A/N: Not my characters, blah blah blah, and please review!

Chapter 20

Both Edward and Charlie seemed to be having out-of-body experiences, although for entirely different reasons. This was not how we'd intended to tell my father about our impending nuptials, and that was the understatement of the decade.

The good news was, Charlie had forgotten all about the hoodie. The bad news was, he also seemed to have forgotten how to breathe, how to speak, and how to move.

"Charlie… don't panic," I said slowly like I was talking to a child. "Edward, it's OK. Both of you just need to breathe and count to ten before you say or do anything any of us will regret."

Charlie didn't wait to the count of ten. "You!" he pointed at me, "Up to your room. And you…" he said in an almost sinister voice as he pointed at Edward, "get out of my house."

"Daddy, calm down," I pleaded.

"Don't you 'daddy' me," he hissed, his eyes never leaving Edward. "Bella is not old enough to get married, and neither are you. Are you people insane? Do you have any idea what you're talking about doing here? You've known each other for what, 12 minutes? You're Bella's first boyfriend!"

"Bella is my first girlfriend, too," Edward shot back defensively, although I wasn't sure what exactly he was trying to defend.

Charlie looked a little shocked, but it didn't slow him down for long. "Is that supposed to make this better? Neither of you has any idea what it means to commit yourself to another person, especially not for a lifetime. You're talking about maybe 60 or 70 years here!"

"Maybe more," I murmured with a wink at Edward that I only risked because Charlie wasn't paying any attention to me whatsoever.

"Charlie," Edward started again, trying to maintain some sense of calm.

"You can address me as sir or Chief Swan, young man!"

"Dad, don't be ridiculous," I griped with a roll of my eyes.

"I'm being ridiculous? You're the one who thinks she's getting married at 18! Or are you planning to wait until the ripe old age of 19?"

"Dad, please just listen for a minute, OK? I love Edward and he loves me. We belong together and we're ready to start our lives together. Is that so wrong? You were only a little older than me when you married mom."

"Yeah, my point exactly," he growled. "And look what happened! We were both too young and foolish and I'll be damned if I'm going to stand by and watch you do the same thing."

"Sir," Edward started, "Bella is legally an adult now, and…"

"Do you think I don't know how old my daughter is?" Charlie roared. Apparently that had been the wrong tactic.

"I only meant…"

"I know what you only meant…" Charlie shouted. It appeared anything Edward said was going to be the wrong tactic.

"Dad, don't yell at Edward. He hasn't done anything wrong here!"

"Oh, hasn't he? He asked you to marry him, didn't he? He's lucky all I'm doing is yelling!" he… well… yelled. "You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to call Carlisle. I'm sure he'll make you see reason."

"My father knows. My entire family knows and they couldn't be happier."

"That can't be," Charlie contended. "Carlisle has always been a sensible man. He has to see how preposterous this is…"

"Sir, Carlisle knows me better than anyone, and he completely supports this marriage. Please call him. I'm sure he'd be happy to speak with you about it."

If it were possible, Charlie looked even angrier. "Is there a sane person left in this town? Just because you were able to dupe your father doesn't mean I'm going to fall for it, too."

"Sir…" Edward started again.

"OK, stop it!" I demanded. To my surprise, they both stopped and looked at me. In a rather daring move, if I said so myself, I crossed the short distance to where my father stood, red faced and shaking. I wrapped my arms around his waist and laid my head on his shoulder, which seemed to calm him a little, although he made no move to hug me in return.

"Dad," I began before almost immediately choking up, "I love you. You're a great dad. You've been there for me through thick and a whole lot of thin, and no matter what, I'll always be your little girl. I know I'm young, but we both know I'm not a child anymore, and really, I haven't been for a long time. I love Edward, dad. He's the one, and it doesn't really matter if we get married now or wait a few years or whatever. He will always be the one."

