Many thanks to my Beta, Sobriquet. She made this chapter better.
EPOV
I leaned back in the backseat of the Mercedes trying to relax. If I were human my heart would probably be racing and my palms sweaty. I wasn't sure why. Bella and I had fallen into an easy routine over the last few weeks, spending nearly every moment we could together, even when she was sleeping. We now had twenty-four uninterrupted hours to be together, but those hours would be spent with Carlisle and Esme, which would be new for us.
"Excited, Edward?" Carlisle asked with a smile. He was tentatively happy about this weekend. Esme, on the other hand, was simply ecstatic.
"Yes, I'm excited. I am very happy about this trip, thank you," I answered without emotion. I didn't need Esme to burst through the roof of the car because of giddiness.
"Happy Birthday Edward," Esme gushed.
I rolled my eyes. "Thanks Esme. You haven't had nearly enough years to say that."
"Yes, but this year is different."
"Yes, this year is different," I agreed. This was the year I met the girl who gave my existence meaning, the girl who found meaning in trivial human things such as birthdays.
Carlisle turned the corner onto Bella's street and my head snapped up. "He wouldn't dare," I growled. "This is too much."
"What's wrong, Edward?" Carlisle asked.
"Billy Black is what's wrong," I spat out. "Apparently Charlie told him about this weekend, so he's in there watching. He wants to be a warning to us that this weekend shouldn't be a cover to kidnap or kill Bella."
Carlisle pulled into the Swans' driveway slowly. Sure enough, we could see through the living room window that Billy was there, watching.
"He's just worried about his friend's daughter. Can't blame him for that, can we?" Esme said diplomatically.
I snorted. "Even if we did have some nefarious intent for Bella, does he really think that his being here is going to stop us?" I was tired of his interference. Prom was bad enough – how long would he continue to interfere?
"Edward," Carlisle reproached, "you really can't blame him for being concerned. Shall we go and try to allay his fears the best we can?"
I sighed and opened the door. I saw movement behind Bella's window and resisted the urge to simply jump up there, grab her, stuff her in the car, and drive off. No, I would do this the hard way, and pander the interfering Quileute.
Carlisle and Esme followed me up to the front door, which opened immediately.
"Edward," Charlie greeted me curtly, "Dr. and Mrs. Cullen. Come in."
"Thank you Chief Swan," Esme said warmly, stepping inside and giving me a pointed look.
I carefully tried to erase all annoyance from my face and followed them into the living room. I heard Esme's thoughts immediately catalog the shabby and aging furniture. It was obvious that the interior had not enjoyed an aesthetic touch for over a decade, and then the aesthetic was Renee's. The results were unambiguously disastrous.
"Dr. Cullen, you know Billy Black." Charlie struggled to make a smooth introduction. His thoughts worried on the fact that Billy was opposed to us and our plans with Bella this weekend.
"Yes, good afternoon Mr. Black," Carlisle greeted him smoothly, wisely deciding not to offer to shake Billy's hand.
Billy simply grunted a response. Rude, but predictable.
Charlie's mouth tightened at his friend's greeting, but he simply went to the stairs. "Bella," he called, "the Cullens are here."
"Oh, okay, I'll be right down," Bella called back. I heard a thump, then a crash, and had to again resist the urge to simply run up to her room to get her.
"Are you okay Bella?" I called up the stairs instead. I heard Bella's heartbeat stutter when she heard my voice and had to suppress a grin.
"Yeah, I'm fine, just a new bruise. The plaster would have been a good defense," she called back.
I sighed. She was finally free of both the cast and the brace and she was already torturing her poor leg.
Bella came and stood at the top of the stairs, and I had to catch my breath. Her torturous scent was, of course, magnificent. But the sight of her was even better. She was already dressed for the symphony in a simple woven silk dress in a deep peach color. It made her skin look radiant, her brown eyes warmer, and highlighted the red tones in her hair. She was gorgeous.
I hurried up the stairs and took the overnight bag from her, offering my other hand to help her walk down. Bella was still rebuilding her strength in the leg that James broke, making her more unstable than usual.
