After we got settled in our room we all had a small dinner in the house and Edward and I went to bed. Even after his nap on the plane he was still exhausted and as soon as he laid down he was asleep. I knew he put in a lot of extra hours to make up for the time he was taking off but I didn't realize he was risking his health for it. I eventually fell asleep next to him and neither of us woke until late in the afternoon the next day.
Esme insisted that we all go out to eat at some fancy French restaurant after Edward and I finally got dressed and went downstairs to see everyone. We all piled into different cars. Esme and Carlisle were in his Mercedes, Rose and Emmett were in a huge Jeep, Alice and Jasper were in a KIA van, then Edward and I brought up the rear in, surprisingly, a Monte Carlo. "Don't hate the car. It was my first car and apparently my dad didn't sell it like I told him to." I looked around the inside actually enjoying the normal car as we drove. "Edward shut up. I think it is a nice car, besides I don't care about what kind of car you drive." He leaned over and gave me quick kiss before the valet opened my door and helped me out. Edward quickly ran around the car and took his place.
Since the menu was in French and I obviously don't speak it I had Edward order for me even though I realized that could be dangerous. He was constantly trying to get me to widen my range in foods but I am a simple girl with simple tastes, and no one would ever get me to eat snails. Unfortunately he seemed to think I was joking when I would tell him this and he ordered them anyways, I guess it's a good thing that Emmett will almost anything. "So Alice you said you and Rose had some new for me and Edward, tell me before I go mad with anticipation."
They both looked at each other and smiled before reaching into their purses. "Rose you go first." Rose smiled and stuck her left hand out and on her ring finger laid a gorgeous engagement ring. The center was a pink heart shaped diamond with black diamonds around the edge of the heart and two small white diamonds sat where the band met the heart. "Rose, I'm so happy for you!" We both got up and hugged each other and before I knew it both Esme and Alice had joined us. The only thing that broke us apart was Emmett, "Women and their engagement rings." Rosalie reached behind her and smacked him upside the head.
"OW! Rosie, what the hell?"
Everyone got a good laugh at that, it's a good thing Alice got us a private room because we were being really loud. We all got settled back in our seats and Edward wrapped his arm around my shoulders pulling me in for a kiss before I could ask Alice about her news. I let a curtain of my hair block me from the all the eyes around us but I could still feel the blush spread across my face. Edward chuckled as he cupped my cheek, "Beautiful." I rolled my eyes as he made me blush even more.
When I finally was able to turn back to the family everyone was staring at us, "You two are so cute." I leaned into Edward's side and he kissed the top of my head. "OK so Alice you said you have some news." She gave me a small smile before reaching into her obnoxiously large purse and pulling out a large manila folder. "With some help from Jake I was able to find this for you." I cautiously reached out and grabbed the folder but looked to Edward before opening it.
For the first time since I have ever known Alice I saw nervousness in her eyes. I was physically shaking as I carefully opened it. Alice was gnawing on her bottom lip and Jasper was keeping her hands still within his. I pulled out the thick stack of papers and was floored. Across the top of the page was typed Isabella Swan's Family Tree and just below it was the first column of living relatives. Tears immediately filled my eyes as I saw all of the names of people who were related to me but I had never met. Apparently Hannigan had lied to me about her being my only living relative. There at least a hundred people who were a second cousin or closer, albeit most of them were on my dad's side and not related to her.
I was so caught up in what Alice had done for me that I didn't even notice that everyone else had left and Edward and I were the only one's still at the table. "I take it you like what she did?" I leaned into his side as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "You have to help find a way to thank her. I can't believe she did this. First you find Jacob for me and then she goes and does something like this. What is with you and your family and helping me?" He turned me so that our lips barely touched, "We all love you silly." Before I could respond he moved in and kissed me pouring every ounce of love he had for me into the kiss.
