Chapter 48: Home
Thank you all for your input regarding whether I should present this reunion from Carlisle's pov, or Edward's. Both have so much merit, that I may eventually do an o/t, although Edward is presently writing to his daughter about it. Watch for Daddy's Journal to post this week, followed by Brandons and HHMH. I've been a busy girl.
And the winner, by an overwhelming majority, is... Carlisle!
This chapter has over 50 characters in it, because 1) I'm a nut; and 2) I like to invite piles of unpredictable humans to the Cullen house. Bless you, Janiriki, for finding my continuity blips. My friends are so smart :D
If you have $48k US lying around, you too can own a wedding present like Bella gives Edward. Go visit my Facebook Fanpage to see one similar to Ed's (present, not dick, pervs). You need not sign in to see the pages. Link's on my Profile.
Dear friends and reviewers, you make my stories so much better. Please write to me. Oh, and I still owe some of you that special treat o/s for reviewing all my chapters. I'm sadly behind due to Anthony's Dad's hospitalization. So, busy, busy. Say a little prayer for us, will ya? But don't worry, I haven't forgotten you, either. Xoox
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is merely coincidental.
Sadly, the Kwoli Ute belong to Stephenie Meyer. Except Jeremy, Zach, Brian and Stephen. Hands off or Carlisle will come at you with his hypodermic! Grr.
Go to my Profile, and click the playlist called 'I Hunger 4' to hear great music that I guarantee will enhance your reading. I spend hours picking it. I try to time it so you are able to read along as it plays itself. Please use the new channel to subscribe or contact me because Google murdered my ability to access the old channel. I love hearing from you. This chappie's vids start at #106:
'Firework', by Katie Perry
'Brielle', by Sky Sailing
'I'm Coming Home', by Cole and Grey
'This is Home', by Switchfoot
'Yes, Sir, That's My Baby,' by Gus Kahn
'It Had to Be You (Gus Kahn)', by Frank Sinatra
'Meant to Live', by Switchfoot
'At Last', by Etta James
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag,
Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper-thin
Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?
Do you ever feel already buried deep?
Six feet under screams, but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there's still a chance for you?
'Cause there's a spark in you
You just gotta ignite the light, and let it shine
Just own the night like the Fourth of July
'Cause baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go "oh, oh, oh!",
You're gonna leave 'em falling down oh oh
You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane, comes a rainbow
Maybe the reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow
And when it's time you know
You just gotta ignite the light, and let it shine
Just own the night like the Fourth of July
'Cause baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go "oh, oh, oh!"
You're gonna leave 'em falling down oh oh
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time you let it through-ooh-ooh
'Cause baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go "oh, oh, oh!"
You're gonna leave 'em falling down oh oh
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Forks, Washington State:
Wednesday, September 7th, 2005, 4am:
Carlisle's pov:
If that boy said, "I can't believe you're really vampires" one more time, I was going to perform my first murder. I stood in front of the long window, staring out into the wilderness, wishing the hours would pass faster.
"You're just so perfect for me," he gushed again, his head in Tanya's adoring lap, while she stroked his hair and smiled beatifically down upon him.
Urgh. They were far, far worse than Emmett and Rose had ever been.
At least if Em and Rose had oozed newly-wed affection in public, they had not been inclined to discuss their future bedroom plans in lurid detail, in front of us.
Apparently, Tanya and Eric had big plans for their love life. Rather ... public plans.
"Your father will seriously take the video?" Eric squealed.
Tanya stroked his hair. "Does that turn you on?"
"Oh, yeah," Eric growled, the scent of his excitement hanging in the air. I sighed, mussing my hair with my hand.
Apparently, Edward had done away with being frustrated, and I had assumed the role from him.
The remaining time until I saw my son and newest daughter could not pass fast enough for me.
"In the name of Roosevelt, Carlisle! You're taking too many pages from your son's book. Go and sit down! They won't be here for an hour yet," Esme chastised me, but I was glued to the window.
My son. My son and his mate: coming home at last.
Esme set the large platter of muffins she was carrying down on the dining room table, and came to wrap her arms around my middle. "You've really missed them, haven't you?"
"Terribly," I admitted, feeling my throat close. "Twenty-four days since we've seen them."
Esme released me to address our snogging relatives. "Tanya? Will you and Eric kindly give us a little time alone?"
"Certainly, Esme. May we use Edward's old room?"
"As long as you leave it tidy. I know they won't be staying in it, but Bella thinks they will, so if you're going to do anything, um, of a private nature, kindly clean up after yourselves. And be particularly careful of the bathroom. I know he's going to march right up there to see what I've done to him."
"Yes, Ma'am. I do not think there's time for love anyway. Besides, I would not wish to overstep my boundaries with him like I did last time. He's still a very private lover. He has changed a lot, but he has not had a personality transplant, you know?" she blinked.
"I can well imagine," Esme said, eyes rolling.
"I still can't believe he's a vampire, and that he can read minds," Eric gushed, "but it explains so, so much."
Lord? When will they go home? I want my own children, not other people's.
"Do excuse us, please," Tanya said, pulling Eric up with her. "We are going home with Papa Eleazar this morning. I want Eric to see our lodge."
Thank you, Jesus.
"Thank you, Tanya," Esme called after her, then, she turned solemn eyes to me and mouthed 'Thank God'. "What's wrong, Carlisle?"
I hesitated, and cleared my throat. "Aside from the time Edward ... left us, and the time he left Bella, we've never been apart," I said fretfully. "I don't know what it's going to be like, now that our children are all branching out on their own. All six going off to school at once? And they have the new coven to run, in a foreign country? How ever are we to manage in this big house alone?"
"Mmm, Love," my wife crooned. "You mustn't fret. I'm sure we'll have them in and out of the house all the time, especially on weekends. We've been living as a family for over fifty years. They're probably nervous as heck about going away to various places, where one of us isn't always available to help them out. They will want to touch home base often. You aren't losing any of them."
"You're sure?" I checked, anxiety pulling at me. "Edward's a Dom now. What if he ... doesn't need us anymore?"
Esme smoothed back my hair. "Edward loves you, Carlisle. And me. He will always need us. I bet the first thing he'll do is invite you down to the Amazon for a first hand look at the village."
A rumble of car tires sounded as someone turned into the drive. I wondered who would arrive first.
"Besides, the baby is coming. There's no way on the planet that he would want you to miss that. Why do you always worry so much about whether he loves you? Edward has always told you that he loves you. There's no need for you to be insecure."
But... there was. "When I met him, in spite of everything he was suffering, he was cheerful. A genuine optimist. Always thinking of others, and so polite, and friendly. Then, he went downhill, fast, and it was heartbreaking to watch him give up. So I claimed him. And then after I turned him, he became so ... unhappy," I lamented.
"Not anymore," Esme asserted, squeezing my arm.
Whose car? Ah. Charlie. Of course.
"You're right, Darling. He thanked me for being his father, and he's been calling me 'Dad'. I know I'm being silly. It's just ... not seeing them for three weeks? It's been hard. Bella seems to bring all these disparate personalities together. Life has been such a joy since they reunited. What ever will we do if they, and the other children, decide to move away permanently?"
"Go with them," Esme suggested gently.
"Really, Peach?" I asked softly.
"Of course, Carlisle. Family comes before work." Esme turned to the drive, beaming. She flitted to open the door. "Seth, Sue, Charlie! Won't you come in? You just have time for muffins and coffee before we go to meet the kids."
"Coolio. You're da shizz, Esme," Seth enthused, bouncing in.
"Hi Esme, Carlisle," Charlie said, dropping his jacket on the very bench, beside the door, where he had once told a distraught pair of nearly naked kids to 'sit'. How times had changed.
"Hello, Charlie. All set to see the kids?" I smiled.
"Yep. Guess so." Charlie stroked his moustache. "Still feels a bit weird."
"For all of us," I said, nodding. "How are you, Sue?"
"I'm well, Carlisle," she affirmed, taking my proffered hand. "Seth? No coffee, you're still growing."
"Aw, Mom!"
Sue wisely avoided arguing with her son. "And you?"
"Little nervous," I admitted, tucking her hand under my arm and leading her into the dining room. "Everyone says Edward has changed so dramatically. He's never taken on a leadership role before. It feels odd."
"They've left the nest in a highly dramatic fashion, that's for sure," Charlie agreed. "Guess we'll just have to adjust."
"That we will," I concurred. "Best you eat those muffins before we go. Are the others meeting us up there?"
"Yep. Except for Billy. Rosalie home yet?" Charlie wondered.
"No, she's staying with Albert and Lorna Richards so that she can wake them before running out to meet us," I informed him. "The Brandon Clan will want to see their matriarch."
"S'pose you could get there faster running than we'll manage in the jeep," Charlie mused, accepting a chocolate muffin and slathering it in butter. "Thank you, Esme. These are really good."
"Any time, Charlie," my wife offered.
I answered his question. "Well, yes, we could run it faster, but Billy would find it difficult, and we'll have Alice's sister and niece, and Sue to transport back, plus some pets. I'm sure between the lot of us, nobody will be left behind. Is Mary Alice's mobile home ready?"
"Yep, all prepped and provisioned. Trailer park's been pretty much overrun with Brandons. It's given the locals something to gossip about other than Bella and Edward," Charlie grumbled, eyes rolling.
"Egad. What have they been saying now?" I frowned.
"Aw, the old bat's still saying they got married because Bella was knocked up."
"Hmph! Well, we'll have to warn Bella and Edward not to make any public appearances. She won't be able to see people while she's pregnant anyway. She looks too different."
"So I'm told," Charlie said, eyes rolling. "Tanya hasn't shut up about it for two minutes."
"Be thankful," I advised softly. "You wouldn't believe how she and Eric go on about things, in front of us, that ought to be private. I hope you won't think we're like them," I whispered. "The Denalis are kind-hearted, but they are utterly depraved." In fact, they were upstairs defiling Edward's bed. Again. There was time for love after all, I supposed.
"I always thought Yorkie was a weirdo," Charlie mused.
Another vehicle came up the drive, and honked: Sam, with Billy. Excellent.
I let them in.
"Nice morning," Sam began without ceremony, carrying Billy inside. He had left the wheelchair in the flatbed of the truck.
"Yes. Perfect weather for us," I agreed. "Come and eat. Esme made you muffins."
"Oh, thank you," Billy grinned. After setting him in a chair at the table, Sam nodded his head curtly, but helped himself to a muffin. He looked surprised after he bit it, like he couldn't believe we weren't going to poison him. It was odd, but after being supportive of Edward and Bella at their wedding, he was reluctant to trust us now. He was frightened of my grandchild. Ridiculous.
There was a soft patter outside, and then Rosalie skipped in through the kitchen window. "Hi, Carlisle," she grinned.
"Hello, Dear," I smiled back. "All set to see your brothers and sisters?"
"Yes," she beamed. "Should I bring the presents with me?"
"No, no," I smirked. "Let them open them here. You're really going through with the prank?"
"Alice says Edward can handle it. I just hope he doesn't flay me alive for selling the photos," she said, eyes dancing.
"What photos?" Charlie wondered.
I grimaced. "Charlie, remember the picture I showed you of Edward, asleep?"
"Who could forget it?" Charlie said affably.
"Well," I began, running a hand through my hair again. "There's a worse one, and since Bella and Edward pranked us by destroying his bedroom, Alice has planned a punishment for him."
"The name of the game is public humiliation," Esme informed everyone.
"It's not that bad," Rosalie protested, eyes rolling. "It's quite good of him, actually."
"Rose," I admonished softly. "He's so modest." I was nervous about how Edward would react. I was going to send him a mental warning, no matter what the kids thought. He'd been through a lot of stress. "If he's at all tense when he gets here, will you please reconsider?"
"Hey, this is Alice's idea," she said, putting her hands out.
"Would somebody mind explaining what this prank is, you're planning?" Charlie said, examining the lot of us narrowly.
I sighed. "Sorry, Charlie. The kids, well, all of us really, were half-amused and half-incensed by the destruction Edward did to the house, showing off his ... newly-mated status. Took us hours to clean the place, and all the bathroom fixtures had to be replaced. So, there's this picture of Edward asleep, and ... erm... it leaves nothing to the imagination. Alice and Rose conspired to get the picture blown up to life-size, and they've put it over the mantle in Bella and Edward's sitting room."
Charlie's eyes bulged. "Well, I'll be. So you're telling me that everyone who goes to the housewarming is going to have a good look at my naked son-in-law's junk? Carlisle, how have you coped, so long, living with perpetual teenagers?"