"You look lovely," I complimented her softly, and was rewarded with the torture of her blush.
"Thanks," she answered, holding my hand tightly as she carefully walked down the stairs.
"Wow Bella, that's a nice dress," Charlie said sentimentally, circumventing his realization that the girl wearing the dress had grown into beautiful woman.
"Yeah, I was glad to bring back some of my summer wardrobe from Phoenix. I have something to wear for the next two weeks," Bella said.
I frowned. The dress was pretty, but didn't either of them realize that it was so pretty only because Bella was wearing it?
"Hello Bella." Billy finally spoke from his observation point in the living room.
Bella looked over at him and pursed her lips. I could tell she was very angry. Billy's presence must have been as much a surprise to her as it was to me.
"Hello Billy, you came by early." Her words with thick with reproach.
"Yeah, well, Jake had stuff to do this evening, so I just had him drop me off early." So that was his excuse. I could see that Bella didn't buy it.
"That's good," Bella answered curtly. "I'll just go put dinner in the oven and then we can go," she said with a nod to my parents.
I followed her into the kitchen where she was pulling the lasagna she had prepared the day before out of the freezer and putting it into the oven.
"He's interfering again, isn't he?" Bella hissed at me softly.
"Yes, he's concerned."
"Ridiculous," Bella said, shaking her head.
No, it was not actually ridiculous. But it was annoying.
Bella walked back to the living room and gasped. Carlisle and Esme were examining the childhood pictures of Bella which Charlie proudly displayed on his mantel.
"You really don't need to look at those," Bella insisted.
"Nonsense Bella, you were a very cute child," Esme said with a smile.
"Yes, and precocious even then I see," Carlisle commented, holding a picture which showed a young Bella stubbornly perched on top of a massive boulder. How she got up there, and how many injuries she sustained getting down, I didn't want to know.
Bella huffed. "Dad, the lasagna's in the oven. When the timer beeps you can take the foil off the top and put the cheese that's on the top shelf of the fridge on top of the lasagna. Cook it for fifteen more minutes and then it should be done. The green stuff in the lasagna is spinach, it's good for you. And there's salad in the fridge too, it goes with the lasagna."
"Spinach and salad?" Charlie asked. "You're not trying to turn Billy and me into vegetarians or something unnatural like that are you?"
Bella gasped and fell over. Thankfully, I was close enough to catch her before she hit the floor.
"Bella? Are you okay?" Charlie asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Umm, my leg twitched. I lost my balance," Bella mumbled, grabbing my shoulders and pulling herself up.
A leg twitch? She was a terrible liar. But Charlie seemed to believe her, and attribute her blush to her embarrassment at falling over.
"Is your leg okay now Bella?" Carlisle asked.
"Yeah, seems so." Bella bent and stretched her leg a few times for good measure.
"Well, we best get going, we don't want to be late for dinner," Esme said, trying to extract us painlessly from the situation.
I nearly rolled my eyes as I heard Billy's thoughts begin to race at the word "dinner." Did he really think we would go through all this trouble just to kill Bella? His thoughts then turned to his theory about what this weekend was really about, and I bit down a growl at his macabre thoughts. How could he think so little of us?
"We'll bring Bella back by tomorrow evening," Carlisle promised Charlie. "If there are any problems we'll call. We're staying at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel if you need to reach us." It would be far easier to give Charlie his cell phone number, but we didn't give those numbers to anyone but family. Even Bella still had only our home number.
"The Fairmont Olympic Hotel?" Charlie choked.
"Yes, it is Edward's birthday after all," Carlisle said smoothly, trying to downplay the extravagance.
"Yes, but..." Charlie swallowed. "Right, Bella, you have fun."
Bella glanced between Charlie and I, then her eyes narrowed. She had figured out that the Fairmont Olympic was one of the most luxurious hotels in the state, and she wasn't happy.
"Yeah, lots of fun," Bella muttered. "Bye Dad, see you tomorrow." She turned to glare at Billy, still silently sitting in the corner of the living room. "Bye Billy."
"Bye Bella, be safe," he answered seriously.
