A/N - You are all amazing! I cannot say how much I'm enjoying this process! It would not be as fun as it is for me, without all the great reviews! If you like sleepy Edward as much as I do, you'll love this chapter...Enjoy!
Chapter 49 - Goodnights
Forty five minutes after we left the recital, we pulled up to the Cullen house. Jasper and Emmett ran into the house, having decided they would play some video games for a while. I turned to face Edward. "Baby." I said quietly, running the backs of fingers along his cheeks. He sighed, but didn't wake up. I smiled at him. I leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "Wake up, Edward. We're home." I said softly. His eyes opened slowly, blinking a few times.
"Oh, Bella, did I fall asleep?" He asked with a rough voice, sitting up, and looking around. "Sorry. I meant to stay awake."
"It's okay, Edward. Your brothers kept me entertained." I said, trying to reassure him.
"Uh, oh. That can't be good." He chuckled.
"We had a good time. I really like them." I said. "Now, let's get you up to bed." I said, leaning forward to kiss the end of his nose. He smiled at me and we got out of the car. I grabbed my bags from the trunk to wrap for Mother's Day, and we headed in the house and up to Edward's room.
I shut the door and turned to face him. I reached up and loosened his tie. He reached up and slipped it over his head, tossing it on his desk chair. I unbuttoned his shirt, slowly. He just stood there, watching me. I reached up and slid it from him, running my hands over his shoulders and down his arms. It dropped on the floor behind him. I kissed his bare chest. Edward leaned forward and kissed my neck. I undid his black belt and slid it out of the loops. He reached forward for me, but I stepped back. I looked up and him and smiled. "Go brush your teeth, Edward." He pouted, but kicked off his shoes and walked into the bathroom. I slipped off my dress and redressed in my jeans and t-shirt.
I heard the bathroom door open as I was folding my dress. I looked up, and Edward walked out into his room in nothing but his grey boxers. He looked amazing. Every time I looked at him, I appreciated how lucky I was that I had him in my life. "Hey, babe." He said sleepily, walking over to his bed. I turned and pulled back his blankets and fluffed his pillows. I could hear him laughing behind me. "You don't have to do that, Bella." He said, walking behind me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder.
"I know, but I want to." I said, turning in his arms, so I could look up at him. "I love you."
"I love you, too." He said, leaning down to kiss me deeply. "That's what I call a goodnight kiss."
"Oh, Edward. You're so dorky, sometimes." I said, leaning up to kiss him again.
"You know you love it." He teased, tracing his thumb along my bottom lip, causing me to shiver.
"I know I do. Now get in your bed." I said, pinching his sides.
"Yes, ma'am." He said, sliding in between his sheets. I pulled the blankets up over his shoulders and tucked him in tightly. He looked so childlike wrapped up to his neck. I leaned over him and kissed his forehead, his nose, his chin, and finally his lips.
"I love you, Edward. Get some rest." I said, kissing him once more.
His eyes were closing again. He must have been so tired. I decided that I would have to make sure he didn't overdo it on our holiday, and actually get a chance to relax.
"I love you, too, my angel." He said groggily. I grabbed my purse, bags and dress from his desk and shut out the light. I opened the door, and I looked back at him one more time. The light from the hallway illuminated his face, and a few strands of his gorgeous hair. He was the angel. I smiled at him, and closed his door.
I walked down the stairs and, just as I reached the bottom, the front door flew open and Alice hopped in. "Bella." She said, jumping in my arms. I gave her a hug.
"Hey, Alice. You were so great tonight." I said. "Do you know what my favourite part of your whole performance was?"
"No. What was it?" She asked, looking excited that someone was talking about her performance again.
"Your beautiful smile. You looked so confident and happy. I was smiling with you for your whole routine." I told her honestly.
"Really?" She said, looking at her mom and dad, who were both smiling back at her.
"Really." I said, giving her another hug.
"Where's Edward?" She asked, looking behind me.
