Don't Ever Forget 7 ~ Our Little Bubble

"So, your dad has a lady friend? Way to go, Chief Swan," Edward's voice rang in my ear and I groaned into my pillow in response. "Bella, this is a good thing. Don't you think your dad deserves to finally have a girlfriend?"

"No, no. Not a 'good thing.' If he has a girlfriend, why has it been such a big secret? And girlfriends mean s-e-x, and… just no."

"Baby, I think we outgrew spelling out the word in middle school. It's okay to say sex," Edward chuckled softly.

"Ah! Edward!" I yelled followed by a pathetic whimper, rolling onto my back in frustration and staring at the ceiling with my blanket pulled up under my chin. "For everyone else, maybe. For my dad, never. Come on, do you want to think about your parents doing that?"

"Do I want to envision it in graphic detail? No. Am I naïve enough to think it never happens? Definitely not," he replied, doing nothing to mask his amusement of the situation. "Bella, cut him a little slack. The poor guy has been single for a long time. And you've even said yourself that you were worried about the empty nest thing when you graduate. And now that's coming sooner than later. So—"

"Oh no," I interrupted him, throwing the blankets off me and running for the bathroom again.

The morning of my award ceremony, I'd woken up feeling slightly off, but I'd never been one for large crowds of people or having eyes on me, so the thought that I might be sick never crossed my mind.

Until I woke up in the emergency room, after collapsing on stage, with an iv in my arm and a temperature of a hundred and four.

My father had been furious with me, intensified by his worry over his daughter lying in a hospital bed. "Bells, why didn't you say something this morning? After I just got over this and barely made it to the ceremony myself."

"I didn't want to disappoint you, Dad. I thought I was just nervous," I whispered back to him, barely recognizing my own weak voice.

"Honey, it would take a lot more to disappoint me than missing a ceremony. I am so proud of you, I can't even begin to tell you," he replied, running his hand gently over my damp forehead as I closed my eyes, drifting off to sleep again.

Edward, on the other hand, had been in a complete panic when I wasn't answering my cell that night, and there was no answer at home. When I was released early the following morning, I had numerous missed calls and voicemails, each of them more frantic than the one before. I hung up after the fourth one and called him, even though I was pretty sure he wouldn't be able to answer. As expected, I got his voicemail.

"Hey, baby. Sorry I didn't answer my phone last night. I was in the emergency room, guess I came down with what my dad had. But don't worry, I'm okay. Just got a little dehydrated from the fever. Hope you're still feeling okay. I'm going back to bed now. I love you."

I woke up hours later to a single worded text—"What?"

Obviously, he'd calmed down considerably since, once he spoke to me himself and could hear that I really was okay, despite my constant need to run for the bathroom. Although I could still hear the shift in his tone when I picked up my phone off the floor, where I'd dropped it on my way through.

"You really should be in bed resting, baby," Edward said, worry and helplessness heavy in his voice. He was clear on the other side of the country, unable to do a damn thing for me.

I leaned back against the tub, resting my cheek on the cool surface and closed my eyes at the minimal relief it afforded me. "I'm getting there. Are you sure you're feeling all right?"

"Bella, don't worry about me. I'm fine," he replied with a sigh.

"You'd be saying that on your deathbed," I mumbled grumpily, rising slowly from the floor to head back to my room and bury myself beneath the comforter again. "There, I'm in bed. Happy?"

A weak chuckle escaped him and I could envision him rolling his eyes with a shake of his head. "You're so stubborn, even when you're sick. But I'll be much happier when you're better. So get some sleep and stop worrying so much over your dad's love life."

I groaned, followed by another slight whimper at the thought of our previous conversation. I knew he was right, but…it was my dad.

"Fine," I sighed, my eyes already closing from the exhaustion of the movement to the bathroom and my hand pressing the phone to my ear. "I miss you so much already."

"I miss you, too, baby. Christmas will be here before you know it," Edward replied gently. "I love you, and I'll call you as soon as I can."

