Disclaimer: Chapter 22 and I still don't own Twilight. Son of a bitch….

A/N: So I'm evil, I know this. I just like to mess with all of you. And that's how I get all of the lurkers out of hiding. I love and appreciate you all. I'm sorry this chapter took so long to get out. I was battling with myself because I wasn't sure if I wanted to have this be the last chapter or not. Dry your eyes, we all knew this day was coming. And thank you to my lovely super beta, oceanwaters2006, you're my hero and you never fail to impress me with your super woman abilities to do all of your school work and fix all of my flub ups.

MY RECOMMENDATION!!!: Good Fortune by RobotMoose. I seriously love this story. It's so amazing! It's really great and very under looked. Make sure to check it out. You'll love. ^_^

Chapter 22-

"What the hell do you mean she doesn't want to see me?"

"Edward, she thinks that you hate her."

"Why would she think I hate her?"

"After the way she left, she's positive that you don't want a thing to do with her now. And if you're going to break her heart, I would prefer it if you waited."

"Alice, I'm not going to break up with her. I love her. Bella is my everything and will not stand by and let her think that I hate her."

Alice's hand fell from my chest and her lips slowly curled into a smile.

"What the hell are you waiting for?"

I kissed Alice on the cheek and ran out of my room.

"Edward! She's in room 242!"

I continued running down the hallway, ignoring the pain in my abdomen. I reached the elevator and began to frantically push the down button.

"Come on, come on!"

The door pinged as it opened. I smiled at the two elderly women as I entered the elevator.

"Ladies."

I pushed the button for the second floor and a sweet voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Dear, are you okay?"

I turned back to one of the women and smiled.

"Yes, thank you. I'm going to tell the woman I love that I can't live without her."

Both of their faces began to beam brightly. One of them looked at me with a sweet smile and placed her hand on my shoulder.

"Good for you, dear. But you might want to close up the back of your gown. I think it would be better if you confessed your love without your butt hanging out for all to see."

"Oh come on, Lauren! Don't be such a prude! You have a very nice behind, dear. If I were 50 years younger, I wouldn't even think twice about jumping you."

My eyes grew wide at the comments from this seemingly sweet and innocent woman. Marie looked at the other woman and shook her head.

"My word, Jessica. I can't take you anywhere without you hitting on some poor young man. Especially one that is on his way to the woman he loves."

"I was just saying. There's no harm in looking."

The elevator came to a stop and the doors opened.

"Thank you, ladies. Have a great day."

"Go get her, dear!"

I waved to them and took off running down the hallway, not caring about the open back. I heard a faint gasp from Jessica before the elevator doors closed. I flew by the rooms and came to a halt when I saw room 242 to my right. The door was cracked open and I peeked in. When I saw Bella, my stomach clenched. She was laying in the bed and looked so fragile. Her entire face was bruised and swollen. I felt the rage begin to build.

How could someone do this?

I pushed the door open and walked into the room slowly. I was so focused on Bella, that I didn't see Charlie sitting in the corner of the room.

"She just fell asleep."

"I need to tell her that I don't hate her. Alice just told me. Charlie, I can't even imagine going through the rest of my life without her by my side. The last thing I would ever dream of doing, is hurt her."

I paused and looked at Bella. Her face was covered in bruises and I could see that her arm and hands were bandaged. I knew that there was more damage done, but I couldn't bring myself to think about what it was.

"Charlie, I want to spend the rest of my life with Bella."

"Edward, you're a good guy and I like you. I know that Bella loves you and I know you love her. I want her to be happy. Can you promise me that you'll make her happy?"

"Yes. I will spend the rest of my life doing whatever I have to do to make her happy, that is, if she'll have me."

"I think she will. Now I need you to prove that you'll be there for her. I have to go back to head quarters and take care of all of the paper work. Not to mention taking the key Bella mailed to me and retrieving the files."

"She mailed you a key?"

