84Well, this is it! I never thought the journey would be this long, but life is kinda like that, isn't it? I also want to pre-thank latuacantante4him for your inspiration. I'm sure you'll figure out why. ;)
And it's taken so long that now Twilight is mine. LOL Don't I wish? However, these "wards" are mine.
"Marry me."
"What?"
"I said, 'Marry me.'"
"You're joking."
"Why would I be joking?"
"You are seriously asking me to marry you?"
"After all the proposals, how can you be questioning me?"
"That's what I mean. After all the proposals…"
She bites her lip, unexpectedly nervous. "Did you not mean them?"
"I meant every one. You know that."
"Then, why are you hesitant? I love you. I know you love me. So, let's get married."
Pouting, he says, "I feel like you're stealing my thunder."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, seriously. A lot of planning went into those proposals. Well…except the first one. But after that… I had so much more to tell you the next time. More things I love about you. Things that I know now that I didn't before, because now we have history. I feel a little deprived, to be honest."
"Like what?"
"What what?"
"What are those 'more things' that you love about me?" With a coy head tilt, she watches him expectantly.
"Hey, aren't you supposed to be wooing me now?"
"Woo you? I already asked you to marry me. Isn't that like, the pinnacle of wooing?"
"Hmph. I have to say, you didn't put much effort into it."
"Oh yeah? Then, why don't you show me how it's done?"
"Really?"
"Yeah, really. Then maybe there won't be any thunder stealing," she says with a smirk.
"Now I'm nervous. I wasn't planning on doing this now."
"Why are you nervous? I just asked you to marry me. Do you think I'll say no?"
"Not now I don't. But...I wanted this to be special."
"It already is. Just tell me."
Steeling himself with a deep breath, he begins. "Okay…here goes nothin'."
"Stellar start."
"Hush you!" He clears his throat and continues, looking into her eyes with love and determination. "Bella, I love you. I've loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you, as was probably apparent from my immediate marriage proposal. But what I didn't know then is that my adoration would grow tenfold…a millionfold. I love the way your hair feels between my fingers. I love the way your eyes crinkle when you laugh. I love that you wear sexy thongs during the day but wear 'sleep panties' at night. I love that you can name every pet from every sitcom that's ever been on TV, but you can't remember anyone's birthday. I love that you have to stack the towels in a certain order, but you have a drawer that is so cluttered it can barely open. I love that you always take other people's feelings into consideration with everything you do. I love that you volunteer your time and energy to charity and anyone that needs help. But most of all, I love you because your heart is so big it encompasses everything, including me. You make me want to be a better person. You make me want to build a home with you, have babies with you, grow old with you. I love you with my whole heart, body and soul. Isabella Swan, I knew I would love you forever from the moment I met you. Please say I'll be your forever, too."
"Yes, Edward! Absolutely, yes!"
Many, many thanks to my pre-readers kikki7 and prettyflower. There is no way I could have done this without your input and support. kikki, you had the patience of a saint with this one! I think I was worse than all our kids combined! *eye roll*
And to all of you that have given this little story a chance and especially if you've stuck with it since the beginning (forever ago…well, 2 ½ years), I can't even start to express how much it means to me. You all deserve your Ownward!
Thank you!
xo
Nan