Castles in the Sand

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A/N: Happy Birthday, knittyapril! We hope you have a wonderful day.

As ever, we do not own Twilight - it owns us.

ooOoo

Vacation

I can hear him muttering behind me as we make our way across the boardwalk. He’s been complaining nonstop – the sun and heat and sand. I sigh, grateful for the wind so he can’t hear.

I know he’d enjoy this if he’d just let himself.

He’s got it in his head that he’s going to be miserable, so he will be. Nothing I can do about it.

Instead, I quietly do what I can to help him relax. I know it’s the week away from work that’s getting to him, so I spread both our towels and kiss his cheek.


Soak

I close my eyes in an attempt to relax, wanting to soak up the sun while I can.

Edward's intent on making it difficult, however, as he barrages me with questions, seeking reassurance that everything at work will be okay.

I sigh, turning to him. “Ed, babe, stop. Please? Things'll be fine. We won't go under by allowing ourselves a week off. It's not like we closed up shop or left it in the hands of idiots. Your parents have everything under control. They know the business as well as we do. They should. It used to be theirs, remember?”


Abashed

“Yeah. Yeah, sorry,” he says, sighing. I can tell he really is, so I try to ignore my frustration, but I can see that he’s still not going to let go.

And there’s not a damn thing I can do about that.

Over the years, I’ve learned to read him better than myself, and this is something he just has to work through. I crawl on my knees over to his towel, where he’s lying on his back, straight as a board.

Bracing myself with my hands beside his shoulders, I kiss him softly, “I’m going for a swim, okay?”


Invigorating

I shiver as the waves wash over my feet, my skin covered in goosebumps until I'm deep enough to submerge myself completely. Suddenly, I'm not cold anymore and am able to really appreciate the cool water as it laps at my skin.

Making sure to stay well within the buoys, I swim a few laps, relishing the freedom and the smell of the sea. For a moment, I'm able to forget everything and just be one with nature.

It doesn't last long, though, before thoughts of Edward crop up again, and I sigh, making my way back to the beach.   


Find

I drifted down shore with the current, so it takes a little while to figure out exactly where I left Edward. When I get to our towels, he’s not there.

A quick look around finds him close by. I pause, taking in his unruly bronze hair and his freckled shoulders. The thing that really makes me smile, though, is the elaborate sand castle he’s building with a couple of kids.

I chuckle, and he glances up, squinting at me. “Hey,” he says quietly, his smile a little sheepish.

“Hey,” I answer easily as I sit beside him, “who’re your friends?”


Help

“Oh, this is Alec, and that’s Jane. They're twins, here with their mom. She needed to take the baby to get changed or something, and asked if I'd mind watching them.”

The twins smile and wave, then go back to working diligently on the castle. I lean into him, kiss him briefly, and murmur, “That was nice of you.”

He blushes and shrugs. “I don't mind.”

Getting up, I kiss his forehead. “I'll get you guys some water to fortify your castle.”

Taking the bucket, I walk to the water, but take a moment to watch them before walking back.  


Relax

A few minutes later, a woman arrives carrying a squirming toddler. She smiles when she sees Alec building a drawbridge with Edward while I construct a tower with Jane.

She sits down as well, putting the baby in front of her. “Here you go, Heidi,” she says, handing her a purple shovel. Heidi waves it in the air, flinging sand everywhere, as the woman turns to me and holds out her hand. “You must be Jasper.”

“Oh, yes, ma’am,” I answer, shaking her hand with my sandy one.

Noticing my surprise, she smiles. “Edward’s told me a lot about you.”


Share

My eyes widen. When I glance at Edward, he’s blushing and pointedly helping Alec. Shaking my head slightly, I turn my attention back to the woman.

She smiles, though her eyes are shadowed. “I'm Gianna. Your Edward was kind enough to watch these two while I tended to Heidi.”

We chat for a while as she explains very quietly so the kids don't hear how she ended up here alone. My heart goes out to her when I learn about her husband's death in Iraq last year, and how this is the first time they've really tried to live again.


Care

“So, Edward tells me you two run a bookstore?”

I go along with her attempt to change the subject. “Yeah, we took over from his parents a few years ago. This is really our first vacation since then.”

“That must be a dream… being surrounded by all those books! I really love – oh, no, baby, don’t put that in your mouth.”

She deftly takes the shovel away from Heidi, distracting her by burying her tiny foot in the sand. I go back to helping Jane, who is now trying to build a dragon, as we talk about our favorite books.


Invitation

The afternoon goes by too quickly, and I know we have to start heading back to our cabin if we're going to be able to barbecue as we'd planned.