"Yep. She knew that if she just gave the files to anyone out right, they would be in danger. She put the USB drive in a safety deposit box and mailed me the key and location. That's my girl, always putting everyone else's safety before her own."

"Yeah, that sounds like Bella."

"You take my chair and as soon as she wakes up again, you better make sure you tell her what you just told me."

"I will, Sir."

"What's with this Sir shit? I'm planning on you being my son in law soon. You better get used to calling me Dad."

I was stunned into silence. I watched Charlie stand from the chair and leave the room. My attentions turned back to Bella. Seeing her in this condition was painful. I was back in that position where I might lose her. I wouldn't let my mind go there. I reached out and held onto her bandaged hand, waiting for her to wake up.

~*~

Every move was unbearable. I remembered waking up briefly in the hospital, surrounded by Charlie and my friends. I remember saying something, but I don't remember what it was. I forced my eyes open. I was now aware of someone holding my hand.

Charlie

I looked down and was surprised to see a familiar mop of bronze hair laying on the side of the bed.

Edward.

My heart began to beat faster. I could hear the heart monitor's incessant beeping start to speed up.

He's here to break up with me. What could be worse? Oh God, he hates me and he wants to break up with me. Maybe if I act like I'm asleep again, he'll leave and then he can't break up with me. Wow, how pathetic is that? But it might work.

I closed my eyes and focused on taking deep even breaths.

"Bella, I know you're awake."

Fuck.

"Bella, stop faking it. I need to talk to you."

I groaned and forced my eyes open again.

"Fine. Can you just break up with me quickly? The sooner you do it, the sooner I can pick up the pieces."

"Bella, I'm not going to break up with you."

"Wait. What?"

"Bella, I love you. I have been beating myself up since you left the hospital. I hated that my last words to you could have been that I would never forgive you if something happened to you."

"So you don't hate me?"

"No. I could never hate you, Bella. I love you. Every plan that I had for my future changed when I met you. I want to have you by my side for everything in the future. Our future."

"I knew it."

"Knew what?"

"I'm hallucinating. I'm still in that warehouse and this hallucination is just my mind trying to distract me from all of the pain."

"No, Bella. You're in the hospital and I'm really here."

"That's what a hallucination would want me to think."

"Fine, I'll prove it to you."

Edward leaned over and kissed me gently on the lips.

"That felt real. Kiss me again."

"Gladly."

Edward's lips were a little harder against mine this time. The heart monitor sped up again.

"I am awake! And you're really here."

"Do you believe me now?"

"I guess so."

"I don't want you to ever think that I could hate you, Bella. You are my world."

"I love you. And I'm sorry that I lied to you. I just couldn't let go of what happened. That's just not who I am."

"So I've noticed."

"But it was all part of Phil's plan to lure me in."

My head began to swim with the realization that the man I had called Dad my whole life was evil and now he was dead. And it one confession, my real father was revealed. Everything I had ever known was a lie.

"Bella, what's wrong?"

"I was just thinking about Phil and Charlie. I just can't believe that Charlie stood on the sidelines my entire life."

"Bella, he thought he was protecting you. It had to have been hard on him to let someone else raise his daughter. Watching you grow up and forcing himself to be the secondary male figure in your life had to have been hell for him."

"I kind of get why they did it. But all of the things that Charlie should have been there for, he wasn't. He missed so many things."

"And that must have killed him. You have the chance to have him in your life now. Not many people get that chance. Bella, you need to forgive him. You have to so you can move on with your life."

"The thing is, I think I already have."

"Good, I'm glad. I don't want you to bitter about this."

"I don't think I will be. You know, it's almost like I've always known. I've always felt closer to him than Phil. I noticed Phil was resentful of the time I spent with Charlie, and I always wondered why. But I know now."

"So you're really okay with all of this."

"Yeah. I think I am."

Edward put his hand on top of mine and lightly squeezed it.

"So how are you feeling? If memory serves correctly, getting shot hurts like a bitch."

"I'm okay. Although I did give two old ladies a show in the elevator."

"Did you now?"

"One of them hit on me."

