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. Stephenie Meyer created it all.
Because of my slackness, this chapter is coming to you unbetaed, so please excuse any errors. But as always, my thanks to Sherryola, Twiloversue, and LemonMartinis who generally pre-read and beta this story for me. I mention these ladies every week, but there is no way that words alone can describe what their help means to me. I bow down to their greatness.
Just a quick chapter. I originally planned for this to be the cookout, but the need for a short and sweet interlude hit me, and I wanted to make good on my promise to post today after missing yesterday!
Hope you enjoy. And to my readers in the States, Happy Memorial Day! I come from a long line of service men and women, and my brother and niece are currently serving. Thanks to those of you who may be veterans/service men or women...your sacrifice doesn't go unseen or unappreciated!
Bella POV
"Good Morning," Carlisle greeted me cheerily as I stepped into the kitchen.
He was already dressed in well-worn jeans and a Beatle's t-shirt. Nursing a cup of coffee, he must've seen my envious glance and rose.
"Sit down and allow me to get you a cup of coffee. Are you ready for breakfast? Esme made quiche last night so that she didn't have to cook this morning."
When my stomach growled at the thought, he smiled softly, setting the steaming cup of hot java in front of me and then moving to the warmer. A plate of quiche and a bowl of fresh fruit followed immediately afterward.
"Thank you!" I mumbled already saying a quick prayer.
"It's going to be a busy day," he said in conversation. "I need to get the ribs on soon; they're better when they slow cook. I also need to get busy mixing up the sauce, although that's usually Edward's job. Jasper is always trying to steal the secret recipe, so I have to do it early before he starts snooping around." When I raised my eyebrow at the idea that Carlisle would refuse his son-in-law something, he chuckled. "It's my way to harass him."
Even with a bite of the most delicious ham and egg quiche I'd ever tasted in my mouth, the promise of ribs still had my mouth watering. "Well, I won't try to steal the secret, but if you need help preparing anything, let me know. I don't mind helping, and I'm fairly good in the kitchen. Edward is sound asleep, and I highly doubt he'll be getting up anytime soon. I woke him up at six to take his medication, but he was out again within a second."
It had been difficult leaving him…the bed had been so warm and his arms so comforting. It'd been seductive, enticing…and it was the last morning I would wake up with him. For a moment, I hadn't wanted the real world to interfere or trespass. I certainly didn't want to admit to his father that I'd literally worn his son out the night before. But then looking up to see Carlisle's small smile, I wondered if he knew anyway. I tried not to blush, I really did, but biology was a bitch. He chuckled, clearing his throat for a second when he saw my reaction. Luckily, he took pity on me.
"Bella, I wouldn't mind examining your eyes and giving you a quick exam before you go. Your headaches are gone, correct?"
How did he know? My guilt must have shown, and I wanted to curse my tale-tell face again.
"You needed to rest; that was the key," he continued at least not calling me out directly on what I'd tried to hide. "Will you promise me that when you go home this evening you'll attempt to get at least eight hours of sleep a night?"
His tone was curious. I could hear the doctor in it, but somehow there was more. It was concern, and it put up my defenses. "I'm not going home to punish him or anything…" I felt guilty as soon as I saw his reaction. I'd been way off.
"I know. It's important that you get some distance. I respect you for that." He stood and went over to the coffee pot, coming back to refill both of our cups before sitting down again. "Esme left me once," he announced out of the blue.
I gasped…No way!
He grinned at the shocked look on my face, but then continued, "I deserved it. We'd been married about a year, and I'd made the mistake of taking her for granted. I was so busy at work, between the hospital and the business, and when I came home all I wanted to do was…well, you know." He grinned and for a moment the shock of seeing just how much Edward looked like him rendered me speechless. Well…the man was a god, DILF, so there could be worse things to happen in life than have his son age like him. "I have to admit, Esme tried to talk with me, but I was…a little focused on things other than 'talking.'"
I laughed because it was his time to blush now. He smirked and shook his head slightly at me.
"I came home one night, and she was gone. At first I thought she'd just run to the store or something, but then I found the note. Shook me up, and I can tell you that I was willing to do anything to get her to come back. I wasn't complete without her." His eyes had taken on a distant look for a moment, but then he refocused on me. "Esme is the smartest individual I know. We needed the time to regroup. Our courtship had been so encompassing, our marriage so quick, that we'd really been overwhelmed by the emotions of it all. She made us really think and come to some agreements. When she finally came home, it was the best day of my life. Emmett was born, almost to the date, forty weeks later."
I snickered, but then the words tore out of me, "So you don't think I'm crazy?"
"No." His tone was very understanding. "But like me, I don't think either of you is going to rest away from each other, so as your doctor, I'm going to give you a slight sleeping aide. You are intelligent, Bella, frightfully so. Use it to ensure a good night's rest, take care of yourself both emotionally and physically, and eat well, those are my only requests."
I cracked a smile. "Are those orders, doctor?"
He sniffed in a perfectly efficient way. "Yes, of course!"