"Okay. I love you, too. Good night." My voice was barely coherent and I heard his soft "Good night" before the line went silent, my hand falling to the pillow with my phone still in it.

x-x-x

"Dad, I promise, I'm fine!" I said with a sigh as I sat at my desk two days later, hovering over the pile of school work that had accumulated while I'd been bedridden. "I haven't thrown up since yesterday, and I even held down toast. I haven't had a fever at all today and I need to catch up on my classes."

My father stood in my doorway with his arms folded over his chest, a worried look on his face. "Are you sure? You'll call the station if you need anything, right?"

"Yes, I will. Now go. The good people of Forks need protection a lot more than I do," I replied, shooing him away to do my work.

"All right. Just don't stay up too late with that, okay?"

"I won't," I replied distractedly as my pen returned to the paper, knowing it was a lie. I wouldn't be able to sleep until I knew my assignments were caught up—I couldn't afford to fall behind, especially before I'd even really started.

I hadn't actually spoken to Edward since that night on the phone, only receiving a text each night to check on me and say a quick "I love you" before bed. I knew he had commitments and was busy, and I would be seeing him in a little over a month, but it only drove home more of a reason that I needed to get through the program.

The distance between us felt heavier with each passing day, and I wished more than anything that I could be there with him. The time he'd spent home had spoiled me, although I promised myself that I wouldn't let it, knowing how much harder it would make the separation—I couldn't help it.

Everything about him in the nearly two weeks he'd been home seemed intensified. Every touch felt warmer, every kiss tasted sweeter, and even just the sound of his breathing was more calming to me somehow. It was amazing to me, the things that could so easily go unnoticed until they've been stripped away, as he'd been from me for nine long weeks. How could I not immerse myself in it and soak it all in?

Yet, as a result, I found myself glancing up from my work periodically to gaze at one of the pictures of us on my desk. Before the Army, before any kind of complications entered our lives, the root of what we really were—just Edward and Bella. I ached to be in his arms again that way, to be able to press my cheek to his chest and feel his heart beating against it.

With that thought, I grabbed my phone and opened up a blank text to Edward. I hated when I would succumb to moments of weakness like that—when he felt millions of miles away instead of the three thousand he actually was. I always tried to be so much stronger than that, but in that moment, I was fighting an onslaught of tears.

I miss you. Is it Christmas yet?

I sent it off to him and attempted to refocus on my work, jumping slightly when my phone buzzed almost instantly.

Not yet. Wish it was. Bad night?

Was it that obvious? I thought to myself with a sad laugh.

Only a little. Just really wishing you were here.

The soft sound of piano echoed up from my desk and I looked down to my phone to find it dancing over the surface. While he was home, Edward had made me a ringtone of the recording of Clair de Lune from my birthday cd, which I immediately set as his. Since then, it gave me one more reason to smile every time he called.

"Hey, you," I whispered softly when I answered and was met by the sound of loud voices in the background.

"Hi, baby," he replied in almost a mumble. "I'm sorry I didn't call or anything earlier, I've been surrounded by these yahoos all night."

A chorus of drawn out "Hi Bellas" came through, followed by a growled "shut up" from Edward, but I could only chuckle. The sounds of their laughter began to fade until I hear a door closing, nearly muting them completely.

"Sorry about that," he apologized in a strained voice.

"You sound tired," I replied softly, worried that his tone seemed so much different than any other time I'd talked to him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it's just been a long day," he said with a sharp exhale as I heard him sit down. "So, why the bad day?"

I bit my lip and bent my leg up to my chest, hugging my arm around it and resting my cheek on my knee. "I don't know. Just really missing you today. Well, more than usual."

Edward sighed heavily and remained silent for several, very long moments. I suddenly felt like one of those annoying, needy girlfriends that constantly needed her guy's attention for reassurance that she actually had one. I was just about to apologize when I heard his voice again. "I miss you, too, baby. So damn much. I'm really sorry that I gave you so much shit about that school program."

I felt my forehead tighten in confusion at his seemingly random comment. "Okay, I thought we were past all that. What's going on?"

I heard the chair groan with his movement and another sigh escaped him. "Riley's girlfriend came in from Washington today, and she's moving out here in a few weeks," Edward mumbled in an uncharacteristically shy tone and I felt my heart pounding in my chest. "And I was so jealous all fucking night. Seriously made me wish it was June already. Lame, huh?"

