Emma and I were waiting inside the door for Bella when she got home. The door opened and she rushed in, already calling my name, when she stopped dead at the sight of us. I'm sure we looked quite the pair, Emma and I both grinning madly at her confusion, blocking the entrance to the living room as to not spoil the surprise that awaited her.

"Edward? What's going on?" She frowned as she looked down at Emma in confusion. "I thought your mom had Emma? Aren't we going for dinner?" Then worry crossed her face. "Is everything okay? Are you sick, Babygirl?"

Bella stepped forward to check on Emma, but I held my hand out. "She's fine. We're both fine."

Emma was grinning in delight, so excited her lisp slipped out. "We dots a surpwise for you, Mommy!"

A smile lit up Bella's face. "A surprise? For me?"

Emma stepped forward and handed Bella a small bunch of flowers. "Des is for you, Mommy."

Bending down, Bella took the flowers and then scooped Emma up in her arms. Together they sniffed the blossoms. "Thank you." Bella smiled at Emma and kissed her nose playfully.

Stepping forward, I kissed Bella sweetly, making sure to stay away from her ears or humming at her. "Hi."

Bella looked up at me and smiled as she cupped my cheek. "Hi, yourself." Her eyes looked behind me and flew open in shock. "Edward…" she breathed. "What have you done?"

Wrapping my arm around her and Emma, I escorted them into the living room. "We wanted to take you on a picnic, but since the weather didn't cooperate we brought the picnic to you."

Bella looked around, taking in all the details. Her eyes were sparkling as she took in the scene and she shook her head. "This is…oh, Edward…" her voice trailed off.

"You yike it, Mommy?"

Bella just nodded. I could see tears shimmering in her eyes and I leaned down to brush another kiss on her head. She glanced up at me in confusion. "Why?"

I grinned. "Because we love you."

Her breath caught and she kissed Emma's cheek before setting her down and turning, she threw her arms around my neck. "I love you, Edward. So much."

I pulled her close, loving how right she felt in my arms. Pulling back, I lifted her chin. "Tonight is about us, Bella. Our family. You and Emma are the most important things in my life. I wouldn't have made it through the past few months without you."

Bella smiled through her tears. "We're so proud of you, Edward."

I smiled as I led her over to the blanket. Leaning down, I pulled off her shoes. "No need for these tonight, Bella. Picnics don't require shoes."

Emma happily kicked hers off before she giggled and sat down on the blanket, her whole body quivering in anticipation. Her eyes strayed to the packages she had seen me hide just before Bella arrived. I knew there was a good chance we were not going to make it to dessert before she blurted something out. But I didn't care. Right now, I had my girls, they were happy and I was ecstatic. I kicked off my own shoes and joined them on the blanket and surveyed the feast before us. I had been so nervous all day I hadn't eaten anything and suddenly I was starving. Lifting the sparkling grape juice out of the ice bucket, I smiled. "Champagne, ladies?"

*()*

I groaned in contentment. Bella laughed as she surveyed the look on my face as I patted my very full belly. "Are you sure you ate enough? I lost count after the first dozen sandwiches you ate."

I scoffed at her. "Those little rolled things don't count as an actual sandwich, Bella. They're like a bite… maybe a bite and a half at most. I doubt I ate the equivalent of two real sandwiches."

"Uh huh…and the cheese and veggies and fruit? Those don't count as actual things either?"

I waved my hand dismissively. "Nope. All cut up like that? Deceiving. Really, I hardly ate anything at all."

Emma giggled beside me. "Daddy you ated lots. Grams saided you has an holloweded leg so she had to make yots of food to fills it." Emma frowned in confusion. "How did dat happen, Daddy?"

Bella chuckled and leaned forward, lifting Emma onto her lap. "He was born with it."

Emma looked down at her own legs. "Does me haf one?"

Leaning forward, I pretended to examine her legs, lifting and bending them. I knocked on them, frowning and shook my head. "I think maybe the right one is a little hollow. Let me make sure." Bending to hide my grin, I blew a loud raspberry on both of them causing Emma to burst out in a fit of giggles. I nodded sagely. "Yep. The right one."

Bella laughed merrily at our antics as she shook her head. Emma giggled and I revelled in the sound. After going so long despairing I would ever hear it again, it was still music to my ears. Watching her grow more secure every day with Bella and I together, made me realize how important what we were about to do was, and immediately I became nervous again. Looking up, I saw Bella watching me closely. "What is it?" she asked gently, while holding Emma, sensing my sudden change in demeanor.

I sat up and reached behind me, pulling out an envelope and a small flat box I had tucked into the sofa. Taking a deep breath, I crooked my finger at Emma who got up and stood beside me. We both looked at Bella quietly. She returned our gaze with one of her own that was filled with curiosity. I handed the envelope to Emma and nodded. "You remember what I said, Babygirl?"

