DISCLAIMER: Not Meyer or Andrews. Nope, not me.

A/N: OMG, it's meeee! I blame it all on Megsly and J.R. Ward. Meg got me into the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward and I have not been able to put those suckers down. When I am consumed by a book (or maybe when I'm consuming a book?) it's almost impossible for me to write. It was like, "Oh, I haven't written in a month... (look at book in hand) and I really don't give a shit." Yeah, it's really horrible.

Quick notes: Legacy didn't win the Bellie award. *sigh* Someone nominated Legacy in the Total Eclipse of the Heart Awards in three different categories. I'm not even going to bother to link the awards site because I haven't got a chance in hell. I'm in the same category as Emancipation Proclamation and University of Edward Masen. Yeah, not a chance in hell. Not even if hell was filled with cute, furry pink bunnies would I have a chance. While I'm flattered with the nominations and haven't the slightest clue as to who nominates me, I'm being realistic. Legacy isn't popular like EP or UoEM and probably never will be but I just want to thank all my loyal readers for sticking with me and for your encouraging words either through your reviews or PM's.

I originally wanted this chapter and the next one to go together but then I just wanted to get this sucker out already. Ooh, if you missed it, I posted a future post-Legacy outtake called Observatin' at the Bar that I wrote for Twi-Fans for Haiti. I also posted in the Legacy Extra's and Outtakes an Esme outtake that is quite a tear jerker. My beta has a second small Esme outtake that was inspired by reader comments that I hope to have posted this weekend.

Was anyone else in Poughkeepsie, NY to meet Peter Facinelli? It was totally wicked that I got to meet up with a reader and hang out with her. Now we text randomly during Vampire Diaries about Elena's stupidity and I send her dirty text jokes. Oh, the joy of having met me, it's like a bad rash you can't get rid of.

Thanks to all my pre-readers and my beta, Bridget. (Hey, Melfred, I was going to ask you to be a pre-reader but your PM's aren't turned on!)

Dates covered: Saturday, December 27, 2008 and Sunday, December 28th, 2008

Chapter 38: BUTTERFLIES

We continued to stand in the garage, embracing one another. I held on to Esme longer than I had in the past, and it didn't bother me. I didn't recoil with annoyance. I didn't want to rush away from her. The entire situation didn't bother me. I was simply giving Esme what she needed—a little part of myself, and for the first time, I didn't mind.

The door to the kitchen opened and the light from inside hit across my face, blinding me. "Uh, is everything okay?" Emmett asked. Blinking to adjust my eyes to the light, I released Esme. She stepped back and turned to face Emmett. Her hands went to her face, clearing it of her tears. Emmett's eyes darted back and forth between the two of us. "Mom?"

"We're fine, Emmett."

He stepped forward, and I knew he didn't quite believe her when he took her in his arms. They whispered words that I couldn't hear to one another and when he let her go, he lovingly smacked me in the back of the head. "Don't make her cry."

"Emmett," Esme chastised him. "Don't hit your brother. We went to Staples and got a desk and chair for Edward. Please help him get them up to his room and put them together, okay?"

"Okay."

Esme crooked her finger at Emmett. He leaned down, and she placed a kiss on his cheek. "I am fine. Don't hit your brother again."

"Yes, Mother." She shook her head and headed into the house. Emmett stared at me. "Why'd you do that again?"

"It wasn't on purpose," I said. "We were talking and the topic got a little emotional."

"So why aren't you crying?"

"We were playing Twenty Questions and it was more emotional for her, duh." I headed to the back of Esme's SUV and popped the trunk. The box the chair was in was resting on top of the computer desk so I removed it, almost dropping it onto the hard concrete floor, but Emmett caught it.

"What the hell did you ask her?"

Stepping back, I rested the box against my legs. "It was both our questions," I explained. "I asked her if she really missed me and then she asked me if I thought I'd ever learn to love her."

