Bella had spoken with Carlisle more in that one night than she had in perhaps all of her time prior to that. It felt weightless; easy - as if she had been missing out for all of those years. Speaking with him one-on-one healed a part of her heart. It was unexpected and welcomed.
The two of them laughed a little, shared the grief they had been experiencing over the course of all those years and openly allowed themselves all the bittersweet feelings of their lost loved ones by sharing stories. It was truly a magical night, if you could call it that.
"Carlisle, this has been.. rejuvenating." Bella knew that was the right word. Rejuvenating. "I mean, truly, it has. Talking about this so openly," she shook her head as the sun crept back up from behind the mountainscape in the distance, "I think I could have used this like five years ago."
He leaned back on his hands and followed her stare outward for a moment before they both looked back at one another. "I feel the same way." Carlisle nodded. "I came out here looking for some alone time but I'm glad I ran into you, Bella."
"Yeah," she nodded, "Same here." Bella hesitated before asking him, "Hey, why don't you come see Nessy? And I know Charlie would love to see you.. say hi."
Carlisle hadn't planned on any of that; however now that he was there in Bella's company it felt like the right thing for him to do. Not just that, he wanted to see them. Being so far from Renesme has been a big regret of his; though he knew she was just fine living her life on the reservation.
"I'd like that."
"Yeah?" She smiled and let out a little laugh. "I hope I didn't put you on the spot. Don't feel obligated-"
"I would like nothing more, Bella." Carlisle said honestly, with a nod.
"Good." She smirked and rose to her feet. Bella didn't want to leave, but she did have plans with Nessy that morning. "I, uh, I have to get back," she pointed with her thumb over her shoulder. "Nessy and I have plans but.." she thought for a moment, "Where are you staying?"
"Airbnb," Carlisle explained. "Cabin in the woods. Alice found it for me on Instagram."
"Alice.." Bella breathed her name with a smile. A rush of good feelings were all coming back to her and she was shocked by it. "Sounds like something that's right up her alley."
"She hasn't changed." Carlisle gave another fleeting grin for just a second. He reached into his pocket and removed a printed out piece of paper, handing it to Bella. "That's the location with the address."
Bella took it and tucked it away in her jeans. "Thanks." She sighed, "Are you available this afternoon around two o'clock? We should be back from our manicure-pedicure morning by then."
Carlisle snickered and gave a nod. "Where would you like to meet?"
"Charlie's house is fine.. if that's okay."
"Sure." Carlisle gave a nod.
Bella approached him and threw her arms around him again. Hugging Carlisle felt like home. He felt different than hugging Nessy or Jake or Charlie. It was that distantly familiar, yet forgettable, marble, cold, immortal feel. At one point in her life, Bella had been so used to it. Hugging Edward. Hugging Alice. Hugging any one of the Cullens. That feeling was home to her and it always would be. Right then, Carlisle felt like home.
She closed her eyes and held him against her for what she realized was probably far too long. It didn't matter anymore. Bella had to latch onto whatever it was that made her feel content - and right then and there it was Carlisle Cullen.
When she pulled back and looked up at him she felt a wave of goosebumps, or the equivalent to that in her own immortal body. His golden orbs were so warm, inviting and full of shared memories.
"I love you, Carlisle. I love all of you.. so much. So much it.. it hurts." Bella gave a melancholy closed-mouth smile. So many emotions were crisscrossing in and out of her soul. Still, it was all positive. There were no bad feelings. "I miss everyone."
Carlisle pulled her back against him so the side of her face rested against his chest. He cupped her head with one hand and closed his eyes. "We miss you, too, Bella."
When she felt his lips touch the top of her head she smiled. Carlisle never would have done something like that in the past. She was pleased to know he felt a similar comfort in her presence - so much so to show that kind of physical affection. Their losses had changed them; reformed them.
Bella kept her arms around him for as long as he would allow it before finally they parted. When she separated herself from him their hands found one another's in between their bodies and she just stared into his eyes.
"Two o'clock.. Charlie's."
"I'll be there," Carlisle agreed.
Bella left the mountainside feeling on top of the world for the first time in ten years. How therapeutic it was to see another one of her kind. Not just that, it was Carlisle - the man responsible for her immortal existence in some ways. It had been Edward's venom that created her, but Carlisle had created Edward.
Edward. Carlisle. Edward. Carlisle. It was all so happy and sad wrapped into one. Bella couldn't think of one without the other; but that day she knew she had to put her focus on Carlisle. She had mourned Edward's death for so long, and still did; but today she was going to let herself feel contentment in Carlisle's company - maybe even a little happiness.
The air felt lighter as she whipped through the trees back into town. When she arrived at her father's house, bursting into the house with a smile he rose from where he sat in front of the television with a coffee.
"What is it, Bells?" Charlie's natural demeanor was being on high alert. Bella blamed herself for his immediate defensiveness. When he saw she was smiling he raised both eyebrows. "You're smiling."
"I just.. bumped into Carlisle." She let out a little laugh.
"Carlisle Cullen." It was a statement and a question wrapped into one.
"Yep, that Carlisle." Bella smiled and sighed out loud. "We talked for a couple of hours about.. everything. He's coming over at two."
Charlie just let her talk and when he sensed she was done he simply said, "Well, great." He cleared his throat, "Thats great, Bells." Charlie added, "How, uh.. how's he doing?"
Bella let her smile fade a bit and nodded. "Good. As good as he can.
"Well, I'll be on patrol by then but I'll make a drive past the house so I can say hello. His wife seemed like a very nice woman." He added. "Sorry."
"Yeah." Bella nodded and forced a smile, prompting Charlie to approach and give her one of his awkward, fatherly hugs. It made Bella smile and then Charlie was on his way retrieve his keys.
When Charlie left Bella sat in the living room of her father's place. She sighed, taking in the silence and soaked in everything that had happened the night before. Her past and present were about to intertwined; and she couldn't wait to soak it in.