MP ch14a
A/N: So...we're back, FINALLY!
I know, I know, we promised only a week's hiatus but to be honest...RL and SERIOUS Writers Block has been holding me back from writing ANYTHING. And then my lovely co-hort got sick and I had to worry from hundreds of miles away if she was over medicating, under medicating, etc...cuz seriously, I would be lost without her.
BUT, HERE WE ARE! We've found our groove again and hopefully RL will settle the freak down now that school/activities are done for the summer.
And, I hate to say it but we've FINALLY also plotted out the remaining chapters...we're estimating a total of 10 more chapters after the 2 from this week. 5 EPOV and 5 BPOV ...but, as you all know things change, characters get wordy, plots jump up, etc. So, while that is what we intend to happen, forgive us if something changes.
We've DEFINITELY MISSED ALL OF YOU! FOR SURE.
Special Super Duper LOVE goes to our Beta, A Jasper For Me... not only does she beta super quick but she pimped us out today on her amazing blog. If you aren't following her blog, then you don't know what you are missing. She does an amazing job for ALL of the writers of the fandom in EVERY genre. She is truly one of the hardest and most underappreciated women in the fandom! WE LOVE YOU, AJFM:):):)
Now...let's check in on our Knight and Princess;)
EPOV
A week had passed before I was finally able to take Bella home, well, to her apartment. She insisted she didn't want to be a bother to me or my routine and wanted to go to her place instead of mine.
I didn't care. I wasn't leaving her side.
She protested and said she didn't want to interfere with my life, with my recovery, but I squashed all those insecurities and anxious feelings real quick.
"Bella, haven't we both proven being apart is what hurts us the most? Don't we owe it to each other, to our son, to be as strong as we possibly can be?" I said softly but forcefully as she watched me with big, anxious eyes.
She finally nodded.
"Then it's settled. I'll take you home, and we'll manage through all of this, together." I spoke quietly just before I leaned down to kiss her forehead.
That had been a few hours ago and now that we were here, in a cab in front of her apartment building, I'm not so sure she was ready for what the future held for us.
"I'm here, Princess. I'm not going anywhere. Ever," I whispered into her hair as I kissed the top of her head.
My parents arrived shortly after we made it into the apartment, bringing food and some extra stuff for my stay so I could take care of my Princess.
My mom and Bella disappeared into the bedroom for what felt like an eternity as I paced the living room floor. My dad walked around the room, stuck in the past as he travelled through the years of our lives in the pictures placed around the room.
"What a blessing to have such a history," he finally commented as he sat on the couch, holding the small picture of Riley.
Before I sat down beside my father, I ran my hand through my hair, wishing I could have a cigarette, but I didn't want to smoke in Bella's apartment.
"I love him, and I don't even know him … is that weird, Dad?" I asked as I reached over and ran a finger across the face of the small boy in the frame.
My dad smiled and looked at me, "No, son, that isn't weird." He sighed and laid the picture frame on the table beside him.
"But, you have to think about what's right for him. Not what you want. I know you love him. It's expected you would, he's your flesh and blood. However, he only knows Carlisle and Esme as his mom and dad. All I ask is you and Bella think long and hard about these past few years in your lives before you do anything to disrupt his." His eyes held their own hurt, concern and love for all of those involved in this fucked up situation.
"We will, Dad, but I can't promise someone won't get hurt. If Bella and I decide to take Riley back, I have to know we have your support," I said with my own fears clear as my voice shook.
"Son, I've always supported you, even when you were wrong, but you have to figure life out for yourself. However, I'll always be here to give you advice. You know that." Edward Senior suddenly looked old to my eyes. I could see the years of worry and hurt I'd caused him by how I lived my life.
I knew I never, ever wanted to see that look again. I felt the need to apologize again for all I had done wrong.
"I'm sorry, Dad," I whispered before we both heard the bedroom door open and my mom walked back into the living room.
"She's resting, Edward, but she wants you, so we'll just get our things and go. You know we're only a phone call away if you need us," she said with a warm smile and kiss to my cheek.
"I do." I smiled back and walked them to the door.
"Don't push her, Edward. I know you'll do what's right." My dad's eyes showed nothing but love for me, for Bella, and for all the adversity we still had to overcome.
I nodded and locked the door behind them before I turned to face the quiet of the room.
Suddenly, I was gripped with fear.
I was alone with Bella … my Princess.
After all these years of wanting her, missing her, needing her and now … she was right there behind that small wooden door.
How do I make up for all the years lost? How do we pick up where we left off? Fuck that, how the fuck do we even start over?
I just needed to see her, be near her, and touch her. Especially now that I was without fear, the fear that had always haunted us, the fear anyone could walk in on us, hover over us, or simply come to check on us at their leisure. More importantly, the fear Renee could do her best to keep us apart as best as she could figure out, was now gone.
I walked around the living room once more, taking the time to again let in all the memories each picture held, to let my mind refresh the empty spaces that had captivated my heart for a lifetime.
