The Twilight Saga belongs to Stephenie Meyer, Summit Entertainment and anyone else who may legally claim ownership. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 13: Assurance
Bella realized Edward had become completely unhinged. She had known he wouldn't like her relationship with Carlisle. She understood quite well Edward's unchanging, archaic views on romantic relationships. Although she and Carlisle had not yet fully consummated their relationship, she knew if Edward became aware of their intimate moments, he would be enraged, but she had never imagined this. She watched in horror as Edward used increasing force on Carlisle's throat.
She could see that Carlisle wasn't moving at all. Not even to fend Edward off.
She heard a sickening rending sound. She looked into Carlisle's beautiful eyes and saw his love for her shining through the knowledge he was about to die by his son's hand.
"Edward!" Bella cried in desperation. Edward looked exceedingly self-satisfied when Bella called out his name.
Edward looked exceedingly self-satisfied when Bella called out his name.
"Edward, stop! No, Edward, don't!" She was utterly terrified.
The smug expression on Edward's face was replaced with one of confusion.
Everyone focused on Bella's stricken face as her horror managed to intensify. She broke out into a panicked sweat, and tears ran freely down her cheeks. After only a moment her bloodcurdling scream filled the air. "Carlisle!"
Bella shot to her feet. Her eyes snapped to Edward. The look in them was absolutely murderous. It was enough to make Edward put his hands up in front of himself, palms forward in obvious surrender. Before she could speak, or otherwise engage Edward, she caught a movement in her peripheral vision. It was Carlisle. He had risen to stand beside her. She saw concern swimming in the honeyed depths of his beloved eyes. She also saw that he was in perfect health. She shook her head and looked around the room. Her terror and rage were replaced with disorientation. Her voice was hoarse from her screams. "What?"
Carlisle's calm voice was melodic and soothing. "You had a nightmare."
"I asked you to go shopping with me and you fell asleep while I was getting ready," Alice added.
"I think you went to sleep to escape the shopping." Emmett gave an exaggerated shudder and guffawed. "Shopping with Alice, that's a nightmare."
Edward spoke sadly. "Your nightmare was, apparently, about me, not Alice."
Bella's eyes flashed back in his direction. "What makes you say that?"
"You were very scared and you were yelling at me to stop like I was hurting someone. Who was I hurting? Did you dream that I was hurting you?" His voice was quiet and morose. "I would never hurt you on purpose."
Bella wished he would just leave it alone. "You weren't attacking me in my dream, Edward."
"Was it Jacob? Did you think I was hurting Jacob?" Edward asked miserably.
"I, uh, it was just a silly dream." She looked around the room at all the eyes trained on her. She blushed profusely. "Okay. I'm going for a walk." All eyes followed her as she headed out to the boardwalk.
Emmett looked at Edward. "You bring too much drama, Bro." He shook his head. Then a grin spread across his face. "I know, guys' night hunting! Are you with me?"
Edward's tone was sullen. "Yeah."
Jasper chuckled. "I'm in. Carlisle?"
"Not this time, I have paperwork I have to do." He sounded regretful.
Jasper knew better and struggled to keep Carlisle's real reason for declining to join them from his thoughts. He caught Carlisle's eye and grinned as he focused his mind on the coming hunt. "Your loss."
Carlisle shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips as the guys headed toward the door. Emmett, Edward, and Jasper were already beginning to horseplay, trying to best each other. Edward had no idea what Carlisle was really thinking. Hiding his thoughts from Edward was almost effortless for Carlisle. After all their years together he was able to think as he wished. If he wanted to keep his thoughts private, he simply covered his real thoughts with a layer of superficial thoughts that Edward would follow. Carlisle turned as Esme spoke to the hunting party.
"Go in the opposite direction of Bella, please. I don't want you to startle her after her nightmare."
They voiced their assent and ran in the opposite direction.
Alice sat by Rosalie. "So, Rose-"
"No, I wasn't even your first choice."
"We can stop at the auto parts store." Alice smiled innocently.
Rosalie huffed. "I have been meaning to-"
"I knew you'd come!" Alice grabbed Rosalie's hand and pulled her to her car for an evening shopping trip.