"Bella, you can't know that," he said quietly, although still very clearly frustrated. His arms remained taut and straight at his sides, his hands balled into fists. "I said the same thing about your mom and me. We made so many mistakes…"

"I know. But Edward is not a mistake. I can't guarantee anything as far as the future goes, but we both saw what my future looked like without Edward in it, and that's just not an option. I'm happy and I want you to be happy for me."

Charlie was silent for a while. I pulled my head back to look at him after my long, impromptu speech. He was only about half as red-faced, which was a good sign. "So, this is really what you want?" he all but whispered, the words intended only for me, although I knew Edward would hear loud and clear.

"Yes."

"And it's not because you're pregnant…"

I stepped back from him, incensed at his comment. "Dad! NO! I told you before… remember? Edward? Old-fashioned?"

"Yeah, I know what you said. It's just things can change…"

"Edward doesn't change, dad. At least not that much."

"Well, look at the time," Edward broke in. "I really should get home and let you two talk."

"Yes, maybe you should go," Charlie barked. He definitely wasn't referring to just tonight, either.

"Chief Swan, sir, I just want to say I'm sorry our happy news was delivered so poorly and was so unhappily received, but I swear on my very existence that I love Bella with everything I am and I will do everything in my power to protect her and cherish her every day of our lives."

"That's a right fancy speech there, Edward, but you're not all that original. I gave a speech very much like that to Renee's parents and look what happened to us."

At that moment, Edward seemed to have an epiphany. "Yes, look what happened to you. You know, I think you meant those words every bit as much as I do. You didn't make a mistake. You loved Renee like I love Bella, and you've never stopped loving her, like I will never stop loving Bella. The difference is, Renee left, but we both know Bella isn't the type who leaves. She's loyal and faithful and never backs away from a challenge… traits she got from her father."

The truth of Edward's words seemed to sting Charlie. He looked a little dumbfounded and almost like he'd been slapped. He opened his mouth to speak, but then shut it again. I had never seen my father genuinely, honest-to-goodness completely speechless. However, it didn't last long.

"Maybe so, but what about you?" he snapped as he managed to find his voice again. "You left with hardly even a 'goodbye, nice to know ya'! At least Renee had the decency to let me know what was happening. I watched my daughter waste away for months while you were who-knows-where doing God-knows-what. So, yeah, you're right – I don't leave when things get tough, but apparently you do. I was here for Bella. Where were you? You talk about love, but that's all it is… talk. When it comes down to it, you aren't man enough to stick around and that means you're not man enough to marry my daughter."

"Charlie!" I chastised him.

"Bella," Edward said gently, "he's right." He turned to Charlie and squared his shoulders. "I readily admit I am not man enough to marry your daughter."

"Edward!" Now I was chastising him.

"No, Bella. It's true. I'm not good enough for you, but for some reason, you've chosen me anyway. I tried to break us apart, to let you find someone who was better for you, but that nearly killed us both," he said as he smiled sadly and lovingly tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. Turning back to Charlie, he continued, "I was trying to do the right thing by leaving, but I couldn't have been more wrong. As I told Bella, I've learned my lesson. I won't leave again, no matter what else happens, as long as Bella wants me in her life. If Renee had come back, realizing the error of her ways, and begged you to forgive her, would you have turned her away?"

"That's beside the point," Charlie grumbled.

"Sir, with all due respect, that IS the point. Bella had that choice, and the only reason I'm standing in your living room today is that she wanted me back. I don't even know how she could forgive me… I hurt her so much, but she did and somehow she still loves me. If you can convince her that I'm not the man she's supposed to marry, I will rescind my proposal. But as long as she wants me, I am hers."

"Despite what Edward says," I added, "he's the best thing that's ever happened to me, or will ever happen to me. Like I said, I can't prove it to you, but I know I'm right."

"Hmmph. Well, I guess time will tell," Charlie huffed. Edward and I shared a furtive glance. If Charlie only knew how much time he was talking about.

