𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 | carlisle cullen (2)

(𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐱) locked thoughts

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THEY SAT IN THE LIVING ROOM. The Tv was playing the news but Este wasn't paying much attention. Carlisle was probably watching it avidly. He always did, worried that vampires were creating chaos without the humans realising. That was unless the Volturi had gotten to them first.

Este had her head in Carlisle's lap as he ran his fingers through her hair. She had her eyes closed, completely content. Este was almost positive that she'd never be able to feel so relaxed in any other scenario. Not unless she was with him. Vampires didn't fall asleep but Este felt she could as long as she was next to him.

From what she could hear, there was nothing on the news. Este's head was tingling from the presence of Carlisles hands in her hair, spreading down her back. She had her hand on his thigh, doing her usual activity of drawing small shapes. Yet again they had no meaning, her mind was too tired for that.

She heard the door open the same time as Carlisle did but didn't think too much of it. Four was approaching meaning that it was probably just Alice, Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett coming home from from school.

"I was expecting a warmer welcome"

Este sat up immediately, turning around so fast she presumed that she'd blurred with the colours of the world around her for a moment. In the doorway to the living room stood Edward. In reality, it hadn't been that long since they'd seen him and considering that the Cullens nestled in the comfort of eternity, Edward being away for a week really wasn't as dramatic as they were making it out to be.

However, it wasn't necessarily Edward being back in the Cullens house that made the family so content. Instead it was what this meant. Edward's return called for one reason in Este's mind, that he'd decided he could deal with the problems that had caused his exit. Edward wouldn't be back standing here unless it meant he was going to try and right them, Este wouldn't have wanted anything more.

She beamed at her son, standing and hurrying around the back of the sofa as she pulled him in for a hug. Edward laughed, obviously happy to see them as he hugged her back.

"I didn't expect you to come home so quickly" Este gasped lightly, "I was worried you'd be away for another month, or even a year... not to sound completely annoying but why are you back so soon?"

Edward smiled at the both of his parents as Este leant back against the sofa behind them. He looked the same, of course he did. Regardless of whether it felt as though Edward had been a way a lot longer than he actually had he was a stranger to the idea of ageing which meant his slanting features and pale skin were exactly the same.

"Denali was nice" Edward shrugged, "but I didn't like being away and...I don't know, I didn't want to seem weak"

"We never saw you as weak" Carlisle murmured.

"I know" Edward nodded, "but I did... and I don't want to have to run away from this, I've lasted before"

"No one would think any less of you if you did take the easy option" Este pointed out, "of course I'm more than glad to have you back... we were worried after you ran off like that"