~ oOo ~
So I was just sitting at home today, wondering why
I felt like I'd forgotten something, and then it hit me.
It's update day! Yay!
A lot of you are just desperate for Bella and Edward
to finally suck it up and admit what we all know -
they're meant to be together! I know I've been saying
it forever, but they really are so,so close...
Somebody expressed concerns about the children
and the pool, but don't fret - do you really think Edward
would let anything happen to his little sweet? ;)
Or any of the adults let anything happen to any of the
little kiddos? Plus, this holiday is going to be a relaxing,
sweet trip. No drama here!
As always, hugeeee thank you's to
SunflowerFran and annaharding
for wielding their red pens and turning the messes I send
into the respectable pieces of writing you all seem to enjoy.
And thank you to you all for reading and reviewing, week
on week! It really does mean an awful lot to me.
Reviews to this chapter will earn a sneak peak into the next
chapter, and trust me, it's one you've been waiting for... ;)
Because I'm super jealous of all you lucky people going to the
Vegas Twi-Fic Meet-Up, I've created a group for the UK. If you're
from the UK and/or you would be interested in arranging something
similar here, please join. The group is open to everyone and is
called
***Twi-Fic Meet-Ups UK***
There's a little note for new writers at the bottom - please
check it out! It's worth a read :)
~ oOo ~
Summary: When two little girls were allowed to walk
home from school one bright spring day nobody could've
predicted the events that followed. The way two families
were torn apart by the vendetta of a deranged man.
Nearly twelve years on, we'll watch as the two girls stolen
away from their homes at eight years old fight to take
back their lives. If only it were as simple as escaping. AU
Pinky Promises
Chapter Thirty-One
He was just about to step into his bedroom when he heard it.
Edward hesitated, hand resting on the handle of his bedroom door, and listened carefully.
There. Again.
Edward's feet were instantly carrying him to the end of the hall before he could consider his actions, his glass of water forgotten on the side-table outside his door. Pausing just outside Bella's room, Edward briefly contemplated what he was about to do, finally deciding that he wouldn't be able to sleep unless he knew she was okay; he opened the door quietly.
His eyes adjusted quickly; Bella had left the curtains open just a little. Moonlight filtered into the room to bathe her in its milky glow. She was on top of the covers, writhing and whimpering in her sleep. When Edward got closer, he remembered that Marley and Bodhi were having a sleepover – Carl-Roman and Chase, too – with Charlie and Peter in the main living room. They'd pitched tents made from sheets and cushions, a rite of passage Marley had missed out on thus far.
As he carefully knelt on the edge of Bella's bed, Edward wondered if it was Marley's and Bodhi's absence in the room that had brought on Bella's nightmare.
"Hey, bella ragazza, you're okay. It's okay, you're all right," he crooned gently, reaching out to touch Bella's arm. She flinched away from his touch, her head whipping around on her pillows as she groaned. Sweat was beading on her forehead, a frown etched into her skin as unknown terrors haunted her sleep.
With a grimace, Edward realized that he could probably guess what, or who was troubling her.
"Bella, mi amore, wake up for me."
Suddenly, with a jolt, Bella bolted upright, clutching desperately at Edward's hand. Her eyes wheeled around the room before finally finding Edward's face. She blinked hard, focusing slowly. Her breaths came in rapid pants, and Edward realized she was, maybe, seconds away from a full-blown panic attack if he couldn't calm her down.
"Hey, hey, you're okay. It's me, Edward. It's just me."
"Edward…just you. Just Edward," Bella breathed, her tense posture relaxing slightly as she slumped, bowing her shoulders and pulling her knees up to rest her head upon them. She sucked in deep breaths as Edward gently rubbed circles on the back of her hand, her grip on his fingers almost painful.
Slowly, so slowly, he felt her body begin to sag. After a few minutes, she lifted her head enough to meet his gaze. Shame clouded hers, while all his conveyed was worry.
"I'm sorry," Bella murmured. "Did I wake you?"
"Firstly, don't you dare apologize, 'kay? No, you didn't wake me. I couldn't sleep, and I heard you on my way back from getting a glass of water."
Bella nodded, resting her cheek on her knees so she could still look up at him. In the dark, he wondered if she could see his adoration, admiration, and pride.
He wondered if she could see how much he loved her.
"Have you been having these nightmares often?" He whispered.
She sighed and let her eyes close. "No. Not for a few weeks. I think…I think it's because Marley and Bodhi aren't in here. Does that sound stupid?"
Bella's eyes shot open when Edward's fingers glided over her cheek.
"No, Bella. It doesn't sound stupid. I'd kind of figured that might be it, actually. Do you want me to go get them? Marley sleeps like the dead; she'll be easy to move."
