CPOV

"We're walking to Benaroya Hall, Bella. It's right down the street. Do you mind?" I asked as the elevator opened for the lobby.

"A walk sounds fantastic. And it's good exercise, right?" Bella said with a smile.

"Right. And I'm certain Edward won't allow you to trip and hurt yourself, so this exercise should be perfectly safe," I answered. I was glad Bella was so good-natured. Well, good-natured about simple things like walking. Her annoyance at our efforts to take care of her was mildly irritating, but I supposed I would much prefer her annoyance over greediness.

Edward put one arm around Bella's waist and his other hand on her elbow, guiding her carefully down the sidewalk. Esme gave me a smile and I put my arm around her shoulders as we walked behind them.

"Bella," Esme said after we walked down the block, "Benaroya Hall is right there past the next street. What do you think?"

Bella looked at the building with wide eyes. The entire front of Benaroya Hall was glass and the lights inside spilled out of the windows, making the whole building glow invitingly.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" Esme asked Bella. "The combination of glass, steel and light and the geometric lines..." Esme trailed off as Edward growled softly.

Edward, Esme's just excited, I nudged him mentally.

I thought Edward's growl was too soft for Bella to hear, but she must have noticed something, because she glanced between Edward and Esme quickly and gave Esme a tentative smile. "It is pretty," she offered.

At least Bella could be polite today, I thought to myself. Well, mostly to myself.

"Shall we go find our seats?" Edward said tersely.

We entered through the Boeing Company Gallery and I heard Edward mutter "not now" in Esme's direction. She must have asked to stay for a moment to show Bella the glass art pieces which adorned the space.

"We'll come down here during intermission," I murmured in her ear as we turned toward the stairs.

Esme slowed down to fall behind Edward. "Am I being too over-bearing?" she asked worriedly. "It's just so nice to finally see Edward's romantic side, and I want to make Bella feel welcome."

"I think Bella understands that, and appreciates it as well," I reassured her. "Nonetheless, I think we should give them some time alone later."

"Yes, I suppose that would be a good idea," Esme agreed. "Oh Carlisle, she sleeps with him," she hissed excitedly.

"Yes, it seems she does," I said carefully.

"Oh don't be such a prude," Esme said, tugging my elbow. "It's romantic."

We came to a landing and I turned and leaned Esme against the railing. "Are you telling me, Miss Platt," I asked seriously, "that if I came to your bedroom when you were sixteen that you would have simply invited me into your bed without any thought to propriety or honor?"

She gave me a wicked smile. "Yes."

"You women are going to give us Cullen men a bad reputation," I teased, escorting her up the stairs again.

"You have an excellent reputation. Impeccable gentleman, extraordinary self-control, every girl would be lucky to get one of you in her bed," she said saucily.

"Well, this Cullen man knows exactly whose bed he will visit tonight," I purred in her ear and was rewarded by the sensation of her trembling slightly.

"How can he stand it though?" Esme asked, turning serious. "Bella's scent is even more appealing to him than it is to me, and I had a hard time being in the car with her for a few hours. To lay in her bed with her while she sleeps," Esme shook her head, "it must be absolute torture."

"It's a price Edward is apparently willing to pay," I told her.

"Yes, but when Alice said that Edward would need even more control than you I thought she was simply being hyperbolic. I mean, how can anyone have more control than you?"

I raised my eyebrows. Was that a rhetorical question?

"Now though..." Esme trailed off.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I just wish it wasn't so hard for them. I like Bella, and they're perfect together. If only they could actually be together, you know?"

"That decision is out of my hands this time," I reminded her gently.

"But if Bella was suddenly dying somehow, you would change her, right?" she whispered.

"In a heartbeat," I promised.

We came to the top of the stairs and the entrance of the Founder's Tier box seats. Edward was waiting impatiently at the doorway with Bella. Ah, yes, I had our tickets.

Edward nodded and grimaced, angling his head minutely towards the usher, who was trying to admire Bella secretly and failing horribly.

"Here are our tickets," I told the usher, standing a half-step closer to him than I normally did for humans. Edward's smile and the fact that we walked unescorted to our box confirmed that I had successfully scared the poor human away.