Watching Gianna and Heidi – and Jane and Alec, as they carefully pat the sand down over Edward, who's now buried up to his neck in sand – a thought comes to me. One I'm certain Ed'll be on board with.

“Hey, Gianna, do you guys have plans for tonight?”

She shakes her head.

“Will you have dinner with us?”

She starts to protest, but is met with pleas from everyone. Including Edward.


Grill

With a beer in hand, I man the grill, chuckling as I watch Edward play tag with Alec and Jane. They don’t quite understand the game, so it’s more a matter of running around, knocking each other over, but they seem to be enjoying it.

When I glance at the rest of the yard, I frown and close the lid of the grill.

Walking over to where Heidi is playing in the grass, I kneel down beside Gianna’s chair. “Hey… you okay?”

She nods, sniffling and wiping tears from her cheeks as she gives me a watery smile. “I’m sorry.”


Explain

“Don't be,” I whisper. “Want to talk about it?”

Her eyes flit to her children as she sniffles a few times, trying to keep her emotions in check. When she looks at me again, my heart aches for her. She looks broken. Lost.

“It's nothing. I just... watching Jane and Alec playing with Edward like that, it really hit home to me that he's really gone. That Demetri'll never play with them again. He'll never see Heidi take her first steps, or see any of the kids go to school for the first time.”

She hiccups. I take her hand.


Kind

Feeling helpless, I squeeze her hand, wishing I knew words that could help. I don’t think there are any, though. I can’t imagine losing Edward – just the thought makes my chest ache – and adding in kids…

“Listen,” I say, my voice gruff and low, “I know you don’t know us, but we’d like to help if we can. If nothing else, we’d love to meet you guys on the beach every day. If you’d like that, of course…”

She sniffles again. “Don’t you… you wouldn’t… shouldn’t you talk to Edward first?”

“I don’t have to,” I answer with a smile.


Gather

"Thank you. That'd be nice."

I nod.

"Why don't you go inside, take a few minutes for yourself? We'll watch them," I suggest.

"Thank you," she whispers, surprising me by kissing my cheek as she stands.

I watch her walk inside and sigh. A few seconds later, I feel Edward's hand squeeze my shoulder, his voice low as he asks if Gianna's alright.

"She will be, I hope."

Getting to my feet, I turn around , wrapping him in my arms. Gently kissing him briefly before murmuring against his lips, "I love you, Edward."

"Love you, too, Jasper. So much."


New

I fill him in on what I discussed with Gianna the best I can before I hear a giggle. Edward lurches forward as a little voice calls gleefully, “You’re it!”

Laughing, Edward half-turns before he stops and kisses my cheek. “Thank you.”

I don’t have a chance to ask what he means before he’s off and running. While he chases the older kids, I check on Heidi, who’s playing with a ball. I’m surprised to realize that so much of this feels right – I’ve never really considered children before.

Musing on this new revelation, I finish up at the grill.


Dinner

Once the table is loaded with food and Edward's wrangled the twins into washing up, Gianna walks outside. She quickly takes care of Heidi's clean-up, and soon we're all seated around the table.

It's a bit chaotic, but all three kids are mostly well-behaved throughout the meal. Heidi's the messiest as she plays with her food more than actually eating it, but that's alright.

Gianna's eyes are on Edward as she asks me if the offer stands.

We both nod.

Alec and Jane both shriek when their mother tells them they get to play with Edward again tomorrow.

We laugh.


Dessert

In the kitchen, we dish up bowls of ice cream and load them on a tray, which Gianna takes out back after kissing both Edward and me on the cheek. As we make our own, Edward frowns. “We need to get sprinkles.”

I can’t help but laugh and pull him close, resting my hands on his hips and kissing him. “I love you, Edward Anthony.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “Why am I being middle-named?”

I shrug. “You’re just adorable.”

He watches me before smiling and kissing me languidly. When we part, he says, “Hey, babe?”

“Yeah?” I ask.


Idea


“I was thinking...” He bites his lip, frowning. “Gianna said she's looking for a job, right?”

I nod and grin, fairly certain where he's going with this.

“Well... Mom needs to do something to keep herself busy now that they're retired… and Gianna doesn’t live that far… and we need help so that we don't overwork ourselves again...”

His silent acknowledgement that that's exactly what we've been doing the past couple of years warms me. It's the first time he's admitted to it, even without so many words.

Pecking his lips, I murmur, “I think it's a great idea, babe.”


Offer

We wait until Gianna’s attention isn’t divided between melting ice cream and a fussy toddler to talk to her. The sun is setting when Alec and Jane dash back into the grass and Edward clears his throat.

