One chapter will talk about the past, one about the present until we reach the point where we began with the present. Confusing much? It keeps things interesting. ;)
Same disclaimer applies-Twilight belongs to S.M., but the idea of this story is mine.
Many thanks to my awesome betas and friends - TeamAllTwilight and m0t0b33.
Present time
After seven sessions with the therapist, Edward can keep his balance between the two horizontal poles and even walks a little.
Walking is exaggerating, but his legs are moving so that's a plus.
I come to his sessions not only to be his driver, but because I love to see the determined look on his face—especially now, when he realizes that there's actual hope.
But sadly, today I'm busy. I barely glance up from my laptop as I work on our latest project, fighting with Seth in shouty caps via instant messenger.
"Are you serious?"
Edward's shout makes me raise my head and look at him surprised.
Kate, the therapist, smiles and shakes her head.
Edward's on the other end of the poles—opposite her. I watch as he takes small, precise steps like a toddler, learning how to walk for the first time.
My mouth is hanging open as I stare at his feet. He's gripping the bars like his life depends on them, but he's also walking.
"Holy shit, Edward!" I exclaim and rush to him just as he makes it to Kate's side.
"Did you hear her?" he asks excitedly. "I'm gonna ditch the chair!"
I beam at him, grabbing his head from behind the ears and kissing him deeply. Fuck, I love this man to bits. He hugs me tightly—I know he'd wish he could raise me up and twirl me around.
"Soon," I murmur against his lips.
He winks then turns to Kate, keeping his arms around me. "Give me the sticks. Now, I'll have to learn how to use them, too," he adds with a heavy sigh.
"They'll help you get around better than the chair," Kate says over her shoulder as she disappears behind a door.
"What is she talking about?"
"Crutches."
I grin, squeezing him in my arms. "You did have great progress. You heard Kate."
"My biased ambition still stands. The first thing we do when I'm finally able to use my legs like before, we have some amazing fucking to catch up on. I miss feeling your legs around me as I fuck you against a wall."
"I can't wait," I whisper just as my phone blares.
Giving him an apologetic look, I run to where I left my stuff. It's Esme—Edward's mother.
"Hello?" I cringe inside because I know why she called.
"Can you do lunch, sweetie? We have so much to talk about."
"Esme, we haven't even set the date!" I groan, rolling my eyes toward Edward, who's watching me curiously. I point to the phone and mouth, "Your mom!"
He scowls and extends his hand.
Esme's making my ear bleed this whole time. I know I should warn her that her son's going to start shouting, but I just hand him the phone when Kate returns with the crutches.
"Mom, for Christ's sake! If you or anyone else interferes there will be no wedding!" He listens to her as I hear her yelling. "No, we don't want anything like that. Seriously, leave the planning to us. MOM!" he shouts. "We don't want to marry in the next few months, okay?"
I can see his patience is wearing thin so I take the phone back. "Esme," I manage to say before she starts yelling at me about being irresponsible. "Let us get back on the right track and you'll be the first to know when the wedding takes place."
Finally, calm and breathing deeply, I hang up and turn to face Edward. Kate is teaching him how to work the crutches.
I pack my things and go to their side.
Edward doesn't seem to master using the sticks, because they keep crossing and he's wobbling a lot. Kate tells me to stay away with her eyes.
How can I when my fiancé is struggling?
Cursing her in my head, I approach Edward. He shoots me a grateful look and puts his arm on my shoulder, resting on me. I quickly wrap my arm around his waist managing to poke him in the hip with my laptop bag.
"Aw, woman."
"Sorry," I giggle.
It wasn't until a few sessions in his therapy when I accidentally kicked him in the leg while I was asleep. Neither of us realized in that moment why he groaned in pain. Only in the morning, over coffee when Edward complained loudly that I hurt his leg, we realized he felt it. That was the moment he started fighting for real, with even more determination than before.
We bide Kate goodbye until the next time, and slowly make our way out of the clinic.
"If you were to compete in a snails' 100 meters run, the snails would win," I joke.
"Fuck off, Bella."
"I'm sure you'll get the grip of this soon," I try to pacify him.
"Shit!" he gasps when one of the crutches slips. "I'm going to break my neck before I learn how to use them."
Finally, reaching the car, I help him in the passenger's seat, shoving his crutches and my bag behind the seats, I round the car and slide behind the wheel.
I love driving his car. It's such a rush!
"Plans for today?" I ask, glancing at him.
"Why don't you drive straight to work? It's been ages since I dropped by."
"You're sure?" I check.
"Yep."
When we arrive in the garage, it takes Edward five minutes to get out of the car and find his balance on the crutches. I wish we took the chair, too.
Slowly, we make our way to the elevator.
"So, fill me in again." He grins as we stop and wait for the elevator.
"I'm on the Green team, their supervisor, remember? You know a few from the other campaigns," I add. The doors open and we step in the box. "Of course, you never paid attention to me, and when you came to work..."
He grimaces, probably remembering running into one stupid chick from my team. After talking to James for the whole day, Edward came looking for me and made the mistake to ask one of the most stupid girls on my team. She kept telling him that I had a boyfriend and that I'll never look at him or something like that—seriously, like it would have stopped me to fall for him if I met Edward while he was in the chair. The girl disappeared the next day. I didn't need discriminating phobics on my team.
"I still have Seth. Remember, you liked him? And Maggie is pretty good at creating unique stuff."
