SM OWNS ALL TWILIGHT
AN: Thankyou all for brilliant, thoughtful and incredibly kind reviews. I'm so happy that I am still able to keep you interested and entertained. I really hope you will stick around. I really couldn't, wouldn't want to do it without you all. It did make me giggle, how nearly all of you, admitted your fav part of last chap was Mae teasing Carlisle in the lift. Lol This chap is a bit of fluff, before the heavy part of plot kicks off. Hope you enjoyx
"Maaaaeee…" Alice wheedled, hopping up on the kitchen counter next to where I was in the process of trying to make lunch for Rose, her and myself. It was Saturday morning, and Carlisle and Jasper had gone to "offer technical advice" as Emmett shopped for a new car. Carlisle insisted that their way of shopping, was in no way similar to the way we girls shopped, just before enthusiastically and excitedly agreeing to Jasper's suggestion to just 'having a quick look on the way back,' in some new gadget store that had opened in London. And maybe "if there was time", HMV as they all needed some new DVD's for their collection and "there was a sale" on, as Emmett had remarked matter of factly. The girls and I had closed the door on them arguing adorably about where to stop for lunch.
"Allllicce." I replied turning my head and smiling at her. Breast feeding, exercise and just the generally 'being a mum,' meant that she had lost almost all, of the little weight she had gained whilst pregnant with Danielle. She still had a few pounds that she was desperate to loose, but I thought as did Carlisle when I teasingly pressed him on it, that the added roundness to her figure and her slightly fuller face really suited her. Or maybe it was just the happiness and contentment we had been dazzled by? I thought fondly.
"Can you and Carlisle please…babysit?" she said stealing a piece of cucumber I was cutting up for the salad we were having, to accompany our lasagna and starting to nibble on it daintily.
"When?" I asked cautiously.
I was desperate to spend more time with the beautiful little girl, who was currently dozing happily in her Auntie Rose's arms, but Carlisle I and the team were working flat out on the Volturi, Georgiou case, that we knew could explode at any minute.
"Tonight." She said quickly biting down on her lower lip nervously, in a totally un Alice like gesture. The real Alice quickly returned however.
"Jasper and I reaaallly, really need some proper alone time…quickies in between feeds, washing and everything else we have to do are fine…but I really want to make the most of these bad girls, whilst I still have them…" she said cupping the larger than usual breasts she had developed in pregnancy and maintained during breast feeding. "I'm hoping that if I get him drunk enough and flaunt the girls in the new lingerie I have bought, he won't notice what a whale I've become." She sighed.
"If you carrying what?...five extra pounds at most makes you a whale, what damn hope is there for the rest of us who are carrying a…little bit more?" Rose growled as she walked over and joined us, carrying a peaceful Danielle in her portable car seat.
"But it's alright for you two…you're built like some damn amazon…" Alice pouted looking at Rose. "And you, what with all the ass kicking you do chasing bad guys, and the wild, kinky sex you and Carlisle have in every spare moment, you don't have time to eat enough to gain weight…" she said scowling at me.
"We are not kinky! It was just the once! To prove a point…it's not like I really hurt him…my hand slipped when he grabbed my…" I babbled, the words escaping me before I had chance to stop them.
"I knew it! I knew it!" Alice trilled rubbing her hands together, and kicking her legs like a small child.
"Okay, can someone please fill me in? Rose scowled.
"Just how badly do you need to get laid? I asked Alice innocently causing her smile to fade into a scowl.
"Aww come on…" Rose pleaded.
"Let's just say, Mae got a little creative during her and Carlisle's make up session the other day. And she left him with a little reminder…" Alice said.
"It will heal. Christ…how did you even notice it?" I said.
Carlisle had a small little burn on his collar bone where I had accidently spilt more of the candle wax than I intended. He had shocked and totally distracted me.
"Jazzy has a similar scar, but somewhere a little more…intimate…" she giggled. "Ahh, happy days…" she then sighed wistfully.
"Um, here's a phrase you two might want to remember…not infront of the child…" Rose hissed, nodding her head towards Danielle.
