CHAPTER FIVE: ONLY US

IT WAS STRANGE; SITTING ACROSS THE KITCHEN TABLE FROM LORETTA AS I GULPED DOWN MY THIRD CUP OF COFFEE. The last forty-two hours didn't seem real. I'd explained everything that had transpired on the reservation, the moment that Edward had taken his place in the backseat of the Volvo the night I had gone to warn Sam—and subsequently, the entire pack that Victoria would be returning.

Edward had listened intently, his hand wrapped over my shoulder as I drove us back to the house. The hours afterward had not been pleasant, as I shared with Seth and my mother the same story—how I'd lost control of my temper and flared my powers before them. But that had been nothing to Seth finding out that his older sister was also a werewolf. He'd barely stormed out of the house before shifting into his wolf form—running back into the forest. He hadn't returned that evening. I'd only learned that he'd come back at lunch the next day, after I'd assured Jessica that Seth was too sick to answer his phone.

That had all seemed to vanish since we'd left for Seattle—nervously, to the airport. Alice had already arranged a literary for us. We had hotel reservation, tickets to Disneyland, FastPasses included, and a rental car waiting.

Alice had seen that my mood would have an effect on the weather. That Friday we'd spent at Disneyland, was coated over in thick, grey clouds that altered the others to a storm, but no drop of rain ever fell. It hadn't been difficult, distracted by rollercoasters, festive food, and the intricate backgrounds to focus on all that had troubled me. For the day, I had been forced into being a child again.

I'd only been to Disney once, when I was eight, but fell back into the magic of it all. Edward had never been far from my side—he too had been transfixed by the wonder of it all—it being the first time he had been. He'd gallantly sported his ring of Mickey Ears, had joined me on rides that I'd been sure would not amuse him—but had enchanted him all the same. It had taken me only a while inside his head, to see that he was experiencing the moment as a human. Everything was new to him, and enticing.

We'd taken taken pictures with the actors portraying Ariel, Belle, Beast and Maleficent. Edward had looked every bit a teenager pretending to believe in magic again. His eyes wide, his wide smile genuine. He'd enjoyed the experience more than I had. Granted, I'd been slightly over protective as I caught the gaze of everyone around us gloating at him…when the actor inside of the Beast costume had held onto him, lower than what should have been allowed; I'd all but hissed at him. I'd been just as protective whenever I caught one of the princesses, or moms gawking at him. It had gratified him, to a degree, to watch me be jealous. Each time, I'd narrowed my eyes at him. Always seeing his crooked smile plastered upon his face.

I hadn't expected my father or Loretta's response when I'd called him Friday morning, before boarding the plane, to let him know that we'd deiced on a spontaneous family trip to California.

I gave my excused, still hoping that Alice was misinformed.

"Yeah," I sputtered into my phone. "It was a last minute thing…Mom and Sean—they just want to get Seth away for a bit, you know?"

My father and Loretta were well away of the false narrative of Hailey's death: that she'd been mauled by a bear and that Seth had found her. They'd sent flowers—a sweet and thoughtful gesture.

"No. Cancel the reservations. You're staying with us," Loretta had all but screamed in the phone.

I'd rolled my eyes. "Loretta, no. That's very kind but there's five of us. You guys don't have the room—,"

"No. You'll stay here. Hector will sleep with your father and I, Seth can sleep in the daybed in his room—Charley and Sean will have the guest room, and you and Edward can sleep on the pullout."

I thought I'd heard my father's teeth clench when she'd said that.

"Loretta," I sighed into my phone.

Her voice rose, her full accent breaking through. "No. Your father and I rarely get to see you. You will all come here. Hector misses his big brother—I'll have your favorite foods waiting."

"Thank you," I sighed again. The call ended. I looked out into the terminal as Edward shrugged.

"I have got to stop betting against Alice," he exclaimed as he folded his arms over the adjoining chairs.

My mother and Sean had took the change of plans with ease; my mother remaining true to her cause to 'bury all hatchets.'" It helped that Alice hadn't even booked us a hotel for past Friday.

The morning greeting had gone well. Loretta and my mother met in an embrace while Sean and my father shook hands. My father gave me a bright, squishing hug before shaking Edward's hand, resting the other over Edward's shoulder, before greeting Seth.

Sean and my mother were laying outside, just over the shore, letting the blue waves crash over their feet. Seth was about a hundred-yards off, surf-fishing. His head was cocked up, staring at the pole while he sat in the sand.

So I sat at the table, drinking coffee at three in the afternoon, watching Edward play with my half-brother.

Edward was lying on his back, with Hector held securely in his hands. He was giggling, as Edward blew raspberries onto his exposed stomach. Edward laughed along with him.

"There he goes," Edward sung as he jousted Hector up, only a few inches, into the air. Hector laughed louder as he defied gravity, before falling into Edward's waiting hands. I doubted that Edward's fringed touch would bother my baby-half-brother; it was so damned hot here. I would need Edward laying next to me in his underwear to be able to fall asleep.

Edward's pearled laughter sung, hauntingly, in my ears, as he contiuned to play with Hector. I want't sure that he could understand how incredible it was, to see him so human. How wondrous it was to see him laughing and playing with such a fragile being, without a shred of doubt.

He was a natural at this—entertaining and caring for a baby. Hector had waddled towards him the moment we stepped through the door. Edward had knelt down to meet his eyes, and Hector had laughed joyously while patting his face. The two of them had not been separated since. Loretta had marveled when Hector had allowed Edward to feed him…not even my father had been able to achieve that.