Bella didn't even try to hide her eye-roll or her exasperated sigh. "Yeah, safe." She spun around angrily and started walking towards the door. "You have my bag, Edward?" she asked.
"Right here. Are you ready to go?"
"Yes," Bella said emphatically.
I took her arm and guided her out to the back of the Mercedes. Bella gave a quick wave to her Dad at the door and slid into her seat.
I put her bag in the trunk and got in on the other side of Bella behind Carlisle.
"All set, Bella?" Carlisle asked from the driver's seat, starting the car.
"Let's go, please," Bella begged.
"Bella, your father is the Chief of Police. Shouldn't you put your seat belt on?" I asked her.
"Umm," Bella blushed, shifting in her seat. "I was actually wondering if I could sit next to you. I, uh, want to stretch my leg out."
I chuckled at her nervousness about asking me to hold her with my parents in the car. "You know, Carlisle drives nearly as fast as I do, are you sure you don't want to put your seat belt on?" I teased.
"Well, if Carlisle does crash, I'd probably be safer with you than trapped in a seat belt anyways, right?" Bella asked.
A part of her logic was correct, but it was also incredibly wrong. Seat belts didn't harbor a powerful urge to bite her and drink her blood. I reached over and gathered her in my arms, pulling her to sit next to me and stretching her leg out on the seat.
"Mmm, much better," Bella murmured, leaning her head on my shoulder. I took a small breath, swallowed the venom, then took a deeper breath, nuzzling the top of her head gently.
Esme glanced back at us and smiled. It was a good thing Jasper wasn't here; the excited happiness of her thoughts would have made him hyperactive.
"By the way, how is your leg, Bella?" Carlisle asked.
"Ugh. I'm sorry, I didn't know that Billy would be there. Charlie invited him over to watch the game tonight, and must have mentioned this trip to him. And then when Charlie made the 'vegetarian' comment, I didn't know what to do, so I fell down. Charlie doesn't suspect anything, does he?"
"No, falling down is entirely believable for you Bella," I said, "Charlie doesn't suspect anything, he's just annoyed at Billy."
"He's annoyed? I'm annoyed," Bella countered, sitting up angrily. "Enough is enough, really."
"Has he said anything in particular to you, Bella?" Carlisle asked.
"No, not really," Bella answered. "I mean, he knows that I know about you guys and, well, he wants me to tell Charlie."
All three of us tensed. It was dangerous enough that Bella knew. Telling Charlie would be a very bad thing.
"I told him to mind his own business, of course," Bella said quickly. "I'm not telling anyone about you guys, especially Charlie."
"Thank you Bella," Carlisle said evenly, "we appreciate it."
"Sure," Bella said, putting her head back down on my shoulder with a sigh. "I don't know how to make Billy stop his meddling though. He's not going to tell Charlie, is he?"
"I don't think so," I said slowly. His thoughts were concerned of course, but also fearful. He knew the Reservation was unprotected now. He knew it would be dangerous to break the treaty. Well, break it any more than his annoying child already had.
Bella sat up and looked at me, her eyebrows pulled together. "What was he thinking anyways?" she asked.
"You don't want to know," I said, looking away.
"Yes, I do. I mean, did he really think that you would go through all this trouble with Charlie if you just wanted to kill me?"
"That wasn't it, exactly," I said with a clenched jaw.
"Then what? If I'm going to have to deal with Billy it would be helpful for me to know what he's thinking."
She was right, but I didn't want to share Billy's dark scenario with her. "Billy's been watching Interview with the Vampire too much, that's all," I said, hoping she would drop it.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Bella asked.
I closed my eyes. I wished Bella wouldn't make me tell her this. "Do you remember the scene in that movie where Lestat and Louis take a prostitute to a concert?"
Bella blinked. "Um, I only saw a few minutes of that movie last year on TV and all I really remember is thinking that Brad Pitt's make-up was terrible."
I suppressed a groan. Maybe this was why Bella felt comfortable around me. She had completely avoided her culture's warnings that we were dangerous.
"Wait, do this Lestat and Louis drink the prostitute's blood at this concert?" Bella asked.
