A/N: Happy New Year to all! I'm so sorry for the long delay but, like everyone else, the holidays got in the way. I also got to spend a week in Seattle and watched the fireworks at the Space Needle on New Year's Eve. Let me know what you think snoopylover60. And, as always, this chapter is not beta'd so, if you find any mistakes, kindly let me know.

Disclaimer: Twilight and its characters are owned by Stephenie Meyer. I also do not own 80 pop icon Rick Astley or any of his songs OR anything connected to the Big Bang Theory but I do love Sheldon Cooper. No copyright infringement is intended with the posting of this story.

Chapter 45 "Take Me to Your Heart"

BPoV

'So don't stop me falling,' I hum along to our song, 'It's destiny calling, A power I just can't deny It's never changing, Can't you hear me, I'm saying I want you for the rest of my life . . . together forever . . . I quietly hum to our silly little love song as I snap a few more post engagement pictures of my sleeping fiancé. His face has the most gorgeous grin. 'He must be dreaming of me,' I giggle. Feeling more than a bit giddy, I take a couple of silly face selfies to commemorate the moment. Yup, I'm officially a knocked up, pregnancy hormone infused engaged giddy girl. Boy, that's a mouthful. Reviewing the slideshow on my camera, I notice a definite twinkle in my eyes. It's the twinkle Edward talks about but I also see . . . a twinkle of hope . . . or contentment . . . maybe it's my pregnancy glow . . . a definite spark of love . . . or maybe all of the above . . . yup, I go with all of the above. I'm just so happy I can't think straight. I never truly thought I could or would ever be this happy . . . ever.

Careful not to wake my fiancé . . . snicker, snicker I love saying fiancé . . . I tuck the blankets over my fiancé's shoulders, place a soft kiss atop his unruly hair and place an I love you kiss to his ear. His grin widens at my declaration and his sleepy grin is my downfall. Without a second thought, I slip off my clothes and slip back into the warm bed and into the welcoming arms of my awakening fiancé.

EPoV

"I was wondering how long it was going to take you to come back to bed." My sleepy voice hitches as the tip of Bella's hot tongue outlines the curves of my ear; she whispers words of love and affection as my body begins to react to her every word and electric touch. Her hands inch up my chest forcing us to break our connection so I can pull off my t-shirt. Haphazardly, I toss it across the room as her lips return to my heated skin. Obligingly, I lift my head allowing her to place soft wet kisses along my jawline to my pulsating pressure point. It's hard to catch my breath as she runs her tongue along my neck and sucks causing my entire body to quiver. My hands greedily explore the soft curves of her body. I sigh at the slightest of bumps just below her bellybutton . . . our baby bear.

"I couldn't leave . . . kiss . . . without letting you . . . kiss . . . know how happy . . . kiss . . . you make me . . . kiss . . . so happy . . . mmm . . . and thanks for agreeing . . . kiss . . . to um marrying me . . . oh you're so hot . . . kiss . . . when you have . . . kiss . . . mmmm . . . this sexy man stubble . . . kiss . . . I especially enjoy how it . . . mmm . . . feels against my thighs," she whimpers as two of my fingers enter her already quivering core. She hitches a leg over my hip giving me easy access to her welcoming heat. I curl my fingers in as my thumb pleasures her throbbing swollen clit. Her breathing escalates as her warm walls begin to tighten around my fingers. She's close to her first orgasm as I quickly flip her onto her back eliciting a surprised giggle. I need to touch every inch of her skin. Wanting to show her how much she means to me, I take command of our lovemaking leaving wet kisses between her breasts before my tongue twirls one of her hardened nipples. I smirk as she quivers at the attention I lavish on her body . . . mine to worship forever. Urgently, I bite down on the pebbled peak sucking and twirling my tongue around her sensitive nipple. She arches her back as she struggles to catch her breath. Her heated chest rises up and down at the sensation. Sucking on her other breast I feel her body . . . her walls begin to tremble before she calls out my name. Her hands weave into my hair tugging at the roots as she begs for more. She lets out a whimper as I release her nipple only to moan as I attack her lips.

