Author's Note: My laptop charger broke and I had to wait on a new one to publish this chapter. Eek! I tried typing on my phone and it was not happening lol. I hope you enjoy! I'm going to try to do an update to another story by this weekend as a surprise for Edward & Bella's 10th wedding anniversary! I won't say which one, but I think you'll like it.

Edward was in a state of bliss that he found near impossible to snap out of to focus on anything else, not that he wanted to snap out of it. Jasper noticed when he ran home for his car.

"I wouldn't even need to feel your emotions to understand that grin."

"What grin?"

"The one so big that it appears it might be permanent."

Edward smiled some more, looking down at the garage floor as he held his hand over the door handle of the car, making no effort to move or get in. Jasper was confident that his brother would have been blushing were he human.

"Did you finally do it?" he asked.

"Do..it? No!" Edward insisted. "I would never be so improper."

"You're going to have to be 'so improper' one day you know."

"I know." he laughed. "What I mean is that I wouldn't harm her virtue. I would do things properly."

"Ah, so you're thinking about it! Is that why the smile?"

"No." he answered, shaking his head. "I mean…it's not why I'm smiling."

"Of course, it's not, you didn't do it. That's probably also why you can't stop thinking about it."

"Stop calling it it!" Edward insisted. "No, we didn't do…the thing."

Jasper laughed heartily. "There are many things involved, dear brother. Can't you say the word?"

"Why am I still standing here?" he asked, opening the car door. "If we discuss it any longer, I'm sure you'll attract Emmett's attention too." Jasper didn't stop laughing until Edward was out of the driveway, having sped away embarrassed. It was good to see him happy. He had to tease him a little, though he did wonder what had happened during the night to make him so happy. He would make sure to ask Bella about it later, positive she would know, being the likely source of it.

"What?" Bella whispered when Edward wouldn't stop staring at her in class. He normally at least tried to hide it from others and appear interested in his notes or the lecture, but not today.

"I'm trying to figure you out." he whispered back.

"What is there to figure out?"

"What you're hiding in that pretty head of yours."

"You saw it for yourself last night."

"A glimpse." he said, grinning at her in a way that made her heart flutter.

"I'm not intentionally hiding anything."

"I know."

"I'm telling you it's boring in here."

"Oh, I very much doubt that."

The teacher shot them a glance then and they both looked down, him at his perfect notes that he managed to take despite barely paying any attention, and her at the textbook. She grabbed her mostly empty notebook and scribbled a note where he would see. You. It's always you.

He took it and wrote back in his perfect, flowing cursive It's always you for me.

I'm also thinking about lunch.

Considering anything interesting?

Well, it's not a mountain lion, but maybe a salad.

The furthest possible thing from a mountain lion. he wrote, making an amused, yet mildly disgusted face at her. She smiled and looked down at her notes again, careful to avoid the teacher's attention.

Are we meeting with Jasper this evening?

I thought about asking him to cancel if you're amenable to that. I hear there's going to be a break in the rain this evening.

She wrote back only one word with a wicked grin. Cancel.

He smiled and looked down at the table, both thrilled and embarrassed by what she likely meant by that expression. There were definitely some situations he would need to rectify soon, starting by protecting her honor as he should have done a long time ago. He realized that some of his virtues were outdated, but this is one of those human things he truly felt like he could give her. And he wanted nothing more than to call her his wife even before he made her his mate. He was positive she would no longer protest. When he was a human, even kissing as they had would have definitely been a social concern. He started to plan and she absentmindedly played with his hand that she held under the table. It was a good thing he had learned to write with both hands.

As she held on to him, enjoying the feeling of his skin on hers and the reassurance that he was really there, her mind wandered. She wondered what had been so different about the night before to finally allow him to read her thoughts. She had a few theories, as always, but school definitely wasn't the place to test most of them. Perhaps it was when she was feeling a strong emotion or remembering a particularly vivid memory. Maybe it was arousal, though she had felt that plenty of times before. Finally, she wondered if it might be because she was completely relaxed. Last night for the first time she could remember, she hadn't been worried about anything. There was no tension in her muscles or fear in her heart. She was just Bella, and that was such a rare feeling for her.

