*I in no way shape or form, own these characters, or any rights to the unbelievable fortune that Stephenie Meyer is surely raking in due to the invention of these characters.

*Thanks to all of the very kind reviews and critical, that I have received. I love them all, for the encouragement, as well as the teaching. I love you all!

Chapter 2

Fragile

Jasper approached Edward's bedroom, without worry about what he was breaking up. He threw open the door, only momently flinching to see Edward's body tangled with Esme's. They both jumped up at his invasion of their private moment. In this moment, he hated them. With a venomous tone, he hissed out words like an order, dared to be disobeyed. "The family has voted and you two will be gone from here within the hour. Take what you can and don't come back." He dared them to object, dispassionately as he made eye contact with them. Neither one dared object as they looked back at Jasper with shame filled eyes. Jasper continued. "I'm gonna close this door now. Esme, make yourself decent", he gave a bitter chuckle, "as possible and get out. Both of you."

He shut the door and walked away, sickened with the emotions of lust, guilt and selfishness that had just barraged him. He heard a scurrying in Edward's room as he made his way down to their recreation room. Emmet made eye contact with him and Rosalie only spared him a supportive glance as they collectively turned their back on the two people, who were once part of this family unit.

Emmet arose, despondently and looked through their DVD collection, choosing Black Hawk Down and put it into the Xbox. Choosing play, they all settled back and awaited the departure of Esme and Edward.

Rosalie didn't care much for this movie, but to see her father hurt so, made her want to rip her now estranged mother and brother, limb from limb. She allowed the violence of the movie to be her catharsis. She was more than ready to inflict marshal law, should they go over their hour to vacate the house. Jasper looked up at her, feeling her rage and nodded his agreement and understanding. Finally, he heard the front door open and close, then the sound of the Volvo engine turning over. He did not relax until he heard the tires retreating on the gravel as it departed, carrying out the trash.

Alice helped Bella's frail and listless form from the shower and helped her to towel out her hair as Bella stared into space. Carefully, she dressed Bella as Bella simply went through the motions, then brushing Bella's hair Alice cooed soothing words to her, trying to bring Bella to trust in her and feel a semblance of love in the midst of her own personal hell.

As soon as Bella's needs were seen to, Carlisle tried to coax her into eating, but Bella would simply not respond. This behavior continued throughout the day as Bella refused to leave her bed, only to have her human moments. She slept on and off, always waking in a nightmare with shrill screams and awaking with utter terror and twisting pain written in her features. Truly, Carlisle felt that this was hurting him on a more personal level, than even the unfaithfulness of his wife and betrayal of his first son. Surely they had betrayed him in the worse imaginable way, but they had left this mortal, beloved creature to deal with the pain in her mortal body and mind. He had seen what a broken heart and decimated spirit could do to a mortal and the effects could be lethal.

As the day progressed, it became apparent that Bella would take no nourishment or fluids and Carlisle became more and more concerned. By the time that Charlie got home, he knew without a doubt what had to be done. It took only a look to Alice as Alice nodded her understanding and left the house in a blur, returning home, to prepare for what she had already seen, would need to happen.

Charlie was obviously fatigued as he climbed the stairs, hoping beyond hope to see Bella more improved after the day had gone by, but to his horror, she still lay, staring into nothingness, wrapped up into a ball. Charlie looked questioningly at Carlisle. The look upon Carlisle's face gave him no reassurance.

"What is going to happen to her?" Charlie kneeled down beside Bella, stroking her face, swallowing a large lump in his throat.

"I can't really say at this point, Charlie, however I would like to ask that you would allow me to take her to our home for a while."

Charlie suddenly looked panicked. "What? Why? What can you do for her there that you can't do for her here?"

"Charlie." Carlisle's voice was full of compassion. "She can't be left alone and you must work. She needs round the clock care right now. When she finally comes out of this catatonic state, she will need to be watched, very closely. I wish that I had better news for you, but I really think that Bella has a long road ahead of her."

"What about Edward? What about your own job?" Charlie nearly spat Edward's name.

"Edward has been asked to leave our household and is no longer welcome." Carlisle's voice was even and emotionless.

Charlie studied him in surprise. "You would do that on account of Bella?"

