AN: This is a HUGE chapter, bbs. Not exactly in size, but in importance. I suppose we could call this the "climax" of the story hehehehe.

Couple of things. I (bethaboo) have started a new story called EVE, THE APPLE OF MY EYE. Check it out.

Also, you should all read Feathers-mmmm's story I LOVE LA, if you haven't already. It's freaking fantastic!

EPOV

Bella's words from the night before resonated in my mind as I took to the starting blocks for the final race.

I'd spent every waking second this morning trying to come to some sort of decision, but instead, all the thinking had done was make me more conflicted than ever. I knew that Carlisle would want me to win this race—he wouldn't have spent all these years slaving over my training, my diet and my future if he hadn't wanted them to come to this.

Yet, the feeling that I didn't deserve to beat Carlisle's record wouldn't go away. Right now we were tied, and I felt closer to him than I'd ever felt before. I understood, finally, what all this was about, but at the same time, I didn't feel like I deserved more.

Carlisle was the best man I knew. To me, breaking the record today would equal becoming somehow better than him, and this, to me, was so blatantly false that I couldn't bear the thought of doing it.

As I took my place on the starting block, I glanced around the Water Cube and wasn't surprised to see the whole arena erupting into hysterical excitement.

I should have been thrilled for this moment. I should have felt like my life finally made sense. But I just felt cold and empty and totally unsure as to what I should do.

I glanced up at Bella in the crowds, and wasn't surprised to see her looking exceeding uncomfortable. It was unclear if that was because she was nervous for me—after all, she was the only one who I'd confided my doubts too; the rest of the arena all expected me to win with flying colors—or if her now close proximity to Carlisle and Esme was making her uneasy. The networks had decided, unsurprisingly, that Bella was a "story" too, and had reseated her next to my parents.

Bella was all scrunched up in the corner of her seat, as far away as she could possible get from Carlisle, no doubt afraid that there would be some sort of lecture about her being a distraction, but her eyes were glued to mine. I'm sure she thought she could maybe convince me through her nonexistent telepathic powers.

But I'd already made up my mind. In fact, the decision seemed easy, standing on the blocks, like they were the top of the world, looking at my dad in the stands. I knew then that I could never break his record.

Peace fell over me, and when the start sound echoed through my head, I leapt clean and smoothly into the water, and kicked off hard before carefully letting myself slow.

I'd tried to win a lot of races before this moment, but never before had I tried to lose on purpose.

Halfway across the pool, keeping a good eye out for my competitors and just hanging back in second, I remembered.

This wasn't the only time I'd tried to lose. I'd done it once before. With my dad.

I'd been 14 years old, and after practice one day, Carlisle had jokingly said that he'd tired me out so much that he could probably beat me now. Even though he was nearing forty, Carlisle was still in fantastic shape and did hundreds of laps a week. Nothing competitive of course, but I knew how fast he was. Still, despite the hardcore workout, I knew I was still faster, but I'd seen a flare of that competitive spirit in his eyes and I'd been so excited to see it that I'd known I'd have to lose.

We'd gone neck and neck the whole medley, but on the last fifty meters, I'd pretended to run out of steam.

Carlisle won, we got out of the pool, and the whole ride home we'd been silent. When we pulled up to the house, he'd placed a hand on my arm, and looked me straight in the eyes.

"Never," he'd said, "have that kind of sympathy on an opponent. If you're the best, then swim the best."

As I hit the first turn, I pondered the memory. No doubt that me losing today would crush him. Maybe Bella was right.

No, I insisted to myself. This wasn't about Carlisle and his expectations. This was about Carlisle being the best swimmer in the world—he deserved to stay that way.

But then like karma, I remembered Esme's reaction to our little race so long ago. She'd laughed and pulled me close in a hug, my head towering above her, even then.

"Edward," she's whispered in my ear, "you are your dad's greatest legacy. Don't forget that."

And then I realized, I had forgotten.

We were Cullens, so that meant we swam. My father, and his father before him. There was a legacy, and like Carlisle had bellowed every day for ten years, records are meant to be broken.

