EPOV

I watched in amusement as Bella flew around the house in anticipation of my family's arrival. She was nervous, clearly, and it killed me because she had absolutely no reason to be. They would love her. Hell, they already loved her, and they hadn't even met her. They were so happy that I was living closer to home that Bella could have had webbed feet and four heads and it wouldn't have made one bit of difference to them.

They loved her because I loved her.

Mom had already said so.

Bella didn't trust the concept, so she was anxious. How could you really love someone you'd never met? She actually considered it to be a shortfall. If they already loved her, wasn't it possible that she'd do something to shatter their positive impression of her? Who could possibly live up to such skewed expectations?

My fiancée, that's who.

I'd called her that a lot throughout the morning, and it always seemed to calm her down – as if she needed the reminder that she was wearing my ring and, in the grand scheme of things, I didn't care what anyone thought of her or of us. I knew it was hard for her to understand because she trusted Charlie's judgment so completely. I shuddered to think where we'd be if Charlie hadn't been on my side from the very beginning because she put so much faith in his opinion.

As a CEO, I'd listened to others' opinions, but the final decision was mine and mine alone. It was something that had spilled over into my personal life, which was easy when the only other opinions that might have mattered were thousands of miles away. While I was surrounded by people for most of the day, I actually lived a very isolated existence and trusted no one except Jasper. He was paid to share my opinion, but that rarely stopped him from giving me his own. Again, I would listen, and then make my own decision.

I'd been making my own decisions for a long time, so while I would appreciate my family's support of my relationship with Bella, it wasn't a necessity because I knew it wouldn't matter.

She was mine.

I was hers.

Period.

But it mattered to her, so I was trying to be supportive. I helped prepare lunch, and I helped remove a stain that Lily had accidentally left on the couch with her juice box. I did whatever she needed. I didn't bother saying that my mother wouldn't give two shits about a juice stain because she raised three kids who were absolute holy terrors on furniture. I didn't tell her that my father was the least judgmental man on the face of the planet and would be mortified that she was so nervous about their arrival. I just did whatever she asked…anything to make her happy.

But it was when she asked if we had time to put a fresh coat of paint on the living room walls that I finally decided enough was enough.

"Come here," I said, pulling her toward the couch. Tiredly, she dropped into my lap and wrapped her arms around my neck. "I want you to stop for one minute and look at something. Would you do that for me?"

"Look at what?" Bella asked suspiciously, and that's when I loosened her arms around my neck and pulled her left hand between us. The ring was just as gorgeous as it had been yesterday. Seeing it in the daylight was actually a little overwhelming for both of us.

"Look at this," I murmured gently. She sighed softly as we both gazed down at her ring. "I love you, Bella Swan. I love you, and my family will love you. You are very much like my mother, you know."

"I am?"

"You are," I said softly, placing a kiss along the back of her hand. "First of all, you're a nurse, so you have that in common. You both love to cook. You're both incredible mothers. You have so many similarities. How could she not love you?"

"What about your father?" Bella asked quietly.

"My father is the most compassionate man you could ever meet. He will adore you. The fact that you've brought me closer to them will be more than enough to convince them that you are the perfect woman for me. You've made me more like my dad, to be honest. Carlisle is all about family and bonding and doing good deeds for others. You make me want to be that kind of man."

"You already are," she whispered gently. "It was there all along, Edward."

"So what you're saying is that I was just waiting for you?" I asked with a grin, and she giggled. "You're right, baby. I've been waiting for you my whole life."

Her face softened. "I've been waiting for you, too."

I kissed her softly, hoping that I could convince her through my words and through my touch that she was everything to me and that she had no reason to be worried. The kiss deepened, and I groaned when her fingers wove into my hair, tugging gently on the ends. I broke the kiss and let my lips glide across her neck, causing her to moan softly.

"We don't have time to paint," I murmured against her ear. "But we do have time for something else…."

I could live a hundred years and I'd never get enough of her.

After a frantic shower and putting the finishing touches on lunch, Bella and I were sitting in the porch swing when three cars arrived. Lily rushed from the first car with a smiling Jasper and Alice following right behind her. In the back was Charlie's cruiser. And in the middle was the familiar black Mercedes that belonged to my parents.

Lily bounded into my lap and I hugged her close.

"I see how it is," Bella pretended to pout.

"Did you give it to her?" Lily whispered against my ear.

"Look and see," I whispered back. Her eyes were shining as she looked down at Bella's left hand. The little girl squealed excitedly as she climbed into her mom's lap and hugged her tight.

"Did he get down on his knees?" Lily asked, desperate for details. "Did you say yes?"

"Just one knee," I grinned at her.

"And I said yes," Bella smiled softly. Lily clapped her hands excitedly and wiggled her way back into my arms.

Just then, the adults made their way onto the porch. Of course, they'd heard all of that, and I was glad to see that everyone was smiling approvingly. Alice was making the introductions, but my mother was unable to take her eyes off of me and my girls. I smiled at her, and her answering smile was the most serene I'd ever seen on her lovely face. I made the introductions and Bella rose to her feet, and she was immediately wrapped in my mother's welcoming arms.

It was love at first sight.

Welcome to my world, Mom.

We made our way into the house where Bella, my mother, and Alice made themselves busy in the kitchen. The men stayed behind in the living room, which seemed a little sexist to me but I really did want to talk to my dad. Lily was never far away from me, and she quickly climbed into my lap once my father and I were settled on the couch.

"It's good to see you, son," Carlisle smiled at me before turning his attention to Lily. "And who is this?"

"I'm Lily."

"You're very pretty, Lily."

"Thank you," she smiled. "I look like my mommy."

"You certainly do," Carlisle chuckled. His eyes were shining bright, instantly captivated.

Again, I could relate.

Unable to sit still for long, Lily kissed my cheek before rushing toward the kitchen.

"She's adorable," my father said softly.

"Yes, she is."

Jasper and Charlie excused themselves and went back out onto the porch. It was their subtle way of giving me and my father the chance to talk. Just then, my mother entered the room.

"May I join you?"

"Of course, sweetheart," my father smiled up at her, and she made her way over to the couch.

"How are you, son?" Carlisle asked.

"I'm happier than I've ever been."

"I can see that," he nodded thoughtfully. "What about physically? How is the memory loss?"

"There are still some things I struggle to remember," I admitted. It was little things from my past that weren't really important, but it still bothered me that there were a few moments of my life that I was unable to recall.

"I can't imagine what you've been through," Esme whispered softly, her eyes glistening with tears. I took her hand in mine and squeezed it softly. "Imagining it has actually kept me awake at night."

"I'd do it all again. I can't regret a moment of it because it brought me here."

"Edward, she's simply sensational," my mother sighed contently.

"I know she is," I grinned. "Bella was so nervous to meet you. She was afraid you wouldn't approve."

"How could we not approve?" Mom said with wide eyes. "It's obvious that you adore each other, and she's brought you back to us."

Lily announced that lunch was ready, and the entire group gathered around the table. There was laughter. There were some tears, too. But mostly, it was laughter and smiles. All that was missing was my brother, and we'd have to rectify that soon.

For the first time in years, I wanted my family close to me.

Bella squeezed my hand under the table, and she was smiling peacefully at the scene surrounding us.

"I told you they'd love you," I whispered against her ear.

She blushed a little, and then leaned closer.

"You know that big house you're going to build me?" Bella asked quietly against my ear, and I nodded. "We're going to need a bigger kitchen table, too."

I could see it then. Holidays just like this, but with more babies, and more laughter and more happiness than I ever thought possible.

I wanted it all.

And I could tell by the radiant smile on Bella's face that she wanted it, too.