"He's already sleeping. Can you believe it?" I said, laughing with her.
"Bella, sweetheart, do you need a ride home?" Esme asked.
"Um, actually I do. I can call my dad to get me after work, if that's more convenient, though." I said. I didn't want to be a bother to them, especially considering they had just driven home from Port Angeles. It was already ten-thirty. It would only be about an hour long wait for my dad.
"Oh, Bella. It's no problem at all. I can take you now, if you're ready to go?" Carlisle suggested.
"That would be great actually. Thanks." I answered. "Goodnight, Esme." I said, giving her a hug. "Bye, Alice. My dad and I will be here tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay." She said with a smile.
"Sweetie, why don't you and your dad come by for breakfast? We'll spend the whole day together before you and Edward leave on Sunday." Esme asked.
"I think that sounds great. Thanks so much for inviting us." I said. I could not have asked for more accepting and genuine people to be in my life.
"Great. How does eight o'clock sound?" She asked. "Too early?"
"No, that's perfect. It's when my dad and I eat every morning, so that will definitely work." I said.
Carlisle opened the front door for me and I walked out and over to his car. He opened the passenger side door for me and I got in. Edward learned from the best, I thought.
"So you had a good time, tonight?" He asked after he got in the car.
"I loved it." I said. "Alice was amazing."
"Yes. She loves to dance, that's for sure." He chuckled, smiling at the thought of his only daughter. "How was the ride home?" I smiled, thinking that he was a worrier, just like Edward.
"It was great. Emmett and Jasper are great guys. We talked all the way home." I giggled. "Edward was out cold the minute we got on the highway."
Carlisle smiled. "I'm glad he didn't drive. But, that's just like him to push himself until he falls over."
"Yeah. Esme was telling me that he's a giver. It's really true. He's always trying to do things for his brothers, or Alice, or for me. I think I'm stressing him out, too. You know, with the whole mom drama." I said, looking out the window.
"Bella, Bella. Don't think like that. I have honestly never seen Edward so happy and content as I have since you two got home last week. Now, I'm not saying he was unhappy before. He's always been a very good-spirited young man, but with you, he just seems content. It's like his life has a purpose now, outside of caring for his family, and going to school. I know that we have you to thank for that." Carlisle said, looking over at me with a smile. "Esme and I were just talking about how you two seem to belong together. It's like you understand one another without needing to explain how you feel out loud. It's amazing, really."
"Thank you for saying that, Carlisle." I said, trying to hold back my tears. "I finally feel like I'm where I am supposed to be. I feel like I belong." A tear slipped from my eye, but I wiped it away quickly. "You are all so amazing. I couldn't have asked for more." I laughed. "I remember how nervous I was last week, when Edward and I pulled up to your house for the first time. Now it almost feels like a second home to me."
I was expressing my gratitude to Carlisle. I wanted him to understand that I felt as deeply for them, as they clearly did for me.
"I'm glad, Bella. This week has been truly something. I have to say that I'm happy you fit right in with us. You have stolen Edward's heart and I think Alice's, too." He laughed.
We pulled up to my house. "Thanks for bringing me home, tonight. And when Edward wakes up tomorrow, don't let him feel bad that he fell asleep. I just know he's going to, but tell him that I said to stop it." I loved how I was so comfortable around Carlisle that I could joke with him.
"I will definitely relay the message." He smiled. "Have a good night, and we'll see you for breakfast."
"Goodnight." I said, getting out of the car.
Carlisle waited until I had the door unlocked, and had stepped inside the house, before driving back home.
I went up to my room and wrapped the gifts I had bought for Angela and her mom, and put them in my suitcase. I put the antique jewellery tree for Esme in a gift bag and stuffed tissue paper in the top. I took a piece of notebook paper and wrote down how much she meant to me. I folded it and tucked it in the bag. I set it on my desk, so I wouldn't forget to take it with me tomorrow. It was going to be a great day.
