AN- Surprise! This chapter is from Renee POV, how's that for something new! I was up 'til the wee hours of the morning, finishing, editing, and posting, so please excuse any errors. Also, I still do not have a computer much during the day, which means I don't have the time I would like to respond to your wonderful reviews! I still read them, so please keep them coming. Especially since that's the only way I catch some of my typos! Thanks so much for your continuing support!
Renee
I could see why Bella was so eager to be a part of this family. They were so normal, compared to how she had been raised. Well, maybe normal wasn't the right word. A young couple adopting five teenagers, four of which turn into couples isn't normal. Stable, that would be a better word to use. Carlisle and Esme obviously loved each other dearly. The siblings all teased each other. These were good people, a rock solid family.
When I called for Bella at Charlie's to let her know I was in Seattle a day early, he had directed me to the Cullen's. It was not a surprise that's where he expected me to find Bella. Bella hadn't been there, she and Edward had disappeared somewhere, also no surprise. What surprised me was that one of Edward's sisters happened to be in Seattle at that precise moment. Esme called her and in ten minutes I was on my way to Forks to wait at their house for Bella. I hadn't even had to rent a car!
We were now gathered around Alice's scrapbook. There were many pictures of Bella with the Cullen family. They all looked so happy and beautiful. Then Alice accidentally turned two pages at once. I turned back to see the missed pages. Something was off. The smiles were the same, and the Cullen's were still beautiful. It was Bella, her smile was still bright, but her eyes were dark, her face gaunt. She looked like she had just returned from a prison camp. I realized when the pictures had been taken. It was suddenly very quiet.
"May I ask a question?" I asked quietly.
"Of course," Esme responded. Alice seemed to flinch a little. She probably knew what I was going to ask. That little girl seemed very intuitive.
"Why did you leave?"
All eyes turned to Carlisle. It irked me that he was so obviously in charge. What made him the boss, other than he was the man? But his love and respect for Esme was so obvious, it only irked me a little.
"We couldn't leave Edward alone in his agony without Bella." Carlisle answered, "Where one goes, we all go. That's what family means to us."
Not the answer I was actually looking for. But it answered the question I had actually asked, as well as one I hadn't. "And that's why you're moving to Alaska when the kids start school?"
"Yes." Carlisle answered. I wondered how their children would ever learn independence.
Esme had apparently had enough of awkward conversation. Ever the gracious hostess, she spoke, "Renee, you haven't had a tour of the house yet! Would you like to see the upstairs?"
I decided to let her change the subject. I didn't want to be rude when they had been so kind. "I'd love to."
Esme showed me Carlisle's office. I was stunned by the wall of paintings. "Your husband seems to have a thing for art."
"For history, really. They are all historical portraits." Esme politely corrected me.
"Oh," was my reply.
We continued up the stairs, Esme pointing to a few doors and simply dismissing them as bedrooms. In the back of my mind there didn't seem to be enough, but before I could pin the thought down, we stopped.
"This is Edward's room." Esme commented. She inclined her head as an invitation for me to open the door. I was more than happy to do so, my curiosity brimming.
"This is Edward's room?" I asked, surprised. It was immaculate. Not just clean, but tasteful. It looked like the bedroom of a 30 year old man, not a boy just out of high school.
"Different than you expected?" Esme asked.
"Well, yes. I mean, it just doesn't look like a teenager lives in this room."
"I have noticed," Esme said, walking further into the room, "that Bella seems very mature for one so young."
I followed her in and began perusing Edward's music collection, more surprises there. "Yes," I said answering her question, "In fact, when she lived with me, I often told her she was born middle aged and just kept getting older." I laughed at the memory.
Esme smiled as well. "I'm afraid our Edward has the same affliction. He's a very serious minded young man." Her eyes softened and her smiled deepened. "That was, until he met your Bella. I've never seen him so happy, or laugh so easily."
"Bella is very special." I agreed.
"Do you want to know why Edward left?" Esme asked, looking me right in the eye. I was momentarily struck by their odd golden hue.
"Yes." I finally answered.
"If you recall, Bella actually left first. When they met, they got so serious, so fast, it scared her." She paused and I nodded. I hated remembering her in that hospital, so hurt after she had fallen down those damn stairs. "Edward convinced her they would take it slow. They were only in high school after all, no rush."
I sat on the sofa that was pushed up against one wall. Esme sat next to me and continued. "Edward soon found that the feelings he had for Bella were very intense. He tried to pretend they weren't but then discovered Bella felt the same way." Esme sighed. "Edward thought their relationship might not be healthy. While he didn't mind being obsessed with Bella, he wanted more for her. He thought if he left, she might move on, have a normal life." She smiled sadly, "He didn't think it was possible to meet your soul mate in a high school biology class."
