Aaaand it's Sunday evening again!
Chapter 28: That's life
Edward
My mind was racing a million miles an hour as I stared out in front of me, with Bella's sleeping form next to me.
This was so not how I had planned this morning to go. I had wanted to make her feel treasured by serving her breakfast. I had wanted to make her smile by telling her sweet stories of my life before her—those she liked so much. I had wanted to look her in the eye as I told her that she was the most important person in my life. When I told her that I loved her more than anyone or anything.
But things turned out differently.
There had been yelling and pain and tears.
But even though it hurt to know that somehow she was aware of how I felt about her and hadn't acknowledged it, I still meant what I had said. I would wait for her. I wasn't going to leave her until she figured out how to deal with the aftermath of what happened. No, I would stand by her side, just like I had all those months before, and I would wait. I didn't know if one day she could love me the way I loved her, but I wasn't going to give up. Life was short—too damn short—and I wasn't going to waste it trying to find someone else to fill the void that Bella Swan would create.
She was still my best friend above all else.
So that's how the next few months passed. It was different, now that everything was out in the open, but down to the core our dynamics never changed. After the dip Bella experienced from the airport visit because she hadn't been prepared enough to be there, she was steadily improving again. The nightmares were decreasing and she was a lot stronger than before. Her parents even told me they were recognizing more and more the girl she was before. The young carefree woman she had been before she moved to New York and worked her ass of every day. She was smiling more often and it warmed my heart to know that I was a part of the reason for that.
And even though she never told me in so many words, but I knew that she felt more for me than she knew herself. It was in the way I would catch her staring at me, or the way she always buried her face into my chest during a scary movie. It was in the way she'd always call me, just to share a silly thing that happened to her that day, or how she would let me stay on the couch because she was scared that I'd fall asleep behind the wheel as I drove home. It was the little things, which gave me hope that one day we'd be able to truly label this thing we had.
Apparently, when it came to Bella, I had unfailing patience.
Especially because I couldn't imagine my life without her anymore. She fit into my life like no one else before. My parents adored her and my brother and sister had found a new friend in her. Even little Jack was completely taken with her. Whenever Bella and I had dinner with my parents and siblings on Sunday, he'd immediately reach out for her and stay in her arms or in her lap until he fell asleep. There was nothing more adorable than the sight of my little nephew peacefully sleeping in the arms of the woman I loved.
Everything was falling into place and with the holidays coming up, I had a permanent smile on my face.
Unfortunately, Bella's parents weren't able to make it to New York to celebrate Christmas. Charlie was on duty most of the time, since he was the only man without young children. Renee had fallen in love with a minor league baseball player and decided to spend the holidays with him.
"I'm just happy they won't be flying in," Bella had confessed one night as we were sitting on her couch watching Home Alone. She had been tucked under my arm, as usual, and was lazily running her fingers over my stomach. I don't think she had even realized she was doing it.
"You're sure that it won't be a problem if I come with you, right?" she had asked for the millionth time.
"Bella, everyone wants you there." And that was true. In fact, it was my mother who had insisted that she should spend Christmas at the Cullen house. She wouldn't have taken no for an answer. She had even gone as far as inviting Charlie and Renee. But still, Bella felt like she was an intruder, even though she had spend the previous Christmas with us and she had been over at my parent's place more times than I can count.
She still wasn't used to a lot of affection, I guess.
But she would have to get used to it, because a usual Christmas at the Cullens was filled with hugs and kisses. Last year, the holiday had unfortunately been tainted by what had happened, but this year, my mother had once outdone herself. Every corner of the room was decorated with lights and ornaments. It was like Christmas had puked all over the place. But somehow my mom was able to pull it off.
I couldn't find it in me to complain, mostly because I was too busy staring at the brown-eyed beauty sitting to my right. Bella wore a deep blue dress that showed off all her curves, but was still modest enough for a family gathering. She was wearing a bit of makeup and her hair was pinned up in the back with a few loose strands framing her delicate features. She was a sight to behold and never had I yearned more to call her mine. So that's exactly what I wished for on Christmas Eve; that soon I would be able to call her my girl.
A/N: You've gotta love Christmas! :D
Thank you for reading and reviewing!
Oh, I have some bad news as well... I won't be able to update next Sunday, because - as you may or may not know - I'll be waaay too busy running around New York trying to see everything. Yes, I am going to The Big Apple for the first time in my life. The first time outside of Europe even, so I'm very excited! I'll see if I can update when I get back (which is next Tuesday) but I can't make any promises!
Anyway, thank you once again for staying with this story! You're the best!
Until next time,
With love, Ellen
