Chapter 23
A few days before Bella's birthday, she tells me that she doesn't want to make a big deal out of it this year. I'm a little disappointed because I feel that the day she was born is definitely a day to celebrate, but I promise to respect her wishes.
To keep it low key, we decide to just go out to the bar for dinner and drinks with Emmett and Rose. We have a good time with them every time we get together, and Bella's birthday is no different. Emmett is as boisterous as always, keeping us entertained. I notice that Rose is wearing the necklace Em bought in Seattle. Clearly, he couldn't wait for a special occasion to give it to her like he said he would. But that's just Emmett.
When the night winds down, Bella and I make our way home and lounge in the living room together. She's cuddled into my side in her usual position on the couch.
"Can I give you your birthday present now?" I ask while the TV plays some chick flick that I'm not paying any attention to.
"I told you that you didn't have to get me anything," she says, pulling herself up to sit.
I shrug. "I had already bought it, and I want to give it to you."
She rolls her eyes but agrees, so I run into the spare bedroom and retrieve the gift.
"Edward," she admonishes, taking in the signature blue bag with a smirk on her lips.
"Stop it," I say, sitting down next to her and placing the bag in her lap. "It's something I wanted to get for you, so just quit your complaining."
With a huff, she starts digging in the bag, taking out the tissue paper and then finding the slim, square box. She opens the box and her eyes go wide as she looks over the charm bracelet. "Wow, it's beautiful," she says quietly.
"An apple for the teacher," I say, pointing to the first charm. "And, a book for our love of literature that brought us together. I figure I can always add to it later." I don't tell her that I already have my eye on a few other charms, with hope for the future.
"I love it." She throws her arms around me, hugging me tight. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, and happy birthday." I kiss her head and breathe in her delicious scent. "There's something else, but it's not really a birthday present," I tell her nervously.
She pulls back and looks at me. "Oh?"
I rub the back of my neck, looking for the words I have thought about saying to her for a while. Letting out a breath, I start talking, hoping what I'm about to say won't put too much pressure on her. "It's more of a promise." I pause, trying to make sure I get this right. "A few months ago, we talked about marriage, and I understand that you're not ready … and that you might never be ready. I want you to know that's okay. I honestly would be fine if we don't ever get married.
"But, I also wanted you to know that I'd be ready if you ever are. I love you so much, Bella." I cup her cheek and look straight into her soulful eyes. "I want nothing more than to spend my life with you, making you happy the way you make me happy. So, instead of proposing to you, I'm telling you that I'm committed to you one hundred percent, and if you ever say the word, I'll be down on my knee before you can blink."
She lets out a little chuckle even though her eyes are watery. "Thank you. I don't know how you do it, but somehow you always know exactly what I need. Thank you for loving me and understanding me."
"Believe me, the pleasure is all mine," I state before pulling her close and kissing her passionately.
Eventually, we make our way into the bedroom and start pulling off each others' clothes. I take my time, worshipping her body the way she deserves with kisses and gentle caresses for as long as I can before she tells me she wants me.
We lay on our sides facing each other and Bella throws her leg over my hip. I drag my erection through her slick folds momentarily before positioning myself at her entrance.
With one hand on her hip and the other tangled in the back of her hair, I look deep into her eyes. "I love you," I tell her as I push inside slowly.
Her eyes close momentarily in pleasure. When she opens them, there are tears gathering. I still our bodies when I'm fully buried inside of her. "Hey, no tears, Angel."
"They're happy tears," she tells me with a smile. "I never thought I'd love someone as much as I love you, or feel this much love in return."
"Get used to it, because it's not going to stop," I promise as I start moving in and out of her slowly.
She continues to gaze into my eyes while our bodies come together, but after a few minutes, her hand moves from my hip to my ass. She stills me when we're completely joined.
I look at her, trying to figure out if something is wrong, when she finally speaks.
"Marry me."
My eyes go wide, sure I misheard her.
"What?"
"Marry me," she repeats simply. "You're it for me. This feels more right than anything else ever did. I want this … I want us, forever."
My smile is so huge it feels like it could break my face. "Yes," I breathe out. And then I kiss her.
