AN: Love to my ladies Chocaholic123 and Katie Boberg for pre-reading and to jcat5507 and mcc101180 for beta'ing
SM owns Twilight.
~o~o~o~ Arch Lifts ~o~o~o~
The past few months seemed to drag like molasses. Ro and I had thrown ourselves into our college work, and the lecturers had piled assignments on top of us for the final semester. We didn't know anyone in our classes, so it was easy to bunker down in the library undisturbed, writing page after page of analysis. The only distraction was our phones that were constantly lit up with messages and missed calls from the boys.
The ache from missing Edward never went away, but he made it easier. We spoke every day, emailed, and I even found myself running to the mailbox every morning to see if he'd written a letter or sent a package. At least once a week there was something from him, his distinctive scrawled writing on the front.
When I'd unzipped my suitcase on the first night in my childhood bedroom, I'd found a familiar t-shirt wrapped around a rectangular package. The navy blue material was pure Edward, his spicy cologne and the fresh detergent that reminded me so much of him and especially his bed. I'd let out such a loud squeal that Mom had come running to check if I was okay.
I think she fell a little bit in love with him too when she saw what he'd sent me. It was a small wooden picture frame, dotted with all manner of shells. The photo was of our beach hut, the sun shining, and it captured the shadow of the photographer, dark across the sand. My first thought was it was one of Riley's photos, but the shape of the shadow was distinctly Edward. I'd found a note attached to the back.
Bella,
I finally decided to put Riley's cameras to good use. This was my first photo. It's not perfect, but I wanted you to have it anyway because it's our place.
I love you,
Edward.
I'd like to say my dad thought it was a lovely gift too. He did, until I told him my plans to return to England. That revelation had gone down like a ton of bricks. Mom and Dad were both upset about it, but Mom said she understood, and she'd even spoken to Edward on the phone a few times. Dad was proving to be a tougher cookie to crack.
I was getting ready to head out with Ro to view a house she was planning to rent with Emmett. She wanted to get everything ready before the baby came, and as she was already carrying around a basketball tucked under her top, time was running out. Thing were progressing slowly with Emmett's transfer, but he hoped he'd be over within the month. As we'd predicted, Ro's mom had a meltdown and was panicking over everything. I was acting as buffer between the pair, both of them often ending up in tears of frustration. Thankfully, for this viewing she was at work, so it would just be the two of us.
My phone screen lit up with a message from Edward.
Hey, are you at home? Near your computer?
I looked at my watch, my desire to see him outweighing my punctuality.
Yep, but I'm heading out in fifteen.
I just want to see your face. Calling in two.
By the time I had my computer turned on, my cheeks ached from my smile and my pulse was running away with itself in excitement to see him. The call came in almost immediately, and I clicked the mouse to accept it, sitting down at my desk so I was eye level with the camera.
The screen filled, not with Edward face, but a view of his naked torso.
"Oh my god. Are you trying to kill me?" My body still heated with desire for him, despite the fact he was so many thousands of miles away. Nothing had dampened my attraction. If anything, I was worse, and Edward was insatiable. When we finally saw each other, I'd joked we might explode. Edward told me I shouldn't say things like that. It might curse his stamina.
He still didn't sit down, but the camera wobbled, his laugh coming through the speakers. "Hang on. The camera's gone all wonky."
I leaned closer to the screen, my fingers itching to run down his side, across his stomach, to trace the shape of his muscles and the black flicks of his tattoo which disappeared into his towel. Oh my god.
"Edward, are you wet?" I asked, my voice almost pleading him to say yes.
He finally sat down, his handsome face filling the screen. An eyebrow was raised, and the lopsided smile, ever-present on his lips, was curled even more than usual. I wanted to lean in and kiss it so badly, I felt a pain in my chest.
"Are you?" he asked.
I shot a look at my door, making sure it was closed. Thankfully, it was. This was not the kind of conversation I wanted my parents to hear, never mind that it would be a surefire way to make my dad dislike Edward even more.
"It's the middle of the afternoon here," I whispered.
"Thanks, Mrs. Wolf. I am aware of the time difference." He rubbed his hands over the day's worth of scruff on his face. I could imagine exactly how it would feel under my fingertips. "I just got out of the shower, and I missed you. Can a man not want to say hi to the girl he loves?" He reached for something behind him, stretching out his body, drawing my eyes directly to the golden brown trail that lead to the treasure I yearned to reach. He was driving me insane.
"I know what you're doing, Edward Cullen," I scolded.
His mischievous grin told me he knew exactly what he was doing, too. "Oh yeah? What's that then?"
"You're trying to … make me want you." I leaned closer to the computer, hoping my voice wasn't carrying. I heard the television on downstairs and could visualize my dad sitting in his armchair, beer in hand, watching sports.
"You don't want me?" He frowned, pouting.
"I always want you."
