HEEEEERRRREEE we go the final chapter of While Charlie's Away! yay!
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"Love, wake up" Edward whispered "Come on" he said kissing her cheek.
She grumbled and tried to roll away from him.
"Charlie is going to be home around 12, we have to get you fed and home before then"
Bella fought Edward off for a few minutes before he finally caught her attention by placing soft kisses on and around her lips.
"There are those beautiful eyes" Edward smiled, kissing her "What do you want for breakfast?" he asked just as there was a knock at the door.
"Come in" Edward whispered kissing Bella once more.
"Good morning Bella, Edward" Esme smiled as she opened the door. "I was hoping you would let me take you out to breakfast before your father gets home"
Edward looked down at Bella
"That would be nice." Bella smiled
"Good" Esme smiled "Get dressed and we'll go once you are ready, take your time there's no rush" Esme said as she left the room.
"You don't mind do you?" Bella asked turning to look at Edward.
"Mind you spending time with Esme?" He smirked "No, not at all, I think it's a wonderful area. It will make her very happy."
"Ok, good" she whispered and leaned into kiss his lips. "I'm. Excited. About. It. Too" she informed him between kisses.
"Although" he breathed against her lips "If this is what we will be spending our time doing, I don't want you to leave"
"Or, I can just say here" she agreed quickly, threading her fingers into his hair and pulled him closer.
They kissed for several minutes, Bella holding on to Edward as tightly as she could. When he realized it had been some time since he heard her take a breath, he backed away a fraction of an inch. The loud intake of air that followed told them she had realized too.
He leaned his forehead against hers "As much as I'd love to lay here with you forever, Charlie will be home soon and you do need to eat. I think you and Esme will have fun."
"Ok, fine" Bella pouted "If you insist" then got up and headed to the bathroom to get ready. Esme had grabbed her a few things when she went to her house to call Charlie.
After brushing her teeth and hair she got dressed and headed downstairs.
Edward and Esme were sitting on the couch talking, as she approached they both turned to look at her. "You ready to go dear?" Esme asked.
"Yep all set" Bella smiled.
"I'll leave you to your goodbyes then" Esme told her as she stood and walked towards the garage "I'll be in the car"
Edward stood and pulled Bella into his arms. She immediately wrapped her arms tight around his waist. "I'm going to miss you" She whispered into his chest.
"You'll see me tonight when I stop by for my official visit, then later when it's time for you to sleep." He promised.
"I know. I just, I mean this week we got to just be….us, together. No curfew, no angry Dad staring, or being stuck in my house all the time" Bella explained.
He kissed the top of her head "I really enjoyed this week" He agreed. "It will be that way again soon. Charlie is a sensible man, he won't keep you grounded forever"
"Yeah" she nodded "I know. I just…" She looked up at him trying to figure out what she wanted to say "I just….Love you" She grinned.
Edward beamed "I love you Isabella." He returned as he leaned down to capture her lips with his.
"Come on Esme is waiting" Edward smiled taking her hand and leading her to the garage. Esme was sitting in the driver's seat of a black SUV Bella had never seen.
Edward opened the door for her and buckled her seatbelt once she got in. After kissing her softly on the lips and then her forehead he closed the door and leaned in the open window. "Have fun you two." He said with a wink at Bella.
Bella reached up to stroke his cheek "We will" she promised "I'll see you later"
Edward leaned into her hand then kissed her palm. "I'll see you later" He repeated as he pulled away from the car and Esme pulled out of the garage.
Bella watched Edward in the side mirror until the driveway turned and she couldn't see him anymore. She realized she was being watched, when she turned to the side she found Esme grinning as she drove. Bella's cheeks burned at once.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you" Esme apologized "I'm just so thrilled to see you both so happy"
Bella smiled back.
"So," Esme asked "Where would you like to eat?"
"We don't have to eat if you don't want. You can just take me home and I can eat later. I don't want to force you to eat." Bell tried to explain.
"I don't mind, if you don't." Esme smiled. "I just wanted to spend some time with you, if that's ok"
"Of course" Bella smiled "I just don't want you to be uncomfortable"
"Eating doesn't bother me as much as it does the others" Esme told her "Carlisle and I go to several hospital functions a year; charity events, dinners that sort of thing. It starts to look odd if you pay for the meal but don't eat it"
"Oh, well as long as your sure" Bella smiled
"I'm sure. Where would you like to go?" Esme asked. It was almost a trick question seeing as there was really only two restaurants in Forks, the diner and the lodge.
