Chapter 4

I woke up to a beautiful day. Well, for Forks. At least it wasn't raining. Then I remembered that Charlie was home this morning. Edward kissed my cheek swiftly before ducking out of the window. And so another day began.

I grabbed my bag of toiletries and walked into the bathroom. I tried to brush through the tangled mess that was my hair, and succeeded a half an hour later. I then went on to brush my teeth and put on my makeup. I don't know why I was going to all this trouble. We were only going to see his family. But something inside me was extremely nervous, and I wanted to at least look good. I think it would be harder to accept a person into your family if they looked like hell.

When that was done, I walked back into my room to view my supply of clothes. I decided on the dark blue top Edward had once complimented and that I wore when I first met the Cullens. I threw on a pair of dark blue jeans and sighed. Here goes nothing.

I knew I had to tell Charlie now or never. I don't think t would have been any easier even if Edward were here with me. And if he was, I think I would have sent him away. This would be hard enough for Charlie, I don't want to shove Edward right into his face.

"Dad?" I called down the stairs.

"Yeah Bells?" He answered from the living room. I paused, not sure if now now was the right time.

"…What do you want for breakfast?" I asked defeated.

"Oh, uh, how about some pancakes?" He suggested.

"Sure thing!" I tried to sound cheerful, but I don't think I quite managed. This was going to be harder than I thought. I had to get control of my nerves.

I walked into the kitchen, grabbed a frying pan and set it down on the stove. While mixing the pancake batter I thought about how I should go about this. Straight forward was out of the question. "Hey, Dad, just wanted to tell you: Edward and I are getting married." He'd probably have a heart attack.

I was so absorbed in my thoughts I didn't notice the doorbell ring. Only when Charlie came back into the kitchen did I notice we had a visitor, Alice.

Charlie left quickly to finish his game. Men.

"Oh my God!!" Clearly Alice had been holding this in, and couldn't contain it any longer. "You two are finally gonna get married!!" She hugged me so tight I could barely get out,

"Can't-breathe!"

"Oh, sorry. EEEEE!!!!" She squealed, jumping up and down. "I'm just so happy for you two!"

"Wait, Edward didn't tell you all already, did he?" I asked, then I instantly felt stupid. Of course he hadn't She had had a vision.

Alice watched my emotions run across my face and nodded. "Yes, I had a vision." She confirmed. "But I didn't see what you would say because you still hadn't made your mind up. I could tell from how happy Edward was this morning that you said 'yes'."

She lowered her voice. "How are you gonna tell Charlie?" She asked.

"I'm not sure yet." I admitted, smiling slightly. "But no matter how I do it, it won't come out well."

"Oh yeah!" Alice said, seeming to remember something. "I almost forgot! Edward told me to give this to you." She held up the most beautiful ring, simple, but beautiful. Exactly what I would have chosen. "He says he's sorry but he can't come right now, he's off hunting. You know, I don't think I've ever seen him so happy."

"Me neither!" I agreed cheerfully.

"Come to think of it, I've never seen you so 'lovey-dovey' happy either." She added teasing.

"Of course you haven't." I told her. "That's because I've been so happy in my entire life!"

Alice nodded. "You do know that now that you have met his condition, he will change you, right?" She asked me solemnly.

I had already thought of this. "I know. But I don't think that that will happen any time soon. But of course, only you could be the judge of that." I added lightly.

Alice laughed again and the sound was all silver. "Well, I can't promise you anything yet. He hasn't made up his mind. But I can promise that if he doesn't soon, I will. And there isn't anything he can do to stop me. I gave you my word, Bella, and I don't go back on it."

"Thank you." I hugged her. She kissed my cheek.

"Now, what are we doing here?" She gestured toward the forgotten pancake mix and frying pan.

"Pancakes." I told her. She raised an eyebrow. "For Charlie. Soften him up hopefully."

She nodded. "That reminds me Alice." I started. "Could you tell me how Charlie will take it?"

She knew what I meant. But she shook her head regretfully. "Sorry. Not unless you tell me how you're going to do it. He still wouldn't have made his choice. He still doesn't think he likes Edward."

Just then Charlie came in. "Who doesn't like Edward?"

I sighed. "You."

He looked at me. "What gave you that idea?"

"Well, it's how you act around him. Like you'd kill him if he moved too far." I told him quietly.

"I like him." He told me shockingly. "I just don't trust him as well. Not after what he did to you."

Better get this over with now. "Dad, what would you do, if I told you he asked me to marry him?"

Charlie actually took the bait and thought this was a hypothetical question. "I think I'd be very upset, you're so young after all, but a small part of me would be happy for you. I've seen the two of you. I bet even if my life depended on it I couldn't separate you two."

I sighed, relieved and yet still slightly nervous. He had admitted he would be upset. "Dad," I started again, "that wasn't a hypothetical question. He really did ask me to marry him."

Charlie stared, stunned beyond words. "And you said 'yes,' didn't you?" He asked quietly.

I nodded slowly. I was still waiting for the storm. But it didn't come.

He merely walked over to me, hugged me tightly, then whispered in my ear, "Don't rush into anything. Be sure this is what you want. I'll always be happy for you, and there for you."

I broke down and started crying. Alice slipped out of the room, unnoticed by Charlie. "I'm sure." I told him.

He nodded. We broke apart.

The doorbell rang. Call it a sixth sense, but something told me it was Edward, coming when he 'heard' the coast was clear.