That sounded like a fun theory to test over lunch. She was feeling playful, confident that Edward wasn't going anywhere.

When their class ended, he went to buy her a salad while she sat with Alice. He smiled because she didn't protest while allowing him to buy her lunch, mostly because they usually bought food anyhow to blend in more easily. She smiled because she was up to mischief in her thoughts. First, she focused on her breathing and settling her heart rate. She reminded herself that no one was going to bother her with the Cullens right there, that Edward loved her and he was only feet away. Then, she started trying to clear her mind, imagining what she might look like if she cut her hair super short and dyed it a fiery orange, got a few facial piercings and started wearing combat boots more often. It was hard to focus on just that and stay serious, but somehow, she did. Edward's look of total panic when he sat down broke her focus though, making her crack up laughing and the rest of the family look at them funny.

"What – you aren't into goth chicks?"

"I'm only into one chick." he said with a quiet, playful growl as he gave her a quick kiss and sat her lunch in front of her.

"Chick?!" Emmett asked loudly. "What did you do to him?"

"She's being naughty." Edward answered.

Jasper laughed so loud that some of the other students looked at them. Alice rubbed his back to quiet him.

"Naughty, huh?" Emmett asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Not that kind!"

I could be that kind if you'd let me. she thought. Edward's eyes bugged out as he looked at her. Jasper still laughed, feeling their emotional states. Emmett smiled mischievously at Bella.

"What in the world has gotten into you two?" Jasper asked.

"He can read her mind now." Rosalie said, inspecting her manicure and appearing disinterested, but she couldn't hide her grin from anyone.

"How did you figure it out?" Bella asked.

"Oh please. There are only two things in the world that would have made him this happy and I know he's too much of a prude for one of them. I'm sure you'll wear him down in time though." She winked at Bella, who blushed and started spreading dressing on her salad just for some sort of distraction from her embarrassment.

"What in the world?" Jasper asked. "I have never heard of a human having a power they could control!"

"Not even your wife?" Alice asked him.

"Oh, I suppose you did have visions as a human."

"And I was as much of a troublemaker then too." Emmett said, grinning. "That's my superpower."

Alice and Jasper rolled their eyes at him, but Edward's attention was solely on Bella. He was smiling more than the family had ever seen, unable to take his eyes off of her. He looked as if he were having an internal debate between professing his love to her, letting her eat in peace, and grabbing her and running away with her somewhere private.

"Skip class. I'll handle it." Jasper said quietly.

Bella smiled up at Edward.

"The sun will be out higher up in the mountains in about an hour." Alice said with a grin.

Bella smiled even more, excited to spend the time with Edward, especially if Jasper was willing to handle the excuse for them to miss class. She thought about how he sparkled in the sunlight. His beauty. The freedom of the two of them being alone together, not having to control what they said or how they acted around each other because there was no one but them there to witness. He made her happier than she had ever imagined.

He immediately resolved to stop by the house for something before taking her up into the mountains. He debated between their meadow or somewhere higher up where she could really enjoy the rare sun in Forks, though not high enough up for it to be too cold or uncomfortable for her.

"Perfect." Alice whispered, concealing her visions from him behind poetry recitations in Latin and French.

Bella was remembering their first trip to the meadow and how motion sick she got riding on his back. How he tried to scare her, yet she could only admire his restraint, his gentleness with her even when he was capable of so much more. How much she loved his smile. His golden eyes. His scent. How he could dazzle her.

"Oh, I dazzle you?" he asked, leaning his face towards hers and watching as her pupils dilated, her heart raced and her breathing sped up. She forgot that she was holding her fork and it fell against the plate with a clinking noise. He laughed and kissed her forehead. "I'm going to run a quick errand while you finish your lunch. I'll come pick you up in a few minutes?"

