A Seacht Déag (17)

A/N: Here we are with another Sunday posting. The weekends are probably gonna be the best bet for the future. I'm getting super close to my cushion, so while I love your vigor for this story I can only do once a week until I have more chapters banked. Thank you so much for all the reviews and kind words. Thank you to whoever nominated this fic for the golden onion awards. Thank you to my prereaders and beta: BitterHarpy, Maplestyle, AGoodWitch, 2 Brown eyes, SassyNoles and Mel C. These ladies are amazeballs! Onto the chapter. Hope you enjoy!

Once Esme led us inside, she wasted no time in bringing out the wine for all of us. We all sat in silence and drank our wine. Knowing that my sister wasn't going to start this on her own, I pinched the skin on the back of her arm. She squeaked and rubbed the spot while glaring at me. I gave her my "mom look" that our mom had taught me so many years ago.

"Rose, dear. I don't mean to throw Bella under the bus here, but she told me that something happened between you and Emmett."

Rose looked unsure, like she wasn't quite certain whether or not she could trust Esme. She nodded and didn't offer much more.

Esme leaned forward and gently took Rose's hand in hers. "A leanbh, I have known Emmett since he was a wee lad in diapers, but you and your sister are part of this family now. If there is something you are worried or scared about—hell even if you just need someone to talk to—then I'm here for you. I'm not going to force you to tell me what happened with Emmett, but I do hope you'll let me try to help."

Even though I tended to mother Rose, she still hadn't had a mom for so long. When she moved to Chicago, she didn't see her mom as much as she would have liked, and then when they got sick, she came around even less. She had avoided the whole situation, and while I knew why, it weighed heavily on her. With Esme, she was offering everything Rose wanted. Esme had a motherly air and warmth, and she had just told Rose that we were family and she was going to be supported no matter what. Rose started crying and even though I wanted to comfort her, Esme was there before I could react. She rose from her seat and wrapped my sister in her arms, rubbing her back and murmuring soothing words into her ear.

When Rose calmed down, I decided to give them some time together. "Esme, is Mr. Cullen here?"

"Yes, dear, he is in his office. Do you remember where it is?"

"Yes, thanks. Rose, is it okay if I give you guys some time alone?"

Rose nodded and I headed downstairs to find Carlisle. I hesitated before I knocked on his door, but I told myself to stop being a wuss and do it. I rapped on the door and waited until I heard his calm voice tell me to come in. Opening the door, I saw him and Eleazar sitting across the desk from each other.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I interrupt anything?"

"No, Bella. Carlisle, I will get back to you when I find out what the issue is."

Eleazar stood from the chair and squeezed my shoulder as he walked past me, giving me a warm smile before he left the room.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, Bella?" He gestured to the chair sitting in front of his desk, and I took the seat, looking at him.

"My sister and Esme are upstairs talking, probably about boys and gossip."

"Not your thing, I take it?" I scrunched my nose and shook my head. He chuckled, smiling, reminding me of his son. I felt a pang because I missed Edward, and that was something new and scary. "I'm glad you came down here; Edward spoke with me, and he advised me he told you some things that we felt you should be aware of."

"Yes, he did. A lot of it made sense in hindsight, and I get why I was left in the dark about your past doctor. I wanted to talk to you about something else, Mr. Cullen."

"Honestly, I think we are past the formalities, Bella. Call me Carlisle."

I struggled to keep my emotions in check and kept my face carefully composed. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from crying. I knew it was a big deal to be invited to be so informal with him. I nodded my head. "I'm just thinking over some things that were said near the end of that first meeting. Did you know then, Carlisle?"

"I don't follow," he said, shaking his head, a perfect look of nonchalance on his face.

"You told me not to let Edward pull any shit or steamroll me, and when I helped Eleazar, you told me to have patience. When you asked me to be your doctor, did you know that Edward and I were going to eventually end up together?"

"Well, I'm no fortune teller, but if you're asking if I had a feeling, yes I did. When you helped Edward after that car accident and then subsequently helped Emmett, Edward asked one of our men to run a background check on you. My son thought he was being so slick, but obviously I heard about it. I intercepted it before it got to Edward, and I was impressed. As you know, I was in need of a doctor. So, when I told Edward that I needed him to pick you up for a business meeting, I knew that he was attracted to you, and when I met you, I saw the way that you two looked at each other. It was very subtle, but in my business I have to be good at reading people. I know my son, and I know how he operates. I knew that he would try to control and dominate you—that's all a by-product of this life we lead. I felt I should warn you. The concern was unfounded though because you don't take his shit."

