The Kindness of Strangers

by scribe4hire

AH. Esme is on the run from abusive husband Charles. She ends up in small town Forks, where she becomes secretary at the private practice run by Dr Carlisle Cullen. Can Dr Cullen and his family help heal her wounds? Please read and review

8. Chapter 8

SM OWNS ALL THINGS TWILIGHT

AN: Happy Easter to you all. If it were possible I would send you all a chocolate covered Cullen/Wolf of your choie. Even if you don't celebrate Easter, it's a nice thought isn't it! I would like to thank all of you who continue to read, review and list this story and me, whether you are a long time reader or new. Please keep doing what you do. Your support means so much. LEMON WARNING.

ES POV

"C'mon Esme, we've bribed you with wine and ice cream, but you still haven't given us any of the details? What was it like…were there fireworks, choirs of angels, did the earth move?" Sue Swan wheedled, slurring slightly.

"SUE!" Julie and Claire from the clinic spluttered.

"Oh, like you don't want to know what happened after she left here looking like Carlisle's fantasy pin up girl." Sue huffed, lolling over the arm of the sofa.

"I didn't think Doctor Cullen was a friend of Dorothy's." Claire cackled, earning herself a cushion in the face from me. I had attended the hospital fundraiser costume party as Judy Garland from Easter Parade, wearing her iconic tux jacket, fedora hat, fishnet stockings and killer heels. But that night, Carlisle had proved that he was far from the stereotypical male Judy Garland fan. During that first night with Carlisle, I had felt physical pleasure and an emotional peace that I had never felt possible. But it was not something, as much as I loved having female friends that weren't related to Carlisle to talk to and share things with, that I was willing to share yet. I had to hope, that Claire and Julie would rather not know too many details about the man they worked with.

"Weelll…"I drawled, "the first time

"The first time…how many times where there?" Sue spluttered

"Um…three…" I said shyly.

"In one night? Now, you're just showing off." Sue scowled.

"And putting too much information in my head about a man I have to work with…" Claire huffed shaking her head.

Thank you, god, I muttered to myself.

"Come on Sue, we have a full day in the kitchen tomorrow getting ready for the tribal council meeting." Claire said stretching.

"It's not being chained to the stove that bothers me so much, it's the thought of those big lugs getting their greasy paws all over my new sofa covers and nest of tables." Sue grumbled.

"Do you guys not have a community centre on the reservation?" Julie asked as she took their coats down off the hooks behind the door.

Sue snorted.

"We would love one and not just for us, it would help us offer more to the tourists in the summer, but it would require…"

"Money." Claire snapped bitterly. "And to get the loan we would need, we would have to have a business plan, that's not a problem Quil could do that easily, but we would also need architectural plans…"

I noticed that Sue was now standing by the front door hands on hips, eyes narrowed, staring intently at me through slightly glassy eyes. I had told her in one of our many long chats, about my time at Elliot and Elliot the architects.

"Oh no…no…" I said springing up from my place on the sofa. "It's been years, I don't know anything about architecture now…"

"Carlisle was saying that you were planning on maybe taking a few refreshers at USW…"

"Key word being maybe and Carlisle should learn to keep his mouth shut." I hissed.

"Well if you will use those killer legs of yours to get the poor man in such a state, that he's too afraid to close his mouth incase he chokes on his own drool." Sue said sarcastically.

I was hoping that Sue would have forgotten her decision to tell the tribal council about my "skills" when she had slept off the two bottles of wine she had helped me, Julie and Claire finish during our supposed "book group." She didn't. And I received at least three calls, including a long and enthusiastic one from Billy Black inviting me to the meeting later that night. But my nerves about facing a room full of people to discuss things that I hadn't even thought about in fifteen years, were forced to the back of my mind by my discussion with Dr Gerandy.

Dr Gerandy was a nice woman, a good therapist, and after helping me understand and find a way to cope with my nerves about the thought of revisiting the "professional" part of my past. She then returned to the more important subject of how the new things happening in Carlisle and I's future, were still being influenced by the past.

"Esme, do you think you ended up going to bed with Carlisle, as a reaction to Siobhan and the jealousy you felt, rather than a real desire to be with him?"

"What? No!"I sputtered, maybe a little too quickly. Dr Gerandy remained silent. "Maybe I thought about it…but not for long." I insisted."Yes I was jealous, but when we were actually out on the dance floor, when he was holding me, when I could see in his eyes, hear in his words how much he wanted me…I wanted him…needed him…" I said, dropping my head, feeling my face and neck flush warmly.

"And how did that make you feel, knowing that Carlisle wanted you…sexually?"

"Nervous, excited…"

"Scared?"

"Not of him touching me physically, in fact, I was the one who had to ask him to move faster…harder…" god, this was painful. "I was scared, that I wasn't going to be enough…that I wouldn't have enough skills…" I whispered.

"Congratulations Esme, that is a totally normal reaction to having sex with a new partner for the first time." Dr Gerandy chuckled. I blushed, but felt a flush of pride.

"And afterwards?" she probed gently.

"I felt…loved, peaceful…safe…" I said softly, my voice catching with emotion." Dr Gerandy pushed a box of Kleenex across the table towards me.

"Esme, it's clear that you are feeling more and more secure with your relationship and future with Carlisle. Do you think, that it may be time for you to start thinking more closely about confronting Charles, closing that part of your past for good?"

I knew she was right and if I was honest, it was something that had been lurking in the corners of my mind, just far enough away to not overwhelm me, but close enough to cause me a few restless nights ever since that wonderful night. But hearing Dr Gerandy give voice to my thoughts and suggest in therapist speak that I was almost ready to face it, was a little nerve wracking. And Carlisle with the keen eye of a partner rather than a doctor soon picked up on my pale face and distracted mood. I was in his bedroom later that night as he got ready for a hospital board meeting.

"I don't have to go to this meeting. I'm sure Edward could fill me in on any developments from the hospital board." He had insisted.

"I don't know, any excuse to get out of going and…leaving me alone with Billy Black." I tutted playfully, tweaking his perfectly knotted tie. He growled and slipped an arm round my waist pulling me closer. I had noticed Billy Black's attentiveness eventually and although it was flattering, I only had eyes for the wonderful, devilishly handsome man in the charcoal grey suit standing in front of me. I kissed him softly, he sighed and twisted his fingers through my hair, holding my face to him as he deepened the kiss a little. There was something about "caveman Carlisle" that I found quite sexy. I pressed my hands against his chest and pulled away slightly. "Nice try Cullen, but you're going to your meeting and I'm going to mine…I'm just nervous, you're just lazy" Carlisle muttered to himself about me being a slave driver. "That doesn't mean that you can't stop by my place afterwards…maybe stay over…" I purred, raising one hand from his chest to gently stroke his cheek.

"It'll be late." He said stroking my cheek, his brow still creased with concern.

"I'm sure I'll be awake." I muttered.

But, the events of the day, including my now excited thoughts about the proposed community center on the La Push reservation, caught up with me and gave me the first twinges of, if not a full migraine a tension headache at least. I had taken a couple of painkillers, which had caused me to be asleep on the sofa when Carlisle arrived at my place just before eleven.

"How was your meeting?" I asked sleepily.

"Fine, how are you…?" Carlisle asked. He was sitting on the edge of the sofa, his hands stroking my face.

"Oh I'm fine…" I said dismissively, pulling myself up into a sitting position. "How was your night?" I insisted.

"Um, we decided to form a committee to analyze the work we've been doing on this committee. And the men in the room were congratulating me grudgingly, on finding such a beautiful new…woman friend doesn't sound quite right, the way you make me feel like a horny teenager definitely qualifies you as my girlfriend, but…I prefer the term partner." He said smiling softly.

"So, do I." I replied, leaning forward and kissing him softly. He tasted of coffee and was that cigarettes? My arms wrapped round his neck.

"I want to hear about…the…plans for the first Esme Hollister construction…" he said smiling against my lips.

"Slow down…I said I would do a few sketches, after, I've done a few refresher courses…" I said, pulling away.

"You're excited…" he smiled. I nodded, as nervous as I was, I was truly excited.

"I'm so proud of you." He said.

We climbed into bed, with me in my favourite position, laying on my side with my back pressed tightly against Carlisle's chest.

"I like your nightie…" he breathed against the back of my hair. On the nights that Carlisle came to stay, I made the effort not to dress as fully as I used to. To try and prove to Carlisle and myself that I felt as protected and safe as I said I did. But that didn't stop me keeping a pair of shoes by the bed, always ready to run. Tonight I was wearing one of Carlisle's T-shirts.