I shrugged a shoulder. "They have their moments of brilliance."
"They're brats. Likeable brats, but still brats. Edward's gonna go off his nut."
"Maybe," I agreed. "He sent us all trophies, via Alice, who mailed them from Biloxi some days before Katrina hit. They're golden phalluses. Edward wanted us to know he thought our prank about his nap qualified us to be Big Dicks. So he's not a milquetoast, Charlie. Just very reserved. The kids want to unveil the picture when we take the newly-weds to the cottage today. Will you have a problem with it?"
"Aw, well it seems like I'm marrying into a family that runs around in the woods naked half the time, anyhow" he joked, with a sly look at Seth, who was appreciatively stuffing his fourth muffin into his gob. "I'll cope. Question is, will Edward?"
"That's the big one," I said, nodding.
"Time Edward caught up to the Twenty-First Century," Esme opined. "A little razzing won't hurt him."
"Man, you people are ruthless," Sam avowed, shaking his head. "Showcasing a guy's junk in front of his father-in-law, and his mother? I'm glad I didn't imprint on any of you."
"So are we," Rosalie growled.
"Rose," I admonished softly. She stopped criticizing, looking contrite. I decided to cut her some slack. She was missing Emmett dreadfully, and was about to see her sister-in-law with a baby bump for the first time. It couldn't be easy for her, no matter how content she appeared.
I checked my watch. "They'll be here soon. Shall we go?"
"Sure, sure," everyone agreed, standing to collect jackets and belongings. It was meant to go up into the sixties today, but in Forks one never knew what to count on. It wasn't raining, but it wasn't sunny, either, and without talking to Alice it was hard to know what to expect from the weather. That was another thing we would have to get used to, for the next few months.
At least I could derive comfort from knowing that Bella and Edward would move back home when her time to deliver was at hand.
Rosalie took Charlie, Billy and Sue to Emmett's jeep, and explained how to fasten the safety harnesses. Then, she got in, reversed, and took the road at an insane pace, with no mind to the fact that the Chief of Police was a passenger in her vehicle. I shook my head, awestruck. The girl was nothing if not a daredevil.
"I'm so excited!" Seth squealed, wriggling all over like the puppy he was. "Come on, Sam! Let's go!" Without a bye-your-leave he ran into the woods to phase.
Sam shook his head, and followed. I supposed he was having a hard time having faith in us, because of the incubus legends. And not only did he have to see the changes in Bella, he had to see Leah as well. This could not be on his list of favourite mornings.
I sent up a prayer that the day would go well.
Esme and I ran through the woods, which were already saturated with Kwoli scent. They really did smell doggy, I had to admit. Edward's dog, Woof, had smelt better, if I recalled correctly. Of course Edward had bathed the dog at least once a day with oatmeal and soap.
The Doberman had been a nice thing.
I had let my son down. He had been so shattered by the dog's execution by Roman, that he had not even told me what had happened until two days had passed, and it was too late to do anything about it. But he had never held it against me, even though Roman was only present because I had accidentally let slip to the Volturi that Edward existed.
They had told a couple of unmated females about him, too, to his chagrin.
Damn that Jane to perdition. She had made a good impression on me initially. Edward never had told me what happened with her when I sent him on that date. At the time, I had ranted at him over it, fearing reprisals. It was another way I had let him down. As he let me get to know him better, I had realized that he never would have lost his temper with her, had she not done him some sort of injury. And Edward never told me what she had done. He was always the gentleman.
She was an evil witch. I knew that, after watching her torture, and order the death of, Bree Tanner. Thank God Edward had not bonded with her! And thank God he was not like our cousins, who would settle for companionship outside a mate bond, and sometimes shared lovers.
I had failed to help Edward so many times. Failed to say the right thing. Failed to keep my temper. Failed to love him unconditionally.
Sometimes he had railed against me. I still firmly believed that God had a purpose for him, and that it was right to save him. Initially, we were friends. Then, once he was familiar with his new life, he got frustrated, and he would tell me he wished he had died. And then he would cry and tell me he was sorry and not to mind him, and that he loved me and he felt like shite for being so nasty. He'd be contrite. And he'd be the perfect son. And it had grieved me.
I didn't want him to be perfect. I wanted him to be happy.
Of course, he was Edward. He put the blame on himself. For everything.
I worried about him. Constantly. Before he rebelled, and after.
Years passed, and he fell into a pattern. He played his piano, and read books, and jested with his siblings, and drifted from year to year without changing, with little joy. He loved us, but never felt like he deserved it, and after talking to Bella about his 741 kills, I finally understood why: he thought he was a monster.
His life stagnated. He went through the motions to keep us happy, and had moments of happiness, when interacting with us. But there was always the look in the back of his eyes, that said, 'I know what I am, and I don't like it. I don't deserve anything good'. He had stood outside the window of love, and looked in, and somehow he had never understood that he was part of the circle regardless of his failures. And that was my fault.
"Stop moping!" Esme snapped. "Edward's going to think you're not glad to see him."
"On the contrary. I long to see him. I simply want to see with my own eyes that he is happy," I protested.
Esme sighed melodramatically. "Carlisle. You know he is. You saw him at the wedding, for heaven's sake. He has Bella now, and he's never going to lose her. She's his light and air. Of course he's happy."
"Well, he never used to be. And I've come to understand that he was unhappy because he felt he was a monster, unworthy of love, and I couldn't teach him otherwise."
"Because he's stubborn as a mule," my wife declared. "I'm hoping he listens to you better, now, actually, and I know you'll listen to him, now that he has learned how to communicate."
I hoped he would listen to me, when I told him there was never a moment, since I chose him for my companion, that I had not loved him. I sent up another quick prayer, that he would understand that, were I to tell him.
"Stop moping!"
"Yes, Milady," I said sheepishly.
My son was coming home, as he always did. I focused on that, feeling more cheerful as we ran through the dark forest.
My son was happy.
His mate, my dear daughter, had wrought serious changes in him. More of them than I could fathom, no doubt.
We ran past the waterfall, seeing and smelling fresh cuts in the earth from the tires of the jeep. With a bark of joy, Seth bounded past. Moments later, we were in the clearing where we had played baseball so many months ago, when James had discovered Bella and wreaked so much havoc on our lives.
We had not returned to the clearing since.
Esme and I ran up to the jeep, to find Charlie leaning against it, and Sue looking up patiently at the sky. Rosalie was sitting on the hood, looking not-so-patient. They had brought out Billy's chair, and he was happily seated in it, talking about the Mariners with Sam and Charlie. Seth joined us, once again donned in his shorts.
"How long 'til they get here?" the young wolf asked eagerly, pacing circles around the rest of us.
"Alice said 5:08 am," Esme answered.
"That's... three minutes away," Seth declared, gawping. He grinned hugely, and leaped into the air. "Woo hoo! Be-edward's in the heazy!"
We chuckled at him as he jabbered on and on in the run-on sentences used by exuberant youth. I barely understood half of it, not because of his slang, but because he failed to put a consonant on almost every word. He was that thrilled, that he lifted my heart.
A tiny silver shard pierced the grey sky with an ultrasonic boom. The heads of the vampires and Kwoli snapped round to follow it, although the humans continued to look nonplussed.
"It's them!" Seth hollered. "It's them it's them it's them!" he yelled, dancing around and pointing. We all got tremendously excited after that. Eleazar's toy, delivering my loved ones in expedited fashion, had indeed become a godsend.
Two minutes later, the Raptor passed silently over our heads and disappeared over the neighbouring mountain. After it disappeared, a huge boom sounded in its wake. All of us clapped and cheered and jumped up and down.
At an incredible velocity, it rocketed back over the clearing. I could see Eleazar in the cockpit, wearing his old-fashioned leather helmet and goggles. He waved, then waggled the wings at us. Banking sharply, he turned toward us again. Roiling, percussive sounds assaulted our ears with every fly-by, but as the minutes passed, we could tell that the craft was getting lower and slowing down. After a wait that seemed interminably long, the aircraft turned straight for us, and a lot of lights went on, on its underside. Then, the thrusters hissed, and the jet dropped quite smoothly to the ground.
Seth was beside himself with joy. He yelled and pointed and made demands of his mother and Charlie to answer questions and simply acted like the nice kid whom we loved.
I looked at the E-Rex admiringly. I thought it was as much fun to look at -save the airbrushed lady bits, which we all could have done without- as it had been to ride. The ground around the aircraft glimmered with haze: the heat from the engine. Amazing.
The hatch on the top popped open, revealing my 'cousin'. "Buenos dias mis queridos!" he yelled, gesticulating madly. "Come and help me. I need you to catch the humans and help with the luggage."
Rosalie, Sam, Seth and I moved to the foot of the plane with alacrity. There was a great deal of noise on top of the plane, due to people walking about on it, talking in murmurs. So far, they were not the voices I wanted most to hear.
Jacob peeped over the edge and looked at me. "Hello, Carlisle. Will you please be ready to catch Cynthia? I'll lower her in a blanket. She's very exhausted after the flight, so maybe you should check her over."
"Certainly, Jacob. Please pass Miss Cynthia down most gently," I warned.
"Yes sir," he said, saluting smartly. A dark blue sleeping bag, unzipped and bunched up at the corners to form a pouch of sorts, appeared in his hands. He lowered it carefully into my waiting arms. I set it down, and unwrapped the gift within. She peeped up at me curiously through her Coke-bottle glasses, and moaned softly.
"Hello, Darling. You wanna set me on my feet?"
I laughed a little. "Just settle down, young lady. Let's get you in the car."
"I ought to stretch my legs," she insisted.
"When we get home, you can stretch them all you like. It shall not be long," I promised. "Charlie? Would you kindly open the door for me, so that I may put Alice's sister in the back?"
"You're Alice's real live sister?" Charlie asked, gobsmacked.
"Yessir. I'm Cynthia Brandon Richards. And just who might you be, handsome?" she wondered.
"I'm Bella's Dad, Charlie Swan," he said, scratching his ear.
"I greatly admire your daughter, sir. She is a lovely, brave girl."
"Thank you," Charlie said, moustache twitching.
Leah appeared on top of the aircraft, grinning, carrying another blanket-wrapped human. "Hey, Ticks! Come and get Mary Alice."
"I'll get her," Jacob said, eyes rolling. He jumped neatly to the ground and reached back up, taking Cynthia's daughter with ease. He carried her over to the jeep, and introductions were facilitated. Leah jumped down, beaming, her eyes sparkling so that she looked quite beautiful. Her mother and Seth rushed to hug her. Then, she saw Sam, and her face fell into more sombre lines. It was sad, really.
Jacob held up a finger to Billy, telling him to wait. Then, he leaped back up onto the jet, and disappeared.
There was movement on top of the Raptor, and I watched eagerly.
"What are they doing, trying to build suspense?" Esme mused.
"I think so," I pouted.
Jacob jumped down again, with a large dog carrier in his hands. "Dad? I brought you this dog," he said. "We found him in Biloxi. His owner drowned. But his owner had a wheelchair, and the dog was wearing a coat. He's a Helper Dog, Dad. We're going to contact some people to help us learn how to give him commands so he can help you out."
"Hey, Jake, that's ... unbelievable," Billy said, eyes bright. "Let me see him."
Jacob let the Black Labrador out of his crate. It went straight to Billy, and waggled all over, whinging. "He likes me," Billy declared, giving the dog affectionate pats. "What's his name?"
"Raptor," Jacob said proudly.
Alice was busy, lowering suitcases, which Charlie and Seth took to stack near the jeep. Esme went to assist her, and they kissed each other 'hello' and started to jabber.
Something blond appeared up top. Jasper. He was carrying Apple, and a cat carrier. Adjuring her to grasp his neck tightly, he stepped off the wing into space, and brought the child and the pets over to the jeep. "Hello, Carlisle," he drawled. "We're right glad to be home with you."
"Thank you, Jasper," I said, and to my surprise, he hugged me and kissed me on the cheek. He had never touched me anywhere, except on the hand, or shoulder, before. My face likely registered my shock, rendering use of his talent unnecessary.
"We missed you," he said again, meaningfully, and moved to greet Esme and Rosalie, who were both beaming, the same way that he had greeted me.
"Dad!" Alice squealed, flitting into my arms.
"Hello, Dearest," I answered, still rather reeling from Jasper's embrace.
"I hope you're ready for these two," she said slyly.
"Ready as I'll ever be," I asserted, re-balancing my weight. Esme gripped my arm hard, in both of hers, and we both waited, holding our breaths.