"The diner would be fine" Bella answered.
"The diner it is then" Esme smiled
They pulled in and were greeted right away, as they were walking to their table someone called out "Bella hey!"
Bella turned towards the call "Angela" Bella smiled as Angela came over to hug her.
"Breakfast with the Mom huh?" Angela whispered in her year "Nice!" She added as she backed away.
"Yep" Bella grinned with small nod "I'll see you at school" Bella added as Angela was leaving with her parents.
"Bye Bella, Mrs. Cullen" Angela waved as she followed her family out.
"A friend from school." Bella explained to Esme as they sat and the waitress gave them their menus.
"Angela Webber" Esme nodded "She's in your grade, her father is a minister and her mother stays at home. She also has twin nine year old brothers"
Bella just looked at her.
Esme smiled "Her father does a lot of work with the hospital, we run into them from time to time, they are lovely people. Edward says Angela is just as kind"
"Yeah she's great" Bella agreed as the waitress brought their drinks.
"So what are you going to get?" Esme asked looking excited as she read her menu.
Bella laughed "I'm thinking eggs and toast"
Esme looked up "Oh, Bella. Please get something a bit bigger, you've gotten so thin recently"
Seeing the look of concern on Esme's face Bella nodded then reopened her menu.
"You ladies ready?" The waitress asked.
"Bella?" Esme asked.
"Um, I'll have the French toast" Bella answered looking towards Esme who grinned.
"And for you?" The waitress asked Esme.
"I will take the eggs and toast please." Esme smiled politely handing the waitress the menu
Bella's mouth fell open.
"Sound great, it will be right out" The waitress smiled and left the table.
"Traitor!" Bella accused with a fake shocked look.
Esme smiled "You need to eat more, I just need to eat….something as to not look out of place.
"Fine" Bella sighed "But I'll be watching you from here on out"
Esme laughed "I'll be sure to keep that in mind"
"Good" Bella smiled.
Esme looked over at Bella and suddenly very seriously asked "How are you doing Bella?"
"I'm….ok" Bella answered taken by surprise.
"I know that our….leaving wasn't easy on you" Esme started.
Bella frowned and nodded, looking at the table.
"I know Edward and Alice have been concerned" Esme continued as she reached across the table to lay her hands on Bella's.
Bella looked up at her touch and nodded "I'm doing good, now"
"Good" Esme smiled "I know that it was very difficult for you and I just want you to know that it was extremely hard on the whole family. As I'm sure you know Edward didn't have an easy time of it either"
"I know" Bella nodded looking down again.
"Just know that it wasn't something we wanted to do, we all missed you terribly and knew that it wasn't what was best for either of you. I just want you to know that I am sorry for allowing it to happen"
Bella's eyes shot up to Esme's "It's not your fault. It wasn't anybody's fault I don't blame anyone"
"I know, and I knew you wouldn't" Esme squeezed her hand reassuringly "I just, I want you to know that it wasn't only Edward who came back to you. You have an entire family of people who love you Bella"
"I love you guys too" Bella smiled.
"I don't want to make you remember bad times or relive anything, but aside from apologizing I wanted to thank you" Esme told her.
Bella's eyebrows knitted together "For what?"
"For brining my family back to me." Esme told her "And I don't just mean coming home from Italy physically with Edward and Alice. You have brought us all back together emotionally, you fixed my family Bella"
"No I…" Bella started
"Bella, you are a part of my family and even though we didn't realize it before we met you, we didn't function properly. We were not whole, with you we are. You have come into our lives and changed things for the better. So while I thank you for bringing my children back home to me. What I am most thankful for is you and your ability to love Edward. Your love for him has changed him into a better person."
Bella smiled "You don't have to thank me for anything, especially for loving Edward. If anything I should be finding someone to thank, God, or maybe some other divine being that he loves me too." She tried to explain as her eyes became glassy.
Esme smiled "You don't see how important you are to him, to all of us really, I love you Bella. As one of my own, as my family I want you to know that. We all do. That's why I wanted to talk to you today. I know you love Edward and he loves you, but I wanted you to know that we think of you as a part of this family, and I know Edward is having a hard time with the idea of changing you. But no matter when it happens and it will happen Bella you are just as much a part of our family as anyone else is."
