Beta'd by the Wonderful Sunflower Fran. Any mistakes left are all mine.
Five-Year Rule
Chapter 13
Edward
I am nervous.
A damn nervous wreck.
Every scenario is running through my mind. I know she loves me, there is no doubt about it, but my mind doesn't think that's good enough. I take a deep intake of the fresh November air trying to let it relax me.
I hear Bella's gasp, she stops walking her eyes glued to the tree house. This place has always been my sanctuary. Somewhere for me to go when I needed space or to be alone. When I was having a bad day, the tree house comforted me.
I remember it like it was yesterday, I wanted a tree house, but not a baby looking one. I designed it with my own hands; I sketched out the perfect house for Jasper and me. When it was time to go to Home Depot and pick out the wood, Jasper was busy playing Nintendo and didn't want to go. I forgave him and went with Dad.
Dad gave me a quick safety lesson on hammering and using power tools and even paid for woodshop class at the local Community College. Jasper declined, always having some other awesome thing to do. I overlooked that as well. When it was time to begin the work, once again, Jasper was too busy watching cartoons and refused to work.
I built the whole damn thing alone with a little help from Dad. It was my favorite place, a place I could call my own. A place I've always gone after every big accomplishment in my life.
It was the tree house I ran to after losing my virginity to Carmen Lawson. I lay down and remembered every detail of the best five minutes of my life. It was where I came after I received my acceptance letter from NYU. When I decided to start my own company, I stayed in the tree house for days going over paperwork, and details. Mom brought me food and water and just shook her head as if I was a crazy person.
Over the years this is the one place where I've consistently felt at home. As I look back, I realize that I've experienced the most significant events and milestones of my life in this structure. It holds nothing but good memories. So it makes sense that I would ask the woman I love to marry me here.
"It's wonderful, Edward. How old were you when you built this?" She asks softly.
I pull her gently along. "Fourteen. I wanted to build something with my own two hands, but I didn't want one of those baby ass tree houses."
"Of course you didn't. I'm sure at fourteen you were well on your way to assholedom." She leans over and pecks my cheek.
I chuckle because she is right, "I had to start early to be the asshole you know and love today."
We reach the tree house and my heart was about to jump out of my damn chest. I can feel sweat rolling down my back and I hear my own panting breath.
Fuck.
I'm a damn mess.
The rising moon shines its light on my sanctuary
I turn towards Bella, "I'm just going to go … um, turn on the kerosene lantern so that you won't fall.
Taking the stairs two at a time, I open the door, kneeling down to pick up the lantern. Over the years, I've added to the structure, always coming here to think or meditate whenever something was heavy on my mind. I'd also kept it up for Jasper's future kids, so that they would enjoy it even though I would never let their crybaby-ass father inside.
Now, I'm glad I kept the tree house together because I know for a fact that my kids, the beautiful ones I have with Bella, will be able to play in it as well.
Taking a deep breath, I walk down the stairs to Bella taking her hand in mine. The lantern lights the narrow stairs as we ascend.
"You're acting weird. Are you going to tell me what's wrong?" She asks staring at me.
We reach the small door and I sweep my hand forward. She walks inside and twirls around taking in the small room. The door to the tree house is about five feet, ten inches, a little taller than my fourteen-year-old self.
The rest of the room is six feet tall, so I have to bend down or stay on my knees.
I take a deep breath and follow her inside.
Bella
I take in the magnificent built tree house. Fourteen-year-old Edward must have been amazing. An asshole since he wouldn't let his little brother in, but amazing none-the-less.
The sheer size of this place is impressive. The outside is like a miniature prairie house with two windows on either side of the structure. Carefully worn stairs lead up to an impressive porch. It's built around a large tree, but it also sits on two large stilts.
The inside is decorated with sports memorabilia and drawings signed E.A.C. I smile as I inspect each detailed piece. Every line is so perfect no matter what or who the subject is. A photo of all the Cullens as a family, a large dog staring up into the unknown and here are other pictures of cars, boats, then girls and cartoon characters.