It was glorious and painful to watch Edward with my brother. To be allowed a glimpse into what kind of father he would be. Edward and I would never have children. We hadn't discussed it—why would we; but, it had been a secret wish of mine for as long as I could remember. I wanted to be a dad—a real dad, the kind of father I'd needed growing up. In my darkest, most dreaded visions, I'd seen a little boy. I never got a clear look of him, only seeing his strange, pale-sun kissed skin, and waves of black hair.

I'd seen him several times. In Edward's arms, in Alice's foggy vision of things to come, on a field while Edward co-couched with other fathers…playing in the meadow.

I knew that he wasn't real. No child could ever exist. His visions were just a cruel reminder of the deepest dream that I would be throwing away—willfully. Edward would be enough. I knew he would be. That human dream would die, once I was a vampire.

Still, it pained me to watch him play and care for Hector, so naturally. I felt that, not only was a ripping away my own dream by becoming a vampire, I'd be taking away one of his, as well.

Loretta was busy over the stove, dancing along to the music that played through her speakers.

"Are you sure there's nothing I can do to help?" I asked again.

My father sighed, scrolling through his phone. "You know she's not going to let you work in her kitchen."

"Even though you are more than qualified," Loretta sang as she stirred. "You're a guest and…."

"And you never let a guest cook in your kitchen," I answered, repeating the lesson she'd taught me when my father had first brought her home to meet me.

She nodded her head, holding her arm up, with her pointer finger extended upward.

I sighed, regrettably. Being in my father's house was uncomfortable. I still felt shame over what I had shared with Sean, just days ago, admitting that I didn't think my father had been a, necessarily, good parent while growing up in his care—sitting in his new house with his new family. There was also the painful recall of the son that would never be, and watching Edward play so perfectly in the part of parent.

On top of all that, was the jealousy. I was jealous of a baby. Because as I looked around, I couldn't help but notice that my father was so enthralled with him. There were picture of the two of them, hung everywhere. His every need was met, and anticipated. My father could distinguish cries—could nearly read Hector's thoughts. Apart from Loretta's genetics, Hector even resembled our father. I could see my father's features in his face—something our father could not say the same for me.

Only after a few hours, I could tell that my father was different with Hector; more responsible, more nurturing. He hadn't been that way with me—that role had been reversed. I almost felt bitter when I realized that a lot of what he was doing, was what he'd seen me do—when I was six, seven, twelve, fourteen…like he had learned from me.

Sensing my annoyance rising, I gulped the rest of my coffee, before resting the mug on the table.

I looked outside the window. Though the sky was overcast, the clouds were still to thin for Edward or I's liking—so until things changed, he'd have to stay inside.

"I'm going to talk a walk along the shore," I announced aloud. Edward caught Hector again, letting him squeal in his grasp.

Is everything okay?

I nodded my head. "Just want to walk along the beach for a bit," I said, clarifying for all of them. Edward gazed at my puzzlingly, reading my face, and knowing that was not my reason for leaving.

Babe…he called out just as I opened the door.

I closed the back door behind me, stepping onto the blistering porch. I scooted across the boring wood, nearly throwing myself down onto the sandy path—that was impossibly hotter than the wood. I dodged towards the coolness of the crashing waves. I sighed in relief when my feet became submerged in the cool, aquamarine, waters of the Pacific.

"You okay, Sweetie?" my mom called form her beach chair. I turned to her and Sean, and waved.

"'Sands too hot," I complained.

My mother stared at my, tilting her head towards the side. She lowered her upper torso, so that her hand reached down into the sand. Her bottom lip pouted over the top.

"Feel's fine to me," she shouted.

"You've been out here longer," I called back, as an excuse. My mother shrugged, before resting again into her chair, letting the waves wash over her feet.

I turned, and made my way down the coast. I walked for a while, in total silence. Listening only to the sounds of the waves crashing over the sand. The cool water danced over my feet, submerging them in the chilled liquid crystal. The water was warmer here; my body subconsciously shivering as I recalled the night I'd nearly been swallowed by the black sea that raged against the side of the cliff. I let my mind wander, thinking of everything and nothing. More often than not, turning to look at the vastness of the sea, finding myself feeling very small and insignificant.

"Beau," I heard a voice shout my name from behind me. I turned half-way and saw my father trudging through the wet sand and toward me. I groaned.

I'd felt him watching me all morning, had caught him a few times. Each time, his deep grey eyes, wide and somewhat childlike, studying me. And I'd felt a growing urge to talk to me—had picked up on a few stands of thought that swam in his head. None of them topics I particularly wanted to discuss at the moment. I'd just had a very draining, and strange, father-son talk; that was enough to last the remainder of my humanity.

I sighed heavily as my father approached me, smiling. "Hey, Bud," he greeted, slapping his hand over the back of my shoulder, "thought you could use some company," he panted. I smiled; a dark, warning smile that he'd taken in as inviting. He threw his arm over my shoulder, guiding us further down the beach.

Unlike myself or my mother, my father didn't do silent moments well. They made him uncomfortable. He always liked to be talking.

"Beautiful place," he declared, looking at the scene around us.

I nodded my head agreeingly. "Yeah. It's nice to come down and visit."

"Would love to have you visit some more," he admitted.

"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry about that," I stammered apologetically, shaking my head. "Senior year has just been so busy. I haven't really had a lot of free time."