Emmett hadn't removed the desk from the trunk. I imagined it was because he was waiting to see if he had to haul the desk over his head and hit me with it. "And your answers?"

"We both said yes."

"I'm glad," he said, finally reaching for the remaining box inside the trunk. "Especially with your answer. I hope you've finally figured out that Mom isn't evil or some shit. She just…she wants to know you, you know?"

"I know, Emmett."

I closed the trunk and we headed up to my room with my new things. When we passed Alice's room, her door was open and Emmett yelled out to Jasper. "Hey, Jazzy, we have stuff to put together! Man time!"

That grunting noise that Tim Taylor did on the Home Improvement reruns I've seen a million times came out of the room along with some girlish sounding giggles which I hoped were from Alice and not Jasper. "Be there in a few!"

God, I hoped putting together shit didn't require us to revert to a bunch of grunting, moronic males. The three of us did manage to put the desk and chair together without any mishaps. The rest of the day was pretty standard. I helped Esme with dinner, and since Carlisle was at work again, the two of us continued our bonding time by watching a movie together. Esme was actually a good movie partner because she enjoyed the old movies like I did. We settled on an old Bob Hope classic that was airing on one of the many channels. At the end of it, Esme moved toward the end of the cushion and then stopped. "Question," she said.

"Shoot."

"What do you want to do after high school?"

I had been dreading telling Esme about traveling with Emmett, but now I knew it was time to tell her. "Actually, I talked to Carlisle and Emmett about this recently. I never thought much about my future because I didn't think I had many choices."

Esme appeared sad over my words. "But you do now."

"I know," I said. "I want to travel with Emmett. Mostly because I don't know what I want to do with my life yet."

"I'm glad someone will be with him." She smiled and seemed genuinely happy. "I was a little worried about him going so far away by himself for so long. You can look out for one another."

"Neither one of us can see being away for a really long period of time," I said. "I think we're altering his original plan by going someplace, coming back for a while, and then leaving again."

"Oh, good." She let out a nervous laugh. "It'll be better for me too."

"Who is your favorite actress from back in the day?"

Esme smiled. "I can't pick just one. I adore both Katharine Hepburn and Lucille Ball."

"Excellent choices." One of her eyebrows was raised, and I knew she wanted to ask me something else. "Shoot. Again."

"Do you really enjoy older movies, shows, and music?"

"Yup." I could tell that she was surprised at my answer. "What?"

"I've only experienced the other five kids in the house for the most part," she said. "And they like the up to date, current stuff."

"Well, when you grow up without cable and are used to watching reruns of old shows on whatever local station you can get, you get assimilated to it," I explained. "They didn't want me watching shoot 'em up movies or anything gory. When one of us had a library card there were times we could check out movies, and the best selection was sometimes the classics. It's what I grew up with, so I don't mind it." I shrugged at my words, wondering what type of television shows, movies, and music I'd like if I had grown up with my family. Would I have ended up sitting here watching movies with Esme? Or would I only enjoy the latest hits like Emmett and Alice?

"Do you have a favorite old movie or one that sticks out the most?"

"Funny you ask that," I said. "It stars one of your favorite red heads. Ever hear of Five Came Back?"

"Yes!" Esme smiled at me. "I'm surprised you have."

"It was either that or Howard the Duck," I said. "I'm sure Howard is not a classic by your standards."

She threw her head back in laughter and fell back against the couch. It was nice to see her smile and laugh. "No, it's not!"

When her laughter died down, I spoke. "Esme? I'm not a disappointment to you, am I?" Whoa, where the hell had that come from?

Esme's hand moved forward on the couch like she wanted to reach out for me, but she pulled away. "Of course you're not a disappointment to me. How could you ever think that? I know now that you're trying your best."

"I am now, I should've tried sooner," I said. "What do you find the most surprising about me? Personality wise, I guess."

"You're so much like your father it's not funny."

"I've heard that before."

