Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of Stephenie Meyer. True Companion is the property of Marc Cohn. No copyright infringement is intended. The original plot and storyline of Never Enough, however, belong to me. Please be nice and don't copy or translate without permission. Thank you.

Despite their own difficult circumstances, Iadorepugs and Cullen_Crazy01 are always there for me. Their input, suggestions, and honesty make these chapters so much better for you, my readers. These ladies mean the world to me.

Thanks once again for your continued support and patience. I hope there will be no more than two weeks between chapters (of which there are two more, and an epilogue.) But this chapter resolves our cliffie, so please read on and join me at the end...

Chapter 33

"I'm asking you to marry me, Bella."

Funny, I could swear that's what I'd heard Edward say, but I knew I must have heard wrong. There was no way we were at that point already in our relationship. I tilted my head and looked at him, raising a questioning eyebrow. "Come again?"

Edward couldn't stop the crooked smile and the wicked gleam in his eyes at the way I phrased my question, and I felt myself blushing at my choice of words. "I can try, but I think I might need a little bit of recovery time, love," he teased, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. He cupped the back of my head in his hand and leaned forward, kissing me gently, his lips exploring. He was so good at distracting me that I almost forgot what I thought I had heard.

"Wait," I mumbled unconvincingly, raising my hands to his shoulders. Instead of pushing him away as I had intended, my fingers curved around his flesh, pulling him closer, my body wanting what he offered even as my mind raced in other directions.

Edward's lips slid down my neck, sucking softly at the patch of skin behind my ear that made me shiver. "Mmmmm," he hummed against my skin, trying to distract me further.

"Edward," I nearly groaned, torn between wanting to continue and wanting to make him talk to me. "Please stop!" I begged raggedly as his lips slid to my collarbone, his hands tugging at the blanket to uncover my breasts. I knew I didn't have the willpower to make him stop – he would need to have resolve enough for us both.

He nuzzled my breast and kissed the distended nipple briefly before raising his head. "If you expect me to speak," he paused while he pulled the blanket up, covering me, "I'll require no further distractions," Edward told me with a wink. He settled on his side, propped up above me on one elbow while the fingers of his other hand traced a lazy pattern on my shoulder. I reached up and captured his hand with mine, lacing our fingers together. I waited for him to speak, still certain that I had heard him wrong.

I finally couldn't bear the silence any longer. "Edward?"

"Yes, Bella?"

"Did you just…I mean, I thought I heard…but you couldn't have possibly…I mean that's just…and it's so…but I could swear…"

"Bella?"

"Yes, Edward?"

"Could you finish one of those thoughts, please? I'm afraid I don't have the road map for this conversation," Edward said with a chuckle.

"Did you just propose to me?" I said.

"Yes, I did." His green eyes were warm, and for the first time I noticed a trace of nervousness in his gaze.

"Did you have this planned?"

"Well, not for this exact moment in time, and not necessarily under these circumstances, but I have been thinking about it for a while now."

"What do you mean by 'under these circumstances'?"

"Well, it's not particularly the kind of story we want to tell the kids. 'How did Edward propose?' 'Oh, well we'd just christened the rug in front of the fireplace with some pretty spectacular sex, and then the horny old bastard popped the question'."

I laughed in spite of myself at Edward calling himself a horny old bastard.

His mention of the kids brought back his conversation with Will the other day, and I wondered if Edward had already talked it through with them. "Wait, do the kids know about this?" I asked.

"No, they don't," Edward replied. "It had been my plan all along to talk with them first, ask their permission, if you will. But when we started talking about going home and returning to our busy lives apart, I just couldn't keep the question inside any longer." His fingertips stroked my hand, and I noticed the way he lingered absently on my mother's ring that I wore in place of a wedding band. It wasn't the first time he had played with the ring, although it was the first time I'd realized the significance.

"You don't think it's too soon?" I asked hesitantly, not wanting to hurt him, but worried about the short length of our courtship.

Edward shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe, but are my feelings for you going to change in the next six months, in a year, or even two? No. So why wait to start a happily-ever-after when we could start one now?"