I smiled, but it fell when I thought of my next question. "It seemed like the other day you weren't happy that we could possibly be a couple. Why?"

"Out of all of the women my son has dated, I could never imagine a better person for him than you, but my reasons were completely selfish and professional. Mixing personal and professional lives makes lines become blurry and dodgy. Edward has assured me that you are it for him, so I am less concerned about it. Don't take offense, Bella; I am fond of you, dear, but there is a professional line that still needs to be maintained."

"You don't need to worry about that with me, sir," I said, trying to make a joke and be serious at the same time.

"I'm not worried. I have watched you in several different environments; you seem to adapt well."

I smiled at him again, because he was right, and it was probably what kept me from killing his son on more than one occasion. "Thank you. For everything. You and Esme have been great from the beginning, and I couldn't ask for a better employer."

He nodded minutely. "Edward told me that you, and possibly Rose, will be staying with him for an undetermined time. If either of you need a break from him or each other, don't hesitate to come over here."

I nodded. "I should probably go check on my sister. Thank you for taking the time to talk to me, Carlisle."

"Anytime, Bella. I think I will actually join you upstairs. Esme warned me to not work all weekend."

We both laughed and he followed me out of the room and upstairs to find Esme and Rose where I had left them. Esme was telling a story about Edward and Emmett. I imagined from the context that they were probably younger when the events she described happened. She and Rose were smiling at each other, and I felt my heart warm at the sight. Carlisle walked up behind Esme, squeezed her shoulders, and kissed her on the temple. Rose and I both exchanged a look. We both wanted love like that, but I couldn't imagine two people who just fit more than Esme and Carlisle.

We were all sitting and talking when I heard the front door open and close. I looked up and saw Edward walk in the room, and I was up and out of my seat in seconds. I threw myself in his arms, hugging him tight. After what had happened on the way over here, I needed to see him. I felt safe with him, and I craved comfort. Since his parents were right there, we shared a chaste kiss, then he pulled back to kiss my forehead. I noticed he looked a little disheveled, but his concern was only for me. "Are you okay, agra?" he asked quietly. I nodded and we walked over to the table, our hands linked.

I was surprised when Emmett walked in the room. He looked worse for wear, and he stopped, waiting by the entrance, not moving much farther. He seemed so unsure of himself, and this was not something I was used to seeing him do. My sister rose from her chair, walked over to him, grabbed his hand, and whispered in his ear. He nodded and followed her when she led him from the room. I looked over at Esme and she nodded, giving me a wink. I was so happy that I had brought Rose to talk to her.

"What happened to you two? You look out of sorts."

"We weren't the only ones at your house when we arrived. There is a pretty good chance you won't be getting that security deposit back when you move out."

"Oh my god. You're both okay though, right? I don't need to dig a bullet out of anyone?" I grabbed his arm and lifted it up, looking to see if I could find a bullet hole on his body.

Edward smiled and grabbed my hand to stop me. "We didn't get hit, a pheata." Esme and Carlisle gave each other knowing looks, and Edward leaned in to kiss my forehead again. "Are you ready to get out of here?"

"What about Rose?"

"She said that she is going to stay at Emmett's. They need some alone time and so do you two," Esme explained.

I threaded my hand with Edward's and smiled. After we said all our goodbyes, I verified with Rose that she did indeed want to stay with Emmett and we moved Rose's clothes to her car, kept mine in Edward's, and then we were on our way back to his house. "Is Caius still a problem?"

"Yeah, Bella, he is. He would never take care of something directly. He sent people. We should have as well, but this was personal. Emmett and I were more than happy to put a bullet between those fucks' eyes."

I looked at him, a little in shock.

"I won't apologize, Bella. Word will get around and they will get the message real fast: you and Rose aren't to be touched. You will join the list that previously just had Alice and my mom on it. The entire family will be out for anyone's blood that tries to hurt you. Can you handle that?" His voice serious. His emotions were clear in his eyes, maybe I had just gotten better at reading him. He wanted me to say yes, that I could handle it. That I wasn't scared and would let him protect me.

