A/N:

So much Benny love. I decided to share a photo of the real Benny on my profile. (Don't worry; my own father is alive and well.)

There's no Edward narrative in this chapter. Feels a little strange to me, but our Isabella wants to talk.

"Forty-nine thousand acres of nothin' but scenery and statues. I'm lonesome."

- Susan

January 30, 2010

Bella

"Please don't tell Emmett about this."

I roll my eyes. "One viewing of Runaway Bride is not going to kill your manliness." I turn my head to look over my shoulder, remaining cradled in his arms as we lie on my couch. "But fine, I promise."

"I'd never hear the end of it," Edward insists as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "Besides, Julia Roberts has nothing on you." He smiles crookedly, turning on the charm.

"Whatever," I huff, trying to hold back my grin.

I turn my attention back to a kind of old - yet cute - Richard Gere, getting lost in his antics once again.

After a few minutes, I notice that Edward is unusually quiet, not offering his usual witty interruptions. The gentle touches to my body have slowed as well.

I carefully turn onto my opposite side, using his body to steady myself amidst the limited sofa room. Edward's eyes move from the small TV to my own in anticipation. With his eyelids drooping a bit, he looks even more adorable.

"Tired?" I ask, concerned.

"I'm fine," he answers, seeming to stifle a yawn.

My stomach voices a needy protest, and I sigh.

"Why am I hungry again?" I ask no one in particular, glaring accusingly at our looted Chinese take-out. Edward chuckles.

"That's the age-old question, Ms. Swan."

I give his jaw a quick kiss. "I think I'll make some popcorn."

I reluctantly climb out of his grasp and head for the kitchen, picking up the empty containers on the way. Finding some very unhealthy Extra Butter on top of the fridge, I stick a bag in the microwave. I decide to stay close so I don't burn it and stink up the whole downstairs.

When I return two and a half minutes later with my bowl of buttery goodness, the only sounds in the room are coming from the movie.

"I don't know. I'm working on it. I was on the wrong track."

I walk around the back of the couch to see Edward sleeping blissfully, his upper body propped up against the padded armrest. His head is resting lazily on folded arms.

I hold in my chuckle, not wanting to wake him since he got here late last night. I guess chick flicks really aren't his thing.

"Do you know what kind of eggs she liked?"

Reaching my hand toward his, I carefully remove the remote from his grasp.

"Poached. Same as me."

I shut off the TV, already accepting of the fact that we'll crash here tonight.

I take my popcorn back into the kitchen to munch on it, but the taste loses its appeal after only a few mouthfuls. After quickly brushing my teeth in the downstairs bathroom, I return to the living room.

I quietly approach Edward, wanting to say goodnight even though he won't hear it.

Leaning forward, I bring my face close enough to his neck that I can smell his cinnamon-vanilla scent. If my hair wasn't in a pony tail, it would have formed a curtain around us.

"I love you," I whisper above him. The bronze hair near his ear flutters a little with my secret words.

I make myself sit down on the opposite side of the couch, bringing my legs up so they are flush with Edward's. I want to snuggle some more, but I figure this position leaves less of a chance of falling onto the floor. Fortunately, we're both propped up and I'm short, so neither of us should wake up with a foot in our face.

I take one last, wistful peek at his peaceful, slumbering form.

One of these days, I promise myself as I cover us with the afghan.

I burrow the back of my head into the throw pillow behind me, finally allowing my eyes to rest.

One of these days...I will tell him when he's conscious.

May 28, 2010

Bella

I fiddle with my Canon's settings before aiming the lens at the chandelier in the hall. While viewing the tentative image on the small screen, I slowly move my arms until just the right spot is in focus. I press my pointer finger down resolutely.

That should do it.

I smile as I review the photo, pleased by the light reflecting off the crystals and metal.

Like earlier this week, I jump slightly when I hear Sue, Edward's housekeeper of three years, let herself in the front door. I still feel kind of bad that she's picking up after us, but I don't want her to be unemployed, either.

Deciding to visit her while I save the photos, I carry my laptop and camera downstairs, into the dining room.

Sue is holding a stack of envelopes when I enter.

"Hey, Bella," she greets warmly. I smile in response and set my heavy things down on the table.

"You've got some mail. A packet from the University of Washington, most notably," she reports brightly, handing me the envelope. "Have you looked at the fall classes yet?"

"Yeah, but I don't know what I want to study." My voice is embarrassingly quiet. I never expected that I'd be able to go to college.

"You'll figure it out. You don't even need a steady major for the first two years."

I nod as I sit down at the table. "It's too bad that the best summer gen ed classes are full. The only interesting ones left have awful professors, according to online reviews."

She gives me a small, sympathetic smile. "Try to enjoy the downtime, like a vacation. It's only for the summer."

"I know. I'm just not used to it. I was almost tempted to head down to the downtown restaurants just to be productive, but I knew Edward would never hear of it. He knows I hate waitressing."

Sue laughs. "If you do mention it, please let me know first. I'd love to see his face."

I sigh. "He spoils me."

"He likes to. And it's hardly spoiling. You have to be the only woman in the world who only uses her black card for gas."

She sends me a teasing look, and I have to resist sticking my tongue out at her.

I open up my laptop and place the just-used memory card in the correct slot. I would need to order a new one soon. I'm going through them like water.

"What are you working on?" Sue asks curiously as she sorts the rest of the mail. I turn my laptop toward her so she can see the thumbnails, and she walks closer.

"It's called a 365 project. You take one picture a day for a year..." I glance at my computer, nearly blushing at all the choices. "Well, you select just one of them, anyway."

"When did you start?" she asks.

"Soon after Edward gave me the camera for Christmas."

"Have you shown him?"

I shake my head. "I think I'll show it to him when I'm done. But there's a really cool gallery event coming up with a similar project. It's done by a well-known local artist, so I'm going to ask Edward if he'll come with me to that."

"That sounds fun." She glances in the direction of the kitchen. "Well, I better get to work."

I suddenly feel guilty. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to distract you."

"Don't be silly. I like talking to you, Bella." She smiles a motherly smile - one more motherly than Renee was ever capable of - before she makes her way out of the dining room.

Sue says goodbye two hours later, right before I'm expecting Edward to get home. When I finally hear him use his key, I half-skip to the kitchen, camera in tow.

He's rummaging through the fridge when I get there, like usual. I've learned that Edward doesn't really like to eat take-out during the week, so he does all his snacking at home.

Dressed in crisp, grey button-down, he seems to have abandoned his jacket and tie. He selects a Tupperware with leftovers from last night and sticks it in the microwave.

"Hey, Baby," I greet when he turns around. I give him a sound kiss on the lips, leaving my hands tangled in his hair when I pull away. "I missed you."

Edward loosely winds his arms around my waist, mindful of the camera around my neck. "I missed you, too." His nose nuzzles my cheek, spreading tingles throughout my body. The food finishes heating, but we remain frozen like this for about a minute.

He kisses my cheek when he finally releases me.

I lift up my camera, peering at him via the LCD screen.

"Smile," I command with a grin.

Edward obediently offers a wide, genuine smile, complete with pearly whites.

His eyes crinkle adorably at the corners, but it's the corner of his mouth that I'm focused on this time. I zoom in until only the right side is showing, snapping the picture when it's no longer blurry.

"Perfect."