SM OWNS ALL THINGS TWILIGHT
AN; So, this chap is hopefully full of fluffy moments for all our couples. I know, it's a CXE story, but they have all had a hell of a day. I thought I'd show them all a little love. Thought it would be more realistic, to see them have some thoughts about what happened. Hope you don't mind indulging me. Meeting with Angie next chap. I'm now on twitter, I'm ci5girl there, there was another Scribe4hire! Come say hi, I'll be rambling as I usually do, about writing and life in general. Will give update news, answer questions, discuss how hot Peter F is looking! Rob too…really didn't want to become Robsessed…damn. Wolves are welcome too!LOL!
ESME POV
Carlisle had barely had chance to close the front door behind us before I pushed him back against it, wrapping one arm round his waist and burying my head in his neck. I was whimpering softly but I didn't care and neither did he, as he made a very similar sound as he wrapped his arms round me and laid his cheek against my hair. There is only so long even the most professional of people can maintain their composure, especially after a day we had just lived through, and Carlisle and I had reached our limit. I found my breathing falling into the slow steady rhythm of his heart.
"You're safe…" he mumbled finally, in a tone that was a strange mix of matter of fact and relief.
"I am now." I replied weakly. Carlisle whimpered softly, before exhaling in a noisy, ragged rush which seemed to take the tension in his body with it. I pulled away from his chest a little, so I could look up into his face. He was exhausted, it looked like he had two black eyes, so dark and deep were the dark circles against his pale skin. I knew I couldn't have looked any better.
"We're off duty; at home…please say I can kiss you now." I almost pleaded.
"Oh god yes…please…" he replied.
"That damn please…gets me every time…" I chuckled softly as I reached up and pressed my lips softly against his, unable to help the soft moan that escaped me as I did so. He tasted of coffee, cigarettes and Carlisle and I couldn't get enough. My hands slipped up around his neck, my fingers gently rubbing at the nape of his neck.
"I love you…" he moaned round the edge of our kiss, his lips becoming a little more insistent as his hand twisted in my hair and he tilted my head to deepen the kiss. I chuckled softly as he barely gave me chance to open my mouth, before his tounge began exploring and reclaiming my mouth, my tounge, my taste. It had been nearly thirty six hours since I had been able to really hold him, feel him, but so much had happened to us both in those thirty six hours it felt so much longer. And my response to him was just as urgent and desperate.
My next moan however, was of pain rather than pleasure. My ribs meant that I couldn't breathe as deeply as I needed to continue the kiss, especially when Carlisle tightened his arms round me a little too much. I stepped back a little.
"God, I'm sorry love…" he said, a look of horror on his face, his hands falling to his sides.
"Carlisle…please never apologize for kissing me like that…sometimes one of your knee tremblers, tells me better…" I breathed.
"My what?" he asked chuckling in amusement.
"You can, on occasion…kiss me with such passion, such intensity…it takes my breath away, and makes my knees tremble…" I whispered dropping my head as I felt a hot blush begin creeping up my neck.
"Really?" he asked.
I looked up to see, as I had hoped, his upset at hurting me replaced by a smug smirk.
"Yes…but that doesn't mean you can rest on your laurels mister…I did, if you remember, say that these kisses happened on occasion…" I teased, kissing the end of his chin. Being kissed by Carlisle was always amazing, but there were times when it was truly mind blowing.
"As soon as you're feeling better…we will be working on that…a lot…" he growled, kissing my nose sweetly his hands coming back to rest lightly on my hips. But no amount of light hearted teasing, could stop the horrors of the day from forcing there way back into our minds.
" That bastard Julian…when I saw that knife…Christ Mae…I felt so damn helpless…" he moaned, his head falling back and hitting the door.
"There was nothing you could have done…maybe I should have waited till we got outside, given you the chance at a shot…but I didn't want to risk a passerby, or myself…" I said, the last word coming out in a growl as I hung my head in recognition of the fact, that he had been right to tell me off for taking off my vest. I waited for him to say something, most notably 'I told you so', but he didn't. I looked up.
"What? I've reprimanded you for that…it's done, over. I don't keep on throwing someone's mistakes back at them unless…they refuse to learn from them…" he said with a slight smirk.
"What you said to Julian…about not letting work consume you…" I said quietly. We had talked about this a little, but I was worried that what had happened to me, and the revelation that we had been working against people who were supposed to be on our side, might make him change that decision.
