chapter┊ ✦. :: twenty seven
♡ ﹙surprise﹚ ❋  ˚  ݂ ꛒ

With each passing day, things were getting tenser. In Seattle, there were more disappearances and unexplained deaths, it was the only thing being talked about in the news, and there wasn't even a clue as to who could be responsible.

Everyone was gathered at the Cullen residence, in the living room watching the news while trying to figure out how to solve all the problems or deduce the possible origin of it all.

They came to the conclusion that they were newborns created for some kind of fight. Additionally, they found it concerning that the Volturi still hadn't done anything about it. They should have heard about everything that had happened by now, after all, they were supposed to be aware of everything vampires did.

However, Carlisle and Lydia were starting to drift apart more and more. The blonde man would skip work to stay home and help with whatever he could, while Lydia spent all day at work and when she returned home, she could only think about sleeping.

Both felt this growing distance between them but weren't sure how to resolve it. Additionally, Lydia's pregnancy symptoms were getting stronger, but she refused to stop going to work; her boss had told her there was no problem, that her health came first, but she still adamantly refused. It was her only way of not thinking about all the troubles happening with Isabella.

That Friday night, as Lydia was leaving work, she found Carlisle waiting for her by his car. She smiled, showing all her teeth, and approached to hug and kiss him. He didn't resist the display of affection at all and let Lydia's warmth flood him from head to toe. He had missed that pleasant feeling a lot.

"How was your day?" he finally asked as he headed to open the passenger door.

"Nothing interesting, really," she got into the car carefully, "these weeks have been very quiet."

Carlisle got into the car as well and started driving.

"I'm glad to hear that. You know you can stop coming to the hospital if you feel unwell."

"Carlisle, I'm fine. Work is a thousand times less stressful than... all the Bella stuff."

"I know, I'm sorry," he felt really bad for not giving the necessary attention to his pregnant girlfriend.

The man looked sad, Lydia had never seen him like that before, but she felt guilty.

"It's not your fault, honey. I know you're doing everything possible to keep everyone safe, and that's great."

Carlisle looked at her with a small smile, but then Lydia noticed they weren't heading home.

"Where are we going?" she spoke again.

The blonde man smiled even more, but didn't say anything, instead, he reached out and took Lydia's hand. The rest of the way was relatively silent, with Lydia asking where they were going and Carlisle asking her to wait.

They stopped in front of Lydia's house, which was certainly a surprise because they had taken a rather long route, but she still didn't understand what was happening. Carlisle opened the door and helped her out of the car, then they headed to the entrance. Everything seemed quite normal, but the girl felt quite uneasy.

They entered the house, everything looked normal.

"Go change into something more comfortable," Carlisle said softly, "I've prepared dinner for you, and then we can sit on the couch and watch a movie. If you want, you can take a shower; I bought you some bath soaps to relax."

Lydia smiled with excitement.

"I'd like that. Thank you, Carlisle."

The girl went upstairs to get her clothes. She chose warm pajamas along with her favorite slippers. Her feet were killing her, and sooner or later, she would accept taking a break from work, but she would endure it as long as she could. She went to the bathroom and didn't hesitate to enter.

It was really relaxing, and for a second, she wanted to go straight to bed to sleep like a log, but she reminded herself that Carlisle had prepared dinner for her, and she was excited to spend more time with him. She didn't spend much time in the shower, dressed comfortably in her pajamas, and applied some skincare products. She really felt exhausted, but the pleasant smell of food reached her nostrils almost immediately, which encouraged her to go downstairs.

But as soon as she left her room, she found a path of red petals and a bunch of candles. Excitement began to flood every part of her body.

"Carlisle?" she spoke but received no response.

She continued walking, following the path of petals and candles. She went downstairs with her heart racing. The path led her to the living room, where she arrived immediately, and tears began to well up in her eyes.

There was Carlisle, on his knees, holding a ring in its box, surrounded by petals and aromatic candles. Lydia smiled and kept walking until she was in front of the man.

"Lydia, I was very serious when I said I wanted to marry you after our baby was born. I didn't expect it to happen like this, but you would make me the happiest man in the universe if you accept to be my wife."

Lydia almost felt like she was losing her breath.

"Carlisle..." she murmured, still unable to believe it.

"Lydia Knox, will you marry me?"

The girl dropped to her knees to hug the man with all her might.

"Yes. Of course, yes," she finally said, still crying with excitement.

She separated a bit from Carlisle to be able to kiss him and then, with his help, she put on her engagement ring.

She couldn't believe it, she felt like it was a dream, a perfect and beautiful one.

After the little moment, Carlisle accompanied Lydia with her dinner and an exquisite dessert that the girl enjoyed more than she had imagined. Later, they both sat on the couch and watched a random movie. They didn't pay much attention to it because they were more focused on their conversation. Carlisle, meanwhile, dedicated himself to leaving small caresses on his fiancée's belly as they talked.

"We still haven't decided on a name," Lydia had said.

Carlisle looked at her with a smile, but continued making small circles with his hand on her belly.

"We still don't know if it's a boy or a girl."

"No, but we could decide on both."

Both smiled.

"Have you thought of any?" the blonde man asked.

"Well, actually, yes."

He looked at her curiously.

"What?"

"If it's a girl, I'd like it to be Elain. And if it's a boy, I like Lyssander."

Carlisle looked pensive, and Lydia hoped to see his reaction. Did he hate them?

"Well, I like the one you chose for a girl, but we could think of another one in case it's a boy."

Lydia started laughing but couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"Okay, but if you don't give me ideas in a week, the one I've chosen will stay."

Carlisle leaned in to kiss her softly.

"Agreed."

They remained silent for a moment, paying attention to the television for the first time, but they really had no idea what they were watching.

"Who helped you with all this?" she finally asked. She was quite curious to know.

"Alice, Esme, and Emmett.

They were very excited when I told them, and Alice and Emmett wanted it to be in a public place, but I didn't really like that idea."

"I think it was perfect this way."

"They'll be crazy about it tomorrow. Besides, you won't get Alice off your back. She loves all this stuff about planning weddings and parties."

Lydia let out a laugh.

"She's already very excited about the baby; I imagine she's even more so now."

"I think everyone is excited about the baby, although it's Alice who shows it the most, but I assure you, everyone is happy and eager to finally meet him."

"Well, we just have to wait a few more months, and we'll have him in our arms."

"I can't wait."

Lydia closed her eyes and let herself be carried away by the gentle caresses Carlisle left.

"The kids' graduation is coming soon, isn't it?" she spoke without opening her eyes.

"Yes. Alice wants to have a party at the house."

"As long as it doesn't end like last time, I guess there won't be a problem."

"We'll be careful. With everything so tense, the little things serve as an escape. Even if it's just for a moment."

"I guess you're right."

Carlisle said something else, but Lydia didn't hear it as she had fallen into a deep sleep. It had been a perfect night.

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