Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. Not me. I promise.

Thanks again to IAmToWait for beta-ing.

Dear Bella,

God, I'm an idiot. I should've married you when I was 18. Maybe then I wouldn't be here and miserable without you. I should've started my life with you. I'm so, so sorry. I'm sorry you put your life on hold for me. I'm sorry I'm such an ass. I'm sorry I only ever gave you a fucking ribbon to tell you how much I loved you. I should have given you the world.

"That's the last of it," Charlie Swan said as he dropped the final box of Bella's belongings on her small twin bed. He ran a hand over his red face as he looked around the room. His baby girl was going to college.

"Thanks, Dad," Bella said from the corner of her dorm room. She was busy trying to hang up clothes in her matchbox of a closet.

"Honey, those aren't going to fit," Bella's mother said from her perch on top of the desk. Bella rolled her eyes and Charlie chuckled.

"A little help then, Mom?" Bella gestured to the mess of clothes she'd made. Renee rolled her eyes and moved to help, but was saved by Edward's excited voice as he burst into the room.

"Bella! I'm right down the hall! Seriously, I mean, like six doors down!" He grinned widely and Bella turned bright red. "Well… six doors and around the corner but still."

"Ahem," Charlie cleared his throat from behind Edward, who stiffened and turned with wide eyes.

"Oh, hey Chief," he shrugged sheepishly and Bella giggled at her boyfriend and father.

"Edward, don't make me kill you, huh?"

"I'll try, Chief," Edward grinned.

"We're going to get going, kiddo," Charlie said and Bella felt her eyes fill with tears. It was really happening. She was really on her own now. With Edward. Well, he was 'six doors and around the corner.'

"Thank you, Daddy," Bella hugged her father tightly, then her mother and walked them out of the building. When she returned she found Edward lounging on her bed, all the boxes moved to the floor. She shut the door behind her and pounced on him. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her, deep and promising.

"I love you," he said and she felt her lips move involuntarily into a smile.

"I love you," she kissed his nose and he moved so they were lying facing each other. "What's that?" She grabbed a small box off her nightstand and leaned on her elbow to open it. Inside was a small velvet box holding a gold chain with a stunning sapphire pendant.

"Where did it come from?" Edward asked as he took the box from her shaking fingers. He removed the necklace from the box and moved so he could put it on her. Bella's fingers found the pendant and she touched it gently.

"It was my grandmother's. Mom must've left it," she said with misty eyes.

"It's very pretty. It looks amazing against your skin," he said as he placed a soft kiss on her collarbone. She slapped him playfully.

"Is that all you think about?" She pulled him into a kiss and they sank into the mattress, her hands wrapped around his neck, securing him to her.

He felt like she was holding him to the ground.

"No," he murmured. She felt his hands on her wrist and something soft and silk-like on her skin. "Mostly I think about being with you forever."

He moved his hands from her wrist and she pulled her arm back to see what he had done. The ribbon from her mother's gift was tied securely to her wrist.

"Forever?" She touched the ribbon and met his eyes, green with flecks of melted gold, and felt her insides go to absolute mush.

"And ever… and ever…" He captured her mouth with his again.

Soon, with the exception of a sapphire charm and a double-knotted ribbon, their bodies were void of clothes.

Boxes and scattered belongings were forgotten.

Nothing else mattered because they were in love.

And nothing could come between them.