"Won't people wonder why we're rushing things? We've only known each other six months, Edward, and for almost half of that we weren't even dating."

"Time's not important, Bella, and neither is what anyone else will think about it. Our feelings are what matter," Edward said. He sat up and leaned back against the couch, motioning for me to join him. I leaned into his side and he put his arm around me, covering both of us with the blanket.

"How long did you know Jacob before you married him?" Edward asked.

I thought about it for a moment. "Well, I met him the week I moved to Forks, and we dated for about two-and-a half years before we got married."

"And how did you feel about Jacob when you got married?"

"I loved him, although looking back with perfect hindsight I don't know that we were necessarily in love with one another. I was pregnant, and we did the right thing, what our families expected of us. It was more or less a shotgun wedding," I admitted. Even though these were details that I had already shared with him, they were still embarrassing to recount.

"So marriage was not necessarily something you wanted at that point in time, but more something you were supposed to do?" Edward asked.

"I suppose. We probably would have headed in that direction anyway after college. It was the next step, being together for that many years."

"Well, marriage was the logical step for Heidi and me. I wanted to be in her life and in Chelsea's life, but wouldn't do it without the benefit of a commitment that, using that same hindsight, I forced Heidi to make. I guess what I'm trying to say is that logic in my case, and time in yours, didn't exactly create successful marriages, did they?"

"I suppose not," I said slowly.

"Bella, how do you feel about me?" Edward asked, and it took me a minute for my mind to switch from thinking of Jacob and Heidi to my feelings for Edward.

Could he really not know? "Have I not made my feelings clear? I love you. You are one of the most important people in my life."

"As you are mine," he answered, his gaze intense. "It doesn't matter if it's only been six weeks, six months, or even six years. The only thing that matters is what we feel in here," he said, pressing his hand to my chest where my heart was thumping wildly. "I love you Bella, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want you to be my wife, and I want to be your husband."

Husband. The word had never made me yearn the way it did now, with the thought of Edward as that man. "I want that too. But I don't have just me to consider. I can't answer you until I talk to the kids. I cannot make a decision of this magnitude without considering their feelings and input," I answered, my voice imploring, trying to make him understand.

The intensity and excitement in Edward's eyes faded a little bit, but his expression just as loving as he leaned over and kissed me. "Like I said, I hadn't intended for things to happen quite this way. I think I know what the kids will say,at least I hope I know what they'll say,but I agree that we need to talk to them first." Anyone who didn't know Edward as well as I did would never hear the disappointment in his voice as I did. I felt heartsick knowing I had caused him pain.

I sat up a little, cupping his face with my hands, hoping that my eyes were able to convey the emotion that I felt. "Edward, I want you to know that I want to say yes. I want nothing more than to be your wife, to have our lives merge together in every way." As I said it, I realized how true it was. No matter that we had only known each other for a short while. And who cared what others thought? I wanted this man in my life, permanently and irrevocably mine.

Only one thing was holding me back. "The timing, right here and right now, is wrong. I can't tell you yes right now, not without the input of the other most important people in my life. Let me talk to Sarah and Will. Once I've discussed it with them, may I give you my answer?" I needed to be sure he understood my hesitation had nothing whatsoever to do with him.

Edward slid both of his arms around me, pulling me close to him and burying his face in my hair with a sigh. I couldn't tell if he was relieved or frustrated. "I shouldn't have surprised you like this, and I'm sorry for blindsiding you, Bella. Like I said, I hadn't intended for things to happen quite this way. I had planned…well never mind what I had planned. But I can't exactly take it back now, can I? Not that I want to, but we could always pretend this didn't happen and…"

"I don't want you to take it back, and I won't pretend it didn't happen!" I interrupted fiercely. "Knowing that you feel that strongly for me, hearing that you want us to be permanent, to make the ultimate commitment to me and my children, I…" I stumbled over my words, trying to convey to him exactly how much his proposal, how much he, meant to me. I only knew one way to make it clear. "I love you," I said, heavy emphasis on each word. "I want to be your wife, and I will be married to you. I'm just asking for the chance to postpone my answer to when I've done what I need to do as a mom."