"I still mean it, despite everything that's happened… I'm really going to try love, although there is a part of me that really wants to say fuck the lot of them, pack up and take you on a really long honeymoon, somewhere very remote, and very hot… Leave the two faced bastards to destroy each other with all their scheming. But I can't…there are good people out there, who need my help…our help…"he said his eyes blazing with his passion.
"You truly are a wonderful and very noble man DCS Cullen…" I said sincerely, cupping his face in my hands. "But I know the real reason you wouldn't do that is because, you're too scared of the cruel and unusual methods of torture that a certain tiny, scary, hormonal wedding planner would subject us to if we messed up her plans and disappeared indefinitely." I said in mock seriousness. I had asked the question, forgetting just how easily Carlisle could be consumed and start to brood, we were both too damn tired physically and emotionally to do that now. My distraction seemed to work, as Carlisle was chuckling as he tipped his forehead against mine.
"It's terrible to say, but Julian is sort of lucky that MI8 have whisked him off, to where ever they've taken him. Because, I think if Alice got the chance to see him and vent all her feelings about what happened to us all… to Jasper…who is fine…" he said in answer to my questioning gaze. I knew he had called Alice and Jasper earlier at the office, but I hadn't had the energy to ask him what she had said. "Apart from being seriously pissed off about being kept in hospital overnight…pregnant or not…it would be bloody…" he chuckled softly shaking his head. His smile faded however, when he saw the wince of pain that I couldn't control. "Enough shop talk…as you said, we're off duty and at home…and as I said to Leah, you need looking after." he said his voice and his eyes, becoming soft as he gently tucked my hair behind my ears.
"We both do after days like this. Carlisle, I know it won't always work, but I would really like to make a deal that DCS Cullen and Agent Cullen can have a debrief of the day here…" I said stamping my foot on the doormat. "But after that…the rest of our home is where Mr. and Mrs. Cullen live love and take care of each other…no real shop talk." I said holding out my hand for him to shake and seal the deal.
Carlisle smiled. It wouldn't always be possible for us not to bring work home with us, but I could see, that Carlisle loved the idea of coming home and literally leaving the stresses of the day at the door.
"Deal." He said softly taking my hand and raising it to his lips.
We didn't say much as we waited for and then devoured, the take out we had ordered on our way home and which arrived ten minutes after our little debrief had ended. I was sat as comfortably as I could be in Carlisle's arms on the sofa, my back against his chest, my head resting on his shoulder, then he started to move.
"Where are you going?" I pouted gripping hold of his leg.
"To run you a bath…Mae, even with the painkillers…you're going to be damn sore in the morning…this might help a little." He said kissing the top of my head. I knew he was right, but I wasn't ready to be break the comforting and soothing contact of his body yet. As gently as he could, he moved me and stood up.
"Yes Doctor Cullen." I pouted. He growled lowly. "But only if you join me, I might need a little help washing…everywhere…" I hissed as my attempt to laugh, caused sharp jolts of pain to begin coursing through my heavy, exhausted body.
"Don't worry Mrs Cullen…I plan on taking very good care of you…and thoroughly examining, the damage that has been done to my beautiful wife. " Carlisle said softly, leaning back over me on the sofa and resting his hands either side of my head, as he leant in to kiss me tenderly.
When the bath was ready, Carlisle came back into the lounge, swept me gently into his arms and carried me back into the bathroom.
"For a man who had no desire to be a doctor, you have a very smooth bedside manner." I teased.
Carlisle laughed.
"You are the only patient I'd want to take care of love…"
"Good." I growled, lightly scratching down his bare chest.
Carlisle helped me out of my boots, socks and the jeans I had been wearing with a smart blazer.
"They can all go in the bin." I sighed. Carlisle didn't argue. His own jacket and shirt had been balled up and flung in the corner of the bathroom.
"Oh my…" Carlisle hissed as he helped me remove my shirt and bra, getting his first look at the deep black and blue bruises that covered mainly the left side of my body. "Mae…my god…look what he…" Carlisle breathed, his voice pained, his eyes shining with tears as he looked between my body and my face.
