Thanks for beta'ing, K.K. Fush, and prereading, TheMortician'sDaughter!
Esme POV
As soon as the kids were asleep, Carlisle took me out of their bedroom and went into my room. His lips were on mine immediately and I started unfastening the buttons of his shirt before he could even shrug his jacket off. The erotic feeling between my legs wouldn't go away and I needed to see him shirtless.
"Excited, aren't we, Ez?" He winked at me when I peeled off his jacket and shirt at the same time with success.
"I want to try something new. Close your eyes and let me know how this feels." I began to suck on his neck and my tongue swarmed around his rough skin.
"Uh...oh yeah..." he grunted. "I love you, baby."
My lips removed from his great-tasting neck and attached themselves to his lips. My bare skin was touching his, and I had my legs around his waist. We both sank down on the bed while making out.
"I can't believe you'll be my husband in a few weeks. I'm so excited that I forgot to text the girls!" I reached for my phone and told them the news while Carlisle kissed the back of my neck and shoulders. He played with my hair as I took off all of my jewelry.
"I've wanted to be your husband ever since I met you."
"Oh my god, stop it."
"Now, I have the pleasure of calling you my fiancee."
"Carlisle, you're making me swoon!" I cried as my heart stopped for the thousandth time that night.
"Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Esme Anne Platt is now the woman I plan to marry!" He raised his fists in the air triumphantly.
I wanted to play a game. Flipping my hair over my shoulder, I asked in a flirty tone, "So, can you introduce me to the lucky lady?" I batted my eyes and fluttered my fingers in his direction.
"I'm looking right at her," he murmured and kissed my hand.
I blushed. "Are you sure of that?"
"You're the only Esme Anne Platt I know of."
I sighed as he caressed my cheek with his thumb. "Tonight has been one of the best nights in my life."
"Before you graced me with your presence, all I had were dating websites, and Lily setting me up with different women in college. Those relationships didn't last long at all."
"So, I came in at the right time?"
"You did. Although, if we met when we were in middle school, I would have had us run away together, to a faraway place."
"Well, only a quarter of my life sucked. That's not bad at all."
"You're right. I get about sixty years left to live with my sweetheart."
"Sixty years? What about eighty?" I challenged him. "You never know, we might live past a hundred."
"We'll be together, in life and in death. I promise you."
He held me in my bed all night.
The following morning, I called my mom to tell her I was getting hitched in two weeks. This resulted in her taking Renee, Lily, and I out shopping for dresses. I hated to leave Carlisle, but at the same time, I wanted to find an awesome wedding dress. I had always wondered how I looked in all white. We each tried on about twenty dresses, after the other women finished gushing about the fact that I was actually engaged to the Carlisle Cullen.
"So, how did it happen?" Renee pressed. "As your maid of honor, I should know."
"How most proposals happen...okay, so he didn't get down on his knee in the traditional way, but he took me to dinner, we had a long talk, and he told me to close my eyes-"
"And?" Lily interrupted.
"I'm getting to that part!" I said abruptly, but I was too overjoyed to be exasperated. "Anyway, when he told me to close my eyes, he slipped the ring on my finger like a sly fox. Naturally, I was surprised," I bragged. I knew what it was as soon as I felt the cold metal upon my flesh, but I wanted to hear my friends' and my mom's squeals of excitement.
"I'm thinking of wearing purple. What do you think?" Renee asked me.
"You're my maid of honor, my favorite color is purple, so I approve. Lily, you can wear any shade of purple you want."
Lily nodded and sifted through a rack of purple dresses. She chose lavender while Renee decided on the sleeveless violet dress she had on at the moment.
"What about the mother of the bride?" Mom wanted to know.
"How about this purple flowered one? Very summery, huh?" I handed a dress to her.
"Oh, nice...thank you, honey."
"You're welcome. I want to hold red roses while I walk down the aisle. Cynthia would scatter some pink flowers in her purple dress. I'm not sure when the kids are getting their outfits for the wedding, but it's in two weeks...and who is taking Carlisle out for his tux fitting?"
