I LOVE YOU PEOPLE!!!!!!! No, seriously. I LOVE YOU PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!! And it's all because of the little, seemingly insignificant fact that WE HAVE REACHED ONE HUNDRED REVIEWS FOR THIS STORY!!!!! Yes, you heard me: one hundred. One zero zero. You have no idea how happy I am. I love you all for this, truly I do! I also love those of you who checked out my newest story, "Decode". I love you those of you who did, and if you didn't, what are you waiting for, the Messiah? Go read it!

Now on a slightly sadder note: we are in the final five. Yes, there are only five more chapters remaining until the end of A Different Kind of World. But the story won't be over yet. Au contraire, this is just the beginning. I have decided to rewrite this story from the point of views of Edward, Emmett, and Jasper, both because I think it would be interesting to see what was going on in their minds, and because, quite frankly, I'm just not ready to give this story up. I've become too attached in the almost six months that I've been writing this and didn't want to let go yet. I haven't started the boys' version yet, but I'll let you know when I do. It probably won't be until I post the epilogue to this, so don't get your hopes up yet.

Now then.... on to Chapter 25!

Also, I wanted to thank the people who took a guess at what the surprise from last chapter was. Two of you got it right. I'll tell you who at the end of the chapter, so as not to ruin the surprise. Now let's get this show on the road for real!

WARNING: This chapter is extremely fluffy. Do not read if you are not in the mood for some serious fluff. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED, PEOPLE.

DISCLAIMER: Not mine.

Chapter 25 – Enough for Forever (Bella's POV)

"Wake up, love, wake up." I heard the voice calling me from far away. Someone shook my shoulder gently. "Bella, sweetheart, you need to wake up." I opened my eyes groggily. For some strange reason, I was outside. It was late afternoon, the sun casting long shadows over me. Edward knelt close to my head, one hand on my shoulder. When he saw that my eyes were open, he moved his hand and stood. I sat up, disoriented, and realized I was sitting on the porch swing, in the gazebo. I looked around me, confused. Edward laughed. "I think you fell asleep while you were waiting for me, love," he said, still chuckling. He bent down and picked up my bouquet of wildflowers before handing it to me. I took it from him, blushing. He laughed again. "Did you enjoy your nap, Sleeping Beauty?" he joked.

"No more jokes, please," I begged him. He smiled before sitting down on the swing next to me and pulling me into his lap. He started swinging the swing back and forth gently. For a while, we simply sat like this. "So, did you get your errand done?" I asked him after a few minutes of silence.

"Yes, I did. And it went surprisingly well," he said, sounding happier and lighter then I had ever seen him. It puzzled me to no end. I remembered the last time he said he had a surprise for me. He ended up telling me he loves me. What could possibly be the surprise now? Nothing in the world could ever be better than that surprise. Nothing except… impossible. He couldn't be thinking of that. Could he? But that would have meant that his errand was… no, my parents would never have agreed to that. Would they? Would his parents?

"So that means you have a surprise for me, yes?"

"Yes, Bella, I do."

"What is it?"

"I thought you didn't like surprises, love."

"I don't," I confessed. "But if you don't tell me, I'll never stop thinking about it."

"If you insist, love." He slid me off his lap and onto the swing beside him. I frowned, trying to decipher his behavior. He stood up, and I pouted. He noticed the pout, and smiled. "Do you want your surprise or not, Bella?"

"Do you have to move?"

He laughed, moving to stand in front of me. "Yes, love, I have to move," he said. "It's so much sweeter if I do this properly."

"Do what properly?"

"This." He slid down onto one knee and took my hands in his. My breath caught in my throat. Oh, my God. "Isabella Swan?" He looked up at me through his long lashes, his emerald green eyes glittering with all the love and adoration I could tell he felt for me. "I promise to love you forever – every single day of forever. Will you marry me?"

I could feel the tears of happiness brimming in my eyes and I knew Edward was waiting for a response. "Yes," I whispered. I was unable to say more then just that one word, but I knew that that one word was enough.

Edward smiled. "Thank you," he said. He stood up slowly, never letting go of my hands. Before I could move even the tiniest bit, he had pulled me up from the swing and wrapped me in his arms, hugging me closer to him then I ever thought possible. I managed to free my arms from his tight grip and wound them around his neck, hugging him back. For a while, we simply stood there, arms around each other, gently swaying side to side. Eventually, Edward loosened his grip. "We probably should go tell your parents that you accepted my proposal," he said.

"So they gave you permission already?" I asked.

Edward laughed. "Permission? Your mother's first words were after I asked were 'Well, it took him an awfully long time, didn't it dear?'"

I blushed, embarrassed by my mother. "Oh, God."

Edward laughed again. "It really wasn't that bad. They were both very polite about it. They gave me permission almost instantaneously, short of a few standard questions and the assurance that my parents approved of the match." He chuckled. "I almost had to leave and bring my parents here, just to reassure your parents that they approved."

"So you never left my house?"

"No, I did leave. I went home first to ask my parents if they approved, then I came back here to ask your parents. I didn't want to ask you or your parents without knowing for sure if mine approved. Since both of our parents did, I came to ask you."