She was still that tiny pink Princess … I was still her Knight.
Each picture reaffirmed the love, the connection, the depth of what we've always shared, ever since we were those small four year old children in the park. I knew this was right, that we were right. I had to go to her, to comfort her and help her get back to a point where she could see the best part about both of us, the part that only came alive when we were together.
I quietly knocked on the door before I opened it to see her curled up in a tiny ball in the center of the bed. Her hair was pulled up in a crazy bun-type thing with pieces sticking out everywhere, her skin was pale and she had dark circles around her eyes, but she was absolutely beautiful.
"Princess," I whispered as I moved to my knees beside her on the bed. My fingers lightly brushed across her soft cheek as a little whimper left her lips.
"Knight," she whispered as I moved close enough to touch my lips to her forehead.
"Shh, baby, I'm right here," I said against her skin.
"Hold me, please. Please, just hold me," she begged, and it tore my heart in two.
"Of course, love," I said as I stood and removed my shoes and over-shirt before I crawled in and tucked her small frame against me.
Her face nuzzled into the crook of my neck, her lips gently grazed my skin and a shudder rolled through my body.
Her legs tangled in between mine as she fought to crawl as close to me as she could physically get. I was practically on top of her as she burrowed deeper and harder. I smiled and pulled my arms and legs tighter around her. I willed my dick to stay down, but to have her body this close; her smell, her breath against my neck, it was more than my senses could take. I immediately felt the strain against the zipper of my jeans.
"You always make me feel safe," she said as her hands began to stretch and roam my chest on top of my t-shirt.
"I'll always keep you safe, Bella," I murmured into the side of her head.
"Please don't leave me. I've missed you so much." I could hear the tears in her voice before I felt them on my shirt.
I pulled my head back and tilted her head up so she could see me, "Baby, I've missed you too. I won't leave your side again, not until you order me away."
"Never. Never, Knight. I need you so much … please, Edward. Please show me. I want you to show me I'm safe, that I'm yours, that our love is really real." Bella's voice cracked as the stray tears fell from those pleading eyes.
I wanted to show her, with my body, to regain that connection, but wasn't it too soon?
"Baby, I'm not sure if it's the right time for us to connect that way. I want you too, please don't misunderstand, I just want to give you the time you need," I said as my eyes begged for her to understand it was for her own good.
She drew up her face in anger.
"Fuck that, Edward Cullen," she said as sat up quickly and turned to hover over me.
"We've had to face tragedy, loss, hurt and years apart because everyone else was making decisions for us. But now," she gestured between us, "it's just us. Me … your Princess. And you … my Knight." Her eyes were wild with anger, confidence and strength.
"I want you. I miss you. I need, no fuck that, WE need this reconnection. We need to fucking feel something. I need to feel the love, the sense of belonging only you can give to me." She said with a huff and sat back against the headboard of the bed. "But, if you don't want me, you know, that way, I need to know now, so I can accept that and quit wanting it so much," she said as she wiped her eyes and looked away from me, her head completely turned from my view.
I sat up, perplexed and in awe.
"Bella," I spoke as the air around us felt alive, a spark of something new spinning around us. "Bella, please look at me."
She sniffled and shook her head no, so I crawled across the bed to put myself in her line of vision.
"Not want you in that way? Are you out of your fucking mind? It's all I've dreamed about for years," I said as I grabbed her hands. "Feel this," I laid her palms against my straining jeans, "Does that feel like I don't want you?"
"Take me, Edward," she said as her mouth attached to my neck and a shiver ran through my heated body.
"Fuck." I breathed as I fought to restrain my desire for her.
"I need you, Knight." She whispered breathily into my ear before she ran her tongue around it.
"Fuck, Princess," I said before I pushed her down onto her back and watched as her lips curved into that smirk I'd missed for years.
"Take me, Edward. Show me how much you've missed me." She looked up at me through those clear, brown eyes, and I was lost.
The clarity was just like that first night so many years ago, then again in New York … and I knew life would never, ever be the same again.
Suddenly the room grew hot as our hands, mouths, and fingers couldn't move fast enough to rid both of us of the clothing covering our skin.
Moans and groans filled the space between pants and gasps before it all became too much in our haze of lust for one another.
Bare.
Skin to skin.
Her legs opened up, and I settled between them, both of us gasping. Our bodies begged for control of the air we needed to fill our lungs. The heat and electricity that filled the room, the silence that invaded our personal space, and the pressure from my heart all screamed at me to do one thing right in my life … to make her alright. To ensure she has a happy, healthy, productive life from here on out, and to make sure she enjoys every fucking second she has left.
Her arms came up under my shoulders, and I wrapped mine around her in the same way just as the tip of my cock pushed into her.
Ecstasy.
Pure.
Love.
Heaven.
I fought the moan as it broke through my lips. Her name escaped my throat, involuntarily.
She wrapped her legs around me as I set a short, deep, but steady rhythm where our bodies rocked together.
"Edward," she sighed and pushed up against me, pulling me deeper into her.
