Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, concepts and settings from "Twilight". Those are from the creation of Stephenie Meyer. The original idea itself belongs to the person who created the BBC miniseries, "Lost in Austen".
Okay, maybe it wasn't as deeper sleep as I thought it was. My eyes flickered open at the sight of the fresh sunlight streaming through Edward's wall of glass. The next thing I noticed were the legs of a chair sitting right beside the couch. Looking upwards, I noticed the person sitting on it. Tall, pale, dark eyed and topped off by a mess of shining bronze hair. I smiled, taking in every inch of his skin as it glittered in the rays of sun and the focused expression he wore on his face while his eyes darted across the page of an extremely thick looking book.
"Hmm…I wish I had something like this to wake up to every morning." I mused as I moved my body, propping myself up on my elbow. Edward looked down from his book, his face blank as he looked me over.
"You're awake," He said softly, leaning over and placing the book on his desk.
I shrugged, "Yep." I attempted to move into a sitting position but to my dismay was faced with a burst of pain. Some directed from the lump on my head, the other from the sudden stretching of the scratches across my chest.
My expression twisted and I held my breath, waiting for it to pass. Edward looked anxious but settled for handing me two pills and a glass of water. "Carlisle told me that you'd be wanting this once you woke." He explained while I downed the pills.
"Well, he was right about that." I groaned, touching my bandages. Edward's eyes followed my hands until he looked away, anger spreading across his features. "What's wrong?" I asked in confusion.
He shook his head as he muttered something unintelligible. "What?" I prodded. He turned his face back towards me.
"You came back," he said. Okay, he was angry because I came back here? Great. Not what I was expecting. Maybe a hug or an "I've missed you". Not "bummer, you told me you weren't coming back so I've moved on now".
"Yes, I-" I began but he cut me off, placing a finger over my lips.
My eyes widened, waiting. "You came back, and I wasn't here." He finished. Oh, now I got it. Victoria brought me back, held me like a hostage and he's all annoyed at himself because he wasn't here to play superman. Gosh, Edward. Sometimes you can be so completely frustrating. Well, if wasn't so sweet.
"Edward, trust me, I'm fine. You're family got me out of it. Victoria's head for the hills anyway," I told him reassuringly.
Again he shook his head, "Fine?" he scoffed. "You call this fine?" He ran his fingers lightly over my head, cheek and bandages looking furious yet, his touch was light as a feather.
"Well, there are no broken bones and I'm not dead, so yeah. I call this fine." I tried in my best upbeat tone. He gave me a look to which I rolled my eyes. "Look, I'm sorry I got my throat slashed and my head wacked in, okay?"
"It isn't your fault."
I looked at him angrily. "Then where the hell is all this hostility coming from?" I asked.
He leaned back, his expression guilty. He stood up and began pacing. "I apologize. You're right. You've been through quite enough without me adding to it. I'll leave you to rest." He said formally.
This was the last straw. Throwing back the covers, I marched towards the door. Edward looked down at me in surprise. "All that time Victoria was throwing me about, you know what I thought? Hey, at least I'll get to see Edward again. Because believe it or not, I've really missed you these last few months. I get here, you're family is great but you? From you I get 'you're not fine' 'I should've been in South America' 'Here are your pills and I'll leave you alone to rest'." I said, my voice loud and angry. "If you'd moved on Edward, you just had to say so. If I'm not welcome, fine. I'll leave."
With my head held high – pulsing full of head-ache pain – I began to walk past him through the door when his hand tightened around my wrist, pulling me back. I looked up in surprise at this spur of the moment gesture and opened my mouth to speak, to tell him to let me go. The words caught in my throat as his mouth closed passionately over mine. I gasped as all my senses overwhelmed me. The feel of his lips on mine, his fingers locking through my own, the sweet smell of his breath and skin and the beauty of his sparkling skin so close to me.
I lent back against the wall, a feeling of joy coursing through every limb as he moved his lips onto the unharmed side of my neck. I shivered, a smile spreading across my face. He leant back, his dark eyes looking deeply into my own, his own crooked smile facing me. Softly he pressed his lips once more to my own for the briefest of seconds before pulling away. How his self control was mustering these ones, I had no idea.
"Ashley, I love you. I've always loved you. How could I possibly move on when you are always a door away from me?" he brushed his fingers down my cheek as I trembled. "You say you missed me?" his smile broadened. I nodded. "It's nothing compared to how much I missed you. I flew all the way to South America and spent time in the most isolated places. All I could think about was you. It was…maddening."
I laughed. "You think you've had it bad, you should see my half yearly report."
** **** **
From the staircase I could hear the sounds of people cheering and groaning loudly. A few words followed in a tone I was familiar with. It was the noise that emitted from our family room when my mum was watching some sort of sport. Usually football but on occasion cricket could produce a similar response.
"What's the score?" Edward asked as we approached Jasper and Emmett on the lounge. Both sat poised on the edge of the couch, Emmett looking triumphant, Jasper…well, he had his head in his hands.
Jasper looked up at the sound of Edward's voice, giving him a look. "It's so bad I can't even discuss it," He said, getting to his feet.
