Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight nor the song Daybreak. I am only borrowing them from Meyer and Digby. Some dialogues were borrowed from Breaking Dawn.

A/N: As always, huge thanks go out to Kathie aka Katmom for the editing work she does with this story.

This was supposed to be a Valentine's Day chapter, but my muse wasn't cooperating so it took longer than I thought it would. Anyway, that said, I hope you do enjoy this part. Thank you for still reading.

Chapter 37

Engaged

A few months had passed with nothing climactic happening. All the threats from the dream had been dealt with; and so far, they were living in peaceful bliss. As promised, Bella would be changed after graduating. Edward insisted that they be husband and wife before she was turned. Once Bella has been changed, they would need to live away from civilization. They would need a new home. Esme had started the preparations for such and was already seeking a new place to move into. Although the Volturi had given Bella an ultimatum, the Cullens weren't worried about it.

However, one member of the Cullens was a nervous wreck at the moment.

Because they could not sleep, his mind went over the many scenarios he could come up with. He kept being inundated with the dangers, the threats; even though he knew they were all pointless. So as soon as the sun started to rise, he left his home.

By the time the sun had bathed their small town with light, he was standing outside a small two-bedroom house. On the driveway, there was a parked police cruiser.

Edward took a deep breath, albeit an unnecessary one. He closed his eyes and marched up to the front door. He knocked once, twice, and then the door opened.

"Edward? Isn't it a little too early in the morning? I think Bella's still asleep," Charlie said. He was dressed in his uniform, yet unarmed. That little note had not escaped Edward. He quickly looked at the police officer's belt and was a little relieved that his gun holster wasn't there yet.

"Good morning, Chief," Edward spoke nervously. "I was hoping I could take a moment of your time. I know you're quite busy and I didn't want to bother you at work, so I figured I'd come here before you left."

Charlie opened the door wider and motioned for Edward to follow him inside. "Have you had breakfast yet?" he asked as he started the coffee maker.

Edward shook his head no as he stood by the Swan's dining table, futilely trying to listen in on Charlie's thoughts. "I don't think I can eat right now."

Charlie pulled out a chair and took a seat. Edward did the same.

"You look scared. What's so important that you had to come here at…" Charlie looked at his watch. "…six in the morning to talk to me?"

Edward drew another deep breath and then began his rehearsed speech. "Charlie, I realize that I've gone about this out of order. Traditionally, I should have asked you first. I mean no disrespect, but since Bella has already said yes and I don't want to diminish her choice in the matter, instead of asking you for her hand, I'm asking for your blessing. We're getting married, Charlie. I love her more than anything in the world, more than my own life, and – by some miracle – she loves me that way, too. Will you give us your blessing?"

Charlie sat frozen, his skin tone changing from red to purple.

"Charlie? Chief? Are you all right?" Edward looked at the human worriedly. He knew it was Harry Clearwater who had a heart attack in Bella's dream. But since they had warned the tribe elder, he wondered briefly if the circumstance would carry on to someone else, like maybe… Charlie.

Charlie stood abruptly, causing his chair to topple backward to the floor. It made a loud sound, waking Bella up from sleep.

She came barreling down the stairs, tripping over her own feet as she reached the last two steps. Good thing she was able to hold on to the banister, righting herself.

"Dad? What happened?" Bella was expecting a broken plate, or something burning in the kitchen. What she didn't expect to find were her father and Edward in what seemed to be a standoff.

"Edward? What are you doing here?" Bella had to think if he was supposed to be there early. Did they have some place to go to that she had forgotten about? Was there an emergency again? What else had happened?

Charlie looked at Bella upon hearing her voice, then at her bare hand before looking at his daughter's face again. "You're pregnant! You're pregnant, aren't you?"

Bella's head whipped to face Charlie. "No! Of course I'm not!" She then looked at Edward. "What's going on?"

"I told him we were getting married. And I asked for his blessing."

At Edward's admission, Bella quickly reached for her shirt that hid his mother's ring, recalling the proposal. Looking at her father now, she knew she should have told him first thing. And she had planned on doing that, but Edward had beat her to it. She did remember Edward's words when they told Charlie about their engagement in her dream. She figured he gave her father the exact same speech.

"Bella!" Her father yelled to get her attention. "Is this true? You're getting married? I knew there was something going on between you two. But I didn't think it was this serious. That's why I allowed you to stay over at the Cullens a lot because I knew Esme and Carlisle would be there. But marriage? Marriage!"

Bella could only nod.

"Jesus, you're just a kid. You're only eighteen!" Charlie argued deafeningly.

