Thanks to Fran for cleaning this up and to my prereaders. Thanks to you for reading and reviewing!
"No!" I scream, jumping up from where I lay on the couch. "No!"
"Bella — "
"Stay away from me!" I shout again, this time managing to stand myself up and untangle from the blankets.
A voice slices into the panic I feel consuming every inch of my body. "Bella, listen. Listen to me. It's me. It's just a dream. You're home." The voice is calm, saying each word as if he's repeating facts instead of ways to calm me down. It's Edward. The next thing he says pulls me from the darkness threatening to keep me underwater. "You're safe."
Even though my eyes have been open this whole time, this time, I feel the haze being pulled back from them as well. He's blurry as he comes into focus, the way he's standing in front of me with his hands on both of my shoulders, staring me in the eyes as if that alone could force me to wake up.
Because that's what this was.
A dream.
The nightmare I lived.
"I'm so sorry," I say quickly, my voice shaky as I try to salvage both our lovely evening and my pride. At that moment, I hear just how hard I'm breathing, feel how clammy my skin has gotten, and I'm suddenly filled with anger so deep I could kill him with my bare hands if he were near.
"What are you apologizing for?" Edward asks, and I can see he wants to bring me closer to him, but his years of training know to give me my space for now.
Nightmare gone and cobwebs cleared, I rub my eyes and see Edward staring at me with such a leveled look of concern on his face.
It breaks me.
"I hate him," I cry, allowing myself one moment of weakness, stepping into his space to show him, without words, that I need him right now more than ever.
"I know," Edward breathes, pulling me to his chest once he understands I'm ready for his touch. He speaks into my hair, kissing the top of my head as he does. "I do, too, if that makes you feel any better."
"A little," I laugh softly between my tears.
We stand there for several minutes, him consoling me as my panic subsides and my tears slow. When he pulls back and wipes a final tear from my cheek, he motions towards his couch.
"Come back?"
I nod wordlessly, and he takes my hand and settles us back onto the couch. Nestled in the confines of the blanket, I lay my head against his chest again but don't dare close my eyes.
"He found me," I say weakly once I've found my voice.
"In your dream?"
I nod. "He was outside the cabin and didn't say anything. He didn't need to."
Edward's arms tighten around me. "Do these happen often? These nightmares?"
"Not as much as they used to," I admit. I wonder if comparing and questioning my relationship with Edward earlier spawned my husband to appear in my dreams tonight.
He nods, and I'm unsure if he's accepted my answer or not. "Okay."
See you tomorrow!