"Life only gets busier from here on out, Buddy," he added, almost like a warning.

I chuckled, nodding again. "Oh, I know."

"'Course, it would be easier to come for a visit if you were a little closer."

I sighed. "Yeah. I know it would be."

"Have you decided on a college, yet?" he asked hesitantly.

I shook my head. "No. Not yet."

"Your mom said you got into Juilliard." I heard the regret in his statement, the hurt—that I'd not been the one to tell him, immediately.

"Yeah. I did."

He stopped walking, and gripped each of my shoulders in his hands. He was gazing at me, elated, bewildered, worried. "Beau," he nearly cooed. He laughed, unbelieving.

"Beau, that…that's incredible," he nearly sang. "That's been your dream since you were a kid."

I realized that this had been one of the conversations he'd wanted to have with me. The words New York and Broadway taking on new meaning. Originally, I'd thought he'd been remorseful that he and Loretta had not gone as originally intended.

I half-smiled, nodding my head again, only with less enthusiasm, false or otherwise. "Yeah. It twas."

My father immediately picked up on my tone. I'd spoken in past-tense. The dream that had consumed me as a child, no more than a fond memory—of a life lost and forgotten.

For other dreams had taken root, and sprouted.

"Beau," he said my name, nearly begging. "Beau, you can't give this up. You can't. Not for some high-school romance. You'll regret it later. Trust me."

"Oh, like how you regret marrying Mom and having me me?" Rationally, I understood that he'd meant what he said as guiding wisdom; irrationally, I had taken it as a harsh warning he'd given to himself when he had been eighteen. My father looked at me, aghast.

His mouth opened and closed as he struggled to find the words to say.

"I…Beau…I…no."

I rolled my eyes, more annoyed with myself. Why couldn't I leave anything nice?

I ran a hand over my face and through my hair, beginning to walk away. I bit down on my tongue, keeping whatever my follow up to that would be, silent.

I heard my father's footsteps rushing behind me.

"Beau, wait!"

I stopped. I closed my eyes, inhaled for three seconds before exhaling.

I turned.

My father's stung eyes slugged me in the gut. He approached me, arms opened. "Beau, I…I don't regret…or it's…I don't regret having you." My eyes fell down to the water.

"But yeah, I do regret not going to LSU like I'd wanted," he admitted. "Washington State…It wasn't my dream school. Wasn't what I wanted."

I nodded my head curtly. Understanding what it meant for him, and what it meant in relation to me.

"Beau, you're just—-just so young. You've got your whole life ahead of you."

I felt the wind pick up. It almost seemed to twirl only around me; trapping me in its vertex. I said nothing as the wind caused the grains of sand to pelt around my ankles and feet.

"Beau, do you even know how you look at him?" my father asked me, almost terrified. "Or the way he looks at you? The…the way you two move around each other. Like magnets. He moves, you move, you move, he moves. You two are never out of each other's sight."

"Is that a bad thing?" I shot.

"It's an intense thing," my father corrected. "I mean—you guys dated but then broke up. You've been back together a couple months and it's just as bad as before."

Of course I knew that. I just hadn't thought he'd have noticed. My father wasn't particularly too perceptive, not where I was concerned.

"I'm worried, Beau," my father confessed, cautiously. I met his eyes. They were glazed over in terror. Empty. I saw my fearsome reflection casted back at me. "I'm worried that history is repeating itself. And I don't want that. Not for you."

The sun's light faded as the clouds above soldered over it. The bright world was cast in shadow, and somewhere, far off into the distance, I heard the unmistakable toll of thunder.

My father looked at me expectantly. He'd done this before, when I'd been a child. Looking at me, nearly hoping that I had the right answer—wanting to seek comfort from what I had to say.

More times than not, he'd found just that. I had to be the voice of reason. I had to be the adult. I had to be rational, right. Well I was still just that. Only, my focus had devoured itself into a wisdom my father was only just beginning to grasp for himself.

"Has it not occurred to you, that maybe my dreams have shifted?"

My father shook his head, dropping his arms to his sides. "Beau," he groaned.

"No, Dad," I said steadily. "No. Consider for just a moment, that I realized that none of it matters," I said, waving my hand in a circle towards the outside world around us. "None of it. Not the dream school, Broadway or fame or fortune, or any of that—but love, family," I threw at him, "that's what matters. What value does any of it hold that it's worth more than having someone to share it with?"

My father did not respond. I couldn't tell if it were because he were thinking on what I had said, or if it was because he was waiting for me to elaborate.

I smiled, shaking my head, staring out at sea. "I know that sounds like the same load of bull everyone my age spouts. But I'm not like most kids my age," I declared, looking back at my father. "I didn't get to be a teenager. I didn't get to be a kid. I've had my fair share of rough life-lessons. So, perhaps, all of the traumatic experiences have allowed me to be a bit wiser beyond my years? You know, maybe fate had other plans for me?"

My father continued to stare at me. I sighed, inhaling again, then exhaling. I licked my lips. "So, you can worry about this once it's Hector's turn. Because, yeah, then it will be scary. But you don't have to worry about me. I know what I'm doing."

I found comfort in the conviction of my voice.

For a moment more, my father said nothing. And then his face turned as he began laughing.

I looked over at him, wondering if I'd broken him or something. Did he think I was crazy? Was I too far gone for ration to reach? That part was likely true—maybe all of it. Did he know that?

He ran a hand over his wide laugh, shoulders still trembling as his laughter began dying down.