I nodded.
"So Billy thinks you're going to kill me tonight in the middle of the Symphony? I thought he understood you guys better than that," she said, shaking her head.
"Yeah," I said softly, looking out the window.
I felt Bella's fingers at my chin, encouraging me to look at her. "There's more, isn't there?"
"It's not important, Bella, really." Please don't make me tell you this, Bella, please.
Bella shook her head. "I want to know."
I looked into her warm trusting eyes and took a deep breath. "What he actually thought was that you were Carlisle and Esme's birthday present to me this year."
Bella blinked. "I'm your birthday present?"
I winced and nodded.
Realization dawned on her face and she looked down and blushed. "Oh."
Oh, dear, Esme thought. Carlisle's thoughts were nearly as angry as mine. Had we not proved over and over to the Quileutes that we were different? How could he think of us as being so sadistic?
"So let me get this straight," Bella said, swallowing hard. "Billy thinks that for your birthday Carlisle and Esme pick the yummiest young girl around and cook up an elaborate scheme to take that girl away so you can drink her blood as your birthday present at the Symphony?"
I clenched my teeth. "Yes. Though to be fair Billy was thinking more about you being pretty and not about your scent." No point in me bringing up the fact that I knew drinking her blood would be the most exquisite ecstasy. Or the fact that Billy included physical intimacy in his scheme as well.
"That's just stupid," Bella said hotly.
No, it really wasn't stupid. Some vampires would find Billy's plan fantastic. "You are pretty too, of course," I said instead, trying to lighten the mood.
Bella looked up, and I was surprised to find that her eyes were swimming with tears. "No, how could he think such a thing? About you? And Carlisle and Esme? I'd be dead right now if it wasn't for you guys, all of you. He has no right..." Bella broke off, angry tears spilling over.
"Please don't cry Bella," I begged, caressing her cheeks. "We are what we are, and Billy can think whatever he wants about that, I don't care."
"We'll just keep on bringing you back safe and sound to Charlie," Esme said. "Eventually he'll have to see that we don't mean you any harm."
I thought Esme was being overly optimistic. Being with me was dangerous for Bella, even if we didn't intend to harm her. Did Esme not notice the plaster Bella's leg was encased in for six weeks? Or the thin white scar on her wrist which was in the shape of James' teeth? In the shape of my teeth? I felt a sliver of shame as I heard Carlisle's thoughts cautiously agreeing with mine.
"Right," Bella said, agreeing with Esme. "I hope he realizes that sooner rather than later. He's making me mad," Bella spat out, settling back into my arms again.
Bella's kitten claws were coming out to play. I didn't know whether to feel sorry for Billy or just laugh.
"Bella, I actually do want to know how your leg is doing," Carlisle said, changing the subject. "Any numbness or pain?"
"Nope, it's just still weak." She twisted her leg around on the seat, her knee-length dress exposing her calf. I felt I should look away, but the contrast between the color of her dress and her pale leg made it quite an alluring sight. "It's starting to look normal and match my other leg."
"Keep walking on it and exercise the muscles. You should rebuild your strength as quickly as you can," Carlisle suggested.
Bella smiled. "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind, and try not to fall down as I'm doing it."
"That's a good idea," Carlisle said with a chuckle.
Bella looked out the window. "We're going to be awfully early for the Symphony going this fast," Bella commented. I could tell she was trying very hard not to sound judgmental.
"We're going to check in to our hotel and go to dinner beforehand," I told her.
Bella sat up and looked me in the eyes. "I didn't realize mountain lions roamed the streets of Seattle these days," she said with a frown.
"Of course not, Bella," I said, not wanting to mention the fact that to most vampires Seattle was the most scrumptious buffet around. "Shall I rephrase? We are going to dinner, and you will eat."
"Oh," Bella said, looking down. "You don't need to do that, I can just get something to eat at a drive-thru."
A drive-thru? This was the last straw. I was convinced that she was insane. "Bella, we're not taking you to the Symphony and making you eat dinner at a fast-food joint. And besides," I added with a smile, "I need someone to eat my birthday cake."
