It was one of those winters, and even for Forks it seemed unusually harsh. For a week straight it snowed. The cold and the wet were relentless. The grass and moss were hidden beneath at least four feet of snow, the lakes so frozen over that no drill could push its way through the thick ice to the water, so fishing was out for Charlie. The wind blew so hard that anyone who stepped outside for more then ten minutes got windburn and a touch of frostbite. With the wind came snow and bits of ice and lots of cold. The trees bent and leaned away from the cruel breeze, eventually being frozen, coated in ice and snow. Any car not in a garage had to be dug out of a snow drift, and the power was out for a couple hours the first day. That was the hardest for me because not only was it cold outside, it was cold inside too.
Because of the conditions, school was closed, and only because nobody was showing up anyway, because of their cars being snowed in and mostly because everybody would rather be sledding. Except for me, of course I didn't like the cold and sliding down a hill in mounds of cold snow, was not appealing.
So, I was in the kitchen, enjoying the warmth of the house, attempting to make hot chocolate for myself. Edward had gone hunting a few days before…and I was starting to get nervous. Every chance I got I found myself peering out the window, searching for him, listening for the gentle thrum of his cars quiet engine, every night waking up and reaching for him, only to find he was not next to me. The dark cloud of despair pressured against me, making it harder to breath with every hour. I shook my head.
What if something had happened to him? What if the Quileute's had found him on their land? Not that he would go on their land, but I was getting desperate. I know he's basically indestructible, but it was so cold. Ice had blown with the wind like tiny needles. What if he was snowed in somewhere? No, that was illogical too. He could life a full sized van off my body, digging his way out of some snow wouldn't be a big deal. But, then why? Why wasn't he back? He never was gone this long hunting. What if…
I stopped myself at that thought. He had promised that he wouldn't leave me again, and I had to trust him. But even though I refused to think it, the possibility of the thought was still there. Pulling around the edges. I took my mug and went into the kitchen, sitting at the table sipping the hot liquid. Charlie left for work a while ago, so I had the house to myself. This right now wasn't a good thing. It reminded me so much of the months when I had lost myself. When I had been alone.
Steam rose from the dark drink, filling the area with its smell. Chocolate was supposed to help relax you, so far, this theory was proving to be wrong. I closed my eyes and I thought of him. Played his voice over and over in my head until the ache was so bad in my heart that I couldn't do it anymore. I opened my eyes. I was still hearing it though. The suppleness of his walk as he came up behind me, his sing song voice, the low purr of his engine…
But wait, his engine? That was much too real for my imagination to conjure. I set my mug down, taking deep steady breaths; I couldn't set myself up for disappointment. I looked out the window, the corners of the glass having a clear sheet of ice over them. I saw it, the sleek silver paint, the darkly tinted windows, it was his car! It slowed and peeled to the curb. The dark cloud was instantly pushed away and my heart raced anxiously.
Not paying any mind to the cold, I ran to the front door, barefoot, and threw it open. There he was. My favorite crooked smile spread across his angelic, perfect face.
"Oh." The breath rushed out of my like I had been hit in the stomach.
The relief was so present that it made me dizzy. His eyes were a light tawny color, beautiful and sparkling. He was beautiful, and he was here. I carefully stepped through the doorframe, avoiding any ice, and I jogged over to him. Stumbling a few times on the drive way and almost falling.
I came to him and through my arms carelessly around his neck. Running into him was like running into a brick wall, I would definitely have bruises tomorrow. But I didn't care. He wrapped his strong, cold, marble arms around me too.
"Bella its freezing!" He comment, his tone disapproving.
I didn't answer him, though I was shivering, I was ignoring it. I was with him again! He was safe! Irrational as that thought was, nothing out in the forest stood a chance against his strength, his speed, his sharp venom coated teeth.
"Hmmm, I missed you too." He breathed, inhaling my smell.
I let me arms fall from around his neck; my feet were turning white from the cold. He chuckled and lifted me up bridal style.
"Hey I can walk you know!" I complained, struggling slightly.
"Yes but most likely you'll fall before you can walk yourself to the door. So really I'm just doing you a favor." He said.
He walked through the thresh-hold, closing the door behind him before setting me comfortably down on my own feet. I couldn't help myself, I wrapped my arms around his muscular torso and clutched myself to him, I felt his arms settle around my shoulders. He gently pulled away and lifted my chin with a finger. He furrowed his brow.
"Bella, what's wrong?" He asked softly.
I made a strange face. Nothing was wrong. But it was then I realized I was crying, but only for relief. I laughed softly.
"I'm fine, I was just so….worried." I said.
"What about?" He asked till perplexed.
"You! You were gone so long…and the storm hit Forks so bad…they canceled school and the power went out and…." I babbled.
I stopped when I felt a cool fingers press against my lips to shush me. He smiled my favorite crooked smile.
"You have to stop worrying about me. Nothing a small as a storm can hurt us. I was worried about you. I didn't mean to be gone so long." He said gently.