"When. I like that a whole lot better than if," Edward responded, and I was relieved to hear his voice sounded hopeful. "So we'll just put this conversation on hold, and you'll let me know when the time is right to ask again?"

"Ask again?"

"Well, we'll need a non NC-17 rated version to share with people," Edward chuckled.

"NC-17? We've been sitting here talking. How is this NC-17?"

"I believe you asked me to 'come again' and I'm more than ready to take you up on that offer," Edward growled, pulling the blanket away and pulling me into his lap, his lips already opening over mine as his hands slid down my body. I gave myself over to his attentions, ready and eager to make good on my promises.

~XOXOXO~

Edward and I made the trip home the following day, taking our time and driving as leisurely as possible, neither one of us anxious to return to 'real life.' We both had to work the following morning, and I would leave the store early to pick up the kids from the airport. We exchanged our goodbyes at my front door, knowing if I invited him inside I wouldn't let him leave. And why exactly is that a bad thing? I wondered to myself as I watched him drive away, taking my heart with him.

We spent the next day texting back and forth like love-sick teenagers. It had been hard to fall asleep last night, alone in my Edward-less bed. It was even harder waking up and knowing that I probably wouldn't spend the night with him again for almost two weeks. By the end of my work day, I was grumpy, tired, and both anxious to see the kids and nervous have my talk with them.

I felt a rush of love for my children as they bounded through the airport, neither one of them too old or too cool to hug me in public. They were both tanned, their golden skin a couple of shades darker than when I saw them last. They were both dressed in bright, warmer-weather clothes that stood out in the dreary spring wardrobes surrounding us in rainy Seattle. I handed both of them their coats before we stepped out into the perpetual mist.

We decided to eat an early dinner in Seattle before heading home to Port Angeles. I sent Edward a quick text when we were seated letting him know we were stopping for dinner and I wouldn't be home until later and then devoted my full attention to my children.

Neither Sarah nor Will stopped talking longer than necessary to take a breath from the moment we gathered their luggage. The digital cameras that Jacob and Ness had given them both for Christmas were pulled out, and images began to blend together in my brain as they both clicked through hundreds of pictures I 'had to see!' My mom and Phil had pulled out all the stops to entertain the kids, and it sounded like all four of them had an amazing time together.

It wasn't until dessert that the kids had exhausted their stories for the moment. Sarah seemed to suddenly remember that I had taken a vacation too. "Hey, how was San Juan? What did you guys do?" she asked, pushing the rest of her dessert to Will. He tucked into it with enthusiasm, even though he'd just eaten enough to feed a small third-world country.

"Well, aside from the whale watching which you guys already know about, we had dinner one night with some of his relatives, and we walked in the woods and had a picnic," I barely managed to contain my blush when I thought of that night's 'dessert'. "The cabin has a hot tub, and a fire place, and we just kinda… hung out, spent time with one another." I realized that it probably didn't sound nearly as enticing to the kids as their jam-packed Florida trip. "It was really nice, a beautiful place, very peaceful and relaxing. Edward wants to take all of us up there some time."

"Cool!" Will said. "I'd love to go whale watching, and maybe Edward can teach me how to sail."

"Oooh, that would be great! Maybe in the summer we can go swimming and stuff too," Sarah said, and I felt my tension start to release when the kids started talking longer-term plans. Obviously they expected Edward to be around for the long-haul.

"One other thing happened while we were at the cabin," I said before I could chicken out. I mentally kicked myself for tremor in my voice as my nerves spiked again.

"What was that, Mom?" Will asked, and they both looked at me curiously, I'm sure alerted by the tone of my voice.

"Well, Edward, kind of… um, proposed?"

"Oh my God, you're engaged!" Sarah shouted, grabbing my left hand. She stared at my mother's ring in confusion. "Um, where's your ring, Mom?"

"I bet Edward wants her to go with him to pick one out that she'd like," Will said, a huge smile on his face. "Congrats Mom! Why isn't Edward here to tell us too?"

"Well, I…" I started to speak, but Sarah immediately picked up on my guilty expression, and cut me off.

