Author's Note: We're going to pick back up to the present moment where we left off two chapters ago. I hope I'm not pacing this too weird.

EPOV

I heard Bella start the shower, which temporarily pulled me out of my reminiscing. I tried not to imagine her naked, but after the dream she had last night, it was practically all I could see. It wasn't like me to curse or talk sexually in front of a lady. I had very strong feelings about not having sex before marriage, but Bella was certainly pushing me to my limit, especially now that she could read my mind at times and even more so now that I could watch her most intimate dreams.

What's stopping me from asking her to marry me? I thought. I was certain that Bella's feelings on marriage were probably very strongly in the negative direction after the way her parents' marriage went. Ask her. Ask her when she can't lie. See how she feels. No, I couldn't do that to her. I tried to return back to my previous thoughts.

It has certainly been the most eventful two or three days of my entire life so far, including when I was changed. Not only was Bella back in my life, for which I was extremely grateful, but I could finally read her mind and show her mine as well. When someone like Aro of the Volturi read my mind, I found it invasive, but when Bella read my mind, I was glad that she could so she could finally understand what she meant to me and so that she could trust me again.

I still wasn't exactly sure how this all worked. Carlisle and I had never encountered a human with any sort of power like Bella's, let alone a power they could control. She really has always been special. I was beginning to wonder if my family was aware of some greater purpose that I couldn't comprehend. I was finally starting to realize that maybe this is Bella's destiny, to be a vampire and make a difference in the world that way, perhaps much like Carlisle. It hurt me to have these thoughts, but regardless of my feelings on Bella's soul and the afterlife, it was extremely clear to both of us that I could never deny any of her wishes again. And I would do my best to never hide anything from her.

Bella wasn't perfect, but she was absolutely perfect for me. I smiled at the thought of getting to spend another day with her as I ran up to my room to change clothes while she showered. Just in case, I got my mother's ring from where it was tucked away in my closet and put it in my pocket, hoping that she wouldn't want to pull me into her shield with her before I got a chance to ask her. I wouldn't want her to think that I was hiding anything bad from her.

I stopped in Esme's office to see her while Bella finished getting ready. "Hi mom." I said quietly, standing in the doorway and watching her work on sketching some blueprints for the cabin she had always wanted to renovate in the woods here. "I'm going to take Bella to Port Angeles for a few hours. Would you like us to bring anything back for you?"

"No, thanks dear. The rest of the family will be in late tonight though! I'm so happy to have us all back together. Would you like me to call Charlie and see if he'll let Bella stay one more night to help us pick them up at the airport?" she asked, with a smile.

"You know me so well. Of course. I'm sure Bella would love that too. Speaking of which…" I trailed off, walking closer to Esme, and showing her the box I had in my pocket. I listened closely to make sure Bella was still distracted. She was drying her hair. I opened the box to show Esme the antique gold and diamond cluster ring that belonged to my birth mother. Esme had seen the ring before, but knowing what it meant, she gasped. "Edward, I'm so happy for you. Tonight?"

"Yes, I'm going to ask her this evening before we come back."

"I'm sure she'll accept. How could she not? I'm proud of you, son. Good luck!"

I gave Esme a hug and went to go sit on Alice's bed to wait for Bella to finish getting ready. I was nervous that Bella might say no or might even be upset with me for asking her so quickly after coming back or hiding my thoughts from her for a few hours, but I knew that I had to try. I wanted Bella in every way possible, not just her blood or her body, but her love too, as not just my mate, but my wife.