Carlisle drummed his fingers on the desktop anxiously. Edward had been gone for hours, and the acid had been churning in his stomach ever since.

Christ, he should have told Esme already.

Carlisle reached for the small glass of brandy he had poured earlier. The amber liquid would undoubtedly destroy the small amount of stomach lining he had left, but maybe it would make his upcoming conversations a bit easier.

"Carlisle?" Esme called.

"I'm in the study," he responded tiredly. He could tell her now.

Esme appeared in the doorway and Carlisle sighed. She was already dressed for bed; he couldn't tell her now. Carlisle longed to go upstairs and curl up next to her in bed but that wasn't even an option. He had to talk to Edward and he had no idea what time he was coming home.

"Are you coming to bed?" Esme asked, cocking her head to the side. She looked concerned.

"I need to talk to Edward," Carlisle shrugged. He rubbed his face with both hands and looked up at her through bleary eyes.

"You're drinking," Esme observed. She leaned against the doorframe. "Do I even want to know?"

"No," he replied honestly. A look of alarm came into Esme's eyes and Carlisle laughed tiredly. "Don't worry about it, darling. If it turns out to be anything, I'll let you know in the morning."

Esme nodded and her face smoothed out, but Carlisle could still see the bright curiosity in her eyes.

"You just go to bed," Carlisle insisted. "Don't wait up for me."

Esme nodded again and began to turn, but she paused and her eyes lingered on him for a moment longer. "Call me if you need me."

"I will," Carlisle agreed.

Five minutes later, Carlisle was on the verge of following Esme to bed. He couldn't sit still any longer and he couldn't bear to pace anymore. He downed the rest of his brandy, closing his eyes against the liquid fire burning a path down his throat.

He almost felt relieved that he could push the conversation with Edward off until morning.

He was reaching for the doorknob when a pair of headlights turned into the driveway and lit up his study for a couple of seconds.

"Shit," Carlisle muttered. He ran a hand through his hair and slunk back to his chair, slumping down in it. He poured another finger of brandy into his glass, hesitated, then poured one for Edward.

The house was quiet. It seemed to know when Esme was up and about, because it seemed lighter and more cheerful. Then when Esme retired to their bedroom to sleep, the house became still and felt empty. The quiet stillness had already descended upon the house, so Carlisle could tell immediately when Edward opened the front door.

Carlisle listened to him stop in the kitchen, then the bathroom, and finally in the hallway. Edward hesitated outside of the study door and then knocked softly.

"Come in," Carlisle said heavily.

He had never seen his son look so vulnerable.

Edward's skin looked paler than usual, especially against his shock of hair. Dark circles rounded his dull, bloodshot eyes. He even appeared skinnier than he had just hours earlier. Carlisle frowned; he knew that wasn't possible, but Edward looked dramatically worse.

"Are you all right?" Carlisle questioned, motioning for Edward to take the seat across from him. He pushed the glass of brandy across the desk.

Edward watched the glass move over the smooth surface of the oak desk. He shook his head once and dropped his chin to his chest.

"So…" Carlisle trailed off. Edward didn't say anything, didn't even look up. "Jessica is pregnant?"

"Yes," Edward nodded, his voice just above a whisper.

Carlisle inhaled deeply. "You asked me about prenatal DNA testing. An amniocentesis. Do you doubt the child is yours?"

Edward finally looked up. His haunted eyes sliced right through Carlisle's heart.

"I don't know," he admitted. "Jessica and me – we weren't really in love. Not real love, you know?"

"Edward, men and women don't always see eye to eye on love," Carlisle frowned, shifting his weight in the leather chair. "Are you sure Jessica felt the same way as you?"

Edward ran a hand through his hair and shrugged, shaking his head. "I don't know. I don't know! Could she have cheated on me? Yes. What do you want me to say?"

"Calm down," Carlisle advised. "We need to think this through. How far along is Jessica?"

"She says she's seven months," Edward said, his voice obviously doubting. "I don't see how that's possible."

"You two weren't sexually active then?"

Edward rolled his eyes. "I mean she doesn't look seven months pregnant."

Carlisle folded his hands and furrowed his brow, obviously thinking. "Well, Edward, some women really don't show very much until the last few months of the pregnancy."

"Yeah, but the last two months?"

"It is possible," Carlisle admitted. "When was the last time you and Jessica had intercourse?"

Edward fought the urge to cringe at the clinical terms. "I don't know. Maybe three months ago? But I just…I don't believe her. I mean, she was late and then she took the test. How could the test come out negative if she was like, five and a half months pregnant?"

Carlisle watched him thoughtfully. "She probably misread the test, Edward."

"So…what do I do?" Edward asked in a quiet voice.

The small voice twisted around Carlisle's heart and squeezed. Edward no longer looked like a young man; instead, Carlisle saw the young boy within. He looked scared and lost.