I smiled.
"Don't apologize; I understand you need your time too. It just makes me anxious." I felt the blush creeping up my neck and staining my cheeks. His hand caressed my face lightly.
"The blush on your cheeks is so lovely." He stated. It only makes me blush harder.
"So, since we don't have school, what do you want to do?" I asked him.
He stood up straight. Running his fingers through his thick bronze hair.
"Up to you. Your wish, my command." He said.
"Well. . . I was just about to sit down and see what was on TV…but." He didn't let me finish.
"Then let's do that. I don't want to interrupt. I'll be watching you most of the time anyway." He said, using one of his fingers to trace my lips.
I smiled under his touch. It was hard not to smile, with him with me.
I turned and walked into our homely living room. Edward sprawled himself out on the couch and pulled my against his chest, the blanket I had brought down from my room draped around my shoulders so I wouldn't get chilled by his cool body temperature. This reminded me of something….of the hours before my birthday party at his house. I shook my head, this was different. He seemed to be thinking the same thing, but pushed it out of his thoughts like I did. We didn't touch on the subject a lot; it hurt too much to think of those months, when I didn't have him here. When I thought he no longer loved me the way I loved him.
I picked up the remote, flipping through channels idly until I found something that would hold my interest. It was a movie in black and white; I set the remote on the table and snuggled against his perfect chest. He face was right next to mine, his cheek resting on my skin. The movie didn't capture my interest, couldn't capture my interest. I was too distracted by Edward. I could feel his fingers tracing patterns on my arm, his breath again the bare skin of my neck, his eye lashed brushing my skin, his lips pressing against my hair occasionally. Though it appeared that he, also, was trying to watch the movie.
The room was kind of dark, the sun was obviously not shining, and none of the lights were in. so the room was encased in a homey gray tone that reflected through the windows from outside. From the warmth of the house, the comfort of the familiar blanket, and the small of my hit chocolate on the table, I was feeling sleepy. The one thing that kept me awake was Edwards' cool, tantalizing touch. I shifted a bit so I was sitting more balanced on his lap, my face looking at his.
I touched his face, relishing in how his skin flet under my hands. I had missed him so much; I don't know how I survived it. I felt too far away from him, even though I was touching him, his arms around me. I couldn't imagine living without him again, I had been so scared. I could have lost him. I shivered involuntarily at the thought.
He furrowed his brow, and it was lovely.
"Are you cold?" He asked, concerned. He didn't wait for me to answer, just shifted, trying to get me to let go of him. I shook my head.
"No! I'm not cold, I promise." I said quickly. Pulling myself closer to him, my voice had a hint of hysteria in it, and I knew he wouldn't miss it.
"Are you ok?" He asked softly, his arms firmly around me, my face buried in his neck.
"Yes. I just missed you, Edward. I'm sorry…I was just so scared that I had lost you…" I said softly, I felt the blush in my cheeks.
He pulled away slightly, just so he could see me face.
"I wont ever be lost to you Bella. I'll always come back to you. I love you, your home." He whispered, a small smile playing with the corners of his lips, as if what he just said was the most obvious thing in the world.
I guess to him it was, obvious I mean, but to someone like me it wasn't. And not because I doubted him, I didn't. But I didn't understand him. Why would he choose me? He had once been meant for Rosalie, or Rosalie had been meant for him, whichever way it was. Rosalie, the most beautiful creature that had ever been alive. I couldn't compare with that. Not even close. And Edward, well, there was so much to say about Edward. He was everything that I wasn't.
He was smart, and beautiful, he could move with a grace that would make any danced steam with jealousy. He had a light about him that I had never seen in anyone else, and though he believes himself to be selfish, he wasn't, he was selfless. He had a passion for life, and though it may have been a dark passion, it was there. He tried so hard to be normal, when really no matter what he was anything but normal, and I loved that about him. He was strong, and comforting, and the one thing that I wanted more then anything, he was a vampire.
"What are you thinking about so hard?" Asked Edward, gently pushing a lock of my dark brown hair away from my cheek. I felt my heart accelerate.
"Nothing of consequence." I answered quietly. I swallowed hard, if I brought up the vampire topic, he'd be in a sour mood for hours.
For once he was able to let it go. I concentrated on remembering the mechanics of breathing because he slid his had to my face, cupping my cheek. He bent his face and I found his lips on mine. Softly, gently, in he way that made my heart literally skip a beat. I kissed him back, apparently crossing a boundary because he curled his lips back and pulled away. But he was smiling.
"Silly Bella." He sighed, smiling wider so that it showed his teeth. I blushed deeply.
His gleaming topaz eyes bore into my much plainer brown ones, and I knew he was all I would ever want. All I'd ever ask for from life, was to be with him for all eternity.
"That's ok, as long as I'm you're silly Bella." I whispered. He smiled and laughed gently, the sound reverberating through his perfect muscular chest.
"I would have it any other way." He whispered back, sealing the statement with a sweet, gentle kiss.