Emma nodded and used both hands to hold the envelope. She moved to stand in front of Bella. "Daddy and I want to ask you somefin, Mommy. Pwease."

Bella smiled gently at her. "What do you want, Emma?"

Emma looked back at me and I nodded encouragingly. "We wants to ask you to be opichial."

Bella looked at me, confused.

"Opichial?"

My voice shook. "Official."

Bella's voice became softer. "Can you be a little clearer, please? I'm not sure I understand."

"Open the envelope, Bella," I instructed quietly.

Her hand was shaking as she took the envelope from Emma. As she opened the flap, momentarily distracted, I pressed the small box into Emma's hand, keeping the second one I grabbed in my hand as I moved closer to both of them.

Bella's eyes flew over the legal document in the envelope, her eyes widening and filling with tears as she read the words.

Her shocked gaze lifted to me. "Really, Edward? This can happen?" Her voice caught. "You both want this?"

I nodded. "I had Demitri start the petition as soon as the other matter was done." I drew in a deep breath. "Emma and I want you to adopt her and become her mommy-officially. Because you already are in every other sense of the word," I whispered.

I waited. Bella's hand reached out and cupped Emma's cheek tenderly. "Do you want me to be your mommy forever, Babygirl?"

Emma nodded. "Foreber. I lubs you, Mommy." Her little hand thrust out the box. "Dis makes it opichail."

Bella's smile when she opened the box almost stopped my heart. It radiated love and joy as she looked up from the mother/daughter bracelets I had made for her and Emma. She glanced down at the adoption papers in her hand and burst into tears. The box and the papers were dropped as she leaned forward dragging Emma into her arms. "Yes, my girl," she whispered fiercely. I want to be your mommy-officially." Emma's little arms clutched her neck and I could see she was crying as well. I felt my throat tighten as I watched the two people I loved more than anything in the world heal each other with their shared gift of love. I shifted and wrapped them both up in my embrace, holding them closely and dropping kisses on both their heads.

Bella looked up, her eyes awash with tears, yet brimming with so much happiness. "Thank you," she whispered.

Smiling, I stroked her cheek. "Um, there's one more thing, Bella."

She shook her head. "More? How could you possible make this any better?"

Lifting her hand, I pressed the ring box into her palm, my voice shaking as I tried to express my feelings. "We're kind of a package deal, Bella. I want you forever, too. Would you marry me? Make me opichial too?"

Bella stared at me blankly, her mouth forming a small O. She looked down at Emma, who was smiling widely at her, and then back up at me, fresh tears now running down her face. Her hand came up cupping my face. "Edward," she breathed.

"Is that a yes?"

She nodded. "I want to be yours forever as well. Yes."

I pulled her to me, kissing her deeply. I managed to remember Emma was still on her knee so I kept it short and I was smiling when I pulled back. Bella smiled back at me joyfully.

"Open it," I encouraged, squeezing her hand holding the ring box.

Her reaction was wondrous to watch. Her eyes widened and she gasped softly as the emerald and diamond ring was revealed. Leaning over, I removed it from its case and slipped it on her finger. "I fell in love with you the instant I saw you in that green dress, Bella. It became my favorite color on you. I was hoping you would wear this as a token of my love so I could see that color on you every day for the rest of my life."

"Edward. It's the most beautiful ring I've ever seen," she whispered, holding out her hand to admire the sparkling ring.

Leaning forward, I kissed her again. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, Bella." I picked up the other box and carefully placed a bracelet on each of their wrists. I smiled at the sight of their matching symbols. "Now, it's official. You both belong to me. Forever." My throat tightened. "My girls."

The next minute I was surrounded in a Bella/Emma hug.

My ears were filled with their sweet voices telling me they loved me.

My soul drank in the affection they covered me in with their warmth.

I wrapped my arms around both of them, holding them close.

My family.

*()*

Emma fell asleep with her head on Bella's knee, their hands clasped tightly together. It took two trips to get her and the grown kittens into bed and settled. I left Bella tucking her in while I went to the kitchen and grabbed the actual bottle of champagne for us. In the living room I sat back on our blanket and waited for Bella. When she appeared I sat up, holding my hand out for her and helped her settle beside me. She watched, smiling as I uncorked the champagne and poured us each a glass. "To us," I offered simply as we toasted each other. "To our future," Bella responded, taking a sip. Leaning forward, I kissed her, softly nuzzling her lips with mine.

"Thank you."

She drew back. "For what?"

I smiled as I tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "For being you. For coming into our lives and showing us how to live again. For loving me, for loving Emma." I paused. "For saying yes…to both of us."

"Thank you for loving me right back, Edward. I can't wait to be your wife. And Emma's mother. Opichially."