I turned again, and realized I only had a pool length to catch up to Jacob Black and there was no way I could let him win and tarnish my dad's legacy. If I won today, Carlisle wouldn't be forgotten. In fact, if I won today, it would probably mean that he would never be forgotten. Not only had he achieved the pinnacle of success himself, but he'd driven me to do the same. I would not be here without his sacrifice and his drive and his training.

I reached down into my reserves, and pushed harder.

My arms cut through the water like a hot knife through butter, but as we neared the end of the race, the intensity and speed of the strokes were causing a not-insignificant amount of pain. My lungs burned as the time I was able to breath out of the water decreased as my speed increased.

I wanted it. I wanted the gold medal so badly I could already feel it around my neck. Why had I ever thought it wouldn't matter? It mattered more than anything else--almost.

My finger tips hit the wall, finally. I looked up, not towards the all-important scoreboard, but instead, toward the watching crowd, and a certain pair of supportive, brown eyes. . .

Bella was screaming and on her feet, her face filled with joy. I'd never loved her more than in this moment. I'd wanted to learn of my victory from her, not from some meaningless piece of plastic, and her expression said it at all.

It was a day for light bulbs. I realized that without Bella, every victory was meaningless. She might not know it yet, but I was never going to let her go.

Tonight would be only the first step in the plan to make her mine forever.

When the photographers captured my victory smile, they probably thought the pure happiness in my eyes was because of the race; none of them knew that the biggest honor I could ever have, besides following my father's footsteps, was being Bella's man.

The interviews and necessary formalities seemed to last forever. Bella and I seemed to pass each other like ships in the night, only able to exchange a smile or a knowing look. I loved the way she blushed briefly and looked at me hotly from under her eyelashes whenever my gaze fell on her. Though we hadn't discussed it, I thought we both knew the direction this evening was going to take and truth be told, I couldn't wait a second longer.

It had been nearly agony to have to wait even this long to touch her the way I wanted to, but if Bella wanted to postpone, I'd gladly and gratefully just lie next to her, almost content to breathe the same air as her.

Really, it was certifiable: I had totally lost my mind and my heart to a reporter. Bella glanced over my way again and I couldn't help but beam at her and totally lose track of what I was saying to the interviewer in front of me.

"I see you're quite happy with Bella Swan," she laughed, looking the tiniest bit jealous.

"Unbelievably so," I reassured her. "I know that everyone will think that my greatest prize at these Beijing Olympic Games are the six gold medals. But really, Bella is the most amazing prize any man could hope to win."

"She's a lucky girl," the reporter said and her voice was wistful. I wanted to tell her—really all of them—that Bella had captured me without even trying. Unlike them, who had thrown themselves at me at all hours of the day and night. They could really take a page out of her book.

"And," she continued, "how do you feel about breaking your father's record?"

"I'm incredibly honored, of course. Carlisle Cullen is the greatest swimmer of our century. I consider myself fortunate to be mentioned in the same breath as him."

The camera light switched from green to red, and I sighed. Each one of these interviews was monotonously the same, and I was so ready to be done with them. But Carlisle and Rob had their agreements with the networks, and I could not bear to let either of them down on my greatest night.

Finally, after several more interviews—and I think Bella gave even more than I did—the press began to retreat, and I could go over to Bella's side and interrupted, pull her close to me.

"You'll meet at the room later?" I asked her, dropping a single kiss on her upturned nose. I had never seen her look so happy—she was nearly glowing with pride at my accomplishments and I was nearly glowing with pride that she was mine and that I'd struck my claim in front of every television in the world.

"Yes," she told me with a coy tone. "You know I wouldn't miss it for the world."

I pulled her a little closer, and murmured into her hair, which was the sweetest thing I'd ever smelled, "Bells, what is it you don't want to miss?"

She pulled away from me a little and I saw this tiny secret smile spread over her gorgeous lips. "Wouldn't you like to know?" she asked and walked away, her hips swinging in this confident, incredibly sexy way.

"I'll see you tonight," she called over her shoulder, and I stood there, slack-jawed as she walked away.

