Happiness

The next week or so flew by at crazy speeds. Between talking with Edward's mother and family and my work, I was constantly busy. It was insane. Somehow I kept it all a secret from him, though I wasn't sure how. It was probably due to the amount he was working. He wanted to take a few days off, starting on his birthday, which was perfect. He deserved it if anything else.

When Emmett got wind of the party, he said he would keep Edward busy the morning of. He, with the help of Jasper, would take him for a birthday lunch. I told my boyfriend that I wanted to have a special dinner with him but that he would have to stay out of the house while I got it ready.

He hemmed and hawed, but he agreed. Thankfully. If he hadn't, I would have simply had Jasper and Emmett literally kidnap him. As it were, I knew they were going to blindfold him before they got to his aunt's house so he wouldn't know what was going on. I was sure all the cars would have tipped him off.

I wish Emmett could film Edward's face when he did blindfold him. I was sure the whole thing would be priceless.

The day before the big party Edward was literally working all day. It couldn't have worked out better for me if I had planned it. He was working at three different weddings, and he was going to be gone from the house until late in the evening.

He thought I was working as well. Well, he was sort of right.

I asked for Jasper's help in making Edward a birthday cake, and he agreed, of course. He was actually really excited about it. He was making all sorts of plans, which made me extremely nervous.

"Jasper, I hope you didn't go too far. Seriously, I wanted to make Edward a cake. I just need some help," I complained as I slipped on an apron. We were in the back of his bakery, the smell of fresh cookies and bread wafting past my nose.

"Um, okay... let me just say this. He is my friend too. And the party is going to be huge," he began sheepishly. I just frowned. "And I figured you wouldn't mind making one layer of the cake."

"One layer?" I asked in confusion. "I need to do more than that."

He whipped out a piece of paper and smiled at me slightly as he opened it. "So, this is the basic design. I was thinking a nice stacked three-layered cake with a large base. The bottom is going to be a butter cake, the middle chocolate, and the very top is going to be a strawberry. This should be enough to feed... oh, I'd say, three hundred not so hungry people or two hundred cake lovers."

"Jasper!" I gasped, looking at his plans. "I can't do all of this! And this is got to cost a fortune!"

"No, it isn't! The cake is cheap. It's the labor that costs, and luckily I'm not charging you," he said as he wrapped an arm around my waist. "I'll help you through every step of the way. And you just said you wanted to bake a homemade cake, not decorate it. I've got that part."

"How am I going to get this to his party?" I asked, confused and a little frustrated.

"Seth is going to deliver it in the morning. Along with a few other baked goods. I've been in touch with Emmett and Rosalie, and this is going to be a kick-ass party." He smiled. "You're awesome for doing this for him. I know he's going to love it."

"Are you sure?" I asked quietly. "It's kind of gotten out of hand."

That was an understatement. Literally all of Edward's family was coming. Including his grandparents from Florida. There was going to be, at the very minimum, two hundred people. All of which agreed to bring a dish.

We were going to need a van to bring all of his gifts home.

"Edward needs to go 'wild' every once in a while. And this..." he stopped, thinking out his words carefully before he began to speak again. "This shows how well you know him. You know what he likes. What he loves. His family is essential to him and the fact you went to all this trouble to get them all together for his birthday? Baby, it's great."

I sniffled, for some reason tears springing to my eyes. I wiped one away quickly, which thankfully Jasper ignored. Clearing my throat roughly, I looked over at my tall blond friend. "Where do we start?"

"Okay, I've got everything out. We're going to start with a base mix and then add whatever flavoring we want."

He pulled out a huge bowl. It was as big as a hot tub, or at least it felt like it to me. Jasper had already pre-measured all the ingredients we would need. Flour, butter, sugar, and literally eighteen eggs. And some other stuff too that I really wasn't sure of. He was the baker, so I trusted him.

Jasper talked me through everything, just pointing out things I needed to do. Oh, and he helped me lift the bowl to the mixer. It was too heavy for me. We measured. We mixed. We added flavors. And finally, we put them into the oven. While they were cooking, we made up a batch of white buttercream frosting.

"What color should we do it?" He asked, showing me all the different shades he had to offer. It was literally dozens.

"Dark Green and light blue," I said right away.

"That sounds nice," Jasper said thoughtfully. "I can do some white piping for some details. Yeah, I think that'll be great."

When the cakes came out of the oven, he made sure they were adequately cooled before flipping them out. This is the part where I simply stood back and watched.

With expert hands he sliced the cakes in half, putting different stuff in the center. Strawberry jam, a chocolate crème, and cream cheese. He trimmed and frosted, stacked and decorated. By the time it was all said and done the cake was three feet high, if not taller. The bottom was a vibrant colored grass green and it faded in the middle into the blue until the very top of the cake was a baby blue. It looked like the horizon.

