"Edward, when are we going to talk about my change?" she asked and I knew that I was in for trouble, having hoped that she would have forgotten. I should have known Bella better. She was too stubborn to give up, especially on something she wanted so badly. "You said it would be a few days and then we could set a date. It's been longer than that."

"Well." I started, running my fingers through my hair nervously. "To be honest, there's something I want to ask you first. But I've been avoiding the conversation because I don't think you'll take it well."

"Try me."

"Not like this."

"You're stalling."

"A little. But it's more than that. It's something really important." I wanted to ask her more than anything, but not while we were just sitting on her bed one evening of no particular importance. I wanted to make it special for her, for both of us.

"What could you possibly have to ask me that's scarier to you than me wanting to become a vampire?" She asked, but her expression scrunched up and I knew that she had figured it out. She carefully didn't speak, but I could see the panic in her eyes. It wasn't the reaction I wanted, but it was the one I knew that I was going to get.

"You want to be with me forever?" I asked. She nodded, still not speaking.

"Whatever that means?" I asked. She nodded again.

"I know how much you are opposed to the idea, especially after what your parents went through, but please understand that I come from a much different time. It's incredibly important to me. I won't force you, but I'd really like you to consider it."

"Wait…" she finally said. "We are thinking about two completely different things."

"Oh, well what were you thinking about?"

"You first!" she insisted.

"No, please. Ladies first." I said with a nervous grin at her.

"Whatever this is, it's really going to upset me, even though you think it shouldn't, right?" she asked.

"Right."

"You aren't replacing my truck." she said with a straight face.

"As much as I would love to buy you something nicer, that wasn't what I had in mind."

"Oh!" she relaxed visibly. "Good. I'm attached to her."

"Her?" I asked with a laugh. She smiled and got comfortable in her bed.

"Her."

"Alright, well I promise I will ask you before the week is out. There's something I need to show you first. Carlisle has been helping me prepare it. Then it will make sense."

"Fine." she yawned. "Be my pillow?"

"Nothing would make me happier." I answered, although I could think of just one thing. I couldn't wait to ask her to be my wife.


The next day was sunny and unseasonably warm, so unfortunately my entire family had to miss school. I was worried about Bella being alone, but she greeted me with a big smile when she came to the family home after, having spent most of the day including lunch with Angela.

Angela was one of the kindest humans I had ever met. She very rarely had a negative thought about anyone or anything, and if she did, it was quickly modified with understanding thoughts or desires to help them. She wasn't jealous or two-faced like most of the other humans. I was glad to see Bella spending time with her.

"Angela invited us to a party at her house Friday night."

"That sounds like fun. Would you like to go?" I asked, sure that she would since she mentioned it.

"I didn't think you'd want to. I told her I'd ask."

"Why wouldn't I want to go?"

"Do you really want to eat human food and be around people from school more than you have to?" she asked, always thinking about me first.

"I'm sure she has a dog I can feed under the table?" I asked with a laugh, knowing that she did. "Besides, I like Angela and Ben."

"She does have a dog." Bella smiled. "I'll call her later then. I'm sure she will be happy."

"Good. She's a good friend. Her thoughts aren't vulgar like most people."

"I can imagine what teenage boys usually think of." Bella said, rolling her eyes.

"The girls are usually worse. Especially when they are directed at me."

"Maybe it's a good thing you can't read my thoughts." she said with a smirk.

I purred quietly in her ear. "Yours are the only wants I want to hear."

"They're way more inappropriate than you think they are."

"Now I want to hear them even more." I answered and she blushed a lovely crimson.

"Get a room!" Emmett yelled from downstairs.

"We're in my room." I answered. "Get a hobby!"

"I have hobbies. This is more fun!" he shouted back.

Bella hid her face in her hands. "Great, now the whole family knows."

"What, that you think dirty thoughts?" I asked, laughing at how adorably embarrassed she was. "I think it's quite normal at our age."