I had thought it fortunate that Edward could not read Bella's thoughts since it forced him to work at the relationship bit by bit. I could see now that the real danger of their relationship lay in the fact that Edward's ability allowed him to register every untoward thought anyone had for Bella. You can't allow yourself to become territorial based simply upon a thought, Edward. It will only drive you mad, I instructed.

Edward just spared me a hard glance as we entered our box.

"Which seat is mine?" Bella asked.

"Take your pick Bella," Edward offered.

Bella stopped and looked at me. "You bought all eight seats?" she asked incredulously.

"It's easier that way Bella, really," Edward said softly, leading her down to the front row and offering her the middle seat which was closest to the stage.

Yes, it was much easier to simply have the other four seats be bought by a mysterious J. Jenks who never arrived. Humans hated sitting behind us staring at the back of our necks. They also hated sitting in front of us. All except Bella, who didn't seem to mind either way.

Esme and I took the seats behind them and I watched in amusement as Bella fidgeted in her seat, trying to get comfortable and look around the auditorium at the same time.

"This place is huge," Bella finally commented.

"It seats twenty-five hundred people," Edward said, apparently happy to finally show off his own area of expertise, "yet it has award-winning acoustics."

"And that's quite an accomplishment?" Bella queried.

"Yes, the way the architectural details naturally refract the sound of the music faithfully to every part of this auditorium is quite advanced."

"I see. And what music will be playing tonight?" Bella asked, looking at her program.

"We're warming up with Georges Enescu's Romanian Rhapsody in D major, opus eleven, number two. He was a turn of the century Romanian composer, and his rhapsody includes elements of Romanian folk music. It's fun and different," Edward explained.

"Then we'll have what I came here for," Edward continued, his eyes shining. "Beethoven's Piano Concerto number four in G major, opus fifty-eight. Then Stravinsky's Pétrouchka, the 1947 version. You should recognize parts of both pieces, they are moderately famous."

Bella nodded and I realized that she was also quite excited about the music. Interesting, most human children these days loathed classical music. It seemed that she and Edward shared some meaningful interests.

Edward continued to explain the arrangement of the orchestra and specifications of the piano on the stage as the orchestra went through their warm-ups. I sat back and watched the two of them interact freely. The gentle touches of Edward's hand on Bella's arm. The way Bella thoughtfully processed each piece of information Edward offered her. The way Bella glanced at Edward, watching his eyes, and then his lips. The way Edward gazed back at her. Esme was right, Bella brought out the romantic side in Edward that I had never seen before.

I took Esme's hand in mine and rubbed her palm gently with my thumb as the lights went down. The gentle notes of Enescu's rhapsody filled the air and I saw Esme smile as Edward's arm went around Bella's shoulders, grudgingly lifting it only to politely clap his appreciation as the music ended.

The pianist came out on the stage for Beethoven and Edward sat up straighter, watching him intently as he began the piece. Bella looked at Edward and smiled at his eagerness. Edward saw her smile and turned to her, putting his arm around her again.

"Beethoven did something very interesting in this piece," he murmured in her ear softly. "The piano plays almost improvisatory style, interrupting the orchestra and leading them through different cadences, never allowing them to settle on a theme for long."

Bella nodded and leaned her head on his shoulder, letting her eyes close. Edward took her opposite hand in his free hand and rested his head on top of hers. Theirs was a posture of complete love and contentment. I made sure the sight was firmly stored in my brain. It was a picture I may want to review often in the future.

The second movement began and Edward once again put his lips to Bella's ear. "This piece has received an interpretation over the years. The piano represents Orpheus and the strings represent the Furies. It tells the story of Orpheus taming the Furies at the gate of Hades."

"Orpheus?" Bella said, clearly trying to recall her knowledge of Greek mythology. It was yet another subject which human children these days were quite ignorant of. "Wasn't he the one who went to Hell to get his wife back?" Bella asked, surprising me.

"Yes," Edward confirmed. "He had to promise Hades that he would not look at his wife until they both left the Underworld. But Orpheus looked back before his wife had completely reached the surface, and she vanished forever."

"That's so sad," Bella commented.

"Plato had a different telling of the story actually," Edward continued. "To him, Orpheus was a coward, because instead of dying so that he could join his wife in the Underworld he selfishly tried to drag his wife back to be with him in his own world."