"Flowers would be pretty on the bottom," I said thoughtfully. "You were talking about piping too. The white would look like clouds on the top."

"Perfect. Not exactly manly but I think Edward will love it," he laughed, picking up his bag of icing. "By the way, what time do you have to pick up his parents?"

"At-" I stopped as I looked at my watch, flinching back at the time. It took a lot longer than I thought it would. "In a few minutes actually. I've got to go. Do you want me to come back?"

"No girl, I got this. If I have any questions, I'll let you know. Seth is going to deliver it tomorrow right before noon," he said, placing a kiss on my cheek. "This was fun today. Maybe next time we'll do something a little fancier."

I scoffed, making him laugh. "Thanks for all your help. You're a wonderful friend."

Jasper blushed, smiling coyly. "Go on. You're embarrassing me."

I reached up on tiptoes and returned his kiss. He turned nearly purple in the face, his emotions right there for all to see. He gave me a big squeeze before I fled out to my car.

I drove like a bat out of hell to get to the airport in time. I was panting when I found Carlisle and Esme by the luggage. "I'm here, I'm here," I wheezed, doubling over.

Carlisle laughed, "you know, you didn't have to run. We could have waited the ten minutes."

"I didn't want to keep you waiting," I told him, rubbing the stitch in my side. "How was the flight?"

"Long." Esme came over and gave me a big hug. "I couldn't sleep through any of it though! I am so excited!"

Apparently, it was the day for hugs and kisses. I didn't mind it though. Perhaps a year ago I would have been uncomfortable with it but now... now, I loved it.

"She's been talking about it non stop since you called us," Carlisle chuckled, lifting up their bags from the belt. "You know, she's just been looking for her chance to come again."

"Once a year just isn't enough," she complained. "Besides, it's my baby's birthday!"

"I know, darling. I know," he chuckled. "I'm excited too. Does Edward have a clue?"

"Not at all," I said, "I think anyway. He thinks Emmett and Jasper are taking him out to lunch and that I'm making him a nice meal. I think he thinks it's going to be a quiet evening at home."

"Boy is he wrong," Esme snickered. "It's not going to be quiet for days."

"Isn't that the truth?" I laughed. "I can't believe this is all going so well. I mean," I sighed, smiling at them both. "Thank you so much for helping me with this. I never would have been able to do it without you."

"Of course, darlin," Esme said in her thick accent. "I'd do anything to help the girl that's making my son so happy. This is wonderful."

And she was right. It was wonderful.

I went to dinner with Edward's parents before dropping them off at the hotel they were staying at for the time they were here. His grandparents were staying there as well and had already arrived safely. From what Esme had said after talking to one of her many sisters, they had already had the tents up and the food was already cooking. Everyone had decided to do a Thanksgiving-themed meal since they knew Edward loved it so much. I couldn't imagine all the food that was going to be there.

It was around seven when he finally got home. I was in my office, unpacking the last two boxes that we had left. I had been working my way slowly through the house, and somehow I was almost done.

"Hey baby," he said as he leaned against the doorframe. "How was your day?"

I could tell he was tired, poor thing. His eyes had dark purple circles underneath them, and his fingers were curled in at his sides. I stood up and walked to him quickly.

"Busy," I told him truthfully. I couldn't lie so it was just easier to tell him the truths I could. "How are you?"

"Exhausted," Edward sighed, leaning his head against my shoulder as I wrapped my arms around his waist. He breathed in deeply, his eyelashes fluttering against my neck. "You smell so good. Like cake."

I struggled to find a good excuse and decided, once again, that lying wasn't the way to go. So, I told him a bit of the truth. "I ran to Jasper's Bakery. Had to get something for tomorrow."

"And what was that?" He asked without missing a beat, his fingers running over my hips.

I knew exactly what he was doing. He was trying to get information out of me in his special way. Well, it certainly wasn't going to work. I wasn't going to let it.

"No, sir," I teased, pushing him back gently. "You can't use your nimble fingers and sexy accent to get a single word out of me. It's a surprise, and it's going to stay that way."

"Nimble?" He chuckled, running the rough tips of his fingers in feather-light waves over my rib cage. "Sexy accent? Do you really think so?"

"Yes, they are both absolutely panty dropping. And since that's the case, I must ask you to leave this room so I can keep my secrets intact and my panties firmly in place."

He laughed loudly, throwing his head back. "I'm being banished?"

"Yes!" I teased him, swinging my hips as I went over to my boxes. "I was in the middle of something I wanted to finish."

"Want some help?" Edward offered, his voice turning softer and more serious.

"No, honey. It's okay. It's just the two left. Are you hungry? Want me to fix you something to eat?"

"No, I got it," he assured me. "I'll let you finish. Are those the last of them?" He asked thoughtfully.

"They are," I said, kneeling beside the box. "We're almost completely settled."

