A/N: Chapter title is the Olympic Motto. Translated means 'Swifter, Higher, Stronger.'
Sorry for the delay. Techno fail last night.
HUGE thank you to Fanpiremama who has been cheerleading me from the start, when I wasn't even sure I'd ever have the guts to post this story. I also can't say enough thanks to Caren and Ltlerthqak, especially for this chapter. Thank you for helping me find my voice again so I could sing.
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns the characters. The story is mine.
More ramby A/N at the bottom, but for now…enjoy the final chapter!
x-x-x
That night was everything I needed heading into our departure for Vancouver: good food, good company, laughter, relaxation. Family. Marcus even joined us for the meal, which turned into an impromptu engagement party, since it was the first time we'd all been together again. Carlisle popped the cork on a bottle of ridiculously expensive champagne, and I didn't even think about skating and the Olympics for the entire evening. Well, hardly at all.
When Edward and I returned home, I even got my wish for some quality alone time. Just him and me. Though it was late and the next day would be busy with traveling, we lit a fire and got cozy on a makeshift mattress of pillows and blankets on the floor. Our unhurried kisses and gentle touches grew to something more. While the warm fire crackled in the hearth, Edward and I made love slowly, sweetly, and fell asleep in each other's arms.
There was nothing unhurried about the following day. Wrangling ten people onto one flight in a busy airport was no easy feat, especially with the likes of Alice who should have hired an entourage for how much she packed. Poor Jasper looked so exhausted already at only ten a.m. when the two of them showed up with a stuffed rolling cart of luggage.
The flight out of Minnesota was smooth, but things went downhill after that.
We had a connection in Chicago, which Emmett whined about profusely, complaining that we shouldn't have to fly east when our destination was northwest. The layover was non-existent and as soon as we touched down, we were off in a stampede through the terminal to catch our next flight. I had to laugh as we sprinted through the halls of O'Hare. It was like a scene straight out of Home Alone. Alice even started humming the song as we rushed along.
Even with our hurry, we just barely missed the connection and Esme went straight to work booking us another flight. Thankfully she'd had the foresight to buffer in a full day for travel before I was actually supposed to be there.
Two and a half hours after our original flight was set to take off, we were still stuck in the terminal with another two hour wait in front of us. Alice and Rose had long since abandoned the group to explore what sort of shopping opportunities O'Hare had to offer. Jasper had propped himself up on a pile of carry-on bags and was silently working his way through a dog eared copy of The Red Badge of Courage. Esme had stretched out on the bench above him, happily skimming a newly released romance novel on her Kindle reader. Charlie and Carlisle were camped out by the windows, munching on sunflower seeds and roasted peanuts while they discussed sports and politics.
I lay out across an empty row of chairs with my head in Edward's lap, attempting to fight off a headache that had been brewing all morning. His hands patiently scratched my head, soothing away the throbbing pulse at my temple as he casually flipped through a copy of Sports Illustrated, his feet propped up on Emmett's carry-on suitcase in front of him.
Emmett sat on the bench across from us, playing some sort of video game on his phone. He must not have been doing very well because he kept slapping his forehead and swearing under his breath. At one point he looked like he wanted to smash the tiny device between his massive hands. He settled for tossing it clumsily on the seat next to him. He sat back, sprawling over three seats and huffing out a frustrated breath, tapping his fingers against the back of the bench.
"Is it almost time to go?" he whined to no one in particular.
"No, Emmett," Esme sighed, not even glancing up from her reading. "I told you six times already that the flight boards at five-thirty."
"Ma-an," he groaned, folding his arms over his chest and pouting his bottom lip out, looking every bit the part of a cranky little boy. "This sucks. I could have made it across the terminal twice as fast if I wasn't waiting on the rest of you slow pokes. I could be halfway to the 'Couve right now."
"Well maybe you should just run ahead without us next time, Emmett McCarty Cullen," Esme drawled in a disinterested voice that told me she'd dealt with his whining on more than one occasion. "Then maybe you'll be happy and the rest of us can have some peace and quiet."
"Ouch, Mama," Emmett said, clutching his hand over his heart as he stood. "That really hurts." He stepped over to where Esme sat, plucking her Kindle right out of her hands, waving it high above his head teasingly as she reached for it.
"Hey! Emmett, give it back!"
"What are you gonna do? Ground me?" he said in a snarky tone.
"Worse. I'll tell Rosalie," she threatened with a smug smile when Emmett's face fell. "Her punishments are far more effective."
"You don't play fair," he pouted, reluctantly handing her back the device.
"Why don't you go find something to eat?" she suggested, getting comfortable again.
"Nah. I'm too bored to snack," he lamented.
I drew a breath in on an exaggerated gasp, tapping Edward's knee. "The apocalypse is here. Emmett's not hungry."
"Ha ha ha," he turned to me and stuck out his tongue. "You're all a regular bunch of comedians. I'm gonna go watch the planes land."
"How's your head feeling?" Edward asked, rolling his magazine and stuffing it back in his travel pack.
"Better."
"Wanna walk around for a bit?"
"Okay by me," I shrugged, sitting up from his lap and nabbing my purse from beneath the seat.
"Mom? You mind watching our stuff?" Edward asked. "Bella and I are gonna stretch our legs a little."
"Not at all," she said with a smile. "Just keep an eye on the boards in case of any changes to the flight. Have fun, you two."
"Where are we going?" I asked as we stepped out into the bustling corridor.
"Figured we'd just walk around for awhile," he said, reaching out and snagging my hand in his, weaving our fingers lightly together between us. "We'll be doing enough sitting on the plane."
We simply wandered for a bit, browsing through souvenirs at one of the over-priced newsstands and stopping to snap a photo in front of the hanging globe that I remembered seeing in movies.
"You hungry at all?" Edward asked after awhile. "There's some good places to eat around here. And you can bet we won't be getting anything good on the plane."
"What do they have? I've never been through this airport before."
"Oh, Baby, you're with just the right guy," he said, pulling me close as we stood just off to the side of the stream of rushing passengers. My arms lifted to link around his neck as he nuzzled his scruffy cheek playfully over my jaw. "I've got a whole treasure trove of knowledge up here when it comes to the hidden secrets of airport survival," he said, tapping the side of his head and looking pretty proud of himself.
"Is that a fact?" I grinned up at him, raising up on my tip toes to hover just a breath away from his lips.
"Mmmhmm," he hummed, teasingly nipping at my bottom lip. "Just stick with me, love."
"I wasn't planning any different," I mumbled, tightening my arms around him and sighing as he gently sucked my lip between his, his tongue delicately seeking admittance to my mouth and meeting no resistance.
I whimpered softly as the pressure of his mouth steadily grew as his lips moved with mine. His hands moved over the small of my back, one lightly bunching the fabric of my shirt while the other splayed across my skin, pressing my body into his. I gasped when I felt his erection press against my stomach, my fingers tightening in his hair as I moaned my approval, meeting the heightened passion of his kisses with equal fervor as I rubbed against him.
A shrill wolf whistle had us quickly breaking apart, only to find Alice and Rose coming toward us down the hall, loaded down with plastic shopping bags.
"Get a room, lovebirds!" Rose called out, just a little louder than necessary.
I pressed the back of my hand against my swollen lips, attempting to recover my shaky breath.
"We were just...uh..." I stammered.
"Food," Edward blurted out, coming to my aide as he shifted slightly behind me, attempting to covertly adjust himself in his jeans. "We were gonna get something to eat."
"Looks like you already got started with your appetizer of Bella's face," Alice snickered.
"Shut it, half pint," Edward muttered, rolling his eyes and tugging me away in the opposite direction. "We'll meet you guys back at the gate."
"Just don't get so caught up in your smoochy fest that you miss the plane!" Alice shouted after us.