"That made him a coward?" Bella asked.

"To the Greeks suicide was noble." Edward explained. "It showed mastery over the self, mastery over death, mastery over fear."

"I see," Bella said with a nod.

Edward tensed and then sighed. Whatever Bella's comment meant, he didn't like it.

Edward seemed almost relieved when the energetic third movement began and turned his attention to the technical mastery of the pianist.

"Does this piece have a story?" Bella murmured.

"No, it is quite straightforward. It begins in a subdominant key and then eventually resolves itself in a tonic G major."

"A happy ending, then?"

"Yes, I suppose," he said, nuzzling her ear with his nose and dropping a kiss at the corner of her jaw. He paused and looked back at Esme sharply. Esme just smiled. I guessed she was feeling elated again at seeing that kiss.

We're honestly not trying to admire the way you two are affectionate, I teased him as the concerto ended and we gave the orchestra a round of applause.

The lights went up for intermission. "Esme and I are headed down to the Gallery," I said to Edward. "I suggest you take Bella down to the lobby and get her something to drink."

Edward just gave me an exasperated look and nodded.

"I'm just making sure. We are planning on taking her back to Charlie in good health after all," I reminded him.

"Yes, I promise not to snack on Bella while you're gone," Edward said sarcastically.

Alright, we'll give you two some time alone, I told him, stepping out of the box with Esme.

I led Esme down to the Gallery so that she could inspect the large chandeliers made out of thousands of curving glass pieces.

"Those two seem to be really enjoying themselves," she said as she admired the way the chandelier prismed the light.

"Yes," I agreed.

"It's so lovely to see Edward share his love of music with someone finally."

"Someone other than you and I, you mean?" I asked.

Esme turned to look at me. "Don't tell me you're jealous, Carlisle."

"It's not jealousy so much, I just..." I took a deep breath. "It's just that now I suppose I know how Edward felt when I brought you home," I admitted.

Esme looked at me for a long moment, and then started walking down the Gallery to the other chandelier. "You know, sometimes I wonder what you and Edward would be like if you hadn't found me in that morgue."

"You do?"

"Yes, and when I think about it the best I can come up with is that you two would have been like Achilles and Patroclus, Arthur and Lancelot, Antonio and Bassanio, Holmes and Watson."

"Would that be a bad thing?"

"Not necessarily. You two would have simply whittled away time with intellectual pursuits and manly endeavors. But where would be the beauty in that?"

"Where, indeed?" I admitted, looking at the chandelier which vaguely reminded me of a massive sea anemone. "It's a good thing I found you then."

"It sure is. Because these days it would be more believable for you to pass Edward off as your lover instead of your nephew, you know."

I groaned. I really did not need to think about that.

"What? You two would make a very handsome couple," Esme said with a smirk.

"You," I declared, "are a wretched woman."

Esme leaned over and purred in my ear. "Oh, am I?"

I hissed sharply and pulled back. If I didn't end this now Edward and Bella would be enjoying the second half by themselves.

Esme laughed. "All I'm saying is that while things are different now they are for the better, yes?"

I frowned. Alice's vision of her and Bella, sans Edward, invaded my thoughts again. "I sure hope so," was all I could say.

The lights flickered and I took Esme's elbow to escort her up the stairs. "If we're really quiet do you think we can surprise the lovebirds and see what they've been up to?" Esme asked with a giggle.

"This is Edward, we can never surprise him," I reminded her.

"Yes, but if he is really distracted..." Esme trailed off suggestively.

"You're insufferable, you know that right?"

"Hum the last movement in your head," Esme instructed, "maybe that will throw him off."

I very much doubted this would work, but I did as I was told. We walked quietly down the aisle and peeked into our box. The sight we were greeted with startled me. Edward was running soft kisses down the side of Bella's neck as Bella tipped her head to the side, giving him full access.

Esme must have stopped playing music in her head as well, because Edward's head snapped up and he glowered at us.

"What?" Bella asked, sitting up. Seeing us, she ducked her head and blushed furiously.

"Really not helpful," Edward muttered at us, moving away from Bella.

"Did you get some refreshments, Bella?" I asked.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah, I did. A coke and some nuts," Bella choked out, still very flustered.

"Good," I said, noting that her heartbeat was still racing.