Esme sat back up and looked at me. "Only because it's true," she said. "You're kind, caring, loving, thoughtful, funny, sarcastic, wise beyond your years, the verbal diarrhea, and um, well, you're a little weird."

"Hey! I was agreeing with you until you got to the end there." She winked at me and started laughing. "Is Carlisle gullible too?"

"Sometimes." Esme patted my hand as if she was apologizing to me. "I think he's more confident than you, but he wavers at times."

"Please tell me he doesn't waver as he's about to operate!"

"No, no, that's one area he's confident in," she said. "That and being a father."

I nodded in agreement. "Carlisle seems like a good father to Emmett and Alice."

"He is." Esme's expression was happy. "I think he's a great father. I know the two of you have talked and I'm glad. You need someone to talk to sometimes and I'm glad that Carlisle can be there for you."

Her expression changed in the tiniest way. Her eyes were sad. I knew that she wished that I went to her for things. "You seem like a good mother," I blurted out.

God damned verbal diarrhea.

"Edward, you don't have to say that."

Did she think I was lying? "Emmett wanted to kick my butt out in the garage when he thought something was going on. If he didn't love you, then he wouldn't have smacked me. You've been doing something right all these years." She turned her face away from me so I couldn't see her expression. I wasn't sure if I pissed her off or made her happy. "Look, we had a good day. Before I screw this up, I'm going to go upstairs."

Esme glanced quickly at the ceiling before turning back to me. "You're not screwing anything up." She rose from the couch and stood, so I did too. "I'm going to make sure everything is locked up and then head upstairs myself."

"Okay." I got up and started to walk past her, but stopped. Leaning down toward her, I kissed her cheek like I had seen Emmett do so many times. "Good night."

She seemed a little flustered at my gesture. "Goodnight, Edward. I enjoyed our time together today."

"Me too." I scooped up Sabrina as I passed her curled up on the rug and headed up to my room. Not really tired yet, I had wanted to retreat to my room when it seemed like I had put my foot in my mouth. Things had been going well with Esme and I didn't want to ruin our progress. I sat on my bed and put Sabrina down. She stretched out, watching me as I dug my journal out of my dresser drawer. I walked over to my desk and used it for the first time while Sabrina did whatever half-asleep cats did (which seemed to be to go back to sleep or to start cleaning themselves).

Dear Journal,

Today was a really good day—probably the best in a long time. I spent a few hours alone with Esme. While there were some rocky rough patches, overall, the time we spent together was good for both of us. At least, I think so. I told her about the camera and having taken it to Chinook. I could tell that she kept her cool when underneath, she really didn't want to. I'll keep my word to her and not hang up any pictures with Peter and Liz in them. Even though she said otherwise, I know it would hurt her.

I initiated a round of 20 Questions so we could learn more about each other. I should come up with questions for Carlisle, Emmett, and Alice, too. We only got through our first thirteen questions today. I upset Esme when I asked her if she really did miss me. I'll never forget the look on her face when she started crying and said that she missed me every day. In return, she asked me if I thought I'd ever learn to love her.

I didn't think about my answer. The word "yes" just came out of my mouth.

I'll take that as a good sign. I know that Esme loves me and I hope that over time, I can return those feelings and love my mother back like she deserves to be loved by her son. All I can say is, things are looking better in that department. Tomorrow I meet Esme's parents for the first time and I'm still nervous. I'm going to pick up Bella to have her here with me when they arrive. Crossing my fingers it works out well.

-E

The next morning I woke to find Sabrina lying next to my head on the pillow, staring very intently at me. "What? I fed you last night. I can't clothe you, you can bathe yourself, so what do you want?"

Sabrina reached out, flexed her paw, and tapped my nose. "Ouch, hey now, watch the claws." She stretched, rolled onto her back, and exposed her stomach. I reached out and rubbed it, which caused her to start purring like a car engine. "You like that, huh? I think things went pretty well with Esme yesterday. We didn't fight and that's always a good sign."

