A/N: I've pushed back Bella starting her first semester, to give you a few days of Bella and Carlisle alone together as they travel across the country. I hope you enjoyed the baseball outtake I posted to the Moonlit Deleted Scenes while I was still working on this.
Thanks to my WC/Twitter pals for all your support, humor and last-minute grammar advice.
Specific acknowledgment to ItHappened for suggesting the Architecture River Cruise, and to AllTheOtherNamesAreUsed for being an amazing beta all the way from this chapter's inception to its crazily paced drafts.
In the previous chapter: Bella and the Cullens plan to move together to Vermont. Upon learning this news, Charlie finally had a one-on-one talk with Carlisle, revealing that he's known a lot more than anyone realized.
~*~ Chapter Twenty-Two ~*~
Bella stepped off the stairs and set her final bag at her feet. These were going to be her last moments in Charlie's house for some time. She took a second to look around, at the modest kitchen to her right, where she'd cooked Thanksgiving and played Trivial Pursuit with Jacob and Rachel; at the tiny hall and entryway where she'd posed for prom pictures; and in the living room where Charlie, Billy and Jacob were all currently waiting. Sue Clearwater, Harry's widow, was also there. Slightly older than Charlie, Sue was a tall, handsome Quileute woman who had become a fixture of the Swan household in recent months.
"All set, kid?" Charlie asked.
Bella nodded. "Yup. I'm pretty sure I'm not forgetting anything."
"Alright." Charlie grabbed her bag and went out the front door with it. Bella could hear the sound of her car door opening.
"What's you're itinerary?" Billy asked.
"Get on I-90 and head east. Make it to Cleveland by Friday and Middlebury by Sunday."
"That's it? No landmarks, no restaurants, no touring?"
Bella raised her palms slightly and let them slap back onto her thighs. "That's it. Alice will let us know when to stop and explore. Well, Alice and my stomach."
"Sounds impulsive," Sue said approvingly.
"It's going to be fun."
"I agree," Sue answered with a smile and held her arms out as she stepped towards Bella.
Bella embraced the slender woman, whose strength and fortitude she had come to respect over the summer. "Make sure Charlie eats well," she whispered in Sue's ear.
When Bella stepped back, Sue gave her a small nod and said simply: "Take care of yourself."
Charlie reentered the room just as Bella was exchanging hugs with Billy. Bella knew that Billy was still unhappy about her plans, but in the end, there was nothing he could do about it. His face tightened, as if he was preparing to say something unpleasant, but then he seemed to change his mind. "I'm sorry you're not going to be driving that old truck of mine across the country. It would have liked to see Montana."
"I'm not sorry," Charlie answered. "It would never have lasted."
"What do you know?" Billy shot his best friend a mock sour face.
"I know it didn't make it going back and forth in Forks for more than a year."
Bella smiled while the two men sniped at each other and Sue rolled her eyes. Jacob stepped in and swept her up in a big hug, literally lifting her off her feet. "What, weren't you going to hug me good-bye, too?" he teased as he squeezed tight.
"Uh, you're going to make me smell like wolf."
"Just reminding Dr. Fang who's got your back here at home." He gave her a quick and sloppy wet peck on the lips before he set her back down.
Bella laughed. "Carlisle would never complain, but, jeez, I don't want to do that to him. Maybe the fresh air will clear some of it off." With a wave at the Quileutes, Bella stepped outside of Charlie's house. The late August day was gray, with just a touch of fall on the breeze. Good traveling weather. The Cullens were all making the trip, and Carlisle had volunteered to ride in the car with her and take turns driving.
Bella's 2006 Toyota RAV4 was parked in the driveway next to Charlie's cruiser. It had been a graduation present, and after the ceremony nothing had been a greater surprise for Bella than to see both Carlisle and Charlie standing by the SUV in the parking lot. The metallic blue vehicle had worn a large red ribbon and bow – Alice's ostentatious touch.
Charlie, who had followed Bella outside, rested his hand on the hood. He cleared his throat. "I, um, I put your bag in the backseat."
Bella looked at her sneaker, examining the toe. "Yeah, that should make it pretty easy access." Neither of them said anything, and after a couple beats Bella looked up again. There were tears swimming in Charlie's eyes. "Dad-"
She didn't get anything else out before Charlie grabbed her, hugging her just as tight as Jacob had. Bella tucked her head under his chin and squeezed him back for all she was worth. They stood like that for a silent minute. Finally, Charlie placed a kiss on the top of her head and let her go. They both looked away, Bella wiping her cheeks.
Billy, Jacob and Sue were watching from the doorway. Sucking in her bottom lip, Bella gave them another wave. She turned away, reaching out for the handle on her driver's side door.
"Hey, Bella, watch out for that door!" Jacob called. A chuckle barked it's way out of her, deeper for bubble in her throat. She got into her car and put the seatbelt on. All four of them were at the doorway: Billy in his wheelchair, the tall and bulky Jacob just behind him, and Sue with her arm around Charlie. Bella raised her hand, palm outwards, and then pulled away.
(~*~)
"What's on your mind, Bella?" Carlisle asked, causing her to glance over at him.
"I was just thinking about Charlie," Bella answered.
It was three hours into their road trip, and they were speeding eastward down I-90. Since the weather was overcast for all of the Pacific Northwest, Carlisle could safely sit beside her up front in the passenger seat, where the windows weren't tinted. Alice had told them that she'd send advance warning should Carlisle need to get into the backseat.
Even though orientation didn't start for Jasper, Alice and Bella until September 5th, they had to leave early, since Carlisle was due to start his job at the Porter Medical Center on August 28th. His new job was part of the reason Carlisle had given for wanting to ride with Bella. He wanted the time to spend with her that he wouldn't have later. Carlisle preferred to work long hours in the first several months of any job to create a good impression, and technically, most hospitals expected it of their most recent hires.
So Alice and Jasper got to drive his Mercedes, while Esme and Maggie took the Lexus - as a matter of fact, Bella could just make out the Lexus a few cars down and one lane over, keeping pace. Rosalie had already retrieved her red convertible BMW out of the garage when she and Edward came for graduation. Bella recalled that Rosalie had taken it out for a spin several times during the holidays. She had been surprised to learn that Rosalie had an affinity for cars, which was mostly indulged in when she was back in the Cullen home. Now that Rosalie had her own vehicle with her again, Bella hoped that it would help to refocus her energies.
The summer had flown by so fast after graduation that Bella had hardly time to stop and think. So much had happened, even beyond preparing to leave for college, ending her job at the video store, saying goodbye to her friends, and packing up to move out of Charlie's house. Her father had certainly offered her one surprise after another during the summer months. Standing with Carlisle to present her with a brand new car had been only the mildest.
Carlisle shut the book he'd been thumbing through. He'd been reading some of his favorites to Bella, but obviously he'd noticed when her thoughts wandered. "Speaking from a father's perspective, I'm sure he'll miss you as much as you'll miss him, if not more."
Bella hid her inner wince. Carlisle's comment made her feel a little guilty that she wasn't dwelling on the fact that she was leaving Charlie behind. The past year and a half living with her father had made her love him so much more, and she knew that she'd done the best she could to spend time with him. Also, Bella took comfort in the fact that with all the Quileutes there, particularly Sue, he wouldn't be alone. "I will miss him, but that wasn't what I meant."
"Oh?"
"I just still can't believe what he's known all this time."
"You don't give your father enough credit."