"Let's just talk about something else." she said, still blushing.

"Fine, but we're revisiting this subject later."

"Alone."

"Deal." I was going to look forward to that particular conversation all day.


I didn't get to dwell on it as long as I would have liked though, because my pesky little sister burst into my room, immediately setting her eyes on Bella, and concealing her thoughts behind a list of French verb conjugations. "Bella, come have some girl time with me!"

"Alice, I don't want to."

"Nonsense. You love spending time with me."

"I do."

"Then come hang out in my room!"

"But I'm spending time with Edward right now."

"And you can spend time with Edward later!" Alice rolled her eyes and showed Bella the edge of something in her pocket.

Bella's eyes went wide, and she blushed. "Fine. I'm not sure if I should be thankful or disturbed though." Alice giggled and led Bella downstairs. I sighed, sad about the interruption and busied myself with some homework, although it took only a minuscule amount of my attention.

I tried to not let my thoughts dwell on what Alice had showed Bella, knowing that she was keeping it private for Bella's sake and not mine, but I also didn't want Bella to feel embarrassed about anything at all around me. It puzzled me.

She stayed with Alice long enough for me to finish my math assignment and most of the English paper due the next week for no reason other than boredom before she returned to my room. I was stretched out on the bed and spread my arms in invitation. She snuggled up to my chest and all was right with my world. "I missed you." I said, kissing her forehead.

"I was just downstairs." she giggled.

"And downstairs was too far away from me."

"I think if we spent all of our time together, I would eventually get on your nerves. Sooner than you think."

"I seriously doubt that. Besides, that's what we'll be doing eventually. After your change."

"I'm sure we'll hunt separately once in a while. Or Alice will drag me shopping again." she rolled her eyes adorably.

"And if I never let you go?"

"I'm not complaining." she answered with a faint blush. I kissed her cheeks and then her lips.

Even the softest and most gentle of kisses quickly turned passionate between us. Neither of us ever wanted to pull away, especially not when we were alone. I slid my hand under her shirt and caressed the soft skin of her waist. My hands started traveling upwards when the approaching thoughts of my brothers stopped my desire with the effect of an ice-cold shower.

Alice told us to interrupt. She said this isn't a good time. Jasper thought. Sorry.

"Bella!" Emmett called just before barging in my door with Jasper close behind. "We need your help, little human!"

"What could you possibly need my help with?" she asked, clearly as annoyed as I was with the interruption.

"Well, Alice said your dad should see me trying to make up for that speeding ticket he gave me. Improving myself. Becoming a better man. She said that it would make the family look even better to him. What should I do?"

"Uhh, you could pick up trash in town or something. Help old people cross the road. I don't know. I feel like you two should help Tyler's parents clean up all of that toilet paper."

"Oh, come on, that was hilarious!" Jasper said. "Kid deserved it."

"But his parents' house? Why not just his car or something?" Bella asked.

"There's an idea!" Emmett exclaimed.

"No." she said. "Charlie loves you all and especially Carlisle. You should have heard how he talked about Carlisle when I first moved to town. You don't have to prove yourself to him."

"But we want to. We want him to see that we're good influences so he will let you spend more time with us." Jasper insisted. "He likes us. I can feel that. But we want him to trust us and know that you are safe and happy with all of us, not just our parents."

"Aww, that's really sweet." Bella said, smiling at him.

"That's a great idea, Bella! It will be cloudy that day." Alice walked into the room with a grin and flopped on the bed right beside of Bella, putting her arm around her.

"I didn't even say anything."

"No, but you were going to."

"And what was I going to suggest?" Bella asked playfully, laughing at Alice's enthusiasm.

"That the boys volunteer to help Charlie at the annual river cleanup the police department organizes."

"That sounds fun!" Emmett said. Jasper agreed. I was more reluctant, not wanting to spend time away from Bella. Besides, what if one of my brothers forgot that we had to pretend to be human and lifted something too heavy or stayed underwater too long?