“Gianna?” he says quietly.

She glances up from wiping Heidi’s chin, and I’m happy to see the small smile on her face. “Hmm?”

“I hope you don’t think we’re being…” Edward trails off, frowning.

“Presumptuous,” I supply.

He flashes me a smile and nods. “Yeah. We were wondering… since you’re looking for a job, how would you like to work at a bookstore?”


Details

Gianna blinks, her mouth forming an, “Oh,” in surprise. Her eyes flicker from Edward, to me, to the twins, to little Heidi in her lap, and back to us again. “I-I'd love to, but...”

Her gaze turns to her children again. She frowns, worrying her lower lip.

Clearing my throat, I lean forward, clasping my hands together. When she looks at me, I smile. “We might actually have a solution to that, too, you see...”

Edward grins as he continues, “My mother would love to have little ones to look after again. We can work things out, Gianna, I'm sure.”


Debate

“Oh, I don’t know,” she says automatically, her forehead wrinkling.

Edward and I exchange a glance, wearing matching frowns. “Hey, it’s alright. We’re sorry… we didn’t mean to put you on the spot,” he starts.

“Yeah, don’t think you have to or anything,” I add.

She laughs, shaking her head in disbelief. “No! No, it’s not that, I promise. It’s just… you just met me today. That’s a lot to… that takes a lot of faith.”

Edward smiles, and I put my arm around his shoulders. “Trust me,” I say, “I should be thanking you. You’ve already helped us both.”


Accept

"Thanking me?" she asks incredulously.

I nod, chuckling at Edward's slight grimace.

"Yes," he says, "much as I hate to admit it, I wasn't allowing myself to relax and let go of the store. You – and the kids – helped me see that I need to. I needed the reminder to live life while it was mine to do so."

At seeing the tears shimmer in her eyes, he adds, "Sorry," and steps over to hug her.

Quickly wiping her tears away, she smiles, shaking her head. "Don't be. It's okay; you're right." Taking a deep breath, she says, "Okay. If-"


Condition

She pauses before plunging ahead. “If you’re sure, I’ll do it. On one condition.”

I exchange an amused smile with Edward. “What sort of condition?” I wonder aloud.

The corners of her lips tug up in a soft smile despite the melancholy in her eyes. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but I haven’t seen the kids this… this happy since…” She trails off, clearing her throat and closing her eyes before forcing them open. “Since Demetri passed away.”

Edward doesn’t say a word. He just squeezes her and kisses the top of her head, giving her a moment.


Easy

Edward's eyes find mine. We nod in agreement.

Stepping up to him and Gianna, I place my hand on her shoulder and smile. “That's not going to be a difficult condition to keep. We've grown pretty fond of them, ourselves.”

She gives me a watery smile, patting my hand.

Edward grins. “You'll probably be sick of us soon, so be careful what you wish for, Gianna.”

He winks. She laughs.

Mussing Edward's hair, I grin at his scowl. “Don't listen to him, Gi. I promise, we won’t show up uninvited more than once a day.”

At this, they both chuckle.


Alone

We wave goodbye to Gianna and the kids, watching until they turn the corner and are out of sight. Edward slips his arm around my waist and puts his head on my shoulder. “I’m sorry,” he whispers.

I don’t ask what for – we both know. The last couple of years have been hell in some ways. “It’s alright,” I tell him honestly as I hook my finger in his belt loop and pull him to face me. “Just don’t do it again.”

He narrows his eyes but can’t stop his grin. “Okay,” he breathes just before his lips brush mine.


Connect

We stand there for a while, just kissing. I can feel that he's finally let go of things – that he's here, in the moment.

Smiling, I pull away. “Come on.”

After locking the door, I guide him to the bedroom. We take our time undressing each other before crawling into bed, where we spend hours alternating between talking, love-making, and simply holding each other.

It's the closest I've felt to him in so long. I'm grateful.

Just as my eyes begin to droop, I hear Ed whisper, “Thank you, Jasper, for making me go on this vacation – for reminding me.”


Truth

I lift my head, resting my chin on his chest. “Reminding you of what, baby?”

He caresses my cheek, his smile just visible in the dim light. “Of how much you mean to me… just… everything, I guess. I know I haven’t been easy to live with.”

The tightness I’ve felt in my shoulders for months begins to ease. “You’re welcome,” I whisper, surprised by the surge of emotion that constricts my throat. “I missed you,” I admit gruffly.

“I’m sorry. I’m here, sweetheart. I promise…” He kisses my forehead and then his lips caress mine as he murmurs, “Forever.”