Chapter One

It was terrible. My family was now falling apart. We were to leave Forks and Bella behind forever. We had to adhere to the rules Edward appointed to the family to follow. We were to stay away from Bella, at all costs, and we were not to use her name in his presence.

"It was an accident. There was nothing we could have done to prevent this from happening. I don't want to leave her behind, Carlisle. She is like a daughter to me." I pulled out my suitcase and unzipped the zipper.

"She is like a daughter to me as well, Esme." He picked up a couple of my books from my desk and placed them in my suitcase. "This is not my choice. This decision is wholly on Edward.

'You know as well as I do that we will be back. He won't be able to live without her. We can't live with out her." With that sentenced be said I fell into his arms and let my emotions take complete control of my body. I did something I hadn't done in almost seventy-five years I had an emotional breakdown.

-x-x-x-x-

One month later

"I hope your happy, Edward." I heard my husband speaking on his cell phone. "Esme's not speaking to me, or to Alice. You need to come home."

"That is not home, Carlisle." I heard my son answer. "Anywhere she is not, is most definitely not home."

"Then we will go back." Carlisle suggested. I knew it was vain hope that he would agree to such a wonderful idea, but I knew better than to hope, for it was a lost cause.

"No." I heard the click and knew the conversation was over. I was mad at my husband for letting him go, and I was mad at Alice for not forewarning us of this possible event.

And I was mad at myself. I wanted to give Bella the birthday party I had suggested the gifts. If Bella hadn't cut herself we wouldn't have moved. If Jasper hadn't lost control of himself… it's better if I don't reopen this Pandora's box, that's how I received immortality, the what if's that crept in the first time when I had lost my son.

"Esme, please speak to me. I understand that you're upset, but what was I to do about Edward leaving? He's a grown boy! A man! He has a right to come and go as he pleases." Carlisle was sick on the non-verbal contact between us. We have never been like this, not since he gave me the gift of immortality.

"He had no right, to leave her. He had no right to leave us. He is our son, Carlisle. You are his father! You should have put your foot down!" I also knew that with Edward, putting your foot down was a hopeless cause.

"I can not force him to do something he doesn't want to do. I have as much control over him as I do over how well Jasper controls himself around humans."

How could anyone control Edward? Edward most definitely walked to the beat of his own drum. He was different from the rest of children. Compared to Rosalie and Emmett he is most definitely not vain or competitive. When compared to Jasper, he is complete control of his hunger. The only one I cannot compare him to is Alice. They are too much alike… aside from Alice's spontaneity.

"Esme, I love you, and I know you don't need to hear it from me for you already know." He paused slightly. "But this kind of behavior is uncalled for!" he walked over to the window and stared out across the grounds.

I knew he loved me, but I even questioned that from time to time. I guess that stems back to my marriage to Charles, when everything I did was utterly wrong, and a beating was sure to happen for no apparent reason. Carlisle has never done one thing to cause me harm. As a matter of fact, it took several weeks before I even let Carlisle touch me in anyway shape or form. And now I'm upset with him for something he has no control over.

I walked out of his private office, slamming the door in the process. This action caused the door to break off its hinges and fall. All I heard was Carlisle heave an unnecessary sigh and mumble something unintelligible under his breath. I went down the stairs and turned the corner into the main room. What greeted my eyes was a heart wrenching sight.

"Alice, sweetie, where are you going?" Jasper came from behind me and made his way towards his wife. "Why are you leaving?"

"I'm going up to Denali for a week. I promise to return. I just need some space." Jasper grabbed hold of her small frame and pulled her into a bone crushing hug. "If you want to come, Jasper, you're more than welcomed to!"

"No." he simply stated. "You go… I'll deal with Esme and Carlisle. Someone has to keep the peace." I honestly didn't think we were arguing that much.

"Jazz, we have company." She stated as he loosened his grip so he could kiss her. "Let's save this till I come home?"

He sacrificed himself to her plea of no public affection, for he knew that at this particular moment it bothered me greatly.

I was losing my resolve to keep my family together. I lost Bella per Edward's request, and Lord only knows where that boy is currently located. Alice was leaving for Alaska so she could "recollect herself". Personally, I think she is doing it to keep tabs on Bella, but I know her well enough not to make mention of her true purpose of traveling to a cold and desolate location.

Carlisle has thrown himself into his work. He has made the brainless decision to work at two hospitals, one during the day, and the other during the evening. His objective for doing this was because he needed something to do during the day. I imagine that he is trying to run from the arduous behavior of his adoptive son and his sometimes tenacious wife. Thus deluding him into thinking all this will be gone in the morning. I can't believe he is so naïve at this point in his life to think it will all go away on its own. Even I know this will only be solved by bringing Edward and Bella back together.

-x-x-x-x-x-

"Esme?" I heard a distant voice call from the other end of the receiver. "Esme, are you there?" Edward called quietly from the other end of the phone line.

"Edward, it's so good to hear your voice! Where are you? Do not realize how worried I am?" I was truly his mother in a sense. These five "teenagers" could be the best thing Carlisle has ever bestowed upon me. Bless his soul.

"I'm headed to southern California. I'm trying to locate something, and yes I can imagine how worried you are." Sometimes he could be a sarcastic twit.

"Come home." I whispered. "The family needs you. Carlisle has been in a rather foul mood for over a week now. Alice is in Alaska. You know Rosalie could care less, and Emmett is driving me up the wall, because he misses you and Bella!"

"I have something to take care of." The line went dead. I closed my razor and placed it on my desk. I sat down in the leather office chair and swiveled around to stare nonchalantly out the picturesque window.

"He'll come home." I told myself. "He has to come home."

"They say talking to yourself is a sign of insanity." Jasper said from behind me.

"They also say to leave an old woman to her thoughts." I said quietly as I rocked slightly in the chair.

"Old woman? I don't see any old women in this house. I only see an unhappy Esme that needs her children." Jasper came around the desk and kneeled beside my chair. "This isn't you. I don't like the vibes that you're sending off. You need to cheer up." If only it were that easy.

I took his hand and held it to my cheek. Jasper was going to have an emotional breakdown because of me. Carlisle wasn't home long enough anymore for anything any more. Emmett and Rosalie have left yet again for a trip around the world.

"You came here for a completely different reason, Jasper." I knew him well enough to know he was here about Alice.

"When is she coming home?" he asked.

"Soon, Jasper, just give her some time." The truth was I didn't know when she would be home. How could I? It was next to impossible to know when she would be home. Alice was a free spirit, and she went where she wanted when she wanted.

"I want her home." He stood up and started towards the door. He paused for a matter of two seconds. "And remember, talking to ones self is a sign of insanity… especially if you start to answer your own questions." And then he was gone.