Pretty easy to figure out which chapter this one is connected to...

From Edward, With Love

It was still dark when I woke up, well as dark as it can get when one's lover has glowing tattoos. I brushed my hair out of my eyes and sighed.

I felt strange. It wasn't a bad kind of strange, but it was strange nonetheless. I felt appallingly self-conscious and maybe a bit embarrassed. And on some level I was proud. What had happened was a perfectly normal human instinct... so why did I feel weird? Was it because that was the first time it happened? I was embarrassed to even think about losing my virginity.

It was easy to explain why I felt self-conscious and embarrassed, however. I wasn't out of shape or anything, but I didn't particularly like flaunting my body like vain girls sometimes did. And there were a few guys who did the same, but I wasn't one of them. What really made me feel awkward was the fact that the woman I loved had not only seen my body, but touched me as well. My skin tingled at the memory and I shivered involuntarily.

"Damn that phone! Why the hell is it vibrating?" Christin grumbled. I had to laugh.

"Phones don't vibrate. That was me," I snickered.

"Oh. Something wrong?" she asked, rubbing her eye sleepily and tightening her grip on a pillow.

"No, I was just thinking," I replied, tucking my hair behind my ear. It could be slightly bothersome when it wasn't tied back.

"About what?"

"... what happened," I finally replied.

"Typical. All men think about is sex," she scoffed.

"Bullshit," I snorted.

"I'm just teasing you, Ed," she laughed softly. "I know you think about more than just getting into my pants."

"Thanks for the endorsement," I replied stiffly.

"No, really!" she insisted. "You're so smart and good-looking and strong and... and everything else I'm not. I really admire that."

"You admire me?" I asked, lying on my side so I could look at her.

"Yes, I do. You're... you're everything I wish I could be. I'm not smart or pretty or physically fit or anything like that. Those are qualities that I admire," she nodded.

"I'm getting confused. Do you admire me or love me?" I inquired.

She looked at me and smiled, "Both."

"Both?"

"Yeah, why? You're not going to take it back, are you?" she sat up, alarmed.

"Relax. I meant it when I said I love you and I'll be damned if I take it back," I laughed, tugging on a lock of her hair. "Besides, I don't think I can take back my virginity."

"No, I'm keeping that," she smiled. "Your virginity..." she kissed my forehead, "...and you..." another kiss, "...every single cell... on your body... belongs to me," she planted a kiss somewhere on my face in between words. "Okay?"

"That's fine with me," I replied, kissing her back firmly on the mouth. "But you also belong to me," I added.

"Naturally," she smiled. "It's not like I like other people that much anyway. I hate being touched."

"Oh, right, I forgot," I said, taking my hand off hers.

"No! You can touch me, I just meant that I hate when other people touch me! You can... I mean, I sl... s-slept with you, after all..." she stammered.

"You still can't say it, can you?" I asked, stifling a snicker.

"Fuck you. Actions speak louder than words," she sniffed.

"Sounds like an invitation to me," I shrugged, grabbing her arm and moving so I was in front of her.

She grabbed my face and kissed me again, this time more passionately. I loosened my grip on her arm, because I didn't want my automail to accidentally break her arm. I'd absolutely hate myself if I let that happen. She was too important... too precious to even think of hurting. She had been the one to open my heart. A whole onslaught of emotions I'd never known existed had been introduced to me because of her. I knew now what it felt like to love someone so much it hurt... how lonely it could get... how much I could miss someone... and how much I hated anyone who wanted to hurt the one I loved.

"Why... out of everyone else... did you choose me?" she asked breathily.

"Why? Because... I think you deserve it most," I replied, kissing her jaw line and moving down to her neck and collarbone. She moaned softly once or twice. Her hand fisted in my hair and her back arched a bit, pressing her chest against mine. She was soft... so soft... warm... I never wanted to let her go. It wasn't something I normally thought, but I wanted to believe that this moment would last forever. Eternally entwined, oblivious to the outside world...

It was moments like these that I'd never forget... moments that became memories I'd cherish to the day I died. The contours of her body... the warmth and scent of her skin... the sound of her voice as she said my name over and over, encouraging me... these things became etched in my mind.

"You're crying again. Did I hurt you?" I asked, afraid I had.

Please don't cry. I hate seeing you so sad. When I see you cry... it's like my heart's being torn to shreds. I can't bear to see you cry. It makes me want to hold you tight until you're happy again.

"No... you didn't. I guess I'm just in shock. I never expected this to happen to me, you know? Maybe I'm relieved... or happy?" she sighed deeply, her chest swelling to fill my hand where it rested against her breast.

"Don't cry for me. Please... don't cry. I can't stand seeing you cry. For me... or about me... please don't cry."

She looked at me, her green eyes shining from the water spilling from them. Caught up in the tenderness of the moment, I licked the tears away and kissed her repeatedly.

"Why are you so beautiful?" I had to ask, smoothing her hair out of her face carefully, so it wouldn't get caught in my automail.

"Because you make me beautiful, Ed. Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, and that's how you see me," she replied softly. "It's all a matter of perspective."

"That's pretty logical coming from you," I chuckled.

"I lied. It's magic," she smirked. "You're under my spell and you'll be cursed for the rest of your life because of my spell."

"What time is it?" I asked. The sun wasn't out yet, so it was obviously still nighttime, but the sky looked the same as it had when we first...

"About three in the morning," she replied, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"Oh, alright. You can go back to sleep now," I said, feeling slightly awkward.

"Didn't realize I needed your permission," she yawned, snuggling up close to me. It wasn't long before she was alseep and I smiled to myself, think I was so god damn lucky.


Area 51 1/2 12-18-10: this one was a bit tricky to write. It wasn't so much what was going on, but putting it in a guy's perspective that was difficult. I'm a girl, so I don't know exactly how a man's mind functions. But this is what I'd like to imagine he was thinking at that point in time. And, of course, I'm sure he's thinking about other things, but an author has to single out the thoughts and feelings that she (or he) feels is most important for what's being written (besides, this story is supposed to be sentimental and emotional and all that mushy, gooey stuff, so he's not going to be mentally bragging about how he got laid or whatever [oh, but I did mention that he felt a bit proud... huh...]). I think that deep down inside Ed's really sentimental and deep. Well, of course I think that. Every fangirl on the earth thinks that... or anyone who's loved someone with all their heart. We want to think the best of the one we love.

And I've gotta wonder... do I have any male readers? I know romance and stuff is popular among girls (women) but there's also a lot of action and even blood and killing. But I'm a girl, so I don't know what guys like to read about. I mean, I know there are guys out there in the world that like all the romantic crap, but I've still got to wonder... Y'know, now that I think about it I'm pretty sure... no maybe not... usernames aren't terribly gender-specific.

This installment of the Perspective series I like a lot. I've proven that Ed's not just a pretty face and a hot body! He's got a heart. Maybe that's why so many people like him...