He and I both laughed at the pompous answer, but then he drummed his fingertips on the table. It was a nervous habit, and I thought that perhaps he was attempting to find a way to say something. I was right.
"We've haven't spoken about what happen, Bella." He scanned my face for my reaction. "You know I'm infinitely sorry. If I'd just approached you one of those times instead of turning away like a coward…maybe we…I don't know…I just can't help but think of the agony I could have spared you, Carlie, and Edward. I should've followed my gut instinct, and I didn't. So, that is why I'm supporting you in following yours. I trust you to use your time apart wisely. Like Esme, you are so much smarter than us humble Cullen men."
"Ha!" The humor barked out of me.
"Words mean little in this situation between us, but I promise you won't find my actions lacking again, Bella. Anything you need, anything at all, you'll get it from me and Esme. Even if you decide that you and Edward won't suit, you are still family. Thank you for Carlie, by the way. You've done an amazing job raising her, and there is no finer gift you could've given us even though we don't deserve her or you."
I reached over to pat his hand in answer. I didn't know what to say, but the contact seemed enough. In reaction, he nudged my plate with his hand, reminding me to eat…just like a doctor…or father. When I finished, he rose, stretching, and then went to the industrial sized refrigerator to pull out package after package of fresh herbs.
"Now…about these mad culinary skills you touted…"
Cooking… That was something I could definitely bond with Carlisle over.
~SOMP~
A ringing of the doorbell several hours later interrupted our watch over the large grills, Carlisle having borrowed Emmett's and Jasper's. Esme had fluttered around us during the time, throwing tinfoil wrapped packages of vegetables into whatever available space there was and bringing us drinks. The aromas were amazing and had already drawn both Emmett and Jasper.
"Bella, Sweetheart, you and I need to speak later," Jasper had teased, raising his eyes at Carlisle in challenge.
Without even taking his eyes off the task at hand, the elder Cullen had responded, "She's been sworn to secrecy."
But the newest additions to the melee were Felix, Jane, and Demetri, their arms full of boxes.
"Esme told Mom that we could take care of dessert, so she, Aunt Cia, and Aunt Dora spent yesterday cooking. We've got Tiramisù, Cassata Siciliana, Panna Cotta, and some Tartufo di Pizzo," Demetri mumbled from behind the package that partially obscured his face.
"Frig is open for whatever needs to be kept cool. But, what did they do, cook for an army?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Um…Isabella, you've seen the destruction we can leave in our wake. Add into it the Cullen men…we are amassing an army," Jane chuckled out, helping take some of the packages from Felix. She stole a quick kiss from him when his arms were finally empty before turning to me. "Where are the kids?" she asked eagerly, the three of them having followed me back out to where Carlisle was putting another coat of sauce on one of the loads of ribs.
Jane had an affinity for children and them for her. As tiny as she was, it was often easy to mistake her for one. I was certain many career criminals had thought the same and been shocked to have her take them out.
"Carlie has them all watching a movie. Seth and Samantha will be here soon; Jake called just a few minutes ago to say they were on the way."
"Cool. I'm going to find them and see what trouble I can get into," she responded.
Felix watched her with hungry eyes as she left us, bound for the laughter that'd erupted from inside the house. Catching my look, he chuckled at my knowing look.
"She's got me whipped, Isabella. Totally."
"First child," I reminded him…earning a roll of eyes.
"Ok, ok, but I'll need to practice a lot first."
Demetri grunted, but it suspiciously sounded like he was attempting to hide a gagging sound.
"What were Emmett and Jasper doing outside?" Felix asked, ignoring his strangling best friend.
"They were talking about challenging you to a football game after lunch. I believe that they were actually mapping out a temporary field."
"Really…" Demetri drawled, his eyes glittering dangerously. "Felix, I do believe that our services may be needed. Carlisle, if you'll excuse us?"
"Certainly."
Demetri stopped beside me. "Beautiful, where's your man?"
I couldn't help but laugh. "Still sleeping, I would guess. As a matter of fact, I probably need to go wake him. He'll want to be up when everyone else arrives."
"Well, you'd better hurry, because the rest of our cult will be here soon," he snickered. But before I could react, he and Felix left, heading toward the front of the house where I knew Emmett and Jasper were strategizing.
"Carlisle, I'm going to go wake up Sleeping Beauty."
"Okay. The ribs are at a point where I can leave them undisturbed. Since Samantha is with Carlie, I think I'll go find Esme and harass her." He waggled his eyebrows at me and then slinked into the house as elegantly as any cat stalking its prey.
I couldn't help but laugh. Emmett and Edward were definitely his sons.
Opening the door to the bedroom, I tried to be quiet on the chance that he was still asleep. Arms wrapped around my pillow, his nose buried into the fabric, Edward slumbered peacefully. It was good to notice that dark shadows that had previously haunted his eyes were gone. I couldn't help the lurch in my heart when I considered the fact that leaving him might cause them to resurface. Having to buckle down on the traitorous reaction, I gathered up my determination. Carlisle's story helped, knowing that sometimes a little pain was necessary.