"Oh, please, you were just as surprised."
"Yes, but now I know not to underestimate him."
"You know how he told me?" Bella asked, knowing full well she'd never mentioned how their conversation about the Cullens being vampires had gotten started. "Charlie asked how comfortable I'm going to be knowing that everyone in the house can hear my bowel movements. Worked his way up to it so that I didn't know what he was saying until he was saying it."
Carlisle was chuckling. "I can imagine your face."
"Yeah, well, finding out the truth about Jacob really knocked me on my ass." Bella glanced quickly at Carlisle. "Sorry."
"I have heard the word 'ass' before, Bella. Just not from you." Carlisle raised an eyebrow. "I've noticed that you are a bit more . . . uninhibited with your language since you learned about your cousin's secret."
"Yeah, well . . . Okay, I don't really have a response to that. Maybe all the surprises of the summer have just made me loosen my tongue a bit. The supernatural world is a bit more prevalent than I thought. And Jacob's only a distant cousin, or it would be my secret, too."
"That's true. If there had been any possibility of you becoming one of the wolf shape shifters, it would have happened almost as soon as you started spending time with us. Even so, there's only one female that's phased."
Bella nodded sadly. "Poor Leah. I really hope the rest of the tribe can help her overcome her guilt for having caused Harry's heart attack."
"And subsequently, her brother's transformation." Carlisle sighed. "It is a good thing that we are moving away from Forks. If I had known that just our presence would cause even one family so much grief…"
"Hey," Bella briefly took her hand off the wheel to touch Carlisle's arm. "Harry's passing was a sad thing, but the wolves are not unhappy about being wolves. You are not to blame anymore than Leah is. If it were possible I'd knock both your guilty heads together. You've never done anything wrong, and Leah needs to learn to deal with what life has handed her."
Carlisle chuckled. "Apart from the bit about knocking heads together, that sounds like something I might say. Sometimes, Bella, I think I've influenced you too much."
"All for the better, Carlisle." She smiled at him. "Though I am sorry that the tribe never quite welcomed you with open arms."
"There is peace between us, that is enough."
"Yeah, well, with Charlie acting as Switzerland, I would have hoped for more."
"You can't force a friendship, Bella."
"No," Bella agreed with a sigh. She gestured to his book. "Will you continue with the Robert Frost?"
"Perhaps later," Carlisle answered, putting the book away in a satchel he'd brought with him. "There's a nature walk dedicated to his poetry in Middlebury."
"Yeah? How does that work?" Bella frowned.
"It's a path through the woods with places to stop and read his poems. It's called the Robert Frost Trail. The idea is that they are the same woods that inspired his work. Robert lived in many places that inspired him, but he did tell me once how fond he was of the woods of Vermont."
"You knew Robert Frost?"
"I did."
"Cool."
Carlisle smiled. "I can't say that we were very intimate, but I had much respect for his talent, and he was rather fond of my conversation. Perhaps you'd like to do the walk together with me sometime?"
"That'd be nice." Bella agreed, carefully changing lanes so that the vehicle behind her could pass. "I want to hear more about the juicy stuff. How many other famous people have you met? Did you know Kerouac? Or Marilyn Monroe?"
"Sadly, no to the first. Sadly, yes to the second, not long before she died."
"You knew Marilyn Monroe?"
"Bella, are you saying no one has told you about my small walk-on part in her last movie, The Misfits?"
"What?" Bella looked over at Carlisle. His face was completely deadpan, not giving anything away, and because it was Carlisle, that tipped her off. "Oh, you're such a liar!" Laughing, she took her right hand off the wheel to give his shoulder a light punch. Apparently, it wasn't light enough. "Ow."
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Bella protested as Carlisle eased her hand back over to him to have a look.
"Good," he said after a second, releasing her hand again. "I wouldn't have let you do that if I'd thought you were going to hurt yourself."
"Let me do that… that's right, I almost forgot that I'm riding in the car with Superman."
"Hardly."
"Close enough." Bella sighed. "Would you object if I turned the radio on?"
"Not at all."
A couple minutes passed while Bella scanned through stations. It was all either commercials, static, or a song she just wasn't interested in. She gave up, slapping the stereo off. "So much for the music portion of our program."
Carlisle reached into his satchel again. "If you don't mind a little Beatles…" Carlisle slipped a CD into her player. "Love Me Do" started playing.
"You're a Beatles fan?" Bella asked, somewhat surprised.
"Yes, why do you sound so startled?"
"I dunno," Bella shrugged. "I guess I always pictured you listening to classical music."
Carlisle snorted. Seriously, he snorted. "What do you think I am, some sort of intellectual snob, too old-fashioned to appreciate new things?"
"Hey, the Beatles aren't exactly new, Carlisle." Bella slanted a teasing glance over at him.
"No, but they were revolutionary. I don't think there are many musicians today that don't cite the Beatles as inspiration."
"Um, okay, I'll buy that."
"You'll 'buy that'?"
"C'mon, Carlisle, this stuff was forty years ago. It's more like today's artists were inspired by the musicians who were inspired by the Beatles."
"You really take pleasure in making me feel old, don't you, Bella?"
Bella laughed, capitulating. "Never, Carlisle."
"It seems I can never enjoy the Beatles without taking some flack. Edward hates them."
"No, Edward hates them? How can anyone not like the Beatles?"
"He thinks that there hasn't been any good music since the fifties. I don't know if he feels the Beatles were responsible for that, but he never lets me play them."
"What a twerp."
"'Twerp'? Now who's being old-fashioned?"
"I guess we're just a couple of old fuddy-duddies, Carlisle." Bella reached over and turned up the volume. "I think the Beatles are awesome."
Without further ado, she started singing along, badly, to "She Loves You," making Carlisle laugh.
"Y'know," Bella said after a bit. "Whenever Mom needed a pick-me-up she would play the Beatles. She'd grab both my hands and dance me around the living room."
Carlisle smiled. "I'm looking forward to meeting your mother on Friday."
"It was lucky that she and Phil were going to be in Cleveland for a game. I haven't seen her in a year."
"It was too bad she couldn't make it to your graduation."
Bella shrugged. "Yeah, but I wouldn't have wanted her making the trip when she was that sick anyway. Speaking of Mom, would you mind doing me a favor? My phone is in my bag in the backseat. Could you get it out and send her a message?"
"Certainly." Carlisle reached behind Bella. "What would you like me to say?"
"'Hi, Mom. Been on the road since eight. I'm safe. It's good driving weather. Love you, Bella.'"
Carlisle obligingly sent the "all's well" to Renee.
(~*~)
It was a testament to the vastness of the state that when the group made their first pit stop after three hundred and twenty miles, they were still in Washington. The sight of a Lexus and a Mercedes at the pumps definitely caused some heads to turn. Bella saw a guy walk up to Alice while she was filling the tank, and then back off when Jasper got out and wrapped an arm around her. Once the stranger had turned away, Alice gave her mate an affectionate nudge in the ribs with her elbow.
They found free public parking, and walked to a deli for Bella's lunch. As a precaution, Jasper decided to stick with the cars. Michael's Market and Bistro was inviting, with large bay windows, open floors, and a glass display case of baked goods. There was even a rack of locally made wines, and for a moment Bella was actually tempted to try one. Not, of course, that she could – or would. Still, she wondered how strict the Cullens would be on that – whether Carlisle or Maggie would buy her one if asked.
