Disclaimer: I do not own anyone or anything from Twilight!

While I waited for Leah to get back home or call like I had made her promise, i decided it would be a great time to talk to Carlisle. I had wanted to talk to him for a while now, but I hadn't because people were always around and this wasn't exactly the type of conversation I wanted everyone to hear. It was a well known fact that I am not exactly open about my feelings since I always had to be the 'tough guy' as Leah would put it. If there was some sort off emotional problem in my life I would keep it bottled up until finally it exploded when it became too much for me to handle. The only reason things were different now was because of Leah and the baby. It would not be healthy for me to keep my feelings bottled up. I needed to learn how to open up to those in my life or I could end up solving my problems in a different way like my father had and the last thing I wanted to happen was for me to end up like him.

"Carlisle?" I called out for the good doctor as I hobbled down the hall with my crutches. I wasn't supposed to be walking around on my own without help, but considering Leah wasn't here to bitch me out, I figured that this one time I could get away with doing so. When I reached his office I knocked on the door before hearing him call for me to come in. Sometimes I felt like laughing whenever something like this took place because everyone in this house could hear someone coming from a couple of miles away without straining to do so. "Hey Dr. C, I was wondering if you had a few minutes to talk."

The blonde doctor pushed the paper work littering his desk to the side before looking up with those kind topaz eyes of his. "Of course i have time to speak with you Paul. I am going to live forever and so I highly doubt giving you a few minutes of my endless time would be a problem. What is it I can help with you Paul? Are you still having pain? If you are I can prescribe you something to help you deal with the worst of the pain."

I shook my head before taking a seat across from him. "My pain isn't that bad anymore and I don't want to take the risk of getting addicted to the medication. The men in my family aren't really good at sobriety of any kind; take my dad for example, he went years without taking one drink since he didn't want to be like his father and then one day, at a school dance someone spiked the punch and all it took was one drink and he was hooked for life. Then you have my cousin Isaac who got addicted to pills when his friends dared him to try one. Since I don't want to end up like that, i avoid anything I could get addicted to. I have tried wine, but for some reason I hate the taste and my first drink was also my last; the same goes for beer."

"That is very mature for you to do Paul, not many people have that kind of restraint." He replied before clearing his throat. "I know it is not my place to speak of such matters, but you, Leah, and your unborn child have come to mean a great deal to myself and my family. I know that you fear becoming like your father and no, before you ask Edward did not say anything to me, he would never betray someone's trust in such a way. It is easy enough for me to see the thought of your father and the fact you could turn out like him terrifies you."

"that is actually what I wanted to talk to you about." I told him as I raised an eyebrow in slight surprise. "Carlisle, sometimes I think that you are lying about having a power. It's almost like you know everything and if that is the case you have to tell me so I can take you to Vegas or something and use said talent to become a millionaire."

The undead doctor laughed at my statement with a shake of his head. "Well if I found out that I have a power and that is it, then I will be sure to take your request in to consideration. So, back to the topic at hand. Everyone fears becoming like someone they know. I am going to let you in on a little secret that not many people know about me, not even certain members of my family. When I was still human my father was a part of the church and everyone adored him. Back during those times it was expected for the son to take after their father which meant I was expected to join the ministry as well and even though I knew it was what I should do, I realized that it wasn't something that would make me happy. I wanted to help heal people and if it wasn't bad enough I did not want to be like my father, practicing anything to do with the medical profession was considered to be a form of witch craft. As you can imagine my father wasn't very pleased and as a way to punish me he had me head a mob with the mission of taking down a group of vampires. It was actually that mission which turned me in to a vampire. My point is you need to do what makes you happy no matter what anyone else may think. We all have to carve out our own destinies. You are a good man Paul and I know that you would never allow yourself to become like your father. You are already a better man he is because you want to be a good husband and fighter. That alone makes you a great man. From what I can tell, you would do almost anything for those you love. You were there for Leah when she needed you and I have no doubt you will continue to be there for her and your child. Have faith in yourself because we all have faith in you."

I sat still for a moment as I processed everything Carlisle had just said. Many different people had told me the same things, but for some reason it affected me more coming from him and my theory on that is the fact he was the closest thing to a father figure I'd ever had. "You have no idea how much that means to me. Hey, I have a few errands I need to run and I would like to get them done before Leah comes back. Do you think you could give me a lift? I would like your opinion on a few things anyways."

Carlisle smiled as he stood up from his desk . "I would be honored to do so. I know this may not mean much, but even though I am not your father I still see you as a son."

TBC...