We mostly behaved ourselves as Edward took me to a Chicago landmark called Billy Goat Tavern for 'cheezborgers.' After sufficiently gorging ourselves, Edward excitedly pulled me down the corridor and into an extremely long line in front of a little shop called Garrett's Popcorn. I tried to put up a fight that the line was too long and suggested that we just pick up some chips and candy at one of the newsstand's by the gate, but he was insistent that I wasn't really living until I'd tried their Chicago mix. It sounded a little gross to me, an assortment of caramel, buttered, and cheese popcorn all tossed together, but Edward looked so adorably excited that I gave in and waited in the ridiculous line for the gross sounding popcorn mix.
He certainly made it worth my while, making the time pass quicker by rubbing gently at my neck and engaging me in a borderline inappropriate PDA that would have embarrassed me if I hadn't been so desperate for him.
When the adolescent boy in line behind us poked me in the back and grudgingly informed us that we were next in line, I decided that Edward and I really needed to take a vacation—just the two of us together, preferably somewhere completely shut off from the outside world. Based on the lusty look in Edward's eyes when I suggested it on our walk back to the terminal, I didn't think it'd take too much convincing to make it happen.
By the time we finally boarded the plane, everyone seemed to be in better spirits and ready to roll.
Finally, we all made it up in the air to journey to Canada. We were all slightly travel weary when the plane touched down, but the sight of Vancouver in all its Olympic Glory seemed to kick off our second wind. With the change of time zones, we arrived at the condo near the Village and got settled in just around dinnertime.
The 'grown-ups' opted to stick around and order something in, but the six younger members of our crew were all eager to kick off our time here and get into the Olympic spirit. It was a short jaunt over to the Village and with the balmy, spring-like temperatures Vancouver had been boasting, it made for an enjoyable evening walk.
We stopped at the cafeteria first to grab some grub, enjoying the cooking of the high caliber chefs on staff for the games, serving up cuisines from around the globe twenty-four hours a day. We wandered aimlessly around the sprawling grounds, moving from building to building to take in the sights—the gym, the little shopping complex complete with a bank and an all-denominations religious center. It truly was like a mini, isolated city. The paths and hallways were brimming with athletes from across the globe, all sporting their nation's colors proudly, many of them casually strolling around with medals draped around their necks as if it was perfectly common accessory.
Emmett was like a kid on Christmas, pointing out the sights, picking out athletes he recognized. I half expected him to run up to one of the well-known snowboarders we passed by on our way through the athlete's lounge and ask for an autograph. You never would have guessed the man was a professional athlete himself.
I introduced them to members of the team that I recognized as we came across them, always receiving a warm welcome.
Finally we made our way into the game room in the US section of the dormitories. I'd been dying to show the guys since I'd camped out here most of the night after Opening Ceremonies. It was like a fantasy rec room complete with big screen TV's where a group was engaged in a rousing game of Guitar Hero, pool tables, ping pong, table hockey and darts were scattered throughout the area. The quiet pop music crooning through the speakers mixed with the laughter of mingling teammates created an atmosphere of fun and relaxation where everyone could step away from the pressure of their various competitions and just enjoy some down time.
"Hey, Bella!" I heard a deep tenor call out when we entered the room. I looked up just in time to see Garrett Saunders, jogging over to us. He was a speed skater and one of the most famous faces on the US team. He'd earned the title of an Olympic heartthrob and I supposed it was with good reason. He was unquestionably attractive with his short, sandy blonde hair and ocean blue eyes, the tan of his skin more suited to a surfer than a speed skater.
But while he set other girls hearts a flutter, I'd never felt a single stutter to my pulse over him. He was simply a good guy, a friendly acquaintance and an athlete I respected.
I'd met him at the previous Olympics during Opening Ceremonies and had run into him a few times throughout the games when Renee didn't have her eagle eye on me. He'd been part of the group I hung out with after the ceremony here the previous week. Though he was always flirtatious, he never made a move in my direction either, unwaveringly devoted to his long-time girlfriend who also happened to be a member of the team in women's curling.
"Garrett, hey! How's it going?" I asked, laughing when he scooped me up in a bear hug. Did I mention he was flirtatious? Completely harmless, but flirtatious none the less.
"Great!" he said, plopping me back on my feet. "You just get back?"
"Yeah, just tonight. How's your week been?"
"Two for two so far," he grinned, stretching out the ribbons around his neck to show off his medals—one silver, one bronze.
It sounded like a bit of an arrogant move to flaunt your winnings around, casually wearing medals while you hung out in the lounge, but looking around the room, those little shiny discs were everywhere.
"Wow, you sure are," I grinned, leaning in to get a closer look at the unique pattern etched into the wavy metal. "How many do you have left?"
"Two," he said, dropping his hands to his pockets when I straightened again. "Fifteen-hundred's tomorrow and the relay's not until next Friday."
"Well good luck out there."
"You too. Me and a couple of the guys got tickets to come see you skate," he informed me, playfully nudging my shoulder. "I'm sure you'll do great."
"Aw, that's really sweet of you guys," I said, glancing behind me when I felt someone step up to my shoulder.
"Hey, Bells, aren't you gonna introduce us to your friend?" Rose asked suggestively, looking rather eager to meet the man in front of me.
Alice was close behind her and I had to bite down on my lip to keep from laughing at their expressions. They were like two swoony pre-teens faced with their favorite Backstreet Boy. I half expected them to start fluffing their hair and giggling at any moment.
"Oh my gosh, sorry," I stammered, waving the rest of the gang over when I saw the boys holding back a few steps. "Guys, this is Garrett, speed skating. Garrett, this is Jasper, Emmett, Rose, Alice, and Edward," I said, pulling him close to my side and snuggling under his arm when it wrapped easily around me to rest on my hip. "My fiancé."
"That's right, I heard you got engaged," Garrett said, holding his hand out to Edward and giving it an enthusiastic shake that Edward returned. "Congratulations, man, I hope you realize you're marrying one of the coolest girls in the entire world. Lucky bastard."
Edward grinned down at me with a proud smile and nodded his agreement. I was relieved when I couldn't detect even a hint of jealousy in his eyes. Not every guy was super understanding when some random man swooped up his fiancé. I could only assume that he felt the exact same way that I did. It didn't matter who else crossed our paths or how attractive they were. We only had eyes for each other and there was a deep trust that couldn't be tarnished.
"Whatever, Garrett, like you haven't been madly in love with Irina for almost a decade," I teased, melting into Edward's embrace when his hand rubbed casually over the curve of my hip.
"True," he sighed, snapping his fingers comedically. "Still, a lot of hearts were broken when word got out that the Swan was off the market. You better treat her right, Edward."
"I'll do my best," Edward responded dryly, a friendly smile on his lips.
"Sure you will, you seem like a stand up guy. And hey, I almost forgot you play for the Wild. Oh gosh, Emmett, Jasper, I didn't connect it at first but you're all on the team," Garrett exclaimed, admiration clear in his voice. "You guys are awesome, I'm a huge fan. My mom never let me go out for hockey, said I was 'too delicate.' I'm pretty sure that's Mom-speak for scrawny."
"Certainly not scrawny anymore," Alice muttered under her breath, too quiet for any of the boys to hear. Rose shook her head in agreement, her eyes wide with appreciation as she bit down on her lower lip. I'd never seen her look at anything that way except for classic cars and Emmett.
"You gonna take in a game while you're here?" Garrett asked the guys. "I think the US is playing Canada in the prelims on Sunday."
"Yeah, but they've gotta be completely sold out, I mean, come on," Emmett scoffed.
"Dude, you're with Bella, I'm sure she can hook you up," Garrett said, giving Emmett a light smack on the shoulder. "Isn't that right, Swan?"
I held back a grin, not wanting to let on to the fact that I was way ahead of them.
"I'll see what I can do," I shrugged casually. "I might be able to pull a few strings."
"Babybel, you are awesome," Emmett said, holding his fist out for knuckles.
"You guys gonna stick around awhile? A bunch of us were gonna start up a table hockey tourney. Care to see if your skills match your moves on the ice?" Garrett said in his most convincing tone.
"You boys have fun," Alice said quickly, shooing them away while she linked her arm through mine. "We're just gonna have a little girl-talk over on the couches."
