The Interruption

Everyone was staring at Esme in oppressive silence waiting for her to speak. Esme on the other hand seemed not to notice anyone, she was sitting on the couch her face contorted as she searched her memory for answers she so desperately needed and wanted. The silence was suddenly shattered by the ringing of a phone. I belatedly realized that it was my cell phone. We had worked all through the night and most of the morning without realizing it. I looked at my phone only to see that it was the hospital. I quietly stepped out of the room to answer the call. Mr. Greenly's voice became suddenly audible. "Dr. Cullen, I was calling about the job that you have applied for with us. We would be most honored if you would decide to join our staff," I remained silent. Having taken my silence as indecision Mr. Greenly recommenced trying to entice me into joining the staff, "Your salary would jump greatly from what it was in Forks as we are a much larger hospital. You would also be able to name your own hours, I have learned from your previous chief of surgery in Forks that you prefer to work nights, and also you will accept if you want us to keep your secret." I became acutely aware that I was breathing very heavily when I forced myself to respond, "I am sorry I don't know what secret you are referring to."

"Come now Dr. Cullen you and I both know that you have let's say, unique, abilities. If you need me to spell it out for you then I am sure the Volturi would be very interested to hear how we found out. I therefore expect to see you at the hospital tomorrow night at 7:00. Oh and bring your wife please I long to see dear Esme again. Has she changed her name or is she still calling herself Esme Platt? Goodbye for now Carlisle." As I listened to the phone click off, only dimly aware someone had taken it out of my hand, I struggled to make sense of the conversation in my head. Could Mr. Greenly be one of the villains from my wife's story that had happened so long ago? Mr. Greenly's question now of whether I had been followed here suddenly made sense. He was checking to see if I had brought my family, more specifically Esme, with me. "Alice!" I shouted. As I felt her next to me I grounded out through gritted teeth, "I know who is blinding you, and trust me I will kill him but I need to know how."

"Carlisle?" she asked me worriedly. I had never been the strongest proponent for violence but I would be damned if I was going to let that thing anywhere near my wife to harm her again.

"I don't have time to explain I said."

"You don't have to. Carlisle I was listening in on the entire conversation in your thoughts. Are you really that naïve that you would go after a psychopathic warlock by yourself?" Edward asked

"Don't test me Edward. You may be the oldest of my children but you know as well as I do that if it was Bella in this situation you would already be out the door."

"Carlisle stop being ridiculous what do you honestly think you can do by yourself against someone Alice can't see? On top of that don't forget we still have twelve hours before you have to be at the hospital. Finally, you are an idiot if you think that I am letting you go anywhere without me. As hard as it would be for you to lose me imagine how hard it would be for me to lose you. We aren't just soulmates Carlisle we are more than that; we are each other's reason for existing." Esme had suddenly seem to grow a foot taller fueled by pure rage.

"What can we do Esme?! You can't go anywhere near this…this… thing! Your thirteen year old self already told us that. So what are you going to do?"

"I don't know!" Esme shouted before becoming overwhelmed by her emotions and all of a sudden she was a puddle on the floor.

"Mom!" all six of my children shouted at once, and then in the next instant they all turned hurt and questioning eyes on me.

"Your mother, it turns out, is still affected by a witches magic that she experienced years ago. Whenever she lets her emotions get out of control she melts down into the basic essentials of her existence and then she is reborn as her thirteen year old self, like a phoenix rising from its own ashes. She can turn back but she will have no recollection of what her thirteen year old self has done or seen."

"Well that certainly explains why her emotions were so even," remarked Jasper. At that moment the puddle started to morph and change. In less than thirty seconds the thirteen year old Esme Evenson was standing in front of us. All of our children suddenly became very self-conscious as they were unsure of what to do.

Suddenly Esme began to speak. It was disconcerting to her Esme's voice so young and fragile say, "there is a reason that midnight is called the witching hour; the twelve strikes of the clock mean not that the witches are at their strongest but when you are at your weakest. You may consider yourselves immune to time, however, time has a way of catching up with everybody. For that matter beware of the number seven, it is the most powerful number to any magical creature. I therefore urge you to not go to the hospital. As for the riddle of how to kill a witch or warlock, I find that a rather easy answer… burn them. Yes, the people of Salem had the right idea all of those years ago but the problem was that mere humans cannot see anything past the ends of their own little worlds and could therefore never recognize a true witch. When the clock strikes twelve you must find a way to drain the witch's power. This is where your daughter Bella may come in handy, for a witch's main power is over the mind. Magic, after all, is no more than an illusion. Once the demons magic is gone it is powerless and vulnerable, the perfect time to attack. A simple stab to the heart will not kill a warlock however, their hearts are enchanted. You must kill it as you would a vampire, tear its head off and burn it. One last thing, once a wizard is killed all of those who have been affected by their magic will… die." Esme suddenly seemed to lose all of her strength and fell forward into my arms. As quickly as she fell she melted and was suddenly our Esme again.

"What did I miss?"

"Mom what the hell was that?" Our children asked in unison.

