Disclaimer: All things Twilight belong to S. Meyer.

A/N: Hey all! Let me first apologize for the long wait for this update. I started a new job a month ago and took a summer course. I finally found some free time and couldn't wait to get back to this story. Hope you enjoy it.

My Boy

Chapter 20

I awake what feels like hours later to the sweet smells of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies mixed with the delicious boy scent that is all Edward. I'm all warm and snuggly under his thick red and tan plaid comforter and strong arms that spend hours a day throwing a football and lifting weights, are wrapped comfortably around me, cocooning me in a safe and homey embrace.

That's how I feel here with Edward, his mom and the smell of sweet chocolate morsels combined with rich butter. My mouth starts watering just thinking about the gooey delicious treat. I might have been drooling too, though that could be attributed to the nice long nap I took.

I wipe my mouth before he wakes up, making sure I don't have any wet sleep residue on my face. I'm all clear though as the back of my hand rubs against my face and comes back dry. I'm thankful I haven't embarrassed myself further today by slobbering all over Edward and his pillow in my little nap coma.

I feel him shift behind me and I roll over snuggling close to him once more, eyes facing his waiting for them to open and realization to dawn on him that we just slept together… in a sense. It was perfect too, all twisted legs and close bodies melding as one safe bubble under the thick down comforter of plaid and golden sheets.

I watch silently as his long lashes flutter once, twice and then open to meet my observing gaze. He smiles that beautiful boyish smile of his that makes me all fluttering and gooey on the inside, kind of like those chocolate chip cookies I smell coming from the kitchen.

I don't know what I expect him to say or do when he awoke, but it certainly isn't this. "Mmm…mmm is that homemade cookies I smell?"

I hit him playfully with the pillow I pulled from under my head, before rolling my eyes at him in mock annoyance. Of all of the things he could have said when he opened his eyes and saw me there in his arms, he talks about cookies. Yeah, he's a total boy for sure, food first, everything else second.

I laugh at the thought of my boy's silly thoughts and words. Then I freeze and let out an audible gasp. Did I just think my boy?

Edward's grin morphs into a frown of concern as he sees the quick change in my playful demeanor. "Bella, what's wrong? I was just kidding about the cookies. I mean kind of. I mean, you know I'm excited to wake up to your beautiful face staring back at me, right?"

I can't worry about his word fumbling at the moment; I'm having a minor freak out or maybe an epiphany of sorts. Yeah, that's more like it. My subconscious must be smarter than I, if she realizes that Edward is my boy. My Edward. The thought scared me just a few days ago, heck even just a few hours ago, I was pushing him away in the school parking lot at the thought of laying any sort of claim to Edward Cullen, but now, after this day we've had together. After he took me here to his home and to chat with his mom, comforted me as I cried, wiped away my tears and made me feel like I'm the only girl in his world aside from his mama, well that-changed things.

My look of shock changes quickly to one of elation and Edward's changes to confusion right in front of me. Our emotions are running amuck today and would even give a person with a mood disorder a headache.

Edward stares at me a few seconds longer as he brushes some wayward hair from my face, oh so delicately. "Mind telling me what just happened here Sweet B? One minute you look terrified and the next, you're smiling like you just got the last of my mama's famous cookies in there."

He smiles so sweetly at me, always so patient with me and allowing me to work through my feelings, never running from me, like he might ought to.

I grab his hand that is now cradling my face in reverence and give his palm a kiss. His twinkling green eyes and his oh so handsome smirk cover his face and just reiterate my feelings for him.

I take his hand and place it in between us and give it a good squeeze. "Well, I was just thinking about you and today and everything that we've been through in the past few days and my subconscious chose that moment to let two words slip through my mind that caught me slightly off-guard."

I cast my eyes from his for a moment, suddenly embarrassed by his too intense gaze and what he might think of my next words.

He won't have it though, because he gently lifts my eyes back to his and I continue. "Anyway, well its silly really… well maybe not silly. Okay, not silly at all, but well—in my head, I called you…my boy.

He's smiling brighter than a full moon on a dark night, so I feel encouraged to continue. I can do this. I can open up to this beautiful boy in front of me and let him know that he's mine… well for now anyway. We'll worry about the leaving part later, much, much later.

"So, I might've freaked a little at first, because I've never felt like laying claim to someone or calling them mine. Possession over a person has never really interested me, but with you, well, let's just say my head and my heart might be in agreement for once and they are both telling me that…"

As I'm about to lay all of my cards out there for him to either pick up and compile a full house or discard into a mess for someone else to clean up, he whispers so quietly, his face suddenly right in front of mine and I can smell his sleep sweet breath as I'm sure he can smell my own and it just makes sense, his breath and mine being one. Us, being an us, but I let him speak up and voice his thoughts before I continue.

"What Sweet B? What we're they telling you?" He's so close, so so close and I just want to lightly push my lips to his, until he pushes back not so lightly and lose myself in him and his sweet sweet kisses. But, I need to get this out first.

I take a deep breath, pulling in more of his sleepy breath as I do. "They are telling me to take your stupid blue jersey, and wear it to your ball game on Friday night, letting all of Brilliant and the opposing team know that you, Mr. Cullen, are now my boy."