"Don't worry so much, Edward! They will be fine." Alice insisted.

"I swear you can read minds sometimes." Even without her visions, she always had a talent for knowing what most of the family was thinking. She simply stuck her tongue out at me and snuggled closer to Bella, who gladly returned the affection. I was happy to see her so comfortable around my family. She was closer with Alice than anyone I could think of, and I couldn't imagine anyone more loving or protective to be her best friend. Certainly not among vampires.


Against my better judgement, my brothers and I stopped by the police station one day after school and signed ourselves up to help the police do the annual river cleanup the following Saturday. There were several names we recognized from school on the list, but thankfully no one whose thoughts were too abrasive. I tried to talk Bella into joining us, but Alice and Rosalie, to my surprise, both insisted that she go to a spa with them instead, and the even more surprising part was that she readily agreed.

What great kids. I misjudged Edward too much. He means well. Charlie thought as we were signing up. I bet I would never see Jacob doing anything like this. They said their dad isn't even making them do it. Their own idea. Wow.

"So, this gives me like a getting out of speeding ticket free card, right Chief?" Emmett asked with a laugh.

Charlie shook his head. "No."

"Oh well, it was worth a shot." he said, grinning.

Jasper smacked Emmett in the shoulder. "Dumbass." I started to reprimand them for their language around the 'adults' but Charlie was laughing. He liked them. Us. We all three walked out of the police station smiling and goofing off.

Kids. Charlie thought with a smile, still shaking his head as he walked back into his tiny office. It was a relief to be on his good side, especially after all I had put him and Bella through.


Friday approached quickly, as these things often did when one had something to look forward to. Bella rode home from school with Angela to help her decorate for her party and start some of the cooking. I was happy to have the time to prepare a surprise for her for Saturday night.

Alice had a vision of me asking Charlie if I could pick Bella up after the cleanup to take her home with me for a sleepover with my sisters. He easily agreed, trusting our parents to keep an eye on everyone and knowing that I didn't have any ill intentions towards Bella.

There was another, much more important question that I intended to ask him that day, but Alice was carefully concealing any visions or thoughts about his answer, or Bella's, wanting me to be completely surprised and not wanting to unfairly influence events.

It was impossible to not worry about every minute detail of the upcoming weekend while I allowed Alice to help me dress for Angela's party. She was hiding her thoughts by singing some awful bubblegum pop music from the 1950s over and over in her head, which she knew I hated, while she messed with my hair. I don't know why she bothered. Bella loved its messiness.

"One question, please Alice? Just let me get at least one detail right." I begged, wanting everything to go perfectly for the next night. I was confident that Bella was going to freak out and say no. I knew I would have to explain what it meant to me and try to calm her fears. I needed any help I could get.

"Angela's party tonight will be fun. You two will have a fantastic time. And you three won't make asses of yourself tomorrow in front of the Chief."

"You know that isn't the question." I sighed.

"Fine. One question. I can't promise an answer."

My mind raced, trying to decide on the most important detail, but I decided instead to go with a question that was most likely to get an answer. I was confident that she would say no, so I didn't ask if she would say yes. I knew that if she didn't like the ring, I could always take her shopping for anything she desired, so that wasn't a real concern either. Alice had said that the weather was going to be cloudy until just before sunset, and then the sun was going to come out and there would be a sunset of gorgeous colors. "The meadow?" I asked, too worried to even form a full thought.

"Is perfect." she finished my sentence, allowing me a glimpse at smiling Bella admiring the deep pinks and blues in the fading sky, her pale skin glowing under the last of the sun, before turning her thoughts back to a rendition of 'At the Hop.' "But you better focus at least some of your attention on the party tonight or Bella is going to worry about you."

"How did you get her to agree to a spa day of all things?" I asked, genuinely curious. It was very unlike Bella to enjoy or agree to anything she dubbed 'girly.'

