I do not own the Twilight Saga or its characters.
Bella POV
"Edward said that you can choose the color pattern for the room as well, Bella," Esme said as she placed a large book of fabric samples in front of me on the table. Alice sat on my other side, leaning towards the book.
"This is the one Jazz and I have on the windows." She pointed to a dark grey color scheme. "It makes the room really dark, though."
"He doesn't want to choose any of this?" I asked, staring up at Esme. She smiled at me, "He wants you to be happy with the room." I refrained from rolling my eyes and glanced back down at the book.
"So, what are the fabrics I need to choose…?" This was highly unnecessary. I had told Edward that everything was fine exactly how it was, but he was adamant that I get exactly what I wanted.
"You've never had the chance to live in a house, Bella. I have for the past eighty – some years," he had said with one of his dazzling smiles.
"These are for the curtains…these are for the carpet…these are for the comforter sets…and these," she flipped to the very end of the book. I wondered if she had made this herself. "These are the drapes for the walls. Edward likes for his room to be as soundproof as possible. You understand why, I'm sure."
"So…if this is what he wants, then he should choose," I commented and Esme shrugged. "You can ask him. I doubt he will mind either way."
"And you are sure you want to do this?" I asked, making a move to grab the book, "You really want to renovate the entire room?"
Alice giggled at my question and patted my hand. "This is what Esme does best. She loves decorating the houses."
"It's true," Esme answered with a large grin. She waved her hand around the enormous kitchen we were standing in. "I've designed this entire house myself. The glass windows aligning each wall were my idea." I raised my eyebrows, glancing around unnecessarily. I had been living here for nearly a week now and I pretty much knew the house inside and out.
"Well, you are very good at designing, then," I complimented her and she smiled warmly at me.
"Go see which ones Edward would like. I'd like to start as soon as possible."
She really was excited for this. That made me feel better; it made me feel less like an intruder, and more like someone giving Esme an excuse to do something she loved to do. I smiled and hopped off the barstool, large fabric book in hand.
"I'll be right back," I said and then took off for Edward's room – our room. He always was quick to correct me if I ever said your room, or, your family. The Cullens had welcomed me graciously and with open arms as Edward's mate.
I could hear the soft notes of classical music chiming from beneath the door and I knocked only once before the door was flying open, Edward gazing down at me. He was such a dazzling sight to behold. His beauty took my breath away every time I saw him, though I had been with him nearly twenty-four/seven since we arrived home from Italy. I hardly ever let him out of my sight and vice versa. The only reason for this slight change in physical connection was because I had promised Alice we could plan my wardrobe together. Edward had wanted to stay with me, but Alice kicked him out, much to his – and my – dismay.
His golden eyes were scorching as he stared down at me, his hand holding open the door, but he was scowling.
"You don't have to knock to enter your own room, Bella," he admonished and I grinned.
"What if you were changing?" I pressed and his eyes darkened as his scowl melted from his face.
"If I was disrobing, you would be in here with me, disrobing as well," he stated. I bit my lip, the sudden desire lighting a flame within me, but there was a reason I had come up here, and I didn't want to keep Esme waiting.
I moved closer to him and he shut the door behind me before quickly grasping my face tightly between his hands and tilting my head up to kiss me. I kissed him back just as urgently, just as desperately until I remembered the book in my hands.
"Wait," I breathed against his lips.
"No," he mumbled and kissed me harder. His mouth turned up at the corners and he pulled away, looking down at me.
I sighed, trying to clear my muddled mind of everything Edward, and held up the book. His eyes narrowed as he glanced at it and then glared at me. Clearly the book had been in existence for some time.
"I told you, you have all the decision," Edward stated, his hand moving to rest against my neck.
"Yes, but you want the curtains on the walls for soundproofing, so you choose the color."
"If you don't want the curtains, then we won't have them," he concluded, leaning in to kiss me again but I pulled back.
"No, I don't mind the curtains – but don't you want any say at all?" It was just like the argument we had had all those days ago, on Isle Esme. "It's your room – too," I added when he shot me a look.
