27

The Hermit

The week following Christmas is neither good nor bad for Bella.

She finds herself emotional when it comes time for Edward's parents to head back home.

It's funny; she was so nervous to meet Esme and Carlisle but having spent the better part of the week with them has changed her perspective entirely. Esme leaves with promises of video chat sessions so that she can show off her craft room and gossip about her children. There are tears, but there are also hugs. More hugs in the twenty-minute farewell than Bella thinks she shared with her parents in all of her eighteen years underneath their roof.

For one reason or another, she and Edward seem to find an excuse for him to have to stay over.

Night after night, it's the same thing. Each reason is more ludicrous than the one before it.

When Edward claims he hasn't had a chance to change the bedding since his parents left, Bella agrees wholeheartedly.

She knows for a fact Esme did a little maternal sprucing before her departure, but she doesn't want to sleep without him.

The following night, Edward declares that he's too tired to walk home, which is ridiculous, considering he lives right next door.

Bella is just as terrible, complaining that it's too chilly to sleep alone and insists that Edward is better than her old electric blanket.

The list goes on.

Sure, this means Bella has to wake up at four-thirty in the morning to see him off to work, but the pros certainly outweigh the cons. He says her sizzling kisses get him through the day with a smile on his face. She goes back to bed for a few hours, and then makes herself a cup of instant cappuccino to wake up.

While Edward's at work, Bella keeps herself busy, cooking him delicious meals and knitting hats to donate to local homeless shelters for the new year. Today, her hands are aching, but she's happy to watch the pile slowly grow, knowing that the donation will be greatly appreciated by the city's less fortunate population.

The season only seems to be getting colder this year.

Bella begins counting down the days until she'll see Zafrina again, and for once, she isn't dreading the session. Bella has so much to share that she's compiled a list so that she won't forget anything.

Her phone goes off, so she drops her knitting needles, a smile forming when she opens the text.

I love you more than words can express. So I made you something to show you just how much.

Another text, a picture this time.

To the moon and black and white cookies

I love you more than you love peanut butter.

That's an awful lot of love if you ask me, Sugar. Take that amount and multiply it by a million. That's how I feel about you.

Just stating the facts, Honey. And wow, that's a crazy amount of love, considering how much peanut butter you go through. How's today going? Is Rose there?

Bella knows that Edward is getting frustrated with his sister. They haven't had a chance to talk because Rose has been out of work due to a terrible cold.

She's here. We got the chance to talk a little before we opened ... we're closing early tonight, so we can figure some things out.

Is it that bad?

Nothing that I expected, to be honest. It's all a bit shocking, and it's going to change all of our lives. I'm bringing her home with me so the three of us can talk about it together. I didn't want to overwhelm you.

What about Emmett?

We'll talk about it when we get home. Just wanted to warn you.

It's fine, Honey. Get back to work and come home to me. Love you.

Love you too, Sugar.

Bella pulls a few chicken breasts out to defrost and gathers the ingredients for scalloped potatoes because she knows they happen to be Rose's favorite.

With dinner in the oven, she returns to her basket of yarn and gets back to work on her project.

The day passes quickly and Bella is basting the chicken when the front door opens.

"Sugar?"

"Checking on dinner." She switches the oven to warm and wipes her hands on her apron as she rounds the corner. Bella can't help but gasp at the sight before her.

Rose looks absolutely haggard—her face red and tear stained, and it looks like she's lost weight. Bella's no doctor, but she's pretty sure pregnant women are supposed to gain weight, not the other way around.

"Um. Is everything okay?" she asks dumbly.

Edward pulls her in for a hug.

"No. Not by a long shot," he whispers, stepping aside so Rose can fall into her friend's arms.

"Hi, Bells." She sobs.

"Hi, Rose. Let's sit down okay?" Bella offers.

Edward slips out of his heavy coat and boots, and then takes a seat on the coffee table in front of the girls with a stiff upper lip.

Nerves settle deep in Bella's stomach.

"I don't even know how to begin to apologize to both of you for Christmas and how I handled, well, didn't handle everything. I should have never put you in that position, Bella. We had everything so carefully planned out, and then I screwed it all up."

"It's fine, Rose. We made it through the holiday, and it was easily the best I've ever had," Bella assures her.

"No, it's not. Edward was right. I wasn't a good friend."

Edward makes a choking sound and reaches for his sister's hand.

"I said that before I knew what was going on, Ro. I never would have said that if you would have just talked to me."

