Alright guys, thanks for the reviews. I hope you liked my baseball drama. This chapter is fluffy at the end so be prepared. But I think it's adorable!!
PS. this will be the last update until probably tomorrow night or Saturday, I have a 16 hour drive back to my university on PEI tomorrow.
ALSO I apologize for Bella's speech I know we have all heard that sentiment in some form or another, but I just thought it was perfect for this moment....you'll see.
ENJOY!
Chapter 35:
Bella:
When morning came I reluctantly headed back to Charlie's, I had chores to catch up on from my time in 'Wine Country with Esme'. The lie Alice told Charlie to make up for my absence during the fight Edward and I had. Charlie was at work for the day so I was going to do some laundry, cook some meals for the week, clean the bathroom and vaccum the house. Charlie was not terribly messy but if I didn't stay on top of this stuff, it seemed to get out of hand.
I put on a load of laundry and went into the living room, I turned on the TV and began to vacuum. It was still early morning and the news had come on. With my extra hearing I could pick up on every word the news crew said even over the vacuum. The weather lady did a brief summary - rain tomorrow - big surprise there, then they did a heads up on the sports and a special news bulletin. A body had turned up on the outskirts of town, I didn't recognize the name mentioned but the police had no suspects. Thought murder or animal attack. Murder in Forks? I guess it was about time somebody in this small town cracked...I just really hoped it wouldn't turn into a killing spree like those dumb horror movies Charlie likes so much.
I finished straightening up in the living room and started the kitchen. I liked to cook some meals ahead of time for Charlie just in case I was out and he wanted to heat something up. As I waited for the lasagna to cook, I got a phone call from Alice. She didn't have any real reason for calling, she just wondered what I was doing for the day. I told her my plans and that I wouldn't be over until after Charlie was asleep. Then we hung up.
My mind drifted back to our baseball game. I was having such a great time last night before the nomads showed up. I had never felt that free, I was making catches and laughing with Edward when we ran into each other. The whole family seemed to really enjoy the recreation. After James's little stunt though I had a feeling we wouldn't be playing for awhile.
I took the lasagna out of the oven and decided to do some grocery shopping in town. I stopped at Edward's favourite music store and looked around. I shook my head realizing he already owned every single record in the store. I settled for a poster of Mat Kearny for myself and Alice, and a CD of Metallica's greatest hits for Charlie. I never understood Charlie's taste in music, but then again, Metallica was full of old guys now just like Charlie. After I went to the book store and bought a new version of Jane Austen's collection of works, mine was getting a bit ratty from overuse.
On my way home I mailed a letter to my mom in Jacksonville and ignored some old lady making rude comments about my speed. I smiled the entire way home, my chores were almost finished and I would begin work on Edward's keyboard until tonight.
When I got out of the Mini I had the faintest hint of James's smell in the air. I tensed sniffing but the wind carried the scent away. Maybe it was him leaving by the freeway on the other side of the woods. Or maybe I was still in shock from last night.... I shook my head and brought my shopping inside. Charlie was home for lunch and he was parked in front of the TV. I said hello and began to unpack the groceries.
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"Charlie?" I said for the third time. I went into the living room to check if he had fallen asleep. I remembered that he had a murder investigation going on, he was probably stressed. When I entered his eyes were wide open staring at the TV, I finally began to pay attention to it - there were no sports on, it was live coverage of another murder. I gasped as I glimpsed the picture of the I.D'd dead body, "Charlie! Isn't that your Deputy, Dave!?"
My voice snapped Charlie out of his shock. "Sorry, Bells, I gotta get back in there..." He said grabbing his gun from the hook.
"The news said it might be an animal?" I stated, but it came out like a question.
"Yeah, they're pretty brutal, 2nd in less than 48 hours. You're not in Phoenix anymore."
"Be careful dad. Love you." I told him.
"Always am Bells." he said snapping the door shut behind him.
I nodded staring at the TV. I decided to flick it off. I couldn't watch anymore, I went upstairs to my room - needing to calm down, I was worried about Charlie. Animals attacking so violently? I certainly wasn't in the city anymore. I played for a few hours on the keyboard. Edward's song was nearly complete and I couldn't help but be stunned at how quickly it came to me.
My cell phone buzzed on my desk and I picked it up checking the caller ID.
"Hi Alice."
"Bella! What ya doin'?" she chirped.
"As if you don't know."
"You caught me, I do know. But now I need you to come over."
"What about Charlie and his rules?"
"He's busy at work, tell him your scared to be home alone, he'll let you come over."
I nodded before I realized she couldn't see me, "It'll work?"
"Bella!" she sighed into the phone, right of course it would work, she knew it would work, "Just get your butt in gear and come over! We have so much work to do!"
