Whoa, it's the end.

Alright, love to Slimjimjerky, Edward's Little Vampire, Edward's Necrophiliac, IncomCorporation, xomrscullenxo, Midnight Freesia, courthale, and McVampy. You guys seriously kick butt and deserve little 4in high Edwards to run around your places of residence. And love to everyone who has commented, favourited, and alerted. You guys make this rock.

Songs:
Samson by Regina Spektor
All Around Me by Flyleaf
She's Always A Woman by Billy Joel
Everything by Lifehouse
Beauty of Uncertainty by KT Tunstall
No Bravery by James Blunt
Iris by Goo Goo Dolls

GOD I HOPE THIS IS GOOD!

It was completely silent as we ran home. I don't even think I heard the animals around me running away from me. The only sounds were my Bella's heart and my feet hitting the solid ground.

I needed to think, I needed to pace. I didn't slow my rate down until I was putting Bella safely on her bed.

I could tell that she was suspicious when she saw that I wasn't angry. I was speculative and allowing myself to fall into the deep recesses of my mind.

Bella has to become a vampire. Even though I still would choose something different, she won't. Leaving her human will cause her the same pain as leaving her. I know her that much. But I have to give her time; she still doesn't understand what she is asking for.

"Whatever you're planning, it's not going to work," She interrupted my thoughts. She was bored of watching me walk back and forth barely making any sound.

"Shh. I'm thinking." I can't let Carlisle's venom be the venom to do it. That just isn't good enough. It has to be mine because I love her. But I am not strong enough to do it. But maybe she doesn't want your venom?Rationalized another mental Edward. Right, ask her what she wants and if it is I then I have to make her wait. I want there to be the bonds of humanity between us before the bonds of a vampire.

"Ugh." She threw her bed sheets over her head in frustration. When I noticed that she was gone from my direct line of sight my whole body went into frenzy. I had to find her. It was like a cat trying to paw to get at its favourite toy. I could hear her heart and feel her heat, but I couldn't see her.

I grabbed the top edge of her bed sheets and ripped them off of her as I lay down on her bed. I brushed her hair out of her face as I started talking, "If you don't mind, I'd much rather you didn't hide your face. I've lived without it for as long as I can stand. Now…tell me something."

"What?" she answered tensely, fearing what it was that I had to say.

"If you could have anything in the world, anything at all, what would it be?"

"You." Good answer, but not the one I was looking for.

"Something you don't already have," I clarified.

She held for a moment, really thinking about what it was that I meant. "I would want…Carlisle not to have to do it. I would want you to change me." I loved that once again her and I were of the same mind. I love you Bella.

"What would you be willing to trade for that?" Now I was playing my A game. Time was key.

"Anything!" she answered hastily, and then she thought better of what she said. I loved knowing and feeling that she would do anything to be with me forever. I smiled at her tenacity but then composed myself for the negotiations.

"Five years?" Her face immediately dropped and it looked like she had eaten something truly sour. I could see the disgust and it made me sad, but I had to push my point. "You said anything."

"Yes but…you'll use the time to find a way out of it. I have to strike while the iron is hot. Besides, it's just too dangerous to be human—for me, at least. So anything but that." Could she really think so little of me? Well she wasn't far from the truth. But I would never let anything hurt her again. I wish I could let her see that this is what I really want.

"Three years?" I tried.

"No!" she yelled in a whisper. I had almost forgotten that there was a sleeping Charlie not twenty feet from us.

"Isn't it worth anything to you at all?" If I played dirty she might side with me. No she won't moron. You know what a stubborn firecracker she is.

"Six months?" she tried. At least she understood how this was going to go.

"Not good enough." There was no way in heaven earth or anywhere else that I would learn to hold my bloodlust enough to not kill her. I needed time to get control over ever molecule of my body so I didn't kill her.

"One year, then. That's my limit."

"At least give me two." This would go a lot easier if I told her what this meant to me. But that would be forfeiting and I still have one card to play.

"No way. Nineteen I'll do. But I'm not going anywhere near twenty. If you're staying in your teens forever, then so am I." What a weird concern?

"All right. Forget time limits. If you want me to be the one—then you'll just have to meet one condition." This is my coup de grâce. The one thing I have wanted since I loved her. The one thing that I will always want. The one thing that she could always hold over me.

"Condition? What condition?" She wasn't expecting me to change my fighting technique and I could tell it from her face.

"Marry me first." Of all the times that I saw myself proposing to Bella, I never imagined it would be while we were negotiating in her bed early in the morning. I had wanted to do this at twilight, or standing on the edge of the ocean, or in our meadow under a clear starry night. Not while she still had morning-breath. I wanted to kneel before her and promise her the world and eternity and everything in between. At least it was a dawn.