We make love slowly, enjoying each other and savoring every moment. I feel like I'm floating on a cloud and I never want to come off it as we lay sated in each others' arms.
My fingers entwine with Bella's and I bring her hand up to kiss her knuckles when I realize there's one more thing I have to do. I jump up and get out of bed, startling Bella in the process.
"What are you doing?" she asks as I find my underwear and put it on.
"Put something on," I tell her, tossing my T-shirt at her. I don't wait for her response before I leave the room. I'm back in a flash, having grabbed what I needed from its hiding spot in the linen closet.
She finishes pulling my shirt on, sitting on the edge of the bed and looking at me with confusion as I rush back into the room. "What—" she starts, but I cut her off by holding up my hand.
Her eyes widen as I drop to one knee in front of her.
"I told you I'd be ready whenever you were," I say quietly, taking her left hand in my right. "Isabella Swan, I have loved you from afar for as long as I've known you. But the last nine months have been the best of my life since you've allowed me to love you properly. And, knowing that you love me too has made me happier than I ever thought possible.
"I want to share my life with you, loving you every day and supporting you through good times and bad. I want to have a family with you and grow old together. Will you marry me?"
"Yes!" she gasps out, choking back a sob although the tears are already streaming down her cheeks. "Yes, yes, yes!" She drops down off the side of the bed, onto the floor in front of me and clings to me, hugging me tight.
I now know what she meant by happy tears earlier, as I feel them start to sting my eyes. "I love you," I say just before she kisses me. "Do you want to see your ring?" I mumble against her lips.
She laughs and pulls back to look at me. "You weren't kidding when you said you were ready."
"No, I wasn't kidding," I say seriously but with a smile. I sit down on the floor before we both fall over, and she follows, half on my lap.
I hold the ring box up between us and open it. She gasps when she sees the ring inside. "Edward, it's stunning."
"Do you really like it?"
"Absolutely. It's perfect."
"It was my mother's," I tell her softly as I pull it from the box. "But I want you to have it. Since family has always been so important to both of us, I thought maybe we could start a tradition and pass it down to our daughter or granddaughter some day."
I slide it on her left ring finger as she wipes more tears away with her right hand. "Just when I thought I couldn't love you more …" she laughs out.
As expected, we get mixed reactions to news of our engagement. Emmett and Rose are extremely happy for us, inviting us over the next weekend for a celebration. We get drunk with them and have a blast while eating take-out Chinese food. Emmett, in all his infinite wisdom, lets it be known that Rose won't have to wait too long for her turn at engagement. She just shakes her head at him and laughs, knowing this is just part of his personality.
On the other hand, my dad and Esme are quietly contemplative when we tell them that we're getting married. Understandably, Esme asks Bella if she's sure that this is what she wants. Bella emphatically replies that she's completely certain. They are accepting and supportive, although I can still see the questions swirling around their minds. Only time will prove to them that we are in this for the long haul, so I try not to let it bother me.
Bella, however, seems to take her sister's reluctance a little harder. In early October, I come home from the market on a Saturday afternoon and find her staring at the TV with tears in her eyes.
"Everything okay, babe?" I ask nonchalantly, figuring she's watching some sappy movie or TV show. She just nods as I move through the living room and deposit the grocery bags in the kitchen, starting to unload them.
It's not until I have everything put away and walk back into the living room that I realize she's not crying over the TV. Friends is on, and I know there's nothing sad about that show.
"What's going on?" I ask as I sit next to her on the couch.
"Hmm?" She turns to look at me as if she didn't even realize I was there.
"Why are you crying?"
She sighs and drops her head onto the back of the couch. "I just got off the phone with Esme."
"Oh," I say, immediately understanding. "What did she say?"
"Nothing specific, but I just know she's still not thrilled. I don't know, I must just be hormonal or something."
I pull her close and hug her. "Is your period coming?" I ask quietly, getting used to the routine now.
She shrugs. "Probably. It's still not totally regular so it's hard to tell."
I hum my understanding. She returns my hug for a minute before sitting up quickly.
"What's today's date?" she asks with her brow furrowed.
"October seventh. Why?"
She rolls her bottom lip in her teeth for a moment before responding.
"I'm late."
A/N: A lot going on in this chapter! I hope you enjoyed it.
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