DISCLAIMER: Sadly, I do not own Edward (or Bella, or any other characters in Stephenie Meyers fabulous stories...) I think I am Bella... I think my husband is Edward.. Does that count for anything?

Thank you Kristi for not ratting me out to people about how obsessed I am about these books! You will find your name and occupation in my story as a reward for being such a great sister and friend! Let me know when the next TA meeting is... grin

Chapter One

Edward placed his mothers wedding ring on my finger and kissed each finger one by one before kissing the back of my hand, never once taking his eyes off of mine.

"How did you know to bring the ring with you today?" I asked puzzled.

He smiled his crooked grin I loved and whispered in my ear "I have carried it in my pocket ever since you agreed to marry me, waiting until you were ready to wear it, love…"

I could hear the smile in his voice as his lips brushed down my cheek to the upper corner of my lips pausing there for a moment… the moment was too long for me as I turned slightly to crush my lips to his. He pulled his face a few inches from mine and with a low chuckle said, "We better go tell Charlie before you change your mind… but I think you need to know that I did ask him for his blessing yesterday in La Push…"

My eyes widened in shock as I took a step back to look as his face.

"Y-you asked Charlie? What did he say? Was he mad? What were his thoughts? H-he didn't mention it yesterday before I left to see Jacob" As I said Jacobs name, the little piece of my heart that belonged to him thudded in pain… Edward must have seen it on my face because he was there with his hand under my chin pulling my face up to look at him.

He stared into my eyes for a few moments and whispered, "Bella, climb on my back, I will tell you in the car on the way to Charlie's". I did as he asked and climbed up locking my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist as he took off running through the woods. I tucked my cheek next to his neck and watched as we flew past the green trees and wet ferns feeling the rush of adrenaline as the wind blew through my hair.

We reached his house to retrieve his car all too soon. Edward opened the car door for me and helped me in before softly closing the door. He walked too slowly around the front of the car, not his normal fast pace which made me a little nervous. Charlie's reaction must have been really bad if Edward was taking his time to get into the car with me, I thought nervously. And then we were on our way.

We drove in silence for a few moments and then Edward glanced over at me. I looked at him and finally asked, "what was his reaction Edward?"

Edward sighed and reached over to grab my hand. He pulled my hand up to kiss it gently before speaking. "Carlisle and I were at Jacobs house treating his injuries and Charlie was there watching us work, comforting Billie. Jacob was screaming profanities left and right and kept telling Charlie that it was a very good thing that you loved me instead of him. Charlie told Jacob that he was talking nonsense and to just focus on letting Carlisle treat his injuries. Jacob told everyone to leave except for Charlie because he needed to talk to him alone. Everyone was stunned and left Jacobs room. I heard everything Jacob told your dad Bella…"

Edward glanced over to look at me before continuing, "I heard him tell Charlie that I was the better choice for you, the only choice for you. He told Charlie that once I had returned from "California" that you were no longer dead inside, but alive and happy. He begged Charlie to remember how you were while I was gone and then compare it to how you are now. He also told Charlie that he loved you but knew that his feelings were not returned and that he would never be able to be me. He asked Charlie to watch me and you when we are together and to see how we complete each other. He said that he just couldn't compete with that. He then called me into his room and told me that the better man had won and that I had better take care of you. It took all he had to stay calm as he shook my hand. Then he said that he was ready for Carlisle to come back in and give him some drugs."

Edward pulled his hand from mine and gently raised his long fingers to my cheek to wipe away a few tears that had escaped my eyes. "I love you Bella, I always will. I want you to be happy and not regret anything. If you want to wait to get married, I understand. I will wait as long as you want…."

"NO! Edward, I want to marry you. I have never been so sure about anything as I am this. I love you and want to be your wife. I want to belong to you and you to me…" I grabbed his hand again and took a deep breath, "You said in the meadow that you asked for Charlie's blessing?" My heart was now racing as I tried to imagine Charlie's reaction to Edward.

Edward glanced at me again and grinned, "yes my love, I did…" I sat there watching him, waiting for more details, but none came.

We were in front of Charlie's house now and Edward was getting out of the car and walking to my door. I was furious now as he opened my door. I sat there not wanting to get out of the car. He chuckled and grabbed my hand, I flinched away glaring at him and through gritted teeth said, "You have not told me his reaction yet and you expect me to go in there blind? I am not getting out of this car until you tell me everything he said AND thought!" Just then Charlie opened the front door and walked outside. He looked at me and then at Edward and back at me. "Bells? Are you coming inside? I thought I would order pizza tonight. Does that sound ok with you? Edward do you have a preference on toppings?" Edward shook his head and just smiled. I reluctantly got out of the car, my face had to have been tomato red because Edward put both of his hands on my face and smiled his beautiful dazzling smile at me. I groaned in defeat and muttered "lets get this over with!"

My dad didn't seem hostile to Edward today. That was unusual. We walked up the front steps and passed Charlie walking into the house. Charlie followed us in and went into the kitchen to dial up the local pizza joint. My stomach was queasy and was full of butterflies as I waited for Charlie to make his way into the front room.