She waited until the guys walked off with Garrett and dragged me over to a couch, shoving me down to the cushions and flicking her fingers against my forehead.
"Ouch, what the hell, Alice?" I grumbled, rubbing at my forehead.
"You've been holding out on us, girl!" Alice accused. "What other eye candy do you have in your back pocket?"
"What are you talking about?"
"What am I talking about? I'm talking about the fact that Garrett Saunders just walked right up to you and hugged you like you were besties or something. Spill!" she babbled out in one breath, her eyes huge as they darted around behind me to check out the guys and see who else she might recognize.
"There's nothing to spill!" I insisted. "I met him at the last Olympics and then I ran into him again last week when I was here. A bunch of us hung out after Opening Ceremonies."
"And you never tapped that?" Rose scoffed.
"What?" I screeched in surprise. "No!"
"Bells, the man is drool worthy," Alice informed me like I was missing the obvious fact.
"He's in my five," Rose spoke up.
"Your five?" I asked.
"Yeah, you know, the list of five celebrities you get a free pass to have sex with if you ever get the opportunity...oh shit, well, I guess I just proved that rule as bogus since we're in the same room as the man candy and there's still no way I'm cheating on Emmett," she reasoned, her face scrunching slightly in disappointment. "Oh well, I still maintain that he's one of my celebrity crushes."
"Okay, that's just...whatever, but no, I've never 'tapped' that. Virgin, remember?"
Alice snorted undaintily.
"Not anymore," Rose pointed out, her eyes gazing around the room and blowing out a low whistle. "And I have to say, I have a newfound admiration for your self control. Holding onto your V-card for so long when presented with such an array of prime contenders could not have been easy."
"You two are such pervs!" I exclaimed, slapping them both over the top of their heads to try and knock that creepy swoony fangirl look off their faces. "And you, you're happily married!" I said, pointing an accusing finger at Alice.
"Doesn't make me blind," she shrugged.
"Garrett Saunders is freakin' hot, Bells," Rose said. "Just admit it."
"Meh," I shrugged with disinterest.
"Oh don't bother, Rose," Alice said in a disgusted voice. "She's clearly caught up in the engagement haze where she sees no other man but her betrothed."
"Yup," I agreed with a smug smile, drinking in the sight of my freakin' hot fiancé as he engaged in a rigorous game of table hockey, and the way the muscles of his back and arms rippled deliciously under his thin t-shirt. "And the view's pretty damn good from here."
A couple of hours later, our group had interspersed themselves with the other Olympians, playing games and enjoying some laughs and good conversation.
Alice and Rose had quickly lost their fangirl attitudes and jumped into the fun, their effervescent personalities drawing people in easily as they took on a group of Alpine skiers at Guitar Hero.
Eric had shown up awhile back and Emmett had taken him under his wing, trying to teach him how to play ping pong. So far he'd had little success since Eric tended to cower away and drop his paddle any time the tiny white ball came near him. They were like a little comedy show and I'd been more than entertained just kicking back and watching the action when Edward came and plopped down on the couch beside me.
"Hey, beautiful, how's it going?" he asked, kissing the top of my head as I leaned back into his arms.
"Good. You having fun?" I tilted my head back and puckered my lips at him, smiling when he softly kissed me from the upside-down angle.
"Yeah," he said, kissing me again. "You?"
"Mmmhmm," I hummed, kissing him once more before cuddling into his lap. "A little tired. It's been a long day."
"We'll head out soon. I think everyone's pretty beat," he murmured, gently stroking my hair and curling me into his embrace. "It's a fun group. Garrett's a funny guy."
"Yeah, he's always been a bit of a loudmouth," I said, fighting back a yawn. "He and Eric get along really well."
"I can see that," Edward chuckled, glancing over to where Garrett had joined Emmett and Eric, attempting to give Eric some 'helpful' pointers that mostly just involved a lot of hazing and turned into a back and forth battle of insults. Said with the utmost affection of course.
I smiled, laughing softly at the sight and burrowed back into Edward's shoulder.
"Hey," Edward said softly, leaning us back against the cushions as our legs tangled together seamlessly. "Garrett said he could get us passes to go see him skate tomorrow, you up for it?"
"Yeah. Sounds like fun."
"Uh," he cleared his throat, obviously wanting to say something, though he hesitated.
"What?"
"You really think you can get us into the game on Sunday?"
"Why?" I asked casually, lifting my head from his chest and melting a little at the utter look of boyish excitement I saw in his bright green eyes. "Did you want to go?"
"Fuck yes! I mean, uh, yeah, if we can get in," he stammered, reining himself back in quickly. I had to bite back a burst of laughter. "But it's no big deal if you can't get us tickets."
I smiled and rubbed my knuckles over his cheek, softly kissing his lips.
"What would you say if I told you...that I already got them," I drawled out.
"Seriously?"
His eyes practically bugged out as I nodded.
"Row six, center ice."
He stared at me for a moment, his jaw slack with surprise. Then his eyes crinkled and he pursed his lips at me in playful agitation. His fingers dug into my sides, tickling my ribs as he rolled me under him, playfully growling at me for not telling him sooner. Perched above me, his lips spread into a giant grin.
"You really are the coolest fiancée ever."
x-x-x
Over the next three days, I focused on living the experience to its limits, immersing myself in the excitement and enjoyment of the games. I never forgot what I was there for and devoted a small chunk of time every morning to getting out on the ice and into the gym to keep my training up so I could adjust to the altitude change. I'd even managed to get the guys out for a run with me around the perimeter of the Village a few times.
Honestly, at that point I was as prepared as I could have been; there was little use chaining myself to the practice rink.
I'd done that last time, in Torino, though it hadn't been by choice. I'd barely seen anything of the Turin games apart from the inside of the Palavela arena where we'd practiced and performed. By the time the short program rolled around, I'd already started to feel worn down, though of course Renee didn't see it as a result of over-training.
I didn't plan on making that mistake twice.
I had become an Olympian again, and I'd done it entirely on my own two feet without the pushing and prodding of Renee. The days of her telling me I needed to train harder, that I couldn't risk getting distracted by cutting loose a little, were over. This time, I had every intention of enjoying the adventure that so few people had ever been given the chance to experience.
Every day I donned my red, white, and blue garb and ventured out to support my fellow teammates, with my family enthusiastically in tow. They surrounded me with love and support, having faith in my abilities and encouraged my need to take a step back from training and enjoy this time. I knew the opportunity would never come around again, and was completely determined to soak it all up like a sponge.
Snowboarding, speed skating, curling, we caught glimpses of it all, even driving out to Whistler to watch the action on the mountains at Alpine ski races and Skeleton runs. We'd stay together or split off into groups based on the events we wanted to watch if there was more than one going on at once.
Every once in awhile we'd meet up with some of the other Olympians—Eric, Angela, Garrett and the others we'd gotten better acquainted with that first night. But so often it was just the six of us, and I found that I preferred it that way. Sharing this experience with Alice, Jasper, Emmett, Rose, and Edward, running around Olympic Village every day like kids hopped up on candy at Disneyworld...I wouldn't trade that experience for anything in the world. So many memories were burned into my head over those three days. Ones I knew I would always cherish.
My favorite of which was sitting next to Edward in the crowded stands at Canada Hockey Place and cheering the US team on to victory over Canada. It was the first hockey game we'd ever attended together as fans, though we'd watched a few games on TV before. I should have realized he'd be a crazy fan, but nothing could have prepared me for what I experienced at that game.
He was a perfect mixture of his parents—calmly and studiously following the motion of play like Carlisle, always on the edge of his seat with his long fingers perched under his chin. Until a penalty was called, a fight broke out, or a goal was scored. Then he was totally like Esme, jumping around, cheering, and shouting.
With every goal the US scored, he'd pluck me off my feet, crushing me to him with a hug and nearly blew my ear drums out with his elated cries. By the look in his eyes as he watched the game play out, it became clear to me that he was dying to get out there, even if he wouldn't admit it to himself.
