Chapter Thirty - Proposition

"So what's up?" I finally asked after we'd walked almost a mile. He was starting to freak me out a little bit. He was so anxious and nervous, and I had no clue as to why.

"Renesmee, I love you. I've always loved you, and I'm always going to," he said slowly as we came to a stop.

"I love you too, Jake," I said, still completely puzzled. Jacob dropped down to one knee.

"I don't have a ring for you yet, but Nessie," he took a very long deep breath, "Will you marry me?"

He took both of my hands in his. I wanted to answer, but I was just so shocked. Why was he asking me now? Was it because he really wanted to marry me, or because we were having a baby? If he really truly did want to spend eternity with me, I'd have to say yes. But if it was the latter reason, I'd have to say no. At least, until he asked for the first reason.

"Is that what you want? Because of me, not because I'm pregnant and you just want to do what's right?" I asked as Jacob's happiness seemed to drain from his face.

"Both. I want to marry you, but I was going to wait until you were finished with school like you said. I just thought that maybe you would be ready to now, since we're starting our own family."

"So you would have still asked me anyways? Without the baby thing, I mean?"

"Of course! I waited eight years for you to fall in love with me, and I can't wait to marry you!" he said, his excitement returning. He waited patiently for an answer as a smile crept across my face.

"Okay, then I say yes."

Jacob had me off the ground and spinning around wildly in his arms before the whole word was even out. He stopped turning and pulled my face back to place kisses all over it.

"We're getting married!!!!!" he shouted to the trees. I had definitely never seen him happier than he was right now. His emotion rubbed right off on me, making me just as ecstatic. He hugged me tightly again, then kissed me quickly but passionately. "I promise I'll get you a ring, whatever one you want."

"That's not important. Although I have been missing my necklace," I said sadly. I had forgotten about it until just then.

"I'll get you a new one, and then I'll get you a ring," he promised. I was glad he didn't ask what had happened to it.

"Jacob...." I sat down on the dirt beneath me. "What am I going to do about school? And where will we live? How are we going to do this?"

"I'm sure your parents won't make you go to school anymore. We can live where ever you want, anywhere in the whole world. It's all going to work out, you'll see," he said as he sat down beside me. I hoped he was right about the last part and that everything would work out. I wasn't sure about school though; I at least needed to go to tell Brittany good-bye.

"What day is it?" I asked suddenly. I'd completely lost track of my days.

"It's Christmas Eve," he said simply. Wow. Well at least I didn't have to decide about school until after New Years.

"I wonder when I got pregnant," I said off-handedly. We'd been together so many times that it would be practically impossible to pin-point the one when it happened.

"I don't know. You didn't get sick this morning."

"Wow, I didn't did I? Did I yesterday morning?....." I almost looked inside for an answer but quickly decided against it. I didn't want to think about yesterday morning. "I hope that keeps up, at least."

My mind drifted back to the fact that I was getting married. I really did want to marry Jacob, but I wanted everything to be perfect. I wanted Jerrick completely gone from my mind. I wanted to look beautiful for him, not like a hippo.

"Jake...." I sighed heavily. "When did you want to get married? Before or after the baby is born?"

"That's up to you, Ness. We can get married tomorrow, or in five years. I'm just glad you said yes," he smiled. Releif washed through me, and I laid back to savor it.

"How about one year? That's normal, right?" Not that normal mattered much to people like us.

"You're asking me?" he raised an eyebrow mockingly. "I think one year sounds good."

We walked back towards the big house hand in hand. I contemplated what we were going to actually do once we got there - everyone had only found out last night that I was pregnant, and now I had to tell them all that I was getting married. I hadn't even noticed anyone's reaction to the first thing, and now there was more to react to.

"Your dad gave me his blessing. They might already know," Jake responded to my worries.

"He did? Why is he being so cool about all of this?"

"When you got taken away, it just changed some things. He wants more than anything for you to just be happy, and he can read your mind so he knows that you are. And he can read my mind, so he knows that I'm going to keep making you happy for the rest of your life," Jacob smiled. "I think we remind him of him and Bella, except that we're safer for eachother than he was for her when they met. He knows how much we love eachother, and we don't have any reason to not be together like they did."

"I suppose that makes sense," I spoke quietly. My dad did understand love very well. He and my mother loved eachother more than anything, and they'd had alot of obstacles to overcome to be together. Me and Jacob didn't have that kind of battle; Jacob would never hurt me, would never feel the urge to drain all the blood from my body leaving me lifeless. He only loved me, and from the first day I'd been born.

Jacob smiled as he listened to my thoughts. We stepped up onto the porch and paused before we opened the door. I heard 'Ladybug' playing again from inside, and was struck with an idea.

"Dax!!!!" I practically yelled at Jacob.

"Huh? Is that the guy singing?" he said with a puzzled expression.

"If the baby is a boy, we could name him Dax!!! Dax Jacob Black....."

He contemplated my idea for a short moment. "I like it. We could call him DJ for short. But what if it's a girl? You don't listen to many girl musicians," he laughed

"Yeah, I don't think I could name her Otep," I laughed. "I'll find inspiration somewhere though."

