Author's Note: This is the last chapter of "What If"...it's supposed to lead into my new story, "Taking Chances". Hope you like, please review!!!

Taking Chances

Edward had made sure that when Charlie came into the hospital room, he was sitting in the chair at the end of the bed. Charlie sent him glares as he roughly passed him and sat in the empty chair beside his daughter's bed. Edward temporarily would leave the room to give him time with Bella, despite her pleading stares.

Within a day, she was allowed to leave the hospital (after much complaining, despite Edward's aggravating attempts to make her stay longer). Although Charlie was glowering, he reluctantly allowed Edward to help carry and situate Bella to her bedroom.

"Edward" Charlie gruffly mumbled "could I have a word downstairs with you?"

Edward nodded "Sure Chief Swan."

Charlie let his eyes linger from Edward to Bella before charging down the steps slowly.

Edward turned back to Bella with a crooked smile.

"I'm sorry Edward" Bella bit her lower lip. I can only imagine how bad Charlie is going to chew him out…

"Don't worry." Edward tapped his head before sitting down beside her on the bed. He looked her over. "You're a sore sight"

Bella frowned, lightly punching him in the shoulder- although it was a faint attempt to hurt a marble statue. She immediately regretted her actions, and doubled over, holding onto her wrapped wrist. Cool hands wrapped around her center, cooling the stifling itchy hotness of the bandages around her newly un-broken ribs.

Edward shook his head as he looked into her eyes. "What am I going to do with you Bella Swan?"

"What?!" Bella cried out indignantly.

Edward smirked. "Three fracture ribs, a sprained wrist, a concussion and almost fractured skull, hypothermia, scraped skin on your hands and bruises on your legs- and you're asking 'what?'"

"I don't even remember it being so cold, or the broken ribs, or the broken wrist." Bella blinked her eyes looking past Edward, lost in shock.

Edward's smile faded as he brought Bella's face back to his own. Tentatively he brought his lips to hers…and now he knew, with all the joy swelling in his heart, that this was better than heaven…

Bella wrapped her injured wrist and hands around his neck, letting him lower her onto the bed in his sweet, tantalizing kisses skimming across her jaw and neck. Her breath was practically in gasps when his hands started to massage the sides of her body-

"Charlie" he whispered into the kiss, before whispering in her ear "I'll be right back"

Bella, still breathing heavily, nodded her head deliriously with unopened eyes. When she felt his presence leave, her entire body collapsed into pants, her arms stretching out over the bed.

Why is he doing this? Usually he's so…cautious…

Bella could hear them talking below…mostly it was Charlie ranting and raving to Edward about something. Bella cringed. She didn't want to deal with this at the moment.

After what seemed hours, when it was only five minutes, she heard the faint creak of her window, and instantly two icy hands were around her.

"I hope he didn't give you too hard a time" Bella asked with worried eyes.

"No" Edward's face fell "he did make me feel guilty for leaving…of which I should be. He knows that you want me around…but he's just having a hard time accepting that. He's afraid…" Edward's words trailed off.

"That you'll leave again" Bella finished.

"Which will never happen" Edward cooed in her ears. Bella shivered when he wrapped his hand over her stomach, massaging it gently. A low growl emitted from deep within his throat. Bella pushed her body up against his, her lips tracing the contours of his neck. Soon she let her head slip into the comfort of his shoulder.

"Why are you doing this?" she whispered, mystified. There was a long moment of silence, when both were reveling in the other's embrace.

"I've realized how precious time is…especially with you…I can't take these moments for granted anymore…"

Bella looked up into Edward's eyes in amazement, captured by the truth in those topaz orbs.

"Bella," he gently brushed back a strand of hair behind her ear "It was silly of me to think that I could save you from me…when in reality, you are the one that has saved me"

Bella cocked her head quizzically. "Edward, you're not making any sense"

Edward smiled "Before you, my life was a blur- I never knew what I was missing, until I met you. You held me captive at first scent- but in reality, I have never felt this much…feeling…for someone, in all my century…and I have passed millions of people, during my lifetime…never before have I felt so strongly, so passionately for someone- so…much for someone before." He narrowed his eyebrows "it's like…I can't breathe when you're not around – I suffocate even though I don't need air…my world isn't right until I hold you in my arms again."

Tears were streaming down Bella's face at his words. He can't possibly be talking about me…this is how I feel about him…

"That's why I don't want to take for granted any time we may have together, I want to take chances" he kissed right below her earlobe, sending Bella's blood rushing to her head.