She welcomes my tongue into her mouth as her velvet tongue slides over mine. With just as much urgency, she takes control of the kiss; our tongues fighting to dominate to satisfy our insatiable need to be as close as humanly possible to each other. The need for air forces us to break our kiss. As she gasps for air, I fix a trail of hot wet kisses down her chest. Her legs tremble in anticipation knowing where my kisses are heading. Hooking her legs over my shoulders, I rub my chin against her inner thighs as she mumbles some incoherent words of passion. She grabs onto the sheets as I lick and suck her clit. I will give her anything she wants . . . anything she needs. Her legs tense as her back arches off the bed as my tongue licks her entrance.

"Please Edward . . . I can't wait any longer . . . ummm . . . please, I need you so badly now," she barely manages to utter.

I give her clit one last lick as her body shivers in appreciation. As I make my way back to her parted lips, she wraps her legs around my waist. We pause as we look into each other's eyes knowing we both see more than sheer lust; we see the pure and simple love we feel for each other and our child. Our kiss is a declaration of our pure and true love. No words are needed. When the kiss ends, I place the tip of my rock hard cock at her entrance feeling her lips quiver in anticipation. She is warm and wet and welcoming; she is my home.

Slowly, we move together as our electric connection shoots through our bodies. As my thrust quicken, she digs her heels into my ass clawing my back trying to get as close as possible. Needing more I change positions. I guide her legs up and around my neck enabling me to give her more, harder deeper. She looks down at our connection watching me move in and out of her as she cries out.

Releasing her legs, it's now her turn to flip me on my back. Fixing her eyes on mine, she places one hand on my chest as she takes my cock in the other centering my tip at her entrance. Giving me a wicked grin, she slides down my cock shuttering at the depths of our connection. We gasp at the sensation of this new position; I fill her as her slick walls coat me. As she begins to move, I sit up to capture a hardened nipple in my mouth. Moans of pleasure and lust and always love escape filling the room. Her body shivers at the unbelievable friction her hip movements send to her clit. She pounds up and down and back and forth desperate to feel every sensation her movements offer. Without breaking our connection, she's on her back again as I take control pounding deeper and faster until I feel her walls squeeze my cock as my balls tighten. Our movements become erratic as together we orgasm with flashes of brilliant and electric sparks. In unison, we proclaim our forever love as we calm to catch our breath and slow our palpitating hearts. We are hot and sweaty and sticky and a tangled mess of arm and legs and I couldn't be more satisfied or happier.

BPoV

More than satisfied I inhale, "Well, if that's what you can do on an hour of sleep, I can hardly wait until you have a full night's sleep. But as satisfied as I am right now, I am sorry for waking you. I know how tired you were . . . are."

"If you hadn't gotten back into bed, I would have grabbed you before you had a chance to walk out the door. Falling asleep is no way to celebrate our engagement. I don't know what either of us was thinking."

I giggle, "Obviously, we weren't thinking at all. Good thing I came to my senses and remedied the situation."

Edward yawns, "Hey, I said I was going to grab you . . . yawn . . . before you had a chance to leave." He yawns for the third time.

"Okay, okay big boy, this is our first fight as an engaged couple and we can duke it out later, even though I did get back into bed first," I quickly add, "but right now you are even more exhausted than before and need to get some sleep doc."

With another yawn, Edward agrees, "You did kind of tire me out."

"I sure did, didn't I? Now go to sleep. That's an order." I agree as I give my fiancé one last kiss and an 'I love you' for good measure before slipping out of bed. I toss Edward his shirt before heading to the shower. Inhaling Edward's scent, I frown at the thought of washing his scent off my body but I can't go see my dad smelling of Edward or sex. That would be so wrong in so many ways so I scrub away. Returning to my room to dress, Edward is fast asleep. Before leaving the room, I can't resist running my finger through my fiancé's hair just once more. I just love saying that word fiancé . . . fiancé, fiancé, fiancé. I think it's the best sounding word in the world? I declare fiancé might be my new favorite word. Yup, I was definitely an idiot to think I could ever live without this man.