Bella gasped, her heart stuttered, and her eyes became unfocused. I had successfully dazzled her yet again. Hopefully that would make her forget all about eating greasy non-food items for dinner.
Edward, you're going to give this poor girl cardiac arrhythmia, Carlisle chided.
"Bella, breathe," I instructed softly. Her chest heaved, and she blinked rapidly. "Now, what was the problem?"
"Umm, dinner?" Bella asked.
"Yes, we're taking you to a restaurant, where you will eat dinner, and then eat my birthday cake, okay?"
"Oh, yeah, okay," Bella agreed with a sigh of defeat. "What restaurant are we going to?" she asked suspiciously.
"It's just the restaurant at the hotel, Bella."
"I guess that will be okay," Bella said, relaxing.
I sighed. If she thought the restaurant at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel was of the same caliber as a restaurant at a Holiday Inn she was in for a big surprise. I would let her figure that out when we arrived.
Port Angeles flew by in a blur as Bella continued to rest against me, her head tucked into my neck.
Is she comfortable, Edward? Esme asked anxiously. We should have brought a pillow for her.
"I think she's fine, Mom," I answered softly so that Bella wouldn't hear.
Are you sure? I can't imagine that she would find that comfortable, Esme continued.
She was really going to make me say it. "Mom, she sleeps on my chest most nights," I revealed. I braced myself for Esme's elation at this information and was not disappointed.
Carlisle was simply surprised. I didn't realize you were already laying in bed with her, Edward.
I winced and looked out the window so I didn't have to meet his eyes in the rearview mirror. "Yes," I confirmed softly.
Is this new? Carlisle pressed.
"No," I admitted. One of the things Carlisle lauded me for was the fact that I was a gentleman. Yet just days after my first date with a girl I had already invaded her bed. I was glad I couldn't blush.
Carlisle paused. Bella agrees to this I hope? he finally asked.
"Of course." I may be a dangerous monster, but I wasn't a complete cad.
Carlisle nodded and let the matter drop, for now.
We continued in silence for a while before I roused Bella to sit up. "Have you come this way to Seattle before, Bella?" I asked.
"I think the last time I went to Seattle I was thirteen," Bella said. "Charlie ran out of things for me to do in Forks that summer. Imagine that."
Yes, I imagined Forks would be quite dull without the thrill of an exceptionally large number of vampires hanging around. "We're coming up to the Hood Canal Floating Bridge soon, and then we're going to take the ferry across the Sound. I thought you might enjoy the view."
Bella sat up, putting both feet on the floor, but continued to rest her head on my shoulder to look out my window.
I looked out the window with her, watching the forest and water flash by, concentrating on her scent, the sound of her heartbeat, the feel of her hand at my waist. This, I decided, was perfect happiness.
Finally we pulled up to the ferry dock at Kingston. "The ferry will be here in fifteen minutes. Do you want to get out and stretch your legs?" I asked Bella.
"Yeah, my doctor would probably say that's a good idea," Bella said, grinning at Carlisle.
"Yes, he does," Carlisle said. "I also think a short walk would be nice. Esme, would you join me?" he invited her with a smile.
Esme nodded and nearly jumped out of the car, happy for the excuse to get some fresh air. Bella's scent had nearly saturated the interior of the car and even Esme could no longer deny the appeal of it. Fortunately, Bella didn't seem to notice.
I opened the door and helped Bella out, holding her as she stood up carefully. "I hope you're not cold," I said, eyeing her bare arms.
"No, actually it's very nice today. My body must finally be adjusting to a temperature other than blistering hot."
It was rather warm, the thin layer of clouds actually trapping the heat like a blanket. This weekend was going to be perfect.
We walked slowly over to the pier and looked out over Puget Sound. In the distance I could hear Carlisle ask Esme if she was alright. He had noticed her hasty exit from the car.
"I'm in control, I just thought I was going to go crazy," Esme replied, leaning her head on Carlisle's chest. "Bella really is like none other, isn't she?"
"Yes. We'll open the windows on the way home, I promise," Carlisle said soothingly, rubbing her back gently. I grimaced. It was one thing to torture myself with Bella, it was quite another to cause Esme pain.
