New Years
"Are you sure about this?" Esme asked for the dozenth time since we told her that we were staying in for New Year's. "I mean, I know there are some tickets left. You could borrow some clothes-" she suggested, but I smiled as I shook my head.
As fun as going to fancy ball sounded, I knew exactly what I wanted.
Edward and I, together, completely alone, sharing the bottle of champagne that was chilling in the fridge.
I will admit it, I am boring. But Edward was the first to suggest it. We were both tired, emotionally and physically. We both needed a calm day, especially after some more sightseeing in the afternoon hours.
But, it was still lovely of Esme to offer, even though she was already dressed in her beautiful silk gown. Carlisle was bringing the car around. She would have made him wait an hour if she thought she could get us to agree to go.
"Mum, no! It's okay," Edward laughed, wrapping his arm around me as I sat beside him on the sofa. "We're just going to watch the telly. Maybe go outside and watch the fireworks. Then go to bed. You go out and party. It's fine."
"Are you sure?" She asked, once again. This time with a heavy sigh.
"Yes," we said at the same time, laughing.
"We're boring people," Edward said, mirroring my thoughts from earlier. "Besides, it's our first New Year's together. I want to make it special for Bella," he smiled at me, running a finger over my cheek. I smiled at him, happily stupid.
He made me feel like I was floating on cloud nine.
"Okay, well, you two have fun," Esme said finally, kissing the top of each of our heads. I liked the feeling actually. It made me feel like I was a part of her family.
"Don't get too drunk," Edward said to her, trying to keep a straight face.
Esme decided to ignore him. "The number to the hotel we're staying at is on the fridge if you need us. So is our room number. And you know our cell phone's..."
There was a blaring honk of a horn outside. Edward chuckled, rolling his eyes. "Mum, we are not teenagers. We can fend for ourselves. Go have fun. Don't feel guilty either. I know that is what this is. We're going to have our own brand of fun. Now go! Before Dad leaves you."
"Well, at least you know she loves you," I laughed as the front door closed behind Esme. Edward wrapped his arms around me, kissing my forehead lightly.
"A little too much sometimes. This is much better," he hummed as he put his nose in my hair, taking in a deep breath. "A lovely evening alone with my girl."
"I didn't realize I was a girl," I teased him.
"My girl. Always mine," he said, kissing the top of my head. I sighed softly, taking in a deep breath of his musky scent.
Edward ran his fingers underneath my chin and brought my lips up to his, softly. They were wonderfully warm and tasted sugary sweet, delicious against my tongue. He moaned softly as it entered his mouth, his hand sliding down my neck to my shoulder.
"Is it a little odd to be making out in your childhood home?" I asked with quiet amusement as I trailed kisses along his jaw. He moaned in response, his hand falling down my shoulder to my chest. I giggled as squeezed one of my breasts, pulling me closer with his other hand.
"It's a little hot," he muttered. "The other night when we... well, I was kind of drunk, so it didn't really sink in," Edward breathed against my lips. "It's one of those fantasies that I didn't realize I had until you made it come true."
"You know all the right things to say to a girl," I said with a soft laugh as his moist lips traveled up to my ear.
"We should behave, or we'll never make it until midnight," he spoke into my ear softly.
"I don't see a problem with that," I giggled, kissing him again. He laughed as he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me on top of his body as he laid back against the sofa. I sighed contently, laying my head on his chest.
"I love this," I said quietly.
"I love it, too," he said, stroking my hair. "I want to spend the rest of my life just like this."
I sat up a little bit to look at him, taken aback by his serious expression. "Really?"
"If it's what you want as well, yes," he said, touching my nose. "I'm not... going to rush like my parents have. Or how Uncle Liam has. I'm not going to push you when I know you're not quite ready to go in that direction because I know that you have to work on some things still. I love that about you, and I understand it because I've worked on my own things. But, I am going to say this..." He brought my left hand up to his mouth and kissed my ring finger softly. "One day, I promise to put some piece of pretty jewelry on this finger and work my ass off to make you this happy for the rest of my life."
