Author's Note: I loved how all the reviews were so ecstatic over Esme's appearance in the last chapter. I'm sure you're all excited to see how the meeting with the parent goes, so here's the next chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
Chapter 7
Edward
It's so incredibly frustrating. I'm not a patient man by normal standards. I demand perfection in my work, and absolutely no mistakes. But James Keller is getting on my nerves, and as this is my case, he's currently trying to ruin my perfect streak.
As the days fly past, I can see Bella's restlessness. I can see her falling into depression. Despite her fragile nature, she isn't meant to be struck down and chained down. She's meant to wander freely, to do whatever she wants to do – whether that's going back to her regular, normal lifestyle or staying with me in this house.
As a man who's fallen in love with this woman over the span of a week, I feel nothing but pity and sympathy for her. I am so incredibly sorry for keeping her from doing anything useful. While she's free to leave the house, she knows I have to accompany her. That takes away the 'free' part of the deal.
Love really is weird. I usually don't have patience for emotions and I'm definitely not one to be helpless over a mere woman. But Bella is a sole exception to that rule. I find myself automatically heading for Bella's room when the clock indicates six-fifty in the morning – after my daily run around the neighborhood and shower, and before breakfast. And right on the dot, she wakes up screaming my name, begging for me to help her.
When she grows frustrated and angry, I let her rampage all over me as she throws a huge tantrum, crying and screaming how she never wanted to be placed in this position. And every time this happens, my heart breaks, knowing I can do nothing more than to simply keep her rooted to the ground. That I'm the reality, and not the nightmares. In truth, I feel nothing but useless to this woman, who is rapidly becoming the love of my life. I want to be so much to her, and yet, all I can do is to simply be there, waiting.
It makes me more determined to track down Keller. Emmett and Rosalie has kept me updated, of course, but they haven't had much progress. A few leads here and there, and a suspicion that he knows about a witness to his crime scene. If the mole slips Keller anymore information, we may have to relocate...
"Edward?" Her sweet voice calls my name, instantly bringing me back from my thoughts.
I look up when she enters the living room and smile when I see her beautiful face. "Yes, Bella?"
She's wringing her hands, her usual sign of restlessness. "Can we go grocery shopping? The fridge is starting to empty out."
In other words, she needs to get out. Sometimes, she may not realize it, but I know. She's getting stuffy. It's been three days since our last walk to the park. She needs to get out.
Instantly, I'm on my feet. "Of course we can." But not dressed so thinly. "Why don't you go get a sweater? It's pouring out there."
She nods in agreement. I watch her climb the stairs carefully and sigh. I bend down to return the files to the bin and close my laptop. I head for the front door, retrieving my car keys hanging on a nail by the door.
Bella returns wearing a white wool sweater, and I can't help my grin. "We match."
I like that a lot. She has no idea how much. Very much like the rings on our hands, it gives me another claim on her while we're out in public. It's silly and immature, but that's the kind of personality she brings out in me. It's new and foreign, and I appreciate it.
"Ready?" I ask her.
She blesses me with one of her rare smiles and nods. My heart swells at the sight. It sincerely makes me unconditionally happy, much like her constant presence. It doesn't matter that she's not talkative – I'm not either, particularly. But her presence is always comfortable and reassuring, settling my usually racing mind.
As I drive, I hold her hand. It's become a habit. It's for my benefit than hers, for my sanity rather than her need. First, the fact that she's actually there beside me is reassuring, as her protector. But most of all, I hate that her hands are always so cold in comparison to my warm ones. I want to do everything for this woman. I would do anything for her. Even the slightest detail as making sure she's warm at all times.
Sometimes, Bella watches me. Over time, I realized she doesn't know that I know. She said so herself: I always notice things. Even when I'm not watching, I'm always noticing. She stares, and I pretend to be immersed in my work. Her attention is flattering, and perhaps watching me gives her a sense of safety. Whatever it is, I like that I can act like she does care for me as a woman does for a man, at least a little bit.
As always, I hold Bella close to me as we push the cart through the store. She never objects and it makes me happy. Again, to act like we really are a couple. That she loves me just as I love her.
I catch her glancing sideways at me briefly when she thinks I'm not watching. It makes me smile. "You're so silly."
She raises an eyebrow. "Meaning?"
"You think I don't know." I wonder how she would react. With Bella, nothing is predictable. And I'm very good at reading people.
"Don't know what?"
"That you watch me when you think I'm not looking."
