KatKat99 & a guest I could not send The Walk to you. You have your PM feature set to disable and I can't send anything to Guests. Sorry. I think I got everyone else. I was pretty with it!
It is not a big deal though – ask anyone who got it HA
I'm going to work now, SO if there are any mistakes…we shall have to tough it out until I get home tonight!
& I've just been busy hence the lack of updating.
Quote(s):
Jared Kintz *reused in The Walk flashback*
Disclaimer:
I own nothing.
Chapter 28
Charlie sits and looks at his daughter. Flora is asleep in the other bedroom; they are in Charlie's half of the hotel room. "What are you gonna do here kid?"
Bella shrugs one shoulder, she looks at her lap. She told Charlie everything that happened between her and Edward. His mustache was twitching which means he was not happy. "How can anything work in Forks?" She questions finally looking up.
"It can't" Charlie answers his daughter honestly. "But I just" He stops and runs his fingers into his hair. "I can't lose you Bells"
"You won't, oh you won't" Bella shakes her head.
"I know I have to let go at some point, but I don't want too, not yet, not to the man that broke you"
"He didn't break me" She whispers.
"No" Charlie's eyes settle on her. "Because you are so strong and brave"
Bella smiles. "I don't know what to do, how do we leave Sunday and take Flora away from these people that love her, they love her"
"I know" He agrees. "Flora loves him"
"She really does, none of this is fair on her, our screwed up situation, are we even a family?" Bella wonders.
"Yeah, an unconventional one, but it is a family" Charlie gives her a warm smile. "I'll support anything you do Bella"
"Thank you" She needed to hear that, needed him to say it.
"I'm pretty sure that I'm being completely ridiculous" Esme sobs out. She smoothes her hand down Bella's loose hair.
Flora is squealing as Emmett throws her all around the airport. Rose is scolding him, Charlie and Edward are frowning their displeasure as the manhandling of Flora. Flora loves every second of it.
Carlisle pulls Charlie over to the side. "Thank you"
Charlie looks at the man.
"For raising such daughter that is a class act" He explains. "Thank you for being supportive of her, it gave her enough confidence and strength to have done this for us"
Charlie nods his head. He doesn't know what to say.
"I hope we see each other again" Carlisle says bidding him farewell.
"Thank you for inviting us into your home Carlisle" Charlie finally speaks, he extends his hand and the two shake.
"You're not" Bella smiles and shakes her head. Bree is rubbing her mother's back and rolling her eyes.
"Mom, we will see them again, right Bella?"
"Of course"
Esme pulls Bella into a warm tight hug.
Bella melts into her embrace, it is so real and kind, Esme is genuine. She is so glad that she doesn't have t say goodbye to Edward today at the airport. He is flying to Forks to spend the week. She feels her throat getting tight at this point.
"You call, and visit again, okay?"
"We will" Bella smiles. "Let me get Flora to say goodbye"
Flora is giggling at what Big Guy is telling her about her Daddy. Her nails are bright pink thanks to her Aunty Bree and Aunty Rosie.
"Okay stop filling her head Emmett" Edward takes Flora from his brother in laws arms.
"She loves it right Peanut?"
"Right" Flora agrees with a nod of her head.
Edward glares.
Emmett laughs. "So, you coming back to Boston Peanut?"
"Yes course" Flora says, her face completely serious.
Bella smiles. "Hey, your mom wants to say goodbye" She says to Edward softly.
He looks down at her face, her pretty mouth. "Okay" He takes everything in him not to kiss her lips like he did on their 'date'.
Few Nights Ago…
Bella shivers; her body is pressed against his. Her hand reaches up and she strokes the back of his bent neck. 'The mouth is made for communication, and nothing is more articulate than a kiss.'
He takes that as an okay to kiss her, communicate with her through their lips. Bending more, her fingers shiver against his neck but she doesn't stop him.
A soft whimper escapes her lips before his mouth settles over hers. It feels like their first kiss, but better. Her emotions are all over the place much like when she was 15. She moans when their tongues brush together, she feels him lightly pull her body closer by her hip.
Edward loses himself in her, in her smell, the feel of her lips against his, the heat of her mouth. She is sunshine, she is rainbows, and she is true love, his true love.