"I guess I owe you all an explanation. I am also sure that you don't need one because I am relatively certain your father explained what was happening as it occurred. Yes I can transform into my thirteen year old self and I can transform back because that is the age at which I was killed and brought back to life by a witches magic. It is also why I am the most susceptible to the witch's power and why I am the one the warlock named Greenly wants."

"How come you never told us about any of this before?"

"Edward it has never been relevant before. When I am my thirteen year old self I am vulnerable and weak with an inability to control myself."

"Well it damn sure is relevant now. When you transform are you human or vampire?"

"I turn back into a human."

"Alright so that is the form Greenly wants to force you to take at the hospital tonight; that way you would be at your most vulnerable. The question then becomes how do we ensure that you don't change and how do we trap Greenly? Most importantly how do we ensure you don't die?"

"Oh Jasper ever the tactician, I think the answer lies in another letter." I proceeded to pull out yet another letter and commenced reading it out loud.

"Dear Charles," I could feel Carlisle stiffen next to me as I started to read the letter aloud, "Why did you never tell me your mother was like me? If I had known that it would have given me peace to know I was not alone with this problem. I also would have had someone to go to when I felt like I was in danger or afraid. That brings me to something else. I received a threat today and it was aimed at you. Please be careful over there because even though I don't love you I don't want you to die because of me. Just keep an eye out for a man named Greenly. If you encounter him do not go after him alone. Gather your friends and lure him into a pentagram that is on fire, yes the thing that centers a "wizards" power is the one thing that entraps them. Once he is in there burn him without mercy.

Dutifully,

Esme"

"That is great but it still doesn't answer the question of how we keep the curse he placed on you from reverting."

"That's an interesting idea Rose why don't you share it?"

"Don't mind if I do. The answer should be pretty plain right? He cursed you by using your blood so it only makes sense that if you seal the pentagram with your blood before it is set on fire than the curse should not revert when greenly is killed."

"That is great Rose but baby none of us have any blood," Emmett added.

"It is a good thing I didn't marry you for your brains. Of course you would have to phase into your human form for this to work."

"This just might work," Rose you might have just saved your mother and all of us.

"That leaves one last tactical issue," stated Jasper, "we cannot walk through the flames to kill him once he is trapped."

"Mom isn't the only one with secrets," Rosalie stated smugly. As we all watched she calmly walked over to the fireplace and said, "I am not just fiery emotionally but also…." And as we all watched Rosalie shot a stream of white hot flames straight at the logs in the fireplace.

"Remind me to never piss you off again Rosalie," whispered Edward. Rosalie just chuckled.

"Okay now we have to decide where we are going to do this that won't draw attention."

"Let's see, Carlisle if you can smell us can you lure Greenly to a spot deep in the woods?" Edward asked.

"I don't have a choice I will find a way."

"Okay that leaves Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, Emmett, Edward, and me to draw the pentagram," Esme stated.

"Why will Bella not be with you?" I challenged

"Carlisle you are nearly indestructible but you have never faced this kind of evil. I would feel more secure knowing that you had protection to put you on at least equal footing with Greenly." Outside of the corner of my eye I saw Edward tense but at least he didn't object; he could see the logic in my decision.

"Very well, Bella this is only if you're comfortable with it."

"Carlisle you know very well I would give my life for anyone in this family, I will stand with you as would everyone in this room."

"Then it is settled. It is already 5:00 we need to gather the materials we need and start our various parts." As everyone started going around the house grabbing anything useful I grabbed Esme and kissed her with a passion that had been growing for over a century, I couldn't stand to think about what would happen if this didn't work; it had to work.

Witches Brew

As Bella and I approached the hospital all of the nerves and anxiety I had not allowed to show through for fear of upsetting Esme suddenly reared their ugly heads. "Bella what if this doesn't work? I won't be able to exist"

"Carlisle we will always be there for you. I know that if I ever lost Edward I would need to be locked up for multiple centuries to keep me from doing anything stupid but that's not you. You would find a way Carlisle. Also, this will work."

"Thank you," I clutched her hand like a lifeline.

"I just hope we were right about my shield working on this warlock." As we walked into the hospital all that was audible was the crunch of our boots on the mushy snow. Greenly greeted us at the door and at that exact moment I felt the warmth signaling Bella's shield was now surrounding me. "Greenly, my wife makes her excuses but she finds herself indisposed and could not meet you tonight. My daughter Bella graciously offered to come and meet you instead." As Bella shook Greenly's hand I realized Greenly knew exactly was going on. I then leaned in close so that only he could hear what I said, "If you want me you are going to have to catch me." I then grabbed Bella's hand and we were racing at full speed following the scent of our family to a clearing, this clearing however was filled with dead flowers and animals and seemed to be nature's cemetery. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Esme still well and I noticed the pentagram on the ground. It wasn't long before we could hear Greenly approaching. My family then dispersed to hide behind various surrounding trees. Only Esme remained which made my skin crawl. Slowly Greenly entered and immediately he zeroed in on Esme. He started circling her trying to determine whether or not she was truly alone.