"Okay. What's the punch line?" Talk about your punch to the groin, Cynical Edward commented.

"You're wounding my ego, Bella. I just proposed to you, and you think it's a joke."

"Edward, please be serious."

"I am one hundred percent serious." There wasn't a trace of humor in my entire body. Not a single dead cell was laughing. Even all the thoughts in my head were serious about this.

"Oh, c'mon. I'm only eighteen." She sounded hysterical and sad. She looked out the window behind me as I talked. I didn't like having her not look at me. My breath hitched when I couldn't see into her eyes. I could tell she was scared; to be frank I was too in the smallest amount. But we would be doing this together and that gave me all the courage in the world.

"Well, I'm nearly a hundred and ten. It's time I settles down."

"Look, marriage isn't exactly that high on my list of priorities, you know? It was sort of the kiss of death for Renée and Charlie."

"Interesting choice of words," I said slightly sarcastic and amused.

"You know what I mean."

I had to take a deep breath before I addressed the thought that I was trying to hide from. "Please don't tell me that you're afraid of commitment." I couldn't believe that this would be going through her head but everything she was saying pointed to this. We learn from out parents.

"That's not it exactly. I'm…afraid of Renée. She has some really intense opinions on getting married before you're thirty."

"Because she'd rather you become one of the eternal damned than get married." I had to laugh darkly that it would be what any mother would want for her daughter over getting married to the man she loves.

"You think your joking."

"Bella, if you compare the level of commitment between a marital union as opposed to bartering your soul in exchange for an eternity as a vampire…" I could see from her face that I wasn't getting anywhere with this plan so I changed tactics in the middle. "If you're not brave enough to marry me, then—"

"Well, what if I did? What if I told you to take me to Vegas now? Would I be a vampire in three days?" She was trying to out play me, and it wasn't going to work. She had a horrible bluffing face. Something I hope that will improve once she changes so she can play poker like Emmett wants her too.

"Sure. I'll get my car." I smiled widely at her and her kitten antics.

"Dammit. I'll give you eighteen months."

"No deal. I like this condition." I couldn't hide the large boyish grin on my face. I was just too happy that I was winning when I wanted to. I let her win our arguments far too often.

"Fine. I'll have Carlisle do it when I graduate." She tried once more to out play me. But I knew her heart as well as she did, I think.

"If that's what you really want," I taunted.

"You're impossible. A monster." I laughed and she groaned. What an interesting choice of words for her.

"Is that why you won't marry me?" She groaned again. "Please, Bella?" I asked turning the full power of my eyes on her. It truly felt wonderful to dazzle her again. It was an amazing feeling playing with the heart of an angel, but in a good way. She shook her head trying to pass off the effects of our love.

"Would this have gone better if I'd had time to get a ring?" It was almost a sarcastic comment, almost.

"No! No ring!" she shouted it and I heard Charlie wake up.

"Now you've done it," I whispered to her reminding her how we were talking.

"Oops," she said innocently. I think I just feel in love with her even more. That was her own vengeance for my dazzling her.

"Charlie's getting up; I'd better leave." I didn't want to leave and when I heard Bella's heart freeze completely I understood that those last three words should never be said again as long as I exist. I glanced around her room and noticed her closet. "Would it be childish of me to hide in your closet, then?"

"No. Stay. Please." She sighed as her heart started up again. I smiled sweetly at her and ran into the closet.

I waited for Charlie to walk into the room and I saw her sit up full on her bed, a million thoughts running through her head. I knew that she knew I was playing dirty, and I didn't mind. She looked so beautiful sitting on her bed running her hands through her hair groaning over me. I heard Charlie on the other side of the door and he pushed it open.

"Morning, Dad," she addressed with mock pleasantness.

"Oh, hey, Bella. I didn't know you were awake," he said sheepishly. She looks pleasant for just having another screaming nightmare. I was hoping at the very least that with the boy being back that those would stop, at least for tonight.

I cringed remembering the memories others had over her nightmares when she woke up screaming. She was still my Isabella Marie Swan, but I could see the difference in her physique. I could tell from her eyes that she suffered from insomnia.

She started to get up, "Yeah. I've just been waiting for you to wake up so I could take a shower." Surprising that she was getting better at lying to her father, and yet it was impossible to pass anything off on me.

"Hold on. Let's talk for a minute first." Charlie stepped fully into the room and turned the lights on. I could see Bella blinking as her irises contracted. Remember to be firm Charles. We all coaxed ourselves in our head when around Bella. "You know you're in trouble."