Bella doesn't stop, it is painfully slow and good, she hasn't felt anything like this in years. The tugging in her belly, it is connected to her heart. She feels his hand slide into her hair, he tips her head just so and there it is, a bigger and more delicious feeling.
He breaks the kiss and tugs her lower lip lightly, playfully.
Bella stares at him, her lips slightly parted and he smiles at her.
'I hope that was alright'
She doesn't speak, she can't, her heart is thumping in her chest trying to break free trying to fall into his hands to give him another chance to take care of it right this time. Bella nods dumbly staring at him.
Edward hands Flora to Bella and watches as his mother and Bree meet her in two steps. He spots his dad still talking to Charlie Swan. Rose is talking to him, Emmett has his arm lightly over her shoulder, and he watches Bella smile holding Flora between herself and his mother.
Sleeping soundly Flora has an airplane blanket over her; she is between her mother and father.
"Thank you for coming Bella" Edward tells her, he turns and sees Charlie across the aisle in a row to himself.
"Of course, you don't have to thank me" She shakes her head.
"Yeah I do, I have to do so much more than that"
"Edward" She sighs. "I wonder" Bella stops.
"What?" He urges her.
"I'm just trying to figure this out, us, a possible future" She confesses.
He sighs and smiles. "You have no idea how, how glad I am to hear that you are considering this"
"Edward what is between us" She shakes her head and bites her lip. "It is" She stops again unable to explain herself. She knows he feels it, they have felt it since they first met.
"I know" He confirms.
"I can't explain it, but its real right?"
He smiles at the 'right'. "It is very real"
"Can we just go really slowly, please?" She doesn't want to feel like she felt 5 years ago; she can't do that again, she can't do it because of Flora. "I just, I won't be able to handle it" She confesses.
His eyes shut for a moment praying for forgiveness. "I'm so sorry Bella" He whispers.
She stares at him.
He reaches across his sleeping daughter and touches the side of Bella's face. They still have nothing figured out and probably won't just yet. But he now knows they will figure it out together. That is enough for now. "We can go as slow as you want, I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere"
Stepping back from the bed. He looks at Bella. She looks exhausted. They are going to overnight in Seattle then drive the three hours to Forks. Edward wasn't planning on heading back with them. So he will rent a car tomorrow so that he can drive back to Seattle on the weekend for his flight. After having Flora with him for that length of time he had to have more.
"Why don't you get some rest" He says softly to her, his hand on her lower back.
"Okay" Bella turns and looks up at him. Charlie is in another room. Edward got a room for himself also. And Bella will share with Flora.
"Daddy" Flora moans and slowly pushes up in the bed. "Did I miss it again?" She rubs her eyes.
Edward kneels down and smiles. "You did"
"Aw" She pouts.
Edward kisses her pout away and doesn't stop until the pout turns into a giggle and squirming. "I'll tell you what, next time your mom and I take you to Boston"
Bella listens; there is a small smile on her lips.
"We will give you cups of coffee to keep you up, deal?"
"Deal" Flora nods firmly.
Edward tucks her back into bed. "Goodnight" He kisses her head and she is asleep in the next second.
Bella smiles as he stands up. "Goodnight"
"Goodnight" He says, she walks him to the door of the hotel room. Pulling it open he turns, he can see Flora sleeping in the large bed. Bella glances over her shoulder before looking back at him. He watches her she stands as he leans in the doorway of the hotel.
Bella tucks her hair behind her ear. She lets out a little laugh and looks up at him.
"What?" He smiles down at her.
"Nothing" She smiles and shakes her head.
"I want you" He whispers. "To tell me your dreams at some point" He puts his finger on her lips when she opens her mouth. "Not now, just think about them, and I want to hear them" He says softly. His thumb moves to stroke the apple of her cheek. His hand slides around the back of her head. "Is this okay?"
"Yes" She whispers before holding her breath.
His mouth slowly kisses the corner of hers.