"And I said yes."

He smiled. "You did."

I smiled back at him. "We should go tell them the good news," I said. We loosened our tight grips around each other. I picked up my bouquet off of the swing, reminding myself to get the flowers in water as soon as we got inside. Edward took my hand and we set off towards the main house. When we reached the entrance hall, Jonathan came over to us with a smile.

"I see your guest is still here, Miss Swan," Jonathan said.

"Yes," I said. "Edward, this is our butler and chief steward, Jonathan. Jonathan, this is Mr. Edward Masen, my fiancé." Jonathan nodded once. "Can you please find my parents and have them come to the sitting room? Edward and I need to share some news with them. Also," I said, handing him the wildflower bouquet. "Please have Marie put these in water and set them on my night table."

"Right away, Miss Swan." Jonathan took the bouquet and disappeared. Hand in hand, Edward and I walked into the sitting room and sat down on one of the loveseats. Two minutes later, my parents walked in. They took one look at me and Edward sitting together on the loveseat, and then the next thing I knew, my mother was hugging me tightly, crying tears of joy.

"Oh, Bella," she sobbed. "I'm so happy for you." She let go of me and turned to embrace Edward. He smiled and returned her hug, causing her to sob harder. She let go of him and turned to me. "You are such a lucky girl, Bella, being able to marry a man who loves you so."

"Like you, mother?"

My mother smiled. "Yes," she said. "Exactly like me."

My father stepped forward to embrace me next. "Congratulations, Bells," he said.

I hugged him back. "Thank you, father."

My father turned to Edward. "I suppose we should head over to your house and start working on arrangements."

"I think that's best, sir," Edward said. The four of us proceeded outside to our carriages. My parents started towards our carriage and I began to follow them. "Bella?" I turned to Edward. "Why don't you ride with me in my carriage?"

I turned to my parents. "Do you mind mother, father?"

"Of course not, dear," my mother said. Smiling, I followed Edward to his carriage. He helped me in before climbing in beside me. As we set off, he drew the curtains over the small windows, ensuring us privacy. Once he was sure no one could see us, he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me tight against his side. I snuggled closer to him and looked up at him with a smile. He smiled back at me. My smile widened slightly because I knew I didn't need mind reading powers to know what he was thinking right then.

"I love you, Isabella Swan," Edward said, voicing his apparent thoughts.

"I love you too, Edward Masen," I told him. He leaned his head down and kissed me on the cheek. I sighed and leaned my head against him.

We arrived at Edward's house too soon for my liking. He climbed out of the carriage and then helped me out. I saw my parents alighting from our carriage a little ways up the drive. Together, we walked up the stairs and into the house. When we were inside, the butler greeted us.

"Welcome home, Mr. Masen," he said.

"Thank you, Reuben," Edward replied.

"Who are your guests?" Reuben inquired.

Edward placed a hand on my shoulder. "Reuben, I'd like you to meet my fianceé, Isabella Swan, and her parents."

Reuben smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you all and may I extend my congratulations to you both. Would you like me to go find your parents, Mr. Masen?"

"Yes, please," Edward said. He led me and my parents towards the sitting room while Reuben set off to find Mr. and Mrs. Masen.

When his parents came into the room, Edward got up and walked over to his parents. He began talking to them in a hushed tone. I saw Mrs. Masen hand Edward something, which he immediately slipped into his pocket. He hugged his mother before walking back over to me and sitting down. His parents sat down and turned towards us, as did my parents.

"Bella?" Edward said.

"Yes, Edward?" I said.

"Before we start discussing marriage plans, I have something for you."

"What is it?"

He pulled out a small black satin box. "This." He opened the box to reveal a ring. The face was a long oval, set with slanting rows of glittering round stones. The band was gold – delicate and narrow. The gold made a fragile we around the diamonds. I was shocked by how beautiful it was. Cautiously, I reached out and touched the gems lightly.

"It's so beautiful," I said.

"It's my mother's," Edward told me.

"It was mine," Mrs. Masen said. "Now it's yours, Isabella, dear."

I shook my head. "I can't Mrs. Masen."

"Please, Bella?" Edward said.

I looked at the ring again. Slowly, I reached for it. Edward's right hand grabbed my wrist, stopping me. His other hand reached for his mother's ring. He took it from the box and slid it into place on my left hand.

"It looks beautiful on you, dear," my mother said.

"It does," Mrs. Masen agreed. Edward smiled, but didn't say anything.

"Shall we start on the contract?" my father said.

"Let's begin," Mr. Masen said. As the parents began to discuss all things related to the wedding, I saw Edward make eye contact with his father and tilt his head towards the door slightly. Mr. Masen nodded and Edward smiled.

"Come with me," he murmured. We stood and walked out of the room. As we walked, Edward didn't speak or hold my hand. Was something wrong?

"Is something wrong, Edward?" I asked him. He stopped and turned to look at me. A piece of hair fell in his eyes and I reached out with my left hand and brushed it aside. As I lowered my hand, he caught it in his, bringing it back up to a height where he could see his mother's ring glittering on my finger. For a while we just stood like this, my hand in his, his eyes on the ring. After a while, I found myself eyeing it too, admiring the way the diamonds and gold sparkled against my skin. "Our mothers were right," I murmured, half to myself, half to him. "The ring does look pretty on me."

