Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of its characters. They belong to Stephenie Meyers.
A/N: Thank you everyone for the lovely reviews. Please bear with me for the first couple of chapters as I need to set up the storyline leading up to the heart of the story. But I trust that you will enjoy the results. And now the second chapter…
Chapter Two: Early Morning Conversations
Dawn crept into the small town of Forks as the storm finally passed. Bella had fallen asleep and Edward was preparing to go home. He needed to change and check in with the family. In particular, there was a little matter regarding a certain Ms. Swan that he needed to discuss with his parents.
Edward quickly slipped out the window and ran towards the Cullen home, hoping to get back to Bella before she woke again.
As Edward approached the house he listened for the voices of his siblings. The conversation he wanted to have with Carlisle and Esme was not one he wanted to share with his siblings, not until he had discussed the situation fully with his parents and received their thoughts and advice.
Fortunately the house was quiet. It appeared everyone was out spending time with their mates. Edward made his way inside and up the stairs, following the sound of his parent's voices coming from the library. The door was open and revealed a scene that Edward never tired of witnessing. Carlisle and Esme were sitting on a sofa in front of a warm and cheerful fire crackling in the fireplace, Carlisle quietly reading Shakespearean sonnets to Esme as she sat next to him to him sketching in her portfolio. It was a scene Edward hoped to repeat with Bella in the years to come.
Carlisle smiled when he noticed Edward standing in the doorway. "Edward, come in. How is Bella?" Esme raised her head from where it had been laying against Carlisle's shoulder and smiled in greeting as well.
"I'm worried about Bella, Carlisle. She was having another nightmare when I arrived at her house, moaning and sobbing in her sleep." Edward said.
"Oh Bella…" Esme murmured softly, her gentle eyes betraying her worry for her youngest daughter. Esme was deeply protective of Bella and it pained her to know Bella was still dealing with the after effects of the battle.
Carlisle smiled reassuringly at his wife before turning back to Edward. "Edward, it hasn't been that long since the battle and it may take awhile for Bella to come to terms with what happened. You just need to give her time. The nightmares about Victoria will fade…"
Edward interrupted. "Carlisle, I thought she was having another nightmare about Victoria, but I was wrong. It's something entirely different."
"If the nightmares are not about Victoria, then who or what are they about?" asked Carlisle.
"They're about us, Carlisle. In her nightmares our family abandons her again. She dreams she is going to lose us." Edward said as he started pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace.
Esme raised startled eyes toward Edward, glancing quickly at Carlisle before turning back again to Edward. "How do you know this, Edward? Are you sure this is what she's dreaming?"
"Yes, Esme," replied Edward, still pacing back and forth. "When I arrived she had her arms wrapped around herself saying 'They're gone. I'll never be with them again' over and over. She was talking about the family." Edward replied. "Before the battle, you know she asked me to choose between staying with her and fighting alongside everyone else. She feels she betrayed everyone by making me make a choice."
Esme looked up quickly. "Edward, that's absurd! Surely she knows we would never think that of her. From the very beginning she's protected our secrets, even to the point of putting herself in danger, all for us! We know how much she loves us and we love her deeply as well. Doesn't she realize we understand the strength of the bond between mates? We have all faced that choice at one time or another. It's not a betrayal if her love for you is greater than it is for us. That is the way it should be. And we would never leave her again, not for that reason or any other reason," Esme added passionately.
Carlisle nodded his agreement with his wife's comments. "Esme is right, Edward. Bella is your mate; in less than two months she will be your wife and officially a Cullen. Her future is with us, no less than any other member of our coven."
"I know it doesn't make sense," said Edward. "But she's been under so much stress, trying to do the right thing, not wanting to disappoint anyone. Her insecurities are coming to the fore again."
Sadness spread over Esme's face as she pondered Bella's words. Esme loved all her children, but Bella held a very special place in her heart. Bella's relationship with her own mother was very different; Bella was the adult in that relationship. In her relationships with both her parents she was in some way the caretaker. But with Esme, Bella was able to assume the true role of daughter. They spent hours talking, laughing, as Esme shared stories and advice while trying to strengthen Bella's sense of belonging and her confidence in herself. Esme loved being a mother to Bella.