When they were all away, Esme approached Carlisle. He hadn't moved from where he had stood by Bella. "They're all gone, go to her."
He regarded his longtime friend with mild trepidation. "Pardon, me?"
"Go to Bella while you have a chance. There may not be another this weekend. In the gazebo, you'll be too far away for me to hear anything you might…" She gave him a mischievous grin. "Say."
Carlisle's whisper was barely audible. "You know?"
"I know." Esme kissed his cheek. "And I think it's wonderful!"
He smiled. "Did Alice or Jasper tell you?"
"Neither. I'm not blind, and you'd have to be blind not to see."
Carlisle's smile faded. "Rose?"
"I think Emmett might suspect, but I'm sure Rose doesn't. Even if she did, she would deny it to herself. I'll help with Edward and Rose when the time comes." Her face became stern. "Now, go to her, you're wasting time."
A brilliant smile graced Carlisle's face. He clasped Esme's hands. "Thank you."
Esme laughed. "Go."
Without another word, he moved at vampiric speed towards the boardwalk.
Bella was standing still, gazing at the river. Carlisle approached her silently and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.
She turned in his arms, he pulled her closer and she reciprocated his embrace. She began to stand on her toes. She stopped when he bent down to accommodate her. She buried her face in his neck. She inhaled, automatically ignoring the surface vampiric aura, the scent of fresh linen, man, and something uniquely Carlisle overwhelmed her. When she released her breath, she smiled against his skin. He smelled of love and contentment; safety and comfort; peace and tranquility; joy and desire. Home.
After several minutes of their tranquil, loving embrace, Carlisle could tell Bella's muscles were getting tired from remaining in one position for so long. "Come?" He whispered in her ear.
She nodded and smiled.
He led her to one of the comfortable couches in the gazebo and they settled together, wrapped in each other's arms. For several long minutes, they remained in silence, enjoying the beauty and sounds of nature, satisfied just to sit together.
It was Carlisle who eventually broke the quietude. His voice was very soft. "Do you want to talk about your nightmare?"
Bella blushed. "What did I say?"
"It was obvious that you were terrified. Although, you didn't say anything that would give away any details of your dream, except your pleas for Edward to stop whatever he was doing. Then, you awoke, calling my name."
"Screaming your name, you mean. It did wake me up, so I know it was a scream."
Bella's embarrassment was practically palpable. She nervously fingered the cuff of Carlisle's sleeve. He could sense the tension returning to her as she thought of her dream. When she spoke, her voice was soft. "Edward was trying to kill you." She paused as Carlisle pulled her closer to his body and held her securely. He waited for her to elaborate. "Edward, he promised to stop trying to push for more than friendship with me, but I'm afraid that he may still hope for more." She hesitated as she searched for the right words. "I don't know... I'm afraid of how he is going to react to our relationship." Her voice became serious and deliberate. "You and I, this isn't just a crush or a passing romance. I love you. In more ways, than I knew existed. You are the only one I will ever want for all the days and nights of my eternity. I… I can't lose you, Carlisle."
Bella could hear all the love and adoration in Carlisle's voice. "Isabella, you are the only woman I want to come home to; the only one I ever want to wake up with. I want to go places with you, discover things with you, do things with you." His voice lowered, his breath stirred the hair by her ear. "Everything I could ever want, I only want if you are with me."
Her breath hitched with the emotions his words invoked.
"Isabella, you are the one I have dreamt of for centuries; the one I can't imagine a life, an eternity, without. You, Isabella, only you. You won't lose me."
"I know it was a nightmare, but it seemed so real." Her voice was agonized. "Carlisle, you didn't defend yourself. You stood there and let Edward hurt you. You looked at me and said good-bye with your eyes as you let Edward rip your head from your body. He was going to burn you." She took a steadying breath. "It wasn't real. I know that. It's just that you are so kind, so compassionate, so loving, so very good. I can easily imagine it happening. If Edward attacked you, if it came down to your life or his; I can see you allowing him to kill you. Please tell me I'm wrong. Would you defend yourself? Would you save yourself, for me?"
