Chapter 11: The Survivor
Really?
Bella Swan
I woke up the next morning to an empty bed. I rolled over sleepily, trying to figure out where Edward was, and came up with no such answer. I sat up, wishing there was some way to contact him. I was only a little bit comforted by the fact that he had to come back to me. They would let me know if he was going to go back to war, right?
Sighing, I pulled myself out of bed and trudged to the bathroom. I took my time, taking a nice long shower to pamper myself. It was nice, having every day luxuries like these. I toweled myself thoroughly after getting out and dressed in a comfortable pair of shorts and a tank top. I was more at ease around Edward now, a little bit less self-conscious.
I was curled up in one of the armchairs, my stomach grumbling slightly when Edward came bursting back into the room.
"I have news!" he yelled excitedly.
"Alright," I said, raising an eyebrow. "But where have you been?"
"I hacked into the computers," he said, his cheeks a bit flushed, probably from running. It did strange things to my body, to imagine him running.
"Why?" I asked, a bit confused.
"To find your sister!"
The book flew unceremoniously out of my hands and straight across the room. "Really? Did you find her?!" I was close to jumping up and down in my seat.
"Only one match for a Jane Swan in the entire computer, and there was a picture. She looks so much like you!"
I was stock still. I couldn't believe it. A few minutes of effortless searching, and he'd found my sister. I was completely and utterly in shock.
"Where is she?" I asked, my heart pounding, unconsciously considering all the horrible possibilities.
"She's safe, she's fine," Edward said immediately, alleviating my fears. "She's in a home for little girls, on the other side of the country." Before I could speak, he rushed on. "There's a way to contact her, too."
It took a minute for all this to settle into my shock-mushed brain. Before I knew it, I was flying towards Edward, attacking him with a hug. He let out an oomph as he caught me.
"Oh my god! Thank you so much!" I shrieked, probably nearly deafening him.
Edward collapsed to the couch, a bit taken aback by my weight, plus both my arms and legs wrapped around him.
"Whoa, little spider monkey," he laughed. "Don't be too stoic, now. Do you want to contact her?"
"What type of question is that? Of COURSE!" I yelled.
He winced. "Tone down the screaming, sweetheart. I like to have both functioning ears."
I smiled. "Sorry. I'm just excited. Do you have the picture of her with you?"
He shook his head. "I couldn't find a way to print it out, and I didn't have my phone with me to take a picture of the screen. I can go back tomorrow morning to get it if you want."
"Please?" I gave him my best puppy eyes.
"Don't pull the Bambi eyes on me, I'll do it anyway," he chuckled.
I smiled at him, overjoyed. I could finally get a portion of my family back, and it was all because of Edward.
"You are amazing," I said, leaning down to kiss him softly. I tried to show my adoration and gratitude to him in that kiss, but I wasn't entirely sure he got it.
"God, I love you," he muttered, pulling me closer to him.
I froze. What?
"Shit, I'm sorry," Edward said quickly, realizing I had gone silent. "Damnit, it wasn't meant to come out that way…I mean, I obviously mean it, I can't say I don't….but shit, I wanted to say it better…I don't need you to say it back, obviously, I'm really sorry, I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable or anything—"
"Edward?" I said, tired of his rant.
He took a deep breath. "Yeah?"
"Shut the fuck up, honey."
He let out a deep relieved, sigh. "Okay."
"And, Edward?"
"Yeah?" he said again.
"I think I love you, too."
The resounding kiss he gave me then was worth the very personal declaration that I had just made.
*O*
"So, we can call the home she's in and request to see her," Edward said, an hour later, after we'd had breakfast. "That would be the most practical way to contact her."
"I'm nervous," I admitted. "I don't know if she remembers me."
"Honestly, it's a very safe bet that she still remembers you," he said. "It's uncommon for children to forget significant people in their lives, no matter how young they are. If you practically raised her for a few years, she'd remember you."
I was slightly comforted by his statement, but still felt a bit of apprehension.
"You don't need to worry," he said, tucking me into his side. "I'm sure she'll love you no matter what."
"I really hope so," I said. "But it sucks, not having a father to greet her too."
"He could still be alive out there."
"That's a long shot. A very, very, long shot."
"It's not a crime to hope, is it?"
"Good point. You're more of a glass half-full type of person, aren't you?"
"And you're more a glass half-empty?" he countered.
"Well, thanks to my life, yes," I said, slightly sardonically. I wasn't really being resentful.
He squeezed my shoulders, letting me know soundlessly that he understood me. That was what I loved about living with him. He didn't offer false comfort whenever we discussed either of our pasts. It was nice to have someone truly understand what you had gone through and be able to relate.
"So when do you want to call her?" he asked, breaking our comfortable silence.
"I don't know," I shrugged. "How soon can we do it?"
"Now, if you want."
I shook my head vehemently. "I don't think I'm ready. Give me a day?"
"Whatever you want, sweetheart." He looked at his watch and then swore angrily.
"What?" I asked.
"I have to go for a unit meeting. A briefing on something."
"Are you going back out into the field?" I had just figured out that I loved him, I couldn't stand to be away from him for that long.
"I doubt it, so don't worry. They'd have let me know way ahead of time. It's probably just a surveillance mission."
He carefully extricated me from our embrace and set me gently on the couch. "I'll be back before you know it." He kissed me softly, and I reveled in the loving feeling between us. I had never been properly loved before, and I was truly savoring the feeling.
He had a soft smile on his face, probably mirroring my own expression. I was still smiling even after he had shut the door. I couldn't help but remember the self-entitled, violent soldier that kidnapped me and the loving young man that I knew now.
I must say, I was happy with the change.