Edward sat next to me on the couch grinning as he played with my left hand and the ring that he had just placed there in the meadow. I couldn't believe that he was torturing me like this. I moaned as I heard Charlie hang up the phone and shuffle his feet as he walked into the front room. He looked at us cautiously before sitting down in his chair. Finally he broke the deafening silence "Bella, is there something you need to talk about? You have that 'deer in the headlights' look… Are you ok?" Charlie relaxed into his seat facing us and folding his hands together resting them on his stomach.

"Um Ch- dad? Edward and I… um… well, Edward asked me to marry him and I told him yes… I know you…"

Charlie stood up and cut me off. "Bella, you should look happy if you are happy! I have had all day to think about this sense Edward talked to me yesterday, asking for my approval and all and while I think you both are too young, I remember what is was like with your mother…"

He paused grinning to himself obviously remembering the good times with my mom and continued,

"I would love to see you wait a year or so, but you are both adults and I cannot tell you how to live your life, even though I would love to. I have seen how you are with each other and am beginning to trust Edward with you. I have been half expecting something like this to happen ever since you brought Edward back. I know he is what makes you happy… I know you are what makes him happy."

Charlie fought back a smile and looked at Edward. "I will give you my blessing if you promise to take care of my girl. You will not want to see me again if I find out that you have hurt her again!"

I sat there not sure if I was dreaming. Edward stood up and shook Charlie's hand and then they both looked at me and started to laugh.

Charlie grabbed my hands and pulled me up into a hug, "this was the easy part, now go call your mother before it gets too late and she's asleep! Love you Bells" he whispered as he kissed me on the cheek. I glanced at Edward and he smiled his crooked grin at me once again.

I looked back at Charlie and said, "Thanks dad for understanding and being so great about this. This is what I really want. I really love him dad…" I glanced at Edward as I said this and then back at Charlie, "I love you too."

Edward slid his hand into mine and pulled me into the kitchen so I could make that dreaded call. I pulled out a chair and sat down knowing that this was going to be a long discussion with Renee. I had to dial the number three times before I got it right, I was so nervous! The phone rang four times and went to her answering machine. I groaned as I listened to her instructions for leaving a message. When she was done, I told her to call me back as soon as she could on Edwards cell phone. I recited his number two times for her before I hung up.

I took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, stood up and yelled in to Charlie, "hey dad? Do you mind if Edward and I go out to his house? We haven't told his family yet and Renee's not home. I told her to call me on Edwards cell phone when she gets in."

Charlie snickered and said, "Pizza should be here in a few minutes if you want to wait and eat… but go ahead if you want! There is another game on after this one that I am planning to watch…" I looked at Edward and pulled him toward the front door.

As he closed the door behind us he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into a hug. "Now, that wasn't so bad was it, love?" Before I could answer he bend down and kissed me. I reached up and put my arms around his neck pulling him tightly to me using all my strength unwilling to let him escape until I was done kissing him. His lips parted slightly and I could feel and taste his breath in my mouth. I was feeling rather dizzy as he chuckled and pulled his face from mine. "Bella, we had better be on our way to my house unless you changed your mind about the order you want to have things in…" I put my head on his chest and breathed in his delicious scent. "lets go… Alice better not have told everyone else!" I grumbled. Edward grinned and replied, "there is only one way to find out now isn't there?"

We reached his house in a matter of minutes and were walking hand in hand to the house. I nearly jumped as Edwards cell phone rang. I flushed as he answered already knowing it was Renee. Edward smiled, "Yes, Bella is right here" He handed me the phone and pulled me towards the woods that surrounded the property. I clenched my teeth as I put the phone to my ear.

"Hi mom!"

"Bella! Is everything alright? You sounded a bit stressed in your message…"

"Mom, I'm fine, no, I am more than fine, I'm great! I am so excited and I hope you will be too…."

My mom cut me off "Bella, I am not sure I like the sound of this… I'm not sure I like where this conversation is going."

"Mom! I want you and Phil to come for a visit here in Forks the week of August 13th. Edward and I are getting married and you have to come!"

"Bella…" she breathed, "you are too young! You have your whole life ahead of you… Don't get married and throw it all away! Think about what your saying Bella!" She pleaded.

I clutched the phone tightly and got very firm. "Mom, I have thought this through, more than you know! I know exactly what I am doing. I love Edward and he loves me. We want to start our lives together!"

"Isabella Marie! Please tell me that you are not pregnant…"

"MOM!" I screamed horrified "I am not pregnant! We are waiting until we are married to be that intimate!" There was silence on both ends of the line. Finally I spoke breaking the silence, "Mom, I know you love me and want the best for me. You need to know that I am not you… I am not in Vegas right now eloping. We are having a real wedding. I want you to come! I want you to be here to celebrate with me on my wedding day! Please say you will come and be happy for me!"

I heard her sniffle, "Bella, I will be there. I wouldn't miss it for the world. I love you Bella."

"I love you too mom! Now, it's late for you… go get some sleep!"

I handed Edward his phone as he pulled me into another gentle hug. I looked up into his face as he whispered "I love you more than you know Bella"

My heart skipped a few beats as I gazed into his perfect beautiful face. I put my hands on both sides of his face looking into his butterscotch eyes for a long moment. "I know you love me, Do you have any idea how much I love you?"

He smiled and replied "I'm pretty sure I have a little clue. Now, my family already knows we are here… lets go inside."