AN: First I want to THANK everyone who has voted for my story at The Denali Coven website because your votes did the job and Blue Moon Over Manka's WON the Danger Magnet Award for Best Bella Characterization. I still can't believe it, and I am very grateful. They gave me this cool little graphic of Bella/Kristen that says "Danger Magnet," to put wherever I would like, so I'm putting in the Blue Moon Photo Album for now.
I have to give a special thanks to my two betas, not done baking and Ranma15177. Without them this story would be a big mess and not nearly as interesting. Ranma's story, Escaping Sol, took the runner up prize in the Action/Adventure category and you all should go over and read it when you finish here. If you're looking for an alternative to Breaking Dawn, it's a good one.
While you're at my Profile page, take a moment to click on the link to my Blue Moon Photo Album. I uploaded pictures of all the art work mentioned in this chapter, including the sepia portrait of Edward, and you will certainly want to see that. I recommend opening another window and having the photo album open while you read this chapter. Of course I also recommend having some chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk to go along with it too, but that's just me.
Saturday afternoon
Chapter 25: Time Is On My Side
"You may be right, but old habits are hard to break, and only Carlisle seems to have older habits than me," Edward smiled his crooked smile and I had to smile, too. It must have been all right with him if he could start to tease about it. We had made it over the roughest patch and I hoped that things would be easier after this. I knew I would do anything to be with him and I had to believe he wanted me to be with him forever.
Edward gave me kiss on the top of my head before he stood up and we slowly walked back to the car. He made sure I was safely buckled in and then started the engine and pulled out onto the highway again, my hand securely in his. I exhaled deeply and leaned my head back against the headrest. From that point on the scenery became pure coastline, with the road winding its way around rocky outcroppings and sheer cliffs. Edward was driving the speed limit so I was more relaxed and gazed out the window again to watch the waves as we sped along.
I felt closer to him than ever before and was so happy that we had been able to talk about the painful times in our past without causing further damage to our relationship. There were so many things about him that were still a mystery and I longed to know every secret he was willing to tell me. I wasn't sure I would ever understand his thought process, but I wanted all the information I could get. I would take him on any terms but the way he was opening up to me gave me new confidence that we were forging a bond that would be truly unbreakable and I wanted that bond more than anything.
Then we left the coastline and approached the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge, shrouded in fog, the city of San Francisco twinkling like a jewel in the distance. We were heading towards the Marina, filled with boats of all shapes and sizes. We drove along the Embarcadero and Edward pointed out the Farmer's Market building with its quaint clock tower. He navigated through Union Square, skirting the elegant department stores I knew Alice wouldn't be able to pass. As I looked out the window the scenery suddenly changed to vast stretches of greenery and tall trees as we entered Golden Gate Park.
"There's an exhibit at the new DeYoung Museum I thought you might enjoy," Edward said as he slid into a parking space in the lot next to the tall, rectangular building. The top floor was all glass and looked like it would offer magnificent views of the park and surrounding city if it weren't so gray and foggy today.
We walked toward the entrance, hand in hand, and I noticed a tall, well-dressed blonde man leaning against the wall smoking a cigarette and staring at me. I faltered and stumbled a bit and Edward suddenly let go of my hand and put his arm around my waist, pulling me close to him. He stiffened and his whole posture changed as he quickened our pace and guided me into the spacious atrium of the museum.
Edward went to the desk and paid for our admission while I stood a little ways off and examined the glass walled space, offering views of the gardens on two sides. The museum was curiously uncrowded for a Saturday afternoon and we had the lobby to ourselves. I heard the entrance door close behind me and turned to see the blonde man advancing in my direction. I looked back at Edward to find he was suddenly at my side, putting his arm around my waist and ushering us to the elevator.
We waited a moment for the elevator to arrive and as we walked in he reached out and pressed the button for the third floor. Just before the doors closed the tall blonde man slipped in and smiled at me, showing slightly yellow crooked teeth. The aroma of cigarette smoke clung to his clothing and was very unpleasant in the small, confined space. Edward tightened his grip on me and glowered at the man, making sure his body was in front of mine. I could only imagine what this blonde guy was thinking and I knew from Edward's defensive posture it couldn't be good.
After a short but tense ride, the elevator doors opened onto the third floor and the man exited before us and turned to the right. I could tell Edward was seething as he led me down the corridor to the left.
"Edward, what's wrong?" I asked gently.
"That man should be arrested for what he is thinking; it's criminal. I am not letting go of you for a second," he said, sounding as determined as I had ever heard him.
He looked grim, but I knew he would take care of me so I wasn't concerned. I didn't think it was a good idea to question him about this any more so I decided I would try to get him to focus on something else as we walked. "What's the exhibit you wanted me to see?"