After I received the folder filled with my family tree I was very skeptical of what to with it. Of course I wanted to call my family and get to know them but then on the other hand I already had the perfect family here with Edward. I decided to put it off until Edward and I were back home.
The next two days were crazy. The first day the girls took me away and we went shopping for anything you could possibly think of.
First we hit the mall where Alice tortured me with bathing suit after bathing suit then as if that wasn't bad enough we then had to find the perfect cover-up for me to wear. Of course her Rose and Esme also bought things but it felt like the focus was all on me. Alice was beyond impressed with that fact that I did not argue about using Edward's credit card anymore. That was one of the things he made me compromise on. He felt since he was making me go to school and causing me to miss out on possible work time he owed it to me. I hadn't used the card much but every time he saw that I had I swear he always seemed happier.
Then the next day I was swept away by Alice and dragged to party supply store. Fortunately Alice had already pre-ordered everything she needed including a 200 C.F. helium tank which they loaded up for us. I was amazed by everything she bought just for Fourth of July picnic but this was Alice I was talking about. After the days of nothing but Alice's shopping spree I was exhausted and fell asleep before Edward made his way up to bed.
I woke up to light kisses on my face but kept my eyes closed even though I was wide awake. "Bella, I know you're awake. Please open your eyes so I can see your beautiful brown eyes." I smiled and slowly opened my eyes and was still stunned by the magnificent man that was in front of me. Before I knew it he had moved from beside me to hovering over me and his lips were quickly attached to mine. I moaned into his mouth as his hands slowly moved down my body and settled on my ribs. I pouted when he pulled away from me but stopped when his fingers started tickling me mercilessly.
"Ed….ward… St…op…I'm…gonna… we…t…the…b…ed!"
I was kicking, laughing, and screaming trying to get him to stop tickling me. Every time I moved away him he just followed me or grabbed me and pulled me back towards him. A banging on the door was what finally got him to stop and I said a silent thank you while I tried to catch my breath. "You two have twenty minutes before we leave!" I recognized the voice as Carlisle's, "Alright dad!" Edward turned back to me and I feared he would continue where he left off but thankfully he just kissed my forehead and then went to grab his clothes.
Eventually we all got back in our cars and made it to Rainbow Beach where there were hundreds of people. Spread out across the beach was tents and several tables were set up where everyone was putting their food. "Edward what is all of this?" He leaned down and kissed my temple before pushing me forward with his shoulder. "Ever Fourth of July all the people from my parent's neighborhood gather here and we have a huge block party on the beach. We share food, listen to music, and play games during the day and we watch fireworks at night." I looked over my shoulder at him as we continued out to the tables, "You could have told me earlier." He just shrugged not saying anything in his defense.
I met so many people through out the entire day that I was getting their names mixed up but nobody seemed to mind. We had so much fun listening to music and playing the more grown-up games like volleyball truth or dare, and twenty questions. At one point Emmett suggested we play a drinking game but Edward and Carlisle immediately extinguished that idea. Carlisle argued that it wasn't safe because of the heat but something made me think that wasn't the only reason.
When the sun began to set we all sat down on our blankets to watch the beautiful scenery. Each person took a turn telling about their favorite Fourth of July while we waited for the fireworks to start. I told about the time that Jake and I got a hold of a bunch of firecrackers and got caught lighting them on fire and throwing them at people. We didn't know that they were dangerous at the time but needless to say we never did that again.
Edward tried to be cheesy and say that this was his favorite Fourth of July and we all called him on it. "Fine, I guess I would have to say it would be the first year I was out of college. The company I was working for sent me to Hawaii for the fourth. All of us that were there went to a luau and the fireworks just added to the beauty of island. The only bad part was that I was all alone." He looked right into my eyes as he talked about being alone and I could tell he was trying to tell me that he no longer felt alone.
A few minutes before nine we all decided to spread apart for some alone time with our loved ones during the fireworks; Edward led us far away from all the people who were gathered to watch the show. I tried to sit down next to him but he grabbed me and pulled me onto his lap instead. He wrapped his arms so tightly around me it was almost like he was afraid I was going to disappear.