I smiled as well. I'd had the same thought a hundred times since hearing about Edward.
"We agreed to leave because he was only in high school after all. We wanted him to have a life as well." Esme paused to collect herself. "It turned out to be a very poor decision. Neither of them had much of a life without the other." She smiled again, "It was, apparently too late for them to turn back."
I was trying very hard to comprehend everything she was telling me. Edward had left because he thought it would be good for Bella. It was obvious they were happier together, but why get married? Why not just live together for a while? Esme seemed to know my questions. Bella probably told her my views on marriage.
"Edward, as I said, is prone to being serious minded. When he realized Bella needed him as much as he did her, it only made sense to him for them to stay together. He gave her his mother's ring as a symbol of that commitment."
I was silent. I still didn't approve. They could have been engaged for a year or more, instead of jumping in with both feet.
"Bella insisted they get married before they started college," Esme chuckled softly as my jaw dropped. My baby had insisted they get married? Hadn't I taught her a thing? "I believe she said something along the lines of not wanting to deal with a big 'to do' while trying to juggle classes, finals, schedules and such." Esme finished.
Well, I guess that sounded a little more like Bella. I sighed, "They're just so young. How can they know themselves, much less each other?"
"It seemed that way to me too." Esme nodded, "They grow up so fast." We smiled at each other. Only a mother knows how fast a child can grow. "Edward and Bella should be home soon. Let's join the family down stairs again."
We did just that and began looking through the scrapbook again. I could see how Bella changed and blossomed as she spent time with the Cullen's. She seemed to get older with every turn of the page. I wondered what could have given her such life experience in Forks.
"Ah, here they come now," Carlisle said as they all turned to the door. I must have missed the sound of the car pulling up. The door opened and in came my baby with her fiancée. My jaw dropped at the sight of her.
"Bella!" I cried, she looked positively stunning. She was glowing.
"Mom!" Bella called in surprise running to my open arms. "What are you doing here?"
"Phil's schedule changed last minute, so he couldn't come. But it meant I could come a little early!" I explained.
Edward's brother, Jasper, I think, seemed agitated, "Alice," he began, turning to his sister.
"Later, Jasper, we have company!" she hissed at him.
Bella recaptured my attention, "That's great, Mom, but why are you here, at the Cullen's?"
"Well it was the most amazing coincidence!" Everyone smiled at that. "I called here looking for you, and Alice was already in Seattle!"
Bella gave Alice a look, "Is that so?"
"Yes! She even drove me down here so I wouldn't have to rent a car. Your boyfriend's family is very generous." I said.
"So I've noticed." Bella replied. The Cullen's all chuckled. They had probably gotten similar treatment I did when trying to give Bella presents.
"Bella, are those grass stains on your pants?" I had just noticed the green spots on her knees.
The big one, Emmett, snorted. The model smacked him. I had to refrain from laughing myself. It was obvious what the two of them had been up to.
Bella blushed, but gave a good reason, "We were hiking, Mom, there wasn't really much of a chance I'd come back without grass stains."
She had a point. My daughter wasn't exactly graceful. "You should have known better than to wear such nice pants, they're ruined now." I smiled at her, shaking my head.
"I have another pair just like them." She responded. I raised my eyebrows at her. Since when did Bella have more than one of anything? She laughed, "Alice does most of my shopping these days."
"Good for her," I smiled at little Alice.
"Bella, would you like to show your mother the piano?" Esme offered, apparently remembering my tour hadn't been finished.
"Sure, Esme." Bella responded, obviously glad for the change of subject. Walking me over to the grand piano, she laid a hand on it tenderly.
"Have you started playing again?" I asked.
"Oh, no, Mom, I just listen. Edward plays." She laughed at the thought of herself playing.
I turned around to look at Edward and saw we were suddenly alone in the room. "Where did they all go?" I asked.
Bella laughed, "The Cullen's are masters of subtlety, Mom." I was sure they learned it from Esme. "I think they assumed you'd want me to yourself for a while."
"They were right." I laughed and hugged my daughter again. I let her go and gave her a once over. She was most definitely glowing. I decided I had a right to pry a little. "You're glowing, Bella."
She smiled, "I'm about to get married to the love of my life."
I smiled back at her, "Yes, but that's not what I meant. I thought you two were waiting, or is that just what you told Charlie?"
"What? No! Mom, c'mon, I talked to you about this!" she cried, distraught.
"Bella, I can see the look on your face," I teased her. "Truthfully, I'm relieved."