Rolling back over, Sabrina yawned and put her head back down against the pillow. I would never fully understand women, and now I knew I'd never understand cats either.

"Well, I wish you could tell me how you thought I did with her, but you can't talk and you slept through most of our conversation anyway." She purred louder, a sure sign that she was currently in a petting-induced sleeping coma. "Thanks, big help you are, you little fur ball."

I lay there a bit longer, thinking about the day ahead. I needed to stop thinking so damn much. My reaction to my grandparents couldn't be planned ahead of time because I didn't know how they would act toward me. I would just have to take it one minute at a time and excuse myself if the situation became too much.

I got up and took a shower. While I was in there I rubbed one out, thankful Sabrina had stayed sleeping on my bed and hadn't followed me into the bathroom. I would scar the little fur ball for the rest of her life with my actions of self abuse.

The morning flew by. I couldn't even remember what I had for breakfast. When Esme and Carlisle left to go to Port Angeles to pick up Frank and Irene, I decided to head to Bella's. I knocked on the door and anticipated Charlie's appearance. Sure enough, the door swung open to reveal Mr. Peppermint Patty himself.

"Hello Marcie." Charlie answered the door, a tall boy in his hand and his hair almost as messed up as mine. Either he hadn't taken a shower yet or he was off duty and didn't give two shits about his appearance while at home. He turned his head and yelled, informing Bella that I was on the premises. No, really, "premises" was the word he used. I tried not to laugh and he turned back to me. "How are things going at home?"

"Good, I guess. Esme and I spent a big chunk of the day together yesterday and I'm still here and not up on Cullen Mountain." I tried to be brief so I wouldn't bore him. Charlie surprised me when he opened the door further and invited me inside with a gesture of his hand.

Then he had to ruin the moment by speaking. "You ain't paying my heating bill."

"Would it make a difference if I was?" He scowled at me and took a sip of his beer. "Does Bella have a curfew?"

"Why?"

"I'd like to take her out on a real date tomorrow night," I explained. "I wanted to know what time I should have her home by in that case."

He stared at me silently and I wondered if he was doing the staring routine on purpose or actually trying to form an answer to my question. I grew a bit nervous before he finally spoke. "Have her home by midnight, ten on a school night. Don't go any further than Port Angeles by yourselves unless you tell me or your parents."

"Oh, no, I won't be taking to her anywhere like Seattle," I said. "I don't even know how to get around any place other than Forks."

"I kind of like that."

"Figured you might."

"It's small things in life that make me happy, Marce." He smiled, but it didn't seem natural. More like he was trying too damn hard to be nice to me.

"So happy I could force a smile on that gruff face of yours, Patty."

He exhaled so hard it was reminiscent of a bull and I thought he was going to charge at me. "Wise ass," he muttered.

"Sorry," I apologized. "But pretty much."

My savior appeared at the top of the stairs and rushed down to save me from her father figure. Hugging Charlie, Bella had one eye on me the entire time. "Tell Frank and Irene that I said hello," Charlie said. "I would like to try to get over there to see them while they're here."

"Too bad the lake is too frozen now or you and Frank could go ice fishing."

"Too bad indeed."

"Sounds highly exciting," I said. "The ice fishing I mean."

My words didn't sound too damn convincing. Charlie stared at me with Bella still halfway in his arms, one eyebrow raised much higher than the other. "Wise ass."

"I'm sensing some déjà vu here, Patty."

Bella stifled some laughter. "Edward, let's go before you get yourself killed."

"Thank you for sensing when I'm about to get myself put six feet under."

Bella rushed in my direction and practically pulled me out the door. From behind us I heard Charlie sigh and the door slammed shut. "You know, just when I fully believe that Charlie actually may like you, you go and do something like that."

"Like what?" I asked as she dragged me toward my car. "What did I do?"

"Oh, hell, I don't even know."

