Chapter 11

A/N: Sorry I took so long to update—I've had classes, church activities, homework, and all kinds of stuff keeping me busy this past month. I promise you all that I haven't forgotten you—it always made me feel good to open my inbox and find it flooded with reviews. I also had a nasty case of writer's block and didn't want to write again until I felt I could do the story some justice. I had to lay some groundwork for the next chapter, so I promise a longer one is coming up.

The day was cold and rainy. Sweet, sultry summer had faded into fall. It had rained quite a bit, unusual for the season, but the leaves were extremely bright. The house was quiet. Carlisle had no patients in the overnight room and he was sitting at his computer typing busily as Esme was putting files away in the cabinet. Once in a while, he would glance up, then return to his work. Adam was babbling to one of his toys in his playpen.

"Carlisle?"

Esme's voice sounded abnormally loud though the rain was beating against the glass. He paused in his relentless pecking and looked up.

"I heard Edward talking yesterday. Is it true that you've found a foster family for Adam?"

Carlisle's stomach felt as though it was dropping to his knees. He'd forgotten about that. He now had the same sick feeling he'd had this morning when he found out about it.

"Afraid so," he admitted, "the courts just called this morning."

Esme put away the folder she'd been holding, the disbelieving look clouding her features.

"Does he really have to go?" she asked. He could hear the tears long before they began to well to the surface.

"He does. Even though his needs would be very well provided for here, the courts won't grant us custody. I'm not around enough for their liking, Jasper doesn't yet have a job, and Edward is too young. They won't grant you custody because you're a human."

The tears began to flow down Esme's face though she struggled to keep her composure.

"That's so unfair," she choked out, "I've been taking care of him for almost two months. And I know I'm doing it right. Why won't they let me keep him?"

Carlisle sighed deeply.

"They don't think its proper for a vampire to be raised by humans. They're somehow afraid that you'll make him forget what he is. Not to mention, when he gets older, he might smell the blood and get the temptation to bite you. Then, they consider issues like money, housing, and so forth. Technically, you don't have a home or a paying job."

Esme tried to recompose herself, but more tears leaked out. She turned her back to him and stared outside at the cold rain. Carlisle rose from his desk. Slave or no slave, he didn't like to see her upset.

"I'm sorry, Esme. If it were up to me, I'd have let you sign the papers in a heartbeat. I think you're a great mother."

He wrapped one arm around her shoulders. Despite his cold touch, she accepted his gesture of comfort. Within a few seconds, he had pulled her into a full-fledged hug and she buried her face in his shoulder. He could feel her hot tears through his shirt and something inside of him ached terribly. With her caramel-colored curls just millimeters from his nose, he couldn't help but smell her intoxicating scent. It wasn't the smell of blood, but just...her. He could smell all the various cleaning products she'd used as well as baby powder and bubble bath from Adam. But underneath all that, there was a distinctly sweet smell that was unlike any other smell he'd ever inhaled. His own words echoed in his head: I think you're a great mother...

One bite and the issue would be resolved. Out of his own defensive state against her feelings being hurt, Carlisle's teeth coated with venom. His face inched closer to her neck...

"Carlisle, you have a customer," Edward said, opening the door abruptly. He paused in surprise and confusion when he saw Esme in his big brother's arms. Carlisle released her quickly.

"Prepare a bed," he told her, following Edward out. Before he closed the door, he sent her an apologetic look and mouthed I'm sorry.

Esme sighed and did as he asked. After she did, she picked Adam up and hugged him tightly to her chest.

"Ez...me."

He kissed her on the cheek, which made her nearly come unglued again. This was definitely going to be difficult.

The door opened again and a rather voluptuous red-haired vampire came in. She looked down her nose at Esme and made a face at the fact that Esme was holding a vampire baby.

"You let it in your office?" she sniffed.

"Her name is Esme," Carlisle said firmly. He retrieved her chart and sat down at his desk. The woman sat down in the chair, her short black skirt inching up on her thighs. The shirt she wore was so low-cut that her breasts nearly spilled out. Esme rolled her eyes while she had her head turned.

"So, what can I do for you, Mrs. Ashlyn?"

The woman leaned closer over the desk.

"I'm due for my gynecology exam."

"All right. Go on into the back. There's a gown waiting on the bed for you."

She strutted across the room in heels that could pass as lethal weapons. Carlisle gave her back a look of annoyance and shook his head. Esme put Adam down and clapped both hands over her mouth to stifle the laughter that threatened to come out.

It was obvious that Ashlyn was more than happy to show off everything. When Carlisle came in, she hadn't bothered to put on the gown. Instead, she'd stripped herself naked and was waiting in the most erotic pose she could think of. Esme's attempts not to laugh were taking even more effort.

"Why don't you put the gown on? It seems a bit cold in here," Carlisle suggested, turning his head and not looking. Ashlyn seemed to pout as she slid the linen gown over her form.

A few more incidents later, Carlisle was obviously tired of her slutty behavior. When she made some comment about herself, he sighed and put the instruments down.