"I've told you before, Bella, whatever you want is what I want." His fingers moved to brush along my collarbones and I knew he was only trying to distract me.
"You honestly don't want any say," I stated, disbelievingly. Edward was so very opinionated on all other things. It seemed unlikely he would give over so much control on this issue. He only shrugged, leaning in to press his lips to the skin just below my ear. He dragged his lips up towards my jaw and then stopped to whisper in my ear, "The only thing I want is you…and a bed." With that, he kissed down my neck open-mouthed and my head fell back, my eyes rolling into my head.
Esme.
"Okay, okay," I conceded breathlessly and he pulled away, grinning down at me. He always knew exactly how to get what he wanted. Although, in this case, what he wanted was to ensure that I got what I wanted, so I wasn't sure if I could be angry with him for that.
"I'll pick the colors," I mumbled moving back towards the door. Edward was before me in a second, standing in front of the exit.
"Where are you going?" he asked, his lips turned down in a slight pout.
"I have to go help Esme and Alice," I answered, shaking the book once. He wouldn't help, so I had to.
His brow creased as he stood still, not moving from the door. "But I miss you," he complained. I smiled and moved up to my tip toes to press my lips to his. "I miss you, too," I whispered. "We'll be done in a little while," I said quickly, reaching around him to fly from the room before he could do anything to keep me inside. He could and he would. All he would need to do was kiss me and I was a goner.
"Okay," I sighed, opening the book on the table and pointing to a dark golden color for the curtains – the color of Edward's eyes. Well, the color of all our eyes.
"Any luck?" Esme asked, smiling in amusement.
"Nope," I said, smiling back.
"Come over here," Edward murmured one afternoon. Everyone else had gone hunting, leaving Edward and I on our own in the house. I loved them all dearly – they were my brothers and sisters, my parents, but to be able to spend time with Edward on our own was magnificent. We hadn't been so alone since before Italy. I followed where he was motioning, stepping up from the ledge in the living room onto the large platform where he was standing beside his piano. He had yet to play it since we had been back, but the glint in his golden eyes told me that was exactly what was going to be happening.
"Are you going to play?" I asked excitedly. He smiled and held his arms out to me. I ran into them, wrapping my arms around his waist and resting my head on his chest. I loved him so much… It seemed the bond between us only grew stronger as each day went by.
"I told you I'd play for you, didn't I?" he said, running his nose down from my temple to the corner of my jaw. I smiled, turning my head and capturing his mouth with my own.
"You did," I agreed. All those weeks ago… It seemed everything we had spoken of – the possible future – was slowly being realized. And we would have all of eternity to make up for any lost time.
His hands moved down along my arms, his thumbs brushing over the scars within the creases of my elbows. He kissed them often; each scar. They were cooler than the rest of my body. He grasped my hands in his, pulling me to the bench. He sat down and I sat beside him.
"Come closer," he said, but wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer himself. I thought he would need ample space to play, but apparently not.
"Tell me what you think," he whispered before his fingers moved along the ivory and ebony keys at a speed much too fast for a human to muster. The notes intertwined and danced beautifully through the air as I watched his fingers move elegantly. I glanced up and he was watching me, his eyes light, but intense as he played.
"Do you like it?" he asked and I could hardly catch my breath to answer.
"It's beautiful," I mumbled, my voice slightly strained. He smiled and bent to press his lips to my hair before turning back to the keys at hand.
"You've inspired this one," he said, his velvet voice flowing perfectly with the notes. I bit my lip, watching his fingers once more. Words could not describe how I felt, watching the love of my life play a song that he had constructed for me. I could practically hear the story the song told – the run, the attraction, the love, the panic, the horror, finally twirling back into the passion and love and eternal connection. It ended smoothly, sensually, on a high note that showed the song was not quite finished, but would never be – we had eternity. There was no end for us.
I turned as soon as he removed his hands, throwing my arms around his neck. He laughed and held me to him, moving me so that he held me over his lap. I turned, seeking out his lips and he kissed me passionately, the song still playing silently through my mind.
