A/N: Ok, so technically the last "chapter" but the Epilogue will be coming... as soon as I can finish figuring it out... and you might like Marcus' family side better than Carlisle's mom's... I do... lol... thanks Missy... Read. Enjoy. Review...
Chapter Twenty One: The Cullen Compound
"You rented a car?" I asked Carlisle skeptically as a big black SUV pulled up in front of us, "And a driver?"
"I didn't want you to have to drive all the way there," He said as he leaned awkwardly onto one crutch so he could open my door for me, "Besides, it'd be so boring for me if you had to focus on driving the whole time."
"You're sweet," I said, getting into the car as the driver got our bags for the weekend, and I got settled a little before taking Carlisle's crutches for him so he could hoist himself into the car, "But this was unnecessary."
"Oh be quiet and enjoy," He said, using his muscular arms to pull himself onto the seat beside me, kissing me briefly.
"I will," I said as Carlisle put his uninjured arm around me, and I leaned against him.
"You ready for this?" Carlisle asked and I just looked up at him.
"Ok, you've met my extended family," I said and he nodded, "But no, I'm not as nervous as you were."
"Good," He said, kissing the top of my head sweetly.
"Your Uncle Jack, your Aunt Madison, and your grandparents, right?" I asked and Carlisle nodded.
"And Aunt Madi's family, her husband Daryn and their two kids, Jenny and Carl," said Carlisle, "Jenny's seventeen now I think, and Carl's fourteen or fifteen now."
"Oh, you're a good cousin," I teased him and he chuckled.
"I only see them once or twice a year," said Carlisle as the driver started up the car and pulled away from the curb, "I remember Krista's age and birthday."
"She's your sister," I pointed out and Carlisle shrugged.
"I remember yours," He said sweetly.
"I don't want you to remember mine," I said and Carlisle shook his head.
"You confuse me," said Carlisle and I sat up and looked at him sadly, "Sometimes."
"I'm sorry," I said and I relaxed a bit as I slouched back down against him, he kissed my head as I reached over and got my book from my backpack.
Carlisle reached back behind his seat and took out his own book. I leaned against his chest while I read the rest of the way. The Cullen Compound - as I was calling it, much to Carlisle's dismay - was up just north of San Francisco. He said he would take me into the city if I wanted, go to the zoo, but I didn't think I would take him up on the offer. I didn't like the idea of Carlisle having to propel himself through a zoo on his crutches all day.
"Honey," I heard him say a few hours later, "Bella we're here."
"Wha-?" I said, opening my eyes, I had fallen asleep.
I sat up and looked out the window to see the most beautiful house I had ever laid eyes on. The house itself was a brilliant shade of white and it was a quite a few stories tall. There were giant windows making the house look welcoming and warm. Roman styled columns were holding an annexation of the roof over a beautiful front porch. If I hadn't known any better I'd have thought we just pulled up to a southern plantation house, complete with weeping willows decorating the front yard.
"Carlisle," I said as I got out of the car, and turned around to help him out of the car, "You grew up here?"
"No," said Carlisle, as we headed towards the house, "Dad had this place half built when he died. Pop found the plans after the funeral, dad was trying to surprise mom with it. When dad died Pop finished it, but mom couldn't do it, which is understandable. Pop argued that the house was for me, but mom didn't want it. Pop and Gran are taking care of it, until I take it."
"Oh," I said, "I love it, it's beautiful."
"I do to," said Carlisle as we started up the walkway to the front door.
"Can I have a peek at the backyard?" I asked, "Before we go in?"
"Sure," said Carlisle and he brought me around to the side of the house so I could look out over the backyard.
It was perfectly landscaped to fit a baseball field, a soccer and football field combo, a swimming pool, and a Jacuzzi. Everything was regulation sized and I was shocked. I saw the beginning of a motocross track that disappeared into the woods. I knew those were intended for Carlisle, for before he could ride a motorcycle on the street. There was a small fish pond between the baseball field and the back shed that was presumably full of motocross equipment. There was another shed between the two sports fields, for that equipment.
Then over on the right side of the yard, between the pool and the house was one distinct tree. It had a rope ladder hanging down from an opening in the floor of a miniature version of the house. I immediately realized it was a tree house.
"Yeah," said Carlisle, "Dad had this place map out to the letter. He wanted the backyard to be a place for me to do whatever I wanted. Even if he didn't know what that was yet. The tree house's fully furnished."
"Fully furnished?" I asked and he nodded.
"Pulled out all the stops," He said.
"You ok, being here?" I asked and he nodded.
"It's one of my favorite places in the world," He said and I nodded as a man came around the side of the house.
"Carlisle!" He called, and I was only struck by the fact that he looked like an older, much slimmer, black haired with a sliver streak version of Micah.
"Hey, Uncle Jack," said Carlisle.
"Thought it was you, kiddo," He said, "Showing the lady the place then? Hello, you must be Bella."