I felt like my face was going to split open I was smiling so widely. "One day, I promise to do the same. And you know what? When we are both ready, we'll both know it. And thank you..."
"For what?" He asked softly, touching my cheek lightly.
"For being patient. For being kind. For just being you."
Instead of saying anything he pulled me down and kissed me again firmly, his hand going to the back of my head to hold me in place like there was anywhere else I wanted to be.
When it got to be about thirty minutes until midnight Edward and me began to prepare. His mother was kind enough to point out that you could see the fireworks from the sunroom without getting cold, but we still decided to get a blanket. With the quilt neatly folded on the couch, we got our bottle of real French champagne out of the fridge. I opened it while he searched for glasses, finally yielding a pair of unusually colored blue ones. And to go with our bubbly, we had some fine English chocolates.
It was five minutes till midnight when we finally got underneath the blankets with our sparkling drinks.
"Bella, I have to say that this has been one of the best and most frustrating years of my life." He looked at me ruefully, blushing a soft light pink. "But, I wouldn't have had it any other way."
"I have a feeling that next year is going to be even better," I told him truthfully as I draped one leg over his lap. He gave a soft sigh, rubbing his fingers over my blue jean covered thigh.
"I hope so but even if for some reason it wasn't... Bella, I am so grateful for this past year. You've given me so much. You've given me a whole new incredible life. Thank you."
I don't know what it is that makes people sentimental on New Years, but I loved it. Every word he said made me feel drunk, intoxicated by his very presence. It was overwhelming, and I wasn't sure what to say in return.
"Do you know how happy you make me?" I said, scooting closer to him. I actually had to hold back tears. I was stupidly emotionally, my fingers knotting with his collar. "I have never, ever, been this happy in my life. I wish... God, I wish I knew you when I was twenty-five. That I could have known you sooner."
"I wasn't the man I am now," he said, shaking his head and looking away.
"But I would have loved you all the same."
Edward brought me in for a kiss, his fingers slipping underneath my sweater around my neck. The fireworks began to pop above our heads with loud cracking thunder. He pulled away, looking up briefly before looking back at me.
"Happy New Years."
"Happy New Years," I smiled in return.
Though I would have much rather kissed the entire night away, Edward picked up our forgotten champagne glasses and handed me one. "To a wonderfully happy and full new year, filled with adventure and fun."
Our glasses clinked, and we both drank. He raised an eyebrow at the silly grin on my face. "What?"
"You're cheesy, but I like it."
"Well, as long as you like it," he laughed, finishing up the golden liquid quickly before setting his glass down. "So, as long as I'm being cheesy... Why don't I feed you chocolates while you sip your champagne and watch the fireworks?"
"I don't think that sounds cheesy at all," I breathed.
"Oh, and how does it sound then?"
"Incredibly romantic and wonderful but one thing is missing..." I replied back playfully.
"Hm?" He asked as he rubbed further up my thigh underneath the blanket.
"Kisses... lots of kisses."
"Oh, my," he said jokingly, his accent extremely thick. "Now, we can't forget about those, now can we?"
We finished the bottle of champagne, but we forgot about the chocolates. The kisses were better. We spent a good part of the evening making out in the sunroom, long after the fireworks had finished. Finally, we made our way to bed, where the fireworks didn't end until almost dawn.
I was a VERY lucky woman.
"Guess what I got!" Esme clapped her hands excitedly the next morning after they had returned from their hotel visit. Though I couldn't read what was printed on the long white paper, I could only imagine they were tickets of some sort. I briefly registered that Carlisle was rolling his eyes in the background.
"What are those to?"
"Well, you see," Esme began, Texas practically dripping from her voice, "Carlisle was talking about taking Edward to watch some stupid sports thing at a pub tonight, you know to have some father-son bonding time, so I thought that you and I could go to the theater! There is even an after party where you can meet the cast!"
"Really? What play is it?"
"Hamlet!" Esme squealed, and Carlisle actually scoffed. I couldn't resist asking.
