DC: I don't own it

Thanks to my reviewers!

Finals suck! That's all I'm going to say on that. That's just the studying for them :\

Chapter 25,

Edward looked up as someone came in. Against the golden light in the hallway he saw yellow hair and wide eyes. Carlisle motioned silently to him. Edward crawled out of bed and over to his brother. Carlisle reached down when Edward wanted his hand. "Shhh," Carlisle hushed, putting his finger to his lips. They walked silently down the hall and to the top of the stairs.

"Why don't you go get drunk again?! That's all your good at anyway!"

"I wouldn't be getting drunk if you were screwing that whore!"

"I wouldn't be screwing that whore if you put out more! It's easier to see the pope than it is to have sex with you!"

"I don't want to catch whatever she's giving you!"

Edward looked up at Carlisle. His eyes were fixed on the dining room, just off to the side. They were fighting again. Always fighting. They jumped as their father appeared in the hallway. He looked up at them with severe sapphire eyes under thick slicked back blonde hair.

"What do you boys want?" he barked.

"We heard shouting," Carlisle said.

"Well go back to bed."

"Don't take your anger out on Carlisle!"

"I'll take my anger out on whoever I want!"

Carlisle stood and pulled Edward to his feet with him. Edward barely knew what was happening. He was still young. He clung to his brother's hand and watched.

"What are you boys still doing up there?!"

"Can you please stop fighting?" Edward asked in a shy and quiet voice. "It's scary."

"You want to know what's scary?" his father asked, climbing the stairs. Edward took a few steps back and began to suck on his thumb, a nervous habit. His father knelt down and put his hand on the back of Edward's head. "What's scary is what happens to little boys who don't listen to their father's. Now go to bed."

He pushed Edward back and the little boy stumbled. "Don't treat him like that! He didn't do anything wrong!" Carlisle defended. His reward for such bravery was a sharp backhand to the cheek. He looked at his father with defiant blue eyes as a trickle of blood oozed from the corner of his mouth.

"I'm sick of you," he declared, "all of you. Especially you! You sick cheap bitch!"

Edward watched silently as his father thundered down the stairs and out the door. He looked up at Carlisle who smiled weakly at him. "C'mon Eddie, let's get some sleep."

"You're hurt," Edward squeaked.

"Naw it isn't bad," Carlisle insisted, rubbing his lip with the back of his hand, hoping Edward missed the wince. "Besides, nobody messes with my little brother, dad or not."

"What's going to happen?" Edward asked as they went into Carlisle's room, Edward's favorite place when he was scared.

"Who knows," Carlisle said sadly. He crawled into bed and nodded for Edward to hurry up. They both curled up under the blankets. "Don't worry Edward, dad is going to leave us and maybe mom will too. Hell Jeanie might leave, but I promise we'll always be together. I'll always be around to protect you, okay."

Edward nodded and closed his eyes. He was old enough to understand what a risk his brother would be taking. Everything was going to be different. Suddenly Carlisle's dreams weren't going to be his first priority, it was going to be the safe upbringing of his two younger siblings and caring for his mother. Edward felt immense love towards his brother in that moment. No matter how much he was going to want something, he was always going to put his little brother first and Edward believed that they were going to be together forever.

It occurred to Edward that knowledge of where Jacob lived might have been useful. The old mansion was for sale and Jacob was gone. After driving around seeing only red, Edward pulled over. He picked up his phone. Twenty missed calls and ten voice messages. All of them from Bella and Jasper. He played the messages on speaker. Each time Bella's voice was getting more and more hysterical. The last one made him laugh.

"Edward it's me again. I don't care if you go and kill Jacob. Really. I don't. I could care less. I could absolutely care less about if you kill him or not. ... ... ...EDWARD CULLEN IF YOU DON'T CALL ME BACK I AM GOING TO SERIOUSLY FREAK OUT!"

Just as he finished the message his phone rang again. He contemplated not answering. The last thing he needed was Bella talking him out of his rampage. He also needed a good laugh and her message would be entertaining.

He let it go to voicemail. He listened to the message and it wasn't what he expected.

"Dad, I know you probably don't want to listen to someone talking you out of doing something stupid. Please don't go after him. I need you dad, I need you so much. I can't get through this on my own. Mom kind of sucks at teaching me how to be a man. You promised me that you would always be around for me and how are you going to do that if you get yourself killed or sent to prison forever? I want to believe what you said was true. Don't abandon me, please. You're more of a father to me than Jacob ever was in one fifteenth of the time. Mom is going insane with worry. I don't know if you'll get this before you do something horrible. But if you love us you'll come back. Please, dad, come to the hospital and keep mom from going absolutely batty."

In the background Edward could hear Bella ranting and raving. She was going to skin him alive. He heard Carlisle's voice in his head, I'll protect you, forever.

He picked up the phone and dialed. He was answered on the first ring.

"Dad are you coming back?" Oriyon asked.

"Don't ask me to let him go. Oriyon I can't let him stay out there when you are in the slightest bit of danger."

