Once again I would like to thank ECISLove2010, melisa79, Tana101, nicolleio, traceybuie and elaine67 for their lovely reviews. I'm posting this chapter so soon after the last because your reviews made me want to write faster…

EPOV

It was Saturday morning and I was a very happy man. Bella had agreed to come to our place today but she had insisted on alone time yesterday night. So I had gone hunting but had had a very long night. In fact Bella was like a drug to me. I craved her body just as much as I used to crave her blood. The urge and the images that kept flashing through my mind were so irresistible that I had even considered indulging myself for pleasure. Years of abstinence had come to my rescue or I would have been a wreck today with the guilt I would have felt at indulging in such a carnal act.

I rushed to Bella's in the Volvo to pick her up since Charlie would be home today in the morning and would have questioned Bella's unconventional mode of transport had he witnessed it. I smiled to myself. If only he knew what a son-in-law he would be getting. One in a million. At my knock Charlie answered the door.

"Good morning Chief Swan."

"Morning Edward."

He said my name. That was an improvement but I felt uncomfortable with the thoughts I had had only just moments ago. I will be taking his daughter away from him. I felt so much anguish when I thought of the inevitable pain he would suffer, unless… my heart said.. unless we find a way to keep Charlie in Bella's life in some capacity… there was new technology.. this thought gave me a modicum of relief. Although Charlie had not been very welcoming to me after my return he was a good man who wanted the best for his daughter. As if he felt my own discomfort at the situation Charlie spoke to me as soon as I entered the living room.

"Edward I want to have a few words with you."

"Sure sir."

I was trying very hard to read his mind but his thoughts were all mixed up as if he couldn't decide what to think or ask first. His mind has always been a little more difficult for me to read than others. I guess Bella inherited her silence from her father.

"Edward, if Bella agrees to marry you when do you plan on doing it?"

"Any time Bella wants to. I think it would be definitely after graduation, may be even university. It is up to Bella. I will respect whatever decision she makes."

"So you will be dependent on Carlisle for support during that time?" I was confused.

"I don't understand sir."

"I mean since you don't have a job yet how will you and Bella support yourselves? I will help with the school fees and Bella is hoping for a scholarship but if you are married other responsibilities will be there."

"I have my own independent wealth sir. My birth parents were well off and my father was a lawyer. I was their only son so they left everything to me. I assure you sir that Bella and I would not need to work for the rest of our lives if we chose to do so. I have invested most of my inheritance in the markets and over the years increased my assets. I have a house in Chicago and will buy anything Bella deems suitable for us to live in after marriage if she chooses to do so." I decided this information was sufficient to satisfy his worries for now. I was hesitant to disclose my exact net worth. Actually I hadn't even told Bella.

"No need to work for a living. How can one so young be so wealthy? I know Carlisle is well off but the kids?"

"So does everyone else in the family also have the same income?"

I was feeling a bit uncomfortable with Charlie's questions. The others were virtually penniless when they joined the family. So they did not have the monetary freedom I enjoyed. For the first time in my existence I understood that I had been very fortunate that my birth parents left me in a financially secure position. I had not needed to be dependent on Carlisle for support. I had recently opened an account for Alice and deposited a capital, part of which she and I had then invested. I was very happy that I had done that for her.

"Carlisle has given us all debit cards to use for our expenses."

I never used mine. But he always gave me one. I hoped to avoid disclosing that I was the only one with such assets but Charlie was persistent. It was as if he wanted to know everything about us. He kept thinking back to the difficult time he had with Renee when they had to worry about finances and how he had worked extra shifts to provide for the family. In his mind he blamed his long shifts and overtime for the break-up of his marriage. I understood his concern for his daughter.

"So they do not have inheritances of their own." I slightly shook my head. He understood.

"Ok so you can look after Bella. But that's not the only thing needed for a relationship to work. I expect you to act mature." A conversation he had with Carlisle about me rushed through his mind. What was that all about?

Just then I heard Bella running down the stairs. She was carrying her over night bag in her hand.

