Beau reflected on his last conversation with Jacob Black as he drove.

It was not the first time that Beau and Jacob endured a painful parting, but the one they shared tonight was significant. This moment had been a farewell, and a difficult one at that. Part of their story would always feel unfinished.

Turning the page was always going to be painful, even when done gently, but Beau was ready for his next chapter.

Beau pulled up beside Sue's car and parked. The cruiser was still missing. Wherever the two of them had gone, Beau hoped they were having a good time.

He ignored the leftovers from earlier and went straight to his room, kicking his shoes off as he went. Beau climbed into bed and stared at the ceiling, one arm tucked under his head.

Beau could hardly keep track of everything that happened since waking up in the tent. He had the impression that a vampiric mind wouldn't have an issue with it, but for now, his human one struggled to comprehend the gravity of the day's events.

Change was hard.

He didn't have to wait long for Edward to arrive. His window slid open a few minutes later, pushed by an unseen hand.

"Are you awake?"

"Yup."

All of the tension left his body when Edward joined him in bed. Yet the vampire seemed hesitant to touch him—afraid, even.

"I wasn't sure if you wanted me to come here."

Beau turned his head to stare at him. "Why not?"

"It's been a long day for you," he murmured. "Jacob was hurt so badly, and you seeing him like that, maybe for the last time . . . I was prepared, in case you decided to go a different way."

"Even with everything that's happened between us?" Beau asked. "After everything we've said to each other?"

"When I left you, Beau, I left you bleeding. Jacob was the one to stitch you back up again. That was bound to leave its mark—on both of you."

"Edward, I know who I can't live without."

The gold eyes seemed to glow in response.

The two lay together for a few minutes, saying little. Beau felt wrung out—totally exhausted—but his eyes remained stubbornly open.

Even with the danger behind them, Beau still couldn't relax. He hoped this hypervigilance would wear off after becoming a vampire.

"Where's Charlie?"

"On a date with Sue Clearwater."

"Really?" Edward asked, smiling. "That's wonderful. I didn't think he could do it."

"Do what? Ask her out?"

"He's been thinking about it for days."

"Well, he didn't. Sue called him first."

"Interesting. I didn't expect that."

Beau was prepared to defend his father's honor, but Edward turned his head suddenly, listening.

"What is it?"

"Charlie and Sue are back," he whispered. "They're saying good night now."

Beau climbed out of bed and went to the window, but it was too dark to make anything out. He turned back to Edward impatiently.

"What happened? Did he kiss her?"

"On the cheek."

"That's something, right?"

"He's coming up here to tell you all about it," Edward grinned. "I'll be back later."

They both heard the front door slam shut. The heavy footsteps that followed confirmed Edward's words.

The boys kissed, then Edward was maneuvering back over the windowsill, leaping into the tree with catlike agility.

"Wait, Edward!"

"What is it?" He was out of sight now. His voice seemed to come from the light of the stars overhead.

"Let's go to our meadow tomorrow."

There was something Beau had to do there. His heart raced at the thought.

"It's a date."

The heatwave had passed overnight. Judging from the weather reports Beau watched over his morning cereal, the storm was blowing through Idaho by now.

The newscasters were especially pleased to report Seattle PD had not discovered a dead body in several days. The city's ghastly streak seemed to have been broken. A spokesman for the police department was quick to note that while the killing spree appeared over, officers would continue to search for leads.

Beau hoped the families of those victims could find a measure of peace. They may not know who stole their loved ones or why, but the killers had been dealt with, and in the most final way possible.

The meadow was a serene, happy place today. Patches of summer daisies burst out from the grass in splashes of white and yellow. Beau lay back, ignoring the slight dampness of the ground, and looked for pictures in the clouds.

Edward lay down next to him and held his hand.

"What are you thinking about?"

"You," Beau replied, smiling. "You and me."

Edward smiled back. "Good things, I hope?"

"The best things. That's kind of why I wanted to come here with you today. This is where it all started for us, remember?"

Beau saw Edward in the sun for the first time here. It had been in this meadow, away from everything and everyone else, that the two confessed their feelings for one another. The meadow had been a silent witness, a third character, to the beginning of their love story.

It was therefore the most appropriate location to start their next chapter.

Edward cast an appreciative eye over their surroundings. "It's a special place."

"I've been thinking about our negotiations," Beau told him. "Honestly, with everything that's happened in the past day, I can't remember the score. But I wanted to tell you . . . yes."

"Yes . . . what?"

"You asked me to marry you, and I'm saying yes."

"I don't understand."

"You're wounding my ego, Edward. I just accepted your proposal, and it's going right over your head."

Edward was mystified. "But you said . . . I thought you said that you weren't the marrying type."

"To borrow your words from yesterday, I can be . . . set in my ways."

"What about Renée?" Edward asked. "And Charlie? Two out of thr—"

Beau had rolled over until he was on top of him. Edward's shock about this decision had given Beau the rare element of surprise. He didn't resist as Beau peppered his face with kisses, but he was strong enough to hold him at bay.

"Beau, hang on," Edward breathed. "I want to talk."

Beau relented but stayed close. He stared down at the sparkling creature who was gazing back at him in wonder.

"Tell me why you're doing this, Beau. Are you placating me?"

"No," Beau insisted. "I'm telling you, I changed my mind."

Edward remained silent, his eyes still searching Beau's for the truth.

"Look, when you were fighting Victoria, I was really scared. I thought all three of us were toast. But at that moment, all I could think about was how much I regretted not telling you yes. That if I had one more chance, I would make it right . . . "

He took a deep breath, trying to find the right words.

