I do not own this. the characters and plot are copyright © Stephanie Meyer 2008
The song for this chapter is I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz
Esme's POV
He bounded in, with great striding leaps that could only be compared to a mountain lion's pounce.
He then looked at Carlisle, with an undistinguishable look.
At last he looked at me.
It was a look with such hatred, such vile hate, that I trembled with fear.
He stood there for what seemed like hours of murderous glares,
Then his face softened into a look of apology, and he covered the distance in two great strides between us and hugged me, and I began to shake.
I trembled not because I was afraid, but because I was so happy that he had accepted me, that his hug was exactly like I had imagined my baby would feel like against my breast, and that I found that I loved him like a mother should love her child.
And I found that I was not the only one shaking. Edward was shaking with such sobs of love and apology, that I found myself comforting him.
"Edward, Oh my child."
He stood back and looked at me with a smile that was so beautiful, it should have been an angel's.
"Esme," Carlisle said then, with a look that was triumphant as well as loving, that my trembles subsided. "This is my son, Edward. Edward, this is my fiancé, Esme."
Edward smiled a crooked smile, I knew that he loved me as a mother just as I loved him as a son.
Edward studied me for a moment, as if he could read my mind. Absurd as it was, I couldn't let myself discard the idea. His eyes were relentless, it seemed like he was drinking the information in, the information my mind willingly gave him. He smiled again, and I smiled back, and it was as if God was smiling down on us with such love and smugness.
And I thought, as I studied him back, if only he could be as happy as Carlisle and I am, I would be so content.
He smiled sadly then, and he mumbled something even my new ears could barely catch. It sounded something like 'Isabella' and Carlisle looked at him with thinly concealed confusion.
"Let's hunt." Edward said, and my throat was burning ever so hotter.
"Let's." I said, and smiled at my son and my fiancé, and I knew that I would never be as happy as I was at that moment.