher assistant, and we are doing our End of Grade testing now until the end of the school year. Next chapter may be awhile getting to you. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Stephanie Meyer owns all things Twilight. I own a big glass of ice water, a pack of smokes, and this story line.

Chapter 26

Edward put Gracie in her car seat before carefully trying to buckle her in. The wings of her costume made it very difficult to get the seat belt fastened and we finally decided that they would have to come off while we were in the car. After he got them off he quickly got her strapped in. It didn't take long before we were on our way to the subdivision to go Trick-or-Treating.

I looked around in amazement at all of the decorations as Edward pulled Gracie out of the car and put her wings back on her. There were lots of ghosts, goblins, witches, mummies, and the like. When she was ready, we started our trek through the subdivision. Everyone loved Gracie's costume and laughed every time she told them that she was Tinkerella. By the end of the night, she had a bag that was overflowing with candy. Edward had to carry her to the last several houses and by the time we were walking back to the car, she was fast asleep on his shoulder, while I carried her bag full of candy.

She never so much as stirred as he put her in her car seat again. When we got home, I roused her enough to get her PJ's on and get ready for bed, but when she lay down in the bed she was out almost immediately.

I left her there with a kiss on her head before I went back downstairs to find Edward and his parents. I could hear some talking from the living room so I turned in that direction to go join them.

When I walked in, the conversation stopped suddenly and I felt a little out of place, like I had interrupted something. I looked around in question and realized that everyone was staring at me. I could feel the flush start to cover my face as I sat down next to Edward on the couch.

"What? Did I do something?" I asked them, starting to get a little irritated. I looked at Esme and Carlisle then over at Edward. They were all still looking at me. Esme's eyes were shiny, like she was holding back tears and Carlisle had a big smile on his face.

"Edward, what's going on?" I said as I turned to look at him.

I was really totally surprised when he slid off of the couch and knelt down on one knee. He looked up at me and his green eyes were a very dark jade that I wanted to sink into.

"Bella, You know how much I love you, right?" he started and so I nodded in reply.

"I know that I have already asked you this once, but since it wasn't planned and I didn't have the ring, I wanted to do it again. . . Isabella Swan, will you marry me? Will you let me be Gracie's Daddy forever?" he asked and then pulled a ring box out from between the seat cushions of the couch where he had been sitting.

I immediately told him yes. "Yes, Edward! I Love You so much Baby. I would be honored to be your wife and have you be Gracie's Daddy!"

Looking down at the ring, I couldn't believe how beautiful it was. He had listened to me about not getting a big diamond. It was a beautifully set dark emerald that was a cushion cut solitaire in a platinum band. I was speechless as I gazed at it. I looked up and smiled at him as I held my hand out to him.

Edward pulled the ring from the box and slid it gently onto my finger. When it was in place, he leaned over to kiss my finger right above the ring before he pulled me into his arms and kissed me passionately. I clung to him, my fingers buried in his riotous bronze hair, as I returned his kiss with every fiber of my being.

We were finally brought out of our passionate haze by Esme and Carlisle snickering at us and clearing there throats loudly. I realized that I had ended up on my knees in the floor with Edward. We both blushed lightly when we saw them. Edward jumped up quickly and lifted me easily by my hands.

Esme and Carlisle came over and hugged us both and congratulated us. I was so happy to be welcomed into their family whole heartedly. Esme pulled me in close to her for a soft hug while she whispered her congratulations to me.

"Bella, I have never seen my son this happy. Thank you for being here for him and for giving us all a chance," she said whispering.

"Esme, I love him so much. He's one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Well, the best thing outside of Gracie." I told her just as quietly. "I'm so lucky to have him in my life and I thank God everyday for the trip to the pet store that day."

"Bella! Come give your future father a hug!" Carlisle said, beaming his smile at me from where he was standing near Edward.

I walked over to him and smiled as he pulled me into a hug before cupping my face in his hands. I looked up into his blue eyes and saw the twinkle there. "I just wanted to thank you for putting up with my son, and for giving Esme and I a granddaughter. We love you both very much, Bella. Welcome to the family," He said.

I nodded to him then went to stand with Edward. His arm went across my shoulder's and I wrapped my arm around his waist. I looked over at him and realized that we were still in our costumes. When I thought about it, I started smiling. Then I started quietly laughing, trying to hide my face in his side.

"Bella, what's so funny? Share with the rest of us, Baby!" Edward said as he leaned away from me trying to see my face.

"Edward!" I gasped out in between laughs. "Do you . . . realize . . . that . . . we are still . . . dressed up as . . . Woody . . . and . . . and . . . Jesse?"

He looked at me and realized finally that he was still in his cowboy gear, hat and all.

"We'll have this moment forever. I'll forever think of you as Woody when I look down and see this beautiful ring that you gave me!" I told him while I looked down at the ring in question.

Edward was still chuckling along with me when he leaned in next to my ear and nibbled it gently before he blew his hot breath across it, "Baby. . . I love you. You are the sexiest Jesse to ever walk this planet and I can't wait to pull every piece of this costume off of your body!" he growled softly to me.

I could feel the blush covering my face as I realized that Esme and Carlisle were still standing there looking at us as if we had lost our sanity. We quickly told them goodnight and escaped up the stairs, hand in hand. We checked on Gracie one last time before we went to our room.

Edward led me inside and closed the door behind us gently before he made sure that it was locked securely. I looked him over and noticed the feral look in his wild green eyes as he started to stalk over to me. Backing up a step for each step that he took towards me, I soon found myself at the large bed.

