A/N: Thank you to my beta StormDragonfly and to all the lovely readers who had taken the time to write reviews.

No copyright infringement was intended.

Chapter 10

The time it took to leave the apartment building was extremely tense. It required almost all my energy to walk as fast as possible without tripping and keep up a calm façade. To my great relief, Carlisle was already waiting for me just outside the front entrance. He took the suitcase from my hand and I darted for the safety of his car. The last thing I wanted was to run into neighbors and fall apart under their curious stares. When we were finally driving away, I felt Carlisle rest a hand on my shoulder as he drove. His thumb moved in soothing circles.

"How are you doing, Bella?" he asked quietly.

"I'm fine," I mumbled, but my hands trembled noticeably. Annoyed at their traitorous movements, I hastily shoved them on either side of my thighs and pinned them underneath to keep them out of sight.

"I'm here, if you need to talk about it –"

"I don't want to talk about it. Not yet, at least. Thanks for offering, though."

He nodded and withdrew his hand, causing me to almost cry out at the loss of physical contact. Even though I didn't want to discuss what happened with Evan minutes before, I wasn't above getting some form of consolation. However, after I had treated Carlisle so rudely, I realized that I had no right to expect constant comfort from him. Clamping my mouth shut, I stared out the passenger window.

"Would you like me to take you back to the hotel? You could stay there as long as you want or until you figure out what to do," he offered cautiously as though he was anticipating a bad reaction from me.

I felt bad and extremely guilty that the only friend I had in my most painful hours to date had been paying the price for a heartbreak that he had not caused. So I summoned up as much energy as I could manage and glanced at him briefly with a weak smile plastered on my face. "Thanks for the offer… but I think I should go back home to Washington."

There was an awkward pause while we waited at a stop light before he spoke again. "I overheard you saying that you were planning to drive yourself down in a rental. If you'd like, I can drive you instead. It's not really that far."

It would be nice to have someone along, though I probably wouldn't be much fun to converse with. That aside, where would I tell him to drop me off? Had things been under different circumstances, I would have asked to be dropped off at Angela's, but I was too humiliated to face her and Ben. She would immediately suspect a falling out, especially since it had only been a few days since she urged me to discuss the future with Evan. I had no doubt that she would be there for me, but Ben and Evan were friends and I didn't want to introduce any awkwardness in their household because of whom they decide to side with. No, I couldn't subject my best friend to that. Perhaps I should decline Carlisle's offer and rent a car to drive all the way to Forks. It might work, but knowing Charlie, he'd wonder about the reason behind the sudden visit. He would be so disappointed to learn that I split up with the only man he ever approved of, though he would never admit it.

What a mess…

I didn't realize how long I had been contemplating my answer, until I heard Carlisle clear his throat softly. "Um… sure, if you don't mind," I answered.

"I assume that you want me to drop you off at Angela Webber's?"

"Angela Cheney, actually… and no. I think I'll stay at a motel or something."

He appeared to be dissatisfied by my response by way he knitted his brows together. He steered the car into the next street, pulled over, and cut the engine. When he turned his handsome face towards me, his expression was serious. "I realize that you're acting on instinct by running away from something that caused you pain. I'm not judging you, but it sounds like you haven't given any thought about your immediate situation. Surely you had some inkling of what you were going to do, if you and Evan decided to remain in Washington permanently."

It stung to hear his name, but I answered anyway. "Had we decided to stay in Washington together, we would've stayed at Angela's and Ben's until we could get our own place. But because we never got around to discussing our future, we never made any concrete plans. I know… it was incredibly stupid of me to be so unprepared for the different possibilities. It never occurred to me that I'd be parting with him under these circumstances." I took a staggering breath. "I was such a fool… I don't think I can face my friends or my family. They would all be so disappointed."

"Bella…" he frowned. "I told you long ago that I considered you part of my family. I will help you in any way I possibly can, remember?" He reached over and nudged my chin to level our eyes. I felt a slight flutter in my chest at his sincerity and concern. "If you don't feel ready to deal with anyone yet, I would be more than happy to offer you a place to stay."