"Please dad, come back," Oriyon begged. He was crying. The tears were painfully obvious in his voice. "Dad please. I'm sorry for lying, I should have told you about the note. I was wrong and I'm sorry."

Edward gripped the wheel in one tight fist. "Oriyon I can't just leave you in danger."

"If you go to prison who will protect me then?" Oriyon asked.

"Jacob will be dead and..."

"What about me?" he asked, "what about this anger inside of me that will know that this is my fault?"

Edward was defeated and he knew it. He couldn't just break in and shoot Jacob in the face as he so dearly wanted. But he couldn't just leave his son. After years of study he knew that he could probably find a way to kill Jacob and get away with it. Air in the veins leaves only a small pin prick. Car accident...house fire...all different ways that he could do it. Edward felt a sick thrill run up his spine. The thing's he'd love to do to Jacob Black.

He drove off not knowing where he was going to go.

---

"Did you find him?" Bella asked as Jasper came to report.

"No," he said glumly, "I've searched everywhere. I can't find him or Jacob. Did he move? Please say he did."

"Yeah, he moved out of the old place," Bella said, "he lives in a loft downtown primarily before his mansion in Malibu is finished."

"Has Edward called back?"

Bella shot Jasper a dark look and he backed away a bit, taking that as a no. She was truly scary when she looked like that, her lovely face was contorted in pure anger and worry.

"We'll find him, c'mon Emmett."

"Right oh," Emmett said standing.

---

Edward looked up at the steel grey sky. What time was it? He didn't even know if it was morning or afternoon. A cold wind blew over him but he was too numb to feel it. He didn't even know how long he had been laying there in the cold on Carlisle's grave. It was where he was led after he surrendered himself to unconscious thought.

"Carlisle," he said, looking up at the faded stone, "I need help. I don't know what I'm doing."

He closed his eyes and sighed. "I'm talking to a stone. How pathetic."

"You always were a bit on the sad side."

Edward's eyes snapped open and he jumped up. Carlisle was perched up on his own headstone with his legs crossed and his hands folded in his lap.

"What are you doing out here? Besides freezing your balls off?"

"I'm not cold," Edward said, "what are you doing here? You're dead!"

"Yeah," Carlisle agreed with a sigh. He hopped off of the stone and walked up to Edward. "Good lord how you've grown! You're in my line of sight! But then again you are older than me now. Thirty six right?"

"Almost."

"Damn you're old," Carlisle teased. Edward muttered something about him still being older.

"So what are you doing here?" Edward asked.

"Well a moment ago I was enjoying the breeze upon my tombstone. Now I'm talking to my little brother."

Edward smiled slightly. He looked just the same as he remembered. Handsome as always with his fair gold hair and beautiful blue eyes, forever in his twenties. He was dressed in jeans and a St. Marks Medical College shirt. The same he wore when he died. Edward was thinking of something else to say when Carlisle reached over and slapped him upside the head.

"Ow! What was that for?!" Edward cried.

"Slapping some sense into your dumb ass, cutting Edward? Over me?! Are you insane!"

"That was a long time ago!" Edward cried shrilly.

"I don't like watching you hurt yourself," Carlisle said seriously.

"How did you know about that?" Edward asked, sitting on one of the benches near a dead tree.

"I watch over you," Carlisle said, "and Esme too. Well I did anyway."

"Did?"

"She killed herself about ten years ago in Wisconsin," Carlisle said sadly, "Charles left her and she was pregnant. She lost her son to a sickness in his lungs and she couldn't take it. I haven't found her yet, I just know that she's here."

"Where is here?" Edward asked.

"Okay well not here, here but in heaven. I'm trying to find her. I usually do that on breaks from watching you. I have to do something when you're being generally dull."

"I'm sorry I don't amuse you," Edward grumbled.

"Watching you mope for about fifteen years isn't exactly entertaining, and while I'm thinking about it, high five on the hot girlfriend."

"Carlisle!"

"I'm just saying! I never dreamed that you would get Bella Swan! I mean you have to be the luckiest man in the world!"

"I guess," Edward mumbled, "so you know about her?"

"I was cheering for you when you two boinked in the shower. I was worried that you'd be a virgin forever. I kept an eye on her while you two were apart. She used to cry every night. Then when your son came along things got better. He's a good boy."

"Carlisle I need help," Edward said, breaking Carlisle's prattle. "Jacob sent a note to Bella saying that he was going to kill Ori if she didn't come back to him. Oriyon got the note first and tried to kill himself."

"Way to pass on the tendencies there kid," Carlisle sighed, "I know about all that."

"What do I do?" Edward asked. Carlisle shrugged.

"I can't decide that for you," Carlisle said. "I can give you some insight if you'd like."

"I'd love some insight."

"Alright," Carlisle stood and walked through the rows of stones to the hill. He looked out over the city. "Jacob lives there, in the Clover Lofts. Loft number eight. He'll be home any time after five."

"If I know where to find him I'll go blast his head off. Why did you tell me that?! You aren't helping!"

