A/N: Holy alerts and favorites Batman! Thank you so much for those! Little things like that honestly make my day. A few quick shout-outs because I can and then we'll be on with the show :)
Juliegirl18 makes my words pretty and tames my comma addiction, as well as talking me down from the big fanfic ledge. AnotherJen went out of her way to rec this silly little story and I 3 her for it. Twistedcoincidence just is who she is and I'd be much more scatterbrained and lonely without her around.
Thanks to everyone else that has given this a chance.
Bella
"First off, I'd like to welcome you to Woodbury, Miss Swan. Edward mentioned that you had recently moved to the area." Mrs. Cope sat behind her desk, hands resting easily on top a few papers and a warm smile to match the warmth of her office. She exuded a motherly comfort and seemed to fit perfectly within the walls of this school, instantly easing the bundle of nerves that was currently my stomach. I still can't believe how quickly Mrs. Cope called me and ushered me in for this interview. She must have simply hung up on Edward and dialed me without missing a beat bright and early Monday morning, asking to drop-off my information and references so that she could put the process in motion. Four days later and here we were.
"Bella, please...and thank you. It's wonderful to be back here," I said, an easy smile forming on my lips as I settled myself into the armchair.
Mrs. Cope's eyes lit up and soon she was asking, "Oh, did you live here before?"
Shaking my head, I gave her the quick rundown of my life. "No. I'm grew up in Washington state bouncing between Seattle and a little town called Forks and then moved to the Chicago area when I started college. I had family here though growing up - my grandparents. Visiting them was part of our yearly family vacation. I've loved the area since I can remember."
"That's wonderful!" she exclaimed, genuine excitement lacing her words. "What brought you back here?" I felt my body tense as flashes of memories played through my mind for the simple, innocent comment. Mrs. Cope must have seen the hesitation settling into my bones. Trying to fix her words, she quickly amended, "If I may ask, of course."
I knew I had to give some sort of an answer. It wasn't as if she couldn't figure it out if she looked hard enough into my background records. "Chicago was just getting a bit too big for Carlie, my daughter, and I. It was time for a change of scenery and a bigger backyard." I fought to maintain eye contact, feeling smaller with each little piece of my past being revealed. I was still coming to terms with the newness of everything now, that going back in my mind was a bit hard to deal with at times.
"I guess I also wanted to be closer to the family that lives here now." The last part was wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the full truth either. Yes, I had needed to leave. There was no longer a choice between the rose tinted glasses of my life with James and getting Carlie as far away from that man as possible. Alice and Jasper were the only reason I came to Minnesota though. I could have just picked up and driven anywhere, but I had needed my sister that night.
"It's good to have you here. Shall we get started?" she easily changed the topic, for which I was more than grateful.
Sitting here with Mrs. Cope was more like a conversation than the interview I was expecting. To be honest, this was the first time I was sitting down, being interviewed, for a job that I am actually qualified for. Before Carlie was born, I had an amazing opportunity to interview for the assistant director of the Newberry Library in Chicago, but James stopped me. I can't even remember how or why now, but he stopped me, then we had Carlie and I holed myself up in the dusty and rickety bookcases of Novella without so much as a second look back - until now.
The questions were simple. How did you get into Library Science? Do you see yourself fitting in here? What kind of experience have you had? Everything I had easily expected and prepared for.
After a long list of questions, Mrs. Cope set her glasses on her desk and looked at me, hands folded on her desk. "Bella, I'll be frank. Normally this is the point in the conversation where I'd thank you for your time and I say, 'I will be in touch shortly' while I busy myself with administrative business. However, I have no other promising applicants and school starts in a matter of weeks, no longer months." I'm sure I probably paled at that. Her wording made it sound like I was a last resort, which just didn't sit well with me. I was becoming steadily afraid that this whole affair was all for nothing.
"Please don't mistake that as a bad thing," she spoke quickly. "You are more than qualified for the position and have set the bar high in my opinion if there were more interviewees. More importantly though, you have a personality that shows a love of books and a love of children - the two most important qualities I am looking for.
"Most wouldn't think an elementary school librarian would need a certain background and personality, but you're the bridge between hundreds of children that walk through the doors to that library and the words of the past and present. You are their starting point to love words and literature in a world that is progressively letting the English language and writing as an art fall to the wayside. I am honored to offer you the position if you would like it."
Relief flooded through me as she said the words I had desperately been hoping to hear. My response was out of my mouth before I had even put much thought into it. "Thank you. Yes. Yes, of course I accept."