We tried to sleep and Carlisle, despite his coffee intake, was managing to doze, but now I was awake, my thoughts were moving away from my excitement at the future and going back to the past and what Dr Gerandy had said. My temples were starting to throb once more and I was becoming restless. Finally, Carlisle wrapped his arm tightly around me, trapping me against his body.

"What's wrong little miss fidget?" he muttered sleepily.

"I'm sorry…"

"Esme…"he growled.

"Carlisle do you know a good lawyer?" I whispered. He froze behind me, I don't think he was even breathing.

"Why?" he breathed finally. He knew why, but he needed to hear me say it, as much as I needed to say it.

"I want to know, what exactly I have to do, to get Charles out of my life legally." I said quietly, stroking the arm Carlisle had wrapped around me. Suddenly, I felt him shift, not letting me go, but reaching back towards his nightstand.

"Please don't turn the light on…it's all starting to give me a headache…" I said quickly. He returned to his position, shifting slightly so he was raised up on one elbow, leaning over me slightly. I stayed on my side. Suddenly, his lips were by my ear, his voice velvet soft in the darkness.

"Do you know how much I love you my beautiful, brave Esme…?" he crooned, I could hear the slight catch of emotion in his voice. I snuggled back further against him.

"It's knowing how much you love me, knowing that although I'll have to do a lot of this alone, you'll always be here to hold me, keep me safe…that's what's made me realize that I can do this…that I want to do this…for us…" I whispered my own voice rough with unshed tears. There was more to say, but at that moment, we both just needed to feel. I turned back against him far enough for our lips to crash together, each trying to pour all our love, understanding, anxiety and excitement for the future into a kiss. There was no frantic duel as our tounges met, just a tender exploration that caused us both to moan softly. When I needed to breathe, Carlisle moved his kisses to my cheek, along my jaw and down my neck, whilst his free hand slipped underneath the hem of his shirt and began to caress up my thigh, over my hip, along my rib cage, before gently cupping my breast, his thumb teasing my nipple.

"Carlisle…"I moaned, rocking back against his obvious arousal whilst trying to move from my now awkward position so I could lay flat, pull him nearer, touch him. He held me firm on my side.

"Do you trust me?" he asked roughly. I whined in response, I needed him closer. "Esme, will you let you me love you like this…we can be close the way you like, probably closer, but I won't have to worry about hurting you with my weight." He said. His voice was heavy with a need as great as mine, but he still sounded a little unsure. I loved him for caring about my feelings, even his worry about his weight on top of me, something which he had no need to worry over as I loved it. I reached back and gently palmed him through his sleep pants.

"I'll take that as a yessss." He hissed. It took a few minutes for us to shed my briefs and his sleep pants, but then he moved my top leg, hitching it over his hip, laying me open to him. His finger gently stroked my wet folds, causing my hips to jerk back against him He moaned at the contact.

"Esme…you're so wet…" he said in wonder.

"I need you Carlisle…" I whimpered I reached my hand back to twist in his hair, grab his shoulder, anything to try and ground myself. He rested one hand on my hip whilst the other roamed. I felt the tip of his length against my sensitive, wet folds.

"I love you..so…much…beautiful…brave…girl…" he rasped as he slipped into me inch by amazing inch. Finally, he was seated fully within me and we both moaned at the depth and intensity of feeling this new position gave us. He held still for a moment to allow me to adjust.

"Car…lis..le…feels so good…you feel so good…"I was still whimpering slightly , it was if he was everywhere, behind me, above me, inside me. I moved my hips experimentally, giving him the signal I was ready.

"ES…ME…you're so tight this way…" he growled as he pulled almost totally out of me before thrusting forward again. The only sounds as we found a clumsy but pleasurable rhythm were declarations of love, lust induced gibberish and the sound of skin against skin. It wasn't long before I felt Carlisle began to swell inside me.

"I'm so close baby…but I want to feel you come for me first beautiful…" he ground out.

"Harder Carlisle…please baby a little harder…" I moaned, arching back against him. It only took about four, faster and slightly harder thrusts from Carlisle before I felt my walls begin to clamp down around him milking him of his own orgasm as mine crashed around me.

"I love you…so much…" I almost screamed as my head fell back and hit his shoulder. My mind was distracted from his answering declaration, by the feel of my walls continuing to spasm around him as he spilled the result of his orgasm deep inside me. His head hit my shoulder.

"Um…we are definitely going to do that again the next time I get a headache." I chuckled breathlessly.

He answered me with a growl and a kiss to the shoulder, before muttering something about me being a "wicked woman who needed to remember he was an old man".

"You know what they say, you're only as old as the woman you are feeling…and I am…"

"About to have a birthday…" Carlisle said teasingly.

I yawned over dramatically, before resting my head on his chest and wrapping an arm round him. "Goodnight Carlisle." I said firmly.

"We have to talk about your birthday sometime." He said stroking my hair.

"Why? I'm only going to be 39…" I said, daring him to argue with me.

Carlisle chuckled softly and kissed my head. "Goodnight Esme." He said.

I growled.

We could have only been asleep for about an hour before the sound of a car pulling up outside the cottage shattered the silence. I was exhausted, basking in post coital slumber, but some habit's, in this case, sleeping with one ear open for danger die hard. I stiffened as I heard the slam of a car door and then the rattle of my front door.

"Carlisle…" I hissed. He didn't move. I sat up, shaking his shoulder, all the while slipping my feet in my shoes and grabbing the long hoody that hung over the bed post. My heart was pounding.I should have known even thinking about getting away from Charles wouldn't be as easy as I thought. He was always going to find me, get past the protection that Carlisle, the children and Charlie Swan, who had taken to taking a "stroll" past my house three times a day. Carlisle shifted slightly, moaning something about being tired. "Carlisle, there's someone outside…" my voice was high, frightened. Suddenly his eyes snapped open he looked at me for a second, before listening to the now more frantic rattling and scratching at the front door. He sprung up out of bed. I grabbed his arm.

"Take the bat…" I pleaded, indicating Emmett's baseball bat. He squeezed my hand before pulling away and moving down the stairs quietly, without the bat.

Suddenly, I heard the front door slam back against the wall.

"Rosalie!" Carlisle choked

"Oh Carlisle…" Rose sobbed. I flew from the bed. Looking over the balcony of the mezzanine, I saw Carlisle trying to regain his balance as he held Rose, who had flung herself at him on what I could see thanks to the moonlight shining in through the half open front door and a gap in the drapes, were unsteady legs. She was mumbling into his shirt, but both Carlisle and I heard what she said next.

"He's not coming back…Emmett's not coming back." She wailed. I gripped the balcony rail to try and support my, now weak legs. Please God no. Not Emmett. Not Emmett, that loud, kindhearted, loving man child, please.

"Rose…what do you mean? What's happened to Emmett?" Carlisle demanded, pulling her away from him and gripping her shoulders. She began shaking her head, her words lost in her sobs.

"ROSE!" Carlisle said sharply, beginning to shake her. I flew down the stairs.

"Carlisle, stop…STOP!" I said, grabbing his arm.

"Stay out of this Esme! She needs to tell me about my son!" Carlisle barked. I froze for a second.

"You won't get anything out of her, by frightening her." I snapped back sharply. I knew he didn't mean it, that it was his fear talking, but his words still stung. We closed the door and got Rose onto the sofa. I turned on the large standard lamp. Her beautiful face was swollen and blotchy from crying. She was also drunk. I knelt in front of her, taking her hands and making her look at me. Carlisle was by the fire place. His hand was running through his hair and I could see he was shaking.

"ROSE…ROSALIE…what's wrong with Emmett?" I demanded quietly, but firmly.

"Ten days…he won't be back for another ten days… bad weather " she mumbled thickly. I heard Carlisle exhale noisily, before he ran towards the kitchen. I was torn between going to comfort Carlisle who was now retching in the sink and staying with the distraught Rose and finding out any more information. Emmett, had been due home in just over a week. Now it would be nearer Thanksgiving. Which was good in one way, but agonizing in others.

"Something could happen…he's pushing his luck…something could happen…loose him…can't lose…" Rose slurred, beginning to weep pitifully again. I rose up on my knees and pulled her head to my shoulder, rubbing her back in a way that I hoped was comforting. She hiccoughed against my shoulder, before her breathing became deeper. She had passed out. I lowered her back onto the sofa, turning her on her side and placing a cushion under her head. Suddenly a bucket from the kitchen appeared by her head. Carlisle was standing there. He looked pale and if he had aged twenty years in five minutes. I covered Rose with a blanket from the back of the sofa, before sinking down onto the floor in front of the sofa by her head and stroking her tangled hair.

