Work Text:
The kids had gone hunting, which left Carlisle some alone time with his wife and love, Esme.
Hunting wasn’t necessarily a romantic activity but it could be. Honestly, Carlisle found anything he did with Esme meaningful and therefore romantic.
He’d never had the taste for romance and Esme knew of his outdated sensibilities - had known of them since she’d gotten to know him - but she didn’t hold it against him. Instead, they turned it into a learning curve, where Esme told and taught Carlisle what she liked and didn’t like.
So far, over the near century they’d spent together, he’d found that Esme had a fondness for architecture and designs. There wasn’t much she hated, although she did have favorites. And her favorite designs were what the family house was based on. Always.
She liked open spaces, grand staircases and huge windows that let sunlight in and Carlisle had to admit, centering the piano where the sunlight hit it at an angle was a beautiful design choice.
They sat together at the top stairs of the grand staircase and looked at the piano; pondering all that had happened over the last few years.
Although it was Edward who’d met his mate, it would be a lie to say that Bella had left the family untouched. Her humanity and now, vampiric nature had marked them all.
The Cullens had always been compassionate, empathetic and - in Esme’s bold opinion - kind, but meeting Bella had tested everyone in the family, not just Edward. Similarly, her and Edward’s shared journey had meant something for the whole family.
It had been a few months of peace and although Bella grieved leaving her parents, she balanced it with the joy of the new family she’d found and loved since her time as a human and Esme loved the brave, bold, confident girl.
Because Bella would always be a little girl to Carlisle and Esme. She would always be their little girl.
Esme reached out and intertwined Carlisle’s hand with her own and squeezed it. In return, Carlisle reached out with his other hand to hold their joined ones.
They giggled with each other.
It had been a century of sun-soaked, syrupy warmth between them and they had yet to tire of it. There was something timeless that bound them together. It was something no human could ever have and although Carlisle had been worried at first - of having taken away her humanity - he’d found that he needn’t have worried at all.
Because Esme was happy.
Esme had woken up and given him a tender smile and Carlisle had known she’d felt the same.
There was much to complain about, when it came to being a vampire - the Cullens knew that well - but there was also the love she shared with Carlisle and she knew she’d never have had a taste of it, had she died when she was 'supposed to have'.
Carlisle - with his caring disposition - had, despite his worries, always trusted Esme. Had trusted her to tell him the truth. Had trusted her to tell him of when she was happy and when she was sad. Had believed her when she told him she loved him, despite the guilt that threatened to choke him.
And now?
Now they were here, with 6 children and a grandchild to share between them.
“I’m glad to have her” Esme said. She didn’t need to specify that she was talking about Bella.
“I am, too” he replied and brought up their joined hands to kiss Esme’s hand where it peaked out between his larger ones.
And they were happy to have her; they were happy with the kind of agape a parent holds for their child.
But that wasn’t all.
Because Esme had seen the changes in Carlisle herself.
Where no one in the family had had the choice between their humanity and vampiric nature, Bella had had the choice. And she’d chosen what had made her happy. Perhaps to her, the choice had been as simple as choosing Edward, but for the vampires, the choice had held existential significance.
Where Emmet had grown into his life and Esme had grown into her love for Carlisle, Bella had morphed into a vampire. Her decision had held no qualms or strings that linked her to death and survival. Her choice had been a simple one. It had been since the day they’d returned to Forks and she’d put her humanity to vote.
And that had soothed something in Carlisle.
Her love for her vampiric life had eased Carlisle’s guilt towards his family. She had shown him something new.
Had shown him that love could be unselfish over and over again, as she’d chosen Edward over and over again.
Her loyalty had brought them joy as Edward’s parents but it had also cemented their faith in love.
Bella was an example of her new mother in that regard, was Carlisle’s thought. They were both selfless, loving women and perhaps he’d never say it to her and certainly never in so many words; he did owe Bella his gratitude.
He’d shared these thoughts with Esme and it had been the words that had spelled out the difference she’d found in Carlisle.
His love towards Bella was a gift that had been balm to his weary soul.
And Esme would forever be glad for it.
Would forever be glad for the way Bella had wrecked herself into their lives.
“Do you remember when they first met?” her voice betrayed hidden laughter.
“He nearly killed her,” Carlisle said, his brows were furrowed in memory “but he didn’t”
“And now, they’re hunting together” she giggled.
Carlisle’s face eased into a smile “It’ll be our turn soon”
“Mhm” she nodded and leaned in for a kiss, after which she lay her head on his shoulder. ”Our family is finally complete”
“We have Bella and Renesmee to thank for that”
“I love them all. So much.”
“As do I.”
And perhaps they’d never breathe a word of this conversation to anyone else.
But they’d sworn to love and protect their little family of foundlings.
And love and protect them, they did.