"Ashlyn, I am not here to play games. Either you lay down on that table and behave yourself or you can find another doctor," he said firmly. Taken aback, Ashlyn did as he said. Esme was having a hard time getting the image out of her head when Ashlyn had attempted to wrap her legs around him. It had only been a few seconds earlier. Her face flushed and she burned with anger. Carlisle was purely professional about the exam and seemed more than grateful when it was over. After Ashlyn dressed and walked out, she sneered at Esme.

"Boy, she's a piece of work," Esme commented, "why do you put up with that?"

Carlisle rolled his eyes and peeled his gloves off.

"Because her father works with my father. Thankfully, my father doesn't want me anywhere near her except for medical purposes only."

Esme stripped the bed.

"She's definitely not what I would want in a mate," Carlisle said, writing something down on her chart, "she's too wild. I'd be worried about her cheating on me. Not to mention that she has the personality of a snake."

Esme's laughter filled the room. Carlisle was chuckling as well.

"So...what are you looking for?"

His laughter subsided.

"Well..."

The air in the room seemed abnormally heavy. Carlisle took the sheets out of Esme's hands and tossed them into the clothes basket.

"I think I found it."

Just as he was leaning in towards her, a slamming sound was heard upstairs. Afraid that something bad had happened, they went tearing upstairs.

Fifteen minutes earlier...

Wondering how on earth creatures that didn't sweat and had good enough reflexes to avoid spills could go through so many clothes, Bella was gathering up Edwards. She realized that he probably had one more set in the bathroom. As luck would have it, she heard the shower running.

Sighing, she decided it would be faster just to snatch the clothes and get out. But Edward had probably sensed her coming.

Just as she had picked them up and was headed out the door, Edward stepped out and toweled himself off lazily. With his coppery wet hair framing his face and gleaming marble body, he looked like a figure straight out of Greek mythology.

"Like what you see?"

His grin seemed so evil. Bella flushed deep red and bolted towards the door. She hadn't meant for this to happen. Her heart sounded as though it were beating in her ears. She was going to get into so much trouble!

Before she could reach for the knob, Edward had blocked her. Thankfully, he had wrapped his towel around his waist.

"What's your hurry?"

Bella frowned, going from severely embarrassed to annoyed.

"Let me out."

He crossed his arms over his chest. Sighing, she tried to go around him one way, but he stepped sideways and stayed in front of her. When she tried to go the other way, he did the same thing.

"Come on, Edward, Alice is putting the laundry in and I need to get these downsta--"

She was startled when he leaned in and kissed her. It wasn't the first time, God only knew. Heaven help her, she wanted him to kiss her more and more every time he did it! It wasn't until she felt weaker from lack of oxygen that he broke the kiss.

"Cut that out! Do you want us both to get in trouble!"

She shoved him out of the way and opened the door. Edward's smirk had not faded.

"Maybe I do."

He crushed his lips against hers again. She may as well have been kissing a statue, at least that's what she told herself. But there was something too lifelike....

Suddenly, a loud BANG! interrupted them. Jane and Alec toppled into the room, not realizing that the door had actually been open a crack. Both of them grinned at each other, knowing full well that they'd caught their step-brother in a very compromising situation.

"Wait until we tell father," Jane said, a dreamy tone to her voice. Giggling, she and Alec took off down the stairs. The smirk had finally faded from Edward's features. Suddenly frightened, Bella began to shake.

"Thanks a lot!" she yelped, taking off down the stairs. Why was it that every time she kissed him willingly that something bad happened?

"Bella, wait!" Edward protested. He would have chased after her if he'd been dressed. Shaking his head, he closed the door and headed for his closet.

"Nonsense," Aro had said dismissively when the twins had come running to him with the news.

"Honest," Jane whined, "just touch him."

"No more. I just want peace," Aro told them, "the two of you are always trying to cause trouble over here. Go take a walk or something."

He pressed the button on the reclining chair and adjusted it. Once it was perfect, he changed the TV channel and took a deep drink out of the glass he was holding. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw one of the slave girls scamper away like a frightened mouse. He frowned slightly. He knew they were all afraid of him, but why was she acting so strange?

Dismissing it as coincidence, he went back to zoning out and letting his mind drift.

"So, Dad didn't believe them?"

Edward had cornered Bella in the kitchen shortly before dinner was to be served.

"No."

He looked all around as if afraid someone was out to get him.

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry."

Bella nearly dropped the bowl she was holding.

"What?"

"I'm sorry, okay? I really don't know what's wrong with me. It's like you're a drug or something."

Bella put the bowl down on the counter.

"You're a real piece of work, you know that?" she asked indignantly.

Edward sighed impatiently.

"I meant it in a good way," he hissed, "like you're intoxicating."

Not wanting to risk another close call, Edward stomped out. Bella was more confused than ever.

She wasn't the only one. As they served the family dinner, she noticed Esme's downcast face and wondered what was going on.