Okay, so we're going to embark on a journey. A darker journey, one that will be around a different kind of Edward, a snarky, bossy Bella and a new Esme. It will be a drabble-ish type fic. The chapters will be between 1000 to 2000 words. Updates will come on Mondays and Fridays with teasers on Tuesdays and Saturdays on my blog. The link for the blog will be on my profile. The story is planned, but not pre-written.
Christmas will start next chapter in Edward's POV and then, end in BPOV. Plus, we'll have Jared's memorial and the beginning of the trial. I will not be going through the entire process of the trial, but yeah, just saying. What should happen to Esme? And what about Charlie? Can he redeem himself?
Chapter Eighty-Two
BPOV
After a family photo in front of the tree, Christmas Eve dinner was a rousing success. Everyone enjoyed the meal that I had catered up to my penthouse suite. We sang Christmas songs, drank egg nog, had a white-elephant gift exchange and bonded as a strangely disjointed family. It was a total Norman Rockwell moment, complete with two ex-escorts, a cop, a retired cop, a US attorney, a couple of gay men, a reformed nun and Rose.
She wasn't the reformed nun. Uncle Peter's date, Sophia, she joined a convent when she was eighteen but decided to leave at twenty-two because of the whole celibacy thing. I wasn't surprised. She was gorgeous with long black hair and violet eyes. Too pretty to be a nun, if you ask me. But, that was a long time ago and she was obviously smitten with my uncle.
After Christmas Eve, everyone went to their hotel rooms. There was a little too much nog in everyone's systems, except for Edward, Jasper and me. I didn't want anyone to drive. Edward and I were on the couch, curled up underneath a warm blanket, staring at the gorgeous Christmas tree. "Today was a lot of fun," he said, idly playing with my hair. "I think the best thing was when Carlisle had to imitate having a baby for that movie in charades."
"Oh, Knocked Up," I giggled. "I thought he was going to pop a vein with all of the pushing and grunting he was doing."
"And it didn't help that he farted, stinking up the whole place," Edward laughed. "But, it was a memorable moment and probably the best time I've had on Christmas since my dad passed."
"I feel the same way, except it since my mom died," I sighed, kissing Edward's palm. "It's nice to feel like I belong to a family again. The holidays were always so dark and depressing for me. Dad always worked and the only other person I hung out with was Rose. She usually was fucking some random guy to get her holiday cheer."
"Esme would occasionally have a Christmas party," Edward murmured. "It was probably the most normal I'd ever seen her. She loved the holidays, but most of us usually had to work because with the holidays came holiday parties. Last Christmas, I was on the arm of an older woman, a socialite at some charity banquet. The Christmas before, I was in Esme's torture chamber, making sure that Esme got her holiday cheer while all I wanted to do was shove a lump of coal up her ass."
"Ouch," I snorted.
"Sorry," he mumbled, pressing his lips to my temple. "It's just weird knowing that she's behind bars and if found guilty, she'll stay there."
"With all that she's done, she should get the fucking death penalty," I snarled. "She's a walking crime against humanity. No one would cry if she is killed. Hell, I'd love to bring back hanging so I could hear her neck snap."
"Okay, down tiger," Edward said. "No more talk of the she-beast. What's on tap for tomorrow?"
"Our close family is coming again for another breakfast and we're opening presents," I said. "Then, our extended family is coming for Christmas dinner. We can have some real fun with Pictionary."
"You expect me to draw?" he laughed. "I can barely do stick figures." He sighed and reached behind the couch. Pulling out a tiny bag, he placed it on my stomach. "I know you said that presents are on Christmas Day, but it's technically Christmas Day."
"No, it's not," I said as the clock chimed midnight. He smiled crookedly, pointing to the present on my belly. "You didn't have to, Edward."
"You've given me so much, Bella. From a place to live, to the clothes on my back, you are the most generous woman I've ever met. But, you've given me two things that I will treasure always and that's my freedom and your love. If it weren't for how I felt, I would have given up long ago and knowing that you love me ... it helped me get through the darkest moments in my life until I was free from Esme," he said. "So, this is a small token of my appreciation. Once I get more settled and have a real job, I'll pay you back in spades."
