2,965Beta's note for 2020-08-09 from Eeyorefan12: I want to thank Erin for asking me to work on Metaphor with her. It would be hard to describe what a satisfying experience this was but suffice it to say, her writing talent, her willingness to accept other points of view, and her patience with my perfectionistic tendencies (which we share) make working with her a joy. Thank you, also, to the readers who have stuck with this story and especially to those who have reviewed it. These characters have become quite special to me and it's going to be difficult to let them go. (We may or may not be hammering out a custody agreement for Josh as I write this.)
And a final note from the author: Here we are, at the end. I'm really not sure how to adequately express my thanks to Eeyorefan12 for her work on this story. She has been so much more than a beta. She has helped plot, correct and revise this story, and been a massive cheerleader when I fell into the regular writerly pit of despair. She's kept me on course with Edward, because my word, she knows that man so much better than me and possibly Ms. Meyer (sorry, Stephanie!).
It's so stupidly bittersweet, bringing this story to an end. Eeyorefan12 and I have been working on this since February, 2019. They'll be more stories, but saying goodbye to these characters is a bit like saying farewell to family.
But enough of us gushing. On to the story for one final time.
FlamingMaple & Eeyorefan12
"There you go," Bella said softly, tucking in the diaper around Maddie's hips, fastening the tiny velcro tabs. The entire focus of her new mind was on the task in front of her. Josh's and Meredith's voices chirped in the periphery of her attention, and she stopped moving her fingers, silently coaching herself to attend only to what was in front of her. Her senses again wholly on her baby, she slipped one of her daughter's squirming legs into the foot of the sleeper and then the other, sliding her fingers under her back as she coaxed the small left arm into the sleeve and then the right into the other. Maddie mewled, the sound promising to become more dire very quickly. Still, Bella did not rush. "I know," she whispered with a smile. "You certainly made room for more food, didn't you?" Her gaze took in the violently soiled diaper and sleeper occupying the diaper pail. Focus. It was a warning to herself. Making her eyes find Maddie's, Bella regarded the brilliant blue irises set around unusually agile pupils. At five weeks, Maddie was very, very alert for a newborn.
"Okay," Bella said to herself, focused again. With the tip of her index finger between the zipper and the baby's soft skin, Bella pulled the tab slowly upwards, gauging the pressure she was exerting laterally and horizontally. The zipper reached the top and she stilled herself. "Are we ready to go see Daddy for a bottle?"
Maddie mewled again in answer, hands fisting and feet trying to kick off her sleeper, little toes instead brushing Bella's midsection.
With the lightest pressure possible, Bella wedged her fingers under Maddie's back and neck, gathering the semi-floppy limbs into her arms. When the baby was settled securely, Bella released her lip from the grip of her teeth, letting herself relax a little. To hold this tiny, trusting body was a reward worth relishing. Though she could recall doing so with Josh and Meredith, the quality of the memories paled to the ones she formed now.
As with all things related to her children, Bella moved very, very slowly. The purpose was two-fold: one, it ensured her human family's physical safety, and two, it preserved the myth of her illness.
Which is a protection in and of itself, she reminded herself. Though they had most effectively deflected the Volturi's attention, they were determined not to garner it again through revealing what they were to the children or any of their few human acquaintances.
Before Josh and Meredith had returned with Rose and Esme, Bella and Edward had agreed that Josh would need to learn to speak to be heard. It was simply too dangerous for him to rely solely on Edward's gift, and he was young enough that the transition could be accomplished fairly easily. Their time apart had already set the stage. It had helped that Carlisle had begun using an electronic picture communication system on the iPad to help Josh express himself.
With these thoughts swirling in her head, Bella knew to pause. When she brought her attention back to herself and Maddie, she began walking down the hall, turning carefully to begin her slow steps down to the main floor.
"I heard that little cry," Rose called, smiling at Bella from the bottom of the stairs. "Are you alright to come down?"
"Yes," Bella said. She would have been insulted by the question not so long ago. Now it was a serious inquiry. But yes, she could walk down the stairs carrying her baby. She paused at the top, checking her focus one more time.
Safely in the Cullens' large living room, Bella moved to the chair by the corner. The shades were drawn against any stray sunlight that might enter the house, and setting Maddie down on the playmat for a moment, Bella gently tugged the closest shade down all the way.
In the unguarded moment, Rose snatched Maddie up into her arms.
Bella growled.
Rose cocked an eyebrow at her.
"Sorry," Bella said.