He'd twisted out of the sheets, so I was able to ogle him without distraction. The strong muscles of his shoulder and arm intrigued me; his light skin showing them to perfection, but the line of his back…broad tapering down to narrower hips…fascinated me. He'd been thinner as a teenager, just hinting at the man he'd become. His legs, dusted in light copper colored hair, were lean, but the strength was there in the corded muscles that still stood out even in rest. It was a sad fact that even his feet were beautiful, but the still red gash across his foot, compliments of the wound he'd acquired getting me to help, reminded me that this wasn't some mythical creature or god laying in the bed. No…looking to the healing wound on his side, results of the chest tube…I was faced with the fact that the creature laying before me was a fragile human, one I'd almost lost.
In mischief, I placed my fingertip at the top of his spine and slowly, lightly traced down his back, stopping just above the waist band of his boxers. His moan and roughly muttered "Bella" did my heart and ego good. I couldn't say that I was entirely over the others that had touched him, particularly Tanya. It was probably one of the biggest things I needed to settle for myself and then speak to him about. Shaking free of the doubt the thoughts caused me, I smirked…well, it wasn't their hands touching him now, their names he muttered unconsciously. And assuming that Tanya's irrational and revealing rant at Carlie's recital was true, he'd always called out for me when his defenses were down…when he was most vulnerable.
Thank goodness the others couldn't see my satisfied smirk.
But enough ogling, he needed to wake up and face the day. Leaning over, I brushed a lock of unruly hair away from his face and called his name out softly. In reaction, his fingers flexed into my pillow as if he was fighting against anyone taking it from him.
"Edward, it's time to get up," I said a little louder.
"Mmm…"
I tried his name a few more times, feathering my fingers across his face and neck. He was as hard to wake up as Carlie. It was time to get tough.
"Baby, you have to start moving, or I'll sic Emmett or Jasper on you."
A soft growl was his reaction to my threat. A muscle in his cheek twitched as well. Then he settled down again.
"Edw…" My word ended in a squeak as the next thing I knew I was flat on my back, his body hovering over me.
"Threaten me, will you," he chuckled. It was ridiculous…he didn't even wake up with morning breath.
Heat…body pressed to mine…green sleepy eyes and a crooked mouth…hair tousled…a pillow crease still in his cheek… DANGER! Or heaven… Which one was it? Who cared?
Threading my fingers through his hair, I jerked him down to give him a searing kiss. Then I heard a real growl as he pressed me into the bed and took over. Just as I thought I'd die from the pleasure of it, he pulled back.
I wanted to punch him then, so cocky was his grin.
"Just how long have you been awake?" I asked in an affronted tone. I couldn't help that my fingers traced across his chest, feeling the muscles twitch against them and the ridges of scar tissue just scant inches from his heart.
He chuckled at what was most likely a peevish look on my face. "As if I could sleep through the feel of your fingers on my skin. What time is it?" He moved to his good side, propping on an elbow so that one of his hands was free. He used it to brush my hair off my forehead and then yawned broadly.
"About eleven."
"What?" he gasped out and then turned over to look out the window. "Why did you let me sleep so late? I have to help dad with the ribs." He made as if to get up, but my hand on his arm stopped him.
"I've already taken care of it. At this moment in time, your father is harassing your mother. I'm sure you don't want to walk in on that." I arched my eyes at him and then attempted to reproduce Carlisle's waggled eyebrows.
He burst out in laughter and then moved so that he leaned over me again. "No, that's Emmett's job. He's always catching them in positions that give him nightmares."
Brushing his fingertips over my face as if to memorize it, he remained quiet, and the silence wasn't awkward, just peaceful. The realization that this would be our last morning together made it poignant. The way his hands worshiped me felt as far from sexual as you could get…respectful, reverent, and intimate seemed more accurate descriptions.
"I love you, Bella Swan. Don't ever forget that." The words were full of hurt, love, hope, and pain.
I cried out, throwing up my hands to cradle his face. "Wait! What's this?" I patted at him. "This isn't goodbye!"
"I know, but you're taking my heart with you when you leave this evening, and just in case you don't understand the pathetic fluttering it'll do under you're care, I wanted you to know what it's saying."
"Silly…because mine will be right here…" I patted over his heart "…doing the same thing."
"Let me get a shower, and I'll join the land of the living," he finally said, when our words had soaked into the fabric of the bed, walls, and the very cells of our bodies.
As I watched him move toward the bathroom, I thanked the spirit inside of him that hadn't made me feel guilty for needing space…space from the overwhelming nature of him, our attraction, and the love between us.
I know that I say this every week, but I would love to know your thoughts. Hearing everyone's opinions really make writing this story worthwhile.
Demetri and Elizabeth have to be postponed to next week, because the outtake wouldn't make sense without the interactions at the cookout. Instead, Samantha was speaking to me as I wrote this. Her reactions to the chaos of such a large family for reviews.