"Yeah, I know." She grimaced and I remembered that we hadn't asked Alice for an excuse. I didn't even take the time to sort through her head to see if she had one. I was a little busy at the time breaking expensive furniture and trying not to break the entire house in half.

"I just about went crazy these last three days. I come home from Harry's funeral, and you're gone. Jacob could only tell me that you'd run off with Alice Cullen, and that he thought you were in trouble. You didn't leave me a number, and you didn't call. I didn't know where you were or when—or if—you were coming back. Do you have any idea how…how…" he paused to bring in his breath trying to calm his heart. I heard that it was beating off the charts. I knew Bella didn't want him to give himself a heart attack over her. I suddenly wished I had Jasper's ability so I could calm him down for her sake. "Can you give me one reason why I shouldn't ship you off to Jacksonville this second?"

Over. My. Burnt. Body.

"Because I won't go." That's my girl! She had squared off her shoulders and mustered up her fighting skills that weren't spent on me. He was not going to take my fiancée from me.

"Now wait just one minute, young lady—" If she thinks she can control me after this little excursion then she has got another thing coming. Charlie really hasn't learned much about good parenting. I have heard it a thousand times. The second a parent threatens their child like that they loose all power and respect from the child. He's fighting for the bad parenting award.

"Look, Dad, I accept complete responsibility for my actions, and you have the right to ground me for as long as you want. I will also do all the chores and laundry and dishes until you think I've learned my lesson. And I guess you're within your rights if you want to kick me out, too—but that won't make me go to Florida."

I AM HER FATHER! SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE RIGHT OR THE POSITION TO MAKE THIS DECISION. He calmed himself down before he responded to her. In his mind he was still fuming though. "Would you like to explain where you've been?"

If Charlie doesn't calm himself, I'll step in, I swear I will.

"There was…an emergency." I could see through the crack in the door that her mind was working a mile a second trying to cover. She had improved on lying, but she still wasn't the best. "I don't know what to tell you, Dad. It was mostly a misunderstanding. He said, she said. It got out of hand." I could tell that he wasn't falling for it. She was going to have to get more descriptive if he was going to buy it. I wish I could step in there for her. Not that I have any better ideas on what to say. "See, Alice told Rosalie about me jumping off the cliff…" No Bella no that! I screamed in my head hoping it would get to hers. Charlie's whole mind froze. He wasn't angry, surprised, shocked or scared. He wasn't anything.

"I guess I didn't tell you about that. It was nothing. Just messing around, swimming with Jake. Anyway, Rosalie told Edward, and he was upset. She sort of accidentally made it sound like I was trying to kill myself or something. He wouldn't answer his phone, so Alice dragged me to…L.A., to explain in person." She shrugged trying to pass off her slip up but I knew too well that it wouldn't work. Charlie hadn't really heard anything past 'jumping off the cliff'.

"Were you trying to kill yourself, Bella?" he said scared like a child. I missed all the signs. The doctors told me to watch out for suicide and I didn't see it coming. I couldn't take care of my daughter when she needed me most.

An interesting thought. I would have never blamed Charlie if Bella had tried to kill herself. It would have been a failure on both our parts. The two men that she thought would never fail her would have. Interesting.

"No, of course not. Just having fun with Jake. Cliff diving. The La Push kids do it all the time. Like I said, nothing." She tried to blow it off and Charlie believed her. He went from worry to fury in nothing flat.

"What's it to Edward Cullen anyway? All this time he's just left you dangling without a word—" That worthless slimy shallow bastard! Still not what I deserve. I could see Bella flinch slightly from his words. Talking about me leaving left both of us fragile, pinning only for each other. It took all my control to not walk out of that closet and pull her to my chest to assure her that I loved her and that I wasn't going to leave again.

"Another misunderstanding." She clarified. I don't think Charlie even noticed that his words scared her. But I heard the confidence she had in her voice.

"So is he back then?" He flushed again and his mind was another string of profanities all against me. He still hadn't let go of the idea of shooting me.

"I'm not sure what the exact plan is. I think they all are." I swear if she doubts me again I am going to superglue myself to her side so I can never leave, even though I am stronger than superglue.

"I want you to stay away from him, Bella. I don't trust him. He's rotten for you. I won't let him mess you up like that again." He was a year late for warning her against me. Better late than never I thought dryly.

"Fine."

What?

"Oh. I thought you were going to be difficult." He said relieved that she was siding with him. I had no idea what was going on.

"I am. I meant, 'Fine, I'll move out.'" She said in perfect defiance. I was going to have to buy a bed for her. I really honestly felt bad that she was fighting with her own father over me. For all the trouble I have caused I really wasn't worth this much. I really, really can't take her away from her family, from her world. I tried that once and it didn't really work.

