Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize belongs to me.
"Hello?" Edward said quietly as he entered the house he once called his own.
"Edward!" Honey colored curls bounced every which way as Esme's head snapped up in disbelief. Her son was home.
Edward was the only one that really allowed her to be a mother to him. His voluntary absence was like losing her only son all over again. His other parent hadn't gotten on very well, either. Edward had inadvertently taken Carlisle's smile with him since his separation from the family, which ensured his warm welcome.
He seemed to appreciate it, whether or not that was because of how very well he knew their excitement. Everybody seemed to be having a decent enough time when the strangers entered the house, undoubtedly having heard the celebration from their trip to the forest.
The little pixie-woman seemed particularly excited to see Edward's return, and expressed that happiness by running to embrace him. "Edward!" she exclaimed in ecstasy. "It's so wonderful to have you here!"
Edward returned the embrace if only as a reflex reaction. When he had a chance to look at her (And, by doing so, read her thoughts), it was made clear why Carlisle had immediately agreed to the couple's staying. Her name was Alice, and she was a seer of destinies. She had perceived their staying with the Cullens for some time previous to their ever having met.
"Alice," Jasper muttered, seemingly embarrassed by the tiny doll. "Give him a moment. He doesn't know that you've met."
The girl smiled her impish grin back at her mate, half in apology and half in disregard. "He knows." she said omnisciently.
Edward smiled lightly. "Jasper?" he asked, holding out a hand for the man to shake. "I'm Edward Cullen. It's good to meet you."
Jasper smiled back. "Jasper Hale. I'm so glad you've returned."
Alice's smile dipped into a frown momentarily and her eyes unfocused, then snapped back to clarity. "He's not, though." she said, obviously unhappy.
Edward sighed. "I'm here for a visit." he stated bluntly.
"What?" Esme breathed at the same time that Rosalie's mate, Emmett, uttered, "You're not staying?"
"No, I'm not." Edward said, much to the disappointment of Carlisle especially. "I just wanted to see why Rosalie was so distraught."
"But you have to!" Alice exclaimed wildly, "It's important!"
Edward's jaw tightened slightly. "I know why you think it's important," he said stubbornly, having just seen her vision of their happy family as she did. "But you'll be fine without me. I have a life right now." The effect of his statement was quadrupled, at least, by his use of the word 'life', which he had claimed to have lost the day of his transformation to a Vampire and every day he lived as one.
Esme looked about to break. Carlisle's arm wrapped around her shoulders couldn't be enough to keep her together. Rosalie quickly stood and embraced her, glaring angrily at Edward.
"I should go," he said quickly, then stepped out of the house and into the darkness, ignoring the "Son!" he heard follow him out the door.
A/N-That seemed like a good place to stop, even though it makes this a short chapter. Sorry, but I'll update soon.
~Dani
