The Twilight Twenty-Five
thetwilight25 dot com

Prompt: 1 (Photo of Beach Shore)
Main Character/Pairing: Bella & Edward
Rating: K
Word Count: 1132

- Edward's Point of View -

"Please don't stress over it," I urged. "This time is for you to spend with your mother. Make the best out of it." While you can, I finished mentally.

While I would never admit it aloud, I knew it was inevitable that Bella would permanently join our family in the sense that she wanted. No matter how often I informed her that remaining a human would not diminish my love for her, she was as stubborn as she was self-conscious.

Still, until her heart stopped beating, I would spend my every second trying to convince that she could still spend her forever with me without sacrificing her soul in the process. I wasn't leaving her again, and though the desire of truly spending eternity with her lingered deep down in my heart, I would not allow her to give up her humanity for someone like me.

Aside from her own protection from the vampire currently pursuing her in Forks, this trip to Florida for a visit to her mother also served as a reminder that giving up her human life would cost her her family, too. Bella was exceptionally close to her mother, and I hoped that this short visit would give her a reason to hesitate.

"I know," she muttered, slumping her shoulders tiredly. "I just feel bad that you'll be forced to sit inside all the time."

"It's just the weekend," I soothed, pressing a comforting kiss to her forehead. "You see me all the time, and you really need this time with your best friend."

Her eyes brightened a little. She sounded a little amused when she commented, "She's going to convince me to move to Florida, I just know it."

"Do what's best for you," I encouraged firmly. "I will support you no matter what."

The amusement vanished instantly. "Don't start again," she warned. "You can't get rid of me."

I was cut off from my reply when the pilot's voice came over the intercom.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the captain speaking. We will be landing in Jacksonville, Florida airport momentarily. Please remain seated…"

"Ready?"

She sighed, peeking out the window. "Ready as I'll ever be."

"The couch will be just perfect, Renée," I assured Bella's fretful and anxious mother. Little did she know that even a bed made of granite would make no difference to me. "Thank you."

So polite, this one, Renée thought admiringly. I barely got a chance to talk to him the last time I met him, and I'm glad Bella brought him along on this trip. She sure does seem serious about him…

I worked immensely hard to keep my expression neutral as Bella's mother thought back to the previous time she'd seen her. An image of an alien Bella, pale-skinned, bone-thin and sunken eyes, floated up to her mind, and the most terrifying part of it was that I had done that to her.

How had Bella ever forgiven me for that?

As if instinctively, my hand reached out to touch her back, holding her close and seeking comfort in her presence.

Except for Bella herself, no power in the world could make me let her go again.

Despite her rapturous chatter with her daughter, Renée noticed my preoccupation with the way the gentle breeze played with Bella's thick locks. He's so devoted her, but their gestures towards each other are very innocent.

Renée's sharp eyes picked up on the way that though we barely held hands and hardly even touched, we were so attuned to one another's bodies. At one point, Bella had shifted into a more comfortable position on the couch, and I, without even realizing until Renée pointed it out in her thoughts, had automatically adjusted my body to be closer to hers.

Bella mentioned a while back that it was just a crush, but looking at both of them now, I can't say it is one anymore. They seem very serious about each other, but they're still too young. I remember when that was me… then again, Bella is much older than I'll ever be.

It was rather disconcerting to have our every move evaluated because we needed to be very careful in our activities. Already Renée was puzzling over the incomprehensible intensity of our relationship and wondering when it would be a good time to bring up this topic in a private conversation with her daughter.

"Well, I've been boring you two for long enough now." Renée grinned, nudging us out the balcony door. "Go on and enjoy some fresh air before dinner."

"I can cook," Bella insisted immediately, gracious and ready to help as ever.

"No, no." Renée shook her head. "My treat. Take your time. We can go shopping tomorrow. They opened up a new mall nearby, and I've been dying to show this really cute dress store…"

"Okay, Mom," Bella interrupted quickly, grabbing my hand. "We'll be back soon."

An amused smile crept onto my face as Bella hurriedly led me out to the backyard beach. "Still not a fan of shopping?"

The air was dry and hot, and the sun was setting already, so I didn't worry about exposing myself.

"Not in a million years." Bella agreed.

I would have liked to hold her to it, but at this point, I wasn't sure if she would be around in a million years. Then again, neither would I be. Smiling fondly, I raised Bella's hand locked with mine to kiss the back of it, my lips tingling pleasurably from its heat.

"You may change your mind about that," I suggested lightly. "A few more years with Alice and you may find that you actually enjoy it."

Bella glared at me. "I can, and I will, spend eternity around her and it still won't change my mind."

I sighed. So stubborn.

"Have you ever been to a beach?"

I blinked. "At night, yes, or when the sun is low. Sometimes for hunting. But not to actually relax."

Bella didn't reply, looking thoughtfully out into the water. After two minutes of walking silently along the shore, I growled in frustration.

"What are you thinking?"

She didn't look away from the ocean. Her voice was nothing but a breathless murmur when she replied, "I'm wishing we could stay like this forever."

I didn't take my eyes off her as we strolled amicably. The setting sun was positioned right behind her head, illuminating her pale features with a beautiful orange glow. The evening wind made her long dark hair whip wildly around her face and tickle my arm. Saltwater rolled back and forth, lapping at our bare ankles. The foamy sand was squishy and wet between our toes.

How could something so ordinary such as walking on the beach with her be so euphoric?

Forever indeed…