My smile widened despite his quiet groan and I leaned back in my chair again, relieved that I wasn't the only one feeling the heavy effects of our separation after less than a week. "No, not lame. I have to say, I'm a little jealous right now, too. You know, I can always be a rebel, say screw the program and get my ass out there right now."

"I'm not that sorry, Bella," he replied with a laugh, but it was a reassuring sound. He didn't seem quiet as tense. "Waiting will make it that much better when we finally are together, right?"

"Right," I said with a dramatic sigh, causing another chuckle from him. God, how I missed that. It could always make me smile, regardless of my mood beforehand. "Thank you for calling me tonight. I really needed it."

"Ready to let me go so soon?" Edward asked, his voice lowering again.

"I'm never ready for that," I replied, shaking my head and tracing the edge of my desk with my finger. "If I could I would stay on the phone with you all night. But I have a lot of work to catch up on and you sound like you're about to pass out."

"I'm fine. I just need a few more minutes," Edward groaned and then cleared his throat. "Baby, if I asked you to do something for me, would you?"

I raised an eyebrow at his question, leaning forward on my desk. "That depends. Am I going to regret saying yes?"

"Maybe," he laughed, only heightening my suspicion, but I agreed nonetheless. "Do you still have that little nightgown from the night at the cabin? The one Alice got you?"

Memories from that night flooded my mind, as well as the hungry look in Edward's eyes when I walked into that living room in the aforementioned nightgown and straddled his lap. The way he took me against the wall and made me feel more desirable than any time in the months previous. The first time we'd spent the entire night in each other's arms since our relationship began without any worries, and the one I kept in my thoughts often, remembering how warm and safe I felt that night. And looking forward to many more.

Edward whispering my name as I involuntarily whimpered at the last memory stirred me back to the present and I cleared my throat. "Yeah, it's buried in my drawer somewhere. Why?"

"Do you think you could put it on and take a picture of yourself in it for me?" I heard the soft growl in his voice as he spoke and it sent a shiver through my entire body. "I swear, it will be for my eyes only, but I really miss that body of yours. And since we didn't get a chance to celebrate our anniversary, it would be the perfect present."

I felt my face flush with his words, but not for the reason I would have thought. With everything that had been going on and him being so far away at the time, I'd forgotten the year mark of our relationship in September. But he remembered—he would never let me live it down. "Wow. I've put up with you for a whole year already?"

"Very funny, Bella," he replied, trying for sarcasm but I could hear the amusement underneath. "So will you?"

"I don't know. What will I get for our anniversary?" I asked, procrastinating and he knew it, judging by the sound of his heavy sigh. "Yes, I will. If I can find it."

"Thank you, baby. And what do you want?"

"I'll get it for Christmas."

"Fine, I'll think of something myself," he replied with the hint of a groan. "I'll let you get back to your work so I can have more than a picture soon."

"Oh, I see. Get what you want from me, and you're ready to let me go," I said with a teasing laugh.

"Never, baby," he answered seriously and I smiled. "I love you, Bella."

"I love you, too. Get some sleep," I whispered softly and we said goodnight. I set my phone down on my desk and picked up my pen, intent on returning to my homework, but my gaze wouldn't leave the dimming screen. I closed my eyes, imagining the look on Edward's face when he received the requested picture and I immediately stood from my chair. I made my way over to my dresser and drove my hand into my underwear drawer until my fingers brushed the soft satin. Gripping onto it, I pulled it from inside and held it up in front of me. I never thought I would be the kind of girl to take kinky pictures of myself to send to my boyfriend, being pretty damn sure he would do with it. Yet, I had to admit that the idea definitely had appeal and excited me; that such a small thing would affect him that way.

Without another thought, I began to change and then grabbed my phone, lying out on my bed and removing my hairtie. I tried to position myself in a sexy pose, with my hair spread out over the pillow the way I knew he liked and took a deep breath before aiming my phone at me and clicking the picture.

I turned it over to look at the screen and groaned; I thought I looked utterly ridiculous. I took another shot, holding my arm away from me a little more, but still…ridiculous. After one more attempt, I decided to just give up and text it to him, throw on my robe and get back to work.