"None of this real job crap. You're going to college," I argued. "You're fucking brilliant and you need to challenge that brain of yours. You got it?"
"Sure, sure," he snorted. "Are you going to open your present?"
"Is it coal?" I giggled.
"A form of coal," he smirked. I furrowed my brows, pulling out the tissue paper and pulling out a jewelry box. I opened my mouth to argue, but he gently turned my head and pointed to the box. Blowing out a breath, I opened the box and saw a pair of garnet chandelier earrings with diamonds sprinkled throughout. "To go with your necklace that I got you for your birthday."
"They're beautiful," I breathed.
"I found them in an antique store. The shop owner said that they had once belonged to his wife. I asked why he didn't give them to his children and he said that it was just him," Edward explained. "He let me buy them for far less than what was on the ticket, but when I explained about your birthday and our unique love story, he wanted you to have them."
"I'll wear them tomorrow," I said, turning to kiss his soft, pouty lips. Getting up off the couch, much easier, I might add, I grabbed a box and handed it to him. "You get one present, too. Just be fair."
"Because life is all about fairness," he chuckled, taking the box from me. He shook it, looking so much like a little boy. Grinning widely, he tore into the packaging and opened it up. Nestled inside was a velvet box, lined with deep purple satin. Resting on the satin were two cuff bracelets that I had engraved for him.
"You'll always bear these scars," I said, pressing my hand to his wrist, which was still red and raw. "It's a cruel reminder of the hell you lived through, but a testament to your strength that you didn't give up. I chose these because they can hide the scars, but also they have how much I love you on them."
He picked up one of the cuffs, reading it quietly. "Keeper of my soul; holder of my heart." He put down the first one, grabbing the second one. "You are my everything and more. I love you, Bella."
"Do you like them?" I asked, trying to read his expression. "I can return them ..."
"No," he said, blinking up at me, his eyes brimming with tears. "These are perfect. Esme made me wear those black cuffs to hide her abuse, but it's because she went too far. You got me these because you wanted to show how much you love me." He rolled up his sleeve, putting them on his wrists. They effectively covered the scars and he had a constant reminder that I adored him. "I want to thank you," he whispered.
"Just seeing them on your wrists and smiling is thank you enough," I murmured, cupping his slightly scruffy jaw.
"I don't think you understand," he said, taking my hand and pressing a soft kiss to my palm. "I want to show you how much I appreciate these." He arched a brow over his glasses and his eyes darkened.
Oh. Oh!
Did he mean sex?
I'm not cleared for sex. I was still healing. My body was still littered with scars and I was not ready. Physically, emotionally, mentally or waxily.
I was rocking some huge fro bush, thank you very much.
"Bella, breathe," Edward said, his forehead touching mine.
"Edward, I'm not ready," I whispered. "I'm sorry."
"You're probably right," he said. "I'm so used to thanking people for the kindness with sexual favors; it's almost engrained in me."
"When we make love again – and I have no doubt that we will – it will be when we're both ready, healthy and happy. We're not there yet. You just lost a dear friend and learning how to cope with your newfound freedom, plus recovering from some pretty substantial injuries yourself. I'm still super gimp and I'm not certain that I'd enjoy it because of my frayed nerves," I whispered. "Plus, I want to get the forest trimmed before you do anything down there."
"I don't care about that," he snorted. "I love you. I want to be with you. Who the fuck cares if you have hair down ... um, there?"
"I do. It's gross," I shuddered. "And you can't say pussy anymore?"
"I never liked saying it in the first place. I portrayed a fantasy: the mine who was dominating and was not afraid of having sex. I figured that I could play the part, but it wasn't me," he shrugged.
I pursed my lips, thinking about our lovemaking and fooling around. He had been powerful, but I had noticed something in his eyes that was amiss. That was it. He was playing a part. Yes, we made love and had bonded, but it was still a fantasy, play acting for him. "When we're both ready, we'll make love for real. It will be for us, Edward. Not something that you were forced to do," I whispered.
"I wanted you, Bella. Never doubt that. I still want you," he said, his eyes softening. "Shit, I don't know what I'm saying. I feel like a bumbling virgin again."