"Esme, calm down..." Renee put her hands on my shoulders.
"Calm down? The wedding is in two weeks, and you want me to calm down?"
"We'll get everything taken care of," Lily assured me.
"Just focus on yourself, and let everyone else deal with what they need to do. You're in charge of you," Renee said. "Now, breathe."
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Oh, god. I guess I'm just nervous and excited at the same time."
"I felt like that too," Lily said with a laugh.
"Same," Renee agreed.
"At the end of it all, your wedding will be very magical," Mom promised me. "Now, let's look for your dress. We're buying ours right now."
"None of these dresses work. They're all scratchy," I complained.
"Well, what dress did you have in mind?" Renee asked.
"I wanted something nice and flowy...and strapless, since it'll be a hot day."
"This is David's Bridal. I'm sure they've got something! How about this one?" Mom struggled to get out a dress that I was standing in front of. Renee and Lily helped her hold it out for me. I stared at it in wonder.
"After five hours of endless shopping, this is perfect!" I gasped. "Embroidered flower patterns on the chest, a strap around the waist with a flower on the hip...and the material of the skirt is so smooth and sheer! I love it! Let me try it on!"
They helped me into the dress and it fit quite nicely. Fortunately, the store had it in my size. Luck was on our side, since we found white shoes to go with our dresses. The veil was easy to pick out, too.
"Okay, young lady. This stays in my closet, and you're sleeping over at my house on the eve of the wedding," Renee told me with a smile.
"You got it!"
When I got back home, I was surprised to see Alice, Rosalie, Elizabeth, Cynthia, Emmett, Jasper, and Peter, walking down the street with shopping bags in their hands. I suspected their mothers had told them they were buying wedding dresses, and they got the bright idea to prepare for the wedding as well. I unlocked the door with my house keys and saw Carlisle sitting on the couch, hugging a bag to his chest.
"Let me guess. You bought your tux."
He grinned and gave me a thumbs-up in approval. "Charlie, Will, and I had a nice guy's day out. We bought our tuxedos, suits, pants, and shoes."
I sat in his lap and played with the hair on the nape of his neck. "My dress is at Renee's house. You can't see it yet."
"Oh, come on," he pouted. "I'm your fiance."
"It's bad luck. Sorry," I chuckled.
"Alright, then it's against the rules for you to see the groom's clothes."
"Deal." We shook hands and tried to look at each other professionally, but we ended up laughing and hugging each other instead.
"Babe, I was thinking we could write our own vows."
"Sounds like a fine idea."
"We will have a fantastic wedding," he said and gazed into my eyes. I blinked and he pressed his lips to mine. We made out until I had to cook dinner.
"Hey, hey, good lookin',
Whatcha got cookin'?
How's about cookin' somethin' up with me?"
I giggled when I heard Carlisle singing from behind me. "I'm trying to make spaghetti for tonight's dinner, but you are distracting me!"
His arms went around my waist and he kept at it.
"Hey, sweet baby,
Don't you think maybe
We could find us a brand new recipe?
I got a hot-rod Ford and a two-dollar bill
And I know a spot right over the hill.
There's soda pop and the dancin's free,
So if you wanna have fun come along with me..."
I stopped stirring the noodles and turned around so we were now face to face. "You don't want me to make dinner, do you?" My hands were on my hips and I tried to look serious, but his sillyness brought a wide smile on my face.
"Well, honey, Cynthia seemed to enjoy it!"
I glanced down at my little girl. "Mama, I was dancing!"
I rolled my eyes. "After I finish dinner, we can have some fun."
"Daddy, let's dance!"
I started making the sauce while watching Carlisle turn on the radio. Cynthia stood on his toes as they danced together.
"That is really cute..."
"Mom, what's for dinner?" Emmett asked when he came into the kitchen.
"We are having spaghetti!"
"Yay! Pasketti!" Cynthia cheered and laughed. "Lookit, I'm dancing with Daddy!"