Pulling back she finally breathes. "Goodnight"
"Sweet dreams Bella"
"I'll be at the inn" He stands in her kitchen. Flora ran to check and see if her bed is still there. Her lamb tucked under her arm. "Call if you need anything" He says arching his eyebrows. It is afternoon and he really needs to lie down. He feels like he has been going nonstop and the three hour drive back was not very pleasant. Mainly because he was tired.
Bella nods. She has a lot to do. She needs to call Sue and find out her shifts. Call Alice and Ang see how they having been doing. Flora needs to get back into a proper routine. She won't have a chance, well Edward won't have to chance to go if Flora is not set doing the normal. She will expect Edward to be around all the time. Bella is dreading Edward going for that reason. On top of others at this point.
"Anything" He urges, he wants weight too.
"Everything is good" She tells him running her fingers through her loose hair.
Edward leans on the door frame and smiles at her.
"Get some rest" Bella says. "Flora is going to want you"
He smiles and shuts his eyes for a moment at the thought. "I love her so much"
"I know you do"
"I'll be back and bring some dinner around 5?"
"Okay" Bella agree with ease.
He stared at her, then her beautiful mouth. "Can I again?" He whispers.
"Flora" Bella answers, she doesn't want to confuse their daughter. Give her hope and have it ripped away. She is too innocent in all of this. She could run in any second, she is a whirlwind after a few hours of sleep.
He understands the rejection. "Okay"
Bella nods. "Drive safe huh?"
"Always, I'll see you in a couple of hours" He bids her one last look before heading to his rental car.
Edward lies in the bed in the small Forks Inn and looks to the ceiling. He wonders if he could move here. He knows he can simply because Bella and Flora are here. But he knows Bella won't get anything out of Forks. They won't get anything out of it if they try to be together. She won't get the education she deserves. Both of them will miss out on what could be, Flora will miss out on that wonderful, beautiful life with her mother and father.
"Daddy!" Flora squeals, she bursts through the door and leaps into her father's arms.
Bella walks out she has a dish towel in her hands, her feet are bare as she stands on the top step watching the pair with a smile.
Edward holds Flora's hand as he walks up balancing the pizza box on his palm. "Dinner" He greets Bella.
"Thank you" Bella takes it and turns to go in before him and Flora.
Flora giggles as she is swung into her father's arms. "I missed you"
"I saw you a few hours ago" He nuzzles her, she smells sweet. "But I missed you too" He confesses. He doesn't know how he went 4 years without this. His eyes meet Bella's back as he follows her in. Without her.
Charlie is at the station taking over tonight's shift. He really was eager to get back into work. He likes order and routine.
Flora sits happily and eats her pizza. Sauce is on her cheeks and chin, her nose and possibly her toes.
Edward laughs scrubbing her tiny foot. He lifts it to his face and sniffs it. "Sweet"
Flora giggles.
Bella stands at the bathroom door holding the duck towel for her daughter. She lets Edward take over bath duty tonight.
"Are you going to be here tomorrow?" Flora questions as her father lifts her from the tub.
"Yes" Edward kisses her damp head. "And the next day and the next, for the rest of the week" He assures her.
"Good" Flora smiles as her mother wraps her up in her duck towel.
Bella pushes the plates into the cupboard as Edward is reading Flora story after story and tucking her into bed.
Edward walks down the stairs, he sees Bella's back to the kitchen door and watches her move around for a moment. He goes further in and she turns her head over her shoulder. "She is all tucked away"
"Thanks" She smiles, drying her hands on the cloth. She touches her stomach and stares up at him. "Thanks for dinner as well"
He steps forward closing the space between them, his hand cups the side of her face. "I'm going to stop asking" He informs her. "I'm going to assume this is okay" He continues. "Assume you want this"
"I though" Bella says softly. "Assuming got us, you, into this…situation years ago"
"It did" His thumb brushes over the cheek he has cupped. "Am I still assuming the wrong things?" He wonders tipping his head to the side, his other hand cups her other cheek and he pulls her closer, he gently tips her head up towards him fully. "Hmm?" He waits for her answer. She looks relaxed and sweet. She is sweet.
Bella wets her lips. "I"
"Tell me Bella or am I assuming the right things now"
What is going to happen! My body is totally ready after 5 years! READY!
Hope you liked it *smile*