"You don't need to apologize to me. Your husband on the other hand—"
It was a small groan now that left Bella's lips.
"That's two today," Edward called from the kitchen.
When she hit three, it was her sign to head outside—preferably to hunt.
Edward zipped into the living room with a bottle. "Hello, Miss Mighty Productions," he cooed, taking Maddie from Rosalie. "Are you hungry?"
"I really would like to feed her," Bella said. She sat in the chair, doing her best to look perfectly in control. She was perfectly in control, she reminded herself, certainly in regards to any vampiric temptations.
"Mm-hmm," Edward said, blowing a raspberry onto Maddie's tummy. She breathed out something like a giggle as he pivoted on his foot to face Bella.
Show off, Bella grumbled to herself, sighing mentally. She could move just as gracefully, just not while taking care of her children.
Edward's head tilted, and he met Bella's gaze head-on with a soft smile.
Oh, that isn't fair. Even the words felt breathless in her mind. The things he could do to her, just with a look.
"Ready?" His voice was all honey and reminders of things from the night before and promises of the night to come—
Glancing at her watch, Rose discreetly cleared her throat. "Your guests should be here pretty soon."
Edward had Maddie tucked into the crook of one arm as he set down the bottle, reaching out his hand to cup Bella's cheek. "This is a lot. Everyone will understand that a baby shower so soon after you've been "ill" is a big undertaking."
It was impulse to assure him that she was fine. Again, for the umpteenth time, she held the moment in her mind, spreading her awareness over her body like a wave, sending it out in a liquid movement and then retracting it. "I'm still good." She was.
Edward nodded and at the same time, transferred his hold of the baby, stretching his arms out to place her into Bella's. She did not want to be envious and she did not want to be jealous, but she was. He could so easily do two things at once with their children.
All in good time, she told herself.
The long driveway down to the house was surfaced with gravel, and the crunch of an approaching vehicle caught Bella's attention.
"Any guesses as to who?" Rose asked Edward.
He shook his head.
Bella's hearing took in the distant sounds and closer movements, but she kept her eyes on the baby. It was easiest when her visual stimulation was low.
"You'll stay?" Edward asked Rose, who nodded, sitting down beside Bella. He turned to move to the door.
Focus, Bella told herself. Yet, for all her inexhaustible newborn strength, she knew her mind was wearying. "Can you take her?" she asked Rosalie. There was no room for mistakes where her children were concerned.
"Sure," Rose said, quickly and efficiently taking Maddie into her own arms.
Operating from muscle memory, Bella grabbed the oxygen mask from beside the chair, slipping it over her face. The visible tubing ran to a canister beside her, but another length of well-hidden hosing ran outside to gather fresh air. Although it was unlikely that any of their human guests would be bleeding in her presence, Bella thought the precaution wise, all things considered. She smoothed a blanket out over her legs and glanced at her reflection in the window across the room. She looked as much an invalid as any human would expect—pale, eyes darkened by contacts, makeup applied to accentuate the shadows under her eyes.
The first guest was Randy, her department head from work.
Bella listened to Edward's gentle greeting as he directed Randy to the bathroom where she could wash her hands.
She chuckled a little. She and Matt had been fastidious with Meredith in the first months, but by the time Joshua arrived, the hypervigilant hygiene had slipped by about a mile. Edward was very much a first-time parent in some ways.
Below the hearing of any humans, Edward murmured, "I hear you laughing. It's important for Maddie."
"Preaching to the choir," she replied, just as quietly. "You're a great dad."
"Hey, Bella," Randy said, waving from a distance. All the guests had been told that Bella couldn't have any physical contact outside her household. It was believable enough, given a vague but extended illness.
Bella waved back, smiling broadly.
As with all humans, there was a momentary sort of stunned blinking. Randy recovered quickly, though. "It's so good to see you. Oh, and your baby." She looked over enviously at Rose, who made no move to give Maddie up.
Randy chose the chair closest to Bella and began catching her up on the school news.
"Ah, and before I forget, there's something from one of your students, too." While Randy had placed her gift on the dining table, she pulled a small envelope from her purse. "Chelsea, I think? She asked me to make sure I gave this to you."
"Oh?" Bella said, her eyes darting briefly to Edward.
"She's a bit odd, that one. She was really quite insistent I give this to you, and no one else. I hope it isn't anything . . . inappropriate. She, well—poor girl."