"Alright. But not fair." she agreed, still somewhat dazzled as she picked the fork back up. He kissed her head on his way out, fighting the urge to run at a vampire pace to his car. Alice beamed at her. Rosalie smiled softly in her direction. Emmett and Jasper were playfully punching each other, but not too hard because the noise of their hard skin would attract human attention.

Bella ate in silence, observing her new family. She loved them so much. She wondered what Edward was up to but assumed it was some sort of errand for hiking, likely something for her comfort knowing him. Or perhaps the car needed gas. Maybe he wanted to change into a different sweater. Brush the blood taste out of his mouth before they kissed. She laughed at the thought. Did vampires need to brush their teeth? Would they just shred the brush? What flavor toothpaste would they like since mint tasted bad to them? She would have to ask.

"What are you giggling at?" Emmett asked her.

"Not what you think. Trust me."

He looked at her expectantly.

"Do vampires brush their teeth?" she blurted out before she could overthink asking and become embarrassed.

"No." he laughed. "No need. You know, you can really make him uncomfortable with that little gift of yours. In a fun way. It's pretty amusing."

"What do you mean?"

"Eddie is feeling things he never has before. He's also a notorious prude, as Rosie said. He's easily embarrassed. He tells me and Jasper to watch what we are talking or thinking about all the time but he wouldn't dare say such a thing to you."

"I'll remember that." she said with a shy smile. "Emmett, how did you cope with things so well? I know you were concerned about your family when you were changed, and I know you still worry about Rosalie, but you're always so chill. How do you do it?"

"It isn't always as easy as I might make it seem. The jokes are a way to cheer up myself as well as everyone else. I don't really have bad days because I've never once regretted what I am, though I do wish I could be more and do more for Rosie. And for the family when they need me."

"You do more than you realize." Rosalie said softly. Bella barely heard it. He beamed at his wife.

"Comic relief and getting us out of our own heads are just what we need sometimes." Jasper added.

"You always cheer me up if I'm not in a total panic." Bella agreed. "I wish I were as happy go lucky as you."

"Oh, but you are." Emmett said. She looked at him quizzically. "You've been through a lot, kid but I think we're way more alike than you imagine. You've been dealt a rough hand. Things are getting better. We're going to get into all kinds of mischief together in the coming years. Alice has seen it." Alice smiled at them, not disputing it.

"Poor Edward." Jasper said, shaking his head as he imagined all of the ways the duo could embarrass Edward and prank the family.

Bella agreed with a smile and finished eating her lunch while the family discussed movies and upcoming hunting trips they wanted to plan.

"I wonder how we talk Edward into joining us in the Ozarks next week." Jasper mused.

"You won't." Emmett said sadly.

"Why not?" Bella asked. She figured it out when no one would answer her. "It'll be fine. I'll try to tell him to go. I'm sure I'll have some term paper to work on or maybe I can ask Angela to the movies or something."

"Will you be OK though?" Jasper asked.

She hesitated but nodded. "It'll be fine. He needs to go sometimes. Besides, soon he won't have to leave me behind."

Their lunch ended then and Bella found Edward waiting just outside the door for her.

"Ready to ditch?" he asked.

"With you? Always." she answered. He flashed a grin, took her bookbag and put his arm around her, leading her to the car. "Where are you taking me?"

"A fun date never tells."

"Don't you think that sounds a little creepy?"

"Perhaps." he agreed, opening her door for her.

"People are going to talk if we keep skipping class together."

"Let them. You think they don't already?"

"What's the latest gossip on us?" she asked.

He got in and started the car. "If the citizens of Forks were to be believed, we're engaged or secretly married, you might be pregnant, and we like to make love constantly, especially in my car."

"Is that all?"

"You also have me seduced with some sort of magic power and, or perhaps, you have trapped me to be with you by blackmail and other threats."

"Really now?"

"They're jealous. No one ever interested me like that before you came along. Many tried."

"Some of those make sense. But pregnant? Secretly married? Don't you think if we were married, I would want to tell everyone?"