Setting aside all thoughts of underage drinking, Bella ordered an Italian panini and bought a soda. She found herself a seat, and Alice quickly slid in beside her. None of the Cullens were choosing to put on a display of eating food. Still, to make five people and only one panini look less conspicuous, Carlisle wandered into the market and Esme purchased a bottle of water to fiddle with its cap.
"How are you enjoying your first road trip?" Alice asked Bella.
"Carlisle's good company," Bella answered with a smile. "I'm actually really enjoying the driving. It feels so …" Bella stopped and drew in a deep breath through her nose, "freeing."
"Not tiring out yet, then?" Maggie asked.
"Not in the least," Bella answered, and took a large bite of her lunch, the melted mozzarella stretching from mouth to bread.
"I am, though," Alice said.
Bella blinked at her, pulling in a stray piece of spinach with her tongue. "What?"
"No offense, but I need to drive faster. Jasper and I are going to drive ahead. We all are, actually."
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to hold you guys up." Bella's face began to color, and she fumbled for a napkin to cover her mouth. "Gosh, and you have to stop and watch me eat."
"Bella, we've seen you eat plenty of times," Maggie pointed out. "As we will many times more."
Alice nudged Bella slightly with her shoulder. "Don't get uncomfortable now. It's a little late to switch to campus housing."
"Wouldn't dream of it." Bella sipped from her soda slowly. "Um, do I still talk in my sleep?"
All three women answered at once.
"Nope, not at all," came from Alice.
"Not every time," Maggie said.
"It's very endearing." Esme narrowed her eyes at Alice.
Bella sagged, hiding her face against the tabletop. Esme let out a comforting chuckle and reached across the table to rub her shoulder reassuringly.
"Relax, Bella, it's mostly unintelligible," Maggie's soothing voice reassured.
"Though we all enjoyed hearing you murmur 'foot rub' the night of the prom." Alice was tittering.
"Oh, God." Bella sat straight up, but she laughed with all of them.
"So, are you and Carlisle likely to pick up the pace?" Maggie asked.
Esme's eyes widened, and her lips moved fractionally as she murmured an admonishment. Not noticing, Bella blinked at Maggie as she took a second to mentally shift gears. "I don't mind letting Carlisle drive," she responded. "I really don't want to hold you guys back from doing what you would normally do."
Esme shook her head. "If you're having fun driving, Bella, then you should. Don't let these two pressure you."
"I'm not doing any pressuring," Alice protested. This time Bella caught the glare sent Maggie's way.
"No one's pressuring me. Carlisle's going to drive part of the time anyway."
"No, Bella, Esme's right. It's your car; it's your college road trip. You can drive. You should drive."
Bella shrugged. It didn't really matter either way, as long as she wasn't burdening anyone. When they all made their way back to the cars and onto the highway again, Bella did drive.
(~*~)
Bella finally stopped driving when she and Carlisle made their next pit stop in Missoula, Montana. She got in a good stretch of her limbs, and filled her stomach with a leisurely dinner. The restaurant was called Mackenzie River Pizza Co, and Bella swore she'd never tasted pizza like it.
"Hungry?" Carlisle had asked her as she reached for a fourth slice. His own solitary slice of the veggie pizza, put on his plate for appearances' sake, remained untouched. They sat across from each other in the bi-colored booth, Bella's fall jacket hanging on the hook behind her.
"This stuff is good. I'm going to have to remember to try pesto this way sometime." Bella chewed thoughtfully. "You know I like to cook, but… the smell isn't going to bother you, will it? It's just the taste of food?"
Carlisle leaned back and folded his hands together. "The aroma of food cooking isn't exactly appetizing, but it's not nearly as bad as its taste. After all, the smell of dirt doesn't necessarily bother you, but you wouldn't want to eat it."
"Is there something wrong with your pizza?" The waitress came back to the table with a pitcher of ice water. Her question was directed at Carlisle. In fact, everything was directed at Carlisle as she reached across the table for Bella's water glass.
"The food is fine," Carlisle answered graciously.
"Then is there something else that you'd like?" Behind the waitress, Bella rolled her eyes at Carlisle, grinning suggestively.
"Yes, my lovely companion and I would like to continue our conversation in privacy."
Bella didn't get to see her face, but the woman actually flinched before she shuffled away without a word. Bella followed her retreat, and then turned shocked eyes on Carlisle. "Carlisle, that was very unlike you."
"She was being rude to you."
"Oh, please, she was too drawn to you to even notice I was here." Bella grabbed her glass and raised it before taking a sip. "I'm lucky I got more water."
"Exactly. I am obviously here with you tonight, and she dismissed you as though you were nothing to me."
"Carlisle, are you seriously unaware of how attractive you are? I'm certain that there isn't a woman in this restaurant who hasn't looked your way at least once. Not one of them is going to look at me and think I'm any sort of competition. They probably take me for your niece or something."
"Hmm, it seems I'm not the one who is unaware of my own appeal. If I won't let a stranger dismiss you, Bella, I certainly will not let you dismiss yourself." Carlisle placed his hand over Bella's. "You are a beautiful young woman who is intelligent, selfless and compassionate. I enjoy seeing the world again through your eyes as you experience and learn from it."
Bella stared into Carlisle's earnest face, a little at loss for words.
"Trust me, Bella," Carlisle continued, giving her hand a slight squeeze before drawing his own away. "You are more important than any date I might have sitting across from me at this table."
Bella sipped her water quietly for a moment. " 'Seeing the world again through my eyes', 'more important than a date'…so, I am your niece."
Carlisle laughed. "You're a wiseass, that's what you are," he said, leaning back with an affectionate grin on his face. Bella crinkled her nose at him, and stole his slice of pizza.
(~*~)
They spent the night in Bozeman. Carlisle took the first exit off the highway when he finally got Bella to admit that she was tired. Walking into the lobby of the Hilton Garden Inn with Carlisle, Bella was surprised yet pleased to see the other four Cullens waiting for them with a room already booked.
Bella shook her head. "Alice, what is the point of driving so fast if you're just going to end up in the same place, at the same time I am there?"
Alice merely grinned, putting an arm around Bella as the six of them got on the elevator. "There will be sun in the morning. We won't be able to avoid it completely, but I figured we could spend an hour or so inside the Museum of the Rockies before we get on the road again."
They all congregated at the museum's entrance the following morning. While Jasper took a closer look at the bronze dinosaur outside the entrance, Bella looked up and breathed in the sky. Even with the clouds, Montana was all mountains and sky, and it made Bella feel both exposed and empowered. She wasn't surrounded by trees or city buildings like she had been in Forks and Phoenix. In Montana, the space was just beautiful.
Glancing over, Bella caught Carlisle watching her and she gave him a smile. He returned it and extended his hand out to her, leading her into the now-open museum. Bella was actually pretty psyched to see the dinosaur fossils, more than she expected she would be. Being able to stand so close to the bones of an actual Tyrannosaurus rex was pretty awe-inspiring. The planetarium was pretty sweet, too, and inwardly Bella appreciated the irony of hiding from the sun under a facsimile of the night sky.
There was cloud cover when the group emerged, but it was too variable for them to be able to take advantage of the outdoor living history farm. Bella was sorry for that, because Esme was clearly disappointed. After a round of farewell hugs, they all got into their respective vehicles. Bella's SUV was the only one that did not have tinted windows up front.
