Chapter 1

"It feels so strange being back here," Esme said. She took in a long breath and plopped down on the couch.

Carlisle joined her, cuddling himself closer and slunk an arm across the top of the couch behind where she sat. He kissed her once on the cheek and reached for the remote. "This is most likely just a stepping stone."

"It's not really bad," she said, reassuringly. "Just strange is all." She stared up at the high ceiling, and then turned her attention to the television as it clicked on.

Carlisle looked her the eye and gave a half smile.

"I actually kind of like it so far," Esme went on, "I think Caleb and the rest of the kids are actually happy to be back in that school. He's been gushing about some of the boys he used to be friends with before we moved last time; the rest of them, too."

"It's nice to give them time to be social," Carlisle nodded.

"To be normal," she added.

He nodded again. "Yeah."

"They deserve it," Esme told him, "They deserve some normalcy. Since they've been born they haven't had a dull moment to just... be."

Carlisle tucked his arm around her shoulders a little tighter, "You're happy here?"

She looked at her husband and nodded. "Yes."

When he continued to stare with a hint of skepticism, Esme smiled and kissed him once. "I'm very happy, Carlisle," she reiterated. "I want to relax for the next ten years with you, and the kids and everyone else."

Carlisle sighed contently. "Me too." He leaned in and kissed her again before the front door swung open and loud chatter began to bounce off the walls of the house.

"We registered at school just in time for the winter dance," Mackenzie announced. "Can't wait."

"Too bad Nicole can't bring Salvatore," Caleb said back, "He'll eat the Winter Ball Queen."

"Ohhh, don't let her hear you say that."

"Really..." Delilah added, "Is that how you all used to talk about me?"

"A little." Caleb snickered and she swatted him in the arm loud enough for Carlisle and Esme to hear it.

"So much for relaxing," Carlisle said. He smiled and Esme returned the gesture, and then brought his face back to hers.

"I'll take this type of noise," she told him. "High school qualms, and human problems."

"Human..." His voice drifted.

Esme smiled at him, "You're more human than most humans. You're empathetic, caring, compassionate."

Carlisle smirked almost shyly and looked down.

"Not to mention modest," she continued, "And handsome."

"How about lucky?" he asked, taking in a breath, "Because that's what I am to have you."

Emmett slunk into the room and snickered aloud as he walked by. "Sorry."

Esme smiled wide and tossed a pillow at him.

"Oh, now you can't yell at us for doing that!" he said, grabbing the pillow from the floor. He tossed it back lightly and Esme laughed, catching it and hugging it to her body.

Carlisle grinned and shook his head, and then tossed Emmett the remote.

"Thanks." He settled comfortably into a chair next to the couch and shuffled through the stations until he found coverage for the Super Bowl. "Man," he smacked his lips, "We were just in the Seattle area... and then in New England... now we're in an area that probably doesn't care who wins." Emmett looked at Carlisle, "Couldn't we have waited until after the Super Bowl to move?"

"Who are you rooting for?" Esme asked him.

"Pssh, Seattle. That's our home land."

Esme smiled, "Yeah. Me too." She looked at Carlisle.

"I'll have to agree," he said.

"Plus Brady messed with those footballs against the Colts," Emmett added, "Everyone knows that... even Bill Nye the Science Guy, possibly the only man smarter than Carlisle on the face of the earth."

Carlisle and Esme both laughed and he shrugged. "You may be right."

"It should be a fun night," Esme said, "I wish we could prepare a bunch of goodies to pick on for Sunday."

"Well the private school is within walking distance," Emmett joked, "I'm sure the students and teachers there taste pretty good."

Carlisle gave him a look and Esme shook her head with a grin.

"Just kidding," he put his hands up, "Kind of..."

Esme snickered again and looked back at Carlisle. Her eyes were adoring and carefree.

"I have a good feeling about everything," she told him.

Carlisle smiled, "So do I."

"So do I," Emmett chimed in, downplaying their conversation with a grin, "A good feeling that Seattle is going to kick some ass."