A.N.-okay so I know that many of you want to kill me for making you wait so long but the thing is I wanted to make this chapter perfect, so I had to re-write it many times. . .i wanted to get exactly what I wanted out. . .i hope you enjoy this chapter and please don't kill me. . .Please enjoy and hope you luv it. . .i know my excuses are lame but I really did want to make this perfect. . .please tell me what you think and enjoy!!!!!. . .hope u luv it cause I really tried. . .

Disclaimer- - -okay so im not Stephanie Meyer and I don't own Twilight but this plot is ALL MINE!!!!!!. . .one day Edward Anthony Masen Cullen will me MINE!!!!

This chapter is dedicated to lizcullen2011 and hermione0789. . .Congrats on getting the challenge right and I hope you all enjoy this chapter. . .don't forget to leave me a review of what you thought of this story. . .

Flashback to last chapter-

"Jasper then cleared his throat and said quietly, "Charlie is coming over this way. Try to relax and be calm. This will all be over sooner than you think."

I took a deep breath to prepare myself; this was not going to be easy."

Charlie approached Jasper, Edward, and me trying to look friendly. He looked like he was unsure of what he was doing. "Bella, can we talk in private dear?"
He never called me dear or sweetie unless he wanted something or he was about to tell me some bad news. I tried to keep my voice level when I said, "Father, whatever it is you want to discuss can be said in front of Jasper or Edward, Mr. Cullen."

He looked like he wanted to argue with them being there but then Edward said, "Lord Swan I would really rather be here during the discussion." He said it with so much control I had to look at him to see his expression. Charlie did not like having Edward be there but he did not want to fight over it.

"I have some news for you Bella." Charlie said in a dead voice.

"I have some news as well father," I replied. Charlie looked confused trying to guess what my news was. I tried to get my throat wet so it would not sound like I was terrified. "You can go first if you want father."

"Well, Bella. As you know, you are getting to the age where you should start a courtship with a young man. I know you do not think it is time to enter a courtship but I have received an offer I would like you consider. As you know, Jacob Black is slightly older than you are but he has shown an interest in you. Jacob Black would like to enter a courtship with you and it would be very improper to refuse such an invitation." Charlie said quickly as if he wanted to end this conversation rapidly.

I tried to think of a way to tell him and I saw Edward out f the corner of my eye smile encouraging at me. I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. "Father, I think I should have gone first. Unfortunately, I cannot enter a courtship with Jacob Black." I tried to sound confident at the same time proper and sweet.

Charlie turned red and started to shake in anger. "Why can't you enter a courtship with Jacob Black? Why Bella? Do you have a reason?"

"Father, I am engaged to Edward."

"WHAT! Are you insane?" Charlie thundered. Thankfully, most of the guests were in the ballroom and the music was too loud to hear us.

"Father, I am as sane as I have always been. I am engaged to Edward." I tried to stay calm and proper. "I have been engaged for two weeks now." I lifted up my left hand to show him Edward's ring.

"What the hell do you think you are doing Bella? You need to stop being ridiculous! How can you have been engaged for two whole weeks now and not have been in a courtship before! Did you even ask me?" Charlie roared, turning a nasty shade of purple.

Before I could answer, Edward cleared his throat and said in a clear, controlled voice, "I think I can explain that better than Bella, Lord Swan. You see, I have had feelings for Bella for the last few years and your son, Jasper, knew about these feelings. About a year and a half ago, I got enough courage to ask Bella to enter a courtship. She was unsure at first, however she eventually agreed. We were in a courtship for about a year and we agreed to keep it a secret because we knew that you would not agree. I am in love with your daughter sir, and I asked your daughter to spend the rest of her life with me. I want to be with your daughter always and amazingly, she has said he wants the same. We were going to ask for your blessings tonight. I hope you do not hold the way you found out against us." Edward lied so smoothly, I tried to keep my face from looking surprised as he said the fake confession. He was constantly a much better and more convincing liar than I was.

Charlie was turning a darker shade of purple as he heard Edward. He turned to look at me and I smiled and said, "Father, he is telling the truth. I love Edward and I wish to spend the rest of my life with him. He makes me very happy father and I will not enter a courtship with anyone else. I do not care who is showing interest in me, my mind is made up. I am marrying Edward."

