Wow. That's all I can say, just wow. Thank you.

I own nothing in the Twilight universe.

Chapter 44

Bella was taken aback with the reaction she received when she entered the house. The way they fawned over her made it seem as if they thought she was never going to come back.

Judging by the rueful look on Mrs. Cope's face Bella surmised that the dear lady had either not heard or misremembered her return. Bella knew Mrs. Cope had been distracted by Katie and Beth, so she gave Mrs. Cope a smile to relieve her of her worry.

The girls squealed with delight and struggled to get free of their chairs to reach Bella. She picked up each girl and whispered affection in her ear. A kiss and a hug for each, then Bella concentrated her attention on the adults.

Carlisle and Esme stood when she walked in the room. Carlisle laid a hand gently on her shoulder and welcomed her back. Esme gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Maggie and Jenny just waved, wondering what all the fuss was about.

Alice waited until Carlisle and Esme had finished greeting Bella before she stood and walked over to them. She was apprehensive and feeling a little responsible for all the tumult.

Esme noticed Alice and promptly made introductions. Esme wanted Edward to clear up any of the misconceptions Bella may have regarding Alice. She felt it was his responsibility to explain Alice's true role in their family. However, Edward was currently sitting at the table, his head in his hands, not reacting at all.

With only the vaguest of introductions, Bella bobbed a curtsey to Alice and said, "Pleased to meet you, Miss."

"Please call me Alice, alors. It is wonderful to meet you, Cherie. I know we will be the best of friends, si?" Alice returned Bella's curtsey and looked over to Edward.

Edward did not know what to do. He was happy, sad, confused and angry all at the same time. He did not know which emotion he held for himself and which he held for Bella. He wanted to scream at her and ask her where she had been and why she had left. He wanted to grab her and kiss her and somehow guarantee she never left again. He wanted to fall at her feet again and tell her about Alice the right way, apologizing for upsetting her. He wanted someone to tell him what to do first, someone to organize his thoughts for him.

Edward stood up and left the room without saying a word.

Bella was quick to take the slight as a personal affront and began to apologize for leaving her position without permission. She explained the letter from Mother Superior asking her to visit the orphanage as soon as possible. She explained that because it was regarding her family she felt she had to go.

Esme reassured her that leaving the children with Mrs. Cope was a perfectly acceptable thing to do. She also reiterated that had they gone straight home and not to the farm first that most of the concern they had had would have been abated. She urged Bella to go find Edward to see if they could have a talk.

Quite reluctantly Bella went off in search of Edward. She feared the conversation to come. He seemed so angry at her even now that he knew his children were safe and Bella had not abandoned her position. Perhaps he had changed his mind and was no longer interested in being near her. Perhaps the friendship with Alice had grown and he was upset about the fondness he had shown Bella before.

He had made her no promises, made no declarations, if his affections had changed she couldn't blame him. Alice seemed to be a lovely young lady with much more poise and grace than Bella. Alice was accomplished in a way that Bella would never be and if Edward wanted Alice, then Bella would do everything in her power to help him.

Bella found Edward in the same small parlour they had meet in before. He stood staring into the fire, his back to her, still collecting his thoughts. She waited for him to address her.

He kept his back to her. He didn't know what to say first. He hadn't been able to organize his thoughts, save one.

The longer she stood there the more uncomfortable she became. As the minutes ticked by she was more and more certain that he would ask her to leave, that he could not forgiver her for going. She would have to leave everything, the children, the farm, the family and him. She would have nothing left.

He sighed and turned to face her. Perhaps the words would come if he saw her face. She looked so small, delicate and pained. Her eyes were on the floor, her hands worrying together. He knew his reaction to her return had hurt her. He took a step towards her, she started to tremble.

He crossed the room so quickly it made her gasp. She raised her head to look at him. He looked angry.

"Why did you leave?"

"Mother Superior wrote asking me to visit as soon as possible, Sir. She had some information regarding my father. There were some men who were looking for me."

"You didn't leave because of my letter."

"No, Sir."

He paused and stared into her eyes, what he was looking for, she had no idea. She felt the need to fill the silence.

"Miss Alice is lovely. I'm sure she'll be a great asset to you." She took a step away from him, her back resting on the parlour door, her eyes studying the floor. He followed.

"Alice is lovely, charming, witty, and cultured. She will make a wonderful wife." He said.

Bella nodded her head, as her heart broke. He wanted Alice, not her.

"Jasper is lucky to have her."

"Jasper?"

"Alice's fiancé. He was at the convalescent home. He was an army surgeon when he was injured. He has agreed to open a medical practice with me here. He stayed back to organize their move and he'll be here in a few weeks. Alice is to be our nurse. She also wants to teach the girls to speak different languages. She thinks that if they start early enough they will be fluent very quickly."

There was no change in Bella's face at this news. Just because Alice was engaged to another did not mean Edward wanted Bella instead, at least in her mind.

"Oh, I see."

"Bella, look at me?" She raised her eyes and looked. He was so very close to her, she had to tilt her head back to see him.

"Bella, I'm sorry my letter gave you the wrong idea. I have no romantic plans with Alice. I should have said something before, let you know my intentions. I find it very hard to talk to you in a coherent fashion."

"I'm sorry, Sir, I..." He interrupted her.

"Please, wait. You were right before, when I proposed marriage, it was for the wrong reasons. You represented safety and stability, an anchor to my life at home. I was guilty and obligated to you for what you had done. I'm sorry for the position I put you in by proposing. It was too soon, I know that now."

The small remains of Bella's heart shattered at her feet.

"I understand, Sir. If you'll excuse me, please." Bella turned as best she could trying to grab the handle of the door so she could leave. She desperately wanted to get out of that room before the tears started.

"Don't go. Please?" He stopped her by placing one hand on the door near her head.

Bella drew a deep breath to calm herself. She turned back to face him, her eyes centring on his chin and no higher. She couldn't look him in the eye, not now.

"Listen to me, please? I did what you said. I took time, I thought about everything you said over and over again. I thought about what was important to me, what would be important for my future. I came to several conclusions.

"The most important things to me are my children and my family. I do need affection, passion and love. I do need a woman I can love with all my heart. I need a woman who loves my children like they are her own. A woman who is kind and gentle like my mother, who will put up with my idiosyncrasies like she does my father. A woman who could help run my household and aid me in my medical practice. A woman who could stand up to me if needs be, who could teach me what I need to know about caring for others."

He paused for a moment.

"I shouldn't have asked you to marry me before. I should have asked to court you, to spend time with you, to learn about the kind of person you are. I regret asking for your hand before."

The tears Bella had tried so hard to keep at bay were flowing freely down her face now. Sharp stuttering breaths were hurting her lungs. She did not know how much more of this she could take.

" I regret it because when I ask again you may not take me seriously."

He placed one hand under her chin and raised her face so that he could see her eyes.

"Marry me, Bella? You are the only one I see. There can be no other for me, for my daughters, or for my life. Our life, if you'll have me. Please, marry me, Bella?"

This time she was not shocked by her answer. It was too soon, there was so much they did not know about each other, there were too many questions in her head. But only one answer.

"Yes" That was all she needed to say.

He gathered her in his arms and held her tightly to his chest. He loosened his hold and slid one hand along the back of her neck, angling her head so that he could kiss her. It was a kiss full of promise, passion and longing.

A kiss worth waiting for.