I looked at Edward, who was glaring at me. You have to be so careful, Edward.

"I am," he hissed back at me.

I nodded and took my seat. We would discuss this later. Edward grunted and put his arm around Bella again.

Stravinsky's airy opening notes of Pétrouchka filled the Hall and Edward's lips once again went to Bella ear. "This piece is actually for a ballet," he murmured to her. "It begins on Maslenitsa, the Russian version of Mardi Gras. A Charlatan brings out his puppet box to entertain a crowd. He plays a bit of flute music," Edward nodded at the flutist, "and the puppets, a ballerina, a Moor, and Petrushka himself, come to life and start dancing. After the show is over the Charlatan stuffs Petrushka back into the puppet box in a dark cold room. Petrushka, even though he is a puppet, feels anger towards the Charlatan for his imprisonment and love for the beautiful ballerina. The ballerina comes into his room and Petrushka tries to tell her that he loves her, but he is a silly puppet, so she leaves, leaving Petrushka alone and sad."

"Poor Petrushka," Bella commented.

"It gets worse," Edward continued after a few minutes. "The Charlatan places the ballerina in the Moor's room, which, unlike Petrushka's, is lavish and bright. The ballerina thinks the Moor is very handsome, so she plays him some music on her flute and dances with him."

Edward paused as the rousing music filled the air, then turned discordant. "Petrushka breaks out of his cell to stop the Moor's seduction of the ballerina. Petrushka attacks the Moor, but the Moor is bigger and stronger than him, and Petrushka is beaten. Petrushka runs for his life and the Moor chases after him."

"Oh no," Bella whispered.

The music changed. "We're now back at the festival where the people are dancing. As the music reaches its crescendo a cry is heard from the puppet theater. Petrushka is running across the stage and the Moor catches up to him, cutting him down with his sword, killing him."

Bella gasped and I smelled saline. Bella was becoming quite emotionally involved in this story. Esme gave my hand a happy squeeze.

"The police come," Edward went on as the music softened. "They question the Charlatan about the murder which just took place on his puppet stage. The Charlatan grabs Petrushka's body and holds it up to show everyone that Petrushka was nothing more than a puppet. That night after the crowd leaves the Charlatan sees Petrushka's ghost standing on his body of wood and straw, defying the Charlatan at last."

The music ended and we stood to give the musicians a round of applause. "So even though Petrushka was a puppet he still had a soul?" Bella asked as each section took a bow.

"It's just a story," Edward replied.

"Yes, well, some myths are true, are they not?" Bella said pointedly.

"Yes, some are," Edward admitted, "but I have yet to meet any puppets who are even sentient, Bella."

The artistic director then walked up to the microphone and asked everyone to sit again. "What's going on, Edward?" I asked as we settled back into out seats.

"An encore performance of some kind, it's..." Edward suddenly tensed and growled angrily. The growl was more than loud enough for Bella to hear and I saw Bella fall completely still next to him. Her hand twitched as if she wanted to touch his arm but then thought better of it. Apparently Bella had already learned how to react to a defensive vampire.

"Edward, what's wrong?" she asked gently.

Edward just shook his head. The artistic director was explaining that the pianist was leaving their company after this season and would be playing a special encore performance of one his favorite pieces from the season, Schubert's Impromptu in G-flat.

I felt Esme tense beside me and I squeezed my eyes shut. Why did they need to decide to play this particular piece of music on this exact night? My mind went back seventy-eight years to the time Esme and I took Edward to another concert for his birthday. That night in Duluth they had unexpectedly played this piece as well. In retrospect this music seemed appropriate, I thought, as the melancholy chords drifted around the Hall. It was the night when Edward had said those hurtful words to me. Then, three days later, Edward, his eyes pitch black with the thirst he couldn't satiate, throwing the furniture and then running, running down the path I never wanted him to take.

I saw Edward shiver and I tried desperately to stop my memories. It was not helpful to dwell on what happened then. Edward was here now, valiantly mastering his thirst as he showered affection on the human girl at his side.

Bella cautiously ran her fingers down Edward's forearm which was clamped firmly on the armrest between them. "Edward?" she asked again.

