(2) Wild Horses (E. Cullen)

Chapter Twelve

Edward is waiting for Bambi when she gets home. Of course he is. Lounging on the couch, a black and white French noir film playing on the television, an open book in his lap, but he ignores it all in favour of his girlfriend. Which she very much appreciates. She climbs into his lap almost instantly relaxing. She groans as she curls into his chest, his arms wrapping around her tightly. Turns out dealing with emotional stress is exhausting. Draining. She feels like she can sleep the whole weekend away. And yet she knows she has to deal with whatever it was that Alice saw with Victoria. She needs to be concentrating on that and not her straining relationship with her family. She and Charlie are good. She and Bella are getting there. She still needs to really sit down and talk with Rene but she'd rather do that in person. She's not sure when that is going to be though. She could have decided to go with Bella and Connor, but her place is here if there is a threat. Edward is here. She has to protect him. That's her role. As a wolf. There would be nothing that would get her to willingly leave Edward.

"Are you tired?" He asks, she hums and nods into his chest. She is just drained after spending the day with Charlie and then dealing with her and Bella's relationship. It has been exhausting. "Do you want to go to bed?"

"Finish your film" She whispers as she gets comfortable against him and he lets her, curling his arm around her when she gets settled and comfortable. He chuckles a little and kisses her head. "How was your day?"

"The usual" He answers. "Though I did show Carlisle Alistair's letter, like you asked me to" She leans back to look at him.

"And?" She asks. "What did he say?"

"He's going to try and reach out to Alistair...but he's a recluse" He brushes her hair back from her face. "It was hard enough for him to find him before..." She hums a little. Thoughtful. She had thought to reach out to Alistair after she read his letter. She thought it was only fair that he is told she got it and read it. Knowing that he lost her and she lost him too. They were forced apart. He didn't give up his daughter because he chose to get rid of her. She understands that. "I don't want you to get your hopes up if he..."

"I know" She stops him and smiles softly. She knows it is going to be hard to find Alistair and she likely won't hear from him again, but she wants to try, she wants to be able to say that she tried to get in touch. She will be able to say that she tried and that will be enough for her, for now. There may come a time when she wants to try harder, and she will, but for now, she is fine with reaching out. And he knows that Carlisle is at least in contact with her, or has seen her, or whatever. He is aware too. That letter was him reaching out to her. There is something there, a promise of a future relationship, even if that's not right now.

......

The sun is starting to peak through the clouds as Emmett and Edward stand in the forest among the trees. Both appear to be waiting on someone. On Bambi. Emmett swings his arms at his side and then whistles a little tune. It's not that they've been out here all that long either, but their vampires and Emmett is a huge toddler that hates being still and patient. He turns to Edward who has spades more patience than he does. But he gives nothing up. They both know why they are here, but Emmett wants to know how long this usually takes.

"I don't know" Edward answers the unanswered question. "We haven't done this before"

"You haven't seen her wolf form?" Emmett asks, Edward shakes his head and glances into the trees as they wait on Bambi to change. "How come?"

"It's never come up" Edward answers. He's never pushed her on it, though he has been curious. He could have read Sam's mind, or Jacob's or Caleb's to get a view of her in all her fluffy wolfy glory but he chose not to. He wants her to show him. When she wants. Or when she feels right. Though now wouldn't be considered the right time, it is a time that she's choosing. With Victoria due to appear any day now, Bambi wanted to show off who she is now before the actual main event. Get it over and done with before she is forced to show him. Emmett is just along for the ride really. The second the wolf word dropped he had his hand up asking to join them. They both turn when they hear soft pawsteps behind them. Edward can't help but be utterly enamoured by her in wolf form. She is so uniquely Bambi in appearance. Her wolf form is just as beautiful as her human one. Emmett smirks a little and nods.

"Cool," Edward looks at his brother amused before giving him a look. "I've seen, now I can go" Emmett clocks on and then winks at Edward before he disappears. Wolf!Bambi snorts and shifts closer to Edward when she suddenly lurches forward towards him. He's not afraid though, there is no threat to this. She nips at his sleeve, pouncing around him. Edward chuckles a little turning to keep her in his line of sight. There is something a little more carefree to her. Like a weight has been lifted from her entire body. He knows she doesn't get to be in wolf form as much as her body might like. She lowers herself into a sort of playful bow and he smirks. Knows what she is asking. She wants to frolic. To run together through the trees. They spend so much time and energy pretending to be human. Out here, right now, they can be themselves. And until Victoria appears, until Alice sees her, they have some time to spend doing whatever they want. And right now, she wants to run with him as a wolf. Who is he to say no to her?