He couldn't meet my eyes. "Did your mother tell you that story?" he asked me, perplexed. My eyes squinted at him, browns arching closer together, and my head tiled towards the side.

"What?" I asked.

My father's eyes did meet me then. They were wide again, astonished.

"The story," he said again, throwing his hand out in front of him. He waited for recognition to take form on my face. He shook his head, disappointed.

"The story. The night her and I graduated. How she convinced me to go to State with her?"

I shook my head. I hadn't know he'd needed so much convincing.

He ran a hand over his mouth again, still shaking his head. "She said, almost the exact same thing to me that night. You know…having someone to do life with…destiny and fate. And how she just knew we were supposed to be together. And it was crazy…but at the time…I believed her," he trailed off, lost in his memory. I nodded my head, bitting down on my lower lip. Apart of me wondered, how close she'd been to being right about the whole fate thing.

My father sighed, looking out at sea along with me. "There's a lot of things I regret about my life, Beau," he said, nodding his head. "Getting to be your dad isn't one of them. I just regret that I was such a shitty one."

"No you weren't," I said instinctively.

My father shook his head, repentant. "Nah, I was. I was a shitty husband, and a shitty father back then. Wasn't ready to be grown up."

The ocean filled the void.

I heard my father heave, and for a moment I thought I heard him sniffle.

I didn't know what to say.

"I think—I think I'm doing better. This time 'round?" he asked for my opinion.

I nodded in agreement. "Yeah. From what I've seen."

"I wish I could've been like that with you."

"You're being too hard on yourself, Dad," I told him, trying to ease the guilt I felt radiating off of him. I didn't want him to feel guilty, even if there were a right for him to be. I couldn't be sure of how many more moments I would have with him. I'd like to, at least, leave things as peaceful, positive as possible—what good would it do to sour this time together, when one day, it would be a memory he would hold on to.

My father shook his head again. "No. I'm not," he said finally. "I messed up a lot when you were growing up. You didn't…you didn't get to be a kid like I did. And I'm sorry."

I heaved a heavy sigh, staring back out at sea. I watched the crashing waves as though expecting to find an answer in them, something to give to my father as an offering of peace and absolution.

"You're still a great dad," I told him, thinking back on my fond memories with him growing up, knowing that there were more happy moments than not. I hadn't known any better than. And I thought of how he was now, as a husband and father. Who he was now, compared to who he had been was night and day. He had learned, and he was doing a better job now. "You've always been. I don't regret anything. Not many kids can say that they got to spend so much time with their dad growing up." I partially lied, about the first part.

"I appreciate that, Bud," he told me after gulping down whatever words or emotions had over taken him.

I smiled, kindly. "You grew up, Peter-Pan."

He chuckled, nodding his head in agreement, though the look of remorse never truly washed away from his face. He wrapped an arm over my shoulder, and we walked further along the beach. In comforting silence…

I was amazed that Seth had been able to get to sleep. I grateful that he had, knowing he'd not slept well since this past Wednesday, just surprised. It was only just after ten, Victoria was not due for her…visit for at least another two hours. After the sun had set below the horizon, and the glorious sunset gone, had all my distractions dried up. There were no more rollercoasters, no more magic, or beach activities, moments surrounded by people who needed me to pretend that nothing horrible was coming, to distract me. Everyone had gone to bed. It was only Edward and I now. And the only distraction he could come up with, was by watching one of my favorite movies.

His fingers tapped on my shoulder. Beau, you love this part.

"What's the plan, again?"

Edward groaned, falling on his back over the sofa cushions.

We've been through this a million times, he complained in his head.

"I don't care," I seethed between my teeth. "I'm anxious."

Want me to make you a drink? he thought snarkily.

I slapped his shoulder, but was tempted.

He sighed again, then taking my hands into his. My eyes met his. I found only assurance in them.

"Love, everything is going to be fine. You've nothing to be worried about. It will be over before it begins. And then all of this will be over. No more Victoria. No more fear."

I exhaled my held breath through my nose, lulling back on the couch with him. Our heads slumped together, and our arms criss-crossed over our chests as we held hands. I wanted to believe him. I did. But something in my gut contiuned eating away at me. This wasn't going to be over. Something was going to go wrong. Would one of them be hurt? Would whatever that old-man was not be so easy to destroy? And if they were all distracted, could she strike—then get away? Why did she vanish over the ravine?

"Babe," Edward cooed. "Don't be worried. Nothing is going to happen. Let's watch the movie."

I sighed.

A sudden, thumping sound clambered just by my right ear. My body jolted into Edward's as I jumped away from the source of the sound. It was quick to spot.

There was a baby monitor, perched atop the end table next to me. On its screen, I watched as Seth rolled around on the floor of Hector's room. He gazed around his eyes alert, confused. Edward began laughing as he watched along. Seth had fallen out of the daybed. He tried to pull himself up, but only succeeded in yanking the sheet right off the bed. He tumbled back down again, one of his arms hitting a toy that had been left on the floor. It immediately began to light up and dance, an ear-cringing song shouting from the speakers. Seth began to beat at the toy so that it would shut up.

Edward and I fell on top of one another as we each laughed, thankfully, too hard to make any noise. Seth managed to turn the toy off, looking over his shoulder towards the door, waiting to hear the sound of Hector crying. Fortunately no such sound ever came. The house remained silent, save for the soft sound of the movie playing.

Seth began muttering under his breath as he plopped himself and the sheet back onto the bed.

