Chapter 29: Fortune Cookies

"What you are as a single person, you will be as a married person, only to a greater degree. Any negative character trait will be intensified in a marriage relationship, because you will feel free to let your guard down -- that person has committed himself to you and you no longer have to worry about scaring him off."
-Josh McDowell

Quitting in Volterra had been one of the best and worst decisions of my life. Worst because before our plane touched down at Sea-Tac Airport, Forks Hospital had received a rather vicious phone call from Volterra. Best because Forks apparently loves me and they put Aro in his place, so to speak—and they welcomed me back with open arms, like the prodigal son.

I spent the next month searching for an apartment so I could move out of my parent's house. My father and I had finally found one that was big enough for two and I was getting ready to move into it.

I worked days, and spent nights with Bella, I played basketball with Seth and Charlie, I tormented Alice by wearing mismatching clothing; and I tried to get into the habit of calling Carlisle and Esme 'Mom' and 'Dad'.

And I did the most important thing I could ever do.

I made a life changing decision.

And hopefully Bella would agree.

I had everything planned out, Alice had helped me work everything out, and I was excited to see how things would unfold.

I hoped Bella would see the significance in the events.

It was late May and we had a date that evening.

I took my time dressing, thinking back over my relationship with Bella. The first time I saw her at the Chinese restaurant, and then how I'd been so intrigued by her.

And then our failed date, and my subsequent sulking.

And then the nights I spent talking to her over the phone, praying that I could get out of Volterra, and she'd just shown up there. I knew then that I wanted her to be mine. Forever.

That was all I could offer her.

I buttoned a neat gray shirt and left it untucked. Alice sat on the corner of my bed, nodding in approval.

"So you're really going to do it?" She asked.

I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair, "Yeah I am."

"Good luck, big brother," she said softly.

I kissed the top of her head before snatching my keys from my bedside table. "Thanks, Ali."

"Love you, Edward," she called after me as I ran down the stairs.

"Love you, too," I yelled back, jumping over the last four stairs and running out to the garage.

Emmett and Rosalie were over—playing with Carlisle's Mercedes—and, I guess to lend moral support.

Peter ran up to me and hugged my legs, "Hey buddy."

"Uncle Edward," he declared, as I pulled him into my arms and kissed his cheek.

He smiled at me, showing off the dimples he'd inherited from his father, "Uncle Edward go see Bella?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm going to go see Bella," I told him. Peter had taken a liking to Bella, probably because the one time we'd babysat for him Bella had fed him chocolate. Bella was a goddess in his eyes.

Mine too, actually.

"Ok, Pete, let's let Uncle Edward go, it's an important night tonight," Emmett said, winking at me.

I smiled nervously, butterflies suddenly assaulting my stomach.

Rosalie and my father gave me hugs and encouraging words as I walked to my Volvo. I took a deep breath and started the car.

The drive to Bella's was a lot faster than normal, or it felt like it was a lot faster. I was so preoccupied, though.

Bella hopped into the passenger seat of my Volvo a bright smile on her face, "So where are we going tonight?"

"It's a surprise," I replied, tightening my grip on the steering wheel and pulling out of her driveway.

I drove slowly, trying to get a hold of myself.

Bella rubbed my thigh, "Is everything ok?"

I jumped a little, "I'm alright."

She nodded and gave me a dry look, "Sure you are."

I sighed and continued driving. Bella knew I was tense about something, I just wished that it wouldn't give away the surprise.

When I pulled into the parking lot Bella gave me a wry look, "The Chinese restaurant, really?"

I shrugged, "It has significance."

Bella nodded and smiled, "So how's work?"

"It's good," I said.

We talked about work and her school as we walked hand-in-hand to the front doors of the restaurant.

I took a deep breath and opened the door for her. The petite, Asian hostess seated us at an intimate booth. No one else was in the restaurant because I had rented the entire space for the evening. That way we wouldn't be interrupted or interloped upon.

Bella smiled at me as she slid into the booth beside me.

The first time I'd taken her on a date when we got back from Italy we'd sat across from each other and then decided that we had been apart for too long and didn't want to have any space between us. Needless to say we sat next to each other on all of our other dates.

Bella rested her head on my shoulder as we waited for the waitress to come to our table.

"What can I get you guys to drink?" She asked.

"We'll both have Cokes," I told the waitress with a smile, "and we both plan on eating from the buffet."

She nodded and told us to help ourselves.

I helped Bella up and kept my arm around her waist as we piled fake Chinese food onto our plates. We sat back down and both started eating.

"So seriously Edward, what's the matter?" Bella asked around a mouthful of beef lo mien.

"Nothing's wrong," I told her.

Nothing really was wrong, I was just terrified, but I wasn't going to tell her that.

She nodded and didn't pursue the subject further, for which I was grateful.

We ate quietly, occasionally feeding each other food and kissing. It was a good dinner, and I was hopeful that we could spend many more like that in the future.

Finally we had both eaten our fill and the waitress brought us our bill along with a single fortune cookie.

I took a deep breath and handed to her, "You eat it, I'm too full."

"So am I," she pouted, pushing it away.

I had a moment of complete and utter terror that she wouldn't take the cookie, "How about we split it?" I asked, trying to keep my voice even.

"Alright," she said, ripping apart the clear, plastic wrapping.

She broke the cookie in half and handed me one half. She held the other in her hand and turned the fortune over so she could read it.

"What's it say?" I asked, my stomach contracting.

"It's says, 'Will you mar—'…Oh my God, Edward?" She turned to look at me, tears shining in her eyes.

I smiled at her tentatively and slid out of the booth and down to one knee. I fumbled in my pocket for the ring and then finally opened the little velvet box to show it to her.

It was my mother's engagement ring. And I hoped she would like it.

She started crying and threw her arms around my shoulders.

I embraced her and stroked her hair, "Is this a yes?"

"Oh my gosh, of course this is a yes!" She exclaimed, kissing all over my face.

I chuckled and took her hands in mine. I slid the ring onto her finger and she stared at it.

"It was my mother's engagement ring," I told her softly, "there's a matching wedding band that I hope you'll wear as well."

"Of course I will Edward, I'd be honored," she said quietly, silent tears rolling down her cheeks.

I did the best I could to dry them with the sleeve of my shirt.

She pushed my hand away and then pulled me into her arms and kissed me.

This amazing, forgiving, beautiful woman was going to be my wife. I was suddenly overwhelmed with happiness. I stood up and twirled her around, laughing.

Finally.

After everything that had happened in my life I finally had my Happily Ever After. They do exist. It's not just in fairy tales.

Even a broken little boy can be fixed and find happiness in a girl who is completely and utterly amazing.

I'll never understand how I deserved such happiness after shunning everything good and lovely in the world. I guess my parents were looking out for me, they knew I needed to find Bella.

Every place I went brought me closer to Bella. Everything Bella did and had to endure was to bring her closer to me.

So, I won't say that after the proposal everything was all right. We still had problems, like any other couple, but we got through them.

Because above all else, at the end of the day, Bella was mine and I was hers. And that's all that ever really mattered.


The end. Except for the epilogue that will be posted on Friday. ;) OK, because I've had a couple people talk to me about this: THERE WILL BE NO SEQUEL. I repeat, NO SEQUEL. I don't want to hear any whining about it.

I've had the proposal scene planned since the beginning of this story. This story was going to be a one-shot of Bella and Edward in a Chinese restaurant and he was going to propose to her that way...but I just got carried away writing it, and this is what happened!

And, we've almost beat Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Got about 20 [give or take a few] reviews to go!!

Who expected this to end with a proposal? I did. ;)