"Great! I am happy to say, welcome to Woodbury Elementary Miss Swan," she said with a genuine, beaming smile and extending her hand across the desk, which I readily grasped. "You can start familiarizing yourself with the library and moving yourself into your office starting next week if you would like. I would also like to set up a time next week to fill out your new hire paperwork."
She started rifling through some of the papers on her desk before suddenly looking up mid paper turn before setting it all back down. "I remember you mentioned a daughter. May I ask how old she is?"
"Yes, Carlie. She just turned five in June. I just turned her paperwork in last week for kindergarten actually. I'm hoping it goes through in time to have her kindergarten screening finished here." I watched as Mrs. Cope jotted down a few more things on the notepad in front of her that she had used during our talk.
"Don't worry about a thing. I'll make sure her paperwork is looked at and we'll get you all set up as soon as possible with Ms. Sorley. She's the woman in charge of all kinder screenings and will give you a call as soon as she has things squared away."
Once again, relief flooded all the way through me. Sweet, sweet relief. "Thank you so much," I breathed out, hoping the extent of my gratitude was conveyed in my voice.
With another warm, motherly smile, she finished, "It's my pleasure. I want to thank you for taking the time to come in today." Sensing the interview was over I nodded and moved to stand before starting to work my way towards the door. "Oh, and Bella," she started, stopping my movement, "I'm sure you will be a great addition here. Be ready for an exciting year."
"I am. Thank you again." With that, I bowed gracefully out the door to the freedom of my future. This was a start; a single step in the direction of starting over for Carlie and I.
~.~
Sliding into the comfort of my car, I let my mind wander as I turned the key, starting the engine but choosing to idle in the near-empty lot for a moment. My life since Edward made his appearance had been nothing short of a learning experience already. The first day, seeing him in that classroom, hands gracefully moving over piano keys as he was lost to the magic of the sound, made my stomach do things it hadn't in a very long time. Then watching him at the park playing with Elise and the love that was evident in every action and every smile for that little girl with brown pigtails, made me realize there was something more to him than a beautiful face and musician hands. The way he took Carlie under his care, treating her and loving her as his own gave me the tiniest glimmer of hope that someone else out there could love my daughter as much as I do and want a life for her that held every ounce of innocence that she deserved.
Yet, it was our date that had been a real turning point of sorts. It made me realize that there are still good things out there and moments to hold onto that don't revolve solely around Carlie. Not to say that those moments of watching her grow and smile and the long list of monumental successes I've been lucky enough to witness in her young life already don't captivate me and remind me that she is my past, present and future.
It's just, Edward drew me into his world of warmth and comfort and laughter at a time when I wanted nothing more than to shrink away from humanity and only stay functioning because I couldn't give up on my little girl - she needed a mother and I would push through the days to be just that. In our brief time, he showed me how to lower, if just a little, that gate that I've locked so tightly around my life in order to see the shine of something better outside of my own, closed off world. He has given me a glimpse into knowing that the whole world isn't out to get you.
I have my reservations. I have my walls. I have my memories of the last few years locked so tightly and deeply in myself that I feel them settling in my bones and my chest, making it hard to move or simply breathe some days. Part of me doubts that I'll ever be able to let those go because I feel it so tightly entwined in myself, but there's hope. There's hope that, if nothing else, there is another person who is willing to hold my hand and walk with me as I try to figure out where I'm meant to go from here. Nothing more and nothing less. Someone else willing to just exist by me.
Shaking my head, I finally pulled out of the lot and began the slow trek towards Edward's house, directions closed tightly in my hands. I knew the general area, but this was the first time actually going there. I knew I'd probably be calling him shortly for specific directions, and to just hear his voice if I were being honest.
Today was Carlie's second piano lesson with Edward, which had moved from Wednesdays to Thursdays, and he had offered to take her back to his place after if was over since the rest of his lessons had cancelled for the afternoon. Of course I had no problem with it. We had tried to keep the girls together whenever possible the last few days because they just seem to fit that way, and they honestly didn't want it any different. I also know that I loved seeing Carlie's carefree nature back in full force. I didn't know Elise's story either, but I could guess enough to know that both little girls deserved a proper childhood.
Elise had come over both Monday and Tuesday to spend the day as just us girls. We baked and played and went to the park, where I chased the girls around and around until I couldn't run anymore. Then we played with Elli and gave her a bath outside. I let them run through the sprinkler when we finished and fell in love with Elise more and more with every giggle and smile she and Carlie shared. Being with the two of them felt...right.