When my chest began to ache, I slowly pushed myself upward, back into a sitting position. Edward followed along. His soft eyes burned into mine. I saw the assurance, again, and was reminded why I'd been so worried. It was strange how quickly my mood could change now, at a moment's noice. I was going to give myself whiplash if I weren't careful.

I looked over my shoulder and out through the window. Hovering, hypnotically in the sky, was a full moon. I pushed myself from off the couch, heading towards the back door.

"Where are you going?" Edward called out to me.

"Outside."

Do you want me to come with you? Or do you want to be alone?

I shrugged. "You can stay in here if you want," I offered. He smirked, rolling his eyes as he gracefully swayed off the soft. He made a show of propping two pillows underneath the blanket, tugging the fabric in between them to appear as if the two lumps were us, already sleeping. Edward turned down the television to nearly mute, before smiling back at me. He walked silently over to me, holding out his bent arm for me to take.

"Shall we?" he asked as he opened the back door. I curtsied my head.

"We shall."

Edward and I stroud out into the night. Instantly my breath caught in my throat.

I'd always loved the nighttime. It was my favorite part of the day. I had never been able to see only pure blackness in the nighttime sky—but a dark, enchanting symphony of midnight-blues, deep-indigo and sapphire. You could still see it in Forks, when the clouds did not cast over grey. But I had forgotten the brilliance that was seeing it unobscured. I could see the soft, shimmering to the twinkling stars. Could appreciate the rich turquoises and soft lavenders. The moon's light echoed gently around us, casting the world in soft, soothing shadow. The moon had always been my favorite part of the night. It was bewitching in its own right. It was incredible, that something so small in comparison to other bodies in space, had enchanted and inspired poets, authors and artists throughout all of time. That it had been revered and sacred, and that to this day, it still held dominion over the tides.

It was beautiful, inspiring and powerful.

It was the most marvelous thing that existed in the heavens above.

Edward's arms wrapped around my waist as he rested his head over my shoulder, the two of us still staggering further down the beach.

Edward was as enthralled in the night sky as I was. "It's so different here," he explained, still looking up. "Somehow warmer, than in Alaska or Switzerland."

I nodded my head, agreeingly. I brought my arms down to rest over his. I smiled, contently as the two of us gazed up towards space. Through my panic, I fought for the hope that this was only one in a million nights like this that we would have.

"It's beautiful," I said simply.

I heard Edward chuckle. "It's alright," he amended, pressing his lips to my throat. "But beautiful? Nahh, not with you here." I shook my head, and patted his arms.

"Has anyone told you that you're a bit of a flirt?"

"Who me?" Edward questioned playful. "I haven't the faintest inkling of what you could be referring to, good sir. I am nothing if not a gentleman."

I laughed, sinking myself further into his arms. "I don't think it appropriate for a gentleman to hold onto someone like this who isn't his husband."

Edward straightened me to my feet, and released me. Before I knew it, he was yards away.

"Forgive me, dear sir, for I had forgotten myself. The gentleman speaks the truth, it is reprehensible for me to cling to someone whom I am not yet married to. However; if the gentleman has changed his mind…" he trailed off. And with the moon's light, I saw him smiling, crookedly at me, one brow raised and arching over his forehead.

I rolled my eyes before lulling my head towards the side. "He hasn't," I informed him, playfully.

He nodded his head. "Then I shall keep my distance, as to not sully the good man's name."

I laughed again, shrugging my shoulders. "Suit yourself."

He laughed, watching me from where he stood.

I was instantly seized by his splendor. The moon's gentle light nearly glowed on his alabaster skin. His golden eyes burned like the stars in the night sky, welcoming and inviting. Deeper into the darker shadows, Edward stood out like a lighthouse to sailors in a raging storm at sea. Like the moon, he alone held his own against the darkness: bright, beautiful, mysterious and powerful. I smiled widely at him, holding out my arms, inviting him to return.

Edward's eyes shot up in their sockets, his head following suit.

"Wow," he mouthed as he looked up in the night. I followed his gaze, tilting my head back towards the height of the moon. I felt Edward's intoxicating hold wrap around me, one arm outstretched as he pointed.

"Look, right over there," he instructed me. I did my best to follow. "Do you see it?"

I squinted my eyes, trying to focus on whatever it was that he saw. He threw out his arm further, pointing towards a single direction in the sky.

"Right there," he exclaimed. "You should see it now."

Across the the sea of blues, violets and indigo, just under the moon, I watched as a bright flame scorched across the sky. The tail was made up of bright white light, fading away into blue then orange. It soared onward and true.

"Make a wish," Edward's hypnotic voice urged in my ear.

I exhaled, unsure of what to wish for. There were so many things, so many hopes and desires that I still wanted. So many messes and fears I wanted cleaned and silenced. Even with all I had, there was still much to wish for. And not all for just myself. There were the wishes I held in my heart for all those that I loved. For Edward, Seth, my parents, Sean, my friends...including Jacob. There were so many things and so I wrapped them all together, ornately folded onto each other, for the thing I desired the most.

A true, happily ever after.

I closed my eyes and let the wind blow through my hair, holding onto Edward more tightly. When I reopened my eyes, the shooting star was gone, having faded off into the darkness, taking that incredibly large, and foolish dream along with it.

My eyes fell back onto the black sea. Moonbeams danced excitedly over the waves. I turned my body to face Edward.

"Let's go swimming," I suggested, taking his hands into mine as I began pulling us further towards the water.

