A/N Ok, so as I started off writing this chapter, I was strictly thinking about how Edward and Bella were going to tell everyone they were dating. I had no other thoughts in my mind, I swear! As I was writing, things changed a bit and it took a different turn, but I think you're going to like it. I know I do! Please let me know what you think! Do you like it or not? I need your reviews to know!

Enjoy!

Chapter 17 - Panic

Bella had butterflies twisting around in her stomach after Edward's promise to her that they would return to this quaint little Bed and Breakfast soon. She was really quiet on the ride home, but that was because she was lost in her own thoughts.

Edward really was perfect in every way imaginable, and he was hers. He told her he loved her and he showed her in so many different ways. He took chivalry to a new level, helping her in and out of the car, opening every door he could for her, always looking to her to be sure he wasn't going to do anything she didn't want. He even let her chose the music in his car on the way home; even Charlie didn't do that!

She was holding Edward's hand and she lightly dragged her fingernails up and down the length of his forearm with her other one. When she saw the trail of goose bumps that followed, her grin got even wider.

He seemed to notice this from the corner of his eye, so he glanced sideways at her and the smile that appeared on his face seemed to suck out all of the air in her lungs. He was breathtakingly, heartbreakingly, beautiful. She really hoped that he never broke her heart, because she knew right then and there that she wouldn't be able to recover.

So many pieces of her had been missing for so long. Even growing up with her mom, there were pieces missing. She always thought it was because she grew up being raised by a single mother and that the missing piece was a father figure. While that was one of the missing pieces that was healed when she came to live with Charlie, it was also just that; only one of the pieces.

Sitting beside him in his Volvo, she realized that every other piece that had been missing in her life, when put together, created this man right here; it created this bond that they shared, it created the night they had together last night, it created the love that they felt for each other, and it would continue to create special moments and stronger feelings.

Looking at him, she knew she wanted nothing less than that.

…..

As he was driving home with Bella by his side, he knew that he would never be happy without her. His mind started thinking about ways to ensure they would never be apart. Was it too soon to propose? He would love nothing more than to see this magnificent creature dressed in white, walking down the aisle toward him with a beautiful smile on her face.

Edward broke into a grin even though he knew he needed to steer his thoughts from this particular path. Of course it was too soon to propose. He and Bella had only met two months ago and just talked to each other for the first time yesterday. Then again, they did form such an incredible and immediate bond with each other.

They already declared their love for each other and consummated that love… several times and in several different ways… so maybe it wasn't too soon to be thinking about that. After all: he was eighteen, she was eighteen... Holy Crap! She was eighteen, wasn't she?

Edward couldn't believe he hadn't even bothered to ask her how old she was. His connection and attraction to her went so beyond the norm that it didn't really matter did it?

Hell, of course it matters you Idiot! Her dad is the police chief of Forks where you live! If he finds out what you did to his little girl last night (and this morning) he'll not only throw your sorry ass in jail, he'll probably castrate you to boot!

Edward must have grimaced involuntarily because the next thing he knew, Bella was running her fingernails up and down his forearm while squeezing his hand tightly. He instantly calmed down at her touch and turned to look at her beautiful face. He saw all the love he had for her reflected back to him in her chocolate brown eyes and he knew this relationship was forever.

He wanted Bella forever and he was going to ask her; he just had to figure out how and when. He wanted this to be perfect for her because she deserved nothing less than that.

…..

All too soon, they were entering the town limits of Forks. Edward had offered to drive her home, but she asked if she could go to his place instead. She told him that she wanted to talk to Esme, to let her know that she was okay.

She knew that was only partly the truth, but she didn't want to have leave Edward just yet. Just the mere thought of leaving soon was tearing her apart inside; she needed more time with her so she would pull herself together.

Edward agreed, as she knew he would, and drove them to his house instead. When they pulled up in front of the house, Esme came out to greet them.

She pulled Edward into a bug hug and kissed his cheek. Not wanting to intrude on their moment, Bella stood back somewhat awkwardly smiling shyly. Edward whispered something to Esme and she broke into a wide grin and hugged him again even tighter.

Then Esme approached Bella with a very warm smile on her face before pulling her into a bone-crushing hug. "Did you have a nice time, my dear?" She whispered into Bella's hair. "Edward told me that you two really hit it off last night and ended up talking most of the night. He also told me that he asked you to be his girlfriend!" She squeezed Bella even tighter before releasing her.