"What do you want from me?" His voice dropped down a step, the way he knew drove me crazy.
"Everything."
"You have to be more specific than that, Miss Swan." He crossed his arms over his naked chest. A chest that was still covered with droplets of water from his shower. Little details like that were my undoing, and he knew full well. I wanted to climb into the computer and lick every one off his skin, tangling my fingers in his water-darkened hair.
"I want you to come here and make me yours. I want to touch you and kiss you, and I want to feel your body pressing into mine and your lips on my skin." I finished and felt breathless, but the ache had started up again. The ache of wanting something you can't have. "I just want you, Edward."
He could tell from my tone, I'd gone from being turned on to two minutes from tears. "Hey, beautiful. Don't be sad."
"I'm not sad. I just miss you."
"I know. I miss you, too. More than anything. How did the visa thing go?"
"Not had it yet. It's tomorrow." I had a call with the British Embassy to start the process of obtaining a visa to live and work in England—something I was starting to worry about. The mountains of information on the Internet had been giving me a headache. I needed someone to explain a Dummies Guide to Emigrating. It had been simple enough to get the student visa— our college had organized it for us—but it had expired, meaning I had to start from scratch.
Edward read my frown and tone as if I'd voiced my concerns out loud. We'd learned a lot about each other from our time apart. Understanding minor flexes in the tenor of our voices was becoming second nature. "Don't worry. It'll be fine, and if it's not, we'll get around it. Okay?"
I nodded. "Okay. I love you. I'm sorry for being maudlin."
"I'd give anything to give you a hug right now. You know that, right?" he said.
"Only a hug?" I joked, trying to lighten the mood. I saw my phone flashing out of the corner of my eye—Ro.
"You better be ready for me. When I've finished all the things I'm going to do to you, your legs will be like jelly."
"Oh yeah, hotstuff?" He had the amazing ability to turn me on with a handful of words.
"Yeah. I'll call you later, and we can continue where we left off once you're in bed … naked." He grinned, and I blew him a kiss.
"I love you. Speak to you later."
"I love you, too. Have a good day."
The screen went blank, and as always, I felt it like a physical jolt. I missed him so, so much.
"There he is!" Ro squealed and barged through the throngs of passengers to the hulking form of Emmett. Perhaps lumbered would be a better word for it. For the first six months of her pregnancy, if you we looking at her from behind, you couldn't even tell. She'd started to suffer from swollen ankles and had grown so big, we'd scrutinized her scans, making sure there wasn't another baby hiding in there. Her doctors assured her there wasn't; she'd been blessed with a big baby. A comment that made us both flinch in unison.
I gave them a couple of minutes together. Emmett had crouched down, wrapping his arms around her protruding stomach, and he was talking to it. Ro stroked the top of his head with tears in her eyes, gazing down at him. I was trying so hard not to feel like the odd one out, the thoughts only making me miss Edward more.
"Bella!" Emmett stood and barreled over, crushing me in his arms for a long time. "That's from E. He made me promise to give you a good one." He snickered, and Ro, who'd ambled over, smacked his arm.
I swiped away the tear that had escaped, joking, "I'll tell him you gave me an especially good one."
He grinned broadly. "You do that. He's too far away to do anything about it now."
"Em. Jesus, will you shut up," Ro warned, wrapping her arm around my waist. "I'm sorry, B," she whispered, and I shook my head with a smile.
Over the past few months, we'd had more than one hormone-fuelled argument about the fact I'd come home with her, flinging hurtful words we didn't mean. She'd tried numerous times to get me to go back to England, but what kind of friend would that have made me? She was without Emmett for every kick, every prenatal class, each tiny little change, but she had me by her side in lieu. She'd even nicknamed me MiniEmmyBear, until I'd threatened her with death. Yes, I missed Edward. Yes I desperately wanted to see him, but Ro has been my best friend since pigtails, popsicles, and gappy teeth. I wanted to be there for her. She would do the same for me, without a shadow of a doubt. Plus, I was gathering my godmother points. I definitely had it in the bag.
"So, ladies. What's up first?" Em boomed, swinging his rucksack up onto his shoulder, taking Ro's hand.
"We're going to our new place," Ro said, halting him in his stride.
"New place? I thought we were staying with your mom and house hunting?" The relief was apparent on his face. Ro told me her mom had already adopted Em as the son she'd never had, and as a result, she was driving him as crazy as his own mother.
"I thought I'd surprise you. It's only rented for now, but it's perfect. I know you'll love it," Ro explained tentatively. It was a risk putting the deposit down, but Edward had been involved in the surprise plans, fishing for information from over in England and feeding it back to us covertly.
Em pulled her into his arms for a kiss. "Lead the way!"
