The Big Question

With a new beginning comes a new life, I thought very hard about a lot while Bella was sleeping.  I knew that I could not live without Bella, that she was everything in the world to me.  I rushed back to the main house, leaving Bella asleep in the cottage.  I walked in the house and Alice raced and embraced me “So have you proposed yet” She asked.

“Not yet Alice, I was just coming to get my mother’s engagement ring.  I’m going to ask her this morning after I make her a hearty breakfast” I replied.

“Well good luck” she said and winked at me.

I ran upstairs to my room and got my mother’s engagement ring and returned to the cottage.  I wanted to make sure that Bella’s memory of this day would be etched in her mind forever.  I went to the kitchen and started to set up for my impending proposal.  I called the flower shop and order some white roses that I would place on the table.  Bella was still fast asleep in bed.  I set up everything as quietly as possible, when I heard the front door open. 

“Alice I’m in here” I shouted.  Alice came through the kitchen door with a dozen white roses.

“These came for you, I figured I’d bring them over to you” she said.

“Thanks Alice, these are the last things I need to complete my proposal breakfast” I said as I placed them in the vase on the table.  I turned to say something to Alice and she was already gone.

I put the bacon on and started grating the cheese for her omelet.  She must’ve smelled the bacon cooking because she walked in a few minutes later.

“Mmm smells good in here” she said with a smile on her face.

“I thought you’d be hungry, so I’m making you breakfast” I said not turning around.

“Well what’s with the roses?” she asked.

“Please just sit down, your breakfast will be ready soon” I said starting the omelet.

She sat down at the table and waited patiently.  I placed some bread in the toaster and grabbed the margarine from the fridge, then attended to the omelet.  The toast popped and I buttered it and put it on the plate, taking the plate to the oven and getting her omelet and bacon.  I took it to the table and gave it to her.  “Would you like something to drink?” I asked.

“Yes please some orange juice”

I grabbed a glass and poured her some juice and returned to the table.  She sat there scarffing it down, I doubt she even got to taste it with how quick she was eating.

“Bella” I said

She looked up at me with loving eyes “Yes Edward” she said with a mouthful of food.

‘I have something I would like to ask you, can you stop stuffing your face for a few minutes” I said chuckling.

She put her fork down and swallowed what she had in her mouth.  “What is it you want to ask me Edward?” she replied.

I took a rose out of the vase and knelt before her.  Her face went white.  “Edward please get off the floor”

“No if I’m going to do this Bella, I’m going to do it right”

Her face went red and she looked away from me.

“Bella your everything to me, you’re the air I breath, you’re the sun that shines so brightly upon me, you’re the stars in the sky, you’re my very reason for living.  I love you more than I ever thought I could ever love someone, you make me feel things I have never felt before in my entire life.  Right here right now I pledge my love for you; you hold my heart in your hands.  Will you Marry Me” I said reaching in my pocket and pulling out the small red box that held my mother’s engagement ring. 

She was silent for awhile, the shocked of it all sinking in slowly.  I opened the red box slowly and held it out for her to see.

“Bella please say something, the silence is excruciating”

“I I I….” was all she could manage to get out.

I got off my knee and placed the rose and the little red box on the table.  “I can wait for your answer, think about it some if you’d like” I said and walked out of the kitchen.

I bolted from the cottage upset, the silence was too much to bear.  I wandered aimlessly trying to compose myself.  What was so hard about this, why is she leaving me dangling in the dark.  She loves me I love her, what was there really to think about; she said she wanted to spend eternity with me.  I just didn’t understand any of it, would being married to me be all that horrible.  She knows that I would do anything for her, I would go anywhere for her, that I would gladly die for her.  Surely if my heart was beating right now, it would be broken.

I decided Bella needed some space and went back to the main house.  I walked in and not to my surprise Alice was waiting at the door.  “I don’t wanna talk about it Alice” I spat as I walked up the stairs and headed to my room.  I went to my Stereo and put Claude Debussy in and went to Claire de Lune.  I sat listening to his soft melody, if I could cry I probably would have.  There was a soft knock at my door, normally I wouldn’t close my door, but I really wasn’t in the mood to talk.

“Edward” I heard softly coming through my closed door.

“What do you want Alice” I spit with such venom.

“Bella just called and asked me to tell you to please go back to the cottage”

“I’ll go when I’m good and ready” I said getting up and opening the door.

“I’m going to see if Emmett wants to go into town.  I feel like shopping” I said rolling my eyes and leaving the room.

I got downstairs and found Emmett in the living room.  “Hey bro you want to come to town with me, I need a break from all these emotional females” I said grabbing my keys off the side table.

“Umm ok” Emmett said as I walked out the door heading for the garage.

“Go with him Emmett, he really needs a man to talk to and you and him are close” Alice said coming down the stairs.

“Ya will do Sis” Emmett said following me out the door.

I pulled my car out of the garage and waited for Emmett to get in.  As soon as he was in I took off.

“Where too Bro?” Emmett asked me.

“I feel like doing a bit of shopping” I replied dryly.

“I know you don’t want to go shopping bro” he said watching my face.

“I need to do something Emmett.  I asked Bella to Marry Me not more than an hour ago, she didn’t say nothing, she just stood there with this dumb look on her face” I said and sighed.

“Well she must’ve been shocked Edward.  Come on first you love her, then you don’t, and now you want to marry her, can’t you see her dilemma?” he asked.

“I know, I’ve hurt her so much, maybe she shouldn’t forgive me, and maybe she should just disappear with our child.  If that’s what she decides, I’ll just have to live with it.” I said as I stared out the front windshield.

“Look Edward, I’m not saying that she won’t forgive you, maybe she already has.  Just give her time, when she’s ready ask her again”

“Let’s find something to take my mind off of everything”

“Alright what are ya up for?” he asked.

“How about a club?” I said smiling widely.

“A club? Are you serious, all the club’s here we can’t get into” he said with a sly laugh.

“Who said we were going to stay here in Forks.  I was thinking of going to Sunnydale and the bronze” I said chuckling to myself.

“Alright bro I’m game.  Let’s do this”