And so it's now 2009! So, how was 2008 for everyone? Go to any good New Years parties? How's this year treating you so far? :)

Some kind of important things happen in this chapter, things I felt ExB would deal with after what happened at the end of the last chapter. There will be more of that in the next chapter, and then... Well, if I tell you it would ruin the surprise.

Mwahahahaha!!


BPOV

After the count down was finished and the celebrations died off, everyone decided to leave.

"Great party guys," Alice smiled before shooting me an odd look.

I guess she noticed the exchange between Edward and I.

"Yeah. Aside from Alice and Jasper's hats, and Ryan Seacrest," Rosalie smirked, making Emmett chuckle heartily. Jasper punched him in the arm on the way out.

The moment the front door closed I spun around to face Edward, only one thing on my mind.

"Did you mean it?"

Edward stared at me blankly for a moment before rolling his eyes and letting out an exasperated sigh.

"Please say you don't still have doubts about my feelings for you," he laughed.

I flung my arms around him, tugging him to me forcefully. He let out a slight "oof" noise before laughing again and placing a hand firmly on my back, holding me close.

"I don't even believe it, Edward," I said slowly, my mind in a bit of a daze. I pulled back, just enough so that I had a good view of his face. "You really want to... marry me?"

"More than anything," he replied without a moment's hesitation, causing me to smile brightly.

"So then... are we supposed to... you know, pick a date or something?"

"Hmmm. Well, I figured we would just wait. Wait until it felt right, until enough time passes that everyone around us knows that we aren't just jumping into things. Until we're sure that we're not just jumping into things."

"You're right," I gasped, only just now realizing how abnormal our friends and family would take the news.

We've known each other for two months.

We've dated for a couple of weeks.

We look just like love struck teenagers, hellbent on doing something stupid without thinking of the consequences.

"Don't worry, Bella," Edward said softly, noticing the realization that had struck me. "They'll be convinced we're making the right decision soon enough."

"Yeah, maybe in fifty years when we've got a busload of grand kids!"

"Do you... want to wait?"

"No," I pouted, clutching his shirt tightly in my hands, refusing to let him go. "By the end of the year, i'll be your wife."

He was silent then. I gazed up at him, only to see a lazy grin spread out across his face.

"It just sounds so good when you say it."

"Well, it felt good to say." I held my head up proudly, making him chuckle. "I'm going to be Bella Masen."

"Well, Mrs. Masen, it's getting late. Are you ready for bed?" Edward asked formally, holding an arm out for me to take. I untangled myself from him, only to wrap my arm around his right after. He jutted his chin out, and began to strut through the house towards the bedroom, with me laughing and giddy with excitement the whole way.

When we woke later that day, I was heartbroken to have to go back to my place. Me and Alice had plans to visit my parents today. My mom, Rennee, flew all the way out here, and while I was happy to be able to see her again, it was hard having to leave Edward.

"I'm going to miss you," he sighed, jutting his bottom lip out into the most adorable pout I'd ever laid eyes on.

"And i'll miss you, I'm so sorry, I'd completely forgotten I'd made plans until Alice called, and I haven't seen Rennee in months..."

"Bella, it's alright. Really. It will only be a couple of hours."

"But we've hardly seen any of each other recently, since you were in Chicago, and being back at work and everything..."

"But once you're back we'll have the rest of the day together."

I shook my head, unwilling to lose any time away from him.

After what had taken place last night, my need to constantly be around him and grown unbelievably stronger.

It would be unbearable to be apart, even if only for a few hours.

That's when the brilliant idea struck me.

"Come with me," I said suddenly, in an excited whisper. He took this into consideration for a moment before shaking his head in disagreement.

"No, no, it sounds like a family thing, I don't want to intrude - "

"But you are my family now. Come with me. Please?" I gave him the best puppy dog eyes I could muster up. He hung his head in defeat.

"That's not fair, Bella. You know I can't say no to you."


Exactly.

We were a little late, but I don't think anyone even realized that once we came in.

"Bella," Charlie started uncomfortably, his eyes shifting back and forth between me and Edward. "You brought your friend."

"Friend?" Rennee asked with interest. I blushed.

Great. Ten seconds in and my face is already red.

Edward nodded and held a hand out to Rennee - always the gentleman - and smiled tightly. I could tell he was struggling to keep in our news.

"Hello. I'm Edward Masen. You must be Rennee?"

Her eyes flashed to me, sending off some sort of message I wasn't able to understand.

