Author's Note: Hey guys! Sorry for the delay in posting. I had some stuff I had to take care of, but I didn't forget you! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

For a few minutes Esme couldn't bring herself to do anything. Her mind was wrapped up in worry. Telling what head happened to her, however healing, had come with its own obstacles. Now, as she described Charles to the sketch artist, she couldn't help but wonder what might have been. He could have done so much worse to her. Now, she was wondering if he had done anything to her while she was unconscious. She wouldn't put it past him to violate her while she was out. For a man who craved power, rape was like a drug to him. It had happened in their marriage, periodically at first but more frequently toward the end. It was through that heinous and immoral act that her son was conceived. Morbidly, she wondered if that was a sign that her son was doomed from the start. She waited for the sketch artist to leave before her shoulders slumped in grief and exhaustion. Carlisle opened his arms and held her, kissing her temple gently.

"It's okay." He promised.

She nodded, crying quietly to herself. For a long while, neither of them said anything to one another. Then, slowly, their children filed in.

Rosalie came over first, feeling her heartbreak and grief in a way that only she could. She simply put a hand on Esme's shoulder, never meeting Carlisle's gaze. Alice soon joined her, quietly holding Esme's free hand. Bella came not long after, and put her hand on Esme's arm, while her daughter, finally home from her day with Jacob, came soon after, wiping the tears off of her Grandmother's face.

The boys, excluding Carlisle, were at a bit of an impasse. On the one hand, they wanted to console their mother, but they also didn't want to say or do anything wrong that would upset her. They stood, frozen with fear as their father and wives went over to comfort their mother. Emmett, unable to endure the stillness, went over to where all the women and his father stood. He sat behind his wife, never saying or doing anything as he crossed his legs. He sat that way for a long time, and soon Jasper and Edward mimicked his idea, just sitting behind their wives as their Mother cried inconsolably.

Even as she sobbed, Esme knew that her family was gathering around her. She knew every time she smelled their scent through her weakened nose that someone had come to comfort her. All of the girls were touching her in some way, sympathizing with her, while the boys kept their distance, but were still there. It meant the world to her that her family cared so much about her. She was reminded that her family was always there when she needed them most. This was why they all came- so she wouldn't face this terror alone. With some effort, she pulled herself up from Carlisle's embrace, and opened her arms. They all came into them. For a while, nobody said anything, just letting Esme have time to calm down. Esme was the one who finally broke the silence with a very quiet and hushed,

"Thank you." They all nodded in return. She looked up at Carlisle and kissed him, before saying, "Let's go home."

Carlisle signed his wife out of the hospital and drove her home in his Mercedes. She felt nervous to go home so vulnerable. Her humanity had weakened her significantly. She thought about how easily she could be used against her family now. She was like an infant exposed to the elements. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she gasped sharply. Carlisle instantly pulled over, looking at her worriedly.

"What is it? What's wrong?" He asked, staring at her dumbstruck face. A smile grew across her face.

"Carlisle... I'm human." She said.

"Yes," he agreed. "And?"

"Don't you see? I'm human, and that means that I can have children again! We can finally have a baby together!" She gushed, thrilled with herself. It took Carlisle half a second to catch up with her logic before he pulled her in for the most loving and sweet kiss he had ever given her. When it was over, he smiled.

"Let's get home."

He drove quickly and pulled into the driveway where their children were waiting for them. Carlisle carried her in his arms the way he had on their wedding night. Esme's eyes swept the living room as they passed it. There was no sign that there had ever been a struggle in there. The remains of the shattered vase had been swept away, and the wall she had smashed through when Charles threw her had been eviscerated so completely that it looked like it had never been there in the first place. It was like the entire thing had been a horrible dream. There wasn't a trace of blood or any damage anywhere in the house, and it helped Esme to feel more relaxed as her husband carried her up to their bedroom.

Edward, sensing that they wanted their privacy, led everyone out of the house for a group hunt, leaving the couple to their own devices.

Carlisle set his wife on their bed as gently as possible. Then, mindful of her arms, helped her out of her clothes one piece at a time before removing his own much more slowly, hungry eyes riveted on his wife. When he was undressed completely, he climbed on top of her and caressed her face in his for a fleeting moment. He kissed her, watching as the smile he loved so much lit up her face and made her eyes crinkle the tiniest bit.

"I love you." He whispered, throaty with emotion and unspent passion. She lifted her head up enough to crane her neck in for a kiss, smiling brightly.

"I love you too. More than you could ever imagine. You're my knight in shining armor." She said. He grinned at the running nickname between them.

"And you're my queen. You always have been and you always will be." He promised. He kissed her gently.

"Are you ready?" He asked. She nodded excitedly.

"Let's have a baby together."