Bella's POV

"Edward loves that colour on you," Alice mused as I walked out of the change room.

We had already been to do my nails and hair. I politely refused the makeup and now I was trying on a pretty, dark blue dress. I looked at myself in the mirror. It was cute… but not what I wanted. It had long sleeves and fell at my knees. I hated to admit it but I wanted something more… provocative. I wanted to provoke something.

"What do you think, Rose?" Alice asked.

Rosalie was sitting in the corner and actually seemed to be enjoying herself for once. She and Alice really were bonding over turning me into a life-size Barbie.

Esme had decided not to join us. She thought the three of us would enjoy doing 'sister' activities together.

"It's a little… what's the word I'm looking for? Boring." Rosalie wasn't one to mince words and, for once, I agreed with her.

She swiftly got up and grabbed a dress from one of the rails beside her. It was the same color but with much less fabric. I smiled.

Alice rolled her eyes and grabbed the dress.

"Try this one!" She pushed it into my hands before shoving me back into the change-room.

The moment I put it on, I knew I wanted it. It was perfect. It was low cut, with long sleeves and fell to my mid-thigh. It was skin-tight, perfectly showing off my curves. With the right heel I was sure I could pull this off. The only problem was the scars visible on my chest from my tattoo-wreckage scene. I wasn't too bothered, though.

"What's taking so long?" Alice whined.

I took a breath before opening the door.

"Not all of us have super-speed, Alice," I griped, internally pleased at the awed looks on both of their faces.

"I love it!" Alice gleamed.

"I'd go with that one," Rosalie chimed in, moving to stand beside Alice.

I smiled wider. "This is the one."

Alice clapped her hands like a child in a toy store. "And I saw heels near the entrance that would go perfectly with it! Wait here!"

Then, I was alone with Rosalie. She offered me a small smile and I returned it. I didn't expect any type of conversation to occur between us, so it surprised me when she grabbed my hand. I looked up at her perfectly sculpted face.

"Bella," she started nervously. "I'm… very pleased that you and Edward have managed to become partners again. You can never imagine how much he's missed you."

I blanched. "Uhm… thanks… I guess…"

She smiled at my unease. "I know I'm not the easiest person to get along with, but I truly don't wish you any ill-will. I'm just… grateful, that Edward has somebody."

Alice seemed to reappear out of thin air with black stilettos in hand. "I've paid for these and the dress. You can wear them out. The sun is beginning to set, anyway, and we don't want you to be late…"

I nodded my head and let Alice drop to the ground to fiddle with my feet and get the shoes on.

"I'll pull the car up front," Rosalie said. "Think you'll manage, Alice?"

"I'm sure."

With that, Rosalie was gone. I licked my lips.

"Alice?" I ask innocently.

"You cannot use my phone, nor keys, nor-"

"No, Alice," I interrupt. "Not that."

She quickly finishes and rises to her feet. "Then go ahead…" she said cautiously. "Keeping in mind that I don't have much legroom to upset Edward again."

I smiled. "I just… wanna know about tonight."

"Bella, you know my visions aren't-"

"I know," I interrupt again. "I just… did you see what restaurant he chose? Or anything about what's going to happen?"

I hoped she would admit to seeing us actually going all the way with our relationship, but if she knew anything, it was clear she wasn't going to expose it.

"Let's just say… you'll both end the night off feeling very satisfied." She winked slyly before grabbing my arm. "Let's go!"

I thought about Alice's words the entire way home. What exactly did she mean by 'satisfied'? Was it what I thought it was?

By the time we pulled onto the property, my mind was a mess. I tried to quickly pull my thoughts together. To my surprise, again, they stopped just short of the driveway.

"Well," Alice probed, "get out!"

She was smiling fondly at my confused expression. "You aren't coming in?"

"We're just giving you some time to make an entrance," she said innocently.

"Which shouldn't be that hard in that dress," Rosalie smirked.

I sighed. Okay. I could do this.

"See you guys inside," I say, getting out and shutting the door.

They stayed in that same spot as I walked up to the door. Just as I was about to push it open, Edward beat me to it.

I had to blink a few times to come back to my senses. He looked absolutely dashing. He wore black pants and a dark grey, long-sleeved shirt with a black tie. Wherever he planned on taking me, it was probably going to cost an arm and a leg.

"You are absolutely stunning," he whispered, taking my hand and leading me inside.

"You took the words right out of my mouth," I counter, following him through the house.

There were candles everywhere. I was confused when he pulled me straight to the kitchen.

"What is it?" he asked softly, taking in my expression.

"Is there a power outage or something?" I laugh.

He shook his head and chuckled. "No. Just trying to set the mood."

It was then that I realized what was happening. We were alone in the house… Candles everywhere… There were pots on the stove…

"We're staying here?" I asked.

Edward furrowed his brow. "I thought it may be more… comfortable to be here. The family has left for the night… I can always make a reservation if you'd prefer…"

"No!" I said, seeing his slightly hurt expression. "This is perfect."