It was truly amazing how I could win six gold medals at a single Olympic Games but Bella could bring me to my knees with just a few words and the smell of her hair.

We'd agreed to meet in my room at 7 PM. By 6:30, I was a wreck.

Despite Bella's words earlier, I was having second thoughts about if she really wanted to take this monumental step in our relationship. I didn't want to do or plan anything she wouldn't be comfortable with.

Unfortunately it was a little late to take back all the planning that I'd done.

I sat down at the couch in front of the door and found it decidedly odd that I was more nervous now than I'd been seconds before I'd dove into the water to win my sixth gold medal. Of course the adrenaline had been flowing through my veins and I'd just decided that I didn't want it but still. Nothing made me higher than Bella did.

Only five minutes into staring relentlessly at the door, willing it to knock early, it actually did causing me to jump, almost fall off the couch and then actually fall over the couch in my eagerness to get to the door as fast as possible.

I groaned from the floor and if I'd been a cartoon I wouldn't have been surprised to see little birds flying in a halo around my head. Gingerly I moved my legs and willed the room to stop spinning. I needed to get to the door and well, Carlisle would kill me if I'd broken a bone.

And then I realized. It didn't matter if I had broken my arm or my collarbone or my leg—there were no other races to swim. The only reason it would matter is if I couldn't perform tonight and as long as my lips and my tongue and my hands and my cock were all in working order. Any other injuries and I could still manage.

I managed to pick myself up from the floor and hobbled to the door, and pulled the door open only to see Bella dressed in a knockout black satin skintight dress.

I opened and closed my mouth a few times, and managed to regain use of my vocal cords thankfully after only a few seconds of staring, slackjawed, at Bella's dress. And well, at Bella herself.

Bella who looked stunning just in a t-shirt and jeans, was looking rather self-conscious in her dress and heels.

"Bella," I told her rather reverently, "you look absolutely gorgeous tonight."

"You're dressed up too," she said, and gestured at my black slacks and navy blue dress shirt. Her eyes were glued to me and I took a step towards her.

"So beautiful," I murmured, brushing the back of my hand over her cheek, and bringing her lips up to meet mine. We kissed, slowly, and the world around us fell away. Finally, I had to pull away from her incredible lush mouth or we were never going to leave the apartment and make it to dinner. I personally would much rather have skipped the formalities and headed straight to bed, but with Bella, I wanted to do things right. I wanted to romance her, and so on went my suit jacket, even though her lips had turned down in a small pout.

"Do we have to go?" she asked hesitantly, and I wanted nothing more than to tell her that no, we didn't have to go. But I shook my head instead.

"We really should, Bella. I'd love to celebrate with you."

"But all the press," she trailed off, and I wondered suddenly if her uncertainty stemmed from wanting to stay here with just me or if she just wanted to avoid the photographers.

I'd been hoping that with some adjustment time the cameras would just kind of fade into the background for her, but maybe that was a foolish wish. Maybe this life in the spotlight wasn't what Bella wanted at all.

"You look sad," she said, with a tinge of worry in her voice.

I smiled warmly at her. "Oh, no. I'm fine. What on earth would I have to be sorry about?"

Bella couldn't exactly argue with that one, and we left the room, and took the elevator downstairs.

I'd made us reservations in the nicest restaurant near the Olympic Village, and in deference to Bella's feet, though it was only a few blocks away, I hailed a taxi as soon as we were through the security checkpoint.

She protested, of course, but I insisted. For Bella, no expense would be spared, no small detail overlooked. She was going to be my wife, and I wanted to do whatever I could to make her happy.

The dinner was nice, and free of most of the photographers that seemed to follow us around like flies around a bright light bulb, but the whole time all I could think of was pushing Bella's hair to the side, pressing my lips to her neck and slowly lowering the zipper down the back of her dress.

I had to shake myself out of the fantasy more than once, and it got to the point where Bella was nearly choking back her laughter when I spaced out. I had a feeling she knew exactly what I was thinking about. All in all, it was not exactly the romantic, sweet, heartfelt dinner I'd had in mind—and it had been pretty quick as well, with neither of us lingering over our food.

