A/n: Hello my lovelies! Glad to have you all back! So sorry this didn't make it up on Sunday. RL and a sinus infection have kept me away…

Much love to my beta, Bnjwl and my pre-reading twifey, Lvtwilight09.

BTW… if you haven't yet, please check out my new collab w/ Bnjwl, Metal Pointe. I write EPOV and update on Mondays and she writes BPOV on Thursdays.

Hope you'll come check us out!

EPOV

I walked into my therapist's office. I let out a sigh as I sat down in a chair as I waited for Dr. Mike. My mind spun out of control with various thoughts and emotions as I processed everything that had happened in the past few days.

Bella and I were engaged to be married.

I had sex...lots and lots of sex.

Morning sex.

Lunch time sex.

Dinner time sex.

Night sex.

Bella and I had a meeting with a realtor tomorrow afternoon so we could start our search for a new house.

After the night of my proposal to Bella we had spent virtually the next twenty-four hours in bed. It nearly killed Esme and Alice to wait that long before they disturbed us, so I wasn't surprised when they busted into Bella's apartment with their squeals of 'Congratulations' and lists, magazines and wedding books.

The next night my parents hosted a small Engagement dinner for us with Charlie, Alice, Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper in attendance. Bella was quite shocked to learn that I had indeed asked her father for her hand in marriage a week before I proposed and that he had been able to keep it a secret.

I had been worried about his answer when I approached him, however, he told me that he knew how much I meant to his daughter and that he would never deny her happiness. We shook hands and I walked away a little taller with that under my belt.

It worried me how Charlie would view me as a man, I mean, he was a cop. He was a manly man, a fisher, a sportsman...and I was just an abused domestic partner, with mental, emotional and physical damages. The fact that I was an heir to one of the wealthiest families had nothing to do with safety and security of his only child. Charlie and I had a long talk about his perception of me. I knew he didn't pity me or judge me for the life I had lived, he was just glad that I had made it out of the relationship alive and intact.

I realized that I had an amazing Father-in-Law to be...and couldn't wait to go fishing with him.

"Edward?" Dr. Mike called my name as I turned to see that the he stood in the open doorway.

I walked through the door and got comfortable in my favorite chair, we had a lot to discuss.

"How are you today?" Dr. Mike asked as he settled into his chair across from me with his notepad and pen in his lap.

I smiled and said, "Fantastic."

He smiled and let out a little chuckle, "Care to elaborate on that answer? I'm sure I have a guess due to our last conversation and that shit-eating grin on your face, but why don't you fill me on what is so fantastic in your life today."

I took a deep breath, "I proposed to Bella."

He smiled and sat up a little bit, "And, how did that go?" His face adopted a smirk as he asked the question.

"Oh, um...she said yes!" I said and slid my palms up and down my jean covered thighs. "We, um...well, we kind of consummated our relationship as well."

His jaw dropped and the look of shock on his face was priceless. "Well, there does seem to be some rather large developments that we need to discuss then." He settled back in his chair and I felt his eyes roam over my relaxed form as I sat before him. He gave a small chuckle and tapped his pen on his notepad.

"So, tell me all about it? How did you cope?" His eyes grew narrow as he waited for me to show some sign of hesitancy or panic.

"We went out to dinner to celebrate our six month anniversary, you already knew about." I paused and ran a hand through my hair as I leaned forward and put my elbows on knees. "We took a limo back to my parent's house after our meal. I had arranged to have the gazebo set up with rose petals and twinkling lights as soft music played in the background." I said as I closed my eyes and remember the look of surprise in Bella's eyes as I got down on one knee in front of her.

"Edward?" Dr. Mike chuckled and I opened my eyes and looked up at him as I realized I had slipped into a good memory, for the first time in my life.

"Sorry. Well, anyway, she said yes. I put the ring on her finger, we took the limo back to her apartment and spent almost the next two days…um…well, you get the idea." I said as I'm sure my cheeks were a flaming red color from the blush I felt rise over them.

He smiled and nodded his head. "So, no panic attacks? No flashbacks?" He questioned.

I drew in a deep breath, "A few small episodes but Bella knew exactly how to help me, she soothed me and talked me through them all. She reassured me that we could always go at my pace, she never pushed me for more than I was ready for."

The next thirty minutes we discussed all the rest of my news and the plans that I shared with him.

"Edward, I must say the changes in you are remarkable. I'm very proud of you." He said and put his pad and pen down on the table beside his chair.

"Thanks, Doc, it feels good to be happy. I won't lie, the old fears and worry still creep in, but with all I've learned and with my friends and family to help me, I haven't had a full blown panic attack in almost three months." I answered him honestly.

"Sounds good, Edward. Same time next week?" He asked with a quirked brow.

"Sure thing." I said as I got up to leave.

"And, don't forget to give Bella a hug from me." He said as he walked me to the door.