"How is she?"he asked. He was still emotional and a little angry, but there was genuine concern in his tone.

" Emotional, scared, drunk. I'm so glad that she managed to get herself here…especially the state she was in."

"So am I…" Carlisle said roughly. I looked up at him. "I'm sorry." I held up my free hand to silence him.

"What was it that you called me earlier…partner? Did you mean that?"

"Of course…" his tone was almost pleading for me to believe him.

"Well then partner, I think it's time for you to let me take some of the weight…let me look after you all for awhile…" I said. Carlisle held out a hand to me and pulled me to my feet. I stroked his face gently his eyes were shining with unshed tears.

"It's been so long…so long since I've had anyone to lean on. Someone to tell me that everything is going to be okay…" Carlisle sighed. I opened my arms.

"Lean away baby, I've got pretty strong shoulders." I said. He knew as well as I did, that I couldn't tell him everything would be okay. But that didn't stop me from being able to wrap my arms tightly around him as he buried his head in my hair.

Rose woke the next morning with the hangover from hell and full of remorse about what she had done. Rose had just about been managing to keep herself together during Emmett's deployment, this delay albeit it being beyond Emmett's control had crushed her brittle veneer of control. Carlisle had assured her that he didn't blame her for her dramatics , but his tone was still a little brusque. He had spent half the night wrapped in my arms, shaking as he allowed his mind to wander to the nightmares about Emmett he had been fighting for so long. It wasn't only Carlisle I supported over the torturously long extra wait for Emmett to return home. It seemed that everyone had become a little more emotionally fragile.

Carlisle and I insisted that Rose come and stay with me at the cottage until Emmett came home and Rose didn't argue. She worked from home for the most part and when she had to go to Seattle, she said the drive back to my place was a small price to pay for not being alone.

The next Cullen that I came to know a little better was Alice. It was true that we had been shopping several times and she was regularly on the phone advising me on outfits and my upcoming duties regarding her wedding. And of course she had given me a thorough interrogation about my reasons for moving out of the Cullen house, but I still didn't really know that much about the more sensitive side to the hyperactive pixie.

We were in Seattle having lunch following Alice's latest wedding dress fitting and a trip to the florists. As confident as I was feeling with mine and Carlisle's relationship, I still felt so emotional at being so accepted so intimately. Alice was in the middle of telling a story using her hands to gesticulate wildly as she always did, when she knocked her infamous wedding binder onto the floor. I bent to retrieve it and the glossy brochure which had slipped out from inside.

"ALICE!" I shrieked as I saw what the brochure was for.

"Gimme that." Alice huffed, shoving the brochure inside her file.

"Alice, why the hell have you got a brochure about breast augmentation surgery?" I demanded, leaning in and keeping my voice as low as I could. Alice took a long pull of her iced tea.

"I was thinking of a wedding present for Jasper." She said matter of factly.

"Alice, Jasper already has bone structure and an ass in jeans that most women would kill for. I think giving him perfect tits would just be mean." I said wryly. She didn't want to, but she laughed.

"Alice, honey…" I said reaching across the table to take her hand. "Jasper loves you the way you are…"

"Well as Jasper's mother is so fond of telling me…he loved his ex fiancée Maria and her 38DD's in every room, barn and out house on their ranch." Alice snapped, her voice catching slightly with emotion. I squeezed her hand and pulled on her arm to get her to look at me.

"The key word there being EX fiancée…Alice, you and Jasper aren't exactly what you would call frigid in the bedroom…" I said, trying not to blush. Staying at Carlisle's with three other adult couples meant that no matter how hard we tried to be discreet, we couldn't always avoid embarrassing situations.

"Yes but…" she began to argue.

"But what? Maria may have been great at the passionate part of the relationship, but she was obviously lacking in other areas. Did she make him laugh the way you do? Did she sit up for two days and nights straight, nursing him through food poisoning? Did she bury herself in history books so that she would be able to understand a little of his passion, or run herself ragged helping organize a function at USW, whilst still managing to look absolutely fabulous?" I demanded. I was mentally thanking Bella for filling me in on some family history on both Alice and Jasper and Rose and Emmett.

"Thank you Esme…" Alice whispered wrapping her arms round my neck and kissing my cheek. I simply squeezed her tightly, not trusting my voice.

I hated to think of Alice, who made up for her lack of height with skyscraper heels and a huge, loving, caring and passionate personality, feeling so intimidated and insecure that she would want to indulge in unnecessary surgery. And I wasn't the only one. A couple of days later, I had gone to USW, to take a look round their Design and Construction Department and see what classes were available in the New Year. When I came out of one classroom, I found Jasper leaning against a wall.

"Jasper." I said smiling.

"Hi…" he said kissing my cheek. I winced slightly. He rose an eyebrow in concern. "Tooth infection, the antibiotics the dentist gave me are helping, but it's still a little tender." I explained. He grimaced in sympathy. "So, what do you think?" he asked, linking his arm through mine and indicating back towards the classroom with his head.

"Um, it's a little overwhelming…I'd be the oldest person in the class."

"And probably the most talented. I know the feeling about feeling old. Sometimes when I'm standing in front of a class teaching about the Civil War, I get some students asking me questions as if I was there?" he chuckled shaking his head.

"You love it really." I said.

"Yes, I do…but nothing compares with how much I love my little Belle."

"Belle?"

"Alice, I call her Tinkerbelle, or Belle for short." He said, smiling wistfully. I squeezed his arm. His eyes were alight with the love he felt for her. We were now heading across the parking lot towards Bella's old Volvo, which had now become my car, after Edward had upgraded his and given Bella his old one. "She told me what you said to her. I want to thank you Esme. My parents have never hidden their "disapproval" about my relationship with Alice. They don't like that she's so independent, outspoken, from the city…basically they don't like her because she's not Maria. Maria was the daughter of the man who owned the ranch next door. Our families had known each other for years, it was always assumed that Maria and I would marry and merge the two properties into what would probably be the largest and most powerful in the area. And when I was younger, Maria and I were close, I guess I did love her, as much as I could at that age. But I wanted to "get the hell outta Dodge" he said exaggerating his Southern drawl as we reached the car. I leant against it.

"And Maria?" I asked.

"Loved being her Daddies spoilt little princess and being a big fish in a small pond." He shook his head ruefully. "I told my parents and Maria's that I was leaving. As you can imagine, it didn't go down well. In fact, Maria's father, with a little help…" he added quickly, beat me like a dog."

"What did your parents say?" I asked shocked, reaching out instinctively to stroke his arm.

"My father was part of that help I was talking about. And my mother, does, says and ignores whatever my father tells her too." Jasper said, his voice neutral, but the pain flashing in his eyes. My hand flew to my mouth, before I found myself hugging him. I could now understand why he had been so willing to help me from the start.

"It was a long time ago…" he said kissing my forehead softly. I moved back. "And of course, I met a hyperactive little fairy, whose been making my life magic ever since." He said smiling softly.

"How did you two meet?" Bella had said something vague about meeting at college.

"Ah, well…as you can imagine, after what happened at home, I had a few emotional issues, the worst being my temper. I was rooming with Emmett. I saw Alice around of course, but I was too busy hell raising and showing any guy that looked at me the wrong way, that I was no pussy…" his tone was raw and venomous as he remembered an insult that must have come from home. Suddenly, as he realized what he had said, he looked at me sheepishly.

"Sorry Esme…anyway, I was on the verge of getting kicked out. My grades were good, but the night before a major presentation, I got myself into a fight. It was the one that saw poor old Em up before the judge and in the army…" he sighed, his tone heavy with guilt. "I had to make a good impression but not only was I a mess, but my presentation was as well. I come home, about 5.30 in the morning after Carlisle bailed me out, to find Alice waiting for me. You're late she says, before pushing me in the shower, force feeding me breakfast all the while running through the Power Point Presentation she had pulled together from my notes. She then pulled out her little bag of tricks and covered the bruise on my eye well enough for it not to be too noticeable. That was it, I knew then that she was the one for me." Jasper said, his face split into a huge grin. "I've wanted to marry her several times before now, but I wanted to be able to support her first, let her get as settled in her career as I am in mine. But, with her planning on opening her own place soon, I wanted, needed to make her Alice Whitlock, before we start getting all crazy again."

"And she is desperate to be Mrs Whitlock believe me." I said swallowing hard as I fought back the tears that had risen as Jasper had spoken. What was it about loving a Cullen, that made you literally glow from the happiness and peace it gave you?

"I only held out an olive branch to my parents because of Alice. Family is important to her…but I swear, if my mother upsets her one more time…" he growled.

"You'll hold her, tell her you love her and carry the bags whilst she goes crazy in Gucci, Dior and Fendi." I chuckled. We both laughed.