"I see how it is. Moving on to grayer pastures."

"What can I say, the smell of Gerital and Ben-Gay turns me on."

I tried not to laugh since it hurt like hell. I did my best to hide the fact that I was wincing.

"Are you okay, Bella?"

"Yeah, just a little tired."

"You should probably get some more rest. I'll be here when you wake up."

"Okay. I love you."

"I love you more than anything in this world."

"No fair. You can't one up the chick in the hospital bed."

"Okay, fine. I'll let you win this round."

Edward kissed my forehead and I smiled as my eyes slowly drifted closed.

~*~

"Where in the hell is my little girl?"

The loud voice echoing down the hallway brought me out of my dead sleep.

"Where is she? What room?"

Oh crap.

I opened my eyes and saw the door flying open and my mother running to my bedside.

"Oh my poor baby! What did that bastard do to you?"

"Mom, I'm fine."

"No you're not! Charlie told me everything. Baby, I am so sorry that you had to find out that way. There is nothing I can say that will ever make up for lying to you all of these years."

"Mom, I understand why you did it. Am I pissed, absolutely. But what's done is done. Phil is dead and now Charlie and I can start to build our relationship as father and daughter."

"Bella, you don't have to be tough right now. I'm your mother, I know when you are putting on a front. You thought Phil was your father your entire life, it's okay if you're upset. He may have turned out to be a psychotic asshole, but you spent your whole life with him acting as your father."

My resolve instantly broke and the tears were pouring down my face. I was so mad for allowing myself to cry over that horrible man. After everything he did to hurt me and everyone I loved, I was still crying over him.

"It's okay, baby. Just let it out."

"I don't want to cry over him, Mom. He tried to kill Alice and Edward. He succeeded in killing Reagan and not to mention that he was trying to kill thousands of people for profit. I can't say that I feel bad that he's dead. I don't know what I feel right now."

"You're not a machine, Bella. You're allowed to cry over him. Asshole or not, up until yesterday, you thought he was your dad."

"How are you holding up? He was your husband after all."

"He may have been my husband, but he tried to go after my baby. He's lucky Charlie got to him before I did."

"Mom…"

"Not right now, Bella. I'll deal with it later. All I care about now is that my baby gets better."

I knew Renee was trying to be strong and do the mom thing. But deep down she was hurting and since I got my stubbornness from her, there was no point in pushing it.

"We'll talk about it later, Bella."

I nodded my head weakly and looked down at my lap. The sound of someone clearing their throat pulled my attention to the door. I looked up to see Edward walking into my room. Renee's eyes got wide when she realized who he was.

"You must be Edward. It is so nice to finally meet you!"

"You too."

"You are so much more handsome than I even imagined! You and Bella are going to make me some beautiful little grandbabies."

"Mom!"

"What? I'm just putting it out there."

Even though I knew that I badly bruised, I still hid my face incase any blush was showing. And then Edward only added to it.

"Soon. Definitely soon, Renee."

Holy crap.

My eyes shot up to Edward's. There wasn't even close to a hint of jest in his gaze. I looked over to Renee and she was beaming happily at Edward and I. I had never really thought about having kids, but it felt right knowing it would be something that Edward and I created together. For the first time in days I felt joy and excitement coiling in my stomach. This was something I wanted with Edward. Almost sensing what I was thinking, Edward clasped my hand in his and kissed my forehead.

"I already told you, I want everything with you."

"Oh my God, you two are so cute together!"

Renee was looking back and forth between Edward and I and bouncing up and down giddily. There were times that you would swear Alice and Renee were related somehow.

"Bella? Are you up yet?"

Speak of the devil.

"Hey, Alice. Come on in and join the party."

Alice walked in to the room timidly. She looked at Renee and Edward and spoke softly.

"Would it be okay if I talked to Bella alone for a minute?"

"Of course, Alice. It will give me time to talk to Edward about giving me some beautiful grandbabies."

Alice and I watched as my mom put an arm around Edward's shoulders and walked out of the room.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, Alice. I'll heal and be good as new in no time."