Bella didn't really blink an eye when Carlisle got into the passenger seat beside her. All three vehicles took off, and Bella quickly lost sight of the Lexus and Mercedes. Carlisle took advantage of the time to read her some more Robert Frost, which he continued to do once they were again heading east down I-90. Bella wondered if Carlisle planned to scoot down in his seat if the sun came out. The mental picture was so awkward and amusing that she laughed out loud.
Carlisle shut the book. "Alright, I know that was not in response to the poem."
"I'm sorry," Bella said and explained. "My image of you just looked so uncomfortable."
"I assure you have I no intention of 'scooting'."
"Y'know, we could've gotten one of my hoodies out of the trunk for you to wear."
"Thank you very much for the offer, but the backseat will do just fine for me." Carlisle shut his book and put it away. "I see now that reading Robert Frost to you this trip is out."
"What, why?"
"Bella, you've become distracted by your own thoughts both times I've shared."
"Oh, no. I'm sorry. I really do enjoy it. Really." Bella smiled at Carlisle. Trying to express her sincerity, she threw in a little humor. "Obviously, it triggered my imagination this time, right? Please, read some more."
Carlisle shook his head. "Not right now."
"Okay."
"Why the pout?"
"I'm not pouting." Bella's denial was greeted with silence. She took a moment to reassess. "I just don't want you thinking less of me because I got distracted. I really do enjoy poetry and literature, Robert Frost included."
"I would never think less of you, Bella. There's nothing wrong with getting lost in your own thoughts."
A quick chirpy beep sounded in the car. At the alert from his phone, Carlisle retrieved the message sent to him. "Looks like it's time for me to get into the backseat."
"Alice?" Bella asked.
Carlisle nodded, undoing the seatbelt that Bella had requested he wear for her own comfort.
"Shouldn't I just pull over?" She asked as he maneuvered his way to the back. She kept her eyes on the road.
"Not necessary. Just don't let me distract your driving."
Human nature made Bella glance over at those words. When her gaze landed on the back of Carlisle's pants, she quickly jerked it back onto the road. To cover her embarrassment, even though she had no idea whether Carlisle even noticed the direction of her gaze, she made a sort of coughing noise in her throat. "Um, you putting your seatbelt on back there?"
"Yes, Mom."
"Ugh, don't do that," Bella muttered, only to have Carlisle laugh at her.
Bella kept her eyes straight ahead, and put the visor down when the sun broke through the clouds. It was somewhat in her eyes, but she didn't think she'd have trouble. Several seconds passed before Bella noticed the lights.
At first she caught it in her peripheral vision, a couple bright spots. She glanced over once inattentively, and then a second time much more conscientiously. Her console had become a canvas of little lights. Some were simply white; others contained a spectrum of color. Bella had seen prisms before. For a time Renee had a crystal dangling from her rearview mirror, and on a sunny day it could cause maybe twelve or so mini points of light and color to dance around the interior of the car. A young girl, Bella had enjoyed it when they would land on her skin. At that moment, what was happening in her car was an exponential version of that memory. It was like the sun hitting a multitude of tiny crystals at once, subtly yet definitively speckling her car.
Bella's mouth opened slightly as she slowly moved her hand into the subtle sparkle, compelled to try to touch. Her fingers were outlined in yellow from the sun that lit her palm. Daylight shadows blanketed the back of her hand, emphasizing the sparkles that were landing there, larger on her flesh than they had been on the console.
Bella looked up into the rearview mirror. Carlisle was watching her silently, his face and neck reacting to the sunlight. Bella refocused on the road. Making an impulsive decision, she moved into the breakdown lane.
"What are you doing?" Carlisle asked.
"I want to look at you."
Out of traffic flow, Bella stopped the car and twisted around in her seat.
It was his eyes she saw first. She immediately found herself caught up in his gaze. Carlisle's eyes looked into hers, bright gold and earthy, just as she remembered they had been the first time she'd seen him. Carlisle had always both stimulated and comforted her, his brightness making her feel more alert and alive, his earthiness giving a solidity and foundation, something she could trust. As the sun hit his skin, it set off the shine in his golden eyes, and Bella couldn't look away, as much as she wanted to see everything else about him.
She moved her head slightly, a hesitating motion. Permission came through from Carlisle: the tiniest nod of his head and release of his gaze, though his eyes never left her. Her own gaze moving slowly, Bella looked at his high cheekbones. They were smooth, almost sculpted, and white. For the first time in her life, Bella truly understood how white was actually every color instead of the absence of color.
Carlisle's nose was ideal for his face – ideal for anyone's face. It was narrow and straight, with nothing too round or too pointed. Bella looked lower, at the lips that - despite his vampire status - were still naturally a pale pink. They, too, sparkled, but not quite with the same intensity. The contrast with the diamond skin of his face made them look as soft to the touch as Bella knew them to be from all the times Carlisle had kissed her cheek or the top of her head.
Beneath his lower lip there was a bit of a dip and a shadow, a contour accentuating the proportional perfection of his chin. Another shadow beneath his jaw played in contrast to the iridescent skin of his neck. The light and shadows played along the lines of his neck, hinting at the strength of Carlisle's body.
Bella became aware of the soft sound of her breathing as she stopped looking at each individual feature of Carlisle that the sun was dancing along. She drew the focus of her gaze back, taking him in as a whole. Colors sparkled at her from Carlisle's white skin, and for a moment Bella almost felt afraid. She wanted to hide her eyes. Carlisle was an angel. How in this world had such a creature chosen to befriend her?
She met his golden gaze again, and was quietly struck by his expression. She saw her friend, nervous and yet faithful. Bella knew that Carlisle didn't want her to be afraid of him, and that he had seen her moment of fear. Her gaze left his eyes and sparkling face and she looked up at his hair. His blond hair was slightly wavy and just long enough to touch the base of his neck. It framed everything that the sun had shown to be ethereal, and it reminded Bella that this was Carlisle, just Carlisle.
He was as he had always been: a man that had faced great odds, self-loathing and extreme solitude, a man that had overcome them with the strength of his compassion, reason and golden heart. Time - too much time - had finally given him others that could appreciate him and share his life with him. Bella was one of them. She would never have to fear from Carlisle. Bella actually felt her heart give a single hard pound as devotion and affection rose in her.
In the intense quiet of their once-again locked gazes, Bella smiled softly. From the backseat, Carlisle leaned forward and held his hand out to her, causing more colored light to land on the sides of the two front seats. Bella placed her hand in his, and they remained there for several moments in silent communion.
(~*~)
"Carlisle, can I ask you something?" Bella spoke from her slumped position in the passenger seat. It was early evening and the sun was hidden again. They had stopped for gas in Terry, MT but drove on another forty minutes to a Chinese restaurant in Glendive. Once again, Bella had let Carlisle take over the wheel after her stomach was full from dinner.
"Anything," he answered her. His response was easy and open, and Bella took a brief second to watch him watch the road. He wore a button-down underneath a blue sweater, and the sleeves were rolled up. Carlisle's strong, pale arms were showing from just below the elbows out to the hands that casually gripped the steering wheel.
Bella look down, twisting her small hands together. "I was thinking about the Denali coven. Tanya and Kate seemed, well, overly sensual."
"Their sexuality is certainly a large part of their nature."
"Yeah, I kind of got the hint when Tanya propositioned Charlie."
Carlisle turned his head for a moment to face Bella, eyebrows raised. "I wasn't aware that had happened."
"Nothing actually happened. Charlie respectfully declined. He and I were both pretty embarrassed."