I smelled tomato from one of the pots and smirked.

"What?" he asked, quickly returning to the location of the smell.

"You're cooking?" I ask.

"I'm… trying to, yes." He approached me with a ladle full of some sort of red sauce. "Care to be my first taster?"

I raised my brow as he put the ladle to my lips. I tried to be sexy as I dipped my tongue into the liquid. My plan was ruined when the taste actually hit me. As hard as I tried, I could not prevent the look that took over my features.

"That bad, huh?" he sighed.

I laugh. "It's a little bitter," I admit.

He joins in on my laughter as he throws the utensil in the sink and switches off the stove.

"It was a long shot from the get-go," he chuckled. "But, I'm always prepared for every situation."

He walked passed me to the phone that was attached to the wall in the front room.

"What are you craving?" he asks.

I place a finger to my lip. "Hmmmm… Chinese?"

He laughs into the phone. "You're the one that will be eating it."

"Chinese is fine."

I wait patiently as he orders some food through the phone, trying to process how this glorious creature could ever be satisfied with someone like me.

Finally, he hung up the phone and approached me, grabbed by the waist and pulled me into him. He leaned down until his lips were at my ear.

"You look simply ravishing tonight, Miss Swan," he said.

I shivered. "So do you…"

He pulled away abruptly and led me to the living room. I was stunned when I walked in. There were no couches or cushions in sight. Only a long dining table with two chairs, one at the head and one just next to it.

"When did you do this?" I gasped out.

"While you were away," he whispered into my hair. "Take a seat."

I did. He was a complete gentleman. He pulled my chair away from the table for me before going to take a seat at the head of the table. It truly felt like a first date. I smiled.

He took both of my hands on top of the table and sighed.

"I suppose I should admit," he started, "I do have an ulterior motive for choosing to have our date here."

I tried to keep the glee off my face. Was this what Alice meant?

"What?" I asked.

"I have three proposals for you that I'd like to discuss," he continued. I hoped my disappointment wasn't too evident on my face. "All are optional, but all would make me happy. One of which immensely so, actually…"

I rolled my eyes. "What's this about, Edward?"

"Please, keep an open mind."

"What's the first proposal?"

He smiled his crooked smile. "Well… as you know, we are working very hard to get your life back in order. After a year, your record has a chance of being expunged. Those tattoos, however, will need to go if you were to ever have a normal life…"

"Come again?" What was he getting at?

"Carlisle has spoken to a specialist downtown…"

"Go on…"

He smiled wider. "If you'd like, we can start laser removal in only a week."

I widened my eyes. "I can do that?"

Of course I wanted them gone. They were nothing but a gruesome reminder of the life I wanted to distance myself from.

He nodded.

"Yes, please!" I almost yelled, throwing myself into his arms.

He chuckled against my face and let me hold him for a minute before pulling back again.

"I'm glad we're on the same page on that note…"

Then, I remembered. There was more.

"What's the second proposal?" I asked wearily, returning to my seated position.

This time, his brow furrowed in concern. "I'd… like you to call your father?"

I blanched. "What? Why?" Did he want me to leave? But things are going so well…

Seeing my distress, he quickly began explaining. '

"Not now, Bella," he assured me. "I just feel that it's the right thing to do, some time in the near future." He leaned in. "I'm sure he's worried about you. I'm sure he misses you."

I shook my head. "He didn't care enough to visit me in prison. I don't think he wants anything to do with me…"

It was a sad situation, but I could easily understand it.

"Bella, you're well now," he reminded me. "Your father at least deserves to know that you're healthy and doing fine. If he still does not want a relationship, that's fine. Just give him some peace of mind…"

I was still resistant. "I'll consider it."

"Please do." Just then, there was a knock on the front door. "I suppose that's your meal," Edward said with a smirk. "I'll be right back." After a quick kiss on the forehead, he was gone.

He returned just a moment later, the noodles already on a plate, and left it in front of me. I was getting impatient.

"What's the last proposal?" I barked out as he seated himself.

"Perhaps that can wait until after you've eaten," he suggested.

I shake my head. "Let's just get them all out of the way."

He sighed, and then grabbed both of my hands. I could not have prepared myself for what he said next.

"Isabella Marie Swan…" he said, staring into my eyes with such intensity I feared I might faint. "I am hopelessly and utterly in love with you. I'd like to spend the rest of my existence, making you happy. And I promise to love you for every moment of our forever…" He paused and my heart rate sped up. "I want to be your protector, your savior, your best friend…" He lifted a hand to my cheek. "Your husband." Then, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, black velvet box. My heart continued to race. "I've waited…. An extremely long time… to find someone who I could bare my soul to. To move past what I am… With you, I feel as though I can finally begin." The love and devotion in his golden eyes seemed to crush me.

"Would you do me the extraordinary honour of becoming my wife?"

A/N Should she say yes?