"Pretty is hardly the way I would describe how it looks, sparkling on your finger," Edward murmured.

"So how would you describe it?"

"Hm…" Edward looked up at me, green eyes meeting brown. "I would have to say that it is the second most beautiful thing I have ever seen, the first being you, of course."

I blushed. "Edward…." I said in a strangled voice.

Edward laughed and pulled me close to him, leaning his head down so he could whisper in my ear. "Bella, you have no idea how long I've dreamed of this. Humor me, please."

I wound my arms around his neck. "How long you've dreamed of what?"

"You, in my arms, wearing the ring I gave you. Wearing something that marks you as mine. Forever."

I waved my hand wearing my ring in front of his face. "You've dreamt of this?"

"I always dream of you, Bella. I love you. Why wouldn't I dream of you?"

I tightened my grip around his neck. "I dream of you too. I dreamt of you even when I was mad at you. You were always on my mind. I could never escape from you."

Edward grip around my waist tightened. "I love that you dream of me, Bella."

"And I love that you dream of me, Edward."

Edward smiled his crooked smile. "You know, I brought you out here because I have another surprise for you, not so we could talk about just how much we love each other. Honestly, I don't think our parents would have minded hearing us right now. They are so happy that we're getting married."

I smiled back at him. "Not as happy as we are," I said. Then I frowned. "Did you say you have another surprise?"

Edward smiled wider. He released my waist and I released his neck. He reached down and took my hand, the one wearing his ring. He led me to another room of the entrance hall. Inside was a spectacular grand piano. Edward led me over to the bench and pulled me down beside him on it. He placed his fingers on the keys and turned to me. "I wrote this for you. I hope you like it." Then he started to play.

As the first few notes drifted into the air, I gasped. The composition he was playing was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. The music surged around us and I found myself lost in its hypnotic melody. I turned my head slightly, watching Edward as he played. He looked so serious, so intent on the music, his fingers floating over the ivory keys gracefully. My breath caught in my throat at the beauty of it all: Edward, glorious as ever, playing the piano, playing one of the most beautiful melodies I had ever heard. I felt moisture brimming in my eyes as I watched him; how could such a glorious creature love someone so plain like me?

The song ended on a long note that hung in the air. Slowly, Edward lifted his fingers from the keys and turned to me, expectant. "That was…. beautiful," I told him, drying my eyes. "Thank you."

Edward wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against his side. "You're welcome, Bella," he said. "But why were you crying?"

"You're just so perfect. What did I do to deserve someone like you? I'm just so plain."

"You don't see yourself clearly, love. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met." I scoffed and he smiled. "It's true, love. There are so many things that are beautiful about you: your hair, your eyes, your body, your skin."

"Oh?" I said skeptically.

"It's true love." Edward reached out and caught a loose strand of my hair, gently pulling it to where we could both see it. "Your silky brown hair always shines, even without the sun." He let go of my hair and looked straight into my eyes. "Your gorgeous chocolate brown eyes are so deep that I find myself lost in them every time I meet your gaze." He tightened his grip around my waist. "Your body is so soft and fits so perfectly in my arms." He released one hand and reached up to stroke my cheek. The blood rushed to my face and I blushed. "And the perfect rosiness of your blush against the cream of your skin. You have no idea just how beautiful it truly is."

I blushed deeper. "Thank you, Edward."

"You're welcome, love."

"I wonder what progress has been made on the contract," I mused.

"Shall we go find out?" Edward said. He loosened his grip around my waist and we both stood. He took my hand and we walked back to the other room and rejoined our parents. Immediately, we were both caught up in the hectic conversation about the terms of the engagement and wedding plans. Time flew by as plans steadily developed. Finally, night came, and my parents and I had to return home. Reluctantly, I walked outside, towards my carriage, Edward at my side.

My parents climbed in first. I made to walk over and get in, but Edward stopped me. He turned me to face him and looked down at me. His parents stood by the door to his house and mine were in our carriage, both out of hearing range. "I miss you already," I told him quietly.

Edward laughed softly. "It's only until tomorrow, love." He lowered his head and kissed me on the cheek. "Sleep well, my Bella."

"I love you, Edward Masen."

"I love you too, Isabella Masen."

I gave a little start. "I'm not Isabella Masen, Edward. Not yet, at least."

"No, not yet," he agreed. "But you will be. And honestly, I like the sound of Isabella Masen much more than the sound of Isabella Swan."

"I wonder why," I muttered to myself. Louder, I said, "I'll see you tomorrow, Edward."

"I'll be waiting, love." With that, he helped me into my carriage and I set off into the night, dreaming of him and the perfect life we would now be able to spend together.

Told you it was going to be a fluff-fest. Congrats to sweet16994 and I'myoursweetestgoodbye for guessing the surprise right. I'm proud of you guys!

That's all for now. Don't forget to:

a) review!

b) read "Decode"!

Adios, mis amigos.

xoxoxoxoxoxo, TwilightTeen212