Our ferry, the Spokane, pulled up and began unloading its previous passengers so I led Bella back to the car for boarding.
"The Sound is pretty, isn't it?" Esme asked Bella as we drove onto the ferry, trying to ease her guilt.
"Yes, very," Bella agreed, shifting in her seat.
"Are you okay Bella?" I asked.
"Yeah. As soon as we get parked I need to go up for a human moment, that's all."
As soon as the attendant gave the signal that we could vacate the car I helped Bella out of the car again and escorted her up the stairs to the women's restroom. After she was done I held her tightly on the observation deck until the ferry began pulling into Edmonds.
"Edward, can you get my brush out of my bag in the trunk?" Bella asked as we walked toward the car. "My hair is completely knotted from the wind," she explained, yanking her hands through the knots.
"Of course. Get in the car and stop trying to pull your hair out."
Carlisle had heard Bella's request and had already popped open the trunk. I retrieved the brush out of the top of Bella's bag and got in beside her.
"Thanks," Bella said, holding her hand out to take the brush from me.
I looked at her hand. Dare I? I was sure I had enough control to do this, but this was something I had never done before. "Turn around."
"What?"
I smiled, this might also be fun. "Turn around so I can brush your hair."
Bella stared at me for a long moment and I began to panic. Girls considered their hair to be personal space, I knew that. But it was presently customary for a girl to allow her boyfriend to brush her hair, was it not?
Bella blinked and gulped, but then twisted around so that her back was towards me. I frowned. That was an odd response. I would have to figure out what that meant. But she apparently gave me permission to brush her hair, so I would.
Start at the bottom of her hair and work your way up, Esme instructed, visualizing the procedure for me. I resisted the urge to hiss at her. I may have been happily single for all of my long life, but that didn't mean I was completely ignorant about the finer points of the feminine kind.
I picked up a section of Bella's hair and gently began brushing the ends, working my way up her hair section by section. I had thought this action was a simple act of sharing in grooming. Like primates cleaning ticks out of each other's coats, it expressed concern about the well-being of the other. I was completely unprepared for how this action would affect me. I had touched Bella's hair before, but as I pulled the brush across her scalp I realized the sheer intimacy of this act. Perhaps that was why Bella hesitated.
"All done," I murmured softly, holding the brush out to her.
"Thanks," Bella said, flushing slightly as she turned around.
I had the sudden desire to take her in my arms, lay her down on the back seat, and kiss her thoroughly. Not really appropriate, especially with Carlisle and Esme in the car. I would just hold her again, that should be enough.
We entered the metropolis of Seattle and Esme began pointing out various landmarks to Bella. For being a relatively new city Seattle had a rich history in arts and architecture. Esme was trying very hard to make Bella feel at ease, but I was certain she was speaking a bit too fast and with too many technical terms for Bella to keep up. Bella, for her part, gamely peered out the windows where Esme pointed and nodded and agreed at appropriate intervals. I sighed and considered the existence of some innate feminine instinct which drives women to such lengths to please each other.
Carlisle drove up the Grand Motor Entrance of the Fairmont Olympic and Bella gasped. "This is our hotel?" she asked.
"Yes," I said happily. I couldn't wait to see Bella's beauty complement the elegance of this place.
Bella got out of the car slowly as Carlisle handed the keys to the valet and the porters began unloading our bags from the trunk. "It's too much," Bella whispered, looking at the grand edifice with awe.
"Too much for my birthday?" I asked, pretending to look hurt. If I passed off this weekend as being all about me perhaps Bella wouldn't complain about the extravagance.
"You know what I mean," she hissed back, clearly not fooled at all.
"Everything is already bought and paid for, Bella. So please just enjoy it, for me?" I flashed her another smile, hoping that would ease the acceptance.
Bella took a deep breath, and then sighed in defeat. "Fine," she shot back, "and happy birthday." She stalked towards the front doors, following Carlisle and Esme inside.
"Thank you. Now, are you ready for dinner?" I asked, hurrying behind her.
