Chapter 28: A Real Life

Once Edward was fully inside the cafeteria, Bella was standing up from her chair. "EDWARD!" she shouted, not caring that the entire school was looking at them. She did her best to run over to him, once reaching him; she threw her arms around him.

The young woman let out a gasp in surprise once she was in his arms, several things surprised her. The fact his body was no longer hard and cold, the second, her crashing into him knocked him off balance a little enough to fall back against the wall behind him.

Holding her close to him, Edward buried his face into her hair. Feeling her in his arms once more felt wonderful. The fact that he was holding her in his arms; human again, he couldn't help but feel all the happiness in the world. "Bella," he whispered lifting her up and they moved outside.

Pulling away, Edward set her down on the ground. "You're alive," she whispered, resting her hand against his chest. "Edward…" she trailed off. He was entirely different, his skin was warm and she could feel his heart beating under her hand. "How…" she trailed off again.

"Annabelle, she has the ability to turn vampires into humans," he replied.

"So…you're human again? This is permanent?" she asked.

Edward nodded, grinning a little. "This is permanent love," he answered. Biting her lower lip, Bella threw her arms around his neck. His smiling growing a little bigger, Edward wrapped his arms tightly around Bella's waist, swinging her around. Laughing, she held onto him before he set her back down on the ground.

Pulling away, Bella rested her hand on his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin against her hand. Resting his forehead against her head, he let out a sigh. "I never have to worry about hurting you again," he murmured. Feeling all the happiness in the world on her shoulders, Bella let out a sigh hugging him tight. Edward hugged her back, kissing the top of her head.

"What about everyone else?" she asked.

"Rosalie's going through the transformation now," he replied.

"She's doing it one at a time?" she asked.

"Yea, Emmett's comforting her now," he replied.

Bella sighed as they went back to the school.

After school that day, Bella was sitting in the living room with Edward. "I wanted to thank you Edward for trying to help Jacob find Bella," Charlie informed sitting down.

"I was just worried about her just as much as you guys," he answered.

He held onto Bella's hand with a small smile on his face when he saw that Bella was sleeping against his chest. "That is the first time in four days I saw her actually rest easily," Charlie commented.

"I'll take her upstairs," Edward informed.

Still able to lift Bella up into his arms easily, he carried his girlfriend up to her room.

Setting her down on her bed, he stroked her hair gently. Leaning forward, he kissed her forehead a couple of times before pulling the blankets over her. "I love you," he whispered gently. Bella smiled softly in her sleep.

"Edward…" she murmured in her sleep.

Smiling, he stroked her cheek before seeing the ring on her finger. Closing his eyes, he left the room closing the door behind him.

Charlie was still in his chair in the living room watching the first Mariners game of the season. "Chief Swan? May I speak with you for a moment?" Edward asked standing in the doorway of the living room.

"Sure," Charlie replied sitting up straighter in his chair.

Noticing that it was a commercial on the television, he sat down on the couch. "I would like to talk to you about Bella," he informed slowly. Even though human, he still had his ability of hearing people's thoughts; he had to fight back a chuckle when he heard Charlie's thoughts.

"What about Bella?" Charlie asked curiously.

"I know we are still young, but I care for your daughter, a lot. I'd do anything to keep her safe, even if it meant putting my life on the line. I'd give her the world if it would make her happy," Edward explained.

"Alright," Charlie answered slowly staring at him with a quizzical look.

Clearing his throat nervously, Edward rubbed his hands together. "Sir with your permission, I'd like to propose to Bella," he informed.

"Propose?" Charlie asked furrowing his brow.

"Yes sir, may I have your permission to ask Bella to marry me?" he asked.

Charlie was silent as he stared at him from across the living room. Edward couldn't even read his thoughts. "You two are awfully young to be thinking about this commitment Edward," he commented.

"I understand that sir," Edward answered.

"You know that Bella wants to go to college as well," Charlie commented.

"Yes sir as do I," Edward answered.

"And do what?" Charlie queried.

"I'd like to follow my father's road and become a doctor."

"What if Bella is accepted to a different college?"

"I go where she goes."

"What if there's not a medical school in where she's going?"

Edward stared at the man curiously when he read where Charlie was getting at. "Chief Swan, I wouldn't ask for Bella to give up anything for me," he informed. Clearing his throat again, he let out a deep breath. "I'd support her in whatever dreams she has even if it means we'd be separated for a time so she could achieve that dream," he explained. Nodding his head slowly, Charlie tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair. "Also, if you give me permission to propose and I do ask her and she answers yes, I assure you that it won't happen until we've graduated high school," he added.

"You sound like you have everything planned out," Charlie commented.

"Yes, sir," Edward answered.

"I see you care for my daughter very much."

Edward nodded his head slowly in agreement. "Well, Edward, you have proven to me time and time again that you are a good man. It shows that your father has raised you right, not getting in any trouble, a good student. Also the fact that you disappeared for a week to find my daughter tells me how much you care," he explained.

"I'd give my life for her," Edward answered.

Chuckling lightly, Charlie got up from the chair, resting his hand on his shoulder. "Take care of my daughter Edward," he told him before going into the kitchen.

"Thank you sir, I will," Edward answered standing up.

Charlie grabbed a beer from the fridge. "Good luck," he commented sitting back in his chair. Edward nodded with a smile before leaving the house.