We entered the house to find everyone sitting there, minus Emmett and Rosalie. They were all chattering excitedly as we walked in, but stopped and turned to place all of their eyes on us.

"Oh, Nessie!" Alice sang as she flew over to hug me. "Please, do not name her Otep if it's a she! But I like your other idea!" She giggled and kissed the top of my head.

I giggled too. "That part was just a joke, Alice. Don't worry, I'll think of some girl name eventually. So you really like the name Dax?"

Everyone in the room smiled and told me their approval. So that was settled, at least. One thing down, a million more to go.

"Where's Em and Rose?" I asked as everyone's faces slowly turned down.

"She's upset, or jealous is more like it," Alice said a bit angrily. "She left last night after you said you were pregnant, and Emmett went to talk to her. He came back for a minute to let us know they were both alright, but he left again and they've stayed gone."

"Why? Why would she be jealous?" I asked as a tear streaked down my face. I loved my aunt Rose, I didn't see why she would be angry with me. Alice lifted a finger and wiped it away.

"Don't let her upset you, Nessie! She's just...... she's always wanted to have kids for herself, and she can't. She was kind of jealous when Bella got pregnant with you, but she was always there to take care of you and play with you after you were born. But we live far away now, and she can't be that way with your baby. She wishes she had one of her own, or could at least be around a baby and be close to it."

"Do you think she'll come back? I would really like to see her before you all have to go again."

"She'll be here, just give her some time to cool off. She has to accept what her physical limitations are, and that you don't have the same limitations as she does."

"I guess I can understand where she's coming from. She's wanted what I have now for longer than I've been alive," I concluded. Rosalie could be jealous, it was really only fair to her for me to not get mad over it. "Oh yeah, I kind of have something else to tell you guys....." I said slowly, remembering that I had just gotten engaged.

Everyone only stared, waiting patiently for me to say what I wanted. I looked over at Jacob, who had a huge smile on his face. I elbowed him in the ribs.

"We're going to get married!!!" he told everyone, using the exact same excited tone as earlier.

Jasper shot a questioning glance at my father.

Dad chuckled. "It's what she wants. I told him it was okay. I want Renesmee to be happy."

"So we're not going to kill him, then?" Jasper laughed. He couldn't help but be happy too. Alice looked at me with her face scrunched into an adorable pout.

I giggled, knowing what she wanted to hear. "Yes Alice, you can plan the wedding for us. You've got plenty of time, too. It won't happen for about a year."

"You guys don't want to get married before the baby is born?" Esme spoke for the first time.

"No, I think I'd be happier if we waited. I wouldn't want to look like a cow on my wedding day," I laughed.

"I have to get started!" Alice said as she hugged me quickly and then sprang up the stairs. I caught a glimpse of my mom over her shoulder; She looked a little bit upset. Everyone else noticed too, and they all left me and her alone in the room. Jacob kissed my head before loping out of the front door.

"What is it, Mom?" I asked as I crossed the large room to her.

"What are you going to do about school? And how will we tell Charlie?" She bit her lip as her brows drew themselves together in anxiety.

"I'm not sure yet," I answered honestly. I hadn't thought about what I would say to Charlie. "I'll finish out school if you want me to. I'll take care of Charlie, too. You won't have to tell him."

"Are you coming with us tomorrow? He really misses you, and he'll love to see you after you've gotten home."

"Did he know I was gone?" I asked surprised. Charlie was usually out of the loop on these things.

"Yes, I told him you were kidnapped. He tried to put up posters for you, he was just so broken up about everything. I spoke to him yesterday after you were on your way back to let him know we'd found you. He's pretty confused, but happy as ever."

"Well maybe he'll hold on to that feeling after tomorrow," I joked lightly.

"You don't have to finish school, Renesmee. I completely understand if you don't want to go back."

"I'm not sure yet. I at least want to tell Brittany goodbye, and let her know the situation......"

"Well you have a few days to decide for sure. Are you sure that this is what you want, Renesmee?" She looked straight into my eyes and her hands gripped my shoulders. "I don't want you to feel like you have to get married because you're having a baby. Jacob wouldn't have minded if you'd told him you wanted to wait."

"I know. I do want to get married to him though. I don't really have any reason not to, and a lot of reasons to go through with everything. I guess if by the time the wedding comes, if I'm not ready or something...."

She wrapped her arms around me, just tight enough. "I love you so much, Renesmee. Don't do anything because you feel like you have to. If you really do want to marry Jacob, then I know you two will be happy with eachother forever."

I kissed her cheek and hugged her tighter. I was so lucky to have the family that I was born into. Both of my parents were so understanding and loving, towards me and towards eachother. They knew love better than anyone, how intense and illogical it could be sometimes. They would both do anything in the world to make me happy. I placed my hand to Mom's cheek and told her my thoughts that I could not say out loud.

"Jacob, too," she smiled. "He would do anything for you. That's why I approve."