Author's note: For readers that haven't read Family Tradition, the Valentine's Day outtakes, I need to clarify a point. Rose and Jacob restored Bella's truck as a gag gift to Edward. I realized The Thing was mentioned in this chapter so I needed to make that clear.
Grief can take care of itself,
But to get the full value of joy,
You must have somebody to divide it with.
Mark Twain
The rest of the week passed quickly. Esme insisted on taking the family to Artist Point to see the falls. Later, Jasper led us on an extended snow mobile trip taking the family through many of the park's famous sights. The trip was routine for all but our newest family members, but seeing the delight on Bella and Nessie's faces made the sights new in my eyes. Not surprisingly, Emmett and Jasper fell into the river at one point as they brawled with one another. Alice and Rose promptly made them ride on the snowmobile together back to the house, refusing to accompany their wet spouses. Jacob took full advantage of the situation to harass them. We went skiing, snowboarding, and spent the early evenings before the huge fireplace as a family. When Jacob and the kids fell asleep, the couples spent the nights, well… being couples.
Carlisle and I didn't speak about our backcountry conversation, but it was apparent to everyone that something had changed. Carlisle's countenance was more youthful and reflected a new sense of mischievousness. It was almost as if he had been liberated from a great burden. I was certain that Alice had seen the conversation, but she never asked and I never offered. Bella gave me an enigmatic smile that evening when we returned, but she, like Alice, never questioned me about what occurred during our trip.
It was with a sense of sadness that we began packing the Hummers to return to Forks. It would have been nice to stay longer, but Carlisle had to be back at the hospital and the reservation school would resume classes on Monday. We exchanged everything out once again in Cody, divided up into the cars and started the journey home. The early morning sun, shining through the tinted windows, woke Jacob as we crossed into the state of Washington.
"Edward, as much as I hate to end the vacation, will you please drop me off at Seth's?" he asked when he saw the Forks city limit sign. "I need to do laundry and get everything together for school."
At the reservation, Jacob unloaded his bags from the back of the car, pausing to kiss the top of Nessie's sleeping head and Bella's cheek. He waved goodbye to me as he slung the bags over his shoulder and loped into the house he and Seth shared. Arriving home, I pulled the car in beside the others in the garage. Everyone else had already unloaded and gone inside. Nessie roused as we opened the car doors. "Are we home?"
"Yes, sweetheart. Go on inside and your dad and I will bring in the luggage," Bella informed her.
Nessie scrambled out of the back of the car with Fang yipping at her heels. With an adoring smile, Bella watched her run through the door, and then turned to me. I'm not sure what she saw, but suddenly her look turned predatory and she began stalking toward me. She backed me into the car door, placing her hands to each side of me as she rose up on her toes. "So… we're home, and I'm thinking that we haven't been to the meadow in awhile. Rose and Emmett owe us a baby-sitting night." She whispered against my neck; her breath sending heat throughout my body.
Having picked up the mood Bella's actions were invoking in me, Jasper intervened and stuck his head out into the garage. "Bella, quit picking on my brother and at least let him get the luggage unpacked before you manhandle him."
Bella snorted into the curve of my neck, "Doesn't the word manhandle imply that the person being handled isn't enjoying the attention, Jasper? Trust me, from where I am standing, he's enjoying it very much."
I threw her over my shoulder. Meeting Jasper at the door, I handed her to him. "Take her inside before I get myself in trouble."
I couldn't resist smacking her bottom as he turned to go in, earning a growl from her. I'd take her to the meadow, but unlike her Christmas night celebration I'd be in control this time. I'd have to call Jacob and ask him to keep the wolves away. I grinned in anticipation as I entered the house, but Esme was on the phone with Anna, and the conversation I overheard let me know that my plans would have to be put on hold.
Alice's vision had been fulfilled; Anna's father had passed away just the evening before. In the end, everyone but Carlisle and Jacob flew to Chicago, as Carlisle hadn't been able to get leave so soon after coming back off vacation, and Jacob couldn't miss school. When we arrived at her house, Anna ran to the car and into Esme's arms. Esme stayed with Anna, helping with the arrangements. The family stood beside her as she laid her father to rest beside her mother. Over the next few days, Emmett helped her sort through the will and legal documents while the rest of us helped to pack up the house.
About a week into our stay, Esme looked to Anna and informed her that Carlisle had called, and that he had converted Jasper's study into a new bedroom for her. Esme had been patient, but I knew she didn't like being away from Carlisle this long. She laid her hand on Anna's and said, "It's time to go home."