"What?" he asked bewildered.

I laughed. "Come on, it'll be fun," I exclaimed.

He didn't looked convinced. "But, the water will be cold."

"I like the cold," I whispered while rolling my eyes. Edward halted, yanking us to a stop.

"What about sharks?" he asked, seriously, crossing his arms. "This is prime feeding time for them. Splashing around will only draw them to you."

I laughed. "Why would I need to be worried about sharks with you around? I bet they stay far away if you're in the water with me."

He sighed. "We should be getting back inside. Hector will be up early and he'll want to play."

I rolled my eyes again. I turned my neck around to looked at the water. Its rolling waves and gentle current beckoning me to enter. I'd never been swimming at night before, and the idea of doing so, under a full moon, was too enchanted to ignore. I tore my hands out of Edward's, turning my body away as I walked closer to the shore.

"Beau," Edward began to protest, but I'd already thrown my shirt off, tossing it onto the sand. I half-turned back to Edward, who had since grown silent. I smiled brightly at him, raising my arms above my head to stretch.

"It'll be fun," I sang, keeping my eyes on his. "It's only us out here." His mouth was hanging open, and his eyes were wide. His mind was…oddly blanked, as though entirely transfixed on the sight of me. The idea made me chuckle. I began stretching each arm over my chest, turning my head away from Edward's as I began to blush.

Was I just making a fool out of myself? Was it second-hand embarrassment that had caused Edward to lose all focus? I didn't look back at him as I yanked my sweatpants down to my ankles. The black boxer-briefs clung to my thighs as jolted my legs out of sweats, then kicking them up towards where I'd left my shirt.

I rushed towards the water, not stopping even as the icy waves brushed over my feet. The chill was welcoming, even at night it was so humid and hot. The microscopic stabs excited each inch of flesh they touched, electricity calling for the muscles to push onward.

The waves began to beat against my waist, sea-foam wafting up from their caps and onto my face. I turned my body around towards Edward. He was closer than when I'd left him, now standing at the pile of my clothes.

"You're crazy," he called out to me, holding his hands in a circle over his mouth.

I smiled out at him. "The water's great. Come on," I yelped, waving my arm over.

His hands were still perched around his lips. "This is exactly how Jaws starts."

I laughed. "Then come save me."

Edward's hands lowered to rest over his hips. "Get back here," he ordered playfully.

I hoisted my arms over my head and fully submerged myself in the sea.

"Help! Help!" I cried dramatically. "Please! Someone save me."

"You're going to wake your parents up!"

I sank my head down into the water, keeping my arms up and flaying. I opened my mouth, and allowed the salty Pacific fill in it. I thrusted my legs up, jousting my body high into the air before crashing back down. The water spluttered out of my mouth.

"Help," I cried out again, letting my head rest just above the waves. After a moment I wiped the water from my eyes, turning my head expectantly towards Edward. His feet were in the water.

I raised a brow out him. "You really want to risk it? With my luck?"

I heard him growl playfully. With the grace of a swan, Edward slid out of his shirt with one arm. I felt my eyes grow wide at the sight of his bare torso. The moonbeams gleamed off his chest, over each plane and chiseled groove. His arms were without fault, each impressive muscle outlined, though softened by what had been Edward's age. I felt my mouth water as my eyes traveled down the remainder of his torso. The moon teased off each ab, glistening them into absorbent. His navel, a bloodless puncture wound, surrounded by a soft trail of thick, dark hair.

My mind was void of all thought—not even able to comprehend all the desires, hungers…thirsts that the sight of Edward had ravaged in me. There was only him. Exquisite, extraordinary, and impossibly, mine.

I heard him chuckle from the shore. A wave, favorably, crashed over my face, shocking me with cold water. I blinked away the droplets of water just in time to see Edward strutting towards me in his underwear. Not sure of myself, I pushed myself further out to sea, flinging and kicking my legs and arms the closer he approached. I heard him laugh again. The sound was sweet, and over it, I could hear my heart thundering in my ears.

"Dun dun, dun dun," Edward chanted as he drew closer, leaning his body further into the water like a shark. I raised my brows, biting down on my lip through smile, and let him get closer. Just as he lowered the bottom half of his face in waves, I raised me hand above my head.

He stopped.

My fingers flowed around in the rhythm of the current. And I smiled.

You wouldn't he challenged. I waved, before fling my hand down over my wrist.

A high wave formed over my shoulder, straight over where Edward laid. I knew that he could have easily out swam it, if he'd wanted, but he played at human speed now. And so, he'd only had time to just adjust his body away, before the wave pummeled over him. With terrific dramatics, I watched him weave and twirl in and about in the wave, as it dragged him away.

He jolted out of the sea, arms outstretched over his chest. He pretended to stagger and cough up water. One hand raised over his face, to wipe away the thick tangles of bronze hair that had fallen over his eyes. He glared at me darkly, eyes narrowed.

"Now you're in trouble," he snarled, before rushing back towards me.

"Ahh," I yelped, waving my hand again, sending another wave towards him. He smiled, as he dove into it. I treaded water as fast as I could, swimming further and further out into the larger waves. The ebony sea had swallowed me now, as my legs kicked to keep my head and chest above water. I looked around me, seeing nothing but black waves, and the dancing moonbeams over them.

"Edward," I called.

A swift flash of ice against snow against my leg had nearly propelled me straight out of the water. My body twisted while still in the air. My arms clenched at my sides, my fist out in front of me.