Bright red eyes peeked over the side of the plane, and Isabella Masen-Cullen jumped down lightly as a faerie. She was so beautiful, with her mahogany hair glossy and curling, and her pale skin. She wore an apricot-coloured blouse made out of some clingy material, and a short black skirt, along with her usual Converse sneakers, and she sported a considerable baby bump. Spotting Charlie, she walked over extremely gracefully, and regarded him solemnly.
"Hello, Dad." Bella wrapped an arm around Charlie and kissed him. It was odd seeing a red-eye kiss a human. But Hybrids' lack of bloodlust was good news for all concerned.
Charlie's lip trembled. "It's really you, Bells. You look... beautiful."
"Dad? I owe you about a million apologies. We have time to make up, though, right?" she asked musically.
How much of her physiology remained human? I could hear her heart beating just the same as always.
"All the time you want," he promised, touching his daughter's rounding belly.
Bella smiled, then turned her attention to me. "Carlisle," she said melodiously.
"Oh, you're a sight for sore eyes," I declared. "Come and hug me, Beautiful Heart."
She did so, blushing a little, and we kissed, and I got myself a feel of the baby, noting its movements. How interesting. How miraculous! I started automatically to inspect Bella for any medical issues. She stopped me, eyes rolling, and shook her finger at me, and moved over to Esme, who made a big fuss over her.
"So what's Edward doing in there?" I demanded. "You did bring him home, right?"
"Of course," she said, nose in the air. She sneaked a look around and whispered theatrically, "I think he just wants to show off."
"Come on, Edward, we're waiting," I bellowed, and waited more, while Bella moved on to speak to Sue.
Esme and I dangled on tenderhooks, hanging onto each other. A tuft of long, bronze hair appeared. I pulled in a breath, and discovered that I was quivering.
My son stepped forward, and dropped to the ground, landing in a graceful semi-crouch, his customary black Sketchers stirring up dust on the dry ground. My eyes raked over him, drank him up, and a small sob escaped me as Esme covered her mouth and stared joyfully at him.
"Edward," I mouthed silently, having trouble absorbing that this was actually my boy.
His hair was long, well-past the collar of his rusty-red suede jacket, and his face bore the scruffy beard that I had seen in photos, but had not seen him sporting since the day he awoke from the burning. At that time, he had been too ill to shave. Now, he was wearing it from choice. His eyes were a vibrant, happy ochre that I had not seen on him before. He had a plain, navy blue t-shirt on under the jacket, and a pair of jeans that were out at the knees, and wearing out everywhere else.
He strode toward me, wearing his familiar, crooked grin, and I noted that there did not seem to be any tension in his entire body. He moved fluidly, like he was dancing, until he stood before me, and without hesitation, wrapped both his arms around me, and settled his chin against my shoulder with a happy sigh.
"Dad," he said simply, holding on tightly to my waist.
"Edward," I moaned, clutching him, and absorbing his scent, which was deeper somehow, and touched with Bella's. I reached up to grasp the back of his neck, marvelling at the length, and silk, of his hair, which was streaked with gold from being in the sun.
"I'm so sorry, Dad. I'm so sorry," he whimpered, clutching me back.
"Whatever for?" I asked, completely lost.
He straightened up, so he could look at me. "For being such an ass. You were right, Dad, about this life, and I'm sorry for every word I ever said to grieve you. I love you, Carlisle. Please forgive me?"
I took his whiskered cheeks in my hands, forcing him to look at me. "There's naught to forgive. It is I who should beg your forgiveness, for not understanding you, for so many years. For not making sure that you knew that I loved you unconditionally."
He smiled wryly, shaking his head. "I know it now. And I love you whole-heartedly, too. I have missed you so much."
"And I you," I said, ruffling the top of his head. Escaping with a grin, he grabbed me by my ears and kissed me on both cheeks, which just about did me in. He had never, ever instigated a kiss before. Then, he patted my shoulder, and let me go.
"Mom," he said, arms wide, and suddenly dropped to his knees at Esme's feet. I was about to panic when I realized he was jesting with her. He bent forward and pressed a loud kiss to the top of each of her shoes, then looked up at her in all seriousness. "You are the best mother on the planet."
"Edward Cullen! Did you just kiss my feet?" she asked incredulously.
"Some people kiss the soil when they get off a plane. I prefer to tell my mother than I worship the ground on where she stands," he announced, and bounced up. "Seriously, Mother. I will never, ever take you for granted again."
"Sounds like you had a difficult time with Renée," I deduced.
"You could say that," Bella admitted.
"You have no. Idea," Edward said, taking each of us about the waist and kissing us on the cheeks again. I just stared at him. Was this really the same person who had left mere weeks ago? Then, he caught sight of Charlie, who had just barked a laugh. "Sir," he said, unsure of his reception.
"Edward," Charlie said, arms akimbo. "I want one, too."
My son released us and walked slowly to Charlie, who held out his arms with his brow raised. Edward stepped in, exhaling loudly. "I'm sorry, sir. I'm so sorry for all the lies."
"Well, we've already settled that, so kindly quit it. You're starting to sound like that Tyler kid, that time he crashed the van into Bella. Man, he was annoying: 'I'm sorry Bella, I'm so sorry Bella' over and over and over. So stop apologizing. We're waiting for affection. Now, gimme a hug, boy, so I know I'm important, too."
"You are important," Edward asserted, squeezing Charlie hard enough, that he was just short of cracking his ribs. In doing so, his jacket hitched up, and I was shocked to discover my son's jeans were ripped in a most ...
Honestly, Edward? Half your left buttock is hanging out.
Apparently, that was highly amusing.
Edward turned back to me, giggling. "You don't care for my new wardrobe? Renée thought it was hawt."
My jaw dropped, to my son's evident delight.
"She would," Charlie grunted. "You look good, kid."
"Thanks, Charlie. You look good, too."
"Edward!" Seth howled, hurling himself into my firstborn's arms.
"Hey, Little Bro!" Edward said, grinning as he squeezed the air out of him and lifted him off his feet. "I swear you've grown again."
Seth backed up just enough to meet his so-called bromance's eyes. "I did. I had a birthday, remember? You and Bella missed it. I'm fifteen now, and I'm back to school this week and I'll be a soph."
Edward chuckled, and ruffled Seth's spiky hair. "I noticed. We'll have to rectify that situation. No, I did not buy you wheels. We've conversated about that. When you're 18, if you're good."
"Seriously?" Seth squeaked, wriggling all over.
"Well, you are going to be my baby brother, after all."
"Speaking of which, congratulations, Dad. Sue. I'm really happy," Bella nodded.
Charlie turned red. "Thanks, Bells."
Sue's eyes shifted from Bella to Charlie. "Wait, how did she know we were..."
There was an awkward moment while Bella caught on and Edward tried to hide his snort in a sneeze.
"I meant on the wedding, not on a baby," she gaped, and Edward brayed a rather dirty laugh, and gave Charlie a bump on the arm with his fist.
"Good luck with that," my son chortled.
"Uh, right," Charlie said, much more red in the face than his daughter.
"That's only because she's pale as me now," Edward answered my unspoken thought. "Bella still blushes, but it's harder to get her goat, and it's harder to see the blush unless she's really, really embarrassed. Right Bella?"
"Um, well, I didn't mean to embarrass you, Sue. Dad. So does this mean I'm going to have a baby brother?" Bella wondered.
"Um, well, I don't know. Not yet. I mean we're not. But we'd like to. Oh, heck. Will you mind?" Sue asked nervously.
Bella touched her shoulder lightly. "Not at all. I think that could be ... great. Especially if it's a boy. And Seth is going to be my brother, aren't you Seth?"
"Hooyah, Bells. Shiznit! This is gonna be so much fun!"
"Yeah, I think so, too. I always wanted a brother to boss around, Seth. And Leah's going to be my sister, right Leah?"
"Sure, sure," Leah said, eyes rolling. Well, perhaps there wasn't going to be much change there, at least initially, but she wasn't protesting the marriage, thank God.
"Hi, Billy, I'm glad you could come and meet Jacob," Edward said, extending his hand to Charlie's best friend.
"Wouldn't have missed it," Billy beamed. "I'm glad to see you're getting along with him."
Edward shrugged, smiling. "Like we discussed, Billy. I keep my promises. There are some other things I'd like to discuss with you and Sam, when you have the time."
"Okay," Billy said, and Sam nodded, staring at Bella. It seemed to me that he was sizing her up, wondering if she was a threat. As she laughed and smiled with Sue, he seemed to unwind a little.
"So Edward? How's my mate?" Rosalie challenged, her facade cracking.
Edward started to answer, then his head turned sharply toward home, and he beamed incandescently.
"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Emmett boomed, running out of the trees.
"Emmett!" Rosalie sobbed, running for him. He swept her up off of her feet as though she were a heroine in an old '70's film, and swung her in a circle.
"Emmett!" all the Cullens and Hales yelled, descending on him. Then Rose, with stars in her eyes, caressed his rough cheek, and told him that she had missed him.
"How did you get here!" Edward beamed. "I just talked to you last night!"
"Yeah, well, I had already run up to Southern California by that point. I wanted to surprise you," my affable young man asserted.
"You succeeded," Edward grinned, hugging him. He turned to Rose, faking a frown. "You happy now?"
"Yes," she husked. Then, she turned to Bella. "Sister?" she asked uncertainly.
"Hi, Rose," Bella said, drawing her into a hug. "I'm glad to see you."
"I have a little present for the baby, when we get home," Rose volunteered.
Bella smiled warmly, obviously touched. "That's very kind of you. I can't wait to see."
My daughter looked surprised, then thrilled. "I've been reading parenting books, Bella, so I can help you."
"That's great," Bella enthused. "Just wait 'til she dances for you. When we get home you can all have a good touchy-feel of the bump."
She? It's a girl? It's a girl!
"Including us?" Jasper wondered.
"Of course, Unco Dapsa. We all know how you love little kids," Bella teased.
"Unco Dapsa? I'm hungy," Apple piped up. "Tan we doh now?"
Jasper looked at me wryly.
"Of course," I agreed.
Sam helped Billy into the jeep, where he joined Mary Alice and Cynthia. Jasper put Apple on Mary Alice's lap, and then suggested that he drive so that Rose and Em might have a few minutes ... alone.
"We'll meet you back at the house," I promised.
Everybody dispersed, back the way we had come. Bella slipped one hand in mine, and one in Esme's, and Edward took Esme's other hand. We started to jog toward home, in no great hurry.
"It's lovely to have everyone home again, isn't it Peach?" I enthused.
"Indeed it is," she said, completely chuffed.
"Um, I take it ... we're going to have company," Edward said hesitantly.
"Well everyone's anxious to see you," I informed him.
"In that case, will you kindly excuse me and Bella for a few minutes? We have something to ... settle," Edward said, smouldering at her. Yes, it was definitely a smoulder.
"Can't you wait? A lot of people want to see you," I winced.
"Carlisle?" he asked softly. "Do you remember that problem you counselled me about on the morning of the wedding?"
"Oh."
"Yeah. It's back. I would not wish to give any speeches with Mr Ed waving at the-"
"Edward!" I gasped.
"Well, I'm afraid these jeans are wearing out, and tearing them might scare the humans. Besides, putting on an accidental display would be a shame, because Bella likes these jeans, don't you, Bella?"
I gawped like a trout.
"What's not to like?" my daughter growled with a glint in her eye.
"Anyway, I don't need the fly breaking in front of company, you know what I'm saying? And I assume you're going to drag us up to look at my bathroom, since we totally wrecked it and Esme said we're in for it, right?"
"Damn straight," my wife growled.
"So we should..." he left off suggestively.
"Edward Cullen, you're getting as bad as Emmett," I declared.
Edward stopped dead, and we all had to double back to rejoin him. "Speaking of Emmett," he said conspiratorially.
"Yes?" I frowned.
"Bella and I have been trying to come up with an idea to really shock the snot out of him and Rosalie."
"Edward!" Esme gasped.
"Aw, come on! Do you know how many totally squicky mental shows to which the big lug has been subjecting me during the past seventy years? He's shown me way too much information of a personal nature, and a whole lot of mind-curdling porn besides. It's high time I had a turn making him uncomfortable."
"What do you have in mind?" I asked quizzically.
Edward looked around, making sure Em and Rose were not within hearing distance. His eyes shone evilly. "I was thinking of outfitting our room in Hanover with some stuff that he'll find -hopefully- repugnant?"
"Like what?" I wondered blankly.
Bella cackled. "Like ... a St Andrew's cross, and a spanking bench?"
Esme gasped. "You want to turn your bedroom into a dungeon?"
