Happily Ever After

'You know what that means?' he whispered, lowering his voice to a playful growl.

'No!'

Carlisle pretended to growl, stepping closer in a lunge towards the crowd of little ones as they squealed and scrambled out of his grasp.

'It means the hungry vampire needs to feed, argh!'

He chased them as they all broke out, running across the sponge of the newly laid carpet to a corner of the living room, trying to disperse themselves as they squealed and giggled. He grabbed Alice, swooping her above him in a quick grasp so she squealed and laughed.

Jasper clung to his leg halting him from moving.

'I'm going to bite you!' Jasper warned, grinning so that all his little teeth were on display.

'The little vampire has her own clan to protect her, oh no!'

Edward threw himself into Carlisle's side, pretending to snarl. The injured adult took a deep intake of breath and forced it into the laughter that was already thundering in his chest. He'd have to remind them he wasn't indestructible, but for now, he could deal with the pain, it was worth it to have them running around his feet in giggling fits.

'Well I'm a good vampire!' Emmett insisted, throwing himself into a stance not dissimilar to a comic book hero. 'And if you don't put down my family, I'll have to attack!' He hissed playfully.

Carlisle lowered himself as if going to put Alice on the ground where she was squealing in his ear to be lifted up again and then, with the focus on Alice, he shot out his left arm to curl around Rosalie, lifting both the girls up while they cheered, ignoring the intense ripping in his side.

'Now I have both maidens!'

With the lightest of touches, Jasper gently tapped Carlisle's knee cap with his child's teeth.

'No! I've been bitten!' He let the girls clamber out of his grasp as he sunk to his knees, groaning, whining dramatically while holding his 'bite'. Once on his knees, he made more 'dying sounds' before throwing himself backwards onto the carpet (hitting his head in the process and forgetting it was yet another new wound that wouldn't heal immediately).

'He's dying!' Edward gasped, them all surrounding around him as he played dead.

He waited…then waited a little more…still waiting until he could feel all five of them close to him, checking to see if he was breathing and finally, in a sudden bounce, he leaped back up and started to tickle them so they they howled with shrieks of mirth.

'Having fun?' Esme teased, leaning against the doorway, pouting.

He was looking at her upside down, his fringe listening to the laws of gravity and sticking to the floor and his eyes level with her feet until he looked up or down, whatever made sense according to the position he currently was held in.

'I was feasting.' He said, pulling himself up like an vampire. He shrugged. 'Want some?'

He gently offered up Edward's arm as if it was a chicken leg so that they were both laughing and sounding very familiar as they did so.

'Tempting,' she agreed, crossing the carpet in his light trainer socks and sweats. 'But dinner has arrived.'

'No humans I hope.' Emmett grinned, standing up to follow.

'No humans, just good old pizza. Come on, wash up for dinner please.'

There was a chorus of groans, she laughed.

'Go on, before dinner gets cold.'

Jasper bolted up the stairs first, tied with Edward and the girls and Emmett just behind.

She leaned over where he was laying on the floor.

'Need any help?'

Like a child, he lifted his arms in the air, sighing gently, his shirt raising just so that she could see the line of his bandage. She rolled her eyes, puffed out a breath so that the curl of her fringe flew up then gripped his hands but instead of him coming up, she came down as he tugged, grinning.

'Ow,' they murmured together as she clapped to his chest.

'They wasn't clever, was it?' She was smiling, the light glinting in her eyes as he reached up to touch the dimple there.

'It was worth it.' The shrug was muted by the carpet.

'Dinner's ready.' She repeated, leaning into his touch, holding herself slightly above him so as to not push all her weight into his delicate injuries.

'Good, I'm hungry.' He placed a soft kiss onto her bottom lip, feeling the smile and tasting her laugh.

'But you need to wash up first.'

'N'aww, really?'

She nodded, feigning boredom, so he rolled them over so that now she was against the carpet and he was hovering over her.

'You still need to wash up.' She said playfully.

He kissed her again, lingering a little longer, feeling the colour warm his cheeks and the back of his neck. It wasn't long before her smile ruined the moment and she pushed him off, laughing.

'Did I mention I love you?'

She pulled down her mouth, shaking her head. 'No, I don't think you did?'

'Damn.'

She felt the curse on her mouth and giggled.

'I love you.'

'I love you too, Mr Cullen.'

He closed his eyes, still grinning, and inhaled through his nose, his crooked and sore nose.

'Eight years of medical school, eight years, and a returning interview tomorrow but nope, apparently that title is revoked if you're not stitching someone up!'