Esme and Carlisle exchanged a look as they watched their son continue to pace back and forth. Edward abruptly came to a stop in front of the fireplace. "Carlisle…maybe we should be asking ourselves what we can do to convince her once and for all that she is an integral part of this family, as a daughter, sister and my wife-to-be. She needs to feel the comfort and security of knowing that we protect and keep safe what is our own."
"Then we need to do whatever we can to prove to her that we will never leave her again. The question now is how do we do that? Do you have a plan in mind, son?" asked Carlisle.
"Perhaps it's time for the Cullen family to take an extended vacation. We need to get Bella away from Forks for a little while, take her someplace where she can relax and feel normal again, and where we can each spend one-on-one time with her and reassure her of her place with us."
Carlisle nodded his head thoughtfully. "I understand what you're saying, Edward. Obviously there are still some feelings of abandonment from last fall. She must have buried those feelings very deep and now that they've come out she's dealing with them in typical Bella fashion: once again she's taking the blame and guilt on herself."
Esme nodded in agreement. "Carlisle is right, Edward. We must do everything we can to show her she has nothing to feel guilty about."
Carlisle closed his book and stood up to join his son by the fireplace. "Alright. If this is going to work we're going to need a good plan. It's not going to be easy to convince Charlie to let Bella go away for a couple of weeks with her fiancé, even knowing that we will be there with the two of you."
Edward eyes lit up and he grinned. "Oh, it gets even better, Carlisle. We're not just going to take her away for a couple of weeks. I want to take her out of the country… to London, England."
Carlisle raised his eyebrows in surprise at this. "London? And may I ask why you are choosing my old hometown?"
Edward continued with a devilish grin on his face. "Weren't you thinking about accepting that invitation to the London Trauma Conference being held at the Royal Geographical Society in London this year? And if I'm not mistaken, the Royal Society of Medicine also extended to you an open invitation to visit, and I believe you mentioned you would consider only if your family were able to accompany you and enjoy the sights of the city together?"
"I believe you're right, Edward." Carlisle grinned and chuckled softly at his son's plan. "Excellent idea, Edward, I think we can make this work."
Esme looked at the two men and beamed her approval.
"Edward, she will love it! She's told me how you and she have discussed places you want to travel after she is past the newborn stage. She gets so excited when she talks about London!" said Esme, growing more excited by the idea.
Suddenly a whirling blur of motion spun into the room. Alice.
"Oh, Edward! London! London, England! It will be perfect! Charlie knows Bella has not been herself lately and he's worried about her. This time he knows it's not you, Edward!" smiled Alice. "I've already seen it. Charlie will fuss a bit but when Carlisle and Esme both explain how they want the chance to really show Bella how much they feel she belongs in our family, he'll agree. All he wants is for Bella to be safe, happy and loved and he knows that our family will give that to her. Oh, I can't wait! Two weeks in London with my little sister, and all that shopping!"
"Alice! You know this is not what this trip is all about!" Edward said sharply.
Alice rolled her eyes at her brother. "Edward, calm down. I know this trip isn't all about shopping. It's about each of us spending quality time bonding with Bella and helping her to become more secure in her place with us. But my way of bonding with Bella is shopping. She may grumble, but deep down inside she doesn't really mind being my Bella Barbie." Alice said this with a smug smile on her face.
Edward gave an exaggerated sigh. "Have you always been this annoying?" But there was a small grin tugging at the corners of his mouth as he said this, causing Alice to nod her head proudly.
Carlisle, Esme and Edward laughed at Alice's enthusiasm.
"Alice is right. We will each of us need to spend one-on-one time with Bella, although I assume you will be getting the most one-on-one time with her this trip?" said Carlisle with a twinkle in his eye.
Edward replied with a laugh, "You would be correct in that assumption, Carlisle."
Edward then turned to Alice and asked, "Would you mind working with me on the travel arrangements and accommodations? You know Bella has always wanted to visit England. We'll have to make plans to tour some of the famous sites; I want her to have the whole London experience. It's been a while since we've been to London and…"
Alice interrupted. "Don't worry, Edward, I have lots of ideas and Jazz help research the itinerary. You know how much he loves to research." Alice started rocking back and forth on her heels, unable to keep still. "I'm so excited! You know I love Bella more than my existence and there isn't anything that I wouldn't do to help my sister."
Edward smiled affectionately at his sister, as always touched by the love and loyalty she showed towards his Bella from the very beginning. "Yes, Alice, I know you do. And Bella knows it too. Let's get started. The Cullens are going to England."