"I don't see me actually having a choice. I knew that you would protect me if we were to get in a relationship; I just didn't expect that everyone would be protecting me as well."

We pulled into his garage, and he turned to look at me. He cupped my cheek. "This is just on the off chance that someone gets through me. No one will fucking touch you, unless it's very literally over my dead body."

I shook my head and looked in his eyes. "That's not funny, Edward. As much as you want to protect me, I feel the same way. I can't even think about you getting hurt or killed. It makes me physically ill. I just—"

He pulled my head to his and rested our foreheads together. "Hey, I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. I'm safe and always alert. Come on, agra. Let's go inside." He got out and came around to my side and opened my door. He interlocked our fingers and led me inside. I followed behind him, waiting as he hung his keys on the hook just inside the door from the garage. We trudged up the stairs. While he went to sit down at one of the couches, I wandered into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge.

I stood at the breakfast bar, facing him. "So, what do we do now?" I had to know what was next, where we went from here. I started playing with the water bottle. I could only imagine what had to happen now. I didn't know how to do this.

Edward got up from the couch and came over to me. He stood on the other side of the breakfast bar and took the water bottle out of my hands. He held my hands in his warm and strong grip. "That is for me to figure out with Em, El, my dad and Jazz. Bella, this is not something that you need to worry about, and you don't want to know anyway."

I bowed my head. "I didn't before, but I do now. I will go crazy with you out there, taking care of it, if I don't know what you're doing." I looked up at him, trying to gauge his reaction.

He shook his head, and I knew how this was going to go. Edward and I were both stubborn, but I was on his turf right now, and he had been playing on it a lot longer than I had. I sighed, already so tired of all this. How did people do this their whole life? The constant battle for survival, trying to stay ahead of the enemy, losing people along the way.

"How do you do this, Edward? You have been in this world your entire life. I've only seen the true side of it for less than 48 hours and I'm already tired."

"I've never known anything else. I didn't have almost thirty years to get used to a normal and safe life."

I blew out a heavy breath and locked eyes with him. The adoration I saw in his eyes floored me. Even though he had admitted last night that I was his one, I hadn't reciprocated or told him how I felt. I walked around the breakfast bar and stood in front of him. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I steeled myself to tell him. When he wound his arms around my waist, I smiled. "I never thought that we would get to this point, Edward. I have been attracted to you from the beginning, and I knew that there was more to you than the gruff asshole you always showed me. To look back on it now, it makes sense that you were trying to push me away.

I'm glad you stopped. I have always been independent and took on anything I came across, but this is literally life or death. I'm terrified of what's coming, of losing you or someone in this family, but I know that with you by my side, I can take it on."

"Don't underestimate yourself, Bella. You deal with life or death every day; you bring people back from the brink of death."

I sighed. "But they aren't people I personally know. There's a reason the hospital doesn't allow you to operate on friends and family. Emotions cloud your judgement."

"You saved Dem." He reminded me, but it just drove home more that he wasn't getting the point.

I thread my hands in my hair, bowing my head. "It's not even the same situation. I liked him, sure, but the way I feel about you and your family... I feel like they are an extension of my family. I'm really worried that one day, one of you is going to end up on my table and I have no idea how I'll do it. I wasn't expecting that when I took this job."

"You shouldn't be worrying about this, agra. It just causes more stress." He gripped my chin, forcing me to look up at him.

I was so surprised he was being so calm. Why wasn't he getting it? "How can I not? You sat here the other night and told me that a war is coming. To me that doesn't sound like a positive thing."

Edward cradled my head in his hands and slammed his lips to mine. I knew he was trying to distract me, but at that moment, I didn't care. I pulled at the buttons of Edward's shirt, but I got frustrated and just pulled apart both sides, ripping the buttons off. Edward took the shirt off the rest of the way, and I scraped my nails down his chest, loving the feel of his muscles twitching underneath from my touch. Edward grabbed the hem of my shirt and pulled it off me. I hitched on my tiptoes and Edward pulled me up, flinging me over his shoulder again, causing me to squeal and laugh. He carried me up to his room, intent on relieving my stress.

A/N: So, there you have that. What do you all think is gonna happen next? Let me know what you thought of this chapter and leave a review! See you next weekend lovelies!