The stunned look on Anna's face at the announcement was indicative of her thoughts. She had truly never conceived that she would be included into our lives in that manner, and had dreaded the time alone in Chicago without her parents to occupy her. Once the idea took root, though, it grew exponentially. In the end, Esme had to stymie Anna as she attempted to devise a plan to sell everything to pay back the "cost of the inconvenience." Esme contacted our caretaker and placed Anna's home under his management as well.
As the group boarded the plane to return to Seattle, I heard the first class attendant's thoughts and interest. Later in the flight, she used words like cult, and weird religious sect as she attempted to explain us to the other attendants at the back of the plane. Our increasing numbers were making the charade almost impossible. Overhearing the same comments, Esme murmured to Emmett, "Okay, Captain, I'll tell Carlisle we're getting that plane now." Emmett couldn't have been more pleased.
If Emmett was ecstatic, Henry had been euphoric since landing in Chicago. He'd held Anna's hand at every opportunity and generally hovered in her vicinity. Rose took Anna aside at one point and confessed Henry's infatuation. Anna treated the situation with great dignity, never encouraging or belittling Henry. Her excellent diplomatic skills shone in the way she maneuvered around what could've otherwise been rather disconcerting circumstances.
When Carlisle and Jacob met us at the airport, Rose glared at Jacob before saying, "You'd better not have driven my car here to pick us up.'
"C'mon, Rose, you're going to have to get over this preoccupation you have with me. Emmett's going to start wondering."
Rosalie shuddered gracefully at the thought, causing the group to express varying forms of humor.
Then it hit me. We weren't all going to fit in Carlisle's Mercedes and the Volvo. Carlisle grinned at Esme as he handed her a set of keys. "Everyone else has something to drive, so I solved the problem." He led Esme to a brand new Suburban in the parking lot.
"Unfortunately, it's not environmentally friendly, but when your family gets as big as ours, you're left with few options," he told her.
Emmett mumbled under his breath, "Thank goodness he didn't buy her a passenger van. With some rims, this could actually look fairly decent." Rose was already speculating as she eyed the dark blue monster.
"Where are we going to park this thing? Edward and Bella already take up four spots with all their cars; maybe Edward just needs to get rid of the Aston Martin?" Alice teased, throwing me into the fire to roast alone.
"We'll just move it out to the other garage with Bella's truck; to keep it company," Rose added in. I instinctively growled at her, thinking my baby would be delegated to the pariah garage with The Thing, and realizing in vexation that the Volvo was going to have to take that "honor."
Esme took pity on me. "Don't worry, Edward; I'll make sure that the garage at your cabin in Seattle can hold them all." I'd seen the layout of the cabins she was having restored and knew that the garage would have to be bigger than the house. Oh well; as long as the Vanquish was stored properly, I could survive.
Bella, Jacob, Nessie, and I followed the Suburban home. When we arrived, the girls decided to help settle Anna into her new room. I took a very tired Renesmee back to the cottage, breathing a sigh of relief when I crossed over the threshold. The vacation to Wyoming had been fun, and the trip to Chicago a necessity, but there was nothing like being home. I tucked Nessie into bed and built a fire in the stove while I waited for Bella. As I slouched on the chair in a pair of sweats, I was hoping that Alice had gotten a glimpse of my evening attire. She deserved a little suffering for making the suggestion about the car.
Bella came through the door an hour later, holding Fang. She placed him on the floor and I heard the soft tapping of his nails as he headed toward Nessie's room. She slowly walked over to me, and I pulled her into my lap, sensing her need to be held.
"Too many deaths lately…" she muttered, fidgeting with her bracelet as she snuggled down into my arms.
"Anna will be fine, Bella. She's grieving, but she's had time to prepare. Her parents' health has been failing for some time." I replied, rubbing my jaw along the top of her head.
"I know, but it's hard to watch it either way." Then her lips quirked slightly, "I was surprised that Jasper wasn't more upset about losing his study."
"Well you have to understand. We've moved so many times that when the time begins to draw near, you almost instinctively start thinking about the packing process. He just saw this as a way to go ahead and get the job done earlier, and to have Carlisle do the work for him."
She looked up to me a little amazed. "Huh… never thought of it that way."
I began to run my fingers through her hair gently, soothing her.
"Carlisle asked that you come over to the house early in the morning. He said he had something he wanted to talk with you about."