Shaking her head, Bella sat up and rubbed at her eyes with her free hand. She didn't seem willing to let go of Edward just yet, and he wasn't inclined to let go of her, either. "No, they're fine. Let them sleep. Um, will you…No, don't worry."
Edward smirked, ducking slightly and using their joined hands to gently nudge her face up a little. He hated when she hid her face from him, especially those expressive azure eyes. They were called the windows to the soul for good reason. "What? I'll do anything, Bella. You should know that by now."
She flushed, the rush of blood to her cheeks visible in the pale light, even more noticeable; perhaps, because of the ghostly white she'd turned during her nightmare. "I just…I thought I might go and get some fresh air, but, I don't want to go outside alone. Feel free to say 'no,' honestly. It's late. I can open a window…"
"Wait right here, okay? I'll be back in just a second."
Bella nodded, leaning back against the headboard. Edward squeezed her hand gently before heading to his room. When he returned moments later, she was frowning into her wardrobe.
"What's the matter?"
"I didn't pack a spare jumper, and Bodhi spilled his milk over my cardigan. Is it terribly cold outside?"
"Probably, so it's a good job I'm prepared, huh?" She turned to face him then, smiling when he held up a hoodie. "C'mere, bella ragazza."
She crossed the room on silent footfalls, standing in front of him with a bashful half-smile.
"Arms up," he whispered. With a soft grin of his own, Edward bunched the jumper up until he had the neck hole in his hands, then slid it carefully over her head, aiming the arms so she could push her hands through. The jumper was far too big for her tiny frame, and Edward chuckled quietly when he looked down at her, dwarfed in his favorite hoodie. "Here, let me." With gentle hands, he took the sleeves and rolled them until hers were visible, then reached back to her hair, tugging it from inside the hoodie and smoothing her long, loose waves down her back. Then he settled with his hands resting at the juncture between her neck and shoulders, loosely holding the cords to adjust the hood.
She stared up at his face, a myriad of emotions displayed across her fine features, as Edward fought all of his instincts telling him to lean down and close the distance between their lips.
"You didn't… um, you look after me, but you don't have to feel obligated, you know?"
Edward sighed, letting his thumb reach up to stroke her jaw. Soft...She's so soft. More than ever before, Edward wanted to feel the soft skin of her jaw against his lips. He wanted to capture her Cupid's bow mouth in a kiss to show her just how well he could take care of her if she wanted.
"I like taking care of you," he began carefully. "As long as you don't mind. I don't ever want to overstep or make you uncomfortable."
"You haven't! You don't! I mean, I feel safe with you. I always have," Bella told him earnestly, leaning just a little into his touch against her face. It made Edward smile, seeing the way her eyelids fluttered, her breath hitching with a quiet, content sigh.
"Good. I'm glad." Edward huffed, releasing the cords of the jumper to caress her cheek before deciding, fuck it, and leaning in. He felt, more than heard, Bella's shuddered "oh," and his lips curled up against her hairline, where he lingered for a few seconds longer.
When he pulled back, she blinked hard a few times, looking thoroughly confused.
"Shall we?" Edward asked, only a hint of his amusement shining through in his tone.
"'Shall we,' what?" Bella murmured.
"Go outside for some fresh air?"
"Oh. Yeah. Ummm, yes, let's go for some fresh air."
Feeling slightly smug at the reactions he could draw from her, Edward took her hand to lead her from the room. She followed him through the house, her footsteps silent beside his. Sometimes it still unnerved Edward, how quiet she could be.
Instead of cutting through the living area, where Charlie, Peter, and the children were sleeping, Edward turned off and took Bella through the kitchen. She snapped out of her stupor when she realized they were going out a different way than she'd thought.
Stepping outside into the cool night air, Bella gasped. In the low glow of the moon, her eyes found hundreds upon hundreds of white roses, all growing around a series of eight arches in a line. Edward walked slowly, gently leading her beneath the beautifully scented bows, a soft, hopeful smile on his face. She couldn't believe her eyes. Perfectly tended, ankle-high hedgerows lined the path, greenery Bella couldn't identify winding around the bottom of the wooden poles, segueing into the swaths of roses. As they moved forward, Bella's ears picked up the sound of running water. Pausing to stroke the silky, soft white petals of a particularly large bloom, she looked ahead and spotted the low, bricked edge of a fountain. Awed, she moved closer and crouched, admiring the ripples sent outward by the jets in the center. Her hand moved of its own accord, fingertips brushing the very outermost undulations.
"Edward…" she breathed, surprised when she looked up, and he wasn't beside her as she expected. Bella turned in a circle, sighing when she spotted him. Edward had gone ahead and was leaning against the end of a white, wooden arbor seat. It had trellises at its back and sides, and white roses continued up and over it, framing Edward. He had one ankle crossed in front of the other, hands tucked into the pockets of his red check sleep pants. He looked heartbreakingly handsome, backlit by small fairy lights interwoven with the flowers.
