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"So, you're just going to watch me sleep?" Bella asked Alice.
Currently she was sitting in bed with the covers draped over her legs and her arms folded defiantly. Although the entire situation made her feel awkward, she understood why her neighbour had suggested that this occur. It didn't mean that she completely agreed to it however.
Alice smiled at the childish behaviour of Bella and then readjusted herself on the one seater chair that was facing towards the bed.
"Yep," she answered.
Bella frowned, "Isn't that a little, I don't know, weird?"
Alice continued smiling, "Not really, it'd be just like Twilight," she replied with glee.
In return, the brunette in bed rolled her eyes, "Which reminds me, I need to educate you in literature."
"Yes, but you can't do that with a bad back," Alice retorted.
Bella wriggled her toes, hating how bouncy and confined everything was, "I think the Hunchback of Notre Dame did a good job."
Alice raised an eyebrow, "He rang bells, he wasn't a librarian, now go to sleep," she demanded.
Bella mock huffed, "The first time I get into bed with my girlfriend and she wants to sleep," she commented. In doing so, she was met with silence so, she peered at Alice who was suddenly perched forward and grinning from ear to ear at her.
"What?" she self-consciously asked, shifting in her place.
"You called me your girlfriend," the smaller woman replied in a whisper.
Bella started to freak out, it wasn't conscious, it just slipped out, they had never really defined or labelled their relationship, well, that is, until now.
"Well, I mean, is that ok?" She queried.
Alice beamed brighter and felt her heart warm, "It is more than ok," she answered gently.
Bella nodded her head and repeated the word girlfriend in her mind. She hadn't felt guilty for using the term; it had just been a while since she had used it. She turned her body towards Alice who had reclined back on the chair. Girlfriend.
If she were being truly honest, Bella's body ached to feel the warmth radiate between them but, Alice had explained why it wouldn't do to have them both in the same bed at the moment. Justifying her current distance as a small baby step into the brunettes ability to move forward. Bella hated beds ever since Ashley had died, believing that the space to be too big for just one person. For so long she had shared the space and slumber with another and when that comfort was taken away she couldn't help but feel as if something was missing within her. She hated beds because they reminded her of loss.
Alice however, decided that this needed to change and Bella, after much coercion and who had developed a perpetual crick in her neck from sleeping on her couch finally agreed.
"How about a story?" Alice asked breaking Bella from her thoughts.
Without waiting for a response, the smaller woman walked over to the bookshelf and retrieved a small novel. She sat back down on the chair, crossed her legs and then opened up the pages, appreciating the old smell of a pre-loved book. The entire atmosphere was the exact depiction of one reading to their loved one under the watchful eye of the moon and the single lamp that released the only source of light.
"If you read any of my books it'll induce a coma," Bella grumbled.
Alice looked at the woman in bed, "You need to be more positive in your writing ability, it may not be Anne Rice, but you've brought happiness to so many people. Wasn't it worth it?" she asked gently.
Bella sighed, "That's what Ashley used to say."
"Then you know I'm right," the smaller woman affirmed. She placed a single finger in between the pages of the book and half stood up to give Bella a lingering kiss on the forehead.
"Are you settled?" she whispered.
Bella blushed at the intimacy but nodded her head and Alice sat back down again.
"Good, now, that you're settled, we can begin reading," the small woman stated with a sparkle in her eye.
"Yes mother," Bella drawled out.
"Already talking about children Bella dear?" Alice questioned impishly, cracking open the small novel again.
Bella blushed, "Shut up."
"Now, now, we can't have that kind of talk around our children," the smaller woman replied back.
When she basically saw the steam coming out of her the brunette's ears, she decided to relent.
"Bella, I'm kidding, just lie back and let me read to you," she ordered softly.
Bella sighed, well, it was now or never, personally she would have preferred the latter but, with Alice in the room she felt a bit more relaxed. Alice's very presence instilled within her a courage and strength that she had long forgotten about. She retrieved the covers, tucked them just underneath her chin and then shivered. It was so strange.
Alice smiled and looked down at the small book she choose, it was a collection of Hans Christian Anderson bed time stories, "It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark. Evening came on, the last evening of the year…" She looked up at Bella who was just smiling at her, knowing why Alice had chosen this particular tale to read.
The smaller woman just continued bringing words to life.
Bella closed her eyes and concentrated on the steady beating of her heart.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
And, it was only after about a page of reading did Alice's voice carry her away to visit the Sandman.