"What?"
"Esme has seen it three times already!" He said, shaking his head. "And don't think I don't know why," he said as he passed, poking her ribcage roughly. She swatted his hand away, not paying a bit of attention to him.
"Why is that?" I said, looking at her and wondering what the hell was going on.
"He thinks I have a crush on David Tennant."
"And who is that exactly?" I asked, even more confused. Edward started laughing from his place on the couch.
"David Tennant was in Harry Potter. And he's also on Doctor Who."
"And I don't think, I know you do," Carlisle added in, sitting beside Edward.
I knew a little about Doctor Who and that it was a British TV series, but I wasn't really on top of what it was about. I would have to watch it once I got home. I knew it was something big, and it must have been if Esme did have a crush on him.
Frankly, it just made me more curious.
"So shoot me if I think he's handsome!" Esme said defensively, putting his fists on her waist.
"He looks mad! Like totally fucking barking, Mae," Carlisle said, then quickly blushed and looked away. Edward started to laugh and patted his dad on the back.
"Aw, you're jealous. It's kind of cute, Dad."
Carlisle just whacked him on the back of the head. Edward continued to laugh happily at his father's embarrassment. It was a cute moment actually.
"Anyway," Esme said after clearing her throat. "I would love to take you. Do you want to?"
"Like I could pass up Shakespeare!" I scoffed at her, dramatically rolling my eyes. "That sounds awesome. I think that's a perfect way to spend my last day in England."
"Thank God because I didn't want to go with her again," Carlisle muttered from the couch, his arms crossed over his chest as he looked at the television. This time Esme playfully smacked him on the back of the head, but he just smiled at her before winking, making her giggle like a schoolgirl.
I dressed once again in my sixties style dress. I hadn't brought many clothes with me since Esme agreed to let me use her washing machine. She agreed that losing your luggage just plain sucked and that it made more sense just to bring along a carry-on. I had already arranged to ship all the things I bought while I was there so I wouldn't have to worry about bringing them onto the plane.
I tightened the wrap around me while we walked up to the theater, a chill racking my body. I missed not having Edward with me to keep me warm. I had been with him almost a week solid and having to get used to him staying at his own apartment was not something I was looking forward to.
"So, did you have a good time in the UK... Well, besides the meeting of the crazies?" Esme asked as we waited for the show to start.
"I did, and you know what? They didn't bother me. They're bitter and jealous."
"I wish I were a better person," Esme smirked. "You're exactly right, but they bug the shit out of me. But you don't know how satisfying telling them off was. Good Lord Almighty, they make me madder than an old wet hen."
I laughed, "I get it. I do. My mom pisses me off, but they seem nuts. I'm sorry you have to deal with that."
"Well, I'm not going to deal with it anymore. I'm just waiting for them to die so I can dance on their graves with a bright red dress on. I know that's bad, but some people-" She shook her head angrily. "They're coming back as rats in the next life. Hopefully somewhere awful where there are a lot of cats and snakes. And not at the temple in like India where they worship the damn things."
I snorted, "if there is any justice in this world, huh?"
"Amen."
We laughed at the curtain rose but soon we were lost in the tense and angry eyes of Hamlet, a man who indeed did look barking mad as Carlisle put it.
Lost in the world of Hamlet and Yorick and Ophelia. Of murder and of hate. Of Fear and paranoia.
He might have looked crazy, the actor playing Hamlet, but he did the job fantastically. But, I had to admit when Sir Patrick Stewart came onto the stage as his uncle, I laughed quietly. When Esme asked what was so funny, I just shook my head.
The phrase 'even Jon-Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise has been knighted' ran across my mind any time he came onto the stage, making me smile a little to myself.
The play lasted just over three hours and every single minute of it was terrific. You could practically feel the madness and anger.
It made me crave the comfort of Edward's touch even more.
"We get to go backstage!" Esme said after the thunderous round of applause that seemed to go on for forever. She was giddy, doing a soft squeal once we showed our passes to the guard.