Edward took a deep breath and turned his head to look in Bella's eyes. He slowly raised his arm and cupped Bella's chin with his hand. I tensed. I had no idea what dark memories this music may have aroused in Edward's mind, and I was painfully aware of the fact that Edward could easily relive them with a flick of his wrist. Edward, please, control. This is Bella, I begged, watching as Bella once again became very still, even making her breaths shallow.

Edward's hand traced up Bella's jaw and then down her neck, coming to rest on her pulse point. "I'm sorry Bella," he finally whispered, "this piece brings back a lot of memories for me."

Bella gave a small nod and Edward finally noticed her tension. "Oh Bella, come here," he murmured, pulling Bella into his embrace again. Bella immediately relaxed and I frowned. The normal human response to seeing a vampire in that state was to move away, not welcome further physical contact.

As soon as the last notes were played Edward looked back at me. "May we please leave immediately?" he asked.

"Of course, Edward," I agreed, taking Esme's arm and walking down to the lobby as quickly as could be appropriate.

Esme leaned her head on my shoulder. "Why?" she whispered, "everything was going so well."

I didn't know what to say, so I just squeezed her elbow gently. Edward and Bella began walking to us and I saw that Edward had helped Bella put on her shrug. I blinked and immediately reached down to take Esme's wrap off her arm and wrap it around her shoulders.

Edward hissed. What now Edward? I began to ask and then noticed that Edward was flinching at Esme's dress. I belatedly realized that it was just a few shades lighter than the green flapper dress Esme had worn on that night. Perhaps the Fates had meant it to warn us.

We silently walked down the street to the hotel and I tried to sort out my own thoughts. What happened seventy-eight years ago was long buried, and Edward and I were completely reconciled. The similarities between this night and that one, however, felt like déjà vu, and the pain that Edward leaving had caused me then was crushing into my chest all over again.

Bella's eyes flickered between the three of us. I could tell that she was troubled by the atmosphere, but she fortunately kept quiet.

"Bella," Edward said softly when we finally reached our suite, "why don't you go ahead and get ready for bed, I'll be out here with Carlisle and Esme."

"Okay," she said, "I'll try not to drown in the enormous bathtub in there."

"Yes, please," Edward said. When we heard the bedroom door click shut he turned to look at me. "What?" he hissed angrily.

"Edward, can we please just talk about this?"

Edward just shook his head and went to sit at the piano. "I know what you want to talk about and frankly I don't see how any of it is your business."

I sighed and went to look out the window beside him. "I worry about you, that's all, and that is my business. And the relationship between you and Bella..."

"Doesn't need your interference," Edward interrupted.

"Don't tell me you never once 'interfered' when I first began courting Esme," I countered.

"That was different," Edward sniffed.

"Different? How?"

"Because you two weren't courting, you were infatuated with each other while avoiding each other studiously. That's different."

I closed my eyes. I hated having these arguments with Edward.

"Me too," Edward muttered.

"Can we get back to the matter at hand? My point is that I don't believe there has ever been a relationship like the one between you and Bella, I wish you would allow me to offer you my observations and advice."

"Okay," Edward relented, "what do you want to say to me?"

Where should I begin? "You lay in her bed while she sleeps," I said.

"And like I told you, she wants me there, and I want to be there, so I fail to see the problem."

"But the control you must exercise, Edward..."

"The more I am with her the easier it becomes to be in control."

"You become de-sensitized to her scent over time?"

"Yes. When I am away from her for a while, and then smell her again, I have to resensitize myself, but it is becoming gradually easier each time."

I was impressed. Becoming de-sensitized to temptation was one the first steps towards advanced control for me. I carefully moved on to the next topic.

"When I say that you need control, I don't just mean control over your bloodlust."

"What do you mean?"

"Edward, I saw the way you looked at her when she was eating the cake."

Edward's face showed confusion and he shook his head. "I don't see what you're trying to get at. At the time all I was thinking was that the pleasure of watching Bella eat that cake was nearly as enticing as Billy Black's scenario of me drinking her blood. I don't know what you saw, but I didn't actually have the urge to bite her. Well, not any more than usual."

Surely Edward was smart enough to see what was going on. "There are different kinds of lust," I said flatly.

Edward head snapped up. "Carlisle," he warned.

"Do you find Bella physically attractive?" I asked.

"Yes," Edward hissed, clenching his teeth.