"And that's what you are," I murmured, cupping his chin. "Your past, it doesn't exist."
"But, it does," he argued.
"Not anymore. You and me, baby," I smiled, kissing his pouting lips. "We'll be together and that's all that will matter."
He closed his eyes, pulling me close to his body and sighing, breathing me in. A few moments later, his eyes opened and he nodded. "You're right. I can only learn from the past and the one thing it taught me was that future is uncertain, but take whatever comes your way and it'll pay out in the long run. My reward for being in such an awful situation is you, Bella. I love you."
"I love you, too," I said. "And thank you for the earrings. They are absolutely gorgeous."
"Thank you for the cuffs. They are ..." he trailed off, his eyes watering. I hugged him and he held me, picking me up and carrying me to our bedroom, holding me – after we changed for bed – until we woke the next morning. When we did, we took separate showers, though Edward wanted to share one.
I just wasn't ready for him to see my mangled, damaged body. He had his demons with coming to grips with Esme's torture and her use of sex against him. My demon was my own body. I was scarred, littered with them, from the gunshot wound, the surgery and loss of muscle from my time in the medically-induced coma and partial, temporary paralysis.
We dressed more comfortably and casually today. Edward wore a pair of jeans and a dark green sweater that made his eyes pop. I went with a pair of leggings, boots and a long red tunic with some beading on it. Our entire family arrived around noon and we distributed presents after we ate brunch.
It was a cacophony of ripping paper, laughing, Christmas music and conversations. I was just in the moment, so thrilled that I was having a family Christmas after so many years of being alone and forgotten by my father. After the presents were opened, Jacob and Seth distributed out boxes to each of us. "One more present for all of you," Jacob said, winking. Edward looked at me, confused as he held the box, covered in shiny paper and almost hidden by the garish bow on top.
"Go on! Open them up," Seth beamed, wrapping his arm around Jacob's waist and nuzzling his temple.
We tore into the presents, adding the paper to ever-growing pile on the cocktail table. I managed to open the box first and found a frame. A frame with an ultrasound picture in it. Baby Clearwater, due June 10th! "A baby?" I whispered. "You guys are having a baby?"
"We are," Jacob squealed, pulling me from Edward's arms and hugging me tightly. "Seth's sister, Leah, is our surrogate. I donated sperm and she's pregnant with our baby."
"That happened fast," Rose said. "You were just married in September."
"We'd been working with Leah and her doctor for a while," Seth explained. "We knew it would take time, but were so over the moon when she told us that she was pregnant. The artificial insemination took after the first attempt."
"Congratulations!" Edward beamed, hugging Jacob. "You both are going to be wonderful parents."
"You think?" Jacob asked, his nose wrinkled and staring into Edward's eyes.
"You love this baby?" Edward asked.
"More than anything," Seth replied.
"Then, you'll be amazing parents because love is the most important thing a child needs," Edward murmured, hugging Seth and sending a wistful smile to his mom. "I'm so happy for both of you!"
"Excellent!" Jacob clapped. "This brings us to our request ... Bella, Edward, will you two be the godparents for our baby?"
Edward and I looked at each other, completely gob smacked that they would ask us. Me, maybe because I'd known them for years. I would have figured that they would have chosen one of Seth's brothers or Carlisle. Edward's eyes softened and he threaded his fingers with mine. With a slow, beautiful crooked grin, he nodded imperceptibly. "We'd love to," we both replied, which caused Jacob to squeal like a pig in mud and hugging us tightly.
And like that, our family grew just a little larger and our love surrounded Jacob and Seth's new baby, due June 10th. I couldn't wait to meet my new goddaughter or godson.
A/N: How's that for a surprise? Some good news! Jacob and Seth are going to be daddies! I'm just thrilled for them. Anyhow, next chapter will be the meeting with Jenks and looking at Jared's home, preparing for the memorial service. Once we get past that, we'll move to the trial and we'll move quickly to the end. Hmmm, maybe.
Oh, pictures of the Christmas presents are on my blog. You can find the link for that in my profile. I'm also on Facebook: Tufano79's Twilight Fanfiction Appreciation. Twitter, too: tufano79. Leave me some! MWAH!
oNʹRR.