Chapter Info

Title: Invitation

Number: 10/36

Warnings: Angst

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Comments are love!

animexchick: I agree, I love her relationship with Jacob! It's my second favorite behind her connection to Carlisle. :) Thanks so much for reading and commenting!

HarlequinnDaze: Definitely! She needed to tell them off, lol. But thanks so much for reading and commenting!

Don'tBelieveInFear and Goldielover: My thoughts on Carlisle's actions is close to how Edward handled the situation with Bella in New Moon. He left her because he thought that was what was best, even though he knew he was hurting her. I think that's what Carlisle is trying to do, it just seems like a different situation because they had been together before as husband and wife, and they didn't leave town this time. Thank you to both for reading and commenting!

lilly042004: I'm so glad you like it! Thanks for reading and commenting!

-Carlisle-

If sleep were possible for vampires, he was pretty sure he would be exhausted. The previous night haunted him and he didn't move from his usual spot at the window until daylight broke and he knew he had to get around for work. Even then he thought of calling off, but the day wasn't sunny and he didn't know if he could sit around and listen to the echoes of her fury. It was understandable and he apologized to his family for letting it get there. And really, as Alice pointed out, he should apologize to Abigail as well for letting her believe they could ever be apart of her life. That was his fault, thinking it could work, but it couldn't. She had this second chance and he wouldn't be the one to ruin it for her.

"You know she's remembering," Edward said as he appeared behind Carlisle silently, his face reflected in the window with the soft morning light, just a hint of sun before it disappeared behind the cover of clouds. "We haven't seen her for a week except for a couple minutes at a time. But she's still remembering. Who's to say she doesn't remember it all? Then we're left with your Abigail who's confused and hurt that the man who changed her and promised to love her for eternity suddenly no longer wants anything to do with her."

"She's not a vampire anymore, Edward. This is better for her."

Edward sighed. "Shouldn't she be making that decision? She's an adult, Carlisle, and she doesn't need you to hold her hand. Remember how she acted when you tried to keep her inside every time something weird happened"

Carlisle turned his dark gaze to Edward. "Yes. I remember. Later that night, she was taken from me."

Edward shook his head. "For almost two hundred years you tried to keep her inside and it never worked. What happened... That doesn't mean she's weak."

"I never said she was." His Abigail was one of the strongest people he knew.

"But that's what you're acting like. Ask Jasper, those dreams...those memories...only confuse and hurt her more. She's been having the nightmare for years, so it's not just us that brought that on." He paused. "Besides, what if a vampire like Victoria came into town and decided it wanted her? Don't you think she's safer with us than alone?"

Carlisle winced as his already aching heart worsened. "Jacob and the wolves..."

"Maybe. But wouldn't you feel worse if for some reason, they failed?"

Carlisle growled and looked away from him. Edward knew the answer, of course. But he needed Carlisle to answer it himself.

"Yes," he hissed, walking away from him, effectively ending the conversation. Because of course Edward was right, he would rather keep her there and protect her himself rather than relying on the wolves. They could keep her safe, but it didn't matter, because Carlisle needed her /there/, with him. If she got hurt again, if he lost her a second time, he knew he wouldn't survive that. He would cave to selfish wishes and take himself out. So letting someone else guard her was out of the question. He needed her with him.

Quietly he knocked on Alice's door and when she acknowledged him, he went in. She was at her desk penning something, and looked over at him in surprise when she saw it was him. "I was expecting Edward," she said, confused. "What's wrong, Carlisle?"

He paused only for a moment. "I need you to come to the hospital with me today." Alice frowned. "I need you to extend an invitation to Abigail to join us for dinner tonight. If she declines, that's fine," He was expecting it, "but I want to at least offer." He paused. "I've...I've given in. Edward is correct. I can't have someone else taking care of her. At least in regards to her safety. I've already come to terms with her being with someone else," No he hadn't, the beast roared and shook its cage, chanting Mine, Mine, MINE over and over again, "but I can't let something else like Victoria happen."

Alice didn't say anything for a couple moments before she nodded. "Alright, I'll come with you. As long as you tell me something first."

Carlisle frowned. "Like what?"

"Tell me that you love her."

Carlisle's eyes widened in shock. "Of course I love her," he whispered, chest tight.

Alice smiled sweetly. "Think of that when she remembers." Then she was gone, leaving him staring after her. Because Alice said when not if.

.x.x.x.x.

-Abigail-

It had been Jacob that showed up to take her to work, driving her over and leaving her with her car. "Are you sure you can't stay?" she whined, making him chuckle. She was clinging to his waist as she stood outside the hospital. She only had five minutes, but she felt like she lost so much already that she just needed him there, needed to have her best friend.

"Sorry, Bunny. Sam needs me to help split up the patrols between the packs." He had explained to her just that morning how he was alpha of one with Seth, Leah, Quil, and Embry, and then Sam was alpha with the rest of them. "But I plan to stay within sight and hearing distance of your house. That's my territory and I don't have any plans to share."

