The Twilight Twenty-Five
thetwilight25[dot]com

Prompt: Cafe

Pen Name: Mcgt
Pairing/Main Character(s): Bella
Rating: M

This will be a multi-chaptered story.

Photo prompts can be viewed here: thetwilight25[dot]com/round-six/prompts

A/N

Thanks toLittleRedScientist for helping beta this for me and Jenequilter for her prereader skills.

Chapter 13 – Café – I'm Going Home

Today was the day.

I was heading back to work for the first time in a little over two weeks and I was itching to just get there. I wasn't yet cleared to drive, not that I had a car anyways, but it would have been nice to have had the option. Instead, I sat waiting in my kitchen, cup of coffee in hand and waiting for the honk of my dad's old Buick to signal it was time to go.

Of course as much as I'd have loved to go back to working my usual sixteen hour days from before the accident, my doctor suggested starting off slowly, going in for four the first week and building my stamina back up.

Hearing the horn from downstairs, I stood up, slipping my windbreaker on and slowly making my way down the steps. I'd only made it about half way down when my dad hobbled up to take my other hand and ease me the rest of the way.

"Why'd you honk if you were coming in anyways, Dad?" I laughed, rolling my eyes at his chivalrous gesture.

"Figured you'd tell me I didn't need to come up and how you're more than capable of walking down a flight of stairs on your own," he mocked, speaking in a voice trying to replicate my own. "You're as stubborn as your old man."

When we got to the bottom, I kissed his cheek and thanked him for at least letting me attempt the first half on my own.

He winked, opening the door for me and ushering me out into the chilly grey day.

Pulling up in front of my little café, I sat quietly in the car, just taking in the sight of the exterior. Watching the neon sign above the door change colors from blue to green as it slid through the words The Drowsy Reader Café soothed my frayed nerves. I wasn't sure why I was so anxious, but my heart felt like it was beating out of my chest.

I thought back to earlier in the week, when Edward had come over, fulfilling his promise to accompany me on the walk in to town and the store. I'd discovered that he was currently in his last year of residency at the Port Angeles Hospital and was hoping to specialize in pediatrics. He side stepped any of my questions about his past, and knowing how much I didn't want to discuss Aro and what an idiot I'd been, I didn't push.

When we walked into the shop, I was shocked that Angela, Esme along with a few other regulars knew who he was. I'd pulled Angela aside later during my visit, and she commented that he'd been coming in almost daily for the last couple of years. How had I been so consumed in my work that I'd never even noticed such an astonishingly good looking man? It made me wonder how many other interesting things I'd missed with my eyes so focused on the prize, that I missed the forest for the trees?

"Bells, you ready?" Dad's voice shook me back to the present when he'd opened my door, and stood expectantly, waiting for me to get out.

Spinning in my seat, I took his offered hand and stepped out. He took my arm and escorted me to the door, pulling it open, sending the scent of coffee and paper wafting out. I inhaled deeply, relishing in the smell that had filled such a large part of my adult life, only now just realized how much I'd missed it when it was gone.

I'd barely walked in when I saw a crowd a people standing around facing the door, cheering "Welcome Back Bella," in one loud synchronous voice. There was a homemade banner above their heads with what looked to be the well wishes of at least fifty people written around the message.

I stood there completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support. Something I was completely unaccustomed to. No one had ever thrown me a party since my parents had for my sixteenth birthday.

It only took me a moment to glance through the crowd of my best friends, parents and regular customers to see Edward's smiling face in the far corner. And by the sideways glances Angela and Esme were throwing towards him, I had a funny feeling he might have had something to do with it.

Dad finally nudged me further into the room, and I was swarmed with hugs and pats on the back from everyone around me telling me how good it was to have me back and how much I was missed. I felt like I'd won the lottery or something.

Once everyone had a chance to wish me well, I stopped over to chat with Alice and Emmett, who were both trying to entertain my god-daughter, Elyse.

"Auntie Bella!" she shouted, running over to hug my legs tightly.

Leaning down, I embraced her for longer than I normally would have, but my experience with the afterlife, even if it was only my imagination made me remember how inconsolable I was at the thought of never having had a chance to say goodbye. It was my time to make amends to all the people in my life who I'd neglected for too long.

"Hi sweetie," I said, picking her up into my arms and heading over to where her dad was sitting waiting for me.

After catching up with my friends for a bit and making plans to see each other over the weekend, I wandered behind the counter to ask Esme if she knew what Edward's regular coffee order was. Figuring it was the least I could do and buy him a cup, since he was sitting in one of the cozy chairs reading today's paper.