"We consider Bella as much a part of our family as Edward ever was. I mean, please don't get me wrong, Charlie. I know with all of my heart that she is your daughter, but we love her as any family could love another member. As for my job, I have requested and been granted a leave of absence. I feel partially responsible for her current state and I will not rest until I see her functioning again, no matter how long it takes. As you know, we have plenty of money and my lack of work will not affect us. I only ask you this, because Bella is refusing to eat or drink and will soon need intravenous nutrients as well as fluids."

Charlie winced at this. His was a bit awed at the care that the Cullen's showed toward Bella and felt helpless. He knew, however, that he would never be able to care for her as they would.

"If I allow her to go, may I visit her as often as I like?" Charlie was finding it difficult to fight of the panic that he felt rising in his chest. Damn Edward and all that he had put Bella through.

"Charlie, you can stay as well if it would make you feel better." Carlisle reassured him.

Charlie stood, hands shaking. "No, no thank you, Carlisle. That won't be necessary, but I am so grateful for the invitation." Charlie swallowed once again, his hands fidgeting at his side. "Of course Bella is better off at your home, where you can care for her. I can never express my gratitude for the sacrifices that you have made on her account." Charlie sighed. "You may take her to your home, Carlisle and thank you for it. I'll be by later on to check on her, before I retire. May I help in any way possible?"

"Well", Carlisle paused thoughtfully. "Just stay with her while I pack up my equipment and perhaps you can carry her down to the car for me." Carlisle could very well have done this much more easily than Charlie, but he could see Charlie struggling with his helplessness.

"Of… of course." Charlie rose to sit next to Bella on her bed. He nodded at Carlisle as Carlisle began to pack up his medical equipment. With one last glance at Bella and Charlie, Carlisle rose and began to pack up the equipment and left Charlie for a moment alone with his daughter.

At the Cullen's, Alice, Jasper, Emmet and Rosalie rushed around making the necessary changes before Bella's arrival. Jasper gathered the remains of Edward and Emse's possessions and heaped them into a pile in the back yard, dousing them with gasoline and lit them on fire. He waited until the only thing that remained of their memory was ash, with a genuine grief in his heart. Finally, turning toward the house, he closed Edward's bedroom door and went to see what Alice and Rosalie and Emmet were up to, since the girls had arrived back from Port Angeles, carrying two pick-up trucks full of newly purchased items. He sat in shock as he approached the guest bedroom, adjoining Carlisle's study, just as Alice was putting the finishing touches of lilac paint on the walls. Emmet and Rosalie were busy setting up the new furniture. Jasper looked down in awe to see what that had accomplished in the time that it took to burn the remnants of Edward and Esme's posessions.

The floor had been stripped and re-varnished a deep cherry, by Emmet while the girls were shopping. Currently, Rosalie and Emmet were putting together a large, cherry wood, four poster bed. A matching armoir and vanity were already in place. Alice smiled at Jasper, though strained, as she deftly jumped off of the ladder, running to his arms. He wrapped them around her, giving her the comfort that she sought and basking in the comfort that he felt from his mate. Just then, the buzzer when off on the dryer and Rosalie hurried downstairs as Emmet was laying the mattress in place on the large bed.

"Oh, I hope that she likes it." Alice looked, her brow furrowed as she stared at the mattress. "I wanted her to be as comfortable hear as humanly possible, so I got what the salesmen assured me was the most comfortable mattress available. It's a Tempurpedic Cloud. It is supposed to respond to a human's body heat and sculpt itself to their body.

"Jasper held her back against his chest and placed a kiss in her hair. "I'm sure that it will be just fine, sweet Alice."

Rosalie ascended the stairs with her arms full of linens for the bed. Thick flannel sheets and a micro fiber purple duvet, with a silver vine embroidered print, complete with fluffy pillows and shams eventually ordained the bed.

They all stood back to appraise their work. Silently, they hoped that Bella would find comfort here. Jasper felt the wave of hope mixed with pain coming off of each of them.

"We can't do anything about what is past, but we can try and coax our sister back. You have all done the most loving thing that a family can do for our little sister."