Carlisle lifted her up in the air and spun her around. Emmett held his arms out toward her. "What about a dance with your big brother?"
"Okay! Bye, Daddy! I'm dancin' with Emmie!"
"Aw, sis, don't call me Emmie!"
"Why?"
"That's a girl's name!"
I heard the door open. "Guys, I'm home! Can Rose sleep over?"
Emmett's eyes brightened and he smirked. "Yes, Alice, she can sleep over!"
Alice ran into the kitchen with Rosalie on her heels and glared at Emmett. "I didn't ask you. Mom? Dad?"
"Sure," we said at the same time.
"Yes!" both girls shouted.
"Ali! Rosie!" Cynthia said excitedly. The girls enveloped her in a hug.
"Hey, Cynthia, how are you?" Rosalie asked.
"I'm happy! I wanna dance all the time!"
"Can you do ballet?" Alice asked.
"Ballet?"
Alice and Rosalie both did a pirouette and Cynthia copied them. They clapped for her and she pulled them out of the kitchen. Emmett followed them and then it was just Carlisle and I.
"Pasta's almost ready. Care to test it?" I offered him a noodle after blowing on it a few times.
He threw it in his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. "Could use a few more minutes."
"Okay, thanks."
A while later, I finished the pasta and Carlisle had me up against the wall. He was kissing me one minute, and the next, he was shouting for the kids to come downstairs for dinner.
"Damn it," I panted. "Why do you tease me like that?"
"You deserve a little fun right after making dinner. I'll help you cut up the food for Cynthia. Alice, Emmett, and Rosalie can serve themselves."
I sighed and tried to ignore the feeling of want building up inside me. I needed him to touch me again, to hold me...to love me.
"Mama, we got pretty dresses, and Em got a monkey suit!" Cynthia said when we sat down at the table.
"Is it okay if Vera's little brother, Henry is the ringbearer?" Rosalie requested. "He's like, five, so..."
"Mom, I'm so glad you wanted purple for a bridesmaid dress, because I adore that color!" Alice exclaimed.
"Elizabeth and Peter are now a couple!" Emmett blurted out. "They'd look great together at the wedding."
"Whoa, whoa!" I held my hands up and felt overwhelmed. "One at a time. I'm happy about all of what you said, and in response to your question, Rose, yes, of course little Henry can be the ringbearer."
"Great!"
Carlisle put his hand on my knee and massaged it lightly. We looked fondly at each other as we ate, and I'm sure the kids didn't miss it, even though their eyes were glued to their food.
Everyone was preparing for the wedding. I had appointments lined up for the whole of the morning before my wedding. My vows were written a thousand times over until I finally felt what I wrote was good enough for my man. I'd poured out my thoughts straight from my heart and onto that little piece of notepad paper. I teared up a few times at what I'd said about him without even reading it to myself out loud. I recited it in front of my friends, my daughters, and my mom. They cried, and Cynthia clapped. It had to be special.
Invitations were sent out to hundreds of guests. They were made on the computer and printed on fancy paper. We wanted the wedding to be outside, in Renee's backyard. Carlisle and I picked out a three-tiered chocolate cake with white frosting. We made sure there was a plastic man and woman inserted in the very top of it. People were already sending gifts to us days before our wedding. We couldn't open them until after.
So much stuff was going on that we sank down on the couch and laid in each other's arms until our stomachs rumbled.
"I'm hungry," I said and rubbed my belly.
"Wanna go out for dinner?"
"Sounds good."
We talked during the ride, and when we got our meals, we chewed our food until it was gone about ten minutes later. Naturally, I had to use the bathroom. I burped.
"Excuse you," Carlisle said. Then he let out a louder belch.
"Hey, don't make fun of me! I'm gonna use the little girl's room." I got up and strode away to the restroom.
Looking behind me to make sure Carlisle wasn't watching, I rubbed my belly and opened the door. When I spotted someone using a urinal, my mind finally registered that I was in the men's room. My face heated up and I got out of there as quickly as I could while breathing heavily. I used the ladies room and washed my hands. I snuck past the men's room and looked at the carpeted floor while returning to our table. I sat down with a sigh of relief.