"You were there?"
Bella nodded. "That's the only way I'd know about it. Charlie wouldn't have shared something like that with me. But, it got me thinking…" Bella quickly spat out the next words, realizing the implication of what she'd just said. "Not about them, yuck. About, um…well, I was wondering…"
"Bella, why don't you take a moment to breathe and figure out what you want to say."
Bella took a deep breath. "Thank you."
A couple seconds passed.
"Do Tanya and Kate often have sex with human men?"
"Yes. They enjoy doing so quite regularly, as did Irina before she met Laurent."
"So I guess that means it's possible."
"Yes, it is possible for a human and a vampire to engage in sexual intercourse."
Bella snorted. "Thank you for saying that so stiffly and making me feel comfortable."
Carlisle quickly changed his tone. "I am sorry, Bella. I didn't mean to revert to formalities."
"S'ok. What I don't understand… Listen, your flesh is supposed to be impenetrable, and, well, cold. I figured that only a vampire could – have sex – with a vampire female."
"We aren't cold to each other."
"Right! But wouldn't a vampire woman be cold and, um, not soft? I mean, it makes perfect sense the other way around. A vampire male and a human female…" Bella stopped talking.
"Yes, physically it does make sense that a vampire male could mate with a human female, though I would be worried about the repercussions on her body. He would have to have a superior sense of control. That might explain why I know of no circumstance of such a thing happening."
"So you've never…?"
"No."
A beat. "Carlisle, you have…?"
"Yes, I have."
"With one of the Denali coven?"
"No."
"I'm sorry, I'm getting a little too personal."
"Not at all, Bella." Carlisle smiled. "Please, you can feel perfectly free to ask me anything. I am sorry that once again I failed to make you comfortable. Sexuality simply hasn't been a part of my life for a long time."
"Like your immunity to human blood?"
"No. I am very much still a male." Carlisle looked over at Bella. "I have no intention of suppressing that part of my nature. I seem to have just simply gotten distracted from it once Esme and Maggie became a couple."
His eyes went back to the road. Bella very carefully chose her next words. "Did their falling in love hurt you that much?"
"What?" Carlisle seemed very surprised by her question. "No, I wasn't hurt by it. I was disappointed, certainly, but I never felt any negativity towards Esme choosing Maggie. How did you know about that? Not that I was hiding it from you, but I know I never mentioned it."
"Alice said something in passing once. I figured it out." Bella watched Carlisle's expression, getting ready to tentatively push. "You kind of just said that you stopped thinking about sex after Esme picked Maggie instead of you. Are you sure that you haven't been hurt by it? Maybe not physically or emotionally, but lifestyle-wise. I mean, if you used to, and now you don't…"
Carlisle let out a breath. "There are many different ways I could answer that, Bella. In one way, you're raising the question of whether a vampire has a subconscious. That I was wounded in a way I was unaware of. While it's certainly an interesting theory to peruse, that we might possess a subconscious that can guide our future actions, I feel that something else comes into play in my case.
"While I have no direct memory of experiencing sex as a human, I am certain that I was not a virgin. The first time I had an intimate encounter in my immortal life, much of it seemed too familiar for it to have been my first time. The feel of a woman's curves, the proximity of her body against mine, I was almost instinctually aware of certain ways to touch the female body to induce pleasure."
Unaware of her mouth going dry, Bella swallowed as she listened.
"Those encounters were casual, Bella, and I admit that I now have some regret for engaging in them. I was always on good terms with those women, but the deep affection I've seen and known since has revealed to me what was missing. Forming a family has stabilized me in so many ways. I value the presence of Maggie and Esme and each of my children in my life. A healthy sex life is important, but it's not as important to me as my family."
"Do you think that having a family has held you back?"
"No. I just haven't had the interest."
"Do you ever get lonely?"
"Sometimes."
Reaching out with her left hand, Bella placed it over Carlisle's right. He released the wheel and turned over the fingers that lay under Bella's. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. "I value your presence in my life, too, Bella," he said before letting go.
(~*~)
Bella's sleep was restless. Her dreams were elusive, strong in her mind and then vague again. She felt warm, as if she were floating. Strong arms were around her, holding and touching her. The hands were gentle and firm. Bella didn't know where they were touching her, just that it felt good and she didn't want them to stop. Cool lips breezed across her bare chest, blond hair tickling her chin.
It was him. She wanted him; she was devoted. Then her sense of her lover was gone again. Where did he go? Her body continued to float, naked and exposed, but not vulnerable. She felt strong, powerful, and his hands were on her again. Pleasure was there, waiting for her. She just had to accept it. Bella opened her arms, lifting them to touch his white skin. She moved in to kiss his lips, though she never saw his face. It didn't matter. Her dreams knew who he was.
(~*~)
Bella was still asleep. Carlisle pondered whether to wake her while he went inside to book a room, but decided against it. Locking all the doors, he left Bella inside the parked car at the hotel entrance. The Hampton Inn wasn't a terribly ritzy accommodation, but Bella just needed a comfortable place to sleep. He might have found any number of hotels in Jamestown, where he'd made a pit stop for gas, but Bella had wanted to keep going, despite the fact that it was ten at night. He didn't blame her. However, she was restless, and he didn't like seeing her sleeping so uncomfortably. So once he'd again filled up the Toyota's gas tank, he'd sought out accommodations.
The man working overnight behind the desk was sipping coffee when Carlisle approached. Beside him a pencil lay over a crossword puzzle that was only one-third filled in. "Something I can do for you?" he asked.
"I need a room for the night, please."
"Are you here for the wedding?"
"No, just passing through. My friend and I need to rest."
"Well, the wedding has taken up most of our rooms." The man moved over to his computer, tilting his head forward so that his prematurely receding hairline was more obvious. "Just as I thought. We have only singles left."
"That shouldn't be a problem," Carlisle said. He wouldn't need his own bed anyway. "It must be some wedding to fill up this hotel."
"You ain't kidding."
Carlisle continued to make small talk while they completed their transactions. Toting the room key, Carlisle made his way back to Bella. Even though he shut the door gently, she stirred and slowly blinked at him. "Where are we?"
"Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It's about three in the morning. I've just gotten us a room." Carlisle slid the car key into the ignition.
With a yawn and a nod, Bella stretched her arms and legs as much as she could in the small space, making a slight squealing noise as she did. Carlisle noticed the way her muscles gave a slight tremble while she had them extended, and then eased when she relaxed. When she settled back into the seat, Bella smiled at him watching her. "Are you going to be taking us there, or are we leaving the car parked at the entrance?"
"I was just waiting to make sure that you're awake and comfortable." Carlisle started the engine and pulled into a parking spot about 300 feet away. "The key card will let us in through that side door."
Bella nodded at him again, and Carlisle could tell that she was still quite sleepy. Even without his superior speed, he'd made it out of the vehicle, grabbed hold of her bag in the backseat and reached her passenger door before she'd completely stepped out. "Here, let me help you inside."
Carlisle put his free arm around her, and they walked steadily through the darkness to the barely lit door. She leaned against him, giving him her weight. Her smaller body felt warm against his. As they entered the hotel and walked down the hallway he could feel her heat begin to spread to him. Bella was tucked under his arm, and tiredly she pressed her face against his chest. In response he gave her a light squeeze, noting how smooth and soft she felt against the bare skin of his arm.