Edward stiffened for a moment, before relaxing his head and embracing her closer. He let his lips linger around her ear, "I don't want to miss experiencing things with you…"

At his words, Bella's breath was caught in her throat. Is he really saying this?

Bella jerked her head quickly around. "Edward- are you agreeing-"

"On conditions" he held up a finger, a smile twitching on his lips.

He took her hands in his, his eyes locking with hers. His topaz stare started to reveal a hint of emerald green in them as he looked up sheepishly, his hands gently massaging the tops of hers.

"Bella, I know this may not be exactly the right time…but would you be my wife?"

Bella's mouth hit the floor, her eyes staring into his awaiting expression. M-married?

One thought instantly came into her mind "C-Charlie" she stuttered. Edward's eyes narrowed.

"Are you afraid of his reaction?"

"Yes- no-yes" Bella sighed, shaking her head "Yes. But…married? I'm…I'm only 18-"

Edward nodded "I know Bella, this is a big leap, but" he looked earnestly into her eyes "I've never been so sure of anything in my life. I love you, Bella Swan"

"And I love you too, Edward Cullen" she instantly blurted out in response. It was innate, how she was able to profess her love for Edward- but then why is this so hard?

"Edward- please don't think I don't want to marry you, I do! I just…always thought I would be …older…when I got married…"

"I can always wait-"

"No!" Bella shouted, instantly regretting her words before. "I don't want you to wait Edward! If you're staying in your teens forever, so am I! I'm just…" she turned her head away in embarrassment.

"Hey," Edward turned her face to his "I know you're parents were young when they got married, but we're not like them" he reminded her. And for a moment, under his hypnotizing stare, Bella completely forgot everything and nodded in response.

Edward realized what he was doing to Bella, and instantly pulled away, letting Bella blink back into consciousness. Wooh her head was fuzzy.

Bella looked up at her Edward. He looked so…depressed…he was looking away at the bed, his shoulders hunched.

Bella held her breath. Edward's head jolted upright at the sound. Closing her eyelids, she could finally compose herself before she looked back into his eyes.

"Yes, Edward Cullen," easier than she thought, the words flowed out of her "With all my heart, I want to marry you- I want to be your wife" tears leaked from the corners.

Edward's face lit up into a radiant smile- wider than she had ever seen. His entire being was so brilliantly radiant and exuberant, he was more elated than he had ever seen him in her entire year of knowing him…of loving him…

Without warning she was under the control of his captivating lips and his invigorating scent permeated and paralyzed her senses till she was on overload. She was drunk – high- completely intoxicated by the scent of his breath, and the feel of his lips. Her head was on the pillow, his hands roaming her sides roughly. She accidentally brought one of her legs up in the moment of her gasping moan as he kissed her neck-

Edward's entire body froze, and Bella opened her eyes. Gulping.

Her knee had positioned itself strategically between Edward's thighs-

Edward was staring at her with wide, almost fearful, eyes. If he could only blush…she thought, realizing her own cheeks were flushed completely crimson.

"B-Bella" he closed his eyes, tightly, concentrating on something hard. Bella was too afraid to withdraw her leg, and instead with a cupped mouth, watched her love slowly panting above her.

"I'm so sorry Edward, I didn't-"

"Sh…" Edward's finger came to her mouth. He was once again flush against her body, his eyes smoldering in a fiery gaze. He bent down to her ear "you're going to pay for that later"

Bella could barely breathe as he lowered himself down beside her.

"You don't know what you do to me, Bella Swan" he snuggled his head beside hers, breathing in her scent. Bella arched her head back. "And you…have no…idea…what you…do…to me"

Edward chuckled. Eventually they began to drift into a comfortable silence, Bella's mind wandering in her thoughts.

"Edward," she softly called out, pulling him out of his reverie. She narrowed her eyes "what is an…electa una?"

She could feel him stiffen behind her.

"Edward?" she turned her head in alarm.

His eyes were darker, his lips pressed in a thin line. "Where did you hear that?"

"From Lily"

Edward only stared.

"My guide?"

He still did not understand, but nodded anyway. "What did she say?"

"She said…I was one."

Edward jolted upright and Bella followed instantly.

"Edward?"

"I think we need to visit Carlisle"

"Now?" Bella looked up in distress, her eyes drooping. Edward chuckled, but there was an edge to it.

"No, love, in the morning." he snuggled back into place, and Bella purred, resuming her place in the deep contours of his body.

"I love you" Edward whispered into her ear before she finally slipped into her heaven...sleeping, there, in Edward's arms.