Author's Note: Apologies for the short chapter. The next few chapters will be EPOV, I really want his take on recent events, and I hope that you will too. I appreciate everyone's patience with my typos and the way I write things kind of out of order. I read everything several times before submitting and still manage to find little stuff. I don't own Twilight or the characters, this is just for fun.
EPOV – Christmas Eve
A recap from Chapter 4: I had just finished placing a spread of fruit, nuts, and other snacks on the table when I heard a loud rumble in the distance. It wasn't quite sunrise yet. My unnecessary breath caught in my throat. The ever-present demon of doubt took hold on my heart. My panic grew as I heard the unmistakable sound of Bella's truck flying up the driveway, driving every bit as fast as a Cullen would, likely in fury at my daring to come back here. I stepped outside to greet her, unable to wait another second to know my fate. I lowered my head in shame and waited for her approach.
The rumble of the old truck's engine grew louder, and I heard her tires flinging gravel everywhere. Bella had to be furious driving like that. Stupid, Edward, how could you ever think you deserved such an angel? Why would she want anything to do with you after how cruelly you left her? If crying were possible for me, I would have been weeping. I was shaking, as it was, every bit as nervous as the day I left Bella in the forest, because this time my fate was completely in her hands. She could order me away, and though I wouldn't go, my heart would shatter all over again. I would never find happiness without Bella, my love, my mate, and it was my fault for abandoning her.
I heard her rusted truck groan as it came to a stop a few feet from the house. Bella practically fell out as she flung the door open. My trembling intensified as she walked towards me, torturously slow. This is it; she's going to curse me and tell me go to Hell, or anywhere but here. Satan himself could be walking towards me, and I'd welcome him with open arms just to hold Bella for a moment first.
Her appearance was disheveled, like she rushed to get here and was nervously messing with her hair the whole way. Angry or not, time stood still as I watched my fate walk towards me. I swear my unmoving heart pounded in my chest when I saw the locket resting delicately against her collarbone. Wait, could this be? No way. Is she….? I couldn't form a coherent thought.
I felt hope creep in, pushing away some of the fear. She was wearing my locket. I couldn't help but smile, really seeing her beautiful face for the first time in months. She wasn't angry at me! I saw her jump towards me and before I could question anything, Bella was in my arms.
I held her with as much force as I dared as I took in her sweet scent and the precious sound of her heart racing. In that moment, all of my thoughts were on the gorgeous creature in my embrace. Nothing would ever compare to this feeling. I couldn't help but kiss her hair, the top of her head and anything I could reach. Bella was here, and she willingly came to me. This was heaven and all I could do was hold her, all I needed was to hold her. I felt myself sobbing, although I couldn't cry, with the overwhelming relief of her.
When she started running a hand through my hair, I shivered with pleasure. "Bella." I whispered, relishing the sound of her name on my lips after so many months spent in silence. The ugly monster of anxiety reared its head again and I needed to know, I pulled back a little to look in her bright, brown eyes. "You came back to me. Are you sure –"
Her expression changed to one of stern determination. My question froze in my throat as she brought a warm hand to my face, holding my eyes level with hers and looking at me with an intensity I had never seen from her before.
Her lips were forcefully pressed against mine before I could realize her intent. I felt myself gasp at the sudden sensation. After months of being hollow and feeling empty, suddenly the entire universe was right here in my arms. I felt everything around me blur away as I kissed my Bella back and touched her soft hair. Any anxiety or doubts I had were banished to the Hell from whence they came in an instant. This was my Heaven and everything was as it should be.
