Bella's POV:
I paced back and forth waiting for Jasper to show up trying hard not to let my nerves get the better of me.
Asking Jasper to legally be Charlotte's father was a huge deal and I was praying that it wasn't too much too fast for him. If he ran I would be absolutely devastated.
I had decided to ask Jasper outright first and then present him with the letter and hope that it explained some of my reasoning.
The buzzers loud ring knocked me out of my reverie and I took some deep breaths to calm my racing heart and I buzzed Jasper, the love of my life, up to the apartment.
"Hey pretty girl," Jasper drawled as I let him in. He instantly noticed my anxious look and his expression grew worried. "Is something wrong Bella? Is Char okay?"
I moved to hug him tightly, resting my head on his chest, listening to his heart beat and sighed "Nothing's wrong. Charlotte's great, she's just taking a nap right now, we had an adventurous day. I think we need to talk though."
"Okay," Jasper said and I noted the nervous undertone in his words as he pulled me into his lap on the couch resting his hands on my waist, "What's up?"
"I need you to listen to everything I say first and then I have a letter for you," I started "You can say no and I will never hold it against you, ever. I will understand if you don't want to."
"Bella, stop rambling and spit it out," Jasper tried not to laugh and gave me a reassuring squeeze and tense smile.
"I talked to Jenks today," I breathed out my voice shaking a little "If you want to, Jenks said it would be possible for you to legally adopt Char with me. You would be her legal adoptive father." I looked at him hopefully.
He furrowed his brow and looked deep in thought and I desperately wanted to kiss him but I restrained and sat quietly letting him think in peace.
After a few minutes I reached to the coffee table and grabbed the envelope that read 'Jasper' in cursive. "Read this and hopefully it will explain things a little bit."
He nodded and opened the envelope and he smiled when he saw the picture. I sat down beside him and watched as he ran his fingers over the image and then opened the letter and started to read.
"Really?" Jasper finally said "You want me to adopt Charlotte with you?"
"Yes," I nodded decisively "I want you in my life and Charlotte's life. I know you will be an amazing father and even if you and I don't last I want you and Charlotte to remain close. You're already her daddy this would just be putting it on paper. You don't have to say yes." I finished fidgeting nervously.
"Did you really think I'd say no?" Jasper asked "Bella I intend on you and I being together for being together for a very long time. Of course I will adopt her; she's already my little princess."
A wide grin overcame him and he gave me a passionate kiss and I smiled into his lips.
"You have no idea how much I love you," He murmured into my lips and kissed me again gently.
"Not near as much as I love you," I laughed and Jasper started tickling my sides until I was gasping for air.
"Marry me," Jasper whispered softly into my ear and moved back to gaze down at me, his bright blue eyes sparking with happiness and excitement.
As I opened my mouth to answer, a loud, angry cry erupted from the nursery interrupting the moment but both of us smiled.
"I'll get her." Jasper said giving me a small smile and quickly disappearing into the nursery.
Holy crap, he'd just proposed! Was I ready? Was this the right time? My heart started racing when Jasper re-entered the room with Charlotte and I realized I already knew the answer.
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Jasper didn't say anything as I watched them, he just went about preparing her bottle and nuzzling against her, making her giggle and coo wildly. She was already such a daddy's girl.
I didn't say anything either as he fed her but I grew more and more sure of my decision with each second that passed and I watched the two of them together.
"Jasper," I said getting his attention and I smiled widely at him "I'd love nothing more than to marry you."
His smile widened even more, a grin from ear to ear and he walked at a fast pace and sat Charlotte in the swing by the couch. I was a little surprised when instead of scooping me into his arms like I had assumed he'd do, he walked past me and grabbed his backpack from the floor near the door. He opened it and grabbed something out and came to kneel in front of me.
"I've had this since that first night I stayed over." He said nervously holding out a small black velvet box "I knew before then that I wanted you to be my wife, my eternity and this is just a small token that will signal to all the other men vying for your attentions that you're taken."
I grinned and opened up the proffered box to find a beautiful platinum band with a Celtic trinity knot, in the centers of the knot parts were 3 astounding emerald gems.
"It's not a traditional ring but we don't have a traditional relationship and you aren't a traditional girl." He explained taking the ring from its resting place and sliding it gently onto my finger.
"I love it," I admitted glancing down at it and watching it sparkle as the rooms lights bounced off it. "And I love you."
"I love you too," Jasper said huskily and kissed me with renewed passion.
I will admit that we rushed through Charlotte's nighttime routine and put her in bed a little early simply because I needed to be in Jasper's arms.
