Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephanie Myer.
Hope you enjoy.
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"Esme, please come down." Carlisle called patiently, searching through the branches above him.
Esme's voice greeted him from a great height. "I'm watching the bees, Carlisle." She told him. "You know I can't get hurt, so please don't worry."
Carlisle huffed, leaning back against the trunk of the giant tree. "What interest could you possibly have in bees, my love?"
There was the sound of giggles from behind the leaves. "They are making a hive for themselves." She reported, reaching forward to get a better look from where she was currently resting on a large branch. It was a nice day outside, and when the sun managed to pierce its way through the gaps in the leaves, it glistened against her skin in the way that she adored. "It's fascinating! They are making wax and moulding it, and-"
Carlisle chuckled. "I know how worker bees create their hive, Esme. I could have told you that myself, from the ground."
Esme rolled her eyes at his concern, but couldn't deny the fact that it warmed her at the same time. When she was younger, she had hated being fussed over. Now, it was another reminder that Carlisle loved her, so she would never find irritation from it, only fondness. "Carlisle, must I remind you that I am a vampire, so I'm therefore practically indestructible?"
"Must I remind you, my dear, that your past record for tree climbing is not the best?" Carlisle asked, folding his arms over his chest as his worry was slowly replaced by amusement.
"I fell out of a tree once." Esme shot back playfully. "You make it seem like a terrible habit of mine."
"A habit I am quite fond of." Carlisle replied, arching a brow even though he knew she probably wasn't paying him much attention. He became slightly envious of the bees. "Esme, I'm about to head to work, and I would very much like to say goodbye to you."
In a matter of seconds, Esme gracefully landed in front of him, smiling widely with sparkling eyes. "I think my landing has improved, wouldn't you agree?" She asked.
Carlisle laughed. "You have a leaf in your hair." He observed.
"A leaf in my hair-" She echoed in confusion, as one hand flew up to her locks to find the offending leaf.
Swiftly, Carlisle plucked it out for her. "Never mind, it's gone." He said,his hand moving from her hair to the back of her head so he could kiss her gently. He had not forgotten how things had escalated the other day, as much as he knew Esme wanted him to move on from his guilt. As much as he wanted her, he was a gentleman, and would continue to push his urges away until she was his wife.
She smiled against his lips before he pulled away. "How long is your shift?" She asked, her fingers currently playing with the collar of his shirt, straightening out the slight crease in it.
"Thirteen hours, give or take." Carlisle told her. As much as he loved his job, he would never enjoy leaving her behind to go to a long shift. His concentration and dedication to his work had always been faultless, but when he sat in his office, he found it hard to read the documents in front of him and not think of her lovely smile, the dimple that it created, and her eyes that were becoming more and more golden with each passing day.
She sighed softly, her fingers gently playing with his tie. "Well, they are certainly very lucky to have you." She commented, stealing another kiss from him. "I'll see you when you get home."
"Are you dismissing me because you wish to return to your bees, by any chance?" Carlisle said, only teasing her, as his hands squeezed her waist affectionately.
"And if I was?" Esme asked, playing along.
Carlisle rolled his eyes; a rare gesture that showed just how young he really was, despite his long vampire years. He was forever frozen in the body of a twenty-three year old, and, sometimes, he allowed himself to act like one. It made his beautiful face even more youthful. "You wound me, my love." He said, allowing himself to slip into his British accent, something he had long thought of as in the past, but he enjoyed the reaction it gained from her.
He was not disappointed today. Esme felt the shiver run down her spine as she heard it, and she reached up on her tiptoes to kiss him yet again, smiling against his mouth.
"I love you." She whispered against his lips, smiling as she felt his arms wrap around her waist in a gentle embrace. His closeness always brought her comfort, even when she hadn't known she had been needing it.
When the kiss finally ended, they didn't move away from one another. Esme's hands remained on his shoulder blades as his head nestled against her neck.
Carlisle kept her against him for a few moments as he enjoyed the feeling of her in his arms. The next thirteen hours at the hospital would surely drag by, but the thought of returning to Esme would make it all worth it. "I love you." He returned.
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August 1911, Columbus Ohio
Esme had not been lying when she said that the thought of staying at the hospital for a second night had not been as unpleasant as it had first been. However, she could never admit why she was so at ease with the idea now. If she did, she would have to bury herself under her blanket in embarrassment and never reveal herself.
