Carlisle sat in his office at the hospital, filling out paperwork and trying to focus. He couldn't, not like he typically did. The only thing he could compare it to was when Esme was first changed and living with him and Edward.
The thought could have left him reminiscing or even comparing the very distant to the present, but he knew it wasn't fair. Carlisle knew he had suffered enough - and a part of his heart and soul would always have that dull ache. He acknowledged, finally in a rational way, that he was more than just content. He was happy.. and completely captivated by his new, unexpected romance with Bella.
One of Carlisle's coworkers passed by the open door and then stepped back. "Hey, Carlisle, welcome back," the graying doctor greeted.
"Thank you, Oscar," Carlisle looked over the top of a computer and then rose to his feet to exchange a handshake with his work friend.
"How was your trip?"
"Fine," Carlisle gave a nod, "Thank you."
"No tan, huh?" The other doctor joked.
Carlisle gave a little laugh. "No. I just visited some family in Washington state.. and then spent a few days at home."
"Well, it's good to have you back."
"Thank you." Carlisle smiled and gave a nod. No sooner than a second after he sat down, another coworker, Dr. Sanderson, gave a knock on the door frame.
"Helen." He gave a smile and waved her in. The two of them exchanged a quick hug and she smiled.
"Welcome back."
"Thank you." Carlisle nodded politely and teased, "Held down the fort while I was gone?"
"Barely," Helen said back with a chuckle. She then hesitated a moment. "Would you, uh, would you want to grab a drink some time after work?"
Carlisle was flattered and he knew Helen Sanderson was more than just a catch. She was, in all ways, a perfect combination of friendly, driven, intelligent and beautiful. In another world he could have said yes to her invitation; but he wasn't interested. Not when Bella walked back into his life and reawakened him in every way imaginable.
"I'm, uh, actually I'm with someone," Carlisle informed her. "She's, um-"
"Im so sorry," Helen began apologizing, "Unprofessional-"
"No, it's not," Carlisle went on. "It's quite alright."
"Forget I just asked you that," she continued. " I had no idea that you were.."
He smiled. "It's fine."
"Well, it's good to have you back," Helen said to him a bit sheepishly.
"Thank you. It's nice to see you, too."
She smiled and sauntered out of the office. When Carlisle sat down again he ran a hand through his hair and stared the blinking cursor on the computer in the document he has been typing.
Carlisle didn't want to be at work. For the first time in a long time he would have rather been at home; and his thoughts were beginning to spiral out of control a bit. Carlisle didn't take relationships lightly or cavalierly sleep around. Everything that occurred left him feeling bonded to Bella. There was no other way for Carlisle - and he knew she was the exact same way.
He tried to put the physical part of their relationship to the back of his mind but he just couldn't. Carlisle put a hand across his forehead and closed his eyes for a moment. He envisioned Bella's soft moans and the feel of her hands pressing into his backs. He imagined kissing her and how it felt to be inside of her.
He slowly opened his eyes and tried to redirect his thoughts when he felt himself stiffening up in his pants.
Carlisle looked at the blinking cursor on the work document again. "Focus," he whispered to himself and cleared his throat as he straightened up in his chair to begin typing. What a challenge it proved to be.
..
Bella dodged Alice's questions and kept herself busy all day. For a good chunk of the afternoon she explored the wooded area behind the house for miles and miles of outstretched forests.
She returned to a light snowfall and Alice was perched in the hot tub on the lower back deck, soaking in the wintery atmosphere. Bella snickered and knew her dear friend was waiting for her. There was no getting around it with Alice
"You look like you're a part of documentary on lavish log cabins," Bella teased as she took the stairs onto the deck.
Alice chuckled and leaned back against the side. "Care to join? I have extra bathing suits."
Bella was going to decline but she decided against it. Some alone time with Alice actually sounded great. Even if she did eventually get the little secret out of her, Bela thought it might feel good to get it off her chest and just.. talk about it with another woman."
"Okay," Bella agreed.
"Great!" Alice beamed. "My suits are on the top, right shelf in my closet. Pick whatever you'd like. There's a cute blue and white one with the tags still on. You can have it."
"Thanks." Bella gave a closed-mouth grin and hurried upstairs and back down with a towel wrapped around her body. She put a hand out to catch a few snowflakes and then folded the towel nearby before slipping in beside Alice.
"I love sitting out here when it snows," Alice told her with a sigh. "I tell you, Bella, I am never moving out of this house."
Bella chuckled. "It's very.. cozy."
"It certainly is." Alice narrowed her eyes at Bella, who laughed a little louder.
"How long have you known?" She just decided to hit the elephant in the room head on.
Alice hesitated but s little smile spread across her face. "Since before he left for his trip to Forks."
Bella looked down and back up. She let out a sigh and smiled to herself.
"You know you have a certain glow again," Alice told her. "Even if I couldn't see the future I can see the happiness written all over your face. It's a certain kind of happiness.. the kind only a romantic partner can give you."
"I.. just.." Bella shook her head and played with a strand of her hair. "I can't believe.. I just never thought.." It was difficult for her to articulate what she was feeling.
"I know," Alice explained. "But, honestly, the two of you being.. together.. it makes more sense than you might think."
Bella stared at her a little more intently.
"You know each other very well, you've been through the same trauma and heartache, there was already that bond, you care about him, he cares about you." Alice shrugged, "I mean, after all this time, I think you compliment each other perfectly."
"Yeah.." Bella couldn't keep a smile from her face but a part of her was still so reserved about it all.
"So.." Alice raised her eyebrows and couldn't help herself. "How was last night?"
Bella sunk down in the water a little and laughed as a highlight reel of their time together flashed through her mind. "It was.. fine." That was the understatement of the year.
"Fine?" Alice raised her eyebrows.
"You.. you have your visions. You already know." Bella continued to grin wide. A part of her wanted to disclose every intimate detail and relive it all as she gushed to Alice. But the other part of her was still so shy. It had to be a little weird for them to come to the realization that 'Bella and Carlisle' were having sex. Maybe she was wrong, but the change in dynamics of their relationship was monumental in Bella's mind.
"Oh, no.." Alice shook her head. "I tuned out right after the first big kiss."
Bella laughed again and let out a content sigh. "It was.. the best night I've had in a really long time."
"So.. there's definitely chemistry.. you know.. in that department."
"There's definitely chemistry," Bella agreed with a nod and sighed again, "I feel like.. " she giggled and it caused Alice to do the same.
"Feel like what?" She pressed.
"I feel like he's going to teach me a thing or two." Bella's face would have reddened if it were possible. The two of them shared another laugh and Bella slowly dipped beneath the water and came back up just as slowly.
"I feel like I almost forgot how to do it," she added with a laugh.
Alice laughed a little harder. "It's like riding a bike, Bella. Once you hop back on it's like you never stopped."
Bella continued to giggle, pleased she decided to indulge in her night with Carlisle, at least a little bit. "Mmm.." she daydreamed for a moment.
Alice smiled and sighed. "I'm so happy."
Bella pushed her wet hair back and smiled wide. "Me, too."