"Thank you," Bella said, taking the envelope carefully. It was obvious that Randy wanted her to open it. Who wouldn't be curious, Bella supposed. But she wanted to protect Chelsea from any further ignominy. The poor child had suffered enough on Bella's behalf. "I'll make sure to send her a note of thanks, later."
"Welcome," Esme said to Randy, coming into the room. "Can I get you something to drink? I've got a whole slew of things in the kitchen, if you'd like to come and choose?"
With Randy suitably distracted, Bella carefully slid a finger into the envelope, eyes scanning over the card and replacing it before her colleague could return. The contents made her groan quietly.
"What does it say?" Edward asked softly.
"She's amazed I'm alive. She thought Victoria was the devil incarnate, and no one believes her. Her parents have her in therapy."
Bella rubbed her forehead worriedly. This was not okay. This was so not okay—
"She's smart," Edward said, coming to kneel beside her, his fingers squeezing hers. "She's going to be okay, and if we need to nudge the narrative, there are ways."
"How?" Bella hissed. Though they were murky, her memories of the brutal disbelief and psychosis treatment were not anything she would wish on anyone, especially not someone who had suffered on her behalf.
"Free psychiatric counselling with the right practitioner can be quite remarkable," Rose said, examining one of her nails. "We've done that before—nothing like you experienced, of course, but we could have someone work with her who is . . . understanding of the unique circumstances."
Bella's eyes widened, taking this in. There were so many questions she had about this.
"Later," Edward promised. "But it'll be okay. I promise." Both his tone and his expression were reassuring and she knew she could trust him.
"Okay."
More guests were rumbling their way down the drive.
Edward paused, clearly listening. "Your—Matt's friends Eric and Jan are here."
"That's a rather telling introduction."
He quirked an eyebrow, saying no more. She suspected he was being charitable in his characterization, sparing Bella what she knew might be uncharitable thoughts on their—or just Jan's—part.
Moving at a human pace, Edward got to the door as their guests did, using his least intimidating closed-mouth smile to greet them.
At the same time, Josh, as if summoned, thumped up the stairs from the basement and into the living room. He and Meredith had been playing with Emmett, but Bella knew her son would have been drawn by the voices of unfamiliar people. His iPad in hand, he scrunched his bare toes on the floor, eyeing Edward.
"Josh, can you come say hi to our friends?"
Josh nodded enthusiastically, then stuck his gaze onto the iPad, pressing on the screen. An automatic voice spoke for him. "Hello." After a pause. "Friends."
"Hi Josh," Jan said. Her smile appeared manufactured, her voice high and artificially sweet. It was the sort of voice an adult with little experience with children used.
"iPad," Josh replied, pointing to his device, clad in thick pink foam rubber. He'd chosen the case himself. Then he skipped to the kitchen, where the mechanical voice produced a loud, "I want a", and then a few seconds later, "cookie."
"That's pretty cool," Eric commented to Edward.
Edward said nothing and just smiled as he nodded in acknowledgement.
As Jan and Eric approached Bella, their progress was interrupted by Rose, who stood to let them have a good look at the baby.
Bella was glad for the pretense of her illness, because most of her attention was sucked up by the rapid pattering that was coming from Jan's . . . midsection. Her gaze flicked to Edward as he came to sit on the arm of her chair.
"I don't think he knows yet," he murmured in a low voice.
The wave of nostalgia that washed over Bella was very unexpected. Her hand fluttered to her stomach. Even with a baby in her arms much of the time, it was a missing piece almost, that visceral physical connection. Something like envy made her give her head a shake.
"Oh, she's beautiful." Jan's smile was now much more genuine as she looked down at Maddie.
"Yes, she is." Edward's face held as much pride as if he'd fathered her himself. To Bella, his fatherhood was so much more because he'd chosen it.
"She looks so much like Matt." Eric smiled at Maddie, brushing his hand over her little feet.
Bella was sure she wouldn't have given that comment more than a passing thought if she were still human. Various studies over the years had concluded that newborns often resembled their fathers more closely, for the first year, at least. But she wondered how she would have reacted, in her human form, to the look that Eric gave to Jan. The one that said I-told-you-so. Bella blinked rapidly, schooling her face not to reveal more of her surprise or indignation and studiously avoiding looking at Edward. Had they really thought—?
Alice's voice cut into the room at vampire-only volume with a small gasp. "Those are the friends who made you cry. And good Lord. I can see why." She stared from the top of the stairs, horrified gaze taking in Jan and Eric's habitual swaths of khaki and pastel. "If that man doesn't have a Martha Stewart fetish—"
"Thank you, Alice," Edward replied just as quietly.
