Okay, sweet readers. This is the last chapter, and as announced, it is longer than usual.

I do not own Twilight.

SunflowerFran betaed; remaining mistakes are mine.

oOo

Edward was in a hurry, and the London traffic was driving him insane. He had wanted to go earlier, but Rosalie only got away from work for a bit around noon, and he didn't trust himself to do this without her. Once at Tiffany's, it had taken him ages to come to a decision. Ro had made good-natured fun of him, but she'd still been a big help, giving him a loud, smooching kiss on his cheek when they'd parted.

Now he was muttering under his breath as he made his way through the mid-May afternoon sun. The trees had begun to show first bits of green and white and pink petals, and the days were finally becoming warmer and longer.

Bella had texted earlier, saying that she wouldn't be home before six, but with the food still to be prepared, he was getting into serious trouble.

Once – finally – home, he greeted and fed Jennie, and set to work.

Since cooking had been a way to relax and broaden his horizons over the past nine months, he moved easily and with certainty as he prepared some of Bella's favourites: falafel, crudités and dips, tomato and mozzarella, tabouleh, and lentil salad.

Once everything was ready and packed, he rushed upstairs to take a shower. He didn't bother shaving again, despite the stubble that had grown during the day. Bella'd voiced her pro-scruff thoughts many, many times. He put on black trousers and a pale blue button-down, spritzed himself with a bit of Dior Homme, and went to his studio.

It looked so different from six months ago. It had actually been Alec's idea to remodel it, and Bella had been glad to help. They'd repainted the walls, rearranged the sparse furniture, and one night, Bella had come home with two things: a framed picture of Milo, and a basket for Jennie to sit in.

Edward collected the small painting he'd hidden in a drawer, and dashed downstairs, where Jennie was waiting, her head cocked to one side.

She was obviously noticing that he was up to something.

"Yes, hun, tonight is important," he told the dog. "Tonight, Daddy wants to make sure Mummy will stay with him forever. Remember what we talked about?"

Jennie replied with a friendly bark and retired to her pillow on the living room couch.

Edward checked the clock. Twenty minutes to go.

He set to work.

.

Bella was incredibly bored at her meeting with Shelly and Steve, two members of the learning group she had agreed to supervise. And she was desperate to get out of it. Sighing, she turned back to Shelley's essay on Cognitive Approaches to Grammar.

.

Edward was getting nervous. Everything was set. Jennie was sitting in her basket, overlooking the scene, clearly aware that something was happening. The picnic basket was next to the front door with the rug and Jennie's leash. The clock was ticking. Edward was raking his hand through his hair.

At five-fifty, he heard the key in the front door. He jumped up from his seat on the couch, trying to compose his face. He'd changed from his black dress pants into jeans, finding his look too conspicuous.

"Hey, baby."

He walked into the hall. Bella's eyes lit up, and she gave him a breathtaking smile.

"Hi."

She crossed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around his neck, greeting him with a slow, warm kiss.

"How was your day?" he murmured.

"Long," she grumbled. "Incredibly boring." She was about to pull him to the kitchen when she noticed the picnic basket next to the door.

"What's this?"

Jennie joined them, demanding to be greeted by Bella, who bent down and patted her head.

"I was thinking about having a picnic in the park for dinner," Edward replied, trying to keep his voice non-committal.

"Really?" she yawned, playing with his fingers. "I don't know. I'm really tired…"

"It's lovely outside," he said, pulling her close again. He kissed her ear. "I could give you a foot massage." He raised one eyebrow. "And anyway, Jennie needs to be walked."

Bella considered his reasoning, and finally nodded her approval.

"Okay. Let me just run upstairs and change my clothes."

"'Kay." He placed another kiss on her lips.

The second Bella was out of sight; he squatted down and raised his fist. Jennie responded promptly, giving a high-five.

.

Once Bella had changed into jeans, a T-shirt, and flip-flops, she returned downstairs, where Edward seemed in earnest conversation with their dog. It made her smile. Adopting Jennie had been the best thing for him, and she had completely fallen in love with their little companion, as well. She took the picture in for a moment; Edward's tenderness, his natural level-headedness with other beings.

For a second, it tugged at her heart, and other images came into her mind. Edward with a smaller being of their own, being the beautiful daddy she knew he would make.

Sighing, she pushed the thought away.

"Okay," she called out. "Ready to go!"

.

Edward seemed antsy all the way to Regent's Park, and Bella didn't quite now what had brought it about.

For a millisecond, a horrible thought crossed her mind. But no, she knew that wasn't the case. Edward had been sober since that dreadful night last August. He was so much more stable and happy and relaxed than she'd ever known him.

"What's going on, darling?" she asked lightly, swinging their entwined hands between them. Edward was carrying the picnic basket while she held Jennie's leash.

"Nothing." He shrugged, giving her a crooked grin. "Just happy to be here with you, love."