Alice snorted noisily with laughter.
"Thankyou Snow White…" she said sarcastically scowling at Rose. "Do I need to bring up my Egyptian Cotton sheets, the ones you ruined when you and Em got your own freak on with…honey?" she drawled evily.
"I replaced those." Rose insisted.
"Okay, okay…yes Alice, Carlisle and I would love to babysit…" I said Rose's words had made me feel weirdly guilty about talking about our sex lives in front of Danielle. Who strangely seemed to be laughing along with us
"Um, okay…we're only babysitting for one night right?" I said a bit later when Alice came stumbling back through the door, with the extra clothes, nappies and toys she had bought with her "just incase" I said yes.
"Um, well… I was hoping maybe till lunch time…" she said looking nervous once more. " I've expressed enough milk…and I really would love to have a drink or two…and a proper breakfast with Jazz. He hasn't read me the funny papers in ages…" she sighed. "No, maybe you're right…maybe it's too soon." She said, her face and voice suddenly filled with the guilt of a new mother leaving her baby overnight for the first time.
" No, no Alice…it's fine, truly…it's just we have two house viewings in the morning." I said quickly.
"Really? Oh that's great…and Danni can be my eyes and ears can't you angel? She already has fabulous taste…don't you baby?…yes…you do. You were such a good girl, projectile vomiting all over that truly vile frilly, lacy thing that Jasper's mother bought for her…" Alice said a smile on her face, but a sadly bitter tone in her voice as she leant forward to nuzzle Danielle who I was now holding. Danielle grabbed at her mother's face attempting to suck on her nose.
Jasper's parents, had deigned to spare an afternoon during their recent trip to London to meet their granddaughter. It had been a strained and awkward meeting, for all and one that would not likely to be repeated in a hurry. Not when Danielle had two adopted 'grandfather's' who adored and fought over her in Danny and Embry, grandmothers in Sue and Bridie, adoring uncles in Emmett, Edward and Carlisle and aunties in Me, Rose, Charlotte and even Bella Swan.
"Will they be at the Christening?" I asked gently.
" They said they'd try, but Hank has a very busy schedule…" Alice said as she gently prized Danielle's eager, grasping hands off of her earring. Danielle was nearly four months now, and interested in every sight and sound around her. She was also starting to smile for real, and the boys were forever trying to be the first to make her smile. It was a comical sight to see, especially when she seemed to look at them in a way that seemed like she was humouring and pitying them.
"He'll never admit it, but I know Jasper would like them there…show them, make them proud…"
"Have you done the invitations yet?"
"No, St Thomas' is booked up for the next three months. I know it's crazy, but it's her first special day and I really want to make it nice for her. I want the big, pretty church, so everyone who loves her can come and see my…pretty, pretty baby girl on her special day." Alice cooed. Danielle now had her head resting on my shoulder and Alice was sitting with her head pressed back against the sofa cushion at an angle pulling faces at her. As much as I hated interrupting the beautiful sound of Danielle babbling away in my ear, and actually laughing at Alice
"Rose, pass me the phone…" I said suddenly.
"Hello Frank? How are you? Oh good…I'm so pleased she liked the flowers…don't be silly, it was no bother. Yes Frank I'll tell him…Frank, The Lord's Chapel, Carlisle and I are intitled to use it aren't we?"
"Mae noo, you can't…" Alice hissed.
"Yes Mae, you can…" Rose grinned in delight.
"That's what I thought, how many does it hold?...seventy five? Really…could you check when it's next available…a christening…six weeks…"
Alice was now nodding in disbelief, in answer to my unasked question as to whether that was okay.
"We'll take it. It's for the christening of our goddaughter…Miss Danielle Mae Whitlock…thankyou Frank…oh yes…the official embossed invitations would be fine."
"Oh my god…my daughter is being christened in the House of Lords private Chapel…You do realize Royalty have been baptized in that font?" Alice said slowly when I put the phone down.
