Honeybee

Chapter Forty-Three~Prep

Chapter Forty-Three
Prep
Edythe Cullen
June 13-14, 2006

"Enough, Garrett, please." I begged, feeling tired and drained after a long afternoon of training.

"Do you feel prepared for the fight?" He asked me seriously, still holding me tightly against a tree in a defensive position.

"As ready as I possibly can be!" I swore to him. "After the session you, Jasper, and the others have put me through today, I better be more than prepared."

"Okay." Garrett nodded, trusting my word. "Then let's get back to the house, hmm? You could use some rest."

I sighed heavily. "Yes, please!" I agreed, feeling dead on my feet.

Still, a nagging feeling kept telling me to push myself further. But, I had to accept that I had done all that I could do to prepare myself for tomorrows fight. I had to accept that and let go of what I couldn't control.

"Whatever you're thinking about so hard, forget it." Garrett laughed, slinging his arm around my waist and speaking softly into my ear. "For tonight, let's just be Edythe and Garrett again. No family, no fight, no gifts. Let's just be us, please?"

"Garrett-"

"I'm serious, Red." He sighed. "I keep waiting for time for the two of us to just be together and it never comes. I'm afraid that we're not making any progress getting back to normal."

"I know." I sighed too. "I'm sorry, I am, but there's so much going on right now. I feel like I'm drowning in all of it. I want to be your Edythe, the one that you shielded from gunfire and sacrificed so much for, but I've been hurt too much to be her anymore. We don't have a normal anymore."

"You're right." Garrett agreed, sadly. "I'm not the same soldier I was back then either. Losing you really did a number on me, Edythe. Still, can't we use tonight as a way to learn each other a little better? Meet each other halfway?"

"Well, if it means I get you all to myself in my bed tonight." I purred, grinning up at him as I slipped my hands into his jacket as we reached the front porch. "I'd really like to get to know you again, Garrett. I love you too much to ever give up on us."

He pulled me into a heavy kiss then, bracing me in his arms as he tilted my head back to get full access to my mouth and neck. I was swimming in his presence when my darling brother decided to break through the tree line with Bella in her noisy truck.

"Edward." I groaned as Garrett let go of me. "Killjoy." I frowned at Edward as he opened Bella's driver side door for her.

"Sorry, sister dearest." Edward chuckled, setting Bella on to her feet on the front porch. "I was under the impression that everyone was going hunting tonight."

"Me? And risk getting sick tomorrow? Funny boy." I teased him. "Don't worry, Garrett and I will leave you lovebirds alone."

"Well, for now you can follow us upstairs if you'd like, I have a present for both of my girls." Edward teased me in turn, beckoning us to follow him.

"A present?" Bella groaned.

"Your hand-me-down, remember? You said that was allowable."

"Oh, that's right. I guess I did say that." Bella agreed, earning a small laugh out of the rest of us.

He must have been eager to give us our gifts, as Bella's human speed was not fast enough for him. He scooped her up again and nearly flew up the stairs to his room. He set her down at the door, and darted into his closet as Garrett and I entered the room.

As Bella folded herself up on the bed, Edward approached me excitedly, a sweet loving look on his face.

"My dearest sister, you've been such a joy to me in the few short months we've been reunited. I hope this brings you a fraction of the happiness you've brought me." He spoke kindly, presenting a satin black box to Garrett.