"We'll set up an amniocentesis. I'll do it myself," Carlisle offered.

Edward shook his head and scooted forward in his seat, obviously becoming more agitated. "Jessica said there are too many risks. She won't agree to it. She won't have the procedure."

"There are risks," Carlisle admitted. "But Jessica is young and presumably, healthy. It wouldn't pose significant risks."

"As a doctor, how often do you recommend amniocenteses?" Edward inquired.

"Not very often," Carlisle admitted. "It's usually done for women who are high risk pregnancies or run a history of birth defects."

"What are the risks?"

"Well….less than one percent of women who undergo the procedure suffer miscarriages," Carlisle told him. "But I have performed many of these procedures, Edward, and I have never – "

"No," Edward said flatly. He closed his eyes and was flooded with images of Bella crying. He thought of their lost child. Logically, he knew that when Bella lost the pregnancy their child had been little more than the size of a pea, but that didn't make her any less real. "Not if it could hurt the baby."

The heavy silence between them made it clear that Carlisle disagreed with his decision. Edward didn't care. He wasn't particularly happy or even excited about the pregnancy, but he refused to put the child in any sort of danger.

"Then I suppose we'll have to start planning for the baby," Carlisle said lightly.

"Planning for it?" Edward echoed.

"Edward," Carlisle said gently, leaning forward. "If Jessica is seven months pregnant, then you'll be bringing home a baby in two months."

"Two months?" Edward repeated, his voice rising. He rubbed his chest and started sucking in more air. Two months. Two months and there would be a crying, messy baby in his house. He was still in school! How would be pay for diapers and food? How –

"Stop," Carlisle ordered, reaching across the desk to grab his arm. "Let me think about it. I will come up with a plan and we'll work this out. The last thing we need is for you to lose it right now."

"Okay," Edward agreed faintly.

Carlisle opened the top drawer to his desk and rooted around in it for a minute. He pulled out a yellow prescription bottle and deftly popped the lid off. He spilled the pills out onto his hand, then dropped all but one back into the bottle. He held out his hand, palm up, with the small white pill in the center of his hand. "Here. This will help you sleep."

"It's just…it's like this couldn't happen at a worse time," Edward complained. "That sounds bad, I know, and I don't mean to be selfish. But I just finally worked everything out with Bella and – "

"With Bella?" Carlisle asked sharply. He watched Edward swallow the pill and nod.

"I love her," Edward said simply.

"Bella has a lot of baggage, Edward," Carlisle said cautiously. "Maybe you should lay off of any sort of relationship right now, at least until this is all worked out."

"Baggage," Edward repeated softly. "Yeah, I know. And it's my fault."

"What?!"

Edward jerked his head up and his horrified eyes met Carlisle's, immediately realizing his blunder. Carlisle shot to his feet and Edward felt all of his blood rush to his face.

"What baggage are you talking about? Are you telling me that you were responsible for Bella's pregnancy?" Carlisle asked, his voice cold like ice.

"I didn't know!" Edward said defensively. He stood up, too. "Bella didn't tell me until tonight."

"I can't – I just can't believe this," Carlisle said in an incredulous voice. He turned away from Edward and stared out of the window. "Go to bed, Edward. We'll discuss everything in the morning."

"But, Dad – "

"Not now," Carlisle cut him off. "Just…not now."

It wasn't until the first rays of dawn broke onto the lawn surrounding the Cullen house that Carlisle pushed back his chair and stretched. His eyes were gritty from lack of sleep and it seemed like forever since Edward sat across from him and dropped his bombshells.

In reality, it had been only a few short hours. He spent the time online, flicking back and forth between different web pages. Mostly banking sites; transferring money from here to there and setting up new accounts. The next few months would be difficult enough as it was, and he didn't want money to be one of Edward's problems. He would do anything he could to help him.

Carlisle's own parents were victims of a loveless marriage. His father married his mother because she became pregnant and it was simply unheard of back then to have a child out of wedlock. Carlisle vowed that he would only marry for love, and he found it with Esme. He always thought it to be a cruel twist of fate that they experienced trouble reproducing. They almost lost Alice and were destined to have no more children after her complicated birth.

Edward might not be his son by blood, but Carlisle could not love him anymore than he already did. He was proud to have Edward carry on the Cullen name. Of course he wished it wasn't so early in his son's life, but part of him – a tiny, primal part – couldn't help but feel a sort of satisfaction. He just prayed that Edward could find some happiness in the pending pregnancy. It had the potential to destroy his relationship with Jessica, and whatever it was that he had with Bella.

"Carlisle?"

He looked up and smiled at Esme, but a huge yawn broke through his smile. "Good morning."