"I really do feel like I should go," Edward sighed. "You two probably have a lot to talk about."

Charlie nodded, and although I didn't like the idea of being left alone to face Charlie's interrogation, it was inevitable and I figured I might as well get it over with now.

Before starting toward the door, Edward fished into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small box. I recognized it immediately. "Will you wear it now?" he asked me.

"Why aren't you already wearing that ring, Bells?" Charlie queried with a bit of a mocking tone to it that I didn't appreciate in the slightest. "If you're so sure this is right, why haven't you announced it yet?"

I looked into Edward's eyes, which appeared to be asking the same questions.

I had to look into my own heart for the answers. "I am sure this is right. I've already told Edward I'm nervous about the idea of marriage, but not about marriage to him. At first, I was worried that people would think we had to get married, which may I remind you was your first conclusion. Then I was worried about how you and mom would react. I knew it wasn't going to go well…"

Charlie grimaced a little, which would be his only admission that I had predicted correctly.

"I worried that people would think I was stupid for getting married so young, that I would never go to college, that I would… you know… change."

Again, Edward and I shared a moment of understanding that could only be between us.

"But just today I figured out the only thing I should have been worried about was hurting my future husband's feelings by not proudly wearing his ring."

I reached for the box, but Edward opened it and took the ring out, gently and joyfully placing it on my finger. His eyes were aglow, which was a good enough reason to wear the ring in and of itself. I love you, he mouthed to me. I smiled warmly, taking his hand and walking him to the door.

"Charlie, pizza," I reminded him. He broke out of his state of shock and hurried into the kitchen.

Edward and I went out onto the porch. "Thank you," I said as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"That's the last thing I thought I'd hear tonight," he murmured. "I thought you were going to be furious with me."

"Well, it's not how I wanted to tell Charlie about our plans, but there was never going to be that whole welcoming-the-news-with-enthusiastic-hugs-and-handshakes like you see in the movies. I am surprised about one thing, though…"

He looked down at me with furrowed brows.

"You never did ask my father's permission for my hand in marriage," I smiled up at him.

He threw his head back in laughter. "I'm not THAT old-fashioned, Bella."

"You most certainly are!" Now it was my turn to laugh. "Everything about you is that old-fashioned!"

"I'll admit, I thought about it. If this had been another time, I most certainly would have, but in our case, I already knew what Charlie would say, and I didn't know what you would say, so his answer really wouldn't matter. Only yours."

"How very logical of you," I teased.

"What can I say? I'm all about the logic of love," he responded playfully as he picked me up bridal style and kissed me. The mirth in his eyes was soon replaced by dark passion as he deepened the kiss, pouring into it every bit of love and desire and excitement he was feeling.

As he pulled back to give me a moment to breathe, I took his face in my hands. "You know, pretty soon I'm going to be Mrs. Cullen and then we don't have to stop with just kissing."

"I like the sound of that…" his voice was husky and sensual.

"Edward! Where did that come from? I was trying to scandalize you with my naughty, naughty innuendos and now you're agreeing with me?"

"I told you I'm not that old-fashioned!" he protested in jest.

"Shall we put that to the test after Charlie goes to sleep?" I challenged.

"Maybe we will," he brazenly answered. "Maybe I'll just show you how far I'm willing to go, now that you're wearing my ring."

I felt a blush rise and my heartbeat accelerate as all kinds of visions suddenly played in my head.

"If you're very lucky," he whispered suggestively directly into my ear, "and I mean very lucky… I may just ask pa if I can hitch up the team and take you into town for a root beer float at the five and dime."

It took a few seconds to register what he'd just said, especially since it was not what I'd expected in the slightest. I smacked him on the shoulder. "Edward Cullen, you put me down!" I hissed.

"Bella! I was just playing!"

"How dare you suggest that I'm the kind of woman who would be seen going into town unaccompanied with a bachelor! And at this hour? Scandalous!"