"This is…Jesus, it's beyond beautiful!"
Edward's lips curled upwards, the intensity of his jade green gaze trained intently upon her face almost too much for Bella to bear. "'Beautiful' doesn't even begin to cover it."
Abruptly feeling as though she was missing something, Bella sucked in a deep breath and peered around at her surroundings. When she glanced up at Edward again, he'd moved and was standing just a foot or two away on the other side of the fountain.
"Will you dance with me?"
"D-dance?" She sputtered. "But…there's no music! And I can't dance!"
"That's okay, I've got some on my phone, I think."
Bella scoffed, her heart thundering as he circled the water feature, taking her left hand in his right before placing it on his shoulder. With his left, he fiddled with his phone for a few moments, then bent to set it on the edge of the fountain before taking Bella's free hand. She frowned at him as he grinned wolfishly, leading her in a simple sequence of steps. Bella surprised herself by being able to follow him easily, and was shocked to recognize the song he'd chosen, even without the words.
"Richard Marx?"
Edward raised his eyebrows, obviously impressed. "Right Here Waiting," he confirmed. "It's one of my favorites."
Bella smiled, letting the flow of the music and the magic of their location lull her into a calmness she hadn't felt for a long time. As they moved she found herself gravitating closer, until, by the time the piece segued into Lionel Richie's Endless Love, her body was almost pressed against the length of his. They moved as one, perfectly in sync. Even without Lionel, the moment was intimate and, dare Bella think it?...Romantic.
Edward dropped his head, resting his temple against Bella's as he quietly crooned the words to the song. His rich, warm voice sent frissons of heat through Bella's body, emotions, and feelings she'd never experienced before suddenly taking over her every thought.
Except one.
"This is you playing, isn't it?" She realized in a whisper, afraid of ruining this blissful moment.
Simply nodding, Edward continued to serenade her, his lips brushing the soft skin of her temple with their movements. Bella could almost feel him imprinting the words into her psyche as he sang, though she tried not to put too much meaning behind them.
He's just singing, she told herself as she soaked up the comfort he exuded, the warmth and sense of safety he embodied, and the feeling of being cherished that always emerged when he was near.
Relaxing against Edward, his hard musculature to her soft curves, Bella sighed in utter contentment and closed her eyes. She was shocked to feel a cool tear tumbling from her lashes to roll over her cheek, even more so when she realized that she was, quite possibly, the happiest she'd ever been, at that moment.
Her family was safe; her closest loved ones sleeping a few hundred feet away. Her children were loved, not just by her but also by their grandfather, uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends. For the first time, Marley had a family. She had toys, coloring books, and pencils; more stuffed animals than she knew what to do with, and received more cuddles in a day than most children received in a year. Bodhi had been cherished and adored since the day he was born. He, too, was routinely spoiled with the important things in life – hugs, kisses, and 'I love yous'. That said, he also boasted an impressive stuffed toy collection.
Despite having spent the past twelve years wondering if their dreams would ever come to fruition, Bella and Rosalie were back home with their families and thriving. They were happy, loved, and healthy. They could do the housework if, and when, they wanted to. If they didn't, somebody else would, and there would be no punishments waiting around the corner if that happened. They could move around their homes as they saw fit, and they were both conquering their fear of loud noises and men who closely resembled their tormentor.
Following the news of Smith's death, they'd both had cathartic breakdowns.
Rosalie's had come first, in Emmett's arms – which hadn't shocked Bella in the slightest. Nobody, least of all the ever-observant Bella, had missed the way Emmett and Rosalie seemed to orbit one another since his arrival. They were all waiting for the pair to succumb to their obvious feelings for one another.
Bella's breakdown, or perhaps break-through was more correct, had come during a grocery trip. Edward had taken her and Bodhi to the local Tesco while Marley stayed home with Charlie, Carl-Roman, and Chase. Bella was absent-mindedly scouring the shelves for Marley's new favorite cereal when she'd come to a sudden halt, the tins in the bottom of the trolley clattering with her abrupt stop. Edward was carrying Bodhi a few steps behind and had almost crashed right into her before realizing something was amiss.
"Bella? What's the matter?"
"I—I can't…"
Edward glanced around, checking for onlookers and feeling pleased when his cursory look revealed only one other person in the aisle. The elderly woman wasn't in the slightest bit interested in them, so he gently set Bodhi in the trolley seat lined with his padded seat cover to help him stay upright, then took Bella's hands and tried to coax her to meet his eyes.
"Bella, look at me, please."
When her gaze met his, he winced at the bewildered, panicked look within their depths.
"What's wrong?"
"I can't get that one."
Following the direction of her shaking hand, he frowned at the seemingly innocent looking, box of cereal. "Okay, that's fine. We don't have to get that one."