"What work?"
The phone was dead. She hung up on me? I laughed to myself as I dialed Charlie's work phone. Alice was right the story would work, Charlie said he would rather me there than home alone right now anyways. I got changed and left some directions for dinner on the table for Charlie.
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When I got to the Cullen's it was about three o'clock in the afternoon.
"Hello?" I called as I walked in the door.
"She's upstairs with Rose!" Esme called out to me. She and Carlisle were on the love seat in deep conversation. I was close to them and I couldn't even hear what they were saying.
I went up the stairs into Alice's room.
"Finally! Any slower Bella and you'd be going backwards." Rose laughed as she hugged in greeting.
"Nice to see you too buddy." I said.
"Bella! Finally!" Alice said behind me.
"Where's Edward? What's this about?" I said turning to face her. My eyes widened. "Oh no."
She nodded, smiling at the make-up and brushes on her vanity, "Yep. No complaints either. It's Bella Barbie time so get over it."
"The boys are out, doing boy things. It's girl time." Rose told me.
Her and Rose forced me into Alice's bathroom. "Shower! And if you're not out in fifteen minutes I'm coming in to pull you out!" Alice ordered.
I grumbled through my shower, but began to relax as the hot water poured over me and the scents of herbal essences encompassed my hair. The door burst open and popped my serenity bubble, "ALICE!" I shrieked
"I warned you Bella Swan!" My hands flew up to cover myself up, as she waltzed into the room, "Oh relax! It's not like I haven't seen it all before!" I bitterly remembered my first embarrassing encounter with the pixie - it was after the accident at the school and I had awoken in different clothes than what I had worn to school that day. I had been mortified that some stranger had seen me naked.
She handed me a towel and I hastened to cover myself up in it, "You were never taught personal boundaries as a child were you." I said sourly.
She paused and looked at me shrugging her shoulders with a twinkle in her eye, "I wouldn't know." Right. Of course not.
I stepped out of the shower, "Well allow me to give you your first lesson," I said as I quickly shoved her out the door and slammed it.
"Bella! We're on a schedule!" She whined.
"For what?"
"We can't tell you."
I rolled my eyes. I hate surprises. They know I hate surprises. "Let me dry off at least...alone." I emphasized the last word. I could hear her grumble to Rose who simply laughed at the squabble.
"Alice I don't have any clothes in here." I said looking around.
"Clothes come after hair and make-up." she informed me, "Just put the robe on, it's hanging on the door."
When I reappeared in Alice's room I was guided over to the vanity and forced into the chair. Then I was attacked. Well pretty much. Rose was brushing my hair and Alice was blowing it dry. I sat there in silence as I watched them work through the mirror. I would never understand their fascination with dolling me up. I hated it and they knew it. I grumbled loudly, "You made me rush over here for this?"
"Rush? Bells it took you over thirty minutes!" Rose snorted and I ignored her as she began to attack a tangle.
"Just sit still, this will be worth it - trust me." Alice said.
I decided to comply because I obviously was not going to win against the both of them. We ended up actually having a good time. We laughed as they reminisced about their 80's highschool days, big hair and puffy dresses, shoulder pads and gaudy jewelry. We laughed harder about their description of the boys, all with their iconic blazers with pushed up sleeves.
As much as I laughed, I knew each and every one of them pulled it off flawlessly.
Finally Alice was finishing the touches on my make-up, she complied with me and kept it light, just some mascara, a bit of brown eyeshadow and some eyeliner.
Rose had straightened my hair out, and curled certain strands creating a beach styled california hair do. I liked it a lot. I would never be able to do it on my own, but I liked it.
Alice handed me a pile of clothes and sent me to change. She gave me a pair of dark wash denim jeans with a slight elegant flare at the bottom, a plum lace tank top and a white, flowing, peasant top with a plunging neckline for overtop.
"Perfect!" Alice said when I came out.
"Just need the finishing touches," Rose stated as she disappeared for a second. When she returned she handed me a long silver necklace with a platinum, fancy apple on the end of it, and a pair of black heels.
I cocked my eyebrows at the heels. "Seriously?" I asked.
"Shh. It completes the outfit and you're a vampire you can walk in these now!" She told me.
I put them on and and Alice took a picture. The she set it on a timer and it took a picture of her, Rose and I all huddled together.
Rose looked at her watch, "Whew, just in time."
"In time for what?" I looked at my own watch, it was 6:30pm. "What were the pictures for!?"
"We were just documenting the first Bella Barbie time that didn't include you whining about the experience all night." Alice stated smoothly.
Instead of answering my first question they pulled me from the room and dragged me down the stairs. I was impressed that Rose was right, I could walk in heels, even being dragged by two over-excited sisters.