"I'd rather not…not tonight…please…" I whispered, shivering from shock more than cold. I tilted his chin up to keep his gaze on my face. I was hurting, exhausted and feeling increasingly emotional. Carlisle stepped forward, lightly brushing my lips and then the dressing which covered my stitches with his own. His fingers ghosted gently over my damaged skin. He quickly stripped off the rest of his clothes, before stepping into the thankfully deep and large tub and helping me join him. We both moaned deeply at the feel of the hot water against our tired and aching muscles, Carlisle's hands, were heartbreakingly gentle as he washed my body down, taking extra care to keep my wound dry. We didn't talk, preferring to let the hot water sooth our bodies and the touch and feel of each other sooth our minds.
It wasn't until we were out of the bath and getting ready for bed, that I saw the deep, painful looking bruises that ran down the right side of Carlisle's body from his rib cage to his hip.
"Oh Carlisle…" I breathed.
He turned from where he was pulling some sleep clothes out of the dresser, dropping his eyes down his body to follow my pained gaze.
"It's nothing…" he began.
"Come here…let me see." I said in a tone that brokered no argument.
I was sitting on end of the bed applying arnica to my bruises. I moved my legs so he could stand between them. I let my hands gently ghost over the tender skin before repeating the path with my lips. He sighed deeply, his hand resting on my head. There was nothing sexual in our movements this was a time for tenderness and caring.
"My poor Carlisle…" I sighed. My heart clenching painfully in my chest, as I was overwhelmed by love and the need to take care of this wonderful man.
"It feels better already…" he joked.
"Do you remember what I said earlier?" I asked as I began applying the cool arnica liquid to his side. "That this, was the place where Mr. and Mrs. Cullen took care of each…other…" I said pointedly.
A noisy breath escaped Carlisle. He gazed down at me and I could see the pain in his eyes and the apology forming on his lips.
'No love…there's no need to apologize, I know it'll always be hard to believe that we're actually here together…but I am here Carlisle…and no matter what the bastards out there throw at me during the day, nothing will ever be as important to me as loving and taking care of you…" I said, my voice cracking a little with emotion at what I was trying to say, and the intense look of love and heartbreakingly, gratitude in Carlisle's eyes as he bent down to claim my mouth in a tender kiss.
"I don't know what the hell I did to deserve you…" he said roughly, his hand cupping my face.
"I was thinking the same thing…" I sighed, leaning my cheek into his hand and covering it with my own. "But I thank god every day, that I found you…twice…and that, you're strong enough, that you make me strong enough, to take whatever comes and that you can still love me…always…" I whispered, not caring as the tears trickled from the corners of my eyes. Carlisle pulled me to my feet gently. He pulled me flush against him. The soft moan that escaped me, was not caused by lust, we were both too damn exhausted and sore, it was the look of fierce, intense love burning in his eyes. This man after everything we had been through loved me, truly, completely…
"Always, Mrs. Cullen…I will love you always…" he whispered, his fingers ghosting over my cheeks, his thumbs wiping away my tears.
"Forever, Mr. Cullen…I will love you, and only you…forever."
JASPER POV
I'm not an overly religious man, but as I glanced between my heavily bandaged left shoulder and my beautiful…pregnant…wife, who was tucked beneath my right arm, her head on my chest as she slept. I said a silent thank you; to whoever the hell it was up there that had allowed me to come out of today with a wound that could have been a hell of a lot worse, and more hope and excitement for the future than I had known it was capable to feel.
Today's operation had been fucked up. As if it wasn't bad enough that the sonofabitch had dared threaten the friends that I regarded as family, he had threatened my Alice, my reason for being…the mother of my child. I was unable to stop the shudder which ripped through me, as I allowed my mind to drift to that horrific thought once more.
"…'S alright Jazzy…we're here…" Alice mumbled, not waking from her sleep as she stroked my chest with one hand, whilst pulling my arm further round and up her body with the other, allowing my hand to rest over her stomach.
We're here she had said. We had tried for so long, been through so much pain both physical and emotional, in our quest to have a child and now…by some miracle, a miracle that had been threatened by first Theirson and then Cosgrove…it was happening…I was going to be a father. Alice, my beautiful, hyperactive, demanding, loving, wonderful Alice was going to me a mother…
"Alice…if this…if my job, if you think it's going to be too much for you to cope with, during your pregnancy and after…I'll quit…" I had said in one of the rare moments of clarity, being allowed to me by the strong painkillers I was being given. And I had meant it; I would do anything to keep her and the baby safe and free from the worry that had been traumatizing us both over the last few weeks.