I stopped in front of my car and sat on the hood with Bella standing between my legs. "Wait, let me get this straight, okay? I did something, but we don't know what, that ticked off Charlie, right?" Bella nodded at me. "You actually think Charlie may like me?"

"Yes, Edward."

"Okay, all that is as clear as mud. Let's go." Rising from the hood, I dared to press my lips quickly against Bella's. I never knew if Charlie was truly hiding behind the curtains in the living room with a shot gun loaded and aimed at my head. I just couldn't trust the guy yet. Hell, I was dating his little girl—he'd never be able to trust me, at least in his mind.

I did the entire gentlemanly thing and opened the passenger side door for Bella. From the look on her face, I wasn't sure if she was surprised or shocked at my actions. When we got back to my house, I was too damn nervous over meeting Frank and Irene to even think about having a make out session with Bella. Okay, that was a lie. I thought about it, but I was entirely too nervous to actually follow through. The thought of throwing up in her mouth wasn't really appealing to me. I was sure she would have agreed and thanked me for saving her the trouble. We were in the back room with my siblings and their other halves, waiting for our turn on the Wii, when I heard the front door open. My stomach had already been a massive graveyard for tons of dead butterflies when a new massive cocoon of them opened up and started flying around. Is this what it felt like when Alice had panic attacks? All these feelings were not a freakin' walk in the park, I can tell you that!

Oh, God, please let me be able to say hello without throwing up on their shoes.

Bella must have been able to sense my nervousness and grabbed my hand while Alice and Emmett ran to greet our grandparents. "Breathe, Edward. It's okay. Frank and Irene are really nice, okay? They just want to meet you."

"I know, but what do they expect from me?"

"For you to be able to greet them with a full, complete sentence and be able to say hello."

"That's not what I meant and you know it." I shifted forward on the couch, placing my elbows on my knees with my face resting in my hands. "I'm nervous."

"I know you're nervous, son." Bella and I turned to see Carlisle a few feet away from the couch. "They know it too. They're not going to bite and maim you. We're not throwing you into a den of lions either. We'll all be right there with you."

Bella rose from the couch and stood with her hand extended to me. Still, I hesitated. "I am not a statue and will not stay here like this all day. Get a move on, buddy." Carlisle stifled a laugh. Exhaling in an effort to lose the butterflies, I took her offering and stood up.

"You drive a hard bargain, woman."

"My next step was getting Emmett to beat your ass."

Unable to hold back this time, Carlisle started laughing. "I always knew there was a good reason to like you, Bella."

"Yeah, I keep your sons in line, don't I?"

"That you do." Bella and I walked toward Carlisle and then each of them was on either side of me. My father had his arm around my shoulders while my girlfriend held my hand. How much of a pussy did I appear to be? At the same time, though, I didn't care. I was nervous and, gulp, yes, afraid of meeting my grandparents for the first time. Three of us walked as a unit into the kitchen, my sorry ass being dragged along for the ride.

Irene was talking to Emmett and Jasper, her view blocked from his massive size. Frank was talking to the girls, his back to us. Esme glanced up and saw me, stopping her conversation with her father. He turned around and I saw my grandfather for the first. Frank had on a pair of jeans that had seen better days and a button-up red shirt covering his round stomach. A driving cap sat on his head, covering his salt and pepper hair. I could tell from his face that he had put in many years of hard work. His skin was rough, but his mouth easily formed into a smile when his eyes latched onto mine.

"Well, he's yours all right."

"Dad!" Esme chastised Frank.

"Oh, shush, you!" Frank waved a hand in Esme's direction. "Irene, stop flappin' your gums and get over here and meet our grandson."

He walked toward me slowly and I could almost hear the words, "Don't worry, I'm not gonna hurt you" come out of his mouth. Stopping in front of me, Frank extended his hand and I tentatively reached out and clasped it in one of mine.

"Hi." For a minute I wasn't sure if I had actually spoken the word out loud or not. The greeting was merely an eek, barely audible for human ears. I felt myself leaning more toward Carlisle for support and realized his arm was still around me.