"Edward, your drawings are-" I turn around to face him and am speechless.
My breath catches in my throat as I hear my heart beating wildly. The tears come first, falling without my permission. One of my hands clenches at my chest, my tongue coming out, to moist my dry lips.
My eyes search his as he sits on bended knee, holding an exquisite yellow, canary diamond ring.
He holds one of his hands out to me and I take it slowly. His hands are a little sweaty and now I know the reason for his earlier nervousness.
"Baby, you are everything in the world to me. You're the air that I breathe, the very soul of my being. There is no life without you for me. I love you, Bella Swan, please do me the extreme honor of being my wife, and my Brat, now and forever. Will you marry me?" Tears pool in his green eyes.
The air around us seems to be charged with energy I've never felt before. I can't seem to find my voice to tell this beautiful man, yes, of course. I open my mouth and nothing comes out.
I close it and open it again.
Nothing.
A look of sheer horror crosses his face. There is a second of doubt and I can't have that at all. No, Asshole … please wait, I said yes! I push past whatever the hell is blocking my voice.
"Yes …" I force the simple word out nearly choking in its wake. "God yes, I'll marry you."
Edward pulls me toward him and I drop to my knees, my arms wrapping around his neck.
"Jesus, thank God. You scared the shit out of me." He sighs against my skin.
He buries his face in my neck letting all the tension out of his body. He finds my lips hungrily, and our tongues glide against each other erotically. We both moan in pleasure.
He pulls back with watery eyes and a smile bright as the sun on his handsome face. He holds up the ring for my inspection.
It's breathtaking.
A large yellow diamond sits between four prongs. The band is platinum band is covered in diamonds.
I put forward my trembling left hand for him. He smiles up at me and slides the ring on my finger.
"I love you so much, Bella," he whispers against my lips.
"I love you, too, Edward."
We stay in the tree house kissing and touching for what seems like forever. The wind nipping at our skin finally forces us inside.
Walking hand in hand, I smile up at Edward. " You had the ring the entire ride up here. No wonder you were acting so weird. You are such an asshole! "
He stops and pulls me into him. One of his hands grip my ass and he bends down to whisper against my lips.
"I'm your asshole now and forever." The kiss he lays on me is hot and heavy.
I lose myself in his lips, enjoying every inch of my fiancé.
My fiancé!
Edward pulls away and I open my eyes reluctantly. I give him a pout, because I really just want to be alone and do bad things to him.
"Don't be a brat, Brat. Later, I promise to take you long and hard." He says giving me a sexy wink.
"You better, Asshole. I'm engaged and I want to celebrate." I wiggle my ring finger in his face.
He chuckles and leads us back inside the house. We reach the living room to find Alice, Jasper, Carlisle, and Esme all playing monopoly. Esme smiles when she notices us.
"How did you like the tree house, Bella?" She asks.
I look up to Edward wondering how he wants to do this. He gives me a nod, the permanent smile on his face causing my heart to do a happy dance.
"Oh, I loved it. Especially since …" I trail off causing everyone to turn towards us.
"Especially since, what?" Jasper asks curiously.
Edward adjusts himself behind me and presents my left hand to the room.
"Since it's the place I asked her to marry me, and she said yes!" Edward is so excited and I turn to kiss his lips equally excited.
"Oh. My. God!" Esme jumps up and runs over to us like an Olympic runner.
She pulls me out of Edward's arm and hugs me tight. "Congratulations! You darling girl! You have really changed my son for the better."
The tears in her eyes cause me to cry as well. It's true, Edward is a different man since the one I first met all those months ago. Still an asshole, but a better one. I'm different too because of him. I'll always be a brat, but he makes me a better one as well.
