oOo

Their guests left shortly after ten, making Bella and Edward promise to call once they had been to the animal shelter. They carried their cups and glasses inside and placed them in the dishwasher.

Just when Bella was about to suggest a movie, Edward cleared his throat.

"I think I'm going to work a little," he said.

Bella, who was storing leftovers, looked up, her heart dropping.

"Really?"

"Yeah, I'm… There's something I need to finish."

He looked contrite, but determined, and also a little… guilty?

"I'd been looking forward to…" Bella shrugged. "Just being with you, I guess."

"Oh, love." He stepped closer and placed his hands on her hips. He smiled and kissed her nose. "Tomorrow, okay? I promise. Tomorrow, I'm all yours."

"Okay." Bella tried not to show her disappointment. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him gently. "Don't work too long."

But she knew it was futile. If Edward felt that he needed to paint now, he was going to, and she didn't really want to stand in his way. It would just have been nice to… spend the rest of the night together.

"I'm sorry," he murmured against her lips, giving her little pecks.

"It's okay," she responded softly. "I guess I'll go to bed and read a bit…" She rubbed his chest. "You want me to wake you up tomorrow?"

"Yes. Around ten?"

"'kay."

Another kiss, and he was gone.

Bella turned on the dishwasher and sighed.

.

When she woke the next morning, Edward was still sleeping deeply. Turned away from her, his hair was pointing into all directions, his breathing low and even. She placed a kiss on his sleep-warm shoulder and left the bed.

She took a shower, brushed her teeth and put on shorts and a T-shirt. She went downstairs, made a cup of tea, and sat outside in the pale morning sun. It was only eight, but the day promised to get warm.

Her laptop on her knees, she was working. After their holiday, she would start work on her dissertation, and hopefully receive her master's degree by September. After that, she planned on achieving her Ph.D.

It was all a bit intimidating, but she was determined to go through with it. It had been her dream for so long. Ever since she'd gotten better, after accepting she would never, ever, be a ballet dancer, this was what she'd wanted. To analyze and research, and to write and read and speak.

It was what made her truly happy, which also was the reason she understood and respected Edward's solitariness when working.

Around ten, she went to wake Edward, but he grumbled and pulled the sheets over his head.

"I don't feel good," he mumbled into the pillows. "Maybe I caught a cold…"

"Should I get you an aspirin?"

"Just let me sleep a little," he murmured, turning away from her.

It was almost two when he finally emerged, looking dishevelled and sleepy, standing in the door wearing pyjama pants and a T-shirt. He yawned, gulping down some coffee. His cheeks were stubbly, and there were bluish-grey circles beneath his eyes.

"Hey."

Bella smiled up at him.

"Hey," he responded in a scratchy voice, bending down to peck her lips with his. Bella would have liked a real kiss, but he drew back and took another sip of his coffee.

"Do you feel better?"

"Don't ask." He rolled his eyes. "I really should do something about my work hours, huh?"

Crouching down next to her, he took her hand in his and placed a soft kiss on the inside of her wrist.

"I promise I'll be more sensible," he whispered, warm breath against her skin.

His eyes held an intensity that was bewildering.

oOo

Thank you, thank you for your beautiful responses to the last chapter. Some of you are getting a little worried about our dear Edward… It's a slippery slope.

Most of you predicted this might be the silence before a storm.

I just need to say it again: you are the ones who are making this happen, because without you, this would just be a story I'd write for fun, for myself, and I'd have stopped once it got difficult. BECAUSE I KNOW you are reading this, I decided to keep writing this story. Which is a little difficult, since I broke a rib, and it hurts despite medication, boo-hoo.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, sweet reviewers.

And to those who are reading and have not yet reviewed: There is a little button. Press it and say hello. Tell me what you like. Or dislike. Or what you think about Boozeward. Or join me on facebook.

Your

harperpitt