Title: On My Knees
Genre: Romance
Rating: T
Pairing: Bella/Seth
Words: 1300

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

AN: I started this for one contest, finished it for another one, and didn't enter it in either of them. Rather fluffy, just something I had rumbling around in my head that needed to get out.

**ATTENTION: PLEASE READ: This is my last scheduled update to my Wolf Drabbles. It has gotten rather massive, so I am starting a new grouping that will be called Short Stuff. It will be both wolf and vamp pairings and stories from 100-1000 words, still based mostly on the Tricky Raven weekly prompts. So keep your eye out for that if you're interested in following. Thanks for reading all these!

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On My Knees

I have known you literally my whole life—so long in fact, that I don't actually remember meeting you. I've seen the picture, though. I wasn't much to look at—all wrinkled skin and spiky black hair—but you… you looked like an angel. Your hair was coming out of its braids, and your pale skin was lightly bronzed by the sun. You held me just hours after my birth, and our first kiss was captured for all time in a priceless photo.

The earliest memory I have of you, it was in the springtime. Do you remember? You must have been about eight years old, so I guess I was three or four. You and Jacob were playing in his backyard with Quil and Embry. I wanted to play too, but they laughed and called me a baby. When I started to cry, you put your arm around me and led me inside. Then you fixed me ice cream. I'm pretty sure that's when I fell in love with you.

I cried when you moved away with your mother, and I looked forward to your visits every summer. I tagged along with Jake, knowing that wherever he was, you would show up eventually. I wanted to hate him for taking all your attention, but without him I wouldn't have seen you as often as I did. I just wished you would see me too.

I spent years watching you. I watched you grow up, and I was overjoyed when you moved back to Washington for high school. I watched you date, and I watched you get your heart broken. My own heart broke when you went all the way to Florida for college. I worried then that I would never see you again.

I tried to get past you, get over you. I dated a few girls, but none of them held a candle to you. My family encouraged me to stretch my boundaries, get off the rez and get out into the world.

My only passion—other than you—was education. I loved learning, and I wanted to share that joy with other children. I took my scholarships to Tacoma and got my degree in only three years.

Mom and Dad were so proud when they came up to watch me graduate. Leah was crying, and Sam stood up and whistled when they called my name. They even held a welcome home bonfire for me when we got back to La Push. I know you remember that bonfire...

I made the rounds, accepting congratulations from my friends, and my parents' friends, and pretty much everyone who lived on the rez. I was sipping a beer and talking to Jake when something caught his eye. He glanced over my shoulder and waved, ready to change my world in an instant.

"Bells! Over here!"

I couldn't breathe. My hand gripped the bottle I was holding so tightly I thought it might break. I was scared to turn and look, afraid that if I did you might disappear.

The air around me felt charged as you moved closer, close enough to touch me as you brushed past me to greet our friend. At least, I hoped he was only your friend. You called out your greeting, then put your arms around him and hugged him, and I swear I almost growled at your familiarity.

But then you turned. You turned around to face me, and I felt the earth stop moving. You had always been the center of my world throughout my whole childhood, but seeing you all grown up was something completely different.

Your face had lost the faint roundness of youth, settling into a delicate beauty that brought the sun to our rainy corner of the world. When you smiled at me it was like the heavens opened up, showering me in radiance.

"Sethy? Little Seth Clearwater, is that really you?" You made my face heat with embarrassment at my childhood nickname, but hope bloomed in my heart, because that wasn't a patronizing look you were giving me.

Your eyes swept over me from my bare feet, to my board shorts, over my shirtless torso and up to my face. I gave you a smirk that made you squirm, and I knew then that I had you. You might have only held an ounce of the desire that I felt for you, but it was enough.

We were inseparable the rest of the night, dancing through the waves and playing under the stars. When the party broke up, I took your offered hand and followed you back to your new home.

We didn't speak a word as you led me to your bedroom, and I still don't know if you felt my hands shaking when I laid you back on your bed. I could hardly breathe with the anticipation of what we were about to do.

When I first tasted your lips, I couldn't hold back a moan. You tasted of fulfilled dreams, hope, and love. I didn't tell you then, but I loved you. I have always loved you, and I will always love you.

Just as you accepted me into your body that first night, you slowly let me work my way into your heart. Each day we grow closer, closer than I ever dreamed we could. It has only been three years since that night, but it feels as if we have spent a lifetime together.

Why am I telling you all this now? This way? You know how I get when we are face to face—how I get tongue-tied and all out of sorts. I wanted to do this right, say the right words, try in some small way to show you the true depths of my feelings.

So honey, if you would, just turn around and look at me. I'm down on my knees, asking you, begging you. I need to know.

Will you marry me?

~o~o~o~o~o~

I can barely read the last few lines through the tears in my eyes. My hands are shaking so badly that I have to take extra care to set your letter back on the table where I found it. I look around at the candles and roses, trying to burn this memory in place before I turn around.

After several deep breaths, I finally face you. I have no idea how I missed so much for so long, but you have my complete attention now. I don't feel worthy of your deep and abiding love, but I swear that I will do everything I can to earn it.

"Please..."

Your beautiful eyes are filled with tears as you kneel before me, and your whispered plea is hoarse with emotion. I take in your best suit, the tie I gave you for your birthday, until my eye is finally drawn down to the ring in your hands.

I know I've said (repeatedly) that I never want to get married, but at this moment—with you—I can't think of a single excuse. I step toward you, reaching one hand out to stroke through your hair, smiling when you tilt your head automatically—you will always be my sweet puppy.

I take another breath and nudge your chin up to face me, blown away by the sheer devotion in your eyes. I know now that it has always been there.

"Bells?" You mouth my name without a sound, and I know I have put you off long enough. My thumb traces your cheekbone, and I nod. I nod frantically, pressing kisses all over your sweet face until I reach your gorgeous full lips.

Glancing back up, I see your eyes are half-closed and a single tear has worked its way loose to glide down your smooth skin. I wipe it away just before I breathe my answer against your lips.

"Yes!"