"Would you?" he asked, very much wanting to know her answer.

"Oh yeah." she smiled. "I would want everyone to know that you're mine."

"You'd really marry me so soon? That isn't me asking you to. Just curious." he quickly added, not wanting this to be his proposal. He had to ask.

"Honestly? The more I think about it…yes, I would. I know what I want. I'm not going to let other people's opinions change that for me."

"I'll keep that in mind." he said, hoping to appear lighthearted and teasing. He wanted her to want him to ask, more than anything. Knowing she was prepared to say yes made him want to pull over and ask her immediately, but he had other plans. A new composition started playing in his thoughts. He would have to test it on his piano when the evening was done. An engagement present for her perhaps, or a wedding present. He was struggling to fight a smile. She was going to say yes to him. Things couldn't get any more perfect.

"Emmett says Alice has had visions of me and him causing all kinds of trouble once I'm changed."

"I don't doubt that." Edward agreed with a chuckle. She smiled because he didn't appear the least bit phased with the casual mention of her change. "You need to challenge him to arm wrestle at least once when you're a newborn."

"I promised."

"And I'm holding you to it. It'll be one of the highlights of the decade."

"Still no hints where you're taking me?"

"Somewhere we can enjoy the sun when it comes out for a little while."

"Out of Forks?" she asked as they started approaching the town limits.

"Yes. Some place different. Somewhere I doubt more than a couple humans have ever been before."

"Sounds dangerous."

"I would never allow anyone or anything to harm you."

"I know." she said, reclining back a little in her seat. She rested a while but remembered something she wanted to discuss with him. "Your brothers said they are trying to talk you into going hunting in the Ozarks with them next week. You should."

"I don't want to be that far away from you."

"I'll be fine."

"But will I?"

"I can't promise you'll be safe from your brothers but I think it will be alright. It might be your last big trip with the family before my newborn months or years. You should enjoy it."

"I suppose you're right." he agreed hesitantly.

"And I have my phone."

"That's true. I'm going to park the car and we'll run the rest of the way. I grabbed an extra sweater for you so you don't get wind chill." He parked the car in a small parking lot and handed her one of his grey sweaters from the backseat. It smelled like him. She smiled as she put it on.

"I have no idea where we are."

"Good." he smiled, appearing in an instant to open her door since no one else was around.

"A hiking trail?"

"We'll start on the trail at least." he said with a sparkle in his eye. He crouched down for her to crawl on his back and wrapped his arms around her legs securely. "Hold on tight."

"I always do. This is still terrifying."

"You aren't afraid I'll drop you, are you?"

"No. You'd rather put yourself in danger than drop me. I know that. I'm afraid you'll run into a tree or something."

He laughed. "I would never. You'll understand more once you're changed. We see things and process information so much faster."

She rested her head against his neck and closed her eyes. "I'll take your word for now. I can't watch."

"Then don't." he laughed, taking off running away from the trail and up into the cliffs, leaping across areas humans wouldn't dare and climbing with incredible speed.

"I'm scared to look."

"Don't look now. I promise not to hurt you."

"I know." she said and though he knew that it still made him smile. Her complete faith in him.

"We're about to climb back down. I'll slow down a little for you. Fear not."

She could only hold him more tightly in reassurance, perhaps for the both of them.

"Here we are." he said a few minutes later, sitting her down on something that felt like sand. She opened her eyes and looked up at him, confused. When she was sitting still, the sound of crashing waves caught her attention.

"The beach!"

"One of your favorite places, right?"

"I've never been here specifically, but yes. It's lovely!"

"We're outside Seattle a little bit. If Alice is right, the sun should be out really well in about ten minutes for a little while."

"Why don't humans come here?"

"Look behind you." he chuckled. She turned and saw a massive cliff.

"Oh, you have to climb that to get here?"

"Yes."

"And we-" she stopped, holding her mouth, and hesitating as if she might be sick.

"You were never in any danger. I promise."

"I know, but that's huge!"

