**Authors Note**
Sorry for the crazy long break! Life stuff; what can I say? I am happy to say I have several chapters typed, and will get them up and for your reading pleasure soon! Thanks everyone for still sticking in there, reading, reviewing AND for those who have pm'd me too. It helps me to get some motivation :)
Chapter XVI: Lost In A Dream
He had to be dreaming. That was the only explanation. There could be no other reason she would be kissing him. At first he wasn't sure what to do, he was too shocked to do anything. Once the shock wore off a little, and he stopped worrying and thinking of what to do, he just did what his soul wanted. He kissed her back. Her lips were warm and soft, and he longed to wrap his arms around her and hold her tighter. He then remembered the knives were sheathed, and figured he could risk holding her...at least a little. He moved his arms up and around her waist. Using his forearms against her back, he gently pulled her closer. She responded by leaning in even closer, until their bodies were touching. Her hand moved up the back of his neck until her fingers were entangled in his unruly hair. It was the most passionate kiss either one had ever received. The entire world melted away around them; the two of them and their kiss was the only thing that existed. It was like the universe was holding its breath.
The surreal experience lasted until the post symphony firework show blasted them back to reality. What sounded like gunshots rang through the air, and the sky lit up like a lightning storm. She gasped and pulled away with a jolt, a startled perplexed look on her face.
"Oh! I'm sorry! I uh," she stumbled over her words. "I don't know what came over me."
He didn't now how to respond to that. Why would she apologize for such an incredible experience? Unless she regrets it, and is sorry it happened.
He sat quietly, wondering what she meant until she motioned to the sky. "You ever see anything like it?"
He decided to stop fretting over it, and enjoy the rest of the evening with her. He had not ever seen anything like a firework show, and soon was mesmerized by the transformation of the night sky. Bright colors and patterns dotted the sky, obliterating the moonlight. The noise and light gave him an adrenaline rush; or maybe it was just the lingering effect from that kiss.
Later that night, as Vee lay sleeping in her bed, Edward paced in his garden. Deep in thought, he absentmindedly snipped an overgrown branch from the topiary next to him. He didn't want to let his confusion ruin what was the best day of his entire life, but he couldn't stop thinking about it. He knew that he was not good enough for her, yet she really did seem to be falling in love with him. And yet he couldn't quite grasp that concept. He continued to pace and muse over it. It was the first of many similar nights for him.
It was like a dance along the edge for months. He had no experience with this kind of thing, and really didn't know what to make of it. Every time they got close, she would pull away again. She would look at him, and in her eyes he could see it. How she felt. At least he thought that's what he saw. Love. The same look he was sure that he was giving her. Yet nothing was happening. Were they doomed to stay on the verge forever? Even though she told him multiple times that he was amazing, and was always spending time with him; did she love him? Could she possibly feel the same as he did? And again, he decided no. It wasn't possible because it was impossible for anyone to love an inhuman monster. At least he would have the memory of that night to always hold onto.
Currently, he was eying a block of ice and deciding what to transform it into. His father's machines, like the ice maker, after all this time still worked beautifully...A lot like him. Although he did have to maintain them. Part of the training he received from his father was making and maintaining machines. He never really cared to make them as his father did. His passion lived in his own creations made from greenery or ice. Perhaps having scissors for hands was part of it.
Since it was close to the holiday, he decided to be festive and make a decorated Christmas tree from the giant block of ice. He stepped up to the ice, raised his hands, and performed his magic. As he finished his work, he could sense that he wasn't alone anymore. He turned around to see Vee with that weird look on her face. The look that made him wonder so much.
She raised her eyebrows and smiled at him. "I knew what you were up to when I saw the snow." She walked up to him, brushing some of it from his shoulders and hair. She reached her arm out to the tree and touched one of its frozen branches. "It's beautiful."
"I made it for you. I know how you love this time of year." He didn't quite feel like she did about Christmastime. It was always a melancholy time for him. The bitter memories of Kim, her family, and what happened. Also of his father and the Christmas he died while trying to give him the best gift he could have ever received. He decided not to think of such sad things in her presence. Better to be focused on her. "I am glad you are here," he said.
She asked teasingly, "Yeah?"
"Of course! I always miss you when you are gone," he said with a matter-of-fact tone.
"Aw, Edward. I always miss you too."
There it is again! That look. What is she thinking? Should I try to hug her? Kiss her? Would she just pull away, and reject me?
She prevented any action he could pursue by saying, "It's really gonna be tough to be away from you for Christmas break. I-"
He cut in, "Already?! I didn't' realize it was coming up so soon." He couldn't hide his feelings from her. He was sure she could see the misery he felt at even the thought of not seeing her for so many days. Days that would stretch out so long it would feel like years. Days and days of isolation and loneliness.