Oh yeah, someone had a little crush. It was cute.
All of the actors were in a large room which seemed cleared out just for this purpose. There were waiters with trays of drinks and snacks as people filed into the room. Esme grabbed us some wine and made her way to a quiet corner.
"This is so exciting!" She said, looking out at the crowd. Something struck her as funny, and she began to laugh quietly.
"What?"
"When I was growing up I never thought I would be able to do something like this. I was one out of ten kids, and though my parents tried to provide culture, it's not exactly the easiest thing to do in rural America. But here I am now. I've seen more of the world than I ever thought I would. I thought I would always be stuck in Texas, even when I was really young. Don't get me wrong, I love Texas. But the world has so much to offer."
"That it does," I agreed. "I didn't think I'd be doing something like this either. This is great. Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of this."
"Carlisle wouldn't go with me again." She smirked and shrugged. "Okay. Yes. I have a crush. Sue me. We all have celebrity crushes now and again."
I laughed, shaking my head at her silly expression. "Well, speaking of which..." I said, pointing at a crowd of people. One of which was the lead actor in the play. Esme gave a funny all over shiver before mumbling 'the things I could do to that man.' "Go talk to him. I've got my camera, and we can take pictures if he lets you."
Esme practically nervously tiptoed over to him as a couple of the people went away. She smiled at him sweetly, and of course, he smiled back. It was a good thing he said something first, or she never would have. He was polite and funny and did agree to pictures.
He took one with an arm her shoulder and then the other he kissed her firmly on the cheek. Esme blushed like a schoolgirl. Once she was done being flustered, she shoved me in his direction for a picture as well.
Thankfully, he didn't do any of that nonsense on me. He could tell I wasn't a fan like Esme was. But, it was still nice for him to humor us.
And when it was all said and done, Esme and I looked at each other, and I could tell we were thinking the same exact thing.
"Want to meet up with the boys?" I asked over the crowd. There wasn't a single person I knew there, besides Esme, and I didn't like it. And I missed Edward.
"God! Yes! I know where they are. Let's go surprise them," she said, grabbing my hand.
The moment we walked into the dark sports pub, Edward's eyes landed on me, like he knew I was coming. A brilliant smile spread across his face, and I instantly returned it. Carlisle slowly turned to see what Edward was looking at and began to smile as well. He held his arms out to his wife, and she instantly rushed into them, kissing him firmly on the mouth.
Edward held out his hand, and I took it slowly, smiling at him almost shyly. He pulled me in close, kissing the top of my head sweetly. "Did you have a good time?" He whispered in my ear.
"Mm," I muttered, snuggling my face into his chest. "Yes, but I missed you. Are you having a good time?"
"It's better now that you're here."
I smiled, running my fingers over his chin before clearing my throat. I had to remember that we were, in fact, in public. "So, what sport are you watching exactly?" I asked.
He laughed, blushing slightly. I was confused until he answered, "would you think me less of a man if I didn't know?"
"Not at all," I snickered.
"Good. Because I have no fucking clue," he laughed. "But it was nice being around Dad. Mom seems on cloud nine right now."
"Yeah, she got a kiss from her crush," I informed him of our evening. He laughed again, and I turned to see Carlisle rolling his eyes.
"Will you get over it now?" He asked his wife.
She smiled innocently, batting her thick red eyelashes at him. "I promise nothing."
"That's what I thought," he sighed. "Anyway! I'm a bit hungry. Why don't we go tuck in somewhere? Dinner was hours ago."
Somehow we spent the rest of the evening in a twenty-four-hour dinner talking about pretty much everything and nothing at all, but the chatter between us never stopped. They talked about memories and friends. Christmases before and of the future. We talked about the trip and the things we would remember most. And we talked about how lucky we were to be in this time, at this place, with such lovely people.
We didn't arrive back to the house until the sun was coming up, not that anyone cared. We would be leaving later, and we would be sleeping on the plane anyway. Everyone wanted to get every little last drop of enjoyment out of the visit, and not just Edward and myself either.
Thanks for reading!