"Your face is red...are you okay?" Carlisle asked me.
I covered my eyes. "I'm so embarrassed! I accidentally walked into the men's room! I wasn't paying attention! Damn it! Oh, my poor eyes! They burn! I actually saw someone taking a piss!"
He let out a roar of laughter and I slammed my fist on the table. "That's not funny!"
"Don't worry, I'm sure everyone's done that at some point in their life. I've gone into a women's locker room by mistake. They screamed at me to get out and chased me with bras and tampons, trying to use them as weapons, I guess."
That got me smiling again. "Thank god the guy didn't see me! I think it's more dangerous for a man to go into a women's restroom."
"It is. Guys are just more horny."
"They are."
A few evenings later, it was time for my bachelorette party. Lily picked me up in her van and I sat in the passenger seat next to her. I realized that I wouldn't see Carlisle for a whole fifteen hours. The wedding started at noon.
"Lily, do you mind? I sorta forgot that Carlisle will be my husband tomorrow!" I said a little too loudly.
"Go ahead."
I rushed out of her car and ran up to Carlisle, who was just stepping out onto his porch. Just when I jumped into his arms, he spun me around and we kissed passionately.
"Good night, my sweet Esme," he murmured before setting me back to my feet.
"Good night, my almost husband." We swayed from side to side and then we saw a police car stop at Carlisle's curb. Elizabeth walked past me and Alice let her inside our house. They were going to have a slumber party with Rosalie and babysit Cynthia. Emmett was already over at Jasper's house.
"I love you, my almost wife."
"I...I do too...I love you," I whispered, but my voice trailed off and blended into the sound of the honk of Charlie's horn.
Our hands lost contact when he kissed me good night for the last time before we were a married couple. I walked slowly towards Lily's car, and Renee caught up with me.
"Is he going to go to a strip club?" I asked worriedly.
"Oh, no, he's not. Charlie said that he, Billy, Harry, Eleazar and Will were taking him to the Twilight Lounge for a boys' only night. They're gonna get shit drunk, and we girls are going to hang out in my den, formerly called the teen lounge, have a slumber party, pour wine, strawberry margaritas, and daiquiris down our throats, and sing karaoke!"
"That sounds fun!" I was truly relieved. I trusted Carlisle, but I didn't want anyone even setting their sights on my future husband!
Renee directed Lily to Carmen's house, and after Carmen joined us, we picked up Sarah and Sue. We exchanged hugs and Lily drove us to Renee's house. It was the first time most of our friends had been inside her house, so they made nice comments about how spacious her house was.
"It's quiet without Charlie and Elizabeth, that's for sure," Renee pointed out.
I tapped her arm. "Just like when I first met Carlisle."
"Yeah! Oh, I'm going to give the best speech ever!"
The women laughed and Renee poured us all drinks. "Nothing embarrassing, please!" I begged.
"Um, if she thinks what Renee's gonna say is going to be humiliating, wait 'till she finds out what's in her suitcase for the honeymoon!" Carmen said after drinking a few glasses of wine. Lily jabbed her in the chest. Someone knocked on the door and Renee went to get it. My mom burst in and gave me a hug.
"What's in my suitcase?" I asked nervously.
"Nothing," Sarah and Sue both said innocently. They pushed Carmen back on the couch and snickered. My mom had the same look on her face that said she was keeping a secret from her daughter.
"Then you wouldn't mind if I check?" I was suspicious they were hiding something from me.
"It's a surprise!" Renee said quickly. "Have a glass of strawberry daiquiri." She practically shoved the drink in my hand and held it up to my lips. It tasted so good that I forgot all my worries. Everyone took turns singing random songs until my head got fuzzy and all the beats were the same. My voice was very high when I sang while drunk, apparently. I almost shrieked to the lyrics of "Call Me Maybe", and all the ladies were giggling.
"I'm glad my singing amuses you," I muttered as I fell on the couch between Renee and Carmen.