In all honesty, she was very much enjoying her time because of Dr Cullen. She knew it was entirely inappropriate, and completely wasted as it was something that could only ever be a dream for her, but she found herself blushing around the kind Dr and feeling things that she had never expected to feel before.
He seemed to understand her in a way that no one else did. Her parents treated her like a child at the best of times, and had unrealistic dreams for her without even considering what she wanted. She had no siblings to be compared to, but that also meant that her parents put a lot of pressure on her. She knew what they wanted for her; to marry well, to provide her husband with a loving home and children. She had never wanted that.
"Do you like being a doctor?" She asked Dr Cullen that night as he checked on her brace, wanting to make sure she was comfortable before she slept. His hands were so cold against her skin, but she didn't mind. it was quite refreshing.
He paused momentarily, leaning over her, before answering. "Very much so." He told her.
"Is it what you wanted to be when you were a boy?"
For some reason, she got the feeling that her question left him feeling conflicted. But, before she could dwell on this theory, he responded. "It's been an ambition of mine for a long time. I like helping people." He glanced at her. "If you could be anything in the world, Esme, what would it be?"
She didn't even have to think about an answer. "I'm going to be a teacher."
The corner of his lip twitched in a smile. "You would be a fabulous teacher."
"You think?" Esme bit her lower lip. "Mother thinks it's ridiculous, and Father never listens when I talk about it."
He leaned away from her, moving to stand by his bed. "I know they are your parents, and that you respect and love them, but remember, they are not in control of your life." He said kindly. "If you wish to be a teacher, than you should follow that dream. Work hard for it."
She released her bottom lip from her teeth, allowing her to smile at him. "Thank you, Carlisle."
For the first time in her life, Esme felt like someone finally believed in her. It was also the first time that Carlisle realised that she had so many hopes and dreams for her future, and that he could not forgive himself for ever taking that away from her.
The next morning, after a more peaceful night than the one before, Esme had been expecting Dr Cullen to come and greet her as he had the previous morning. Dr Cullen never showed up. Instead, Dr Richards had returned, and Esme never forgot the crashing feeling of disappointment that she felt in that moment.
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April 1921 - Atlanta, Georgia
"We have a kitchen." Esme said thoughtfully, her head tilted to one side as she stared into the room in front of her. It was spotless; the oven would never be used, the surfaces would never be stained.
Edward looked up from his newspaper with a raised eyebrow. "Most humans desire one in their houses." He pointed out, the sarcasm just as clear in his voice as the amusement was.
She ignored the jibe. "Do you ever miss human food?" Esme asked him.
He shrugged, closing the newspaper and folding it. "The smell of it makes me want to gag. If it wasn't for that, I think I would."
"I miss cooking." Esme admitted as she moved to sit beside him. "Well, baking. I wasn't a very good cook, but I used to enjoy making scones when I was little. Sometimes, I'd love to prepare a meal and it be ready for when Carlisle and you return home. We'd all sit around the table and eat, sharing how our separate days were."
He scoffed. "Well, I would bring a deer in here, but I know you'd swat me round the head for it."
Esme grinned. "You know me too well, Edward."
As they listened to the thundering of the rain as it lashed against the windows of the house, Edward turned to Esme. "I have an idea of how we can pass the time inside." He offered, rising to his feet and holding his hand out to her. "How would you like to learn the piano?"
Her mouth practically dropped open in a moment of shock. "You trust me with your precious gift?"
Edward chuckled. "I'm sure you will behave yourself - if, however, you prove me wrong, shall we have an agreement that you will replace it if you break it?"
Esme threw her head back, laughing, but managed to regain her self control quickly. "I won't hurt it." She promised. Her strength was still a factor to her new life which stunned her, and while she was still technically a newborn, she had been working hard on learning to control it.
Edward rolled his eyes in a playful manner as she accepted his hand and they made their way to the piano. Edward always kept it spotless; there was not a single fleck of dust on it. They seated themselves on the cushioned stool, and Edward instantly took on the role of a teacher - one which, Esme noticed in amusement, he seemed to take very seriously.
He taught her the basics, showed her what each key was capable of, and soon taught her a small melody. He did so in a way that was not at all patronising or made her feel silly, but one that was encouraging and showed his passion for music. She listened intently, wanting more than anything to do a good job. So, she held her breath as she gently pressed down on the keys, just as he had showed her. The sound touched her ears, and although it didn't sound quite as beautiful as when Edward played, it wasn't deafly awful either.
