I do not own Twilight

I stepped out of my dorm room building basking in the sunlight this place had to offer. It had been one week since my discharge from the hospital and today I woke up feeling well enough to go to my classes.

"Ready?" the voice asked, a voice I would recognize anywhere, a voice that got my heart pumping and my knees weak. I looked over at Edward grabbing onto his hand giving it a tight squeeze. He brought our twined hands up to his lips and kissed my knuckles, the promise ring he had given me shining under the sunlight. I couldn't even speak, not with him looking at me with those piercing eyes, and with his lips still on my skin like that so I settled for a simple nod.

He dropped our hands from his lips and began to tug me along to my first class. As far as I knew since the attack James was still lurking around the campus somewhere, which put me on edge but I knew I was safe because since being back Edward had yet to let me out of his site, which I was absolutely fine with because that meant being able to sleep with him in the same bed. Life as I knew it was back to normal and I couldn't be happier the only thing that had been nagging me was the fact that I had yet to talk with Jacob since he saved me, I wanted to thank him so badly, to tell him that if he hadn't been there I might not still be alive and I knew Edward was just as grateful for Jacob than I was but Edward was a lot luckier he at least got to apologize.

As we strolled through campus hand in hand I kept the direction of my gaze downcast. I still had a few cuts and bruises and this was the first time since coming home from the hospital that I have actually been in public, I didn't want to be gawked at even though by now everyone had heard what happened to me. The only thing calming my nerves right now was Edward who was still holding onto my hand like his life depended on it and I risked a glance up at him. His bronze hair shined under the sunlight and I had to squint just to see his flawless face. He noticed my staring and smiled kissing me on the top of my head letting go of my hand so he could securely wrap his arm around my shoulder. Now that I could hug myself into Edward's side I kept my head up and my eyes trained forward feeling his breath on my ear as he bet his head down and whispered

"You okay?" I nodded my head my mouth opening to answer when I spotted him. He was a few yards away but it was hard to miss him since he was at least five feet taller than everyone else around.

"Jacob" I breathed, a smile spreading across my lips.

I stopped walking surprising Edward as he dropped his arm from my shoulder

"Bella what is it?" he asked anxiously. I looked back from Jacob to him

"It's Jacob, I have to see him, I have to apologize" Edward turned his head to the object my eyes were set upon before turning back to me. He stood in front of me blocking my view making me give him all my attention.

He softly put a hand to my cheek smiling sadly "I'll be right here, I'll wait for you" truth rang in every word, I also couldn't help but note the double meaning. I pecked him on the lips before making a mad dash across the campus toward Jacob before he disappeared around the corner.

"Jacob!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, a few heads turned but I pushed pass them calling out his name again, this time he heard.

He turned toward me a little surprised to see me out and about but I ignored it coming to a stop a foot away from him. I had to bend my head all the way back just to be able to look in to his eyes, when I didn't say anything his eyebrows furrowed and he shifted his weight from one foot to the other

"Uh…Hey Bella" he muttered awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. I smiled widely and without warning lunged myself at him hugging him tightly around the waist in a silent thank you. He seemed hesitant at first but then I felt one of his arms wrap around my shoulders to return the gesture.

"Thank you" I said into his chest before pulling back to look him in the eye "Thank you, thank you, thank you-" I would have went on but he cut me off

"Geez Bella I get it, your welcome" he chuckled and I released him from my grasp, feeling like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I opened my mouth to say more but the opportunity was ripped away when I heard yelling from the side of the campus I just came from. I spun around noticing that a crowd of students was now gathering around something, or someone then they all started to chant "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

"What is going on?" I asked turning back towards.