Abigail giggled and looked up, smiling at him. "Jake, if you're needed elsewhere, don't worry about it. I'll be fine. I know my wolf is out there."

"No," he said simply, his face darkening for a moment before he smiled back. "Gotta run, but I'll try and be by later, okay?"

Abigail nodded and leaned up to kiss his cheek, watching silently as he jogged off for the woods that covered the east side of the property. Abigail shook her head slightly, feeling the hairs on the back of her neck stick up and she turned around. It felt like someone was watching her. Suddenly she wanted to call Jacob back to her, the feeling unsettling as she couldn't see anyone. Maybe she was just being paranoid, after all she had just found out about this whole other world out there in that the wolves exist. What's to say other creatures don't either?

She shivered and made her way inside to quickly stow her stuff away, unaware of the angry, intense eyes that followed her from one of the hospital's windows.

Around lunch time, she sat at one of the cafeteria tables with her Faulkner book. She had made a note to go find a bookstore in Port Angeles that had another copy of the Poe one she lost in the woods. It had notes from both her and her dad in it from the many times that they've read it, and that's what upset her the most. But she decided just to let it go as she poked at the pasta she was eating. Usually she saved money by packing her lunch, but Jacob wound up at the house early and they got to talking so she didn't get the chance to grab anything.

Reading helped calm her down, so she was glad she remembered to grab her book. It helped her forget about everything except the story the author was trying to tell. And Faulkner was good at that, especially when it came to forgetting about a certain doctor who she had yet to run into and was glad for. Her heart couldn't take it if she did; the separation was good for her. It made it easier to get over him that way, which she knew she had to do. But it also made her easier to forget her childish little tantrum, which she felt horrible for as he didn't deserve that, even if she did feel that way. So she would use this time to forget him, forget everything she ever felt for him.

"Hi!"

Alice! The voice made her jump and she looked up, her fork clattering to the plate causing everyone to look at her. Her face flushed and she smiled slightly as they turned back to their own meals. Alice didn't wait for an invitation as she sat down, carefully settling her legs under the table and locking her ankles together.

Abigail smiled slightly and shut her book, storing it away in her bag and pushing her tray aside. Seeing the daughter of the man she loved made her stomach twist in knots and her heart falter in her chest. Silently she begged Alice just to leave her be, but she didn't have the strength.

"Hi, Alice," she said softly, picking up her water bottle to take a sip as her throat was suddenly dry. "What can I do for you?"

"We're having a big dinner at your house tonight. Our family, the Quileute boys—and girl—will all be there, and Carlisle told me to make sure you're there as well."

Abigail frowned, her body freezing as her eyes flickered over Alice's face. She...well, she was stunned. She had no idea what to say it what brought this on. But Alice was there, too, when she had her little tantrum and she felt her cheeks heating as she thought back over that night. Now all of the family thought she was crazy, she was sure of it.

"I don't know," she murmured doubtfully, partly because she didn't think it was Carlisle that said she should come. He should hate her even more after what happened. And partly because she also didn't think that she could show her face. "What day?"

"Tonight."

Abigail winced and then slowly shook her head, twisting the water bottle until the wrapper began to shred under her nails. Her lip tugged between her teeth and she realized she bit too hard when the familiar coppery metallic tang hit her tongue. She pulled away, unaware of the sharp intake of breath Alice gave, before she looked up at her again. "I don't think that would be a good idea."

Alice looked so sad for a moment that she almost took it back right there, but quickly it changed into a look of desperation. "Please? I know things have been...strange...but we all miss you. Especially me and Emmett."

Abigail frowned. "He's never said a word to me." Alice only smiled. Abigail sighed again, her resolve quickly fading. Even though she was hurt and upset, she realized quickly that she would do anything for Alice, anything to make her smile. It was a weird maternal thing that came out of nowhere and threw her for a moment, but she decided she felt the same way about Emmett. And even Edward. But Carlisle? That was a whole different ballgame. He was the real reason that she was hesitant. "You promise the Quileute boys will be there?" If she had Jacob and the packs to distract her, keep her mind off Carlisle being so close, maybe she could get through this with dignity.

Alice grinned and nodded fervently. "Promise!"

Abigail put her face in her hands before nodding. "Okay, okay. I'll be there. I get out at seven and I can be there about half an hour later, is that alright?"

Alice squealed and jumped up to hug her. It was a bit unsettling how she was acting as if the week before never happened, but if they forgot her tantrum, or at least pretended to, that would make things a lot easier. And Abigail decided she loved Alice's hugs so she squeezed her quickly before letting her go.

"That's perfect!" Abigail would need time to go home, change quickly—and promised herself not to primp because nobody there would even care how she looked. She knew she would never keep that promise.

"I've got to go back to work, but I'll see you then?" Alice nodded and squealed again before practically dancing out of the room. Though, now that Abigail thought about it, she always walked like that. She just shook her head and got up to go back to work, and try and keep her mind off the upcoming evening.