I tensed briefly, wondering if something had happened during the time we went to Chicago. But then Bella continued by saying, "He told me to inform you that it wasn't anything to worry about, he just needs a favor from you."
I relaxed immediately. She smiled up at me and brought her lips to mine. Softly, she feathered kisses across my lips before she tenderly brushed her tongue across them, seeking permission to enter. I felt the light brush of her fingers through my hair as she slid her tongue along mine. My gentle lover was making an appearance tonight. I put one arm around her and the other under her knees, lifting her so that I could carry her to our bed. Laying her on the cover, I covered her body with mine as I slowly began to unbutton her shirt, kissing my way down the skin that was exposed.
"I love you, Edward," I heard her sigh.
"And I love you," I murmured against the soft skin of her abdomen.
_____________
"Bella said you needed to see me," I said to Carlisle as I opened the door to his study the next morning.
I saw that Alice was already sitting in one chair and I took the other.
"Yes. I have a plan to repay Emmett for the snowman stunt. It will take some time and I need your help in accomplishing it. If you agree to participate, I just might consider letting you off for your part in his little scheme," he whispered conspiratorially as he leaned forward and steepled his hands on the desk. Alice and I knew when it was time to turn traitor. When it came to retaliation for pranks in the Cullen house, it was every man for themselves, and we knew Carlisle was serious when he assumed this posture. Alice giggled as I saw the vision in her mind, "Yes, that will work very well." I nodded my head in agreement.
We collaborated on just how to make the fine details of Carlisle's payback work for over an hour. However, as Alice and I stood up to leave, Carlisle waved me to sit back down and asked Alice if she would have Jasper and Emmett come up to join us on her way out. Alice and the girls were heading out to Seattle to shop for Anna. Bella was tickled that Alice finally had a new subject for her shopping addiction, but had agreed that she and Nessie would accompany them anyway. Henry was, of course, stuck to Anna's side. Esme's new vehicle was already coming in handy. Alice called the outing a 'girls' road trip'. Poor Henry.
I looked to Carlisle quizzically. He answered my question, silently. I want to talk about Anna.
We heard the Suburban exit the garage and Jasper and Emmett entered the room within seconds, taking the chairs to the side of me. Emmett, being Emmett, had to turn his around to straddle it, putting his arms across the top and resting his chin on them. Carlisle waited until he was certain that our conversation couldn't be overheard.
"I wanted to talk without the girls around," Carlisle looked at us. "I'm curious about your reaction to Henry's infatuation with Anna?" He looked to Emmett first, and I was curious about Emmett's reaction as well.
Emmett thought for a moment before responding. "He seems intent on her, Carlisle. He didn't talk about her a lot before, but when he did, it was always with a possessive tone. Honestly, it reminds me of seeing Edward with Bella. That's the only other start to a relationship I have to compare it to. It's hard for me to define, really. You just notice the different tone in his voice. Last night, it was hard to get him to go to sleep, even as exhausted as he was. I finally let him go say goodnight to her, and then he was willing to sit down with me and read. Rose talked with Anna in Chicago and explained. I couldn't ask for her to handle the situation any better."
He paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts. I really wasn't surprised by what he was about to say. "It sounds crazy, I know, but I think he sees her as his mate. The behavior fits."
Carlisle looked to Jasper.
Jasper let out a breath of air in a huff before answering. "Carlisle, the way Henry feels about Anna is identical to the emotions Nessie feels about Jake. Even from the beginning, there was a sense of possessiveness when she thought about him. I mean, what do we really know about the hybrids? Nahuel doesn't seem to have found his mate yet, so there isn't really a standard to go by. I know we don't imprint like the wolves, but there always seems to be that infallible moment of recognition; once the correct person is available, it just happens. I know I felt it with Alice. Edward certainly felt it with Bella. I think I know the answer, but was it the same way for you?"
He nodded his head toward Carlisle and Emmett. I saw in their memories the first moments they had met their mates. Em's first memory was of a pain-blurred haze, and the vision of Rose as an angel. Carlisle's vision of a human Esme filtered through his head, and I realized in that moment that he had comprehended more of my past dilemma about Bella than I had discerned. He had left Esme human and walked away, believing it was in her best interest. I had always known, but until I saw it at this precise moment it never struck me just how much Carlisle and my histories of love had in common. He too, had only turned Esme when she was dying.