I felt a small spark of hope light up inside me. How many times had he willingly come to my rescue, despite the stupidity of my actions? "Really? You don't mind? I mean… you've already done so much for me."

His expression gentled and a small smile even began to tug at his lips. "Don't make me tell you again that you are not an imposition."

I was beyond indebted to him. "Thank you," I managed to say as tears threatened to break loose.

"I need to make a couple of stops first before I drive you to Seattle," he said as he brought the car back to life. "You'll have the place all to yourself, so you wouldn't have to worry about having a live-in landlord." He grinned in an attempt to lighten up the mood. "I'll need to return the key card to the hotel first and then run a couple of errands. Was there anything else you need to do before we make the trip back?"

I thought about passing by Mrs. Li's restaurant to bid her goodbye and thank her for hers and Elsie's friendship. However, there would likely be some awkward questions that I wasn't prepared to answer, so I disregarded the idea. It might be better to call them later on when things settle down a bit. I shook my head in response to Carlisle.

We parked a few blocks away from the hotel we stayed at the night before. While Carlisle ran his errands, I remained in the car and reflected on the morning's events. It had not been easy to pack up and walk out on Evan. It hurt to see him look so defeated. I wondered what would've happened if I didn't go. Would I have forgiven him eventually and given our future another chance? But when I remembered the way he deceived me and carried on with Nick, my stomach lurched and I found myself running to the bushes a few feet away and heaving out my meager breakfast. I went back to the car feeling devastated. The last couple of years had been happy and the only thing that put any bit of pressure on us was the talk we never had. Maybe Evan had brought up a valid point; our lack of communication was probably indicative of where we stood on our relationship. We cared about each other, but did we really care enough to stay together forever? That talk should've been easy if we knew what we wanted. Instead, we avoided talking about it whether intentionally or not. Perhaps the truth was that neither of us was truly ready to give up anything permanently for each other.

"How are you doing?"

I was so lost in my thoughts that I got a little startled when I heard a voice next to me. "Carlisle… I didn't hear you get in."

"You looked like you were deep in thought. I'm sorry to have frightened you." He handed over a small paper bag and a bottle of water. "Here, have something to keep your strength up."

I took the proffered bag gratefully. I was getting famished, especially after my breakfast got acquainted with the bushes. We drove through Vancouver fairly quickly and by the time I finished my late lunch, we were already speeding down the BC-99 highway. I shoved the paper bag on the floor behind my seat, hoping that I wouldn't forget to toss it out later. While I drank out of my water bottle, I decided to observe my unexpected knight in shining armor. He was still devastatingly beautiful, just as I remembered from my youth. Same glistening golden hair, straight nose and pale rosebud lips. But as I stared a little longer, I noticed that something seemed slightly off. His face didn't seem as relaxed and his eyes looked guarded. If such a thing were possible, I could've sworn that I saw very faint grooves etched between his eyebrows and on either side of his mouth. It was as though he had done a lot of frowning lately. I wondered what could possibly alter him. For the past eighteen hours, I had been so focused on my pathetic life that I hadn't given much thought about why he was in Vancouver and where the rest of the family were.

He stole a quick glance in my direction and smiled at my scrutiny. "You've been examining me for a while now."

"Sorry," I said and looked away. Although I knew he didn't really mind and was only making small talk, it was still rude to stare so long. "I was just thinking how I've been too preoccupied with my personal mess that I haven't had a chance to ask anything about you."

"You've just gone through something very painful. I completely understand your distraction," he reassured.

"Well, I don't want to waste another minute dwelling on my issues." I looked back at him pointedly. "Let's talk about you."

He kept his eyes on the road and shrugged. "There are far more interesting things to talk about than me."

"Whatever," I said, rolling my eyes. "Okay, maybe you can tell me how everyone else is doing. It's been a long time since I heard from Alice and Edward."