Still, he seemed blissfully happy to sit beside me, holding my hand and munching on a soft pretzel while surrounded by the rest of our family in the seats around us.
Late in the third period, with the United States in a marginal lead, I started getting a little anxious to get out of there. Not because I wasn't enjoying the game or the company, but watching Edward in the stands all night, coupled with the lack of time we'd been able to spend together since we left Minnesota had me feeling very...frisky.
I'd heard some of the athletes gossiping back at the Village about something called a 'tapering effect.' It was common for Olympians to train very rigorously leading up to the games and then severely cut back in the days leading up to their events. It was supposed to result in peak performance conditions in your body. It was something nearly everyone practiced to some extent at this level and certainly I was purposefully training far less than I had been back home to give my body plenty of rest.
What I hadn't realized is that it was a fairly well known fact that the tapering effect also resulted in a massive increase in sex drive. Something about endorphins or something. It certainly helped explain the sexually charged air at the Village as well as the plethora of free condoms provided for the athletes...it just hadn't been something I'd ever noticed or experienced myself. Until now.
Whether that was it or not, I didn't really care. I just wanted to get Edward alone and naked as soon as possible.
His attention was glued to the game in front of him, his eyes practically glazed and unblinking, though I could see them shifting rapidly as they followed the puck. Part of me figured I should just wait since the game was almost over and he'd been so excited about coming to watch. But I figured there wasn't any harm in at least making my intentions known for what I wanted to do next.
I shifted a little closer to him, wrapping my arms around his bicep as his elbow perched on the armrest between us. Then I leaned my head on to the curve of his shoulder, nuzzling into his neck as he adjusted to welcome me in.
"Hi," I murmured, pressing a soft kiss against his neck.
He turned just slightly and smiled down at me, trailing his finger over my forearm. "You having fun?"
"Yeah," I sighed, lowering my voice to a promising whisper. I wanted to make my intentions clear to him but I certainly didn't need anyone else hearing what I had in mind. "Though I much prefer watching you out there on the ice."
"Is that right?" he smirked, though it was clear I hadn't yet achieved his full attention. I'll have to step up my game.
"Mmhmm," I hummed low in my throat, dropping one of my hands to his knee and slowly inching my way up his thigh. I raked my fingernails along his inseam; he sat up a little straighter with a jolt, automatically spreading his legs just a little wider under my touch. My lips quirked into a wicked smile. I definitely have his attention now.
"Seeing you skate, the way the sweat builds on your skin from exertion, imagining the shape of your body and the stretch of your muscles under your hockey pads. The way you handle your...stick," I said slowly, my voice ripe with innuendo. I pressed a lingering open-mouthed kiss to his throat and felt the vibration of his skin against my lips as his breath hitched, his Adam's apple bobbing in his neck as he swallowed thickly. With a smug smile, I eased back into my seat. "Yeah, I definitely prefer it."
"Jesus, Bella," he groaned, his eyes clamped shut and his jaw twitching slightly. The way it always did when he was trying to maintain some self-control. "You can't say stuff like that to me in public."
It was probably a little mean to tease him further, but I couldn't stop myself. My desperate need for him had turned me into a bit of a shameless sex kitten. I didn't even care that my father and his parents were less than ten feet away. I figured as long as they didn't turn around I was safe.
"Then it probably won't help if I tell you that I packed your jersey in my bag," I murmured, turning in my seat a little so I could easily stroke my fingers down the center of his chest. "And that I have every intention of putting it on when we get back to our room," I said, closing my teeth gently over the lobe of his ear. "And nothing else...Captain."
"Oh ungh, God," he moaned, his breath gasping when my fingers grazed against his erection. His grip tightened on the armrest until his knuckles were white. "No, that's really not helping."
"You know that they say Olympians get really horny during the games?" I informed him conversationally, casually as my touch continued to roam over his thigh.
"Do they?" he said weakly, just slightly raising his hips off the chair as if searching for my attention.
"Yeah...all that testosterone and physical activity, so many young, perfect, firm bodies in one confined space," I said with an intentional squeeze of my hand over his hardened leg muscle.
"That is a predicament," he uttered, turning his head to nuzzle his cheek against my soft skin, lightly kissing my neck.
"Mmmhmm. But there's only one firm body I want. The only one I ever have and ever will want," I rasped out as the fingers of my other hand dove into his hair, clutching the soft strands as he lavished attention on my neck. "The only one that makes me need. Yours."
His hands eagerly rose to my face, holding me steady as his mouth passionately covered mine.
"Suddenly I'm very eager for this game to be over," he whispered, his breath warm and unsteady upon my lips.
At that moment, the announcer blared through the speakers, "One minute remaining in the third period!"
"Perfect fucking timing," Edward muttered, rising from his seat and pulling me none-too-delicately to my feet with him. I squealed softly at our sudden movement and then swallowed back a moan of anticipation from the look in his eyes. Pure. Lust.
"Dude, where you going? They just pulled the goalie!" Emmett protested, slapping his hand on Edward's shoulder to hold him in place.
For a second, it looked like Edward was tempted to knock his brother out and swoop me over his shoulder, a mental picture that turned me on far more than it should have. We were all spared that scenario when the crowd around us rose to its feet in glorious victory. Emmett dropped his hold on Edward's shoulder to join in the cheering, slapping hands with every person he could reach.
The US scored on an open net in the final minute of the game, clinching their win.
Edward swept me into his arms, his hands cupped my backside and he ground my hips against him under the guise of a celebratory embrace.
He dipped his head close to my ear as cheers continued to ring out around us. "Let's get out of here."
I nodded eagerly as he set me back on my feet, instantly snagging my hand in a tight grip as we shoved our way out of the row.
"We'll see you guys back at the condo later," he called out behind us when Rose asked where we were going. "Much later," he tacked on after another lustful glance my way.
He practically dragged me up the stairs, eager to get us out of the arena before the game finished and we were swallowed up by the crowd. I followed after him, breathlessly giggling the entire way as I stumbled, girlishly squealing when he growled and simply hoisted me up in his arms, not a far cry from my earlier visual.
The entire walk back took about three times longer than it should have because we kept stopping to fall all over each other. It was like some sort of magnetic force running between us. I simply had to touch him.
At one point he had me pinned up against the wall of the dining hall at Olympic Village, his hands impatiently unzipping my vest so he could more easily roam over my breasts under my sweater. It was only slightly embarrassing when we got caught by a team of bobsledders passing by. After that, Edward firmly ordered me to walk a full three feet away from him with absolutely no physical contact until we made it back to the condo.
That was as far as we made it, barely slamming the door behind us before we were upon each other. It was a desperate tangle of hands, lips, and limbs. Fingers clawing at each other in our frenzy. Clothes were torn and haphazardly scattered in our hurry to bare each other, seeking the satisfaction of skin gliding against skin.
We attempted to stumble our way toward the stairs, wanting to make it up to our room in case our warning hadn't been taken seriously. We only made it up two steps before he lost patience and pinned me up against the wall. His lips fastened to my skin and his fingers dug into my hips as he gripped me, lifting me off my toes until my legs wrapped around his waist, drawing his length into me in one breath-stealing stroke.
It was animalistic the way we came together, sweat glistening on our skin as our bodies slapped against each other, each seeking the pleasure that only the other could offer. Screams of ecstasy and grunts of satisfaction the only other sounds in the room. Even those fell on deaf ears as blood rushed through my head like crashing waves as he pounded into me.
I have no concept of how long the ravishment lasted, two minutes or ten. All I know is that I'd never felt more desired than I did when Edward clutched me to him desperately, gasping out my name with his head buried against my neck as he spilled inside me only seconds after my own shattering orgasm.
He held me there against the wall, both of us afraid to move for fear of simply collapsing. Eventually I unclenched my legs from around his waist and we found our way to the floor.
"Fuck. Shit. Gah, Bell," he gasped out, his hand rubbing over his pounding heart as he tried to recover his breath.
