Into the Great Wide Open

JPOV Outtake: Silent Movie

Edward and I were trying to figure out what movie to go on our date. I was already starting to show a little; I looked like I had a beer belly if I wore a loose shirt. It was strange not being "hot" anymore. I had never noticed that I was attractive before, until I started to show. Now that I was a fat guy, a lot fewer people talked to me, or even noticed me anymore. Edward was fine with it - he had a tendency to be irrationally jealous. But it made me kind of sad. I was pregnant, but I would get none of the attention pregnant women get. Nobody knows I carry life inside me, they just think I eat too much. But, it was a necessary burden to bear. At least some people knew - the Cullens, the pack, Edward. They were all extremely excited and they fawned all over me. Mostly it was great, but sometimes it got annoying.

Soon I wouldn't be able to show my face in public anymore for a while. When my belly no longer looked like fat, but became a bona fide baby bump. We already had a story worked out for when I had to go into isolation. I was going to 'stay with my sister in Hawaii for a while'. That got me out of town, but the pack and the elders and my father all knew what was really going on. I was worried I was going to go stir-crazy after awhile of being cooped up at the Cullens' house. It was going to be like a bed rest sentence. Every one of them would insist on taking care of my every need, and I would barely be able to walk anywhere without being helped. I knew they meant well, but there is such a thing as too much attention.

Edward turned from the computer to give me a sympathetic smile, but he didn't comment on my thoughts. Instead, he took my mind off of it.

"So, are there any movies you want to see?"

I leaned forward to look at the screen. It was the website for a large multiplex, and it featured stadium seating. The seats were probably really comfortable, ergonomic, chair arms that could be lifted so you could snuggle (or make out), speakers embedded in the headrest. Sounded like a dream. Too bad there was only crap playing there. Big budget action flops and buddy comedies and romantic chick flicks.

"Ooo," I said, spotting something that could be okay. "We could see the movie where teenagers fight to the death. It just came out last weekend." That could be alright.

"It would probably be alright," he did little air quotes, "but it's a Friday night. We're going after dinner, but it's gonna be what," he glanced at the computer screen to read off the showtimes, "8:35, 9:15, 9:35, 10:00? The theaters are going to be packed, and our seats will probably be shitty."

He made a damn good point. Fuck it. I shrugged. Now what?

Edward pulled up a different webpage for an old fashioned looking theater, the kind that usually shows second-run or artsy movies. "It is exactly that," he confirmed. "But it's close to the Mexican place we're going to. Just take a look at what's playing and see if anything interests you."

Well, I didn't really like the thought of giving up the comfortable stadium seating in favor of cramped, old theater seats, narrow and wooden and angular, with worn down cushions and immobile arms. Edward sighed impatiently. Okay, okay, I thought, leaning in to have a closer look.

There were only five movies playing. I was right, it was all second run, and definitely artsy. Oscar movies. There was The Help, which I actually saw already. It was awesome. The Descendents, yawn. Something I didn't recognize. Another thing I didn't recognize...

My eyes fell on the last option: The Artist. I remembered that it had won the Oscar this year for best picture. But it was in black and white. And it was silent. Booooring. I'd been feeling tired enough lately, I didn't need another reason to make me fall asleep!

"Well, it's not completely silent. There's music underscoring it." Edward looked at me like this was something I should already know.

"Right, right, of course," I said, hurriedly.

"Jacob." Edward looked at me pointedly for a long moment. "Have you ever seen a silent movie?"

I'm not sure. I thought about it. I could swear I had, like maybe in school? For history?

"Charlie Chaplin? Buster Keaton?" Edward suggested, hopefully.

I recognized the names, but I never saw the movies. I shook my head. Edward looked at me sadly for a second, before realizing he was doing it and wiping the look off his face, leaving him looking blankly at me.

"Sorry," I said, feeling bad that this made him sad. Damn, hormones.

Edward stood up and walked over to me. "No, don't apologize. You're young; silent movies are ancient history to you. A lot of people your age think silent movies and black and white movies are old-fashioned or boring."

