Work Text:
1921
The rented sailboat calmly swayed in the afternoon current. From a gull’s view, the boat was the only thing one could see for miles, two spots of blinding glimmers could be seen on the water. At a passing glance it appeared to be no more than odd reflections of the sun, but if the gull were to land on the boat’s mast it would quickly flee. Two supernatural beasts — capable of taking the life of any apex predator that suits their fancy — looked harmless in the sea. One had been at the bottom of the floor for hours observing the reef, while the other was treading water inspecting the hull of the vessel.
Arms wrapped around Carlisle’s neck, legs slinging around his waist, a heavy head rested against his shoulder. He could feel her sigh, her chest pressing against his back.
“Hello, Mrs. Cullen,” he muttered, letting his head fall to rest against hers. “I feared I had lost you to the sea.”
“Mrs. Cullen,” she repeated quietly, “I rather like the sound of that.”
“As do I,” he grinned. He could hardly believe how tremendously his life had changed in a mere year.
“I apologize for neglecting you today.”
From the second the sun had peeked over the horizon she had torn herself out of his embrace with a quiet ‘I’m going to go for a swim, if that is alright,’ slipped into a bathing costume, and disappeared into the sea. He had respected the unspoken request for space, their wedding night had been… not entirely unexpectedly difficult. The line they had toed and dodged for months, the obstacle they danced around, the conversation they refused to have, came to a crashing head like a wave against the shore. He had observed her from afar, watching as she swam underwater for an hour at a time, chasing a fish or sitting on the ocean floor picking up piles of sand and slowly letting them slip through her fingers. She looked happy, all things considered.
“You do not owe me an apology my love,” he said, picking up one of her hands resting at the base of his neck, placing a kiss on her knuckles. “It’s been a privilege to watch you in your element.”
“Have I thanked you for this trip yet?”
“I believe a thousand times, yes,” Carlisle laughed.
“This has been truly the greatest gift you could have ever given me.”
“I worry I have set the expectations for myself too high too soon. How will I ever top this?” Carlisle asked, letting one hand fall, tentatively slipping under the water and bumping against her thigh resting on his side. She did not flinch, enough permission for him to cup the underside of her leg, helping her stay afloat was the excuse he told himself. If he asked her, the fact she was his wife was the only excuse he needed.
“You do not need to top this. I don’t think I will ever be happier than I am right now.”
“Remember this when you’re cross at me in the future,” he smiled.
“I could never be cross at you.”
“I promise you will at one point.”
“Then I shall remember this moment,” she said, pressing a kiss to his shoulder. A kiss to the shoulder, became a kiss to the neck, and then another kiss to the neck. He tilted his head, allowing her easier access. She yanked away when he let out an instinctive ‘mhm.’
“I’m so—”
“What were you looking at before I interrupted you?” She asked, attempting to speed past the moment.
“The barnacles,” he pointed to the hull of the boat. “I find them fascinating. An entire life in that little shell. They attach to a surface and live there the rest of their lives.”
“How can they swim with the shell?”
“That’s one of the most fascinating parts! They go through six stages of life, they start as a free-swimming larvae that is released from what we see here. And they evolve through their life until they eventually settle and become this.”
“Where they stay for the rest of their lives?”
“Yes.”
“Do they harm the boat?”
“No, but they do slow it down.” He glanced over his shoulder, finding her staring at him rather than the crustaceans. “Discussing barnacles wasn’t the least bit attractive was it?” He laughed.
“Quite the contrary,” she said earnestly.
“Oh?”
She dropped her gaze, focusing on the boat rather than him. The current lapped against the hull of the ship with a soft splash. Their bodies gently swayed in the motion of the water, Carlisle effortlessly treading water to keep them afloat. She was silent for a few moments but the furrow in her brow, and the way she started to pick at her cuticles told him there was something there. A sentence or two she was mulling over, tossing around in her head like an unpolished rock.
“Carlisle, please know, what happened last night — how I reacted — had nothing to do with lack of attraction.”
“I know, my love. And I meant what I said last night.”
“Would you remind me?” She asked quietly. “I’m afraid a lot of it has become a blur.”
“Will you look at me?” She reluctantly did as he asked, staring at his nose instead of into his eyes. “If we never do… that, you will still have made me the happiest man who has ever walked this planet. Do not interpret this as a lack of desire. But you, my love, are wonderful and I consider myself lucky to spend a second with you.”
She let her forehead drop on his shoulder. “I want to,” she sighed. “I just…”
“I’m scared too, Es. But I never want you to feel like you need to spend the entire day hiding from me because you’re scared of… that.”
“That is not what I was do— you realized?”
“Yes,” he smiled gently.
“I’m sorry.”
“You do not need to apologize. I am under no delusions this will be easy, Esme. But I can’t bear the thought that you’re afraid I’m going to do something to hurt you.”
“I am not afraid of that.”
“What are you afraid of?”
“What man wants a wife who can’t do… that? I couldn’t handle looking at you today and seeing regret on your face.”
He paused, before letting go of her leg and bringing a hand up to unclasp her arms from around his neck. Once free he turned to face her fully, hands to himself. “And do you see regret?” He asked as gently as he could manage.
“No, but—“
“You never will. I assure you.”
“I love you.”
“I love you more than I can possibly say.”
Her arms found their way around his neck again, fingers threading through his hair as her lips met his. He wrapped one arm around her waist, the other hand reached up to cradle her jaw. And it all felt right.
When they finally pulled away she asked, “Would you like to see the sunken ship I found?”
“Of course! Was it intact or merely a piece?”
“Largely intact, some of it has deteriorated, but most of it is still there.”
“Would you like to go now?”
She paused, looking at his face intently. ”Later, I think I would like to get out of the water for a little while. Would you like to join me?”
“Of course, I brought a book I think you’ll enjoy,” he said, following as she swam towards the ladder at the stern.
“I’m not interested in reading a book right now, Carlisle,” she grinned.
“I also brought a deck of cards, and a jigsaw puzzl— oh.” He smiled, following her up the ladder and into the cabin as she smiled back at him.