This sets off a new round of tears for Rose.

Bella tells Edward to run upstairs and grab a wet washcloth, and then wipes Rose's face gently.

"Please tell me you aren't this upset about Christmas," she pleads.

"No, I wish it was just that." She weeps. "I almost lost the baby a week before Christmas."

"What?"

"I woke up in the middle of the night, cramping really badly, and I couldn't get Emmett to wake up, so I drove myself to the hospital. They told me the baby might not be viable, that sometimes things just aren't meant to be. I spent the entire week waiting for my OB appointment, fearing I was going to miscarry, and I took everything out on Edward."

"Why in hell didn't your husband drive you to the hospital?" Bella demands. "Why didn't you call us?"

Rose shrugs. "I didn't want to burden my brother or you. My appointment went well. They said I was just experiencing growing pains and that the baby is a fighter. As for Emmett, you were in your own personal Christmas bubble, and with everything going on, you probably didn't realize that we pretty much avoided each other. He got so drunk here that I had to help him into the house when we got home. We made it to the couch, and he just flopped down face first. I asked him if he needed anything, and he told me he wanted a divorce."

"What?" Bella glances over to Edward, and he nods.

"I don't know what made him say that. The next day, he claimed he couldn't remember anything past dinner, but I couldn't get it out of my head, and he's been acting off for a while, even before the baby. I filed the papers yesterday. I can't be married to someone who secretly doesn't want me. And I'll be damned if I'm going to bring a baby into that kind of environment."

"Wow. I never would have expected this." Bella squeezes Rose's shoulders. "I'll be here for you in any way I can, Rose."

"Rosalie and I talked this morning," Edward explains, reaching for Bella's hand with his free one. "How would you feel about having an extra neighbor for a while? I have a guest room, and Rosalie needs somewhere to stay. I offered to let her move in until she can get back on her feet."

"Of course. Of course." Bella nods. "I'd feel better having her close, just in case she needs something."

Rose chuckles.

"I'm pregnant not a needy patient. I'm sure I can manage. I just need a place to sleep until I can figure things out. It will be nice having a friend next door just in case I need to borrow a cup of sugar or something."

Bella and Edward share a knowing smile.

"EW. Okay. Ed, I have to figure the furniture thing out, but I'm exhausted, so I'm going to crash in your bed for a couple hours. You two go do whatever it is you do when you get like this. Again, EW."

Edward doesn't wait for his sister to leave; he pulls his keys out of his pocket and throws them in her general direction before pulling Bella up the stairs.

"Dinner will be done around six or seven!" she calls downstairs before the front door shuts.

Edward doesn't waste any time getting Bella naked. He whispers his need for her, his dirty words turning her into a writhing mess as he pulls the stretchy fabric of her shirt over her head and devours her mouth.

She's still pmsing, but that doesn't mean she can't bring him pleasure.

"Get naked." Bella gasps.

"Or what?"

She leans up on her elbows and gives him a tantalizing smile. "Or I won't let you fuck my mouth."

She watches Edward choke on his tongue and laughs as he fumbles around.

"Wait. Leave the jacket on."

Edward looks down at the chef's jacket he's wearing. A Christmas gift from Bella. She thought he'd look nice without sleeves, showing off his forearms, and all of his other jackets are white. This one is black with red trimming, and she plans on ordering more so he can wear them instead.

Because he looks scrumptious in his new chef's jacket.

"This isn't going to become some sort of fetish for you, is it?"

"Who knows. Come here and let's find out."

"So bossy." He tsks.

"Lie down on your back."

"Yes, ma'am."

Bella leaves a trail of open-mouthed kisses from Edward's lips to where he's hard and more than ready for her.

"Hmm. I've been thinking about this all day."

"Me too," he says breathily.

Bella swirls her tongue around the sensitive head, knowing how much he enjoys it, and hums thoughtfully.

"I never thought I would like something like this, but there's something about being in control." She grasps him firmly. "Knowing that I do this to you makes me so hot."

Before Edward can reply, she takes him in her mouth.

"Bella, ung."

She smiles, dragging her teeth before releasing him with a pop.

"Seriously, you're going to owe me when I'm not indisposed. I haven't been keeping score, but I'm sure you won't disappoint."

"Please," he cries.

"Please what, Honey?" she asks while she pumps him slowly.

"Please make me come," Edward pleads.

"Like this?" Bella squeezes him right below the mushroom-shaped head.

He groans but shakes his head back and forth.

