A/N: SM owns all things Twilight. Everything else is mine.

Chapter 20

Sunrise comes too quickly for me and I bury my face into Bella's hair. I didn't fall back asleep until around four-thirty, close to two hours after I awoke from my dream. During my time awake, a puffy-eyed Bella woke up in need of the bathroom. She came back and had acted tired, but normal, like the last eight or so hours hadn't happened. She crawled under the covers again, putting her back to my front. She was asleep within minutes.

I don't know how she didn't remember. Maybe it's one of those cases where it was selective repression, or maybe she woke up and thought it was only a nightmare, therefore not real. I half expected her to sit up and seek him out, making sure he was on his bed, but she didn't. He may have acted like a puppy, but Bella had him for almost eleven years. She'd bought him when he was only a few months old.

Bella stirs, bringing me back into the present. Stretching her arms over her head, she rolls to her back and sighs. Giving me a small smile, she says, "Hey."

"Hey. How are you feeling?"

She frowns, confused. "I'm fine, why?" I stare at her, trying to remind her without having to say it aloud. It doesn't take long for her to figure it out, letting out a whispered "oh," as she tears up and bites her lip, clearly trying to not break down. She takes a few deep breaths, holding each one a few seconds longer than normal before blowing it out. "I will be… eventually." She amends once she's able.

I nod. "Is there anything you want to do today?" I think it would be a good idea to do something, so it's not on her mind every second of the day. "You know, so you don't have to think about … things."

She just shrugs a shoulder and avoids looking at me. "I don't know. Can you just … just hold me a little longer, please?"

"Okay," I say and pull her as close as I can.

We lay there for a while, but nature eventually calls and I can't hold it anymore. I let go of Bella with the promise that I'll be back, and relieve myself. When I return, she's sitting up, hair a mess from her sleep, twisting her fingers.

"Would you like some coffee?" I ask, pulling her out of her thoughts.

With a small, tight smile, she says, "That'd be great."

As the coffee brews, I try to think of things we could do to keep her mind occupied before she needs to work at four. Maybe I could help her with wrapping her Christmas presents. I know I need tell her about my dream, but I think I should wait considering what was said may be too much right now. Although, something tells me there may never be a right time.

A/N: What do you think? When would be the "right time" to tell her about his latest dream to you, if ever?