I chuckled. "Yeah, she had a lot of problem with that big word."

"I kinda like her version."

I kissed her again. "I kinda like you."

"That's a good thing considering what happened here tonight," she whispered teasingly as she looked down at the ring glowing on her finger.

"Are you sure you like it, Bella? We can change it for a traditional diamond," I offered quietly. "The wedding band is all diamonds though."

She shook her head. "I'm sure it's beautiful as well. But, Edward, I love this ring. It's so unique and special. And you picked it for me-that makes it even more so."

Smiling, I shook my head in wonder. She always said the right thing; somehow she knew what I needed to hear. Whereas I never seemed to do anything right for Tanya, with Bella, she always made sure to tell me how much I pleased her.

My fingers stroked her cheek. "Just like you, Bella."

I took another sip of champagne. "Did you mean what you said earlier, Bella? Will you marry me soon?"

She nodded. "I will," she smiled. "I don't want anything fancy, Edward. You, me, Emma, our parents and a few friends. Dinner. Some pictures," she shrugged.

"And a cake?"

She laughed. "Of course a cake. How could I possibly marry you without a cake?"

"How indeed." I grinned and took the glass from her hand and placed it beside mine on the table. I grabbed her around the waist and pulled her onto my lap, kissing her deeply. I could taste the sharpness of the wine on her tongue mixed in with her own sweet flavor, the combination intoxicating. Groaning, I pulled her closer, wanting to feel her pressed up against me. Our tongues stroked and tasted, as our hands roamed gently, caressing and touching as we slowly sunk into the cushions below us on the blanket. Over and over I kissed her, savoring the moment, the feelings and just Bella. Trailing my lips down her cheek to her neck, I pulled the material of her blouse away and nibbled gently on her fragrant skin as her lips found my ear, drawing the lobe in and nuzzling. I moaned lowly, loving the sensations she always brought forth in me and then stopped and drew back looking down at her in amusement as I realized what other noise was coming from my throat.

"What?"

Sheepishly, I told her about the conversation with my mother and Emma earlier. I lowered my head to her neck in embarrassment as I realized Emma was right. When Bella nibbled my ear, I starting humming with happiness. I looked up at her, aghast. "My daughter knows my sex noises," I whispered. "Oh, God."

Bella chuckled and pushed on my chest, pushing me down, so she was straddling me. "Your humming is not one of your sex noises, Edward."

"No?"

"No. It's your contented, happy place noise."

"Oh."

I blinked up at her smiling face. I had no idea there was such noises, but somehow her words made me feel better.

Bella leaned forward and began placing open-mouthed wet kisses on my neck, her hands sliding under my shirt and stroking my chest and abdomen with her fingers, gliding and teasing as her lips trailed over the sensitive skin between my ear and shoulder. I arched my neck offering her more access as a deep groan escaped my lips, and my hands tightened on her hips. "Now that, right there?" she whispered lustfully. "That is one of your sex noises, Edward." Her teeth nipped and I hissed at the sensation that seemed to flow directly to my cock. "And that one… its one of my favorites. I love hearing that noise."

Growling, I grabbed her and rolled us so I was now hovering over her. Her eyes gazed up at me hooded with deep desire. "And when you do that growly thing, God, you have no idea what that does to me, Edward."

Leaning down, I kissed her. "Tell me," I murmured against her lips. "Tell me what it does to you…"

She leaned up close to my ear. "It makes me…so…wet."

Pulling her against me, I crashed my mouth to hers, plunging my tongue into her sweetness. My hands pulled and strained at her clothing, desperate to feel her skin against mine. The few seconds it took to pull our shirts over our heads was too long and my lips ached with the need to be back on hers instantly. Laying her down, my lips skimmed her flesh, searching and tasting every part of her, each sweet curve and dip tasting uniquely special and so Bella. My hands cupped her breasts as I drew her hardened nipples into my mouth teasing and nipping as she arched under me, quiet little moans escaping her lips. Her hands stroked and kneaded my flesh, before finally closing around my aching erection as I pressed up against her in raging need. Pressing one leg between hers, my fingers stroked her, feeling her readiness. "Oh, God, Bella, you are so wet for me," I moaned. "You want me, my girl?" I murmured, teasing her with my fingers as she arched, pressing herself up against my hand. "You want me to take you?" I continued to tease her, drawing out her pleasure. "Tell me," I demanded as I caught her lobe in my teeth and bit down lightly.

She shuddered as she writhed under me. "Yes, Edward," she panted. "You…I want you…Oh God…" Her head thrashed madly as her hands clutched at me. "Now, please…"

Slipping between her open thighs I hitched her leg around my waist and eased into her warmth, groaning as she encased me. Her other leg came up and wrapped around me tightly, while her arms held me against her.

