Chapter 37: Edward's Surprise Part II

EPOV

It felt very weird going to pick up Bella at our house. I felt like teenage boy going on his first date. I had been planning this night for far too long, and I wanted everything to be perfect. It had been torturous to have to wait this long. I wanted everything to be perfect, before she saw it.

I took a deep breath knocking on the door. I rocked back and forth on my feet, smoothing my tuxedo jacket with one hand as I held on to a bouquet of two dozen red roses. The sun was just beginning to set, it was just nearing the horizon, and I knew it would be dark by the time we got back to the Las Vegas Strip.

I felt my heart stop at my throat when Bella opened the door. She was breathtaking. The soft silk dress looked better on her than I ever could have imagined. Her creamy white skin seemed to glow against the material.

"Hi." She whispered as she smiled shyly at me.

"Hello, beautiful." I said handing her the roses. "I brought you these."

"Edward, you didn't have to." She replied as she took them before giving me a small kiss.

"I wanted to, Bella." I added as I followed her inside. I knew she would want to put the roses in water.

"So what's the big surprise tonight?" She asked as I grinned. I really could tell her some of my plans, but I wanted to show her instead.

"I could tell you." I said conscious that Alice and Rose were upstairs.

"There's a but, right?" She asked as I nodded causing her to roll her eyes. She looked even more beautiful when she was frustrated.

"You know I hate surprises." She reminded for the millionth time as I came from behind her and kissed her neck.

"Humor me, love." I said. "I've worked hard on this."

She looked at me skeptically, I knew that the wheels in her head were working on overtime to try to figure just what I had planned. But I knew she would never guess. It was the farthest thing from her mind.

I helped her into my car as soon as she had finished arranging the flowers. She seemed pensive and I knew there was more on her mind than just my plans.

"What's wrong, Bella?" I questioned hoping that I had not done anything to upset her.

"I feel bad leaving, Abby. I don't want her to think she's a disturbance." She explained as I kissed her palm. I would never understand how I had found Bella. She was so wonderful and so caring.

"Bella, how can you say that?" I inquired as she gave sighed.

"I'm just scared of her thinking that maybe, I don't want her. She's stayed with your parents a few times and even with our friends." She added as I shook my head.

"I got ready at my parent's place, and I spoke with Abby. She's happy that we're having our date. You do more for her than you have to." I stated as she smiled at me.

"I love her, Edward. And as crazy as this sounds, I love her as if she were my own. I may not have carried her for nine months, but she's my daughter." I said as I felt my eyes watering. Bella was far too perfect.

"She loves you to. We both do." I answered as I leaned over and kissed her.

BPOV

I felt guilty for having our time alone as a couple. I knew I shouldn't, every couple needed time for themselves. But I didn't want Abby to think that we, especially I, didn't want her.

Edward drove us straight into the Strip. It was pretty amazing, even though I had worked here for so many years. We passed many different hotels, and I was trying to figure out just where he was taking me. We didn't venture too much into the Strip, preferring the calmer, quieter places outside the Strip.

Edward surprised me as we rode into the compound he was designing. It was no loner completely surrounded by fences and wooden walls. It was now starting to look the way it was supposed to. The way the plans and small model depicted it.

"Wow!" I said as Edward smiled. "I didn't know construction was so far ahead."

"I had construction sped up on certain projects." He admitted with a shrug. "I wanted this done by tonight."

"Why tonight?" I asked looking at him. It wasn't our anniversary or anything.

"Today marks seven months since we first met." He admitted as I blushed. How did he remember everything so clearly?

"I can't believe I forgot." I whispered as he laughed.

"It's fine. Come on." He said as he got out of the car taking my hand. The construction cranes were still in the background surrounding the neighboring buildings, but the towers before me looked practically finished.

The inside was beautiful. Decorating was obviously not done, but it all seemed to be coming together perfectly. The marble tile seemed to shine against the pale colors of the walls. The hotel lobby had glass tables and light hardwood holding the glass up.

Edward led me passed the lobby a huge open space which I knew would be the future home to the casino. He led me passed everything towards the far end where a beautiful wooden door with a glass middle stood. The door had a huge red bow, and a big white tag that read: To Bella.

"Surprise, love." He whispered as I stood there in shock. Nothing was making sense. Why was he giving me a door? my mind could not comprehend what I was looking at.

"Are you going to say something?" He asked looking at me as I stared at the door.

"Edward." I finally said as he led me inside.

The room was huge. There was a huge staircase in the middle, and the entire back wall was made of glass. It all overlooked a big open space that now had a few construction vehicles in the background.

"I know it doesn't look like much now, love. It still has at least five maybe six months before its ready to open. They want to open the entire compound together." He began to explain as I still found myself unable to speak. "But I wanted to give it to you. You'll need time to pick the décor, the appliances you'll need, set the menu, hire a staff."

"Edward, I can't afford this." I finally said realizing that'll I'll never be able to pay what everything was going to cause me.

"You won't have to pay for anything, Bella. My mom will help you with the decorating, and my father, Emmett and I will back you up financially. Your restaurant will bring business to the entire center." He explained as my eyes began to water.

"This is too much." I said the tears beginning to flow. I didn't deserve this. I wouldn't be able to live up to their expectations.

"You deserve so much more, Bella." Edward added as I hugged him. "You deserve to be happy and live your dream."

