Disclaimer: Thank you Stephenie Meyer for your world and to Guy Andrews for giving me the ideas to play with it. This all stems from your creativity mixed with mine.

A/N: Quick huh? I know. I'm surprised too. Maybe I'll finish the fic soon….well, emphasis on maybe. Anyway, as always, forgive my lack of editing and bad grammar and my use of cliff hangers. I'm getting quite good at picking when to stop now. Okay, hope you enjoy it and like always, review, review, review!

Return to Meyer

20. Proposal

I watched the scene unfolding in front of me as though frozen in place and unable to stop the events I could imagine would follow. Yet, suddenly, a sense of urgency took hold and without thinking I threw myself forward.

I positioned myself between both guys, holding out a hand to push on each person's chest. Glancing back and forth between the two, filled with adrenaline, I put on my most disapproving and forceful face. "If either of you takes one more step, I will kick both your asses human or not. And you sure as hell know I can do it." I threatened loudly.

Edward paused, his eyes narrowed and burning with jealousy in an intensity I had only read about. Despite this, he seemed willing to listen to what I was saying.

Jacob eyed me angrily. Realising my seriousness, he gradually managed to regain control over his convulsions. "First, Jake, do I look weak and stupid? I'm not dead or dying. If I had a problem with what happened with Edward, I would take it up with him myself. I do not need you to defend my honour," In a more softer tone, "But I'm flattered all the same."

"Second," I looked at Edward, "I know I can't exactly do much considering your stronger, faster and well….have skin harder than rock but if you don't go back and get in that car right now I will make you pay." His eyes widened in amusement as he checked my sincerity. "Oh, I'm dead serious." I told him. "Now go," I removed my hand from his chest and pointed back at the Volvo. With a final scathing look at Jacob he turned around and left.

Looking back at Jacob, I could see a mix of fury and glee on his face. I had no clue what he was thinking about, and I didn't want to have one, but I never been happier to have chosen the guy who was willing to walk away. Not the idiot using his thoughts as a weapon.

"Go home Jacob," I said impatiently as I turned around to join Edward in the car. Disappointment fell over his face as he reached out to pull me back. I stepped out of reach and faced him. "No, go home. God Jake, I'm so pissed I can barely even look at you without wanting to slap you."

"Look, I'd say I'm sorry but I'm not." He told me. "I'm in love with you and I'm not going to deny it anymore."

I laughed bitterly. "Jacob, until a few minutes ago, you didn't know a thing about me. How can you possibly be in love with me?" I shook my head and groaned. "You know what, I'll call you later. I can't have this conversation. Not now." I said dismissively as I took off again for the car. The look of hurt that crossed his face bore deeply into my brain as I got into the car.

"Let's just go, please." I told Edward, a slight trace of pleading in my voice. With a sharp nod, he put his foot on the accelerator and we took off down the road.

Unable to resist the urge to look in the revision mirror, I wasn't surprised to be faced with the sight of an empty road.

The silence in the car was absolutely unbearable. Unlike usual, I didn't even have the background noise of the CD player to fall back on. In his anger at both me and Jacob, it sounded reasonable that he wasn't in the mood for whatever he'd been originally listening to. Still, I was tempted to reach out and fiddle with it but the sight of Edward's stoic expression kept my hands in my lap.

This morning had been so fun and happy. Then Jacob had had to go ahead and ruin it. Note to self, find a way to set him up with Bella when all of this is said and done.

Tree thicket after thicket passed by the tinted windows, a misty fog sitting drearily over the top of everything. As hard as I tried to focus on the scenes of nature outside, I couldn't avoid Edward's reflection facing me in the glass. The guilt, anger and sadness blended together, making the quiet even harder to take.

Eventually, I was unable to maintain it any longer.

"You're angry aren't you?" I asked in a small voice. His golden eyes remained fixed on the road, his mouth unmoving. I felt the overwhelming urge to cry. So much for female empowerment, I'm the biggest cry baby fiction has ever seen.

"I'm so sorry," I gushed. "It didn't mean anything at all." Still silence. "If it'll make you feel any better, I'll make sure I slap him next time I see him. I've seen it in the movies and I've always wanted to try it." My attempt at humour failed miserably and the small but brief smile I'd forced faded quickly. Leaning my head against the dashboard, I muttered my words into it. "I'm a horrible person. No wonder so many people want to kill me."

"I'm not mad at you," Edward said evenly. It was a cool tone. The one he used when trying to distance his human emotions. Usually when they would provoke a reaction he didn't want to occur.

"You should be," I told him. "I should have kneed him in the groin for the sexual harassment he put me through."