Edward shrugged. "Maybe. If we can get some classy wrought iron decor and some sufficiently sturdy equipment. But we have no idea where to search for such items," he hinted.
You're not just getting them for show, then?
My son smirked at me, leaving me robbed of speech.
"Oh, that's no problem. I can help you with that," my wife said, waving a dismissive hand. Egad! "You sure you want to do it?"
"Do you think it will drive Emmett and Rose mad?" Edward checked.
"Oh, absolutely. That's not their scene at all. I don't think they've even tried bondage," Esme said blandly, to my shock.
"Esme!" I gasped. "TMI !"
"Oh, come on, Carlisle. Somebody discovered our new suede flogger, after all."
"Sorry," the kids chorused, plainly not sorry at all.
"You brats can have it," I suggested.
"Thanks," Edward said, faintly silver around the ears.
"Are you fully outfitting the room?" Esme asked, plainly making plans in her head.
"Yes, but nothing Sado-Masochistic," Edward warned. "Only Bondage/Discipline/Dominance/Submission."
Are we really having this conversation with Edward?
"I think we should bring duct tape," Bella snickered.
My world tilted.
"Oh, boy. Are you looney? You want Mom to ground us again?" my son chuckled.
"You wouldn't ground us, would you Esme?" Bella asked, lashes fluttering. "It's not like he could hurt me now."
"No, not for that, anyway. You two still find far too much trouble as it is."
"Danger magnet," Edward growled slyly, looking at his mate.
"Danger," she shot back.
"Brats," I declared.
"About time, too," Esme growled.
"Thank you, Mother. So you'll help us get the best stuff?"
"Floggers, leather paddles, various restraints, a St Andrew's cross, a bondage chair, maybe a swing, some costumes and masks... hoods?"
"Only for show. Definitely the items the Denalis bought us, though, and maybe some other..."
"Just say it," my mate suggested.
I stood silently, trying to absorb this elemental shift in reality.
"Penetration toys?"
Christ aid!
"Of course. Porn?"
Please say 'no'.
"Ew. No. Especially not that. We've already seen more of Eleazar than we can bear," Edward laughed, totally at ease. He looked at me warily. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing," I muttered, then relented under his look of disbelief. "Alright. You said 'we'."
"Yeah. Um..." he hesitated.
"We accidentally saw part of a 'His Golden Eyes' Production," Bella giggled. "He and Carmen were in it."
How could you 'accidentally' see such depravity? Wait, you mean you saw them-
"Ew!" Esme and I yelled, gobsmacked.
"You have no. Idea," Edward shuddered.
"Gad, it's been bad enough watching Tanya and Eric make plans for ... documenting their wedding night," I avowed. "How we're going to get out of attending is beyond me, but we definitely do not want to be part of the wedding or the reception."
"Lord, I hope they don't corrupt my Ticuna," Edward fretted.
"Are your Ticuna polygamous?" I wondered.
"Not so far, thank God. But they do like to run around with hardly any clothes on, make love in semi-public places, and give birth in front of entire villages," he shrugged.
"Like you should talk," Bella said, eyes rolling.
I gawped at my son, who did not seem in the least embarrassed. He shook his head, confirming it.
"I am sorry for one more thing, Dad," he said, kicking the underbrush with his shoe.
"What?" I asked blankly.
Edward sighed, then grinned lopsidedly. "Mac has picked up a few ... interesting phrases."
"Dear Lord," I moaned.
"Not that he didn't know a few before we got there," my son teased.
I pinched my eyes shut. "I knew teaching him to talk was a bad idea."
"Oh, I dunno. He's pretty cute, Dr Teeth," Edward shrugged, grinning slyly and waiting for my reaction.
I swear I felt heat radiate out of me.
"The physiological aspects of vampire blushes are interesting, wouldn't you agree, Mrs Cullen?" my firstborn asked smugly.
"Indubitably, Mr Cullen," my daughter teased, linking arms with him.
"You're trying to kill me, aren't you?" I groaned out.
"Nah. Just joshing. Well, not just joshing. I promise to pay you back for all the sex talks to which you have subjected me over the years, plus all the TMI about the joys of being a mate, and the PDA."
I squawked indignantly. "I'm your father. That's my job."
"And I'm your son. My job is to tease you about doing your job," he said, slapping me on the backside.
Maybe I wouldn't warn him about the prank after all.
"What about the prank? You mean the one Mom is hiding from me, or the one Alice has set up with the picture?"
"How did you find out about the picture?" I gasped.
"Aw, Jasper let it slip when I asked them about it," he shrugged.
"Aren't you embarrassed?" I asked, blown away.
Again, he checked to make sure nobody was nearby. "Yes. But if we show it, the teasing will never end, you know? So, I'm going to channel my inner Geilgud, and Bella is going to be all surprised and blush quite naturally, aren't you Love?"
"I have no doubt I'll be red as the M3," Bella avowed, eyes rolling.
"That's my girl," he drawled, giving her the once-over again.
"How long do you need?" I asked weakly. Jasper is not going to make it through the day if you're feeling like that.
My son shrugged. "Ten minutes."
"That's it? You..." I hesitated.
Edward rolled his eyes. "You might as well ask me, Carlisle."
"You're going full-tilt?" I blurted out.
"Pretty much. We still have to be careful, though, since I can't bite Bella, and her heart's still beating. We don't take risks."
"How do you know what constitutes a risk?" I frowned, my natural curiosity getting the better of me.
"You might say we have that down to a science," my son smirked.
I tripped over a root, and he steadied me, snickering. Been doing a lot of experimenting, have you?
"Trial and error," he confirmed smugly.
I turned away, gobsmacked. This new Edward took some getting used to. You're having entirely too much fun.
He nodded, eyes shining, and I was gladdened.
"Alright, you termites, we'll try to delay. Don't be too long," I ordered, waving them off. They were gone almost instantly.
"Boy, twist his rubber arm," Esme mused, taking mine again.
"He's not as ... reserved as I expected," I admitted.
"Well, Tanya did tell you that he's been flaunting his status in front of other males, didn't she?" my wife wondered.
"Yes. It's just that he's ... a lot more confident than I'm used to," I said, a bit bemused.
"He's happy," Esme asserted.
"Yes," I said, a sliver of unease still gnawing at me. He was happy with Bella, alright. Happy she was changing. Happier in his skin. Happy to have his own coven, and be taking her to university at an Ivy League School. And having the cottage would make him happy, too. Then, there was the baby. So, I should be thoroughly thrilled for him. What was holding me back?
"And he still wants you and me in his life," Esme affirmed.
"Yes," I said, feeling the knot ease. Perhaps it was the insecurity of knowing he was a Dom, and that was silly. He would doubtless tell me it was not a competition. It was ludicrous of thinking of my boy competing with me for dominance. We didn't have a relationship based on power. I could just imagine our wives, should we even attempt to compete. They'd have our guts for garters. "They're lovely together, aren't they?"
Esme hugged my arm, grinning. "Yes."
I felt my son's happiness work its way into my bones, and I was happy, too. A few minutes later, Esme and I emerged from the forest in front of our own house, and found some Richardses and a dog congregated outside. "Hello, everyone," I smiled.
"Hello, Carlisle," Albert Richards smiled, shaking my hand. "Any news from our kinfolk?"
"Indeed, they should start arriving any moment," I confirmed. "Your mother and sister had a good journey, although they shall doubtless be fatigued and in need of a rest. And my own children are safely home, as well."
"Bless Betsy, that's wonderful news. So we shall be meeting them this morning?" Albert beamed.
"I have no doubt of it," I confirmed. "Jacob and Leah's families shall also be here, plus Bella's father. We're expecting quite the large party this morning. Let us hope that the weather remains fine."
"This weather qualifies as 'fine'? Shay wondered.
"I fear so," I confirmed. "Forks is sadly not the sunshine capital of the world, although the verdant greenness makes good compensation for the rain."
"At least it's dry underfoot," Winifred, his girlfriend, groused with an eye roll.
"Yes. I expect you're tired of being damp."
"Mmm, I dunno, Darling," she said, looking me over in a most revolting manner. "I quite like being damp."
I backed up a step, and Esme put her arm around my waist.
"Winifred Annabel Price!" Prudie, her mother, hissed in her ear, delivering a sharp pinch to her arm.
"He's a DILF, Mother!" the girl growled under her breath.
I knew whom I would be avoiding today. Children these days! Honestly!
"If you'll go 'round into the garden, we'll bring out the food," I suggested, anxious to get away from rampaging human hormones.
"Thank you, Carlisle," Roland Price said, with a dirty look at his daughter.
I used our code on the lock, and it flashed 'open'. I squeezed the latch, eager to get inside.
"May I use your washroom, Handsome?" Winifred asked, batting her eyelashes. Her boyfriend looked daggers at me. However was I to stay out of the clutches of this one? How old could she be? Sixteen? Seventeen?
"Erm, certainly," I answered. "Up the stairs, to your right. First door on the left. Please be mindful of our guests. My cousin Tanya and her boyfriend are up there. Somewhere."
"Oh, okay," she said, licking her top lip. Ew. I turned my back and entreated Esme with my eyes.
"Carlisle, perhaps you wouldn't mind assisting me in the kitchen," she suggested.
"Of course, Dearest. I would be delighted," I said, melting with relief.
The humans went around the back of the house while I hurried into the kitchen after my mate.
"If you leave me unattended today, I will never forgive you," I hissed at vampire speed.
"What a little tramp!" Esme answered, shaking her head indignantly as she handed me a tray full of pastries.
"And her parents seem so nice," I said, eyes wide.
"I wonder why she's like that," my wife mused, picking up another tray. "We'd best keep her away from the cottage. God only knows what will happen if she gets a load of that picture of Edward."
"Saints preserve us!" I moaned. "We'll have to tell him not to wander into any dark corners."
"Not without Bella, at any rate," she smirked.
"Mmm."
We carried the food down the steps, and found our guests already partaking of coffee, tea and juice. To my surprise, there were twenty-seven Brandons and twelve Quileute socializing on the lawn.
"We haven't had this many people since the wedding," I exclaimed.
"No, and the guests of honour haven't even arrived yet," Esme said. "I hope I have enough food."
"Never enough with the Kwoli around," I winked. I brought the tray into the midst of the humans, and with exclamations of delight, they fell upon it like a school of marauding piranha. "Hello, dear people."
Many said 'hello'. I did not even recognize all of them. Edward and Bella were apt to be a little bemused.
Speak of the devil.
"Hello, everyone," Edward said, as, flashing his trademark grin, he and Bella walked hand-in-hand into the throng.
"Edward, I'd like you to meet my wife Emily, and our daughter, Claire," Sam said, bringing them forward.
"Hi, how are you? I'm glad to meet you, Emily. So this is Claire. How old are you, sweetheart?"
"Fwee," the chubby-cheeked little infant replied.
"Ah. My cousin Apple is coming today. Whoops! Here she is now. Hey, Jasper! Bring your niece over here, would you?"
A thin girl with red hair and freckles turned around so fast her neck cracked. "Apple?" she cried shrilly.
"Momma!" Apple yelled, squirming out of Jasper's arms and vaulting into her mother's. "Momma, I missed you so, so muts!"
"I missed you, too, Baby," Pippa crooned, rocking her sniffling daughter. The father, Pete, held his hand out to Jasper, and they began a conversation.
"How tum dat widdle girl had been away from her mudder?" Claire wondered, her dark chocolate eyes huge.
"Oh, there was a big flood," I answered. "Her mother was away on a trip, and Apple had to be saved by her cousins."
"It must have been scawy," Claire said, her lips puckering adorably.
"It's all better now," I said. "You'll have to wait a bit to play with her, darling. She wants her Mummy."
"Can I play wif de dogs?" she wondered.
"As long as the owners say it's alright," I smiled.
"Fanks," she said, and ran off. I noticed the first dog she wanted to play with was Buford, the Shih Tzu, who was all done up prettily with a blue satin bow in his hair.
"Speaking of 'Mummy'," Edward said in a fake English accent, looking slyly at Esme, "I thought you'd have forced me by now to see what bathroom renovations are coming out of my pocket money."
"Hmm. I'd wait a few minutes if I were you. Tanya and Eric are not done in your room," my wife grumbled, eyes rolling.
"Not-" Bella gawped. "Is Tanya? Doing something with Eric in our room? Again? I'm going to shred her!" she snarled, heading for the house. Edward grabbed her arm.
"Wait, whoa-ho-ho! It's okay, Bella. They're not crossing any lines," Edward revealed, narrowing his eyes as he shook his head.