He heard the loud chatter of the kids again and the shutting off of the taps, with a sigh he pulled himself away from her giggling. It was a shame really, he never really got much of a chance to bask in the pure joy of that mouth.

'Come on, get up and wash up. I want pizza.'

He rolled his eyes but jumped up and pulled her up with him before heading into the kitchen.

Things were beginning to take immediate effect and he was surprised at that.

Yesterday evening had passed in a blur. They'd viewed the house, the newer occupants in tow, the house they're standing in right now, and loved every second of it. The kitchen was similar to the old home, a similar black marbled surface with just as many cupboards and drawers and taps to play with. But then the old house was also one of Amun's designs.

In fact, they were lucky that the kitchen was the only thing furnished, all the stools lining the island in the middle, new sets of cutlery and the glasses that weren't smashed from their old homes.

They'd been over fortunate in that sense, many crockery pieces had survived, giving them something to use for the next week or so. But she'd already ready made a list and judging from her artist eye, it wasn't going to be long until out went the mismatched pieces and in came new glass and china wear.

Many of her paintings had been damaged, but her portfolio was unmarked, leaning in the new office come library upstairs, surrounded by boxes and boxes of their shared books; books on science, books on mythology, literature, children's stories, music scores….

He'd not wanted to step across the old threshold again, a house once so loving had felt lonely, cold and broken, everything was separate, everything sectioned off in ways that he never thought about before. A few of Edward's music had survived, the piano obviously hadn't but he'd work on that later.

The furniture was damaged too, only leaving burnt cushions that were thrown in the skip immediately. His photos survived but only because they had been stored in Edward's bedroom and for some reason Aro had left that alone. His toys were intact, his books, his clothes, his blankets, his bed, his lamp…

It was while collecting the remains of his property in his bedroom and office that one thing had stood out to Carlisle. He owned little and while it was a positive because it meant he had little to lose, it also placed things into perspective.

He had no real possessions, nothing to cosy up a space, nothing to draw colours onto his blank canvas.

That was to change.

Esme's home was worse off but then like him, she owned little after moving around so much and so whatever perished was not sorely missed.

They spent last night in a hotel, not wishing to overstep their welcome despite the Swan's insistence and wanting to spend the first night together as a family, explaining it all.

The kids had hardly any belongings in the St Augustine's, some clothes but not enough, all of which could fit into a tiny little handbag.

They had a meal out first, a kind of mini celebration before finding a close hotel. It was with great sadness he thought he'd have to trade in his beloved car for a seven seater before she offered her car up in sacrifice instead.

'Besides, yours is far prettier.' She'd agreed.

He was surprised in how well she was taking things. Though she had thrown her 'savings' at him (pocket money really) she was coping with the money thing surprisingly well, knowing it would quite literally pay off in the long run.

Sitting on the large double bed, they then delved into a deep explanation of what was happening and what it would mean for them all.

'So what did you think of the place?' He'd asked them tentatively.

They'd all offered various exciting compliments towards the house they'd just viewed, no realisation on any of their minds.

'I like the garden!'

'The rooms are huge!'

'The kitchen was so pretty!'

'It's missing a piano…' – well, that one wasn't a compliment, but it was established that this was a matter in the works.

'And what do you think about living there?' Esme had asked, seating herself beside him and opening her arms to Edward's hug.

They'd managed to keep things quiet, deflecting questions, saying little to see if the kids guessed for themselves. For some reason or other, they made no comment. Probably avoiding false hopes, but still, he'd expected a little bit of suspicion.

'Are you for real?!' Emmett gasped, the sound mute as he suddenly started to realise what was going on.

'Really?!'

'Is this a joke?!'

The adults had laughed gently, Edward beaming proudly, he was the first one to speak clearly and directly.

'Are we going to be a family?!'

Carlisle beamed before wrapping them all in a warming hug, or all the ones he could reach.

'A huge, loud, messy family.' He promised, his smile splitting his face.

'I told you, Alice. I told you they wouldn't let you down!'

Esme held him tightly, combing his copper hair with the same right hand while reaching over to interlock her fingers with Carlisle's.

2 weeks and already, a new home, five children and an adoring roommate.

Today had been far crazier.

They'd not only had to shop for mountains and mountains of furniture, they'd also had to do so pretty instinctively, but then Esme was good at that sort of thing and she'd already knew the exact design for each room and the furniture to order for it.

The social worker had popped round, commented on the lack of beds (which again was in the making), stayed for lunch before sitting with them for a good few hours while they signed papers after papers.

