Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer. Thankfully, she allows us to play with her characters.

Chapter 1 – An On-going Argument

Bella stepped out of the cab and slammed the door behind her as Edward climbed out of the other side.

"I can't believe you did that!" she yelled at him.

"Oh, c'mon. You know I was just kidding, Bella." He was pleading with her.

She turned to scowl at him. "Just kidding? You say something about how I'm the only thing standing in the way of our wedded bliss - to all of our friends at the club - and you call that kidding?"

Edward sighed, rubbing his face with his hands. This was an argument he couldn't win, and he knew it. "I didn't mean to upset you. Honestly. I was just answering Ben's question. Okay?"

She unlocked the front door of the house they shared and stomped through, turning to ask him, "What question this time?"

Her hands were on her hips, and he knew that it didn't matter how he answered. He would most likely end up sleeping on the couch tonight.

"What did he ask you this time?" she growled as he quietly walked past her. "I think I deserve to know. After all, I'm already the butt of their jokes. It'll be worse after your comment. Ugh."

He slipped his jacket off of his arms and opened the coat closet to hang it. Silence was probably his best friend at this point.

"Jess gives me crap every day at school. Angela doesn't say it, but I know she doesn't approve of us living together. I'm already the pariah, you know," she said, standing next to him to grab a hanger. A tear slipped down her cheek, and he wasn't sure if it was prompted by anger or pain.

He felt terrible. She did, too.

His hands were on her arms before she could pull away, and he tugged her closer to his body. "I'm sorry, Bella. I really am. I didn't think before I answered. I don't want to make things any harder than they are for you." He kissed the top of her head as she shrank against his chest.

"Do you hate me for not wanting to get married, Edward?" Her voice was small and unsure.

Edward wrapped his arms around her and rocked with her. "I could never hate you, baby. No matter what."

She sobbed against his chest. "They don't understand. People just don't get why I feel the way I do." And no matter how hard she tried to explain it, she was pretty sure Edward didn't, either.

He pulled her away from his body and took her hand, leading her to the hallway.

"You understand, don't you?" she asked as they moved to their bedroom, praying that he would say he did. "I'm not ready to be married. You know I'm afraid of what happens to people after they have that piece of paper, right?"

They were at the bedroom door before he answered. "I'm trying."

She let go of his hand and walked to the bed, slumping onto the mattress and throwing her arm over her eyes. "I was worried you weren't happy with my timeline. Why didn't you just tell me how you felt instead of embarrassing me in front of our friends?"

He sighed and sat next to her. "Look at me, Bella," he demanded.

Her arm moved slightly, allowing him to see one eye. She waited.

"We really need to talk about a few things. You know I'd like to get married. I don't see the point in waiting. But we are together, one way or the other, right? That won't change." She nodded. "I don't have Angela and Ben's hang-up about sex before marriage, obviously." He waggled his eyebrows at her, and she chuckled a little.

"They are totally doing it," she said, moving her arm away from her face as she laughed. "They just don't want anyone to know."

Edward chuckled and lay down next to her, running his fingers through her hair.

"I know you feel like you should finish your degree before we get married. But I have a great job. I'm going to be a partner in the firm in a couple of years. You could go to school as a married woman as easily as a single woman who lives with her boyfriend."

"But I'm too young. Like my mom was…" she whispered, afraid to say more.

He put a finger to her lips. "Say no more. I get it. I don't necessarily agree with your logic, but I know where it comes from."

"Thank you," she said around his finger.

"Promise me one thing?" he asked, and she nodded.

Edward swallowed hard, almost afraid to say the words he longed to say. "Promise me that once you finish your Master's we will talk about marriage. You'll be twenty-four, not too young anymore."

"Twenty-five would be…" She started to protest. He pushed his finger onto her lip more firmly, silencing her.

"Don't argue, just hear me out. Okay?"

She nodded again.

"Two years, Bella. I'll give you two years to say yes to an engagement. I don't care when the wedding is, it could be five years after that. I just want to know that you'll agree to marry me at some point in our future."

She smiled with tears in her eyes. "Of course. I'll agree to two years, Edward. I don't think it'll take another five after that for a wedding, though."

"Really?" he asked, and his eyes sparkled. She knew this was important to him. More than he was willing to confess to her. But two years wasn't forever. It was the perfect compromise.

Her answering grin was huge. "Really. I can't think of a better plan than that. Thank you for understanding." She rolled to her side and kissed him.

"And kids some day?" he asked, feeling like he was pushing his luck a little but going for broke anyway. After all, he hadn't ended up on the couch.

This time she laughed out loud. "Greedy tonight, aren't you?"

"Well, when I have you in an agreeable mood, I have to take advantage of it." He kissed her neck, and she moaned softly.

"I think you're trying to take advantage of me, Mr. Masen," she said as she unbuttoned his shirt.

A/N

Fair warning – after this short introductory chapter, this story gets pretty angsty. It is a roller coaster ride of emotion. I hope you'll stick with me for the ride – trust me to make it worth your while. I'm telling a non-traditional Edward and Bella story.

Hang on to your hats.

I'll be updating twice a week for at least a couple of weeks.

Huge, huge thank you to GinnyW for pre-reading, to Shug and Giselle-lx for their beta services (and Detochkina for stepping in to give me input). My WC ladies are the very best. They have supported me in jumping into this story.

And thank you for reading! Let me know what you think as we go along.