"Calm down kid," Carlisle groaned, "this is a test for you that I can't help with. Which means I'll have to break my promise to always protect you."

"Carlisle..."

"You're a grown man now. You can't just think about yourself. Killing Jacob will certainly get him out of your lives forever. It will ensure your son's safety as well as Bella's."

"But..." Edward said slowly.

"No buts," Carlisle said with a shrug. "Go pop a few caps in his ass and hope that you don't get caught. If you kill him you will go to prison, Edward. You'll be given life or worse. If that sounds like a fair trade then go for it. I recommend a six shooter but you know me I'm old school."

"But..." Edward pressed.

"What are you waiting for?" Carlisle asked, "I can't hand you the answer on a platter. I can't hand you the answer period. This is something you'll have to decide for yourself."

"If I kill Jacob then my family is safe but I go to prison and possibly get fried. If I don't kill Jacob my family is in danger but I'm with them for good. Is there a third option?!"

"There is if you want one," Carlisle said. "You're a smart boy, Edward, use your head!"

"What evidence do we have for the police?! Oriyon's testimony?! Yes that will stand up well, the word of a boy who they will consider mentally unstable!"

"I wish I could help you make this choice," Carlisle said sadly, "I really do. Search your heart Edward. Please don't make this decision quickly. You have plenty of time to think it over."

"Edward! Edward please!"

Edward looked around. "Did you hear that?"

"Your friends have found you," Carlisle said, "that means our time is done."

"No!" Edward said quickly. "Don't go yet!"

Carlisle smiled and ruffled Edward's hair as if he was still a little boy.

"There are so many things I want to ask you," Edward said. "I've missed you so much."

"We have a few minutes," Carlisle said with a warm smile.

"I'm sorry you always had to take care of me," Edward said, "I'm sorry that I was always so much trouble. I'm sorry that I got you killed."

"Stop that please," Carlisle said quietly, "Edward you're my brother. Taking care of you was nothing I wasn't willing to do. Please let go of this notion that you killed me."

"But..."

"Edward listen," Carlisle said putting his arm around Edward's shoulders and giving him a gentle squeeze, "people die. It's a part of life that you have to accept. You and Esme made my life wonderful. I have no regrets beyond leaving you when you were so young. But look at you, you're a healthy man with a woman that adores you and a son that needs you. You have a life with more happiness than most people know."

"Edward...please..."

Edward looked around searching for Bella's voice. He looked down and saw her. He looked back at Carlisle.

"Am I..."

"If you stay much longer," Carlisle answered. "Go Edward. We'll meet again when the time is right."

Edward nodded. He threw himself as his brother and hugged him tight. "I miss you so much."

"I know," Carlisle said gently, hugging him back. "Be good okay."

Edward nodded and they pulled away. He jumped down the hill and landed on the road. He ran to his car.

---

"Edward," Bella breathed, "I was so worried."

Edward smiled at her and reached up to touch her face. His head hurt and his body ached. He saw the twisted metal that was his car.

"You two are going to be the end of me," Bella promised as she hugged him. "Please tell me you just accidentally crashed your car."

"Yeah," Edward said quietly, "I wasn't thinking straight. I was so distracted and I wasn't paying attention."

"I was so afraid that you had found Jacob. Edward please be reasonable!"

"I'm not going after him," Edward promised, "I won't leave you three behind. I love you too much. We'll find a way to trap Jacob or something."

"Oriyon is worried about you," Bella said. "Let's go back. I want to get your head looked at."

Edward put a hand to his forehead. He was bleeding from where he hit his head on the steering wheel. That must have been why he didn't remember going to the cemetery. He never really went physically. It was all just a dream. He looked up at the hill and he could have sworn Carlisle was looking back at him, smiling.

"What is it?" Bella asked, turning to look.

"Nothing," Edward assured her, "let's go see our son."

---

"Dad!" Oriyon said happily as Edward came in. Edward gave him a hug and smiled. "You did come back."

"I told you I would," Edward said.

"What did you do to your head?"

"Crashed my car," Edward sighed, "but while I was passed out I got some clarity. I'm not going to leave you."

"I'm sorry dad," Oriyon said, "I should have told you about the note."

"Yes, you should have," Edward said. Oriyon looked away and Edward reached over to turn his head back, "but you are in a very rough spot and your mother and I will do anything you need us to do to help you. Please, Ori, don't ever feel like our lives would be better without you. If you died, your mother and I wouldn't know what to do with ourselves."

Oriyon nodded and held his arms out, telling Edward that he needed a hug. Edward hugged his son tight and felt the tears finally come. He sobbed into Oriyon's hair. How could he have been so thick headed? Going to murder someone and take him away from his family. Jacob would pay for what he had done. He most certainly would, but not that way. Edward smoothed his son's hair and kissed the side of his head. He would bring peace to his family with them by his side.

TBC

So I posted a new story for anyone who cares. It's more on the dark side with an arrogant Edward and a rebellious Bella. It's called Vampire Hearts and I hope to have the second chapter up soon. And yes I have nothing against sameless plugging lol.