He nods. "What are you working on, anyway?" He asks, leaning his ass against the wall.
"Don't laugh, because I might take your eyes out. I'm the only one that didn't laugh because I'm mature enough not to!"
"What can that be?" he muses. "Condoms?"
I beam at him just as the doors open. We step out and Edward glances at me. "So?"
"You guessed."
"I was joking," he says deadpanned. "Holy shit! Which brand?"
"Trojan..." I narrow my eyes at him.
He bursts in laughter and I want to kick his ass.
"And to think I'm going to marry you one day," I mutter and stride ahead.
"Hold up! I can't keep up with you. And can you please not mention that word—marriage? It gives me the fucking creeps."
"Hey, Ms. Swan!" Collin, one of the new guys from my team appears with coffee from the vending machine. "I think you should ditch him if he can't keep up." He points behind me to Edward.
I glance back expecting to see him angry, but he's trying not to laugh. Finally, he reaches us, but before I can introduce them, James opens his door and since we're kinda in front of it...we see inside. He doesn't realize that.
"Edward, I had no idea you were visiting!"
"I fucking work here!" Edward mutters, craning his neck to see who's in James's office. Then all hell breaks loose.
But before that, Collin whispers to me worried, "Is that Mr. Cullen...as in your fiancé?"
I nod, tight lipped as Victoria appears from behind James, head down, schoolbag in hand.
"Not only are you skipping classes, you're...sleeping with my best friend! He's twice your age!" Edward yells.
Well, if people weren't aware he was back, they know now.
"Did you know about this, Bella?"
I feel my face burning as I avert my eyes.
"Fucking perfect."
"Edward, you're out of the chair!" Victoria exclaims, grinning like she won the lottery. "That's awesome!"
"Don't you try distracting me!" Edward hisses. "Can I use your office?" He turns to me, his whole face is red and that vein is pulsing against his temple.
I can't say no.
"Sure. Green door, remember," I mumble.
He jerks his head to Vic to follow him them hops to my office. She glares at me as she storms past me.
"I guess the cat's out of the bag?" I say to no one in particular.
"I better go before they kill each other." James rushes after them.
"Okay, drama's over, kids!" I shout at everyone that came out of their rooms to assist to the screaming contest. Round two is about to begin, I bet. "Come on, Collin. We're busy."
Once in our team room, we focused on the work. Over the years, I've become pretty good with graphic design, but I wasn't anywhere near as good as Seth—one of the many reasons I kept him around.
I know our idea for this commercial wasn't something amazing, but sometimes predictable and lame work perfectly in advertising. Considering we're making an advertisement for Trojan condoms, I thought that a Trojan horse would be a good metaphor. After some brainstorming, we have a nice commercial coming up.
This past week has given me white hairs.
I'm currently hovering over Seth's shoulder, pointing to what to add or change on the clip when the door opens noisily.
There can be only one person. One look over my shoulder confirms my suspicions, but I return my attention to the laptop in front of us.
"We need to talk, Bella," Edward mutters.
"Can't it wait?" I ask, not turning to him. "I'm busy here. I bet you have a lot of paperwork to catch up on."
"Did you know?" he asks as if I allowed him to start questioning me.
"Can you finish this, Seth? Just work a little on the visual effects. It's really nice as it is." I pat his shoulder then walk to Edward. "Let's go to your office," I whisper.
As we walk there, I wonder how hard it is for him to suddenly use the crutches. Maybe it's a good idea we kept a spare chair home.
"You okay?" I whisper, rubbing his back.
He shoots me an incredulous look, elbowing the door of his office open, then jerking his chin for me to enter. The door shuts behind us.
"I'm not fine, Bella. Why would I be?" Edward groans, hopping to his chair and falling on it. "My younger sister is sleeping with my best friend, who happens to be my boss. Besides, I'm mentally drained from all this crap." He gesticulates to his legs. "And from everyone pushing us with the wedding."
"Aw, honey," I whisper, going to his side and rubbing his shoulders. "I knew of this…kinda. Vic asked of my opinion, but I never thought she'd actually act on it so soon. Ever, actually."
He runs a hand through his hair, before grasping my hand which is still on his shoulder. Tilting his head, Edward shoots me a small smile. "Can you please talk to her? She left now, but…talk to her soon. God, can you imagine what Mom will say?"
I cringe, knowing how his parents can be. Rosalie, his older sister is married to a much younger guy.
"What's with your sisters and finding love in such different guys? Emmett's what? Ten years younger than Rose?" Edward nods. "James is…a lot older than Victoria."
"A lot doesn't begin to cover it. Heck, he's older than me," he grunts out. "I guess I'm the only reasonable sibling. You're only three years younger than me. Perfectly normal."
I grin and lean down to kiss him. "I'll talk to Vic, but now I really do need to go back to my condoms commercial."
"Ironic, huh?"
I slap him playfully.
"You know I hate them," he points out.
"Oh, I do!" I nod, laughing. "By the way," I say over my shoulder on my way out of his office. "I have an appointment next week for my shot." I wink and let myself out.
"I LOVE YOU!" I hear him shouting making a few people passing by looking curiously toward his office.
Snickering, I walk with a bounce in my step to my team.
I hate James's rule about letting half of them go at the end of each campaign, but sometime change is good.
Don't forget bout my Monday teaser on Fictionators. ;)
If you want a visiual on my characters, check them in my FB group: Addicted-to-romione-bedward Fanfiction.