"But sometime's that isn't always enough. I'm really glad that she has you…" Jasper said, serious again for a moment. I felt the tears threaten again.

"What are Aunties, even ones who aren't technically related to you for?" I said climbing into my car. I drove away to the sound of Jasper laughing.

The pain in my tooth was niggling and making me restless, so whilst Carlisle and Edward were buried beneath a pile of medical journals in his study, I attacked the laundry, that Bella was struggling a little bit with due to her wrist. I was upstairs attempting to put it away, when I heard Bella cursing. I moved up to the suite of rooms on the third floor that Bella and Edward occupied whilst their own house was under construction. After getting rid of James Tanner and his lazy workman, the house had come on quickly, it really did look like they would be in their own home by the New Year.

"Bella…" I called, knocking softly.

"In here…" she huffed, stomping out of the bathroom. She was dressed for bed, but her hair was wet and tangled.

"Everything okay?" Silly question, but I had to start somewhere.

"Everything would be great, if they invented a cure for my clumsiness and ability to attract trouble. Oh and if my dumb wrist would allow me to comb my hair properly." She grouched, holding up her injured wrist with a scowl. "Edward usually does it, but I don't want to interrupt him and Carlisle…they're both so cute when they unleash their inner science geek." She laughed.

"I know, it's all so terribly serious and…"

"Boring as hell most of the time." She finished, giving me a look that dared me to contradict her. I didn't because it was true.

"But what can we do? We both have this incurable attraction to men with healing hands." I laughed.

"Who both seemed to have incurable attractions to our legs." Bella laughed, sitting on the edge of her and Edward's large four poster.

"Edward too." I laughed.

"Oh yes, my legs, ridiculous heels that Alice is only too happy to procure for him and the colour blue."

"The heels yes, but with Carlisle it's teal green." I said. I wasn't sure what had made me say it.

"It's all about the butt and fire engine red with my big ol bear…" Rose said wandering into the room. She had come with me to Carlisle's, it was rare for us to see Rose so vulnerable and needy and it was a sight we wouldn't see again, but it didn't stop us wanting to care for her.

"Don't I know it." Bella snorted, shuddering slightly. "For weeks, all we heard was Em singing that damn song…you know, the one that Ross sang on Friends that time…" Bella urged, frustrated.

"I love big butts and I cannot lie…" that one. Hearing Bella sing something like that was surreal and sent all of us off into a fit of laughter. Rose and I ended up staying in Bella's room, me brushing Bella's hair, Rose painting her toes whilst we just talked about nothing in particular.

"How's the writing coming Bells?" Rose asked. Although Bella had a broken wrist, she was still tapping away with one hand when she could. Bella growled in her throat.

"I'm trying to write a love story…"

"She's spent the last fifteen years doing the research." Rose snorted. Bella deliberately wriggled her foot. And Rose, deliberately left a long line of nail polish from Bella's little toe to the middle of her foot.

"Essmmee!" they both whined.

"Now children, play nice…" I said in my best matronly tone. They both giggled, but both stopped messing about.

"Anyway, it's got to the break up…" Bella said quietly. Rose sucked in a breath and comfortingly rubbed Bella's leg.

"You don't have to use yours." Rose said finally.

"As you said, I've already done the research…" Bella said flatly.

"What happened? If, you don't mind me asking." Carlisle had given vague details.

"You've heard how good Edward is on the piano…" Bella began. I murmured my answer as she was still sitting with her back to me, leaning against my arm.

"Well, that's what he classes as playing for fun."

The beautiful music Edward coaxed from his piano, even when he was messing about, sounded professional standard to me.

"Back in High School, he started entering competitions, for fun at first, but then he started getting noticed, gained a lot of attention from the press and people who know these things. Anyway, he started to get a little…arrogant…"

"According to Em, his head was so far up his ass, he had to wipe it when he sneezed." Rose grumbled. I found that hard to believe of the Edward I knew now.

"As I was saying, his teacher's everyone urged him to apply for music school. He did, but in England… He wanted me to go with him. Well Charlie didn't earn a fortune as Chief of Police, mom was gone…Edward flippantly told me that he's pay, but not before he made me feel like some kind of indentured servant that should fall on her knees and thank god that the mighty genius that was Edward Cullen had offered her such a gift." There was very little bitterness in Bella's voice which surprised me. And as if she could read my mind Bella said.

"We've had a long time and quite a few sessions with Carmen to get over it."

"Well Edward decided to take his music school place in England, but not before getting wasted at the Senior Prom and dumping me very publicly."

"Bastard." I breathed, causing the other two to laugh.

"The next six months…"

"She was like a zombie."

"It wasn't pretty. I was bad, but I did try and get on with things."

"Yeah, this stray dog from the reservation followed her home." Rose trilled lightly, but with an evil smirk on her face.

"Jake was a good friend to me." Bella said hotly. I rubbed Bella's arm and shot Rose a warning glare. "Anyway, it seemed that Edward wasn't quite as good as everyone thought. He was starting to struggle with his classes and he fell in with…"

"Siobhan with red hair." Rose offered.

"Exactly, but her name was Tanya." Bella's voice was full of bitterness now. "Her boyfriend Laurent, didn't like how close they were becoming, so he and a few of his friends spiked Edward's drink with something at a party. He managed to call Alice of all people before he collapsed. He wasn't found for hours…they say another twenty minutes and…" Bella was crying, her slight shoulders shuddering. I pulled her back tightly against me.

"Anyway, apparently, Bella was in the middle of Trig when Alice called. Bells, runs from the room, clears out her bank account and is hitching a lift to the airport, when she gets picked up by…"

"Carlisle, on his own way there. We got to London eventually. I swear that flight was the second longest night of my life. The first being waiting in that hospital room waiting for Edward to wake up."

"But he did. Bells chewed his ass out for awhile, Edward realized with a little gentle persuasion from Alice and Em, what an asshole he'd been. Old Juliet here then persuaded Romeo that a better way to deal with all his angst was plenty of sex and they all lived happily ever after." Rose trilled, earning a kick in the leg from Bella.

"Okay, when you do write all that down and they make it into a movie, I want final approval on who plays Carlisle." I teased, trying to bring a little levity to the situation. The rest of the conversation was us deciding on our fantasy cast list. I decided that if George Clooney wasn't available, Daniel Craig would do to play Carlisle.

"What is going on up here?" Edward asked as he came through the half open bedroom door followed by Carlisle to investigate our loud cackles of laughter.

"Esme…earth to Esme…" Edward said waiving his hand in front of my face.

"Don't worry baby, she's just imagining what Carlisle would look like in blue swimming trunks."Bella sniggered.

"Yes Bella and whilst I'm out shopping, I'll be sure to pick up that vampire cape for Edward…" I retorted. Rose was now doubled over on the side of bed laughing hysterically. Carlisle and Edward were both blushing, but also looking totally confused. Bella was still staring at me a little shocked, but then she gave me a fierce hug.

"I love this woman." She mumbled.

"So do I…even when she makes no sense…" Carlisle chuckled.

"…You obviously can't be that traumatized by what you claim went on during your marriage to Mr Platt."

"Aro!" Carlisle growled. I gripped his arm, just managing to keep him in his seat. Carlisle had told me over dinner the previous night that "really old and loaded" Uncle Aro as the children called him, knew of a good lawyer that could help me with Charles. I had been distracted by the news about Emmett and taking care of Carlisle and the children, but I had not forgotten what I had decided to do. As I fell more into family life and signed up for classes starting in the new year, I wanted even more to rid myself of Charles and devote all my energies to the man I loved and what I was now considering my family. What we both hadn't realized until we met him for dinner in Seattle was that he meant him.

Aro was a tall, thin man with dyed hair and a face that it truly was impossible to accurately age correctly. He was dressed in a rather old fashioned but impeccably tailored navy suit. His eyes were faded gray and slightly rheumy, but they flashed with his razor sharp intelligence and didn't miss a single detail. His gaze as he looked me over, whilst holding my hand in his cold, corpse like hand was like being x-rayed.

"I'm sure that my therapists reports and medical records will testify to exactly what I have suffered at the hands of my hus…Charles Platt. And yes, my relationship with Carlisle has developed quickly, but for the first time, I feel loved, safe and at peace. I will not be made to feel like a criminal for that. And I will never apologize for the joy I feel at being able to love Carlisle just as passionately in return." My voice was low, but firm and I made sure my eyes never left Aro's. I felt rather than saw Carlisle raise my hand to his lips and kiss it. Aro was silent. His gaze probing and intense, I didn't look away.

