Song of Joy
A post-Breaking Dawn adventure
This is Essentially Magical's sister story, which plot has an overlapping timeline, but which events focus almost entirely within only the Twilight universe. As such, it can be read on its own; but, for best understanding (including explanation of any magical references that might be given in passing), this story should be read in coordination with the timing clues indicated in Essentially Magical. The first half of EM occurs before this.
Thank you, Stephenie Meyer & J. K. Rowling, for bringing to us the wonderful contexts that made this presentation possible.
* * * The Morning After * * *
When Edward and Bella arrive at the Cullen house in the morning, now thoroughly refreshed after the Volturi ordeal of the day before, it is to find Carlisle and Esme amidst the rest of the family interestedly conversing with Nahuel and Huilen about the benefits of the animal blood diet. Both visitors are tentatively considering it.
As Renesmee anxiously jumps out of her mother's arms and bounds in ahead to greet them, energetically providing the welcome distraction they'd all been waiting for, all at once Carlisle's hopeful eyes are riveted upon his first son.
Edward is more alight than a kid in a candy store… and not just any kid, but one who just learned he owned the whole thing! Making a beeline straight for his father with his smiling wife in tow, looking fit to burst from the seams with exciting news, at last he animatedly declares: "Carlisle! Bella dropped her shield for me! She let me hear her!"
Eyes and smile widening with fascination and delight at Edward's undeniable joy over this intriguing development, Carlisle chuckles encouragingly. "Really?" Also drawn by the exhilaration in Edward's voice, everyone else is watching them attentively.
"Yes!" Edward enthuses brightly. "She showed me..." and then more tenderly, turning to look at her with absolute adoration, "she showed me how much she loves me! Oh, Bella!" Abruptly he dives in to plant a brief but jubilant set of kisses on her lips, unable to say it better with words. Bella laughs, pleased at his elation.
Not long thereafter, veritably radiating exuberance and happy to let Carlisle continue with what he does best… in company with Bella, Edward gravitates toward the piano as the conversations continue. Promptly from beneath his fingers emerges a new composition – a vitally dynamic melody brimming with the absolute wonder, amazement, and joy that has come from his first real glimpse into how Bella really sees him, and just how much she loves him. The song also incorporates his wonder and amazement of what Bella has become, the miracle that Renesmee is, and his own unfathomable fortune of having been loved so much as to have them both.
Thoroughly infused with a gentle but profoundly jubilant energy, which stands unique among his compositions, this piece begs to be danced to every time it is heard. Consequently, their family is all up and twirling around the room in no time, happily taking turns with Renesmee between them, unable to resist the pleasant distraction. Even Bella is gently swaying behind him, with her hands upon his shoulders while he plays.
In response to this kind of energy practically thrumming through their contact, as well as throughout everyone in the room, and acknowledging that Bella no longer has clumsiness issues that would make the pursuit undesirable, it is not long before an impromptu recording of it (courtesy of Alice) allows Edward to likewise be twirling and tutoring Bella on all the dance steps and techniques necessary to truly enjoy fantastic dancing sessions together, on a regular basis.
"You are so absolutely a dream come true," he fervently whispers into her ear. "Being as I haven't even slept in 90 years, how did I ever get so lucky?"
With a smiling laugh she answers in all seriousness: "You were mine, already."
Incidentally, this thoroughly inspiring episode has keenly underlined to Nahuel and Huilen, once again, the incredible emotional benefit of the lifestyle Carlisle has been describing. So much so – that their eventually resumed conversation quickly ventures into the territory of possibly becoming an extended branch of the family… and sticking around for a while, at least long enough for them to truly get used to the diet. Besides, having been so long burdened by the tragedy of their own expanded family dynamic, not much can honestly beat the prospect of being able to watch this newest hybrid freely grow and develop – surrounded by such a close and loving group.