"But..." Bella began, looking bewildered.
"You'll understand soon," Edward promised, caressing her cheek.
"Okay," Bella frowned.
More people were pouring into the yard: Jacob, escorting Mary Alice and Cynthia; Leah, pushing Billy's chair; The rest of my children; and Charlie, Seth and Sue.
"There are Kwoli Ute here whom we have not had the pleasure of meeting," Edward said to Sam, his interest evident.
"Oh, uh, no. They're new. Still really wet behind the ears," Sam grimaced. "Boys? Come meet our hosts."
Four young boys, barely pubescent, ran over, eyes bright with interest. "Carlisle? Edward? I'd like you to meet the newest Kwoli Warriors: Jeremy, Zach, Brian and Stephen."
The gangly boys said 'hello' in their squeaky changing voices. Their shoulders did not even bear the tribal tattoos shared by the Kwoli. They were too young.
"Hello," we returned.
"There's a soccer ball in my room," Edward volunteered. "Third floor, front of the house."
"Shiznit!" one of the boys yelled, and they were off in all directions.
Edward's eyes were troubled. "So many."
Sam shrugged. "Worse things than being a Shifter."
"We're sorry, Sam," my son said anyway.
"You guys always yank the wrong end of the shaft," Seth huffed. "Drives me out-a my nut."
"Huh?" Sam and I said together. At least that put us on the same page. However, Edward dropped his head with a small smile.
"Well, who do you think you are, the Creator? So more of us are shifting. That probably means some gangstas are coming to the heazy. It's defo not because of the Cullens making more vampires, 'cause I don't see scads of Veggies around here, yo?"
"Is there trouble coming, Edward?" Sam asked.
"I sincerely hope not," Edward said, looking anxiously after the boys. There was a moment of fraught silence.
"I think we should go take a look at your bathroom," Esme suggested, breaking the tension.
"Stop keeping me out, it's annoying. How much is it setting me back?" Edward wondered, evincing little interest.
"A hundred and forty thousand," Esme shrugged. That got my son's attention.
"A- A hundred and forty thousand?" he yelped. "Dollars! That would have sent one of my people to med school!"
"Remember that next time you choose to destroy the house," my wife said mercilessly.
"Holy," my boy moaned, running his hand through his hair. "Did you really have to? Oh, never mind. Let's go see."
He took Bella's hand and led the way, and Esme and I excused ourselves to follow them. Seth tagged along. By the time we started up the stairs, the rest of our children had joined us, grins stretching from ear to ear.
Outside Edward's bathroom, we paused, while Rosalie prepared her camera and Edward prepared his still heart for a shock. His bedroom door flew open, banging into the wall inside his room. "Hello, Edward! Hello, Bella!" Tanya cooed, pushing a grinning Eric forward by the back of his collar.
He looked a little dazzled.
They reeked of-
Never mind.
Bella's eyes flashed red, and I realized she was about to tell them off for using the space that belonged to her and her mate.
"Thank you for the use of your old room, Dearest," Tanya said, smiling fondly.
Bella caught the 'old', and looked at Tanya, nonplussed. "You're ... welcome?"
"Ooh, Bella! You look freaky!" Eric squealed, and beamed at Edward. "Hi, Ward. I can't believe you're a vampire! It's totally fa-shizzle!"
If he hated being called 'Eddie', I could only imagine what he thought of being called 'Ward'.
"Um, right. We were, um, about to see what Esme blew one of my kids' college educations on," he murmured, gesturing at the bathroom door.
"You are going to hate it," Tanya grinned. Alice clapped, and Rose readied the camera.
"Great," Edward said curtly. He opened up the bathroom door and recoiled. "Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Are those faucets gold?" He hurried inside to examine everything. The camera flashed madly.
"Yep," Esme said, her nose in the air.
"Mother! Capo di Monti soap dishes and lamps? It's gaudy... oh, shit. Did it have to be pink?"
"Ooh," Bella said, peeking in. "It's pretty, Esme. I like it."
Edward reappeared at the door, seething. "Pink marble. Pink marble everywhere, Mother? Seriously? And a green toilet with a vanity-seat? Wait. Is that toilet made out of jade?"
"Bella likes it," Esme smirked.
"Big pink cabbage roses sealed inside a clear acrylic toilet seat on a jade toilet barely anyone's ever going to use? That's... preposterous!" he spluttered.
By this point, his siblings were choking back laughter.
"It matches the Capo di Monte," Esme shrugged.
"And a chandelier?" he said hotly.
"Two," Esme corrected him.
"Two?" he squeaked, going back to look again.
"The better to bathe by," she said dismissively.
"It looks like an Old Lady bathroom!"
"Are you ever going to mess with me again, Junior?"
All the growl went out of him, and he looked at her in awestruck disbelief. "No."
"Say, 'sorry Mother, for making a big mess and leaving it for you to clean up'."
"I left it for Alice to clean up," he pouted.
"Say. It."
Edward sighed, rolling his eyes. "I'm sorry for making a big mess, and leaving it for you to clean up, Mommy."
"That's better. You're forgiven," Esme sang smugly, turning smartly and heading for the stairs. Of course, all the 'young' people were falling down laughing at him, save Bella, who was biting her lip to contain her mirth.
"You're evil," Edward called after Mother Cullen, his eyes black with shock. A long peal of laughter was his only answer. He looked to me for guidance.
"Never mess with a woman," I shrugged. "They're ruthless."
"I'll say," he agreed tonelessly.
The ecstatic siblings, cousins and Seth left us, exchanging war stories about irritating their parents, and crowing about Edward's punishment. He wouldn't be living it down for a long time. Especially since he had purposefully made the mess while 'getting his freak on'.
"Um, Carlisle? What did Tanya mean, by calling this our 'old' room?" Bella asked timidly, biting her lip.
"Well, we have an announcement to make," I informed her, and the black cloud over Edward started to clear. "This is as good a time as any. Let's go back to the party and see if everyone has arrived."
All of us hurried smartly downstairs, and rejoined the large group in the yard. Our missing people had arrived. The group was complete. Counting the few who were out of sight, there were now 47 people on the property, plus two dogs, and Jasper's kitten. That was definitely a record.
I suppressed my leery curiosity as to the whereabouts of Winifred and Shay. They could get lost permanently as far as I was concerned.
Alice, Jasper, Rose and Emmett took up glasses and clinked them with spoons. Soon, everyone was gathered 'round, ready to listen.
"I'd like to thank all of you for coming here today, to celebrate the arrival of Mary Alice Burnett, Apple, Pippa and Pete Allbright, Wendy Pritchard, Morgan Wallace, and Cynthia Brandon-Richards, along with the Kwoli Warriors, safe from Biloxi; and the return of my son Edward, and his bride, Bella, from their honeymoon in Brazil."
There were hoots and claps and whistles. Bella, along with some of the humans, was already pink.
"A toast," I declared, as Esme handed me a mimosa. "To life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
"Cheers!" everyone yelled, and clinked glasses. Apple, Claire, and the younger Quileute guzzled down orange juice, while the vampires pretended to sip their mimosas, and the humans and Kwoli enjoyed theirs.
"We are very happy to have been able to provide you all with homes for the duration of your stay. Should you choose to remain, they are yours to keep. Should you choose to go home, we will help you to reclaim your houses."
Needless to say, this got a positive reaction. I held my palm down to quiet them.
"Now, there are times in a father's life when... it's just great to be a Dad. And this is one of those times. I can't tell you how proud I am of my children. Next week, they are all off to college, some of them for the first time, others to continue in their studies. Jasper and Alice Hale will be going to Cornell. He will study computer programming, while she will study fashion design."
This received positive feedback, and not a little good-natured razzing from the siblings about the validity of such careers.
"My other children will be going to Dartmouth University. Emmett is in his second year, studying Sociology, and minoring in Economics. Rosalie, his wife, is in her second year of Automotive Engineering. Bella, the newest member of the family, will be beginning her first year of English Lit, and Edward, who is doing a fast-track program, will be taking third year Med courses."
Lots of clapping followed this announcement.
"Ha-genius!" Emmett sneezed into his hand.
"Browner!" Jasper growled, cuffing Edward on the back of the head, which whipped forward, concealing his boyish smile.
I waited for the audience to quiet.
"After completing their studies, the four of them will be working at an Aid Station for Ticuna Indians in the Amazon. Edward will provide medical care, Emmett will counsel runaway teens, and Bella plans to teach.
"I'm sure you can understand how very proud Esme and I, and Charlie, and Sue, and Renée and Phil, are of these six marvellous young people."
Everyone clapped and woot-wooted, and my children looked down bashfully.
"Now, we have a tradition in our family, of setting up our newly-wed children with their first homes," I said, watching Bella, whose eyes swirled black, wide with surprise. "It's Edward and Bella's turn," I grinned. "Come here, Bella, my sweet."
Bella stepped up to me shyly, Edward's hand at her waist.
"Esme and I have waited a long time for you," I told her. "To see Edward happy is a gift we never expected. To become grandparents is a most joyful surprise. So on behalf of both of us, and Edward's brothers and sisters, welcome to the family, Bella. We ask both of you to please accept this mark of affection from me and Esme. We wish you and the baby very happy."
I produced an old-fashioned key, with the words 'Our first Christmas' emblazoned upon it. It was an ornament to be hung on their tree, not a real key. We always used electronic locks on all our houses.
Bella gawped at the key, and held out her cupped palms. I placed the key gingerly within. She looked up at me, gaping like a fish, and then did another double-take.
"Our own place?" she asked in disbelief. Edward watched her, dotingly.
I nodded. Then, her eyes lit up, and she threw her arms about my neck and kissed me soundly, making me chuckle. She really was very strong.
She rounded on Edward. "You knew!" she accused, shoving his shoulder.
"I knew they were doing it, but I haven't seen anything yet," he shrugged, one side of his lip fighting to turn up.
"All of us helped, and managed to keep it secret from both of you, including Charlie, Sue and Seth," I told her.
"Oh, you guys are the best," Bella declared, hugging and kissing me again, and then squeezed the liver out of Esme, and darted around to thank everyone else. She was jiggling up and down with excitement. "Where?" she demanded.
"Down that cobblestone path, about a quarter mile," I said, pointing to the left of the house, and she was off like a shot, as fast as humanly possible. Edward rolled his eyes, knowing he was about to get pranked again, and jogged after her. Most of our company hurried after them, enjoying their youthful excitement.
We caught up with the pair, who were standing, gazing in adoration at the front of the little, sharply-peaked stone cottage.
"Do you like it?" Esme asked tentatively.
"It's the prettiest thing I've ever seen," Bella declared, hurrying to the door.
"It's lovely, Mother. Thank you all," Edward said softly, his eyes shining.
Bella had entered the pass code. She waited for Edward to join her, then she pushed the door open and started to step inside the vestibule.
"Not so fast," Edward ordered. Bella turned to him in surprise, and squealed as he lifted her bridal style into his arms. "You need to stick with tradition, Mrs Cullen."
"Yes, sir," she giggled, red all over. He swung her inside without effort, and set her down on the earth-coloured tiles inside the front door. The pair gawked at the furnishings, delighted.
To the left was the kitchen. To the right was a cozy, overcrowded sitting room. Esme and I thought it would appeal to Edward's Victorian side, as they had been so enamoured of clutter. The long wall boasted a small, white, wood-burning fireplace with a white mantle. Next to it was a narrow entertainment system, with a fairly large window above it. Then, a baby pen with a large, stuffed lion inside, above which was a large television mounted on the wall.
The back wall boasted a wedding gift Edward had yet to receive from Bella, surrounding which was a built-in shelf unit with hundreds of books, DVD's and CD's. The center wall of the house housed Edward's reupholstered Bauhaus chesterfield, which was looking considerably healthier now than when they had left it. On the walnut floor lay a large, brown, braided rug. Closest to us sat Bella's old rocking chair, boasting the quilt made of old t-shirts, that was given to Bella by her mother.
With the slightest of winks, Edward drew Bella straight over to the mantle of the fireplace. I suspected that I was the only one who picked up on his anxiety, except perhaps for Jasper, who was lurking in the space between the sitting room and the kitchen, while other people edged their way into the room, remarking upon things that struck their fancy.
Edward waited until he had perhaps thirty of his closest acquaintance in his audience. "It's not right," he said finally, looking at the photo of himself pensively.
"Huh?" Bella asked, flushing, and flustered.
Edward shifted his weight. "Well, it's a good picture, I'll admit, and I like the sepia tone, but it doesn't show me to advantage. We'll just have to pretend I'm asleep and take a new one after, you know, yanking on it a couple of times."