Alice read the last sentence of The Little Matchstick Girl and smiled at the peaceful slumber that her girlfriend was now in. Girlfriend, Bella had called her her girlfriend, she felt giddy at the thought.
She placed the book on the bedside table, turned off the light and then lent over to place one last kiss on Bella's forehead.
"Goodnight Bella," she whispered.
She sat back on the chair, stretched out her legs and then wondered how the brunette had slept on a couch for so long. She looked at the time that read 11.30; it was going to be a long night but, she took solace in knowing that her efforts were all for Bella.
Bella blearily opened her eyes and felt it odd that her body didn't ache; she knew that it was still night time and that, she was in her room. When her eyes became accustomed to the dark, they instantly focused on a figure that was standing a foot away from her.
"Holy Fuck!" she screamed, totally forgetting that Alice had promised to stay in her room for the night.
Bella shot up into a sitting position and then quickly turned on the light, shaking the American Horror Story feeling that she had. That shit was intense.
Alice was standing a step away from the bed, giving Bella a deer caught in headlights look, after returning from the bathroom.
"Jesus, Alice? Way to scare a girl, I thought you were an axe murderer," Bella stated, trying to still her adrenaline laced body.
Alice sat on the edge of the bed next to Bella and rubbed soothing patterns on the other woman's thigh.
"An axe murderer does not wear Polar Bear pajamas," she retorted, looking down at her own colourful attire of fleece pajamas.
Bella felt herself calming at the touch, she also felt another emotion start to bubble within her, though; she tried not to think about it. "You don't know that, they could have some sort of weird fetish or something."
Alice smiled and then grimaced as the hours of sitting stationary on a couch was starting to take a toll on her back, Bella noticed her discomfort.
"Are you ok?" she asked.
The smaller woman just nodded her head, "Yeah, I'm fine, since you've been sleeping; this old diabolical torture device and I are now best friends," she stated looking at the one seater lounge chair in faux fondness.
Bella raised an eyebrow, "I sleep for an hour and you start an affair with inanimate objects."
Alice never ceased her deft movements on the brunette's thigh, "Well, it was either that or try to decipher what you were saying in your sleep."
Bella stuttered, "I don't sleep talk."
"You'll never know," Alice winked. She then arched her torso upwards in order to crack her spine, Bella grimaced at the popping noises and then made the decision to refuse Alice from spending a night on the chair.
"Get in," she suddenly demanded.
Alice frowned, she had explained to Bella why this wouldn't be a good idea but, before she could voice her concerns Bella cut in.
"What? A bed's not good enough for you now?" The brunette challenged.
Alice scoffed and then looked at the one seated couch, should she or shouldn't she? Well, it's not like they hadn't shared sleeping space before. But, that was prior to Bella and herself being in a relationship. She was about to refuse however, when she looked at the open and inviting face of Bella again, her resolve broke. How could you not say no?
"Move over, I like the left side," Alice finally replied.
Bella grinned at having won and then rolled aside, beds were much better when shared, when she caught herself thinking that, it dawned on her how much she had changed.
Alice crept into the bed and relished in the warmth, ever the epitome of being as snug as a bug in a rug. It was like waking up in bed on a crisp and cold morning, never wanting to leave or perhaps it was just because she was surrounded in Bella's scent.
Bella refrained from laughing at the look of ecstasy on Alice's face, "I'm half-surprised that you didn't just get in when you knew I was sleeping," she commented.
Alice stopped her unconscious rolling in bed, "I didn't want to disturb you," she answered. She turned to face her girlfriend in bed.
"You wouldn't have…" Bella began but was then cut off with a look from Alice.
"Ok, even if you didn't know whether or not you'd disturb me, it's ok, I would have understood once I realised that it was you that was next to me," she said, at least, she thinks she would have been ok with it.
She shook her head because what if's didn't matter at the moment, it was far too late at night to be thinking hypothetically even if the best thoughts are before sleep. So, instead, she decided to not ruin this moment.
She cusped Alice's face with the palm of her hand and noticed that it fit perfectly, "Don't be afraid to reach out to me, I know that we don't have the most pristine track record, but I want you to know that you can come to me, that you can trust me, and talk to me. And, I'll try to do the same," she promised.
Alice smiled at the words, how words could make her feel like a teenager was beyond her but Bella could always do so without even trying. She placed a sweet kiss on the brunette's lips and then turned around.