"Take me, Edward, please," she moaned as I began moving within her. Bella met my thrusts eagerly and we began a sweet rhythm together, our bodies merging and blending into one as we clung to each other. The softest moan slipped from Bella's lips as I shifted, lifting her leg higher and pushed deeper inside of her, desperate to feel more of her.

"Yes...oh God… yes...Edward…"

I could feel the growl building in my chest as my body began to tighten, needing, wanting, its release. "Come for me, baby…please," I groaned, wanting to feel her climax around me before I let go. Her arms tightened as she stilled, her muscles fluttering as she arched and twisted beneath me in a long shudder of ecstasy. Burying my head in her neck, I allowed the rush to flow through me as I gasped her name and spilled into her. Bursts of light exploded behind my eyes as my orgasm hit me and I continued to move in her until I was spent.

Hovering over her, I reached up and tenderly stroked the hair away from her face. Her cheeks were flushed pink as she gazed back up at me, love and contentment evident in her expression.

"Now, those were some sex noises," she teased tenderly as she kissed me.

I grinned down at her. "Ditto, Ms. Swan, soon to be Mrs. Cullen."

Her fingers danced over my cheek. "I like the sound of that."

"I do, as well."

I rolled to my side, and tucked her up against my chest, my arms holding her close as we both were quiet for a few minutes. My fingers played with her hands, stroking the new ring on her finger.

"How soon, Bella?"

She turned and kissed my arm that was lying under her head.

"You're on call next week?"

I nodded.

"The week after, then."

I smiled widely. "Really?"

She nodded.

"Where?"

"Right here."

I smiled. This was the room we had all our firsts in. Talking, kissing, sharing.

"I'll ask Mom to work her magic."

Bella nodded. "Perfect."

"Dinner?"

Her brow wrinkled. "Let's have it catered. Simple."

"Two weeks from tomorrow, then?"

Bella nodded. "Your mom and I will talk tomorrow and I'll call my parents."

I nuzzled my lips on her neck. "Are you sure, Bella?" My arm tightened around her. "This is the only wedding you're gonna get, because I am never letting you go. I want it to be what you want."

She rolled over so she was facing me. "As long as you and Emma are there, and we have some pictures of us all together, and that's all I care about, Edward. I don't need the big dress or overpriced dinner to make it special. It will be special because it's us."

I gazed at her in wonder. I captured her lips with mine and kissed her passionately. "Us. I like that."

"Me, too."

"Can we, um, have the night, alone?" Bella asked hesitantly.

I drew back. "Yes, Bella, of course we will. In fact I'll talk to Jake and take a couple of extra days. We'll go away for a few nights and celebrate. Just us. Mom and Dad will keep Emma."

Her smile was brilliant. "Really?"

I nodded. "As soon as we are a little more settled the three of us will take a trip, maybe a family cruise or something, but I want you to myself for a few days."

"I don't want Emma to feel left out."

I chuckled. "She won't. Mom will spoil her and I'll talk to her and make sure she understands. She'll be fine."

She nuzzled closer. "Thank you."

I lifted her chin. "Don't ever be afraid to ask me for something you want, Bella. You give us so much, and ask for so little. Wanting some time alone with me isn't wrong. We're a family, but I need to make sure we always have time for us as well." I kissed her gently. "You're so important to me. We, as a couple, are important. I want the time as well. Okay?"

Her eyes shone up at me. "Okay."

Leaning down, I kissed her again. "Are you ready for bed?"

She looked around at our clothes scattered around the room. "We need to clean this up a little."

I chuckled. "I'll roll everything into the blanket and toss it in our room. We'll tidy the rest up in the morning." Grinning, I waggled my eyebrows at her. "I'm not done with you yet."

She grinned. "I didn't think you were, Dr. Cullen." She stood up, stretching, her back arching and I sat, mesmerized at the loveliness in front of me.

Mine.

Leaning down, she brushed her lips on mine and then walked away, swaying her hips. "I'll leave you to this then…meet you in our room…" She winked.

I stood up and in a few minutes had gathered up the clothes, rolled them up, unplugged the lights and carried the champagne to the kitchen. The food had already been put away. The rest could wait until the morning.

I stopped in the doorway and looked at Bella. She gazed back at me from her spot on our bed, her knees drawn up to her chest, her back against the headboard as she smiled, love filling her eyes for me. I sighed in happiness. So much love. And always for me.

Her hand reached out and I stepped forward to clasp it in mine. She smiled up at me and my breath caught in my throat as I realized that she would be here, with me, every night in our bed. Waiting for me. For the rest of my life.

She was my future.

And because of her, my future was bright.

One chapter left which will post on Sunday. Pictures of Bella's ring and the bracelets on my group page EdwardEternals Love of Words on Facebook.

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