"It was a nightmare, my dear. Edward will not kill me."
"But, if he tries to hurt you, if anyone tries to hurt you, promise me that you will defend yourself."
Carlisle's voice was grim. "You know me too well. It would pain me to do harm to anyone, human, vampire or otherwise. I don't condone violence; it's not who I am." He stressed his next words. "There is no question that I would do anything I had to in order to protect you. I would defend you with my life. No thought is needed, that is a given. I could never allow harm to come to you."
Bella's voice was quiet and patient. "You must realize that the thing that would harm me the very most is losing you."
She held her breath as Carlisle paused to form his promise carefully. He shook his head and finally answered her, his voice firm. "If it should become absolutely necessary, yes, I will defend myself for you, even from Edward. I will fight for our eternity together. For you. I won't let anyone or anything separate us."
"Promise me, Carlisle."
He smiled indulgently. "I just did. However, I will do so again, if you wish it." He slid gracefully to his knees before her, taking her hand in his. When their eyes met, his were serious and they burned with the intensity of his oath. When he spoke, his voice was formal and it resonated with honesty. "By my troth, Isabella, I shall protect you, and for you alone, I shall protect myself as well, at all costs and with all measures. This I will do, henceforth and for all eternity." He bowed his head and kissed her hand. His hair gleamed gold in a shaft of light from the setting sun as she leaned down and placed a kiss on his bent head.
She allowed herself to fall to her knees between Carlisle and the couch. They were pressed together knees to chest. She linked her hands behind his neck and looked up into his face. Her eyes sparkled. "Really, Carlisle, all you had to say was, I promise."
He laughed with her and then captured her lips in a brief affectionate kiss. In one smooth motion, Carlisle was sitting on the couch with Bella ensconced in his arms.
After a while, Bella spoke. "I wish we could just tell Edward about us."
"You want to get it over with?"
"No, not really. What I want is to be able to touch you, to hold your hand. I don't want to have to avert my eyes when I feel the need to look into yours. I want to be able to sit close to you. I just don't want to have to hide."
"Truthfully, neither do I."
"But, we shouldn't bet against Alice, right?"
"So I've been told. Alice was certain that we needed to hide our relationship from Edward."
"For now. She said we needed to hide for now."
"For now." Carlisle agreed.
Silence fell between them as they leaned into each other, once again enjoying the bliss of each other's presence and the quiet sounds of the forest and river as twilight approached.
Bella ignored the distant sounds in the Cullen home as she sat on the balcony of her room enjoying the rare morning sun. She was taking advantage not only of the sunshine but of Edward's presence. He was conveniently distracting the others, giving her privacy to proofread her secret project one last time. She sipped her iced coffee absently, all her attention focused on the screen of her MacBook.
Since she and Carlisle had attended the fundraiser together, she had been having tea with Lille Wilson every week. It was during one of their discussions that Lillie had told Bella of an opportunity she thought Bella would appreciate. It hadn't taken much to set it in motion. Her diploma was the only preliminary preparation available to her, she had to take any advantage she could get. Unbeknownst to anyone, she received her high school diploma from the Washington State Virtual Academy. Everyone still believed that she would have to go back school for the fall term to get her diploma, she was glad that she wouldn't.
She wanted a doctor to look over her finished project before she presented it the next day. She longed to show it to Carlisle, but she couldn't bear for him to see it at this stage. What if she failed? When she told Carlisle, she wanted to have already succeeded.
During their last visit, Lillie had suggested Bella show it to her husband, Dr. Lee Wilson. Last time they had planned to meet, Dr. Wilson had been called away. She didn't think she would have another chance for him to look at it before her presentation until Lillie called her that morning. Dr. Wilson found himself free for an early brunch, so she was meeting them in Seattle. Then, if he thought it was good enough, she would present it the next day. This was a once in a lifetime chance for her. She wanted so badly to succeed. She felt a desperate need to better herself, to be worthy of Carlisle. If her project was good enough, if she was chosen, this was something she could feel good about. She smiled to herself as she imagined succeeding. She saw herself, after a month or two of experience, revealing everything to Carlisle.