"That does it!" he exploded suddenly, causing Carlisle, me and a few nearby diners to jump. "First Edward finds the delightful Bella and now, you my boy find this enchanting and feisty creature. "I am coming to spend some time in Forks. Esme my dear, I would be honored to represent you against that thing you married. I haven't had a good fight in years." Aro said, rubbing his hands together excitedly.

"There will be no need to fight Aro, I don't want anything, just for him to get out and stay out of my life."

Aro sighed. "Esme…you wouldn't deny an old man some fun. I am the very definition of a man who is being bored to death." He pleaded.

"What you are Aro, is an old rogue, who needs taking in hand by a strong woman." I teased lightly.

"Are you offering my dear? I could give you anything your heart desired." Aro crooned.

"I have that sitting right next to me." I said. I heard Carlisle's breath catch as he kissed my hand again.

"Ah well…my apologies Carlisle, but I had to try. Well may I at least offer you a birthday gift Esme?"

Suddenly, I was nervous.

My 39 AGAIN party organized by the children, Carlisle and Charlie and Sue Swan, had been small but perfect. My nerves at facing the next decade of my life seemed a little less daunting knowing I had what truly was a family behind me. I had been spoilt rotten, the most extravagant gift coming from Carlisle. My hand reached up to the intricately woven platinum and silver necklace, which contained the Cullen family crest.

"I love Lake Como, even at this time of the year!" Alice had squealed when I had told her what Aro's present had been. I had never been abroad. We were only going for a long weekend, but Alice packed enough for a month. And the clothes were not cheap either. I was still loath to take anymore financial aide from Carlisle or the others, but Bella had told me that the sooner I gave into it, the less painful it would be. I was just grateful that Charles had made me obtain a passport so I would have enough ID when I was dealing with his bank cheques and things. I hadn't taken many things when I had left Charles, but I had made sure I took my identification, the few things that actually made me feel like a real person.

"Um…haven't you forgotten something…?" Rose said, picking up a bag from the chair by my bed. I was back at my place packing before our flight later that night.

"I'm not going to take that after all." I said quickly, turning back to the dresser. I heard the bag rattle as Rose took a peak.

"Why not?" she asked quietly, sitting on the side of the bed. "It's very…"

"That's the problem…" I said I remained standing with my back to Rose.

"I don't see why…in a few hours you and Carlisle will be in Italy, far away from bastard the builder. The only running away you'll have to do, is from Carlisle as he chases you round the bedroom." She chuckled.

"But what if he doesn't like seeing…quite so much of me…" I said shyly turning round and leaning back against the dresser, my arms folded across my chest.

"Did he not like it when you wore nothing but his tux jacket at the fundraiser…did he not like it this morning, in his shower when you weren't wearing anything?"

"ROSE!"

"I'm sorry, I did knock…I wanted to borrow your hair dryer…but I don't think you heard me over…was he purring? Rose sniggered briefly "Seriously though, you need to teach me what to do to get Emmett making that noise."

"Rose I'm 40 years old…" I said quickly, trying to change the subject.

"With a body, that is still pretty damn hot and even more importantly, a man who loves every inch of it. C'mon, you know you want to give him and yourself a little thrill. You'll be on vacation…it's allowed." Rose argued. I blushed slightly. "Hah, I knew I was right…" she said "And anyway, wearing the damn lingerie is a hell of a lot easier than trying to explain to the demon pixie why you didn't."

"Carlisle, it's so beautiful…" I breathed. We had just got our first look at Aro's villa, a three storey ivy covered building that seemed to cascade down the mountain towards the shore of the lake. Inside was just as beautiful, large windows giving breath taking vistas of the lake, high ceilings, marble floors, elegant, expensive and antique furniture. And a sweeping Gone With The Wind staircase. Our bedroom was more like a large open plan suite. One wall was made up of a large window which seemed to stretch the entire length of the floor, it led out onto a balcony. To the right was a fireplace and seating area whilst to the left was the bedroom area. The bed was large with a large, intricate and inlayed with what looked like real gold. The bathroom was through a arch. We had a light meal and then fell asleep.

The next morning we were up early to catch the ferry across the lake to the small, exclusive town of Bellagio. The views were breath taking. Bellagio is on the junction of the arms of Lake Como and we were surrounded by sweeping mountains and the calm glass like lake. I shivered slightly. Winters in Como were not really that harsh, but there was still a chill in the air. Carlisle spun me round, pressing me back against the railing before stepping between my legs and pulling our bodies flush against each other. He then proceeded to wrap his jacket around us both. I slipped my arms round his waist.

"Better?" he asked.

"Much." I breathed, using my hands to gently squeeze his ass.

Carlisle bent his head and began to nibble on my earlobe before laying little butterfly kisses along my cheek. I sighed before taking in a deep breath of Carlisle's heady scent of musk, mint, clean linen and honey. Our lips met softly, there was no rush, no frantic passion, just tenderness and love. I took his top lip in mine, sucking gently and moaning softly at the concentrated taste of Carlisle that was there. His tounge traced my lip asking for entrance, which I gave him gladly. Our tounges dueled lazily, before I sucked gently on Carlisle's tounge, causing him to moan and roll his hips against me. I moaned and pushed Carlisle back slightly, so that I could remove my hands from around his waist, sneak them up the small gap between us brushing his hardened nipples on the way before settling them in the hair at the base of his neck which I began to scratch lightly.

"You feel different." He whispered as he brushed my lips gently.

"You don't…" I smirked as I rolled against him softly.

"Wicked woman…" he growled " No, I mean…you feel so relaxed already. And this…" he said pressing his lips to mine briefly. "This is wonderful…not like you…in public…but wonderful…" he breathed punctuating his words with kisses.

"I'm on vacation, with the man I love…what can I say?"

"You've just said everything I wanted to hear."

Bellagio was like stepping back in time with its narrow, cobblestoned streets and small shops full of beautiful handcrafts, art, and books which Carlisle and I wandered down hand in hand. We were passing one little store when several intricate metal sculptures caught my eye. I think I might of almost dislocated his shoulder as I yanked him into the store.

"Yes, it's beautiful…are they a matching pair?" Carlisle asked holding up another sculpture, examining it closely. "Well, we need to buy the pair." He said, heading towards the young woman behind the cash register. We decided to have lunch in a little tratatoria.

"Do you realize that these are the first things we have brought together." I said indicating the bag that held the statues.

"We've brought things together…" Carlisle argued, sipping his wine.

"Carlisle, we've brought groceries where we argue about you filling the cart with junk and paint that you just growled at." I huffed.

"You like it when I growl." He smirked.

I blushed slightly.

"Yes, but I much prefer it when you do it out of pleasure, rather than boredom." I said quietly. Carlisle then leant over the table and kissed me, a growl low in his throat.

Due to the time of the year, a lot of the gardens and villa's that were usually open to the public were closed. But we did walk up to the top of Villa Serbellonis Park, where we enjoyed the view of the Alp's to the North and the scattered little villages dotted round the lake's shore.

That night after dinner, we decided to take advantage of the heated indoor pool and Jacuzzi that was in the basement of Aro's mansion. Carlisle was already in the pool when I arrived, a sarong wrapped round the waist of my black halter necked one piece. I couldn't help licking my lips as I saw Carlisle standing in the centre of the pool, his now wet hair slicked back and his chest dripping with water. He smirked slightly as he watched me drop my towel on a lounger and then undo my sarong. I was on the second step of the steps to the pool, when I suddenly felt Carlisle's arms wrap round my waist and his arousal pressing against my ass.

"Come here you…" he growled pulling me into the water. We played around swimming and splashing for awhile. I had swum to the side when I felt Carlisle behind me. I turned round. He stepped forward between my legs, his arousal now even more pronounced. I needed to feel him closer, so I wrapped my legs around his waist moaning with a sound that was almost wanton as his length came into contact with my aching core. The feel of his hot mouth moving across my wet skin caused me to ground against him a little harder.

"God, I really do love the way you taste." I breathed, licking the side of his neck, before suckling on his collar bone. The pool was not chlorinated water but sea water, it added to the potency of the taste of Carlisle's taste. One of Carlisle's hands that had been under my ass to support me, squeezing gently, had moved further up across my lower back, supporting my back against the cold tile. "I think you've created a monster darling, you've made me feel so good…I can't help wanting to return the favour…touch you, kiss this damn sexy body…" I growled.

I couldn't believe that these words were coming out of my mouth, just as I couldn't believe that I was indulging in such open public displays of affection. But Rose's words, being away from the stresses of Forks and my overwhelming feelings of love and lust for Carlisle had just caused one more of the tightly wound bands of fear, pain and hurt that were wrapped around my heart to snap away.

