Edward's POV

My watch alarm beeped at the ungodly hour of two thirty in the morning. I hurriedly shut it off so it wouldn't wake Bella. She was asleep in the bed beside me; we'd spent last night in her apartment. I'd tried to tell her I would just stay at mine so I wouldn't wake her in the morning when I got up, but she'd insisted on me remaining put. My concession was that we stayed at her place, so once I'd left, she'd still have the alarm.

Rubbing a hand over my face, I sat up and carefully climbed out of bed to throw on my shorts and T-shirt. I planned to run back to my apartment to shower and change. I needed to be on the road by three, so I had about thirty minutes. Plenty of time to get ready and grab some coffee.

I'd slipped on my shorts and was pulling my shirt over my head when Bella stirred.

"Mmm, E'ward," she mumbled. She sat up and tucked the blanket under her arms, trying to ward off the chill of the early morning air.

"Yeah, baby," I said quietly. "I'm just about to leave."

"Sure you do'wan comp'ny?" Her voice was slurred with sleep, and she looked adorably rumpled.

I chuckled softly. "I'm sure, love." I moved around the bed and kissed her once, gently nudging her shoulder. "Get some sleep, Bella. You've still gotta open the store in a few hours."

"'Kay," she replied. "Call me. Drive sa—" She yawned, covering her mouth with her hand before continuing. "Drive safely."

"I will." I tucked the blanket back around her snugly. "I'll set the alarm on my way out. Love you, Bella."

Her "Love you too" came out soft and sleepy.

I had no doubt she was already asleep by the time I'd closed the door.

~*~CIBD~*~

I pulled into the short-term parking at the Sea-Tac Airport around five thirty. Being so early in the morning, it wasn't nearly as busy as I'd seen it in the past, so finding a space to park and then navigating foot traffic to wait just inside the airport was easy. I made my way inside and decided to grab another cup of coffee while I waited. I had a feeling that would be a staple in my diet today. Otherwise, I'd fall asleep before noon. I ordered a large hazelnut-flavored coffee and a muffin, buying a newspaper at the same time, and then made my way to just outside of Baggage Claim, where I settled down to wait.

I'd just finished my coffee when the information for my parents' flight updated to show that their plane had arrived. I tossed my trash in the garbage can at the end of my row of seats, stuck the rolled up newspaper in my back pocket, and began to pace. It had been six months since I'd seen my parents, and even though I knew I shouldn't be, I was nervous. The only reason I could think of was Bella. I really didn't want to be grilled by my mother about her, even though I knew it would be done with the most loving of intentions.

Ten minutes later, a group of people began streaming out of Baggage Claim, heading to the exits. I didn't have to wait long before I heard, "Edward!" I turned just in time to see my parents, huge smiles on their faces, making their way toward me.

I met them halfway and found myself enveloped in a hug like only a mother could give as soon as she dropped the luggage she'd been pulling.

"Hi, Mom," I said, returning her hug. "It's good to see you."

I heard her sniffle and felt her arms tighten around me for a moment before she released me.

"I'm so glad to see you, honey," she said, looking me over. She brushed a piece of imaginary lint off my jacket and straightened my collar. "Have you been eating? You look too thin, Edward! I told your sisters to make sure you ate—"

My dad interrupted her, teasing, "Esme, sweetheart, slow down. Let me say hello before you start fussing." He wrapped me in his own hug, patting my back a few times as he said to me, "It is good to see you, son. Humor your mother; she worried so much about you kids the entire time we were gone."

"Okay, okay, my turn again," Mom said, pulling me out of my dad's arms. "Tell me all about your Bella! Oooh, can we stop in Port Angeles so I can meet her?"

I laughed; Mom wasn't known for wasting time. "Mom, let's get going, okay? I'll tell you about her in the car, I promise."

My dad looked like he might pass out from holding back his laughter as he said, "And no, Esme, we will not stop in Port Angeles. Let the poor girl sleep. You'll meet her tomorrow."