"How was that?" Esme asked, once she finished.
Edward gave her a supportive smile. "Very good, Esme, and my piano is still intact!"
She gave him a small shove with her shoulder. "You should not be surprised, Edward. I would never cause harm to something you loved."
Edward grinned at her, showing that he had only been teasing. "I know. Honestly, you did very well, Esme."
She beamed with pride, pleased to be spending some personal time with Edward. It had taken her a long time to not flinch from Carlisle's touch, and even longer to not fear Edward's presence. Charles may have tried to ruin her, but he had failed. Now, she had a man who she loved with every fibre of her being - and one who loved her back just as strongly, she knew this - and one who she loved with a powerful, motherly protectiveness and adoration that had shocked her at first.
It hadn't been the first time that Edward had stirred such emotions in her, and as she sat with him, she couldn't help but allow her mind to wonder back to the tiny body of her son. Would he have grown up to have a passion he loved as strongly as Edward loved his music? Would he have taught her things that she didn't know, instead of just her showing him the world, so they could have learnt from each other?
Edward, despite never wanting to eavesdrop on Esme's mind, softened in sympathy as he heard her memories of the tiny boy she had held in her eyes for the shortest amount of time before he had been taken away from her forever.
He covered one of her hands in his, stilling it from playing with the keys. "Esme, I'd like to tell you something." He declared.
Esme's eyes widened slightly. "You can tell me anything." She promised, pushing the thoughts of her son to the back of her mind, where he seemed to recide always, and always would. She would carry his memory with her for the rest of eternity, but she would let her memories bury her from the reality.
"Carlisle is my father." Edward said, with such surity that anyone would believe that he was truly Carlisle's blood. "He has cared for me, and protected me, and even scolded me when I have needed it. I cannot remember much of my biological father, but I remember my mother well. I want - no, I need you - to know that I think of you as a mother to me. You have the same compassionate heart as she had had. You encourage me, and keep me in line, just like Carlisle does."
Esme's mouth had become dry, and emotion surged through her as she listened, unable to form a sentence together.
"What I mean to say," Edward continued, squeezing her hand in his. "Is that I would very much like the honour of being able to consider you my mother."
Oh, Edward, Esme thought gleefully, as her words failed her. Sometimes, it was so easy to forget that he was frozen in the body of a seventeen year old, and that he was still very much dependant on having parental figures. She had just never allowed herself to consider that he could possibly think of her that way.
"I love you, Esme." Edward told her. "I love you for how you have changed Carlisle; as for so long, he had been lost. With you, he has light in his life again, and a purpose to push himself, with the knowledge that he would always have someone to catch him when he falls. But, you have also brought light into my life, and taught me things I'm sure you aren't even aware of. I can never replace the boy you lost, but I am telling you that I love you like I had loved my mother."
That was when Esme started to sob, and Edward hugged her, holding her to him gently.
For so long, Esme had thought herself unworthy of love. What had she done right in her life to deserve her life now, with Carlisle and his son, who she could now finally think of as her own?
I love you, Edward. She was unable to let go of him just yet. In her heart, she knew she would never replace Elizabeth Mason, but the boy in her arms gave her such pride and joy that she knew she would have felt if her own son had survived.
Edward was complicated at times, and head-strong, but he was also generous and compassionate - he showed traits that belonged to both Carlisle and Esme, despite being biologically related to either.
She made a silent vow to Elizabeth Mason, that she would love and protect her son as if he was truly her own.
Edward kissed her cheek before pulling away. "What makes me think that, if you could, you'd be crying right now?" He asked.
Esme swatted his shoulder affectionately, knowing that would be the case herself. "You know I am an emotional woman, Edward!" She chided softly.
His gaze warmed as he looked at her. "I know, Esme, and it is one of your strongest traits."
She rested a hand on his forearm, giving it a small squeeze. "Will you play for me, for a little while?" She requested.
Edward smile lit his eyes. "It would be my pleassure." He said, and started to strum away at the keys with such beautiful ease that it made Esme's own smile widen.
The moment between them was so special, that even when Carlisle returned home, he hovered outside the room for a few moments. Deciding that his greeting could wait, he silently retreated to his office, a smile on his face as Edward's music filled the house.
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There we go; Edward opening up :) and of course, some adorable Esme and Carlisle fluff at the start
- E x