Cuddling Bella had always been easy, though this was the first time they'd done so in a walking position. Her barely awakened state made her feel warmer and softer, curled into his side. It was enough that when she exhaled, even through the two layers of fabric he wore, her breath brushed hot against his nipple. Though a part of him wished he didn't have to, Carlisle eased away from Bella to use the keycard on their suite door. Flicking on the light, he revealed the small clean room, which was completely dominated by a king-size bed.
The rest of the room held the basics: desk, chair, bureau, television and bathroom in the corner. He heard Bella softly let out a tired moan, and imagined the bed looked very attractive to her. Carlisle set Bella's bag just inside the door. "Go ahead and change. I'm going out to the car to get my laptop."
When Carlisle returned, he saw that Bella had rearranged the lights so that only two lamps were lit: one by the bed and one on the desk. Bella was in the bathroom. He could hear the water running from the sink faucet as she brushed her teeth, taking "a human moment," as she was so found of saying. There would be a lot more of Bella and her human moments in his new home. Carlisle was looking forward to it. He set up his laptop on the desk and accessed the hotel's free Internet, barely taking note of the mirror that faced him.
Carlisle turned when Bella emerged from the bathroom, wearing a tank top and pajama shorts. The outfit revealed an expanse of her smooth skin, no more than her usual summer outfits did, but somehow this seemed much more intimate. Her eyes were still barely open and she gave him a half-smile as she made her way over to the bed.
"Sweet dreams," Carlisle said.
"Thanks," she mumbled back with a yawn. Bella turned and pulled back the duvet, moving aside some of the pillows. Before she made it under the blankets there was a moment when she was crawling on all fours, her backside to him. She looked adorable, a sort of sleepy cute accompanied with lovely curves. There was no denying that Bella had a beautiful body.
Respectfully, Carlisle looked away, and when Bella turned off the bedside lamp, he did the same with his. Her breathing slowed and she very quickly fell asleep. On the desk before him, the latest article from the Journal of American Medical Association was up on his laptop. Even as Carlisle read it, his focus was split. Sex was very much on his mind. Prior to today in the car, it had been months since the last time he had thought about the fact that he'd been abstinent for nearly a century.
He hadn't really minded. He meant every word to Bella when he'd told her that having a family was more worthwhile than physical gratification. Sex had simply been put on the back burner.
Unless he was thinking about it.
He was, just like he'd told Bella, still very much male. The desire to be with a woman -to have the pleasure of feeling her beneath him, around him, under his hands, her taste on his tongue- it was as much a part of his existence as the need to eat. Only, unlike his hunger, it was more easily suppressed. However, with Bella slumbering behind him, shifting slowly in her sleep, Carlisle felt no need to inhibit his thoughts.
Closing his laptop, he leaned back in his chair and allowed himself to sink into the fantasy, an unknown woman he might one day touch, drawing from her a shared giving and taking, a release solely focused on mutual exploration and pleasure. Her body was naked against his own, her skin smooth under his hands. He could imagine himself kissing her, on her lips and down, along her clavicle as she arched her neck backwards, granting him more access. Her sweat was salty on his tongue.
That thought drew him up short. He had no recollection of ever tasting a woman's sweat. Yet the fantasy was taking a clearer shape, of skin flushing pink from the blood that pulsed underneath it. It was a very attractive idea. And a frightening one.
His conversation with Bella had taken a deeper root than he'd realized. He'd known that it was bringing his own sexuality to the forefront of his mind again. While he'd expected a fantasy to result, he hadn't thought it would feature making love with a human woman. Of course, making love was an essential part of the daydream. Carlisle was no longer capable of fantasizing about sex without deep mutual affection and connection as elements. That made the fantasy its own kind of torture, inevitably resulting in an increased sense of loneliness.
All the same, the fantasy had its own pull, and Carlisle was willing to indulge. The need for it seemed especially strong tonight. Carlisle closed his eyes. As he started to let himself get lost in the images in his mind, he slowly picked up on a change in Bella's scent. A sensual musk was added to her usual aroma. Bella, too, it seemed, had been affected by their discussion. The realization caused a flush of pleasure in Carlisle, spreading from center to head and toe.
Startled, Carlisle opened his eyes wide. He was immediately confronted with his own reflection in the mirror, partially lit by the moonlight coming from the window. His face clearly transmitted all the sensations he was going through. In the reflection behind his face, Carlisle could also see the image of Bella's form under the covers. The realization of his circumstances hit him hard.
It was the middle of the night. He was turned on. He was also alone in a hotel room with an equally aroused Bella. Bella, who was currently lying splayed out on a king-size bed. Carlisle felt relief that she, at least, was unconscious and unaware of the highly awkward situation. Carlisle took a single heavy breath, and then immediately closed off his breathing.
The scent of Bella's sleepy arousal carried clearly in the room. That was science. The room was small, and the warm air was carrying her enticing aroma easily. Of course, the hotel was turning up the heat; the nights were newly beginning their seasonal chill. In fact, the room was getting warmer as he sat there.
Why did they end up in such a small room? Had it really been this small, with such a large bed, when they'd first walked in?
Carlisle closed his eyes, tightening his lips together. It was absolute foolishness for him to be thinking that the room had gotten smaller. He had to stop and take true stock of what was happening. The distraction to his senses was not normal.
There was no doubt that he was feeling a strong sexual tension. It was natural enough, after the conversation he and Bella had shared. Bella's age, her youth, made her prime for the feelings of desire. Her hormones would be easily triggered subconsciously and, evidently, unconsciously as well. His own reaction to it was clearly due to his long hiatus.
It was a perfectly reasonable result from the existing set of cumulating circumstances.
From the bed, Bella let out a small moan.
He needed to get out of there.
Carlisle was out of the room, down the hallway and outside breathing the night air in a flash.
After a moment or two, his head began to clear. His lustfulness was abating, and Carlisle was grateful to get it under control again. He blamed himself, of course. He shouldn't have let himself begin to fantasize. His intentions may have been innocent, but Bella was in the room with him. His thoughts weren't private, and even though Bella would never know them they'd changed the atmosphere of that small, warm room.
The moon shone on him as it lowered in the sky, and Carlisle had the silly notion that it was calling him out on his behavior. He had been comfortable discussing his sexuality with Bella, but he also had no business allowing it precedence in her presence. Even though he had no intentions toward her, the room had become thick with tension. He valued Bella's friendship too much to have his own randiness make things awkward between them. Despite their solid connection and trust, Carlisle wouldn't choose to walk around naked in front of her, and he shouldn't have let his thoughts loose with her nearby like he did.
Thank goodness that she would never know, that she remained asleep. Carlisle could only imagine how Bella might have reacted to looking over at him and discovering he had erection. That was an awkwardness thankfully avoided.
"Carlisle…" Bella's sleepy voice carried to him from inside. She must have woken up and noticed that he was gone. Carlisle turned back and reentered the hotel, quickly making his way to reassure her.
(~*~)
The beeping sound of the key card and the rattle of the door handle woke Bella from her sleep. Her dream fled, taking all sensual images with it and leaving her in hazy confusion. Blinking her eyes, she switched on the lamp and turned to look at Carlisle. He'd obviously just entered from outside the room.
"I'm here," he said.
"Where were you?" Her voice was thick from sleep.
"I stepped outside for a moment to think."
"Why did you need to go outside?" Bella rubbed an eye.
"I enjoy thinking underneath the moon."