"Everyone's well. I believe Edward went on an Antarctic expedition with Rosalie and Emmett. They left shortly after college graduation. Emmett was looking forward to trying out the wild game there, but I'm not certain that Rosalie is quite as excited." He smiled fondly and I snickered at the thought of Emmett's exuberance. "Alice and Jasper have gone to visit Peter and Charlotte at their new ranch in New Mexico for the summer. It wouldn't surprise me if they decide to stay even longer since Jasper is quite close to Peter."

"And what about Esme? With everyone else doing their thing, what is she doing all alone?" I asked, not missing the fact that he had omitted mentioning his wife. "What is she up to these days?"

"She's been busy running her restoration business out in New England," he answered carefully.

"I see… so I take it that her business is such a success that she couldn't come out west with you," I prodded.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Not exactly." He was quiet for a minute, probably in deliberation over what to say next. When he spoke next, his voice was teeming with sadness. "Esme and I are no longer together."

The shock of his news left me gaping. Carlisle and Esme were not together anymore? The very idea was incomprehensible. They seemed so wonderful together – so united. Esme was the epitome of grace with the fathomless capacity to love and Carlisle was the very image of compassion, kindness, and strength. How could two so very perfect individuals not make it work? I caught Carlisle sneak a peek in my direction and winced infinitesimally at what he saw. My heart ached for his loss. Without even knowing how long ago they split up, his reaction made it obvious that he was still hurting. I knew then, without question, that I would be there for him. But as much as I wanted to know more about what happened, and how their separation affected the family, I kept silent. I didn't want to push him, so I hoped that one day he would trust me enough to share his story much like I did with him the previous day. The breakup itself was pain enough, but the feeling of dealing with it alone would make it unbearable. I reached a hand out and placed it on his forearm, giving it a tender squeeze. He smiled tiredly in return.

The rest of the trip was spent in silence. As soon as we crossed the border, Carlisle pushed the car to go faster than during the Canadian leg of our journey. When I first spotted the silhouette of the Space Needle, I felt a sudden rush of relief. I looked out the window and watched the familiar landmarks go by as we maneuvered further into the city. The traffic was already picking up for rush hour, but even that couldn't dampen my spirits. Carlisle weaved through the busy streets until we turned off into a road that led to a residential area that skirted along Alki Bay. Eventually, he slowed down and parked in front of a dark townhouse. With my suitcase in tow, he led me to the front entrance and ushered me in. When he flicked on the lights, I was surprised with what I saw. We stood in what I guessed to be the living room. It was large, furnished only with a sofa, and the walls were bare of any adornment. It wasn't the type of dwelling that I would expect a Cullen to have.

Carlisle swiftly turned on all the lights and returned to where I stood. "I apologize for the state of the house. If you overlook the Spartan nature of my décor, you would find everything functional," he said. "Unfortunately, there isn't a bed, but I will have one ordered and delivered as soon as possible."

"You don't have to order anything, Carlisle, and please don't apologize. I can't thank you enough for allowing me to stay here until I get my affairs in order." I turned slowly around to have another look at the room and walked to the curtains on the far wall. I pointed to the drapery. "May I?" He nodded and I carefully pulled back the fabric to see the magnificent view outside the large window. It was a perfect picture of the sun dipping lower on the horizon. Weak red-orange rays stained the wavy waters of Alki Bay. "How beautiful!"

I didn't realize that he was behind me until I felt his hand rest gently on my shoulder. "I'm glad you like it," he said. "Would you like a tour of the house before you settle in? I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the view after I leave you to your privacy."

I frowned, remembering what he had said when he first offered his place. He had no intention to stay and was apparently eager to leave. Suddenly, I realized that I didn't want him to go – at least not right away. We haven't had a chance to catch up, and to be completely honest, I didn't want to be alone. After all, no one but Carlisle knew that I had left Evan.