"Oh puh-LEEZE don't tell me you turned him down, or told him it's too soon, or that you had to check with us!" Sarah said, raising her eyebrow at me in a perfect imitation of my stern expression. I felt my face flush in embarrassment.

"I didn't turn him down, per se," I huffed. It was a temporary turn down, I whined pathetically to myself. "And even though we've only been together for a little while, he managed to make me see past that. But yes, of course I have to check with you guys. We're a family, a unit, and I would never make a decision about our future without your input."

"Okay, no offense Mom, but are you taking stupid pills or something?" Will said bluntly.

"Will!" I said, shocked.

Sarah snorted and rolled her eyes at me, shaking her head. "Seriously Mom, Will's right. Edward's the best thing to ever happen to you, which means he's the best thing to ever happen to us as well, and you turn him down?"

"I said I didn't turn him down," I defended myself.

"Per se," Sarah said sarcastically. "But you told him you couldn't answer him because you had to check with me and Will? Good God Mom, we're crazy about him, you know that."

"There was a time when that wasn't the case," I reminded her, remembering Will's reaction to the news that I was dating at all.

This time it was Will rolling his eyes. "Jeez Mom, am I ever going to live that down? I mean seriously, Edward is cool, and the two of you together, it just works ya know? I can't remember you ever being happier than you've been these last couple of months, and you are kinda mopey when he's not around."

"Mopey?"

"Yeah, sometimes you get really quiet and sad, especially when you haven't seen Edward for a while like just before our vacations. But If you guys are married and he lives with us, you will get to see each other even when work is busy," Will told me.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to be so distracted," I told them, not realizing that my discontent at not spending time with Edward was that obvious to my kids.

"Good Lord, it's the guilt now," Sarah sighed dramatically, putting the back of her hand to her forehead and feigning swooning. "This is the part where Mom apologizes for not being a mind reader and a psychic, for having a job and a life and a boyfriend…who should be a fiancé by the way," she said shooting me a disappointed look.

"He will be a fiancé, or more importantly my husband. And your step-dad. I need to make sure that you're both okay with that," I said seriously.

"Where will we live?" Sarah asked.

I thought about Edward's condo, which was farther away from school and work and really didn't have enough room for the four of us. "I don't know, we haven't discussed details. Probably in the house we are right now?" I wondered if moving into a house I had lived in with Jacob would bother Edward. There was time to discuss that with Edward later.

"Do we have to listen to him and do what he says?" Will asked, a gleam in his eye.

"Do you listen to Renesmee and do what she says?" I asked. Will grinned and nodded – I had heard stories of how Ness was a strict task-master around the house. "Same rules, bud."

"I can live with that," Will agreed.

"I want Edward to be in our family. That means we get all his family too. Didn't you say his mom and dad are really nice?" Sarah asked.

"Yes, Carlisle and Esme are great. That would make Rose and Emmett your aunt and uncle, kind of, and the girls your cousins."

"As long as Aunt Rose and Uncle Em don't expect me to babysit for free," Sarah warned with a scowl, and I laughed.

"Speaking of which, are you and Edward going to have kids?" Will asked.

"Um, we've discussed it, and I don't know. Probably not," I answered.

"Rats, I always wanted a little brother," bemoaned Will, and I laughed again.

"Tell you what, I'll have a little brother for you if you'll take care of him all the time, especially those midnight feedings and diaper changes," I teased him, laughing when Will shuddered and shook his head. "So you guys are okay with me marrying Edward?"

"Yes!" they shouted together, attacking me in a group hug from both sides. Heads all around the restaurant swiveled to look at us for the commotion we made, but I didn't even care. I had everything I ever wanted within my reach.

I settled the bill and pulled out my phone. I texted a single word to Edward: WHEN!

~XOXOXO~

A few days later, Rosalie, Alice and I entered Maria's. Edward, Emmett and Jasper were all working late on their project for the City, which had exploded in activity while we had been on San Juan. Rather than cancel our plans altogether, we ladies decided to go out anyway. Sarah and Will were with Jacob and Renesmee, undoubtedly regaling them with the Florida vacation stories I had been bombarded with continually for the last couple of days.