That didn't make me feel much better. Now I wasn't worldly enough? I felt the tears coming on, but I fought them back. I was not going to cry.

"Baby, calm down," Edward said lightly, soothingly. It did make me feel a little better, hearing him speak that way. My throat felt tight as I thought about how wonderful Edward was being, putting up with my crazy mood swings. My eyes welled up with tears to the point of spilling over.

Please, just ignore this.

Thankfully, he did as I asked. "You know the Three Stooges?" I nodded and he continued, "Silent movies rely on a lot of slapstick-y physical comedy. The actors act with their bodies and faces, and they don't need words. There is music that takes the place of words to help tell the story, and occasionally there are slides with exclamations on them. " He laughed quietly to himself. "I think you would really enjoy it."

Well, I had to hand it to him. He did make it sound interesting. "Okay, you convinced me. The Artist it is!" And I was genuinely excited. Edward grinned wide, looking really truly happy. I was struck in that moment how lucky I was, to be having his child.

Edward was so unique - talented and worldly. Obviously, he was a beautiful sight to behold, especially in bed. Fuck. The very thought made me shiver with desire. He was eternally teenaged - the perfect twink to my bear. Sorry, stereotypes - this time around, the twink fucks the bear. And gets said bear pregnant. I rolled my eyes at myself.

Edward tried not to smile. He was so cute, trying to appear composed. He looked so young and innocent. But he wasn't. In either aspect. The Edward inside the mask of the teenage boy was a wise and mature being, doomed to be treated by others as if he didn't know shit about shit. But Edward had lived for a very long time in that body, and he knew how to use it to his advantage. I mean, let's face it, the guy is fuck-hot jailbait. Who wasn't attracted to him? But he was mine. In that, I was confident.

It occurred to me that Edward had actually been around to see the evolution of movies from the very start. I never usually thought about how old he actually was. When I did think about it, sometimes the reality of it would freak me out - to realize that a lot of the things that happened in my history books were actually experienced by him. And if not by him, then Jasper. And if not Jasper, than certainly Carlisle. It just was strange to think that he was around for Vietnam and the Depression and World War II. He was going to join the first World War before he caught the flu, for Christ's sakes! It boggled my mind to think about. This was just another example - his intimate knowledge of silent movies. He probably saw The Wizard of Oz when it came out!

Edward smiled to himself. "I did. Rosalie and I went the night it premiered. It was very exciting. The press was talking about all of the state of the art special effects and some young talent named Judy Garland that had 'star' written all over her. Plus, it was in Technicolor!"

Edward got a faraway look on his face as he relived that happy memory. He looked adorable, all wistful like that. I took his cheek in the palm of my hand and turned him so he faced me. He went with it and nuzzled my hand like a cat.

I looked deep into his eyes. "You know, sometimes I forget how old you really are."

He returned my charged stare. "And yet, I feel as though my life has only just begun."

I was suddenly overcome with my feelings of love for him. I willed away the waterworks that pricked behind my eyes. I didn't want to cry again.

I was thoroughly convinced. Before Edward, I would never have seen a silent movie, even if I was given the opportunity. But now, with Edward, my horizons were broadening and I found myself doing things I never thought I would.

If I didn't have Edward, I would have never once considered seeing a black and white movie, let alone a silent one. But I would happily go along with it now, because I wanted Edward to be happy and I wanted to know everything there was to know about my imprint. There was a lot more to learn.

Edward smiled and swept me into his arms, kissing me softly. The barest brush of his lips took my breath away.

I simply couldn't wait to bring his baby into the world.

He smiled softly and laced his fingers through mine, giving me an adoring look.

"Me neither. I love you, Jacob."

I wanted to say it back, I really did. But my hormonal emotions got the better of me, and I couldn't find my voice. My heart felt like it stuttered and I felt the baby move. The little guy must feel the love between us - the love we felt for each other, the love we already felt for him.

I love you, Edward.

A/N: I felt compelled to write this little fluff-let for you. Did you like it? Would you like to see more?