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A baby deer learning how to walk. That’s what she looked like to Edward Cullen. Stumbling through life, she’d crash onto concrete if he weren’t there to catch her. Head splitting open, blood gushing out, he’d have no choice but to indulge in what was so perfectly laid out for him.
It’s much easier to keep her in check now that they’re dating. No longer does he have to watch from afar, praying to God, if he would even listen to him, to keep her out of harm's way. And when that would inevitably fail, he’d swoop in, wrap his hand around her waist, and gently guide her away from the uneven gravel. Now he’s always there to protect her from the world around them. And herself.
Their first kiss was so wonderfully unromantic. It’s everything he wished it weren’t. In his mind, he’d bring her out to dinner, watch as she peacefully ate her favourite meal, whatever it may be, before paying for it. He’d take her by the hand, walk her to the park, sitting on the bench facing the pond filled with water lilies and ducks. Then he’d turn to her, trail his hand along her jaw, before finally leaning down to kiss her. Instead, she’d fallen into a pile of mud while getting out of the car. It was the one time he didn’t help her. He was wiping the dirt off her face. With a wet towel, he carefully cleaned around her eyes and her nose. Running his thumb under water, he gently rubbed off the mud covering her lips.
“Every day there’s something with you.” Edward huffed out, an adoring look in his eyes. He got the last bit of mud off her before combing her hair back with his fingers. “What am I going to do with you?” He took her by the hand, walked her to her bedroom, and let her flop onto the bed. Edward tucked her in, helped her fluff up her pillows, then sat on the ground, and leaned his head against the mattress.
“Why don’t you sit up here?” She asked. Edward smiled and looked up, meeting her eyes. “It’s so… warm here. I hate it…?” She giggled quietly. He chuckled under his breath before planting himself next to her on the bed.
“Woah, you’re right. It is warm up here.” Still smiling, he took her hand again, just to fidget with it. Her skin was soft, her fingers malleable, she could be so easily bruised. His mood, now souring at the thought of her hurt, caused him to let go of her hand. Though it only took a few minutes of a conversation with the love of his life to bring it back up.
She twirled her hair, curling it around her pointer finger before letting it fall back onto her shoulder.
“Hey.”
She looked up at him with a sweet smile “Yes?”
Edward brought his hand up, cupping her face with it. “You’re beautiful…” He whispered, leaning down towards her. A pink blush covered her face as he did so. “Can I… can I kiss you? Please?” A short nod was all he got verbally, though her mind was filled with positive affirmations. It only lasted for a short 3 seconds before she stumbled off the side of the bed. Leaving Edward to dive off the mattress just in time to catch her mid air. Hair covering her face, he brushed it away before tucking her back into and returning to his original spot on the floor, resting his head against the bed. She laid her hand atop of his head and played with the strands, much like she did with her own, until it lulled her to sleep. A rather mundane dream took place of the constant chatter of her mind. A short drive to the post office to mail a parcel, with him in the passenger seat.