"It's part of the fun. Now…" he said, kneeling down to her eye level and putting his face just an inch or two from hers, his breath and the golden tint of his eyes dazzling her again. "Won't you show me what's in those lovely thoughts of yours?"

"Maybe after I calm down."

"I can help with that." He leaned in to kiss her and she kissed him back carefully, still not convinced that she wasn't going to be sick. He put a hand under his sweater and her shirt, softly rubbing her side and then her back. Though his hand was cold, she felt a warmth everywhere he touched. Gradually, she relaxed against him, though she was still a little anxious. He adjusted himself to sit behind her so she could lean against him, calming her nerves and watching the waves.

"It's beautiful. Thank you."

"It is, though I have a much lovelier view than the beach."

"I doubt that."

"Don't. You are gorgeous. Nothing could compare."

"I was invited to go to the beach at La Push a few times while you were gone but I didn't really want to go anywhere. It feels really nice to see the ocean again."

"It's one of my favorite sights."

"Mine too." she agreed. She relaxed against him then and admired some birds flying overhead and the soft sound of the waves crashing against each other and the sand of the beach. The sun started to peak through the clouds, just as Alice said it would, a minute or two later. She smiled, the tension leaving her body as she enjoyed the warmth.

His first glimpse of her thoughts was just an impression. She was incredibly happy. She felt loved. It meant the world to him. There was no hiding his smile. There were no words at first, but there didn't need to be. Not everyone always thought with words. Experimentally, he wrapped his arms around her a little more tightly. She thought his name in a happy tone, as if her greatest wish were fulfilled. He wasn't sure if he had ever felt so whole.

He could have sat with her like this forever, but there was something he had to ask. A part of him definitely wanted to continue to tease her about it, getting her to wonder when he might ask or to ask him to ask her, but really, he wanted to know. He had been wanting to ask for a really long time. The time was right. But how should he do it?

He didn't want to take away from her lovely view. He could get down on one knee, as had become tradition, but knowing her, the gesture would make her uncomfortable even though they both knew she would agree. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable. And he especially didn't want to take away his ability to hear her thoughts while he did this.

Edward put a hand in his pocket and pulled out the small box. He opened it quietly behind her back so she wouldn't see and put the ring in his left hand. He kissed her head and smiled as she felt a fresh wave of love and happiness.

"Bella?"

"Yeah?" she asked, leaning back into him a little more but not taking her eyes away from the sun hitting the water in front of them. She was so at peace.

He took her left hand in his and put the ring at the top of her ring finger, not quite putting it on. "Would you do me-" Her thoughts giggled a little at his wording and it took a lot of his focus to not crack up laughing as he finished the sentence. "-the extraordinary honor of becoming my wife?"

Her thoughts finished for her before words ever could. She looked down at her hand as her heart raced and her thoughts were practically screaming yes and her excitement. He slid the ring on her finger, the sun hitting its diamonds and making them sparkle. His hand also sparkled in the light. She was completely in love with him. She couldn't wait to become his wife. When her body caught up to her thoughts a few seconds later, she turned around quickly in his arms and took his face in her hands, kissing him passionately.

Her mind stayed open to him. There was love and beauty. There was excitement. Passion. Desire. Her thoughts were jumbled, but he caught some of them as they flew past. I love you so much. Edward. I can't wait. Mine forever. Yours forever. I want you so much. Do me. Haha. You said do me. Wife. Oh my God. Husband. I will get to call you my husband. My dad is going to kill us. She pulled back then with a nervous giggle, admiring him, but her heart starting to race at the thought of having to tell everyone. They will definitely assume I'm pregnant now.

"Are you alright?" he asked with a laugh. "There's a lot going on in there."

"I'm so happy!"

"Me too. Every time I think I am the happiest I've ever been, you raise the bar and show me all new ways of being happy. I never could have imagined this for myself, not even in my wildest dreams. You said yes!"

"I didn't exactly say it out loud yet." she teased.

"Say it. Out loud." he said, reminding her of a much earlier conversation they had.

"Yes!"