She heard an unexpected sound and felt a cold wind. She shrieked, stood and whirled.
She found herself face to face with Edward. He had jumped onto her balcony. She slammed her MacBook closed, which she managed to drop in the process. "I swear to God if you made me lose all my wor-"
She looked into her room to see six agitated vampires who had all responded to her shriek. Several of them spoke at the same time.
"What happened?"
"What's wrong?"
"Edward, why are you up here?"
It was Carlisle's calm voice that she picked out of the din. "Isabella?"
She smiled at Carlisle then glanced at all the others. "Oh for heaven's sake!" Bella slipped her feet into a pair of low-heeled white pumps. "I'm off. I'm having brunch in Seattle with the Wilsons." She bent over and picked up her MacBook, slipping it into a leather case that coordinated with her shoes and purse.
"Bella, I love your outfit!" Alice smiled proudly as she took in Bella's ensemble: a smart sleeveless dress, accessorized with a simple white silk scarf. "Country Club?"
"Yeah, Sand Point," Bella answered absently as she was slipping folders into her laptop case.
When Alice began to talk about clothes, the room had emptied except for Carlisle and Edward, who was still perched on the balcony.
Alice smiled in approval. "Your French twist is perfect. Let me see your makeup."
"I'm not wearing any."
Alice tsked but said nothing more about make-up. "Take the car, Bella. Carlisle will be home all day. We will all be home. The sun isn't going anywhere today."
"Okay." Clearly preoccupied, Bella removed her swan keychain from her purse. The Mercedes key dangled prominently among her other keys. Bella glanced at the clock and made an alarmed noise. "I'm late."
Carlisle's soft, exceptionally appealing voice caught Bella's full attention. "Isabella."
She stopped inches from him and looked into his unfathomable golden eyes. "Carlisle."
She took a step back, fighting the pull to be near him. Resisting the overwhelming desire to kiss him good-bye.
"Drive safely." His lips turned up in a private smile that she returned.
"I will." She left the room in a rush, Carlisle smiling after her.
Edward searched Carlisle's thoughts, but all he could find was a sincere concern for Bella's safety. He turned his attention to Alice's thoughts. She was designing business suits in her mind. He decided to try the direct approach. He couldn't keep his irritation out of his voice. "Bella has a key to your car, Carlisle?"
Obviously distracted, Carlisle hummed in affirmation.
Edward's voice was bordering on accusatory "You would never even let me drive it, and Bella has a key?"
Carlisle looked at Edward, his thoughts mirroring his words. "Her truck is unreliable."
Alice grabbed Edward's hand and then Carlisle's. "Come on, guys, let's go be Super Glue."
"Alice?" Carlisle chuckled at her absurdity.
"We're going to mend and bond."
The early afternoon sun was still high. The Cullens were staying in. Rosalie was working in the garage and Alice was reorganizing her closet. Everyone else was in the sitting room. Jasper and Emmett were playing a war-themed video game on the floor, while Esme sat by the window, drawing. Carlisle and Bella were sitting a respectable distance from each other on the sofa, reading. Edward was seated on the sofa adjacent, staring at Bella. It was distracting her from her book. She snapped her book closed and looked at him.
"What?"
Edward's voice was puzzled. He'd obviously been trying to figure something out. "Why do you never wear jeans anymore?"
Bella was shocked speechless for a moment. "Wh- what?" When she got home from her lunch with the Wilsons, she had changed into a comfortable floral Burberry sundress with a flowing knee length skirt.
"You used to wear jeans a lot. Now you're wearing skirts more often."
"Edward-" Bella frowned. "Stop thinking about my clothes. It's creepy." She reopened her book, effectively dismissing him.
He was undeterred. "If you're letting Alice choose everything you wear-"
Alice breezed into the room and cut across Edward. "She is not. If her style is different, it's all her own doing."
Edward's brow creased. "She used to wear jeans more when we together."
Alice smirked. "Maybe you didn't make her feel like a woman, Edward."
He glared at Alice. "Who is making her feel like a woman now?" He turned his attention to Bella. "Are you seeing someone?"
