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Another chapter dump! Thanks to cbmorefie and Alycat13 for their nice comments, I really appreciate it!

EPOV

As much as I hated leaving Bella, I had to go explain what Alice had seen.

She had been looking at what Saturday would hold. If anything would go wrong, if Bella would like her dress, and other factors when she saw me leaving for a few hours while Bella was getting ready.

She saw me arriving at Charlie's house, and having a conversation with him about Bella. The conversation wasn't certain yet, but it was enough to get the general gist of it. Her very obvious excitement almost ruined the whole thing, it had certainly made Bella suspicious.

As soon as I walked in the door, Alice bombarded me. She had a million questions for me. It was nice that we didn't have to verbalize our conversations for everyone to hear, once I decided what I wanted to say she would see it without actual vocalization, and I could hear her thoughts and questions myself. It was part of the reason I was the closest to Alice.

'Did I see correctly? Please tell me I saw correctly,' Alice thoughts were screaming in her head.

'Yes, did you say anything to anyone?' I cringed at the thought. I wanted to discuss this with Carlisle and Esme first. I didn't think that they would have any objections, but I wanted to give them the courtesy.

'No, I haven't said anything, but Jasper knows I'm not telling him something. Oh, this is so exciting!' The excitement was once again showing on her face.

'You need to calm down, I haven't even asked her yet, and I need to talk to Charlie, remember?'

'But Charlie likes you, you stuck around for everything with Bella, no one would do that if they weren't really serious about their relationship.' This was true, but Charlie could have his reasons to decline.

'I'm going to go hunt with Carlisle and Esme and tell them. Don't say anything.'

'Esme will be so excited for you two. Does this mean you'll change her?'

I nodded. 'I'm going to ask her what she wants. I'm going to give her all of her options. I won't force her into anything.'

'Trust me, I've seen how she looks at you, completely enamored, just like you. I'm surprised she hasn't brought it up herself,' Alice assured me.

I smiled, it was thrilling to know Bella felt the same for me as I did for her. But I did wonder why Bella hadn't brought it up before. Maybe she didn't want to be a monster like me?

"Can you guys stop that? It's annoying," Emmett demanded. Everyone was congregating in the living room again. I decided that now would be my best opportunity, it wouldn't be long before I couldn't dodge their incessant questions.

"Carlisle, Esme would you like to join me? I want to go hunting before Bella wakes again."

At just the mention of her name, everyone had thoughts on Bella. They were all positive except for Rose. At this point, I don't even think she knew what she felt. She did feel a flash of sadness for Bella when she saw her today, but other than that she clung on to her hostility for Bella.

Carlisle and Esme followed me out of the door. We were running at a slower pace, but we went far enough for privacy.

"Did you want to talk about something, Edward?" Carlisle questioned.

"Yes," I took a deep breath, I truly saw Carlisle and Esme as my parents and I wanted their approval, even if I didn't need it. "I wanted your thoughts, I suppose, and to let you know."

Their thoughts filled with worry, they were always worried about me. The last century I carried the guilt of causing all of their worries. Now their worries extended to Bella, and not just as my partner, but Bella in her own right. Everyone felt this inexplicable pull to Bella, like gravity. The only person who had resisted was Rosalie.

"I truly don't know how to say this, but I'd like to ask Bella to marry me." Their thoughts were filled with mostly happiness and excitement, but also a tinge of sadness. "You know I consider you both my parents and I felt I should tell you before I talked to Charlie."

"Oh Edward, I'm so happy for you." 'You deserve this, Edward.' Esme always saw the best in everyone.

"Are you going to ask her?" 'If she'd like to be an immortal with you?' Carlisle had been the one telling me to do this all along.

"Yes, I'll ask her both, she could always say yes to one and not the other. It should be up to her."

"I agree, but have a hunch that she'll say yes to both. She's always been very gracious about what we are. I'm so happy for you," Carlisle clapped a hand on my shoulder. I smiled.

"I do hope everyone else is okay with this." I knew everyone else would be, the only one with objections would be Rosalie. It was infuriating watching her hate Bella with no real reason. Everyone had been cajoling her into giving Bella a chance. I was the only one who no longer tried to convince her, I could hear her thoughts the more we tried, the more she hated Bella.

"We should make this quick, so you can go and tell them." Carlisle said, the excitement still in his voice, but he had the same concerns for Rose as I did.