I laughed, and kicked harder, hoping to jab him.

The snowy thrill returned, as fingers wrapped around my calf. He tugged on my leg, jolting me down. My head nearly went under.

"Edward," I spluttered, still smiling.

This time, his arms wrapped his arms around my waist. He submerged each of us now, under the icy ink. I felt his forehead rest against my shoulder blades. The muscles jerked against his face, instinctively drawn to his touch. I felt his body shake against mine. I wiggled around in him arms. While I was sure that his eyes were opened, I was forced to keep mine closed. My hands felt around gently, searching for his face; gripping tightly onto it once found. I forced my hands to travel down the length of his face, resting over his majestic lips. With a smile, I brought my face down to his, and pressed my lips against his.

A jolt of electricity shot through me, burning over each cell and atom. I felt Edward smile into the kiss.

I win, he announced smugly.

I whooped the back of his head and pulled away. Edward released me as my body arched towards the surface. I inhaled a chestful of air as my head broke through the waves. I yanked my eyes free of water, shaking my head to send the hair from out of my face. I blinked away the droplets that had collected in my lashes, then instantly focusing on Edward's face.

I gasped as the moon's direct light, mixed in with its reflection in the waves, shimmered off Edward's face. Though faint, a soft twinkling of millions of stars danced along Edward's face and shoulders. They were not rainbows, as they had been when in the sun, but mesmerizing glitters of white and aquamarine. His stars reflected off of the water and onto me, where they danced across my skin, as his.

I looked down in wonder, vacant of any word of thought.

Edward's arms pulled me into him, and my hands greedily trembled towards his face. Edward held me so that I was nearly a foot higher than him. He smiled up at me. And I was stunned and amazed to find that his thoughts, very nearly mimicked mine. I felt the blood rush to my cheeks, could feel them flash hot as they blushed over. I turned my head away from him, heaving in a jagged shock of hair, brushing a wet tangle of hair behind my ear.

"You are so beautiful," he praised up at me, his tone nearly devotional. I felt my cheeks burn hotter, and my teeth clamped over my bottom lip. I chuckled, before looking back down at him. My fingers interlocking into the thick tangles of his hair.

"Nahh," I echoed him, exactly. "Not with you here."

His eyes narrowed up at me, his lips thinning in straight line. "You aren't a witch," he jeered at me accusingly. His arms curling me into his chest. "You're a siren. Come to lure me to my watery grave, so entranced by your beauty and charms."

I laughed at him, as he rested his forehead against mine.

"But I am not dead yet. You still haven't used your voice against me," he contiuned with his act. I laughed again, more menacingly, before harmonizing. I lowered my head again, my song ended the moment our lips crashed together.

And then there was only him. This moment. Only us. I wasn't capable of thinking about anything else. My mind too occupied by each and every sensation that had been triggered in me. The way his skin blissfully stung my skin, the way his breath coursed into my lungs, burning in me a need for more. I quivered at the notion that it were his lips that seared over my lips, his tongue brushing, tantalizingly, over mine. My legs wrapped around his waist, then yanking him deeper into me. My hands twisted and tug into the back of his head.

I heard a pleasurable growl rumbled from his chest and out his mouth. His lips tore away from mine, before blazing icily along my jaw and throat.

"Ugh," I heard myself gasp as I craned my head back, exposing my entire throat to him. He growled again, trailing along each inch, before lowering over my chest. I trembled in estacy, my mind a mash of bliss.

"Edward," I moaned.

And then something poked me.

I froze.

Then Edward laughed, embrassed. "Umm…" he trailed awkwardly.

"Hi there," I joked.

"Right back at yah," he laughed.

I felt my mouth drop, and my eyes grow wide. I hadn't realized…until I did that I'd also had a reason to be embrassed.

"Ummm…" I echoed him. And then we were both laughing. Swiftly, we pulled away from one another, moving backwards against the waves.

Our eyes darted towards each other, before we began laughing again. Embrassed, humored.

"Why was that awkward?" I asked, feeling my cheeks burning.

Edward shook his head, chuckling a few more times. "I honestly don't know," he admitted. I laughed lightly some more, letting myself cool off before looking back at Edward. His lips were curled in on themselves, eyes wide and brows raised as he watched the waves break around him.

"You good?" I asked.

He nodded his head. "Yah. Pretty solid now," his eyes widened and mouth dropped as he heard the words aloud. "No—wait," he corrected laughing. My own laughs were too violent to make any noise. I felt the water bouncing off of me.

"No. I meant,—I'm good now," he spluttered, before laughing again. I contiuned laughing as I swam over to him. I placed my hands over the sides of his face, before giving him a light kiss.

I smiled down at him.

"We're going to have to have that talk again, soon," I admitted to him.

Edward's smile faltered slightly, before nodding up at me.

Yeah. I know.

Sex.

The topic hadn't come up since before my last birthday. What had just happened between the two of us, had been the furthest thing we'd gotten to. Together, Edward and I had slowly tested the boundaries of his strength. He was in no danger of me, but if he were not careful, than I would be in danger of him. It wasn't easy for him, to completely repress his vampiric strength when his mind was otherwise preoccupied. And we weren't sure if the full act would—could be possible for us, while I was human.

That hadn't been too much an issue, back when I would've been ready to become a vampire the moment after graduation, but now—now that I was fully in the know, having grown as a person, that timeframe was too varied. Two months, fourteen—I wouldn't let myself get older than nineteen—but that seemed like a longtime to wait, either way.

