The weeks seemed to fly past and before she knew it Bella was settled into her new job, she enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the office, people screaming and shouting at one another as deadlines approached. Bella's job involved running and carrying out errands for the writers and editors as well as carrying out research on stories being written. She had gotten along well with her colleagues and bosses alike everyone pleased with the new apprentice.
Bella had become more settled living with the Cullen's. Her and Edward were now sharing a bed every night, Bella had never unpacked her stuff in the guest room, it all now took pride of place on Edwards, shelves, draws and in his closet. Their relationship had gone from strength to strength learning all the little things about one another that they hated and loved alike.
Bella's relationship with Carlisle and Esme had also developed she now understood why they did the little things for her, the hugs, cooking meals and the chats because they loved her, a feeling that has taken her so long to become accustomed to. These displays of affection still made her blush but she no longer shied away and accepted them with a small smile and a quiet thank you.
It was finally the weekend again and Bella and Edward had the evening to themselves Alice and Rosalie were around at their boyfriend's house and Carlisle and Esme were at some hospital function. The pair sat curled up on the sofa and had just finished watching 'Time travellers Wife' Bella wiped a tear away as Edward chuckled at her side. Bella sat up slapping his arm lightly.
"Just because you're emotionally stunted doesn't mean the rest of us are" Bella giggled.
"Hey that's not fair." Edward moaned before tackling Bella to the love and tickling her until she cried for mercy.
Kissing Bella gently Edward said "Have you decided what you want to do for your birthday?"
Stiffly Bella sat up, her birthday had been a bone of contention for the last couple of weeks, she didn't want to celebrate it, whereas Edward decided that she needed to celebrate. They didn't understand that Bella had never really celebrated her Birthday she usually got a card and a bit of money from her parents but that was it. She didn't feel like she could handle the Cullen's making a fuss over her birthday it was one step too far for her.
Seeing Bella distressed made Edward drop the subject of her Birthday, he decided that he needed to speak with his parents. There was no way that her birthday was going to go unnoticed never again would Bella be made to feel worthless. Edward picked Bella up and carried her to their room they settled down for the night just enjoying each other's company.
The rest of the weekend was quiet, Carlisle and Esme came back home mid-morning Bella and Edward were in the kitchen washing the pots from their previous night's meal.
"Hey kids have fun last night?" Carlisle asked as he came into the kitchen closely followed by Esme.
Bella nodded her head before turning away and back towards the sink.
"Yeah we had steak and baked potato for dinner then sat and watched films before bed, just nice and relaxed" Edward responded glancing at his parents with raised eyebrows telling them that something was wrong.
"Good I'm glad you kids had fun." Carlisle said lightly glancing at Bella's back.
Esme went around the kitchen counter and towards the coffee pot on the pretence of making a fresh pot of coffee Bella was slowly drying the dishes her eyes never leaving the towel in her hands. Esme stood next to Bella waiting for the coffee she carefully placed a hand on top of Bella's stilling her actions.
Esme whispered "Huni, what's wrong are you not feeling well?"
Bella was frozen in place she just didn't move, everyone else in the room began to panic, Carlisle and Edward both headed towards Bella and Esme just as a tear rolled down her cheek. Edward stood on Bella's other side and gently placed a hand on Bella's shoulder.
"Hey, let's go sit down for a while." Edward said reassuringly.
At Edwards words Bella finally looked up at him, she shook her head before moving herself away from Esme and Edward and leaving the kitchen, they could all hear her heading up the stairs and so assumed that she was heading to her room.
Esme asked "Edward what happened?"
Shakily Edward took a seat at the kitchen island before responding "I'm not sure, it's her birthday next week and I asked what she wanted to do, but she just shut down on me and refused to speak."
"Poor Bella, I guess birthdays aren't that easy for her I wonder why" Esme said before wrapping Edward in a motherly hug.
"I'm going to go check on her, why don't you and your Dad go for a run and clear your head." She suggested before leaving the kitchen.
Esme quietly approached Bella and Edwards room the door was slightly ajar and Esme could hear quiet sobs from inside. Gently, Esme made her way into the room glancing around she could not see Bella anywhere. Then she heard a retching sound coming from the en-suit Esme ran towards the bathroom and found Bella on the floor being sick into the toilet, Esme knelt down next to her and gently rubbed her back until she stopped.
Finally, Bella managed to pull herself up off the floor and rinse her mouth out with water. Esme led her back into the bedroom and sat her on the edge of the bed.
"Feeling better?" Esme asked.
"A little I guess, I'm sorry I don't know what happened." Bella said shakily.
"It's ok don't worry about it everyone gets sick you can't help it" Esme replied brushing her hands through Bella's hair in a comforting manner.
"Edward told me it's your birthday next week but you didn't seem over happy about it." Esme said hesitatingly.
Tears fell down Bella's cheeks and Esme couldn't bear to see her so unhappy yet again, she pulled Bella into a hug and rocked her backwards and forwards until the tears slowly began to stop and Bella pulled away.