"I..." Bella trailed off as she entered the lobby. If she thought the outside was amazing, it was nothing compared to the lobby. It was an understatement to call this room merely a "lobby." It was a galleria, decked out in blue and gold furniture, and had a curving double staircase at the opposite end. At the top of one of the staircases a pianist was gently playing Mozart's thirteenth piano concerto.
"Isn't it lovely?" Esme asked Bella excitedly. "This hotel was built in 1924 and is the best example of western American imitations of Italian Renaissance architecture from that time period."
"Uh-huh," Bella nodded, as Esme continued to point out the artistic details, using more and more Italian words as she went on.
"Ready for dinner, Bella?" Carlisle asked as he rejoined us.
"Oh, sure. I thought we were going to check in to our rooms first?"
"Carlisle just did that, and the porters are taking our bags up," I explained to her gently.
"Right," Bella said with a deep breath, "then I guess it's time for dinner."
"It is," I agreed, hold my arm out to her, "may I escort you to dinner milady?"
Bella rolled her eyes but put her hand on my elbow. "Of course."
Esme took Carlisle's arm as well and we walked down the hall to The Georgian. I saw Bella's lips tighten as she took in the view of the luxurious green and taupe dining room with lighted candelabras and another pianist in the corner quietly playing Chopin's first ballade.
"This is nice," Bella said bravely.
"Yes, it is," I agreed, admiring the way Bella looked in the soft candlelight.
Carlisle arranged for a corner table which would give us some privacy and I awkwardly managed to hold Bella's chair for her at the table and help her sit. It was more difficult than I thought. I should have asked Alice to help me practice that maneuver before today.
Bella picked up the menu, glanced at it, and promptly dropped it back down on the table.
"Is something wrong, Bella?" I asked.
"Yes. I'm the only one here actually eating and I don't understand over half of this menu."
"We may not be able to describe how the food tastes, but we can try to explain what the dishes are," Carlisle offered.
"That's okay," Bella murmured, picking up the menu again, "there has to be something in here I recognize. Oh look," Bella's face brightened, "they have mushroom ravioli. I'll have that." She gave me a triumphant smile and put the menu down.
"Why don't you also pick an appetizer, Bella?" I suggested. Dinner here was at least three courses.
"Okay," Bella relented, picking up the menu again, "Salmon?"
The smoked salmon was the simplest appetizer on the menu, but if that was what Bella wanted, that was what she would get.
When dinner came we surreptitiously passed our plates around the table, insisting that Bella sample each one and choose her favorite. She ended up choosing Esme's roast lamb and Esme's thoughts once again raced with happiness.
I knew she'd love the gnocchi. She must be part Italian. We should plan a family vacation to Italy, maybe over Christmas. Bella could come along, of course. I'd love to take her on a tour of Rome. She'd love it, I'm sure.
I hissed at her softly. I was definitely not going to let Esme drag Bella around Rome anytime soon.
The waiter soon brought out my birthday cake and I blew out the obligatory candle quickly. I looked over to see Bella looking at me with soft eyes. "Happy birthday, Edward," she murmured.
She said those words with such love that I could almost feel my dead heart stutter like hers always did. I took her hand from the table between us and pressed my lips to her knuckles. "Thank you, Bella."
Bella hand quivered and I dropped it quickly. "Would you like some cake?" I asked, putting the plate in front of her. The cake had an overwhelming smell of cocoa and dairy products, I hoped that meant Bella would find it delicious.
Bella nodded and put a forkful of cake in her mouth. Her eyes closed and she moaned softly. "This cake," she gasped, "is positively sinful."
"You like it?"
"I wish you could eat some too, it's absolutely decadent," she declared, taking another bite and repeating her previous reaction.
"It's all yours," I said. Watching her eat this chocolate confection was oddly appealing. Billy Black was wrong, I decided. Drinking Bella's blood would be ecstasy, yes, but Bella's birthday gift to me was the sight of her response to this cake. I suddenly wished I could sit and watch Bella eat it all night.
Careful, Edward, Carlisle thought. What did I have to be careful about? I saw my face in his mind and realized that I looked hungry. Oh. I gave Carlisle a small nod and tried to relax.