"I am," I said, extending my hand for him to shake.
"Nice to finally meet you," He said with a charming smile, I immediately discovered that Carlisle had learned it from, "This one's been hiding you from us."
"Not intentionally," Carlisle replied with a smile, "This is the side I wanted her to meet."
"Carlisle!" I jubilant old woman cried as she ran over to us, she was unmistakably Carlisle's grandma.
"Hey, Gran," said Carlisle happily as he gave her a hug, and kissed the old woman's cheek.
"Ugh," she said, "You're a mess. You have to let me take care of you this weekend, that is if you don't mind, Bella. Nice to meet you, you can call me Gran too. Carlisle's told me all about you,"
I smiled at her, this was the family I had originally pictured a guy like Carlisle with, very loving, accepting, and happy.
"Young man, this better be her," said an elderly, yet spritely man as he walked over, he had a mischievous glint in his eye and a crooked smile.
"Who else would she be, Pop?" Carlisle asked and everyone smiled, including the family of four that was following pop.
"Marcus was the only one that actually called him Pop before," said Gran and I nodded in comprehension, it was a memorial name.
"Hey Aunt Madi, Uncle Daryn," said Carlisle with a smile that wasn't there when we were meeting his mother and Steve's family.
"So she married the worm, huh Carlisle?" Jack asked and Carlisle nodded, "Well good riddance to her."
Carlisle chuckled a little and I smiled at Jack's childlike antics.
"Who needs her," said Pop, putting an arm around Carlisle and bopping him over the head, "Don't worry about it, Kid."
"Thanks, Pop," said Carlisle, and I instantly understood that this was where Carlisle belonged.
"Ok," said Gran, "You two can either take your room, Carlisle, if you want, or you can pick one of the others. Jenny's in the pink room, Carl's in the boat room, Jack's in the blue room, and madi and Daryn are in the white room. You can take the whole east wing if you want. We're in our in-law obviously, so all the other rooms are open. Dinner's in the third floor kitchen, ok."
"After dinner I thought we could play some ball," said Jack, "We can stick you on the pitcher's mound, if you want."
"Yeah," said Carlisle, "Sounds good. I think I'm going to give Bella a tour first."
"Ok," said Gran, "Dinner's at seven, don't get lost."
"I know this place better than anyone else," said Carlisle before he led me into the house.
He showed me the central living quarters, which was the main kitchen, dining room. Raised roof living room, built so that Carlisle could have the Christmas tree of dreams when he was little. The den, which was still full of eighties and nineties kids toys, filled for Carlisle when he was little. Complete with a really old giant TV and a Nintendo 64. Then he led me to the library and Carlisle's office, which was labeled as such and decorated like a big kid study. He showed me his dad's too, and I realized that Marcus designed it so that there was a secret passage between the offices. It was clear just from that how much Marcus loved his son.
Carlisle led me west, pointed to the direction of his grandparent's in-law, before showing me it. It was originally meant as the master suite area, for Carlisle's parents. There were three guest rooms there too, where Madi, Daryn and their kids were staying. He showed me the master bedroom Marcus had created for himself and his wife so many years ago. It was kept in pristine condition, but it was evident this portion of the house was avoided for the most part.
Then there was the north wing, and it was clear this was all meant to be Carlisle's. There was extreme detail in it, and even a rope ladder from Carlisle's childhood bedroom to the kitchen a floor below. It was filled with rooms that would have made Carlisle's childhood the most perfect one in the world. He had an amazing view of the pool and his tree house from the bedroom window, and one of his play rooms had yet another secret passage down to his father's library.
"You were everything to him, huh?" I said and Carlisle nodded.
"Me and mom," said Carlisle as he lead me towards the west wing.
"This is where I figured we could stay," said Carlisle as he lead me down the long carpeted hallways, "It was originally meant for future kids."
"Really?" I asked and Carlisle nodded, "Dad always wanted a girl too. He wanted to name her Cindy. Anyways, this was where she would be, if dad had lived long enough."
He showed me the not too girly rooms, it was as if Marcus wanted a girl, but not a girly girl. There was a room like a soccer field, and one like a softball diamond, He had wanted a tom-boy. I smiled as we walked into a gorgeous Hawaiian themed bedroom, our stuff was already here.
"I figured we could sleep here," said Carlisle, and I smiled.
"Romantic," I said, motioning to the candles and tropical wallpaper.
"Dad still wanted a girl, he knew she'd want this, part too," said Carlisle and I wrapped my arms around him.
"I love you," I said, "And so does your dad. Do you think he would have approved of me?"
"Definitely," said Carlisle as he leaned down and kissed me softly, "He wanted me to be happy more than anything else. I think this house is a monument to that. You, Isabella Swan make me happy."
"I know," I said, kissing him hard.
"I don't ever want to be away from you, again," said Carlisle as we shifted over to sit on the bed,
"You won't be," I told him as we leaned back and he pulled me tight.