Slowly Bella began to speak, "Edward thinks that I should celebrate my birthday, but I'm not comfortable with it. Birthdays were never a big thing in our family if I got a card then I was happy. My birthday is never something to celebrate."
Esme sat there stunned, not sure what to say to Bella, how could she think that her birthday wasn't something to celebrate everyone deserves to celebrate on some way.
"Bella, I think that Edward is right your birthdays is something to be celebrated, we don't have to do anything big just a family meal and movies it will be like any Friday night."
"You don't have to do anything you don't have to go to any trouble." Bella said quietly.
"Since when have you ever been any trouble, we've told you a million times we love you and nothing will ever be too much trouble." Esme said lovingly before helping Bella to lie down and get some sleep.
Esme sat in the kitchen as Carlisle and Edward came in the through the kitchen door, both looking sweaty but happy.
"Where's Bella?" Edward asked immediately.
"She's asleep in your room resting her birthday has her quite wound up." Esme said carefully.
"I know but I'm not sure why" Edward responded.
"I think it has something to do with the fact that her birthday has never really been celebrated before, apart from a card." Esme said cautiously worried about what Edward's reaction would be.
"What, how could I mean her, she…" Edward struggled to form her sentence.
"Hey its ok, we will celebrate her birthday but we need to make sure that it doesn't over whelm her just a family meal and a few presents making sure she feels love and wanted." Esme said pulling Edward into a hug.
"And Esme you need to make one of your famous chocolate mud cakes Bella will love it." Carlisle said a small smile playing on his lips.
"It's not because you love them to is it Dad." Edward laughed looking more relaxed.
Carlisle laughed at his son "Right I'm going for a shower, I'll catch you to later." Before kissing Esme and heading up the stairs.
"I think I'm going to head to the store to grab a few bits for Bella's cake and Birthday tea do you want to come?" Esme asked.
"That's fine Esme you go I'm going to have a shower and check on Bella I think she needs some love right now." He responded before kissing Esme and heading up the stairs.
Esme grabbed her keys and drove into Forks her head full of ideas about what she could do for Bella's birthday. She pulled into the store's parking lot and grabbed a cart. Humming a random tune, Esme wandered up and down the isles stocking up on supplies for the house as well as everything she would need for Bella's tea. As she paid and headed out towards her car she spotted Charlie Swan pull in to the parking lot Esme put all her groceries in her bag before heading towards his car.
"Chief Swan have you got a second." Esme asked glaring at the man in front of her.
"As long as it is quick Mrs Cullen I'm very busy today." He said curtly.
Taken back Esme glared at this man, no wonder Bella thought she was not wanted if this is the way he treats people.
"I thought you would like to know what your daughter has been up to this last few weeks, how she's doing." Esme said a little more sharp than normal.
"My daughter went against me she obviously knows what she wants not caring about my opinions so no I don't want to know what she has been doing."
"You know Chief Swan you have an amazing loving daughter who wants nothing more than to be loved by her parents. She is a grown adult and as such needs to make her own choices. Now I do not know what your problem is but I have your daughter in my home distraught because she thinks that her parents don't love her and never wanted her. You know she was sick this morning thinking about her birthday, physically sick. What sort of parents doesn't like celebrating their daughter's birthday?" Esme ranted at a shocked looking Chief Swan.
"Now just hang on a second, you know nothing about my life or that of my daughter, I provided a roof over her head she had three meals a day and never got into trouble what more could anyone possibly need." Charlie growled at Esme.
"Yes, a child needs all of these things, but they also need, love, hugs a conversation to know that they are wanted and that their parents are proud of them." Esme said exasperated by the man in front of her.
"Bella is my daughter and I thank you for not reprimanding me for the way I brought Bella up, I don't know what my stupid daughter has been telling you but she needs to learn that life is not like a fairy tale and people never get a happily ever after nor should they expect to." he shouted before storming off in the opposite direction.
"You know chief Swan you will regret the way you treated Bella one day, you are going to miss out on so much and we will have gained a daughter who we love and will cherish forever." Esme called after Chief Swan.
Esme watched as Chief Swan stormed off in the other direction tears falling down her cheeks feeling complete sorrow for her latest daughter and decided that no matter how long it took that she would make Bella believe that she was wanted, loved and most importantly cherished by all of us.
Esme headed back home needing nothing more than to wrap Bella into a hug telling her that everything was going to be ok. Once she reached home Esme carried the bags into the kitchen then followed the noise to the living room where the whole family were gathered. Jasper, Emmett and Edward were playing a video game while the girls and Carlisle were laughing at their antics.
Bella had a small smile on her face as she watched the interaction between the family members. Carlisle was sat next to her on the couch as Bella was leant against him. That fatherly gesture made tears spring to Esme's eyes again Bella should have had this way of life from the beginning a loving father and family who cared so much about her. Esme was determined to make sure that from that day forward Bella would know that she was a part of this family for always.