"I use my parents breaking up as an excuse, but I know neither of them regret doing it. They loved and lost, but they got me out of the deal, in the end. I mean, look at them now: Renée has Phil, and Charlie's getting back out there with Sue. It's so . . . "

"Human?"

"Yeah," Beau grinned at him. "Isn't that what you're always telling me? Human experiences and all that? Marriage is one of the big ones, or so I've heard."

"That does sound like something I would say."

Edward continued to stare at him. Then his angel's face shifted and became brilliant with joy and victory.

The sight was so glorious that it stole Beau's breath away.

There was no time to catch that breath because Edward was kissing him then, flipping their positions so fast Beau wasn't sure he even moved. But he was flat against the earth now and struggling to keep a clear head.

"I suppose this means we have to go back to the negotiation table."

Beau, who felt almost drunk from all the kissing, didn't understand at first. "Huh?"

Edward drew back with a mischievous expression. "Practice, remember?"

Heat coursed through him at the word. Practice. Of course. In all of the excitement, he had forgotten about that part of their agreement. There was much more ground to cover, many more pleasures to be had . . .

His voice went hoarse. "I'm sure we can come to some sort of an arrangement. We have all summer."

"I like the sound of that."

The boys grinned at each other. It felt like a challenge, a line in the sand. Recent successes in this department had emboldened them for more.

"Well, then, we should probably go to your house."

"Everyone's home."

Beau stood up and wiped the grass off his jeans. "I know."

Edward stayed where he was, amused. "Are you an exhibitionist now?"

"No, but your sister is there, and I have a feeling she'll be waiting for us."

"Ah . . . you're right."

Alice was sitting on the last porch step as Big Red rumbled down the drive. Her happiness was so absolute that she almost floated to the driver's side door, wrenching it open before Beau could kill the engine.

"I saw you were planning to come by."

"I know you did," Beau said curtly. "So you understand that you'll be working under certain limitations."

"I know, I know, I know. I only have until August eighteenth at the latest, you have veto power on the guest list, and if I go overboard on anything, you'll never speak to me again."

That pretty much summed it up. Alice beamed at his reluctant nod.

"He won't want that, Alice," Edward said at once, stopping one of her thoughts in its tracks.

"What? What is it?"

"She took the handfasting idea and ran with it. Emmett's been scouring the internet for some kind of ceremonial robe."

"Alice," Beau growled. "I said—"

"It was only the first draft of my plan!" Alice said hurriedly. "The picture is much clearer now. I know you want an officiant. Nothing kooky or crazy."

Then she dashed into the house, yelling, "Emmett!"

Edward led Beau by the arm to the back of Big Red. The two made themselves comfortable on the edge of the truck bed, holding hands.

"So—August eighteenth?"

"Dartmouth's fall semester doesn't start for another month," Beau explained. "This way my friends can come to the wedding before jetting off to their own schools. Plus, I was thinking, maybe afterwards we could go on a honeymoon?"

Edward's smile was devastatingly beautiful. "Any particular destination in mind?"

"Chicago," Beau said at once. "I want to see where you grew up."

"I'd like that very much."

The two sat watching the sky for a moment. The clouds were thick and gray again, hinting at more rain. Edward sighed.

"Are you sure about this? I mean, giving Alice free reign? I'd be happy with a justice of the peace before the term starts."

"I'm sure. Everyone will know the best part of my choice, the most I'm allowed to tell them. They'll know I chose you, and that we're together. They'll know I'm happy, wherever I am."

Beau wanted to give his parents the best resolution he could provide.

His thoughts had gone to Faye Brandon, whose grace and wisdom lingered long after their meeting in Mississippi. She told Beau that people can live forever through the memories of those who loved them.

He wanted Charlie and Renée to know that he had fallen in love, that someone loved him in return, and that he loved his parents deeply, even if he wasn't with them all the time.

If the past few days had taught him anything, it was that there were many forms of love, and he was lucky to have experienced so much of it.

Edward's eyes had dropped to their interlocked hands. "We'll have to get rings."

"Mangagement rings?" Beau asked.

"Too out there?"

"A tad."

"Just the wedding bands, then," Edward nodded. "I can do that."

Pleasant snapshots came to mind: Edward in a pullover sweater, a ring glinting over the steering wheel as he drove. Beau in the passenger seat, eyes full of him in the fading autumn light.

More images flooded in: the boys getting lost in the stacks of the campus library, the one featured so heavily in the brochures. Another of them exploring the Appalachian Trail with Edward's superior senses. Perhaps they could even camp out somewhere and watch the snow fall.

Beau's first—and last—New England Christmas as a human.

"I think we could get away with one semester before our Italian friends start making house calls."

Edward was thoughtful. "Winter, then. Maybe during the school break?"

Beau nodded.

A few drops of rain warned them of an incoming shower. Beau glowered at the sky. The last storm was gone, but another was coming to take its place.

Typical Forks.

"I should get you home."

"The rain isn't the problem," Beau told him. "It just means that it's time to go do something that will be very unpleasant and possibly dangerous."

Edward's eyes widened in alarm.

"It's a good thing you're bulletproof. It's time to talk to my dad."

"Highly dangerous," Edward agreed, laughing. "Maybe I'll let you do the talking."

The truck rumbled back down the drive as the rain began in earnest.

Beau's next chapter was already taking shape.

A/N: Accepting the proposal at last! I love these boys. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and the changes made thus far.

That said, the biggest change EVER is coming in the next chapter. Might be worth rereading Moonrise before next week. ;)

Thanks for reading!