"You can say that again," I chuckled, sprawling beside him listlessly, my chest heaving as my lungs burned for oxygen.
We lay on the floor in contented silence, my head lying on his arm acting as the only contact between us.
"That right there should be reason enough to have the Olympics every year," he uttered after a few minutes. When I turned my head to look at him, he was staring up at the ceiling and looking completely satisfied.
"Oh God, we'd kill each other!" I exclaimed, rolling over to lay my head on his chest.
"Wanna bet?" he grinned with a mischievous smile, rolling me under him as he covered my face in teasing kisses.
x-x-x
Before I knew it, Tuesday arrived and it was my turn for a chance at a medal, rather than cheering everyone else on to theirs. My warm up went well, even though the sight of all those empty chairs surrounding the ice got the butterflies stirring in my belly.
The sheer size of the arena was initially overwhelming but I'd found a way to settle my nerves and get through practice by chanting over and over that it was just another crowd, just like every other show or competition I'd ever skated. That the size really didn't matter.
I walked into Pacific Coliseum that night as ready as I possibly could be.
As soon as I dropped my stuff in the locker room, I set to work warming up and going through my routine of getting in the zone.
For some reason, my normal routine didn't work. The air in the arena was so sparked with energy that I found it impossible to find my calm. The sounds of the crowd as the night kicked off were so deafening that even backstage with my earbuds in, I could hear every cheer, every groan, every applause.
My heart pounded in my chest and I had to guzzle water every couple minutes to keep my throat from becoming dry. As hard as I tried, I couldn't stop myself from checking the screens after every skater, to see how they'd performed. The draw had not been my friend, leaving me as the final skater of the night. It only gave me that much more time to get nervous.
I texted with Edward, careful to censor my comments so he wouldn't suspect how shaken I was, but I think he was on to me. Every message from him was reassuring, calming, just what I needed. It helped...kind of. But I was still a jumble of nerves by the time I had to shut off my phone and step into the locker room to change.
It only got worse with the group warm up. It was the volume of the arena. I swear I'd never heard anything like it in my entire life.
Had it been like that in Torino? Was it simply that I'd forgotten in the past four years what performing at the Olympics was like?
I wanted to vomit.
Once backstage again, I took a few minutes to sit down and drop my head between my knees, trying desperately to bring myself out of this state of complete terror. It would only spell disaster if I stepped out there like this.
Finally I was able to get my breathing back under control and concentrated on staying warm, visualizing myself skating a perfect program.
I had this. I'd already skated this program perfectly in Spokane. I could do it again.
Unfortunately the heavy pounding of my heart and the twisting in my stomach spoke in opposition to those confident thoughts.
Canada's top contender skated just before me and the crowd was amped when her scores came in, putting her easily in first place.
The cheers for her quickly morphed into a thunderous chant of 'U-S-A! U-S-A!' when I slipped off my guards and stepped out on the ice.
No pressure, right?
I glided around in the corner, waiting for the signal to come so I could take my starting mark. My thumb nervously rubbed over the hidden swan at my hip in a habit I hadn't found myself resorting to in quite some time. As I did, I couldn't stop my eyes from glancing around the arena. American flags waved brightly, and colorful signs boasted my name. People. So many people.
Marcus called me back, holding his hands out on the boards, offering a moment of anchor in the thrashing storm.
I placed my hands in his, snatching them back instantly to wipe them on my skirt when I noticed how much they were sweating. Marcus simply stood, palms up and patiently waited. I nervously wiggled my knees, eyes darting everywhere but where they needed to. I knew I was screwing myself over, but I couldn't stop it from happening. It was like an unstoppable avalanche of fear and nerves thrashing through my system.
"Let's go, Bella," Marcus gently summoned me, fingers curling to usher me over. I tried again to lift my hands and place them in his, but they were practically vibrating.
"Oh, God, Marcus," I gasped, hovering my hands in front of me. "I can't stop shaking."
"Hands here, my girl," he murmured in a soothing tone. I quickly placed my hands in his, his warm fingers tightened around my chilled ones, and he rubbed reassuringly over my fingers, stilling their flutter. "Come on, Bella. Deep breaths. In...out... Once more. In...out... There we go," he said. I followed direction and felt myself calming, my eyes closing for a moment as I tried to block out everything but the sound of his voice and my breathing. "Just keep breathing and stay on your feet. That's all you have to do. Okay?"
"Yeah," I whispered, the sound lost in the volume of the room. I nodded slowly, keeping my eyes closed as long as possible to maintain that tenuous sense of calm. "Okay."
Marcus simply stood there with me, holding my hands and rubbing my knuckles until we heard my cue, first in French, then repeated in English.
"Representing the United States, Isabella Swan!"
My eyes flew open at the roar of the crowd. It was a struggle to maintain any sense of calm, but somehow I managed it in at least some measure.
"Just listen to the music and trust yourself. You've got this," Marcus said, squeezing my hands tightly once more. I nodded, giving him a shaky smile now that I'd managed to gain control of my breathing. He dropped my hands and ushered me off. "Take your time getting out there."
I did as he said, milking every second of my allotted minute to take my spot at center ice, allowing the crowd ample time to settle their cheers. When I lifted my arms in their starting position, the stadium was silent. In that moment a thousand doubts consumed me, the jitters in my stomach only fanning the flames. The expanse of the ice spread around me like an endless sea and I stood there drowning.
My familiar song echoed through the unfamiliar arena. My feet moved through the familiar steps on the unfamiliar ice. Once I was immersed in the routine, everything else faded to the side, allowing me to concentrate on my movements and the performance. I approached the first jumping pass feeling confident, but somehow it didn't help. Over rotated. Badly over rotated.
All I could hear in my head on the descent was Marcus' soothing voice saying 'Just stay on your feet.' Somehow, I managed to save the landing, though it was a close call and left me with only enough momentum to pull a double out for my second jump instead of the planned triple.
Well, shoot. That wasn't really what I wanted. I'd landed that combination clean all week, what happened?
I didn't have time to dwell on the past unless I totally wanted to screw up my chances, so I shook it off, matching my breath to the pulse of the song as I did my crossovers for the next jump. Deep breath...and perfect landing.
That's more like it.
After the jumps were behind me, I was back to smooth sailing through my spins and spirals, ending on a high note that brought the crowd to its feet. Still, as I took my bows, I couldn't help but feel just a little disappointed. I'd let the atmosphere get the best of me and didn't push past my nerves quickly enough to achieve the state of mind I needed to put out a perfect program. After such a great run at Nationals, I was bummed that I couldn't pull it off again.
I kept a smile on my face and my thoughts to myself as I waved to the crowd, gliding over to the boards, navigating my way through bouquets of flowers and stuffed animals scattered across the ice. One of which caught my eye. Just before I made it to the gate, I saw a furry stuffed teddy bear lying on the ice, wearing a green hockey jersey. I grinned; my spirits instantly boosted and scooped it up for a closer look. Sure enough, the bear wore a miniature replica of Edward's Wild jersey, embroidered name and number on the back and all.
I hugged the bear to my chest and looked up at the stands, trying to find him in the massive crowd of people. It took me a moment, but just before I stepped off the ice, I spotted him. His bronze hair glinted in the glaring fluorescent light. He stood in the stands with our family, adorned from head to toe in Team USA gear that I'd pilfered for him, cheering me on proudly.
Seeing them there, their excited faces as they waved at me, I didn't feel like such a disappointment. Maybe it hadn't been a perfect skate, but I'd recovered well from my mistakes and kept going.
And really, that's all I could ask of myself.
I didn't need to be flawless.
When I walked out of the Kiss & Cry with my Cullen bear snuggled in my arms and a third place ranking in front of my name, I actually felt pretty phenomenal.
x-x-x
It took awhile to get out of Pacific Coliseum following the short program. Even though I was the last skater of the night there were still press to deal with. I'd taken a few minutes to properly stretch in the locker room so as not to risk pulling a muscle, then linked arms with Marcus and Esme to head out of the backstage area and find the rest of the gang. They were full of smiles and encouragements. Not a single word about my minor stumbles. And really, they were minor. They'd only felt major at the time. I hadn't really expected that they would bring it up, but still it was just so...refreshing to hear nothing but positivity. Even now, after all these months, a tiny part of me kept waiting for that censure when I made a mistake. But every time I slipped up and wasn't perfect, it became a little easier to accept that it wasn't going to come, not anymore.