Both of us, I knew, wanted to get back to my room.

I quickly paid the check, and we were back on the street scarcely forty-five minutes after leaving my room.

Raising my hand, I started to hail a taxi, but Bella's hands closed over my arm.

"Don't," she said quietly. "Let's walk back."

"You're sure?" I asked her.

"Yeah. We should talk."

"We can talk when we get back to my room," I volunteered, but Bella gave me a hard look and started laughing.

"You don't mean that, and we both know it," she said more than a little coyly. "There's going to be very little talking going on when we get back to your room."

Bella had again rendered me speechless, and I had to admit that seeing her take and be in control was one of the sexiest things I had ever seen.

Maybe even sexier than that black dress she was wearing. It was a really tough call and I was going to have to ponder it while we walked back to the Olympic Village.

"Earth to Edward!" Bella yelled, laughing, and I looked up from the pavement into her mischievous and sparkling eyes.

"Oh sorry," I apologized. "I was just thinking about our swimming lesson and how I'd like to do it again. Except with you in that dress."

"Edward!" she exclaimed in a mock-offended voice, slapping my arm playfully. "You are so bad. Alice would kill me if I got this dress wet."

I stopped suddenly and pulled her tight against me, letting my hands rest low on her back, almost touching her gloriously curved ass. "Bella," I said rather seriously, but she pulled away.

"Edward," she lectured, "let's get back to the room now."

She didn't have to tell me twice. We were back in five minutes of fast walking, and I was kind of astonished how quick of a pace Bella had managed to set while wearing the heels.

I'd been wanting to ask Bella how much experience she had, but I couldn't manage to think of a polite, non-asshole way to bring it up, so I was still in the dark. I'd wanted to ask during dinner, but hadn't come up with a good opening. I'd wanted to ask on the way back, but maybe, finally, Bella had given me an answer without me asking the question.

Surely a woman with little sexual experience or a virgin wouldn't be eager to get back to my room and start certain activities. And Bella herself had been undeniably clear that was what she expected to have happen the moment we returned to my suite.

The frat boy was pounding on my brain unbelievably hard, trying to get me to relinquish some of my ingrained gentlemanly behavior, but this time between us had to be as perfect as I could make it. Obviously our first time couldn't be earth-shattering, but I wanted it to be good as possible.

I'd been doing lots of "solo" practice in the shower for tonight, and I felt mostly in control as I took a shaky breath and slid the key card through the detector. The light blinked green and I opened the door into my suite.

"Will Tyler be coming back tonight?" Bella asked, and I wanted to kick myself for not putting her at ease with this subject earlier. She had to know we had all the time in the world, that there was no way I'd rush her.

"Definitely not," I told Bella, wrapping my arms around her, loving the way the satin of her dress molded over her curves. "I confiscated his key card even. He couldn't get in even if he wanted to."

Bella giggled, no doubt amused at the lengths I'd gone to make sure we had privacy, but I frowned. "It's important to me, Bella, that nobody bother us."

She slipped out of my grasp, intertwining our fingers together and pulling me towards the bedroom. I really liked this Bella of action, but I couldn't figure out why I seemed rooted to the spot with nerves.

"Edward? What's wrong?" Bella frowned and I hated that pucker that formed between her eyebrows. If I could love her enough, it would never show up.

I shrugged. "Nothing at all, sweetheart. I'm just so happy to be here with you."

The corner of her mouth twitched into a smile. "You are such a liar."

"I am not!" I defended hotly.

Bella walked back towards me, wrapped her arms around my waist, and looked up at me, her brown eyes glowing with confidence.

"If," she drawled, "you don't get back to the bedroom within five seconds, I swear I am going to strip you on the spot."

"Uh," I stammered, not sure what to make of this new, in-control Bella.

"How much plainer can I make it?" she asked, spreading her arms in appeal. "I want you; do you want me too?"