"All I'm trying to do my beautiful Esme, is make you see the beautiful, smart, caring and incredibly passionate woman I see." Carlisle rasped. "And talking of seeing…" one of his hands reached up and pulled the string of my halter, causing it to fall to my waist. I gasped, my head falling back as he began laying hot open mouthed kisses down my neck along the soft swell of my breast, before taking one of my pebbled nipples in his warm mouth.

"Car…lisle…" I moaned, running my hands a little roughly through his hair. He carefully set me back on his feet, causing me to whimper at the loss of contact. A sexy smirk twitched on his lips.

"I think you may have unleashed a little bit of a monster in me."

We climbed out of the pool. Carlisle grabbed me round the waist and pulled me against him, laving my neck and collar bone with his tounge. I moaned and rolled my hips against him. He then pushed me away a little, before starting to peel the lower half of my swim suit further down, holding me as I stepped out of it. I was now totally naked in front of Carlisle and shivered slightly and not just from the cold. I hadn't seen what Carlisle had been wearing in the pool. He was wearing short, blue swimming trunks, that clung to his ass sinfully, but were stretched painfully tight over his arousal. Carlisle growled softly as his eyes, dark and hooded with lust scanned over my body. He walked me backwards, until my calves hit the end of the lounger by the pool. I sat down on the edge, reaching up I cupped him, squeezing gently. Carlisle groaned, his hands gripping and running over my wrists.

"Essmmee…please."His pleading tone was almost pained. Within a minute his trunks were on the floor. I pushed back a little and Carlisle carefully nestled between my legs. I hitched my leg over his hip pulling him closer. I felt his tip pressing against my slick folds. Carlisle, looked at me, his eyes almost begging for permission. I raised my hips slightly, moaning as I drew him further inside.

"God…I love you…" he breathed into my neck as he slid into me fully. This was passion and need, so I encouraged Carlisle's fast and hard thrusts which as I arched towards him, seemed to hit me in exactly the right place. Gripping Carlisle's shoulders tightly, I let the spasm's of pleasure of warmth wash over me and carry me over the edge. I was brought back to earth by the sound of Carlisle calling my name as he fell over his own edge. We laid still for a few moments catching our breath, brushing lips as we muttered words of endearment and love. It was as Carlisle went to stand, that we both heard the sound of grinding metal, before the lounger began to shake and collapse. Thankfully, it didn't hit the floor.

"Are you alright?" Carlisle asked concerned.

I nodded. "I think we broke it…" I laughed a little frantically.

"Don't worry…I'm sure Aro will add it to his bill."

We were both a little stiff and achy after the night before, so we didn't leave the villa until the afternoon. We did a bit of gift shopping for the people back home and then followed a small group up a short cobbled street, through a narrow alleyway to St James Basillica, a breathtaking building with a very Romanesque exterior and tastefully gold accented gold interior. At one point, Carlisle stood in front of a golden statue just as a ray of weak sunlight hit it. The glow that surrounded him and the soft smile he gave me made my eyes prickle with tears. We wandered round after the guided tour and whilst Carlisle went to examine something we'd seen a little more closely, I sat on a bench with my Italian phrase book. Carlisle was almost fluent in Italian, but he had happily let me stumble through a few conversation. Suddenly, the sight of a priest talking with a few tourists caught my eye. I went over.

When I turned round, Carlisle was sitting on the bench.

"Okay love?" he asked attempting to stand. I pushed on his arm and he sat back down, a questioning look on his face.

"I was asking the priest to help me with my Italian." I said turning to face him and taking his hands in mine.

"You could have asked me love…" he said softly.

"No not with this. I wanted to try and express what I felt…about the way you looked today, bathed in that sunlight…about the way I feel about you…us in general…" I was convinced he could hear my heart beginning to pound. Carlisle remained silent, his eyes soft, loving, encouraging.

"Siete un angelo…inviato dal cielo…per sal…vare…la mia anima…poveri lonely." I stammered out. Carlisle's eyes seemed to have softened a little more and be shining with tears. "I hope I haven't recited something about fire and brimstone or something." I chuckled softly. Carlisle pulled one of his hands free from mine and gently cupped my cheek.

"No love…but I feel I should be the one saying that to you." He said leaning over and kissing me tenderly.

We had an early start in the morning for our trip home, so we decided to let Aro's gourmet chef cook for us. We both made the effort to dress up, me a silk wrap dress, Carlisle in dress pants, a navy dress shirt and smart jacket. We ate out on the heated balcony. I decided that tonight was the night with the lingerie, we had had such a wonderful time, both relaxing, enjoying each other's company and if it was possible, we had fallen a little more in love with each other.

"Do you think that Aro will like his present?" I asked.

" He'll love it, you bought it, he loves you…"

"I…think he's very interesting…" I said diplomatically. Carlisle chuckled.

"Aro does take a few years to get used to."

"Years…" I said quietly, the silence was loaded. Carlisle reached across the table and took my hand, twinning his fingers through mine.

"Yes Esme years. You, us, our life in Forks with the children…it's what I want…forever…" his voice was velvet soft in the semi darkness. My heart was pounding, tears forming a painful lump in my throat.

"Ch…he won't make it easy, not because he loves me, but because he doesn't like to lose…"

"Neither does Aro." Carlisle said darkly. "Sweetheart, I'll wait for as long as it takes. I'm not scared by bullies like Char…him. Esme I love you and I want to spend the next couple of decades showing you just how much. And I think the children would rather get rid of me, than lose you. They may be grown, but they need…"

"I don't want them to think that I'm trying to take Elizabeth's place…"

"They don't and you couldn't. Elizabeth was a wonderful woman and we all loved her very much. But as much as we all love her and the memories we have of her. We need you, to show you the love that we all have and too take the love that you have for us. Il vastro amore ha consesentito la mia lunga cuore a sbattere ancora." Carlisle crooned in Italian. I couldn't stop the small moan that escaped me at the intensely loving look in Carlisle's eye and the timbre of his voice as he spoke beautiful words to me, in the moonlight.

"What did you say?" I whispered my voice thick with tears.

"I said, Your love has allowed my long dead heart to beat again." Hi own voice was now rough with emotion and need.

"Oh Carlisle…" I sobbed.

"Come here to me…" he said. I stood, glad of his hand to hold on to as I rounded the table on rubbery legs. He pulled me down onto his lap sideways. I turned so our faces were barely an inch apart.

"If I could, I would drop down on one knee right now and ask you to do me the honour of agreeing to be my wife, but Aro has insisted that…Ch..his, lawyers will already try and make things hard enough for you about me, us as it is."

"That's what frightens me…I know you love me and god knows I love you…" I said, placing my hand over his pounding heart. "But for him to drag your name, your reputation…"

Carlisle stopped me with a soft, tender kiss. I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"None of it means anything without you…" he said. His tone was so sincere, that it made me sob again. I crashed my lips to his, tilting my head to deepen the kiss. I felt Carlisle's hand twist in my hair to hold me too him. I let out a ragged teary sigh as I pulled away. I kept my forehead pressed against his.

"Did you say, that you would ask me to marry you…?"

"Yes…if it were possible…but as soon as it is…" Carlisle said, his lips brushing against mine.

"Can we come back here on honeymoon?"

"We can go wherever you want." He said his tone excited.

"Well, for the moment…I'd like us to go to bed…" I purred. "Maybe practice a little for our wedding night."

"Practice…" Carlisle said thoughtfully. "Mmm…practice is good."

At the door of our room, Carlisle swept me up bridal style and carried me over the threshold. I couldn't help but giggle. I pressed on his chest before he got too near the bed.

"I need a minute." I said indicating the bathroom with my head. He set me down after another searing kiss.

"Don't be long Mrs Cullen…" he growled swatting my ass.

My breath caught at what he had just said.

"Might as well practice everything…" he said roughly. Mrs Esme Cullen…that sounds so good." He said.

"Yes…yes it does…" I breathed. I had never felt as happy as I did at this moment. I didn't care what the future held, I know knew that I could face anyone and anything with that man beside me. And the day I could become Esme Cullen for real, would be the happiest of my life.

Carlisle was standing with his back to me, looking out the window when I came out of the bathroom. He had removed his jacket, shoes and socks and from the way it was hanging, his shirt was open.

"Carlisle" I said. I was wearing my Cullen crest necklace, the teal green lingerie set and my high heels. The lingerie now I was actually wearing it wasn't that daring. It had been my insecurities causing me to panic. The bra was lace with satin edging in black. It gave me quite a cleavage. The panties were lace with satin edging.

