So very much not mine.
Chapter 36
It was later the next morning when Edward braved leaving his room. He followed the sound of his daughter's laughter down the stairs and into the kitchen. His heart was a little heavy for his parents were coming this afternoon to collect him for his ship's leaving. Only a few more months and he would be free of his commitment.
When he walked in to the kitchen he found Bella playing peek-a-boo with the girls. He closed his eyes to help keep the memory of the moment.
In his hands he held the gifts he had brought for Bella, Katie and Beth. He was a little ashamed at the paltry nature of the gifts. He wished he knew her hearts desire so that he could present it to her.
He cleared his throat to get their attention. Bella started, she hadn't heard his descent with the girls laughing so. She hoped that they hadn't been making so much noise as to disturb him.
"Good morning, sir. Can I get you some breakfast and tea?" Bella jumped up trying to be quick about her service.
"No, no, you play. I'll fetch my own, thank you." He laid his parcels on the table and set about getting some breakfast.
When he settled with his plate and cup he reached over and passed the parcels to Bella.
"I found a few things for you and the girls on my last leave."
"Thank you, sir. Can you say thank you, Papa? Katie? Beth?" She had being trying to get them to say his name. They had been struggling with speech for a few weeks, just on the cusp of real words rather than babble. The request was met with silence.
When Edward pointed out which gifts were for the girls, she gave them one each to try to open and stood aside to help. The girls were delighted with the small carved wooden animals, Katie put hers in her mouth instantly.
Bella unwrapped the fabric and was delighted with the colours. Edward was pleased when she thanked him. Bella then started to unveil the book, Edward became quite nervous.
"Oh, sir, this is wonderful. We'll enjoy many hours with this." She thumbed through the book looking at the lovely illustrations.
"I wanted to find something just for you but I had a difficult time." He admitted his troubles to her hoping that she would see that he had been thinking of her.
"There is nothing I need, want or desire more than being able to enjoy time with Beth and Katie. I love them, sir, I hope you know that."
"I do know, I can see it. But still I wanted to find something that was solely yours." He looked up at her and noticed the smile on her face. It was breathtakingly beautiful.
He cleared his throat again.
"I also wanted to apologize for yesterday, I hadn't meant for you to see me in such a state." He was still feeling quite sheepish.
Bella was still looking at the lovely book and without thinking revealed something she had never wanted him to know.
"It wasn't the first time." She all but dropped the book as her hand flew to cover her mouth.
"Wha…..Whatever do you mean?" He did not understand.
Bella sighed. Now that it was out in the open she had to tell him the truth. It was not a conversation she wanted to have, ever.
"The first day I came to your house, I found you in the larder." She hoped that that was enough and that she wouldn't have to tell him anything more.
"I was unclothed in the larder?" He clearly had no memory of this event.
"Not at first." The dam had broken and her mouth just ran away from her.
"Not at first? What do you mean, not at first?" Dear lord, how bad could it get. He was on tenterhooks.
"I found you in the larder, half dressed and asleep. I patted you on the cheek and you woke up. You then proceeded to remove the rest of you clothing and left the building." Her blush was so dark he worried for her health. It made him wonder if there was anything more to the story.
"There's more, isn't there?" He wanted to get a full account of his crimes.
Bella couldn't look at him, she didn't want to risk making him angry or think less of her.
"Please, Bella. What did I do?"
She couldn't stand him pleading with her so she decided to tell him the whole truth.
"You asked me if I was your wife. When I said no, you kissed me."
To Bella surprise, Edward started to laugh. A very awkward, self conscious laugh.
Bella looked at him.
"Is that all? Was I any good at it? I don't remember."
"Actually, sir, it had been sometime since you had bathed. It wasn't the most pleasant way for two people to meet. It was my first kiss" Edward began laughing even harder. She couldn't help but laugh a little herself.
It had been almost a year and a half since that time. A time that had been horrendous and painful, but with enough of an interval, he could see a little humour in that part of the situation.
His laughter slowed to light chuckles, her blush was fading. He wondered if she would let him try a kiss again, to overwrite their story to a better ending, or a new beginning.
AN: Thank you.