Edward looked at me, his brow raised. "Sexual harassment?" he echoed.

I nodded vehemently, hoping it was emphasise the point. Watching his face for a moment, I sighed. "Fine, maybe sexual harassment was going a bit too far but still, I should have done something violent." I commented in a huff.

"You would have broken something," He said, a trace of amusement in his voice.

"Hey!" I protested, "I can punch just fine thank you. Well, I do tend to lose the skin of my knuckles but I hit pretty hard. You should try me with boxing gloves."

He smiled, his mood evidently easing. "I don't doubt it…with human opponents." The smile faded.
"Werewolves are another story entirely."

I wasn't going to argue with that and I doubted I had the guts to try and hit anyone with a baseball bat or a crowbar. I wasn't that mad. But if Jacob persisted in these attempts to win my affection, I might just get madder.

"Can you forgive me?" I asked, hopefully.

"There's nothing to forgive."

I frowned, "Don't lie to me Edward. I know you well enough by now to know just how hurt you looked when you got out of that car. Sure, the outward stuff was anger but I could see it in your eyes."

He looked down sadly, his gaze softening. To my complete surprise, his response wasn't something defensive. It was something different entirely. "Wouldn't you be if our roles had been reversed?" he asked softly. I had never seen his eyes seem so young yet so old.

"Of course, but it meant nothing to me. I promise." I reassured him. He glanced at me from the corner of his eye and after several moments he appeared to believe me.

Even though I was eager to leave the subject and put the whole thing behind me, there was one thing I was extremely curious about even though I'd originally thought otherwise. Not it had begun to bother me. "Edward, one more thing. Jacob looked extremely smug as you were leaving. What was he thinking about?"

Edward laughed acrimoniously. "He seemed to have got the idea that you found him a better kisser than me. An idea that he wasn't keen on keeping to himself."

My jaw dropped in outrage. "You have got to be joking!" I cried angrily. "That pig headed, frustrating, over confident…" I had every right to continue verbally assaulting him but stopped as Edward cut in.

"It's alright." He said soothingly. "I don't take anything Jacob Black says into very careful consideration," a wicked smile crossed his face, "but under these circumstances, just in case you've forgotten, the moment we cross through that door, I will be more than happy to prove which of the two of us can provoke a more dramatic reaction."

I didn't know whether I should be annoyed that Edward felt he had something to prove or thrilled by the idea that he was going to kiss me. I settled for the later. "I'm not complaining about that scenario." I said with a dreamy smile.

When we pulled up at the Cullen house, I wasn't shocked to find Alice waiting for us in the drive. With her gift, she would already have a crystal clear idea of exactly what I was going to say and how her family would respond. If only I had such confidence in the outcome.

She shot us both a smile as Edward opened my car door (something I could never get use to) before giving Edward a very short but direct look. Perhaps she'd seen our discussion and was iffy on the details. Edward's response was the briefest and almost unobservable shake of the head.

It was then that the nerves kicked in. I've always hated talking officially in front of a group of people. When it's a school classroom and a total casual lesson, sure, I'll voice my opinion no problem. The minute it becomes official and I'm irrationally terrified. I've tried debating, calming breaths and positive self talk, even public speaking to get over it. I still break out into nervous shakes like I'm on vibrate whenever I have to do it.

Alice gave me a brief hug. "Relax." She said calmly. "You're going to do fine." Her words eased things the tiniest bit but the major fear still held in place.

Oh god. What if they said no? What if they didn't want to go be moral again, in the knowledge that someday they'd grow old and die. That they could get sick. That they'd have to learn to sleep and eat again. To BREATHE!

"I would give you my answer now, but I think it's best if I wait for Jasper to express his views and hear the details." Alice added. Great, thanks for the vote of confidence.

"They're waiting in the dining room." Edward told me, placing a hand on the small of my back and guiding me inside."

We trailed in, one after the other, into the beauty and elegance of their home. Slowly, we made our way towards the dining room. Just how I'd imagined the scene at the end of New Moon when the entire family had sat down at the table to decide on Bella's turning, they were all here to hear my proposition about something else entirely.

Carlisle sat at the head of the table while Jasper, Esme and Rosalie all had taken separate spots around the stunning antique that I realised was only used for this purpose. Family discussions. As I thought this through, Alice took her seat while Edward chose to stand beside Emmett, leaning against the wall. The body position was meant to appear casual but I could tell he was feeling a severe about of tension. Still, he'd hear their thoughts earlier and clear on the matter than I would.