Tiptoeing down the stairs, I am practically walking on air my feet barely touching the ground. It's as if I'm floating on a cloud of pink and blue cotton candy . . . with a cotton candy sweet smelling aroma filling the air. I smell the sappy sweet fragrance as my heart sighs thinking about Edward's proposal and our delayed celebration. A silly lopsided lovesick grin spreads across my face. Yup, these pregnancy hormones are doing a number on me but seriously I don't care that I'm acting like a seventeen year old school girl in love for the first time. I am just so ecstatically, euphorically, over the moon happy right now because my fiancé is sleeping right upstairs. I laugh out loud at my giddiness.

Passing the family room, I peek in but no longer see Esme sitting on the sofa. I spy Carlisle napping so I head in the direction of the kitchen. To my utter surprise, I find Esme softly weeping at the kitchen table. Her tears cause my cotton candy cloud to dissolve into globs of sugary mess. Her tears erase my giddy smile as my heart nearly breaks. Discreetly, she wipes away a few of her tears before sipping from her tea cup.

"Momma bear, what's the matter?" I drop to my knees looking up into her watery eyes. "Why are you crying?" I wipe away a fresh set of tears from her cheeks. "Are you sick? Do you want me to call Carlisle?"

At the sound of Carlisle's name, she turns her back to me and huffs. "Don't say that man's name in front of me," she cries with a voice full of disgust.

"What are you talking about? You love grandpa bear more than your own life. What's happened? Did you have an argument about something? Why are you crying?"

Wiping away a few more tears, Esme turns to me grumbling, "I simply can't believe he knew about my first grandchild before me," she pouts pointing to her chest. "You know how badly I've wanted a grandbaby. How could he have found out before me? Oh, and he is so smug about it," her voice seeping with indignation. "He keeps rubbing it in . . . and rubbing it in that he knew about my first grandchild before me," she seethes.

A relieved smile begins to spread across my face at Carlisle's obvious teasing but I force back the smile. I don't want Esme to think I'm laughing at her misery. I love this woman about half an inch less than I love Edward. "Oh grandma bear don't be too hard on Carlisle." Again, she huffs at the sound of his name like a pouty child. "If it is any consolation to you, he knew about the pregnancy before Edward or me and I'm the one pregnant." I try to lighten the mood. "He sort of has the upper hand on us simple folk . . . after all he is a highly qualified and respected doctor. He just recognized the signs before anyone else."

I move a chair next to her wrapping one arm over her shoulder. Defeated, she plops her head on my shoulder. I'm heartbroken that she is truly wounded; my earlier giddiness and afterglow is all but gone now.

As her head rest on my shoulder, my thoughts search for the perfect words to ease her pain, make her stop crying and, at the same time, help her forgive her husband. And then, to quote the great and powerful Dr. Sheldon Cooper, Bazinga! Confidently, I speak, "How about this, you forgive your wonderfully loving husband for being too smart for his own good and I'll tell you a secret I am one hundred and ten percent positive he doesn't know."

Esme's head pops up as her eyes widen; her teary emerald green eyes soften at my words. She seems to be shaking off her blues. "Oh sweetie, don't mind me. I'm not really that upset with my husband . . . and you're right, I am crazy about that old geezer. I'm just being a silly old woman. I think I'm just menopausal. I catch myself crying all the time now for no good reason. That's not like me at all . . . and, lately I think I'm a bit more irrational than usual even for me." She lets out a weak laugh, inhales the aroma of her tea and takes a soothing sip.

"Well aren't we a couple of crybabies." I chime in. "Welcome to the club grandma bear, these pregnancy hormones have me crying at a drop of a hat these days too."

"Between your raging pregnancy and my menopausal hormones, I guess there's no more going down to the dock to pick up sailors," Esme jokes as she wipes all her tears away.

"I guess not," I concur with a wink before dropping my head on her shoulder. "We'll just have to leave the picking up of sailors to Alice and Rosalie."

"Yeah right," Esme grumbles, "since Edward spends most of his time up in your bedroom," she wiggles her eyebrows as the sparkle in her eyes return, "my daughter has been missing in action. I haven't seen Alice in who knows how long. I suspect she's just waiting for you and Edward to decide when you are going to find a place of your own so she can move in with Jasper. And, as for Rosalie, she's MIA too. I'm assuming my nephew is keeping her rather busy these days too," she giggles, "ah, young lust." Esme offers, "Hey, you want some herbal tea?"