"I don't know but I'm going to check it out" he said excitedly grabbing me by the hand ad forcefully pulling me toward the crowd. I laughed at his eagerness but complied with his wishes, I owed him that much. As we got closer to the crowd I looked around for Edward when I didn't spot him right away I figured he was in the mass of students now all gathered around this fight. Jacob stopped us and stood on his toes trying to peer over everyone, I didn't even bother I was still trying to look for Edward. Suddenly Jake yanked me forward dragging me through the crowd hurriedly

"Jake I don't want to watch!" I protested but he didn't listen he just kept pulling and pushing until I could see the break in people. That's when I saw Edward only he wasn't apart of the crowd he was apart of the fight. There Edward was on the ground, James in a chokehold beneath him

"Edward!" I screamed running forward only to be pulled back by Jake. I knew he hadn't heard me because I hoped that if he did he would have stopped. I watched helplessly as Edward furiously strangled a struggling James

"You almost killed her!" Edward yelled in his face, in a flash Edward was up off the ground, James heaving and coughing in a ball at his feet. Edward didn't stop there he yanked James up by the collar pushing him against the tree closest to them causing a few students to jump out of the way "You almost took everything from me!" he yelled again, I had never seen Edward like this before and as I watched Edward take a right hook from James capable fist I wanted it to stop.

"Jacob do something!" I yelled, he nodded and then jumped in, an uproar of cheering sounded off and I prayed for the campus police to get here soon. Jacob grabbed Edward by the shoulders yanking him away from James before anymore damage could be done. Edward tumbled back, his eyes crazed as was his rugged breathing. I was afraid to move but I had to. I could hear the campus police now as they broke up the crowd; I took a slow step towards Edward. His nose was bleeding, his knuckles bloodied, his breathing still not under control as he watched Jacob hold back James until the police could get involved but James wasn't done yet

"You should have heard her scream" he spat and that was enough to send Edward flying back towards him a growl ripping from his chest but before he could even push Jacob out of the way to get to James the police intervened restraining Edward as Jacob surrendered James to the officers.

The officers got a handle on James forcefully dragging him towards the station on campus. By now only a few kids straggled behind watching as the police carried James off, one officer staying behind keeping an eye on Edward. Jacob turned away from a retreating James catching my horrified eyes. By this point I couldn't even move, couldn't even cry I was still trying to wrap my mind around what just happened but I couldn't. All I did know was right now I wanted to be with Edward, I wanted to talk to him and see with my own eyes that he was okay.

His back was turned towards me but one stretch of my shaking hand and I could feel the material of his jacket smooth under my fingertips, the muscles of his arm tensed and I retracted my hand instantly, afraid he was still too worked up and would turn on me next but when he did turn around his whole body seemed to relax, the fury behind his eyes melted and he smiled my favorite smile before grabbing me by the arm and crushing me against his chest. I wrapped my arms around him burying my face into the crook of his neck, breathing him all in. He held me tighter and after a minute I could feel his body shaking against mine, and then I felt the tears on my cheek. I pulled back using one of my hands to wipe the salty moisture from under his eyes, I smiled warmly up at him using my sleeve to wipe the blood away from under his nose.

"I'm a mess aren't I?" he chuckled embarrassed, I shook my head giving him a chaste kiss on the lips "Your perfect" I whispered.

*********

"Will you stay put I'll be right back" I laughed using everything in my power to get him to lie still on the bed.

"I lied I'm not hungry anymore" he smiled grabbing onto my hand pulling me down next to him on the bed.

"Edward you haven't eaten all afternoon, you have to have something" as much as I didn't want to leave I had to. Edward took care of me when I was hurt and now I was returning the favor.

"Now keep this on your eye" I ordered placing the small ice pack Alice had bought at the store back on his black eye. He sighed dropping his head back onto the pillow as I grabbed my wallet for some food down at the food court.

"Be careful please" he muttered before popping some painkillers into his mouth chasing it with a sip of water.

"I'll be back before you know it" I smiled shutting the door behind me. I ambled down the dorm hallway thinking about how truly lucky I was to be back with Edward. I probably will never forget what happened today but who wouldn't forget their boyfriend fighting heroically against someone who once wanted you dead?

News on campus was that James had started the fight, egging Edward on trying to get some type of reaction out of him and he did because what I saw today was Edward being pushed over the edge. After things had calmed down and Edward was checked out by a nurse he refused to bring up the fight at all. When I tried to ask what had happened his only reply was to not talk about it, that he was ashamed enough as it was for me having to see that. I wasn't going to push the subject tonight, but somewhere in the near future I would bring it up again.

I picked Edward and I up some subs from the sub shop hurrying back up to my dorm, I wanted some food in his stomach before he passed out from the painkillers. When I pushed open the door I rolled my eyes. He was no longer in bed instead he was now pacing the length of my room, holding the icepack in place against his eyes.

