To all who have reviewed my story: I can't express my gratefulness to you. Until I received reviews I never understood the impact of them - the encouragement they bring. When I check my mail and there are reviews, it's like getting a little gift and opening the email is like opening the wrapping paper. Gifts from strangers and not necessarily something you would have asked for (usually much more wonderful than anything I would have dreamed of asking for) so they are always a delightful surprise and unique like the givers. Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!!!

In regard to my updating - I don't think I'll be writing much until Sept. or Oct. - I just don't have the time for it now but I did write Chap. 13 awhile ago so I figured I'd post it now. I intend to finish the story eventually but I would like it to be awhile till then since I am still enjoying the story. Whenever I write a chapter it's like I am driving a big bus and you are all the passengers and I am the only one who knows where we will be going. And I can only hope you will enjoy the ride. RMB you asked if I got my name from the beads and the bone in Jack Sparrows hair - YES! - I'm so glad somebody noticed that!!!!! And speaking of Jack I hope to soon post a strange, surrealistic, extremely mushy little thing I wrote last summer. I thought it was way too maudlin (don't say I didn't warn you) to publish at the time but now I figure I'll just see how much over the top sentimentality people will stand for.

Alright, now ...EVERYBODY ...ON THE BUS!!!

13

"I...I was getting us something to eat in the kitchen," Edward blinked down at her, "I thought maybe you'd be hungry."
"Wow, yes, now that you mention it, I really am," she answered as relief at seeing him at last continued to fill her.

"I made some soup,." he paused, "Would you like some?"

"Oh, I would! Thanks!"

Edward turned and Nora hurried to his side. She touched her hand to the back of his arm and followed as he made his way across the room and through a dark corridor.

"I guess I won't be able to see anymore of your house - it's just too dark now."

"Yes, the candles don't give off enough light," he answered, very aware of her hand on his arm.

They entered the kitchen and Edward put the candle he was half balancing, half carrying, with his scissors, onto the kitchen table. He pulled a chair out from the table for Nora to sit in. She sat down but she felt tense and nervous, still shaken from the emotions she had felt as she sat on his bed and feeling a little ashamed for having invaded his private space.

Edward lit another candle on a counter top near the stove. It was a gas stove and the flame was low under a large pot. The delicious smell of simmering soup reached Nora's nostrils and her stomach growled. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until now. She watched Edward carefully ladle soup into two bowls. They were more like two large mugs and she noticed that he was able to use utensils if they had the kind of handles that formed a round opening in which he could wedge a scissor or two and then guide it with the other hand. The candle holder had been like that - it had a round handle that a normal person would put a finger through in order to get a grip on it - but Edward used a scissor and then balanced it with the other hand. The ladle had a handle too, only larger. She had never seen one like it before and she concluded that it had been made especially for Edward - perhaps by whoever it was that had made him as well. That is if there was any truth to what she'd heard people say about him since his "death". Some people had said he wasn't human. That he was nothing but some crazy man's invention - that he didn't have a soul. Well, maybe someone had somehow created him, but that didn't make him any less human, she thought as she watched him. He was more human to her than anyone she had ever met.

Edward painstakingly carried the bowls one by one to the table. Nora didn't offer to help, only watched him. She was feeling tired and had run out of things to say. Edward sat down at the table opposite her and watched her expectantly.

"Would you happen to have a spoon somewhere?" she asked, looking toward the kitchen drawers.

"I'm sorry," Edward stood up and shuffled quickly across to the drawers. He opened one and stirred the contents of it in search of a spoon. Finding one, he attempted to pick it up but it slipped out of his scissors. He tried a couple of times more before he was aware of Nora at his side.

"I can get it," she said softly, placing a hand on his forearm and picking up one of the spoons. Feeling her so close beside him, a thought flashed through his mind about how it might feel to hold her the way he had held Kim once. He remembered how she had placed his arms around her as they stood near the window so long ago and he wanted to hold Nora that way. Instead he just looked down and turned away.

"Ok," he said in a small voice and they both returned to their seats at the table. Nora began to eat as Edward looked on.

"This is so good," Nora murmured, grateful for something in her stomach. But she knew that it wasn't just her hunger that made the soup taste good. It was exquisitely seasoned and perfectly simmered. Again Nora was amazed at Edward's talent. Apparently he was an excellent cook.

"I have some bread too. Would you like some?"

"Yes, but aren't you going to eat?" she asked looking up at him.

"I'm not very hungry," he answered quietly. He watched her as she ate and seeing how much she seemed to enjoy it, he again felt something different growing inside him - the same feeling he had when she had admired his yard. Edward was feeling a sense of pride that he hadn't felt in a long time - not since people had lined up for him to style their hair and that seemed so very long ago.

She smiled into his eyes and he smiled back as the candle flickered between them.

END OF CHAP. 13

It would be really helpful if you were as specific as possible about what parts you liked the most - as well as the parts you don't like. I'm still having a hard time with Nora - her personality is still only sketchy to me. I know this chapter was kind of dull - chapt. 14 should be better. Oh, and keep those angsty song suggestions coming.