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Word Prompt: Social

Dialogue Flex: "Isn't that always the way?"

The skyline twinkles. Clouds drift past the rising moon, dappling the night sky with shadows. Most of the people who were here a while ago have left, leaving us alone and on top of the world.

I have never felt this way. Never, ever.

I feel... younger - well, even younger than I am - and brand new. Naive and quixotic and in love with love. Full of hope and possibility. It's one of those rare feelings of absolute joy and contentment that never lasts longer than a few seconds, but it's magical when it happens.

"What are you thinking?" Edward asks, uncharacteristically shy-seeming.

I glance up at him sharply, expecting to meet that crazy intense green gaze, but his eyes are cast down. He is, however, smiling. "I...I'm kind of just coasting. Thinking about everything and nothing at all."

"That's helpful," he teases. Now he looks at me, smirking, but his eyes brim with the same gladness I feel, mirrored.

"I don't know. I've always known I would end up with someone. Probably married." I shrug. "But it's happening sooner than I thought it would, and sometimes it doesn't seem real. Like I keep waiting for a snag, but...there hasn't been one."

"There'll be snags," he says quietly, pulling me closer, sliding his arm around my shoulders. "Just not between us."

I allow his words to settle into my heart. We can do this.

"Okay." I turn my face toward his shirt and bury my face in it. "How do you smell good after running around all day?"

"You don't want to smell me after a game," he says, and I feel his lips on my forehead.

"Probably not," I agree.

We stare at the city. I shiver, cooled by the night air.

"Hey, does Emmett know?" I ask, pulling back so I can see his face.

"About this?"

I nod.

"He knew I was going to ask."

"You asked him?" I sort of squeak.

"No," he chuckles. "Only person I've asked is you. I told him I was thinking about it...and then I told him I was going to do it."

"Why?"

"I wanted him to know, out of respect. But I wasn't going to ask, Bella. Imagine if he'd said no?" He laughs then. "You think it would've stopped me?"

I grin, imagining.

"But he's a true friend. My best friend."

"So what did he say? When you told him?"

"He said to go for it. I think he thought you might turn me down."

"What?" I yank myself away, standing in front of him. "Why?"

"I don't know." He shrugs, a smug little smile flickering across his face. "Probably because you're so independent. Self sufficient. I mean you wouldn't really even talk to me at first."

"Because I had a big old crush on you."

"Yeah?" He smiles at this news.

"Oh." I roll my eyes. "Come on, now. Yeah."

"Nice."

"Like you couldn't tell. You totally intimidated me."

"I intimidated you?"

"You don't scare me anymore." Taking advantage of his position, I step between his parted legs and kiss him soundly. "But you still do this." I take his hand and put it over my heart, letting him feel how it falters and flies.

He copies me, bringing my hand to his chest. His heartbeat is strong, but definitely a little fast.

We kiss...

...until Charlie's muffled screech. "I needa pee, Mom!"

Engagement sex is good stuff.

We did it twice, and the second time? Took forever. I mean. Forever.

"I don't want to come yet," he'd said, and he looked so good saying it I'd almost let him do his thing.

But, no. Making love til the break of dawn only works in R&B songs, so I'd...encouraged him...to just let go.

Let it go. If I never hear that frigging song again...

"Bella?"

Snapping back to the here and now, I glance guiltily at Edward. "Hey."

"You feel like being social?" He holds his phone against his chest. "Emmett's asking if we feel like coming over for brunch."

I grab my phone, looking at the time. It's nearly eleven, and we're still in pajamas. Whoops. "Yeah. That would be good. I'm starving."

"Me too." He winks, giving me a lascivious look as he leaves, returning the phone to his ear. "Hey. Yeah. Give us a half hour..."

A moment later Charlie sprints into my room and jumps up on to the bed, giggling.

"What's so funny?"

I get my answer when Edward jogs in, dives onto the bed, and commences with the tickling.

I'm staring at my ring in the car, at the way the sunlight glints off if it, when Edward clears his throat. "We can change it if you'd like something different."

"What? No. Absolutely not."

"It's surprisingly hard picking something like that out."

"I love it." I cradle my hand, running my thumb over the diamond, the filigree on the band. I'm no expert on engagement rings, or any jewelry, but I've never seen anything like this. "It's platinum, right?"

"Yeah." He reaches for my hand, tangling our fingers. "You're sure, right?"

His tentativeness is endearing. "Who would return an engagement ring?" I snort.

"You'd be surprised."

"Well. I really do love it. I love that you chose it for me."

"Mom," Charlie says.

I twist around in my seat. "What's up?"

"Can I see?"

She's seen it already, but I extend my hand back to her, letting her hold it. She seemed pretty mellow this morning when we told her the news, but at almost-four, I'm not sure how much she really understands. Sometimes she's incredibly astute catching on to things that seem too advanced, but then other times she's...well, four. It's a trippy, awesome, weird little age.

She knows Edward and I are getting married, but I suspect it's this sanitized, Disney scenario to her. Still, I doubt she'll mind us all living together; we spend lots of time at each other's homes already.

"I like this ring," she says. "I want a ring, Mom."

"You'll get one," I say. "One day."

"I'll get you your first ring," Edward says as we pull up to a light.

"Oh, no you don't," I mutter, straightening up. "No spoiling. She's too little for jewelry."

"She has earrings," he says, giving me the side eye. "What's the big deal?"

"Edward."

"Mom!"

"For your birthday, Chuck." He winks at her in the rearview and I can practically hear her giddiness.

It takes Rose about twenty minutes before she notices.

The kids are outside, running around, while Edward and Emmett chill on the patio. It's about to rain, though, so what was supposed to be a Sunday brunch out back is about to be brought indoors.

I'm cutting sourdough and pouring tiny tureens of milk and slicing strawberries and scooping Nutella when Rose trails off in the middle of her story about Makenna's friend's mother.

"Bella...?"

Smiling to myself, I pop the Nutella spoon into my mouth. "Whaff?"

"Holy..." She yanks it away and grabs my hand. "Is this what I think it is?"

"Yeah." It still feels surreal. "Last night. I didn't expect it - at all."

"Isn't that always the way?" she breathes.

"It feels so sudden. But Rose, I just know. I can't explain it. This is it."

Her hand goes to her mouth. "I can't believe it. Oh, wow. Bella. Wow."

Apparently engagement stuff renders us inarticulate.

Outside, the rain comes down with a sudden roar. The children run inside, talking and yelling, followed by Em and Edward, who join us in the kitchen.

Edward takes one look at Rose's goofy-girl face and my tractor beam smile and turns to Emmett. "We have something to tell you, bro."

I hold my hand out, fluttering my fingers like some corny socialite on a reality show. "We're getting married."

"Oh shit, she said yes?" Emmett says, laughing incredulously. "I thought for sure she'd make you wait."

Embry slips into the kitchen, tracking mud. "He said shit, Mom."

"Thanks - I heard him, word police. Could you not wear those nasty cleats inside the house?"

Charlie and Kenna join in, adding to the general uproar, and then everyone's eating Nutella and talking and grabbing at my hand.

Emmett makes his way over and gives me a hug, ruffling my hair with his good hand. "I couldn't have picked a better guy for you, Bella. Congrats."

damn, that's a lot of sugar. even for me. ;)

thanks for reading, guys.

xoxo