It's upon listening to your tales that a full fledged investigation of St. Augustine's has been launched.' Llyod told them grimly. 'And we have on record their history of abuse.'

'And the children?' Carlisle had asked, hiding his nerves in the pit of his stomach. Even if he knew in his heart of hearts the answer would be good, the very fear of coming so close and being denied the right to love them…it was haunting.

Lloyd, a man with a stern looking face, relieved a smile.

'All I will say is good luck with five adolescents in the house.' He said, smiling.

'They can stay?!' Esme gasped, her hand trembling excitedly over her teary smile. Carlisle squeezed her side.

'My initial judgement of you yesterday was incorrect, I've come to realise that. I took the opportunity to ask of your character profiles this morning and all I received was an overwhelming amount of positivity towards you both as people and even more as potential parents…'

Carlisle frowned, but his smile grew. The very thought of dragging the neighbours and such locals into a private family matter was a little bit embarrassing…but what was there to be embarrassed about if they'd all manage to convince the social worker?

'Just like that?!' Esme was a little unconvinced. After a good twenty-six years of her life all she'd come to realise was that her luck was non existent and little good took place in the world.

Lloyd nodded again, slowly as if to reiterate the fact. The children were in garden, otherwise engaged in playful sibling combat.

'Just like that.' He promised, taking up the papers that they'd signed with such concentration, he'd thought the pair of them would break his pen from sheer pressure. 'Though for the first few months, someone will be sent to check on how the kids are settling in and of course we want to keep up regular updates on how you're all…'

And just like yesterday, the couple in front of him were clinging to oneanother in an endearing reserved celebratory hug.

Yes, Lloyd decided watching the two fondly, the pair of them would make fantastic parents…

Once that was done, Carlisle sat and wrote his notice of resignation and emailed it (rather ironically) to Aro first and then Aro's boss and even forwarded a copy to Eleazar; Do pop down some time , he added cheekily, We have many a surprise for you…. Then finally, he phoned the hospital.

While he'd done that, Esme gathered the piles of bedding they'd indulged in at the supermarket and built the same tent from the holiday, up in the living room, ready for the five of them to have a camp out. But the tent had clearly reminded them of a time of vampires, and it wasn't long before he was jumping around with them in the space of the room while she fixed dinner.

And now, here they sat, eating pizza out of the takeout box. She was leaning against the island, slice in one hand, pen in the other.

'What else do we need?' She asked, smiling widely.

'A piano.'

Edward grinned to show he was being playful. Obviously he was greatly upset by his most prized possession but he'd also been lovingly patient.

'It's on the list.' She promised, turning the paper so that he could see.

'Apart from paint?' Carlisle questioned, tearing off a huge chunk. Last time he had pizza, he'd had the best snog of his life…and part of him wondered if he was due for a repeat. He laughed to himself, watching her rest against the island like she was …at home. She looked the part, too. Her hair in a knot, her body heavy with exhaustion, her smile wide but a little dazed and her pockets filled with notes and measurements and order forms and pencils and so on.

Everything about today, despite his slowly recovering injuries, everything down to the signing of the house, down to the writing of his notice and the building of shelves while the kids played in the garden, everything was beautiful.

'I've got that down.'

'A new wardrobe?'

'We've already ordered that?' She said laughing, finding a large amount of comfort about standing at the end of the table, watching them all eat heartily, even Alice. That made her a little more proud and she knew it wouldn't be long until all four of them were nicely filling themselves out and putting on a little more weight.

'No, I meant clothes wise.'

She nodded and wrote that down.

None of the foster children seemed that bothered to be wearing clothes that weren't their own for the second night running, and they didn't seem to mind borrowing pyjamas after they'd bathed, had their hair combed through and brushed their teeth.

'I've never bathed on my own before, it's like going swimming!' Alice giggled, letting Esme pull on one of Edward's smaller t-shirts over her head followed by a pair of his pyjama shorts.

'It won't be long till you're a little fish.' She giggled, calling Rose back in to dry their hair together, watching them in the wide mirror, beaming at each other, beaming at her, cheeks flushed with colour and eyes, though heavy with tiredness, still alive in joy.

A joy that hadn't been there last week.

Downstairs, Carlisle was arranging more blankets in the bottom of the tent, Edward deliberately kicking them up. He grabbed a blanket and wrapped it tightly around his arms, locking him in place and laughing.

'Nice try, Kiddo.'

He was giggling still, fighting the trap of the blanket until he was slowly released and pulled into a random but very sincere hug.