"Isabella Marie Swan, you are a Lady, you come from a great family and you have a very high status. You are willingly going to give all of that up just to marry Edward Masen! He is a middle class nobody. His mother is a singer for Christ's sake and no one knows what his father does. How can he be a good choice for marriage?" Charlie boomed. I was ashamed to hear Charlie say that about him, not ashamed that I believed him but because of what he said, how could my father think that. I saw out of the corner of my eye Edward's face fell, looking down slightly. I turned to look at him and saw his expression was completely devastated, destroyed, and embarrassed. It was as if he thought he was not worthy of marrying me, like he was agreeing with Charlie.

I opened my mouth to say something but apparently, Charlie was not done with his monologue of how I could not marry Edward.

"And you Edward," he pointed to him and Edward looked up slightly, "this is the thanks I get for allowing you to befriend my son and treating you as well as you have been treated. I let you into our lives and for eight years now, you have received what you should not have. I know you helped my daughter out that one time but you have gone way to far this time for me to ignore it. YOU WILL NOT MARRY MY DAUGHTER! She deserves someone ten times the man that you are, if you are a man at all. What kind of a man would ask for a young lady's hand in marriage before asking for her father? What kind of man would make the woman he apparently loves hide their courtship and their engagement?" Edward looked crestfallen and heartbroken.

"You are right Lord Swan. You are right that I have taken advantage somewhat of your hospitality but I am close friends with your son and I love your daughter. You are also right when you say that I do not deserve Bella, she does deserve someone much more that me, however, she has chosen me. I do not think I am worthy of Bella, nevertheless I plan to spend the rest of my life trying to become worthy of her. And, by some miracle, she loves me too. I will marry Bella and I will be here as long as she wishes me to be. I will give her everything she deserves and more. I will provide a home for Bella and I will make sure we are able to live a comfortable life. I will always be ther for Bella for as long as I live." Edward said in a determined almost wistful voice, but his expression was still the same.

I looked up at Edward, he could not be serious. Like I deserved someone better. Like I deserved all that he said he was going to give me, even if he was just pretending, I did not deserve all of that. I was just plain old Bella, I barely deserved anything. I was still surprised at what Edward said when Charlie grabbed my wrist roughly and nearly shouted in my face, "Bella, you will not marry Edward. I will not allow you to marry some middle class scum and pass up Jacob Black's invitation. I will not allow you to screw you life up like this."

"Well father, I have made up my own mind and I do not care what you say and what you will allow. I am going to marry Edward, whether you like it or not. And, father, I wasn't really asking for your permission, the only reason I am telling you is so that you have a chance to know what I am doing with my life and give us your blessing." I said, in a polite yet harsh tone.

"Isabella I will not stand for you to speak to me that way! I am your father and you will show me some respect. I will not have my only daughter acting like some gypsy!" Charlie said, trying to speak in a civilized tone but failed miserably, he sounded more like an angry animal than a gentleman. Without answering, I grabbed both Edward and Jasper's hands and pulled them away from Charlie. I walked briskly off the balcony, the two following me and into the parlor. I needed some air to think in and the ballroom was filled with people.

When I reached the parlor, it was completely empty. Blast! Not only had I just told off Charlie but also I had refused to enter a courtship with Jacob Black, and I was not apparently "engaged" to my brother's best friend. Now, I would be the talk of London, it was sure to make scandalous headlines, 'Lady Isabella Marie Swan to marry middle class singer's son Edward Anthony Masen' or 'Lady Swan declines Jacob Black's proposal of courtship'. This was never going to end! As I sat there thinking I realized that Edward would be accused of being after my money and that I was a silly little spoiled brat who was being taken advantage of or that I was with his child. I realized what this would to do me and I realized that this was going to overshadow Rosalie's dream engagement and wedding. I did not want this to hurt any one else. I needed some time to think….my life was such a mess.

"Bella, are you crazy! You cannot speak to Charlie like that, he is our father! You were not raised to talk to men or your elders like that." Jasper said looking astonished.

Even though I knew he was right, I could not help fighting back against his accusation. Anger and frustration took over me and I exploded.

"Jasper, I don't care if I was not raised to speak to men like that, I am so extremely tired of Charlie controlling my life and always telling me what to do. I am sick of being the proper lady who does everything she is asked without considering how she feels. I am tired of trying to always impress someone to keep the family out of embarrassment and shame, I feel like I am always being criticized and examined. Why can't I just say what I want for once in my life, why cannot I be in charge of my life for once? I am so terribly sorry for dragging you both into this mess of mine and I am sorry for causing all of this, but I do not know what else to do." I practically shouted in an unusually high voice.