Whilst Rose and Alice and Danielle, who Alice was now hoisting in the air, chatted excitedly, I took a moment to take in the fact that I had just used my title. I had sworn never to use it for unimportant things and personal gain, but I hadn't been able to help myself, especially when I saw just how much happiness it bought to the people that meant so much to me.
"Okay, so she can be a little cranky with her 9o'clock feed. You just have to give her a little more time…and I did show you how the travel cot goes up right, and how to attach the padded bumper. She's a wriggler…You have my cell number. Maybe I should take her home and then bring her back later before we leave…" Alice babbled.
"Alice…honey, we'll be fine…yes I'll call you if we need you…Carlisle will be home any minute, so I don't think there will really be time for me to do her any real harm…"
"Noo, I didn't mean it like that. Jesus, there is no one else Jasper and I would trust her with. It's just…it's the first time I've been away from her since she was born…and I feel bad…I mean effectively kicking the poor kid out so Jazz and I can…I mean, that's not all we'll be doing…we'll be talking too…God I miss talking to him, listening to him talk. That accent…gets me every damn time." she stammered looking between the door and Danielle who was now sleeping in her bouncy chair.
" Alice I know…" I said placing my hands on her shoulders. " You and Jazz need some proper time, and it's only one night… And yes, you have my permission to remind me of this moment, the first time Carlisle and I leave our first with you and Jazz for the night and I start panicking." I said with a small huff of laughter.
"I can't wait…" Alice said her smile wide, and her eyes soft with emotion as she squeezed my arm.
"Neither can I…" I said softly. "Now go…go show Jazz just what he's been missing…just remember we do need him back at work on Monday in one piece…" I laughed.
"I make no promises…" Alice growled casting one last glance back at Danielle over her shoulder before hurrying out the door.
For all my confident words to Alice, I was actually a little nervous about being alone with Danielle. Carlisle and I had babysat for her before, but that had only been for two hours and we had been together.
Damn it Mae! Get a grip. You'll have your own baby soon enough and Carlisle won't be around all day then either. You can do this. I moved quietly round the kitchen tidying up after our lunch, all the while keeping an eye on and chatting to Danielle, who was concentrating on trying to get her foot in her mouth. It was odd, but I felt a strange sense of contentment settle over me. I really couldn't wait for this to be my life.
Just over an hour and two phone calls from Alice later, I was changing a now wide awake Danielle's nappy in our bedroom, when I heard Carlisle's key in the lock. It seemed Danielle heard as well, as Danielle turned her head towards the sound and started to babble.
"Who's that? What can you hear clever girl?" I said my eyes wide and voice high as I gently pulled her into a sitting position.
"Is that uncle Carlisle? Is it? Shall we go see…yes…shall we…?" I crooned scooping her up off the changing met on the bed and walking out into the lounge.
"Hi sweetheart, sorry I'm…" Carlisle began but stopped when he saw me standing in the doorway with Danielle. The look in his eyes went from surprise, to a look of such deep love, happiness and longing that it took my breath away.
Danielle truly was the perfect mix of her parents, as with perfect timing and dramatic but adorable enthusiasm, she began wriggling in my arms and reaching for Carlisle, easing the intense emotions of moments before.
"I said we'd babysit…till tomorrow lunchtime…do you mind?" I said quickly. The brief but incredibly tender kiss Carlisle gave me as he came to take Danielle from me, gave me my answer.
"Car…li…sle…" Carlisle crooned at Danielle
Danielle babbled a sound that sounded like Car in response, causing Carlisle to beam in triumph.
"Did you hear that? She said my name…you said Carlisle didn't you…clever girl…" Carlisle announced in delight.
"Yes Carlisle I heard." I said soothingly.
"She did…" he pouted as he looked across the jungle gym Danielle was lying beneath on the floor. We were sat either side of her totally entranced by her.
"Who are you calling?" I asked as I saw him pull out his cell.
"Emmett. He's been crowing for ages that he's the one that got her to laugh first…"
"Carlisle…shut the phone." I said a little sharply. "Emmett is wrong. The first person that Dani laughed for was Jasper. He has timed and dated film on his phone to prove it." I chuckled softly.
