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Word Prompt: Clasp

Audio-Visual Challenge—Musical Mastery: "Appalachian Spring" composed by Aaron Copland

about a year and a half later

Six o'clock already. I swear it was just two.

I've been stretched a little thin lately, having been working double time with Emmett for a series of events we've had scheduled for months. They were lucrative jobs, and we got great publicity, but I'm exhausted now and ready to veg out for a while.

At least, I'd like to. I doubt that'll happen any time soon.

Because Edward comes in tomorrow morning, and I promised I'd be at the airport to pick him up. The Sounders just won a pair of games in Las Vegas and L.A., so he'll be riding high and probably in the mood for victory sex.

Yeah, I don't mind that being on my 'to-do' list...

But also, Charlie's first soccer game is next week, and while she puts on a brave face, I know she's anxious to do well. Her team practices almost every day after school, and she loves it. It doesn't hurt that Edward kicks the ball around with her whenever he's home, sometimes even showing off in front of her team and giving them pointers.

It's a bit of a spectacle, but it's awesome. Sometimes Rose and I go just to watch. It's fun being a soccer mom when you do it in style.

"Charlie!"

She appears out of nowhere. "Can we take Pinkie Pie for a walk?"

"Again? We just took her out."

Pinkie Pie was Edward's latest birthday present to Charlie, a black, squirmy little Pug puppy who is way too adorable for her own good. As for her name, well. There's nothing pink about her, but these days it's all about My Little Pony - MLP for those in the know.

"But Mom. She likes exercise."

"You can let her run around the yard later," I say. "We'll eat dinner on the patio."

She beams. "Okay."

"Charlie, listen -"

"Mom, I need my blue pencil. Please. The one with the sparkles. The one Nessa gave me."

"Isn't it in your backpack?"

"Oh..." Her voice recedes back down the hall. I follow her into her room, where she's rifling through her My Little Pony backpack. Starring Pinkie Pie. Of course.

"See it?" I ask, folding my arms as I lean on the doorway.

"Yah, Mom. It's here. Oh! My book..."

"Charlie, listen, we have to get going. I really want to get to the store before it gets too late."

"Mhm..."

"All right... I'll just go, then, and leave you here by yourself." I turn and walk loudly back to my room, not surprised when she scampers after me.

Downstairs, we practice with her shoelaces and then slip into jackets. There's a bit of a chill tonight.

"Can we make peanut butter cookies?" Charlie asks as we stroll through the grocery store.

"For dessert?"

"Yah. And for Dad."

"Sure. You can help, if you want."

"I want to."

"Good." Leaning in, I kiss her nose. "I like making cookies with you."

"Me too."

In the end, we make peanut butter for her and a batch of oatmeal chocolate chip for Edward. She insists on putting them in to a piece of tupperware that she then decorates with markers: flower doodles and stick figures and hearts.

I knew my daughter in every way there was to know her...until Edward came into our lives. He opened up a part of her heart I didn't even know existed - she probably didn't know, either - and I think...she did the same thing to him. She looks at him like he hangs the moon - for real.

It's why she wants so badly to rock during Saturday's game. She doesn't understand that just seeing her play soccer at all is going to make him proud.

In the morning, we head out to SeaTac. Because of school Charlie doesn't always come with me to get Edward, but today she's got an dentist appointment at ten so we would've been late anyway. It's like she's got ants in her pants - she's so excited.

Arrivals comes into view. It's a tradition now, to greet Edward with coffee and croissants. He grins when he sees us, waving goodbye to his boys before he tosses his stuff in the trunk.

"Want me to drive?" he asks.

Nodding, I climb out of the car, almost falling into him when he meets me on my side with kisses and a bear hug.

"I missed you," he murmurs, giving me a little tongue.

"Wow, yeah...I missed you, too," I say, squeezing him tight. "So much."

"Good...let's get home so we can...hey Chuck! Why aren't you at school, babe?"

I climb into the passenger's seat. "Her dentist's appointment, remember?"

"Oh, yeah..." He adjusts the seat to accommodate his height, and then the rearview mirror. "I should go, too. I'm a couple months late for a cleaning. Can I go with you, Chuck?"

She giggles, because she goes to a pediatric dentist whose office totally caters to the kindy set and under. "Yah. You can build Legos with me."

"Cool." He glances at steaming coffee in the cup holder. "That for me?"

"Of course."

"Perfect." He winks at me, merges into traffic, and takes a sip of coffee. "Let's go home."

Edward stays home to recoup while I take Charlie to the dentist. It's a pretty standard visit, and before long I'm dropping her to school. Having just made the age cut off, she now attends kindergarten with Nessa. It is so different than preschool, a fact I'm reminded of repeatedly as we walk to the office so I can sign her in.

"May I walk her to her classroom?" I ask the receptionist.

"That should be all right. Here, just take a volunteer sticker."

"Thanks."

We make our way to Mrs. Royer's classroom, where I hug and kiss my girl before letting her go.

And then I jump in my car, text Edward ten minutes, and race home.

Edward's already in bed by the time I make it up the stairs. I strip as I walk, leaving my jeans, sweater and socks on the ground.

"Hey," he says, peeling back the comforter.

"Hey," I say, climbing in...and on. I sit on him for awhile, touching him everywhere, kissing him, shivering as he runs his hands up and down my bare back. He runs his fingers through my hair, tangling it, tugging it so that he can kiss my neck and down.

Back and forth I move until we place him inside and then we move together, slowly at first. He fills me up in so many ways; loving him makes loving him so good.

"Lie down," he whispers, easing me on to my back. He slides back into me, in control, one hand clasped with mine, kissing me until we need to move faster, harder. I reach down to touch myself, wanting to come when he's coming, or at least close, and he moves a certain way and that's it. My eyes flutter shut, and it's all feeling and sound: the rustle of sheets, my breathing, my cries.

His arrival seconds later is wet, warmth and a moan. After a moment he rolls off and runs his hand over my stomach.

"Needed that," he sighs, lazy with good love. "When I'm coming home, on that plane or that bus, all I can think about is this house and Chuck and you in it." He traces his fingers over my nipples. "You and this bed. You...sounding...the way you just did."

"Good, because when you're gone I stay in this bed and think about you until I'm horny and then..." I waggle my brows suggestively.

"You take care of business."

"I take care of business."

"I'll keep that in mind the next time I'm gone." He grins crookedly.

I push his hair from his face and kiss him again.

4 months later

"Really?"

"Yeah. I mean, yeah."

He shakes his head slowly, eyes wide. "Can you...I...how long?"

"I don't know," I say. "The doctor will be able to tell us for sure."

Edward sits down, staring at my stomach. Thanks to yoga, I've finally gotten it somewhat toned too...just in time for it to blimp out again. Oh well.

Silence. I swallow. "Are you...is this okay?"

"You crazy? It's better than okay." Reaching out, he takes my hands and pulls me closer so that I'm standing between his legs. "It's...perfect. Bella. It's perfect."

"Yeah?" I tip his chin up and gaze into his eyes, seeing everything I'd ever hope to see: love, awe, excitement, maybe a little bit of nervousness. It's okay - I feel the same way.

"Have you told anyone?" he asks, kissing my belly through my shirt.

"Just you."

"Good. We'll tell them together. Tell everyone."

I curve over him, kissing his hair.

"I can't wait, Bella." He wraps his around me, and I wrap mine around him. "Can't wait."

Afterglow - Wilkinson

thank you for reading, for taking this little journey with me. i appreciate you more than you know.

see you around...

xoxoxo