Alice smiled up at him, for the first time, without the heaviness that had accompanied her in the last twenty four hours. He felt relief as the pain eased a bit and more of a sense of hope permeated the atmosphere. He did his best to send out a wave of accomplishment and calm.

Carlisle watched with tenderness as Charlie gathered Bella in his arms, with little strain, as she weighed barely ninety eight pounds and situated her head under his chin. He took a deep breath and descended the stairs. Reaching Carlisle's car, he thanked Carlisle for opening the passenger door for him and sat a listless, Bella into the passenger side. As he reached in to buckle her seatbelt across her, he placed a long kiss into the top of her head and blinked quickly, several times. Sighing, Charlie closed the door and watched as Bella dimly looked around her, seemingly not caring what was happening or where she was going. At least she seemed to register her change in scenery. That alone gave Charlie a moment of some small relief.

Shaking Carlisle's hand once again, Carlisle climbed in and started the engine. Waiving once more at Charlie, Carlisle pulled away from the curb and headed toward home.

"Carlisle?" He was surprised to hear Bella's small, exhausted voice from the passenger seat.

"Yes, dear heart?"

"Where are we going?"

"You're coming to stay with us for a while."

Suddenly Bella looked alarmed and began sobbing. Carlisle was instantly concerned. "Do you not want to come to our house, Bella?"

"Edward. I don't want to see him." She whimpered.

"Edward is gone, sweet heart. You're going to be among the family that loves you and would never desert you. Our home is your home too, as you will soon see." Carlisle managed a small smile at Bella as she settled back into the soft leather seat of the Mercedes. Her relaxation was enough of an answer for him.

The drive was silent and eventually Bella felt the gravel of the Cullen's driveway. She stared, emotionally drained at the house that was so familiar to her, that held so many memories. She was just too tired to feel any pain at the sight.

Carlisle rushed around and unbuckled her seat belt. "Just wait, sweet Bella and see what your family has prepared for you. We all love you. You must remember that. You are surrounded by love here.

Bella stared up into his face for a moment and managed to wrap her arms around his neck as he lifted her out of the car. She felt herself relax, taking comfort in his honey amber colored eyes and the kindness and concern that she saw in them for her. There was also something else in his eyes that managed to register in her thick, cobweb filled head. Was it pain?

Entering the house, the family each gently greeted Bella as Carlisle headed straight toward the stairs. Approaching Edward's bedroom, Bella buried her face in Carlisle's neck. "No, please, not there."

Sshh, dear heart. We would not do that to you. You are going into a room just for you." Carlisle whispered into her hair. She blinked up at him, not quite understanding, but as he climbed the next flight of the wooden staircase, he approached a door that she had never been through before. Opening it, Carlisle smiled to himself over what his children had done for Bella. He heard a small gasp from Bella. She very slowly turned her head toward her waiting brothers and sisters. "You did this for me?" She managed to weekly ask.

Emmet stepped forward. "Of course we did, baby sis. Alice and Rose picked out the furniture and the bedding. Alice painted and Rose, Jasper and I saw to everything else."

Bella couldn't manage a thank you as a new surge of tears blocked her throat, but she nodded her thanks, weakly at them as Carlisle carried her to the large four poster bed. Rosalie was there in an instant, pulling back the fluffy purple duvet and thick, soft flannel sheets. As Bella felt Carlisle gently lower her onto the mattress, the comfort of the soft mattress that seemed to mold itself to her body and the warmth of the flannel sheets settled around her, she barely registered the fluffy flannel laden pillow that her head laid upon, before she drifted into a deep sleep.

Quietly exiting the room, the family made their way toward the dining room for a family meeting. Jasper was the first to speak up after they had gathered around the dinner table.

"What did he do to her?" Jasper's eyes were black with rage.

Carlisle winced at the anger that rolled off of Jasper and mingled with his own and the memory of what he knew that Edward had done.

"I'll make this short and sweet and then I will talk of it no more." Carlisle pointedly looked at each one of them. "Edward led her into the forest at dusk, only to tell her that he didn't love her and that she wasn't good for him. He left her there and ran back here. Naturally, Bella chased after him for hours and finally succumbed to her breaking heart and broken soul and fell in the forest as it was as dark as pitch to her eyes. She lay in the cold and freezing rain until Sam Ulee thankfully found her and carried her back to Charlie's. By the time I got there, she was hypothermic. Alice and I were able to get her out of danger, physically for the moment, but her mental state is shattered. She won't eat or drink. She will need intravenous nourishment as well as fluids, until we can coax her to eat." Jasper's fist came crashing down on the table, causing the corner to splinter. He gazed at everyone unapologetically.

