Does anyone else ever re-read their stories and are like, "Man, this shit SUCKS!" That's kinda how I feel about my stories I have up. I go so long without updating that I forget little essential pieces of the storyline and then I feel stupid later on. Like I forgot I had made this only a few days before Xmas, but it's been a few days story wise and no one's even mentioned Xmas? Crud monkeys I'm dumb! So if you notice any other little idiot mistakes, just say "Shelbie you're a dumbass, fix these!"

So it's not been a year this time since the last update! Yay me! I have another Twilight story that I have been working on in my free time that is already about three times as long as this. So hopefully I can finish this one sometime in the next decade and get that one posted. This one has to many bad memories for me, so it's just extremely hard for me to write on…

Anyways, sorry for the lack of update and sorry for how short this is, but better than nothing, right? :D

Previously:

"Do you trust me?" He whispered, leaning towards me.

Widened eyes was my response. "I-I don't… What are you…" I shut my guppy mouth. "Of course I trust you."

Edward grinned.

"Marry me."

"What the fuck are you doing?" I shrieked, pulling away from him. "Are you some sort of psychopath? Are you on drugs?" I narrowed my eyes at him. "Did you slip something into my coffee?"

"What?" His eyes widened. "No! Of course not! It was just a question!"

"How's the weather is just a question. Where did you get your hat is just a question. Marry me is NOT a question you ask someone you have known for less days than you have fingers!"

Edward grabbed my hands in mid-gesture, "Bella would you just listen to me? I asked because it's the only way to get you out of going back. I'm just trying to help?"

"What do you mean?" my tone was suspicious.

"You're afraid your grandmother is going to tell the courts that you're incompetent and become your legal guardian, right?"

I nodded.

"Well what if you already have a guardian? Or not really a guardian, per se, but the next person who would be in line to take care of you."

My mind was starting to catch on to what Edward was saying, "You mean that if I get married, she won't be able to convince the courts I need taking care of?"

He sighed, glad that I had seen his reasoning, "Exactly."

I was still suspicious, "What made you think of this? Why are you offering? What's in it for you?"

He paused, "Our family lawyer suggested it as an option. I called him and asked his advice on ways to help you."

"And the other questions?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

"I can't really explain to you why I'm offering or what's in it for me. Not right now at least. Just trust that I don't want or expect anything from you. My main goal is to just keep you away from those awful people."

"But what would your family say? Emmett would kill you."

He laughed, "Emmett would filet me alive if he knew this option was there and I didn't offer it to you. If he wasn't already married, he probably would have offered first."

"But… But, why?" I was genuinely confused. "I understand that you want to help. I get that you're a good guy with a good heart. But there's no way in hell I would offer to marry a complete stranger just to be a nice guy."

"Well that's where we're different, Miss Swan. I must just have a bigger heart than you." He grinned cheekily at me so that I'd know he was kidding.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to say, Edward."

"Just think about it, okay? We're still a couple days ahead of them, so you still have time to decide. Just know that my question was completely serious and I won't change my mind." He laid his hand on mine. "Okay?"

I gave him a small smile. "Yeah."

He nodded and put the truck back in gear. We bumped and jostled our way back out to the highway in silence.

"Are you hungry for lunch yet?" Edward asked me a few hours later. I had engrossed myself in a book and hadn't come up for air since our conversation this morning.

"Mmm… What time is it?" I asked, stretching.

"Almost 12:30. I need to get out and stretch my legs a little and use the bathroom. I thought you might be getting a little hungry, too."

"I could eat." I agreed. My stomach growled as if on cue and Edward chuckled.

"I see your stomach concurs. There's got to be a cheap truck stop diner coming up shortly. I'll just pull over into the next one."

We got out less than ten minutes later. The air was bitingly cold, but it was a welcome relief after being shut up in the truck for the last few hours.

"Where are we?" I asked, following him into the restaurant.

"About twenty minutes outside of St. Louis. I have a delivery and pick-up there that will take about two hours. Figured we better eat while we have the time." He smiled at the waitress as she gave us a menu and motioned to a booth in the back.

"Have you ever been here before?" I asked, hoping to keep the conversation going. We had sat so long in silence that I needed some interaction.

"Not to this particular truck stop, no. But I bet Emmett has." He laughed at something behind my head. I turned around and immediately knew what was so funny.

There was a sign on the wall that read, "Eat free if you can survive our hamburger challenge." Next to it was a picture of all the 'survivors'. There was around 12 and sure enough, one smiling face covered in ketchup was familiar.