"Were you up all night?" Esme asked in a distressed voice. She stepped into the study and wrapped her bath robe more tightly around her body. She reached him and put a hand to his forehead. "Are you not feeling well?"

Carlisle caught her hand and pressed a kiss to it. "Oh, Esme. I'm fine."

She raised an eyebrow and looked at him skeptically. Carlisle stood up and pulled her into a hug.

"Why don't you start breakfast?" he suggested. "I'm going to take a quick shower."

"It's a little early for breakfast, isn't it?" Esme asked quizzically. "Really, Carlisle, you're behaving very strangely."

"We do need to talk," Carlisle acquiesced. He kissed her cheek. "Make pancakes. I have a feeling Edward will be his usual charming self, as he so often is in the morning, so we'll need all the help we can get."

"You'll be waking Edward up for breakfast? This early?" Esme asked. Her widened eyes spoke to just how unusual Carlisle's behavior was.

"Trust me," Carlisle murmured, moving in for another kiss. "He's about to owe us. And I've been thinking…I think we should take a vacation very soon."

"Okay," Esme laughed, her eyes slightly narrowed. "I guess I'll start breakfast?"

"Be down soon," Carlisle promised.

He showered quickly, in and out in under five minutes. Carlisle changed into a clean pair of sweatpants and an old Harvard t-shirt.

Carlisle didn't bother knocking. He opened the door to Edward's darkened crypt and flicked the lights a few times.

"Stop," Edward mumbled, rolling over to shield his eyes from the light. "Fuckin' hate that."

Carlisle suppressed his laugh and continued flicking the light. He felt better after the shower, almost good. He was surprised at his fair mood. "Come on, Edward. Your mother's making breakfast."

"I just fell asleep," Edward moaned. "For the love of God, go away."

"I believe you have some news you'd like to tell her," Carlisle baited him. "Unless you'd like me to tell her she's becoming a grandmother."

Edward's head lifted off of his pillow and his eyes cracked open. He squinted at his alarm clock. "Can't we wait?"

"Until when?" Carlisle scoffed, crossing his arms. "Until the baby is born and we do a DNA test? Then what are you going to do? Hand it over and introduce her to her new grandchild? She'd kill you, and you know it."

Edward rolled over and sat halfway up, supporting his weight on his elbows. "Just let her kill me."

"You've got two minutes to get downstairs," Carlisle threatened him. Edward groaned again and Carlisle shut the door, ignoring him. By the time he reached the bottom of the stairs, the scent of cooking bacon and fresh coffee filled the air.

He walked into the kitchen and noticed immediately that only two places were set. Esme's seat had only a mug of steaming coffee in front of it.

Esme watched his eyes travel around the table. Her hands were on her hips by the time Carlisle looked at her, and his protest died on his lips.

"You think I can eat right now?" she questioned. Esme shook her head. "You've got my nerves all frazzled and – oh, good morning, Edward."

Edward shuffled over to her and bent over slightly. Following their usual routine, Esme stood on her tip toes and kissed his cheek, then ruffled his messy hair.

"You'll need a hair cut soon," Esme said affectionately. "Sit down and eat. And we can discuss whatever has your father so worked up."

Edward grimaced at that, and Esme felt her heart drop into her stomach. So it wasn't good news then.

She had hoped it was news about a college or something equally fantastic. Even if Edward had been going far away…if it made him happy, she could be happy, too.

Esme quickly dished out the food she had prepared and took her seat next to Carlisle, across from Edward. They tucked into their food and the silence, marred only by the clink of silverware on glass, was heavy.

"Is someone sick?" Esme finally burst out. She was gripping her coffee mug so tightly that she was surprised it hadn't exploded yet.

Both men froze. Edward's fork paused just inches from his open mouth. Carlisle let out a strangled noise and seemed to choke on his mouthful of pancake.

"No-o-o-o," Carlisle said slowly, swallowing hard. "But Edward does have some news to tell you."

Esme's eyes narrowed. "To tell me? You do know, then?"

Carlisle's expression clouded over and he dropped his eyes to his plate. "Only as of a few hours ago."

Esme's glare intensified and it was obvious that she didn't believe him.

"For certain a few hours ago," Carlisle clarified. "I only knew for certain a few hours ago. I had…suspicions."

Esme turned her attention to Edward. He was staring at his plate and dejectedly pushing pancakes around with his fork. His cheekbones stood out too sharply, she decided, and she didn't like the dark circles under his shadowed eyes.

"Edward," Esme prompted gently.

He looked up and the utter despair she saw in her baby's eyes broke her heart. Esme reached across the table to put her hand on top of his. To her surprise, Edward's hand turned up to hold hers. She gave him a reassuring squeeze.

"Jessica is pregnant," he said softly.

