Graveyards and Letters

Bella POV

We were in Chicago now. Our last stop of my human existence. The thought was both unnerving and thrilling.

We had already been everywhere, around the world, it had seemed. In just two short weeks we had – okay, I had – eaten spaghetti in Italy, Sushi in Japan, and some strange vegetable in Australia, though that had been the result of Edward playing the You'll-Never-Get-Another-Human-Chance card. He seemed to be playing that card a lot as we hiked the Rocky Mountains and Jet Skied across the Long Island Sound. We ambled down the Great Wall of China and I had learned to Hula dance in Hawaii.

My body was still sore from the last one, though I couldn't blame it all on the dancing. I could just as well be sore from other things, promises that had in fact, been fulfilled . . .

My hands uselessly curled into themselves as another gust of wind plummeted down the enclosed street. Tall buildings stood motionless on either side of us. It reminded me of Phoenix, though I didn't remember Phoenix being this cold, even in the dead of winter.

My skin prickled and stung at the bitterness of the air, in a last attempt to warm myself, I dropped Edward's hand, leaning into his side as I rubbed uselessly at the sides of my arms.

"Cold?" His beautiful voice – close to my ear – was laced with amusement. I didn't answer him, staring straight ahead. I peeked back just in time to see his hands reaching for his own jacket, it was already halfway off when I stopped him.

"I don't want it," I hissed, "I'm perfectly fine." The phrase was said through my teeth as I held them clenched together. I was sure that if I relaxed my tense jaw I would only manage to break my teeth from the repressed shivers. I couldn't let him know how very cold I was, for I was the one that had made the earlier refusal to bring a jacket out on our stroll.

I still hadn't looked at his face, but I knew darn well exactly what expression it displayed. He found hilarity in my persistence.

His body quickly drifted away from mine, falling in to step with me about two feet to my right. I glanced at the space he had just put between us and grimaced. My eyes then drifted to his face for an answer but his only reply was a heart breaking smirk.

I scowled and snapped my head back, my eyes narrowing at the road as I stared determinedly ahead.

His musical chuckle rang softly in my ear, and my resolve – reluctantly – melted away. Another thing that melted was my body as he returned to his spot beside me, his long arm draping over my shoulders as his cold hands rubbed friction against my goose bump swathed skin.

"I want to show you something," he murmured, the lightness still evident in his tone.

I nodded softly against his side. Though his skin was even colder than the air, the heat that coursed through me at our simple contact was indescribable. I was so lost in the intoxicating haze of his smell, his touch, the sound of his soft humming, that I didn't even realize we were going until we got there.

"Edward?" I stopped walking as he reached for the handle on the black iron gate.

"Trust me, Bella," he whispered, smiling crookedly at my bemused expression.

Powerless, I let him open the gate, and pull me through.

The gate closed with a loud clash and I jumped, my head whipping around automatically. But Edward continued rubbing smoothing circles on my arm, his eyes set straight head as he led me further into the cemetery.

This particular cemetery seemed to be on the outskirts of town. A few buildings were scattered around the perimeter but the rest was mostly a small park. There was a hospital beside it.

Edward continued to pull me along until we were almost on the opposite side of where we had started.

"Edward," I began to protest again, but there was no need, because suddenly he stopped. Angling his body towards the left, he glanced at me and nodded, indicating I should look. My eyes hesitantly left his face, and landed directly on the pewter tombstone. The color was faded and the letters were just barley recognizable. I frowned and leaned closer, reaching out timidly to brush away the dust.

My fingers danced over the cold stone and instantly curled back as the name became lucid, engraved and permanent in the wedge of stone.

Elizabeth Masen.

My breath caught slightly and I impulsively shifted my gaze back to Edward. He smiled at me sadly. His eyes never left my own as his hand uncoiled from around my waist. His cold palm then prodded mine softly and I looked down to see his thumb smoothing over the dazzling ring that rested on my third finger.