My jaw dropped in spite of being forewarned. You could have heard a pin drop in the room. Then, Jasper started to snicker, soon to be joined by his mate.
Bella choked a little, looking at Edward warily.
"What!" Edward shrugged calmly, turning with his hands on his hips. "It's only a body, and the Denalis claim it's a very artsy photo, and I should be proud of it. But if you all insist upon having me display it in my living room, I should look my best."
Edward's audience, led by his siblings, chuckled appreciatively and began to applaud. My son bowed slightly.
"Okay, Edward. Give it up. Thanks for the tickle. We know you're embarrassed," Jasper piped up from the back.
"Only because there are people here I barely know," he said calmly. "And you know it's rare that someone comes in my home, with whom I am not well-acquainted."
"Nice try, Edward," Rosalie grinned. "Okay, people. Popsicle Pete is not going to act humiliated and all. He doesn't want to let us have our fun." She reached to remove the photo from the wall, but Edward prevented her from pulling it down.
"No," he said firmly.
"Oh, come on," she giggled. "We know you hate it."
"No, that's mine. I insist," he protested.
She stood, open-mouthed, while he turned to examine the picture, the epitome of smugness.
Jasper's jaw dropped, too.
God stone the crows! Was Edward serious?
"I'm going to put this in our bedroom," he declared, smiling from ear to ear. "In fact, I want to take one of Bella when she's asleep, and hang them together."
Alice laughed like a bear, clapping her hands in delight. "Oh, god! I didn't think you'd do it. There was only about half a percent of a chance that you would react this way, Edward. This is so great!" She ran over and lifted the portrait off the wall, and ran, cackling, into the bedroom.
Bemused, Edward followed her, and Bella followed him. So I led the march of nosey Parkers into the sanctuary that Edward and Bella would claim for their lair.
"I'm so thrilled you're not being a bluenose," Alice squealed, hanging the picture on a ready-made hook on the sky blue wall. "There! Aren't they lovely?"
"How did you get one of me asleep?" Bella squawked.
"Oh, you're in trouble now, Edward," Emmett moaned, shaking his head regretfully.
My son swallowed a laugh. "I may have ... engaged in a little turnabout," he admitted, looking at Bella through his lashes.
Bella turned to him, obviously debating whether to say anything against it. She regarded the photos, lost in thought.
In the companion picture, hanging on the left, she was lying naked, asleep on hard-baked earth, in front of a river, her head resting on her folded hands, and her leg bent to cover her womanhood. The baby's bump was visible to the discerning eye. The pictures were placed so that the pair's heads were close together, their poses mirroring each other.
Both photos were in sepia tone, so no details of vampire physiology were distinguishable.
Finally, Bella spoke. "I like them. Alice? I don't know what happened to my suitcase, but there's a photo album inside it. Edward is over the moon because my mother gave us my baby pictures. I thought maybe you could dig through his mouldering secret Masen Collection, and get me his baby photos. I know he has some and he doesn't want to share."
"Already done, Bella," Alice enthused, dragging Bella back out to the sitting room.
"Traitor," Edward said sarcastically, following the girls nonetheless.
We all traipsed back out to the main room. Rosalie was hanging something new on the wall, in place of the other picture, and Alice was piling small, framed photographs on the mantle.
"Oh, geez, Alice. These are a lot more embarrassing than pictures of me naked," Edward declared. "Carlisle? Did you unpack these for her?"
"Guilty," I said gently. "They're lovely pictures, Edward. You're fortunate to have them."
"Yeah, okay," he relented, holding a small, oval-framed picture of himself, at about the age of two, in a sailor dress and walking boots. "Do I have to have the Rowlf the Dog costume one out, though?"
"Definitely!" Bella said, pouncing on it. "Have you got one of Woof?"
"Actually, yes," he said, digging through the photos, and presenting her with it. It was one of my favourites, from the time before he had left us. When he looked young and happy. Bella examined it with stars in her eyes.
"I found something else," I said tentatively, keeping Edward out. "Something in the box that you've never unpacked."
He blinked nervously. I wondered why. Nothing upsetting, son. Put your hands out. He nodded at me trustingly.
I pulled the items out of my pocket. They seemed so small in my hand.
Edward huffed a laugh, accepting them from me. "I'll be jiggered. They are brown, see Bella?"
Bella's mouth formed a perfect 'o', and she took the little shoes reverently. "Your baby shoes," she cooed, caressing the scuffed leather.
"Can I see?" Rose asked enthusiastically.
"Sure," Bella said, passing them into her hands.
"Hard to believe you were ever a baby, Edward," Rosalie teased.
"Hard to believe you were ever not a baby, Rose," Edward said sarcastically.
"Alright, you devils. Enough. It's time to look at more of your new things."
Edward set down the shoes beside the pictures, stroking a finger over the picture of his mother in her wedding photograph. Bella looked at it with interest. He turned away, finally noticing the tall, blanketed item on the short wall, cocking his head to the side.
"That's from me," Bella said softly. "I had a devil of a time getting it to Esme without you finding out about it. I had it delivered while we were away."
"You Minx," Edward said, surprised.
Well I think it's a lovely piece of history. She had it restored, and everything.
"It's, um, your wedding present," Bella said shyly. "Since you bought me a car, I pounced on it when I saw it. I hope you like it. I mean, for all I know, you'll think it's incredibly annoying."
Edward was clearly perplexed. "Why on earth would I find a gift from you annoying? It's from you. I'm sure I'll love it."
"Well," she said, gesturing at it. "Have a look."
"Is it a piano?" he asked eagerly, throwing back the moving quilt and uncovering it. "Oh, Bella... I haven't seen one of these in about-" he checked himself, realizing there were a few humans present who did not know our secret. "-a really, really long time."
"Hah. The guy who sold it to me in Seattle was such a snob. He said it was a glorified music box and did not deserve the title of piano. But I think it has a really nice tone. Then again, I have a tin ear," she said, biting her lip.
"Don't bite your lip," Edward ordered. "The guy who sold this to you is an ignoramus. This is great. I couldn't ask for anything more fun. I'll teach you all the old vaudeville songs yet, Love."
"I'm counting on it. It's a KT Special Z-Model, circa 1910. It has it's own percussion section, see?" she pointed out. There were a lot of little drums and rattles inside the glass-windowed case. "They said we could have the pedal mechanism automated, or install a Midi in their place, but I thought you'd like them better in the original state."
"Thanks. You were correct. All the fun's in working the pedals. It has rolls?" Edward asked, completely focused on the gift.
"Of course," Bella said smugly. "Self-winding O rolls."
"Obviously Bella likes O's, even if they are self-winding," Emmett teased. Edward's eyes barely rolled.
What? He wasn't miffed? The universe had shifted, for certain.
Emmett produced a large wooden box, and opened the lid, causing his brother to moan with glee. "Oh, Bella! How many are there?"
"Twenty, with most of them having between ten and twenty-five songs per roll," she informed him. "I ordered more from the restoration company in Southern California, but Esme told me they haven't come yet."
"I can't believe you did this," Edward gushed, pulling a thin scroll out of the box. He went over to the piano, and opened a little glass door beneath the keyboard, hung the roll of heavy paper gingerly on its rests, and pulled the bottom of the scroll until he could hook it around the lower bars.
"That's one of the few singles," Bella told him. "Alice said you'd like it."
"What id dat, Cuddin Eddard?" Apple asked curiously, Claire at her side.
"It's called an Orchestrion," Edward told the girls, "It's a self-playing upright grand piano, with 88 keys, and it has a nickelodeon in the top, see? There's a tambourine, a triangle, a rattle, a cymbal, a little bitty snare drum and a base drum, a glockenspiel, an accordion, and... 37 flute pipes."
He sounded for all the world like a reverent Rosalie discussing the finer points of a Ferrari's innards.
"What doed it do?" Claire asked, looking up at the light inside the casing.
"You'll see," Edward said conspiratorially. He pulled out his stool a little more, and the little girls pressed up against his sides. He pulled out a knob on the keyboard, and searched for the pedals with his feet.
"I taw an organ wif pedals wike dat once," Apple informed him.
"That so?" he asked, working both pedals rapidly. After a few minutes, he took his feet off them, pulled out the stop on the keyboard, and watched them continue to go up and down on their own.
"Coo," Claire declared. "Now what?"
"Just wait," Edward whispered, while we all listened. The keys started to play a rambunctious tune, without anyone's hand upon them, and inside the case the tambourine and drums shook and rattled. The little girls shrieked and started to dance around the room.
"Merry awound! Merry awound!" Apple bellowed.
"Küss' mich, Schnucki-Putzi," Jasper cooed, elbowing a chuckling Edward in the side.
"I don't think so," Edward deadpanned. The Intro complete, he and his brothers immediately began to sing along with the tune:
Yes sir, that's my baby
No sir, I don't mean maybe
Yes sir, that's my baby now
Yes, ma'am, we've decided
No ma'am, we won't hide it
Yes, ma'am, you're invited now
By the way, by the way
When we meet the preacher I'll say
Yes sir, that's my baby
No sir, I don't mean maybe
Yes sir, that's my baby now"
The roll of paper ran out, and flapped around a few times. Edward pushed in the stop, and waited until the pedals slowed and halted, Then, he pulled the roll out of its cupboard. Apple and Claire clapped and jumped around, demanding more.
"Gus Kahn, 'Twenty Five," Emmett drawled.
"Great song," Edward enthused. "Great songwriter, Gus Kahn."
"Mmm. 'Carolina in the Morning'," Jasper reminisced.
"'Dream a Little Dream of Me'," Edward added.
"Great one, that," Emmett grinned.
"Yeah. 'It Had to be You'," Edward continued.
"Oh," my boys groaned, all starry-eyed.
"We have that one," Bella told them.
"Really?" Edward squeaked, hurrying over to look in the box. "Ah! Gold. This present, Sweetheart? I love it. Truly."
"Well, I'm glad," Bella smiled.
Edward set up the fat scroll and got the piano going again. Then, he got up, and swept Bella into his arms. He twirled her around in the limited space without effort, singing along:
"Why do I do, just as you say
Why must I just, give you your way
Why do I sigh, why don't I try - to forget
It must have been, that something lovers call fate
Kept me saying: "I have to wait"
I saw them all, just couldn't fall - 'til we met
It had to be you, it had to be you
I wandered around, and finally found - the somebody who
Could make me be true, and could make me be blue
And even be glad, just to be sad - thinking of you
Some others I've seen, might never be mean
Might never be cross, or try to be boss
But they wouldn't do
For nobody else, gave me a thrill - with all your faults, dear, I love you still
It had to be you, wonderful you
It had to be you"
"Ah, Sinatra," Emmett cooed.
"Naw. Billie Holiday," Jasper sighed.
"Oh, yeah," Emmett said, shaking his head.
"You may regret giving Edward that present, Bella. You're going to have a hard time getting rid of the boys," I jested.
"I doubt it," she shrugged. "I am one scary mother, don't forget, and I get awfully cranky when I'm sleep-deprived."
Edward pushed in one of the stops, halting the music. "Thank you Love," he crooned, giving her a chaste kiss.
"Any time, Beautiful," she said, all dewy-eyed.
"Hey, 'Ward! You in here?" Eric called, pushing through the gabbling people to get in the house.
"Yes?" Edward responded. "We're in here, Eric."
"Mrs Stanley and Jessica brought you and Bella something. I was bringing her back to see you, but she stopped to talk to somebody along-"
"Oh, fffffu-udge!" Edward yelped, with a glance at Apple and Claire. "Bella, in the bedroom! Everyone? Listen up, quick! Nobody tell our resident gossip that Bella's pregnant, please?"
"What do we tell her, Edward?" Charlie pleaded.
"Uh, I don't care, but she can't see Bella like this. Tell her... she's gone to bed. Tell her she's sick or something. I- Ohh! Hello, Mrs Stanley, Jess. How are you?"
The neighbourhood busy-body poked her long nose into the room, with her daughter shadowing her. Everyone was pretty much frozen in place, staring silently.
"Hello, Edward," she sang. "I ran into Jolene Richards at Newtons', and she said you and Bella were coming home today, and that the whole clan was getting together for a housewarming. I hope you don't mind us dropping by, but I wanted to welcome you back on behalf of the Ladies' Guild, and of course Jess wanted to see you."
"Oh," my son said, running his hand through his hair, and accepted the gift. "How very kind of you. Everyone? This is... Mrs Stanley. We went to school with Jess. Um, welcome? To my house."