Her words released me from my nameless fear. She did want me. She was ready to take this step. I felt like a total tool for not being able to form the sentences to ask her, but she had finally taken that out of my hands by telling me what I needed to hear.

"Thank you, Bella," I told her, kissing her. "I do want you. I just. . .I needed to hear that."

"Did you think I didn't feel that way?" she asked rather incredulously.

"I thought you probably did, but I have to say, it feels amazing to hear it from your lips."

"I want you to tell me too," Bella whispered, "but I want you to tell me when we're actually in your bedroom." She abruptly moved away and went flouncing away, as best as she could in the high heels she was wearing.

This time I had seen just a tiny glimmer of doubt in Bella's brown eyes, and I had feeling that this was all a big act. Sure I liked it, but I was ready to march into the bedroom and take the control back. I needed to take it back.

When I appeared in the doorway, Bella was already reclining on the bed, kicking her high heels off. She looked exquisite and the frat boy crowed that she was all his.

I pulled the lighter from where I'd stowed it on a shelf by the door and began going around the room, lighting the candles I'd set out earlier this afternoon.

I turned off the lights and we were suddenly bathed in the golden glow of candlelight.

The way that Bella's eyes beamed up at me from the bed told me that the difficulty I'd gone to in order to find the candles had totally been worth it.

"Turn over," I murmured, my voice suddenly growing deeper and I could even hear the lust in it.

Apparently Bella did, because she did as I told her, without a single word.

I quickly shed my shoes and socks and untucked my shirt before joining Bella on the bed. Her eyes were closed and her face was half-obscured by the pillow. I smoothed her hair away from her neck and placed my lips at the soft nape. She shivered a little involuntarily and I smoothed one hand up her leg, reveling in the softness of her skin.

She was trembling now, and I bent down, my lips brushing her ear. "Are you nervous, Bella?"

She shook her head. "No," she whispered into the coverlet, "I just want you so much."

Again, I was floored by this woman. She was shaking not because she was nervous, but because of how much she wanted me.

My hand closed again on her leg, just above her knee, and my thumb brushed upwards, nearly touching the inside of her thigh. I returned my attention to her dress, and carefully began to unzip it the same way I'd dreamt of in the restaurant, and well, from the first time I'd caught a glimpse of that incredibly long, sexy zipper. I kissed my way down her spine as I unzipped it, and Bella tensed every time my lips brushed her skin.

Finally, I reached the bottom of the zipper, just above Bella's ass, and I glanced upwards, drinking in the wedge of pale skin I'd uncovered. It was then I realized that she wasn't wearing a bra. With how tight the dress was, I supposed I wasn't that surprised, but the fact caused me to get even harder.

My hands slipped around her waist, and I discovered another interesting piece of information: Bella was not wearing any underwear either. My fingertips must have stilled at this discovery because I heard her chuckling a little into the pillow.

"Commando, my dear?" I asked teasingly.

"Alice said no lines. . .she also said you'd appreciate it."

"Oh I do," I reassured her. "Believe me, you're about to find out just how much I do appreciate the gesture. . ."

I gently began to turn her over, watching as the wide straps of the dress began to slide over her creamy shoulders.

Bella's hands reached up and began to unbutton my shirt, just as eager to see me as I was to see her. My lips captured hers and we kissed in passionate earnest. I slid the dress off her shoulders, and covered her with my hands, loving the satin sleekness of her skin.

With our combined expertise, we managed to get my shirt off and her hands immediately fell onto my chest, and I laughed quietly. "So eager?" I asked.

"You know I am," she said between gasps, as I cupped her breasts in my palms.

"And you should know I'm going to take my time," I promised her, letting my lips cruise down the column of her neck and further until I took a nipple into my mouth. I pushed the rest of her dress down as she moaned.

"Feels so good," she whimpered mindlessly, and I shed my pants as quickly as I could, joining her completely on the bed, with just my boxers between us.

"Good," I hissed as her hands found my impossibly hard cock and closed over me.