"Are you familiar with the works of the surrealist Salvador Dali?" He sounded a bit calmer and I was grateful he wasn't going to dwell on the unpleasant man in the elevator.
"I've seen some of his paintings in books; he certainly had a different perspective on things."
"That's a bit of an understatement. This collection focuses on his work from the 1930s and 40s and has a decidedly sensual undercurrent," he said slyly as we entered a large gallery containing examples of Dali's paintings, sculpture, furniture, photography and even jewelry. As we were walking in another couple walked out, laughing. We had the large room to ourselves.
One of Dali's most famous works, The Persistence of Memory, a painting of what looked like clocks in the process of melting, dominated the space. "The most accepted interpretation of this is that the watches debunk the assumption that time is rigid or determined. It is supposed to illustrate Einstein's theory that time is relative and not fixed. Any idea why I like this piece?" Edward asked, a sly smile playing on his lips.
"You're an expert on the passage of time?" I ventured to guess.
"I do have some knowledge of that subject," he laughed rather darkly. "What is your opinion of the painting?"
"Um… I sort of like the way the watches look like they're melting, but the ants and flies devouring the other watches are creepy."
He laughed again, this time with pure pleasure. "Dali said he got the idea for the melting clock faces when he was staring at a runny piece of Camembert cheese on a hot summer day."
"Now I understand the ants and the flies," I replied.
We walked hand in hand past several paintings with elephants as the main theme. We paused in front of one that featured a nude woman, apparently asleep while an elephant was suspended above her on wires. I leaned in to read the title card on the wall. "Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee around a Pomegranate a Second Before Awakening, 1944."
"Dali was fascinated by elephants and used them in these paintings to create a sense of phantom reality."
"Is that something else you know all about… phantom reality?" I quipped.
"I am an expert on elephants… and butterflies," he quickly retorted, "and I do not need a wild imagination for that."
I grimaced at him, recalling one of our earlier conversations about why our being intimate could pose a problem.
We approached the far corner of the gallery where a small sofa stood in the sensual shape of a woman's lips fashioned in red satin. "The Mae West Sofa, 1936," I read a loud from a card on the wall. "What was she, the Madonna of her time? I guess this was pretty radical back then," I mused.
"The Thirties were a wild and desperate time; today's youth think they invented sex, but Mae West got arrested for some of the material in one of her risqué plays."
I gave him a sidelong glance, thinking again about how good he was at delaying gratification. He could give me lessons; I certainly needed them.
"I think I would enjoy having a sofa like this in our bedroom," Edward casually remarked, "but it would have to be custom made in the shape of your incomparable lips."
His eyes were focused on my mouth and I immediately blushed, thinking about some of the things it would be possible to do on such a piece of furniture. "If we're having furniture custom made I would prefer something in the shape of your lips, Edward. You have the most beautiful mouth I've ever seen." I had no problem telling him this because it was so true.
His eyes blazed then and leaned down and said in a low tone, "If you are trying to drive me wild you are doing a very good job of it but perhaps you should chose a more appropriate place next time."
"You sound awfully sure that there will be a next time, Mr. Cullen," I said with what I hoped was a wicked smile.
He raised an eyebrow but merely replied, "I live in hope, Ms. Swan."
I couldn't help but widen my smile because he so seldom used those words, live and hope, and in the same sentence. I didn't care if we were in a museum; I threw myself at him and wrapped my arms around his waist. He seemed a bit startled at first but then his arms folded around me and he kissed the top of my head.
"What brought that on?" he asked, seemingly confused.
"You just make me so happy, Edward," I mumbled into his chest. He smelled so good; I kept my nose pressed against him.
"I never knew what it meant to be truly happy until you loved me, Bella," he said simply.
"I know exactly what you mean," I barely whispered, knowing he would hear me.
He slid his hand up to my hair and loosely twisted his fingers in the long strands and gently moved my head back so he could look into my eyes.
"I think perhaps they should not have that sofa in this room… combined with your own luscious lips it is almost too much of a temptation… the things I am imaging now…" his voice got softer as he left the sentence unfinished.
I tried to duck my head into his chest again because I could feel the blush spreading from my face to my neck but he was having none of it, keeping a firm grip in my hair to steady my head from moving even an inch.
"Your delicious body does not make this any easier on me, you know that, don't you?" he teased.
"Are you saying I make things harder?" I asked innocently. Well, not really innocently, but he walked right into that one.
He groaned, dropping his head to rest on my shoulder. "You are just being cruel now, Bella," he said before kissing my neck and taking my hands from around his waist. "I will remember that when we are out of this place," he warned, holding my hand up and kissing my palm quickly while clasping my free hand in his and starting to lead me away from the sofa of so much contention.