Emmett chuckled, "What did I tell you? I think I'll take my winnings in cash thanks." He grinned broadly. Obviously the pair had been betting again. Not that I could blame them, it always seemed to keep things interesting.
Jasper rolled his eyes and left. Emmett turned his attention back to us, his eyes locking in on our intertwined hands. "Well, I see you two didn't waste any time." He gave me a wink which I returned with a raised eyebrow and an open mouth.
Edward ignored the jibe, seating himself down on the couch. His expression was serious. "Any sign of Victoria?" he asked.
Emmett shook his head, "Not yet. If I were her, I'd probably be getting as far away from here as possible. But trust me, if she decides to make the trip back, you'll know." I was sure of that. Just what he exactly planned on doing, I didn't know. Did I want to know? I had a feeling it would involve dismantling body parts.
"Besides," Emmett leaned back, "Edward, you've just got back. Relax a little." He made a mocking face, "Oh, that's right. I forgot. You're always too high strung to relax. Wonder how Ashley deals with it."
"High strung huh?" Edward's expression softened, a familiar playfulness entering his eyes. Oh dear, I thought, backing away.
Before I could react, Edward had tackled Emmett across the couch. They hit the ground with a smack, rolling around in a heap. It would have been violent if the laughter hadn't of been so audible.
"Okay Emmett, two-hundred…" Jasper began, returning to the room with a wad of cash but pausing as he caught sight of the boys rolling on the floor. He shot me a look, I shrugged.
At this moment Alice entered the room, her face strained. "Emm, Edward! Don't –" she tried to say. A second later the room was filled with a loud crash. I froze, looking down at my feet now surrounded by shards of broken vase. Oh great. And why did I have to choose now to walk around bare foot?
Emmett and Edward stopped, glancing up at the sound. Emmett's smile disappeared. "Oh crap," he said. "Esme's going to…" his comment was cut off as the vampire in question entered the room, a disapproving look on her face.
"Boys!" she said in frustration, looking at me in the middle of the vase shards. I was staying perfectly still, something my parents had always told me was the best idea around sharp remains of something broken. Esme ran a hand through her hair. "That was an antique." she shot Edward and Emmet an unhappy look. The pair had gotten to their feet looking sheepish.
"Oops." Was Emmett's response.
"Sorry Esme, I'll do my best to replace it." Although he was being polite, the level of good humour he'd been showing before was still bubbling beneath the surface. I was glad. I loved it when Edward was in this good a mood.
Cutting in, "Err…a little help?" I prodded.
Edward shot me a grin before walking nonchalantly across the shards and swinging me up into his arms. "Whoa!" I cried at the suddenness of the movement.
Alice rolled her eyes, "I tried to tell you." She said.
I looked up at Edward, "It gives a more literal meaning to 'sweep me off my feet'." I joked. He set me down on carpet free of cut opportunities and stepped back.
"Go get dressed," he told me, eyeing my pyjama-ed up state. "I think I know someone who'll be very happy to see you."
I gave him a look, "Any telling me who this person is?"
He shook his head, that knowing and frustrating smile playing across his lips. "That's for me to know and you to find out."
I began heading upstairs before turning back with a retort, "Fine, then I'm secretly hoping its Mike Newton."
** **** **
I'd gone upstairs expecting to be spending the day in my school uniform when Alice cut me off, shoving a set of folded clothes into my arms. It was obviously a pleasant temperature outside because I found myself wearing a spring dress. She also held out a familar necklace.
"I found it outside after you were thrown across the pavement. The chain broke so I've replaced it with one as close to the original as I could find. I also managed to clean the blood off so it should be good as new." I sighed in relief as she clasped the necklace around my neck. I was so relieved to have it back after I'd believed I'd lost it. This had been a gift from Edward for my birthday, a diamond heart charm which he'd placed on a chain for me. It had also been the charm he'd given Bella in Eclipse to put on Jacob's charm bracelet.
"Thank you so much, Alice. I'd thought I'd lost it." I said gratefully.
Joining Edward downstairs, he smiled. "You look beautiful." He whispered in my ear as I passed. I also noticed the moment of pure happiness he felt as he caught sight of the silver chain at my throat.
"I better not spent too much time around you, before I know it I'll have an ego the size of North America." I teased.
He held out his hands, "I'm just telling you the truth." At this I followed him out into the garage and towards his silver Volvo. It had been a while since I'd sat in it and the feeling was nice. Edward took off at his usual faster than the average speed, a determined look on his face. I sat listening to the music emitting from the CD player, not really paying attention to where we were going.
Before I knew it we were pulling up and in park. "We're here." Edward announced, getting out of the drivers seat. He rushed around the front in a blur, opening my own door for me. Getting out, I recognised where I was immediately. The sight of my surroundings plastered a wide smile on my face.
We were parked out front of the Swans' house.
A/N: Hey everyone, as always I apologize for the tragic gramma and remind you to review. Remember how much I like to hear your thoughts and ideas. :)
Next Time on Return to Meyer: Charlie shocked but pleased by Ashley's sudden return to Forks but with the odd questions firing out and Ash struggling to find the answers, will Charlie figure it out?
Next Time.