Growling with frustration, Bella shook her head and grabbed his hands, gripping them hard. "You don't understand. That's his cereal. That's the one he eats."
Suddenly, it made more sense. Edward had been to see Irina several times for therapy sessions of his own. In one of them, she'd warned Edward to be vigilant of triggers that might not be as obvious as some others. Loud footsteps, for example. Everybody knew to remove their shoes and tread lightly in the Swan and Hale homes. Things like this, though…Edward hadn't even considered this scenario when he'd suggested bringing Bella and Bodhi grocery shopping.
"Bella, listen to me. He doesn't eat anything. He's gone, remember? He's dead. He can't hurt you, and he sure as hell doesn't eat cereal anymore."
Bella blinked owlishly. It took a few seconds, but Edward saw the exact moment she returned to herself; the moment she remembered. "He's dead," she sighed with audible relief.
"Yes," Edward reached up with their joined hands and caressed her cheek with the backs of his fingers. "He's gone, bella ragazza. I promise."
She'd trembled lightly for the remainder of the trip around the store, but by the time they arrived back at her house, Bella was almost back to her usual sunny self.
Pulled from her thoughts by a tune she recognized easily, Bella felt a giggle sneak free.
"Take That, Edward?"
Edward shrugged, pulling back only enough so that she could see his lopsided, double-dimpled grin and smiling, grass green eyes. "This is a classic, Bella. Nobody is ever going to persuade me otherwise."
As Gary Barlow's dulcet tones began, Bella raised her eyebrows.
"What? I don't just have the instrumental versions, you know. This is all them."
Bella hummed, finding herself thoroughly enraptured by Edward's eyes as he led her around the fountain, mischief appearing just seconds before he winked and jerked her outwards, murmuring 'spin' at the crescendo of the first chorus. She ducked under his arm and spun back towards him with a rosy flush to her cheeks, unable to help the quiet laugh that pushed its way to freedom. Even though she'd never had dancing lessons and had no idea what she was doing, Bella was very much enjoying herself. It was exhilarating.
No, Edward was exhilarating.
Unbidden, the memory of asking Edward about his conversation with the parking attendant popped into her head. She smiled, staring down at her feet.
"Edward?"
"Hm?" Edward glanced away from the newspaper he was reading to find her on the sun lounger across from him, adjusting Bodhi slightly with his free hand. The baby boy had fallen asleep after a busy first morning of swimming, and was sprawled across Edward's chest; it was an adorable sight, and Bella had made sure to document it.
"What were you talking about before? Umm, with the parking attendant at the airport?"
Bella was delighted, and even more intrigued, when Edward's ears tinted red, and he coughed quietly to clear his throat.
"I don't—ah, I don't remember."
Bella didn't believe that for a second.
"You know – when we were loading everything into the vans at the airport. You were both talking in Italian…"
It always warmed Bella to see Edward flustered. Not because she liked to see him uncomfortable, but because it was so rare to see him out of sorts or anything other than cool and confident. So often, she felt like she spent the majority of her time playing catch-up emotionally. It was comforting to know that it wasn't just her struggling with this strange dynamic unfolding between them.
"I didn't think anyone was paying attention, if I'm honest," Edward mumbled. A few seconds passed, then he tossed the newspaper at his feet and hung his head over the back of the lounger. "He just commented on Bodhi, and asked how old he was."
Bella frowned. "That's it?"
Sigh. "No. He, uh…he said I must be very proud. I said that I am, of Bodhi and his sister, and Paulo – that's the guy's name – told me it was easy to see how much I love them both."
The pair lapsed into silence; it was broken only by the sounds of Archie, Charlie, Carl-Roman, and Chase splashing in the pool nearby. Bella smiled as the things Edward hadn't said became clear.
He hadn't told the attendant that the children weren't his; he'd simply admitted that they made him proud, and that he loved them.
Wasn't that what every parent said about their children? He'd have had every right to point out that Marley and Bodhi weren't his, yet he'd chosen not to. Remembering the side-long glances he'd shot her way, Bella couldn't believe that Edward hadn't thought about what he was saying.
Her eyes fell to Bodhi as he squirmed, burrowing his head closer to Edward's.
"Hey, you're okay, little tesoro," Edward cooed, gently stroking a hand over Bodhi's swim-romper-clad back. Bodhi quieted once more under his soothing touch and rested a tiny fist over Edward's heart as he drifted back off, unaware that he was melting his mother's heart.
"Bella?"
"Yes, Edward?"
With her peering up at him, her eyes wide and trusting, that delicious tint of pink infusing her cheeks and a smile curling her lips upwards, Edward couldn't do it. He couldn't say the three little words that he wanted to, and he definitely couldn't lean down to kiss her like he desperately ached to.
