Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Shadows
Disclaimer: All copyrights, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.
Prompt: Ink

My third year of school was both harder and easier. The material became downright daunting, both in terms of depth and quantity, but it was also more interesting. Class sizes were down too. Gone were auditoriums packed with over five hundred people, all clamoring to talk to whatever poor graduate student was assigned as their teaching assistant because the professor mumbled into the microphone and no one understood a single thing he said. Now my largest class had twenty people in it, and we were all friends.

The one thing that made everything easier was having Edward closer. Granted, it wasn't much closer, physically. Actually, we were only a few centimeters closer, and that's only if you measured the thickness of the now frequently missing clothing. The way we were closer was in the way it really mattered. He seemed better at picking up on when I was tired, frustrated, happy, or horny. I'm sure he noticed before, but now he did something about it. Usually the same something.

Continuing with tradition we spent Thanksgiving with Renee. The entire Cullen family, as well as Jacob and Marta, went with us. Carlisle rented rooms at the Crowne Plaza hotel so Renee wouldn't feel like she had to entertain us all, then insisted we enjoy a quiet family dinner without the group. Only Edward ate dinner, a surprising feat even if my mother did have the meal delivered. Phil and I were grateful she didn't cook.

The best part of that day was my conversation with Charlie.

"No, Bella, I haven't had another headache. Why are you so worked up about this anyway? You've been asking me the same question for the last three months." He was tired of this conversation.

"I worry, dad…"

"That's obvious…"

"I know you. If something was really wrong you would pretend that you were fine and refuse to see a doctor," I said, trying to hold back tears. I wasn't sure if they were caused by frustration or fear.

"Dr. Snow said I'm in perfect health at my last physical…"

"When…"

"Two weeks ago. Now stop fretting. How Edward puts up with your mothering is beyond me." He muttered the last, but I knew this topic was closed. That didn't mean I was ready to let it die, though.

"I don't have to worry about Edward's health," I shot back. Taking a deep breath, I changed the subject before it turned into a fight. "Are you sure you're okay with all of us coming out there for Christmas?"

"It wouldn't be the same without you, baby girl," he said, making my insides melt. "I'm glad you married a guy who thinks family is as important as I do."

"Yeah, me too, dad."

"You're not pregnant yet, are you? You want to let the ink dry on that marriage license first," he asked, making me laugh.

"No, dad, no babies on the way. Of this I'm positive. Is there anything you want for Christmas?" I asked the last quickly. Charlie wasn't the only one with sensitive subjects. I knew Edward heard him, and wished we could have a child one day. I assured him that eternity together was just fine. Besides, we could always take in strays. He quipped that we already had, looking pointedly at Jacob.

"Just you here is costing Carlisle enough," dad answered. "Just because you married into a family with more money than sense doesn't mean you need to spend it all."

Edward grabbed the phone from me when he heard that. "Please don't tell her that, Charlie. I have enough trouble getting her to buy things she wants." I tried to grab the phone back, but Edward easily kept it away from me, or rather, me away from it. Phil found that very amusing. Thankfully my mother swatted him, it wouldn't have been appropriate for me to do it.

Begging off the annual Christmas shopping frenzy was easy enough. It was a sunny day, so the Cullens needed to be inside. It made it easier for them to skulk through the shadows if a slow human didn't impede their progress. Considering the looks Alice and Edward were exchanging, I really didn't want to be anywhere close.

I spent Friday laying in the sun with my mother. Phil was shopping, but on his own. Renee insisted that since discovering the internet she figured she never had to step into another department store again, which is why she was soaking up the rays with me.

It was a lovely day, warm with a slight breeze bringing the briny scent of the ocean to us. Seagulls called to each other over the people doing the same. At least it was lovely until my mother voiced her question.

"Are you ever planning to have children?" she asked out of the blue, startling me from a doze.

"Um, no?" I answered.

She turned her head to me and tipped up her sunglasses, an eyebrow raised with it. "Well, you're young. That will change," she said as she lowered her glasses and looked back to the ocean.

"I don't think so mom." She looked at me again, curious about my response. "Edward can't have children."

A look of disappointment flashed over her face. "Oh, and I was hoping for grandchildren." She gave a sigh and looked away from me. "That's okay, though. He's so good to you, I don't blame you for giving that up for him."

My throat closed around the sudden rush of appreciation I felt for her. "Thanks for understanding, mom," I said as I reached out to take her hand.

"Yes, well, it's not like I didn't decide I didn't want any more children after you. You weren't difficult, quite the opposite," she said, turning to make sure I understood. "It's just that being a mom was more than I was ready to take on, and having two would have sent me to the loony bin." She pointed a finger at me and took on a stern tone. "No funny comments!"

It was impossible to keep from laughing. "That's okay mom. I have plenty of siblings now. I'm sure having more would have made you insane."

"Especially if they were like Emmett," she said, erupting in laughter.

I wrote this while watching the clouds come down the mountains. It's really a beautiful sight, as long as you don't think about shoveling snow the next day.