"We had a great time Esme, thank you. Edward and I have so much in common it's hard to comprehend, but I honestly think that's the reason we connected in the way we did. I feel like we were meant to be together. I know we just met, but I'm undeniably and irreversibly in love with him and the best thing is that he feels the same way!" Bella couldn't help herself, she was practically jumping up and down as Edward came up to stand behind her, encasing her in his arms and kissing her temple.

He looked up at his mom and said, "Thank you, mom. We owe this to you. Bella is my soul mate and she's right, I do love her; with all my heart and soul." Bella felt Edward hold her more tightly as a tear rolled silently down her cheek.

She didn't know how she had done it, or even if she deserved it, but she had managed to find the perfect man. She couldn't help the smile that took over her face when she had that thought.

…..

When Esme saw Edward's Volvo pull up in front of the house, she went out to meet them. She wasn't sure what would happen between them, but she couldn't help but feel like Edward and Bella were meant to be together. She had been a little crafty in getting Edward and Bella to actually sit down and talk, but as she watched her son walk around the car and open the door for Bella, her heart sored in her chest and she knew she had done the right thing.

She bounded down the steps with a huge smile on her face and pulled Edward into her arms, kissing him on the cheek. Bella stepped back a little to give them a moment of privacy, but continued watching them. She was looking at Edward with a look of such sincere love and devotion on her face that Esme wanted to break into happy tears right then and there, even before Edward could say anything to her.

Without wanting to seem smug, she stepped back from Edward a bit and asked if he and Bella had had a nice time. A beautiful smile pulled at his lips when he told her that they had a great time and that she had agreed to be his girlfriend. She had never seen him so happy. For once, the storm she always saw brooding in his eyes had cleared and he looked positively joyous.

He was looking at Bella with so much love and devotion that it made Esme's heart soar. Perhaps her son would finally be able to put his past where it belonged and be happy. He deserved it more than anyone she knew. He wasn't her real son, of course, but it had always broken Esme's heart to see him so miserable. Seeing him now with Bella and the obvious affection they had for each other, she felt the pieces mending themselves together again.

She finally turned around and pulled Bella into a tight hug. "Did you have a nice time, my dear? Edward told me that you two really hit it off last night and ended up talking most of the night. He also told me that he asked you to be his girlfriend!"

She squeezed Bella again before taking a step back to really look at her. She seemed like she was glowing and it made Esme's heart clench. As much as she wanted Edward to find happiness, she wanted it Bella to find it to. She knew looking into this girl's eyes, that she had indeed found it. Her thought was confirmed with Bella's response.

"We had a great time Esme, thank you. Edward and I have so much in common it's hard to comprehend, but I honestly think that's the reason we connected in the way we did. I feel like we were meant to be together. I know we just met, but I'm undeniably and irreversibly in love with him and the best thing is that he feels the same way!" Her face lit up brighter than the sun when she was saying it and she stepped up to Esme and pulled her into hug this time.

Esme was ecstatic watching Bella bounce up and down with excitement, but even more joyous when she watched Edward walk up behind Bella and wrap his arms around her waist before kissing her temple.

"Thank you, mom. We owe this to you. Bella is my soul mate and she's right, I do love her; with all my heart and soul."

Esme watched as a tear fell down Bella's cheek, but she knew by the look on her face that it was a tear of happiness. She smiled at the two of them and turned to walk back into the house. "Come on you two, let's have lunch before Bella has to go home."

….

He had always known that Carlisle and Esme wanted nothing more than for him to be happy, but he never thought he would find the happiness they wanted for him. It always broke his heart to see the way Esme would look at him. He knew that she felt he could be happy if he just opened himself up a bit more, but he could never find the courage to do that. He thought for a moment and amended the thought; he never found the reason to do that – before yesterday at least.

Today when they got home and he told her that Bella was his girlfriend, he could see in his eyes that she was truly happy for him. He knew that he was loved in this home, even if he didn't think he deserved it, but the look sparkling in her eyes seemed to go beyond that. She looked as if her heart was being mended in front of him because he had finally found happiness; she looked at him like he was truly her son not a boy she and Carlisle took in off the streets. For the first time in more than two years, Edward felt like he was at home here.

Bella was telling Esme they had a great time and then what she said next made his heart stutter before breaking into a sprint. "I feel like we were meant to be together. I know we just met, but I'm undeniably and irreversibly in love with him and the best thing is that he feels the same way!" He knew he was probably interrupting, but he couldn't help walking up behind her and kissing her temple.