"We're gonna play Truth or Dare!" Renee announced. She took another sip of her wine and set her glass down on the table. "Oh, first, I've gotta get the ice cream. Oreo, Esme's favorite."
"Yes!" I screamed like I won the lottery. My best friend left the room and came back with the tub in a few seconds flat. In her other hand, she was holding seven spoons.
"Okay, girls, this is almost gone. Let's use it up."
"Alright, junk food," Lily sighed.
"Should we start the game?" Carmen asked after putting some ice cream in her mouth. I took a scoop after she did.
"Sure. Esme can go first, since she's the bride-to-be." Renee smiled at me gently and patted my thigh. "Truth or dare?"
I pursed my lips. "Truth."
"What are you looking forward to after your wedding with Carlisle?"
"Consummating our marriage," I said honestly and blushed. "The only problem is, we've had sex with other people."
"Being raped doesn't make you lose your virginity. Not emotionally, at least. In that sense, both of you are virgins," Lily informed me.
"She's right," Renee said quietly.
"Okay, well, that's why I'm excited about it. We're going to experience our first time, and it'll feel good for both of us." I rubbed my hands in anticipation and grinned wickedly at Carmen. "Truth or dare?"
"Dare," she said immediately.
"Alright, strip down to your bra and undies, go outside, and run up and down the street. At the top of your lungs, yell tu eres una puta until you get back inside."
Our friends cracked up and Carmen shoved me to the side. I just giggled while she peeled off her shirt and jeans. Renee laid back and took a long swig of her red wine. As soon as Carmen disappeared, we looked out the window. She was sprinting and waving her arms around wildly.
"Oh god, she's really doing it. This is hilarious!" Lily said through bursts of laughter. "Let's hope nobody calls the police."
"You girls are too silly!" Mom said and covered her eyes with her hands.
After a few minutes, Carmen was a panting mess on Renee's foyer. She quickly got her clothes back on and rubbed her arms. "It's freezing out there, and thank god nobody came out of their house! I will get you back, Ez, one of these days." I gasped and pretended to be frightened.
"You love me too much." I stuck out my tongue at her.
"You're a bad girl. Hey, Renee, truth or dare."
"I pick truth."
"What is something you've never told anyone, not even Esme?"
"I tell her everything! We're best friends."
"Yeah, I'm really the only one she can trust," I spoke up.
"Okay...what's the absolute worst thing you've ever done?"
Renee thought hard for a moment. "I took a large amount of my parents' money to take the bus to Anne's house. The police found out I ran away when I was sleeping on a bench at a bus station when I'd missed the bus, and I had to hand over the money. Later, I called Anne and explained my situation. She adopted me, and all was well."
"Wow, that's a story you've never really told me," I said in a shocked tone.
"It wasn't important. You didn't need to know that I was once homeless."
"Yeah, and you probably forgot about it until Carmen brought up the subject. It's okay."
"I'm glad you understand. All right...Lily, truth or dare?"
"Dare."
"I dare you to make yourself over, but put lipstick on your eyes and eye makeup on your lips."
"That will feel weird," Lily protested. "I'm not backing out, though."
"Good." Renee beamed and got out a bunch of makeup supplies. "Here's a mirror and your paintbrushes."
When she was done, she looked like a clown. We helped her clean it off, and then she got facts out of Sue and Sarah. Their kids, Jacob and Leah, were dating. We knew it all along. The other truth they told us was that they'd once stayed up literally, all night, and then crashed in their car at one in the afternoon when they were teenagers. It was a very relatable story. Mom opened up to us about how she met my dad. After truth or dare, we took crazy pictures that we hoped would never surface online.
The ice cream was gone, the songs had all played out, and the liquor bottles were empty. We were tired and at three in the morning, we finally fell asleep.
"Esme, it's your big day!" Someone touched my forehead with an ice pack and I squeaked in surprise. It was now nine in the morning. "Time to get primped for the special occasion!
"Oh, Renee, you scared me! When's my appointment? The wedding's in three hours!"