'I'm proud of you, Son.'

'I'm proud of you too, Dad.' Edward replied, his crooked smile matching his father's crooked nose, at least for now.

'Everything that's happened, it's gone a little fast, I'm sorry for that, I know it's probably a bit weird to get your head around.'

Edward shrugged 'I prefer a loud house.'

'So do I.' Carlisle agreed, ruffling his hair. 'You know we love you? Not just me now, though I do love you dearly... we love you all'

Edward rolled his eyes but still smiled…waiting for Carlisle to huff at him.

He did.

'I love you too.'

He grinned, encouraged him to find a nice spot in the blankets and then turned his attention to Emmett and Jasper who were content playing a game of soldiers with a pack of cards. He wasn't too sure how they were doing it but the boys's imaginations were really a thing to marvel at, some of the things they came out with and the techniques they used to getting them wasn't only largely amusing at all times, it was also doubly impressive.

'And you too, boys. In the tent you go.'

Emmett deliberately leap-frogged over his head to get there before jumping onto a cushion next to Edward, grinning widely, Jasper crawled in too next to them and very soon the girls were running down the wide staircase, into the soft bedding laid out for them, Esme standing by his feet before lying on her stomach too.

'So we're having another sleepover?' Jasper said excitedly.

'Just for tonight, by tomorrow your beds would've arrived and you'll be able to sleep in them.' Esme promised, nestling into Carlisle's good ribs at the opening of the tent.

'Is there a lot to do tomorrow?' Rosalie asked, lying on her side, her soft and finally dried hair in a ponytail behind her. Esme nodded.

'There is, but you'll be at school.'

Emmett groaned, Alice looked horrified.

'But-but Aro!'

'You're safe, Sweet. I promise. Aro will be away, too.' She said softly. Behind her, Carlisle was shaking his head, clearly finding great entertainment in how he would notify Eleazar and Carmen of the news of his arrest aswell. Alice smiled and rested her head back down, listening to the demands of her body and its cry for sleep.

Like the rest of them, she was completely drained and it wasn't going to be long till they were all unconscious with fatigue.

'So then there's no head-teacher?' Emmett asked, frowning. It was sweet seeing him in the middle of the group and you knew just by looking at them that all of them cultivated towards Emmett as the next safest thing beside the adults in front of them.

'No, just the other teachers for now. I'll be back to school by Thursday though and everything will have settled down so that we're running in a nice little routine.' She could feel Carlisle's lips in her hair and smiled.

She felt very much like a team, not just like a family where she was one of the leads but that she was also second in command of a loyal network of loving and enthused children.

Edward yawned. 'You should be the head teacher. You'd be good at that.'

She frowned before laughing out loud. 'You're too sweet, Kid.'

'I mean it, Mumma.' He was mumbling now, head against the pillow like the rest of them.

'We love you.' She sighed, pushing the hair away to stop it from tickling his nose. 'We love every single one of you.'

Carlisle smiled: they were all lying down now, all with their eyes closed, all breathing evenly. Just to be safe he started and finished a very quick vampire story, kissed them all goodnight as did Esme, before turning their attention to each other.

She was rubbing her eyes.

'Would it be completely inappropriate to have a bath together?' He whispered, stepping away from the sounds of them sleeping.

She smiled. 'I 'spose if we're extra quiet, it should be okay.'

While they also didn't have a bed, they did put a few bits of bedding in their room which was a weird concept. Their room. He hadn't shared a room since his university days and she was by far a better roommate. He was wondering if they should've stayed all together again, on the floor in the tent in the living room.

But he knew they'd be okay, even if any of them woke up, they'd only be upstairs.

She was still yawning when she ran the water of the bathtub in their ensuite but she livened up a little when he locked the door and crossed the room to kiss her. Tying her hair up high on her head, she watched him undress before stepping into the water, though he only stepped in, letting the wash flow at his ankles before he sighed and perched on the rim. She frowned, letting the bubbles climb her shin as the water rose.

He pointed to his side where the bandage was, offering a sarcastic smile.

'Why didn't you say?' She murmured, laughing.

'I only remembered when I took my shirt off.' He grumbled.

He was over exaggerating a little. The bandage started just by the top of his belly button and curved around, if he was careful, he wouldn't get it wet. Though she had no idea why this was one of the doctor's rules he refused to break when he'd been pulling the kids onto his bad side and lifting with it all day.

She shut off the taps, rolled her eyes and persuaded him to sit down in front of her before curving her legs around the back of hips to his legs and pulling him back so he was resting against her, the water only just passing his groin.

