Dark Awakenings - after Breaking Dawn (Twilight)

Truth

The party went well. Everyone relaxed and enjoyed themselves. Mari was humbled at her new family's kindness on her first birthday as a reborn.
Even Edward relaxed and Renesmee couldn't help but sense his feelings of warmth towards Mari and Mari's thoughts towards her father. She had loved her mother dearly and she would never be replaced. But it was time for her father to move on. She knew her mother would have agreed.
At a point in the evening she sat down with Alice and She confirmed her thoughts. She had seen a vision. She wouldn't go into detail, but she didn't need to. They both were on the same page.
The next daylight Mari sat watching some TV. Edward joined her and sat next to her. "Hi" he said turning his head slightly to one side and slightly smirked.
"Hi" she said looking at the TV, but it was obvious by her thoughts she wasn't taking it in.
"Ok we both know where this is going.." he started.
"Yes ... We do" she said not taking her eyes from the screen.
"I just..." He said and stopped but she knew he was saying he needed time.
"I know...I'm in no rush...We have forever" she broke her gaze to stare at her hands instead.
"Thanks." He said smiling again. This time she turned her face to him and shyly replied
"That's ok."
"You look like her you know" Edward shocked himself as the words left his mouth.
"I'm not trying to replace her Edward"
If he'd had of had a heart It would have skipped a beat as she said his name.
"I know you're not..I just wanted to say I don't have any bad feelings at where you came from"
"It wasn't right..I knew that..it felt so wrong, that's why I wanted to leave"
"I will never forget Bella. She was my world, we planned for forever. I nearly lost her so many times before....well ...the end" his eyes dropped to his own hands now and glanced at his wedding ring he still wore.
"I wouldn't want you to forget her ... I know what she meant to you. And the ring doesn't bother me... I heard what you just thought...It's yours and you should keep it on"
"I need to let go ...one day" he held the ring between his finger and thumb and before he could remove it, she stopped him by covering his hand in her own. "Today is not that day"
Her hand lingered on top of his just long enough for him to feel the strange pull from deep inside which he'd only felt once before. The day he met Bella.
She pulled it away gently leaving him reeling. "Woah!" He said aloud.
"Sorry...I shouldn't touch you" she stood and walked across the room away from his personal space.
"No....no...it...wasn't...bad...it..was.." His eyes finished his sentence as he stood up.
"Like I said ... I'll wait." She smiled warmly and left the room. He breathed in her scent as the breeze brushed past. Was this it? Was he finally letting Bella go?
Renesmee joined him "You ok Dad? I felt confused signals"
"Ah...yes...I think I'm gonna be fine. Don't you worry about me. I'd worry more about that mutt you are shacked up with?"
"He's not a mutt! Well not in the be..." A smile adorned her face as she sat beside him.
"No no no no....don't even think things like that!!!" He waved his hands in front his face.
"Hahaha...I'll try not to."
"Try harder..." Her thoughts made him wince sometimes.
"I'm glad you like her Dad...she's lovely" she placed her small hand on his knee.
"That's another thing I hate about being like this...no secrets" he smirked
"There are no need for secrets. It's not wrong to like someone new...we know she will never truly die....but if you're waiting for my permission Dad...you have it." She nudged his shoulder playfully.
"I wasn't...but thank you" leaning in close he placed a single soft kiss on her forehead.

Three daylights later a small knock on Mari's door interrupted her reading, she knew who it was of course and smiled to herself. She quickly stood and smoothed down her hair and clothes. "Come in" she called out
The door slowly opened and there stood Edward. It was like it happened in slow motion. He stood leaning against the doorframe dressed in a blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up and back jeans. Mari's mouth fell open. Her self control of her mind was gonna be hard to hide. Snapping herself out of it she said "work that bad huh?"
Edward smiled, was it even possible for a vampire to blush? "Yeah.. Can I?" He finished his sentence in his head.
"Course...come in" he'd never set foot in her room since she'd arrived. And she never in his. She was chomping at the bit to feel his hands on her, and boy did he know it. It was with only sheer restraint that they had not succumbed yet.
"Like what you've done in here?" Edward glanced around her room, it reminded him of his room many years ago.
"Thanks..I like to read and the music takes my mind off.... things"
"I guess we still have those demons we will carry for a while yet?"
"Hmmmm." Why was she nervous? Vampires didn't get nervous! At least she was sure they didn't.
His scent now danced in her nostrils. The magnetic pull was immense.