We pulled up outside the little house. It was a two bedroom with a small front yard. Painted white with a forest green front door, it was adorable. We'd managed to furnish it adequately with things dug out from garages and attics, borrowed from my parents and Ro's. It still needed a lot of work before the arrival of Baby McCarty, but it was a good start. Plus, it had a decent back garden with a small deck. Apparently, a barbeque area was the only thing Em had demanded. He was a fiend on the grill. Or so we'd heard.
"This is it?" Em pointed, clambering out of the cab. He beamed like a little kid when she nodded. "Come on, show me around."
"Don't forget you have to lift me over the threshold." Ro paused after she'd unlocked the front door.
"Oh really? I've heard that's only after you get married, and you won't marry me, so …" He folded his arms. "and I don't want to hurt my back. You're a lot heavier than the last time I saw you." He must have had a death wish.
I'd remained by the cab, and I decided to leave them to it. I didn't have time to be an accessory to murder. "See you guys later. I'm going home."
"Bye, B. Come around soon." Ro yelped as Em bent down and lifted her into his arms. The last thing I saw as the cab pulled away was them disappearing into their new home. I pulled my phone and sent Edward a text.
Will you carry me over the threshold when I arrive?
A minute later, my phone lit up. Is this a proposal of marriage?
I smiled and brushed my thumb over the screen before replying. What would you say if it was?
I'd say stop spoiling my extravagant plans.
What plans are those?
The ones where I'm going to ask you to marry me.
I let out a little squeak, and the cab driver's eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. I mouthed my apologies and texted Edward back. I love you.
I know. I'm very easy to love.
You're a dork.
You're dorkier.
Is that a word?
It should be.
I shook my head at his message, my chest feeling tight with longing. I miss you.
I miss you more, but it's not long now. I'm counting down the days. I've carved them into my wall with my fingernails.
I snorted. If there was one thing to be said about Edward Cullen, and there was a lot you could say, it was that he could put a smile on my face no matter how sad I felt. At least it's not a notch in your bedpost.
Oh I have plenty of those ;)
Erm …
Shit. I didn't mean it like that. I meant I've only carved you into my bedpost.
The cab pulled up outside my house, and I riffled around in my bag for some bills, passing them to the driver. Before I'd even got out of the car, my phone was vibrating in my hand, my favorite picture of him flashing on the screen.
"Hey, you," I answered.
"Hey. I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. I've got foot in mouth syndrome and all that." His familiar voice was tinged with a panic that made me smile.
"I was kidding." I laughed, pulling my key out and unlocking the front door.
"Oh I thought when you didn't reply, I'd upset you," he admitted, the relief clear in his tone.
"Nope. I know you're a dork . We just had a conversation about your dorkiness. I was paying for the cab when you texted. I've just gotten back from getting Em. Ro's showing him around the new house." I threw my keys on the wooden table in the hallway and walked into the kitchen, pulling a bottle of water from the fridge.
"I'm feeling jealous of them." His voice had quieted, and I heard him flop down onto his couch or bed.
"Yeah, me too, but we won't be saying this when they're up at two in the morning with a screaming baby." I clutched onto whatever silver lining I could find.
"Very true. So what are you doing? Have you booked your flights yet?" After hours and hours of discussion, we'd decided the best option was to get over to England with a short-term visa. I'd accepted a job at the university in the Criminology and Psychology department as a tutor. I then had six months to find a perfect full-time job, and I'd already started sending out applications.
"No, not yet," I replied.
"Good. I want to pay for them."
"What? No, Edward. I can manage it." I had enough savings to tide me over while I settled down.
"Nope. You will not win this argument. I've spoken to your dad about it, and he agrees."
I paused with the bottle of water halfway to my mouth. "What?"
"I said you won't win the argument," he repeated.
"No, the bit about my dad." This was a revelation. The pair had spoken momentarily when my dad had picked up the phone, but no more than a few gruff words. I'd thought Edward was scared of him.
"Oh yeah, that. Well, I decided I'd better try and build a relationship with him. I am stealing his daughter away from him after all."
"When has this been going on?" I was standing, with my jaw on the floor, in the quiet kitchen. I couldn't believe this had been going on under my nose. I was going to have to have a little word with my dear old dad.
"A few calls here and there. Don't worry about it, beautiful. Your dad loves me." He chuckled down the line, scratching coming over the receiver I imagined was his stubble as he held the phone to his ear with his shoulder. He never sat still and was always doing ten things at once when he was on the phone.
"I will have to see it to believe it."
He laughed. "You will eventually. I've got to head off now. I've got work in ten."
"Are you in your uniform?" I pouted.
"I am." he replied with a rasp to the words that made my heart flutter.
"You don't play fair."
"I know. Love you, B. I'll call you later."
"Love you, too. I want pics," I told him quickly before the line went dead.
My phone flashed up a second later. You show me yours. I'll show you mine.
I responded and ran up the stairs to my room with a huge smile on my face. Mission accepted.
AN: Thank you for reading, and for your fab reviews and rec's oxoxox
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