"And that is why I love you so much Jas…but I was wrong, you came back to me…a little beaten up, but you came back to me and the baby. I was scared baby…terrified…but you are incredible at your job, all of you are…I know he was a criminal, out for his own ends, but Cosgrove came to you because he was desperate, scared and he knew he could trust you guys to help him. You guys are a special team and I'm not going to stand in the way of that…" Alice had said, her large eyes shining with unshed tears and fierce emotion. "And I promise that although she might not always show it, this baby will be just as proud of you as I am."
"You are a wonderful, amazing woman…" I had sighed.
"I know…" she had giggled as she had hopped up onto the bed beside me, answering my silent plea to hold her and the baby that apparently was going to be a girl. Emmett, who had stuck to Alice like a second shadow through everything that had happened today, and driven her down to the hospital just outside London were I was being forced to stay, had shook his head when I had revealed Alice's pronouncement and declared that I would have a head of white, not grey hair and be bankrupt by the time I was forty five.
I couldn't wait.
EDWARD POV
What a fucking day!
I knew it was going to be tough, it always was when Carlisle and the team were moving in for the kill on a big op, but fucking hell.
Resting my hands on the cool tile of the shower, I let my head drop forward and the hot water cascade over the aching muscles in my back. I had seen some sites in Iraq and Afghanistan, but never anything as intense as what I had seen in that small forest clearing. The water was almost scalding hot, but my body was shaking.
Felix had threatened everyone I loved, everyone who went out of their way to love me just that little bit more in an attempt to make up for the fucked up emotional desert that was my childhood.
It had been adrenaline and a fierce almost animalistic need to protect Alice, Rose, Emmett, Jasper, Mae… and maybe more importantly Carlisle, that had given me the strength to drive that car. Cosgrove had said very little on the journey, his mind obviously pre occupied with thoughts of trying to protect his own loved one, before the head injury that he had obviously suffered could incapacitate him, which I was convinced judging by the slurring of his speech and the tremor in his hands it would have done.
What happened after he jabbed the shot gun in my side and ordered me to drive into the clearing was a bit of a blur. All I could remember were faces. Mae's, there was no fear for herself, just anxiety for the Prince. The leader of the hit team could have spun round at any minute and taken her out, but she had still gone to the SUV and tried to reassure the Prince. And then, when Theirson had been in danger, she had stepped out of her flimsy cover into the sights of Cosgrove, who in his state could have quite easily have killed her as well as the leader and calmly done what she had needed to do to try and save Theirson.
Then came the Prince's face, pale…stunned, and later, full of gratitude. I felt for him. He had been through so much already but this type of trauma was on a truly different scale. I really hoped he would receive the support he needed to overcome it.
Carlisle- his voice had told of his worry for Mae and the team. But as he had stridden down the embankment he had exuded strength, power, stability, control, reassurance. And when he had seen me and overcome his shock at my presence, I had seen just how much he truly loved me, and how terrified he was at the thought that something might have happened to me. We had spoken briefly on the phone, but I was desperate to see him and make sure he was alright, not that I doubted Mae's ability to take care of him. The look that had passed between them, had almost taken my breath away with the complexity and intensity of the emotions it contained. But it had passed as quickly as it had come, and they had quickly focused on the job in hand once more.
All I could remember about Jasper's face was the goofy smile when Carlisle had told him Alice was pregnant. The man was the definition of ecstatic at that moment. Alice's face however managed to push his aside for a moment; she had gone from shock and fear when Cosgrove had burst into my apartment, to sheer unadulterated, terror when I had had to tell her that Jasper had been shot. She hadn't screamed or cried, she had simply stood before me not moving, not even breathing. If your eyes really are the windows to your soul, I had clearly seen in her large brown orbs, the moment her soul had been ripped in half. Even when I had finally managed to get her to focus and listen to me, so I could tell her that Jasper would be okay, the raw relief had been almost too intense to witness.
BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ, BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ, BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Flinging myself across my bed I snatched up the phone. I had told Alice to call me if there were any problems with either her or Jasper and Carlisle to call if Mae started to suffer unexpected side effects from her injuries. Julian fucking Cavendish, the man who had gone out of his way to help me! The smiling fucking assassin who had almost killed my three members of my family! Sonofabitch, if I could get my hands round his fat fucking neck!
"Hello…"I panted.
"Hi Edward…its Bella…am I disturbing you?" came the beautiful voice I hadn't realized I was so desperate to hear until I heard it.
"No…sorry, I was in the shower…God Bella…it's so good to hear your voice."