Sensing my nervousness, Irene stopped where Frank had and also extended a hand in my direction. "Hello, dear. It's so very nice to meet you."

Irene didn't have a stomach like Frank, but she came across in much the same manner—regular, non-fancy, every day sort of people. She was also wearing a pair of jeans and a blue sweater. Her hair was very short and probably dyed because it was much too dark, almost black, for someone of her age. Various make up adorned her cheeks, making it too pink to be natural. Her eyes were framed in color and black mascara. I reached out for her hand and accepted it. "Hi, it's nice to meet you."

Thankfully, I was starting to sound a little more like myself. Some of the nervousness started to slip away, and I was sure that they could actually hear my greeting the second time around.

"We know this is kind of odd for you—"

Frank cut Irene off. "Yeah, it's not every day someone finds out they were kidnapped as an infant." Irene turned to Frank and glared at him. "Shit, woman!" He jumped two steps away from her. "Don't give me the damn evil eye."

"Please forgive the idiot that is still known as my husband for now." Once again Irene turned and glared at Frank. He took two more steps backward.

Bella squeezed my hand at the same moment I heard Carlisle speak. "Frank, with the way you keep backing up you're going to be out at the end of the driveway pretty soon."

At Carlisle's words something in me cracked. I started laughing so hard it hurt. I wasn't alone, though, because everyone else had started chuckling along too.

"I'm sorry, I was really nervous to meet you."

"Likewise, kid." Frank said. "We don't bite though. Gotta get yourself a girl for that."

"Grampa!" Alice laughed. "You're bad!"

"No, I'm just me, short stuff!" Frank's eyes roamed the kitchen. "What's an old man gotta do to be able to sit down around here?"

As we congregated around the kitchen table, I thought I heard Irene tell Frank to "Stop being a pain in the ass" under her breath. Emmett and Jasper went into the garage to get two more chairs as the rest of us settled around the table. Frank gazed around at each one of us, pointing as his eyes traveled over us. "Wait, how many grandchildren do I have now? Does that make it six?"

"Dad, knock it off," Esme said. "You know that I only gave birth to three children."

"Oh yeah?" Frank quirked his eyebrows upward suspiciously. "Then why the hell have I been sending birthday cards with cash in 'em for five rugrats?"

"Because you're a senile old fool?" Esme answered.

"Ha!" I said. "Excellent come back, Esme."

"Hey now!" Frank's voice was excited. "Don't you know that we guys have got to stick together?"

"She's my mother," I said. "I've gotta have her back too."

That's when everything went fucking silent. Like as in you could hear a damn pin drop. Without looking, I knew everyone's eyes were on me.

Carlisle cleared his throat. "So, huh, Frank, you're just up for a few days, right?"

Frank shook his head as if he realized why everyone was so damn quiet. I guess it still wasn't every day that a kidnapped child who had been having such a time adjust to his mother actually refers to her as his mother. "Yeah, yeah, that's right. Too damn cold for us to stay for much longer. It seeps into my bones and paralyzes me."

"Are you a doctor now?" Carlisle laughed.

"Oh, shush you! I'm old and cold weather doesn't mix well with me. What the hell do you want, huh?" Frank turned toward me. "We just wanted to come up and visit. Meet the new rugrat."

"First time in my life, that I know of, that I've been referred to as a rugrat."

"You want an award or something, ruggy?" He glared at me seriously, no smile on his face. I stared back at him. Slapping the table, Frank laughed heartedly. "You're one of us all right."

I leaned closer to Esme. "Either you father has a touch of the verbal diarrhea or he's a tad touched in the head. I can't decide which."

"Oh, honey, it's a bit of both with him." Laughing at Esme's comment, I realized the butterflies in my stomach were gone.

Okay, so maybe, just maybe, this grandparent thing wouldn't be so bad after all.