"Oh," was all I could get past my lips as I felt my throat clench in an intimidating mixture of gratitude and grief. I peered back at the aged stone, and a shiver ran down my spine, though this time it was from neither the cold, nor Edward.

My hand still rested in his as he kissed my fingers gently. Placing separate kisses on my engagement ring and wedding ring. Edward soon traded my hand for my waist as he pulled me into the welcoming encirclement of his arms. I breathed deeply against his jacket, his scent automatically loosening the choking feeling in my throat. He tightened his arms ever so slightly as the wind picked up in the small cemetery.

"We better go, Bella," he murmured, staring disapprovingly at my red wind burned arms.

I frowned. "Don't you want to say a few words first?"

He peered at my thoughtfully for a moment before his eyebrow quirked up and he smiled crookedly. "Do you?"

I smiled softly and nodded. He pulled me back into his embrace, covering my arms with his own, and resting his chin lightly on my shoulder. "You first," he encouraged lightheartedly.

I opened my mouth to speak, quickly snapping it shut. I tried again, but my jaw closed with a small click. I didn't know where to begin. How do you explain to the women that brought the love of your life into the world, exactly how you feel?

I could feel Edward's jaw tense on my shoulder as I prolonged my silence longer than his patience could manage.

"I think…" I began, my notions still swimming in my head as I tried to reassure Edward my brain was still functioning. "I think, I'll write her a letter," I decided finally, my forehead crumbling in concentration, listening to the relaxed whoosh of Edward's breath against the hallow of my ear.

"A Letter?" Edward inquired surprised.

I nodded gently, still peering at the colorless stone. Anxiety forced the blood to pool, hot in my cheeks as Edward remained silent. Did he think it was a stupid idea?

"And what will the letter say, exactly?" I could detect the curiosity in his voice, and smiled inwardly.

"That," I clarified, "Is between your mother and I."

I could feel his body press closer to my back as he craned his neck to read my expression. I tilted my chin and smiled ingenuously at his hindered appearance.

He waited for a moment, evaluating my eyes. Finally he sighed in defeat and placed his icy forehead against my shoulder. "Such a treacherous creature," he muttered, his nose softly skimming my shoulder bone.

I laughed dizzily, and traced patterns into the frigid skin of his hands that rested gently on my hips.

He placed a lingering kiss on the back of my neck and my heart began to act up. "It's your turn," I reminded him breathlessly, trying to cover up the embarrassing human reaction.

He chuckled softly, "I think she already knows what I'm going to say to her."

I waited for him to continue, but his silence lasted too long for my liking. "Why?"

He laughed freely again and I could feel the vibrations in his chest against my body. "Because I tell her the same exact thing every single day. He paused again, his lips brushing against my neck.

"Which is…" I insisted.

He breathed out lightly and I could almost picture his eyes rolling. "Silly, Bella. I thank her for you."

I tried to let that sink in for a moment, though his intoxicating scent that continued to swirl around my head wasn't improving my thinking process. Finally I turned carefully in his arms, facing him, I placed my palms against his chest. Staring intently at the beautiful ring that had once belonged to his mother, I bit my lip. "Everyday?" I whispered finally.

He smiled brilliantly and leaned closer, "Everyday," he whispered softly. I let my mouth fall open slightly as his voice brushed past my lips. I could feel his scent lingering on the back of my tongue. A shiver coursed down my spine, my teeth clicking closed at the impact. Edward pulled away, his expression pleased.

I blushed lightly and averted my eyes from his, hoping to reduce my risk of fainting in a graveyard. Though, the second the thought crossed my mind, my eyes landed on something that would prove my theory extremely wrong.

A little to the right of Elizabeth Masen's gravestone was a small pewter slab that made my heart clench so hard it stopped all together, and my knees felt so weak I could swear someone was shaking me. Something cool pressed against my cheek and I hoped it was the ground. My eyesight became unfocused but the name was imprinted, clear and legible in the undying manifestation of the stone.

Edward Anthony Masen.

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This is a Two-Shot by the way so there WILL be a next chapter.

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