She sat at the kitchen counter, watching the scene play out in front of her as she and Edward fought over the bag of flour. She couldn't help but smile at the memory, and let her heart flutter at the image of his face so close to hers.
She glanced around the room again, taking in the darkness as the night loomed over the house.
She couldn't sleep.
Actually, she could. She was tired, she knew she was... But she wanted to see if Edward would be awake tonight like he was last night.
She sighed, realising he was probably sound asleep right now as she poured some milk in a pot and set it over the stove to heat.
She'd only just began adding the chocolate powder when his voice came from behind her; "Can't sleep again?"
He watched her from the door as her hand stalled on the milk. He could barely see her face, but he did notice how her eyes closed for a second as he spoke quietly.
She looked over at him suddenly, and it seemed his body - which had been tense since they'd parted ways after cleaning the kitchen - finally relaxed.
"Something like that." She admitted with a smile, "Hot chocolate?"
He returned her smile as he walked towards the counter, "Please."
He watched her carefully as she poured the two cups, letting his hand brush hers as she gave him one.
Her eyes raised to his, somehow excited, "So, what are we doing tonight?" She grinned.
He stayed quiet for a long moment, shocked at her words. It was as if she enjoyed this, as if she enjoyed staying up every night with him.
Was that why she was doing it?
He couldn't sleep because of the nightmares, what was her reason?
"Umm, I don't mind?" He answered eventually.
"Well..." She stalled, "What were you doing up until now?"
"I was... I was in my music room." He replied softly.
I was writing. I was writing about you.
"Oh..." She didn't push the subject, or even ask to go there, instead she simply said, "We can sit and talk again if you like?"
Suddenly, as if by trying not to push open the door he'd kept closed to people, he was pulling it open himself.
"We could go there if you like." He offered, "I could play you something..."
Please accept.
Somehow, he wanted to open up to this girl... He wanted to show her the ugly side of him to see if she would accept it.
He hoped she would.
"Really?" Her eyes seemed to light up, even in the darkness, "I thought your music room was... Private."
He shrugged a little, nervously, "It is... Normally... I wouldn't mind you coming inside though." He smiled at her, hoping it wouldn't seem too heavy.
After all, they'd known each other for a week.
People have fallen in love in seconds, his mind reminded him with a whisper.
Not me though, he bit back, Why would I love someone who would never love me back?
Look at the girl, look in her eyes... She feels something. We just need to figure out what.
He sighed, staring at her for a second more than he needed to after she'd accepted his offer.
He realised with shock that she had accepted... And now he had to play for her.
They walked upstairs quietly, carrying their drinks carefully as Edward led them to the door. They walked inside and he shut the door behind them softly.
The room was lit by a gentle lamp in the corner, and it suited the hushed silence that lay around them. Bella turned, wondering silently where to put her cup before Edward, seeming to read her mind, pointed towards a small coffee table.
After they put their drinks down, Edward turned towards her, "What would you like to hear?"
Bella's eyes moved towards the piano, but she answered honestly, "Anything will be perfect."
"You'd prefer the piano though?" He smiled, "It's okay... I do too."
She nodded, moving a piece of hair away from her face, "Piano it is then."
They moved towards the seat, and she sat down by his side quietly as he lifted the fall board to reveal the keys. His fingers lingered over a few of them for a short minute, before he spoke in a soft whisper, moulding to the gentle and serene atmosphere she was already feeling.
"I wrote this one..." Was all he said, before his long fingers pressed down on the keys and his hands floated from one end of the piano to the other.
She watched in awe, feeling her heart swell with admiration and fascination for this man. How was it possible for him to play something so beautiful, never mind actually write it.
He couldn't be human.
She looked up from his fingers, towards his face.
He wasn't watching the keys, instead he had his eyes shut as he played.
The music was soft, growing from heavy notes to something lighter, something happier. She felt the tears brim in her eyes as she listened, feeling the saddness of the beginning of the piece, feeling the burden he felt as he hit the low notes with his skillful fingers.
His hands fluttered suddenly, and he moved towards the high notes, hitting them lightly as he played the rhythm flowing through his head. The piece was beautiful, and she was happy that he'd moved away from the dejected tone the first half had contained. It was lighter now, it was content and blissful as if he had cause to feel joy.
The tears dripped onto her cheeks as the music began to slow. She watched his fingers for another long second as he moved up the scale, hitting the last two notes with gentle touches, reverberating hope and serenity through the room, as if he believed his happiness would last.
She looked up at his face as he lowered the fall board again, and she was surprised to see the streaks of tears on his own cheeks.
She tried to find her voice, "Edward... That was..."
He turned his head to look at her, surprised to find her own expression matched his.
She does care...
Maybe.
"That was beautiful." She reached to wipe her eyes, but he beat her to it, gently brushing his fingers down her cheek to dry them.
"Thank you..." He smiled a little, "It was inspired."
"When did you write it?" She asked, "It sounds... Happy."
He held her gaze as he answered, "Not so long ago." Tonight. "And yes, it is happy."
"Have you named it?" She asked then, acutely aware that his fingers had rested on her jawline.
He shook his head, and it seemed they were afraid to even blink, encase they lost sight of each other, "It's a lullaby I suppose..."
They were turned towards each other now, and as she gazed at him his hand rose to her cheek again, cupping it softly as his green eyes stared back into her brown ones.
They stayed like that for so long, Bella wondered if they'd ever move again, but after a long few seconds they were moving towards each other, finding the position they'd been in earlier that day.
As their forehead's touched, their eyes did not close.
They stared deeply at each other, both of them wondering how on earth their lives had changed so drastically, and how the person facing them had changed everything so much.
A week ago, Bella was living with Alice, in a job she hated, with no boyfriend, or sign of true happiness in the future.
A week ago, Edward was a Doctor who barely seen his brother, haunted by the memories of the past, tortured by the prospect of never being happy.
A week later everything had changed for both of them.
Look into her eyes, the voice whispered in Edward's head.
I am, he answered back.
Look deeper... See what she's trying to show you...
He felt his heart warm as he looked deep into her eyes, gazing past everything and seeing straight to the core of her.
She raised her hand to his cheek in the same moment, her lips smiling as her eyes whispered promises of hope, happiness, and love.
Within seconds it seemed as if every wall he'd put up, every thing he'd tried to do to keep people away... It didn't matter anymore.
Her eyes told him everything he needed to know.
She was here, she would accept him, she would love him if he gave her the chance.
Would he give her the chance? Would he give himself the chance to fall for her?
His questions were answered as they both moved closer. He felt his heart stutter in his chest as their lips brushed gently, where they stilled only for a short second, before kissing more deeply, letting their lips merge as their breaths mingled with each other.
Both his hands moved to hold her face, as her's slipped down to his chest, stopping them there... Right over his heart.
They didn't pull away, and the only sound that filled their ears was the noise of their soft kisses amongst the dim light of his music room, and their breaths which left themselves, entered into each other, and promised hope for the future.
