Penname: Pire

Original or Derivative (fanfiction): Derivitive

Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T

Disclaimer: All copyrights, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.

Prompt: Envelope

Outside it was snowing. A a heavy shroud of snow covered the green grass, effectively smothering it in winter's grasp. Bella sighed into the back of the couch; she was turned backward in her seat, her eyes the only thing visible above the back of the couch. She stared out of the big open window facing the backyard and wished she wasn't alone in the house.

Her thoughts were a slow trickle of worry and hope. What if he never came home? and He's going to be alright. No matter her outcome, either anxiety or encouragement, it always led to wet pricks in her eyes. She hated the crying. Especially crying for something she couldn't change. Furiously wiping her tears away, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, the blue glow from the morning frost illuminating her face.

Edward had been drafted to the war -- a war she wished never happened -- exactly a year and a half ago, the week after Christmas. On the day he left, she remembered the way he held her face, tipping her chin up so she would meet his eyes, and kissing her so softly she almost imagined it. He must have said I love you, but all she saw was the calming green held in his eyes. His eyes. They were of the average green color any other green-eyed person would have, but his twinkled for her. They lit up when he laughed, the lines around his eyes crinkling, and they darkened with lust whenever she would loop her fingers through his belt loops and pull him close. He left with promises of a life together after he came back.

Bella reclined in on the couch, and pulled the throw over herself. In her fading memory of his touch, she managed to recall the way he held her. Nimble fingers splayed over her waist while he bent down to tickle her with light kisses. Bella smiled despite herself under her covers and pulled them closer.

A muffled rustling then a plunk came from outside the front door and Bella reluctantly unfolded herself from her seat to get the mail. She was reminded of yet another day had passed with no word from Edward. It had been one month since the last letter; the first day of which was panic and the accompanying days of numbness. Everyday she had hope for Edward's words on paper.

She twirled the throw around her shoulders when she got up, not bothering to smooth her hair, and when her bare feet touched the wood floor, she rose up on tip-toes to avoid the cold and padded to the door carefully, making sure not to slip on the slick wood. A gush of piercing cold swirling around her legs when she opened the door -- her thin pajama pants were no match for a Forks winter -- and she reached for the mail to the side of the door.

She quickly pulled the mail out of the mailbox, stepped back inside and closed the door on the cold, then flipped through the mail while on her way to the kitchen island.

Bills.

Netflix...to watch with no one.

Square envelope...probably another wedding invitation.

Bank statements...should really get those online.

She dropped the bunch of mail into the "mail basket" on the counter and plopped herself on the stool. God, Bella, get a hold of yourself. With this attitude nothing good will come. Breathing deep and rubbing her temples at the non-existent headache, she glanced down at the stack of mail.

Bella, the square envelope said on the flip side she hadn't cared to look at. She picked it up and examined it: there was no return address nor address-to-be- mailed. Someone had left it in her mailbox. She glanced back at the door, then back at the letter. If anyone were watching her at this very moment, one would have thought her ravenous for paper, for she tore into that piece of stationary as though it held life itself and threw the envelope to the ground. In the back of her mind she noticed the envelope was strangely heavy and it hit the ground with a subtle thud. Unfolding the thin piece of paper held inside, she read the words Sharpied onto the back of...a receipt?

Her heart stopped and she thought herself dead as she read. The receipt fluttered to the ground and she dashed for the door, forgetting the slickness of the wood floor and tumbled onto her hands and knees as she careened toward the door. Not even righting herself, she reached for the knob and flung the door as wide as it would go.

Air finally gushed into her lungs as she laughed out loud at the relief of seeing her Edward standing there, pack on his shoulder and cap in hand. The snow billowed around him and his resembled an angel bursting down from heaven.

She couldn't move and when he smiled at her with that one and only smile, she broke. She felt herself being lifted and when her feet reconnected with the ground, she bounced up and wrapped both legs around him.

"My Bella," he repeated over and over into her hair. He laced his hand through her hair and held her close.

"Edward, Edward...Oh God, I've missed you," her voice a whisper and filled with tears.

He carried her inside and closed the door with his foot. Lowering himself to the ground with Bella in his arms, he then spotted the mangled envelope. He reached for it and pulled away for a moment to look into Bella's eyes. She was so transfixed by his gaze, she didn't notice his hands were elsewhere.

He kissed her once on her lids, the space between her cheek on her eye, then lastly on her lips. She returned his kiss and wrapped her arms around him, tears still glistening in her eyes when she pulled back just as he whispered, "I love you, my Bella."

Edward until he pulled up a simple diamond solitaire into her view and said the two words she was aching to hear.

"I'm home."