We stopped at the door. I looked around, everyone but Edward was there waiting. This meant the boys were finished with boy time as well, "Seriously, what is going on?"
No body answered me they just gave me hugs, said have a nice time and Rose even slapped my butt for good measure as I was headed out the door. On the porch I looked around. My eyes stopped as I found what I had been missing all day.
"Edward." I smiled.
He stepped forward towards the bottom step, looking up at me, "Bella." He smiled, "You look...wow...you look beautiful."
I looked at my feet, embarrassed, "You'll have to thank Rose and Alice."
"I plan on it." He said as he stepped forward and extended his hand to me. He wouldn't take his eyes off of me, I stepped forward and placed my hand in his. Taking each step easily.
"Edward, you look so handsome. No not handsome, dashing..." I struggled to find the right word, "Incredible." I blurted out finally. He was wearing a navy blue button up collared shirt, two buttons left undone so I could see his pale skin underneath, his dark pants accenting his long legs and a very nice pair of black shoes...Italian I'd bet.
He laughed lightly, "Thank you love, you should also thank Rose and Alice." He pulled me down the steps and into his arms. I clutched to him and put my lips on his neck.
"I missed you so much." I told him, in his arms I realized just how true those words were.
"And I you." he said as he kissed me deeply. There was something different in this kiss, more passionate than ever yet almost nervous...it began to make me nervous. I had no idea just what exactly he had planned for our evening. If this kiss was any indication it was bound to get a bit more physical.
I heard Carlisle clear his throat inside, I smiled against Edward's lips embarrassed. "We should get going." he said.
I nodded..."um where?"
He laughed and grabbed my hand. "Oh this little spot I know in the middle of no where." he told me.
We took off into the forest hand in hand, I knew that spot, i loved that spot, I missed that spot. I hadn't been there since our fight. I needed that spot right now. And we needed to be there together.
Before we got to the meadow Edward slowed. "Bella close your eyes."
I looked at him curiously but complied. He led me onwards, never letting me go off our path, I trusted him completely and just focused on his smell and the electricity flowing through my hand.
"Okay, Bella open them."
I opened my eyes and gasped. It was twilight right now, my favourite time, right between day and night. The time of dad where the moon was at war with the sun, the stars were shining overhead. Our circular meadow was lit with a thousand candles in no particular order, giving off a soft wonderful glow. If I had thought it beautiful before, I was mistaken. I looked around slowly taking every detail in, "Edward, it's beautiful. How did you do this?"
"Everyone helped. Alice especially. We wanted this to be perfect."
"It is."
"You like it?"
I shook my head and looked at him his face fell, I reached up and put my hand on his smooth cheek, "I love it."
He reached his right hand around my neck and pulled me close for a kiss. "Good."
He then led me towards the centre of the meadow and spun me around in a dancer's twirl, stopping me and putting both my hands in his. I looked up into his eyes and found them a beautiful deep golden colour accented by the candlelight. They were magnificently caramel, I had never seen them so bright and burning before, the colour yes but the intensity - never. I fought the urge to reach up to put my hand on his face, I settled for stepping closer and reaching for another kiss.
"Bella?"
"Hmm?"
"I need to apologize-" He held me close, his sweet breath touching my lips.
"No. No you don't we already did." I shook my head, why must he always feel sorry, he apologized already, we both had! "It's over, let's put it behind us."
"I do. I need to do this. Please let me." He got down on his knees, still keeping a firm grasp of my hands. I used my thumbs to rub against his hands, reassuring him that I wasn't going anywhere, I pulled them to my mouth and kissed his knuckles. I nodded my head only when I noticed that his eyes were filled with remorse, I was sure if we could cry he would be. I let him continue, as I refused to break contact with his eyes.
"Bella, I am so sorry I made you think I didn't trust you with Jasper. I am filled with regret over my actions. I told you before that I would never doubt this, never doubt us and I failed to keep my promise. I let my self-conciousness override my heart - a mistake I will never make again. I vow to you now that I shall never let you walk away from me again, I will fight with the very last fiber of my being to keep you with me, keep you safe, as long as you'll have me."
I was speechless...sure give me the vampire who delivers speeches like a pro, makes me believe him with only the look in his eye. I could never doubt him. "Edward...get up...this is silly. It's over. We're okay." I didn't know what to say...
"Shhh, I'm not finished." He said as his eyes smoldered, "My words are not enough, the only way is to show you just how much I love you, how much I need you." He took a steadying breath, "I will love you better than anyone, anywhere has ever loved anyone in the history of this world. I love you and I need you Bella Swan. I don't have a soul...you are my soul....will you marry me Bella?" He put his hand in his back pocket and pulled out a tiny blue box. He opened it for me, and a diamond sparkled, the size of a peice of corn. It shot spheres of light off from the candlelight, it reminded me of Edward in the sun.
