The Learning Curve: Chapter 100

Edward Cullen's House

"Son, I know you have strong convictions, but you're going to have to learn when to voice them and when to keep them to yourself – at least when it comes to your mother. You're going to give her a heart attack."

"Sorry, Dad," I said sheepishly. I was sitting in his study across a desk from him. It felt like being in the principal's office.

"Now. About what you told her...marriage, Edward? Have you thought through this at all?"

I rubbed the back of my neck. "It's not like I've asked her yet. There's still plenty of time to think. But...it's kind of a no-brainer."

"A no-brainer," my dad repeated, staring levelly at me.

"Well, it is," I defended. "If we're married, no one can stop us from staying together. And that's all I want."

I watched my dad pinch the bridge of his nose and take a deep breath. "You can't get married just for the sake of being able to live together, son. It has to be for the right reasons. This is the rest of your life you're talking about. The next fifty, sixty, maybe seventy years with that same woman. Her odd noises, her weird smells, her annoying habits. Are you ready for that?"

"Yes," I said. I knew there was no way I could explain to my dad how I knew this was right, but I had to try. "Look, I know it won't be easy. If it were easy, it wouldn't be worth it. But she's the one. If I can't last sixty years with her, I'll never make it that long with anyone."

My dad let out a sigh. "For the life of me, I don't know where you get it from."

I blinked. "Get what from?"

"The romanticism." He drummed his fingers on the desk. "There's no talking you out of this, I know. But think hard before you go any further. Really consider whether you'd be doing right by Bella, taking such a big step so soon. I know you see all the advantages of marriage, but I don't know that you've considered what you might be denying her – and yourself – by settling down so young."

"I'll think about it," I promised. His words were already ringing in my ears. Denying Bella - I didn't want to deny her anything. All along, I'd wanted to share everything with her – Dartmouth, a home, a life. I'd never stopped to consider that maybe I'd been pushing her into these things. Maybe she wanted to live on campus. Maybe she didn't even want to go to Dartmouth.

I felt queasy.

"I think I'm going to go to bed now, Dad."

"Okay," he said, looking at me with concern. "Get some rest. You'll have a clearer head tomorrow."

I doubted I'd have a clearer head in the sense he was hoping for, but I nodded anyway. "Sure, Dad. Tell Mom she can relax."

I went up to my room for a long night of thinking.

A/N: I had enough reviewers respond with "Married!" that I couldn't help but think of that part of Sixteen Candles. You know, "She's getting married." "Married?" "Married." "Married?" "Married! Sheesh."

Anyway. See you tomorrow.