A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Catastrophia. It's her birthday today, so if you know her here on FFnet or on FB, send her a little birthday message when you get a chance.


I think I was more nervous tonight than I was the night of my first date with Bella.

She was coming over for dinner tonight and I was planning on finally asking the question I had been avoiding now for over a month.

It was nice being able to ask her over for dinner. The first floor of the house was ninety percent cleared out, so I was able to set everything up nicely…soft lighting, flowers, candles…I wanted tonight to be perfect.

When Bella showed up, I couldn't take my eyes off of her. The green dress she wore hugged her curves and looked gorgeous on her.

We hung out in the kitchen and talked about our day as we sipped our wine.

Bella told me about how her business was going to be featured in a magazine. I was so proud of her, and told her we would need to make plans to go out and celebrate.

Once the food was ready, I brought everything into the dining room and took my seat.

"This is a special night for me," I told her. "It's the first time in over three years that I've had someone over for dinner and we've been able to sit at this table and eat."

"Well it's a wonderful achievement Edward," she said. "I'm proud of you. You've worked very hard to get to this point."

"I wouldn't have gotten here without you," I whispered to her as I kissed her hand.

Bella smiled shyly before sipping her wine again.

Neither of us said much more after that and focused on eating.

I kept thinking in my head about how to ask her, I didn't want to just blurt it out, there had to be some sort of right way to do this.

"Edward? Is everything okay? You seem a million miles away right now…" Bella asked.

I really must have gotten lost in my thoughts because my fork was hovering halfway between my mouth and my plate.

I set it down and took a deep breath, knowing I needed to just ask her and get it over with.

"We've been having fun together, right Bella?"

I could hear the nerves in my voice…I needed to get a grip on myself.

"I mean…you're happy dating me right?"

"Oh Edward…of course I am. Aren't…aren't you?" She replied worriedly.

I could see the concern on her face, as if I was going to tell her I didn't want to see her anymore.

"I'm beyond happy Bella. I just…I…" I trailed off, trying to figure out what to say and failing. Before I knew it though, my word vomit kicked in and everything came flying out all at once.

"It's just…I see how guys look at you, and I know you never show any interest, but we're only just dating. I hold no official claim to you, and it drives me insane knowing that…knowing that I don't get to really call you mine when I want to…so badly. So um… yeah… I guess… What I really want to know is if you wanted to make things official? Where you're my girlfriend and I'm your boyfriend?"

My hands were starting to sweat from the anxiety of this entire situation and as I finished talking, Bella just sat there staring at me…not saying anything.

"Shit!" I shouted out as I stood up from the table and started pacing. "Fuck…I knew it…I knew I shouldn't have asked. Why would you want to be with me. You're amazing and sweet…and normal. And me…I'm just a nerd who happened to hit it big with my company and I so far from normal with my hoarding…"

I don't know how long I went on ranting and pacing like a caged lion, but I was trying to brace myself for however Bella was going to tell me no.

"Edward," she said to me softly, as she grabbed my wrists and pulled my hands out of my hair. "Calm down Edward. I'm not saying no to you. I don't think I could even if I wanted to. I…I'm falling for you…I already have fallen for you. I think I was lost to you the first day we met. I've never felt this connected to anyone ever. And as for normal? I don't want normal…I want you. So yes Edward, I would love nothing more than for you to be my boyfriend and for me to be your girlfriend."

As her words settled within me, I could do nothing more than just stare at her for a moment before a smile crossed my face.

I pulled Bella into my arms and kissed her, both of us only pulling apart when we needed to breathe.

The rest of dinner was forgotten after that, and the two of us spent the rest of the evening curled up on the couch, watching silly movies and making out like teenagers…just like I had suggested a little more than a month ago.


A/N: So yay, they're all official like now. Thanks to everyone for their well wishes for my mother and their understanding that chapters would be relatively nonexistent until this upcoming Friday. Mom is doing much better after her surgery although she's still only able to eat relatively soft foods. She goes back to the dentist on Wednesday for follow up and my friend will be leaving by the end of the week, so once she heads home, I can get back to my regular update schedule.