"Well, Edward, which is it?"
The young man's head snapped up as his mother spoke his name, not liking her tone of voice. Why was he the one to have to explain? This had been his bulky brother's fault. If he had been a bit more patient and just waited on their dad to come back and see to him they wouldn't be in this mess. Edward thought that what he had done had been the best course of action at the time but now he didn't feel as confident in his decision.
What was she asking him? Had he set out to defy her or had he just been stupid? Neither of those choices were particularly appealing and neither seemed right. Having to pick, he would have to say that he had been disobedient but the consequences for being stupid were far less intimidating. Inwardly he groaned as his mind feverishly tried to come up with some third option.
"Edward?" It was his father's quiet voice that brought an end to his mental debate.
"I just didn't want to see him aggravate his injury more."
"I understand that but I specifically told you not to try to do that yourself, didn't I?" Esme gave Edward a pointed look.
"Yes, ma'am." He instantly developed a new found fascination in the area rug as he scuffed the toe of his shoe against the pile.
Esme sighed softly as she looked over her pack of miscreants shifting nervously before her. She felt Carlisle's hands come to rest on her shoulders then give them a gentle squeeze of encouragement. She looked back at him trying to judge his emotional bearing. Though his eyes appeared stormy his mannerisms were calm as he gave her a brief smile. Her generally unflappable mate was trying to retake his rightful place as the cornerstone of their family but she could tell that he really wasn't ready to deal with his children's current antics.
"Edward, I think it best that you go up to your room,"Carlisle spoke softly as he glanced at his son. Edward nodded before swiftly disappearing up the stairs, only too happy to be out of the line of fire.
"Rosalie," Carlisle began only to allow his voice to fade as his wife's hand reached up to pat his before taking over.
"Rosalie, since it appears that this mess is your doing, please clean it up and once you're done I would like to have a few words with you," Esme requested in a calm quiet voice.
"Great. Now I'm in trouble because I couldn't control those two bozos," she spat as she glared angrily at her mother. "This isn't fair at all. You know that, right? I did the best I could but just because Edward thinks he knows better then everyone else and does his own thing, it's my fault. You know, maybe you should teach your beloved little boy how to listen instead of trying to push this off on me."
"Rosalie, no one is blaming you for Edward and Emmett's actions. All I am asking is that you clean up the mess that you are responsible for and then I would like to talk. At the moment you aren't in any serious trouble but keep this attitude up and that could very well change."
Rose gave her mother a look of utter disgust then huffed before storming off to get a broom so she could clean up the broken glass all while muttering under her breath.
Emmett watched his mate stalk away before turning his attention towards his parents. He couldn't help but feel that this blow up was all his fault and that thought showed on his face.
"Sorry, momma. I guess it was a little of both." He lowered his head but raised his eyes giving his mother his most pitiful expression while he waited for Esme's response.
"A little of both?" She looked confused at his words.
"Yes, ma'am. A little of being too stupid to follow directions and a little of being defiant because I wanted this fixed." He rolled his shoulder to make sure she was aware of what he was referring to.
Esme rolled her eyes as she gave her baby a sad smile. "You're not stupid, Em but you can be stubborn when the mood strikes you."
He ducked his head a little lower. "Yes, ma'am. I know that's right."
"Whenever I ask you to do something, or don't do something as in this case, I have a good reason for it, Emmy. I would have thought that you had enough respect for me to listen. I guess I know better now."
Emmett's shoulders slumped as his mother's accusation caused the most horrible feelings of regret to flood his body. Jasper, standing off to the side, shuddered and moaned at the intensity of his brother's emotions.
"I'm sorry, momma. I would never be disrespectful; at least not intentionally. I know that you were only looking out for me. I didn't mean to go against..."
"Yes you did, Emmett. You meant to disobey or Edward would have never found himself being dragged into assisting you." Esme left the comfort of her mate's embrace and walked over to her son as she continued to speak in a stern tone. "You left this house fully intent on deliberately disobeying me." Placing her hand beneath Emmett's chin she easily tipped his head up until he was looking into her disapproving eyes. "Baby bear, I don't know what got into you but you had better get it in check right now because if anything like this happens again you won't be sitting for a week. I'll make certain of that myself. Am I making myself clear?"
Esme removed her hand from her son's chin then took his elbow firmly and turned him slightly away. Before he had a chance to react, she landed three sharp swats to his rear end then turned him back to face her again. "I mean it, Emmett. I will not stand for deliberate disobedience, especially when it could cause you to be hurt."
Emmett's eyes were wide with shock at his mother's reprimand. He managed a slight nod then cleared his throat before muttering a quick, "Yes, ma'am."
"There are plenty more where those came from, young man. I would advise you not to tempt fate again."
"No, ma'am. I'm sorry, momma. I promise I won't do it again."
"I know you are, my big baby bear." Esme's tone softened as she pulled her dark curly haired boy into a tight embrace. She sighed softly as he wrapped his arms around her and placed his cheek against the top of her head. "Make sure that you keep that promise, honey, because if not I will make good on mine and that is something that I really don't want to have to do."
"I don't want you to have to either." He slowly pulled away and briskly rubbed his stinging behind. "If that was the teaser I sure as heck don't want a ticket for the full show."
Carlisle chuckled softly at his son's comment then gestured the boy over towards him.
With a heavy sigh, Emmett lumbered to his father slowly. The last thing he was looking forward to was round two with Pops. Knowing what was expected of him, he forced himself to look into his father's troubled eyes.
"Emmett, you should thank your mother for letting you off so lightly. Disobedience is a very serious transgression. I expect better from you, son."
"I know, Pops. I really just wasn't thinking of it like that."