"Edward" I sighed closing the door behind me "What are you doing?"

He stopped pacing smiled when he saw I was back in one piece and laid back down in bed as I handed him his dinner

"I thought I told you to stay put" I huffed sitting down at the end of my bed putting my sub aside

"I'm sorry" he said softly his sub forgotten as he looked over at me apologetically. I smiled letting him know he was forgiven as I grabbed the icepack from his hands standing up and wrapping it in one of the washcloths from the bathroom

"I don't want your eye to freeze up while you sleep" I explained as he eyed me curiously. I climbed up on my bed kneeling beside him placing the icepack back on myself. He closed his eyes as I held the icepack in place with my own hand

"Better?" I asked as he put his hand over my own

"Much" he murmured his breathing becoming slower as the pain killers started to do there job making him drowsy. It was silent for a few minutes and I smiled to myself as his face relaxed and his hand slipped from mine, finally he was getting the sleep he needed. I kept my hand on the icepack for a few more minutes and when I was sure he was asleep I took my hand back. Getting up from the bed I grabbed both our subs putting them in the small mini fridge for later.

"Bella" I heard Edward mutter

I turned to him and saw that he was now sitting up in my bed, icepack forgotten on his lap

"What are you doing put that back on your eye" I scolded walking back to the bed reaching down to do it myself but Edward stopped me grabbing a hold of my wrist pulling me down to sit beside him.

"Edward you really need your sleep" I was losing my patience with him now, if he wouldn't be so stubborn he would be making a quicker recovery.

"I wanted to talk to you first" he looked over at me nervously, holding my hand tightly in his on the bed

"Whatever it is it can probably wait until morning" I leaned over and kissed him on the forehead "now go to bed"

"It can't wait until morning" he protested keeping a firm grasp on my hand. He took a few deep breaths as I anxiously waited for him to continue, I had never seen him this nervous before.

"Bella I need to know that you love me" he said softly surprising me. I furrowed my brows wondering how strong these pills he was taking were.

"Edward why would-" I began to speak before he cut me off

"Just answer me" he pleaded. I smiled pulling our hands into my lap here I could run my fingers over his soft skin, the knuckles on one hand were a flaming red and I kissed the cuts wishing that my lips would rid his hand of the pain.

"Of course I love you, I couldn't even image being with anyone else" I answered truthfully. That seemed to please him enough because he smiled brightly.

"Than marry me" his words completely caught me off guard and for a second I forgot how to breath

"What?" I breathed, my eyes widening my hands now shaking in his.

"Bella, you would make me the happiest man alive if you would be my wife" I shook my head staring down at our hands trying to comprehend his words

"Edward I think those painkillers are really getting to you" I choked out, he sighed heavily

"You're wounding my ego Bella, I just proposed and you think I'm delusional"

I looked up at him seeing the pain and rejection behind his eyes, I hated to know that I was the one to do that

"What brought this on?" I asked incredulously still trying to decide if I was dreaming or not.

"I know how it feels to lose you; I don't want that to happen again" he spoke solemnly

"But marriage?" I asked not really knowing what else to say

"Bella" he breathed taking my face between his hands, the warmth was a comfort to me.

"I love you; everything about you…" I bit my lip the familiar sting of tears hitting me, my vision became clouded.

"…and I want to marry you. I want you as my own, all of you" I could feel the tears streaming down my cheeks, wetting Edward's fingers.

"So please, Isabella Marie Swan, would you do me the honor of taking my hand in marriage" I started to laugh then, actually going into hysterics would be more like it because not only was I laughing uncontrollably I was also crying just as much. Edward started to wipe the tears from my face, waiting patiently for me to stop. When I was sure I could find strength in my voice again I took both of Edwards hand into mine kissing them again.

"That had to have been the corniest thing I have ever heard" I giggled and Edward smiled although he still looked a little wounded "But it was also the sweetest thing I have ever heard…" I took in a breath, the words I was about to say had a heavy meaning; they would set the path for my future, our future.

"But I would be honored to be your wife" I whispered watching as Edward's eyes lit up and without further hesitation he forcefully grabbed my face into his hands kissing me with everything he had in him. I smiled against his lips as he flipped me over onto my back, his body molding against my every curves, this was something I could get used to.

-The End