Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephanie Myer.
Hope you enjoy.
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As sad as she was to leave behind the house in which they had spent their honeymoon, Esme was excited to return home. Her life would be so different now; Carlisle was her husband, and would introduce himself as such wherever they went and whoever they met. She was excited to take on the roles than came with being a wife, and attending parties and movies one day on Carlisle's arm. Most of all, she was excited to get back to Edward, and start their lives as a family.
At the start of the year, her life had been so dark. She had been alone and scared, running from someone who had promised in front of the eyes of the church and their witnesses to love and protect her. Charles had done no such thing. He hadn't liked the fire that burned inside her, so he had blown it out, leaving nothing behind. She had lost who she was, lost her sense of adventure and curiosity, her love of art and learning new things. She hadn't been able to keep up her reading, or started to socalise at events.
Now, a few months later, it still seemed surreal to her that she had Carlisle in her life, and the fact she was now married to him made it all the more unbelievably wonderful. The amount of nights she had spent wishing for her knight in shining armour to come and save her, just like they always did in her beloved novels, and he always had the same features; golden hair, topaz eyes, and the most handsome face that she could never forget. He was here now, with her, and it was so much better than what her imagination had ever dreamt off.
Carlisle hadn't burned out her flame; he encouraged it. Any idea she had, he believed in. Anything she wanted to know, he told her. She wanted to see the world, and she knew that Carlisle wanted to be the one to do that with her. Her flame was back inside her, burning brighter than ever before, and she knew that now it was fuelled by Carlisle's love for her.
But, Edward was also a huge part in what made her so happy. She had lost her chance at becoming a mother, and although she would always grieve and miss her baby boy, the fact that she now had Edward brought her great comfort and joy. He was the one who sat with her on the long nights while Carlisle worked. He had spent days after days with her in the house with old clothes, helping her adjust to the scent of humans so she would be ready. Edward's sarcasm and humorous comments made her laugh, and she was proud to think that now, she understood him better than most people, apart from Carlisle.
Carlisle snuck up behind her, using her moment of reflection to his advantage, and he slipped his arms around her waist and gently eased her back to him. The first time he had done this, she had tensed, plagued by the memories of her past. Now, her mind didn't go back to those times. It was focused on the present, on Carlisle, and she knew she was always going to be safe with him.
So, she leaned into him, turning her head to nuzzle into his neck as she breathed in his familiar, comforting scent.
Carlisle smiled at her. In moments like this, he couldn't help but compare her to the shy, broken-spirited woman who had woken up from the Change afraid to be touched. Back then, he couldn't stand too near to her in fear that it would cause her to freeze and panic. Now, however, she searched for his touch, longed for it just as much as he ached for hers whenever he wasn't with her.
"Are you ready to go home, my love?" He asked her softly, his hand brushing the locks of hair away which had escaped from her rather messy bun.
She smiled. Home. "Our son will be waiting."
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"Edward!" Esme cried in delight when her eyes laid upon the bronze-haired vampire.
Leaning against the front porch of their Atlanta home, Edward straightened up and uncrossed his folded arms as she approached. He instantly opened them to embrace Esme, holding her to him as his hands rubbed the backs of her shoulders. Carlisle, who had never witnessed such an affectionate side of Edward before, smiled at the sight of the two of them.
You really love her, Carlisle thought to him with pride.
Edward looked at him and the glimmer in his golden eyes showed that Carlisle had been correct in his statement. Before Esme, the two of them had been close companions, both facing their demons alone but finding reassurance in having company if they ever needed it. Esme's Change had altered their whole way of life; she had made them a family.
"I missed you too," Edward said, replying to Esme's thoughts. "Both of you." His voice was warmed by the adoration he felt for the two vampires stood before him. When he had first Changed, he had convinced himself he didn't need Carlisle, that he could be independent without needing advice or guidance. Over the years, he had come to accept and appreciate Carlisle as a father figure that he hadn't realised he needed, and his heart had willingly opened to Esme. He had never allowed himself to think of how badly he had wanted another mother before she'd entered his life.
Carlisle patted him on the shoulder, a fatherly action of which he had grown so used to now that it was natural for both of them. "I hope the house is in a presentable state." He joked.
Edward rolled his eyes and gave them his crooked grin. "Oh, yes, it's a complete mess inside. I'm been hosting parties all week that have been the talk of the town." Although the sarcasm was very much evident in his tone, there was also soft teasing to it as he went along with the bantering.
Esme smiled at him fondly. "We know you better than that, Edward."
"I know," He grinned. "Honestly, the house is still standing and all the furniture is intact. I know better than to inflict your wrath upon me, Esme."
She shoved him gently at that. "I'm not that bad!"
Carlisle laughed, his arm sliding around her waist so he could squeeze her hip affectionately. "Perhaps, we should put our bags inside and go hunting? Unpacking can wait until later."
Esme practically glowed with happiness at the idea of the three of them hunting together again, as a family, and Edward dipped his head. "Sounds perfect," He agreed.
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Whether it was Esme's carefree laughter or Edward's humorous comments, Carlisle was not sure, but he couldn't remember a hunt where he had felt this content before. The three of them worked together so well, as if their dynamics together were forged decades ago, rather than months. They worked together as clockwork, and he realised that in that moment, as long as he had the two of them by his side, he could face anything.