"How about you start making it a habit of thinking before you act on something that you already know your mother and I would not approve of?"
"I'll try."
"That's all I ask of any of you." Carlisle ruffled his son's hair then gave him a reassuring pat on his back. "Now, go on up to my office. I'll follow in a few minutes."
Emmett deflated before Carlisle's eyes. "Aw, Pops. I really have learned my lesson. I don't want to be stuck standing all day tomorrow."
"Emmett, I just want to check your shoulder out. We may want to immobilize it for a day to make sure it heals properly but I won't know for sure until I examine it. I need to be certain that Edward has it properly aligned."
"Oh." Emmett gave his father a sheepish grin as he ran his hand through his dark locks in embarrassment. "I'll...yeah... okay. I'll meet you upstairs, Pops." Without another word he turned and trotted up the stairs.
Esme shook her head as she listened to her son's heavy footfalls take the stairs two at a time before darting down the hallway towards his prescribed destination. "Don't know about that boy."
"He is your son." Carlisle grinned at his mate but his smile quickly faded as he looked over to see his blond haired son staring back.
As soon as their eyes met, Jasper looked away. The feeling of his father's bitter shame was crippling. He knew that his leader had every right to be ashamed of him but the reality of it still stung like a well delivered slap.
Carlisle left the safety of the archway to approach his son. Taking a breath to steel his nerves he placed a hand gently on the boy's shoulder. "Jasper, once I'm finished examining your brother we really need to talk, but for now I would appreciate it if you and Alice could give Rose a hand in restoring order."
"Yes, sir." The soldier's eyes stayed averted as he accepted his father's orders. The stiffness of his stance caused Carlisle's vexation with himself to multiply. It was apparent that his son found it difficult to bare his touch or hear his words. He knew that this was all because of his irrational behavior. He could only hope that in time he would be able to repair the damage and regain his son's trust but for now he would graciously accept tolerance.
"Daddy?"
Carlisle's gaze shifted to his little princess who looked at him so gravely.
"Are you alright?"
Her father sighed. It was such a simple question but at the same time it was much more difficult to answer then it should be. He didn't want his children to worry but he refused to entertain the hypocrisy of a lie. He finally settled for the unadorned truth.
"I'm not sure, sweetheart but I believe that I will be."
Carlisle was startlingly knocked off balance slightly as Alice threw herself into his arms. She clung tightly to him as she spoke with her head firmly buried in his chest. "I was so worried about you. Don't ever run off like that again. Jazz and I didn't know what to do. He was getting ready to go looking for you. You can not put us through that again. I love you, daddy. Please, please don't put me through that again."
Her father smiled at her chiding as he cuddled his petite daughter to his breast. Carlisle found himself eternally grateful for her capacity to forgive. He had attacked and could have possibly killed her mate. By rights, she should be furious with him; instead she had been concerned with his welfare. Somehow she still managed to find a way to love him.
"I love you too, baby girl. I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am." His voice was a whisper in her ear as he accepted the undeserved forgiveness with tears stinging his eyes. "I'll find a way to make it up to you; to you and Jasper. I don't know how yet but I will find a way."
Alice pushed away and slapped Carlisle's shoulder hard.
"What is wrong with the two of you?" She looked pass her father to find her mother's soft eyes. "How do you do it? How do you put up with it all. I have enough trouble keeping up with one."
Esme laughed at her daughter's exasperation. "Years of practice, sweetie. Years of practice."
Carlisle's stunned silence gave his wife a chance to put things back into motion. Rose had returned and was busying herself with the clean up efforts and her injured son was awaiting medical release so he could return to full duty.
"Alice, hon, let's get this place in ship shape. Please see about getting the lion out of the wall." Esme nodded towards the brass tail above her daughter's head.
Alice gave her father one last look of concerned frustration then glanced at the crooked tail. "But it makes for a lovely new coat hook."
Esme smiled. "We don't need a coat hook in the middle of the wall, love. Besides, I find that he looks much more regal on the mantle. He's not quite as kingly with just his back end showing."
"Here, let me help him regain his pride." Jasper finally spoke as he reached up and plucked the brass figure free then handed it to Alice.
Alice grinned as she dusted the gypsum grit from the stately lion's form. "Sometimes we can't regain our pride until after we face a little exposure." She brushed her fingers along Jasper's arm giving him her best smile.
Jasper smirked slightly then went to work helping with the clean up.
"Carlisle, let us work in peace while you go up and see to Emmett." Esme pushed him gently towards the stairs. "Once we're done I'll send Jasper up." She kissed him on the cheek and gave him a light swat to move him on his way. Carlisle pulled himself up to his full height then looked back over his shoulder at his mate.
Esme's eyes twinkled with mirth as she smiled. "What? It got Emmett moving so I figured it might help cut through your fog. Now get going unless you want some more." She winked at her husband then nodded towards the stairs before turning back to supervise her children, leaving Carlisle blinking in confusion until his feet found a will of their own to carry him to his study and the patient within.
AN: Next up... Carlisle and Jasper's confrontation. I can honestly say that I'm not sure how that is going to work out since they are both still blaming themselves. I guess that is better then blaming each other but it can make the outcome just as bumpy. One thing that I would like everyone to keep in mind... at no time has Carlisle been told about Jasper's mental break. He doesn't know why the attack happen, so chances are if he wasn't kicking himself he would still be hot about the threat to Esme. *nods* It should be interesting to see how he handles the reality of the situation. Hmmm...
As always, thanks for everything, y'all. I would also like to thank Splinter for her kind offer to beta for me. Should make some of this a little less painful to read. *giggles*