We turned toward the center of the room where one of the strangest displays contained a Lobster Telephone, also from 1936. "He was so ahead of his time, wasn't he?" I asked, looking at Edward who was watching me.
"He tried to exist outside of time," Edward replied, drawing me toward a glass pedestal lit from below; at the top of the pedestal stood a striking ensemble of jewels.
Edward gestured to the elegant display and said, "The Royal Heart is crafted using gold and is encrusted with forty-six rubies, forty-two diamonds and four emeralds, and is created in such a way that the center 'beats' much like a real heart… watch."
The intricate piece consisted of a large gold heart and had actual moving parts in the center where you could see the sparkling jeweled heart beating. It was so astounding, it looked like it belonged in the Tower of London with the rest of the Crown jewels. I had never seen anything like this, but somehow it made me think of Edward. If he sparkled in the sunlight it made sense to me that his heart would sparkle inside of him, too.
"It's amazing," I breathed. "It reminds me of you."
He leaned down and whispered, "You are my heart, and you are far more beautiful than this."
My heart fluttered in response and he smiled, slipping his arm around my waist and leading us to the final wall of the gallery. A security guard chose this moment to amble through the gallery and he nodded at us as he passed by.
We strolled along gazing at various surrealist images until I stopped in front of one that made me gasp. It was a sepia tone portrait of an elegant young man's face with a large beetle crawling on his cheek.
"Edward, that looks exactly like you."
"Perceptive, as usual," his velvet voice sounded pleased. "It is me."
I leaned forward to read the title card and saw the date was 1940. I suddenly felt weak.
"What's wrong, Bella?" He tightened his grip around my waist and I leaned against him heavily.
"I… it's just…you…" I was feeling so overwhelmed I couldn't form a complete sentence.
Edward began walking and led us to an alcove between galleries. The small space was dimly lit in contrast to the bright light in the gallery but I could still see his body was tense and coiled as if ready to spring.
"Please tell me what you're thinking, your heart is beating erratically and you're frightening me," he pleaded.
I took a deep breath before attempting to speak. "I'm sorry, it's just that seeing that picture of you was a shock." I turned toward him and placed my hands on his rock hard chest. I needed to be close to him. His arms circled around me. "I mean, I know how old you are but I always think of you the way you are now. When I saw the date, it just hit me how long you were alone."
I felt him relax against me and he took in a deep breath. "Oh, that. You seemed horrified and I was afraid I was going to see the running and screaming, and this isn't a good place for that to happen," he remarked quietly.
I wanted to shake him but given my size and his strength that wasn't in the cards. "Edward, when are you going to understand that I love you unconditionally? There is nothing you could do or say or that I could find out about your past that is going to change the way I feel about you."
He pulled me tight against him and I slid my arms underneath his leather jacket and clung to him. "It is still hard for me to believe you can love me like that," he said wistfully.
"I do, and it hurts so much to think of you, all those years, with no one to love. Surrounded by the deep love that Carlisle and Esme share and the way Rosalie and Emmett are so physically affectionate, it must have been so difficult for you."
"I never knew what I was missing until I met you, Bella. Please do not feel sorry for me. I never felt the need for anyone else until you stumbled into my life. Now I cannot imagine being without you."
He brought his hand under my chin and tilted my face up to his. "You are well worth waiting for, Bella. Always remember that."
His eyes were sparkling and when his lips touched mine they were so soft, so gentle, so full of love I felt my heart expanding, ready to burst with feeling for him. As his lips moved against mine I was suddenly dizzy and started to sway but his arm merely tightened around my body, so solid and sure, pulling me ever so slightly nearer to him. He tangled his long fingers in my hair and deepened the kiss, pressing my back against the wall.
I could feel my pulse racing as I ran my hands up his silky shirt to his powerful shoulders, trying to pull him even closer to me. He traced my bottom lip with his cool tongue but before I could respond he suddenly broke away and turned us so I was facing the wall. He kept his arms around me and held me close.
I was confused at first but then I heard voices approaching and realized Edward had heard them heading our way long before I did. He leaned down and I felt his frosty breath tickle my ear as he whispered, "We really shouldn't be doing this here, but I find you irresistible."
He was such a gentleman. If he wanted to kiss me in the middle of the street I wouldn't object. I didn't care who saw us. I leaned my forehead against his chest, taking the opportunity to breathe deeply Edward's sweet scent.
Two women strolled past us into the next gallery, wondering out loud about what kind of drugs Dali was taking. When they were out of sight Edward kissed the top of my head.
My forehead was still pressed against his chest and I felt the beginnings of a growl forming deep inside him. I pulled back and out of the corner of my eye caught sight of the tall blonde man that had been on the elevator with us.
I pulled my hand away from Edward's back and quickly reached up to stroke his cheek. He was glaring at the stranger but instead of unleashing a fierce growl he kept it at a low rumble as the man walked past us.