Carlisle turned round and the look on his face was worth any embarrassment I may have felt. His eyes widened and then darkened, his jaw hung open slightly.

"Come here…" he rasped holding out a hand to me. I walked slowly towards him, his gaze over my body was searing hot. I was shaking and not just from nerves. His look was setting my entire body on fire and the moisture rushing to my overheated core only seemed to make things more uncomfortable. I rubbed my thighs together a little as I walked to try and get a little relief. It wasn't enough.

"You look…stunning…"he growled.

"Thank you." I replied, allowing my free hand to roam the planes of his bare chest. He hissed pleasurably.

"You seem to be a little overdressed." I said, pushing his open shirt down off his arms. He pulled me flush against his body and proceeded to ravage my mouth with his kiss. I somehow managed to walk us back to the bed. Carlisle sat down pulling me down to straddle him.

"OH!" I almost screamed, as his erection made contact with my sensitive wet core, through the thin lace of my panties. Carlisle thrust upwards against me twice, making my head fall back without my permission as I cried out. Suddenly, I felt Carlisle laying hot, sucking, kisses down the column of my neck to the soft swell of breast visible over the cups of my bra. My hands twisted in his hair as I ground against him again. I needed more, wanted to give him more.

"Carlisle…you are still too overdressed." I whimpered. He grunted as I moved off of him. He raised his hips to help as I began pulling his trousers and boxers down. When they had been removed and thrown somewhere behind me. I stayed on my knees and gently pushed his legs apart so I could kneel between them.

"Oh god yes…please…" he grunted.

I smiled and then lowered my head, first kissing lightly up one inner thigh, then the other. I then reached to squeeze his sack. He moaned. I then took his erection in my other hand, applying the amount of pressure I had learnt he liked as I pumped it. I let my thumb graze across the tip, removing the small beads of fluid that were all ready there.

"ESME…pleeease…." Carlisle was leaning back a little supporting his weight on his hands. Resting one hand on his thigh for support, I took him slowly into my mouth. He moaned at the contact. I gently dragged my teeth along his shaft twice, before then doing the same with my tounge.

"FUCK ME!" Carlisle rasped. I hummed at that, causing Carlisle to cry out again as the vibrations travelled along his length. Hollowing my cheeks, I began to suck along his length again, before swallowing a little roughly so my throat muscles worked his sensitive head. One of Carlisle's hands was twisted in my hair to hold me too him., whilst the other was fisting the bed sheet.

"ESME…so close…feel so damn good…I…" he stammered out before his load hit the back of my throat. His growl was a low continuous sound that sent another wave of pleasure over me. A few minutes later, I knelt up.

"How the hell did I get so lucky to find a wife to be like you?"Carlisle rasped, his hands running through my hair, before crashing his lips to mine.

"I think I should be the one saying that to you." Throwing his words at what I said at the basilica back at him. Carlisle was still a little punchy from what we had just done. God I still couldn't believe I was capable of doing that to him. I managed to push him more into the middle of the bed. I hovered over his body, bracing my wait on my hands, allowing him to ach up and suck at my pebbled nipples through the lace of my bra, which along with my heels, he had shyly asked me to keep on. Finally though, I needed more. I moved back off the bed causing Carlisle to whimper and raise himself on his elbows to see what I was doing. I turned with my back to him. I was still a bit nervous about this part. I slipped my panties off, and deliberately took my time sliding them down my legs before bending slightly so he could see my ass. I heard him groan. I turned and began to crawl back up his body.

"I want you, to see, what being Mrs Esme Cullen to be, does to me…" I purred. "I may not be able to wear a ring yet, but this…" I pulled on my necklace, "it's the physical symbol for everyone to see, that my heart is yours, my body to YOURS…" I moaned as I lowered myself down over him.

"Esme." Carlisle grunted, as he reached up and held my hips to steady me, whilst I adjusted to the fullness of him in this position. He felt so deep and like that night he had taken me from behind, he was hitting sensitive spots I didn't know I had, I bent my legs either side of his. I rolled my hips slowly, before consciously squeezing my internal muscles around him a couple of times. His hips bucked up against me. I then pulled up, letting him come almost out of me, before slamming myself down on him fully

"OH YES!" I moaned. Carlisle helped steady my hips as I began to ride him. It wasn't long before I felt my muscles begin to clamp down around him. The spasms were almost painful in their intensity.

"Let go my beautiful Esme…let me see you my beautiful wife…" Carlisle growled as he sat up slightly deepening his thrusts.

"I LOVE YOU…ONLY YOU…" I cried, as my breath was taken away by my final wave of pleasure. I slipped forward and stayed laying on Carlisle's chest, with him still inside me for several minutes. Later after we pulled apart, but I quickly resumed my position with my head on his chest, my hand flung across his waist. Hearing Carlisle muttering sleepily

"Sensazione il vostro bel corpo avvolto intorno al mio gallo deve essere cio senle cielo sulla terra."

Was the last thing I heard before I fell asleep.

We arrived home back in Forks to find my cottage empty and a note from Rose saying she was staying at the main house. We were glad she was safe, but jet lag had hit us both pretty hard and after struggling to shower and change for bed we both passed out. Only to be woken again at lunch time the next day, by the persistent ringing of both our cell phones and the landline.

"Go away Alice." Carlisle growled, without even opening his eyes.

"Julie? Julie who? Oh…sorry Julie". He said. I was awake now as well. Julie wouldn't ring if there wasn't a real problem.

"What sort of problem?" Carlisle demanded. He was awake now and trying to focus as he sat up. He finished the call assuring her that we would be there in twenty minutes.

"Edward's having trouble with a patient, mother won't allow him to call 911…could you come with me, try help calm her down." He asked stumbling out of bed. I jumped up and we dressed and raced out to the Mercedes. Carlisle was okay to drive but he didn't want to risk using the phone, even if it was hands free.

The clinic was empty when we arrived and the only sound to be heard was Edward trying to insist to a patient that what he wanted to do was necessary. We hurried back to the treatment area of Edward's part of the clinic.

"Edward!" Carlisle called. Edward stepped out from a cubicle to the right pinching the bridge of his nose, a sure sign of stress.

"What's going on son? What are the symptoms? Carlisle asked in full doctor mode.

"You mean, apart from being loud, obnoxious and annoying…the big jerk has got a bad case of sunburn and won't let me put on any salve!" Edward groused, yanking back the curtain, to show a bare chested Emmett looking comical sat on a child size examination table, with extremely sore looking shoulders.

"I'll have you know, I got this sunburn fighting for the honour of my country…the least you can do is show a little of that compassion that you doc's are supposed to have and not slap on the cream like your hands are made of concrete. Hi Dad…Aunty Es…" Emmett huffed.

Carlisle hadn't said anything, he just stared at Emmett. Emmett's glare softened as he looked at Carlisle. Edward pulled me into a one armed hug at his side. Both of us were struggling with our emotions.

"My boy…my son…" Carlisle whispered finally, before rounding the table and taking Emmett's face between his hands.

"You're back, you're really back…"

"Large as life and twice as handsome." Emmett said thickly. They were both crying now. Carlisle wrapped his arms round Emmett and hugged him fiercely. Emmett hugged him back for about a minute, before he pulled away wincing.

"I had to come home to get all the intel on you and Aunty Es starting to do the lateral lambada, the mattress mambo, the horizontal foxtrot…the little gremlin has filled me in on your love of dirty dancing." He said grinning wickedly at Carlisle and I.

"Edward hand me that salve." I growled.

"You wouldn't!" Emmett said grinning, but as I kept my face furious and disappeared behind his back, his tone became a little less sure. "You wouldn't do that to your favourite nephew Aunty Es…"

"No I wouldn't, not this time…" I said, gently applying the salve to his sore skin.

"What did I tell you, she does love me best."Emmett crowed throwing his head back.

"Damn right." I whispered in his ear as I leant forward and kissed his cheek.

It seemed Emmett had arrived home an hour after our plane had taken off for Italy. The ten day extension to his deployment cut when the bad weather had cleared up. As much as they knew we wanted to know, the children had decided to call us as it would cut short the trip we needed and Rose and Emmett had gone into hibernation anyway.

That night we had a family dinner, the others coming in from Seattle. Emmett had been the life and soul of the party, but as an expert at putting on a brave face, I could tell something wasn't quite right. About two hours in, Emmett slipped from the room, everyone except Jasper, was so caught up in their excited chatter about Emmett, Thanksgiving and Alice and Jasper's wedding, they didn't notice. I met Jasper in the hall by the stairs.

"He's up there…Esme, I think this is one of those times I mentioned, when what we can do is not enough…he needs you." He said. I was flattered, but a little sacred as I climbed the stairs. As I reached the second floor, I heard quiet sobbing coming from Rose and Emmett's room.