"Poor Emmett." I said, shaking my head, trying to stifle the laughter. "Always gets made fun of."

"Nah." He replied. "We all have our little oddities. His just happens to be the easiest to tease over." The waitress returned and he quickly glanced over his menu. "A cup of coffee and the chicken sandwich please."

"I'll have the same." I said, handing her back the menu. "Oh and what is the hamburger challenge?"

I ignored Edward's snort.

"You have to eat the five pounder and fries." She answered, quickly giving our slim bodies a once over. "It's not for the smallun's honey."

"So what does your family tease you about?" I asked, changing the subject back.

He rolled his eyes. "Besides the bird eating? Mainly my attitude. They say I'm to emotional. Just because I'm not happy go lucky and lalala, rainbows are bursting out of my behind, means that I'm moody."

"What about Alice?" I asked, laughing.

"Oh man, she's the one that needs the sit down talking to that I get every time I come home. She had to declare bankruptcy about two years ago for over-spending on her Discover Card."

"Jasper must have his hands full with her."

"We all do, trust me." He replied, dryly.

My hands clenched on my seat, "You sure are pushing the trust today, aren't you Edward?"

With that I could feel the mood shift from playful to serious.

"Have you thought any more about this morning?" He asked, leaning towards me.

The question had me biting my lip. I hadn't thought about it. That was the reason I was so heavily engrossed in my book. To keep the thoughts at bay.

"Will you tell me what you're thinking?" His voice was gentle.

"I think-" I started, but was cut off by the waitress delivering our food. He waited patiently until she had gone before raising an eyebrow at me.

"I think maybe we should wait and talk about this when we're alone." I answered.

He pursed his lips, but nodded.

After lunch he needed to go across the street to fill up while I meandered around the inside of the gas station, picking up a few snacks to tide us over on the truck. A postcard with a picture of a hamburger on the front proclaiming, "I survived the hamburger challenge!" made me laugh, so I grabbed it to send to Emmett.

"What all did you get?" He was so close I could feel his breath on my shoulder and I had to squash a shudder.

I turned around to him and backed up a couple steps. "Just some odds and ends." I held the postcard up. "And this. Want to send it to Emmett?"
He read it and laughed, "Sure, that would make his day." He motioned towards the truck. "She's all filled up. Are you ready?"

I nodded, laying my items on the counter. As I was reaching for my purse, he quickly handed the cashier his credit card. "I also have gas on pump four."

"Edward, I was going to-" I started.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I just got there first." He turned and gave me a tilting smile, stopping my annoyance.

When we got back in the truck, he turned the heat on and moved towards the sleeper area.

"Are you tired?" I asked, worriedly.

He shook his head, "You said we'd talk when we got back out and now here we are." He sat down on the bed and patted the spot beside him.

When I hesitated, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards him. "Sit, I already told you I don't bite." He flashed his teeth at me. "At least not unless you ask nicely first."

I turned my head away and he stiffened.

"I was only joking, Bella."
"Were you? Really? Or did you ask me to marry you because of… that." I mumbled, embarrassed.

"Oh sweet Bella. Is that why you've been so quiet and worried today?" When I didn't answer, he grabbed my chin and turned me gently towards him. "You know that's not what I'm after, right? I told you this morning I really honestly want to help you. No one deserves what you're going through right now and anything I can do to help, I will."

I bit the inside of my cheek, not knowing what to say.

"Besides," He went on, sliding his hand to my neck, "If I just wanted someone to sleep with, do you really think I'd go through all the trouble of marrying them first?"

I gave him a little smile, "I would hope not."

He brought his face closer to mine, "You have to know that I'm not the dog your ex-boyfriend is. I won't hurt you. You said this morning that you trusted me." His breath was warm and he smelled like Doublemint gum. "Have I done anything to make you lose it or do you still trust me?"

My body was moving towards his of it's own accord. AsI tilted my face up towards his, I saw that his eyes were half closed.

"Edward?" I breathed, not knowing what was happening, not sure if I was ready for it.

"Will you marry me?" He asked again. This time I knew the question was serious. I knew it needed a serious answer.

"Yes."

Once again, I really am SOOO sorry it takes me so long to update! I really do love writing fanfic and do it every spare moment I have, I just never put it up. The stories I do have up just kill me to write on for some reason... From now on I'm finishing anything before I publish it so that you all don't have to wait such a long time for updates!

Thank you for everyone that has been sticking with me! I still get notifications on this which astounds me!

xoxo Shelbie