"I can't?" She blushes, that crimson I so adore on her spreading across her cheeks. I'm very tempted to sneak a forbidden kiss.
"I suppose you can." Don't stop. "It's quite flattering." Very. "But I always know." Always.
"How do you know?"
She stops us by the apples, but I refuse to let her go. It's a dangerous move I'm considering, but I can't help my flirtatious manner. I'm so filled up with the presence of this enticing woman beside me that I don't notice a familiar woman standing thirty feet away from us.
I lean in to whisper into her ear, making her shiver. "Because I'm always watching you, you silly girl." And because I can no longer restrain myself, I allow myself to compromise by kissing her temple.
I'm pleased to hear her breathing get uneven. So she is attracted to me, at least a little bit.
"Don't do that," she pleads quietly. Her face is deliciously pink.
"Do what?"
"Say stuff like that. Do stuff like that. You don't mean it." Her voice is barely audible.
I watch her conflicted expression curiously. Perhaps I'm not giving myself enough credit. After all, if a man and a woman spend much of their time together in each other's presence under the same roof, it's inevitable that feelings develop.
"I do mean it," I say. "I told you. I won't lie to you." Ever.
"But..." She frowns slightly.
I'm impatient to hear her reply, but in retaliation for my carelessness, fate sends its punishment in the most unexpected way.
"Edward?"
My head snaps up automatically, in a practiced way that I've mastered in all my years of knowing her. Even before I register her voice, I know I'm screwed. I've neglected to return her calls and messages, and while I've known I would pay for that, I thought it was in the distant future. Until now.
Esme is standing there, youthful and graceful as always. Her face is torn between confusion and outrage. At least I won't be punished for lying, just an absence of information. A lot of information.
Almost reflexively, I draw Bella closer to me. She can't be my shield against my mother's wrath – I won't allow that and Esme won't either, I'm sure – but she can offer me some confidence to stand up to her. There is one woman in this world I'm incredibly scared of – in respect and quite literally – and that's my mother.
"Fuck," I mutter under my breath. Talk about bad timing. Wedding rings in place, my arm around the woman I love, and kissing her in public. I can't escape this.
Esme walks toward us and stops at the end of our cart. "It is you. But..." Her eyes shift to Bella. She and Bella stare at each other for a long time as I cringe internally. Not that I'm embarrassed of Bella. Never that. It's just...what am I going to tell her?
I watch, resigned, as Esme's lips curve into a delighted smile. "Are you going to introduce me, Edward?" she asks.
I blow out the breath I've been holding harshly and glance down at Bella, who looks incredibly baffled. I smile awkwardly. "Yes, I suppose I should."
I consider very briefly on telling her our cover story. Esme would definitely know this is an assignment right away, since she knows my parents' names. But I don't like that. If my mother is going to meet the woman I love, I want her to see every truth behind her beauty and gain approval as herself.
"This is Bella Swan," I introduce, keeping my voice low. "Bella, my mother for all intents and purposes, Esme Cullen."
Esme's smile widens, if possible. She thrusts out her hand. "Hello, Bella. It's so nice to meet you."
Bella shakes my mother's hand. She seems confused that I introduced her by her real name. She'll ask later, I'm sure. My curious girl.
"Hello, Mrs. Cullen," she says.
"Oh, call me Esme!" my mother says brightly. "What a lovely girl you are!"
I inhale nervously. It's coming...it's coming...
Esme throws me a mockingly stern look. "You've been holding out on me, Edward."
And there it is.
I flash her my best smile, which works on every woman except my mother. It's worth a try. "Esme, I-"
"Ignoring my calls and messages," she says in a clipped tone. "Carlisle refusing to tell me anything, if he knew. And all this time, you were right here in Chicago." Her face relaxes into a gleeful smile. "With a beautiful young woman, no doubt in your own house."
Bella blushes at her implication. She tugs on my sleeve, begging me to clarify the situation.
I glance down at her, amused. "Well, it is true, love."
Bella gasps softly at the term of endearment. Esme positively beams. "Aw, how adorable!" she coos.
"Oh, no!" Bella protests. "It isn't what you think, Esme. You see-"
I pull her closer against me, silencing her. I might as well enjoy this as long as I could. Still, since Bella does seem distressed, I tell Esme, "Not here, Esme. In private."
Slowly, her smile fades. She realizes that Bella must be my assignment, and she isn't pleased. She won't be, until I clarify in absolute secrecy. God, she'll be ecstatic then.
