Author's Note: I know it's been a while since I posted this story. I got caught up in the end of semester sh...stuff that happens. Here's a little Epilogue. There's more to come. Hope you enjoy. -Ember

Epilogue 1: Homecoming

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Esme

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Carlisle pulled the car up beside our little house and I smiled at the familiar sight, even wrapped in ice and snow as it was. The windows showed a light on in Edward's room throwing a warm square of light onto the white frosted lawn. I sighed.

"As sad as I was to leave the cabin, I'm happy to be home. I hope Edward hasn't been too lonely without us," I said. Carlisle was looking over the steering wheel up at the house as well.

"I think he might have even enjoyed the quiet after being crowded with so much company recently."

"Well I missed him," I said, hurrying to get my coat. I didn't really need it but the white dress I was wearing wouldn't have been comfortable if I wasn't the same temperature as the falling snow. Before I could get the coat on though, Carlisle was around the side of the car, opening my door and lifting me out into his arms.

"Oh! I thought we already did this part," I said with a laugh as he started carrying me toward the house.

"Mrs. Cullen," he admonished and I smiled wider, "this will make the third time I have carried you over the threshold, wrapped in white but only the first time I have done so with you smiling."

"The third?" I asked, trying to think back over the past week since he first carried me into the little cabin. My worries that had kept the smile from my face then seemed silly now.

"When I first brought you to my home," he answered. I realized why I didn't remember it. I had been unconscious from the injuries of my fall.

"It seems like a long time ago but it was really only a year and a half."

"They've been the happiest days of my life and I anticipate more happy days to come."

"I feel the same," I said as he opened the door and carried me into our little house. "Welcome home, Dr. Cullen."

"He hasn't graduated yet…again." Edward said from the doorway of his room. Carlisle quickly put me down, sensing what I wanted. I happily threw my arms around Edward, holding him tightly.

I missed you, I thought to him.

"Only a little, I'm sure," he laughed.

Well, I thought back to the few time Carlisle and I had left the loft bedroom to hunt or half heartedly attempt to take a break from…

"Yep, not that much," Edward said with a pained look on his face.

"Oh," I quickly covered my mouth as if I could take back the thoughts I hadn't given audible voice to. From Carlisle's sheepish expression his thoughts had been on a similar track. "Ummm… We should get our bags."

"Yes!" Carlisle jumped on the distraction.

"I'll get them," Edward said, shaking his head. "You two should go see what the sisters left you."

"What?"

"Your wedding present, it's in the bedroom," he said and disappeared out into the snow.

"What could they have left us?" I wondered. Carlisle took my hand and we curiously made our way to the back of the house. Peeking into the room that had been mine I caught sight of Carlisle's desk. Why did they move that across the hall? I wondered before I was confronted with the reason. Gone was the small double bed that had been in his room, really only for show.

The bed that replaced it was nearly twice the size and build of solid dark wood. It was relatively plain in most of it's design but for the artful carving of the bedposts from their square beam to flowing, wavelike tops. The bed was made in a set of startlingly red sheets and a deep burgundy duvet. I laughed out loud.

"I need to order new sheets," I said shaking my head. "Who picked those out?" I looked around before I saw the white card on the nightstand. Carlisle picked it up and flipped it open with a small frown. Kate's jerky handwriting was at the top followed by Tanya's more gentle script. Irina's note was smaller than the other, at an angle and written hastily as if at the last minute. It read:

If it's still standing in a month you're doing something wrong. -Kate

Ignore her. We hope you enjoy it. –Tanya

White sheets are in the linen closet. Tanya can be thoughtless too. –Irina

"Those three," Carlisle said, shaking his head but the hard line of his lips was tugging up at the ends.

"It is a rather thoughtful if… somewhat inappropriate gift," I said, sitting on edge of the bed.

"Entirely inappropriate," he muttered and put the card back on the nightstand.

"But they are good friends."

"Yes, they are." He agreed. In the living room we heard Edward shut the door and his footsteps approaching at human speed. He came in grinning.

"Do you like it?" He asked. Carlisle threw his son a look that silently asked why Edward felt that question was necessary.

I love it even if I do think it's a bit of an extravagant and very private gift, I thought to him and Edward just shook his head.

"You know it's creepy when you two do that?"

"Do what?" Carlisle asked.

"Think the same thing at the same time," he said grinning. I shared a quick glance with Carlisle and saw the same discomfort in his expression that I felt.

"Alright!" Edward said, holding up his hand. "Sorry, back to never telling anyone what I hear. Promise."

Thank you, Edward. I smiled at him. I loved Carlisle but there were still some thoughts that were better to be kept private.

"I'm a little insulted you don't trust my discretion though," he grumbled. "I was hoping after you realized how stupid the dance you've been playing for month really was you'd ease up on the gag order."

Maybe for the really important things, I thought timidly. "We needed to get there in our own time," I said aloud.

"And we had different issues to work out," Carlisle added but there was a relenting expression on his face.

"Thank you," Edward said, trying and failing to suppress his cocky grin. "It's good to have you home." He turned and left with an oddly bittersweet look on his face.