She trusted him. And she'd be disgusted if she could hear the thoughts running rampant in his mind. Edward grappled back his want, no, his need, and managed a weak smile, telling her not to worry even as his stomach knotted with the restraint it was taking to stop himself ruining their friendship.
Because that's what he was sure he was about to do, if he didn't rein himself in. Bella was twenty-one, six years his junior, and a mother of two. She was also less than a year out of forced captivity at the hands of a vile excuse for a human being and still recovering from her ordeal. As he spun her again, soaking up the sound of her laughter, Edward reminded himself that the last thing she'd want was to have to deal with some, almost-thirty-year-old in the midst of a premature, midlife crisis pawing at her.
She had children to parent, a life to rediscover. A family to reconnect with.
And Edward, no matter how much he loved her, couldn't interfere with that. She wasn't his to want, and would never want him in return, anyway.
No, Edward thought, dipping Bella backward just to hear her squeal and make her hold him tighter, I won't interfere with her life. She's happy – or getting there, at least. I can't mess with that.
~ oOo ~
Lost in each other as they were, neither Edward nor Bella noticed the eyes on them from an upper floor window. They were completely oblivious to their audience.
"What are you doing up, love?"
Esme turned, facing Carlisle. He was propped up on one elbow in bed, the covers riding down to reveal his chest. Nearing forty-seven, Carlisle was still just as attractive to Esme as he had been the first time they'd met, when she was fifteen, and he was twenty-four. She'd crushed on him – hard. But he'd been her brother's friend; off-limits, or so she thought.
Until her twenty-first birthday party.
He'd come as company for her brother, and in her sloppy drunkenness she'd thrown her inhibitions to the wind and jumped him in front of all her friends and family.
Poor Carlisle hadn't known what to do with himself.
Fast-forward twenty-five years and they're happily married with a beautiful home to call their own, and a life romantic writers could only imagine. Sure, they wished they could have had a family of their own; a brood with Carlisle's blond locks and Esme's hazel eyes. But it wasn't to be, and besides, from the age of eleven, they'd been almost completely responsible for raising their nephew. Carlisle visited Edward in Italy as much as possible, and brought him home to England as often as he could where the young boy was much happier. When he and Esme fell in love and moved in together, they were able to have Edward over more frequently, and by the time he hit his teens he lived almost exclusively with his aunt and uncle. Esme was young – only just twenty – but she'd loved to mother him even though there were only ten years between them. She'd always had the nurturing, mothering instinct and loved Edward to the moon and back. She'd been on the periphery of his life ever since his first few weeks of life as Carlisle babysat for his brother on occasion to earn extra pocket money, and Esme's brother, Brady, sometimes invited them both over. Esme still remembered the first time she'd held Edward in her arms.
"They're here, Mum!"
Elizabeth stepped into the doorway, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "Go let them in, then, Essy."
Esme darted through the living room, skidding to a stop in the entryway. She was too late, the door already opened. She peered up at the tall frame silhouetted by the summer sun.
"Hi, Essy," Carlisle said softly with a slightly crooked grin; Esme's cheeks flamed.
"Hi, Carl." She bounced on the balls of her feet. "Did you bring him? Did you bring the baby?"
He chuckled, stepping aside as Brady walked up the garden path carrying a car seat. "I sure did. You want to see him?"
"Yes!"
Both Carlisle and Brady laughed at her wide-eyed excitement. Over the years, they'd both been forced to play mums and dads with Esme. She lived for her baby dolls and had been begging Carlisle to bring his new nephew over ever since his birth. He was three weeks old now, and it was the first time she was getting to see him.
"Essy! Let the boys come inside, please!"
Esme shuffled into the living room to stand beside her mother, but she vibrated with excitement as her brother carried the baby inside, setting his car seat on the coffee table beside the changing bag Carlisle had carried.
Shooting a wink Esme's way, Carlisle rolled up his hoodie sleeves and set to work unbuckling his nephew. Esme squeaked with excitement when the baby began to squirm and coo at the attention.
"Go sit down, Essy," Elizabeth murmured gently, pointing Esme toward the sofa.
She shot across the room and threw herself into the seat, keeping her legs perfectly straight and together just like she'd been shown the last time she got to hold a baby; Elizabeth's friend had given birth to twins and loved having Esme over to hold each of them while she fed the other.
Carlisle chuckled and turned to face her, cradling the wriggling baby in his large hands. "Are you ready, Essy?"
"Yep! Gimme, gimme, gimme!"
He laughed softly, bending to rest his nephew in Esme's lap. "Hey, you're a natural!"
She beamed at his praise, but didn't look away from the precious bundle in her lap. "He's tiny!"
"He sure is, although he's bigger now than he was when he was born."
Esme cradled his head and neck carefully, reaching up with her free hand to stroke his chubby cheek. "What's his name?"