"Very well," Esme concedes. "I'll be waiting at your house, then." She smiles pleasantly at Bella. "See you soon, dear." With one last glare at me, she walks off toward the registers.
I breathe a sigh of relief. Bella is staring at me curiously. "What?" I ask.
She fights a smile. "It's just...I've never seen you look that nervous before."
"The storm isn't over, love," I say. "There's only one woman I'm very much afraid of, and that happens to be my mother."
She laughs. "How ironic."
I grin. "This should be an interesting conversation."
Bella
Esme is gracious and pleasant. It's amusing that Edward is tense on the way home and cringes when he's subjected to her playful glares as we lead her into the house. I understand why, of course. She's caught her son with a woman for the first time, and he's already implied that I'm an assignment. Annoying, but true.
She mutters about what she'll do to Carlisle when she sees him at home while we wait for Edward to make tea. I sit on the sofa while she sits on an armchair across from me. I watch her warily, thinking she's full of many faces and preferring the nice, pleasant smile. When she looks up at me, I involuntarily flinch. It makes her laugh.
"Oh, my dear," Esme chuckles. "I am so sorry. I'm not normally so aggressive. But you have to understand, Bella. When you're dealing with three men in the FBI with lots of secrets, you have to toughen up to get your voice heard." She winks.
I smile. "I can only imagine."
"Especially my younger one." She sighs sadly. "He hates my nagging him about dating and marriage, so he chooses to ignore my calls sometimes. It drives me nuts."
"Edward is so considerate," I say. "He's told me about you, Esme. It's clear he adores you."
Esme flashes me a grateful smile. "I'm glad. He never says it to my face."
"Such crude words, Esme, for such a gracious woman," Edward chides, reentering the room with a tray full of tea and brownies. He sits beside me, much closer than I anticipated.
Her eyes narrow immediately. "You can't blame me."
"No, I can't." He sighs. "I'm sorry, Esme. But I'm currently on an assignment, as you already suspect."
"So you're on a protection detail?"
"Yes." He's cryptic and short.
"Why are you lying to me?" she demands suddenly. "You don't lie, Edward."
Huh, I guess he was telling the truth. But then, what was that about meaning it...?
"What am I lying about?" Edward asks smoothly.
Think about it later. This conversation is much more interesting.
"Her!" I flinch at the irritation in her voice.
"I thought you liked her." He's annoyingly amused.
"I do! And that's why I can't stand this!" She does look very frustrated.
I can't say I'm understanding everything that's going on between them. He looks entertained; she looks upset. Should I leave? It wouldn't matter, since they're conversing like I'm not in the room. Despite my interest in this conversation, I stand up.
Edward immediately looks at me. "Where are you going?"
"Upstairs. I think you need some privacy."
"I'm sorry, my dear," Esme says contritely. "I don't mean to kick you out."
I smile reassuringly. "It's fine, Esme. Take as long as you want."
Edward watches as I leave. It isn't until my door closes that I hear the muffled conversation restart downstairs. I briefly glance at my closed door when I hear Esme shriek. I return to my book with a small smile. He's very lucky to have such a loving mother. It makes me miss my own.
Edward
I turn back to my mother, who has her arms securely crossed. "Untangle yourself, Esme. What am I lying about?"
"Everything!" she hisses. "I suppose you're lying about her name too?"
"What?" I stare at her, then chuckle. "No, I've told you her real name. We're undercover as Edward and Elizabeth Masen, actually."
Her face blanks. "Your biological parents?"
"Yes."
"You told me her..." She trails off. "Why?"
I lower my eyes to the brownies, which Bella made yesterday. How to tell her without giving her the satisfaction? Fuck it. "Because I wanted you to meet her. The real her."
She blinks. Once. Twice. And then, she shrieks, making me wince. "Oh, my God! You love her!"
"Esme!" I hiss. I glance over at the stairs. "Not so loudly."
"You haven't told her?" She looks appalled. "Why ever not?"
I frown at her. "How can I? She has more things to worry about." I pick up my cup of tea and sip with pursed lips.
Esme watches me with a strange expression, torn between amusement and confusion. "Edward and Elizabeth Masen," she says slowly. "I see. You've been acting as newlyweds. Is that a courtesy from the FBI?" She nods at my ring. Her eyes miss nothing.
I lean back against the sofa. "No," I admit. "I got them."
She smiles knowingly. "Yes, and it doesn't seem cheap either."
