Previous Chapter: His angry expression twisted into confusion. This was it. Come on, just say it. "I want you to change me."

And now:

Neither of us had said anything for a long time. He was just sitting there, frozen and I was becoming worried. I knew this might have seemed sudden to him but I'd been thinking about it a lot lately. A part of me felt extremely guilty about having to break Charlie's heart and that's where I got the idea to wait until after graduation. Charlie had missed nearly all the major milestones in my life and I didn't want to deprive him of seeing me graduate. I had considered putting off my immortality for longer and going off to college for a bit but it seemed useless because I knew that the longer I waited, the more painful it would be. Besides, I know what I want out life; I want Edward (I also want to stay an appropriate age to be with Edward), I want to be the same species as my family, and I'd like to grow old enough to look older than my own parents. I loved my family and my Edward but until I actually became a vampire there was a part of me that had this big cloud of worry hovering over me that I wanted desperately to disappear

"Edward?" I asked, trying to break the silence. His eyes met mine and suddenly his expression became unreadable.

"Bella," he responded with a deadly calm. "Why would you want this?"

"Because I know where I'm supposed to be and it's not around humans," I explained.

"You only think that because you see our family as being good but we all could have just as easily ended up like James and Victoria," he insisted and I thought he looked a little desperate.

"I know," I replied gently. "But I don't care. Even after facing what I had to with James, and even after realizing that Renee was a bad vampire, I still want to be like you. I faced pain and sadness and loss but I'm still happy and I still feel like this is what I need to do. It's where I belong."His face seemed to soften a bit but I knew he'd never be fully convinced. Still, it could be progress.

"And you want me to be the one to do it," he stated.

"Yes," I responded confidently.

"Fine," he said and I gasped. I hadn't expected him to agree so easily.

"Really?"

"On one condition," he murmured and I was suspicious but willing. I knew I was asking for a lot.

"Anything," I breathed. He smiled and took my hand, standing up and gently pulling me up with him. I was thoroughly confused until he, not letting go of my hand, got down on one knee. My eyes widened and I stopped breathing mid-breath. He looked up at me and began,

"I've been wandering around seemingly aimlessly for nearly a hundred years. I never knew what I was looking for, just that I was searching. Now I know: I was looking for you. You've given me happiness and a love that I never thought I could experience. You're magnificent and every day you astound me by just how beautiful and strong you are. You are everything I was never realized I needed and I promise that I will love you and be with you for as long as you will have me." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small blue box that upon opening it revealed a simple oval-shaped ring covered in diamonds. It was stunning. "Isabella Marie Swan-Hale, will you marry me?"

I had never been against marriage. In fact, marriage seemed sort of nice. I had grown up around three perfect examples of a happy marriage. Mom and Dad were known to disagree but they didn't really ever yell at each other and Dad would do almost anything to make Mom happy. Carlisle and Esme were two of the kindest and most compassionate people I'd ever come across and they had this gentle sort of love that I'd always admired. Then there was Alice and Jasper who reminded me the most of our relationship. They had this sort of silent and deep connection. Their passion resembled that of mine and Edward's.

Edward was everything I'd never known I wanted. He was gentle and strong with an amazing mind and even though he could read my thoughts I often felt like he could. He seemed to understand most everything about me and even though he didn't share the same sentiments with me over my becoming immortal I knew it was only because he cared so much for me. For Edward, I would give anything I had to offer. I already knew that he was my forever. So, I took a slow breath. There were any number of romantic retorts I could have responded with but in that moment I couldn't think of anything but this:

"Yes."

Within a second, the ring was on my finger and his lips were on mine in a hungry and passionate way that made me ecstatic, astounded, and dizzy all at once. I'd never really pictured this moment before now but I'm sure if I had this would have been what I imagined. The kiss broke only long enough for us to breath avid 'I love you's to each other. It was perfect.