He graciously gave me a tour of the property's interior. The main floor consisted of the living room, a kitchen, and a makeshift office that only had a simple desk and a leather chair. On the second floor were two bedrooms each with their own en suite bathroom. I couldn't help noticing that the entire place was bare – completely bereft of personal effects. The tour ended and we found ourselves back in the living room gazing out into the waning sunset.

"Thanks again for offering me a place to stay," I said. "Hopefully it won't take me long to find a job and get my own place."

"It really is no problem at all, Bella. It is here at your disposal for as long as you wish."

I fiddled with the hem of my shirt, much in the same way as I did earlier in the day. There wasn't anything else keeping him here. "So… how do I contact you when I need to relinquish the keys?"

"It's hard to say where I will be when you decide to move on, but I will leave you my cell number so you can still reach me."

I mumbled a quick "thanks" and hurried to where we left my belongings. Even with my back turned, I knew that he was watching me curiously. With deliberate audible steps, he followed me and stood just within arm's reach. "Is there something on your mind?" he asked quietly.

I cursed at myself mentally for failing to rein in my disappointment at his impending departure. But I was stubborn by nature, and I shrugged off his question as though it were a ridiculous notion. "It's nothing important," I replied, trying in vain to sound nonchalant.

"You can tell me anything, you know."

With a relenting sigh, I forced myself to meet his gaze. "It's selfish and childish." He looked doubtful, so I continued. "I was kind of hoping that you wouldn't have to leave so soon. It was only yesterday that things started to fall apart for me and I've confided in no one else but you. I was alone and having you with me made things better." I dropped my gaze to the floor. "I realize that I'm not the best company right now. It's stupid that I should subject you to my misery. For all I know, you're needed somewhere and I'm selfishly holding you back."

He crossed the short distance between us and gathered me into his arms, tucking my head protectively under his chin. "I'm not expected anywhere and you're not holding me back."

I sniffled and inhaled his comforting, virile scent. "Does that mean you'll stay?" My voice sounded more hopeful than I wanted to show.

"If you want me to… I'll stay as long as you want me around."

I nodded gratefully and he held me tightly against him as the sunset gave way to twilight. We stood unmoving for some time before he finally released me. "Now that we've decided to be roommates for a while, tell me, what's the first order of business?" he asked, his voice taking on a more playful tone.

"Maybe we can decide on who gets what room," I suggested.

"That shouldn't be difficult. I'll take the room that you don't want. Though for tonight you might have to make do with the sofa."

"Okay, as long as you don't resort to any shenanigans while I'm asleep," I giggled. "But now I'm curious… why is this house so empty? It's like you've never stayed here before."

Carlisle rubbed at his chin thoughtfully. "Well, I bought this place about a year after we moved back to Forks. Originally, I intended it to be a place where anyone could retreat to if he or she wanted some privacy from the rest of the family. It's not too far from the main house at Forks, but it is far enough for that purpose."

"Couldn't you have just gone to a hotel?"

"We all did that for a while and we would've gone on doing that, but Esme…" he trailed off and I noticed his eyes take on a faraway look. He didn't need to finish telling me what I had already surmised. He bought this place for her. It was one of the many tokens of his love for his wife. The friendly banter we were having quickly evaporated.

"We don't have to stay here if you're not comfortable, Carlisle. I mean… I wouldn't want you to be somewhere that holds any painful memories for you."

His attention snapped back to the present. "Don't worry about me, Bella. I'm fine." He flashed me a smile as though to convince me that he really was okay with it. "Initially, I thought it would be nice if Esme had another place to remodel, but as luck would have it, she and I had argued the night I planned to show her this property. Instead of coming here with my wife, I came alone." He took a deep unnecessary breath and I couldn't help but marvel at the way he had perfected human mannerism. "You are probably aware that I had been alone for two centuries before I had my family. Since then I was never without company. Imagine my surprise when I came here alone and found the solitude quite pleasant. That was when I realized that having my own private dwelling was probably a good idea."