Edward had also already gotten into a habit of texting short and usually completely random messages throughout the day when he had a lull between lessons. It didn't matter if it was just a simple hi or a story he had about one of his students, that tiny envelope never failed to carry butterflies. It was just enough to know I was someone special enough to him to warrant the extra thought.
I was starting to get into an unfamiliar part of town, so I decided now was as good of time as any to call Edward. I knew I could probably find my way, but I gladly accepted my excuse to call him now. Turning on my bluetooth ear piece and dialing the number, I didn't even know I was holding my breath until he answered.
"Where are you?"
I couldn't help but laugh at the urgency and insistence in his voice. "Don't worry. I'm on my way, but you have to direct me from where I'm at," I said, tossing the directions into the passenger seat and waiting on his voice to lead my way.
Not much longer with his help and I was pulling onto his road. I definitely could have found the way myself, but it was more fun this way. Scanning the mailboxes, I finally spotted 'Cullen' in black letters against a little wooden box and took the turn, letting my heart start beating a rapid rhythm to match the butterflies attacking my belly. I knew I shouldn't be nervous - it was only Edward - but I had never been to his house before. This felt like one of those big steps that I was both excitedly wanting and yet terrified to take. Not that I had much choice though. My little girl was on the other side of the door of the house up ahead.
The house was...impressive, and definitely not something you'd assume a public school teacher could afford. The wood siding and forest green trim were perfect and seemed at place amongst the trees surrounding the property. The front porch took up the entire length of the front with a section stepped lower and housing an abundance of plants and a covered porch swing. The whole building was huge and at least two-stories and I was suddenly intimidated by it.
The feeling was short-lived when I noticed Edward standing in the doorway with a smile I doubt I'll ever tire of. That look was enough to beat the butterflies down and cut the engine. I moved out of my car and up the stairs of the porch faster than I ever thought possible, bringing myself to the man waiting for me. I smiled back and he opened the screen door, ushering me in without a second though.
"Hey," Edward breathed into my hair, wrapping his arms tightly around me, "stay for dinner, yeah?"
This was us. In the few short days since since our first 'date', we've already fallen into a rhythm of sorts, pushing past some of those boundaries that we thought we had needed. The simple touches continued - brief holding of hands and the comfort of hugs - almost as if we needed the contact to reassure ourselves of the moment. We still held off most of our already minimal contact in front of the girls. This was still just about as new for us as it was our day at the fair. We hadn't labeled ourselves. We hadn't had the conversation of what we were or where we were going. We were just taking this day by day and letting things fall as they will. I knew I had my issues and I was gaining more insight to the fact that Edward had his own as well, and there would be no way to make this into something more without delving into that mess. There was a part of me that was honestly afraid to get that far. Yet, somehow, I kept dragging my feet forward, the pull towards a man and his little girl too strong to run away from.
"I thought it was my turn," I tried to protest, sticking my bottom lip out for effect even though he couldn't see it with my face buried into his shirt. I knew even the minimal effort I was putting in to protesting his request was futile; I knew deep-down I'd end up giving in. Edward was slowly taking my walls down brick by brick and that both thrilled and completely terrified me.
"But you're already here."
It's true, I was. I was here and happily content right where I was standing. "Fine," I conceded, pressing my face farther into the gentle dips of Edward's chest. I loved his scent. It was musky and sweet and earthy. It grounded me and reminded me this wasn't a dream. "Dinner at my place tomorrow though."
"Deal," his voice a deep mumbled mess in my hair. I pulled away first, the comfort of Edward's hold seeming so familiar that it scared me at times the way it worked itself so deeply into me. His arms relaxed around me and let go with a slight reluctance.
"So what's for dinner?"
With that smile that could end me, he answered, "Come with me and I'll show you," linking his pinkie with my own and pulling me forward as he talked. "On second thought," he paused looking back a me, "the girls are playing outside and you've never seen my house. It's not much, but would you like a tour?" His last words were punctuated with a shrug and a childlike glint in his eyes. There was no way I could say no to that.
"Lead that way," I said, curling my single finger just a little bit tighter around his.
"Well, as you could probably already guess, this is the living room," his free hand motioning to the open area around us. I actually looked at it for the first time since closing the door. Up until now, my focus had otherwise been occupied by a tall man with broad shoulders and a deep voice. Not that I was complaining. It was a pretty good view.