"Yes!" he repeated, practically pouncing her for another fiery kiss. She couldn't get close enough to him. She leaned in more, readjusting herself to straddle his lap. He carefully used his hands on her thighs to hold her away from anywhere improper.

"Sorry." she whispered, re-adjusting backwards a little.

"No, you aren't."

"I'm not." she agreed. "Damn mind reader."

He laughed loudly. "You're going to fit right in, future Mrs. Cullen."

She smiled and caressed his cheek. "I'm so happy."

"Me too. I hear it."

Her thoughts showed that she was wanting to look at her ring but didn't want to appear too interested in it in case he thought she was more excited about it than she was him, because that couldn't be further than the truth.

"You worry too much. Have a proper look. I want to know what you think."

She smiled and looked at her hand, the sun again catching the diamonds. It was large, and that should have concerned her since she didn't like a lot of money being spent on her, but there was something about it she couldn't describe that made her happy. The overall look and feel of it. The way the silver delicately laced around the diamonds. The overall mood of the whole ring. It was one of beauty and simplicity. It made her think of how many smaller moments made up a happy life and how each brief note could make up a lovely song. She tried to not dwell on her worry at how much it costed.

"I didn't spend any money on it. I promise. I've never heard or thought of it described more beautifully."

"How long have you had this?" she asked, admiring it as she flexed her hand a little under the sun's rays.

"Oh, about ninety years."

"Your mother's?"

"It was. She had taken it off for practical reasons shortly after she married my father. She only wore it with her wedding band for special occasions. She wasn't wearing it when she got sick. She always told me that one day I would be able to honor her by giving it to a woman I loved more than anything. Someone she would approve of to love me just as much. I never thought I would see the day."

"You think your mother would like me?"

"She would love you."

"Why?" Bella asked. He knew that she wasn't asking for a compliment, but he still grinned at the chance to offer her one.

"Because you're kind and gentle. Loving and smart. You would do anything for me as I would do anything for you. You inspire music and poetry in my thoughts and in my heart. She would have been thrilled to see me so blissful and loved how we take care of each other."

"I wish you could remember her more."

"Me too. Some things are gradually coming back to me though. I never thought it possible. But as I learn things about myself and release some of these long-held anxieties, a few memories have returned. One of them was her wearing this as she got ready for a ball with my father."

"I bet she was lovely."

"She was. But definitely not the same type of lovely as you."

Bella imagined Edward's mom. She likely had the same hair color, perhaps long and curled, or worn up in a tall updo as would have been popular when he was human. She guessed that her eyes were green and that she probably liked to dress up in dark, conservative dresses, but always with a hint of color or delicate embroidery to show off her spark and happiness in life.

"You're not at all far off. I have my father's nose and eyebrows. Hers were thinner and more feminine. Her hair was just a little darker than mine. She loved clip on earrings. That was the style then. Actual piercings were very rare."

She mused on how lucky she felt to wear his mother's jewelry. He had held onto it for nearly a hundred years waiting to find the right person to share it with. She knew many other girls would not take to it so kindly, either insisting on something new, or finding it odd that someone had owned it before them, but not Bella. She was honored. Edward was sharing parts of his past with her. Things he had shared with no one else before. It meant so much to her. Wife. she remembered almost at random. I get to be your wife. Forever.

"Forever." he whispered, again kissing her, unable to resist celebrating together as they enjoyed the rare sun. A little while later, he pulled back, gently nuzzling his nose against hers to show that he didn't want to pull away. "Turn around."

She did. The sun was beginning to set off on the horizon. "Beautiful."

"I considered our meadow at first."

"This is perfect."

"I thought so too. Alice wouldn't show me her vision, but as soon as I thought of here, she was very excited."

"The errand you ran was to go get the ring?"

"And a sweater for you in case you asked where I went too soon."

"You overthink things just like me."

"I do." he agreed.

"I love you."

"As I love you. My soon to be wife." he said, kissing her cheek as they snuggled and watched the sun set on their perfect day together.