"What now?" Rosalie asked.

"We try and bring her out of her depression." Carlisle answered. "Alice, if you're able to see any way that we can manage that, I would appreciate any input that you may have. In the meantime, I'm going to try once more to get her to eat and drink. Barring that, I'll have to begin to administer the I.V.'s. She needs us all right now, to gather around her and make her more a part of this family than ever. It won't be long until she realizes that Esme is gone as well." The sadness and sheer hatred that rolled off of Carlisle at that statement, nearly brought Jasper to his knees. Understanding their rolls, the family dispersed to the kitchen to try and prepare several things to tempt Bella into eating.

A half an hour later, Bella stirred out of her sleep to see Alice coming in with a tray laden with food. Behind her was Carlisle with a tray of different beverages. Bella looked at the stack of blueberry pancakes, grilled cheese sandwiches and some kind of pasta, but apologetically turned her head away as her stomach lurched. Alice very patiently squeezed her hand understandingly and left with the food.

"Bella?" Carlisle's voice was patient and kind. "You've got to at least drink something. Here, I have ginger ale, orange juice, apple juice and even Coca Cola, but most importantly, water." Bella couldn't resist the sad pleading look that Carlisle gave her and with a shaky hand, she reached for the ginger ale. She took a sip off of the straw, but immediately felt her stomach rebelling. Suddenly with big eyes, she looked around in panic for a place to spit it. Carlisle was there in a flash with a small garbage can. Bella spit the mouthful of ginger ale into it and looked embarrassed up into Carlisle's face.

"I'm sorry." She managed, feeling her blush.

"There is no need to be sorry, Bella. This is not your fault, although, I am going to have to hook up an I.V. once again and administer fluids and nutrients into your body. You cannot go without." Noticing the panicked look on her face at the thought of the I.V., Carlisle sighed. "Don't worry, I'll sedate you, before I re-administer the I.V. You won't know that I'm doing it." He patted her hand as she lay back into her pillows. "Rest now, Bella. I'll be back in a bit with the necessary implements." He rose to leave, but Bella's hand suddenly shot out, surprising him. She was holding on to him with all of her human strength.

She looked up into his face, her eyes wild with near panic. "Please don't leave." She whimpered. Carlisle took a deep breath and raked his fingers through his golden hair.

"Okay, Bella." He smiled gently at her. Alice was at the door in a moment, rolling in the I.V. pole and bags of nutrients and fluids. Carlisle smiled up at his daughter. Returning his smile, she handed him his bag.

"Stay with her, Carlisle. She really needs this. Stay with her while she rests. I believe that your presence will keep the nightmares at bay."

" I was with her last night and yet she still had nightmares, Carlisle argued."

"No, Carlisle, I mean in the bed. Hold her. She needs the comfort." Alice looked matter of factly at him. He wiped a hand over his face and looked down into the dazed form of Bella.

"Fine, but let's get her sedated and hydrated. Bella, you're going to feel a small prick and then you will sleep. I will not leave you. I'll be right here with you as long as you wish for me to be." Bella seemed to relax a bit at this. "Alice will help you take your human moments." Bella blushed a bit at this. "Now is the time to speak up if you need one before I sedate you."

Blushing even deeper, Bella nodded just slightly. Once again, Carlisle helped her into a sitting position as Alice gently supported Bella's small frame as they carefully made their way into the adjoining bathroom.

Carlisle looked on as Alice shut the door. He felt so bitterly sorry for Bella, that he hardly thought of his own pain anymore. Deep inside of him, a drive began to see this lovely little human that had become so much a part of their family to find her own strength. Not only did he want to see her gain her strength, but to rise above what she conservatively though of herself. He wanted her to see herself the way that he did. They way that the family did.

Thank you so much for reading. Please review as it helps me to stay motivated. Go ahead. Let me know what you think so far.