I sat on the edge of the bed and pulled Edward to me by his belt loops. He looked down at me with a lovely sexy smile on his face. I ran my fingernails over his chest before tweaking his nipple a bit. He growled slightly at me before he bent over and captured my lips with his in a rough kiss.

Edward pushed me backwards onto his bed as he climbed over my body. Slowly his fingers found the buttons on my vest and then the buttons on my shirt and unbuttoned them, one by one, placing a kiss on my skin in between each button. My fingers went into his bronze mop and held him to me as I squirmed from the pleasurable sensations. When he was finished, I returned the favor and I soon had his shirt on the floor as I ran my hands over his chest.

I loved the feel of his skin under my hands and mouth and I made sure to get my fill of him. He traced his way down to my jeans and smoothly slid them down my legs and off of my body. I moaned quietly in appreciation when I saw him reach for the buckle of his jeans. I knew what was hiding under there and tugged my bottom lip in between my teeth as I waited impatiently for him to slide the zipper down.

I followed his happy trail with my eyes before I was truly sent to my happy ever after. Edward and I made love several times that night, careful to keep as quiet as we could so that we didn't wake Gracie. The next morning found us both still abed, tired from our loving the night before.

"Mommy, I'm hungry!" Gracie said as she knocked on our bedroom door.

"Hang on a second sweetheart, I'll be right there." I told her as I looked around the room for a robe, a tee shirt, or something to put on. I finally found a tee shirt of Edward's laying on a chair across the room and pulled it on quickly as I made my way over to the door. I looked over my shoulder to make sure that he was covered completely by the blanket before I let her into the room.

"Good Morning, Baby Girl. How are you? Did you sleep well?" I asked her as I led her over to the bed. I leaned over to kiss Edward as I ran my fingers through his shaggy hair.

"It was good Mommy. I dreamed about Tinkerbell. We were playing and getting candy and then Scooby-Doo came over and was trying to eat it all!" she told me with a sad pout gracing her lips.

I realized that she was dreaming about one of the things we had seen the night before. We had been to one house that had statues set up around the yard of Scooby and the gang.

"Daddy! Wake up! I'm hungry." Gracie said while she climbed up on the bed with Edward.

He groaned and grumbled a bit before he finally pulled his head up from the pillow to see her. She was blessed with one of his loving smiles as he pulled her into his arms for a morning hug. "How you doing Gracie Girl?" he asked her with his rough sand paper voice.

"Good Daddy. Now can we go get something to eat? I'm really really hungry! I'm starvin'" she told him with her arms wrapped around his neck.

"Well, why don't you go get your clothes on and Mommy and I will be right there?" he asked her in his gruff, sleep roughened voice.

"OK, Daddy. I'm goin now. Hurry please!" she said as she sat up on the bed. I watched her as she headed out of the room and when she was gone, I turned back to Edward. "Well, come on Baby. Time to rise and shine. Your presence has been requested at breakfast by your little girl. Now move your ass out of the bed!" I told him before I quickly slipped into the bathroom to get dressed.

"Get my ass out of bed indeed! Humph!" he grumbled before he came out of the bed quickly and met me in the bathroom.

We had a not so quick shower before we went to get Gracie. We found her playing with some of the toys from the toy box in the corner. We helped her get it all cleaned back up and Edward led us down to the kitchen, with Gracie perched on his shoulder. When we got there, we found Esme making pancakes while Carlisle was sitting at the table reading the newspaper.

Esme and Carlisle gave us a good morning and we all settled around the table to eat. I watched as they both doted on Gracie and her every want or need. They had taken her in as a grandchild with no holds barred. I smiled as I reached over and placed my hand on Edward's thigh. He was talking to his dad about our flight, but he absentmindedly settled his hand on mine and gave it a squeeze before he went back to eating his breakfast.

I contented myself with eating breakfast. I found myself getting lost in studying my ring. I couldn't seem to help myself. A laugh brought me out of my daze and when I looked up I found everyone staring at me. When the heat of my blush had sufficiently covered my face, I asked them what was wrong as I wiped my face to make sure there was nothing there.

"Bella, did Edward tell you the history of your ring?" Esme asked me with a smile.

"Um, no, he didn't," I told her before I turned to Edward in silent request.

"Well, Baby, this ring belonged to my Grandmother and was put aside for me. I had to get it from Mom. That's why I didn't have one to give you when I asked you last week." He said before he reached over and ran his fingers over it lightly.

"Wow. That is amazing Baby! I love it so much. Thank you for trusting me with it," I told him as I gazed reverently at my ring.

After a few more minutes of talking, it was time for us to head back to the airport and go home. Edward and Carlisle got our luggage loaded in the Denali and before I knew it, we were at the airport.

Esme embraced me in a teary hug and told us to come back to visit soon. I promised her that we would and invited her and Carlisle to come visit us any time that they wanted to. She told me that we would plan something soon and then went to give Edward a hug.

Carlisle came over and embraced me and once again welcomed me into the family. Gracie didn't want to leave them yet, but was excited to learn that they would be coming out for a visit soon.

Edward and I led Samson and Delilah over to a grassy section to go to the bathroom before we got on the plane. The last thing I saw as I was walking into the small plane was Carlisle's arms wrapped around Esme, with her head laid on his shoulder.

After we got Gracie and the dogs settled in, Edward and I sat together on the couch and talked about our visit with his parents. I told him how much fun I had and he thanked me again for coming.

As I settled into his side, I couldn't help but think about how blessed I was. How much this man means to me and about how much I loved him. I was content with my life and couldn't ask for anything more.