I don't own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.
Cheryl, Noles, and Gabby, thank you for pre-reading, and April, thank you for editing. Any mistakes left are my own.
Ch 17
Isabella curled peacefully into my side in our bed back at home. I thought, originally, I'd be bored not doing anything but holding her. But I was beginning to realize how much I enjoyed these peaceful moments. We came home from Ireland the night before, after spending a few days sightseeing. We had only visited her family once more. I kept my temper and Siobhan had kept her thoughts to herself. I didn't trust her not to try to change Isabella's mind about fighting, but I did trust my mate not wanting to fight. That is why I concluded that my family may have to think about taking out the Volturi ourselves.
I heard Esme's arrival downstairs and slipped from the bed to go see her. She was setting a tray of cookies on the counter when I entered.
"Esme, it's been a while. Although, I'm surprised you're here at all. Does Carlisle know you are here?" I greeted her.
"He does. You know how he can be. In fact, it's not much different than how you treat Bella. He's starting to ease up. Especially, after finding out how much of an asset she is. He was rather impressed how she weeded out Heidi. And how she dealt with Leah," Esme explained.
"She is pretty remarkable. She has surpassed my expectations," I admitted, smiling at the thought of my mate.
"I'm sure by the wedding, Carlisle will be ready to welcome her warmly like any other family member," Esme promised.
"Well, there won't be a wedding," I informed her.
Esme looked disappointed. "No wedding. Why ever not?"
I told her about how I referred to her as my wife to the police. Which had led to Isabella questioning me about it, and I explained how being mates was pretty synonymous with being married. So that was why Isabella saw no point to a wedding.
"No point? That doesn't sound like the little girl I remember. Bella once got in an argument with Alice because she wanted a blue wedding dress with silver sparkles. She wanted to get married under the stars. Of course, she was only three at the time, so I suppose things could change."
I started to feel uncertain once again. I had felt something was off with my conversation with Isabella, but she seemed to brush off my concern.
"I offered to propose to her. But she told me if I did, she'd throw me into the ocean," I pointed out.
Esme scoffed and raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't blame her. You made marriage sound like going grocery shopping. It didn't sound like you wanted to marry her because you loved her." Esme paused. "Have you even told her you loved her yet?"
I shifted uncomfortably about having this conversation with someone I considered to be maternal to me. "We have been intimate."
Esme rolled her eyes at me. "I wasn't asking about intimacy. I was talking about telling her you love her and romancing her. And romance isn't necessarily the same thing as intimacy. Your mate deserves to be treated better than those two floosies before her."
"I do treat her better than them." I tried not to lose my temper.
"Good," Esme said pointedly ignoring my attitude.
"But if you're talking about dates, that seems rather juvenile and pointless, since they're only used to get to know someone." I was frustrated.
"Oh, Edward; spending time with your mate and doing things she likes is never pointless," she advised, shaking her head.
"I do spend time with her. We were just in Ireland and had a great time. We even danced under the stars by the cliffs," I defended myself.
Esme chuckled. "See, you actually do know how to do some romantic things. Even if you don't realize it."
"I'm really in over my head, aren't I?" I sighed.
Esme shook her head. "No. Treat her like you love her, and not as an obligation that you get benefits from, and you'll be all right. Just follow your heart."
"Yes, ma'am," I answered her.
I heard the shift of Isabella's breathing, and I knew she was waking up. "You should stay for a few moments. Isabella would like to see you."
I felt a zap as she appeared fully dressed in the kitchen. Esme jumped at the sudden appearance, but I had grown used to it. I did give her an irritated glance for shocking me.
"Stop calling me Isabella and I wouldn't shock you." She shrugged.
Esme stifled a giggle and Isabella broke out into a wide grin. Isabella hurried forward to hug her. The two embraced for a moment. Isabella stepped back and rounded the counter into the kitchen.
"Esme, it is so good to see you. Can I offer you anything?" She cast a dubious glance at the blood warmer.
"No, thank you, dear. I was just dropping off cookies for you." Esme gestured to the plate.
Isabella immediately pulled back the cling wrap so she could grab one. "Thank you so much. Maybe next time we can make some together, like old times."
"I have some photo albums we can go through too. I should have brought them with me today," Esme commented.
Isabella tilted her head to the side and seemed thoughtful. "Would you mind if I use my magic to bring them here?"
"Go right ahead," Esme agreed.
Bella held out her hands and two leather-bound albums appeared. She set them on the counter and flipped open to the first page. She blinked then brushed her finger along the image of me holding her as a baby.
