the white stripes x apple blossom

EPOV

Unlocking the front door, I shoved it open and let Delia walk inside. The smell of her honeysuckle shampoo filled my nostrils and I leaned in to nuzzle her neck as I dropped my keys in the dish by the door. I pulled her against me and playfully nibbled at her earlobe. Chuckling at me, she turned to look me in the eyes and say something. She didn't get the chance, however, as we simultaneously realized that there was a disturbing sound coming from the master bedroom.

Immediately, the out-of-place events of our day all began to fall into place. Halfway through our date, while we sat in the movie theatre munching popcorn, we'd both experienced spikes in our anxiety levels. Not ten minutes later, Delia cried out over some sudden, seemingly cause-less, pain in her knees. We both moved toward the bedroom at the same instant, all joviality fleeing our minds. I was the faster one, of course, and my strides quickly out-paced Delia. I rushed into the room and my eyes landed on Bella's crumpled body. I choked back the fear that rose into my throat and went to my knees beside her; she was sobbing, weakly, and her body quaked violently as she struggled for breath. "Delia, go check on Rose. I can't hear her," I yelled behind me. I heard Delia's soft steps change direction and the sound of the basement door opening.

I gently moved Bella's hair from her face and rubbed my thumb on her cheek. "Bells, it's just me." I was growing uncomfortable with her position, and the sick, unnatural bumps on her kneecaps. "I'm going to pick you up, okay?" I didn't expect a response, somewhere in the recesses of my mind I was checking off the stymptoms catatonia. Rigid pose, ignorance of external stimuli, seeming loss of motor skills. I slid my arms beneath her and lifted, and despite the change in what was supporting her, her body didn't shift or relax. She remained, firmly, in exactly the same position. I was nearly certain now.

I carried her close to my chest, moving slowly so I didn't startle her, and seated myself on the couch with her in my lap. I turned her stiff body so that the side of her face was resting on my chest and I rocked her. The disquieting sound of her weezing left me wanting to make a more soothing noise; the only one that came to mind was the lullaby I'd written for her. The danger of James walking in and hearing it, the risk of Delia becoming jealous, the chance that Bella would take it as me trying to be with her, were all risks I was willing to take. Her condition not only unsettled me, but left me furious at whomever left her this way, and I was desperate to soothe both her and myself.

I heard Delia's steps on the staircase leading up from the basement and I turned to look at the door as she entered the room. I knew what she would say before she spoke.

"I looked everywhere, Edward. Rose is gone."

I said, "Call Alice and Carlisle, if you would. And now that I think of it, Emmett too." I waited for Delia to look at Bella, for her to mention the lullaby, for her to show any sign that she didn't understand what was going on; but those lovely eyes never left mine. And then she smiled at me, pulled her phone from her pocket, kissed my cheek, and left the room. I couldn't help but count my blessings.

Ten minutes later, as I sat, still rocking Bella, debating the available courses of action, Delia came back into the room and stuffed her phone back into her pocket. "They're all on their way home; Emmett wanted to go out and search for Rose but I told him he should come here first. I didn't know what you wanted to do."

"That's perfect, I'm glad you told him to come here. I want him here to keep an eye on Bella; the last thing we need is to have the most intimidating of us off in search of someone who could see him coming from miles away. Bad things happen in threes, and I'm just waiting for the dogs."

"You think they'll find us already?"

I sighed, my eyes moving down to look at Bella's tense face, and rolled my shoulders in a shrug. "I don't know, but I'd rather not be unprepared."

I felt the cushion sink a little as Delia sat beside me and rested her head on my shoulder. I turned to kiss her hair and she looked up at me through long, black eyelashes. "Do you think we're ready if they do find us?"

No.

I said, "Yeah, as ready as we're going to be."

AN: Writing from Edward's POV was surprisingly easy. Perhaps I'll remember that. Oh, hey, look! Twice in one day. About the same character total as one of the other chapters!