"And do you feel the urge to act on that?"

Edward squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I can't believe we're having this conversation," he growled.

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes. Dammit, that's a yes. Are you happy yet, Esme?" Edward asked angrily.

I looked over at Esme who was sitting on the couch. If there was a vampire equivalent of the cat who swallowed the canary Esme would be it.

"Physical attraction can also be a quite powerful urge, Edward."

"Yes, I know, and I'm in control."

"Are you Edward?" I asked, replaying the scene Esme and I walked in on after intermission.

"Yes. When I feel...urges...taking over I stop, alright?"

"Is that why Bella knows to become so still when you are out of control?"

Edward hung his head. "I ask her to do that sometimes. She can become quite...enthusiastic...in her response sometimes. And I don't want to hurt her. I can't hurt her."

"I know, Edward, that's why I worry."

"Worry?" Edward asked. "I just told you..."

"Alice's first vision hasn't completely disappeared, Edward," I reminded him gently.

"You ask her about that?" Edward snarled.

"Edward," I cut in sharply, "you know I don't want to see Bella dead. But more than that I worry about what it would do to you if you did kill her. I don't want to lose you again."

"You have very strange priorities, you know that right?"

"My first priority is you and our family, that's all. You know that."

"And you think that you would lose me if I did kill Bella?"

"Forgive me Edward, but when you left you did it with the intent to protect innocents. How do you think you would feel if you killed an innocent such as Bella?"

Edward put his head in his hands. "I know Carlisle, I know," he groaned.

I looked out the window again and took a deep breath. "So I'm sorry if I'm overly concerned, Edward, but I just can't shake the feeling that this present course is going to lead to ruin."

"I know. I'm afraid of the same thing. But I love her, Carlisle, I truly do. More than I've loved anyone, even my own mother."

I grimaced. That was what I was afraid of. "You are mated to her then?" I asked as calmly as I could.

I heard Edward swallow hard behind me. "We haven't done that Carlisle, not even close. How could we anyways?" he said finished bitterly.

"Mating is not purely physical Edward," I countered.

"I know that, I just don't know what I feel about Bella exactly. I love her, but it's frightening and confusing and exciting..."

I squeezed my eyes shut. It was possibly already worse than I thought. "Has Bella told you that she loves you?"

"Yes."

"You realize that that means something different for her than it does for you?"

"Yes."

I paused. I hated to even bring this up. "Do you believe her?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you believe that she loves you?"

"Carlisle, look at me," Edward growled. "What are you asking?"

I turned to look Edward in the eyes. "What I am asking, Edward," I said slowly, "is if you are sure that she loves you because of who you are and not what you are."

Edward snorted. "Bella might be insane sometimes, but do you really think she's someone who would chase the thrill of kissing a vampire?"

"Hollywood has begun to romanticize creatures like us."

"You're wrong, Carlisle."

"How can you be certain? You can't hear her thoughts."

"Yes, well you can't read Esme's mind either and that doesn't make you doubt whether she loves you."

"So you trust her. You trust that she loves you."

"Yes."

"I wish I had your confidence," I said, shaking my head.

"Do you want to know what Bella said after she figured out that I was a vampire? She said that it didn't matter. What I am doesn't matter to her."

I paused. "You're right, Bella is insane."

"I can agree with you on that," Edward said glumly.

"But Bella might change her mind. She's only human and human emotions change and shift over time. Edward, you know this."

"I know."

"And what will you do then?"

"I don't know," Edward said, looking down mournfully. "But for as long as she will have me, I will be with her."

"I just don't want to see you get hurt, Edward."

"Thank you, Carlisle. I appreciate that."

There was a long pause. "You wanted to ask me something else, Carlisle," Edward stated.

"Yes. Have you talked to Bella at all about the time you left?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"She said that it sounded reasonable."

"Reasonable? You did tell her what you did, yes?" You told her that you killed people?

"Yes."

And she thought that was reasonable? That doesn't sound like her.

"I think she was referring to the combination of my gift and my sense of justice. For the record, she didn't want me to kill those monsters in Port Angeles either."

"I see." It seemed that Bella already understood Edward very well.

Edward smiled and shook his head. "This is so ironic," he muttered.

"What is?"