"Mom! Seriously, stop it! Wait, what do you mean relieved?" she questioned, blushing furiously. She was looking around, as if someone could hear us.
"Well, you kept insisting that Edward was so old fashioned. And then suddenly the two of you are getting married." I shook my head, "Sex is not a good reason to get married, Bella."
Bella blush deepened even further, "Mom! Please! Can we stop talking about this?" She was whispering furiously, as if the walls had ears, my sweet shy daughter.
I decided to let her off the hook, for now. "Fine," I conceded. "Is he any good?" I asked.
"Mother, you just said we'd stop talking about it!" Bella was starting to get angry.
I just laughed at her, "I meant is he any good at the piano! Get you mind out of the gutter, girl!" I teased.
"Oh," Bella said, still embarrassed. Then her eyes lit up. "Edward?" she called. I was sure he'd never hear her, but to my surprise, he was suddenly behind us.
"Yes, Bella?" he answered, grinning. Now I could see why she had been so embarrassed. The walls must be paper thin.
Shaking her head at his grin she asked, "Will you play something for my mother?"
"If she would like me to," he answered turning to me.
"By all means," I said. I wanted to hear him; Bella was always talking about how Edward did everything so well. I smiled at my own joke.
Edward grinned again and cleared his throat. Then he sat at the piano and began to play. I was just barely able to keep my jaw from dropping. He really was very good. Then I recognized the song he was playing. It was Claire De Lune.
"That's one of my favorites!" I said.
He continued playing as he looked up at me, "Bella told me." He smiled again. He was certainly a charming young man. Bella stood behind him with her hands resting on his shoulders. I listened as he played the entire song memorized. As the piece ended, Bella leaned forward to whisper in his ear. He turned to her with a look of such tenderness on his face, it melted my heart.
"Will you play it with me?" he asked softly.
She beamed down at him, "of course."
I thought Bella had just told me she didn't play. Now she was going to play a duet with Edward? Edward stood and scooted the bench back a little ways. I stood back to give them more room. Instead of sitting on one side of the bench, he sat in the middle and scooted back until he was barely sitting on it at all. Bella sat on the bench in front of him and placed her hands on top of his over the piano keys.
Now I saw what they had meant. As Edward began to play, Bella's hands followed his across the keys. The song sounded familiar somehow. Edward leaned forward and Bella leaned back. She rested her head on his shoulder and they closed their eyes, cheek to cheek. I started to feel like I was intruding. Then I remembered Bella had invited me to see this. I could see they were clearly in love.
Then I started listening more closely to the song. As the melody began to repeat, I realized why it sounded familiar. It sounded like Bella! My eyes widened as the realization hit me. It was as if Edward had captured the very essence of Bella's soul and given it voice. Tears formed and were soon spilling down my cheeks.
It was beautiful, as beautiful as my baby, Bella. But my Bella wasn't a baby anymore. I watched her in the arms of this young man. I had never seen such peace on her face. Edward does know my Bella, maybe even better than I do. I had missed so much since she moved in with Charlie.
I remembered the pictures I had seen in the album. The look on Bella's face when she and Edward had first come home. She wasn't my Bella anymore. I cried as I watched my baby grow up before my eyes.
The song ended and Edward whispered into Bella's ear. She began to tear up as well. I again had a brief feeling like I was intruding.
Bella looked at me. "Edward wrote that for me," she said proudly.
Obviously, I thought. "Why does is sound so sad at the end?" I wondered aloud.
"I wrote it before I knew Bella would keep me forever." Edward replied, "I was sure someday she'd come to her senses and turn me away."
"Never," Bella replied, smiling.
Edward smiled as well, kissing her hair. "Maybe I should change the ending, now," he offered.
"No!" Bella and I cried in unison. "It's perfect the way it is." I said. "It sounds just like Bella."
"That's the only reason it's perfect," agreed Edward. Bella blushed.
"I hate to interrupt," said Esme, "But didn't you say something about needing to call Phil before it got too late?" I tuned around and suddenly the room was full of Cullens again. It seemed like some were missing, though.
"Yes," I agreed.
"You're more than welcome to use our phone, Renee," Carlisle offered.
"Thank you, but I should be getting back to Seattle. Phil will worry less if he knows I'm safely tucked into bed when I call."
"How are you getting back to Seattle?" Bella asked.
"Carlisle has generously offered to let me borrow his car." I shook my head.
"Lucky you," Bella commented.
"I know," I agreed, "I told him I could just take the Volvo, it's seems a little less, well, you know." I noticed Edward stiffen a little. The rest of the family smiled. Odd. Nice people, but odd.