I walked out of the building towards my car, joyful that I had been cleared to drive on my own again. I got in and pulled out my cell to check in with Bella.

"Hi, baby." She answered the phone, a little breathless.

"Hi, my love, are you busy?" I asked with a laugh.

"No…I'm just hiding from that scary little creature that you call a sister. She has chased me through your parent's house with a stack of magazines. I've been able to stay ahead of her but I'm running out of places to hide." Bella said with exasperation in her voice.

"Hold on, babe, I'm on my way. If you can, make it to my room and lock the door behind you." I said as I tried to hold in my laughter. "I'll talk to both Mom and Alice when I get home."

"Please hurry, I hear her." She giggled.

I heard her squeal when I heard Alice in the background scream "Aha, I finally found you!"

"I'm on my way, Bella." I chuckled and heard the two of them as they talked over each other, their voices escalated in volume with each comment. I hung up the phone so that I might get home faster.

An hour later we all sat around the dining room table. The girls poured over place settings and floral arrangements in various magazines, I sat back and watched them.

When my father walked into the room, he asked. "Well, what is this?" He said as he took us all in and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Help me." I pretended to be in distress and held my arms out to him.

"Oh no, mister, if I have to stay put, you do too." Bella said as she grabbed my arm and held me in my chair.

I groaned and loved the sound of laughter from my mother and father, "Get used to it son, this is only the beginning." My dad said as he pulled out a chair beside me and sat down.

He leaned over and whispered, "I'll get us out of here soon. We have to eat sometime."

He sat back and I suddenly noticed three sets of eyes bore down on the pair of us.

"Whatever you two are up to, it won't work. Not if you want to eat anything I've cooked for dinner." Esme said with her stern mom voice in full force.

We both threw our hands up and started to discuss the various place settings that were displayed on the pages before us.

Later that night after Bella and I were snuggled in bed, "You were amazing today." Bella said as her head rested on my shoulder with my arms wrapped around her.

I kissed her forehead, "So were you and we managed to knock a few things off that God forsaken list that those two monsters have started." I said with a sigh and felt Bella stir as her eyes rose up to meet mine.

"Are you truly okay with all of this? I know it's a lot to take on especially since we just wanted something low key." Her eyes held worry as my fingers came up to rub away the furrowed brow she wore.

I sat up a bit and pulled her up beside me, "Bella, whatever it takes to get you to the end of that aisle in a white dress and for us to be pronounced Husband and Wife, I'm willing do it." I said seriously as I felt her shoulders minutely relax.

"We can always elope." She said with a giggle.

I let out a loud laugh and kissed her forehead again, "You know we would never get away with that, somehow those two would hunt us down and lock us up until the wedding day."

Bella frowned and I was suddenly confused. I cupped her chin and brought her eyes to mine, "Bella?"

I saw a tear glisten at the corner of her eye and I instantly grew worried.

"I'm sorry Edward…I just had a memory. A bad one." Bella's eyes grew wet and I noticed a tear roll down her cheek.

I sat all the way up and pulled her with me, "What was it, Bella? Tell me so we could work through it." I pled.

"That day I went to your house, Tanya had you tied up and wouldn't let me in the house. I knew that you were in there, most likely hurt. When I got back to my car, that was the first time that I called Jake to help us." She said through a sob as I sat in horror over the recollection of that day.

"I heard you." I whispered and she gasped.

"You did?" She questioned as I tried to dry her tears with my thumbs and nodded my head.

"I had been in and out of consciousness and when I heard your voice, it helped me hang on. I screamed in my head for you to please help me." I answered her and suddenly felt the panic rise within me.

She lunged at me and wrapped her body around me, "I'm so sorry, Edward. I should never have left you in that house. I should have fought her and forced my way in. I'm so, so sorry I didn't help you that day."

Bella cried and I held her as my own tears burst from my eyes, "No baby…shhh, you did help me. You got me away from her. You saved my life." I tried to reassure her.

We sat there wrapped around each other, as we soothed one another, our tears eventually dried.

Our eyes locked and I spoke softly, "She can't ever hurt me again. You helped make that possible. Without you, I'd probably be dead right now. We can't let her destroy our happiness or mire our future."

She nodded her head, "I know, Edward. It's just hard sometimes when I think about how close that I came to losing you that day."

I put my forehead against hers, "I know baby…I can't imagine my life without you now. And, soon, very soon, neither of us will ever have to worry about that again."

I knew that both of us would continue to have moments like this one, but it only solidified our bond to one another.

And, I couldn't wait to begin a lifelong future with Bella by my side, through the good times and the bad.

A/n: So, some more progress….up next….time with friends….and more wedding planning.

I'm hoping to have this one wrapped up within the next week….but, don't hold me to that as RL is extremely busy right now!

See ya most likely Friday with next update.

Tootles, Kyla