In Torino when I'd skated my short program and taken the lead, Renee had still felt the need to point out the miniscule details of what I could have done better. I knew that my family was nothing like her. Esme, Charlie, Edward, Alice. Not a single one of them or any of the others would ever put me down or make me feel like I wasn't good enough. In fact they were quick to say exactly the opposite, that I was always good enough. But still, it was like there was some instinct ingrained into my heart after so many years of criticism that was just waiting to hear her voice every time I stepped off the ice. Especially here.
Though we were halfway across the world, the environment was so similar. It stirred up so many memories, even as I strived to make new ones. Better ones.
My heart hurt for the girl I'd been back then—so lonely and nervous, terrified of my own potential and always trying to bury those insecurities away from the world to portray an image of unshakable perfection when I felt anything but perfect.
I could still recall so clearly what that life had been like, and I could never imagine returning to it.
Never again would I cry myself to sleep after a bad day of practice, alone and miserable. Even on my roughest days, I would always have Edward. I could look to the future with confidence that even if I didn't have all the answers, I would find them, and I'd never have to do it by myself. My burdens were his, as were my triumphs. Just as his were mine. With the support I'd gained and the confidence I now had in myself, I could look back on my mistakes and realize that they didn't break me, they only made me stronger. And with that knowledge, I realized I could do just about anything.
Back at the condo, we all sprawled out over the furniture in the living room, a warm fire crackled in the background as we munched on snacks and enjoyed each other's company. I had a day off before the free skate, so I wasn't too worried about staying up late. Still, the constant flurry of activity started to catch up with us and by midnight everyone was calling it a night, dragging ourselves off to our respective rooms as we fought off yawns.
Edward fell asleep quickly, likely confident that I was so exhausted from my day that I wouldn't have any trouble sleeping. But somehow, sleep eluded me. I lay there, warm and cozy in his arms, the quiet sounds of the house settling around us and the steadiness of Edward's breath attempting to soothe me into sleep. But though my eyes were droopy and my body yearned for rest, my mind could not follow suit.
Out of nowhere, dozens of questions flickered through my brain, one right after the other in rapid fire.
What's next? Where do I go from here? What do I want? What do I need? What's going to make me happy?
It seemed as if every question I'd foisted off for 'later' was clambering to be answered right now, depriving me of peace until they'd been acknowledged and satisfied. The harder I tried to push them back to the corners of my mind, the louder they became until finally, I surrendered.
In the silence of the night, I sought out the answers to my questions in the only place I could find them: my own heart.
And when I found them, I had the most peaceful sleep I could imagine.
x-x-x
The following morning, as everyone congregated in the kitchen to map out their plans for the day over breakfast, I pulled Edward aside and suggested he and I split off on our own for a little bit. I was grateful when he didn't question my request, he simply told the others that we'd catch up with them later and rinsed his cereal bowl in the sink before following me upstairs to get dressed and head out. I really didn't have a plan, only knew that I wanted to get him on his own someplace quiet where we could talk. While I'd figured out some of my answers, I couldn't set them in stone until I'd shared them and made certain that they would work for him, too.
While it was my life, we were a team now.
We decided to just take one of the rental cars and drive for a bit, heading North out of Vancouver toward Cypress Mountain where the Snowboarding and Freestyle Skiing events took place. Since neither was scheduled that day, the area was quiet. The crowds were either back in Vancouver or up in Whistler where all the action continued. Edward easily agreed with my suggestion to pull in and park so we could walk around for a bit.
The day was warm, especially in comparison to the frigid temperatures we'd been experiencing back in Minnesota. It was comfortable to stroll around aimlessly for awhile, enjoying the grounds when they weren't flooded with people. We weren't completely alone of course, there were still athletes milling around, getting a little practice in before their events continued, but it was easy to avoid any interaction. Hand in mittened hand, we walked the paths, occasionally stepping off to tromp through the snow when we wanted to see something closer. There was no rush, no schedule, no plan, just the two of us enjoying the time together.
In our exploration of the mountain, we came across a secluded little knoll, just far enough from the beaten path that it was unlikely anyone would disturb us. It almost reminded me of the little hillside by the airport back home where we'd gone on more than one occasion when looking for a quiet moment. It was perfect.
I tugged on Edward's hand, eagerly leading him through the snow and gently shoving him to plop back in the shallow bank. I quickly settled myself between his legs and his arms wrapped around me. Though I couldn't feel the exact planes of his body or the warmth of his skin, too separated by the thickness of our coats, I still felt that familiar contentment that always filled me when he cradled me in his arms. I was home. No matter where we were, all I needed was him and I'd find home.
"It's beautiful up here," I sighed, as we stared out over the mountain peaks together.
"Yeah. Little different from Minnesota, that's for sure," he said, brushing my hair back from my neck so he could nuzzle his chin into the curve and rest there.
"Have you ever thought of living anywhere else?" I asked, realizing I'd never even thought about him being anywhere but in Minnesota.
"Not really," he shrugged, pressing a gentle kiss to the tiny patch of skin on my neck that wasn't covered. "I guess there's always a chance if a trade ever came up, but I love it there. It's...home. Ya know?"
I simply nodded, smiling as I snuggled into his arms. I knew exactly.
"Alice thought about it for awhile," he said softly after a minute. "After high school she was pretty eager to get away. Did she tell you she went to L.A. for awhile?"
"No, I didn't know that."
"She went to fashion school for a year," he explained. "High school was pretty rough on her. She didn't have a lot of friends. Some of the girls who she thought were her friends, she found out only wanted to hang out with her because they thought it would help their chances of hooking up with Emmett or me."
"That's horrible," I growled softly, anger flaring in my heart for anyone who would hurt my best friend. "Who wouldn't want to be friends with Alice for who she is? She's the best."
"Yeah, it was pretty rough on her. So when she graduated, she figured it was her chance to get away, start fresh," he continued, just a hint of sadness in his voice. I could only imagine how difficult it had been for him, for all of them. I gave his arms a supportive squeeze and when he spoke again, the sadness was gone. "She lasted two years before she realized Minnesota was where she really wanted to be. I don't know, we're just all so close that it's hard to think about living states apart. Especially now."
"I feel the same. Renee and I traveled around so much after she and Charlie split up. No place ever felt like home to me. Until I got to Minnesota and found all of you."
"I'm so thankful that you did," he whispered, pressing a lingering kiss to my cheek. He settled back, pulling me with him to lie on the soft bed of snow as he twisted me in his arms to rest my head on his chest.
"It's kind of crazy when you think about it," he said. "You and I running into each other at the airport, then moving in next to my sister, my father as your doctor, showing up at the Xcel that night."
"Kind of like the universe was telling us something, huh?" I said with a teasing smile. The coincidences were a bit ridiculous if you thought about it.
"You could say that. I think it just means we belong together," he murmured, brushing his fleece covered fingers over my cheek. "I always used to feel like I was missing something. Now I realize I was simply waiting for you."
"Sorry to have kept you waiting," I whispered, reaching up to rub my nose softly against his, their chilled tips slightly warmed each other.
"It was worth it," he said, smiling beautifully up at me before pulling me close in a tight embrace, the puffiness of our coats flattening between us. "And now that I have you, you can bet I'm never letting go."
"I'm not going anywhere you're not," I told him.
We lay there, twined together and content, the air just warm enough to make our lazy lounge in the snow quite comfortable.
"Edward?" I murmured after awhile. I'd wanted to talk to him and I didn't think I could find a much better moment.
"Hmm?"
