I DON'T OWN ANYTHING TWILIGHT RELATED.

Hey people……………ssssssssssssssssoooooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyy about the late update. This was a really important chapter for me so I wanted it to be a touching as humanly possible so it took some time but to be honest, I am still not satisfied with it but it will do.

THANK YOU for the reviews and place do review this chapter as well.

P.S.: While reading this chapter I suggest you listen to Sarah Mc Lachlan's song In the Arms of an Angel.

GOODBYE ESME.

Chapter Four.

Bella's POV

Alright Bella, it's 9:15; time to go meet the guest and round up the children. Sighing slightly I made my way from my room to the living room. I can not believe that it has been a week since Esme left us and that today was her memorial service. Everyone from Forks was here as well as a great portion of the vampire community.

As soon as I entered the living room all heads turned to me since I was the only member of the family to have made an appearance. Shaking me head I walked back up to the bedrooms to gather the children. First stop was Alice and Jasper's room.

Knocking gently, I opened the door to see Alice cradled in Jasper's arms, both of their eyes swimming with the tears that they could not cry. Making my way over to them, I took them both in my arms and cradled them to my chest the same way a mother did for her child.

"Alice, Jasper……………… shhhh, sweethearts. I've got you. Hush dears. Hush." I soothed them as their bodies both shook with their tearless sobs.

"Bella, why her? Did she really have to go? Could they not have forgiven her?" Alice choked out.

It pained me to see them hurt this way. For the last week life at the Cullen's was hell for everyone. The wolf pack had taken up residence here, saying that it was easier to deal with Esme's loss by being around the Cullen's. The Cullen "children" had taken to locking themselves in various rooms so as to prevent themselves from having to socialize. Carlisle had taken an extended bereavement leave from the hospital and I, Isabella Swan, had become friend and mother overnight, taking on all the responsibilities that came with it. I can not remember when was the last time that I had gotten a proper night's sleep. For some reason I was always comforting someone, not that I mind, but it was shocking to me how all the members of both the Cullen's and the wolf pack had turned to me to be the one to comfort them, the one to be their new mother figure.

Reluctantly, I pulled away from Jasper and Alice to look them in their eyes.

"Alice, Jasper," I said as I wiped away their non-existent tears, "I know this is not fair but we have to go down stairs to say goodbye to your mother. I know this is hard. I know you don't want to face the town. I know you don't want to put on a show but you have to. For your sake, your family's sake and for your father's sake you have to do this. Come on sweethearts, for today, can you find it in your hearts to have the strength to do this?" I asked, "Can you do this for me, for Esme?"

At the mention of Esme's name both children began to cry once more. I knew it was wrong of me to use Esme that way but I knew if Esme was still alive that she would have done the same thing. I held them while they cried and waited patiently for their tears to stop. After about ten minutes they stopped.

"I guess you're right Bells. We'll go. Do you want us to get anyone for you?" Jasper asked. I knew this situation was taking a massive toll on Jasper and today was going to be worse but he was still here trying to cope with not only his grief but with the grief of everyone else and for that I was very proud of him.

With a soft smile, I answered, "No Jazz, I get them." With that I looked on as Jasper and Alice made their way down to the living room, hand in hand.

"Okay Bella, next up Rosalie and Emmett." And with that I made my way over to their room only to meet them on the corridor with Edward and Vani.

"Are you guys okay?" I asked as I gently touch each of their cheeks.

"Yeah Bells. We heard what you said to Alice and Jazz and you're right. We have to do this for Esme but I think Carlisle might need your help." Edward answered while leaning into my touch.

"Okay, I'll go to him. Love you." I had no idea what made me say love you to them but I felt so right, so natural.

Quietly I made my way to Carlisle's room only to hear him cry out both in pain and frustration.

"God damn it. Why can I not tie this bloody thing? I am almost four hundred years old and I am yet to figure out how to tie this tie. God Esme, don't you see how much I needed you. You always did this for me and now you have left me, all alone."

"No Carlisle, you are not all alone." I said drawing his attention, "Do you honestly think Esme would leave you alone?"

"Bella I didn't mean it like that. It's just frustrating. I don't know how I am going to do this. How do I tell her goodbye? I was a married man for eighty years now, and I now I have to face eternity alone. Bell I can'………….. I can't do this."

Instantly my anger flared. I knew it was wrong for me to react this way but I was not going to allow his ridiculous beliefs of him being alone go any further.

