Chapter 28

Esme had seen off the children after their daily lesson with her was over. Despite knowing they enjoyed it, she could see their enthusiasm with the conclusion of it all on their early Friday evening. In many ways, they were no different than human teenagers. During the two hour period or so that Esme was teaching, if Carlisle wasn't home, it was usually Rosalie who looked at Caleb. Earlier in the morning, her husband had informed her that he would be working a double shift at the hospital, so she dialed Rosalie's number to let her know she was on her way back home.

On the second ring, her daughter picked up with a overly friendly, "Hello."

"I'm about to leave, just putting some things away," Esme told her, "Did he eat, or was what I gave him earlier enough?"

"I just popped a bottle into his mouth," Rosalie told her, "But... we're not home. Emmett and I kind of stole him. We're on our way to meet Kate and Garrett. They haven't seen Caleb yet, and I know that's where William was heading."

She smiled to herself, knowing Rosalie's personality well enough to figure out that she strategically left with Caleb just far enough in advance where Esme couldn't argue for him to stay.

"Don't be mad," Rosalie added, after interrupting the momentary pause in their conversation.

Esme laughed, "I'm not mad, but this is kidnapping."

"I'll return him... no ransom necessary."

"Call me when you're on your way back," she told her.

"Of course," Rosalie said, "See ya in a bit."

"Be safe," Esme said before hanging up. She looked around, realizing there was now no immediate rush to get home and decided to go back over the last month's worth of information she'd given to the kids. As she took a mental walk through the recent weeks, a smile spread over her face at some of the notes she'd taken that triggered memories of William fooling around, or having to scold Alexandra for letting her thoughts drift out the window. A blissful sigh left her mouth as she glanced around her own personal school building before sitting back down to some more work.

About forty minutes passed before Esme threw her future lessons into the desk that she had prepared for the week to come. She locked up the windows and the doors, then took another look around before flicking the lights off and closing the main door behind her. Despite being such a newly fabricated building, the school house had a old time look to it from the stone structure and touches of barn red paint. The trees that hung protectively over the house added to the feel as their vines touched down on the rooftop.

Esme strolled down the dark path slowly until she saw the glow of only a few lights in the house. The back outside light illuminated the back porch and some of the yard immediately surrounding it. She whistled one of the songs that had been stuck in her head since Masen had sung for them at the beach the weekend before. She recently added a few of his songs to the Ipod Alexandra had gotten for her for Christmas, and frequently listened to it while cleaning the house, or cooking, the few times she got the opportunity to.

The back door was unlocked and she swiftly made her way inside, surprised at the dark, quiet atmosphere. There were usually people in and out of every room on a regular basis. No one slept, so the house was regularly alive with conversation, the sounds of televisions and a number of other things.

Esme looked around and peeked in the living room, which stood just as empty. She climbed the stairs and glanced into Carlisle's vacant office, then pushed open the door to their bedroom. The silence had completely consumed her, so when she entered the room to see her husband standing there, she jumped back at first before letting a smile spread across her face, quickly accompanied by a laugh.

Carlisle couldn't help himself from giving her a similar reaction, then looked down to try masking the lingering smile on his face.

Esme shook her head, a little embarrassed by her startled reaction, then looked to where Carlisle still stood, dressed up nicely with a single rose. "What's going on?" she asked, "I thought you were working until midnight." Her eyes drifted to the clock that ready only seven o'clock.

He snickered again from their silly moment and took a few steps in her direction, handing her the rose. She took it willingly and smiled, then looked up at him.

"I didn't work a double," he told her, "I knew you were going to be down with the kids for awhile, so I figured when you got back I'd surprise you."

Esme grinned, "Did you talk to Alice?"

Carlisle gave her a closed mouth smile, "Maybe..."

She laughed and threw her arms around his neck, then kissed him on the cheek.

"She has some family fun nights planned, too," he told her, "And we might as well not fight it."

"There's really no way to fight it," Esme told him, still smiling.

"I'm sorry," he started, "I think I'm coming back to my senses. I've been so..." he looked around and thought of the right word, "Obsessed with trying to figure this all out that I haven't taken the time to enjoy myself much lately, particularly by spending time with you. I didn't mean to ignore you over the last month."

Esme smiled, "You haven't ignored me."

"I should have gotten the big hint from the night you left you note on my car," Carlisle went on, "I love you. I want to spend all of my time with you, Esme."

"Be careful what you wish for," she joked, then kissed him once and put a hand on his face, "I love you, too. I didn't feel ignored, for the record. I just want to make sure you're not driving yourself crazy with all that stuff. I know it was almost a terrible thing that happened, but you can't let it consume you."

Carlisle put a hand on her lower back and brought her to him, "No more for now. I'm giving it a rest. In time, I'll go back at it little by little."

"Okay," she said quietly with a smile, sliding her hands from where they sat on his shoulders to back behind his neck. She brought him toward her and felt him let out a sigh through his nose as he kissed her.

Carlisle closed his eyes and focused on the way her mouth felt against his. His wife's hands tightened on the back of his neck and the collar of his shirt, drawing him deeper into the moment. For a second, he wondered to himself how he was able to stand not feeling her against him for so long, and didn't let another minute go to waste.

Esme had already begun to undress herself, and Carlisle's hands now maneuvered with the top button of his khakis, though he never parted his lips from hers until she whisked by him toward the bed.

He opened his eyes in time to see her slide under the covers where he quickly accompanied her with lovable enthusiasm. They shared a smile before he brought his lips back to hers.

Esme's hands traveled around his back and torso, retracing the muscular frame of his body as if she'd almost forgotten what he felt like. The sensation, alone, of her bare legs entwined with his made her sigh as she pulled her mouth slightly away from his.

Carlisle kept his face only an inch or so apart from hers for a moment, waiting for her to say something.

"Remember how things have to be a little different now," Esme asked him, "Because of the wish and everything..."

"I know," he assured her with a smile, "Don't worry."

They looked at each other for a minute before Esme pulled his mouth back toward hers, unable to keep herself from him any longer. She closed her eyes and found herself overcome with satisfaction at even the slightest touches of Carlisle's hands as they traced over her jawline, then down her body until he left them by her waistline. She felt herself twist from his touch as his thumbs ran smoothly across her hips bones.

Carlisle snickered into her ear at her twitchy reaction, making her smile. "I love you," he told her.

"I love you more," she said back.

He didn't teasingly protest, as he normally would. Instead, he easily gave in to both of their physical and emotional needs, giving Esme the love and attention he knew she deserved.