"It will only be for three days, and I will come see you the second I get back."
He sighed, "I understand. It's Christmas. You need to be with your family." Even he could hear the dejection in his voice.
"Edward. You are my family. You and Poe...You're my real family. It's just," she paused, thinking of a good enough excuse for leaving him. "If I didn't go to my parents house for our Christmas traditions, my mother would hunt me down and kill me."
Edward's eyes bugged out. "Well, I guess you must go then."
Vee started to shiver. "Brr, it's freezing! Are the blankets I gave you helping at all?" He nodded. The blankets were nice, and did keep him warm when he slept. It wasn't nearly as nice as it was in her warm house, but far superior to what he was use to. She rubbed her arms trying to warm up. "You wanna go to my place? I already have a nice warm fire going."
"I would love to," he said. And he did love it, too. He loved sitting close to her with the fire crackling, and a Poe snuggled up with them. He loved being with her. He loved...her. It was very confusing not knowing how she felt about him, and it made him feel awkward. He already was awkward enough on his own without putting 'how to talk to girls' in the mix.
"Alright, but first I just want to admire my gift a little while longer," she beamed. He nodded, and awkwardly wrapped his arm around her in an attempt to keep her warm. They stood and looked at the crystal tree for a while, until her shivers forced him to demand they go.
Vee weaved her arm through his as they walked over the frost covered grass to her house. "There's snow back home. It always makes this time of year more magical and special. I love to see the frozen bits of ice that sparkle like glass or glitter over a snow blanketed landscape. And the way the snow builds up on the boughs of the pine trees. It looks like everything gets sugar-coated."
"I wish I could see it," he yearned to see places like what she described.
She dodged a branch in her way, and asked, "You've never seen snow?"
He shook his head. "No. The only snow I have seen is what I make." He smiled at her, one eyebrow raised.
She rubbed his cold leather covered arm. "You will see real snow some day. I promise."
As they reached her house, she unlocked the door and let them in. He was welcomed to the warmth and soft glow of the fire she had promised. He sat down as she disappeared for a moment. She returned and handed him a brightly colored box. "Here's your gift."
"Thank you!" He started to slice into it, bits of paper and box flying everywhere. He gasped when he saw what was inside. She took the items out and held them up so he could see them better. They were leather sheaths for his scissors, bound together to form two gloves.
"I knew how much you liked those plastic gloves you wore on Halloween, and how disappointed you were when you sliced them all up. So, I have been working on these during my lunch breaks ever since. Do you want me to help you try them on?"
"Yes!" He held up his hands for her. She must have used one of the spare scissor hands from his father's factory for measurements because it fit perfectly. This was great; he wouldn't have to be so on edge anymore. It is a bit trying on the psyche to be afraid of accidentally killing the girl you love whenever you are around her.
She finished putting them on and asked him if he liked it. He tested it out by wrapping his arms around her and bringing her closer, with a big grin on his face.
She laughed, "I take that as a yes."
"Indeed," he replied.
She kissed him on the cheek, and snuggled in closer. She flopped her legs over his lap, and rested her head on his chest. Soon Poe joined them, and they enjoyed what was left of the evening; drinking eggnog and watching the fire. It was the best Christmas he had ever had.
Too soon, she was saying that she had to go to bed. "I would love to stay here on the couch with you all night, but I really need to sleep in a bed tonight. I have a long drive ahead of me in the morning. Will you stay here?"
"Of course. I do not want to miss seeing you off."
"Okay, gnight," she sleepily said, and leaned in to give him a goodnight kiss. This time kissing his lips rather than cheek.
He didn't know what he should do, or how to react to her half asleep kiss. Did she even mean to kiss him again? His indecision cost him yet another opportunity. She got up and disappeared up the stairs, Poe trailing after her. Poe was the smart one. And as a reward, he was the one who got to cuddle up and sleep in her bed, right next to her all night.
That morning, it was hard for him to say goodbye to her. He had an incomprehensible bad feeling about her leaving. It felt like it would be more than a couple days. It felt like it would never be the same.
She exclaimed, "I'll miss you so much!" And gave him the world's tightest hug.
"I will miss you as well."
"Poe will keep you company. You can visit him as much as you'd like. Seeing as how you can unlock doors, you can just let yourself in whenever you want." Poe looked at him and started to purr, almost like he was responding to the idea. She pet Poe, and laughed. "See? He does want you to visit. I left plenty of food and water out for him. So, all he needs is company."
Edward smiled at Poe. "I would be glad to give him company."
Before she left, she helped him take the sheaths off. That would be something he would have to practice, so he could do that on his own. He would have plenty of free time to do just that over the next couple of days.
They hugged again, and then she grabbed her suitcase and left. He and Poe stood at the window next to the front door. He watched as she drove away, and already missed her. It was going to be a long three days.