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not beta'd

storyline - beginning

prompt - giggle

She let him hold her hand on the way back home.

He appreciated her closeness – the physical but also the emotional. Not for the first time, he realized that Bella truly was one of his very best friends.

"How long will you be gone?" she asked, watching the wind dance a leaf across the sidewalk.

"Just a couple of days," he said. "I… really can't afford to stay much longer."

"Will it be enough?"

"It'll have to be."

Bella nodded. There was only so much Edward and his father could do at this point. In her heart, though, she had high hopes. Perhaps they would be able to put aside past hurts aside and make amends. She knew things would be a lot different for the both of them when viewed through the lens of his father's limited time left.

"Are you afraid?" she asked, squeezing his fingers.

He was quiet for a while, and she didn't think he would answer. They reached the front door, and Bella reached in to her pocket for her key.

"A little. The whole thing feels a little… I feel pressured. Like a lot is riding on this. It'll be okay, though."

Bella nodded. "I think so, too."

Inside, the living room was empty now, warmly lit with lamplight. Things were quiet, nothing but distant TV noise and the airy sound of Alice's giggle floating down the stairs.

"I might head out," Edward said.

Bella looked closely at him to make sure he wasn't withdrawing. He wasn't. In fact, he seemed calm, content.

"All right. If you're sure you don't want to stay…"

He shook his head. "I'm pretty tired. Thanks, though. For dinner, and for listening."

"You don't have to thank me for those things," Bella said, smiling. "But you're welcome anyway."

Edward nodded, palming his car keys. "I'll call you tomorrow."

"Okay."

He hugged her again, and the closeness felt really good for them both.

Bella stood in the doorway, watching as he got in to his car. She could feel things deepening now, in a way that made sense, in a way that could and would last if they decided to take it there.

Edward recognized this feeling too. He gave Bella a small wave once he was inside his car, noticing the way she almost glowed from the light behind her.

He didn't want to be apart from her anymore, never had really, but he appreciated that she cared enough to do things right.

The next day Bella woke with the urge to do something nice for Edward. She supposed they were always doing nice things for each other, but after hearing about his dad she needed to do more.

Edward opened his door, still in sleep clothes. He smiled when he saw Bella standing there with coffee and a rather large bag of goodies from the café.

"What're you doing here?" he asked even though the answer was obvious.

"Just wanted to make sure you were properly fed today," she said, pushing past him.

Usually they hung out at her house, or the café. It had been awhile since she'd stepped foot into his apartment. It was pretty much the same as it had always been, the blinds drawn and the air conditioning turned up.

She glanced at the couch as she passed it en route to the kitchen, remembering all of the times they'd hooked up on it. She wondered briefly if there had been other girls who'd experienced the leather couch, and decided to never, ever ask.

"Chocolate croissants," moaned Edward, watching Bella empty the bag on to a pair of plates. "You're a goddess."

"And don't you forget it," Bella said, giving in to the urge to push Edward's messy hair from his eyes.

He warmed at her touch, only recently having recovered from his typical morning wood. Seeing Bella this early in the day, fresh and damn gorgeous, was doing things to him. He turned toward the counter, not wanting her to think he was completely out of control.

Oblivious to Edward's dilemma, Bella spread jam on a scone and elbowed him. "Open."

He did, his eyes on hers as she popped the sweet in to his mouth. "Mm."

She nodded, grinning, and prepared one for herself.

They hurried through breakfast – they both had classes soon –and soon Bella was at the front door again.

"See you in Lit?" she said, glancing back over her shoulder.

Edward nodded, catching up to her. "Hey."

She turned to look at him. "Yeah?"

He glanced down at his hands, not wanting what he needed to say to come out wrong or be met with suspicion.

"Thank you," he said, finally looking Bella in the eye again.

Her face softened, and she touched his arm. "We should do it more often."

"Bella."

She frowned. He looked almost nervous now. "What's up?"

Wrapping his arms around her, he drew her close, so close that he thought he could feel her heartbeat against his chest. "I love you. I just wanted you to know."

Bella closed her eyes, floored. "Okay," she whispered. "I…"

"You don't have to say anything. In fact, don't. Just…know that I do."

She looked at him and saw that he meant it. She wanted to tell him she thought she loved him, too, but it was such a far away concept. Or maybe it wasn't at all far away; maybe it was buried too deeply inside.

"See you in class," he said, kissing her cheek.

"Okay," Bella said, laughing a bit. She turned and walked to her car, feeling as if she was someone else, watching what had just happened.

But then she sat down in her car, and looked up to see Edward still watching, the way she's watched him the night before.

And it was no one else, just her and him and the things he'd just said.