Darkest Light

Perfect Day

For the first time in months, waking up is a blissful, easy thing. There is no crying baby or wailing alarm clock. There is only the sound of a quiet house and sunlight in my eyes. The only problem comes when I stretch and sharp pain stabs at my stitches. All at once, the events from yesterday come flooding back and I sit up, my head spinning in every direction looking for Edward. My room is empty and my stomach falls. 

I slide out of bed and walk into Sylus's room, expecting him to be waiting for me to pick him up. He has never slept past 9am and it is now almost 10:30. But his crib is empty. Panic tears at my chest as I rush out of his room and down the stairs, but I stop on the bottom step. Edward is lounging on the floor with Sylus sitting in front of him, playing with his toys. Sylus is already dressed and Edward has changed clothes as well. Sylus doesn't notice me, but Edward looks up at me and his face splits into a glowing smile that takes my breath away. 

"Good morning," he says. 

"What is all this?" I ask, returning his smile. 

"We decided that you needed your sleep, so we got dressed and had breakfast and sat down to play. How did you sleep?" asks Edward, smoothly standing up and then gliding over to me. He slips one arm around my waist and kisses me on the forehead. 

"Like a baby. Thanks for this, you didn't have to take care of him. You could have woken me up," I tell him but he is shaking his head before I even finish. 

"I wanted to help. You looked so tired and I don't often have the chance to take care of a baby. I figured I would get in some practice just in case you decide to let me stick around for a while," he says. On the surface his voice is teasing, but underneath I can hear real worry. 

"As far as I am concerned, you can stay forever," I tell him and reach up to kiss him. His cool lips spread into a smile under mine before he returns my kiss. Heat shoots through me all the way to my toes and back as he holds me close. His mouth opens and his cool, delicious breath rushes over my tongue, setting my blood on fire. I press my body closer to his, molding to his stone form. I don't pull away until my head is spinning and I am gasping for breath. 

"So what do you want to do today?" he asks but from the tone in his voice, I can tell there is something in particular he wants to do. 

"What do you have in mind?" I ask, weaving my fingers through his and pulling him over to the couch. Sylus finally notices me and crawls over. I scoop him up and sit him in my lap. Edward sits next to me, our thighs pressed together and slides an arm over my shoulders. 

"How would you and Sylus like to come over to my house to meet my parents and the rest of my family?" he suggests. 

"Wow...are you sure? I mean I don't want you to do anything you don't want to. Not that you don't want to...what I mean is...will they be okay with the fact that I am human? Will they like me?" I ask nervously. With a small smile, Edward leans closer until he is staring me right in the eye. 

"They know you are human Mel. I have told them all about you. How strong you are, and smart and beautiful. And how much you mean to me. You will captivate them just like you did me. They will love you Melody, just like I do," he says, his golden eyes burning with emotion. 

"Do they know about Cal? About what he did?" I ask. 

"Alice knows and Carlisle knows about yesterday. No one else knows and they don't have to," says Edward. 

"Are you sure Edward?" I repeat and for the first time he looks unsure. 

"What's wrong Mel?" he asks. 

"I don't know Edward. I guess meeting a guys family is a big step and I guess I just don't understand why me? I am nothing but ordinary. I don't deserve someone like you. You are perfect in every way and I can barely keep it together most days," I shrug and his eyes flash.