I kissed her again, loving how we felt together, skin to skin, and I knew I had to have her soon. Bella was panting in pleasure, as I slid a hand up her inner thigh, teasing the sensitive skin there with quick brushes. The heat of her was incredibly searing and I knew before I even placed a finger on her that she would be wet and ready. The way her bucks toward me told me everything I needed to know.

"Edward," she panted, "I want you now." She executed some brilliant twisting maneuver on my dick and I was nearly finished on the spot.

My thoughts were now definitely moving in that direction too.

I slid a finger inside her, and was floored by how hot and wet she was. I had to close my eyes and count to five, so I wouldn't be undone by both her body and my own traitorous cock.

She pushed my boxers down and her bare hands on me was the last straw. In one quick motion, I slid them down my legs and flung them on the floor.

Sliding up her leg with my hand, I hitched it on my hip and sank into her.

"Holy hell," I moaned with one strangled breath, kissing her hard. She arched up into me and the expression on her face said it all.

I slid the rest of the way into her soft warmth and knew that unfortunately this was not going to last as long as I wanted it to. Bella just fell too damn good—who even knew that being inside someone you loved felt so incredibly earth-shatteringly different?

"Edward," she moaned. "Please." I knew she needed it as much as I did, and so I continued to stroke in and out of her, forcing myself to stay focused on the rhythm, other than how utterly amazing she felt.

Faster than I ever imagined, Bella ground hard against me and let out a sudden scream. I could feel her pulsing around me, and with a similar shout of triumph, I emptied myself into her.

My head fell into the pillow and a curtain of Bella's hair. She giggled in delight, and I couldn't help but echo the sentiment. Despite all my worries, our first time had been kind of incandescent.

I thought of what I had stored away in my bedside table, and I wondered if maybe this, in the aftermath of that incredible, sensual experience, was the right time to ask her.

Smoothing her hair from her face, I settled next to her, and kissed her lightly. "Bella," I said trying to make my voice serious, but definitely not too serious. Not scary serious. "I have something I need to ask you."

I reached around the table and discreetly as possible opened the drawer and took the black velvet box out. It was now or never; I had decided. Right now, in the exquisite wake, I was going to ask her.

Her eyes looked up at me, trusting and filled with utter confidence in me. I loved her so much.

"I love you," I murmured and a single tear leaked out of the corner of her eye. "Hey, no tears," I chuckled a little.

"I'm happy," she said with a watery edge to her voice. "I love you too, Edward. So very much. This time in Beijing has been more than I ever could have dreamed of."

"I want it to be special for you. Special for us. Bella," I said, placing the box in front of her and opening the lid to reveal the diamond solitaire I'd picked out, "will you do me the incredible honor of being my wife?"

Her jaw dropped and I saw a flurry of emotions race across her face. I saw happiness, sadness, regret, and lastly, confusion. She didn't know what to say. Her eyes dropped and I felt my heart drop into my stomach with them.

"Is it too fast, Bella?" I asked, lifting her chin with my fingers and looking straight into those ever-so-honest eyes.

She nodded just a little and she relaxed a tiny bit. But I didn't miss that she hadn't relaxed all the way. Her muscles were still incredibly tense.

Obviously it had been the wrong time to ask. I felt like a total idiot and I would give all my medals back if only I could take back my precipitous words.

"Please, Edward," Bella pleaded. "Don't be angry. . .I'm just not ready yet. I need more time."

I shrugged my shoulders and knew that I could never deny her anything. "Of course, Bella. I'm sorry I pressured you." I closed the box and returned it to the drawer before I had to look at it one second longer.

I leaned back in the bed and closed my eyes, wishing I could sink through the earth and disappear forever. I supposed I hadn't even considered the possibility that Bella wasn't as ready to marry me as I was to marry her, but I understood now that I thought about it. Bella, when she joined my life to hers, was going to be getting a media circus and a lot more attention than she was used to getting. It would take more getting used to before she was maybe ready to commit to a lifetime of that.

"Let's not think about it," I said, and clasped her hands with my own. "I know something," I told her teasingly, "that we could do to take your mind off of it."

"Oh?" Bella arched one eyebrow and looked at me skeptically. "Let's see you try."