"No wonder you treat me like a baby," she scoffed, but her eyes looked wistful as she continued to look at the image. I sighed inwardly since I knew she still wanted a baby despite everything.
"If you like that, you should see this one." Esme flipped through a few pages before settling on one I thought I had burned.
Isabella's face cracked into a huge grin." I love the boa, Edward."
"Yeah, laugh it up. Every time I took it off, you would put it back on, pouting at me," I huffed and tried to hide my smirk.
"I think it was sweet you played tea party with her." Esme smiled.
Bella bit her lip and seemed to be in deep thought. She blinked a few times then turned to Esme. "Esme, if I was to ask your permission to get something of yours and bring it here, would you give it to me?"
Esme looked confused. "I don't see why not. What is it you want?"
"I would like to return your arm to you," Isabella said bluntly.
"My…" Esme blinked rapidly. "Can you do that?"
"I thought Siobhan said you could only get your own items?" I questioned.
"I think I can; if I have permission from the owner to retrieve their items. It worked with the albums," Isabella insisted. "If you agree, Esme, then I can look into the future to see if it will work."
"Look, before you both get excited, keep in mind where the arm is and what could happen if we take it. If we are going to provoke the Volturi, we should involve the others."
"That is true." Esme deflated, and I felt guilt for disappointing her.
"Hold on. If she gives me permission, then I can look for the ramifications too. Perhaps, I can swap it out with a look-alike, and they would never know," Isabella insisted. "I won't take it unless it will work out. But it's worth a try because Esme deserves to have her arm back."
Her eyes were determined, and I had a feeling that she would do it with or without my permission.
"I guess as long as you double check," I conceded.
Isabella smirked at me and turned to Esme. "What do you say?"
"Yes. Of course, unless it will put anyone in danger." Esme was hopeful.
Isabella closed her eyes and her face remained blank. Just as I was getting frustrated from lack of response, her eyes opened. She turned to me with a smile.
"Stop being so negative and hold out your hands for me," she demanded.
I did what was asked. "Okay, but are you going to tell me why?"
She chuckled and closed her eyes once more. "Just don't drop it."
Almost immediately, an arm dropped into my hands. Not any arm, but Esme's—who gasped in delight. Isabella glanced and then looked thoughtful. She changed Esme's top into one without sleeves.
"Can you hold it in place?" Isabella asked me.
I nodded and held it up to the stump. I wasn't sure how we would reattach it; I assumed we should use venom and thought we should call Carlisle for his input. Bella reached out and placed her hand over the area. As she concentrated it grew warm and started to glow. The two parts fused together, and Isabella took a step back. I followed her lead and let go. Esme raised her up her arm and wiggled her fingers then opened and closed her fist.
She pulled Isabella into a tight hug. "Oh, my darling, sweet Isabella. How can I ever thank you?"
"You don't need to thank me. I believe I owed this to you," Isabella insisted.
"That was amazing, Kitten." I kissed her forehead.
She looked up at me. "You don't have to worry. They had it in a locked trunk, in a room that looks like no one has gone into for a long time. Just in case, I replaced it with a replica. I don't see them noticing. But you can always have Alice double check."
"I trust you," I said sincerely.
Esme rubbed her arm, still in awe that it was back. "I can't wait to show Carlisle and the others."
"Perhaps we can gather here tonight," I suggested.
"I would like that," Esme agreed. "However, I think I'll stop by his office now."
"Thank you for the photo albums and cookies. I'll see you this evening," Isabella said.
Esme shook her head and hugged her once more. "I'm still the one who owes you all the gratitude."
Esme hugged me too before she left us alone in the kitchen. I lifted Isabella off her feet and set her on the counter then stood between her legs. I gave her a heated kiss and her fingers combed through my hair. After a few moments, I pulled back so she could catch her breath, remembering Esme's advice.
"I repeat what I said before, you are amazing," I told her.
She pressed her forehead against mine. "I was only setting things right."
"I know, but that doesn't make it any less true." I pecked her lips. "Do you like the ballet?"
"The ballet? I don't know, I've never been." She gave me a curious look.
"How about we go this weekend," I suggested.
She gave me a soft smile. "I like that idea."
"I have to go to work, but I'll see you tonight," I told her. "Do me a favor and you might not want to look into my immediate future. The others and I will have to do some work today. Nothing we can't handle, but I know you wouldn't want to see it."
Isabella hesitated but nodded. "Okay, I won't. See you later then." She kissed me lightly before I left.
A/N: Who is loving Esme at the moment? I had a few reviews asking if Bella could get Esme's arm back, meanwhile this chapter was written and waiting for its right time.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.
