A/N: One quick shout-out to my new readers. No matter what happens, please know that I'm a firm believer of HEAs. So while my attempt is to make this story as close to reality as possible on multiple aspects, I'd ask you to trust me.

As always, Ashmerlin is an angel who makes my messy thoughts look pretty.

Shall we delve into Bella's head now?

Chapter-6: BPOV

In the month since my breakdown, Edward and I talk a lot about wanting families of our own. We don't necessarily say that we want a family with each other, but when I see Rose with her little family, I find myself dreaming about having one of my own … with Edward.

With five days before he's supposed to leave, Edward takes me back to the beach where we had our first date. While I'm busy looking at the Seattle skyline from there, he drops to his knees before me.

An involuntary gasp escapes my lips at the implications of his actions. And then, he speaks. "Bella, I know we haven't known each other for long," he starts, making my heart jump to my throat. "I know a few months is not nearly enough to fall in love, but Bella, I want to tell you that it's more than enough for me. I am in love with you, Bella Swan."

"Edward ..."

He holds a hand up, pleading with his eyes for me to let him finish. "I am leaving the country in five days, Bella, and I don't know what I'll face out there. I know it might seem selfish, but Bella, I want to come back home … to you. I promise to spend the rest of my life making you fall in love with me. Will you marry me and be my home?"

Home.

His words and the look in his eyes make my heart clench as if it'll burst from happiness and from love … for the man before me. I take his hand and pull him back to his feet. Then I stand on my tiptoes and press my lips to him.

Immediately, his hands pull me to him as he returns my kiss. Once we separate, he cups my face in his hands and asks, "That's a yes, right?"

I smile. "It's a very firm yes, Sergeant."

We apply for a license right away and because I don't have anyone to walk me down the aisle, Edward and I take a drive to Forks, to invite my uncle Billy to the wedding and to give me away.

Billy, of course, agrees right away. Wiping at his eyes, he hugs me close and tells me how proud my dad would be if he was alive. I just hug him back, thankful to have a father-figure with me on my happiest day.

On the drive back to Seattle, we discover a beautiful meadow filled with wildflowers and overgrown grass. To some, it might have looked abandoned and depressing, but to us, it signifies life blooming despite obstacles being in the way. To us, it looks magical.

So, a few days later, despite Rose's whining about having no time to prepare for the wedding, Edward and I exchange vows in our magical meadow and become husband and wife.

Our first night as a married couple, Edward promises me three things … one, this is going to be his last tour, two, he will come back to me no matter what, and three, he'll love me forever.

As for me, I just hold him to me with everything I've got, hoping and praying that the day of his departure never comes and we can start our happily ever after right away.

The next few days are … blissful, in a way. We spend our days talking about our pasts and planning our future, and our nights are spent getting lost in each other.

After much coaxing, he begrudgingly tells me that he used to be a really lanky kid back in school, but when high school rolled around, he started working out and slowly grew into the muscular adonis I see today. He tells me that that's why Rose calls him Popeye.

In return, I tell him about how accident-prone I used to be when I was younger and that my uncoordinated movements got me the nickname Bambi. He kisses my pout away and then kisses me some more. Time, it seems, is finally ours for the taking.

The thing about time is … it's cruel. When you want it to slow down, it flies.

So when two days later, my husband walks toward the airport security, taking my heart with him, I don't break down. I harden my heart and wave at him with a smile on my face.

The tears come when I return to my empty apartment with his scent lingering over the bedsheets where we'd spent the night making love.

Edward, you have to come back to me.

A/N: A quick note about the Popeye part. Popeye the Sailor Man was a very popular cartoon I grew up watching. The character, Popeye, was a skinny dude who would munch on some spinach and grow instant muscles. So yeah … that's where the analogy came from.

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Thanks for reading.

See you tomorrow.

Love,

Ann