"Edward."
"Does he have a middle name? Like I'm 'Esme Elizabeth Platt…'"
"His full name is 'Edward Laker Cullen.'" Carlisle shook his head and pulled his phone from his pocket to snap a photo of Esme giggling when Edward turned his head to suckle on the tip of her finger.
"Carlisle, he's gorgeous," Elizabeth cooed, joining her daughter to fawn over the sweet, red-headed baby boy. "Why 'Laker?'"
Carlisle huffed. "No idea. Amy likes it."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes with a teasing wink for Esme. "Well, that explains it then!"
"Carl, I think baby Edward is hungry."
A quick glance at the watch on his wrist made Carlisle grin. "I think you're right, Essy. It's lunchtime. Do you want to feed him?"
"Can I?" She breathed, wonder lighting her features.
"Sure! Let me just sort his bottle out, and you can get to it."
Esme couldn't drag her eyes away from the sweet baby boy's face. He was staring up at her through wide, green eyes as she stroked her fingers through his tufts of red-brown hair.
"He's got a lot of hair, hasn't he?" Elizabeth murmured, smiling at the sight of her daughter so enamored.
"Lots," Esme whispered, giggling when Edward kicked his little legs. He was dressed in a soft, cotton check shirt and gray shorts, his wrinkled knees making her smile. "Oh…his feet are so small!"
Even in a pair of dark gray booties, it was obvious that the baby's feet were minuscule.
Elizabeth laughed. "All babies have small feet, Essy. He'll grow, don't worry."
"That's right, you will. I'm gonna take care of you, baby Edward. You'll get big and strong, and I'll teach you all kinds of neat stuff. Yes, I will, yes I will."
For the next four hours, Esme hogged Edward. She fed him, stroking his forehead and cheeks as he greedily chugged his bottle.
She changed his nappy with Carlisle's guidance and kissed his cheeks until he calmed when he got mad at being undressed.
When Carlisle loaded him back into his car seat, fast asleep after his time with Esme, Edward opened his eyes for a brief moment to look at her. She beamed a toothy grin, carelessly brushing a loose lock of caramel hair back behind her ear.
"See you soon, baby Edward. I'm gonna look after you, remember."
When she made that promise, nine-year-old Esme hadn't known just how right she was.
Esme's eyes trailed over her husband's chiseled chest before darting back outside to their aforementioned nephew, embroiled in his tangled love life, which bore a startling resemblance to their own. A large age gap and a previous friendship with an older brother didn't always mean the relationship was doomed to fail; Esme and Carlisle were proof of that.
"Who are you spying on, woman?" Carlisle teased, joining her in the window. He wound his arms around her waist, pressing his chest against her back and resting his chin on her shoulder. When his eyes found Edward and Bella, Carlisle chuckled. "When are they going to give it up and accept that they're perfect for each other?"
Esme sighed. "I really don't know, Carl." Twisting her neck to kiss her husband's cheek, she murmured, "do you think I should speak to him?"
"No, Es. Leave them alone. They'll get there in their own time." He brushed feather-light kisses over her cheek, neck, and collarbone. "Come back to bed and leave them to it."
"Carl—"
"Esme, you promised me that you wouldn't meddle!"
"That was before, when I didn't know that she loved him back!"
Carlisle sighed, his forehead hitting his wife's shoulder gently. "You don't know that, you just think it. Es, promise me that you'll leave them be."
In the years since her marriage, Esme had vowed not to keep secrets or tell her husband lies. That said, on occasion, she'd had to bend the truth to keep him happy. With that in mind, she felt no guilt in crossing her fingers in front of her belly as she whispered her promise to leave Edward and Bella be.
He headed off to the bathroom, leaving her in peace to observe for a few moments longer. She gazed down at her nephew, then at the young woman she'd quickly come to see as a niece, if not a surrogate daughter helping to fill the void left by her being childless. Edward and Bella were perfect for one another, if only they'd both just open their eyes and see what everybody else could see.
As Carlisle reentered their room, beckoning her back to bed, Esme made a vow to herself before her husband could distract her with his wandering hands and kisses.
Whatever it took, however many times she had to break her promise to Carlisle not to meddle, Esme was determined to help Edward and Bella see what she saw. To help them see how perfect they could be together if they'd let go of their fears and open their hearts to the love they held for one another.
~ oOo ~
The night before the girls' birthday the trio piled into Bella's big bed, Bodhi sound asleep in his crib a few feet away, and held each other close. Marley snuggled down in the center, burrowing beneath the duvet just as she always did, while Bella and Rosalie reminisced over birthdays past, their heads close together on the pillows.
When they woke in the morning, it was with smiles on their faces, warmth in their hearts, and an eagerness to start the day that hadn't been present on any of their previous birthdays since 2003.
