Esme's eyes flickered open and it took her a few seconds to process where she was. She wondered for a moment if the day before had been a dream, though she quickly acknowledged that it was reality.

Warmth, that is what she felt. The rocky, uneven feel of the mountainous landscape and the evening chill were now a distant memory.

Carlisle's even breaths landed on her shoulders, and Esme felt his loose grip around her waist. She linked her hand with his and smiled, hoping that the new day would bring more positive outcomes.

Downstairs she could hear voices, and the passing sound of laughter after a smart comment from Rosalie allowed Esme's whole being to relax.

"Have you ever cooked anything besides macaroni and cheese?" Edward's voice came, teasing the newcomer to their group after her first playful verbal assault on his character.

"It's nice to hear them getting along," Carlisle said quietly in a scratchy morning voice. He cleared his throat and pulled her tighter against him.

Esme smiled to herself, not wanting to separate herself from him in the snuggling, comfortable position they lied in. All the same, she wanted to see his face and so she readjusted so she could do just that.

"Good morning," she whispered.

"Good morning." He grinned and shared a kiss with Esme.

She ran a hand down the center of his bare chest and he cuddled her against him, kissing her forehead as he did.

"I'm glad you decided to come to bed early last night," Esme said to him, initiating a light flutter of laughter from Carlisle.

"Me too," he agreed.

"Is it possible to feel safe?" she asked him, "To live like this again... somewhat normally?"

Carlisle sighed, letting his stomach heave up and down once against her. "I'd like to believe so. Life's challenges are just a lot... different."

"Mmm..." Esme closed her eyes. "I love you, Carlisle."

"I love you too."

The two of them laid there for a few minutes, enjoying the intimate company of one another before Esme looked up to him. "I could stay here all day, but we should probably work our way downstairs to make sure the kids are okay."

Carlisle didn't immediately open his eyes, though he nodded and slowly released her from the tight grasp he held her in.

Esme readjusted as he moved to lean over her just slightly. "I'm going to do everything I can to keep you and Edward... and Rosalie... safe."

She swallowed and nodded, placing a hand on the side of his face.

"And I'm sorry about yesterday," he added, "I know I can't keep thinking that I can save everybody. I don't to put your life, or anyone's, in jeopardy."

Esme toyed with his hair for a moment. "You're a good man. People are beating other people, stealing from other people, killing other people..." She shook her head, "The world needs people like you. Now more than ever."

"It was still bad judgment on my part."

She shook her head. "I shouldn't have gotten mad at you."

Carlisle could see Esme's upbeat mood slowly fading as she thought of the close encounter the day before.

"Hey," he said quietly, "I'm sorry. I don't want to make you feel sad, or down."

Esme sighed and then let out a deep exhale. "You're not," she told him, "I just can't stand the thought of losing you."

Carlisle brought his lips back to hers. "You won't."

Esme wrapped her arms around him and Carlisle laid on top of her for a moment.

"I'm sorry," he repeated in a whisper into her ear.

"Don't apologize." Esme took in another deep breath and then looked into Carlisle's eyes as he pulled back a few inches.

"Ready to go downstairs?" he asked her.

"Not fully," she said, making him smile, "But yes."

Carlisle gave her another short series of kisses before he crawled off of her and threw the clothes back on he'd worn from the night before.

Esme took an extra second before doing the same and the two of them ventured out of the room and down the stairs where both Edward and Rosalie sat casually on stools at the island in the kitchen. They both had a bowl full of oatmeal and appeared to be chatting.

"Hey," he greeted them with a smile.

"Good morning," Esme said back.

"Much different than sleeping on the ground in the cold, huh?" Edward asked. He laughed lightly, prompting a smile and a nod from Esme.

"I haven't sleep like that in weeks," she told him. "Rosalie, did you sleep okay?"

She nodded and reached for a cup of tea. "I don't even remember falling asleep, but yes. I haven't slept like that in awhile either."

Carlisle walked over toward the window and looked out onto the porch. The lids for the garbage cans were still in tact and all seemed fairly normal outside. The only thing that made him squirm a bit were the small collection of walkers that staggered down the street. None of them appeared to have eyes for the house they had barricaded themselves in, though the fact that they were close still made him uneasy.

"What's out there?" Esme asked, noting his long stare.

Carlisle stepped away from the window. "Looks like it may rain," he said nonchalantly. "There are a few walkers making their way down the street but they don't appear to have much interest in coming this way."

"Is the barricade still in tact?" Edward asked, "I didn't even check."

Carlisle nodded.

"How long did you stay up last night?"

"Not long after you fell asleep." He crossed the room toward the countertop where he found a small box of tea. "Did you hear anything out there in the middle of the night?"

Edward shook his head and scooped a mouthful of oatmeal. "Nope."

Esme put some water on the stove and looked around the immediate area.

"Do you want some oatmeal?" Edward asked her, holding up the whole box filled with packets.

"Yes," she answered, "That smells so good."

"Brown sugar and cinnamon," Rosalie said with a grin.

Edward tossed a packet over to Esme, who quickly found a bowl.

"Carlisle?" Edward asked, reaching in the box.

He turned, and then nodded before Edward did the same and threw a packet of the oatmeal his way.

"How long do you think we'll be able to stay here?" Rosalie asked, looking back and forth between Carlisle and Esme.

"I'm not sure," Carlisle responded, "But as long as we can, I suppose."

"Maybe this can become a more permanent home," Edward said with a shrug. He ran a hand through his messy brown hair.

"We'll stay as long as we can," Carlisle repeated with a nod. He looked at Esme, who flashed him a half-smile.

"We should set up targets and practice with the crossbow," Edward told Carlisle.

"That wouldn't be a bad idea," he agreed. Carlisle's eyes traveled toward the window again, "I just don't want to draw attention to us. No one seems to know we're here."

Edward nodded.

"I agree," Esme said, "It'd be nice to stay under the radar for a bit."

"What if we made up a little target and shot it in here, out back by the laundry room or something?"

"We can try it out some time today," Carlisle told him.

"Great," Edward said with a grin. "I kind of can't wait to use that thing."

Esme and Carlisle both grinned, and then Esme removed the tea kettle as it whistled.

Rosalie scraped the bowl with her spoon, getting every last bite of the bowl of oatmeal she had.

Esme reached for Carlisle's coffee cup and began filling it with hot water.

"Do you-" Edward began, but froze for a moment when he heard the rattling of the metal garbage can lids.

Rosalie's posture straightened up, and Esme looked to Carlisle.

He placed the mug down and hurried over to the window, reaching for the machete that Edward had already propped in the corner of the room.

"Carlisle..." Esme's voice trailed off when she saw the alarm on his face. Everyone else proceeded to hover nearby, though no one else looked out the window. "What is it?"