"I've sort of...well, I've made some decisions," I stammered, lightly clearing my throat. I was only slightly nervous that my plans wouldn't match up with his. "Um, about what I want to do next? None of them are set in stone. I wanted to discuss them with you first, figure out what works for both of us."
"When have you even had time to think about this?" he chuckled. "Haven't you been a little busy?"
"Last night." I shrugged. "Couldn't sleep."
He cupped my chin between his fingers, tilting my head until I looked into his eyes. "You should have woken me," he said quietly.
"It gave me time to think," I said with a soft smile, brushing the hair back from where it fell over his forehead. "I needed that."
"It could have waited a few days. Crazy girl," he chided affectionately. "So...what conclusions did you come to?"
I pushed up from his chest, feeling more comfortable sitting up, facing him. He propped himself up on his elbows beside me, patiently waiting to hear what I had to say.
"I want to retire," I said confidently. "From competition at least. Tomorrow's going to be my final skate as a competitive skater."
"Are you sure?" he asked with nothing but genuine support in his eyes and his voice. "Don't you have World's next month?"
"Yes. But this is what I want. I'm happy with what I've done in my career and this...I don't know. It just feels like the right time," I explained. "No matter what happens tomorrow, I know I'll feel good hanging up my skates, so to speak. I'm...content. Medal or no medal."
I pulled my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms around them as I looked down on him, wanting to share every revelation I'd had the previous night. "This season has been so amazing. After getting injured, wondering if I would ever even skate again, I came back and I've accomplished so much more than I ever thought I could. You wanna know what I'm most thankful for?"
"What's that?" he asked, beaming happily up at me from his recline.
"I'm thankful that I found my joy in skating again," I whispered passionately. "For so long the emphasis was too much on the work, the sacrifices, the hardships. I still loved to skate, but I couldn't really enjoy it. I finally have that back."
"You can tell," he said, sitting up and shifting closer to me. "Every time I see you skate, I can't help but smile. It's contagious."
"I'm not ready to give that up completely yet," I told him, pausing for a moment while I gathered my thoughts. "Did you really mean it when you said you'd come with me if I toured for awhile?"
"Yeah, I did," he said without hesitation. "Obviously we'd need to work out the specifics, but as much as I can at least."
I stared into his eyes for a long moment, searching for any hint that he didn't mean exactly what he said. There wasn't a hint of doubt in their sparkling green depths.
"I want to do it," I said. "At least for this summer. Most of the dates fall during your off-season, so hopefully we wouldn't have to be apart very much. It's been hard, between your season and mine, with how often we've been away from each other, and I don't want to keep doing that, not if we're going to really start our lives together. But I feel like this is something I need to do," I murmured, reaching out and curling my hand into his. "I want to spend a little time just enjoying my skating while I still can. I know I won't always be able to skate like I do now. I mean it's doubtful I'll be able to get my leg up to my face when I'm fifty or sixty years old..."
"Shh," he cut me off with a playful pout on his lips, placing a finger over my mouth to stop my speech. "Don't talk like that. In my imagination you'll be a very bendy sixty year old."
I snorted out a laugh and nudged him back with my shoulder. "Dirty boy."
"You love me for it," he teased, leaning forward to brush his soft, chilly lips over mine.
"So..." I drawled out questioningly.
"So what?" he asked, tucking me into his arms.
"You're okay with that? Me touring?"
"If it's important to you, then I'll do whatever I can to make it work," he said certainly, kissing the top of my head. "I'd never want to hold you back from your dreams, Bella."
"I just don't want you to feel like I'm putting skating above our relationship."
"That's ridiculous," he said, taking me by the shoulders and twisting me to face him. "Why would you even think that?"
"It just seems so selfish to ask you to ride around the country with me on a bus for four months," I explained. "Like you said, your family's important to you, and they're important to me too. I'd be taking us away from that."
"It's still our home. We'll be back there often enough, and they'll all still be there when we get back."
"Well, what about getting married?" I asked. "This would probably push it back a little."
"And I already told you, there's no rush," he said softly, gently kissing my forehead. "You're my forever, Bella. Whether we get married tomorrow or two years from now doesn't change that."
"Well for the record," I murmured, resting my forehead against his scratchy cheek. "I hope it's not two years."
"Me too," he agreed with a sigh, his hands lightly rubbing over my back. "We'll find a time that works for both of us. So don't worry about anything else you want to do affecting that. Why do you want to tour?"
"Because skating, performing, it's like nothing else in the world. I love it. I want the chance to just have fun with it, without the constant pressure of competition. To embrace that joy now that I've found it. For so long, skating wasn't a choice for me. I had to do it, even when I didn't want to. Now I don't have to skate, but I want to. It's my choice. I want this one tour...for me."
"Then you should have it. Baby, there's going to be times when I want to do something and I'll come to you, asking for your support. It might not always be easy, but I trust that you'll always be on my side, backing me up. Please trust me to do the same for you."
I couldn't speak, so overwhelmed by him that I could only nod.
"So you sound like you only want to tour for one season. Any thoughts on what to do with yourself after that?"
"Well, I found out that I really love choreographing. Taking music and molding it into movement, creating something from nothing using only my imagination and my body. I want to explore my capabilities there, and touring's a great platform for that. I think that's what I want to do," I explained, excitement flowing through my veins at all the possibilities in front of me. "When I'm done with the tour in the fall, I want to make a go of it as a choreographer. If I can build up a reputation I'd be able to freelance and work from Minnesota. And down the road, maybe even coach. I don't think I could find anything outside of figure skating that would make me as happy. As satisfied. It'd be a different experience, working from the boards instead of on the ice, but I think it'd still make me happy."
"I think so too," he said, smiling down at me proudly. "It's your world, Bella. And you belong in it. One way or another."
"That's not all I want, though," I told him.
"What else?"
I slipped my gloves off, wanting the contact of our skin. I cupped my warm hands around his cold cheeks and gazed into his bright eyes, wishing I had more eloquent words to tell him all I wished for our lives. I'd have to settle for simple and heartfelt.
"I want to have a family with you," I whispered, pouring my heart into my words. "Maybe not immediately. I feel like I'm still learning so much about myself, but eventually, I want to have babies with you. Be a mother, build a home, and raise our children. Together. No matter what else happens in our lives—what opportunities we're presented with or what passes us by, I always want to be your partner, your best friend, and your wife."
His eyes shone back at me, sparkling with emotion. He opened his mouth, a quiet sound slipping out before he closed it again. He pulled his bottom lip into his mouth, wetting it with his tongue and swallowing, looking like he was searching for the right words to respond. He reached out slid his bare hands up my arms, slipping his hands beneath mine to curl our fingers together.
When he spoke, his words were teasing, but his voice was thick and husky. "You think you can have all that, do you?"
"Yeah, I do. As long as I'm with you."
"I don't know, love," he said, kissing my knuckles and smiling at me with his beautiful crooked smile. "This isn't a fairy tale."
"You're right," I said, raising my face until my lips were only a breath away from his. "It's so much better."
x-x-x
As I sat on the ground backstage at the Coliseum the next afternoon, stretching my legs, I couldn't help but notice just how different it all felt. The noise level was still insane, but it didn't shake me like it had on Tuesday. Maybe it was because I'd already been through it once this week, but for whatever reason, I felt amazingly calm. Focused. Ready.
I smiled as I curled my fingers around the toes of my sneakers, recalling the moments before we left for the arena earlier that afternoon.
I'd found myself passed around the room, each embrace and wish of good luck befitting the loved one who gave it. Carlisle patted my cheek with affection, reminding me not skimp on the stretching. Charlie smiled down to me, only mildly grumbling his way through the public, mushy moment as he kissed my forehead and said, 'You look beautiful, baby girl.' Jasper had given me a brotherly pat on the back and told me 'have fun out there, darlin' in that swoony southern voice of his. Alice and Rose fussed over my hair and make-up, giving me a final once-over to make sure none of the hugs had 'ruined' me. Then they threatened their perfection by smushing me between them in a breath-stealing hug while they told me I'd do great. And then there was Emmett.
