Chapter 21
Disclaimer: I don't own twilight (weeps) or Edward (sobs)
LAST CHAPTER- longer A/N at the bottom, with thank you's and summary for new story
This is a few months down the track
Bella's POV
I smiled at Edward from across the table, we were sitting in a ridiculously expensive – but definitely beautiful-restaurant, and it was our one- year anniversary. So to put it simply I was happy, Edward on the other hand looked extremely nervous. He kept staring at me as though he was going to say something, but then would think the better of it, he was jiggling his leg, and every time I said something he would jump. I was starting to get irritated, everything about tonight was supposed to be perfect- should be perfect, except that Edward was being so… un-Edward-ish. Normally he was perfect in these kind of romantic situations, knew exactly what to say. Not tonight.
"Edward, what's the matter, you're acting really weird, is something wrong?" He looked startled, but sheepish too. He took a deep breath before he started to speak,
"Nothings wrong Bella" he reassured before continuing, "In fact, since you came along nothing's been wrong 'Before you, Bella, my life was like a moonless night, very dark, but there were stars- points of light and reason…And then you shot across my sky like a meteor. Suddenly everything was on fire; there was brilliancy, there was beauty. When you were gone, when the meteor had fallen over the horizon everything went black. Nothing had changed, but my eyes were blinded by the light. I couldn't see the stars anymore. And there was no more reason for anything' Now that I have you again, I'm not letting you go…"
And then Edward did something that made my heart jump out of my chest, I was ecstatic and terrified at the same time. Because right then, Edward slid out of his chair, and on to his knee. He pulled out a small box from his jacket pocket, revealing a ring. 'The face was a long oval, set with slanted rows of glittering round stones. The band was gold- delicate and narrow. The gold made a fragile web around the diamonds', "Isabella Marie Swan, will you marry me." I was having a heart attack, and so many possible answers came to mind, some so unbelievably cheesy that I blushed. I settled on a safe, un-blush worthy answer,
"Yes." Edward took my left hand and slid the ring on
At one point in time I was sure that I didn't want to even think about marrying Edward for at least a few years, but after losing him once, I knew that we were meant to be, there was no way I would ever want a divorce, and although there was a time when I couldn't see why Edward would even like me, I knew by now the depth of his feeling for me, knew that he would always love me. I was his brand of heroin. Besides, I reassured myself, its not like we actually had to get married before we was at least in college, this ring was just the biggest assurance of Edward's eternal love that there is.
I felt a euphoric smile spread across my face as Edward stood up, pulling me from my chair to him, he looked into my face, his eyes blazing with the same love that I felt, he pulled me into a tight embrace and kissed me, it was soft and filled with love, not passion- we both knew there would be time for that later- we pulled away and Edward smiled again, he took my hand in his, securing me tightly,
"Do you want to go somewhere?"
"Where'd you have in mind?"
"The meadow?" he suggested, I nodded furiously, the meadow was my favorite place EVER and we hadn't been for ages. Edward laughed and signaled the waiter and paid the bill, as well as ordering dessert to take away.
In what seemed like five minutes we were there, I fell into the grass and inhaled its soft dewy sent. Edward flopped next to me, "Oh Bella, have I ever told you that I love you"
"You might have mentioned something along those lines at some point." I teased him.
"I love you"
"I love you more."
"Not even possible" He said. I could have let it go there, this wasn't an argument either of us were likely to win, but that wasn't really my style,
"Even though I pretty much hated you,(the whole Jessica thing) you dazzled me from the second I saw you"
"The minute I saw you I knew I couldn't live without you" he countered. I thought hard, looking for something that could top that ridiculously romantic statement, although I just needed a break he took my silence as surrender,
"See, you've got nothing, I love you more."
"No Edward, I just needed to think, and I have it… there are no words for how much I love you, no written equivalent, no comparison. I love you more than life, I love you more than…than anything, I need you more than oxygen, and you're IT. You're all I want, all I need… Edward Cullen I want you, I need you, I love you."
Edward looked a little stunned, he was silent for a second before pulling me on top of him and kissing me fiercely, one hand tangled in my hair, the other pulling me even closer to him, we kissed passionately before breaking the kiss for some much needed air, "Bella, that was just…wow, so beautiful, I'm so lucky to have someone like you, you know." I smiled a little at that, little did he know it was the other way around. I looked Edward in the eyes, still on top of him,
"Now you know, no one's ever loved anyone as much as I love you."
"You're almost right, I know of just one exception"
"Liar" I retaliated. Edward was about to do the same when he sighed,
"I don't think either of us are ever going to win this argument, do you Bella?"
"Nope" I replied, popping the P.
"I can think of better uses of our time then can't you?" Edward didn't even wait for me to answer before he pulled me into his kiss again and we kissed passionately, our tongues entwined together, Edward pulled away far too soon, but before I could complain he moved his lips to my neck and starting kissing me, occasionally running his teeth along my neck in a way that should be illegal. He murmured against my skin,
"I love you…I love you…My beautiful Bella." Edward's words sent a shiver down my spine as I realized the full implications of his words- implications I was only too happy with- I was marrying Edward, I was His, he was Mine, we belonged to each other.
Always.
Oh My God I can't believe its over, I just couldn't do it justice if I continued.
Btw, I know you probably don't like that she was okay with getting married so young but, although it doesn't say so here they'll wait till after college to actually marry, and also without Edward being a vampire and thirsting for her blood Bella didn't have quite the same assurance of his love, so that's what this ring meant to her.
Thanks heaps to everyone who put this story on alert or favorites or me on favorite authors and author alert, as well as everyone who reviewed, I cant tell you how much it means to me, well actually I can, and it meant heaps, it helped me keep writing, helped me rediscover my passion for writing and made my day every time I got an email THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU :D
I've started a NEW STORY and the first chapter is up now so check it out, its called Heaven Isn't Heaven Without You:
Summary: Edward died of Influenza in 1918 and Bella died when Tyler's truck hit her in 2005 Bella is in heaven when she meets Edward. They are both alone as everyone they love who died has 'moved on' they don't know where to but they do know you only make it there if you're content. They start spending all their time together and each confront what's holding them back from Contentment- Bella's inability to let go of her human family, and Edwards fear of the unknown. Together they find what they never hoped to- love.
Heaven is a lot like it is described in The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (a fantastic, must read book)