Having experienced her cousins' birthdays, as well as the birthdays of various other family members and friends, Marley was far more excited for this, her sixth birthday, than any of her previous five. She woke Bella and Rosalie by bouncing in the space between their bodies, finally resorting to prying her aunt's eyes open with her tiny fingertips.
"Aunt Rosalie, wake up! It's our birthday!"
Rosalie rubbed at her eyes, unable to be cross with Marley when she'd woken up in such a good mood. "It is, Mars. Happy birthday, sweetpea."
Marley beamed, flashing two rows of sweet, pearly white baby teeth. "Happy birthday, Aunt Rose." She threw herself into Rosalie's arms for a tight hug, then turned her attention to her mother. Her smile wavered slightly when she spotted her mother's tearful face.
Bella had tears tumbling over her cheeks, pausing in the curve of her wide smile before falling from her chin. "Happy tears, baby girl. Happy tears only, today."
Marley bounced into Bella's lap, peppering her wet cheeks with butterfly kisses before cupping her mother's face between her tiny palms and frowning with concentration. "Um, boo…no. Buon compleanno, Mamma. I don't know if I said it right. It means 'happy birthday, Mummy.'"
A soft round of applause from the doorway had all three girls turning. Edward grinned widely, leaning casually against the wall in his usual, ankle-crossed pose. He winked at Marley. "Perfetto, little sweet."
Marley sighed, smiling widely once more. "Good! Hey, Edward, it's my birthday! And Mummy's, and Aunt Rose's!"
Opening his arms to Marley, Edward nodded sagely and gave her a tight squeeze, planting a kiss on her forehead.
Only Rosalie saw the way Bella released a long, quiet breath, love for both the people in the doorway swimming in her sea-blue eyes.
"Buon compleanno, little sweet. How do you feel? Do you feel six? Let me check." As if to test how she felt, Edward poked her belly, her cheeks, her nose, and then her feet, tickling her bare toes until she cried 'uncle' through her giggles and wriggled so hard that he was afraid of dropping her.
"Edward," she growled, out of breath. "You're s'posed to be nice to me!"
"Oh, I see. Well, will you forgive me if I tell you that I've gotten you the biggest birthday cupcake ever, and you can have it for breakfast? Is that being nice enough?"
Bella, Rosalie, and Edward all laughed at the way Marley's eyes widened, her mouth falling open in an adorable, shocked 'O.' He'd already asked Bella if it was okay to give Marley the giant chocolate cupcake he'd had specially made, so he had no worries there. If he was honest, he'd probably admit that he'd planned to give it to her anyway, Bella's potential wrath be damned. He already knew it would be worth it to see Marley's face when she spotted her first ever birthday cake.
"Can I go see? Mummy, can I go with Edward and see?"
"Yeah, baby, you can. Wait for us though, okay? Two seconds, and we'll all go see. Why don't you go to the bathroom first?"
As Marley darted into the bathroom, Edward turned his attention to Bella and Rosalie.
"Happy birthday, ladies. How do you feel? You feel twenty-two?"
Rosalie laughed, swinging her legs over the bed and sliding her feet into her moon-boot slippers. "Definitely feeling my age, Edward, but thank you. And no, I don't need you to check."
Edward chuckled, holding his hands up in surrender. "All right, all right, no checking. Got it." He settled his eyes on Bella as she lifted Bodhi from his crib, cooing and pressing kisses to his curl-covered head. "What about you, Bella? Do you need me to check if you feel twenty-two?"
Bella's cheeks flushed as she murmured her 'no, thank you,' and paired it with a bashful smile.
"All right, let's go!" Marley skidded out of the bathroom on sock-clad feet, careening straight into Edward's legs.
Laughing, he swung her up onto his shoulders, reminded her to duck when they approached doorways and led the little procession towards the living area – his preferred, cozy living area, not the large entrance hall at the front of the house. As soon as they stepped through the doors, they were accosted with a rousing rendition of the Happy Birthday song, complete with handfuls of confetti and sparkly streamers being launched at them.
Marley squealed atop Edward's shoulders, squirming to get down to lap up the attention being lavished upon her.
Bella and Rosalie hung back a little, content to watch Marley bask in the glory of her first birthday with her family. Before long, she had an enormous, glittery silver tiara atop her head, and her neck had been adorned with a selection of matching necklaces. She was swept up by all the excitement, only calming enough to ask Edward where he'd hidden her cupcake.
"Ah, one second, little sweet."
When he returned, carrying the largest cupcake Bella, Rosalie, and Marley had ever seen, Marley's eyes widened exponentially. Her smile was enormous as she begged to be allowed a piece, despite it only being seven a.m. With Bella's small nod as permission, Edward cut her a sliver from the back, so that they'd still be able to take photos of it later when Marley could blow out her candles.