"I just don't want to let anyone down." I said before my lips crashed into his. He was too amazing for words.

"You won't let anyone down, my love." He assured me. "Now let's see your restaurant."

I felt the butterflies in my stomach go crazy as he showed me around. The restaurant was enormous. It was far too big for what I dreamed off, but it served another purpose. I could transform part of it into a piano bar, complete with a small dance floor.

The upstairs could be transformed into a private dining area leaving just the right amount of space for the actual restaurant. I felt as if the dream I always had in my head was actually coming to life before my very eyes.

"Edward, thank you." I said once we had seen everything. I was very impressed with the amount of work he had put into everything. He had designed perfectly, almost as if he could read my thoughts. "Thank you for making my dreams come true."

"I would give you everything and anything, love." He whispered before capturing my lips in a kiss. "But our dinner awaits us."

EPOV

I was so relieved that Bella loved the restaurant. I knew it was a bit grand, but I wanted her to be able to do as she pleased. I wanted her to transform it into her vision.

I led Bella back out past the huge open space for the a casino and into one of the glass elevators. "I thought it wasn't finished." She said as I kissed her.

"I had our penthouse finished. It's completely furnished and ready." I explained as we went up to the last floor.

The fresh golden carpet covered the floor, and I led her to the end of the hall were two grand wooden doors stood. "This is ours." Bella said as I watched her take it all in.

The outside walls were all made of glass giving an uninterrupted view of the Strip. The décor was very modern staying within the white and gold colors. It was very different than our home, but it was beautiful, nonetheless.

"Edward, this is just amazing." She said as I hit the stereo letting soft music fill the air.

"You're amazing, love." I said kissing her passionately.

"I was going to cook." I prefaced leading her to the kitchen where I took out two plates from the microwave. I had Emmett come in and drop them off while we were downstairs, and they still seemed hot.

"You're not a very good cook." She added as I nodded taking the plates as she grabbed the wine and the glasses.

Part one of my Christmas surprises was coming out perfectly. Part two involved Abby, and I knew it would also be perfect. We just had to wait until Christmas Day.

BPOV

Edward had worked so hard on his buildings, and I was so happy for him. They were coming together perfectly, and I couldn't be prouder of him. We ate dinner together as I explained to him my ideas for the restaurant.

Part of me wanted to protest the fact that he was spending so much money, but the other part accepted it. After all, the money we made from it would be for both of us.

"I can't say enough about the restaurant." I said as he leaned over giving me a kiss.

"You don't have to say a word, Bella." He assured me. "I'm happy that you're happy."

I carried the plates into the kitchen smiling as I heard one of my favorite songs come on. I turned to see Edward standing near the stereo, and I knew he had picked that song intentionally. I knew it was among the cliché love song, but it was still just as beautiful.

"Dance with me." He said taking my hand as the sound of the music permeated the entire room. His velvet voice speaking the words that began the song:

I do swear that I'll always be there.
I'd give anything and everything and I will always care.
Through weakness and strength, happiness and sorrow,
For better or worse, I will love you with
Every beat of my heart.

I held onto him tightly as we moved to the soft temp of the music. This song only seemed to scratch the surface of what I felt for him. Nothing would ever really describe my feelings.

From this moment life has begun
From this moment you are the one
Right beside you is where I belong
From this moment on

From this moment I have been blessed
I live only for your happiness
And for your love I'd give my last breath
From this moment on

I give my hand to you with all my heart
Can't wait to live my life with you, can't wait to start
You and I will never be apart
My dreams came true because of you

"One day I will make you truly mine." He whispered in my ear as I pulled myself closer to him. At that moment I realized just how much I wanted to be his. I wanted to be his wife, and a mother to Abby and any other children he would one day have. I wanted them to be ours.

From this moment as long as I live
I will love you, I promise you this
There is nothing I wouldn't give
From this moment on

You're the reason I believe in love
And you're the answer to my prayers from up above
All we need is just the two of us
My dreams came true because of you

From this moment as long as I live
I will love you, I promise you this
From this moment
I will love you as long as I live
From this moment on

I took Edward's hand leading him towards the master bedroom of the penthouse. Romantic music continued to play as I slowly met his lips with mine. I had nothing to say, but I wanted to show him how much I needed him and loved him through my actions.

EPOV

I allowed Bella to take the lead as we slowly undressed each other. Finding time alone was quite the mission with Abby in the house, but I knew she didn't resent her. She loved Abby as much as I did.

I kissed her deeply as we shed our last bit of clothing. I gently placed her on the bed worshipping every inch of her sweet skin. She repeated the same action her mouth kissing every inch of me.

"I love you, Edward." She said as I touched her face softly.

"I love you more than life itself. You're my life, Bella." I whispered as we began to make slow love.

It wasn't hurried or frenzied. It was slow and deliberate. We moved in perfect harmony calling each other's names and whispering the depth of our love. We stayed as one even after we had finished. Neither one of us wanting to loose the feeling of being so undeniably close to the other.

A/N: There you go! A bunch of you predicted a proposal, but come on guys that's too obvious.

Not much else to say other than my next update will be next week. It will probably be on Monday! Depending on the time I get home, I may update Between Love and Duty on Sunday.

Thanks for reading and Reviewing!

Muggleinlove