"Dad, I don't want to move out. I love you. I know you're worried, but you need to trust me on this. And you're going to have to ease up on Edward if you want me to stay. Do you want me to live here or now?" she said trying to soothe him.

"That's not fair, Bella. You know I want you to stay." He could tell that he was losing the battle again.

"Then be nice to Edward, because he's going to be where I am." Both Charlie and I could hear the conviction and confidence in her voice, only we had different reactions. It upset him and made me swell with pride and adoration.

"Not under my roof!" he stormed back. This was where the weaker opponent submits to desperation. I had read it a thousand times and had seen it almost as many.

She sighed heavily still keeping her calm, "Look, I'm not going to give you any more ultimatums tonight—or I guess it's this morning. Just think about it for a few days, okay? But keep in mind that Edward and I are sort of a package deal."

"Bella—" he warned. The loser always wants to fight longer to make up their losses.

"Think it over. And while you're doing that, could you give me some privacy? I really need a shower." My wondrous Bella was so diplomatic and brave. I couldn't be more proud of her, even if that pride came with an ocean of guilt. All of their problems were because of me and I hated it. I couldn't leave, but I wish I could do something to make it better. I felt so helpless.

Charlie was holding his breath and his anger as he thudded out of the room and down the stairs slamming her door with all his might. I felt the whole house shiver a little.

I walked out of the closet and sat my rocking chair as she threw the covers back fully.

"Sorry about that," she whispered to me.

"It's not as if I don't deserve far worse. Don't start anything with Charlie over me, please." I murmured still half lost in my thoughts of guilt and self-loathing. Her entire relationship with her father could crumble because of me and my jackass decision to leave her. Marriage can't fix that mistake, no matter how I wish it could.

"Don't worry about it. I will start exactly as much as is necessary, and no more than that. Or are you trying to tell me I have nowhere to go?" she asked with false alarm

"You'd move in with a house full of vampires?" I said even though it didn't surprise me in the lease.

"That's probably the safest place for someone like me. Besides…If Charlie kicks me out, then there's no need for the graduation deadline, is there?" Did she use 'deadline' on purpose? Knowing how clever my Bella is she probably did.

"So eager for eternal damnation," I muttered still not happy about the situation with her father. I knew how short life really is and she was wasting it fighting over me with her blood family. As much as I hate it, Charlie should mean more to her than I do. Nothing means more to me that she does, but I can think of a few things that are higher than me.

"You know you don't really believe that."

"Oh, don't I?" I charged back. I was trying to calm down, but I couldn't. I was pissed at myself.

"No. You don't." I frowned at her and was about to fight back when she started up. "If you really believed that you'd lost your soul, then when I found you in Volterra, you would have realized immediately what was happening, instead of thinking we were both dead together. But you didn't—you said 'Amazing, Carlisle was right.' There's hope in you, after all," she said proud of her discovery.

Once again Bella Swan completely blew me out of the water. But this time I had no response ready for her. She remembered it as perfectly as I did. She just proved me, to me.

"So let's just be hopeful, all right?" Every Edward in my mind had nothing to say, all except the smug Edward who was getting what he wanted. That Edward was laughing at the rest of them with a cocky grin on. "Not that it matters. If you stay, I don't need heaven." It's easy to say that I was completely floored by the woman before me. She truly, honestly, really didn't want to have any form of life without me. There is no word in any language ever that could describe how much I loved her and how devoted I was to everything about her.

I crossed the room in two strides and gently put my hands on her warm smiling face.

"Forever," I declared still taken back by what she had said to me.

"That's all I'm asking for." She stretched up on her toes with her clean clothes and shower bag in her hands and kissed me with all that she had.

She dropped down and walked out of her room closing the door behind her with a little hop in her step. I still couldn't say anything in my frozen posture.

I think my fiancée just pwned me.

"Passion makes the world go round. Love just makes it a safer place." ~Ice T

PLEASE GO VOTE IN MY POLL!!! It takes half a tick to do it. It works now don't worry.

I don't plan on continueing, but if you want the epilogue, then tell me to do it in a lovely review with smiley faces.

I pushed this out as best as I could bc I am leaving for California in one hour so I am not confident about it. But I love you guys for sticking with me through this and sending me your love and support. Please fill my email with love while I am gone and I will get back at everyone over the weekend when I get home. Mad love to you strangers and your awesomeness. Mad love to Stephenie Meyers.

~Jingles for the Storm 3
P.S. Check out my fav list for those authors and the KICK ASS stories they have written.