I felt today's events crashing down on me and my eyes started to fill with liquid, threatening to spill over at any second. I sank to the floor, probably ruining my dress and I dry sobs were ripping through my small frame. I felt two strong arms wrap around me and pull me tightly to their chest. I looked up expecting to see Jasper but instead I saw Edward's emerald eyes looking down at me.

"Bella, I know that you are stressed and worrying unnecessarily again but you have to calm down just a little bit. Everything will work out, you will be able to move on past this little mess and have a wonderful life. You will be able to stop worrying about everything and just be happy but for right now, you will just have to pretend to be engaged. I promise nothing bad will ever happen to you, I will not let anything happen to you. I promise I will not leave you until you want me to, I will not let you ever do anything you don't want to." Edward said in his velvet voice, his green eyes piercing into my very soul.

I tried to tell myself this was not proper but my body did not seem to care. I then tried to tell myself that Jasper was still there but then I felt another pair of arms around me, and Jasper said softly, "Bella, dear sister of mine, I know that this is not what you want, but for right now, please trust us when we say, everything will work out. I love you and I will do everything I can for you. You have so much fire in you and I will do everything I can to set it free." I hugged him back and murmured in his ear as do I love you. Edward just smiled and looked like he was trying to say something, but this time when I gave him a questioning look he did not answer. I let it go though.

Jasper got up and so did Edward. I tried to get up by myself but I tripped and almost fell but Jasper steadied me. I muttered thanks and blushed. I wished, once again to have his grace. We all looked back to where the noise was coming from and then just shook our heads. I did not want to go back into that room; I did not want to face Charlie again. And I would have to explain to Alice and Rosalie what was going on.

"Um, do you think that I can tell Alice and Rosalie what is going on or do I have to let them believe what everyone else will believe?" I asked, wondering what I would do. Edward and Jasper looked at each other like they were having a silent conversation. They had this weird connect where it was as if Edward could hear Jasper's thoughts, he was able to get a feel of what everyone was thinking, except me he said. Jasper and Edward both nodded in agreement to something.

"Bella, I know that you trust Alice and Rosalie completely but I think it would be better if everyone just believed the story you told Charlie. That way there is no confusion or slip ups." Jasper said. I knew he was right but it still felt wrong to lie to them, they were my best friends. Apparently, I said that aloud because Jasper replied, "But if anything goes wrong it will be worse than just telling them a little white lie. They will understand, trust me."

I nodded and mulled over what he said, he probably was right. This was going to be a long night. I tried to make sure I looked presentable but then I remembered the mask. This was supposed to be a great night, have fun, be mysterious, and try to enjoy life. Why did everything always have to be so complicated, or was it only for me. Jasper and Edward were waiting for me and I sighed and quietly said, "Lead the way."

Jasper walked back into the loud and crowed ballroom and Edward was at my side. I saw Charlie in the distance and gulped. I grasped Edward's hand and tried to remain calm. Charlie was walking with Billy Black. Oh crap, things just got worse.

Edward squeezed my hand reassuringly but it just made me more nervous. I tried to squeeze it back but I do not think he was fooled. I was taking shallow breaths and I was started feeling dizzy. I was just too nervous; I could not face the man who spawned the boy who haunted my nightmares, not now, not with everything else going on. I realized that I just could not handle it anymore and moved to turnaround a run away. Edward must have suspected I would do something like that because he grabbed me and held me so I could not go away. When I stopped struggling, he let go of my shoulders and held my hand again. Charlie and Billy were closer now. It was now or never to confront them. Oh, hell…..this was going to be a long night.

Tell me what you think???? I tried to get it out perfect for all my fans who've waited so long. . .Also, if you want to see any of the things I have described so far then go to my profile to see the pics. . .

The new challenge is to see if you can tell me what this quote is from. . .

[singing] Twinkle, twinkle, little bat,

How I wonder what you're at

Up above the world so high

Like a tea tray in the sky...

Whoever can tell me what that quote is from will get a preview of the next chapter and will get the next chapter dedicated to them. And I will also start advertising other stories so you can tell me stories to read and I will read them and give a shout out to them.

ttfn

beautiful-bella