"Ok well that's it for today."

Charlie looked very guilty and uncomfortable. He knew that Bella wouldn't have liked the conversation he had just had with me.

"Dad what's going on?" Bella seemed to sense that she had come in the middle of something.

"Nothing love we were just talking about the family." Well close enough. Charlie gave me grateful look. At least I was in his good books for the moment. I realised that I would have done the same if I had ever had a daughter and faced the same situation. I wasn't prepared for the anguish I felt at the remembrance that I would never be able to be a father.

Bella immediately noticed that something was off.

"What's wrong Edward?"

"Nothing love."

"Oh come on I know that look. Out with it."

"Bella are you sure you want to even consider my proposal? I feel I am doing you a grave injustice by even proposing. I do not have the right to ask for the hand of a lady when I know that I will not be able to ever afford to give her all that she deserves."

"What are you talking about Edward? You have everything I would want if I considered marrying someone."

I rested my head on my arms on the steering wheel.

"Bella….I'm taking away so much from you. I will never be able to give you any children or a normal human life. We will never enjoy the joys of growing old together. Things other people take for granted we will never have."

"Edward.. I don't care .. I have you and you love me and that's all that matters…my feelings are just a jumble and I'm trying to figure out what I feel for you as soon as I know I will give your answer. But even if I decide not to marry you I would still become a vampire so I won't be giving up anything to be with you."

"Even that was my fault. Bella you could remain human you could run. They will never be able to find you. Even we don't need to know where you are. If you hide from everyone once we destroy Victoria you would be safe. I could leave a number where you can always reach me if you ever need me. The wolves can also help you." I knew what I was saying was impossible for me to do. But I had to offer her all that I can.

"So you are leaving me again?" Her tone was lifeless her eyes were emotionless. Oh! God no! What am I saying?

I pulled her to me desperately seeking to reassure her. I held her lovely face between my hands.

"No Bella never. I can never leave you. You can try to send me away but I will never be able to live without you so I will never go. I want to stay in any capacity you want me, I just have to be near you love. I just ha..have to." I felt my voice crack with the raw emotion I felt. I stared deeply into her eyes. She had to know I was telling the truth.

"I only meant that if the Volturi come after you I would let you go and hide if that is what you want because your life is the most precious thing to me Bella. But I will come to you once the danger is over. Your wish is my command."

"Oh is that so?" She was giving me that wicked sexy look I loved so much.

"Well then my wish right now is for us to forget about all the silly things you are thinking right now and get going."

When we got to the house Alice, Esme and Emmett were waiting for us in the porch. Esme rushed out to hug Bella.

"Oh Bella.. it's so good to see you again dear. I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too. Promise me you will never leave me again?"

I was surprised to hear this request. Bella's tear filled eyes were looking directly into Esme's shining ones.

"You never have to worry about that dear. Nothing can ever make me leave you darling. You are my daughter.. I can never do that to you again. I'm so sorry for what happened."

Esme was sobbing now hugging Bella tightly to her. I was stricken with guilt. I had torn them apart.

"Enough with the emotions let big brother Emmett give you a hug."

Bella was swept up in Emmett's huge arms and he was spinning her around.

"Missed you so much little sis.." he kissed both her cheeks.

"I had to come.. so much happiness… Bella welcome home." Jasper walked out of the house and to my surprise hugged Bella tightly to him. "Don't worry Edward. I'm in control and I know now that I can never hurt her. I love my little sister too much for that."

Alice was beaming from ear to ear. "Carlisle's at the hospital Bella. He'll join us later."

"So Bella how's the evaluation going?" Emmett asked.

"What evaluation?"

Bella looked very confused and it was only then that I remembered all about the lie Alice and I had cooked up to save me from humiliation when a certain unwashed set of clothing smelling of the pleasure that Edward junior had had was discovered by Esme.* Shit! I'd forgotten to tell Bella about it and update her on the lies Alice and I had been feeding Emmett for the past few weeks. We had come up with some ludicrous explanations that no one else would have ever believed. Not that we fooled anyone else other than Emmett of course and Rosalie who hadn't heard most of them. Emmett was not stupid but he just simply took things at face value without questioning them further. He was a simple and straightforward person who said what he thought. There were no hidden agendas. So he just expected the same from others.