"You two didn't need to go through all that trouble," I scolded Angela and Esme, when I walked up and gave them both hugs. Once again, doing something I'd never done before. I didn't hug my employees. They weren't my friends, but my workers. Seems my head injury knocked some sense into me, or at least some gratitude.

"Bella, please. Everyone kept asking us when you were coming back. It was our way of letting everyone celebrate your return," Esme replied. "Besides, it gave Angela and Alice an excuse to break out the poster board and glitter."

Looking chagrined, Angela protested, "Hey, just because I like being creative doesn't make me weird or anything."

"We know," Esme and I both shouted our usual retort whenever Angela got on a roll about sprucing the shop a bit. She really did have a thing for glitter pens.

Seeing Edward's head pop up over the paper, I remembered my reason for coming back here, "Hey, do you guys know by chance what Edward drinks? I'd like to get him a coffee, but I don't have a clue how he takes it," I whispered, trying not to sound completely mortified that I didn't know what one of our regular's liked in his coffee.

"Large, European blend with room for cream," they said in unison. Once again making me feel like an idiot for having ignored his presence for so long.

"Thanks." I sheepishly replied, turned around and began filling up a cup, adding a little half and half and hoping I guessed right. As I turned to head over to where he was sitting, I snagged a couple of sugar packets, just in case. Tapping the center of the paper, I tried to get his attention.

Dipping the paper slightly, I saw his lips turn up in a grin over the edge, while his eyebrow raised in teasing question. "Can I help you?"

Rolling my eyes, I handed him the coffee, setting the sugar and stirrer on the table and sat down in the chair beside him.

"Not on today?" I asked, curious about his schedule for the week, hoping perhaps he might ask me out. The boldness of this thought shook me for a moment. I wasn't normally the wishful thinking sort of girl. Yet the premise of actually asking him myself scared me to death, or at least what I thought death might be now that I imagined I'd been there.

"I'm on swing this week. I have to head there in a couple hours. But I couldn't miss your big celebratory return."

"Right, speaking of which, I suppose I need to actually get to work. I haven't even looked at the books in two weeks and am a bit frightened by the prospect."

He smiled encouragingly, reminding me that Esme and Angela had done a great job holding down the fort in my absence. "I'm sure it won't be quite as bad as you imagine."

"Right, well…" I stalled, letting the uncomfortable silence surround us in the background music of The Decemberists. "I should be getting to work. Have a good one," I said, standing to head towards the back office.

I was awkwardly pulled back when my arm was tugged, spinning me right into Edward's lap, smooshing his newspaper in the process.

Could I be any more clumsy?

"Oh, God. I'm sorry Isabella, I just meant for you to wait a second," he mumbled, trying to get up while not completely dumping me on my ass or spilling his coffee in the process.

When we were both finally upright, we must have looked like mirror images with the blushes blooming all over our faces.

When our eyes finally met, we both broke out into hysterical laughter, realizing how absurd we both must have looked.

"I- I just wanted to know if you might be free for dinner on Saturday night. I'm not working or on call, and I just –"

Having spent some time with him, I knew he got a little rambly when he was nervous, so I just said yes, before he had a chance to continue on for ten more minutes. It was cute, but I really did have to get to work. Even if I was the boss, lounging around the coffee shop wasn't going to get all my work done, especially with only four hours until Dad was returning to take me home.

"Really?" His smile was so bright, exactly like the time I'd asked him to stay when he came over to my apartment. I wasn't sure how such an attractive person could be so shy and uncomfortable around someone like me. I mean, I was me. Not a super model, not an ugly troll either, but if you asked me to tell you about myself, pretty wouldn't be the first adjective I used.

"Yes, really," I teased, rolling my eyes dramatically at him

"Great. So, Saturday at seven?"

"Perfect. See you then," I squeezed his arm and wandered back to my office. Once I was behind the privacy of my office door, I may have squealed in a very high pitched and girly voice. Something I was actually completely embarrassed to be doing, but for some things you just needed to get excited about. And having a date with my dream man counted as one of those moments.

"We can hear you," Angela called out, a cackle of laughter came from the other side of the door when it swung open with my twin employees grinning at me.

"Out! I have work to do," I scolded, winking in jest and telling them I'd catch up with them a bit later once I'd sorted through the stack of papers littering my desk.

Except instead of digging into the pile of papers, I daydreamed of green eyes and crooked grins.

A/N

So? What'd you think? Things are progressing – keep the faith. Next up, tomorrow. Stay tuned and leave me some love… Please. I need some lovin' today.