"Edward, that guy is no threat to you, you don't have to be so territorial," I admonished.
"Bella, I am not threatened, I am worried about you. I never want you to hear thoughts like his or even get near someone like that. He is far worse than the adolescent fantasies of Mike Newton. He's dangerous and I don't want him anywhere near you. You are far too attractive for your own good. I really can't take you anywhere," he finished, truly exasperated.
"Oh, please," I sighed as I slid my hand down to his neck.
"When I was young there was a saying about keeping your wife at home, barefoot and pregnant. I always thought that was rather barbaric but I am beginning to see the logic, at least about the barefoot part," he said, smiling sheepishly.
"Well I have no objections to that, as long as you're there and barefoot with me," I agreed.
"You have a way of bringing out the most primitive urges in me, Bella," he said, his voice sounding like a seductive purr.
"Yes, you are getting a bit caveman. Maybe it's this dark little alcove we're in," I suggested.
"No, I think it's the nearness of you," he said as he leaned down and stole another kiss. I wasn't going to complain if he wanted to spend the rest of the day doing this.
"Have you seen enough or shall we continue on?" he inquired brightly.
"I want to go back and look at that picture of you again, and hear all about it. When did you meet Dali?"
He sighed, keeping his arm around my waist and beginning to walk back into the gallery.
"We were living out in the Hamptons for the winter; it rains a lot out there and it was just a sleepy little village like Forks, not the overrun celebrity haunt it is today. Dali and I had a few things in common; he was born in 1904 and his father was also a lawyer. His mother died when he was sixteen, but he did not become a vampire. Instead he became an artist. In his lifetime he created over 1,500 works of art, so he certainly had the energy of a vampire," he chuckled lightly.
"I met him in Manhattan where he was giving a lecture about surrealism. It went along with his manifesto entitled 'Declaration of Independence of the Imagination and of the Right of Man to His Own Madness.' You can imagine how that would be something I would be interested in… given my unusual abilities and lifestyle."
I rolled my eyes. "Yes, continue, please."
"He arrived at the lecture wearing a deep-sea diving suit, carrying a billiard cue and leading a pair of Russian wolfhounds. He went a bit overboard though, and I had to help unscrew the diving helmet; he had almost run out of oxygen and was gasping for breath. I could hear his thoughts and they were frantic."
"So you saved his life?"
"I guess you could say that," he replied modestly. "I just thought it would attract less attention than being connected in any way to his death."
"Did he realize you saved his life?"
"Yes, but his only comment for the whole stunt at the time was 'I just wanted to show that I was plunging deeply into the human mind.' After the lecture he insisted I go out to dinner with him, but even then I was using the excuse that I was a vegetarian, so I merely talked to him while he ate."
"So how did your photograph come about?"
"He asked me to drop by his studio the next day. He was preparing for a major retrospective of his work and I was curious to see it since I did not think I would be able to attend the exhibition. So I went to his studio and after showing me some of the work you see here today, he asked me if I would pose for him with this insect. Most people were too squeamish but he was determined to capture the picture the way he envisioned it. I placed the bug on my face, he took the photo and here it is."
"He captured your dangerous side but you also seem sad," I observed, still thinking about all those nights Edward had spent alone, "and your eyes look pitch black."
"I was a bit hungry that day; I used to push myself, testing my limits, just to have something to do. I never saw Dali again after that and I never thought he would exhibit my photo. It just didn't seem like a big deal to me at the time, and now I can always say it was my grandfather. We left New York state shortly after that," he finished, carefully studying my face.
"Do you think they sell postcards of your portrait?" I wondered out loud.
"Perhaps we should check out the gift shop and see."
If you haven't already, check out the Photo Album link on my Profile Page to see all the art works mentioned in this chapter. The facts and stories about Dali are true, I just rearranged them to suit Edward's background. The portrait of Edward is from Robert Pattinson's film The Haunted Airman. He also portrays Salvador Dali in the new film, Little Ashes. As soon as I saw that photo I wanted to find a way to work it into Blue Moon and I finally did.
Thanks again for all for your support.
My beta, Ranma15177, has won the runner up prize for her story, Escaping Sol, for Best Action/Adventure fiction, the Race Through Volterra Award. If you aren't already reading it I suggest you start now.
I have to express gratitude to my other beta, not done baking, a wonderful writer herself, and she has made valuable contributions to this story.
For those of you who enjoyed the elephant and the butterfly allusion, you will really enjoy the story where it originated. It's by nothingleft and it's called The Talk. You can get to it through a link on my Favorites List. You must read it immediately if you haven't already, it's that good.
I always enjoy hearing from you guys, so please leave a review for this chapter and feel free to PM me anytime.
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