Emmett had strolled right up to me with the most serious expression I'd ever seen on his face, clasping his giant hands around the tops of my shoulders. He'd stooped over, attempting to get eye-to-eye with me but not coming anywhere close. He'd looked down at me and said, "Babybel, this is your moment. I only have one thing to say to you." Then he'd paused dramatically, blowing out a cleansing breath before he continued soberly, "Don't fall on your pretty little ass."
I burst into giggles, as did the rest of the gang, Emmett's serious demeanor instantly cracking as he snorted at his own humor, plucking me up into his arms to crush me against him. "Go get 'em, Champ," he'd said before patting me on the butt and setting me back on my feet to send me on my way out the door.
Edward accompanied me out to the car while Esme called out last minute reminders to the rest of them about what time they needed to leave and where she'd left the entrance passes.
"Well, it seems like they covered all the bases," Edward grinned down at me as we stood next to the open door of the car.
"Not all of them," I said suggestively, raising my face to his for a lingering kiss.
His fingers caressed my cheeks, delicately cradling my face as our mouths brushed against each other. "Bella," he breathed, his fingers curling around the bare skin of my neck as he held me to him for just another moment. His touch communicated everything I needed to hear.
When Esme and Marcus started showing signs of impatience, Edward kissed me once more, whispering 'I love you' against the flesh at my temple. Then he bundled me into the car and waved me off as we pulled out of the driveway.
Now, hours later, I looked back on those moments and felt my heart swell, their love and support provided me with what I hadn't been able to find for myself before the short program. Peace.
I remained relaxed through all the preliminary phases—stretching out, jogging through the halls to get my blood flowing, getting dressed, never thinking any further ahead than the next step. As one of the top finishers, I was slated in the final warming group and of course the crowd was in a frenzy to welcome us when we were called to take the ice for our six minute practice session. I smiled to see Angela out there, though her scores had her far enough back that making the podium was pretty unlikely. When we were called out, I used the time to acclimate myself to the noise, soaking it all in so I'd be able to block it out when I needed to.
Not wanting to drain my energy, I kept my warm up to the basics, getting a feel for the surface of the ice and the energy surrounding me. I located my family in the stands only a few rows back from the boards near center ice and acknowledged them with an easy wave.
Then I warmed up my triple Axel.
Marcus had left the final decision up to me that morning after the practice session, trusting me to know best what I was comfortable with. Capable of. Every cell of my body told me to go for it. If this was my last time on the ice as a competitive skater, I wanted to leave it all out there.
I executed the jump three times during the six minute warm up, each with a strong and perfect landing.
Esme met me at the boards and escorted me backstage to wait until my turn. I would perform third out of five skaters in the final group. While logically I knew that three of us would take home medals, hitting the podium wasn't even a thought in my mind. All I wanted was to step out there and skate this program the best I could possibly skate. I wanted to leave my heart on the ice that had been such a driving force in my life for so long. If I could do that, I would walk away happy.
Esme murmured to me that I was up next, urging me to walk with her back through the curtain. Just at the edge of the backstage area, she reached out and took my hand, giving it a gentle, encouraging squeeze.
She didn't have to say anything. The warmth of her hand, the proud smile and her watery eyes said it all. I nodded my understanding and gave her a light squeeze back with my steady hand, then stepped out through the curtain.
When I stepped through the gate, I felt composed and confident, and when my hands found Marcus' at the boards, they didn't shake.
He grinned at me and rubbed my knuckles. "Breathe it all in, Bella. Look how far you've come."
I smiled back at him and squeezed his rough and wrinkled hands, mouthing a quiet 'thank you' though I owed him so much more than that. He gave me a gentle wink as the crowd erupted, nearly drowning out the speakers as my name was announced.
"Get out there and fly, my girl. No one else can touch you," Marcus told me, ushering me on my way.
The audience was louder than they had been on Tuesday, thirsty for a winner to be named and medals to be awarded, yet the sound didn't terrify me as it had before the short program. I wasn't concerned with pleasing anyone else with this skate. The only one I needed to satisfy was myself. That knowledge gave me serenity as I took my starting mark and breathed, awaiting the arrival of my lullaby.
When it came, I was swept away like a dream.
Everything melted away but Edward's music and the ice beneath my feet. My two great loves woven perfectly together.
The song was my journey and through my steps I relived every moment of it. Nineteen years of learning, training, striving. A year of falling in love, not only with Edward and the others, but with myself.
A torrent of memories swept through my mind, some good and some bad, but they all made up my story. Though he hadn't known me for most of it, Edward somehow found a way to reach into my heart and read every page, transcribing that story into his beautiful notes. And every one of them played out through the movements of my body in those four short minutes on the ice.
The amazing thing was, this was only the beginning. Maybe I was closing one chapter of my life, but I was continuing on. At one point, not so very long ago, I'd felt as if my life might end if I couldn't skate, that I was worthless unless I was on the ice. That it was my purpose. My only purpose.
I knew now that skating was only part of who I was, not all of it. I'd learned so much more about myself and I was eager to find out what else I'd discover.
With a jolt, I realized that my body stopped moving and for an instant I panicked, wondering what I'd forgotten. Then, as if my ears were popped, the sound of roaring applause came rushing in.
It was over.
My hands started shaking and my eyes lifted from the ice to dart around me. Thousands of faces all smiling, hands and voices chanting their delighted approval. My mind raced, trying to process exactly what had just happened. My hand unconsciously reached up to cradle my neck where my pulse hammered in my throat. I felt a tiny drop of moisture through the sheer sleeve of my dress. Lifting the back of my hand to my cheeks, I was surprised to find tears.
In one overwhelming instant it all clicked.
I'd done it. Not a single fumble, not even the tiniest misstep. I'd skated the best program of my life in those four spellbinding minutes. At the Olympics.
I didn't know what my score would be and honestly didn't care. Because the perfection of those four minutes was enough to last me my entire life—win or lose.
A bouquet of flowers landed just a few feet in front of me, startling me from my daze. I realized then that I was still standing in the middle of the rink and hadn't even taken my bows.
Oh my god, I really did it!
I burst into astonished laughter, the power and width of my grin threatening to tear through my cheeks as I raised my hands victoriously into the air. My fingers curled into fists as if trying to capture the awesomeness of this moment and put it in my pocket to take out again later.
My head tilted back as applause rained over me. My arms lowered to curl around my head as I either laughed or sobbed elated tears; I couldn't quite figure out which, all I knew was it felt fucking amazing.
Gaining my composure, I lifted my arms to the crowd, grinning and dipping into a bow, waving excitedly to each side, saving the section with my family for last.
Without hesitation, my eyes locked instantly on Edward's, the joy and awe filling them mirrored the emotions washing over me.
With my gaze on him, I glided over to the boards...and with a smile, I stepped off the ice.
In him, I saw my life, my love, my future, and it had never looked more promising
The End
x-x-x
A/N: That's all she wrote, folks! *sniff*
We've still got an epilogue to go. I've got a good start on it and will post whenever it's ready. Hopefully not a long wait. I can promise at least one big surprise!
Thank you so much to every one of you who has joined me for this ride-for reading, reviewing, tweeting, chatting. I have cherished every moment. You guys really are the best readers ever!
Some are asking about my future writing plans. At this point, I really have no idea. I'm not saying no, but for now I'll be taking a bit of a break. I will still be around fangirling over all my favorite stories!
If you are one of the VERY PATIENT members of Team TTI for the FGB Auction-a million thank yous for your patience. I have a couple in mind that I will get to work on as soon as the epilogue is complete.
If there are any outtakes or missing scenes (during the story or future) that you are interested in seeing from EPOV OR BPOV, drop me a line and let me know! Not sure how many I'll tackle, but I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to these two.
Recap:
Travel Snafus & Airport Fun
Hanging out at Olympic Village
Doin' it up, Vancouver Style
The Hockey Game
Short Program Nerves
A Sweet & Snowy Conversation
The Long Program
Polyvore on the profile.