The room was blanketed by warm brown walls and overstuffed chairs in a deep red. Everything in it gave an overwhelming sense of comfort and home, from the pillows to the entertainment center to the books scattered over the coffee table to the few toys staked in the corner. It was...lived in. I noticed a few pictures lining the shelves of the entertainment center between the DVD cases and miscellaneous knick-knacks. Wanting a closer look, but not willing to give up even the slight hold of Edward's hand, I pulled him forward with me.
My free hand moved on it's own accord to trace the faces of the first picture I came to. It was Edward with a baby, a few months old - if even - and wrapped in pink, that I could only assume was Elise. She was a beautiful baby that had certainly turned into a beautiful little girl. Yet, what caught my attention the most was the look on Edward's face. He wasn't even looking at the camera; all of his attention was captured by the little girl held tightly in his arms. Every emotion was evident in his profile though: the dark circles of exhaustion and the parental fear that never really goes away overshadowing his normally bright eyes, the bend in his back as if he were trying to shelter the little thing from the troubles and the hurt of the outside world, and above all, the smile on his face was one of wonder, as if it were his first time laying his eyes on the little girl that had already captured his soul.
Edward released my pinkie the longer I stared at the picture, unable to take my eyes off the simple moment in time, replacing his touch with his entire palm engulfing my little hand. I turned my head to find Edward watching me closely. I wanted to say something. I wanted to ask about the moment this picture was taken, but I didn't. Instead, I squeezed his fingers gently, looked one last time at the beautiful image and took a step to the right, towards the next picture frame.
We kept moving down the line of his entertainment center, me looking at each picture and seeing little pieces of Edward I didn't yet know and him watching me intently with each one. Most of the pictures were of Elise at all stages of young age. There was one of her as a baby with a tuft of brown hair pulled up with a bow, lying on her back under a play-gym having the time of her little life. There was another one of her sitting on Edward's lap and blowing out the three candles on a brightly colored princess cake, complete with tiaras on both her and Edward's head. I laughed at that one. Edward in a tiara was an intensely comical sight, but so completely endearing as well.
There was another picture with the woman from the photo on his desk - Rose if I remember right. She was still incredibly gorgeous, seeing her again, and I couldn't help but wonder how they weren't together. Being completely honest, they would have made a beautiful couple, but I was more than grateful that they weren't.
The very last frame held a family picture, but obviously taken years ago when Edward was probably in his early-to-mid teens. Esme was there looking just the same as now. That woman must never age. Next to her was a tall man with blond hair cut short and the most striking smile that had to even rival Edward's. For every bit of Esme I saw in Edward, this man, assumingly his father, passed along a good set of genes as well. I saw the same broad shoulders, angled features and strong presence in that man that I saw in Edward everyday. "Your father?" I asked, taking my eyes off the picture to look at him.
"Yeah. Carlisle. He was working the Sunday when we dropped the girls off."
I nodded remembering Esme's comment about that and motioned to the picture again. "And that's your..." I started, not wanting to assume anything.
"Brother. That's Emmett. He's this huge, intimidating presence, but a great guy under it all. He's the one actually married to Rose." And he was. He was a hulking boy even in the picture, but with dimples and a giant smile that seemed eerily familiar.
"You all look so happy," I mumbled offhandedly. Edward simply nodded, watching me with his typical soft smile. The moment felt heavy, but not necessarily in a bad way. It was just a lot of new information and insight into his life that I was trying to catalogue away. "Show me the rest of the house?"
With a gentle, almost reassuring squeeze of my fingers, Edward was leading me from the living room. "Of course." We wandered slowly through the other rooms, Edward showing me the office, Elise's room, his bedroom, the door to the back patio where the girls were playing in the afternoon light, down to the simple things like the bathroom and linen closets. He was letting me into his home - into those little areas of his world I couldn't piece together on my own - and the feeling was so surreal.
Passing back down the hallway, our last stop was the kitchen. I think I may just have fallen in love with that room as Edward led me through the arch, going so far as to stop in my tracks, tugging his hand to stop. This was how I wanted my kitchen to be. To me, it was an area that was special to just Carlie and I where we had always spent hours together as just us girls, and I wanted it to feel special and safe. Edward's kitchen was just that. It was warm reds and rich woods and more counter space than I had ever imagined. He had a double oven that I could literally drool over.
Edward turned around, looking at me with concern. "Bella, what's wrong?"
"This...this is beautiful, Edward."
"The kitchen?" I nodded, still looking around in awe. My euphoria was short-lived as Edward's deep laugh and squeeze of my hand drew my attention back. "You scared me over my kitchen? I thought...hell, I don't even know what I thought, but it wasn't that."