"Carlisle, are you insane? How could you say that? Carlisle you are not alone." I spat and yanked on his shirt collar so he was at eye level with me. "You have six children who need you. Six children, Carlisle. Some people, mortal or immortal, never get that chance and there here you are. You have six beautiful children, Carlisle and you need to toughen up. They need you. The wolf pack needs you, so I really should not be saying that you have six children because on a technicality you have twenty three. Don't you forget that Carlisle. You are loved and you are not the only one who is hurting. Secondly, you are not telling her goodbye. All you have to do is let her rest I peace and the only way you are going to do that is to move on with your life. I know it is going to be tough but you are going to have to do it. Life your life for Esme. That's what you do."

With that I took him into my arms, embracing my friend and my mentor.

"Come on Carlisle. We have to go down now or else we will be late." I said as I fixed his tie.

Smiling slightly, Carlisle took my hand in his and gently placed a kiss on the back of me hand.

"Thank you Bella." And with that we made our way to the living room.

As we rounded the corner that brought the living room into view, I was stunned. The entire room was filled with mourners and through the glass you could see many more on the Cullen's lawn and patio. Carlisle' hand trembled in my own and I gripped his tighter.

It was the town's belief that Esme was in a vehicular accident where her car cairned of the road and over a cliff, into the water bellow and that divers were not able to recover the body. It had cost the Cullens a Mercedes Benz but they could not have been bothered

"Carlisle," Edward said as he approached his father, "the hearse will be here in ten minutes."

"Alright let's get everyone settled."

Gracefully, Alice walked up to the podium asked for everyone to have a seat so that the ceremony would begin as soon as the hearse arrived. Several minutes later, I looked on as Edward, Jasper, Emmett, Jacob, Sam and Seth walked forward and removed Esme's coffin from the hearse and placed it in front of the gathering.

Truly it was an empty coffin filled with letters from the family and from friends, some of Esme's precious possessions such as her wedding ring, pictures of the family and reminders of her biological son as well as the immortal child she had created and that had condemned her to this faith.

As Pastor Weber began the ceremony, Carlisle grabbed onto my hand as his silent sobs began. The ceremony was not long since it only comprised of Pastor Weber doing the religious parts as well as the eulogy by Edward since out of all the children he knew her the longest. The eulogy proved to be the hardest thing both to be said and to be heard. It was in his words that I fully remembered how much we had lost. Wee had lost a mother, a wife, a friend, a sister, an aunt, a guide and our rock. There was one line that had hit me the hardest and had reminded me o my promise to Esme and that was: " Now that you have left as mother, we are all but alone and we hope that time sees it fit to heal us all and the Lord sees it fit to bless us with another angel like you."

After the ceremony, we were all offered condolences from the town members as they quickly left so that the family would be able to leave for a private ceremony in Chicago were Esme would be buried since that was were her first son was also buried.

When the last person left, we all branched off to our various cars. Carlisle and I led the three other cars out of Forks heading in the general direction of Chicago. The hearse had left as soon as the ceremony finished so that way it was sure to be there when we arrived. Through the entire journey, Carlisle held me hand, pain always showing on his face.

After six hours of driving, we pulled into the cemetery.

"Are you ready for this?" I asked Carlisle as I got out of the car.

"No……… I'm not." With that we walked to the plot were Esme would be buried right next to her sons: Dylan on her right and Matthew on her left.

At this site, no words were said. All we did was look at the coffin of our beloved family member. The pain everyone felt in this moment was great. It was as if this was all a lie, as if there was still hope for Esme to return.

I was unaware of how long we stood there until Edward looked up and said that it was time. With that Esme's coffin was lowered into her grave. I looked at each family member in turn, signaling to them that we should all allow Carlisle a moment alone. Sighing lightly, Alice, Rosalie and Vani each placed a white rose on Esme's grave and blue ones on her son's grave. Emmett, Jasper and Edward each in turn placed light kisses on Esme's tombstone and small toys on the boys' grave before turning to leave.

"Sleep well mother and you too brothers. We may not have known you but we love you." With that the children turned to leave with their mates and stand by the car to wait for their father. Gently I placed my arm on Carlisle's shoulder before turning to leave only to have him pull me back to him.

His arms wrapped around my waist securely and he buried his head in the crock of my neck as his sobs broke free once again.

"Bella, don't leave me. Please don't. I won't survive if you go to."

"Carlisle, listen to me. I am not going anywhere. I am here until you wish for me to be gone. I am not leaving Carlisle."

And with those words the family began to heal.