[Text messages]

Edward!

Yes?

I was reading that book you gave me for Christmas

Oh

The one about Chicago

Right, do you have a question about local history?

Sort of.

Did you know about the picture?

Which one?

You know which one.

From the World Series.

Well, yes. I did. I wondered if you'd find it.

Wow. It's amazing. You look so happy.

It must have been a good day. I have a fuzzy recollection, there's very little left of it, but there's something still.

Wow. What can you remember?

The smell of cut grass, the sun on my face, the roar of the crowd, a great sense of tension and then jubilation. And a feeling of belonging I think.

That's beautiful. I'm crying. Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Please don't cry.

No, it's happy crying. It's ok. It's just so moving.

I'm glad you're happy then. The book is out of print now, which is just as well. I think the picture was in the author's father's private collection.

Wow. Thank you so much for sharing this with me. I feel so privileged. Really.

You're very welcome Bella. I wanted you to be able to share what small part of that piece of my life with me. I've never been able to show it to a friend before. Well, I didn't have anyone to share it with before, as you know.

You're the best friend I've ever had. This means so much to me.

Oh Bella. That makes me very happy. Thank you.

You're the best Edward. I mean that. Really just the best person I know. I wish I could give you a hug.

Hugs! I like hugs so much. Should I come over?

Um, it's late.

Oh, it is. Never mind.

Wait. Come. Can you climb the tree by my window quietly enough that my dad definitely won't hear?

I can climb it quietly enough that even the birds and squirrels won't hear.

Wow. Come over then and I'll give you that hug. If you want, I mean.

I'll be there in about two minutes.

[Journal entry]

Bella looked so angelic, flushed and happy as she welcomed me into her room quietly and closed the window behind me. She threw her arms around me in an enthusiastic embrace and my heart soared to be so close to her. "I'm sorry I'm cold."

She held me a little tighter and whispered into my chest, "Sssh, it's fine. Thank you so much Edward for trusting me and for giving me such an amazing gift. It's perfect. I'm blown away."

I sighed happily into her hair and held her for some perfect moments, happier than I can ever recall being. She smiled up at me, her eyes still glistening. The book lay open still on her bed and she glanced at it. Her brow furrowed a little, "But…You gave me that before."

"I couldn't tell you, but I wanted you to know so much. It was a bit cowardly I suppose, but I wanted you to find it. Even though it is terrifying."

"I won't…I would never tell anyone. Never. I promise."

"I know you wouldn't. It's not that. It's more what you would think of me. I'm not used to being so vulnerable."

"Well I think you're the best. My best friend. My best person. I mean, the best person I've ever known. You always amaze me Edward." She hugged me again. Two hugs! I relaxed into her more this time and breathed her in deeply, trying to etch the perfection of my contentment as deeply as possible into my mind to tide me over aeons of my future without her.

"You're my best person too Bella." I mumbled into her hair. She hummed happily and her heart started to pound. I had said too much, I was making her nervous. "I'll let you get some rest. Thank you for my hugs. Alice said school will be cancelled because it's going to snow all night, so I guess I'll see you the day after tomorrow. Please don't drive anywhere, I will worry so much if you do."

"I won't. Why don't you come over and keep me company? We can watch daytime TV and have a cozy day."

"A cozy day? That sounds very appealing! Yes please!"

"Just wait until dad's left in the cruiser before you ring the doorbell. He'll get nosy and ask questions otherwise."

"Am I allowed to visit? Does your father forbid it?"

"He just loves gossip and to tease me. You're not forbidden, don't worry."

Bela stifled a yawn and glanced out at the snow, falling in fat sticky flakes and beginning to cover covering the yard. "Where are your footprints?"

"I'll show you.", I flashed her a wide grin, " Then get some rest ok? I'll be back in the morning."

I gave her a final light squeeze and released her, she nodded and smiled at me, flushed and happy, so vibrant and alive. I slid the window open and ducked out, closing it behind me. I crouched on the sill and then jumped soundlessly, landing on the surdy bough of a douglas fir at the far end of her yard, where it met the forest, before turning back to give her a final small wave. She was smiling widely at me and whispered "See you tomorrow."

I can't wait until morning!

A/N: Reviewers get late night clandestine hugs from Edward.

YOU CAN SEE THIS PICTURE OF EDWARD! For integrated illustrations that FFN won't allow, follow this story on AO3, STARS, or check my DeviantArt 'featured' gallery. I'm LogLadyJ on all those platforms as well.

Thanks a million to my wonderful betas itsthatkindofanight and wh1teow1, please show some love and read Moirai, a reimagining of Twilight for the new decade!