Okay we had met exactly four times, apart from the afternoon we had spent at Alice's for Rose's birthday BBQ, Christ was that only two days ago? It felt like a lifetime ago. Bella was probably thinking I was some creepy stalker.
"Um…" she began. I could almost see her chewing on her lip and toying with the lock of hair that always blew in her face. "Rose called and told me you'd had a pretty rough day…me too, I was wondering if you wanted to meet up?" she stammered nervously. Okay I now hated Felix Cosgrove even more. I was so wiped out, I knew I was going to struggle to get up off this bed let alone go out.
"Bella I'd love to I really would…" losing myself in those deep brown pools, whilst listening to that almost musical laugh for a few hours, before I was left alone in the darkness with only my tortured mind for company would be heaven.
"Please Edward I know we haven't known each other that long, but…"
But when we talk it feels like we've known each other for years, you understand the mad ramblings that come out of my messed up head better than anyone I've ever met. I thought. And that please…
"I know what you mean…okay, where and when?"
"Um your place…as quickly as you can, because I think the lady across the hall is getting ready, to either call the police or the newspapers." Bella chuckled softly.
I wrenched the door open to find Bella in the hall loaded down with DVD's ice cream and other movie snacks and Mrs Willis from across the hall shamelessly ogling me.
"Nice distraction technique…I think it'll take her a week to remember her own name, let alone mine…" Bella laughed as she brushed past me into the apartment. Confused, I looked down to see I was only wearing the towel I had grabbed when I had raced out of the shower. Any embarrassment I might feel when I remembered this moment in years to come, would always be quickly replaced by the intense feelings of comfort and safety I would feel for the first time in my life that night, as I fell asleep in Bella's arms.
ROSE POV
This wasn't the first time I had faced a gunman, my job was mainly lab based, but I had once had to go out in the field with Mae. We had joined a drug dealer's party on a yacht, our assignment to find and test the new super strength, synthetic cocaine he was attempting to import. I had almost been finished with my test, when the door had been flung open and we had been confronted by a strung out rock star with a gun. Mae had managed to talk him down and we escaped, I hadn't stopped shaking or being physically sick for a week.
I had suffered the same reaction today, but not because I was scared for myself, it was the thought of having something happen to the people who I had, even after so short a time come to regard as not just friends, but family, that had frightened me. And the thought of something happening to the big, loud, irritating, loving, wonderful man I adored, had fucking terrified me. Emmett was everything I had always said I hated in a man, but I couldn't imagine living my life without him. He loved me so completely, so openly, so honestly, if I pissed him off he told me, and we fought, hard and loud. He didn't treat me like I was made of china. He treated me like a woman…his woman, and I loved it.
Emmett had cultivated a happy go lucky image, that really was for the most part, who he was, but as I had found out during the long intense conversation we had at his friend Stephen's grave and later in the pub, he was a man whose emotions ran incredibly deep, especially when it came to people he loved. But, that didn't stop him being incredibly annoying.
"Em…please…I really just want to sleep…" I whined. I was desperate to sleep, but Emmett was insisting that we listen to the radio.
"Five more minutes babe…please."
I huffed as I felt him wrap his strong arms around me and pull me back against his big broad chest.
"And this next song is for Rosie from Emmett…Emmett says, he knows that the last few days haven't been that great and that you didn't have the best of birthdays, but he promises that he'll make it up to you on your trip to Vegas…"
My heart, which had been pounding in my chest as I listened to the DJ's words, felt like it had stopped. Vegas! I had always wanted to go to Vegas!
"Emmett also says, that he's fully intending to lose his shirt in Vegas because, he used up all his luck the day he met you…this is for you Rosie…
You touch these tired eyes of mine.
And map my face line by line
And somehow growing old feels fine
I listen close for I'm not that smart
You wrap your thoughts in works of art
And they're hanging on the walls of my heart
I may not have the softest touch
I may not say the words as such
And though I may not look like much
I'm yours
And though my edges may be rough
And never feel I'm quite enough
It may not seem like very much
But I'm yours
You've healed these scars over time
Embraced my soul
You loved my mind
You're the only angel in my life
The day the news came that my best friend died
My knees went weak and you saw me cry
Say I'm still the soldier in your life.
"Emmett McCarty, you are…" I sobbed as I loosened his arms round my waist and began to turn to face him.
"Fast asleep…" I huffed in a tearful chuckle as I came face to face with a snoring Emmett. "But I love you anyway…" I whispered.