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.

not beta'd

storyline - beginning

prompt - Marker

Exhausted.

Emotionally and physically exhausted. Edward dragged himself through the front door, barely stopping to lock it before heading straight to the bathroom. He really wanted to just go to bed, but driving all day had left him craving a hot shower.

Once he was in bed though, he reached for his phone. He'd spoken to Bella on and off throughout the day while he was on the road. She'd been busy, but always available for him. He appreciated that; he appreciated her.

"Hey."

"Hey! You back yet?"

"Yeah. Just took a shower… I'm gonna hit the sack, though. I'm worn out."

"I bet." Bella paused. "Thanks for letting me know you were back; I've been thinking about you all day."

Edward's heart squeezed; he'd never known how good it could be to hear someone say that until now.

"You've… been on my mind, too," he said, his voice quiet.

Bella, who was also in bed, smiled. She couldn't help but love that he thought of her the way she thought of him. Stretching, she placed the book she'd been reading on the night table and turned off the light.
"I'll call you in the morning, okay?"

"Yeah. Night, Bella."

"Night."

They disconnected, but not really. Unbeknownst to the other, their thoughts remained tangled until one, and then both, of them found sleep.

Bella had just finished refreshing the menu when Jasper called for her.

Capping the green dry erase marker, she headed to the kitchen. "What's up?"

"You down to do a delivery?"

Bella frowned. "Delivery? To who?"

Jasper smirked, handing her a small paper bag. "Cullen called. He's laid up at work but just had to have the chicken salad on rye."

Smiling, she took the bag. "I see."

"Don't take too long, now," he teased.

"Yeah, yeah."

Edward's office was about ten minutes away, on the other side of downtown.

He and his associates worked in a renovated loft. It was a very open, industrial looking space, made personal by all of the ongoing projects they had going. Bella had been once or twice, way before.

A couple of people – Jessica, Paul – recognized Bella and smiled, motioning for her to go on back to Edward's cubicle.

There was stuff everywhere: paper work covered the desk, but more interestingly, pictures and keepsakes covered the walls. Fascinated, she studied the images, seeing herself in more than a couple of snapshots.

Edward wheeled around in his chair, visibly startling at Bella's presence. He wrapped up his phone call and slipped his headphones off of his ears. "Hi."

"Hi," Bella said, rolling her eyes as she handed over Edward's lunch.

He had the decency to look sheepish. "Sorry…I'm swamped today and… I just…I wanted to see you."

Bella's heart swelled. Before she could convince herself not to, she sat in his lap and hugged him, kissing his hair. "It's okay. I missed you while you were gone. I wish I could have been there with you."

Trembling slightly, Edward put the bag on his desk and wrapped his arms around Bella. She felt so good in his arms, solid and warm and soft. "I missed you too."

They sat quietly for a moment, savoring the feel of another body, the very human need of physical touch.

"Do you want to come over later?" Edward asked, bracing himself for when she said no.

Bella exhaled slowly, wanting desperately to say and do the right things. In the end, though, she had to do what she felt in her heart was right. And she wanted to spend time with Edward, for sure.

"Yeah, I would. Want me to bring dinner?"

"I'll make something."

Bella leaned back, eyebrows raised. "You'll make something?"

Edward smiled. "I'll get something for us."

She grinned, giving him one last squeeze before rising. "I'll be there."

"Okay." He ran his hand through his hair, feeling better than he had in days.

"Hey."

Edward looked up.

Bella ruffled his hair. "I love you too. Just so you know."