"Yes Jasper, she's fine…she's giving Carlisle a bath now." I chuckled a little while later, when I left the bathroom to answer the sixth call of the night, which had this time come from Jasper. I was telling the truth. It appeared that Danielle was very much a water baby, who began almost chuckling with delight as her strong and very long legs, began thrashing the water. It was becoming clearer that she was going to have Alice's dark hair, large expressive eyes and almost doll like face, but Jasper's height and lean build. She was going to be a real heart breaker.
"Okay do you think it's too early to put her down for the 2026 Olympic swim team?" Carlisle joked as I re entered the room.
"No…yes…what?" I stammered. My attention had been caught by the sight of Carlisle's soaked grey T-shirt which was clinging to the broad, well defined planes of his chest like a sinful second skin.
I told Carlisle to get her out of her little bath, which we had fitted in ours, whilst I laid out her adorable little sleep suit in the bedroom. I heard her whimper in protest as Carlisle lifted her out. There was a pause, before I heard Carlisle say quietly that "five more minutes couldn't hurt."
"Carlisle!" I called sharply. "You are not going to become one of those fathers." I said.
"What type of fathers?" he asked confused, stepping back into the bedroom carrying Danielle. It was my turn now to be rendered speechless at the sight of him holding the baby. He had stripped off his wet T-shirt and was holding Danielle, who looked adorable in her monogrammed towel with hood, tightly against his bare chest.
One that photographers spent hours in studios trying to create. But which, I, my…our children were going to be lucky enough to have for real. I thought to myself, before shaking my head to try and clear it.
"Um…the ones who's kid comes up and says "Daddy I wanna pony" I said in my best spoilt child voice. "Only for him to say okay sweetie, what colour?" I replied.
He smirked slightly
"Have no fear my love. As beautiful, cute, loving and able as I'm sure Harper will be, of twisting me round her little finger, I have no intention of our daughter growing up to be an air headed socialite that is neither use nor ornament." He said seriously.
"Harper?" I whispered.
Carlisle looked shocked for a minute, then annoyed.
"It's a name I like…at the moment…and you did say, naming our daughter was down to me…" he said quickly his face full of concern that I was about to change my mind.
"I did." I said softly. Harper Cullen. World, I would like you to meet my daughter…Harper Cullen…
Danielle chose that moment to remind us that whilst Harper was still a beautiful dream, she was very much a reality.
"She has Alice's eyes…"
"But Jasper's nose…"
"Really? Do you think?" I said looking a little closer at the baby now fast asleep on our bed. Alice had told us, that the easiest way to get her to sleep was to lay her on our bed and just talk to her. Carlisle and I were laying either side of her on our sides, just looking at her.
"I hope Harper has your eyes…" I said suddenly.
Carlisle growled lowly in his throat. "As I said, that name is likely to change…and I'd like her to have your eyes…and curls…" he said softly.
"Oh noo, my hair was a nightmare when I was little. My mom had to chase me round the house to try and comb it through." I chuckled softly.
"Sue had to chase me round, to get me into a bath when I was little…"Carlisle chuckled.
"So you were a real little boy then." I said. Images of a blonde blue eyed little boy, our son…Alexander Jonathan Cullen, covered in mud and looking up at me giving me the lopsided Cullen grin flooded my mind.
"I had my moments…I loved to read and stuff, but I really loved to be outside when I had the chance. I liked to climb trees, get dirty…be a normal boy…when I got the chance" he said softly.
"Well I'm sure AJ won't mind you tagging along and reliving a little of your child hood…" I said.
"AJ? Aww come on…intitials…I gave you a name…" he pouted.
"That could change…" I reminded him.
"So could this one…" he argued.
I shook my head. "No, our son will remain "a defender/protector of the people" who will be a truly loved, adored and cherished "gift from God" I said trying to emphasize the meanings of the two names I had chosen.
Danielle was a little cranky during the night, but we managed to soothe her, with the aide of the chilled teething ring Alice had left. We were both relieved when she settled. It tore at both of us, to hear her so distressed.