"The moon?" Bella wasn't sure what Carlisle was talking about. She felt caught somewhere between waking and sleeping, and nothing made sense.
"Yes, it's nearly full."
"Huh." Bella turned off the lamp and laid her head back on the pillow. "I like moonlight. It's beautiful."
Carlisle moved closer, but stopped just shy of the bed. "I'm sorry I startled you by not being here."
Bella was already falling back asleep. "I saw the moon the night I met you," she mumbled with a sigh. If Carlisle answered her, she didn't hear it.
(~*~)
All right, so she'd definitely had some naughty dreams last night. Fully awake, Bella knew this was a fact. Frowning, she looked out the passenger window at the rainy landscape. Carlisle was driving again as they left Wisconsin and continued on route to Chicago. Alice had texted earlier that they would all rendezvous there.
Bella had taken a cold shower that morning. While she couldn't completely recall the details of her dream, she knew that they had been sexy. The proof had been on her underwear. Which meant that, in all likelihood, Carlisle had detected the nature of her dreams. Bella couldn't completely keep down the flush to her cheeks.
Going to the bathroom, eating, the stinky smell of sweat, those things she could handle the Cullens knowing about. But something so personal as her own unwitting horniness while she slept was a little more out of her comfort zone. It was why she felt quiet. It had to be why Carlisle was also fairly pensive today. They'd been on the road for a couple hours and had barely said anything.
But why? She certainly didn't want to talk about it, but why was he so quiet? Carlisle was a doctor, he understood about those sorts of things. He was also her most understanding friend, who had just told her yesterday that they could talk about anything. If she could handle Carlisle sparkling in the sun, then he should be able to handle that she got a little wet while having a naughty dream.
God, how embarrassing.
Maybe he was embarrassed, too? Oh, that was it. Carlisle was embarrassed about how she might react to his knowledge of the theme of her dream last night. She was just making things worse by being silent, and he was only following her lead. Poor Carlisle, he didn't deserve her harsh thoughts.
"Are you looking forward to seeing Chicago again?" Bella asked him, her voice friendly.
"I admit, I am." Carlisle smiled at Bella, and she knew that she had made the right move. "It's much more urban now, of course, then when I lived there with Edward."
"Do you still have your house?"
"Yes. We have a lot of properties around the States."
"Tell me about the one in Chicago. Will I get to see it?"
Their discussion remained easy for the rest of the trip, though there were more frequent lulls in conversation than usual.
(~*~)
It was obvious to Carlisle that Bella enjoyed seeing the rest of their family again when they reunited in Chicago. Alice and Bella had shared a laughing hug, and the silliness of such a thing had made Bella act giddy, an attitude she kept up through the whole visit in the city. Carlisle enjoyed seeing her brighten.
The rain made it possible for them to all book the Architecture River Cruise at the last minute. The popular boat tour of the city lasted less than two hours, and Bella grinned through every wet minute of it. Carlisle was glad that they were able to spend some time off of the road, especially for Bella. The United States were beautiful, and as good a thing as it was that Phil and Renee were going to be in Cleveland, it had limited their opportunities to stop and take their leisure along the way. Poor Bella was locked in by the restrictions of his supernatural family on one end, and by her stepfather's baseball schedule on the other.
After dividing back into the usual pairs, they all drove in tandem the rest of the way to Cleveland, keeping with Bella's human pace. While Bella drove, Carlisle once again obligingly used her phone to text Renee their anticipated arrival time. It was late at night when they finally reached their hotel in Cleveland. Bella had a room booked on the first floor, a few doors down from Renee. The rest of the Cullens had their own larger suite on an upper level. With a hug, Carlisle parted ways with Bella for the first time in days. As he rode the elevator up with the rest of his family, Carlisle realized that he felt a little sad.
(~*~)
Even though it was 11:30 at night, and she was exhausted, Bella walked past her own room and knocked on Phil and Renee's door. It was flung open before she'd completed it. Renee was an older, slightly taller version of Bella. She had laugh lines around her light-brown eyes, which were currently shining with excitement. "Bella!"
"Mom," Bella answered happily. She was whisked into the room, where Phil was sitting up, fully clothed on top of the bed and rubbing his eyes.
"Hello, Bella," he grinned at her. Phil was younger than Bella's mom and, despite being a ball player, was a little doughy. He was talented, though, enough to keep him in work in the minor leagues. Phil ran a hand through his sandy curls. "Did you have a good road trip?"
"Hi, Phil. Yes, I did."
"Oh, I'm so glad to see you made it here in one piece." Renee held her arm around Bella's shoulders.
"Mom…"
"Hush, it's not every year your daughter makes a cross-country road trip. Any number of things could have happened."
"I was perfectly safe the whole time." The irritation combined with reassurance was lost as the words were spoken around Bella's yawn.
"Oh, honey." Renee kissed the top of her head. "Of course you're tired. Have you been to your room yet?"
"Nope, came straight here. Thank you for paying for it, by the way."
"Nonsense. Here, let me walk you to your door." Renee turned her toward the door. "Go back to sleep, Phil, I'll be back in a minute."
Once they were out in the hallway, Renee leaned in to whisper in Bella's ear. "He's been really good, putting up with me tonight. Lord knows he needs his rest before the game tomorrow. He'll be gone before you get up, so he won't join us for breakfast."
They came to a stop at Bella's room, and Renee turned to face her. She ran her hands down Bella's hair, and held them to the sides of her daughter's face, looking at her with a smile. "I'm so proud of you, you know. High school graduate, heading to Middlebury."
"I know, Mom."
"You'll never know until you have a daughter of your own." Renee kissed her forehead and released her. "Now get some rest. I'll see you in the morning."
(~*~)
They all made the effort to eat breakfast in honor of meeting Bella's mother. Bella brought her mother up to their presidential suite in the morning, and Carlisle had made sure that he was first at the door to greet them. "Mrs. Dwyer, it's a pleasure to finally meet you."
Renee blinked at him for a moment, and Carlisle hoped that she wasn't put off by the fact that he hadn't offered his hand. "You must be Carlisle," she said.
"Yes." Carlisle turned and extended his hand out to the rest of the room. "This is my sister Esme, our cousins Maggie and Jasper, and the little pixie-brat rushing in is Alice."
Alice was indeed rushing over, her face eager and grinning. Facing Renee, she tossed an arm around Bella's waist. "I'm so happy to meet you! I've got our morning all planned before your husband's game this afternoon. I'm sure you don't have any objection to the three of us spending some girl time in Tower City?" Alice asked, referring to Cleveland's shopping complex.
"Oh, God, what's Tower City?" Bella demanded, causing Carlisle to let his mouth quirk with amusement.
Renee laughed, infected by Alice's exuberance. Room service arrived wheeling in the cart of food, and the high spirits were kept up throughout breakfast. Carlisle watched as Renee chatted and babbled with all of them. She certainly did look like an older version of Bella, though the eyes weren't the same. Renee was also far more free-spirited, in a way that somewhat reminded him of Alice. It suited her, though Carlisle admitted to himself that he preferred Bella's more reserved ways.
Bella was not normally exuberant. She kept her emotions fairly contained, though Carlisle knew that what she felt, she felt deeply. It made those rare moments when happiness shone out of her all the more significant. Carlisle was witnessing just such a moment as Bella ate breakfast with Renee. The huge grin on Bella's face made her apple cheeks more prominent, and her eyes were alight with laughter. It was clear that Bella loved her mother very much.
