We left the last of the trees at that point and we both felt the déjà vu as we saw Esme waiting for us at the top of the stairs. She positively beamed at us as we made our way over to the house and caught Edward in a hug as soon as he reached her. I grinned as he hugged her back; Bella had really changed him.
"Slow down!" he laughed, and I could imagine the rush of thoughts in our mother's head.
She must have said something in her mind because after a couple of seconds, Edward nodded and she turned to the door. I followed complacently, quite used to missing half the conversations that went on in our house.
Unsurprisingly, Carlisle and Jasper were in the living room awaiting our return. Like a bunch of fishwives, always eager for new gossip.
Edward caught my eye and winked in agreement.
Both men stared anxiously at Edward, Carlisle more subtly, until they saw the topaz colour of his eyes, with no hint of red.
"Yes, she's still alive," Edward said quietly.
Both of them looked at him apologetically, but Edward smiled. "Let's get this over with then," he said with mock weariness.
Immediately he turned to Esme, who was now sitting next to Carlisle on the sofa. "Yes," he said, in answer to an unspoken question. "Yes. Some. No. Yes. Not quite. Yes."
Unable to take any more, Jasper burst out "For God's sake, can you please speak out loud?"
"Don't blaspheme, Jasper," was Esme's automatic response. "I'm sorry," she added. "Alright then, what did she think of that?"
Jazz groaned and Carlisle and I both laughed.
"She's asking what Bella thought when I showed her… what I could do," Edward explained.
Good thing Emmett's not here, he'd have a field day of innuendos! I thought.
"True," Edward replied, causing Jasper to moan again.
"Oh don't you start!" he complained.
"Sorry Jazz," I giggled and went to sit next to him, snuggling against his side.
"You're forgiven," he murmured, running his hand through my hair.
"Jasper!" Edward grimaced.
"Sorry," he said, grinning at me.
"Children!" Esme admonished.
"Sorry Mom," we all three chorused.
Carlisle sighed.
"Yes, anyway, she was scared but she forgave me," Edward said, trying to get back on topic.
"Does she seriously not care that you're fighting not to kill her?" Jasper asked incredulously.
I elbowed my husband. "Tactful," I muttered.
"No, it's okay, Alice," Edward said. "And I don't think 'not caring' is the right way to describe it. She finds it… an inconvenience—"
Like when she's kissing you, I thought cheekily.
He ignored me entirely. "– and it does worry her, but she seems to think it's worth it."
Esme looked like she would never be able to stop smiling. "What did you tell her about the rest of us?" she asked.
"Not much," he answered. "I told her that Carlisle saved you, how you two joined us" – directed at me and Jasper – "how Rosalie found Emmett… Where are Rose and Em by the way?"
No one bothered to speak and he heard the situation four times over. I wondered how each member of the family saw Rosalie's actions. Personally, I thought it was a real shame that Rose couldn't accept Bella, and also a bit selfish. Didn't she want Edward to be happy?
Edward broke the silence. "I see," he said coldly.
"Don't be too hard on her," Esme pleaded.
He shook his head, though his face remained serious. "I know why she's doing it."
Wish I did, I grumbled mentally. I really don't understand why she has such a problem with Bella. What's Bella ever done to her?
"She's human," Edward said simply. "For Rosalie, that's everything she wants, and everything she can't have. Bella is an unwelcome reminder of her loss."
I couldn't quite quash the idea that that was not all, and the glance Edward threw at me confirmed I was right. He wouldn't tell me what, thought, so I'd have to wait to find out. Maybe Rose would tell me once Bella joined the family.
Edward stiffened, and I quickly sent him a sorry! in my head. Sensitive subject.
"Can you please bring her round tomorrow?" I asked, begging unashamedly. "She'll be perfectly safe." Quickly I scanned the future to check I wasn't lying and found nothing to cause any worry. "See? Look, I know you really want her to come because otherwise I wouldn't see it at all. Give in!"
Esme and I waited in excited anticipation. Carlisle, who had not spoken until now, finally persuaded him.
"Edward, Alice will be on constant alert tomorrow. And I must say, it would be nice to meet Bella outside of the emergency room."
Edward laughed and I grinned triumphantly as my visions for tomorrow abruptly became much clearer.
"Thank you thank you thank you!" I squealed, and jumped up to break into a little victory dance.
"That reminds me…" Esme said. "Could you please tell us what got Alice so excited earlier?"
Edward glanced down at me, slightly nervously. "Which particular event inspired that sort of reaction?" he asked, seeing the memory in Esme's mind.
"Oh, that was…" I finished the sentence in my head.
"Ah," he said.
Esme was growing impatient. "Well?"
"I…" he began, and then stopped. If he had been human, he would have been blushing.
"Spit it out!" Jasper exclaimed.
"Alice, you tell them," Edward said.
"No way," I refused.
He sighed. "Alright then." There was a long pause before he finally admitted it.
"I kissed her."
Silence.
Silence.
A bit more silence.
Then-
"Edward Anthony Masen Cullen!" Esme practically shrieked (and she complains about my vocal volume!), running over to him and nearly knocking him over in an enthusiastic hug.
Carlisle laughed heartily, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. Jasper just stared with his mouth hanging open, looking like the most adorable gormless idiot that I had ever seen.
"You…"
"I thought you smelt quite strongly of her," Esme gushed. "Oh that's wonderful, you're so strong, oh my son!"
"You actually…"
"I'm incredibly proud of you, son," Carlisle said. "When are you joining me at the hospital?" he laughed.
"You…"
"Not yet," Edward smiled. "I'm quite enjoying being a teenager right now."
"You actually managed to…"
"Spit it out, Jazz!" I said after he trailed off for the umpteenth time.
Jasper still looked shell-shocked. "You actually kissed her."
"Yes," Edward said, smiling so hard I thought his face would break in two.
"I kissed her."
A/N: Fin. Finally, I finished it. I began to think that this would go on forever, but it was worth it. If anyone is still reading, I hope you enjoyed it. If no one is, never mind. I enjoyed it!