"And they're going to dress their child in pastels." Alice's tone was positively morose.
Jan took the chair that Randy had vacated. "How are you feeling these days, Bella?"
"Oh, fine. Getting better each day." This was true, Bella reminded herself. She was.
"It sounds like you had quite the birth experience." Jan looked to Edward. "Did you really deliver her?"
"Well, Bella did the delivering." Edward told her with a hint of a smirk. "I just caught." He mimed snagging a ball.
Jan laughed a little nervously, then turned towards Eric, who had wandered toward the kitchen and was perusing the refreshments. "Wine, Sweetie?" he called. "Something to eat?"
"Um. . . juice or water is fine. Sure. Be right there." She smiled at Bella, standing and moving away.
Bella took a moment to pause with her thoughts, considering with somewhat forced gratitude the many human lives still connected to hers—and those of her family. She reminded herself that she was lucky to have these attachments. They wouldn't be forever, and she would treasure them while she could, some more so than others. While Jan and Eric weren't her close friends, they had been Matt's. She wanted to preserve that tie, because it preserved part of him.
Josh reappeared in the kitchen doorway, this time with a chocolate-smeared face and a squishy cookie in hand. He licked a finger and then pressed it to the iPad.
Bella sighed. This was becoming a bit of a show. She eyed Edward, who lifted his shoulders. The novelty would wear off soon enough. Josh could talk, and when he really wanted to, would produce short and simple sentences. "Man," the computer voice said, then, "Mama," and "People."
"Come see Mama, Josh?" Bella called.
He skipped down the stairs to the sunken living room, before trotting over and bouncing into her lap. Bella watched Edward visibly tense as Josh landed, while Bella's hands caught his body and softened what would otherwise have been a painful and noticeable collison with her hard flesh.
"Josh, you need to be much more careful with Mama," Edward said, his voice surprisingly stern.
So obviously unaccustomed to this tone, Josh turned his head to face Edward, his little features uncertain. Using his voice, he said softly and tentatively, "Sorry, Daddy."
Every vampire in the house stopped, only for a second, but all of them halted in place, these simple words unheard before from these little lips.
Edward remained frozen longer than Bella. He raised his eyes to hers, the question there plain for her to see.
"Yes, he did," she said, her voice reverent and low. Lightly, always so lightly, she cupped her hand against the curve of the tiny back that wiggled on her lap.
Blinking rapidly, Edward knelt beside Bella, locking eyes with his son. "It's. . . alright, Josh," he said, his voice choked with feelings Bella would have struggled to isolate or name. She'd be crying herself if she could.
"Daddy?" Josh repeated, looking at the emotion on Edward's face with confusion.
"That's me." Edward said with a large grin. Then he opened his arms and Josh slid off of Bella's lap and into his embrace.
Josh giggled, probably wondering how he had gone from being in trouble to being held tightly against his father's chest as if he'd never let him go. Gradually, the silence in the room gave way as normal activity picked up again.
"Oh," Edward whispered abruptly, clearly picking up thoughts from someone..
"What?" Bella asked.
Alice harumphed, frowning as she walked into view.
Edward's expression mirrored his sister's. "That is most uncharitable, all things considered."
"What?" Bella asked, feeling more frustrated.
"Leah's almost here." Edward's glance was apologetic, not for the news, but for not sharing it immediately. He was more aware now of things that triggered her newborn frustration.
"Oh." That would explain Alice's reaction. Anything that interfered with her visions was a source of frustration.
Leah was coming, though. This was rather huge. Bella had sent her an invitation, not really expecting her to arrive. After what had happened, and how Bella had . . . well, she'd used Leah, this could be—
"It's brave of her to come." The tone Alice used offered begrudging appreciation.
It was. "Alone?" Bella asked.
Edward nodded, his eyebrows slowly lifting in surprise.
Bella's eyes narrowed. He was keeping something from her. She caught the growl that almost started in her throat, but not before Edward turned to eye her in mild warning.
Smoothing her expression, she watched him walk to the door.
The smell reached Bella as soon as Edward pulled it open, and she understood, with unwelcome olfactory precision, the reason why the Cullens' noses had wrinkled everytime they were in the werewolves' presence. Even with the mask on her face, the scent smothered all others.
"Hey." Leah's eyes danced around the room, too nervous to settle on one person, as Edward stepped back and waved her in. She didn't look at him as she came inside, settling her gaze on Bella as she approached her.