Carlisle and Jasper are hugging the dear life out of Edward, but my eyes search the room for my sister. She's no longer there. Maybe she went to call Mom and Dad before I have the chance.
"This is cause for celebration! I'll get the champagne." Carlisle runs to the kitchen as if he just won the lottery.
I guess he won the daughter-in-law lottery first, with Alice and now with me!
"I'll go get Alice," I tell the happy crowd.
I go in search of my sister finding her in the dining room. I'm as giddy as a little girl with her first American Girl doll. I run up to Alice, who is sitting at the table.
"Where did you go? Can you believe it? I'm engaged, bitch!" I scream as I fling my ring finger in her face.
Now I feel sorry I judged her when she did it in a crowded hotel lobby. This happiness is indescribable and it cannot be contained.
Alice is quiet and that 's when I look up at her and notice that she doesn't look happy at all. In fact, she looks fucking miserable … as if someone stole her damn dog.
I take a step back.
"What's wrong?" I try to contain my anger.
Surely. Surely my sister is happy for me.
"Don't you think it's too soon? I mean you just met in July and now four months later you're living with him and engaged." She stands up and glares at me.
I take a deep breath, "I'm giving you five fucking minutes to get over yourself. You've been acting like a whiney little bitch every time Edward and I are touching or kissing or being loving with each other"
I start to walk out of the room but stop and turn back around to face her. "When you called me and told me you were marrying Jasper after six months, I had one minute of doubt. I asked I you were sure, and you know what you said, Alice?"
"Yes. I told you that I was absolutely positive, and that I loved him so much." She whispers.
"That's right. So I want you to listen to me. Edward is every thing to me. I love him and I'm going to be his wife and the least …" I stop .. I am not going to let these negative emotions take over me when right now I should be the happiest person on earth. "… the least you can do is be fucking happy for me the way I was for you. I'll expect you in the living room to drink some damn champagne and celebrate with all of us. "
I leave the room and quickly compose myself. I walk into the living room to find Carlisle pouring glasses of champagne for everyone. Edward's arms wrap around my waist staring down at me.
Staring down at me, he asks, "You okay, Brat?" He pecks my lips.
"Never better, Asshole." I give him a kiss of my own.
"Okay, you two. Break it up!" Esme says as she holds two glasses of champagne towards us.
Alice enters the room all peppy and smiles. I love her, but sometimes she is freaking bipolar for real!
"Congratulations! Edward, I'm so happy for you and my sister. Don't you dare hurt her." She gives him a hug and he automatically stiffens.
"Thanks, Alice. I'll die before I hurt her." He pecks my temple.
Alice pulls me into a hug and whispers into my ear, "I'm sorry. I'm so happy for you!"
"Thanks, Alice. I'm really happy." I tell her honestly.
Jasper passes Alice a glass of champagne and Edward pulls me into his side again. Everyone stares at us with smiles on their faces. If there is a hint of trepidation on Alice's face, I don't linger long enough to notice it. This right now is only about Edward and me.
Our happiness.
Glasses are raised around us and I look up into hypnotic green eyes. Eyes that I will see for the rest of my life, and I will have it no other way.
"To Edward and Bella, may your love always keep you both in its arms, may you always be in love the way you are this day, now and forever." Carlisle raises his glass towards us.
"Now and forever." Everyone else repeats and tips their glasses towards us in salute.
We drink.
The bubbly goodness seems to spike my already happy attitude. I smile over at Edward.
My fiancé.
My life.
My Asshole.
He smiles back at me before his lips takes mine in a kiss too passionate for the eyes of our family.
A/N: So I sat on this awhile! (Two weeks is not awhile!) Then I became too busy with writing a little something something. But here it is! It's a cute one too! I'll try to get you the next chapter no later than two weeks! (I hope I didn't jinx it!) I'm trying to wrap this up! I posted the ring on FB in my group (CC writes fanfiction) & in the Pay It Forward group. Love you! Mean it!