After hunting, we went back to the house where everyone was waiting for us in the dining room. We only used the large table for family conversations. We all arranged ourselves around the table.

"So, is someone finally going to tell us what's going on?" Emmett said, breaking the silence.

I took an unnecessary deep breath, "I'm going to ask Bella if she'd like to be with me forever."

That felt like a good way to put it.

"Wait, like change her or marry her?" Emmett's voice sounded confused, but his thoughts remained positive. He had known about Alice's previous visions, of course, but I had made my choice.

"Both," I clarified.

"I'm so excited," Alice squealed.

"Are you kidding me?" Rosalie wasn't pleased, she was mentally throwing me all kinds of obscenities.

"He has our support, Rose," Carlisle stated matter-of-factly.

"So we're just expected to welcome her into our lives, this menace, a danger you've chosen to inflict on all of us?" Rosalie asked in disbelief. Emmett was trying to reason with her, but he was failing, there wasn't anything any of us could say to change her mind.

"Can't you see what she's doing to us already?" She said looking to Carlisle and Esme for back up.

"You should've let her die the first time," Rosalie snapped.

I wasn't even sure if she meant it or not, but the words were enough. I shot up in outrage, the chair falling behind me. Jasper started sending a calming energy through the room, it didn't help very much, but it brought back at least some sense of rationality and I sat back down.

"Rose," Esme said curtly. Esme was never one to get angry, but everyone had become so attached to Bella. It was amusing how a single human had ensnared a family of vampires, at least most of us. Bella truly had us wrapped around her finger, and she couldn't be more unaware of the power she had over us.

"You really expect me to just watch her die?" I whispered angrily, trying to calm myself. It was maddening to even think of Bella dying.

"Rose, come on. Just give her a chance," Emmett said, trying to compromise with her. Emmett saw Bella as a younger sister. Emmett's mind was usually mellow and un-conflicted, this was just Emmett's nature. Now I could hear the difficulty he was having try to reconcile his protectiveness of Bella with Rose's animosity. If Rose never accepted Bella, how would that impact the rest of the family?

Alice and Jasper weren't nearly as complicated. At this point, Alice was Bella's best friend. Jasper had tried to keep his distance at first, but even he wasn't immune to Bella's pull. Even with Jasper's temperance issues, he still had cultivated a real friendship with Bella. I wasn't sure if it was Rosalie's stubborn nature that kept her from seeing or just a genuine hatred for Bella or perhaps the idea of Bella, the idea that someone, let alone a human, had enthralled all of us in a such an effortless way.

"I've made my decision Rose. If it's going to cause this much conflict, the both of us will go, but understand this, wherever Bella goes, I go." I didn't say it, but this included the afterlife, if Bella died their would be no other reason for me to continue. If she went, I would be right behind her. If Rose couldn't accept that than there was nothing left to say.

If I lost a sister tonight, then so be it.

"Rose, please take some time to think. And Edward, let's not make any rash moves, but I think I can speak for the rest of us that Bella is already a member of our family," Carlisle said gently. He always knew just how to repair any rifts that we were dealt.

Rosalie left the house with Emmett trailing with an apologetic look on his face. 'I'm really happy for you, Eddie.'

I nodded in acknowledgement, ignoring that vile nickname Emmett teased me with.

"Thank you, Carlisle."

"We're so happy for you, Edward," Alice said breaking the leftover tension.

'It only took you 100 and some years. I'm happy for you.' Jasper teased in his thoughts.

"Thank you, Jasper, but no need to get excited, I still have to talk to Charlie and actually ask her," I reminded them, this was all for nothing if she said no.

"Please, have you seen the way she looks at you," Jasper scoffed, rolling his eyes. "And remember, I can feel her emotions."

The sun was starting to come up behind the clouds.

"I should get back to her."

I got up and started making my way to the door.

"Are you bringing her here today?" Esme asked. 'I do enjoy Bella's company, she's delightful.'

"I'm not certain. I'll ask her, but I know she enjoys your company as well, Esme. She's never had anyone to truly rely on, except perhaps Charlie, and she'd never admit it but I think she finds your fussing endearing," I admitted. "Hopefully, everyone can keep a secret," I eyed Alice, knowing she was the biggest threat to my secrecy.

"My lips are sealed, don't worry, and besides we'll be at school. You should hear what people are saying about you guys."