"It's pretty nice, Edward, for a couple as young as you and Bella. My, don't you have a lot of old-fashioned things?" Mrs Stanley asked, sniffing around curiously.
Thank God we had moved the picture!
"Um, yes, Bella and I are very fond of Victorian ... objects," Edward said, and cleared his throat nervously.
Mrs Stanley's greedy eyes were absorbing the playpen in the corner. "And where might your bride be, young man?"
"I'm afraid she's gone to bed. Jet lag," Edward lied smoothly.
"Well, carrying a baby is hard work on a body, especially when the mother is so young," the old battleaxe growled, looking at Edward critically, over the top of her pointy glasses.
It was necessary at all costs to protect my granddaughter. The accelerated nature of the pregnancy would raise too many questions.
"I'm afraid you're under some kind of misapprehension, Madame," I interjected smoothly. "Bella is not pregnant. The baby cot is just a joke placed by their siblings, who know how many malicious tongues have been gossiping about their reason for marrying young."
"Oh," she blinked, clearly taken aback. "Am I to take it, then, that Isabella is not expecting?"
"Uh, no," Charlie said, turning red at the ears.
Jess, beaming, hurried across the room and down the short hallway.
"Jess! She may be contagious!" Edward objected.
Dear Lord! What if she notices the pictures? What about Bella's eyes and pale skin?
"I don't care! I want to see my friend," Jess countered, disappearing into the first room on the left.
Edward gulped loudly. Stanley's 1: Cullens:1
The Cullens regarded each other nervously, listening to the scene play out in the other room. Would Jessica notice the pictures? Would she notice the swell of Bella's abdomen?
"Hello, Bella. Hey, it's me, Jess. How 'bout you uncover your eyes and let me look at you?"
Bella groaned, and we heard her blanket shift. "I'm sorry, Jess. You wouldn't believe how much my head hurts. I think it's a migraine."
"Aw, those are awful. I hope you don't get them a lot. Be a shame to have them screw up your love life."
"Never had a headache like this before."
"So I guess you don't want to talk about the honeymoon, then?"
"Sorry."
"It was good though, right? I bet he's amazing."
"He's incredible."
"Oh my god, Bella! Are you ever clammy! You're all sweaty and cold."
"I'm really sick. Be careful, I don't want you to catch it."
"Then why ever would you get married so young?" The Stanley Matron directed at Edward, who ran his hand through his hair again.
"Um, we're going away to school together, and we wanted to do things right," he said, smiling in a very formal manner. There was an uncomfortable silence.
"Well, I guess I should go. It's nice to see you, Bella. Your house is really something. You're so lucky," Jessica sighed.
"I know, right? Hey, Jess? Make sure you leave me your new e-mail, okay?" Bella asked weakly.
"It's not changing, Bella. Neither is my blog. Well, I'll... see you around, okay?"
"Lovely pictures, Edward. Who are these people?" the old busybody inquired, peering at them.
"Um, they're mostly of my grandparents and great-grandparents."
"Who's this in the dog costume?" she pressed, picking it up and comparing it to my son.
I was glad I was incapable of sweating.
Charlie was doing it for me.
"Um, that's my father, Edward Masen," my son said hesitantly.
"The apple does not fall far from the tree," she decided.
Edward flinched.
Now why would that make Bella huff indignantly, from her post in the bedroom? I knew Edward had regrets about not seeing his father before he passed. There had been something between them that had not been resolved, and I had always had my opinion as to what it was. The thought of being like his father clearly upset him, which discomfited me, considering the state Edward's body had. been. in. when-
Oh. God.
I recalled the initial exam at lightning speed.
"I don't need an examination," he said adamantly. "We both know I have the influenza. I had it first, and I gave it to my parents. As soon as we're better, I'm going to make it up to them. Take Father to see the Cubs. We haven't done that in a while." He stared stubbornly out the small window in the examining room, trying to suppress a cough, cheeks red with fever.
"Policy," I said firmly. "If you want to be admitted and treated, you'll have to concede to an exam, and I'm sure you want to be close to your parents, and not at the next hospital three miles away. Down to your skivvies, hurry up. Other people are in need of me."
His jaw tense, he stripped to his undershirt and drawers. "Shirt off," I directed, washing my hands.
Reluctantly, he shrugged out of it, and leaned against the table, not looking at me. I realized there were defensive bruises on his forearms. Then, I smelt it: Infection. I approached him like he was a skittish colt. "I'm going to listen to your heart and lungs," I warned gently.
"Yeah," he grunted angrily.
I applied my stethoscope, merely a prop, while surreptitiously checking him over. Nothing amiss on his ribs or stomach. Hands were soft, without callus. A tidy boy, and clean, who had walked in, in a tailor-made suit. Nothing to raise an alarm.
Except for bruises and the smell of infection.
I grasped his shoulders and turned him away from me, and flinched. His back was covered in welts. The skin was broken in several places, from the impact some triangular object, and around each welt was a dark bruise, which meant the beating had occurred within three or four days.
He held his breath, heart flying, waiting for me to ask who had beaten him.
The welts extended past the waistband of his pants. I swallowed hard, horrified. If I made a big deal out of it, he would bolt. "I want to give you a shot," I told him. "To strengthen you, in case these contusions get infected. Helps fight the influenza, as well."
It was a lie.
"Vitamins?" he said quietly.
"Yes."
"Okay," he agreed.
I prepared the hypodermic, grimacing. "You'll have to drop your drawers a few inches."
Stiffly, he pulled them down a little. His backside was covered in bright red lash marks, which ended in more of the triangular welts. Some of them had bled.
He waited for me to comment. How to make him stay? I couldn't tell him that I knew he'd been used badly. I was certain he would run.
"These need cleaning," I said calmly. "They're getting infected."
He sucked in a breath and was overtaken by a fit of coughing. Gently, I pushed him against the table, and used the antiseptic as quickly as I could. He gripped the edge, hard, wheezing.
His breath rasped in and out as he endured the Mercurochrome.
"All done," I said, patting his shoulder.
"Um," he said, and started to shake. "D-doctor?"
"Cullen. Carlisle Cullen."
He turned to face me, white as a ghost, leaning back carefully against the table. "I n-need..." he said, gesturing at his abdomen.
"What do you need, son?" I encouraged.
"It was an accident," he pleaded, and bit his lip.
"Anything you tell me is confidential," I coaxed him.
"I... It got... c-cut," he stammered, gesturing.
"Oh, dear," I said apprehensively.
"Yeah, it... wouldn'tstopbleeding."
He had gone to see the doctor. Despite following instructions religiously, he was an infected mess inside and out. Urinating must have been torture.
"I'm your doctor, now. Nobody else will know," I promised, striking the name of the physician off his file and replacing it with my own.
For the next two weeks, I saw him both about the ward, and behind the screen, to check his injuries. He would get out of bed in those blue, striped pyjamas, to help those weaker than himself. He'd get them a drink, or a washcloth, or a basin, or a blanket. It gladdened my heart, listening to him cheerfully chatter to the patients, and coddle his mother, who was in the same ward. His father was in a smaller ward with patients who were far more severely ill. Edward was not permitted to leave his ward to see his father, but talked endlessly of going home, full of hope.
He sang constantly, and I and the nurses brought him tea to soothe his throat, and honey to quiet the cough when it bothered him. I lost count of how many people told him they loved him.
A week later, his father was dead. Clinging to his mother, he murmured, "Now he'll never know that I'm sorry for what I did."
Elizabeth patted his back. "Of course he knows, dearest. Father loved us both very much, and he is guarding us from Heaven."
He grew quieter, and coughed more, but still fostered the cheer of others. On more than one occasion, I found him reading Psalms and singing hymns to the dying. Once, I found him in tears, and he let me stroke his hair.
And then, the pneumonia hit. Hard.
His mother, who had been recovering, in most part due to his nursing, got out of her bed to tend him as he lay in his bed, hacking nonstop. Like her son, Elizabeth overflowed with good humour, compassion, and selfless kindness. He giggled incredulously when she sang him popular songs, accusing her of coming down off her high horse. How I loved them both. Such dear souls.
Three weeks later, thanks to dysentery, he was skin and bones, with protesting lungs bogged down with fluid, and dehydration had stolen his strength and will. I decided to check on him one night, before taking my enforced hours off.
"Elizabeth," I chastised, exasperated. "You must rest. Edward will be upset with you if you nurse him at your own expense. Allow me to care for him." She could not have weighed more than sixty pounds.
I steered her back to bed, and tucked her in, listening to her lungs crackle. "I know you are different," she told me, her eyes large and black. I looked at them carefully. Although her pupils were rather large, the irises were also very black. I thought it odd.
"Ah, my dear lady, I'm no different from you," I objected, arranging her pretty hair upon the pillow. Her skin was papery dry, and hot.
"You are. You are not like us. You never tire or get ill. You are frozen in time. An angel has told me that you shall be the salvation of my son. God has plans for him. He must not die, and I know that you can accomplish that. Promise me, Carlisle, that you will save my dear son."
"I shall try," I said half-heartedly.
Elizabeth sat straight up in her cot, her green eyes burning. "Do not lie to me. I See what you are, and I See that you are lonely. Save my son, and he shall give us many descendants.
I promised her, although I thought she was hallucinating.
"Ah," she sighed, taking my hand and kissing it. "He needs a Daddy. Carlisle son of Amelia, I give you my son. Love him well."
It only came to me later, that Elizabeth had named my mother, and my capacious memory decreed that I had never uttered her name in her presence, or Edward's. The boy's injuries disappeared with my venom, along with his recollection of how they had come to be there.
Had he remembered?
He turned to me, eyes circled and pleading, shaking his head minutely. I was suddenly conscious of the number of people in the room. My son looked like he was about to have a panic attack, which would be calamitous. His siblings looked from him to me in confusion.
"Jasper help!" I ordered at vampire pitch. Jasper shook himself, and concentrated on his brother. Affection warmed the room, but I stood apart, fiercely protective. I realized then, from Bella's sub-audible growl, that she knew.
Edward swallowed hard. "I suppose not, although I think of Carlisle as my Dad," he blandly answered the viper.
The apple does not fall far from the tree.
Bollocks.
Yes, I was his Dad alright, and I would protect him with my last breath. You're not like that.
He licked his upper lip nervously, and nodded.
I now knew why Bella was so cross. I wanted to reach across time and beat Edward's father to jelly. Yet Edward had often spoken kindly of him.
You're a beautiful soul. You didn't hold a grudge. You loved your father, I thought fiercely, both angered and impressed, and overcome with affection. The man must have had some good in him. Edward did not tolerate wickedness in anyone.
My son nodded, hollow-eyed.
"How did they die, your parents?" Mrs Stanley asked carelessly. Most of the heads in the room turned toward her in disbelief. She did not withdraw the question.
Boiling rage curdled my gut. If not for Jasper, exerting his will...
"They died in an epidemic," Jasper growled, stepping closer to throw an arm around Edward, whose colour started to return to normal. "It is not a topic which we discuss, Ma'am."
"My apologies. I did not realize it was a sensitive subject after so many years," the dragon sniffed.
"No offence taken, Mrs Stanley," Edward prevaricated.
Bitch.
In the other room, the friendly conversation continued. It felt surreal. "Yeah, say 'hi' to the gang for us," Bella suggested to Jess.
"I will. Get better fast."
"Thanks."
"I've missed you. Please keep in touch."
"I will."
Jess hurried back into the sitting room, catching herself on the edge of the wall. "She's really sick, Edward. She's all clammy and shivering under the blankets, and she won't take the compress off her eyes."
"I'd best see to her. Carlisle? You want to come ... check...?" Edward asked, gesturing toward the bedroom.
"Certainly, son. We can't have anything happen to our sweetheart. Lot of bad bugs in South America. I'm rather worried. She may have caught something serious." I glared at Jessica's mother, trying to communicate the idea that discussions of viral complaints were not welcome. Since Edward knew Bella was not sick, I knew it would not faze him.
"I see..." Mrs Stanley said. She had to be terribly disappointed. "Well, I can't stay. I have to get back home. Jess!" she demanded, snapping her fingers.
Jessica blushed under everyone's incredulous stare, and embarrassed tears glimmered in her eyes. "Uh, yes, Mother. Nice to see you, Edward, everyone. Thank you for ... having us."
Poor girl. Edward said she was not as nice as she seemed, but with a mother like that, and a best friend like Lauren Mallory, how was she to succeed?
"You're welcome, Jessica. Thank you again for the gift. Say 'hello' to Mike for us, won't you?" Edward smiled, quietly offering her a tissue and a gentle pat.