"When we were at the concert in Duluth Esme kept on making comments about how I would be happier if I had a 'special girl' and now that I have a 'special girl' you're suddenly feeling like I'm going to run off again."

"I'm sorry, Edward. I am happy for you."

"You just wish my 'special girl' wasn't so complicated." Edward stated, picking the subconscious thought out of my head.

"Yes. But you always had to be different, Edward, forge your own way through life. You've grown into a better man as a result of each trial. I hope this will be same."

I heard the bedroom door open and watched curiously as Edward tensed and took a deep breath. A second later I realized why he did it as the scent of Bella fresh from the bath assaulted me.

She's even more aromatic wet? I asked, seeing Edward take a few small breaths, swallowing hard each time. He gave a sharp nod. I went to Esme and put my arm around her, letting her rest her head on my chest. And you put yourself through this torture every single night? He gave another nod and then smiled as Bella entered the parlor.

"Was your bath nice?" he asked, inviting her to join him on the piano bench.

"Yes, I nearly got lost in there," she grumbled, sitting down next to Edward. She looked at Esme and me expectantly. "Were we about to get an encore performance?"

"Yes, did you want to visit poor little Petrushka again? Stravinsky wrote a piano version of his concert piece, and it's quite lovely," Edward offered excitedly.

Yes, and so complicated that only a master pianist can play it. Esme was right, you are a show off.

"Really? Let's hear it," Bella said, her eyes lighting up.

Bella curled up in the armchair closest to the piano sideways so that she could watch Edward as he played.

Edward gave Bella a smile and began the first movement. I looked at Bella and replayed her comments during this piece at the Symphony. Stravinsky obviously meant for the audience to sympathize with the protagonist Petrushka, but for Bella it was something more. She somehow saw that Petrushka was more than a puppet, more than what his nature and his society expected of him. Was this how she saw Edward as well?

The third movement came to a close and Edward turned to look at Bella, who was sitting very still. "Did you like it, Bella?" he asked.

Bella took a deep breath and shifted. "It was so beautiful," she said softly.

Edward's face shone with happiness. "Really?"

"Yes silly, it was perfect, of course," Bella teased.

"I know it was perfect Bella, but did you like it?" he asked, giving her an impish grin.

"Yes, I liked it, okay?"

"Good. Did you want to hear something else?"

Bella shifted in her chair again and blushed. "I actually want to head to bed," she said, looking down at her hands.

Edward looked at her a moment, then smiled. "Of course, Bella," he said, closing the piano and going to her, "shall we?"

Bella glanced at Esme and me and blushed harder. I realized that she was embarrassed about us knowing that she wanted Edward to go with her. "It's okay Bella, take Edward to bed with you. Esme and I are going to head out for a walk anyways."

"Oh, okay," Bella answered, standing up.

"Well, good night," Edward said, giving Esme a pointed look.

"Yes, good night, and enjoy your walk," Bella said happily as she took Edward's hand and led him down the hall.

"Thank you Bella," Esme called, probably thanking her for more than her well-wishes, "sleep well."

Yes, Bella, sleep well, I thought as Bella pulled Edward into the bedroom and shut the door. And please take care of Edward. Please.


A/N:

The Seattle Symphony will actually play the concert I have the Cullens going to on April 15, 17, and 18, 2010. I thought it was something Edward would enjoy, and the pieces fit the plot nicely. I don't get a commission on ticket sales, but if you want to go to it feel free.

The Seattle Symphony will not be playing Schubert's Impromptu that night, however. The story of Carlisle, Esme, and Edward going to the concert in Duluth where that piece is also unexpectedly played and Edward finally falls down the downward spiral which leads him to his "rebellious years" can be found in chapters 13-17 of A Coming of Age by Elise Shaw. You can find a link to this fic on my profile page. I highly recommend it. And may I also compliment Elise's stroke of genius at selecting the Impromptu to form the soundtrack of Edward's depression and rebellion. It perfectly portrays the contrast between hope and darkness that our dear Edward carries in him.

The information about each concert piece I got off of Wikipedia. If I made any mistakes please don't complain to me, go become an editor on Wikipedia.

And even Stravinsky couldn't play his piano version of Pétrouchka, but Edward can, of course. Because Edward can do everything.

You can find links to most of the music on my profile page as well.