It has snowed again and school was consequently cancelled today. Carefully following Bella's instructions, as soon as Chief Swan was safely on his way to work I rang the doorbell and was let into the cosy kitchen by Bella. She was dressed in layers of some sort of blanket. It all looked temptingly soft.
Bella put a kettle on the stove while I hopped about nervously advising her against it. "I'm making a hot drink. Would you like some?"
"I'm sorry but I can't drink it."
"You can warm your hands up with the mug and pretend if you like though." She knows me so well! Better than I know myself! This idea seemed most appealing as soon as it was presented to me. I nodded and grinned.
I noticed Bella was wearing her fluffy cactus socks and this made me very happy too. If only I had thought to bring my duck socks! My feet were dressed only in bland navy cashmere and I felt most underdressed as a result.
The kettle started boiling and I met it whistle for whistle with forceful hisses. I showed it who was boss! Bella shushed me and I peered curiously over her shoulder as she spooned some kind of sand into one of the mugs and put in some small white stones. She let me add the hot water to make a soup and stirred the mixture. It was chocolate soup I think. It smelled terrible!
We went to the couch and Bella adjusted a number of blankets she had laid there. I mimicked her actions and settled in with my mug of hot water clasped between my hands while Bella put on the Spanish network. "There's an 'Invitación al Amor' marathon today, wanna watch it?"
"So we can study Spanish?"
"So we can see who the father of Estefania's triplets is!"
This sounded most intriguing. Bella insisted on tucking me in to make sure I was 'nice and cozy'. I was very pleased about this as it involved a minute of Bella hovering over me and pushing blankets around me. Everything was soft! This was the best day of my life and it was barely nine in the morning!
Soon we were both lounging comfortably as a story of which I have never seen the likes before unfolded on the flatscreen. Before I knew it we were on a rollercoaster ride of staggering highs and lows with more twists and turns than I frankly would have believed possible in a mere 45 minutes.
During the commercial breaks Bella and I engaged in heated discussions about who the father of the triplets was; I was sure it was Alejandro who had an immoral haircut, Bella guessed it would be Jacobo who had apparently already impregnated seven other female characters, all of whom had yet to give birth! We both agreed we hoped it was Elian who was secretly and passionately in love with Estefania.
The hours raced by as we snuggled under the blankets, me edging a little closer whenever the opportunity arose, as always, magnetically pulled to Bella's perfect form. She let me hold her gigantic bag of chips for her so I could 'feel involved', this gave me an excellent excuse to reposition myself tantalisingly close to her. I could feel her warmth radiate through my side in the sweetest torture for the hours that proceeded.
By lunchtime we were no closer to finding out who the triplets' father was, but Estefania had been lured to an abandoned warehouse by Carmen, Jacobo's scorned, and pregnant, ex-lover, who locked poor Estefania into a small office, where she had gone into labour. When I tried to call an ambulance for her Bella had to remind me that the show wasn't real. Needless to say I was immensely relieved!
Bella gripped my hand in fright when Carmen set a fire downstairs and then went into labour herself. She didn't let my hand go, even after Elian heard Carmen's tortured cries and rescued her, Estefania, and their combined four babies, carrying them all at once on his impressively muscular frame.
I started to lose focus on the show at that point, enraptured by the feeling of Bella's soft, warm palm against mine. She absentmindedly laced her fingers with my own and I was in heaven on a couch in snowy Forks.
We watched, holding hands the whole while, as Elian was confirmed to be the father of the triplets. Bella cried a little when he proposed. My eyes were stinging a lot as well. The marathon wrapped up with Carmen's conviction for arson and Elian and Estefania's beautiful wedding, which had tears pouring down Bella's rosy cheeks as she smiled. I sniffed a great deal through the ceremony, flitting my gaze between Bella and the screen. If only I could one day have the possibility of marriage, but alas, there is only one who I shall ever wish to marry. It made my heart feel torn in two; happy for all those who can have it and devastated for myself. I should be happy that Bella held my hand and we had this rapturous day together, both miracles I could never have hoped for in my wildest dreams mere months ago. Why is it never enough? Why must I always be so greedy?
As the daylight started fading outside Bella's heartbeat and breathing slowed and I realised she had fallen asleep. She was slipping down in her seat for a moment and then suddenly repositioned, snuggling her face into my arm and wrapping her free hand around my middle. Her beautiful tresses cascaded over me and I couldn't help but stroke her hair, it is so soft and silky. I could only see the top of her head from my vantage point but found I could see the reflection of her face in the windows and she looked sublimely peaceful.
I did something I should not have done and brushed my lips against her hair, breathing her in and placing a small kiss on the top of her head. I felt quite bad about it immediately, it was as if I was compelled by a force greater than myself to do it. I sat there for a further seventeen minutes as night fell, wondering at Bella's beauty and chastising myself for kissing her hair before she roused.
She looked up at me and apologised immediately for falling asleep on me. I assured her it was quite alright and then blurted out, "I kissed your hair, I'm sorry."
She looked a little taken aback but then pulled herself up and placed a warm soft kiss on my hairline, just behind my left ear, causing me to gasp. "There, we're even now. So you don't need to worry about it."
This was the best possible solution!
Bella grinned at me, blushing furiously, then jumped off the couch and busied herself turning on lamps. Afterwards she moved to the kitchen to start preparing dinner, she seemed to be avoiding my gaze. I reluctantly made my goodbyes and she finally looked at me again, blushing still, then gave me hug at the back door. I waved to her from the tree line before skipping home.
I cannot stop smiling. My skin is still burning with her soft glow even now. I can still feel her lips pressed against me. She is my everything.
A/N: Reviewers get sweet Spanish nothings whispered in their ear by Edward.
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!