As I listened to Carlisle, I felt a bit like an intruder. Even though he offered it willingly, I couldn't possibly remain longer than absolutely necessary and be a nuisance. It didn't seem right to stay when the rest of his family had probably never stepped a foot in here.

"I can see the gears turning in your head," he said, interrupting my thoughts. "It will be a great insult to me if you decide now to refuse my hospitality."

The tell-tale sign of my mortification emerged and for the first time in my life, I had never been so glad to be distracted by the obnoxious rumbling of my stomach. "I guess its dinner time. Do you mind if I ordered a pizza? I don't know if I have enough energy to shop for food tonight and prepare something for myself."

My deflection seemed to have amused him. "There's no need to ask me for permission. This is your home for as long as you wish. How about I pick up the pizza while you settle in?" He looked around the barren room and grinned. "Perhaps you and I can work on making this place a little bit more habitable tomorrow."

As soon as he left, I dragged my bag to one of the bedrooms and pulled out a change of clothes. It had been a long day – too long – and I really needed to relax a little. I scowled when I realized that I had forgotten to pack some of my more basic toiletries, so I checked the bathrooms for something I could borrow. Luckily, I found a bottle of shampoo and body wash in one of the bathrooms. After I had showered and dressed, I made my way back downstairs to find a box of pizza waiting for me on top of the stove.

"I realized that you hadn't mentioned what toppings you wanted. The lad at the till recommended this combination. I hope it's to your liking."

"Mmm…" I sounded as I pulled at the gooey cheese with my mouth. I raised a thumb up in approval and scooted myself on top of the counter. He laughed softly and walked towards the small home office a few paces away. After I managed to gobble up another two slices, I took my bottle of water and followed Carlisle into the office. He was absorbed with whatever was on his laptop screen, so I knocked lightly on the open door. His head shot up and he waved me in.

"It looks like tomorrow will be a fine day to go out. I was thinking that maybe I could accompany you to the market and then go to a couple of furniture stores afterward." He stood gracefully from his seat and held it out for me.

As I moved to sit, my arm unintentionally brushed against him and I heard an audible intake of breath. When I looked at him, he seemed distracted and maybe even a little uncomfortable. Based on his reaction, I wondered if it bothered him that he could smell his bath products on me. "I hope you don't mind that I borrowed your shampoo and soap. I accidentally left mine back at Evan's…"

He took a few steps back. "Uh… no I don't mind," he stammered. "But I think I need to step out for a little bit."

I eyed him carefully. "Are you okay?"

"Yes. I probably just need to hunt… It's been a while since I last went." He was gone before I could say anything more.

"Okay. I guess I'll see you later," I muttered under my breath.

Tidying up the kitchen took no time whatsoever and despite the early evening hour, I could already feel the exhaustion of the day settle into my body. It would be hours till I could expect Carlisle to return, so I plopped on the couch and discovered a pile of folded blankets waiting for me. Clean and sated, I quickly drifted off to sleep.

When I woke, it was still dark and it was uncomfortably hot. As I pushed the blankets aside to sit up, my bleary eyes caught sight of Carlisle's tall, lean figure standing in front of the large window. I walked up to him quietly and he didn't give any indication that he was aware of me until I placed a hand on his arm.

"Hi. I didn't realize that you were awake." His hushed voiced sounded lonely.

Even in my sleepy state, it was clear to me that he had been lamenting over something. I couldn't be sure if it was about Esme or something else he hadn't shared with me, but it didn't really matter. He needed someone to lean on. "Do you want to talk about it?" I asked as I lightly rubbed my hand on his upper arm in a soothing way.

He shook his head and I knew better than to push him to speak. While we stood staring out at the starless night sky, his hand sought mine. Carefully, I pulled him back to the couch without uttering a word. He made no protest when I placed his head on my lap and stroked his hair gently. We remained that way until the horizon began to lighten. A new day had come and with it was a chance for both of us to start fresh.