"I think I'm dying." I hear his groaning and whining from the bathroom as I wet a cloth and chuckle.

"You're definitely not dying," I call back. "Not on my watch."

This side of Edward makes my heart happy. He's in pain, but he's … cute with it. I know I shouldn't laugh, but he's so pathetic, and if you had told me four months ago that this side of Edward existed, I'd have told you were crazy. And delusional.

But here we are.

He's lying on his bed, wearing nothing but dark joggers and I'm about to help him clean his wound.

It became pretty obvious to us both that Carlisle had pulled some strings for Edward to be discharged from the hospital so soon, especially as he talked me through keeping the wound clean. Edward still needs a lot of help.

I'm more than happy to play nurse.

"Move your arm," I command gently, rolling my eyes when he winks.

"I like it when you're bossy."

I laugh. "Don't start something you can't finish."

His eyebrow raises in challenge, I can't help but blush. I feel the warmth work its way onto my cheeks and cringe at myself, which only makes his smile widen.

"There are … ways." His voice is low, seductive and I can't look away from him, his eyes so green.

Shaking my head to snap myself out of it, I huff loudly. "Stop it."

"Stop what?" His tone is playful, his smile mischievous. Oh, he knows.

His flirting is quickly derailed as soon as my hands are on his torso, my fingers peeling away the gauze that covers his wound.

"That shut you up, huh?" I tease, looking up at him briefly, sending him a reassuring smile. He doesn't reply, dropping his head and staring up at the ceiling.

I work quietly, ignoring the way his body flinches every now and again. I've seen his wound a couple of times now, but that doesn't diminish the pain I feel every time it's uncovered. Angry and red, stitches holding the skin taut.

"Carlisle said he'll change the dressing tomorrow morning for you."

He grunts a reply, still not looking at me.

For a moment I sit on the floor watching him, studying his profile closely; his long lashes as he blinks, ghosting touches against his cheeks; his straight nose as he inhales and exhales; and his tense jaw, the stubble thicker than it usually is after his days spent in the hospital.

"What are you thinking about?" I ask eventually, pulling my knees to my chest.

His head rolls to the side, bright green eyes meeting mine. "A lot," he answers quietly, but he smiles timidly, refusing to close himself off.

I scoot closer to the bed, lifting my hand to touch his. His fingers tighten around mine, his touch comforting.

"I love you," he tells me. I can't hide the smile that breaks free.

"I love you too."

He sighs in contentment. "I love hearing you say that."

"I love saying it."

Lifting my hand and tugging gently, he guides me closer to him, screwing his face up as he shifts himself on the bed, making room for me.

"I've got my first appointment with a new shrink next week." His voice remains quiet, so unsure. I lower myself onto the bed beside him, cautious of his torso.

"Yeah?"

He nods and then chuckles, his thumb drawing small circles on my hand. "New year, new me and all that bullshit."

I turn my head and kiss his bare shoulder lightly. "New us." I keep my lips against his skin, the warmth from his body warming me.

"I love the sound of that too."

Humming, I kiss his shoulder again, making him groan.

"So that's our New Year's Resolution?" I ask, shifting my head to look up at him. He's looking at me, our eyes locked in that deep visual embrace that carries us away and holds us tight. He nods, his face moving closer to mine, inch by painfully slow inch.

Closing the gap, I exhale in relief as our lips touch, our breaths mingling.

For hours we lie side by side, kissing softly, enjoying the peaceful evening, taking solitude in each other, leaning emotionally on each other, knowing that we've got so many more hurdles to overcome, but taking comfort knowing that we're in this together, we're finally a team.

It's the first time I feel truly content in our relationship—all things considered—and I have faith in us, knowing that we're on the same page.

I trust in us. I'm hopeful.

Looking at him, watching him as he watches me, I see the exact same determination and resolve reflected back at me.

When the fireworks start, we lean into each other whispering "happy New Year" and kissing softly over and over again in the darkness.

It's very little, but it's so much; the shift earth shattering.