SM owns. Unbeta'd.

Witfit prompt: Suffer

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So having to explain to my parents why I wouldn't be spending Christmas with the family was interesting.

The phone call to Mom went a little something like this:

"Hey Mom, I need to talk to you about the holidays."

"Yes! I'm so looking forward to seeing you, dear."

"Um, yeah. That's just the thing. See, I don't think I'll be able to make it this year."

Silence.

"What do you mean, sweetheart?"

"I... I need to go to Paris, actually."

More silence.

"I'm sorry, Edward. I must've heard incorrectly. Call it old age, but I thought you said you had to go to Paris," she chuckles.

I laugh nervously along with her. I'm just going to have to lay it all on the table for her.

"Mom, you remember I told you Bella's painting in Paris for six months, well, she's got four months left actually..."

"Yes, you told me. Go on."

Her tone. Hmm. There's no way she could already know...

"Yeah, uh, so before she left she and I... she kinda told me... Uh, we..."

"She loves you."

This time, the silence is from me.

"Edward, are you there, dear?"

I cough.

"Uh, yeah, I'm here. Yeah. She told me how she felt and I... well, I kinda told her..."

"You're in love with her too." This time, I could totally hear the smile in her voice. I know my mother very, very well.

Apparently, she knows me better.

"You knew, didn't you?" I sigh. Resigned.

She chuckles again.

"Oh, thank goodness. I was wondering how much longer it would take for you two to figure things out."

"Hmm. Okay, so everyone among our family and friends knew all this time and neglected to tell the parties involved. Wonderful."

"Oh, Edward, don't be a baby. You two are grown, consenting adults now. I don't think you were ready to know your own feelings until you yourself were ready to face it. I'm glad it finally came to fruition."

I roll my eyes. My mother.

"Um, so. About Christmas..."

"Does she know you're going?"

"No. I was hoping to surprise her."

"I hope she doesn't have the same ideas."

"I thought about that. Both Alice and Rose spoke to her recently and she'd mentioned how she couldn't leave for the holidays. The fares being so expensive and all."

"Oh, my dear son," she gushes. "I'm so proud of you. Such a romantic. You're just like your father."

She's crazy but she's always on my team.

"Go, Edward. Go and get your girl. We love Bella, she's already a part of this family, you know that. Oh, it'd be so nice to finally call her my daughter..."

Here we go. This was what I was afraid of.

"Mom, don't start..."

"...I wonder if the country club is open. Oh, could you imagine a beautiful Fall wedding? Oh..."

And she just keeps on and on for a bit. Rapid fire. That's my mother.

"Mom!"

"Yes, dear?"

"I gotta go."

"Oh, Yes! Go, go! Oh, Christmas in Paris, Oh!"

I facepalm myself before saying my goodbyes.

"Love you, Mom. I'll call once I'm there."

"We love you too, dear. And Bella. We love Bella. Send her my love."

"I will. Bye."

I end the call and smile.

I really hope this works. I can't suffer another month without Bella. I won't survive.

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A/N: Ok, so that went a little longer than I wanted. But I love Esme so much in this story, I had to let her have her say.

One more late tonight ;)