Esme froze. Her heart stalled in her chest and she looked away quickly, guiltily, when Edward's gaze shot to her face. He was expecting her acceptance and support. A flood of emotions tightened her chest and Esme fought the urge to hide her face from him.

"Well," Esme swallowed hard. "This is…unexpected."

Edward nodded and sat back in his seat, pulling away from her as he did so.

"I took the liberty of making some plans," Carlisle announced.

"When?" Edward frowned.

Esme let their voices fade out as the reality of the situation sunk in. Her baby was having a baby. All of her hopes and dreams for Edward were falling down around them, crashing onto the tiled kitchen floor.

How could he follow in his father's footsteps now? He would have to get a job almost immediately. She and Carlisle would help him financially, of course, but taking care of a new child would make college a huge obstacle. Medical school would be nearly impossible. The course of his life was drastically changed. She wanted so much more for him.

Carlisle was talking, but Esme couldn't hear a single word. She struggled to focus her thoughts, but it was impossible and they ricocheted off of each other into different directions.

"But – what about Bella?" Esme asked, interrupting. "You care for her, I know you do."

"I do," Edward replied in a pained voice. He rubbed his forehead and looked down. "Bella is…she's everything to me now. But it'll never work now."

"Jessica will – " Esme began.

"Wait!" Carlisle pleaded. "Before we discuss the girls, we need to take care of the baby. If the baby is indeed Edward's, we need to make – "

"There is a question that the child is yours?" Esme asked, shocked. Her expression hardened. "You know, I never liked that girl. She's just like her mother."

"Esme," Carlisle sighed.

She shrugged stiffly but fell silent. Carlisle nodded his gratitude and resumed speaking.

"I have taken eight thousand dollars out of your trust fund, Edward," Carlisle said solemnly. "I put it into a new checking account. Technically, this money is not available to you until your twenty-first birthday, so I am giving you a loan under the agreement that you will repay us when the funds are available to you."

Edward nodded. He wanted to thank his father, because the financial responsibility a baby would entail had been completely overwhelming to him, but the gratitude caused his throat to close.

"That money is reserved for the baby and whatever it needs. I will be very strict on that, Edward, and I'll monitor the account if I need to."

"Okay," Edward croaked out.

"Furthermore," Carlisle continued. "You will graduate with an average of eighty-six or above, and will secure a part-time job immediately. You will continue on to the local community college, where you will graduate with honors."

Edward felt his blood pressure begin to rise. College was the last thing on his mind. All he could think of was Bella. His life without Bella. Bella hating him. Raising a child without her. Raising a child that looked like Jessica.

"Carlisle, I don't think now is the time for discussing college," Esme interjected softly.

"I think my requests are reasonable. In exchange for fulfilling these conditions, I will provide a nursery for the child," Carlisle offered. "You will stay here and Esme and I will help you. I'll hire a nanny if we need one. Jessica can move in, as well."

"No!" Edward said sharply. "I don't want her here."

For the first time, Carlisle's eyes burned with anger. "You will not shirk your parental responsibilities! You will not leave that poor girl to suffer through her pregnancy alone, and then take care of a newborn baby by herself. You don't know what it's like to take care of a baby, Edward. I don't care how you feel about Jessica!"

"But she can't move in here," Edward protested. "I'm not – "

"You should have thought of this earlier, then," Carlisle snapped. "You should have used a condom!"

"But Bella – "

"Don't even talk to me about Bella!" Carlisle hissed. "These are my terms, Edward. If you don't want Jessica here, then you can move out. She is moving in, however."

"I don't think that is necessary," Esme sniffed. She didn't like the idea of that hussy sleeping under their roof.

"If Jessica really is seven months pregnant and she just found out, then she obviously hasn't been taking care of herself properly," Carlisle fumed. "I intend to personally ensure both Jessica's health and the health of my grandchild. Does anyone have a problem with that?"

Carlisle's intense gaze was directed solely at Edward.

Edward inhaled deeply and tried to rein in his temper. None of this was working out right. He couldn't say anything to Carlisle – not when he was being so generous. But Edward couldn't help the feelings of resentment. He needed Bella, he needed to work things out with her.

Carlisle was punishing him for what happened with Bella. That wasn't his fault though – he didn't even know about her pregnancy. He would have handled it all so differently if he had known.

Moving a pregnant Jessica into his house and giving her a nursery was not the way back into Bella's heart, but Edward was running out of time.

The seconds were passing by quickly, loudly, and each minute brought him closer to that terrible conversation with Bella – to the demise of their relationship. He just couldn't see a way to tell her that Jessica was having the baby she had wanted so badly. Bella would never forgive him.

i hope this chapter is up to the usual standard for you guys. thanks to my fab beta, siouxchef, plus the dream team: meg, tiff and val. to everyone on twitter: love you guys and thanks for all the well wishes.

LUNA