I gave both Alice and Bella a desperate look.

"It's related to your bug project." Alice to the rescue again; she winked at Bella.

"Of course. I forgot." Bella was quick to catch up.

"What bug project Bella?" Emmett was now confused he was wondering what a psychological evaluation had to do with a bug project.

"The one I'm doing for biology with Edward."

"Oh I forgot you were lab partners. Right so you are doing more evaluations ha?"

Just then Rosalie walked in.

"Hi Bella, What evaluation? What had Edward the prude done now? Or has not done?" She was laughing to herself at her own joke at my expense as usual. I tried not to show how much it hurt me when she made these jokes.

Emmett was about to reply when Bella interrupted.

"Excuse me? What did you say?" Her voice was raised and she sounded angry.

"Oh I just know Edward would have.." She still didn't seem to realise that everyone's eyes were focused on her and Bella and that Bella was fuming now.

"Watch what you say Rosalie. You are talking about my boyfriend."

Now Rosalie seemed a bit taken aback. "He was my brother before he ever became your boyfriend."

"Then you'd better treat him like your brother. Your older brother for that matter. He deserves to be treated with respect. He has just brought his girl friend home to meet his family after a long time and this is how you talk of him in front of her."

"But but…" Rosalie was out of words in her surprise. Bella had never spoken to her or anyone else for that matter like this to her knowledge. She had always been very meek and silently bore all the insults Rosalie passed her way when she used to visit us.

"And for your information, he is not a prude. He is a true gentleman and an amazing lover."

Then to my utter astonishment and to everybody else's I'm sure, she kissed me very passionately in front of the whole family. I was shocked at first but my body took over and returned her kiss with equal vigour. She pulled away all of a sudden.

"Now now sweetheart let's not get carried away. We have to have that swim and the picnic and you need to relax. I have plans for you tonight." She blew me a kiss, grabbed hold of a bouncing Alice and went into the house. She didn't stumble once.

"That was amazing even better than the vision. I too had wanted to say that to Rosalie for a long time." Alice thought at me when she left.

It took me a moment to compose myself and when I did I looked at the others. I was scared that my family would think badly of Bella for her outburst. I was secretly proud that she had defended me and to think she did that with none other than Rosalie in itself was amazing. I knew that Bella had been a bit scared of Rosalie from the start. And of course Rosalie had never been nice to Bella. Rosalie still harboured a grudge against me for refusing her all those years ago. She had made up her mind thinking that if I didn't want her I wouldn't want anyone else. Rosalie took the fact that I had fallen in love with a mere human as a personal insult to her. She was jealous of Bella and never really thought her worthy of my love. She couldn't even begin to comprehend what a special person Bella was. Even Emmett understood. She was only beginning to understand now and had been thankful to Bella for rescuing me. She hadn't even directly spoken with her until she apologised for her part in the Volturi fiasco. Rosalie had actually hoped to be friends with Bella now that she knew she would be joining the family. She had only wanted to hurt me as usual. It was so natural to her to make fun of me that she hadn't even considered the situation before she made her usual degrading comments about me.

I focused on Esme's thoughts first. To my surprise she had a smile on her face.

"Edward, don't worry. I actually talked with Carlisle about all the comments Rosalie always made about you. We were thinking of a way to warn her but then you started to take things in your stride and didn't seem to mind that much about her comments. So we never brought it up. I'm sorry we should have admonished her sooner. I admire Bella for her courage for standing up to Rosalie like that. And we are all proud of you Edward. It seems like you made a lot of progress."

She was beaming with happiness and I knew exactly what progress she was thinking about. I felt a bit shy but for once I shared her happiness and smiled at her. She had to know how happy I was.