"Thank you," I finally whispered, "It was absolutely beautiful. Like you."
"I love you," he murmured, his lips brushing against mine with each syllable.
"I love you, too, Edward. Forever," I breathed.
I laid across Edward's chest, naked, my head nestled against his chest, the comforter pulled up over us.
"Only once," I reminded Edward quickly, glancing up at him. His golden eyes were slightly hooded and on me.
"Well, you'd have to do a four-year stint at least," he said, running his fingers through my hair. I dropped my head back to his chest with a groan.
"Why can't I just finish off the rest of junior year, move on to senior year, and call it quits? I'll have my diploma. That's all I want." School had been an ongoing conversation for the past two months. We had been in Forks for six months now, and Carlisle wanted us to begin high school. The Cullens were completely fine with the request – except me. I loathed high school as a human. I could hardly remember my human days, but this is one thing I knew on a deep, personal level.
"Because it doesn't work that way," Edward said softly, his fingers moving to caress over the skin of my jaw. I tilted my head up higher to give him more space. I loved when he touched me – anywhere. "The human Bella is nonexistent in the school system, now. Vampire Bella is as much as a freshman," he made quotations around the term freshman, "as the rest of us."
"Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper are starting as sophomores!" I complained, my eyes tracing the contours of his chest. The sight had my stomach clenching and I chose to close my eyes instead. It wouldn't do the argument any good if we got interrupted once more by our ever-growing need to be intimate.
"Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper all look somewhat older than us," he said, "They are, physically, older than us." Emmett didn't even look as though he could pull off a teenaged boy. "Besides, it fits better with the story if we are not all the same exact age."
"And what's the story?" I asked with a sigh.
"Alice, Emmett, and I are siblings, adopted by Carlisle and Esme as Cullens, and Jasper and Rosalie are twins from a separate foster situation, living with Carlisle and Esme as Hales."
"And where do I fit into this plan?" I pouted. Maybe I didn't fit in at all. Maybe it would give me an excuse to not go to high school…
"You are Esme's niece, of course."
It could, unfortunately, work. Esme and I had similar body shapes and hair color. And now eye color as well.
"Bella Swan?" I asked. I could hear Edward shaking his head against the pillow.
"The year is too close to your change. If there are people still looking for you, the name Bella Swan will ring some bells – too many bells. I'm sure you will be registered as Bella Platt."
I moved quickly, leaning up on my elbows to stare over at him. He looked unbelievably gorgeous, his bronze hair a heaping mess from my fingers pulling at it for the past hour or so. He looked at me down his nose, a completely content look to his features.
"Platt?" I asked. He nodded, "Esme's human last name." I had gathered that.
"Mr. and Mrs. Platt – you said it seemed fitting," I said quickly, remembering the small flight to Brazil just before we took the boat to the island. Edward smiled and then grasped the tops of my arms, dragging me up his body to press his lips to mine.
"Isle Esme – Esme Platt. It was a good choice in name on Jasper's behalf," he murmured against my lips before kissing me again. Oh, right – Jasper had been the one to set up the flight and consequent landing in Brazil. He was the one who had worked with Jenks and the pilot. I wondered where the pilot was now…
"What are you thinking about?" Edward asked and I glanced up to see the familiar crease in his brow. I smiled.
"The pilot. He must have been terrified when we disappeared after the flight."
"Oh. Yes, he was merely very confused. He was compensated, though, so I'm sure he doesn't mind the mystification."
I thought about that for a moment while I rested my head against Edward's shoulder. He wrapped his arm around me so that we were lying side by side now, instead of chest to chest. He brushed a strand of hair out of my face and then leaned forward, pressing his lips to my forehead. He reached across me, grabbing something that was on the bed behind me.
Romeo and Juliet.
"You said you would read to me," he commented, quirking an eyebrow at me. I was nearly halfway through the book on my own. It was what I had been doing before Edward came up to find me once his family – our family – had finished discussing the minor details of Forks High School.