Now it was his turn to look stunned.

"Gotcha!" I laughed and he immediately joined me.

"What have I gotten myself into?" he shook his head as his laughter died down. "Never a dull moment with you."

"That's going to be a lot of moments. Maybe I need to hire a team of writers to feed me material if I'm going to keep you entertained."

"I imagine by then we'll find some different ways to keep each other entertained," he waggled his eyebrows.

"Why, Edward Cullen! If I'd known wearing a ring was going to bring out this side of you, I would have put it on ages ago!"

He kissed me breathless a few more times before he had to go, but I knew he would be back fairly soon. It was never soon enough, of course.

Once the Volvo was out of sight, I begrudgingly went back inside the house to face the possible wrath of Charlie. He was still in the kitchen, plating up some food and grabbing a beer for himself.

"Good thing you reminded me about the pizza. A few more minutes and we would have had to call the fire department," he attempted to joke, but we both knew it was in vain. There was really no way around this.

"Dad…" I started.

"Bells, look, just between you and me, are you really happy? Are you sure you're doing the right thing here? What's the rush? Is Edward pushing you into this? What about Jacob?"

"Dad, slow down! One question at a time," I protested. "Yes, I'm happy, yes I'm sure I'm doing the right thing. I already told you that and the answer hasn't changed just because Edward went home. No, he's not pushing me. If anything, I'm sort of pushing him… in some ways, at least…" I trailed off.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Charlie lifted an eyebrow.

"Nothing. It doesn't matter. The point is, I know what I want and I don't see any reason to wait. I'm ready to make this decision."

"What about my other question?"

"Which one is that? You fired off about twenty of them in one breath," I smirked slightly.

"Jacob."

I shook my head. "I love Jake, dad, but he's not the one."

"He loves you, too, Bells. Billy told me. Can't you give him a chance? Maybe with a little more time, he could be the one…"

"He's just not, and he never will be. We spent months together and I do love him, but like a brother. I know he wanted more, but it's always been Edward."

I knew I wasn't getting through to him. Edward was right – Charlie always preferred Jacob for me and he didn't seem to want to hear anything else. I decided on a different approach.

"Dad? Remember mom's best friend from high school? The one who had a crush on you?"

Charlie nodded, looking somewhat puzzled.

"Well, from what mom said, that girl made it very clear she was interested in you… enough to cost them their friendship. Why did you pick mom? You had two girls in love with you, and by your reasoning, they should have just been interchangeable, right?"

Charlie smirked, knowing I had him. "Alright, Bells. Fine, fine. You win. For now, at least. I don't like it, not at all, but I'll try to accept Edward, if you're sure he's what you want."

"He is," I said for what seemed like the thousandth time.

"But just so you know, I'll be watching. If I see anything that raises any red flags…"

"I think you've seen all his red flags already," I chuckled, but more at my own thoughts than anything else. I imagined if Charlie knew Edward was a 100+ year old, mind-reading, blood-drinking undead creature of the night, he might consider that an additional red flag. But then again, if he knew Jacob was a werewolf, he'd probably think that was a red flag, too.

Charlie and I took our food into the living room, which was where we always ate when we had pizza. He watched some sort of 24-hour sports news, and I watched the clock. Every once in a while, I noticed him staring at me. Sometimes he shook his head before turning back to his program, sometimes he sighed, and once he bounced his fist off the arm of his chair. I wished I knew what he was thinking. I could get Edward to read his thoughts, but then again, maybe I didn't want to know.

When 9:00 finally rolled around, I yawned and excused myself to go to bed. Uncharacteristically, Charlie stood to wish me a good night, giving me a rather significant hug with the whole 'I love you' and everything. I wondered if this sudden sentimentality would continue, or if it was a reaction to the events of the evening, but decided to enjoy it while it lasted, since I would likely not see him much, if ever, after my change. This thought made me hug him a little harder.