"Relax, I'll take you to the hair and makeup place. Then I can do your nails."
"Thank you," I said in one breath.
My hair was down my back and in tight curls. My eyes were lined in black and my cheeks were decorated a nice pink color. My lips were the color of blood. I couldn't stop staring at myself in the mirror.
"Wow, I look really different."
"Is that good?" the stylist wondered aloud.
"It's very good. I love how I look."
The girls got me into my dress and made sure it glided across the ground without getting snagged on my heels. The veil was placed upon my head like a headband and the cloth was over my face. I could barely see through it, so I closed my eyes while Renee painted my fingernails and my toenails.
"You're getting blue nail polish, for the something blue. And here's my necklace from when I went to homecoming in high school, so that's something old." I felt her fasten the clasp on the back of my neck. "Something new...here's an early wedding present." She clipped a bracelet around my right wrist and I felt myself smile broadly.
"We all chipped in for the cost of the wedding," Lily added on.
"Your something borrowed is my pearl earrings." I put in Renee's earrings and thanked all of my friends profusely.
When they left to get themselves ready, my mom came into my room, all dressed, and sat on Renee's bed. I could see her behind me while I looked in the mirror.
"Your dad would have loved to escort you down the aisle. I bet he's smiling down at you from heaven. You finally got your happiness."
"I've been giddy since Carlisle came waltzing into my life, and you and Alice made my family complete."
"I remember when you used to push our heads together so we could kiss."
"So that's where Alice gets it from," I laughed. "She did that to me and Carlisle when she was seven and we first started dating, for real."
"Aha! And you used to dance on your father's toes when you were just an itsy bitsy thing."
"Cynthia does that with Carlisle. My daughters have learned a lot from me, I suppose."
"I know they have. Would you like me to take you down the aisle?"
"I'd love that, Mom. Thank you." I got up from my chair and hugged her tightly.
"I love you, sweetheart." She kissed the top of my head. "I don't want you to ruin your makeup. Promise me no crying until after the wedding?"
"I don't know if I can hold the tears in," I said shakily. I kept glancing out the window as the three pairs of bridesmaids and groomsmen walked down the dirt aisle, followed by Renee and Charlie, my maid of honor and Carlisle's best man. Alice, Rosalie, and Elizabeth looked so darling next to Jasper, Emmett, and Peter. I saw Cynthia and Henry starting to tiptoe down the aisle. Mom linked arms with me and helped me up. The pink petals scattered around the aisle and I picked up my bouquet of roses.
"It's our turn, baby."
I took small, unsteady steps down the stairs as the wedding music got louder and louder. As soon as we reached Renee's back door, my heart was beating so fast that I gasped to catch my breath. When the warm afternoon sun hit me, I lowered my eyes to the ground and slowly raised them. The backyard looked so beautiful. Carlisle was on the other side in his handsome black and white tuxedo, waiting for me. He had a huge smile on his face. How could he look so patient and serene while his woman was panicking inside?
"Mom...why am I scared?" I whispered.
"This is new for you. You're not used to all this attention."
I gulped when I saw that people I didn't really know all that well were focusing their eyes on me. I was okay with my friends, family, and Carlisle, but strangers were a different story.
"Okay, Esme, breathe..." I told myself. My steps were too fast and I looked at my mom for a second. Her arm was around my waist and her other arm was holding me in place, guiding me down the aisle. "Don't cry...please, don't cry..."
"Self-talk helps."
"Please don't let me trip, Mom."
"I would never, honey."
The butterflies vanished as soon as I was halfway across the aisle. It seemed like forever and finally, I was standing right in front of him. Mom placed my hands into Carlisle's and sat down in her own chair. I giggled when he pulled me closer.
I couldn't contain my excitement.
Thank you to reviewers TheMortician'sDaughter, loveislovexoxoxoxoxo, TeamCullenx, TeamCarlisleandEsme8, K.K. Fush, Just4Me, MrsCarlisleCullen13, that kiwi chick, and Caresme'sChild!