"Legally an adult," Bella said softly but with as much confidence as she could muster.

Charlie was livid. "How long have you been dating? You're too young. You haven't even been together long." Then he tried to reason with her. "Bella, I know how you can get carried away when you're in love, when you think the world will end when you're not with the other person. But think about this, really think about it. You're just overwhelmed by it all."

"No, I'm not, Dad. Edward is it for me. The same way that Mom was for you," Bella stated calmly, imploring him to see just how much Edward meant to her.

"Charlie," Edward interrupted. "Bella and I will be heading to college soon. And my parents are getting us an apartment close to whatever university we'll be attending. And I would like it very much if Bella could stay with me. That way, she wouldn't have to spend money on housing when I could easily provide it. Consider me old-fashioned, but I would rather that Bella and I be married when we live together."

Charlie seemed to be deep in thought. There was nothing he could say to negate Edward's statement and still look like it was a better idea. How could he argue with that? He knew they would do whatever they wanted once were on their own at college. Hell, they were probably doing everything in that damn Cullens' house. And what valid point could he say? That he'd be all right with the idea of the two of them living in sin?

Bella was looking at Edward, trying to ask silently if he could read the thoughts running through her father's head. While the dream gave her an idea of what Charlie's decision could be, she wasn't sure if he was going to say the same thing.

And then, Charlie's face cleared. "All right. I know there's no changing your mind when you're set on something." He sighed. "I'll give you my blessing."

Bella lit up at that, a 1000-watt smile was making her radiate from within. Edward wasn't too far behind. She started thanking her father.

"But," Charlie interrupted.

Bella immediately deflated at that. She knew what Charlie was about to say.

"You'll have to tell your mother," Charlie said smugly.

Bella didn't want that. Not at all. While her dream mom was very much agreeable from the get go, it was so different from the reality. They had not gone to Florida, Renee has never met Edward. She had never even told her mother about him. Bella groaned. She knew she was about to get a very different reception this time around.

"Well, you could use the present my parents gave you," Edward suggested.

"What present?" Charlie asked, snippy.

"They gave me plane tickets. I could use them to go to Florida and tell Mom about this. I don't think telling her over the phone would be a good idea," Bella replied.

Charlie snorted. "You got that right. Wait, tickets? As in there's more than one?"

Bella nodded. "One for me, and one for Edward."

"Figures," Charlie muttered. "Well, I know I can't stop you, and it would be best if Edward is there when you tell Renee about this."

Bella approached her dad and hugged him tight. "Thank you, Daddy," she whispered.

Charlie returned the gesture but pulled away quickly. He looked at Edward. "Don't make me regret this. Promise me you'll take care of her."

Edward nodded. "With my entire existence, sir." He extended his hand and shook that of his future father-in-law's.

"And no more sleepovers!" Charlie ordered. He gruffly hugged Bella once more, got his holster and left the house.

Bella glanced at Edward. "How could you have told him like that? I told you I was going to do it," she said irritated.

"I'm sorry." Edward looked truly repentant for what he did. "But you have to understand, Bella, it was my responsibility to ask him, which I should have. I should have asked him before asking you."

Bella sighed. "I know." She moved close to him and wrapped her arms around her now fiancé. "And thank you, for respecting him enough to do what you did."

"It was only right, Bella," Edward replied as he dropped a kiss on her head, inhaling her sweet scent.

She looked at him, worry now coloring her face. "You do know it won't be this easy with Renee."

"I'm sure as soon as she sees you're happy, she will be, too."

Bella pulled away, shaking her head. "No. Renee has drilled me over and over about how marriage was the kiss of death for her and Charlie; that marrying at such a young age destroyed them."

"Kiss of death?" Edward asked with a chuckle. "That's exactly what we're going for, isn't it? Once we're married, you'll change." Then Edward sobered up. "That is still what you want, right, Bella? Because if you're not sure, we don't have to—"

"Stop! You know I want to be with you more than anything. I won't change my mind about this, about you. If there was a way you could have seen my dream, you'd be surprised at how calm and willing I am to run down the aisle and marry you this time around."

"So you didn't want it then?" Edward took one step closer.

"Not the wedding, but the forever part, yes."

Edward could only nod. "I just don't want you to regret anything. Once you're changed, there's no turning back."

"I won't have any. I won't want to go back. I just want you, all of you." Bella pulled him closer and kissed Edward with all that she could give.

oOoOo

As they strolled in the hallways of Forks High together, students were looking at the couple. Edward was grinning from ear to ear, a sight not very common on his usually brooding face.