Within a few minutes, my phone began its little dance beside my keyboard and I picked it up, reading a text from Edward.

If I do manage to get to sleep tonight, I'll be doing it with a huge ass smile on my face ;)

I rolled my eyes with a smile of my own and typed out my reply.

Maybe I'll be doing the same after hearing your sexy voice tonight.

Okay. Gotta go. Love you. Bye. *dustcloud*

I was suddenly very thankful that I was home alone with the burst of laughter that escaped me as I read, but also that his mood was so much lighter than when he had called. It was comforting that the simplest of things we did for each other had such a profound effect on the other, even if it was just a phone call or a picture.

You're a pig, Edward Cullen.

You know it—snort.

x-x-x

Thanks giving passed with barely any notice, although it was nice to spend the day at the Cullen's house with Edward's family, Alice, Jasper and Sarahlynn, and watching Esme completely dote on her. Even my dad joined us with his "lady friend". And while she was very nice and it was the first time I'd seen him smile so much in as long as I could remember, I was still wrapping my head around the idea that my father was dating. I hated the fact that I couldn't be more mature about it and do what Edward said—just be happy for him. Instead, I found myself scared for him.

The loss of my mom had hit him really hard, and it had taken him so long to pull himself back up and stop blaming himself. I didn't think he could do it again if something went wrong; not with as happy as he seemed that night. He was so affectionate with her, and in public, holding her hand or keeping his arm around her shoulders, and even sharing a tender kiss or two when they thought no one was looking. I couldn't stand to see him crushed again.

My mind was temporarily distracted that evening by a video call from Edward, and though the moment was shared by the entire group of us, I still caught subtle looks in his eyes that told me that his gaze was on me, too.

Three more weeks and he'll be home, I thought to myself, attempting to ward off tears as he said goodbye and he missed us all.

After dropping Sue off at home later that evening, I moved to the front seat of the cruiser silently, my thoughts returning to their earlier path.

Bella, cut him a little slack. The poor guy has been single for a long time. And you've even said yourself that you were worried about the empty nest thing when you graduate, Edward's words sounded in my head and I released a heavy sigh.

"You okay over there, kiddo?" my dad asked with a brief glance over to me.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied simply with my eyes lowered to my lap.

"Edward seems to be doing well," he said awkwardly, making it obvious that he was more than a little offset by my demeanor.

"He is. Really well, actually."

My dad sighed as he pulled into the driveway, shutting off the car but not moving to get out. "Bella, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, Dad," I replied exasperatedly and reached for the handle, but his hand took my arm gently to stop me.

"Baby, you've been acting weird all day, and you really didn't seem comfortable at all around Sue," he said softly and I looked away—why did my dad have to choose just then to be so insightful? It made me feel guilty to hear that worried and sad tone return to his voice as he tucked my hair behind my ear. "What is it?"

"I don't know. I mean, she seems really great and everything." I sighed, leaning my head back against the seat. "Is it serious?"

My dad chuckled nervously, running his hand through his hair and causing me to look over to him finally. "Why do I suddenly feel like we've switched places, and I'm the teenager under the lamp?"

"Sorry," I replied with a small laugh. "You two just looked really … close today."

"She understands me, Bella. Knows what I've gone through. She was about the age I was when I lost your mom, when her husband passed away in a car accident. It was just as sudden and unexpected, something no one can understand unless they've gone through it," he said solemnly with his eyes lowered to his hands on his lap. "I'm not exactly sure where it's headed. I've been out of the game for a long time. But yeah, she makes me happy and I'd like to see where it goes and hope for the best. Before long, you're going to be gone and I've got to start thinking of my life beyond just being 'Dad.' And to be honest, that sometimes scares me a bit."

It was strange to see my father appearing so vulnerable, admitting to something that most men would see as weakness, even himself not even a year before. And for the first time in a while, I took a really good look at him. Since Rosalie and Emmett's wedding, he'd changed so much. The worried lines on his forehead and around his eyes seemed softened and less defined, as if he'd lost years off his features rather than aged. He'd almost taken on the appearance of the nervous teenager he'd joked about a few moments before with his first crush—more like the Charlie Swan I remembered from when I was a little girl, before our world was torn apart.