Luckily, our little girl fell asleep quickly and was quiet for the night allowing Jasper and I to take full advantage of the rare quiet and celebrate our engagement night.
A night I would never forget.
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We announced our engagement the very next day and everyone was thrilled.
Emmett didn't stop smiling, though I'm not sure if that's because he was happy for me or if it had something to do with the fact that Rosalie was pregnant. He simply said to me "I'm glad you took the leap, you won't regret it little sister."
Of course Rosalie's pregnancy was a huge deal for us because as a teenager she was told she would be unable to conceive. She didn't tell any of us she was pregnant until she was in her second trimester because she was so worried she'd miscarry.
Charlie had announced that he was seeing someone- a woman named Sue Clearwater. Her husband Harry had been one of my dad's best friends for as long as I could remember and he'd passed away of a heart attack around the same time I moved to Seattle.
She had two children as well, a girl who was my age, named Leah, and a 14 year old boy named Seth. Leah was living up in Seattle and we had made an effort to get together over the next month and she was a big help in planning our small, quick wedding.
We didn't want anything extravagant or big and decided that it was only going to be Jasper and I, Rose and Emmett, Charlie and Sue, Leah, Seth, Paul, Kate, Angela, the Cullen's and the Denali's and of course Charlotte.
We also didn't want to wait too long because Charlotte's health was good and we wanted to possibly take our honeymoon while we were confident she wouldn't take a turn for the worse and at 8 months old she was the healthiest she'd ever been in her short life.
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"Come on," Angela urged impatiently. "We're going to be late for your own wedding Bells!" The tall brunette was wearing a ruby dress that was fitted at the top and flowed to just above her knees. Gold flats completed her outfit as she fidgeted near my front door.
"Ya, we wouldn't want Jazz thinking you'd stood him up," Rose teased running her hand over her 6 month pregnant baby bump. She was wearing a midnight blue dress that boasted an empire waist and just above knee length hem. It set off the intensity of Rose's blue eyes and made her look phenomenal. Her hair was tied back in a loose bun at the side of her head.
"Okay, okay," I laughed as I came out of the nursery holding my now 8-month old legally adopted daughter, Charlotte Grace Whitlock. "Someone didn't want to put her pretty dress on." I half cooed making funny faces at her.
Charlotte giggled happily and reached out to Leah gurgling "Lele, Lele" loudly.
Leah had integrated into our group quickly and Charlotte loved her. As a matter of fact my bright daughter's first word had been Lele.
"Come here munchkin, let's not ruin mommy's pretty dress," Leah said taking Charlotte from me. Leah looked just as beautiful as Rose and Angela in a tightly fitted coral dress, her dark locks were in a loose braid that ended halfway down her back.
Jasper had been excited when he met Lean and realized she was single. I teased that he was playing "Miss. Matchmaker" when he set Leah up with his partner, Paul, but the pair suited each other extremely well and had been an official couple for the last month.
Two and a half months from the day Jasper proposed and it was finally our wedding day. We had just finalized Charlotte's adoption last week and were moving into a beautiful 4-level split on the outskirts of Seattle when we returned from our honeymoon.
Things were changing fast but in a good way. I had a great family- including Leah, Seth and Sue- a new home, the love of my life, a beautiful daughter and finally I was starting to get over my trust issues. Most of this was all thanks to that little pep talk from my bear of a brother.
"Alright, we're all ready." I clapped my hands enthusiastically "Let's get this show on the road!"
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"You look beautiful," My dad stuttered out and I turned to see him standing nervously in the doorway.
"Thanks," I blushed furiously and smoothed my hands over my ivory dress. Rose and Leah had found my dress in an antique store and with a few adjustments it was perfect.
It was ivory, floor length, had no train, a slight v-neck, no sleeves and absolutely beautiful beading and embroidery work.
"I can't believe my baby girl is getting married," Charlie laughed. "Come on Jasper's anxious to see you." He waved me towards him and I linked my arms with his.
"I love you dad," I whispered as we headed towards the aisle that would lead me to yet another new chapter in my life.
"Love you too Bells," Charlie smiled at me and arm in arm we entered the church hall.
I couldn't wipe the grin off my face at the sight that welcomed me at the end of the aisele.
Jasper stood in front of the priest wearing a basic black suit and a ruby vest and tie.
Emmet stood at his side in a matching suit. He had the important job of holding Charlotte, who was holding a teething ring and wearing a flouncy crimson dress, during the ceremony.
Rosalie gave me a small smile from where she stood just behind where I would end up standing.
With a deep breath and a reassuring squeeze from my father we started down the aisle.