"Uh, yeah. Sure. You... take care, and... have fun at school," Jess said, looking thoroughly depressed.
"Thanks. You, too."
"I'm not going to school," she said sadly.
"Oh. I-" Edward began, looking disconcerted, then sad.
"Jess!" Mrs Stanley interrupted.
"Bye," Jess said, tears welling.
"Bye," Edward said softly. And they were gone.
"Wow, that was close," Emmett moaned, as Bella peeped out of the bedroom.
"Good job, Bella. That was quick thinking," Edward praised.
"I don't think she noticed anything odd," Bella said softly. "Poor Jess. I definitely don't like that old witch. Good thing you guys gave us the en suite. I ran in there and grabbed a washcloth, and I barely had time to get under the covers before Jess came in. She didn't notice the pictures, did she Edward?"
"No, we seem to have gotten away with it," he said distractedly.
"I thought she was going to Washington State," Bella frowned.
Edward cleared his throat. "Her parents want her to stay home. They say a college education doesn't necessarily net one a career, and she should stay in Forks and keep her job and get married instead."
"Does Mike know their plan?" Bella pouted.
"Probably not," Edward mused. "Jess is very disappointed. They made her give up her scholarship. Ang and Ben have already left for school, and she's feeling pretty lonesome. She's not friends with Lauren anymore."
"Ah," Bella said. "What about Mike?"
"Working in his Dad's store," Edward said thoughtfully.
"Hmm. Well, I guess things will ... eventually work out the way they're supposed to," she mused.
"I hope so," Edward replied.
"Hey, Esme? I love the house. Can we see the rest of it?" Bella said, eyes warming. I watched, marvelling, as Edward let go of his past, turning hopefully to my wife. As usual, Bella knew just how to focus his attention on positive things.
I moved to put my arm around him. He turned to whisper in my ear, "It's a long time ago. Let it die."
"You're not like that. We won't let you be. You are my son, in every way that matters," I murmured, kissing the top of his head. He gave me a one-armed squeeze of thanks.
Emmett snorted. "It's hardly a house, Baby Bee. It's only a cottage."
"Em? Don't you diss my house," Bella growled comically, punctuating each word with a poke to his chest.
"Yes, Ma'am," he laughed, recoiling. Edward beamed. God bless Bella.
"I love the kitchen, Esme," Bella smiled. It had translucent, cherry-coloured cabinetry with glass fronts, a stainless steel counter, lamps, and accessories, a butcher-block island topper, and under-lights. The small set of dishes in the cupboard were white stonewear, and there was a full complement of small appliances, thanks to their human friends.
"I didn't want to spend too much effort on dressing it up, since you'll be dining at the main house. There's a little fridge behind the cupboard door, see, along with the washer and dryer, and I thought the island and bar stools would be good later, when the baby's old enough to need snacks."
"Yeah, that was a good idea. More books?" Bella said, indicating the high shelves above a counter on the front wall. "Edward, I thought I had a lot of books," she teased.
"I don't recognize... wait, are those medical books?" my son asked, interest kindling.
"That was my idea," I told him. "I thought you should have a place to do homework and research, and there was no room for a home office once we found out you needed the space for a nursery."
"It's great. Thanks," he said, and then did a double take.
"Nursery?" Bella and Edward chorused, hurrying past their guests to the back of the cottage. We chased them again, delighted when they exclaimed happily over the baby's room.
"Emmett, did you make the furniture?" Edward enthused, looking at everything.
Emmett shuffled bashfully. "Yeah. I made the bed, crib, bassinet, dresser, entertainment unit, dolly table, chairs, and desk in here, and I made the door chest, highboy, long dresser, rocking chair and plantation bed frame in your room. Oh, and I picked all the cabinetry and the shelves for the closets, which Rose, Seth and Charlie then assembled. 'Course Alice filled them."
"In... twenty-four days, Emmett? Plus, you were away with Rose, plus, you were helping me out in the jungle? How long did it take you to do this? The carving alone..." Edward gawped.
"Uh, not much time," Emmett shrugged. "I wanted it to be nice for you and my Baby Sister."
"Thank you, Emmett. It's ... I don't know what to say," Edward said softly.
"This furniture looks like it came right out of the movie 'Snow White', Bella said, awestruck. "She's going to love this room, Em. And I'm so glad you went with purple, and green, rather than pink."
"You sure she'll like it, Baby?" Emmett smiled, chuffed.
"Oh, yes," Bella said, hugging him.
"So it's a girl," Charlie said, making me glad. Since my family knew, it was only fair that he know as well.
"Yes," Bella said proudly. "She's named for all the grandparents: Renesmee Carlie."
"You ... are naming the baby after us?" Esme asked, looking tearful.
"Yes, my mother, and you, and Charlie and Carlisle," Bella explained.
I thought my still heart would swell right out of my chest. Charlie and I exchanged a shy look.
"But at the moment, she only answers to Tigger," Bella said, eyes twinkling.
"Answers?" I repeated. Could Edward Hear her?
"Hah. No, I can't hear her yet, Dad. But she answers, alright. At least, to me," Edward said proudly.
"Show us," Charlie demanded.
"Okay. Let me lie down, and you can all watch," Bella invited us. She settled herself against the pillows, cushions and bolster piled on the baby's twin bed. "Dad? You come put your hand on my bump."
"Okay," Charlie smiled, and shuffled over, doing as he was bid.
Edward knelt on the other side of the bed. "Gather 'round, everyone."
We all moved in quickly, except Alice and Jasper, who obviously had seen this before.
Edward put his head on the bump. "Tigger?"
It nudged him, moving his cheek, and we all huffed a surprised laugh, enraptured.
"Tigger Tigger Tigger!"
Bella's bump jiggled like mad, and we all laughed. All the vampires, plus Charlie and Leah. Seth and Sue still looked a little lost.
"Here, she's moving. Must be hard for you to see," Bella said to them. "Come put your hands on me."
We vampires contained our excitement and moved out of the way so Bella's future step-family could get a turn.
"Tigger Tigger Tigger," Edward repeated in a deep, silly voice. Again, the baby went mad.
"Coolio!" Seth shrieked, and everybody laughed as the baby quite obviously turned toward him.
"So, she's talented," Eleazar said from the doorway.
We all turned and gawped at him, as he crossed the floor and slid his hand toward Bella, stopping short of touching her. "With your permission, Isabella?"
"Yeah, yeah," Bella said, nodding rapidly. We all waited with bated breath.
"Tsk tsk. As usual, you block me," he said, eyeing Bella teasingly.
Bella deflated.
"Ah, do not be sad, cara mia. You have a very powerful gift. I suspect the baby is powerful like her parents, able to recognize and respond at such a tender age. Obviously your Shield lets her communicate out, and allows information to get in. Edward will Hear her, I think, assuming she is not also a Shield."
"Really?" Edward asked softly.
"Yes. I've been talking to Jasper. Practice with Bella as he has suggested. If she is capable of letting anyone in, it will be you, and I think you are very close to success. It is a very sophisticated talent, dearest Isabella. Very sophisticated indeed."
Bella lit up like a star.
"See? Look how she explores me," Eleazar said excitedly. "El bebé linda runs her fist around the outside of my hand. She knows there are people out here, but I cannot test her. I do not know whether that is because of the mother, or the daughter, but believe me, she is very advanced."
Alice squealed and she and Rose high-fived each other.
"But she's so tiny," Edward protested.
"Yes. I await her arrival with great joy," Eleazar beamed. "Ya me despido (It's time to say goodbye). I will fly my Tanya home with Eric, and then rejoin Carmen in the Amazonas."
" Gracias por todo, Eleazar ( Thank you for everything, Eleazar), " Edward said solemnly, shaking hands.
"Ah, de nada (think nothing of it). We are happy to help where we may, and we had a lot of fun."
"I'm glad," Edward said, smiling crookedly. "Hasta pronto (See you again soon)."
"Hasta pronto, Dom Edward. Dona Isabella. Hasta pronto, Dom Carlisle, Dona Esme. Todos ustedes toman cuidado (Take care, all of you)."
"Tome cuidado (Take care)," I replied, shaking his hand. "Please give our love to Carmen, Kate and Irina."
"I will," he said happily, saluting. He took his leave of all the humans and Kwoli he passed on his way out. The cottage was chock full of people. Then, Tanya pushed her way in.
"Edward? Bella? We almost forgot our present," she yelled, and pitched something at them, which Edward grabbed out of the air. T'shirts! White ones.
Edward held one up. "Aw, these are great!"
"Love. It," Bella growled.
"Uvidimsia (Bye)!" Tanya hollered, and vanished.
Edward and Bella sat together on the baby's bed, and held their t-shirts up in front of them. Hers had a cartoon drawing of a bun in an oven. His was the same, but said 'I put the..." over the picture. He stood up, shucking his shirt, and put on the new one. I blanched. The back of his shoulders bore a long, deep scar, with several thin, fading lines beside. From a whip. It had to have been painful, assuming Bella's venom had been used to close the gash. Venom from mates did not normally leave scars, else we'd all be covered in them, from biting.
The lighter marks would disappear, eventually, if she tended them regularly. The big mark was permanent.
My son shrugged one shoulder, and smirked at me.
Perhaps I shouldn't question ... but I never thought he'd be a masochist. Not with his history. He wrinkled his nose at me. No. An accident, then? Yes.
Funny, I had never earmarked him as a Sub.
"Thank you, I'm not," he said wryly, at vampire pitch. "And stop psycho-analyzing me, Dad."
Jasper and Emmett looked highly disconcerted.
"Well, you are bossy, so it fits," I told him at vampire pitch.
"Takes one to know one."
I decided to drop it.
Rosalie laughed, taking pictures of the kids in their t-shirts. Then, she fetched a parcel, which Bella opened. Inside were several pretty baby layettes and blankets.
"You made these?" Bella asked.
Rosalie ducked her head shyly.
"I can't believe you did this. You have no idea how happy you've made me. You and Alice are going to be the best aunties ever. And Leah," Bella beamed. "Thank you, Rose. They're beautiful."
"Your welcome, Bella," Rose said sweetly.
"We should get back to the guests," Edward suggested.
For the rest of the day, we mingled, getting to know the various acquaintances better. Every time Bella and Edward settled somewhere, someone hurried past, pelting them with a new pair of funny shirts, to their amusement and occasional embarrassment. Some of the shirts boasted very rude messages, which the children took with good grace. By the end of the party, the pile of shirts on our picnic table was more than a yard high. Jasper produced green trash bags and loaded them in, then took them to the main house to be laundered.
The sun was beginning to fall, and Charlie and the Clearwaters had gone, when we packed up Apple, Pippa and Pete in their vehicle. A disgruntled Emmett appeared, escorting a dishevelled Shay and Winifred. Shay was sheepish, Winifred defiant. Prudie and Roland were not impressed. When Winifred sidled up to me and whispered "Good-bye, Dr DILF," nobody was impressed. I fervently hoped her parents would soon be able to go home, and take her with them.
Not long after, Jasper and Alice gathered up the leftover food, collected Cynthia and Mary Alice, and left to take them to their new mobile home. Jasper's kitten sat airing himself on the porch, not at all concerned as his master drove away.
"We're heading home," Edward told me as the Porsche vanished. "Bella needs her rest."
"Okay," I said, exchanging hugs with them both. I felt a little melancholy. I had so many things to discuss with my son about his life, and he wasn't readily available to do it any more.
"None of that," Edward admonished, completely relaxed. "We're only down the garden path."
"I know," I sighed. "It's just ... different."
"Yes, but it's a good 'different', right?" he checked.
"Course it is," I said, smiling warmly. "It's good to have you both home."
"Yeah. Good to be home," Edward said. "We'll have a good chinwag tomorrow, I promise." He offered his elbow to Bella, who had just finished saying 'good-night' to Esme.
Esme took my arm, and we eased ourselves down onto the porch steps, watching the kids saunter down the cobblestone path we had so lovingly laid, their legs lit by pooling yellow light from tiny mushroom-shaped lamps.
"I told you so, Dr Teeth," my peach said smugly.
"Hmm? Oh, yes, he's happy now, thank God. You are beautiful when you are right, Milady," I conceded.
"Let's clean up tomorrow, husband," she suggested. "Talking to Edward this morning about his plans put me in such a naughty mood all day."
"Really," I said smoothly, admiring her feminine attributes.
"Mmm," she said, slipping a finger between the buttons of my shirt. "Let's go to our lair."
"Yes, Milady," I growled, velvet over steel.