"You okay?" Emmett sidled over, looping his arms around Bella's and Rosalie's shoulders.
"Yeah," Rosalie murmured contentedly, eyes moving around the room to take in the 'Birthday Girls' banners – clearly custom made to include all three birthdays – and her family enjoying the festivities. "Do you remember last year?"
Emmett's thick brows drew inward. "Yeah. You were hurt, weren't you?"
This question was directed at Bella. She nodded, just a tiny dip of her head. In her memories, she saw herself limping back to her room from the study, crawling into bed as the sun appeared on the horizon. Rosalie had stayed awake waiting for her, and she'd cried when Bella's first words of the day were spent wishing her a happy birthday. Marley was sleeping soundly between them, eventually waking hours later and asking, with a pointed finger and a worried, silent frown what had happened to Bella's blackened foot.
Of course, Bella hadn't told her the truth; that Garrett had stamped on it in his steel-toe capped boots as punishment for some arbitrary crime he thought she'd committed.
"It's a lot different this year," she said softly, bringing Emmett and Rosalie back to the present. To the smiles, laughter, and love soaking the room.
"Yeah." Emmett gave them both a gentle squeeze, before leading them over to the sofa. With Marley distracted by Edward, the cupcake, and making sure nobody snuck any of the decadent frosting from the top, Charlie and Peter left her in Edward's capable hands, gravitating towards their daughters.
Bella and Rosalie were already crying before the men could even hug them.
"Happy birthday, baby girl."
Bella sniffled into the warmth of her dad's t-shirt clad chest, adjusting Bodhi so that he wouldn't be squashed between them while clutching Charlie tight with her other arm. "Thank you, Dad."
"This is…Damn, it's so surreal," Charlie murmured, pulling back but still holding her gently by her shoulders. He leaned down briefly to tickle Bodhi's cheeks with his scruffy, beard-covered jaw, grinning tearfully at the ensuing giggles, before meeting Bella's gaze once more. "Love you, baby girl."
Laughing despite her emotion-clogged throat, Bella used her free hand to reach up and brush tears from beneath Charlie's eyes, then stood up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "I love you, too, Daddy."
As Charlie wound his arm around Bella and coaxed her over to watch Marley bathe herself in chocolate cake, Peter and Rosalie following close behind, Bella couldn't help but look around and attempt to memorize every little thing about this wonderful moment.
Carlisle teasing Marley with Edward and Carl-Roman threatening to sneak bits of frosting just to hear her laugh and threaten him with tickling. Just a year ago, Marley didn't speak. She refused to say a thing – now, nobody could stop her.
Just on the outside of their little circle, Esme snapped photos of their smiles, capturing moments, which, no doubt, Bella would cry over later. Emmett and Archie were duking over who should get to give Marley her gifts first. They'd bonded, and acted similarly to how Archie and Edward always had – like brothers, instead of friends.
Heidi and Pippa had arrived six days previous, and were right in the thick of things with Archie and Edward, arguing that they should be allowed to give their gifts first as they were younger. Archie pulled them both into his sides for playful noogies, only releasing them when they teamed up to jab their fingers in his sides. Mary and Roy had been unable to come after all, with Roy coming down with a nasty norovirus, but they'd be video calling later in the day.
Then there was Peter, with his arm still wrapped tight around his eldest daughter's shoulders, and Rosalie, smiling wide on her birthday for the first time in over a decade; much like Bella. No doubt she'd soon have her camera out, taking more pictures for her scrapbooks. She was already on her fourth, and Bella had another bound and wrapped waiting with the stack of gifts in the corner.
Charlie couldn't bring himself to let go of Bella just yet, but that was okay. She didn't mind. It had been a long time since he'd been able to give her a birthday hug. If he held onto her all day to make up for the lost time, it still wouldn't be long enough.
Chase babbled away in his highchair, his volume increasing tenfold when Bella strapped Bodhi into his chair beside him, the two boys bouncing off one another's energy, as usual.
Sighing, Bella leaned into Charlie's side, her eyes finding Edward as they so often did. He was chuckling and leaning in to tickle Marley. Their matching smiles were wide and so, so perfect that Bella almost couldn't look.
This, this was what she'd missed most. This was what Bella had desperately ached for – laughter and light and life.
Marley turned, beckoning her mother over with a pleading pout while yelling instructions to, "try the fostin'!"
Bella smiled to herself, content and happy in the knowledge that this was just the first of many joyous occasions to come.
SunflowerFran runs an amazing, supportive page over on Facebook and a great new intitiative is starting over there!
"Thinking about taking the plunge into writing? Pay It Forward would like to try something new...
We would like to showcase a new writer...a newbie, each month and help them find their voice. We would get you started, make you feel comfortable with your story, show you the ropes, and then showcase you here when you are ready.
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