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not beta'd

storyline - Laugh

prompt - dominate

I woke up alone, but not completely.

The smell of coffee tickled my nose, conjuring up memories of all the yesterday mornings we'd shared over the years.

Closing my eyes, I reached for Edward's pillow and brought it to my face. It smelled like him. I didn't remember smelling him on our sheets all the time when we were still together but now that we were apart his scent was apparent and so very missed.

My stomach clenched with longing; the longing that hurts because it is three parts need and only one part hope.

I didn't know what I would do if Edward was absent from my days ahead. Now wanting thoughts like that to dominate my mood, I shoved away anything that wasn't right now – and maybe last night, the way he'd felt by me and on me and in me.

He walked back into the bedroom in his boxers and I took a moment to re-appreciate him, his messy hair and sleepy eyes and pale skin.

"You left the pink boxers back home," I said.

He cracked a smile, setting a cup of coffee on the little table beside the bed. "Did I?"

"You did."

He nodded and got back in to bed, pulling the comforter up. "You can probably toss 'em."

"Never."

He settled back, eyes twinkling.

"I miss this," I said, sitting up a bit. Edward always bought the best coffee; I tended to buy the cheapest. That would change, I supposed. I enjoyed coffee more when he made it.

His answering silence made me look over just in time to see his eyes flicker away from my breasts. I glanced down and pulled the sheet up.

But he'd already put his cup down and was coming closer, tugging the sheet down so that he could rest his face on my bare skin. My insides quaked; I loved him so much it hurt.

"Don't cry," he whispered.

"Okay," I whispered back, wiping my face.

"Bella." He kissed my chest and turned his face to mine.

I looked intently at him, my hands warm and snug in his hair.

"I do love you. I always have. Maybe even before you loved me. I just don't know that it's enough."

I rubbed my thumb over the wrinkle between his eyebrows. "Can we try?"

His eyes closed; he loved when I scratched his scalp. "If you want to."

"I do, do you?"

"I do."

"If we commit, will you stay with me?"

He opened his eyes. "I live here now. And you live there. I don't want you uprooting everything just for me."

I huffed, letting my hand fall away. "Will you stop acting like we weren't together for years and years and years? I love you! I don't want to be apart from you! I tried it, and it just doesn't work for me. I can't make you do anything, but just know that on my end, I'm willing to work for this. Because I know it can work." I took a long sip of coffee, appreciating the way the warmth flowed down through my body.

"So what are you going to do? Move out here?"

"Maybe not right away, but if that's what it takes." I tugged the sheet back up.

He smiled, pulling it back down. "Okay."

"Okay."

"I've missed you too."

"Looks like you've missed my boobs."

He nodded. "Them too."

"So that's it? Just like that, we're together?" I asked.

"Just like that."

I was almost afraid to allow the hope inside bloom any further, but Edward was not one for gratuitous words.

"I wish you'd spoken to me before leaving," I said, putting my coffee down and sliding down so we were face to face.

"I wish you'd spoken to me before that." His voice was not unkind.

I had been frozen in complacency, I realized. "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, too." He kissed me.

I sighed, relaxing against him.

Our bodies pressed together. "You scare me, Bella. No one can hurt me the way you could."

Frowning, I touched his cheek. "I don't want to hurt you. But just so you know, you scare me too."

"I feel like I don't know where to start," he admitted.

"We'll figure it out."