I tossed up whether to sit or stand and ended up sliding out the chair beside Alice, knowing I would feel more comfortable knowing that they wouldn't be able to see my legs shaking violently. Human teachers and students may not notice it but vampire with amazing eye sight? For sure.

I cleared my throat as I glanced around the table awkwardly.

"Umm…I don't know what you've been told about what I'd like to talk to you about today or what you've worked out from the Voltori but I think it's best if I just start from the beginning and explain what my point from there." I began, my voice loud in the silence.

And just like with Jacob and at one point Edward, I began to explain how I'd come to be here, my world and the Twilight Saga. I will always be thankful for the level of patience and complete concentration they gave to me as I spoke about ideas that would seem completely insane to most people. Then again, they were vampires. They were good with weird.

When I got to the part about Edward and Alice, and James's trip through the door a couple of months ago, my eyes instinctively turned to Rosalie. Despite the fact that I knew she had never really liked me (big surprise), it was her that I knew would want what I was offering the most. Secretly, it was her that I was hoping I this could bring the most happiness to. It could give her the two things in the world she wanted the most.

Humanity and a baby.

"I know this is completely ridiculous and to ask you to believe it is asking…a lot but it true. It's all the complete truth." I explained.

It was here that someone besides myself finally spoke. "Had I not seen the events that took place in Volterra, I might have found the concept difficult to become accustomed to. Yet, here and now, I have come to grips with the idea that like us, there are many things beyond comprehension in this world." Carlisle voiced wisely and evenly. I was grateful for his support.

"But, I am curious as to what you are asking of us." He added.

Taking another deep breath and a look at Edward, I returned my eyes to the rest of the family. "A couple of months ago I left Forks and decline Edward's request to come with me permanently. I can't do that again. So," I paused, "this time he's coming with me and he'll live the rest of his life as a human being, only in my world." I watched as this idea registered with them. Rosalie's eyes filled with a hope I had never seen before.

"And, I'm opening up the idea to you. If you want to stay here and live your life the way you have been, that's fine. I won't hold anything against you. But, if you decide that you want to regain your humanity, the doors open for you. You can bring whatever you want with you. If money is the problem, you can exchange it for Australian dollars once you pass through or keep it and move to America." I had begun to speak extremely quickly. More than before, the idea had now taken on a new excitement in my mind. Then, the negative struck in.

They deserved to know.

"Although, there is one thing I need to warn you about. Like I said, you are all fictional characters in my world where the novels are a global phenomenon. There's a new movie coming out this year and two more to follow. The idea will take some getting used to and I know it'll be difficult but if you really want this, you might just have to take the good with the bad." The idea would take some SERIOUS getting used to. I mean, living in a world where you're supposedly not real, billboards in every major city, actors who play you in films based on your lives. It all seemed very surreal.

I stood up, placing my hands on the tabletop. "You don't have to decide right here and now but I do need to leave soon, unless you want the Volturi on your doorstep. So, I'll give you some time to think it over. I'm sorry if this puts a lot of pressure on you but I just wanted to make sure you had….the choice since none of you exactly chose this life." I moved away from the table. "Let me know," I told them casually, my eyes searching each face carefully for some sign of distress.

I walked out the door, making my way outside and in severe need of some fresh air. As the breeze hit me, I zipped up my jacket and pulled on the hood. The smell of fresh trees filled my nose and I closed my eyes, breathing it in wafts.

"You did well," Edward's voice came from behind me. I turned around on the spot. "Now all you can do is wait for them to come to a decision."

I gave him a worried look. "Any teasers on the outlook?"

His brow lowered as he searched through the thoughts of those inside. It was over in a couple of seconds. "Some are conflicted. Others are not. I'm sure you can guess which group Rosalie falls under."

I nodded. "I knew she'd be on the bandwagon the moment I gave her the option. What about the others?"

He gave me a smile, "You're about to find out. Let's go inside."

At this, the jittery feeling of butterflies returned.

Would they or wouldn't they? That was the question. And I was about to get my answer.

A/N: For those who are wondering, there are only a few more chapters to go. How many? I'm not sure but I'll say it's a small number. We're about to hit another climax, I just hope you enjoy it.

Remember to review and share your thoughts. Feedback makes the story world go round.

The Final Countdown: In the last few chapters of Return to Meyer, Ashley's story will reach its final conclusion.

Decisions will be made on who stays in fictional Forks and who will take up Ashley's offer of becoming human. Will Edward and Ashley get their happily ever after?

Meanwhile, an old enemy return resulting in a final showdown you just can't miss. What will Ashley do when someone she cares about has their life hanging in the balance?

All in the final chapters.