"No," I stated slowly, "You're the one who said I would read to you. Besides, the last time I read to you, you hardly paid attention." He had been too busy playing with my hair to even listen to the plot. He hadn't even known the main character's full name.
He chuckled, ducking his head to my shoulder. "I'll pay attention this time, I promise – well…" He trailed off, glancing back up at me, "That may be difficult seeing as we are both undressed."
I smiled, taking the book from his hand and pushing it to the other side of the large bed once more. I moved over him quickly, straddling him and bending so that my lips could brush against his.
"I'll read to you later," I amended, "Let's do something else first."
He growled at my words, his fingers moving to fist into my hair and pull my head down to him. I laughed, kissing him back, but the sounds quickly turned to moans.
I would never be able to have enough of Edward Cullen.
"It's quite easy once you get the hang of it," Edward said softly, moving my hand so that I held the steering wheel at a different angle, "It will become more second nature than anything."
I bit my lip, staring at the open road ahead of us. "What if I hit something?"
"We'll be fine. We won't be injured."
"Yes, but if I hit a human…" I trailed off and Edward rolled his eyes.
"Why do you think we are practicing at the first light of dawn?" he asked, glancing over at me. "Now, you'll never get anywhere if you don't turn on the car."
I hesitated, but finally turned the key in the ignition as he had showed me earlier. The car silently purred to life. I couldn't believe we were using his Volvo for this – he took this car everywhere. I could only imagine what would happen if I crashed it…
"What will we take to school if I wreck the car?" I asked, turning to glance at him, quirking an eyebrow. He shook his head with a sigh and ran his fingers through his hair.
"We'll either get another car or just use one of the other ten that we have in the garage. Really, Bella, it's not that big of a deal."
"Mike Newton would be happy, at least, if your car was ruined," I said and he exhaled with a growl at my taunt.
"Newton should be happy that his head is still attached to his shoulders."
"He's nice – he's only infatuated with the looks," I reminded Edward. Mike had been like a puppy since we began school, attempting to follow me anywhere and everywhere. He walked me to the classes that Edward and I didn't share, though Edward had begun to make a point out of walking me to those classes as well, much to Mike's chagrin.
"He's infatuated with everything about you, Bella. You should hear his thoughts – actually," he said quickly, thinking twice, "I'd rather you didn't."
I turned to glance at him, lifting my shoulder and leaning into the wheel with a smile.
"Are you jealous?" I asked teasingly. He scowled at me and then motioned towards the road.
"Foot off the break, Bella," he hissed. I bit my lip to hold in my smile. Although, even if he was jealous, he had nothing to worry about. Mike meant next to nothing to me. Besides, Edward had a flock of girls after him at all times. Looking around at any time of the day, there were at least five watching him, and then another ten whispering about him.
"You know you have nothing to worry about," I stated quickly and his eyes flashed as he shot me his crooked grin. I stared, dazed.
"Oh, for the love of god, Bella! Will you just drive already?" I huffed, glancing at Alice through the rearview mirror. "Enough about jealousy and measly humans – on to the driving lesson!"
I was beginning to regret asking Alice along. I had wanted to ensure everything went smoothly; that I didn't accidentally maim a human with the car.
"Look," I said, still glaring at her from the rearview mirror, "I appreciate you agreeing to act as my personal psychic, but did you have to bring him?!" Alice turned to glance at Emmett sitting beside her, a large grin plastered over his amused face.
"Come on, Bells, we don't have forever," he laughed. Edward glanced over at me, moving his hand to rest against the back of my seat. His fingers danced through my hair and over the back of my neck.
"That's just it," he said in response to Emmett's comment, though he was still watching me with a smile, "We do have forever." His golden eyes twinkled and I grinned back at him, my chest overflowing with the love I held for this vampire.
Yes, we do have forever.
Finally, after MONTHS of waiting! Thank you everyone for reading and reviewing! I really appreciate it and I hope the ending didn't disappoint too much d:
The epilogue was really a bonus and I loved writing it!