I saw flashes of rumors, despite Bella rolling around an oxygen tank, people still thought of the most ludicrous things.

"I don't want to know, Alice."

"Sorry," she immediately stopped thinking about it. "It's not like any of it is true."

"Bella tries to pay them no mind, but I think it bothers her more than she lets on," I explained.

"Yeah, I could understand that," Alice said empathetically.

"I need to go, she'll be up soon." And with that I left.

When I returned to Bella's, she was up at her desk writing.

"Why are you up so early?" I noticed her jump up at my sudden presence.

"I don't know. I was tossing and turning all night, I woke up and noticed you were gone, so I got up," she explained. Interesting, it was almost like subconsciously, she knew I was gone. This had been the first night we had been separated all night. I knew when I wasn't in her presence, it felt like she had taken my whole heart with her. Maybe I was reading too far into this, but to me it was more confirmation that we were meant to be, that we were mates.

BPOV

When I first woke up, I immediately noticed Edward was gone. The sun hadn't even risen, but I knew that I wasn't getting anymore sleep.

I wondered if his absence had anything to do with my restlessness all night. I put my cannula on and took my human moments without rushing. I'd hoped Edward would be back by the time I was done, but he was still gone. I decided to sit at my desk and write. Recently, inspiration had struck more than normal.

I wasn't sure how long I had been writing when I heard Edward's voice. I also hadn't realized just how early it was, but I explained that I had been tossing and turning, so I decided to just get up.

"What do you want to do today?" He asked, pulling me into him. He sat on the rocking chair, and pulled me into his lap.

"I don't know. Any ideas?"

"Well, we could go over to my house, stay here, whatever you'd like," Edward offered.

We ended up spending the day at Edward's house, we spent part of the day in his room just talking, the other part with Esme. We were sitting on the couch with my head resting on Edward's shoulder when everyone else came home. Rosalie didn't even acknowledge me this time.

"Did I do something?" I asked Edward worriedly.

"Don't worry about it," Emmett said, responding for Edward.

"Okay." My voice was dubious. Emmett, Alice, and Jasper joined us on the large couch.

Edward gave me a quick kiss, "It's fine. She's just being Rosalie."

"Ugh, get a room." Emmett said in mock disgust, Edward put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me in even closer. My face was getting warm again.

Of course Emmett caught that and teased me about it, "You know, I'm really glad Edward didn't kill you. Everything's so much more fun with you around."

Edward glared at him, but I laughed at his quip, "I'm glad I amuse you."

We had been talking for about an hour when Emmett and Jasper told me their stories, about how they ended up as immortals.

"You were a Confederate?" I wrinkled my nose at Jasper.

"Don't get him started, Bella. We've all tried, you won't change his mind, Bella," Alice giggled.

"So you're content with literally being on the wrong side of history, Jasper?" I asked with an eyebrow raised.

Emmett's booming laugh kept the room light, while Jasper and I got into a long debate about the Civil War.

"How could you side with slavery Jasper?" I argued.

"It wasn't about slavery, sure, that was one part, but it was about the fact that states should have the right to secede from the Union should they choose to do so."

This continued for a while before there were no other arguments that Jasper could make.

"I was alive during the Civil War, and a 17 year old human just did what no one else in my family was able to do," Jasper said, conceding defeat.

"I think we need to hear you say it, Jasper," Emmett insisted playfully.

"Oh, we definitely need to hear him say it," Edward agreed, slightly snickering.

"I was on the wrong side of the war," Jasper said, so softly that I could barely hear it.

"And?" Emmett persisted.

"The South was wrong."

"And?" Emmett continued.

Jasper took a deep breath, "The South was racist in it's use of slavery, and therefore supporting the South in the war was racist."

Emmet's laugh was contagious.

"Never let her go Edward," Emmett said through his laughs.

"I'm not planning on it."

By the time we were done with our debate, it was time for me to return home. Once again, Edward helped me prepare dinner for Charlie.

"Don't you get bored of doing the same thing with me?" I asked quietly.

"No, I happen to enjoy spending the day with you, and it was quite amusing watching you win a debate against Jasper." He pulled me into him. "Why?"

I shrugged, "I want to make sure I'm not boring you. Renee used to get so restless being with me 24/7," I chuckled.

"Well, I'll never tire of you," he said, kissing my forehead.

Charlie came home that night, and Edward spent the evening with us again. Before I knew it, it was the next morning.