A/n: Okay this Chapter may be a bit cheesy. It's from Bella's POV though. I had some trouble deciding how to write this one, so I just kind of started writing and let the words flow. Hope you enjoy this one
Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight series or the characters. I can only wish.
"Mike, come on! Just tell me where we are going already!"
He laughs, "You'll see soon Arizona…Trust me?" It was both a question and a statement.
"Well, okay then. Just hurry. I don't like not seeing where I'm going. Don't let me fall."
He laughs again in reply as he guides me to our destination. I didn't get why he insisted on blindfolding me and dragging me along like this. We were supposed to spend time together today; it was the first time we both had the day off of work or school since my 20th birthday. We were supposed to celebrate it today. I didn't want to initially, but Mike begged, and it turns out that his puppy face is really hard to say no to. He would seriously put Puss in Boots to shame.
We were both still living in Forks, having decided to take online core classes from Seattle University. We would eventually move up to Seattle to attend regular classes. Neither of us knew what we wanted to get degrees in yet.
I sighed as I thought about how we got to this point. The night we first kissed jumpstarted the rest of my path to being whole again. We never really labeled what we were; at least not officially. But we both knew. After a couple months I began to initiate kisses instead of just accepting them. A few months after that, our kisses were deeper, and hands began to wander.
And then one night it happened. We were about to enter the realm of a serious relationship; one that would involve letting him love me, and giving myself to him. Once there, I knew that there would be no turning back. When I felt no hesitation, no reservation at all about accepting his love and returning it, I knew I was truly ready. Ready to let him love me. Ready to learn to love him back. So I nervously told him to continue.
I was a ball of nerves after deciding to give myself to him. What virgin girl wasn't? But it turned out; I had no need for nerves. As a lover, Mike was as gentle as they came. Passionate. Loving. Everything I ever wanted and hoped for when I finally lost my virginity.
We lived the past months this year in peace. We were happy. We were officially labeled as a couple. He never stopped telling me I was beautiful and worth it. And somewhere along the way…
I was shaken out of my thoughts when Mike finally stopped and let go of my hand to remove my blindfold. I blinked in the sudden bright light as I looked around. I gasped slightly as I realized exactly where we were.
"Mike, this is…." I stared out at the ocean as I remembered.
"Where we first kissed New Years Eve, yes."
"But what are we doing here?" I asked, confused.
"Bella."
My head whipped around at his suddenly serious voice, only to find him kneeling in front of me on the sand, an open box displaying a simple, elegant ring in one hand. My eyes widened as I realized what he was doing, "Mike…"
"Bella," he cut me off, "I know that this is soon. I know that we haven't even been together for a year. But I love you. I can't imagine spending my life with anyone else but you. I want to grow old with you, and to love you for as long as you allow me to. I know that you are scared that I'll change my mind, but I swear to you that I will love you forever. So I brought you here today to ask that you trust in my love. To ask that you let me love you like you should be loved. I am so in love with you Isabella Marie Swan. You are my reason for living. So please, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
For a moment I stood shocked. Whatever I was expecting, this definitely wasn't it. He was right, we hadn't been together very long. But did the length of time really matter? He loves me. I had learned to love him. I had learned to trust him. Was I ready to take that chance on forever? Looking into his anxious and hopeful expression, I knew my answer.
"Yes. I love you, Mike. So yes, I will marry you."
His grin was infectious as he slipped the ring on my finger, and stood to spin me around before kissing me soundly.
I broke off the kiss as a thought occurred, "Please tell me it isn't going to be a huge affair. Can we have a small, intimate wedding with no fuss?"
He grinned, "Baby we can have whatever wedding you want. As long as you marry me, we could get married in Vegas in jeans and t-shirts tomorrow, and I would be the happiest man alive."
That night we announced the engagement to our parents and to Angela. No one else needed to know. They were all thrilled. Surprisingly, my mother included. I was worried about her reaction when I called her with the news.
After a few weeks of deliberating on a date, we finally decided to just elope in Vegas like Mike had mentioned on the beach when he proposed. So we took our parents and Angela as witnesses, and were married a few weeks later. Our parents chipped in for our honeymoon, sending us to Disneyworld over winter break from school.
Of course there were some people who talked and spread gossip and rumors about why we were married so fast. The most popular theory happened to be that I was pregnant. At first it bothered me, until I finally told Renee about it during one of our weekly calls.
Her response was just what I needed to hear,
"Bella sweetie, no matter what you do or where you go, there are people who are going to find something to gossip about. Don't let it get to you, sweetheart. You and Mike love each other. Charlie is happy with it, Mike's parents are okay with the fast wedding, and so am I. You are both levelheaded adults now. Does it really matter what other people who know nothing about your relationship think about it?"
After we hung up the phone that night, I realized that she had a point. The others knew nothing about our relationship and subsequent marriage. And it really wasn't any of their business anyway. So why does it matter what their opinion is?
Mike loves me, and I love him. We were engaged and got married fast because it was what we wanted. That was all that mattered.