It's my first time feeling so sheepish in front of my mother. I'm always the good child, even if I do cause my mother to scold me on the lack of women in my life.
"She doesn't know that," I say. "Please don't tell her. She doesn't like it when I spend money on her."
She giggles, very uncharacteristic of my mother. "You're smitten."
"I never take off the ring," I confess. "It's not so much that I'm lazy. I just...don't want to. It feels like I belong to her, like she's with me all the time. It's immature and stupid, but there you are. Satisfied, Mother?"
She shrugs nonchalantly. "A bit." She grins. "No, more than a bit. A lot. Finally! I knew this day would come!"
I sigh, running my fingers through my hair. "I think you're a bit early in your celebration, Esme."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know how she feels about me."
"Posh! It's so obvious and you're so oblivious."
"What, you think she returns my feelings?" I feel like a lovesick teenager, asking for girl advice in front of my mother.
Her eyes twinkle. "Tell me something, son. You're living together, aren't you?"
"Obviously."
"You act like a couple in public. You touch her, she blushes. You kiss her, she doesn't back off."
I stare at her. Maybe my hunch is right after all. Bella isn't oblivious.
"Bella is going through a very hard time right now," Esme says. "Probably the most traumatic she's ever encountered. And through it all, you've been there for her. Sure, you've been her only company, but you two seem to get along well enough. That must leave a mark on her somewhere, right? Emotionally, I mean."
Women are perceptive. A sixth sense. Thank goodness for Esme Cullen. I feel amazing relief flooding through my entire body. It's like a huge burden lifting from my shoulders.
"So you're saying..." I murmur.
"Yes! Make your move!" Esme sounds so aggressive, but I know it's because she's so excited for me. "Confess your feelings first. She might run away at first, but it's not like she can do it physically. She'll come back to you."
"How do you know?" I ask desperately.
She chuckles. "Oh, my son. Such a novice in love. Can't you see it on her face? It's written in block letters: I'm in love with Edward Cullen." She winks.
"You think so?"
"I know so. I'm glad we've gotten that straightened out. Now, tell me." She reaches for her tea. "Tell me why she's being locked up by that stupid protection program."
"She isn't being locked up, Esme. She's free to roam about; I just have to accompany her."
"And she doesn't complain, right?" She laughs. "Tell me her story! What did she witness?"
"You know I'm not allowed to tell you."
"Oh, honey! Who would I tell? Besides, you know Carlisle is weak against me anyway. Chances are, he already told me about the case."
I know I can trust Esme. She's a homebody. Not that she doesn't have any friends; she's simply very devoted to her home life. She likes to go out sometimes, but even then, she's very tight-lipped about her life. I've learned how to handle my private life from her.
"And he should stop spoiling you," I say. I relent with a sigh. "James Keller."
Esme gasps in horror. "No! He's all over the news right now! Oh, that poor girl! She witnessed Keller killing Jessica Stanley?"
I nod grimly. "She's lucky she wasn't caught."
She looks angry. "Catch him, Edward. Catch him and throw that scumbag in jail!"
I can't help but laugh at my mother's attempt at cursing. "I will. And I'll protect Bella."
"Of course you will," she coos, instantly back to maternal mode. "You'll tell her soon, won't you?"
I nod slowly. "I don't think I can hold back any longer."
She giggles again. "Me neither. You look ready to devour her."
My jaw drops. "Esme!"
"Just make sure you're being safe, dear."
"Mom!" Leave it to mothers to embarrass their children.
More giggles. "Perhaps you should've gotten a box of condoms earlier."
I stand up abruptly. I'm already anxious at the thought of telling Bella how I feel about her. It doesn't help that my own mother is pushing for me to bed her.
"Oh, you're so cute when you're in love. Where's my daughter?" She stands up and starts climbing the stairs. "Bella, dear?"
Great. I haven't even confessed yet and already, my mother is calling Bella her daughter. Is she that eager to see me in love?
She's happy that you seem happy, asshole.
Because that's what I am. An asshole. Simply trying to avoid a worried mother who only wants what's best for her son.
Bella seems mildly confused when Esme comes back down with her, chattering away. I meet her gaze and shrug slightly, smiling. She doesn't seem to mind too much, thankfully, and humors Esme in her conversation. In fact, she seems to be enjoying the attention, and part of that probably has to do with her lack of association with other people these days. That makes me even more determined to find James Keller as soon as possible and return Bella back to her normal life.
Hopefully with myself still in the picture.
AN: Review!