The topic hadn't come up since he'd gotten back. We hadn't—I hadn't been ready to jump back in, full steam ahead. But, with only us out here, safe in each other's arms, I knew that I wanted him. In every-way, shape, imaginable. I wanted, needed to give him that piece of me, that one piece that he would only ever own. And I needed—wanted that piece of him as well.

Edward's thoughts drifted from similar notions (though, clouded in far more dread than I cared to admit), to the very early days of our relationship. He smiled brightly at me. This time, I cradled his body in my arms, letting him wrap his legs around my waist.

I smiled suspiciously at him. My eyes narrowed. "What?"

He smiled, sheepishly, licking his lips. "Did I ever tell you, what I thought of you, the first time I saw you?"

I jerked my head back, my suspicion growing, as well as my concern.

"When you wanted to kill me?" I asked, questionably.

He veered his head away, and his star coated cheeks almost seem to blush paler. "Ah—no," he clarified, embrassed again. He chuckled once. "No, before that. When I saw you in the cafeteria."

I remembered that moment well. Jessica had just began spilling the tea on the Cullen family, when I'd first seen him. It was as though time stopped, ceased to even exist. My breath had caught in my throat, and my heart had leapt, thunderously, in my chest. There had been, a moment of significance, remembrance. Something ancient and timeless.

"No," I informed him. "You haven't."

He smiled again, brushing his thumbs over my cheeks. "Well, of course I had seen you all day. You were in the mind over every student who'd seen you as you trudged from class to class, towering in the hallways. We, of course, knew you were coming. Your mother had filled my mother in on everything, and she'd let us known that the great-grandson of Alexander Bishop was moving back.

"My father was curious, if he'd see Alexander in your face, remembering his old friend fondly. Alice had seen your class schedule, and had let me know that we'd share Biology together. But still," he said, shaking his head, almost in repentance. "I didn't know what the big deal was."

I laughed. Agreeing.

Edward shook his head again, looking almost annoyed. "No one could get you right though, in their thoughts. You looked wrong—like no one was able to get the idea right, as hard as they tried. But I didn't understand why I cared. Why was I so intent on learning what you looked like, and who you were. And then, they started comparing your face to ours," he shared.

I felt my eyes widened. Surely, there was more to it than that. I was the brand new kid, they had been the brand knew kids before….that must be where the comparison lay.

"So, I was quite curious when I heard you approaching with Jess. I heard my name in her voice, and thought she was talking directly at me. And so I turned. But her back was to me, and I realized she was talking about something else, only thinking of me. But your eyes," he sang, "your bewitching face was looking right at me."

I blushed and scowled, pursing my lips. "You lie," I accused.

Edward's hand smacked against my shoulder. "Do not," he defended. I raised a skeptical brow at him. He rolled his eyes at me.

"Not about this. And not about anything ever again," he declared. I smiled, and nodded my head for him to continue. He picked back up perfectly, as if no interruption had transpired.

"And my world ceased to exist as I'd known it. Everything in that moment had changed. And I didn't know why. I didn't comprehend why all day I'd been eager to see you, or why when I looked into your face, my eyes boring into yours, I felt a flicker of hope that I'd never known needed ignition."

My face was red again. But I didn't care. I smiled up at him, pressing him closer into me. Edward smiled back at me, his hands caressing my face.

"And then, even when I was being a douche, I had to get to know you. And I learned that you were kind, and selfless, hesitant, but willing. I watched how people gravitated towards you, how you almost brought comfort to them—even when you really didn't have the energy to do so. And still I was fighting it—fighting the desire to feel that from you, for my own. To get to give it in return.

"It wasn't until Alice got fed up with it all that she told me outright what I was pretending to not know. Naturally, she choose to do so in front of everyone," he added. I felt my face flush of color, and my body seized in shock.

"You're parents were there?" I stammered.

Edward nodded his head, laughing. "Yup. Everyone. I don't think Emmett has laughed so much in his existence," he carried on fondly. "Or my parents so speechless, Jasper so shocked, and Rose so angry. I just stood there like a buffoon, with my mouth hanging open."

I felt a rush of anger surge in me. "She outed you? In front of everyone?"

Edward's face shifted, studying my horrified face before turning his to reassurance.

"No, no, It's not like that—she saw that they wouldn't care. Emmett and Jasper had even betted on it a few times, without me knowing," he added the last part respectfully.

Still I stared at him with grief in my eyes. I felt sad that he hadn't been the one to figure it out for himself, and hated that he'd not been able to do it on his own terms—even coming out to his family. The choice had been made for him. And I knew how devastating that feeling could be.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, running the back of knuckles against his cheek and into his hair.

Edward shook his head, and his forehead creased. "I'm not," he affirmed. "That was one of the best days of my life—because that was the day I actually started getting to know you. And I have not regretted a moment of it. Even when I was…away," he sighed, pain echoing in his voice. He turned his gaze back at me, his twinkling eyes glazing over mine.

"You," he said fiercely, "are the best, most important, most crucial thing in my life. I have never known that the love I feel for you could feasibly exist. You are my heaven and earth, Mr. Swan," he whispered into my lips.

I began kissing him again, one arm welding him to my body, the other pressed over his back, my hand playing with the back of his head. The black waves beat around us, and the current swayed us back and forth in a soothing rhythm.

I could not think of any of my worries, not here, not now. Not when it was just him and me. The person I loved more than anything, my own life included, held in my arms, where he would belong for all of eternity.