"Bella?"
I turned around to look at him but just as he opened his mouth to speak a loud 'boom' replaced his words. We both looked up and the night sky was brightened by huge round firework. When I asked him what he wanted to say he told me I would find out later. We sat there in silence just watching the fireworks. They were slowly coming to an end and everyone was applauding when Edward turned me around to look at him. He looked really nervous and his forehead was covered in sweat.
"Edward, are you sick?"
I reached out to grab his face but he grabbed my hands stopping me. I wanted to speak but he covered my mouth stopping me. We both just sat there in silence even as the people around us began to celebrate some more or leave. He took a deep breath before leaning in to give me a quick kiss. I tried to deepen the kiss but he pulled away. Because of the look on his face I was terrified. It was similar to the look he had at the New Year's Eve party but there was something else, something that I wasn't quite sure about.
He grabbed both of my hands in his and laced our fingers together. "Bella, you know how I feel about you?" I was afraid to speak so I nodded. "And you know that my family adores you?" Again I nodded not really sure if it was true but if he said it then I believed him. "Good. I love you and when I am with you I feel like my old self. I feel like the boy I used to be before my heart was shattered. You are the best thing in my life. You make everything else appear to be in black and white and only you make my world colorful."
He reached into his front pocket and pulled out a black velvet box. My breathing came to an immediate halt as he opened it. "Bella will you please do me the greatest honor in becoming my wife?" It took me a minute but I eventually snapped out of the haze I was in.
I sprang forward attaching my lips to his. There was so much force behind the kiss that it knocked him backwards but he pulled me with him. Before the kiss got too intense he pushed me back and I couldn't help but pout.
"Does that mean yes?"
I lightly smacked him across the chest, "Of course, I'll marry you. I love you, you big fool."
He reached over to his side where the black box had landed and brought it back between us before he pulled the ring out and placed it on my finger. "A perfect fit." I lifted my hand to look at its new addition. The band was gold but instead of one diamond the face was round and flat with several diamonds embedded in it. "Good, cause that would have been a deal breaker."
We both laughed at my sarcasm. "Here let me show you something." He lifted my hand so the ring was now in front of us. He easily pulled on the ring and it opened up. On the inside was two pictures, one of Edward and one of me. I gasped and grabbed my locket with my free hand. Tears poured freely from my eyes and down my face.
"I love you."
Edward smiled at me before he pulled me in for a deep kiss. "I absolutely love you." We pulled each other in for another kiss but this one was rudely interrupted by none other than Alice. "Will you two quit sucking face and wait to get home? Seriously you guys act worse than Rose and Emmett. Someone would think you two are on your honeymoon or something." I giggled as we both stood and I wrapped my right arm around Edward's waist. "Well you're pretty close Alice." She tilted her head to the side and her forehead scrunched up in confusion.
I lifted my left hand from my side and showed her my engagement ring. The squeal that erupted from inside of her was almost as loud as the grand finale from the fireworks. "Edward, why didn't you tell me?" He squeezed my shoulders. "Because you have a big mouth and because I didn't need you to plan some spectacular moment for this to happen. Not to mention how embarrassed I would have been had she said no." I elbowed him in the gut when he said that I might have said no. How dense could he get?
"Well I guess it is better this way because she obviously said yes."
Soon everyone was around us giving us hugs and kisses letting us know how happy they were for both of us. It was then that I realized that even though I was grateful for what Alice and Jake had done I had all the family I would ever need right here with me.
THIS IS NOT THE END!
First please review, I love your reviews they let me know what you guys like and hate from my stories.
Second there are links on my profile for both Rose and Bella's ring so if you interested check them out. Bella's ring is a poison ring but my friend did this same thing with one of hers and put picture in it. Just so you know.
~SAM~