The tears that had threatened to spill over did at this.
"I love you too Esme" Bella smiled "All of you" She managed to get out before the tears started really flowing.
"Oh dear, I'm sorry" Esme said "I didn't mean to make you cry" She reached into her purse and handed Bella a handkerchief.
"Thank you" Bella smiled as she whipped her eyes, after a moment Bella looked up at Esme "A handkerchief?"
Esme chuckled "Old habits die hard I guess"
Bella laughed at that.
"In my time it was social decorum for ladies to carry around handkerchiefs at all times. You would think after almost 90 years I would move on" Esme joked.
Bella laughed and dabbed her eyes again.
"Ok girls here we are" The waitress laid their food down on the table. Can I get you anything else?"
"No thank you" Esme smiled.
As the waitress walked away Bella looked down "Oh Esme, I'm sorry. I'll wash this and get it back to you"
Esme smiled taking a bite of her eggs "You keep that one, I have hundreds"
"Thank you" Bella smiled looking down at it. ""E.A.P' what is 'E.A.P'?"
"My initials, Esme Anne Platt, my father gave me this set when I turned 16"
"Oh Esme, I couldn't. I'll make sure to get it back to you" Bella told her.
Esme laughed "Don't be silly Bella. I want you to have it. Think of it as a gift, a family heirloom if you will"
"Thank you" Bella beamed.
"Anytime." Esme returned.
They ate in silence for a few minutes until Esme looked up at Bella "Ok last bit of heavy talk. If you ever need anything, even if it's something you can't talk to Edward about. I want you to know you can come talk to me. It must be hard for you to be so far away from your mother. So if you need anything at all please know you can some talk to me"
"Thank you" Bella smiled "I appreciate that"
As they were finishing their meal Esme's phone beeped, she reached into her bag, pulled it out and read the text message she had received.
Esme closed her phone and put it away "Your father will be home in about 20 minutes, so as soon as you are ready, we should get going"
Bella nodded and took one last bite "I'm done. Unless you're still hungry and would like some of mine…"
"No thank you" Esme shook her head
"Then I'm ready" Bella laughed.
They walked to the front and Esme paid the bill, leaving a hefty tip for the waitress. It was a short ride back to Bella's house which was good because right as they pulled up to the curb Charlie pulled the cruiser into the driveway.
"Hey Dad" Bella smiled as she got out of the car.
"Hey Bells" Charlie smiled and pulled her into a one armed hug.
"How was your trip" Bella asked
"It was great" Charlie smiled "Were you out just now?" he asked
"I hope you don't mind" Esme came up from behind Bella "I took Bella out to breakfast"
"Oh, no I don't mind" Charlie smiled at Esme.
"She was just such a great prisoner, I thought she deserved it. I wished my kids behaved as well" Esme told him.
"That's great" Charlie smiled at Bella "Thank you so much for keeping an eye on her"
"It was my pleasure really" Esme assured him. "Well I should get going, Bella it was good to see you" she told her opening her arms.
"It was good to see you too Esme" Bella replied as she hugged her.
"Your overnight bag is in your room" Esme whispered in her ear as she kissed her on the cheek "See you later"
"Bye Esme, thanks for breakfast" Bella smiled
"Anytime" Esme waved as she got in the car.
"You know I'm really impressed with you" Charlie said as he watched Esme drive away.
"What?" Bella asked confused.
"Most kids would have taken advantage of their parents being out of town. But you didn't" He said as they started walking back towards the house "You are really a good kid."
"Thanks Dad" Bella smiled.
"It's true. You know what, why don't you take the rest of the weekend off punishment."Charlie said.
"Seriously?" Bella asked shocked.
"Yeah, from now until tomorrow night at 9. You deserve a break, you're probably tired of the inside of this house." Charlie told her.
"Thanks Dad!" Bella smiled and headed for the phone. As she reached for it, it rang.
"We will be there in 30 minutes! Make sure you pack a bag" Alice said as Bella picked up the phone.
"Sounds good" Bella chuckled and hung the phone back up.
"Dad, I'm gonna go spend the night with Alice!" Bella called as she ran up the stairs.
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