Stopping for a second, she stepped on her tiptoes to kiss him, but Jennie's impatient bark made them part.

They walked in companionable silence the next ten minutes, until Bella pointed out a lovely picnic spot beneath a blossoming cherry tree. Pink petals were covering the soft grass, making it look like a meadow of flowers.

"Here?"

Edward nodded.

"Yes. This is pretty."

Together, they spread out the blanket. Bella sighed when she sat down, slipping off her shoes and falling onto her back.

"Ah, so good…"

Edward chuckled and stopped unpacking Tupperware and plates.

He moved closer to her and pulled her feet onto his lap. Bella moaned happily once he applied gentle pressure. He smiled, alternately watching her beautiful face as she lay there, with closed eyes, dark hair sprawled around her shoulders, and her dainty feet.

Jennie watched them curiously before flopping down by his side.

It was silent but for the occasional bicycle or jogger passing by in the distance. The sun was slowly setting, casting the sky in hues of red and orange. With the pink trees surrounding him, the colours were spectacular.

Despite the beauty of the evening, Edward was getting increasingly nervous and impatient.

"Do you want to eat?"

Bella opened her eyes.

"Yes, I'm quite hungry, actually."

Those words, coming from her, were music to his ears.

"Let's see, what have we got?"

He opened the various boxes and bowls he'd prepared.

"Wow. Darling." She kissed him. "That looks so yummy."

He grinned, giving her a one-sided shrug.

"No, Jennie," Bella told the dog, who was trying to sniff their food. "No."

Luckily, Jennie was quite obedient, and sat down, wearing the dog equivalent of a pout.

They dug into their food, chatting easily, sharing small kisses, touching each other.

When they were finished, Edward pulled her close, burying his face in her neck, breathing in her scent.

"I love you so much," he whispered, muffled by her hair.

"I love you, too," she replied softly.

And Edward knew that it was time.

.

She smiled when he pulled back a little, green eyes staring into hers, full of fire.

He kissed her tenderly, almost chastely.

"There's…" He swallowed. For some reason, his nervousness had returned. "There's something…"

"Something?" she prompted softly.

"Something I want to give you."

He scrambled over to the picnic basket and returned with a small picture frame. She couldn't see anything but a ginormous red bow.

"Jennie?" Edward said.

The dog, who had been dozing, was immediately alert.

Edward placed the frame in Bella's hands. The bow was so big she couldn't see the picture.

Jennie, who seemed to know what she was supposed to do, placed both paws on the upper side of the frame, looking at Bella, cocking her head to one side in her trademark, questioning manner.

"What is this, darling?"

"Remove the bow," he replied in a thick voice.

"You made this?"

He had been in his studio a lot during the past week, but always during the day, always with the door open. Everything was different nowadays. Everything was better.

Once the bow was removed, she saw the small painting. It depicted the same two rabbits that were in the painting which hung in her office. Only now, in this picture, they were in a park, surrounded by the pink of blossoming cherry trees. The larger rabbit was on one knee, holding out a sparkling object to the smaller one, which had large, brown eyes.

"Edward?" Her voice sounded squeaky to her own ears.

She looked up, seeing that his eyes were swimming.

"Bella. My love, my everything. I'm the luckiest man in the world to have found you, and to have kept you despite my problems, despite my stupidity. I love you more than I have ever loved another person. You complete me. You make me whole. I never, ever, want to be without you in this life." He smiled crookedly, almost shyly. "Bella, my love, my life. Will you marry me?"

Bella's heart was overflowing, trying to beat out of her chest. She had to bite her lip so as not to start bawling.

"Edward… I love you so much…" The first tear fell. "So much. I…"

She raised her hand to touch his cheek, but halfway up, Jennie took that as a chance to high-five her.

"You're only supposed to do this if she says yes," Edward mumbled, his eyes still on hers. They were filled with such a pleading love she cried more.

"If? If I say yes?"

She threw her arms around his neck and smothered him with kisses between whispered words of "Yes, yes, yes!"

"Baby… Bella…" He was panting against her lips, shakily pulling her into his lap.

"Yes."

Their kisses grew deeper, softness and scruff meeting her hands and lips, silky hair, hard muscles under her hands.

"Yes."

Heavy breaths and devouring lips.

"Yes."

A tiny groan escaped his mouth, going straight to her groin.

"Bella, love… let me… Oh…" Large hands framed her face as he pulled away the slightest bit, resting his forehead against hers.

"What?" she mumbled against his lips.

"Let me do this the right way."

He fumbled for something, and moments later, a small box was pressed into her hand.

Looking down between them, her eyes met something shiny and sparkly, making her think of the picture he'd given her. It was getting dark, and the lamps in the park had gone on.

Despite the dim light, she made out a round diamond, surrounded by dozens of tinier ones.

"It's beautiful," she gasped.

"You really like it?"