Bella looked up from her book slowly. She had to force herself not to look at Carlisle. "What do you mean?" She looked at Alice. "I'm seeing Alice right now."
Emmett whipped around and joined the conversation. "Hot." His eyes got a faraway look. "Seriously, hot."
Edward sent Emmett a scathing look. Jasper ducked his head and hid his face with his hair. Carlisle's eyes sparkled with silent mirth as he continued to read.
Bella's voice was scandalized. "Carlisle!"
He looked up from his book. His casual hairstyle had fallen over one of his wide eyes. He was the picture of a little boy with his hand caught in the cookie jar. "No, I-"
"I don't want to hear it." Bella stood, tossed her book on the sofa and stormed out.
Carlisle stared after her for a minute then followed her.
Rosalie came in from the garage and looked around at the others. "What was that?"
Alice laughed. "Your husband made a crude insinuation involving me and Bella in a compromising situation. I think Bella was offended that Carlisle found it amusing."
"Carlisle found it amusing." Jasper smiled and added helpfully, "I wouldn't say Emmett's only emotion was amusement."
"Oh?" Alice snapped. "And exactly what did you find it?"
"Amusing, darlin'. It was funny, that's it."
The room echoed with the slap Rosalie administered to the back of Emmett's head.
Edward spoke. "Why was Bella offended by Carlisle and not anyone else?"
Jasper smiled. "Well now, we all expect that from Emmett. She couldn't see me laughing, and you're such a prude your reaction wasn't deserving of her consternation. Carlisle was the obvious choice for her ire."
Alice turned to Edward. "And you, stop looking at Bella's clothes or I'll rip your eyes out and burn them."
The room fell silent as they all listened to hear what Bella would say to Carlisle. They couldn't hear them scheming about giving Emmett his comeuppance. No one dared follow to see where they had gone. Silence reigned and was eventually rewarded as they heard Carlisle and Bella returning. They were walking slowly and talking quietly.
"Was it in The New England Journal of Medicine?"
"No, Johns Hopkins University Press, in Nineteen ninety-nine."
"You were a practicing physician in the Eighteen hundreds, why didn't you do a paper?"
Rosalie huffed. "They're just talking again. They're always talking." Her beautiful brows furrowed in annoyance. "It's interminable."
Edward looked at her questioningly.
"As soon as Carlisle gets home from the hospital they start. Talking about his day, his work, her day, and if they aren't talking, they're reading together."
"It's been going on forever." Emmett agreed.
"They're so boring. She was mad when she left. The least she could do is yell at him. But no, they are way too-"
Edward shushed Emmett.
"Isabella." Carlisle's voice was teasingly shocked. "What exactly are you suggesting?"
"Well, you were practicing."
"Are you asking if I treated Female Hysteria personally?"
"Did you?"
There was a pregnant pause. "Let's just say that if I did, I had no need for an electrical device."
Edward's expression made it clear that he was scandalized.
"Shall I show you how I did it?"
"Bella's voice sounded nervous. "Um, sure."
They had stopped very close to the closed door of the living room.
Carlisle's voice was methodical. "Now, just lift your skirt." There was a moment of silence. "A little higher. That's good hold it there. Just move these to the side…"
Emmett and Edward raced to the door. Emmett was trying to open it, and Edward was trying to hold it closed and stop him.
Carlisle's voice was still professional. "How does that feel?"
"Interesting... Oh!"
"Yes, that's it. Lift your leg and put your foot on my shoulder-"
Carlisle's sentence was cut off as the living room door splintered. Edward and Emmett fell unceremoniously onto the floor at their feet. Carlisle and Bella were leaning against the wall, with more than a yard separating them, arms folded across their respective chests. They both had smug looks on their faces.
Carlisle shook his head and chuckled.
"Sometimes, Emmett, you're just too easy."
"At least he understood the medical references," Bella said primly.
Alice smirked. "No, he didn't. You only had him at 'lift your skirt.'"
Bella and Carlisle walked wordlessly past a shocked Edward.
Jasper laughed. "You may have been aimin' for Emmett, but you got two for one."
Carlisle and Bella joined in his laughter.