"Why are people staring? We've been together for almost a year, you'd think they'd be used to it by now," Bella whispered.

"They're just not used to seeing our brother so happy," Alice said as she joined the couple, with Jasper alongside her.

"I hear congratulations are in order," Jasper said in his southern drawl.

"You have to tell me everything, Bella," Alice said with enthusiasm.

"You mean you didn't see it?" Bella asked her.

"Oh, I did, but I want to hear it from your point of view."

The foursome walked into the cafeteria where Rosalie and Emmett were waiting for them at their table.

Emmett slapped Edward on the back, hard. If he had hit a regular person, he would have flown across the room and into a wall. "Bro, you actually did it. I can't believe you stood up to Charlie. I lost a bet to Jasper thinking he'd at least draw his gun, but it's all right. I don't mind losing this one," Emmett said laughingly.

"Glad that the thought of my demise was entertaining for you, Emmett," Edward spoke dryly.

They all took their seats, Edward having pulled out a chair for Bella.

"Let me see." Alice had one hand stretched out, waiting for Bella's.

Bella looked at the other people in the cafeteria. "No, Alice. Not here."

"You don't have it?" Alice looked appalled.

"Yes, I do." Bella pulled slightly on a chain from her neck, the ring hidden behind her top. She had put it on her necklace once they had returned to her room around midnight, telling Edward that she wanted to give Charlie a heads up about the engagement first, before letting him see it so blatantly on her finger.

Edward grinned blindingly at Bella's words. "Alice, you've seen it before," he commented.

"But it's different when it's on her finger. Tell me I'm wrong," she dared her brother, her eyes narrowed.

Edward smiled, taking Bella's left hand, and kissing the finger where her ring had been last night. "No, you're absolutely right."

"Will you look at that? I thought we'd never see a sappy Edward," Emmett joked.

"So how did he propose?" Alice asked.

Bella looked at Edward and smiled as she recalled the events that transpired last night.

Edward was lying on her bed as soon as she got into her room.

"Let me just change and I'll join you," Bella said, pulling a pair of pajama pants and a shirt from her drawer.

Edward swiftly moved to her side. "No, not yet. It's a nice night out. The moon is bright and full. Let's go for a run."

Bella was giddy with the thought of being wrapped around her love. She quickly agreed.

Edward immediately had her on his back and they leaped out her window and he ran toward their meadow.

She didn't want to close her eyes. Edward was right, with the full moon shining over Forks, the forest offered an ethereal view.

Soon, they reached the meadow and Edward set her down carefully. He then lay on the ground, just looking at a star-filled sky.

Bella was still standing, watching Edward in amusement. "What are you thinking about?"

Edward turned his head to face her and was awed with what he saw. She was so beautiful. He knew she didn't see herself clearly. And while it was sad that she depreciated herself, he was also glad that she was humble, unlike another member of his family. Bella's beauty came from within as well.

"You," he answered smiling.

Bella gave him a small smile in return and sat beside him. She looked at him, the light from the moon made him even paler, if that was possible. It made him look like the supernatural being that he was.

"I love you," Edward said as he looked at her intensely.

"I love you, too," Bella replied automatically.

"I want to give you something."

"What? Edward, you've already given me a lot of things," Bella resisted.

"You promised you would say yes." Edward sat up and reached in his pocket, producing the ring he inherited from his mother, Elizabeth.

Bella gasped. She had no idea that Edward was proposing tonight. And, oh, how she loved that ring; she owned it in her dream. She had thoughts of keeping the tradition and passing it on to Renesmee when it was her turn to get married.

Edward saw the look on Bella's face, a million emotions flittering across it. How he wished with everything he had that he could get a glimpse into her silent mind. He got on one knee and looked into her eyes.

"Isabella Swan, I will love you forever, every single day of forever. Will you marry me?"

Bella beamed at him and hugged him fiercely. "Yes," she whispered, tears of joy streaming down her face.

Edward slid the ring on her finger and was so happy that it fit perfectly. Like Cinderella and the glass slipper, she was the one meant to be his princess.

"A perfect fit," Edward noted happily then kissed Bella with abandon.

When he knew that Bella needed air, Edward pulled back. Only then did he notice her tears. "What's wrong? I thought you wanted this."

Bella nodded vehemently. "I do. I just never thought I would get this back. I was starting to lose hope of ever being with you again at some point. And now, this, this makes it real."

"Oh, love, it is." Edward cradled Bella in his arms. "I love you, and I will do everything in my power to show you just how much everyday."

Bella kissed him and once more the couple was lost in each other.