"Yes, that's right," she smiled, turning to look back at Edward, gave him an appreciative once over, and shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you, Edward."

He nodded and shoved his hands into his pockets uncomfortably, gazing down at his feet. Rennee noticed this and took the opportunity to flash me a thumbs up.

My face grew twelve shades darker.

I see Charlie's already informed her about... that day.

How she managed to hold back from calling me a couple hundred thousand times, I don't think i'll ever know.

"It's so good of you to join us, Edward," Alice smirked, seemingly unfazed by his appearance. It was as if she expected him all along.

Nothing gets past Alice.

I inwardly sighed in relief that she wasn't upset.

"Have a seat!"

"Um, alright," Edward nodded, glancing curiously at Alice as she smiled brightly over at him. Charlie shifted around uncomfortably in his seat.

This is going to be a long day.

"Well, that was awful," Edward grinned as we arrived back at his place.

"I'm so, so sorry about everything!"

"Nothing to be sorry for. I actually had a good laugh at one point."

"It was the waiter's fault, he didn't have a good grip on that plate when he handed it to me!" I shrieked, my humiliation of the day's events returning.

Edward let out a loud bark of a laugh at that, causing me to smile against my will.

"I'm sorry, Bella. That's... not funny. You know, even though you're smiling."

"Shut up," I pouted, shoving him playfully.

"Hey, come on. You know your parents loved me, so at least it was a success."

"Well, yeah, my mom likes you. Hell, I think she really does love you."

"And your dad?"

I winced. He just chuckled and shrugged.

"Yeah, guess I figured as much. But hey, maybe we could get Alice to change his mind. I can tell he's a sucker for her."

I giggled at that, which made Edward's smile grow larger.

"Yeah, he is. Guess it is pretty obvious, huh..."

"Oh yeah," he laughed. "Well, you know I really am glad to have met both of your parents now. Since you're soon going to become my wife, I figure it was a pretty important step."

His eyes darkened minutely, and I could tell exactly what he was thinking.

I never had the chance to meet his parents...

"I know," I whispered, bringing his attention back to me.

"They would have loved you, Bella. I know it."

"Edward..."

"Do you know what the worst part of it is?" He scoffed bitterly, bringing a hand to his hair and digging his fingers into his scalp. "I didn't even tell them about you. They had no clue, how happy you've made me, how amazing you are... God, I'm an idiot!" He growled, slamming a fist against the wall and making a significant crack.

"Edward, don't do this to yourself!" I snapped harshly, grabbing hold of his arms so he couldn't do any more damage. "How were you supposed to know? There's no way you could have, it's nobody's fault! Do not beat yourself up over this."

When he finally looked up at me, I noticed something that broke my heart.

He's... crying....

"I just wish I'd just gotten over myself for one damn minute and let you meet them. But I didn't..."

I released his arms, and he brought one up to wipe the tears from his eyes.

My stomach clenched tightly at the sight.

Gods aren't supposed to cry...

I let out an odd little squeak, making him look up in shock.

"Bella, don't. Don't feel sorry for me, please... Not you."

"I don't feel sorry for you," I hissed, upset that he'd even thought that. "I just don't want you to be in so much pain. I feel your pain... What's mine is yours, remember?"

"No. I'm not bringing this in on you," he growled, turning away in an attempt to leave.

I grabbed hold of the back of his shirt and tugged him back. This surprised him - he lost his footing and flew backwards, knocking right into me. I shrieked as we hit the ground, him landing on top of me. He quickly rolled off and got up on his knees to inspect me for injuries.

"Oh, God! Bella, I'm so sorry, are you alright? Please say I didn't hurt you! I should have tried to grab hold of something, I never - "

"I'm fine," I smiled, unable to help it.

For once I wasn't the one who caused a pile up.

Edward sighed in relief and gave me a very disapproving stare.

"This isn't funny."

"I didn't laugh."

"Bella...."

"Edward," I replied in a mocking tone, making the sides of his lips twitch as he tried not to smile.

"I'm serious."

"Why so serious," I responded, in my best Joker voice. He finally relented and let out a loud chuckle.

"You are so silly..."

"Come on, you walked right into that one."

He just continued to chuckle, and laid down on the ground beside me, taking hold of one of my hands.

"They really would have loved you," he sighed after a minute.

I glanced over and was relieved to see that his smile was still in place, though there was still that darkness in his eyes.

I just gave his hand a squeeze and nodded, not allowing myself to say anything in response to bring out the angry, vulnerable Edward i'd just witnessed moments before.