We ended up at our usual table, which felt huge and kind of empty without the guys. We had the same waitress as always, who gave me a slightly sour look before setting down my wine. I sat with my back to the stage, wanting to focus on my time with my friends rather than wish Edward was here.

We had a fantastic time, drinking, eating and laughing. They shared some of their favorite stories of Cullen Cabin, and I told them a little bit about our time there. I didn't mention our last evening there or Edward's proposal, I wanted to keep that information to myself until things were official.

And much to my consternation, things were not 'official' at all. I didn't know which I found more frustrating, being proposed to when I wasn't expecting it, or not being proposed to when I was. Granted, we hadn't seen each other for more than five minutes in passing since he left my doorstep the other night, and tonight was another wasted opportunity. All the more reason to get on with it, so we wouldn't have any more of these nights apart. Sure, once we were married we would still have work commitments that might keep us busy, but at least at the end of the night, we'd be in the same house, in the same bed, together.

"Bella, you seem awfully distracted," Alice said loudly over the sounds of the band warming up.

"Sorry, zoning a little. Coming back from a vacation is always hard," I said with a shrug.

"Not missing Edward at all, are you?" Rosalie teased. "It must be difficult, going from being together all the time like you were to just texting and talking on the phone."

I sighed. "Yeah, it is. But we'll be fine," I said with a grin, hoping that all of those separations would be over soon.

"Oh great, the band's about ready to start. Can you see the stage from your seat, Bella?" Alice asked.

I shook my head and turned around, stunned by the sight that greeted me. The band was indeed on stage, but in the center stood Edward, holding his guitar and looking out at me over the crowd, his hand raised to block the spotlight so he could see.

He looked amazing, dressed in a simple white button down shirt over a black tee shirt and black slacks. His hair was its usual messy array, as though he had been running his fingers through it just moments before taking the stage. He gripped the neck of his guitar tightly and reached out one long finger to tap the microphone. The crowd around us quieted and turned their attention to the stage, applauding as he sat down on the stool.

Edward surveyed the crowd and then cleared his throat and leaned forward to speak, his voice a little husky. "Hey everyone, thanks so much for coming out tonight. As you know, the house band will be playing in a few minutes, but I prevailed on Peter to let me sing just one number for you tonight. I've been planning to sing this song for a little while now, and I almost screwed up those plans a couple of days ago. You see, I've been waiting for just the right time." Edward looked directly at me with that crooked smile I loved so much. "I've been waiting for when. Bella, this is for you."

I could already feel the tears in my eyes as he strummed the opening chords, his fingers flying over the strings as he played the intro to one of my favorite songs. He kept his eyes on me as he started singing.

Baby I've been searching like everybody else
Can't say nothing different about myself
Sometimes I'm an angel
And sometimes I'm cruel
And when it comes to love
I'm just another fool
Yes, I'll climb a mountain
I'm gonna swim the sea
There ain't no act of god girl
Could keep you safe from me
My arms are reaching out
Out across this canyon
I'm asking you to be my true companion
True companion
True companion

My eyes were filled with unshed tears, which I quickly blinked away so that I could see Edward more clearly. I noticed movement in my peripheral vision, and turned my head to see Jasper and Emmett slide into chairs by their wives. Emmett caught my gaze and winked at me, his smile almost as huge as Rosalie's.

Edward started singing the next lines of the song, and I returned all of my attention to the man on the stage.

So don't you dare and try to walk away
I've got my heart set on our wedding day
I've got this vision of a girl in white
Made my decision that it's you all right
And when I take your hand
I'll watch my heart set sail
I'll take my trembling fingers
And I'll lift up your veil
Then I'll take you home
And with wild abandon
Make love to you just like a true companion
You are my true companion
I got a true companion
True companion

More movement around our table. Sarah and Will were there, flanked by Jacob and Nessie in the background. Sarah looked just like me, her hands up over her mouth and tears in her eyes. Peter and Charlotte were watching me instead of Edward, and I realized that everyone must have known what he was going to do tonight.