"Thanks, that'd be great but I do have to get going soon to see my dad soon. I'm so, so late as it is."

We sit in comfortable silence quietly sipping our tea as my mind replays Edward's proposal over and over and over again. I feel a silly grin begin to spread across my face. I'm getting married. Finally, grandma bear clears her throat nudging me with her shoulder. "So what's the secret that Carlisle doesn't know anything about?" She whispers through a smirk.

I smirk back relieved that she's feeling much more like grandma bear again.

"Well," I drag out the word as I search the empty kitchen for any hidden spies. At my strange behavior, Esme curiously looks at me. After all, this is top secret, at least until Edward speaks to my dad but what the hell. I'm going for it. "Well, a few hours ago, Edward proposed."

A beaming satisfied smile spreads across Esme's face as she fist pumps before enveloping me into her arms, "Yes! . . . wait," she stretches away from me searching my eyes, "you did say yes right?" she hesitates.

"Of course I said yes silly woman." I return her motherly embrace. "I love him so, so much. He is perfect . . . he is perfect for me. After my foolish irrational behavior in Forks . . . believing I was doing the right thing by breaking up with him . . . and Edward never giving up on me," I shake the thought from my head, "I knew . . . know, without a doubt in my mind and my heart and my soul, that I couldn't live my life without him. He is my life." I proclaim as happy tears well up. And, the pregnancy hormones are back with a vengeance.

Esme takes my face in her hands. Her emerald eyes sparkle with tears of love and honesty as she speaks, "You, young lady, are perfect for my baby boy . . . my son. You are his life and I . . . I couldn't have asked for a better future daughter-in-law . . . and Alice . . . oh, Alice is going to be so happy to have you as a sister-in-law . . . as a sister." She gives me a mother of all bear hugs taking my breath away until she suddenly pulls away from me again. "But I thought his plan was to wait until your ring was ready? What happened?"

"Wait, you knew he was going to propose?"

Esme rolls her eyes "Duh."

I return the eye roll. "Of course you knew. I forgot there are no secrets in the Cullen family. Anyway, after coming to the realization that I'm a dope for not moving in with Edward when we first got back I decided to propose to Edward but he interrupted me and, and well, we're engaged," I whisper shout. I am glowing as my eyes twinkle in delight and my love sick smile spreads across my face.

"My poor baby boy, none of his plans are working these days. He wouldn't tell me any of the details. He said that was between the two of you but I know he did have something special planned . . . oh, my poor son I'm sure he's so disappointed," Esme sighs.

"Oh, I don't think he's too disappointed if you get my meaning," I wiggle my eyebrows and blush at my insinuation. "Now remember no one knows about the engagement but you," I wink. "Edward wants to talk to my dad and then we will tell everyone. So for now," I place one finger to my lips, "mums the word. Don't even tell Edward that you know. It's our little secret okay. Take that Carlisle," I snap my fingers in the air.

With a devious sparkle in her eyes, Esme agrees, "Yeah, take that Carlisle," she concurs as we both giggle in silence.

I give Esme one last hug and kiss before heading to see my dad. I'm so late but I'm sure once he hears why he'll forgive me. I grab Edward's car keys and head out the door.

Even from this distance, I recognize her. My heart skips a beat when I realize she is walking directly towards me. I can't ignore her; I've seen her and she's seen me. Our paths are going to pass cross. There's no avoiding this so I take a deep breath and smile as we meet. I stop and greet her, "Hello, Tanya right? How are you?" I'm shocked when she nods and smiles at me.

"Yes, that's right. Bella, hello, I'm fine thanks. How are you? Are you here to see Edward?" She asks as she removes her sunglasses. Her eyes shine as she continues to smile. Here voice is calm, casual friendly. There is no sound of sadness no hint of hurt.

A sense of relief washes through me. "No, Edward's at home sleeping." I cringe saying the word home but she shows no reaction to my response. "I'm here to visit my father. He had a stroke and is a patient at the rehab center."