His laugh was musical, warm and one that I couldn't help but follow, especially after realizing that I probably made a bigger deal out of a silly room than I should have. "I'm so sorry," I said, laughing until tears stung at my eyes. "I didn't mean to freak you out. It's just...this is like my dream kitchen."
"Really?"
"Seriously." I moved a few steps actually into the room, bringing my body almost flush with Edward's as my breath evened back out. He wrapped his free arm around my shoulders and pulled me the rest of the way into his chest. Being right there was a comfort that I had never really known and it was pretty much perfect.
"You are free to use it whenever then," he said, eyes shining, before kissing my forehead as he has taken to doing. I'm starting to think that being kissed there - the sweetness and innocence of the action - is fast becoming the moments I looked forward to the most with Edward. I leaned a bit further into his hold, just savoring the feeling of being in his arms.
The screen door slammed down the hallway and Edward and I reluctantly pushed ourselves apart, dropping our hands with one last squeeze and moving farther into the kitchen. The sound could only mean the girls were inside and, as always, we weren't ready to figure out what 'we' and 'all of us' meant.
"Daddy," Elise's voice rang down the hall. Within moments, both her and Carlie were rounding the corner into the kitchen. "Daddy, when is dinner?"
"Oh, I don't know. When are you starting it beanie?" he teased, picking her small body up and setting her atop the counter with a soft plop. He turned towards Carlie with the same glint in his eyes and broad smile on his face before picking her up and doing the same, plopping my little girl next to Elise. "And what about you? Are you helping Elise make dinner?" Watching the three of them together was amazing. The way the girls looked at Edward was with nothing more than admiration and awe. He had their attention with little effort. Edward was the same. The way he looked and interacted with the girls together was almost magical. The fact that he looked at my baby girl with the same eyes and loving smile that he gave Elise melted me. It melted me completely.
There came an echo of little of giggles from the girls and a few disbelieving 'daddys' and 'Mr. Cullens'. "Okay, okay," he relented and kissed Elise on top of the head. "How about we start tacos soon? Sound good?"
"Yes!" came Elise's bright voice.
"Momma, we're having tacos!" Carlie looked at me for the first time since coming into the kitchen. Her eyes were the brightest green and shined right along with her smile.
"Yeah, I heard that baby," I said, coming up next to her and kissing her little forehead.
"We haven't had tacos in forever!"
"That's because daddy didn't like them. It was a special treat for just you and mommy."
"But we get them now with Mr. Cullen! Mr. Cullen likes them." Her excitement was evident, even over such a simple thing as the dinner menu. Elise was nodding just as excitedly beside her.
Edward chimed in before I could, ruffling her windblown curls. "Yes I do, Carlie. Do you girls want to help make them?" As if he even needed to ask. Both girls nodded enthusiastically, bouncing up and down in there spots. "Bella, can you grab the stuff out of the fridge. You'll find everything we need," he said, looking at me with that little half-smile that I loved. "I'll get the girls hands washed up."
I nodded and soon we were all busy getting started. We set Carlie and Elise up on stools at the center island tearing up lettuce and separating out the taco shells. Edward was working on browning the meat and I was standing beside him, chopping miscellaneous veggies for our meal. The girls were busy chatting and giggling over their task, so I took a chance to look at Edward as I paused my knife only to find him watching me. "You're great with them," I said, motioning my head toward our daughters.
"I've had lots of practice. Rooms full of elementary school kids year after year will do that," he laughed out with an evident wink. "What's your excuse?" A sly smile played on his lips as he bumped his hips into my own, making me laugh right alongside him.
"Mother's intuition," I said, tapping my temple with one hand and smiling widely, moving my body almost instinctively into Edward's. I fit there, right into his side. The sensation was crazy and new and completely scary - and I think I pretty much loved it.
A fit of giggles from behind shot us apart. Both Edward and I turned around quickly to see both girls watching us with big smiles and mischievous eyes. "Are you girls done?"
"Yes Daddy," Elise chimed in.
Carlie followed shortly after with a 'yup' and a quick shake of her head, bouncing her hair all about. "Great work! Elise, can you show Carlie where the silverware is and set the table while Bella and I finish this stuff?" Elise shook her head just as Carlie had done moments before and jumped off the stool with a gentle grace. Carlie followed just after, but in a much more noisy and clumsy fashion. She was just like me.