"Emmett." I said quietly tapping on the door.

"Come in."

I pushed open the door, to see Emmett sat on the side of the bed, his head in his hands which were resting on his knees. I sat down beside him. Finally, he sat up and looked at me. His large handsome face was pale, drawn and haunted looking.

"That damn sand gets everywhere, I guess I bought home a souvenir in my eye" he said with a chuckle that wasn't humourous. I smiled and rubbed his large arm.

"The amount of love that those wonderful people downstairs can give and want to share can be a little overwhelming when you're not used to it." I said.

The look on his face told me that that was at least half his problem.

"Or if you didn't expect to feel it again." He stammered. "My extra days of deployment, it was because of bad weather, but not in the way Rose thinks...I was on patrol with three other guys, when a freaky stand storm blew up. We got separated from the rest of the unit. Well and truly lost. We had to hold up in an old shack right in the middle of bandit country for four days, low on ammo, rations, water the lot. I really thought…well…I thought…" his voice cracked and the tears began to fall, causing his huge shoulders to shake. I pulled his head to my shoulder and wrapped my arms as tightly round him as I could.

"Emmett…you're safe now…you're home…home with the people who love you…" I said, beginning to rock him gently while he cried, all the while repeating my little mantra that he was safe, hoping that it would give him some sort of peace until we could get him some proper help. My heart was sputtering in my chest as I fought my heartbreak at seeing Emmett so frightened and my fear at the thought of nearly losing him.

"I'm so tired Esme, I haven't slept properly in so long. I'm always waking up, thinking I'm back in that shack. I worry that if I sleep, something will happen to the other guys." He mumbled.

"Did they get back okay?" I asked. He nodded against me.

"Then you've done your duty…it's time for you to rest now honey…"

"And let us watch your back for a while bro…" Edward said from the doorway. He and Jasper were flanking Carlisle, whose expression was not that of a doctor, but a parent who was wishing that he could take away his child's pain. Emmett pulled away from me.

"If you go Oprah on me, I will have to hurt you…" he growled at them.

I held Emmett for a little while longer, before I decided to head downstairs, Emmett was adamant that he didn't want Rose to know just yet. And after her reactions when his tour had been extended, we agreed for now, to let him talk to her in his own time. Emmett agreed to take some extra PTSD therapy. Carlisle would arrange the appointment with Eleazar who had been in the military for almost ten years. It would mean that it would not affect Emmett's job in the Fire Department. With his leave entitlements, he wasn't due back to work till the New Year, so hopefully there would be no need for his Department bosses to know. He had already bought himself out of the army.

I was heading downstairs, to join the girls and stop them getting worried. I passed Carlisle who was now sitting on the edge of the bed. He was going to stay and chat about general things with the boys till Emmett fell asleep. I squeezed his shoulder, he held my hand there for a moment and gave me a look of gratitude and love.

Downstairs I assured the girls the boys were fine. Rose looked a little worried, but didn't say anything. This was not something that Emmett could do whilst so physically tired and Rose had to be a little more secure in having him home, I went to the kitchen to get a drink. When I shut the fridge door, it was to see Alice staring at me.

"Jeez Alice! You gotta remember shocks aren't good for a woman of my age." I teased.

"How bad is he?" she asked. I was going to play dumb, but I could see on her face how worried she was.

"He's going to need a fair bit of TLC and a few long talks with Eleazar, but I think he'll pull through okay." I said.

"I knew something was wrong. I opened my big fat mouth to Rose when she got the news of his extended deployment. I just got this feeling something was wrong. I didn't tell her that, but I put enough of an idea in her head to freak her out. I've been so scared. I'm just so glad my big ol' bear of a brother is home. I really would have lost it if…" her words trailed off.

I was leaning back against the breakfast bar. I put down my drink and held open my arms instinctively. Alice walked into them and clung to me.

"He's home, he's safe and he probably upstairs now embarrassing the hell of Carlisle." I said kissing the top of her head.

"Ooh! That reminds me, did Dad let the lingerie linger long enough to get the full effect?" her tone was innocent, but the gleam in her eye devilish.

"Shameless pixie." I growled giving her a squeeze.

"You love me really." Alice sang.

"Yes I do." I whispered.

Thanksgiving came around. We had all the children plus Charlie and Sue. I helped Bella with dinner, loving every minute of the chaos, laughter and bickering.

"I am thankful for my brother and father having the good sense to find themselves wives…Esme, when are you going to make an honest man out of the old man?...Hah, I'm a poet and I didn't know it." Emmett cackled. There was a heavy silence for a moment and Carlisle and I exchanged looks. Everyone else was staring at us.

"We wanted to talk to you about it first…see what you thought, felt?" I said.

"My mom always said that my Dad was lost on his own and she was right. For the last fifteen years, Dad has been lost and lonely. But then you came a long Esme and changed him, changed us, so I think I can safely say, what we think is…go for it." Edward said. I couldn't help myself, I raced round the table and hugged Edward, before kissing Carlisle as I sat down. He had tears in his eyes as he looked round the table.

"Well then, I'll have to make sure that marrying Esme, is one New Year's resolution I keep." He chuckled.

"I'm thankful for getting my grizz…I mean Emmett, home safe and for him pulling his head out of his ass long enough to admit he needs help." Rose said softly. Emmett had told Rose what had happened. She hadn't been best pleased about being kept in the dark, but she had understood in the end."

"Oh and I'm also thankful for finding such a cool, loving long lost aunty." She said.

"The feelings mutual sweetie." I said. "I am thankful for the Kindness of strangers, which then turned into love and friendship and for the first time, hope for the future…"

I was cut off by the sound of Carlisle and Edward's cell phones ringing simultaneously. They both looked confused and the sheepish.

"It's the hospital." Carlisle said, frowning at the caller ID. They both flipped their phones and said in unison "Dr Cullen". Bella who was sitting next to me whispered. "Makes you proud doesn't it." I nodded.

"A new club opened in town tonight. It was packed and three floors of balconies collapsed." Edward said quietly. We all drew in shocked breathes. "The hospital is short staffed due to the holiday, they're calling in all surgeons and doctors in the area. Dad I'm good to go, I've not been drinking…"

"One beer…"

They both rose from the table. We all followed them out. Emmett knew he wasn't ready for work yet, but it didn't stop him looking pained as he watched Edward and Carlisle drive away in the Mercedes, after being thoroughly kissed and warned to be careful by Bella and I. I pulled Bella to my side.

We stayed that way on the sofa, as we all stared blankly at the horrific news on the TV. Emmett was the only one that was anxious, Charlie was also ex service, so he was ansty. Finally he insisted we try and do or at least think about something else, so we didn't drive ourselves mad. We tried to watch the game, but it didn't work, we ended up watching a comedy of some sort, but I don't think anyone of us knew what it was about. Emmett was in the kitchen when his phone rang. We heard him muttering, before he came back into the lounge. His face was pale and he was shaking. Bella and I both tensed as he approached where we were sitting and dropped to his knees.

"They needed a doctor on the site of the collapse traumatic amputation…Carlisle went as he has the most experience… there was an explosion in the buiding" Emmett's voice was a rough whisper, but I could hear him and the girls weeping softly. It took me a minute to realize that Bella was holding me so tightly because I was starting to shake violently.

"Is he dead?" I asked flatly. Emmett didn't answer.

"DAMN IT EMMETT! IS MY CARLISLE DEAD?" I screamed.

AN: As always, I hope you find something in this very mixed bag of a chapter. Believe it or not, I did do a tiny bit of research on Lake Como and my Italian translations. I know November is pretty much dead there, but I took a little dramatic license please forgive.

The English translation of what Esme said to Carlisle is: "You are an angel sent from heaven to rescue my poor lonely soul."

What Carlisle said to Esme after they made love: "Feeling your beautiful wrapped around my cock, must be what heaven on earth feels like.

The reference at the start to being a "Friend of Dorothy", is for those who don't know, an old sarcastic way of describing a gay person. As far as I can determine, it came from the fact that Judy Garland was such a gay icon and one of her big roles was D in the Wizard of Oz. No offence was meant to anyone.

I'm sorry if anyone feels Emmett trivialized the injury he picked up whilst serving his country. I would never trivialize that or the PTSD our brave fighting men and women suffer. But this is Emmett, it's his nature.

In a divorce case, new relationships, especially ones that quick would be used against Esme. Oh and please don't scream at me about the end. I had to do it, it brings Bastard the Builder Charles into the story. Sorry about the long AN. Now please step away from the chocolate for two minutes and hit the little green button.