"Honestly, Emmett," Alice said through her giggles. "What did you and Edward imagine Carlisle was doing right outside the door with all of us in here listening?"
"Come on, Alice." Bella took her hand and led her toward the door. "I need to see you."
Emmett guffawed. "Okay, you got me." He looked at Carlisle. "Good one, man. I didn't know you had it in you."
Carlisle grinned at Bella. "I can't take the credit."
Emmett addressed Bella with mock menace. "Ooo, I'm gonna get you good, little girl!"
Bella stopped and looked at Emmett. "This was supposed to deter you not encourage you!"
Carlisle's eyes sparkled with suppressed laughter. Bella turned to him. "You knew it wouldn't deter him!"
Carlisle's shoulders shook as he tried not to laugh.
"Alice," Bella said pointedly.
Alice's face went blank. Then she smiled. "Bella, that's just evil." Her eyes lit up. "And it will work too." She followed Bella out the door.
The laughter on Carlisle, Jasper and Emmett's faces was replaced with genuine concern.
Esme smiled. "Come over here, Edward, I'll show you the plans I drew up for your Rochester house now."
Edward went to Esme, a contemplative look on his face.
"Carlisle!" Bella walked excitedly into the living and knelt on the love seat beside Carlisle, facing him. She handed him a section of the newspaper.
Alice followed. She did not look pleased. "I was trying to show you the Nordstrom Sunday Ad."
Carlisle and Bella's smiles were brilliant as they looked at the paper together. After Bella's hurried entrance everyone was watching. They saw the smile leave Bella's face and her excited posture slump when her eyes reached the bottom of the page. Carlisle too, visibly deflated as he looked where she was pointing. When he spoke to Bella he answered their unasked question. "It closes today."
Bella smiled weakly. "Oh well."
"Bella, you've always loved that artist," Edward said. Carlisle had allowed Edward to see the newspaper in his head so that he would assume Carlisle was allowing him to see all of his thoughts. "Carlisle, take her. I'll visit again soon, and this visit has been much longer than we had planned, anyway.
Bella looked at Edward, confusion in her eyes.
"Bella, you don't have to miss this on my account, and I know Carlisle has wanted to see some of these works in person for a long time. He hasn't had the opportunity. I don't want either of you to miss it because of me."
Carlisle formed his thought carefully so that it only included excitement about the museum. Thank you, Edward.
Alice sounded dejected. "Come on, Bella, I guess we'll be getting you ready for the museum."
Carlisle's voice was inviting. "You could come with us, Alice."
"Me in a museum? No thanks, Carlisle."
"You could ride with us and shop while we're at the exhibit."
"Okay! Come on, Bella, we don't have much time!"
Carlisle stood, he offered Bella his hand and helped her up from the love seat. Alice danced over to her, took her other hand and pulled her toward the stairs. "Come on, Carlisle, you need to get ready too."
Carlisle chuckled shaking his head. "I was on the way, Alice, I just thought I'd walk instead of bouncing."
When they returned home, they found only Jasper in the house. Alice flew to him while Bella and Carlisle followed hand in hand, still deep in discussion about all they had seen at the museum.
"Help me, Jasper. They've been like this the whole way home." Alice pouted.
Jasper looked at Carlisle. "Billiards, Carlisle, while Alice tends to her shopping?"
"Certainly." Carlisle looked at Bella. "We use billiards as an exercise in control. We have to be very gentle while playing. The game won't stand up to any supernatural strength. Would you accompany us? I'll teach you to play if you'd like."
"Okay. Emmett tried to teach me once, but he didn't get any farther than the terminology." Bella smiled affectionately. "He twisted the game's terminology into innuendos."
The three of them headed toward the game room.
Carlisle glanced at Jasper. "Where is everyone, Jasper?"
"They've all taken Edward for a hunt before he leaves."
Carlisle smiled. He put his arm around Bella and drew her to his side as they walked.
Alice followed. "Oh! I have a much better idea. I'll come too, and the winner brings all the bags in, and helps me organize everything after the game." Alice beamed.
"Don't you mean loser, Alice?" Bella asked.
"Nope! And I'll bet you a total makeover that Carlisle wins."