Edward and I finished up the rest of the ingredients and the four of us were soon spread around the table, hands and mouths occupied with our food. We talked and we laughed and we simply just were. I took a moment to just lean back in my chair and soak it all in. This...this right here was what family should be like. It shouldn't be the dinners Carlie and I had back in Chicago with James that consisted of forced talk and more noise from the silverware than our voices. Dinner with family should be these laughs and these smiles and these moments of making the simple memories in life of the little things. Looking over to Edward, I caught his eyes and smiled in silent thanks for everything.
All too soon dinner was over, dishes were put into the dishwasher, and Edward and I were shuffling the girls into the living room for a movie. "It's not too late, is it?" he asked, leaning in close to my ear with his fingers twisting themselves into the back of my shirt.
"Nope." Honestly, even if it was late, I don't know if I'd be able to say no to him. Carlie loved being around Elise and Edward and, so did I. There was no doubt about it that he and his little girl worked themselves into the little safe world I had created for Carlie and I.
"Good," he finished, snaking his hand around to my hip, grazing bare flesh where my shirt had ridden up, and pulling me into him, if only for a moment.
When we got into the living room, Carlie and Elise were huddled around the DVD rack, talking a mile a minute and pointing here and there. "Elise, why don't you let Carlie pick out the movie." The 'Daddy' tone was there in Edward's voice and Elise acknowledge him immediately with a sheepish smile that only a child can successfully manage. Carlie stood there studying the sides and pulling out the cases to look at the pictures on the front while tapping at her chin as she always did when she was thinking. I have no idea where she picked up the habit, but I loved it.
After much deliberation, she grabbed a case and brought it over to Edward. "This one please." The smile on Edward's face when he saw the DVD in her little hands was one that I will never forget and one that I always want to see. It stretched across his face in the most brilliant fashion, lighting up his already vibrant eyes.
"Do you like Beauty and the Beast too?" he asked in almost awe of Carlie's choice. She nodded her head and smiled brightly up at him before climbing onto the sofa next to me. "It's...it's mine and Elise's favorite." His voice is soft as he looks down at his girl already tucked next to him. "Now we can share it with you." With those last words, his eyes moved up to meet mine and I saw a lifetime fly by in his gaze. There were memories and hope and something else that I couldn't simply pinpoint staring back. A few beats longer, Edward shook his head slightly and moved to put the movie in.
Once the movie was in and started, he made his way back to the sofa and sunk into the corner, Elise immediately snuggling herself back into his side and Edward gently holding her there. We were all sitting on the plush sofa, Edward and I taking up each end with the girls' little bodies sharing the middle cushion. Carlie curled her legs up to her chest and laid her head in my lap as she had done since she was little. This was always her comfort - her head in my lap and my fingers moving through the silky curls of her hair. My hand, resting against the armrest, moved on instinct and started running through the strands, letting it fall like water through the spaces between my fingers. It was as much my comfort as hers. It reminded me she was still my little girl.
The movie went on. Belle sang, the Beast stomped around angry as ever and the girls fell asleep even before Belle and Beast played in the snow. Carlie was still curled up against my lap, her head rolling against my leg in sleep. Elise's body was still curled into Edward's side just as she had started out. "Hey," Edward whispered causing me to look up, rolling my head to rest my cheek against the sofa back. He was smiling a half-smile as always and watching me closely. "Thanks."
"For what?" My confusion evident in my voice.
Moving his arm towards me and gently laying it, palm up over Carlie's body, he continued, "For being here. For wanting to stay." I looked down at the fingers, so long and lean, and took them in my free hand without a second thought. That one connection made this real and it made it about as perfect as it could be. My palm against his with our fingers entwined felt right and I knew I didn't want to let go. Edward was fixing the broken pieces and picking up my life in ways that I couldn't do myself. "Where else would I be?"
Edward and I didn't say anything after that. We just stayed watching each other and smiling like fools as he ran his thumb over my knuckles in a calming rhythm. Sitting right there, we silently crossed a point. With his hand in mine and his green eyes locked to my brown, we became more than just Bella and Edward. We became an 'us' in the world of little girls and Disney movies. I didn't want to look away from the beautiful man that had invited me into his life and had found a love for my baby that even her own father hadn't carried. Too soon my eyes were fighting against me, my eyelids sliding shut faster than I wanted. I wanted this moment to last. I wanted to stay awake and not miss a moment with Edward. Yet, the warmth and comfort and safety of simply being with him, pulled my body and mind into sleep.
A/N: Same drill as always...the song is up on my profile if you are curious. Thanks for reading :) I love you all!