"Bella, I am so sorry that I encouraged you to do this. I had no idea that it would end up like this. I can't believe that I would risk losing you just for revenge."

"Alice, it's okay. I would have done it on my own anyways. And you know that. I'm not really one to let things go."

"I know, but I just feel terrible that I told you to do this. I feel like I had a part in putting you in that hospital bed."

"Okay, I'm only going to tell you this one time, I'm fine. I'll heal and we'll all move on with our lives. Just let it go."

"It's going to take me awhile to deal with the guilt."

"Well you better get over it pretty fucking quick."

"I promise nothing."

I just smiled and laughed a little. This is why Alice and I got along so well. We were both as stubborn as mules.

"Is everyone else here?"

"Yeah, Jasper is out in the hallway with Rosalie and Emmett. I told them to wait because I wanted to talk to you first. Do you want me to go get them?"

"Yeah, I want to see them before I fall asleep again."

"I'll be right back."

Alice went bouncing out of the room and returned quickly with Jasper, Emmett, and Rosalie following close behind. Rosalie looked worried, Jasper looked nauseous, and Emmett looked pissed. I was going to have to handle this delicately.

"Rosalie, I'm fine. Jasper, I can't feel anything with my meds. And Emmett, don't be pissed that I got stabbed before you did."

"Bells, I am deeply offended that you think I would be jealous that you got stabbed before I did."

"Are you?"

"Fuck yes! Why do you get all of the excitement? It's not fair! Ow! What the hell, Rose?"

Emmett started rubbing his arm where Rosalie had pinched him.

"Why do you always feel the need to act like this shit isn't a big deal. Bella almost died and you're making jokes!"

"Rosalie, it's okay! Really. This is how Emmett deals with his emotions. He makes jokes. It's actually nice to have some normalcy"

Rosalie gave my hand a small squeeze and then glared at Emmett. Clearly sending him a non verbal message. Jasper let out a small sigh. I looked over at him and saw him looking at the bandage cover the cut that Alec had made.

"I am so sorry, Bella. I never should have told you to do this."

"Jasper, I already told Alice that I would have done it regardless. Don't take any of this on yourself. Besides, I'm fine. More war stories to tell my kids someday."

"Well you have to atleast let us help you out while you're healing."

"If it will get you to shut up, fine."

"That's all I ask."

The five of us sat and talked for a while until I started yawning. Rosalie placed a hand on my uninjured shoulder and lightly rubbed on it.

"We'll let you get some rest. I'll come see you tomorrow."

"Alright, but bring some Ben and Jerry's."

"I will. We love ya, Bells."

"Love you all, too."

I waved as my friends left the room. I leaned back into my pillows and let out a heavy sigh. I was just about to fall asleep when another knock on the door woke me back up.

"Come in."

"Hey, kiddo."

My eyes were almost shut until I heard his voice.

"Hi, Charlie."

"So I think you and I need to talk."

"Yes, we do."

"I understand if you hate me and you're pissed beyond belief. But I just want you to know that we did this because we thought it was better for you."

"Charlie, I don't hate you. I am a little pissed that all of you decided what was best for me and had no intention of telling me the truth. But ultimately, you're my real father and I want to build a relationship with you on that."

"I can deal with that."

"I think we need to take it slow. I know I'm going to have a few bumps along the way, but I want you to be my dad. We've already lost 26 years, I don't want to lose anymore time."

"We won't, kiddo. I promise you that. I want to make up for everything I missed. I know that that isn't going to be easy, but I want to try."

I smiled and nodded my head weakly. I remembered feeling Charlie kiss my forehead, everything after that was a blank.

~*~

"Bella! Move your ass!"

"Fuck off, Cullen!"

I hated rehabilitation. It had been almost two months since everything with the Ghede virus went down. I was now working at a desk for the FBI. I wasn't too happy about it, but Charlie insisted that I stay at a desk until I was fully healed. Edward had been by my side the whole way of my recovery. Anytime I felt like giving up, he pushed me to keep going. And here I was, sitting on a weight bench, fighting to curl some dumbbells.