"Then how? Talk to me, Honey."

"With your mouth, Sugar."

Bella chuckles darkly and releases him completely.

"You'll have to be more specific." She places a kiss on his hip and lets her warm breath wash over his abdomen.

Edward's body breaks out in goosebumps and trembles with need.

"Bella, please take my cock in that pretty mouth of yours and milk me for all I'm worth."

Not wanting to disappoint him, Bella does exactly as he asks, not stopping until he's fully satisfied.

With a happy sigh, she climbs up and rests her head on his shoulder. Her fingers smooth out the wrinkled fabric of his chef's jacket.

"I like watching you come into your own in the bedroom, Sugar." Edward smirks. "It's fun figuring out just how kinky you are."

"Kinky?"

Edward points to his chest.

"Making me keep the jacket on."

Bella's face gets hot. "Yeah, that gift was bought purely out of selfishness. You have very sexy forearms."

"Hmm. Making me tell you what I want."

She laughs.

"That was beneficial for both of us, and you know it."

"I'm not complaining, Sugar. It's the exact opposite. I enjoy watching you flourish." He kisses her forehead. "The hair pulling is a big surprise."

Bella's face flames with embarrassment. "Is that not a normal thing?"

"I'm sure a lot of women enjoy having their hair pulled, Bella. I would have never guessed you would be one of those women. It's sexy."

"Hmm, I agree."

"Now that you've had your fun, can I take this jacket off? I've been wearing it all day."

"I suppose." Bella giggles and pulls at the buttons until he can shrug it off.

They cuddle, Edward's long fingers drawing random patterns along Bella's bareback while they wait for dinner to finish cooking.

"Are we going to talk about what's going on with Rose?" she mumbles against his beating heart.

"It's not something we can just ignore. I've known Em for years, and he never once made me feel like he was unhappy. All this time, I've been thinking that Rosalie was just trying to make me miserable, and in truth, she was just trying to cope with her life at home."

"You couldn't have known, Honey. But now that I think about it, when they announced they were pregnant, he seemed a little detached. I didn't know him enough to think it was odd."

"Ro thinks it's the baby that set him off. They decided about a year ago to start trying, and when she got pregnant, he just changed." Edward kisses Bella's shoulders. "It's going to be weird living with my sister and working with her. It's a good thing I spend most of my time with you, so I can at least get a little reprieve until she figures out what to do next."

Bella leans up on an elbow. "We're going to have a baby in a few short months, you know. She's going to need a room for the baby, a nursery and space for all of its things."

"I know. I'm going to contact my landlord tomorrow to see if he has anything relatively close by. She's going to need people in her corner, so I want to keep her close while she finds her footing."

"I'd prefer if she stayed next door. I mean, I've never tried to go to your apartment before, but I think I could manage it, and if she needed help, I'd be right here."

"So, I guess I'll have a semi-permanent roommate until at least after the baby is born." He shrugs.

Bella kisses him on the cheek and pulls back. "What if we changed the living situation up just a little?"

Edward motions for her to continue.

"Well, you practically live here anyway. What if you let Rose take over the lease next door, and we can make the guest room into a nursery for the baby. She'll be close, and she'll have room for everything. We'll be right next door for support. That way, you can have a life separate from your work relationship."

"Did you just ask me to move in with you?"

"Yeah. I mean, you don't have to if you don't want to. I'd understand if you aren't ready—"

Edward kisses Bella quiet, pulling away with one of his signature goofy grins.

"Are you seriously asking me if I'm okay with having this"—he squeezes her tit—"anytime I want?"

She giggles and swats his hands away. "There are other reasons, you fiend. Think about it. You've spent the majority of your time here for months now and haven't slept at your house since before Christmas."

"The pros would certainly outweigh the cons." He grins.

His hands find her lust-heavy breasts, and she holds back a groan.

"I've never lived with someone besides my family before. I might be bad at it," he warns.

"We work well together, Honey. I'm sure we'll have our ups and downs. I know I will. I am worried about something though."

Edward focuses his attention on her face.

"What?"

Bella's face is warm. "We haven't had sex yet. What if you move in, and we finally do it, and I'm so bad you regret moving in?"

Edward snorts and Bella smacks his chest.

"I'm serious. Maybe we should get it over with before you make a decision."

"Sugar, we definitely aren't going to just get our first time over with. I'd love to move in with you and slowly work our way up to it."

"So, it's official. You're moving in with me?"

"It's official."