'I'm squishing you aren't I?' He sighed, laughing a little at their awkward positioning.

'Not at all,' she promised, letting her finger follow the line of his jaw, down his neck, along his shoulder then back again, he shivered.

'How do you feel?'

'I'm fine, how are you?'

She laughed softly.

'I meant, how is your side, your head, your nose, your hand….' The list went on..

He had his eyes closed, his head resting on the right side of her chest, warm and comforting.

'They're fine.'

'That's a lie, isn't it?'

He grimaced

'I'm in a little pain,' he admitted 'but I'm honestly fine, better than fine, I'm good. I feel good. What about you?'

'I'm tired.' She answered simply. Her hand seemed to be acting automatically as it ran along his arms with soothing strokes repeatedly. An unintentional noise escaped his throat making her laugh.

'So am I.'

'Really?' She questioned, pushing him up so that they were both sitting up. He frowned at her a little but didn't release his smile and then her lips were on his neck and the smile turned to a smirk.

'You do have my attention if that's what you're referring to?'

She squeezed her thighs against his hip so that he jolted upward a little, wide eyed and smiling and then her lips returned, warm and soft, moving in slow, sweet lines down his spine, tickling his nerves, electrifying him awake.

Though he'd been awake since the moment she'd taken off her clothes.

'You know some people would wait for a bed?' he murmured, hoping to God she wouldn't listen to him.

She didn't, she was at the top of his spine now, kissing his neck, her teeth deliberately grazing his shoulder.

'Instead of a car?' She teased at the spot just behind his ear, he was shivering again.

'I'll miss that car,' he said softly, a grin on his face.

'You don't need, too. We'll have a comfy four poster mattress tomorrow….'

Her teeth returned to the side of his neck and she clamped down a little harder, not enough to puncture the skin but enough so he groaned.

'And what about today?' he persisted with great difficulty, smirking, his eyes still closed.

He could feel her like a shroud, all over him, making his skin stand on edge, sensitive to her delicate touch, her warm lips, her sharp teeth and then suddenly she was gone.

He caught himself before he fell backwards into the water stopping himself from soaking the bandage and then whipped his head around to look at her.

She was standing completely naked, hand on hip, beckoning him out of the water. She didn't need to say anything else. His mouth was on hers immediately, barely stopping to catch his balance as he clambered out the bath.

'I suppose the room's officially christened now.' She giggled, burying herself into the duvet on the floor as he tiptoed back into their room dressed in his long pyjamas and flicked off the light.

He left their bedroom door ajar and stepped over to lie next to her, wrapping the corner of the duvet over his bad side and smoothing the creases her body caused.

'They're still sound asleep,' He promised a smile on his mouth.

'I'm glad to hear it. I'm genuinely surprised they didn't interrupt us, I was almost expecting it.'

He nuzzled her neck and laughed so that she could feel it down her t-shirt.

'So am I.' He agreed, grinning.

She sighed, content. 'It won't be like this forever you, know. They'll be up here and running about soon and we won't have a second's rest.'

'I wouldn't change it for the world.' He whispered, snaking his arm around her ribs, dragging a tune with his fingers.

'Me either. The fact that they're here right now, safe with us…'

She shook her head, laughing again, unable to finish her sentence. He waite patiently though he was already prepared to agree heartily with her.

'The fact I'm here in your arms, with our little family downstairs…'

'It's a dream.' He agreed in a murmur, heavy with sleep.

'It's more than that, Carlisle Cullen. It's like a holiday. It's like being on holiday with the people you love every day. It's marvellous.'

'You're marvellous.'

She turned in his arms to kiss him, a little too forcefully on the mouth and accidently colliding with his nose but he didn't complain, he just kissed her again, angling his face better to give her a softer touch.

'I love you.' She whispered, passing the words to his tongue.

He grinned, thinking of his daft attempts yesterday, thinking about the last two weeks, his family down stairs, the holiday to Hucklake, their miniature holiday to Alaska…

'And I love you, Esme Cullen….Eternally.'

Thank you all so much for your lovely reviews and follows and favourites, I hope this story has been as entertaining to read as it has been to write. On many occasions, I had the chapter's take unexpected twists and turns and I've loved every moment of exploring the idea of Esme and Carlisle as a modern kind of human set of adults.

Thank you so much!

Please feel free to leave a little comment on what you liked (or disliked) abut the chapter/story as a whole. I'm sorry this chapter took a long time to upload. I really was reluctant to wish it goodbye.

With much love and gratitude! xxx