He kisses me then, all hard and full of excitement. He nips at my bottom lip with his teeth and I whimper. This kiss is so different from our other two. It makes me feel different too, like all loosy goosy and wanton even, but if kissing my boy like this is wrong, then heaven help me, I don't ever want to be right.

As our tongues slow and our lips pull apart gasping for air, we smile silly puppy love smiles at each other. Edward catches his breath first and says, "So, does this mean you're officially my girl now?"

Yes, I gush and goo internally at the sound of my girl falling from his just kissed lips. Then I hear Edward humming a tune and I can't help but let my little giggles become full-fledged chuckles as I recognize the tune to "My Girl," and just like that we have a song too.

Our little laughter love fest is broken up as Esme knocks on the door and slowly opens it. She's all bright mom smiles and happiness as she sees our forlorn feelings from earlier have long since passed and are replaced by cheeky grins and warm chuckles.

This turned out to be a pretty great day and a few minutes later as we are sitting around their small round dining table eating warm cookies and cold milk, it just got even better.

All too soon with chocolate gooey warm bellies and matching summer sun smiles, Edward is taking me home and then trepidation kicks in again with each gravely rock we get closer to my house down my old dirt road. I know it's time to have a talk with my dad. I know I need to open up to him and tell him my future plans based on the promise I made to my mom. I'm sure Esme is right and that he'll be disappointed and upset that I would even think about staying behind, but I still have a breaking heart at the thought of going against my mother's dying wish for me to fulfill.

I stare out the window as my hands pull from Edward's so I can wring them in nervous energy. He doesn't pout or put up a fuss. He just somehow understands that I need this; I need to be lost in my head. I need to be able to stare out the window watching the pine trees and dirt road rush past me as I think of a way to talk to my dad. It's a conversation I never wanted to have, but now know that I need to, have to even.

Edward pulls into my drive and puts Sally in park, turns to me and pulls me close to him in the old bucket seat. I try to offer a smile, but know that it's more of a grimace.

He places a kiss on my forehead and breathes me in. "I know you're scared Bella and confused even, but it's going to be alright. You know your daddy loves you and only wants the best for you."

I nod and sniffle a little as I cling to his old flannel shirt, seeking just an ounce of comfort from him to take in with me for my impending conversation of possible doom and gloom.

He pulls me back just an inch and places his chocolate chip flavored lips to mine. We don't linger, just seek enough affection from the other to make it through the rest of the evening.

His worried eyes meet my once more and I kiss his cheek, then climb out as I say, "I'll be alright, Edward, but thank you for everything today."

He smiles my sweet boy smile. "Well that's what I do for my girl." I giggle and am so, so thankful for his ability to make me forget about everything, even if just for a second.

I wave bye and head inside to have a nice long overdue chat with my daddy. I take one last breath and push my way through the old wooden door.

I notice his work boots right by the door and smile, knowing that he's home already and probably waiting on me to cook supper, because he'd burn the whole house down if he even attempted to. I remember those early years after mom passed when he'd serve burnt dinner after burnt dinner, before he just gave up and started getting takeout or frozen pizzas for us. It's a good thing I enjoyed cooking and took an interest to it in my tweenage years. He was thankful too, I'm sure.

I look in the living room and notice he's not in his favorite old brown recliner, lost in a book. It's a little odd, but maybe he's in the shower or something, though I don't hear the water running. I don't panic, I'm sure he's here somewhere.

I start hollering his name as I walk from room to room and the worry rises as he doesn't respond. I go upstairs and yell his name and still no answer.

No, big deal, Bella. He's probably out in the garage organizing again or something.

I quickly make my way out there and see that he's not out here either. I try to will myself not to panic. I try to rationalize everything before I allow myself to freak out. Okay, so his work boots are by the door, but he has an extra pair, so that doesn't mean a thing. His truck is parked right outside next to mine. He should've been home by now, but maybe something happened at the mine today and he had to work a little later. It's happened before, though he usually calls. And his truck being home doesn't necessarily mean anything. He catches a ride with Harry from time to time.

With that thought, I decide to give Harry a call to see what's going one, but before I can reach the first step to head inside the house, I see Harry's old black and red two toned Ford pulling up. I squint my eyes to the setting sun, looking to see if I can see that unmistakable mustache of his and disappointment and fear consume me as I notice that there is no passenger with Harry.

My eyes start filling with tears, before his truck is even in park. I know something isn't right. I just freaking know it. Harry wouldn't be here this time of day and with that expression on his face if he was just coming for a visit with Dad. No, something is most definitely wrong here.

I start shaking my head as Harry approaches me and I sink to the first wooden step and let my tears take over. Harry rushes toward me and reaches out to hold me. He's practically a second father to me anyway, and that horrific look on his face of pure devastation is enough to send me over the edge.

He chokes up as he tries to get the words out to tell me what happened, all the while rocking me in his arms and attempting to shush my caterwauling.

"Shh… shh… It's alright Bella. It's alright. There was-" He pauses as he thickly swallows and holds back his own tears. "an accident at the mine today."

That's the last thing I hear as my vision goes spotty with tiny black dots and relief in the form of darkness takes over my mind, as my body's coping mechanism takes over for me.

A/N: So yeah, there's that. Hope you'll stick with me to find out the fate of Charlie.

Thanks so much for reading guys. It really means so much to me to know that you guys enjoy these characters as much as I do. I'll try to update in a week or less.

Happy Independence Day to those that celebrate!