My eyes rolled back, and I fought to not lose control, just yet.
Perfection.
My Princess.
She wound her body around mine as her soul ripped through the hole within me her absence had left. It filled all the cracks and tears with the reaffirmation we belonged together, entwined, bound, and tangled.
Bella loved me; I felt it with her touch, with her thrusts and with every whimper … our bodies just took the opportunity to lead the way back to where we needed to be.
In that shared moment, we both knew this is what brought meaning to life; each of us, together.
All the years I'd wasted as I put so many drugs into my body to forget this powerful feeling … all the years she'd suffered at the hands of Renee's abuse … all just to keep her from enjoying this part of her life.
It was over.
We were together.
We'd remembered what was most important.
No metal needed to shield her from the emotions she felt.
No points of numbness to hide away the hurt her loss had forced me into.
We were Bella and Edward.
Us.
"I love you, Edward," Bella whispered before her lips captured mine. Her words pushed me towards the goal so much faster, a simple expression changed everything for me. It must have meant the same for Bella, because I felt her body respond to me as we both raced towards our climax at the same time.
Our tongues battled for a moment as the passion grew. Silence engulfed us; I could only see her. I could only hear her. I could only feel her as I exploded. My body stilled, warmth and happiness engulfed me. It was like a dream sequence in a movie; it was all the things a person longed to be in their life all at once. Loved, happy, secure, understood, appreciated, accepted, and wanted.
When reality rushed back in, I pulled back slightly. I started to pray Bella had enjoyed it as much as I had, when I realized she was still trembling through her ecstasy as well. We both calmed together, sated, breathless and still tingly all over.
I rested my head in the crook of her neck as her fingers began to strum through my hair while she tried to catch her own breath.
"I love you, Bella," I finally declared to her skin as I felt her smile against my shoulder.
A few minutes passed before I leaned up, our bodies still joined, as I rested on my elbows.
"I know we still have a lot to work out, but baby, this right here … it's the only place I'll ever want to be," I said as her eyes smiled along with her lips.
"Me too, love. Me too," she replied, and I felt myself grow hard inside of her again while her legs gripped my hips tight in their hold.
We made love again, and this time was soft and slow. Our eyes never left the other's as the tears flowed when we came again.
We laid side by side, wrapped up together, no words spoken as we relearned every inch of skin. It was amazing. I wanted to say I knew her before. And in a way I did, but now … this was a new time for both of us. We were adults. We had been through shit and walked out the other side. We were truly ready to stake our claims and fight for our love this time. Nothing and no one was going to stand in our way. This time we commited to knowing the new people we had became, not the children we were back then. This time we forged our bonds in a way no one would ever be able to break again.
Time stopped.
Nothing mattered.
Life sped on around us.
But in those hours, our lives formed the bonds we'd both so desperately needed all the years we'd been forced apart.
We repaired the cracks.
We sealed the holes.
We build a new foundation.
"We need a shower," Bella said, finally speaking into the heavy silence.
"Together," I replied with a grin.
"Always together." She smiled back.
The flood gates of our passion had opened, and we became insatiable as we fucked in the shower and again in the kitchen while we tried to prepare something to eat.
It was all wonderful, but nothing compared to the soft, gentle love we made in that bed for the last few hours of the remaining dark night.
Just as the sun peeked over the horizon and our eyes were finally ready to be filled with sleep, I heard her little voice against my neck, "Edward?"
"Mmhmm," I replied through my sleep filled haze.
"I want another baby." Her voice weak and needy, and my eyes shot open immediately.
"Oh baby, I know … and I want that with you, too," I said as I pulled her eyes up to mine and swiped away a few stray tears. "But we still have to work on getting things worked out between us, and then figure out what to do about Riley, first," I said as the vision of her small body filled with my baby, her belly bubbling out so sweetly from her body flooded my mind.
I grew hard again just thinking about it.
Then guilt filled me that I wasn't there for the first time to watch Riley's growing body come to life inside my Princess, to know I couldn't be the father he deserved or the man she needed.
"I know, Edward. I just … when he was inside of me, I always had a piece of you with me. It made the hurt dull, if that makes sense. And I want you there to experience it with me this time," Bella said so softly through her tears.
"Oh, baby." I held her tight and fought my own tears. "We'll get through this … and do it the right way this time, Bella. I promise it will happen for us again." I held her, and we both cried; cried for the time we'd lost, cried for the child we didn't have to hold, cried for the hurt we'd both endured.
As we fell asleep in each other's arms, I knew my dreams would be filled with the things we had yet to experience.
But even asleep, I knew we would still get there in real life, that it would be the life we woke up to every single day.
We had each other again.
Nothing could stop our dreams from coming true now … I had all I would ever need in my life to make me happy right here in my arms.
A/N: So...um...yeah.
We should see you again on Thursday for BPOV and hope to be back on track w/ Mon/Thurs posting next week!
BTW, if something should happen to either of our postings for this fic...find us on FB to find out where we've moved;)
Love, Peace, Joy, Kyla