He really did look happy.

I reached over and slid my hand into the crook of his arm, resting my head on his shoulder and felt his cheek settle onto my hair. "I'm sorry, Dad."

"For what?" he asked in a whisper, placing his hand over mine.

"For acting like a spoiled brat and ruining your day. Like some wicked witch is gonna come in and steal my dad away. It's not like that, I promise. I'm just worried about you," I replied and hugged tighter around his arm.

My dad kissed the top of my head and I felt his mustache twitch as he smiled. "Don't worry about your old man, Bells. I'm going to be just fine."

x-x-x

The weeks following seemed to move in slow motion despite the flurry of activity that accompanied the holiday season. I spent more time at the Cullen's, getting reading for Edward's impending leave over Christmas and giving my dad some time alone with his girlfriend.

Sue had become more of a fixture in our house, coming over early every morning to wait for my dad to come home from work. It was odd to wake up to the smell of coffee brewing and breakfast cooking, knowing very well that it wasn't him or me doing it. And even more so to walk downstairs to find a face other than my father's there to greet me.

It had also given me a chance to get to know Sue a little better and I found it very hard not to like her. At twenty-five, she wasn't that much older than me, but she had a certain wisdom about her through her experiences, and she quickly became someone I felt I could go to for advice or just "girl talk." Like the best friend/sister/mom in the house that I'd always wanted. And watching the way my dad's face brightened when he walked into the kitchen to "both his girls", and the tender kiss she gave him each morning as she handed him his coffee, made all my earlier reservations disappear almost completely.

They complimented each other and she was good for him.

Esme seemed relieved to have me around more. With both of her sons now out of the house, she spent a lot of time at a loss of how to occupy her time. She'd even mentioned that she'd never been anything but wife and mother for more than half her life, since marrying Carlisle. The house really was far too quiet, even for me, without the boys there, so Christmas music and endless decorating and baking felt like a welcome distraction for us both.

The morning Edward was due to arrive, I woke up in his bed, surrounded by the light traces of his scent still stubbornly clinging to his pillow. I'd made plans to spend the night there to help Esme wrap presents and also avoid the chance of over-sleeping; missing the moment he walked in the front door. I rolled over, pulling his thick comforter tightly around me and saw the blinking red light on my phone.

Getting ready to board. See you in a few hours. I love you.

Glancing at the time, I shot up out of bed and grabbed my overnight bag, running for the bathroom to take a quick shower. The text had come hours before and I had less than a half an hour to get ready.

He's coming home. He's coming home, I repeated over and over in my head, unable to tame the smile on my face.

When I finally made my way downstairs, I found Esme rushing around the living room fluffing pillows, and Carlisle shaking his head as he watched. Even I had to cover my mouth with my hand to restrain a giggle.

"Honey, it's our son coming to visit, not the president. He'll be okay if there's a single speck of dust or unfluffed pillow in the house," Carlisle said in amusement, laughing heartily as she attempted to glare at him—very unconvincingly, I might add.

Esme's eyes turned quickly out the window and the accompanying tears and smile cause my stomach to tighten in excitement. "My baby's here!"

Three separate car doors closing literally caused me to begin bouncing in place and I wrapped my arms around my waist as if it would keep me rooted to my spot. Emmett and Rosalie entered first, followed right behind by Edward a moment before he was engulfed in his mother's arms.

"Hi, Mom," he said with a soft laugh and hugged her tightly, nodding to Carlisle in a silent father-son greeting as he patted Edward's shoulder. His face was smothered in Esme's kisses until she pulled away, lightly rubbing at his cheek to remove the traces of lipstick on his skin. "Where's Bella?"

His eyes searched frantically around the room until he found me, lighting up as I lightly bit my lip and waved. A smile stretched across his lips as I dropped my arms, giving him a full view of the "I heart my soldier" t-shirt I bought just to welcome him home. He crossed the space between us quickly to sweep me into his embrace, making me laugh when my feet left the ground. We spun once before he set me back down and took my face between his hands, brushing a soft kiss on my lips and resting his forehead against mine.

And once again, the world around us disappeared for a moment as we got lost in that space, inside our own little bubble.