Now I definitely didn't know what to say.
I waited....I still had no idea what to say.
Marriage? At 17?
I pulled him off of his knees, I took my right hand and cupped his cheek, "Edward. Are you sure about this? Marriage is a huge step."
He didn't smile. I could feel him trembling in my grasp, he was so nervous, I had never seen him like this, "You're already living immortal with us, are you afraid you'll change your mind?" he asked me quietly.
I couldn't believe he just said that. I grabbed his hands and placed them around my back stepping closer to him so as much of my body as possible was touching him. My hand went to his smooth cheeks, forcing him to look at me, "Do you feel this Edward? Do you feel me standing here before you? Please don't think I could ever want anything but you. This right here is us. Real, unbridled devotion. My mind, body, and soul are yours to do what you will with them. Forever."
He nodded, "Then..what's wrong. I don't understand."
I sighed, "Charlie and Renee's marriage failed, married at 18 and divorced after I was born...it's not the greatest example." He nodded slowly, face falling. I kept looking at him, I could feel our love pulsing between us, I let my barrier down, allowing him to enter my mind. I thought some more. I thought of Alice and Jasper, Rose and Emmett, Carlisle and Esme....our love was like that. I didn't believe in my heart that we could fail. I took a deep breath not believing what I was about to say.
I looked deeper into his smoldering eyes, he hadn't blinked once, body still shaking with his nerves, I stifled at chuckle, "Edward..." I kept one hand on his cheek and reached down to grab one of his, he kept his other secure on the small of my back. I kissed his palm and entwined our fingers, "I don't like you - I love you. I don't want you, I need you. I won't miss you, we'll never part....because....because you can't have my heart - you are my heart. I would love to spend the rest of forever as Mrs. Edward Cullen."
His eyes smoldered again and turned an even deeper gold colour that I had never seen on him before. His eyes were amazing and dazzling at the best of times, but these eyes....they were....my new reason for living - then and there I vowed to make his eyes smolder like this any and every chance I got.
He placed the ring smoothly on my left hand and picked me up, I wrapped my legs around his waste as we crushed into eachother. We were both elated, i could feel his happiness mingling with mine. His lips surfaced on my own. "Thank you, Bella." he whispered.
And kissed me passionately, his tongue slipping across my lips and begging for entrance, before I let him though I pulled back slightly, "P.S. I hope you enjoyed the speech because I'm going to use it as my vows." I quipped. Edward laughed, "I'm totally serious by the way." I added.
I leaned into his kiss again and his tongue entered my mouth, swirling, flicking, battling for dominance. My hands twined into his messy hair, one of his own twisting in my own locks. I felt him lower me to the ground as he gently placed himself on top of me.
His lips moved from my mouth, a burning trail left down my jaw and onto my neck, my collar bone. I could hear myself moaning everytime he nipped or flicked his tongue. "Mrs. Edward Cullen." he whispered against my skin.
I smiled, "Mmm I might just make you call me that all the time." I said. Enjoying the sound of it. He repeated it as he sucked my neck where my pulse point used to be.
My hands explored his arms, beginning at his forearms and rising slowly across his biceps, triceps and shoulders. My hands crossed to his chest, fingering the fabric where his buttons were undone. On a whim, I began to unbutton the others. I couldn't get them all because his torso was against my own, I pushed him backwards off of me and onto his back. I straddled on top of him and finished the buttons. I pushed his shirt open examining his chiseled chest. My fingers began to outline his pecks, trailing a line down his stomach. Then I put my body against his, I had never lied on top of him before like this. I was enjoying the power it gave me over him. I kissed his lips, his cheek, his eyelids, his jaw, his neck. I nibbled and sucked in the exact point that he had on me. Producing a feral rumble in his chest, I assumed he liked it. His hands were tracing patters on my back, we kissed again and I felt his hands grasp me harder. His hands then sliding beneath my shirt and onto the skin of my back. Contact like this was never made before - We had reached new territory here.
"Edward." I whispered his name.
"I know Bella, I know, we have to stop."
I groaned as we disengaged our lips from the others body. He kept me in his arms though shifting smoothly so I was sitting in his lap.
"We should probably get back soon." I said sadly, realizing just how dark it had gotten since we arrived.
"Yes, we should. Alice is probably having a very hard time controlling her excitement right now."
"I feel sorry for Jasper, he's probably bouncing around with her like a giddy schoolgirl." I laughed and Edward joined in.
He lifted me up and stood. We blew the candles out never letting go of each others hand before we took off towards home.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter, it was fluffy because some hard times are coming.