After a few moments, when she realised that Bella still hadn't moved from her position, the smaller woman reached behind her. When she felt Bella's hand, she tugged on it so that Bella was now flush against her. She placed Bella's hand on her own stomach and held it in place, entwining their fingers together.
"Is this ok?" she whispered to Bella. She could feel the other woman's heart pounding erratically against her shoulder blade.
Bella blinked hard and tried not to think about how intimate they were. I don't know, she wanted to reply but then, that would mean rejecting the entire point of tonight. She moved her head so that she didn't suffocate on the black tufts of Alice's short hair and that it now lightly rested against the back of Alice's neck.
"Yeah," she whispered back.
Alice tried not to shiver at the breath that tickled her or at the smoky tone that Bella had used. She didn't trust herself to reply so she just nodded her head lightly.
When she felt brave enough, Bella kissed the closest spot of skin that her lips could touch, "I promise that nothing is going to get you tonight. Goodnight Alice."
Alice wanted to make some sarcastic remark about her being the one that was supposed to be on watchdog duty tonight but, she couldn't find it within herself to do it.
In response, she just clasped their hands tighter together believing and feeling in her heart that what the brunette, Bella, her girlfriend had said was true.
Bella woke up feeling good. She had had dreams but couldn't remember it; rather, she felt remnants of them within her. She felt as if she had a nightmare but that it was resolved in some way. Oh well, it was only just a dream.
She yawned, closed her eyes, snuggled further into the warm body next to her and smiled.
"Mmm, Ashley," she moaned.
"I'm going to pretend that you didn't just say that," was the response she received.
Bella opened her eyes and reacted so fast that it became next week.
"Shit Alice, Fuck, crap, Jesus, I'm so fucking sorry!" she hysterically apologised. The guilt washed upon her like a cold shower and she sat up awaiting the oncoming storm.
Alice didn't have the heart to be angry at the honest mistake, she sat up and placed a hand on Bella's thigh comfortingly, "Hey, hey, it's ok, granted, I had thought that the first time we slept together in bed, you'd be swearing for different reasons but, I'll take what I can get," she tried to sooth.
Albeit, she was a little hurt at having her girlfriend say another woman's name in bed but, she knew that this type of error was going to happen and that it didn't mean that Bella placed people in a type of hierarchy. Although things were more crystalized between them, it was also so fragile. She made it a point in her mind to thank Rose for that little nugget of wisdom.
"You're not upset?" Bella asked surprised.
Alice's face softened, "Ego is a little blown but, I understand, we're taking baby steps ok?" To ensure that nothing major had been damaged, she kissed Bella's cheek and smiled. Perhaps they would have a serious talk about it one day or perhaps not, but right now, understanding needed to take place.
Bella felt her alarm subside for the moment, "I'm sorry Alice, it's just, I woke up and was wrapped up in a body and I just assumed that you were her."
"Bella, it's ok, I mean, it'd be great if you could wake up to be moaning my name, but, I know that you're going to need time to adjust," the smaller woman replied.
The brunette felt grateful at having found such a wonderful person in her life, "Thank you Alice."
Alice smiled, "You are most welcome, after all, not all of us are used to dating," she stated with a wink.
Bella rolled her eyes, "You mean a love whore," she retorted.
"You did not just call me a whore," the smaller woman stated with faux anger.
Bella groaned and fell backwards on the bed, "I claim early morning brain deadness on that comment."
Alice looked at her form and then joined her, lacing their fingers together, "You cannot use that excuse forever," she chuckled.
"So, how was your first night back in bed?" she asked the brunette.
"It was a night to remember," Bella replied honestly. It was odd and scary and she daren't thought about doing again alone tonight. But, she knew she had to, if not to please Alice but to ensure that she could do it, that she was becoming the person that she wanted to be in baby steps. After crawling for so long, she needed to start stretching her legs and walking.
Bella looked at the time and sighed, "I gotta get ready, I have an appointment."
"Hey, that's my line," Alice stated playfully.
Bella watched at how the other woman looked in her bed with the early morning sun hitting her face. Some may name her disarray, but Bella would describe her as ethereally beautiful.
They both knew that it was time to start the day and with it, they would both be counting the minutes until they see each other again.
"Why don't you get ready and, I'll make some coffee," Alice suggested and Bella felt her heart strings pull at the consideration.
Oh yeah, this woman was definitely a keeper.
Thank you for reading and, stay tuned for some more Extras.