"What?"
"If Carlisle wins, I get to give you a total makeover."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, darlin'," Jasper drawled.
"It's not you, Jazz. You know that no one has more restraint or better control than Carlisle. And I bought some things I really want Bella to try on, make-up, clothes, shoes, everything. She'll be stunning."
Carlisle looked into Bella's eyes. "Bella is already stunning."
The intensity of his gaze made Bella blush. He smiled adoringly at her.
Alice's voice interrupted them. "The bet, Bella?"
Carlisle shook his head. "I'm starting to worry about the incessant gambling in this house."
"And if Jasper wins?" Bella asked suspiciously.
"What do you want?"
"No makeovers for a month." At the look on Alice's face, Bella hastened to add to her request. "You can still help me choose outfits, just no complete day-long makeovers for a month."
"You're on!"
After the first win, the bet escalated. It was now for two out of three games. Carlisle was preparing his opening break shot for the third game. He was carefully positioning his cue.
Bella needed Carlisle to lose this game.
She leaned in, her voice a breathy whisper as she spoke suggestively against Carlisle's ear."Stop teasing, Dr. Cullen, use your shaft and stroke."
The hunting party was nearing the house. Even Edward was pleased, he'd been complaining about the lack of tasty game in New York. Everyone was in good spirits when a strange sound caused them to stop.
"Is that an M-60 firing?" Edward asked.
They ran.
"Who would fire a machine gun at the house?" Esme's voice was fearful.
They continued to run, even as the distinct sound of laughter reached their ears.
They followed it to the game room. The sight that greeted them left them all momentarily speechless. The game room walls were covered with round indentations that had deep cracks extending outward from them. Most of the wooden furniture had been hit and was dented, cracked, and in some cases completely shattered. To the side of the Billiards table, on the equally dented hardwood floor, there was a pile of bodies. They looked like an enthusiastic game of Twister gone horribly wrong, and they were laughing uncontrollably.
Edward's eyes widened as he noticed Bella on the bottom of the pile, wrapped entirely by, and held securely to Carlisle's body. Jasper and Alice were on top of them, completing and impenetrable vampiric shield around Bella.
Edward's voice was accusatory. "Bella, are you all right?"
She was breathless and her words were broken by her laughter. "I'm just perfect, Edward. Thank you for asking."
The laughter of all four escalated.
Esme stood, arms akimbo. "Jasper, Alice, I'm ashamed of you."
They scrambled to their feet. Alice's voice was unusually high as she laughed and hiccupped through her defense. "It was Bella and Carlisle."
Esme fought a smile. She loved that Carlisle was able to let go with Bella, but her voice was still sharp. "I want this room perfect by tomorrow night."
Carlisle released Bella and stood gracefully. He extended his hands to her. She smiled at him and placed her hands in his allowing him to help her to her feet. "Of course, Esme." He replied smoothly.
Edward looked puzzled and suspicious. "What happened here?"
Carlisle smiled widely as Bella shook with silent laughter. He fought the overwhelming urge to pull her to him and kiss her head.
Jasper and Alice lost it and were laughing uproariously again.
Edward examined their thoughts, but all he could see was the aftermath, not whatever caused it. He scowled.
"Carlisle?"
Carlisle covered his mouth with his curled hand, as if to cover a cough, and sobered his expression; although, his amusement still shone in his eyes. "It was nothing. I used a bit too much force on my opening break shot."
Rosalie's voice was mildly amused. "You are all silly. Come on, Edward, Emmett and I will run with you to the state line."
They all bid farewell to Edward, knowing that he planned to visit again in two weeks.
AN:
AN to this chapter: I know nothing about Billiards.
I know nothing about Billiards.
Definitions from Billiard World dot com Glossary
"OPENING BREAK SHOT. (General) The first shot of a game.
CUE. (General) Tapered device, usually wooden, used to strike the cue ball to execute carom or pocket billiard shots.
SHAFT. (General) The thinner part of a cue, on which the cue tip is attached. On a two-piece cue, the shaft extends from the cue tip to the joint.
STROKE. (General) The movement of the cue as a shot is executed."