She huffed, but nodded her acquiescence, letting me grab the two suitcases she'd been pulling. My dad handed her the carry-on bag he'd been holding, leaving him with just his own two suitcases. As I led them out of the airport to the car, she began telling me a little about their flight, ending with a story about their seatmates.

"We sat in the same row as this adorable little girl and her mother. She was only six years old, we found out later. We were worried when we first boarded that it would be an extra long flight, having to ride with a child, but she was an angel. Her mother had packed her plenty of things to do to keep her occupied, and she slept a lot of the flight."

I made the appropriate noises to show I was listening and had to contain my laughter when I looked at my father, who just rolled his eyes and smiled as she continued to talk.

"It was better than our flight there, that's for sure. I was never more glad to be away from someone than I was from that rude man we sat next to on that flight!" She glanced at me. "I wrote to you about that, didn't I, Edward?"

"Yes, I remember," I assured her. "Okay, here we go." I clicked the button to open the trunk and, with my dad's help, began to load the luggage.

All but one suitcase and the carry-on bag fit in the trunk, and the leftovers we put in the back seat.

"I'll sit back here, since I'm smaller," my mom said, climbing in behind the passenger seat as soon as I unlocked the car.

After a quick stop for coffee, we were on the road again. As soon as we all piled back into the car, my mom began peppering me with questions about "my Bella." The three and a half hour car ride to Forks seemed to fly by. I told them all about how I'd first met Bella—even though they'd been told over the phone shortly after it happened—about our first date, about the creepy guy at Bella's shop and the subsequent alarm system, and answered about a hundred questions about our relationship and about Bella herself.

About twenty minutes from Forks, "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison sang out from my cell phone, signaling an incoming call from Bella. I grabbed my Bluetooth and stuck it on my ear, pressing the button to answer the call.

"Good morning, Bella," I said, smiling at the quiet squeal from the back seat.

"Hey," she murmured. "Did your parents get in okay?"

"They did," I answered. "We're just about to Forks."

"Okay, well, I just wanted to say hi and good morning. I'll let you get back to driving. Call me before you head home?"

I smiled and nodded, even though she couldn't see me. "I will. Have a good morning at the store, and be sure to call Rose and Emmett if you need them, okay?"

"Thanks, I will," she promised. "Talk to you later, Edward."

"Bye, sweetheart," I said, waiting until I heard her echoing goodbye before clicking off the phone and pulling my ear piece off.

My mom was practically vibrating. "I can't wait to meet her, Edward," she said excitedly. "From everything you've told us, she sounds lovely. And you seem so happy. It's good to see that."

Nodding from the passenger seat, my dad agreed. "She's right, son. It's good to see you so happy."

"Thanks," I replied softly, smiling at the thought of Bella.

By the time we pulled into their house, my parents were ready to get out of the car, and I was anxious to head back to Port Angeles. I helped them unload their luggage and then hugged them both.

"So we'll see you at Alice and Jasper's new house tomorrow night, right?" I asked as my mom gave me an extra long hug.

"We'll be there, Edward," my dad promised as he pried my mom away from me. "Drive safely, son."

"Please, tell Bella hello for me," my mom said, wrapping her arm around my father's waist.

I promised I would and then climbed back into my car and began backing down the driveway until I could turn around. I watched in the rearview mirror as my parents waved goodbye to me before they turned and walked into the house.

Next stop...Charlie's.

~*~CIBD~*~

I drove the nearly three miles to the police station, parking in one of the designated visitors' spots. I grabbed the box of books from the floorboard in the back seat and then made my way inside the station.

"Edward Cullen?" A shrill voice just as I entered made me look up in surprise. There, behind the desk, was a girl I'd gone to high school with.

Lauren Mallory looked...the same, yet different, than the last time I'd seen her. She was still blond, although I could tell now that it was definitely from a bottle; her roots were showing. She'd gained some weight, which wouldn't normally be a big deal, but she also looked like she'd been "rode hard and put away wet," as Emmett liked to say. She was definitely trying too hard.