But more importantly for this conversation, the answer to Jasper's question was 'yes'. They had both known the moment they set eyes on their mates that their fates were sealed. For Emmett, after recovering from the change, he never looked back. For Carlisle, he'd assumed he would spend eternity alone, in love with a human. Such had been part of the impetus to change me for companionship. He hadn't desired a mate other than Esme.
"Edward?" Carlisle's soft voice asked.
"Yes, his thoughts are identical to Renesmee's. Even days old, I could see the possessiveness in her thoughts when she thought about Jacob. Anna hasn't thought anything of it. She's content at this time. She does think about the possibilities; its difficult being a single person in the midst of happy couples and not. I should know." I couldn't help grinning and my brothers and father joined me.
"But I don't sense she's in a hurry to find someone. Perhaps things will change as Henry matures? It's not like she is going to have to wait long. Maybe Em and Rose are just getting the chance to know their future daughter-in-law ahead of time?" I responded, knowing what he was asking.
I saw Emmett gauging Anna in his mind. Of course his first thought was her looks, and he focused on certain physical attributes. Jasper and I both reached up and hit him on the back of the head at the same time.
"What?" he startled, and then grinned that boyish look that almost always worked on Rose. "Well, she is hot. I may be in love with Rose, but I can definitely appreciate beauty. And if I say so myself, my boy didn't do too bad for himself if that's the case."
I smirked and shook my head, while Jasper burst out laughing and Carlisle threw a paperweight at Emmett.
"Why the need to conference about it, Carlisle?" Emmett asked, pointedly ignoring Jasper and I as he caught the paperweight in mid air.
"I wasn't in Chicago with you, so when you came home, I was a little taken back by his manner. After the stocking incident on Christmas Eve, I should have known that he considers her more than a crush, but I wanted your feedback on the things you had observed. It will definitely make for an interesting couple of years. And we have the issue of what will happen if Anna doesn't return his affections."
Emmett snorted. "Don't sell Henry short. If persistence comes into play at all, I'll bet it's a done deal. Add in the consideration that he's incredibly bright, comes from a good family, has looks and money, you know… all the prerequisites."
Jasper laughed at Emmett's forced pompousness. We all knew that, underneath his bravado, there was a vein of truth. He was incredibly proud of Henry. Em's parenting style had been a pleasant surprise for us all. I imagined hours and hours of sports shows and events, and while he did fulfill my expectations, he also spent as much time reading and debating with Henry.
Carlisle smiled at him, with the same look of parental pride. "We'll see, Emmett, we'll see. For now, let's focus on making Anna feel at home."
"So, just how long is Alice planning on keeping the women and Henry hostage?" Carlisle asked Jasper, switching to a new topic
"At least the rest of the day. I imagine they won't be back until after sunset," he quirked his eye at Carlisle, sensing his mood.
"What do you say we have a 'boys' day out'? I'm thinking a little hunting competition and possibly a trip to the springs. With trunks this time, Emmett!" he teased.
Emmett grinned in remembrance. "What's the wager? Can't be fastest kill or Edward will win. Most tasty would put me in first."
Jasper rolled his eyes. "Can't be wolf or Bella and Nessie won't speak to us."
Carlisle's laughter boomed through the room. "Okay, maybe we'll just go hunting. But what if we make the wager to be who makes it to the springs the cleanest. I think between the three of us we can take Edward out, even with his unfair abilities."
I narrowed my eyes at him. Did he really want to go there with me? He smirked in challenge.
"The prize?" Jasper asked.
"Loser's car has to go in the garage with The Beast until we move to Seattle?" I suggested, hoping that my speed and hearing would help insure my success.
"Not fair; Jasper's motorcycle doesn't take up enough space," Emmett whined.
Carlisle upped the ante. "He'll just have to explain to Alice why her Porsche is in the Thinghouse." Jasper eyes widened in something akin to fear.
At least I knew my brothers and father supported me in the belief that Bella's truck would be better off driven off a cliff. Even with the modifications that Rose and Jacob made, it was still as slow as molasses.
We all looked at each other, and said in unison, "Deal."
Please go check out hopeforastalemate 's story:Breaking. It's an interesting twist on Carlisle.
All credit goes to my two totally awesome Betas:
CullenFest - for her patience with me and my anxiety about writing.
Crmcneill - for his mighty red pen, and help in mapping out strategy. Congrats to Crmcneill for winning Judge's Choice in the Mentalward contest for his story Downward Spiral!!!!