"Hey." Bella felt as nervous as Leah looked. She really hadn't expected her to come. It was one thing to offer an invitation she thought would be declined.
They stared at each other for an awkward moment, the two women and Edward the living room's only occupants. Alice had disappeared back upstairs and the other humans present had gathered in the kitchen, likely because Rosalie had drifted that way with Maddie. That and because there was some spectacular Esme-created food on offer, Bella speculated.
"I'm so sorry," Bella said. "For what I did, tricking you. But . . . I'm kinda not because it, well—" Oh God, what a terrible apology. "Thank you, Leah." She lowered her voice. "Maddie and Chelsea are both okay." She bit her lip. In Chelsea's case, that wasn't entirely true but she hoped it soon would be.
Leah chuckled nervously. "Yeah. I guess that sums it up, huh. It's okay. We're good. I knew what I was doing." Her backwards glance to Edward spoke of her nervousness still.
He came closer. "We were able to destroy Victoria because of your assistance, and Bella is here, without us being at war with the Quileutes. I know that's because of your intervention with the Pack. So. . . thank you."
Leah's shoulders relaxed a little as she sat down on the couch facing Bella. "How's Maddie?"
"She's great." Edward and Bella smiled at each other, their voices having answered simultaneously.
"She's perfectly healthy," Edward added.
Leah nodded.
"I'll go get her," Edward offered, moving away, leaving them alone.
"Thank you," Bella said. "I mean that, and I'm sorry I haven't called before. It's been—"
Leah spoke in a throaty whisper. "Bella, you just got turned into a vampire and you have two other kids and a baby to take care of. I get that I was not the first call." She smiled, pausing and then speaking in a near-whisper. "How's your dad?"
"He's really good. He's uh, thinking of building a boat."
Leah laughed. "Billy'll be happy to hear that."
"I'm sorry he hasn't been up to calling yet. I'll remind him—let him know you want him to. I think he's been . . . well, a bit nervous to."
"He was a dad to me, too." Bella could smell the near-tears in Leah's eyes. "I miss him. We can probably also visit in person, you know, if he's—but I'm getting ahead of myself."
"He'd really like that. I know he would." She did.
Human voices and the sounds of several pairs of feet began moving towards Bella.
"And here she is," Edward said, coming up to Leah. "This is Maddie," he said, holding the baby against his chest and tipping her just enough for Leah to see her face.
"Would you like to hold her?" Bella asked Leah.
"Um . . ." Leah looked at Edward, who, Bella realized, had made no move to relinquish his daughter.
"You can if you want." Bella looked at Edward pointedly. With obvious reluctance and a small sigh others might have missed, he loosened his grip slightly.
"I'd love to." There was something in her voice that spoke of a longing much deeper than a simple desire to hold a baby.
"Here," Edward said, moving closer, transferring Maddie so that as little of him and Leah touched as possible.
"Oh, hello. little one," Leah whispered, smiling widely. She brushed aside some of Maddie's wispy red hair. "Look at you." She chuckled. "She's sure got Matt's hair, doesn't she?" "
Bella was certain such comments didn't bother Edward and she didn't mind them herself but she could practically hear Eric's eyebrows go up each time someone pointed out Maddie's parentage.
Both Eric and Jan had padded back into the living room. Randy remained in the kitchen. She and Esme were talking teaching. Bella smiled a little. Trust Esme to make her guests feel at home and find a connection with each of them.
Near the fireplace, Eric and Jan murmured quietly together at a volume clearly meant to go unheard.
"I hope the baby doesn't have problems, too." Through her eyelashes, Bella watched Jan's gaze drift to Josh, who wandered into and then out of the room.
Eric frowned at his wife, pressing a glass into her hand. "There's nothing wrong with Josh."
Jan took the glass but didn't acquire enough of a grip to hold it, and the tumbler of cranberry juice landed with a tinkling crash on the fireplace lip.
The babble of voices that rose up then almost hid Bella's low and protective growl, but not from Edward, who gave her a dark look.
Shit.
"It's alright," Edward said to Jan, picking up the pieces. "We're quite used to fumbling fingers." Here he turned to Bella again, smiling a little. "Bella will be the first to tell you that she was all butterfingered when she was pregnant. I'm sure you'll find that those first months really do a number on the ligaments."
Bella was all for the deprecatory comments about her human clumsiness if it meant Edward was overlooking her third growl of the day. Although she was still trying to process what she thought she'd just heard him say.