"Hello, Lauren," I said, glancing around. "Chief Swan available?"

Lauren batted her obviously fake eyelashes and smiled, showing off teeth stained from smoking too many cigarettes. "How've you been, Edward? I never see you anymore, what with you having moved to...Seattle, right?"

"Umm, Port Angeles, actually," I muttered before I'd really thought about not wanting to tell the woman in front of me where I was living. "The Chief?"

"Oh, sure, he's in." She pointed to the right. "His office is right down the hall. You can go on back."

"Thanks." I nodded once and then turned the corner to head to Charlie's office.

"Oh, and Edward?" Lauren called. "Stop by and see me before you leave. Maybe we can go get something to drink before you go home."

Inwardly, I cringed, thinking I'd rather face Charlie and tell him I was having sex with his only daughter than get drinks with Lauren Mallory. I acted like I hadn't heard her and continued walking.

When I got to the end of the hall, I saw Charlie sitting behind a desk inside his office. His head was down, and he was flipping through some papers, so he didn't notice me right off. I knocked on the door frame and smiled when he looked up.

"Hey, Edward," Charlie said in greeting. "What brings you by?"

"I brought my parents home from the airport, and Bella wanted me to drop off this box of books for you," I told him, holding up the small box of westerns I'd brought.

"Ah, great, great," he said. "You can set them down there by the door, and I'll grab them on my way home tonight. Are you heading back to Port Angeles now?"

I nodded, but then paused. "Actually, sir, I'd like to speak privately to you, if you have a moment."

He raised an eyebrow, quiet for a moment, and then gestured to the door. "Sure, son. Close the door and have a seat."

I set the box down and closed the door quietly before taking a seat in one of the chairs across from Charlie.

"Now, what can I do for you?" he asked, folding his hands across his middle as he relaxed back against his chair. There was a smirk on his face, like he knew exactly what was on my mind.

"I'm sure you know already from speaking with Bella," I began, "that she and I have been seeing each other."

Charlie nodded. "Yes, she's mentioned it several times."

"Well, umm..." I paused, suddenly even more nervous than I'd already been.

"Spit it out, son," Charlie said, still smirking.

I cleared my throat and nodded. "I love your daughter, sir," I told him frankly. "I know we haven't been together long, but I know she's the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. I would like your permission to ask her to marry me. I'm thinking around Christmas. I would ask bef—"

Charlie interrupted my babbling with a chuckle. "Breathe, Edward," he said calmly. When I swallowed and took a deep breath, he continued. "Now, son, I'm sure you've noticed, but my daughter's a grown woman. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't control her love life. I couldn't when she was a teenager; I certainly can't now."

I nodded. "I realize that, sir. I guess I should've said I would like your blessing, rather than your permission."

For several long, stress-filled minutes, we sat in silence. I watched Charlie, who was watching me, a hand stroking his bushy mustache, lips pursed. As the minutes ticked by, my palms started to sweat, and I could feel my heart pounding.

Just as I was getting ready to speak, to try to convince Charlie to give his blessing, he spoke. "Well, Edward, I suppose if I had to pick someone to marry my daughter, a man who loves her and takes care of her like you do would be at the top of my list." He smiled then and stuck his hand out across the desk. "You have my blessing, son. Just keep her happy, that's all I ask."

I let out the breath I'd apparently been holding and reached out to shake his hand. "Thank you, sir."

We visited for a few more minutes, making plans to have him and Sue up for a family dinner one night soon, before I glanced at the clock on the wall.

"Oh! I need to go," I said, standing. "I need to be back at work this afternoon for a little girl's first piano lesson."

"Drive safely," Charlie said, shaking my hand once more.

"By the way," I started, opening the office door and looking down the hall. "Is there a back way out of this place?"

Barking a laugh, Charlie nodded and said, "Follow me. You can go out the side door and then around to the front."

I smiled my thanks and followed him down the hall, away from the front desk and Lauren Mallory.