"Yes, I know," said Bella. "Why don't you just drop me at Charlie's on your way out of town?"
"Actually, Bella, I need you for a minute," Alice was suddenly at the bottom of the stairs. I realized it was she and Jasper that had been missing. "If that's okay with you, Renee." The sweet little thing looked agitated. She must need Bella for something important.
"Of course, Alice." I turned to Bella, "Bye, Hon. I'll see you tomorrow." I sighed, "Something tells me the drive is going to be much longer without Alice there to talk my ear off." Everyone laughed, but Alice. I hoped I hadn't offended her. Edward watched her closely for a minute, then he was serious too. "All right then. Bye everyone!"
Bella walked me out to my car, giving me a big hug. "I'm glad you got a chance to really meet the Cullens, Mom."
"Me too, Honey," I said, returning the hug, "Me too."
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BPOV
I didn't understand what could be wrong. Alice had managed to keep me busy for an hour after my mom left. Finally, Edward had reminded her that I would have to go home eventually, whether she liked it or not. She pouted, but relented and let me go. I could tell she was very unhappy.
Now, as Edward drove me home, I could tell he was brooding about something. I was totally confused.
"Okay Edward, what?" I asked.
He glanced at me momentarily, "What?"
"Edward Cullen, this has been probably one of the best days of my life. I was surprised, twice, and liked it both times. I spent a fantastic afternoon with you in our meadow. And my mother finally understands why I'm getting married." I paused, looking at him. He remained silent. "What the hell could have you and Alice so upset?"
Edward looked at me for a long minute. I could see pain and doubt in his eyes. It was killing me not to know. He looked back at the road, his hands tense on the wheel.
"Alice didn't want me to take you home," he took a breath, "because the minute I let you out, you disappear."
"Wh-?" I started, then my eyes went wide with understanding and astonishment. I whipped my head around. We were pulling into Charlie's and there was a familiar Volkswagen rabbit in the drive.
Edward turned off the car, but made no move to get out.
"Come inside with me Edward," it was more plea than command.
"I can't, Bella," He whispered. He closed his eyes and dropped his head, "I just, can't, please don't ask me to." He took a deep breath, "This is my fault."
I bit my lip. "Why is he here? Why would it be your fault?"
Edward looked at me, the familiar ageless sadness in his eyes. Then he looked to the house, listening. "Billy came to watch the game with Charlie. He heard Renee was in town early." He looked down again. "I thought. . ."
"You thought what?" I asked, "Of course he would know Renee was in town. How could this have been your fault, Edward?"
He looked up at me, guilt added to the pain in his eyes. "I sent them an invitation."
"You what?!"
He cringed, "I'm sorry, Bella. I know you said not to, but if it had been me," he looked at me again and I was touched by the sincerity in his eyes. "I would have wanted the choice." He finished.
"Oh, Edward," I sighed, putting my hand to his cheek. He leaned into it.
"He's waiting for you, Bella," he whispered. "He has something for you."
"What?" I asked automatically.
"I don't know. He just keeps thinking 'I hope she likes it.'" Edward turned his head away. I wouldn't have this. He would not feel this way two days before our wedding. I would make it right.
"Edward, Anthony, Masen, Cullen," I scolded. "You cannot possibly believe I have any doubt about my choice." There was no answer. I took his face in both of my hands and turned his head to look at me. "It doesn't matter what Jacob Black gives me. I have you, and that's all I will ever want. Do you understand me?"
Edward gazed at me with his sad topaz eyes. He nodded weakly. I didn't buy it. Fine, I would show him what I wanted. I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his. His response surprised me. Grabbing the back of my head, his kiss was wild, desperate. I returned it with confidence. Slowing it down, I made it last. I caressed his tongue with mine, slowly, gently. When I finally came up for air, he was smiling again.
"Thank you, Bella," he sighed.
"Anytime," I answered. "I love you, Edward."
His smile grew, "I know." He looked toward the house, "You'd really better get inside. Even Charlie is starting to wonder why you haven't come in yet. They all heard the car pull up."
"I will see you in a few hours," I said. It wasn't a question.
"Yes, Love, you will." He kissed me softly on the lips again. I climbed out of the car and headed to the house. Despite the face I had put on for Edward, I had to take a deep breath before I opened the door.
AN- Gasp! I know! I'll update when I can, but it may be a little while. This next chapter is important, obviously. Also, I would like to note that the image of Bella and Edward playing the piano together, I stole from My-Bella. She rocks!
Oh, one more thing, I'm curious as to how so many of you are still finding my story. It's near impossible to find from the fanfic homepage. So I was just wondering. Share if you feel so inclined.