Jan and Eric, whose khaki trousers looked like they'd been splattered with blood, now turned to each other. Jan opened her mouth and then closed it, eyes widening at her spouse. The muscles in her face flexed, but not with excitement. It was like she'd been—and here Bella almost gasped aloud—caught in a lie? No, not that. Bella eyed Jan's face a bit longer. Edward had said Jan knew about her pregnancy, and Eric didn't. Oh my.
"Well," Eric said, bending down again to finish helping Edward clean up the last of the juice. "I guess that was our cue to leave. We don't want to overstay—"
"No, we don't," Jan said, though her face was paling slightly with what appeared to be nervous apprehension. This was in stark contrast to her husband's near glee. "We should go."
"It was lovely to see you." Bella waved from the chair.
After Edward closed the door behind them, Bella whispered, "Did you just—?"
He grinned, walking back to her. "Help spill the beans on some good news?"
"Is it good news?" Bella asked, still sotto voce. She thought of the commentary on Maddie's paternity in a fresh light. "Oh my word, is he—?"
"No comment," Edward's eyes were full of mischief. "But it would appear the jury's still out on that."
Bella stared at her husband. Yes, he was often privy to people's private thoughts, but she also knew him to be scrupulous about keeping their secrets. He must have had strong motivation to do otherwise.
Edward looked back towards the door, through which Eric and Jan had disappeared.. "I just hope for their child's sake that it is 'perfectly normal.'" He made air-quotes around the phrase. "And that he or she looks like Eric."
Aaand, there was the answer to her unasked question.
He leaned over her chair. "But don't you think for a minute that I didn't hear what you just did. Strike three. You're out, Swan."
Her, "Hmm," was throatier this time, bordering on another growl. If he was using her maiden name . . . her toes curled in anticipation.
"You look tired, Sweetheart." Edward's words were loud enough to inform every single remaining human, and half-human, guest of his observation.
Within minutes, the last attendees had set down their drinks and begun to gather their shoes and coats, brief farewells made to all and sundry.
"Let me help you," Edward said, slipping off the oxygen mask and bending down to pick Bella up.
"I can mana—"
"I'll help you." He spoke more firmly than before. She couldn't deny she liked it.
She allowed herself to relax in his arms, her hand pressed to his shirt, fingers gripping his flesh in a way she'd never been able to do as a human. She nuzzled her face into his shoulder. "I love you," she breathed. "So, so much." She slid her hands up to massage his shoulders. His chest buzzed with a purr or growl. She was too focused on him to really pay it much mind.
"Four times today." Edward set her down by the basement door that led to the garden.
That had been her?
"Time to hunt?"
Her eyes met his, which twinkled with possibilities, most of them having less to do with hunting and more to do with what usually came after. He curled his warm hand around hers.
She nodded.
Slipping outside, she let the air wash over her, taking in the many scents it offered—promises of snow, smoke and resinous trees. She thought of the privacy of the woods and time alone.
The next growl was definitely hers, lost to the trees as they ran into the forest surrounding the house.
"That's five," Edward whispered, but with a playful grin on his face and a suggestive wink to go with it. "You're being exceptionally naughty today."
Their feet crunched into the few dry leaves on the forest floor as they ran with no precise destination in mind, just the freedom of time and bodies unlimited by mortality stretched out before them. Bella's thoughts returned briefly to Chelsea's predicament, so similar to her own from so many years ago. She, too, would likely be offered the explanation of a metaphor for her trauma, just as Bella had been. As her feet ghosted over the ground, Bella knew that she and her family would make sure it would be a kindness for the young girl, and not an extension of the cruelty she had experienced.
Thoughts of Chelsea faded rapidly as Bella looked to Edward, reaching out a hand for his. He grasped it, lacing their fingers together, gracing her with that inarticulately beautiful smile that could reduce her thoughts to mush. This time, though, she only felt a powerful swell of joy, peace, and gratitude. This was her life now: a loyal, protective family and the fierce love of a mate. This was forever. Despite all of the speculative and misguided suggestions of therapists from so long ago, Edward's love had not drained her life, but restored it, and she knew hers had done the same for him.
No, she decided, her metaphor was damn near perfect.
- The End -
Author's Post-Script: A lot of your reviews have asked about future- and out-takes. Yes, I expect there will be a few. If you'd like to read them, please subscribe to the story A Perfect Metaphor: Outtakes so that you don't miss any new episodes. Cheers!
DISCLAIMER: S. Meyer owns Twilight. No copyright infringement intended.