"She was magnificent. Her protective instincts and emotions were very strong for a human. She would make a formidable vampire; a force to be reckoned with. You have chosen well Edward."

Jasper looked very excited. He was wondering about what gifts Bella would have after the change.

"What a spit fire Edward.. You've got your hands full bro. I love her more now. She's grown up a lot."

Emmett was the only one to speak his thoughts aloud and he only had nothing but pride and admiration for Bella. He patted my back.

Lastly I looked at Rosalie. Her mind was a jumble of emotions. Mostly guilt. She looked up for a split second when she felt my eyes on her but looked down immediately. She looked ashamed.

"I'm sorry Edward. I didn't realise… Oh! What the hell… you know what I mean you can read my mind."

With that she walked away. I expected Emmett to follow her but he just shook his head at her and patted my shoulder again.

"Don't be too hard on her ok? I'm also sorry for the jokes I make. It's only in the spirit of fun I never mean to offend you in anyway." He looked contrite and deep in thought.

I gave him a smile. "I know." And punched him in his gut.

"Ow guess I deserved that. It's going to be so much fun with Bella back. It's so nice to see you so happy and care free man." He punched me back.

I knew how much he loved me and his jokes were just meant to annoy me and get a rise out of me so that he can play with me. Not like Rosalie who always wanted to hurt and humiliate me. Things had escalated after I met Bella for the first time and when I fell in love with her. Rosalie had been very jealous of Bella and even planned on killing her when she got to know she knew our secret. It is only now that she seemed to realise how special Bella truly is.

"Hey you guys get ready we are almost done."

We heard Alice screaming to us from the upstairs window. We all rushed in and got changed. The new swimming trunks Alice had got me were not that revealing but they were cut a bit more at the legs than my boxer briefs. They were black in colour and the material looked very sturdy and even managed to hide my erection to a certain extent. But I couldn't control it with my head filling with images of what Bella would look like in a swimming suit. I decided to wear a towel around me but then I remembered what Rosalie had said about me being a prude and decided not to. I had always been the only one to wear a swimming suit when Jasper and Emmett went skinny dipping. Even the girls were not that concerned with nudity and sometimes all of them went skinny dipping together. Esme and Carlisle were of course more conservative.

I went downstairs and sat on the porch steps to wait for Bella. The others had already gone off to the river. Esme was making lunch for Bella while waiting for Carlisle. Alice rushed down stairs and I turned to look at Bella. And just stood there staring at her. I had seen Bella in tank tops and shorts and even in her underwear. But her in a bikini was a sight to behold. It was red. It was the first time that I saw Bella in such a state of undress. She looked gorgeous. The lovely blush on her face was spread across her whole body. Did she always blush like that? I moved forward and took her hand and kissed it.

"Bella you look beautiful."

Her beautiful brown eyes were shinning.

"And so do you."

She ran her eyes across my body and her blush deepened. I felt my erection grow when her eyes landed on my crotch. I was very exposed and felt shy but didn't bother to cover myself. I wanted my Bella to see me. To see what she did to me. How she affected me. I longed to kiss her lips. I reached down searching for her lips when I heard a discreet cough.

"Hey you two! Enough inspections for now let's get going. If you start that kiss it won't end there. Do you or do you not want to swim?"

We were both startled. We had forgotten all about Alice. I was very embarrassed at getting caught staring at Bella like that and self consciously held the towel to cover my bulging erection. Alice noticed and rolled her eyes.

I held Bella's hand and walked with her towards the river. I could smell Bella's arousal I wondered what she had planned for me tonight.

Sorry for the lack of lemons in this chapter but the story didn't flow till the lemons as I expected it to. Charlie, Rosalie and Emmett interfered with it. I just had to let them have their say.. But I promise a good lemon in the next. Please do review and let me know what you think… the more you review the more you make me write faster..

*You can find the whole story about what happened with that hmm… certain set of clothes on chapter 9 in my story "Love, denial and desire" which is the prequel to this story.