"She wants to spend time with us." Alice smiled. "Isn't that sweet? I'm so excited to officially have her as a sister soon!" she squealed.

"So, she says yes?" I asked, desperate to know. "Eventually? I'll do whatever it takes. But it sounds like you saw her saying yes."

Alice shook her head. "Stop worrying. I'm not spoiling it."

"She says yes?"

"I'm not telling you what she says."

"Would you tell me if she said no?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not going to influence you two. This is between you guys alone. Not me. Just don't worry. I know you, and I know her. I can't think of a better location or way to ask her. You know she hates attention, except for your attention. Everything will be perfect. And I'm saying this as your sister. Not your local psychic."

"Thanks, sis." I kissed her on the cheek before putting my shoes on and heading to Angela's house to meet back up with Bella.

My thoughts wandered the entire drive over, replaying the vision of Bella smiling in the meadow sunset. It was perhaps the most gorgeous thing I had ever seen. I looked forward to it almost as much as I looked forward to finally getting to ask her the question that had been in my mind since our first day in the meadow what felt like a forever ago. The day she truly saw and accepted me for what I was. The day that she knew we were inseparable. I only wished that I had believed her then and spared both of our families a lot of pain and trouble.

Angela's mom opened the door and pointed me towards the back yard where I heard the unmistakable sound of Bella's laughter. It was lovely. I quickly saw her in Ben's thoughts. The two girls were trying to teach him how to tie balloons, putting the finishing touches on the decorations, and he was having a hard time with them. He kept hurting his fingers or letting air escape with loud flatulent sounds, making both girls laugh.

Angela smiled up at me the second she saw me, her thoughts kind as always. "I hope I'm not too early." I said, handing her a small bouquet of simple flowers. "My mother Esme's idea."

"They're lovely! Thank you. You're not too early at all. Maybe you can help Ben out with his balloon problem." she said with a laugh. Bella stood up and came to stand beside me. I happily kissed her on the cheek and relaxed completely as I felt her warmth against me.

"Yeah, man. I don't know what's going on with them. I think mine are defective."

"But only yours?" Angela asked with a laugh. "Because Bella and I weren't having any trouble with ours."

"Not a bit." Bella said, smiling at him. Ben wasn't the least bit discouraged. He was as kind as Angela, very rarely thinking a bad thought about anyone or anything. In fact, his thoughts were just as mine, happy to see the girls having a good time.

"Well, maybe it's a two-man job." he said and I happily set down to help him while the girls put some finishing touches on the buffet table. I was glad that I had decided to go a little early, unable to wait any longer to see Bella. It gave me an opportunity I had been waiting for when sh ran inside to get something from the kitchen for Angela.

"I wanted to thank you both." I said. "Sincerely. For being so kind to Bella while I was away. You're both really good friends to her, even when I wasn't so good to her myself."

"I love her." Angela said. "She's nice to talk to. I don't feel like I have to be anyone but myself with her."

"Yeah." Ben agreed. "We consider you both good friends as well."

I smiled at them and she came back outside with her arms full of condiments from the fridge right at the precise moment my balloon slid out of my grasp and shot towards her with a loud, groaning hiss. She cracked up laughing and nearly dropped the things she was holding, but Angela came to her rescue.

"How many men does it take to tie a balloon?" Bella asked with a laugh.

"Two, and two women to show them how to do it properly." Angela laughed with her. We smiled at them, knowing they were only kidding and happy to see them happy.

We all sat together to finish the last of the decorations just moments before more people started to arrive. I gladly put my arm around Bella and enjoyed the company. "I missed you." I whispered in her ear. She smiled and scooted closer to me. It was going to be a great night.


Author's Note: I haven't updated this one in like a month. Oops! I was having a little trouble connecting the dots between recent events and what needs to happen. I hope you enjoyed the update! My life is a little crazy this week, but I'm hoping to update both Attraction and The Center of His Universe this weekend (March 10th, 2021) if you're waiting on those. Thanks for reading!