"I'm done," Bella said too soon, "this cake is very rich."
"Shall we go to our suite and get ready for the Symphony then?" Carlisle suggested.
We took the elevator up and went to the Cascade Suite. Bella walked in and stopped in the middle of the spacious parlor. "This hotel room has a fireplace and a grand piano in it," she said flatly.
"It's their only suite with two bedrooms, Bella," I said as an excuse. She had just finished healing from her last vampire attack; she would be safer under the protection of all three of us.
"I asked the porters to put yours and Edward's things in the master bedroom. Is that alright Bella?" Carlisle asked. "You have your own bathroom as well."
Bella flushed. "Yeah, that's fine, thanks." She was obviously embarrassed that my father had put our clothes in the same room. She must be unaware of the fact that my family was fully informed about where I spent my nights now.
"Let's get ready to go then," I said to her, leading her down the hall to the bedroom. Our bedroom. That thought made me both nervous and happy for some reason.
"Where's our stuff?" Bella asked, glancing around the room.
"In the closet Bella," I said, opening the closet to show her that our clothes were already hanging neatly.
"They touched my clothes?" Bella asked.
I squeezed my eyes shut. Could Bella really not accept anything at all? "They get paid to do that, Bella," I said, hoping that would ease her discomfort.
"Alright," Bella grumbled. "And my bathroom bag?"
I pointed her towards the bathroom.
"This is so embarrassing," Bella muttered, stalking into the bathroom and shutting the door loudly.
Bella was actually being a good sport about this, I reminded myself with a sigh. I took my suit jacket out of the closet and put it on. "Bella," I called to her, "I'll wait for you in the parlor. We're leaving in fifteen minutes."
"Okay, I'll be right out," Bella replied.
I went out to the parlor and played some chord progressions on the piano. A B-flat key was just a hair out of tune. It wasn't enough to cause any trouble, and Bella wouldn't notice. Perhaps I could play her an encore performance tonight.
"How are you enjoying your birthday so far?" Esme asked as she came out of the other bedroom. She had changed her shoes for silver pumps and had a silver wrap over her arm which complemented her light green dress.
"It's nice," I admitted. "Different."
"Yes, definitely different," Esme agreed. "Bella seems to be enjoying herself. That makes me happy."
"Yes, I am fully aware of your happiness."
"I have every right to be happy, Edward," she insisted, her mind replaying my kiss on Bella's hand at dinner. I swear, if I wasn't married to Carlisle I would have swooned as much as Bella did just seeing that.
"Stop it," I groaned.
"Why? I've waited decades to see you with a woman at your side and I can honestly say that it is one of the most beautiful sights in the world. Let me enjoy it, okay?"
"Enjoy it while it lasts, you mean?" I bit back bitterly.
Esme sat on the piano bench next to me. "You know I don't believe that, Edward," she said softly.
"Well maybe you should," I retorted.
"Edward," Carlisle rebuked gently, entering the room.
I angrily played a few ominous lines from Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 and closed the piano. I was only away from Bella for a few minutes and already I was troubled. When I was with Bella it was easy to ignore the fact that our future was undoubtedly careening towards disaster.
I heard Carlisle mentally review the things he wanted to say to me, and his decision to let that discussion wait. I had a feeling it was going to be a long night.
Bella walked into the parlor then, a cream sweater shrug over her arm. "I'm ready," she announced.
I breathed a sigh of relief at seeing her and couldn't help but go and take her hand. Everything suddenly felt right again.
"Excellent. Let's go to the Symphony, shall we?" I invited, leading her out the door. It was another moment of happiness, and I would steal it greedily.
A/N: I learned about the Fairmont Olympic Hotel website online. I tried to be true to what I saw in the pictures, but I've never actually been there, so some details may be slightly off. The Cascade Suite actually does have a fireplace and a piano.
The Georgian, the restaurant at the Fairmont Olympic, does in fact have mushroom ravioli on its menu. People in the Northwest must really like that dish.
And I do think Brad Pitt looks weird in Interview with the Vampire.