Edward's brow was creased, so she placed a big kiss on his lips before holding out her hand.

"I love it," she assured. "I love you."

Edward's grin was otherworldly, proud, and happier than she'd ever seen him. He slipped on the ring, which fitted exactly.

"Okay, Jennie." He held out his palm, and, following immediately, she high-fived him.

"So you practised that?" Bella giggled. She was feeling light-headed. Light-hearted.

"We did," he smiled. "I was going to make her fetch a little pouch or something, but I was afraid she'd swallow it." He grinned sheepishly before kissing her again, hot lips moulding against hers.

"Hey, guys!" A voice broke them apart. It was a park attendant on a bike, carrying a torch. "Just informing you that this park's closing in thirty minutes."

"Oh. Oh, okay," Edward replied, wrapping his arms around Bella protectively.

The attendant drove away.

"Guess we need to transfer this," Edward mumbled against her collarbone.

"Yes," she whispered. "To our home."

The words sounded like heaven to Edward's ears.

.

Edward was giddy with bliss as they walked back home. The night air was still mellow, the streets of Maida Vale rather quiet. Jennie was skipping ahead of them, sniffing lampposts and fences.

Edward's arm was around Bella's shoulder, holding her as close as possible, while hers was wound around his waist. Her fingers tickled and caressed his side.

Once home, Bella was chilly, so Edward lit the fireplace, and they snuggled into each other on the sofa with Jennie by their side. Bella was playing with his fingers with one hand, while the other was grasping the little painting.

"Does it sound silly when I say that I adore the ring, but this… this is almost more important?"

Huge, dark eyes were staring up into his.

"You can't imagine how much this means to me," she continued. "That you are well again, that you're working…" She chuckled. "And I am not referring to that nude drawing you made of me a few weeks ago…"

Edward kissed her, drowning in her softness, while his hands began wandering her fragile, luscious body.

"Let me finish this," she giggled breathlessly.

Edward bit her neck before he drew back a couple of inches.

"I love you so much, darling. I love that you're an artist and that you think I'm your muse, or something. I love –"

"Well, you are," he interrupted. "Without you… It's you, Bella. Always you. In my paintings, in my thoughts and dreams; in my heart."

"I love you so much," she mumbled against his lips.

Moments later, they were upstairs, in their bed, celebrating their love with whispered words of adoration, endless kisses, and sheer ecstasy.

.

Edward woke early the next morning, but the sun was already peeking in through a gap between the curtains.

Bella was nestled against his side; her hair partially spread across his chest. She looked peaceful, with her lips in a sweet pout. Her fingers were curled around his bicep, the diamonds on her ring sparkling in the morning sun.

Edward sighed contentedly. Later, he would get up and fetch a drawing pad and a pencil, and he would sketch her. Though Edward had been working on other paintings over the past few months, and was actually planning to have an exhibition at the Albemarle Gallery this autumn, painting Bella was still his favourite occupation.

He would never get tired of her delicate beauty, of her many faces. She could look fierce and passionate, or demure and lamblike. A lady, and a kitten. A career woman with naïve and trusting eyes, and a sweet girl who spoke her opinion.

She was everything Edward had never known he'd wanted. Everything he needed.

"Mmm…"

She was stirring, nudging his chest with her nose, hooking one leg around his.

Huge, dark eyes looked into his. She was sleepy; adorably ruffled.

"Hey." She kissed his chest.

"Hey."

Edward started to run his pointer finger up and down her arm.

"You still mean it, don't you?"

"What?" she whispered into his shoulder.

"You're still going to marry me?"

Bella giggled, still sleepy.

"Of course I am." Propping herself up on one elbow, she bent over him and kissed him. It wasn't sexual, but a merging of souls. Her lips told him everything that words could not.

"Yes," she said, softly. "Yes, Edward Cullen, I will marry you."

He smiled, but his heart was making it impossible to think for a moment.

"Come here." He pulled her close again.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

They were engulfed in warmth and love, suspended in their very own bubble.

Both knew that things would not stay perfect, that there were struggles ahead. But they would manage. They would brave every storm, every challenge, that life was going to throw their way.

They'd been through so much together.

And that was how they would continue their path: together.

Because somewhere along the way, something magical had happened, and they had healed each other.

oOo

Thank you for your reviews, your recs, your messages. This was the hardest story for me to write so far, and I was considering putting it on hiatus a few times. But I know that I have wonderful, passionate readers, and I know how it feels to find one of the stories you enjoy reading being abandoned.

And that was the reason I kept writing, however hard it was sometimes.

You; all you lovely readers, made me write this. And especially those of you who took the moment it takes to write a review.

You're in my heart. Thank you so, so much.

Right now, I don't know what's next, but if you haven't already, join me on Facebook (Harper Pitt, same profile pic).

Logging out now, tears in my eyes.

I love you, lovely readers.

Your

harperpitt