Twilight doesn't belong to me.

WitFit Prompt: Agonize

Highline

Chapter 12

We heard Edward and Emmett returning about a half an hour after they had left to radio Carlisle.

"What's the scoop?" Rose asked as she peeked out from Jacob's tent. The rain had shown no signs of letting up, and my gut was telling me that we were in for a hell of a journey for the day. I was curious to see if we would even be moving at all.

"There's been a mudslide about two kilometres outside of Banff, and a few other minor slides throughout the park area. Not anywhere on our course yet, but the conditions aren't good." Edward replied,

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"Well, we want to get as close to the Howard Douglas campsite as possible. We'll likely have to take some back paths, but it's nothing we haven't done before. It's not going to be pleasant though." Emmett answered. He seemed more serious than usual, and I figured the dismal weather was likely to blame.

"We shouldn't wait around then." Jacob piped in, getting right to packing up. "Daylight is already wasting."

xoxoxo

Emmett wasn't kidding when he said things wouldn't be pleasant. They were downright awful. Even though I was properly outfitted, I was freezing. The rain blew sideways at us in sheets as we climbed Healy Pass, the wind cutting straight to my bones. My lips were chapped and cracking and my cheeks burned from the combination of wind and icy sleet that met us as we left the treeline.

Edward, Jacob and Emmett led the way quite a bit in front of us. There was a few times where they started up a hill, only to turn around and usher us back down to try a different route. The trails were slippery with thick mud in some places, and dangerously slick with rain covered rock in others.

It was the first time that Rose and I had been truly alone together since we'd set out, and we took advantage of it to catch up while we maneuvered through some of the easier passes.

"I slept in Emmett's sleeping bag last night." She said to me quietly. Even though the guys were ahead of us, they were keeping an ear and an eye out.

"Oh?" I asked, waggling my eyebrows at her.

"Yep. Crazy right?" She said, stopping for a minute to wipe off her poncho. "I really, really like him. I almost wish I didn't. It figures that I'd find someone miles away from home."

"If it's meant to be, you'll figure it out." I replied, hoping to sound supportive. I really didn't know what they'd do when the hike was over, but I was happy that she'd taken a real interest in Emmett.

"I've noticed you and Edward seem to have made amends." She said, digging her canteen out of her bag. She handed it in my direction first, but I declined.

"Yeah…you could say that." I said slowly. Rose knew me well – she could read me like a book, and I didn't want to give too much away.

"Wait. There's more to this." She said, just as I expected. "Spill it, Swan."

"Fine – but keep it quiet. He's been staying in my tent too."

"What?!" she screeched, coming to a dead stop.

"Shh! It's not like that. Jacob snores – he came in the first night after he heard me having a nightmare."

"Aww, I'm sorry Bella – I didn't even hear you."

"Too busy sucking face with mountain man, huh?" I teased. "Don't worry about it – I was fine."

"So, was this a one-time thing? What the hell?"

"He came in last night too. He apologized for being an asshole. There hasn't been anything really more than that." While there hadn't been anything more than that, part of me was becoming more and more drawn to him. I was confused by the contrast – I'd went from wanting nothing to do with him to wanting to spend more time and know more about him in the short span of seventy two hours – and the whole thing was overwhelming.

"I'm glad he apologized. Just be careful with him, Bella. You heard what Jacob said about him being a dick with an ego."

"I know."

"Can you believe we're really here?" she changed the subject completely and I was grateful. Looking out at Mt. Assiniboine, a little bit closer this time in the distance, I was in awe. We'd come so far already, and our hike wasn't even half over.

"What's a little rain, right?" I said, my spirits momentarily renewed, "We can do this."

xoxoxoxo

Many grueling hours later we made it to the trail just before the ascent to Quartz Ridge. The campground was still over two thousand metres away, but it just wasn't happening with the weather.

"The longer you stand around and agonize over set up, the longer you're stuck out in this rain" Edward had scolded, while we all moved slower than we had any time previously. I wanted to hit him. I was soggy and miserable. We all barely spoke to one another as we worked to get tents laid out. My boots were damp – the back lip that rested against my Achilles tendon was rubbing against my sore heel - and I was starving.

As soon as the dehydrated meals were ready, I swallowed mine down without too much pain and was ready for bed.

In my sleeping bag, sleep wasn't coming. I had lied awake for what felt like hours. I couldn't stop shivering. My toes were numb and my fingers were frozen stiff.

At that moment, I was tempted to call for Rose. Being in my tent alone was making the situation worse. My whole body was trembling – I tried to curl into a fetal position to conserve heat, but it wasn't working.

The harder I fought the tears welling up in my eyes, the easier they seemed to fall. I didn't want to be weak.

"Bella?" Are you ok?" Edward asked, peeking his head in my tent. I was equally glad and embarrassed that he had shown up again.

"I'm just so cold." I sniffled, wiping my eyes with the sleeve of my thermal underwear. "Everything got wet today – I can't get warm."

"Do you feel sick?" he asked, sliding inside the tent completely. He had his sleeping roll with him yet again.

"Not sick, just frozen."

"Ok, good. I have an idea – but only if you're ok with it." He said nervously. "I'll need you to get up for a minute."

"I'm good with anything that'll help." I said with a weak laugh. Getting up from my bed, I was hit with another blast of icy cold air.

"Alright. I'll be quick."

I huddled in the corner as Edward unzipped both of our sleeping bags. He then laid his out on top of both of our sleep mats. He pulled what looked to be a thin quilt out of his bag and spread it out, then put my slightly damp sleeping bag on top of that.

"One big bed?" I asked, a little shocked but not complaining.

"It'll trap in body heat. This thinner blanket is water resistant and rated for extreme cold. Your bag on top is just for weight. You'll need to change though – put on something lighter or it won't work. I know it sounds crazy when you're cold, but try a t shirt and shorts. I'll turn around."

"Ok. Give me a sec." I nodded, grabbing my bag. I used my flashlight to locate a drier set of clothes. Just as he said he would, Edward turned his back and shut off his own flashlight to give me privacy.

A minute or two later, I was changed, Edward had stripped down to his shorts, and we were both climbing under the blankets. I could instantly feel the difference – heat was already gathering between the layers, whereas my sleeping bag on its own felt like it was trapping cold air.

I stayed on my side of the makeshift bed, trying hard to control my shivers.

"You can come closer, Bella." Edward finally spoke, his voice soft. "Don't worry - I know how it feels."

"I just feel like a big baby." I said, cautiously moving closer to the center. Edward was lying on his side facing me, his hands clasped together in front of his chest.

"Don't. Today was a brutal day – when you get chilled it's hard to break it. Give me your hands." he said, as he flicked off his flashlight, leaving us in darkness. "You need to get some rest."

A/N I want to curl up in a big tent bed with Edward. Bella's a lucky duck. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing – I'm sorry that I didn't get to replies this chapter! I ended up falling asleep…barely got this done by midnight! 11:58 = close call! ;) Thanks again!