"Esme it has been so long. I hope life hasn't been too hard for you."

Esme lifted her chin and confidently said, "Oh it's been a meltingly good time. I seem to remember you having a companion, did you kill her too? Both of us are too smart for this Greenly why don't you come here and finish what you came here to do." At that moment Greenly's eyes became orbs of fire as he charged at Esme. Before he could reach her though the pentagram suddenly caught fire; and he was standing directly in the middle of it.

"Rose, finish him."

"With pleasure father" A white flame suddenly engulfed Greenly, and that is when the screaming started. It wasn't Greenly screaming though, it was Esme. Greenly's voice suddenly escaped form the flames.

"You were smart to use her blood but that doesn't ensure she lives. All it gives her is a chance you can stop it of course, just stop the flames." Rose anxiously looked at me for what to do.

"How can she survive this?" I snarled

"Look at her Carlisle; she is burning from the inside. She is burning with her thirst for human blood, the blood I took from her. If she gives in and drinks from me she lives, but if she doesn't the burning will eventually kill her." I started to go towards Esme to make her drink when I thought of what I was doing. What would she think of herself after, even though it would be in no way her fault? Would she blame me for forcing her to do this? How hard would it be for her to get back to our lifestyle? All these questions ran through my mind and I thought of something."

"If she doesn't give in can she be changed back into a human?" Greenly's face blanched and I knew I had just ruined his trump card.

"Don't even try lying. The answer Carlisle is yes." Yelled Edward over the roar of the flames; and so I watched Greenly burn and I turned to observe my wife when Greenly was finally gone. She looked like an angel; she was lying in a heap on the ground and had a glow that came from being thoroughly cleansed of a curse that had plagued her for almost half of her human life and much longer into her immortal life. As I took her into my arms she opened her eyes and whispered my name, Carlisle.

"Yes my angel?"

"Can we go home now?"

"Of course we can."

Epilogue

Esme's transformation changed everything. All of a sudden she couldn't be wife anymore as she was only thirteen. She was also now younger than all of her children. We therefore waited patiently for thirteen years until she was once again 26. Those thirteen years were not idle, however, when she transformed Esme no longer remembered her exact relationship to each of us. I therefore had to win my wife over again; once she was old enough of course. We took moonlit walks, I cooked for her, I showed off my incredible strength and speed (trying to impress her), and I even danced with her in town for all to see.

After those thirteen years I was rewarded with a prize I vowed to never lose, even temporarily, ever again. This posed an interesting dilemma, should I transform her again as she was no longer a vampire? It seemed nature had plans for that.

"Carlisle," Esme called one day as I walked in from work one day, "Can you come into the kitchen please?" I complied and was met with a sight that froze me in my tracks, Esme handed me a tiny t-shirt that said, "The World's Best Dad." Esme tried to get me out of my frozen state when Edward was instantaneously there.

"Esme please leave Carlisle to me I am sure he is so overjoyed he can't express all of his joy. Can you please go wait in the living room I will send him out to you in a minute."

"She doesn't remember what happened to Bella does she?" I mumbled

"No Carlisle but she has something Bella didn't have. She has a precedent. We know how to treat this now and she will survive this; even if she does have to be changed again. Carlisle focus on this one fact; Esme is about to give you what she yearned for her entire life, a perfect almost indestructible child and she needs you by her side."

"You are right of course," that is when the crying started, "I never thought this would ever happen. After Renneesme I knew it was possible but I thought it was too late for Esme and me and I was okay with that. But now…" my breath caught, "words aren't enough to express my utter astoundment at God's blessing." I went into the living room and prepare to care for my wife.

With the proper nutrition Esme's pregnancy occurred very rapidly. It took her only one month to become full term. As we started to see the bruises start to form on her abdomen we knew it was time to welcome my child. The sense of déjà vu overwhelmed me as our upstairs was once again turned into a hospital suite, but this time it was my wife on the table. I injected the morphine and let it spread and then made the incision across her uterine region. From there I looked directly into her eyes trying to tell her just how much I loved her and just how sorry I was for what I was about to do and only after that did I start biting and opening the amniotic sac.

I gently lifted the miracle that was my son out of Esme's womb and handed him directly to Edward as I could hear Esme's heart already starting to fail due to the severe blood loss she had just suffered and turned to attend to her. I didn't hesitate this time; I bit into each of her major arteries one after another trying to make the transformation quicker and once I finished I grabbed her hand and waited."

I must have done something right because she woke up after only two days versus the traditional three. I made sure the first thing she saw when she woke up was me. I helped her stand up and immediately caught her in an embrace. "We have a son," I told her.

"Carlisle I am so glad, I need to meet him."

"Drink this first my love," I then handed her a glass full of blood from a deer I had killed this morning. She gulped it down greedily and I immediately started to see her eyes changing back to a muted gold. "Better?"

"More than you can imagine, now I need to meet Atticus Cullen"

"Atticus is it?"

"Of course that is where this all started isn't it? In the attic?"

"I just smiled, its perfect my love." We then strolled arm and arm into the living room to meet our son.