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope he's doing better. Are Dr. Cullen and Edward on his case?" She asks with true concern.

"Yes, Dr. Cullen consulted with his original physician and has now taken over as his primary physician . . . and, of course, Edward helps with his PT. I'm so lucky for all their help. I don't know what I would have done without them."

"Your father is so lucky to have them on his team." Tanya places a reassuring hand on mine. Her smile morphs into a look of nervous concern. "Um, Bella . . ." her nervous eyes search from side to side. "I just wanted to say . . . I just wanted to say how sorry I am for my recent behavior . . . you know . . . at the Cullen's on Christmas," she gulps, "and when I bumped into you and Edward on New Year's Eve."

"Tanya . . ."

"No, please, let me say this. I need to say this. I'm so sorry for making you feel uncomfortable in my presence. My recent behavior was unforgiveable and inexcusable. Someone," she clears her throat, "someone made me see that what I thought I felt for Edward wasn't real. He . . . um he made me see that I made our dates more than what they actually were. I had had a silly school girl crush on Edward for so many years but he never really showed any interest in me. And when he asked me out I thought he had finally come around but, looking back, our dates were never really anything more than two friends going out to dinner or a movie, nothing more, nothing serious. I read far too much into it. That was all me." She cringes, "heck, he never even tried to kiss me other than a goodnight kiss on the cheek. I just wanted you to know how sorry I am for the way I acted. Can you forgive me?"

"Oh Tanya, there is nothing to forgive. I'm sorry too. I honestly didn't know you and he were dating when I first went out with him . . ."

"No, no, no. Like I said, we were never really ever dating. He was never dishonest about his feelings or intentions towards me. That was all on me. I made it into something it wasn't but now . . ." a radiant smile spreads across her face.

"But now you have Alistair," I finish her sentence. Her eyes widen in surprise and just as quickly soften.

"Yes, now I have Alistair but how did you know?" She says his name reverently, lovingly.

"Oh Tanya, on New Year's Eve you were looking at Edward the way Alistair was looking at you. I felt so sorry for him. He looked so hurt when you got upset that Edward and I were together but I'm glad that everything has worked out."

"I am too! He's amazing," she gushes, "he forced me to see what was right in front of me all the time. I was such an idiot but I'm so happy now and I never get tired of listening to him talk. I just love his British accent."

"I'm happy for you Tanya. I'm sorry I don't mean to be rude but I really need to be going. I'm so late . . ."

"Oh, I'm sorry. You're right; I'm holding you up. Your father's probably wondering what's holding you up . . . but I'm glad we talked." Surprisingly, she wraps me in her arms. "I will pray for your father Bella."

I wrap my arms around her, "Thank you. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Thank you for the apology too even though it really wasn't necessary. I hope you and Alistair will be happy together."

As we pull away, I place my hand out to her, "friends?"

Tanya takes my hand in hers, "friends."

"Bye Tanya."

"Bye Bella."

When I finally walk into dad's room the attendant is feeding dad. His eyes move in my direction and guilt immediately washes over me for being so late. His eyes tell me he has been waiting for me. I lean over placing a kiss to his cheek and, as always, he lets out an embarrassed grunt at my display of public affection. I giggle.

"Hey dad, I'm so sorry I'm late. I sort of had a busy morning." I look to Bree, "If it's okay, I'd like to take over feeding him." She reviews how to correctly feed him and what to watch out for as he eats. I reassure her I'll call if I have any problems.

As I feed dad, I talk about my encounter with Tanya. I tell him that Edward and I will be here together in a day or two for a very serious talk. He grunts at my seriousness. I assure him it's a very good kind of serious talk.

After his meal, he sleeps for a bit. I replay the events of the morning as I stare blankly at the television. My memories are interrupted when the speech therapist comes in. Slowly, I wake Charlie for his session.

"Okay Charlie and Bella, are you ready for today's session?"

I nod and dad grunts. Grunting is a good sign. I smile.

A/N: Once again, sorry for the long delay. Show me some New Year love by posting a review. That would be such a great way of starting the New Year with a bang! I'm thinking two more chapters and epilogue before we say goodbye.