Chapter 22

Almost the best ending I could have wished for

Collin was the object of everyone's attention now, his size and injured shoulder held more meaning. "Collin," Bella said, stepping forward to touch his head. As her hand touched his face, her eyes closed, her head slowly shaking back and forth. "Less than one-hundred degrees." as she continued, she became quieter. "I think…I think he's…human." she said, almost silent at the end. "What did you say, Bella?" Collin asked, confirming his lack of wolf hearing.

"You're human, Collin." she replied, her voice hitching. "I am so sorry. This is all my fault!" she cried as she turned around. She ran, crashing into me. She threw her arms around my waist as mine slowly went around her shoulders.

Nobody moved. We just stared at Collin, now banging his good arm against the ground. His grunts and frustrated moans, with Bella's sobs, were the only sound.

The others began moving, so I lifted Bella up and ran to my house. She lifted her head when we sat down, my arms supporting her.

"I am so sorry, Jake." she choked out. "I'm so sorry, this is all my fault." she moaned, burying into my chest. "Bella, sshh. It'll be okay, Bells." I said softly, but my voice cracked, giving my lie away.

Of course it won't be okay! I yelled silently. I continued to comfort her anyway. "At least Collin is alive. That is better than what could have happened. What would have happened, if you hadn't been there. If it weren't for you, Bella, he would have died." I finished. "If I hadn't been here, none of this would have happened in the first place!" she wailed, contradicting me.

"Bella," I said sternly. "This is Victoria's fault, not yours. You didn't ask for her to hunt you. She did that herself. The only thing you are responsible for, is saving Collin's life." I had pulled her back to look at her, her shuddering sobs slowing. She met my eyes and held them, so I asked, "Are you okay now?"

"Yes." she replied, folding back into me. "Thank you, Jacob. I don't know how I would be ever deal with myself alone."

As we sat, we drifted off to sleep. It was not even noon, but we were both exhausted. It had been a busy day.

I woke up to something wet wiping against my chest. I jolted up, my latest dream coming back. I looked around quickly, my eyes spotting who I wanted. "Bella?" I asked, affirming that she was there. "Yeah, Jake. I'm not the boogeyman." she said, teasing me. It was good to see her happy after yesterday.

"Oh, yeah." I said. Then I remembered something really important, shocking me awake. "Bella, I know it may not be the best time, but I have something really important to ask you."

I got up and moved over to my small dresser. Opening a drawer, I pulled out the key item in my question. Keeping it hidden in my fist, I went back, kneeling beside her.

Taking her hand in mine, I locked onto her eyes, and held up my hand, my mother's wedding ring between my index finger and thumb. "Will you marry me, Bella?" I spoke the words very seriously, letting her know that I was serious. "I love you, and after yesterday, I realize how easy it would be to lose you. I never want that. Will you marry me?" I repeated.

Please say yes, please say yes! I begged silently as she thought. She just stared in shock. "Bella?" I asked.

"Jake," she spluttered. "Jake, I-" she stopped again. I got onto the bed, sitting beside her. I waited as she sucked in several deep breaths. "Jacob," she started, "You are sixteen-"

"Don't give me that 'you're too young' crap, Bella!" I interrupted. How can she think that? I thought angrily. I didn't shake. I am older than her in almost every way possible! "Jake," she paused, drawing my attention back. "Don't interrupt me, okay? Let me finish. Now, you are sixteen, still in high school. I am going to college in a few months." she was talking like I was a child, slowly saying each word clearly. "You need to finish high school, Jake. You can't legally get married yet anyway."

"Bella, I don't need-"

"Jacob!" she snapped. This was getting old. She grabbed my hand gently, and closed it over the ring. "I will marry you, Jacob Black, but only after you finish high school. I will have some of college out of the way, and I will hopefully be able to settle."

I hadn't heard anything after 'I will marry you'. All of my anger had disappeared at those words. I didn't care about the conditions. "So, you will marry me?" I asked, my voiced cracking at the end.

"I will." she said. It barely escaped her lips. I tackled them, smothering her words. I was elated as I kissed her. I had never been happier in my whole life. I knew that for a fact. With this joy came a fire that burned away all else. There was no Collin, no Sam. There were never any vampires intent on our deaths. In this moment, the world could have blown up around me, and I would never have known. In this moment, there was only Bella, burning everything away; Bella, my bride-to-be.

END