I panicked slightly when I woke a little later to find both Carlisle's side of the bed and Danielle's travel cot empty. Had she been crying? Had I not heard her? Oh my god, what if I didn't hear AJ or Harper? What I Carlisle was having to work?
"Carlisle…" I called almost falling out of bed and stumbling into the lounge.
Carlisle was sitting at the dining table with Danielle on his lap as he looked at his lap top, which was on the table infront of them.
"Heh, sorry did we wake you? She was awake, so I thought Detective Constable Whitlock could help me with my enquiries, into the name of my future son."
"Should I be jealous of this new crime fighting team?" I teased as I walked over and slipped my arm round Carlisle's shoulder. Danielle tipped her head back to look at me. I gave her a big smile and stroked her soft cheek with my free hand.
Carlisle chuckled softly.
"Weell, what she lacks in stature and patience…" he teased indicating how she was striking out at the lapW tops buttons, "she makes up for in enthusiasm" he said kissing the top of her head.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" I asked.
Carlisle turned and looked up at me, even in the dim grey early morning light, I could see the softness and emotion in his eyes.
"Alexander Jonathan Cullen…" he said softly, seeming to caress each name with love as he said them. "He sounds like he's going to be quite a man…"
"Well, he has one hell of a father for a role model…" I said softly as I leant down and kissed Carlisle.
"Okay, are you sure that clock is right? It can't be only 11.30…I…we've been up for…since…"
"About five, although I don't think either of us really went back to sleep after her three o'clock feed…" Carlisle said wearily.
Casting a glance in the mirror, I saw Danielle wide awake and happily playing in her car seat. All memory of the full blown screaming fit she had thrown in the first house we had gone to see, totally forgotten. It had been a nice enough house in a small village outside London, but it's proximity to the River Thames meant that it was prone to flooding and had a nasty smell of damp. Danielle had started grizzling as we walked up the path, but had gone nuclear the minute we stepped into the slightly cramped dark kitchen. Nothing Carlisle or I could do would calm her, so we had made our apologies and left, only for her to calm, smile sweetly and attempt to suck my nose as I placed her back in her car seat.
"Alice has programmed her…there's a hidden camera somewhere…check her teddy bear…no…it has to be in her clothes somewhere…" Carlisle growled as he watched us from the drivers seat. And as if she had actually understood what he was saying, Danielle began to laugh.
The second house was number eighty four Cherry Tree Avenue. It was half an hour from the station, but it's location in a quiet mews of houses that was only ten minutes away from the high street, made it seem miles from anywhere. I could see that Carlisle was feeling what I was, that we could really relax and leave work behind us here. Concentrate on just being Carlisle and Mae, couple and parents.
The house was large, spacious, but had such a warmth and heart to it, especially in the kitchen diner. It was a large space,made to feel larger by the wooden floors and décor, but it felt strangely intimate and cosy. I could clearly see AJ, Harper and Danielle thundering into the kitchen from the garden, through the large French doors.
"Mae?" Carlisle said softly pulling me out of my reverie.
"I can see us, feel us living here Carlisle…" I replied roughly.
"You're sure…" he said
"Aren't you?" I loved this house, but if Carlisle didn't.
"I'm happy where ever you…and the children are love…"
I rolled my eyes. "Carlisle I'm being serious…" I said. We were standing in the kitchen, Danielle's car seat on the worktop. Carlisle wrapped his arms round my waist and pulled me against him. I rested my hands on his chest.
"So am I. Okay, seriously…I love it…this is a house for a family…our family, there is space for us to grow, but there is real heart…warmth…" he said his eyes dancing with genuine happiness and emotion.
"We've found it…Carlisle" I whispered unable to stop the tears that had been pricking my eyes from falling. "…there's nothing here, nothing hanging over us…just space and time for us to make our own memories…our…home…our families home…" my last words had barely left my lips, before Carlisle crashed his own lips against mine, taking my breath away with a kiss full of excitement, hope and most of all love.
"I hate to interrupt…" I thought I heard the estate agent mumble somewhere behind us, but I wasn't sure as Danielle was chuckling and squealing with delight.