Only Bella and Renee went on Alice's shopping trip; Maggie and Esme chose to stay behind. Carlisle felt sympathy for Bella, who would clearly be dragged along in the whirlwinds that were Alice and Renee. He settled down with his laptop, determined to make up for the reading and research time he lost last night.
Bella seemed happy enough when they returned a few hours later. Alice was the only one carrying shopping bags, so they'd obviously stopped at the first floor rooms first.
"Well," Renee said with a sigh as Alice left to put away her bags. "I'm sorry the clouds haven't broken up for the game. It would have been nicer for you and your family."
"We don't mind. We love a good baseball game no matter how overcast it is," Carlisle answered.
"It's true, Mom. I've seen them play in thunderstorms. Rain won't keep this lot away from baseball." Bella plopped down on the couch with a wink at Carlisle. He grinned at her.
"Bella's got it right." Carlisle put his attention back on Renee. "I've been following the Suns for some time now. I can honestly say that I had noticed your husband before I ever met Bella."
"Really?" Renee was surprised and obviously pleased. "Well, obviously you'll meet him after the game. Tell you what, Carlisle, after all the shopping we forced on Bella, she's going to have a lot of bags to carry out in the morning. Come down to our rooms in the morning and give us a hand. You'll get more of a chance to see Phil then."
"It'd be my pleasure."
(~*~)
They'd been able to get good tickets behind the visitor's dugout. Carlisle had to admit, he'd enjoyed being in Progressive Field, though he regretted that Edward wasn't there, too. Baseball was, after all, one of the unifying loves his family shared, and it had all started with him and Edward. Amidst all their cheers when a ball was hit towards Phil at second base, Esme had put a hand on his forearm and gave him a small smile. She had known where his thoughts had gone.
Bella had been more animated than Carlisle had ever seen her. She jumped up and shouted for every Jacksonville Suns player. At one point Maggie had to pretend to be knocked over by her. Though the Suns ending up losing the game, it had been an afternoon well spent, and it was one of the happier moments for Carlisle in the whole trip, second only to the moments he and Bella had shared while pulled over Wednesday morning.
That had been special. Never before had Carlisle exposed himself quite that way. He'd watched Bella with wonder when she'd reached her hand out, letting the soft sparkle set off by his skin settle on her own. He had found her to be precious and beautiful in that moment. They'd locked gazes, and after she'd slowly taken in his appearance there had been that second of fear. He'd felt afraid too, nervous that she would reject him, see him as something otherworldly. Yet, it was Bella, and in his heart he knew that Bella would never turn away from him in that way. He'd been right, and when they'd held hands and looked at each other, that had been one of the happiest moments of his life.
Carlisle smiled, remembering as he watched Bella rush around her room to make sure that she had her things and that all the bags were in order. Phil was in the bathroom checking to make sure no toiletries were left behind while Renee was standing beside him at the doorway. "It's good of you to come help, Carlisle. Thank you."
"It's not a problem."
"Okay," Bella announced. "I'm sure that's it."
Phil emerged from the bathroom and grabbed Bella's largest suitcase. "Time to go then. Carlisle," Phil extended his hand, "it was nice to meet you. I think you're a good man."
Carlisle accepted the shake. "Thank you. You are a fine player, and it was a pleasure to watch your game yesterday."
Phil nodded, and with a glance at his wife he went out the door. Bella had her bag over her shoulder and was reaching for a shopping bag. Carlisle moved to intercept.
"No, let me take those."
"Not all of them, Carlisle," Bella protested.
"I can handle all of them," he said, and fit all nine bags in his hands.
Renee held the door open. "Let's go," she said with a smile. "We don't want to keep Alice and the rest waiting."
Last night a slight rearranging of driving arrangements had occurred. Alice had shared that she would be driving with Bella the rest of the way, and that Carlisle should be with Jasper. Carlisle had been surprised that Alice made the suggestion, but before he could ask why Alice had simply said that she had her reasons for wanting to be with Bella.
Once the three of them reached the lobby, Renee abruptly turned. "Oh, Bella, could you run back to your room before we turn in the key? I think I left my sunglasses in there."
Carlisle noticed Bella glance at the top of her mother's head before giving a quick nod. "Sure, Mom. Be right back."
"Bella's had a wonderful time getting to spend this last day here with you," Carlisle said. "It's nice to see her so happy. I'm also glad to finally have gotten the chance to meet you."
"Mm-hmm." Renee's torso remained twisted while she watched her daughter move away. Once Bella rounded the corner, she snapped back to facing Carlisle. Her expression was not a pleasant one.
"I don't know what the hell Charlie was thinking, but this is not going to fly with me, Dr. Cullen."
"I'm sorry?" Carlisle asked, startled at the unexpected aggression coming from her.
"My daughter, moving across the country with you and your family, living with you in your house."
"I was unaware the situation upset you. I am very sorry that's the case, but let me assure-"
"You're damn right this upsets me." Renee's raised voice was causing people standing by to glance over. "Bella is only eighteen years old. I understand your adopted daughter is romantically involved with the other teenager in your house. Exactly what kind of sugar daddy are you?"
Carlisle released the bags to the floor in order to hold his hands palms out. "Mrs. Dwyer, please, you've mistaken the situation."
"Oh, yeah? Then why was Bella driving with you instead of Alice?" Renee was not backing down an inch. "Listen, Bella is a smart girl with her whole life ahead of her. She is going to get the full benefit of being at college without your interference, and without being tied down. I don't care if you are handsome and rich, Bella will be free find her own boyfriends at Middlebury. Do you understand me?"
"Mrs. Dwyer, I have no intention of preventing or interfering in any of Bella's relationships. I sincerely hope that she meets young people that will appreciate and love her."
"Of course she will; she's Bella." Renee's voice had lowered, but then she lifted a finger and pointed it within inches of Carlisle's nose. "When she starts, I better hear a lot more from her about the new friends she's made and the things she is doing than about Carlisle Cullen."
"I do care for Bella a great deal, but please let me assure you that there is nothing inappropriate about our relationship."
Renee lowered her finger and Carlisle was relieved that she finally seemed to be capitulating. He started to speak, but her next words cut him off. "I know that Bella is fond of you and considers you a good friend, but I'm no fool. I saw how you were looking at my daughter yesterday and again this morning. If I find out that you have taken advantage of Bella you and I will come face-to-face again and it will not be pretty. Hands off." Dismissing him, Renee turned away to face Bella, who was approaching from down the hallway.
"Here you go, Mom." Completely ignorant of the lecture that had just taken place, Bella handed Renee a pair of brown sunglasses.
"Thank you, Bella." She slipped them onto her head. "I'll wait for you out front while you're checking out." She went out the front doors without a backward glance.
Carlisle fell slowly into step behind Bella as they walked to the registration desk. The bags were back in hand, but that was just about the only thing that didn't feel out of equilibrium. Bella looked over her shoulder at him and frowned. "Carlisle, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," he lied.
Bella gave a half-chuckle. "Mom can be a little exhausting. I'm glad the two of you got along." She gave him a smile and turned around to check out.
A/N: I was recently sent a PM by a user whose friend suffered a loss in her family. She was soliciting authors to contribute to a fundraiser, since her friend's family hasn't been able to afford the funeral expenses. Unfortunately, I am not able to send her an outtake, but the blog is learning-to-move-on blogspot com for those who would like to know more.
Next chapter… College beginnings, Bella meets new people, including someone special…