I expected him to bring up something we had talked about not so long before. How I promised him that we would talk about marriage once the final boxes were unpacked, but he didn't say a word about it. Instead, he came over to me and kissed the top of my head lightly.

"Want me to make you something too?"

"No, I've eaten," I said quietly.

"Alright," he said, turning to go towards the kitchen. "Let me know if you need anything."

The first of the second boxes were almost already empty. There wasn't much in it, to begin with. Just a few office supplies. Mostly things I could live without anyway. But the second and final box was filled to the brim. It was the things I wanted to decorate my office with. Things I could live without but didn't want to.

First was a photograph of Alice and me in New Orleans by the river. We were hugging each other, smiling widely at the camera. Emmett had said something stupid a few moments before, making everyone laugh in the process.

I loved having friends. I loved having a best friend. She had done so many wonderful things for me. She had filled in so many gaps in my life. I hadn't realized how badly I need one until I finally had her. I never knew what was missing from my life.

Next was a picture of Jasper, in New Orleans as well. We were both sitting on a bed with our ankles crossed, eating pralines, with the massive bag of his efforts in between us. Edward thought it was a hilarious shot and framed it for me. He wrote on the back 'two nuts in one bed'.

Just looking at his handwriting made me smile.

The next five frames were all of Edward or of me. Two were in England around Christmas time. One of us together before we went out dancing, the one that his mother forced us to take. Another was of him standing on the ferry, looking over at Big Ben. I wasn't even sure he knew I was taking the picture at the time. He had a scarf around his neck, both it and his hair blowing in the wind. He had such a serene smile on his face.

The next picture was of Edward and me at the winery. The owner was kind enough to take it for us. My handsome boyfriend was looking down at me lovingly, his arms around my waist. I was looking up, smiling for everything I was worth as I looked at only him.

The next two, and final, pictures were from Ripley's. We took them in a booth before leaving. One where we were all crammed in together, Bridget, Edward, Tanya, and I, and another where it was just Edward and myself. He had his lips pressed against my cheek, and I looked utter shocked by it. It came in a set of four, and he had the other two in his wallet.

My eyes lingered on the photo of all of us. We almost looked like a family. Though, I suppose we were in our own way. Edward looked like the perfectly doting father, smoothing away a piece of the little girl's hair. My arm was snug around Tanya's waist, keeping her from falling to the floor as she sat uncomfortably on my lap.

And as lovely as this family photo was, I wanted another. I wanted a real one. I wanted our family photo.

I wanted a picture of Edward holding a bundle of fabric, a baby wrapped inside. I didn't care if it was a girl or a boy. I just wanted to give Edward a child. Or a dozen if he wanted them. I somehow suspected that he wanted more than just the one. I didn't care though. I wanted to give him that.

And I wanted to give him so much more. He already had my heart. But, I wanted to give him all of me.

Without another thought, I stood up and arranged the pictures on my large oak desk just so. When I came back to the box, I realized two things. It was empty, and I was ready.

It hit me like a hammer.

It wasn't that I wanted to marry Edward. It was that I needed to marry him. I needed to be his wife. He already had my heart, and I knew I had his. I had no idea what I was so worried about.

Suddenly things from before didn't seem to matter. Like my list. It was all well and good, and it did help my life, but I wanted to live beyond it. I didn't need to go off some piece of paper anymore. I knew what I wanted.

And I wanted Edward.

And I didn't want us to stumble through some awkward conversation. Edward deserved more than that. He deserved some sort of romantic gesture. He had done so many for me.

With that thought, I popped up to my feet and gathered my things together. I didn't even bother with shoes, instead just putting on flip flops. I ran down to the kitchen in a hurry, coming up to Edward and kissing him firmly on the lips.

Poor thing looked so confused. "Is everything okay?"

"Everything is great. I just realized that I need something else for tomorrow and I have to get it tonight," I said, kissing him again. "I'll be back in a little while."

"Where are you going?" He said, grabbing my arm.

I laughed, turning in his arms so that mine was wrapped around his neck. "I promise you'll see tomorrow. It'll be worth the wait."

Edward let me go slowly, looking at me curiously. "Okay. Be careful though. I love you."

"I love you too," I swore with all my heart and with that I bolted out the door. As soon as I got backed out of the driveway, I pulled out my phone and dialed the only person I would go to for fashion help. "Hey, Alice."

"Hey, baby!" She said happily. "Excited for the party tomorrow? I saw the cake, and it is GORGEOUS! The two of you did a great job!"

"Thanks," I said in a rush. "Alice, can you meet me at Galleria in like ten minutes? I need your help."

"Yeah, sure. Why? Something wrong?"

"Everything is perfect. I just need your advice on some jewelry."

"Cool. Of course. What kind of jewelry?"

"A ring. I'm going to propose to Edward tomorrow."

One more chapter and an epilogue! Don't forget to check out my poll if you wanna sure your opinion on which I should repost next.

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