When the years have done irreparable harm
I can see us walking slowly arm in arm
Just like the couple on the corner do
'cause girl I will always be in love with you
And when I look in your eyes
I'll still see that spark
Until the shadows fall
Until the room grows dark
Then when I leave this earth
I'll be with the angels standin'
I'll be out there waiting for my true companion
Just for my true companion
True companion
True companion

Edward ignored the thunderous applause and got up from his stool. He approached our table, the spotlight following him every step of the way. He handed his guitar to Emmett and then lowered himself before me on one knee. I was crying freely now, tears of joy spilling over on my cheeks, as he pulled a ring box from the front pocket of his pants.

"Isabella Marie, I promise to love you forever. Every single day of forever. Will you marry me?"

"Yes!" I whispered, nodding my head furiously in case he didn't hear me. "Yes, Edward. Yes, yes, I'll marry you!" I finally cried out, throwing my arms around him and laughing and sobbing at the same time into his neck.

Edward helped me to my feet and grasped my left hand. He removed my mother's ring, gently placing it on my right ring finger, before placing a sparkling diamond on a platinum band on the third finger of my left hand. He lifted my hand to his lips and placed a reverent kiss on my bejeweled finger/ Then Edward pulled me into his arms for a warm, enthusiastic, passionate embrace, his lips telling me everything he felt at that moment, feelings I shared right back with him

I could hear the crowd around us cheering, but I paid no attention to anything except the man in my arms...my fiancé! Soon to be my husband. Very soon, if I had any say in the matter.

Soon enough the cheering turned to cat calls and whistles as I remained wrapped in Edward's arms, our kiss hot and our hands starting to wander with a will of their own. "All right, break it up! There are kids present, ya know!" I heard Will shout, followed by raucous laughter. I blushed scarlet and Edward laughed. We ended our celebratory kiss to accept the congratulations of our friends and family, my hand tucked firmly in Edward's.

Sarah and Will were in front, huge smiles on both of their faces as they hugged us both.

"Well played!" Will told Edward, slapping him on the shoulder. "So once you're my step-dad, can I get free guitar lessons?"

"That was beautiful!" Sarah said, tears still in her eyes. "I love some of those old songs!"

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as she grabbed my hand and inspected my ring. "Simple, elegant, not too big – I told you this one would be perfect, Edward."

"You told him?" I asked.

"Well, I may have had a little bit of help in choosing your engagement ring," Edward admitted sheepishly.

"No late yearbook meeting for Sarah or client meeting for you yesterday I'm guessing?"

"Nope. Just a date at the jeweler to pick out a ring."

"Lemme see it!" Alice called from behind the kids, who parted so that she could step in between them. She grabbed my hand and pulled it close to her face. I expected her to produce a jeweler's loupe the way she was studying the stone. "It's perfect! I'm so happy for you guys! Hey, can I plan the wedding?"

"Only if I get to help!" Sarah said, throwing her arm around Alice's shoulders. "Can we, Mom?" She stared at me with her big brown eyes and batted her eyelashes at me.

"I think your Mom needs a little time to process things. We need to set a date first," Edward said, trying to get me off the hook. He chuckled a little uncomfortably when they both turned their doe eyes on him. When Alice started batting her eyelashes like Sarah, Edward turned to me with wide eyes. "Good lord, make them stop!"

"Give us what we want and we'll go away," Alice said sweetly, a devilish glint in her eyes.

I smiled, hugging them both. "I do need some time to think, ladies, but I promise that I'll need your help. Because it's going to be soon."

"Soon?" Edward asked, a pleased smile on his face.

"Very soon," I agreed, squeezing his hand, knowing that even if we got married next week, it still wouldn't be soon enough. I was ready for my happily-ever-after to start right now!

So hopefully you found this worth the wait – these guys are now official! As I stated above, there are two more chapters planned and an epi. I am determined to do this story justice, so I guess I should warn you to continue to expect postinsgs every two weeks.

I have been a complete fail at replying to review, but I have saved each one and plan to answer each and eery one in the very near future. Thanks so much for being understanding. As always, if there was something that made you smile, laugh, sigh, or even groan in frustration, I'd love to hear from you, and I promise I will be getting back into my reply groove.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read – I appreciate it more than you'll ever know!