"Only 4 more, Bella. You can do this."

I gritted my teeth and pushed through the pain that was burning in my arm. I forced my muscles to cooperate and I did my last four curls and then let the weights fall to the floor.

"Great job, babe."

Edward kissed my sweaty forehead and slapped my ass.

"Edward! We're in public!"

"What's your point? Let them look. They're just jealous that I have a hot girlfriend and they have to go home and yank it to Ms. February."

I just rolled my eyes and started to walk towards the locker room.

"I'm gonna shower. Just meet me out front."

"Okay, just don't take forever."

I ignored Edward's comment and went to my locker. I hopped into the shower and let the warm water run over me sore muscles. I squeezed some body wash onto a washcloth. I looked at the red scar that covered my arm. Alec was right. After everything that happened that day, one of the things that I remembered vividly was watching him cut my arm open and play with the muscles. I hated that people could see it. I always tried to cover it up, but Edward wouldn't let me. He would always tell me how beautiful I am and that the scar reminded him not to take our relationship for granted. I finished my shower quickly and got dressed to meet Edward in the front lobby. I walked up front and smiled when I saw him dressed in his ratty jeans and beat up shirt. To me, he was the only other person in the room.

"I'm ready to go, babe."

"Good. I'm taking you out tonight. We need to talk."

"About what?"

"We just need to talk. Come on, I'll take you home."

"Okay."

I followed Edward and I fought the gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach.

~*~

Edward pulled the chair out for me. I smiled and sat down. The restaurant was beautifully decorated with dim twinkling lights and dark tapestries. I was still feeling antsy.

He's going to break up with me. I just know it.

Edward sat down across from me and gave me a small smile. We both ordered and made small talk. The food came quickly and I could only manage to poke at my food with a fork.

"Bella, is something wrong?"

"You said you wanted to talk to me."

"I do."

"So, what is it? I can't even eat. Just tell me what it is."

"Okay, fine. I'll just come out and say it. Bella, I don't want you to be my girlfriend anymore."

I felt my stomach drop and I could feel the tears start form in my eyes. I looked away from Edward. I didn't want him to see me cry. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Edward stand up and come beside me. He pulled my hand into his. I looked over at him and gasped when I saw him on one knee, holding a small black velvet box.

"Bella, I don't want you to be my girlfriend anymore. I want you to be my wife."

My brain was going a million miles and hour. I still didn't think I knew what was going on. It wasn't until Edward opened the box and revealed a beautiful black onyx ring.

"Isabella Marie Swan, will you marry me?"

I forced myself to breathe and nodded my head quickly, not trusting my voice. Edward slipped the ring onto my finger and I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

"I love you, Bella."

I pulled back from Edward and punched him in the shoulder.

"That was a shitty thing to do."

"Okay, I could have done it differently, but that's not really my style."

"I know, and you're an ass."

"But I'm your ass. You're going to be Mrs. Ass, soon."

I smiled and let my happy tears fall down my cheeks.

"And I couldn't be happier about that."

I pressed my lips to his and melted into his arms. I smiled to myself, knowing that my life had only just begun.

A/N: And that's it folks! I will be writing an epilogue and it won't take as long as this chapter did. I am so sorry about how long this one took. I was beating myself up over what to do. I don't know how many times I deleted everything and started over. I hope that it was worth the wait. And of course, thank you to everyone that has been there since the beginning. You all mean so much to me. You can't even begin to know how much I cherish all of you. I am going to start writing another story. It's called After the Rain.

I'm hoping to have the first chapter up in a few weeks. But until then make sure to check out Good Fortune by RobotMoose to tide you over until I get that one going. I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!! Stay tuned for the Epi!!

Chapter Playlist: Tragic In The Fire by SixPin, I Still Believe by Bobaflex, Becoming I by Unloco, So I Thought by Flyleaf, and You're The One by Rev Theory