Over the next number of days, Nahuel's inexhaustible personal interest in learning more about Edward and Bella's story, has him perusing their wedding pictures and other photos with rapt fascination. Naturally, this becomes punctuated by numerous first-hand accounts of their experience, and quickly morphs into full-blown story sessions with Edward and Bella sitting on the couch, modestly recounting the early days of their relationship to the eager listening ears of Renesmee, Jacob, Nahuel, Huilen, and many of the other family members besides – who pause to listen in when it comes to details they haven't heard before.
For instance, shortly after Edward has necessarily mentioned that Bella was his 'singer', and explained to everyone what that meant, he turns to Bella, whispering: "You still smell better to me than anyone else, you know...", and leans over to kiss her neck a couple of times.
Bella's eyes almost roll into the back of her head as her head tilts away just enough to make kissing easier for him. "Mmmm. Do I?" she says, absorbed by the pleasure of his touch.
He chuckles, and his breath tickles the skin of her neck. "Of course you do. You just don't make my throat burn anymore." He kisses her again and smiles adoringly, leaning back to continue telling the story.
When it comes time to tell about Bella's near-death experience in Phoenix, Edward discloses: "At the time – I couldn't have told you how it was I had been able to accomplish her rescue; under the supremely vivid influence of her incomparable scent and taste – it wasn't something I was able to fathom myself. It was only much, muchlater… when I had six very long and lonely months to replay every memory of her in my subconscious, over and over again… that it finally came to me: 'Where there's a will, there's a way.'
"I don't know that I could have ever done it without her. I'm so used to being able to hear a person's thoughts at all times, you see… and in the past, this fact has been a significant factor in my ability to control any blood-related impulses I might have in regards to a particular person. But of course, with Bella it was silent. By the time the venom was all out of her system, I was desperately lost in a haze of ecstasy so forbiddingly intense – that all I could focus on was the sound of her gradually weakening heartbeat, as I struggled to find anything to hold on to – that would allow me to stop before it did.
"But in the midst of the haze, not even that one most precious sound that I couldn't bear to live without – was enough. I knew I was going to kill her, and still I couldn't muster the focus it required to let go and step away from it… to detach myself from what I most needed to embrace and treasure above all.
"That's when she spoke what would have been her last, loving words to me: 'Stay, Edward, stay with me…'" his voice softens tenderly at the memory, "and I couldn't deny her final request. She was going to be in heaven soon… and – there was no way I was going to be able to join her there, especially after this. So I had to stop. In order to give her what she wanted, there was no other choice.
"And so, in a very real way, it was she who gave me the focus to succeed," Edward finishes narrating to them, now regarding her with an admiring smile… as, unable to blush, she nevertheless curls her body away from the attention. "And it worked!" cheerfully he diverts the attention back onto himself again, in order to spare her the discomfort, "Because I really, truly love you." Abruptly he is kissing her shoulder in a passionate manner just suitable for company. Immediately, almost as if it were instinctive to do so, this triggers her to very responsively open up to him… and this time, apparently oblivious now to the eyes of everyone upon them, it is clear she is very thoroughly enjoying it.
Later, in an effort to describe what it was like to discover that Bella was indeed pregnant, against all known odds, Edward turns solemnly toward his wife. "My first all-consuming and entirely terrifying thought was: 'This can't be healthy for her.' Then… after Kaure had confirmed my worst fears –" his breath hitches with the memory "I was certain I'd given you a death sentence." The lament is clear in his voice. "And not only death…" he adds with a shudder, his low voice growing quiet and pained – as if there could ever be such a thing as only death, "but death by torture. I was frantic to find any way to relieve you of it." The apology is clear in his eyes.
Tenderly returning a commiserative smile, understandingly Bella counters: "I thought you'd just given me exactly what I didn't know I really wanted – that I thought we could never have: the most wonderful life sentence I could possibly imagine… and I wasn't about to let you take it back," she gently adds in a stubbornly reproving tone. "You know what they say: 'No pain, no gain'."
Edward shudders in response, and hugs her. "Thank you," he whispers.
"Anytime," she acknowledges seriously, and his arms tighten further.
Nahuel is fascinated, watching them.
A/N: Welcome, readers! And thank you for all constructive comments. :)