He felt extremely grateful to Esme for sending him to that meadow and he needed to let her know that she played a major part in his happiness. "Thank you, mom. We owe this to you." He smiled at his mom before continuing, "Bella is my soul mate and she's right, I do love her; with all my heart and soul."

If her look before was happy, she was obviously elated now. She couldn't keep her feelings from her face though, and Edward thought he caught of glimpse of smugness in her smile.

…..

Esme had invited her to stay for lunch before going home and she had agreed. She knew Charlie wanted nothing more than for her to be happy, but she still worried about speaking to him about Edward. Would he think a relationship was too soon? Would he think she was too young? Would he forbid her from seeing Edward?

All during lunch, this litany of thoughts kept swirling in her mind and she was becoming more and more nervous. She was so nervous in fact that both Edward and Esme noticed.

Esme was obviously concerned because of the way Bella was acting, that she stopped eating and asked her, "Bella honey, what is wrong? You seemed so happy a few minutes ago, but now you seem like a nervous wreck."

Not sure how exactly to explain herself, she started crying. Edward practically knocked his chair over clambering to his feet so he could rush to her side. He pulled her out of her chair and then sat himself down pulling her into his lap while he started stroking her hair like she was a skittish horse. He kept whispering to her that he loved her and that everything would be okay, but she needed to calm down and tell him what was wrong.

Finally, she was able to keep any more tears from spilling over, but she was still holding on to Edward for dear life. She wasn't ready to let him go and she feared that she would be forced to once she told Charlie.

"My dad. What if he doesn't let me see you Edward?" She was hiccupping and panting for air, but at least she was managing to tell him her fears. "What if he things I'm too young to be in a relationship? What if he thinks it's too soon after the accident? What if he forbids me from seeing you again? I can't take that Edward. I can't let you go!"

…..

He stood swiftly with Bella in his arms before turning to his mother. "Mom, we're going up to my room for a few minutes to talk." Bella's panic was wearing off on him slightly and he knew they just needed to work out a game plan, but still, he mouthed to his mom, "Please call Chief Swan for me. I can't live without her." As Esme nodded, Edward turned with Bella and left the room.

Cradling Bella to his chest, he ascended the stairs to his room and walked in, kicking the door behind him shut with his foot, before laying Bella down on the bed. He climbed up beside her and lifted her chin up so she would look at him.

"Baby, please don't cry. It's going to work out, I promise you that. I love you Bella and it breaks my heart to see you worrying and hurting like this. You deserve so much more!"

She was still sobbing and Edward was determined to make her smile again. Happiness looked so much better on her face than sorrow. She was beautiful either way, but whenever she smiled at him and showed him how happy she was, it made his heart grow hummingbird wings and fly away. "Talk to me please? Are you really afraid of what Chief Swan will say?" Without saying the words, Bella simply nodded her head.

"Sweetheart, how old are you? I know I should have asked before, but I was kind of distracted." He felt his lips pulling up into his lopsided grin as he thought about his "distractions" and he knew Bella saw it too because she finally began to smile slightly. It was only a ghost of a smile, but at least it was there.

"I'm seventeen Edward, but I'll be eighteen in three days." She looked confused; so he went on to explain.

"Honey, the worst he'll be able to do is to keep you away from me for three days. You'll be a legal adult then and will be able to make your own decisions." He smiled at her and looked a little rueful. "I wanted to make this perfect for you Bella, but I can't stand to see you cry so I'm going to ask you this now. I'll make it up to you later, the right way, I promise, but here goes nothing."

He climbed off his bed and brought her with him. As they stood there staring into each other's eyes, Edward reached for her left hand and took a knee in front of her. "Isabella Swan, I love you with my heart and soul. You are my world, my everything, my forever. I know we only met recently and started talking just yesterday, but I promise you I will love you with my whole heart for the rest of my life. Will you do me the honor of being my wife? I can't live without you and if you say yes, you'll make me not only the luckiest man alive, but the happiest."

Bella's response to his question was immediate and left no room for doubt. She threw himself into his arms, nearly knocking him over, as she started kissing him with such a fierce passion he thought his head would explode. When he finally broke the kiss and pulled back to look at her, he saw tears streaming down her face, but this time they were tears of joy.

"Edward, you have just made me the happiest woman in the world. Of course I'll be your wife!" Oxygen be damned, she pulled him into another kiss and everything felt right.

"Alright babe, it's time to go talk to your dad." Edward smiled widely as he lifted her into his arms again and carried her down the stairs, past his worried mother and to his car.