After a successful hunt, they returned home and the newly-weds went upstairs to unpack. Esme let out a surprised squeal as she was suddenly picked up by her husband.
"Carlisle, you did this downstairs." She reminded him, nuzzling his jawline to show that she had no objection to the repeat of the action. Carlisle was a stickler for tradition, and with this one, she was more than happy to comply.
"I know, my love." He said, carrying her into the room that had formerly just been his. Although they would never sleep, they would now share this space, a room in the house that was private for just the two of them. "But, I wanted to."
She laughed as he placed her down by the bed and leaned down to kiss her. "Carlisle," She said as they pulled away, her hands on his chest. "We're supposed to be unpacking."
"I'm aware," He admitted, but showed no desire to go get the bags. "Forgive me, Esme, but I cannot keep my hands off you. I don't want to keep my hands off you."
She smiled. "There are worse things in the world, I suppose." She played with the top button of his shirt. "But, we talked about this."
He sighed, resting his forehead against hers, seeking any kind of physical contact with his wife that he could possibly get. He had long since discovered that vampires felt everything heightened in comparison to humans, and the desire he felt for his wife was no exception to this.
During the hunt, he had found himself watching her more than concentrating on the prey. His eyes had taken the time to appreciate the silver glow to her skin from the moonlight, making it contrast with the boldness of her hair. Her golden eyes had found his from across the forest, shining with so much love and happiness that it caused him to smile widely. The thing that caught his eye the most was her wedding ring as it caught the light, shining like a star on her finger. His own wedding band gleamed, and he felt its presence like a comforting warmth.
Her beauty captivated him, and the reminder that she was his wife, for all of eternity, made it impossible for him to not want to kiss her.
"It's just a kiss, Esme." He told her gently, his fingers brushing over her collar bone before his hand cupped the side of her face, his thumb gliding over her cheek.
"Just a kiss?" She repeated disbelievingly, before standing up on her tip-toes to reach his mouth. She nibbled on his bottom lip, causing him to moan. "It's never just a kiss."
That was true, he couldn't deny her of that. Each kiss they shared, whether it be short and sweet or drawn-out and passionate, was a way of them communicating to each other without words. No kiss was ever boring; they were either promises, or declarations.
"Now who can't play fair?" He asked, with no protest whatsoever. As far as he was concerned, Esme could do with him what she pleased. He'd never be able to say no to her in this sort of situation. Three hundred years of self control could not have prepared him for Esme.
She giggled, but the next person to speak was not either of those two. "Don't worry, I'll leave." Edward declared good-naturedly as he was bombarded with thoughts from both of them. "I understand, but I'd rather not stay here and have to listen."
"Edward-" Esme began, instantly feeling guilty. They had agreed on their honeymoon that they would try to keep intimate moments between them to when they were alone, and thoughts of such moments non-existent when Edward was in earshot, but they had clearly both been foolish in thinking that it was possible for them to resist each other. As guilty as she felt, she hoped it would always be that way for them.
There was a chuckle from downstairs, and the ruffling of material as Edward shrugged a jacket on. "Honestly, Esme, it's fine. I'm happy for you both." He reassured her, and they could hear him open the front door. "I won't be gone long, and I won't go far, but I know you two want and deserve privacy." With that, he was gone, leaving them in an empty house.
Esme bit her lower lip as she looked back up at her husband through her eyelashes. "We really need to work on self-control, Dr Cullen."
It was a combination of the words Dr Cullen rolling over her tongue so seductively and the fact she was biting her lip that caused Carlisle to capture her mouth with his own in a passionate, earth-shattering kiss. Esme gasped in surprise, gaining him easily access to explore her mouth with his tongue as her hands tightened on his shirt, clinging to him.
"Not tonight," He conditioned against her lips, as his hands roamed over her back and came to rest on her hips. "Tonight, I'm going to make love to my wife, on our married bed." He was not a selfish person, and he regarded Edward's feelings with great consideration, but right now, there was no one else in the world with him a part from Esme.
She shivered in anticipation. "Is it another tradition to christen every room of the house?" She wondered out loud, moving to sit on the bed as her husband stood in between her legs so her fingers could work swiftly on his buttons, slowly revealing his delicious chest inch by glorious inch.
He chuckled. "I'm not sure, my love." He said, shrugging the shirt off him and crawling over her, causing her to lie back amongst the pillows as he hovered above her. His next words were slightly muffled as he spoke whilst sucking on her neck, "But, we can make it our tradition."
"Perhaps, we are insatiable after all." Esme's hands explored his broad shoulders, running down his arms to appreciate the currently tensing muscles.
He started kissing her neck, paying close attention to the area just behind her ear, where he knew he would earn a few moans. He was not disappointed. "I much prefer the term 'deeply in love'." He decided, and any response from her was prevented as he crashed his lips back to hers and started showing his wife just how in love with her he was.
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Poor Edward having to adjust to life with two recently married vampires! But in all honesty, in my head, he wouldn't really have been too bothered by it, considering he knows how long Carlisle has waited to find someone like Esme, and how much Esme deserved to be happy. It must be a little hard to listen to such thoughts, so he just decided that removing himself from the situation would be best. After a honeymoon, it's hard to get back to reality!
- E x