DC: I don't own it

Thank you to my reviewers

Chapter 25,

Esme woke up when the doctor came back into the room.

"Miss Platt you should go back home, you're exhausted."

"I'm fine," she yawned. She looked into the crib where Danny slept. "Any news?"

"He is stable but no improvement."

Esme nodded and bit her lip. She reached down and smoothed some of her son's dark hair. He coughed and wheezed. Fluid constantly filled his lungs and the infection was winning against his tiny body. Danny coughed himself into consciousness and began crying. Esme stroked his cheek and head gently.

"Hush little baby don't say a word, mama's gonna buy you a mocking bird, and if that mocking birth won't sing, mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring."

Danny kept crying but it slowed a bit. Esme knew that if he was in her arms he would be still and calm. But she couldn't lift him anymore. He was connected to machines that tested his vitals. She reached down and wiped mucus from his mouth with a tissue.

"It doesn't look good."

"But he's my son."

Danny went into another coughing fit and the machine's rang. After the fifth cough an alarm went off and the doctor sent out a code. Esme was pushed aside and they worked on her son. She was taken into the hall by a nurse despite her cries. Danny stopped screaming just before the flat line. Esme felt her own heart stop.

"Time of death, one oh seven."

"Miss Platt I'm so sorry," the nurse holding her shoulders said. The doctor came out looking upset. Esme knew he had tried his best and that the odds were against her son, but that didn't stop her from running up to him and grabbing the front of his scrubs.

"YOU SAID YOU COULD SAVE HIM!" She screamed.

"I said I would try, Miss Platt."

He was calm and he took her screams in stride. Finally she collapsed against him and he held her while she cried. Over the time she had spent at the hospital he had developed a soft spot for her, the kind a father would have for a daughter.

"I tried the best I could and you know that," he murmured gently, "when it isn't so raw you'll understand that. But for now you are free to hate me."

Esme sniffed and left his arms. She went into the room and picked up her baby. He was so warm. She held him against her chest and sat in the barely cushioned chair. She gazed at his face. It was still red from screaming and wet from tears. There was bloody mucus on his neck that he had coughed up. She dabbed it away and began to sing again.

"If that diamond ring don't shine, mama's gonna buy you a valentine..."

She trailed off and cried against her son's forehead.

"Danny," she sobbed. She felt a pair of lips on her head and an arm around her shoulders. She leaned against the familiar scented body. Mitch held his kiss on her head and cried silently. "He was right here. He was just crying."

"I know Ezzy, I know, just cry it out. Yell, scream, swear if you must. I don't care if they tell you to keep quiet if you want to scream that it isn't fair then that's your right."

"I thought I was doing everything right," she sighed, rubbing her eyes, "he was healthy and well and then he was so sick."

"Ez, promise me that you're going to eat something okay, and that you aren't going to do anything rash. I took your sleeping pills already."

"Sadistic bastard."

Mitch chuckled a bit. "A sick sadistic bastard who loves his sister very much. Do you want to be left alone?"

Esme nodded and after he kissed her forehead he left with the stroller he came with. Esme saw Emmett's little feet poking out limp, he was fast asleep.

Esme curled up and held her infant in her arms. She continued to sing her lullaby as if he were awake.

"Mom?"

Esme looked over at Emmett. He was bundled up in a winter coat and gloves. She looked away from him and back at Danny's stone.

"You were crying. You miss him, huh."

Esme nodded and wiped her eyes. "Where are the others?"

"Dad is sitting with his mom and Jasper is sitting with dad. The twins are seeing Mary too. I know they were with Lizzy for a while."

Emmett moved a little closer. "Mom, are you and dad going to be okay?"

"I don't know," she sighed, looking at Danny's stone. "Oh god I made such a mistake. I wish I could just forgive me."

"He loves you," Emmett assured her, "he's taking it so hard so he must love you."

Esme sighed again and stood up. "Shall we?" Emmett nodded and stood up. "How is Jasper?"

"He's been crying for a while. He's scared about the trial."

"Let's go see if we can comfort him, okay."

Emmett nodded and they walked through the grassy hills to find the blonde teenager. His court date had been moved yet again, no doubt at the request of Vera's lawyer in an attempt to find enough proof that she didn't do anything. They got to Mitch's grave and found it was empty.

"Edward," Esme called up the hill. Edward came running and was with them in moments. "Where is Jasper?"

"Um...that way," Edward said, pointing. Esme nodded and they walked off to find him. They did find him. He was sitting at a new stone. They came up quietly and sat with him. The stone was very plain as it was bought by the state. It just said Jane Doe Reynolds.

"They got her name wrong," Jasper mumbled, "I called her Shani."

"You gonna be okay bro?" Emmett asked.

"It's just...I want it to be over. I want them to stop moving the dates around and to just finish this. I want to know that my sister got her justice and then go home."

Esme hugged his shoulders and kissed his temple. He was almost as tall as she was now. The boy was just growing every day. With pride she knew that Mitch would be proud of his boys. Being here in the cemetery she could feel his spirit even more. She liked to imagine that he was always with his son's, hugging them when they cried and watching as they succeeded.

"Let's go find dad and Alice," Edward suggested, "before they worry."

Jasper nodded and looked at Esme she smiled and hugged him.

---

Jasper was on the stand. His lawyer came up and asked him questions about the incident and even a bit on his tortured past. Carlisle watched with a heart full of pride as Jasper answered the questions calmly and thoroughly.

"How's he doing?" Esme asked Edward in a whisper.

"Freaked out," Edward whispered back. "But he knows the truth and that is helping him keep calm."

"Thank you very much, Ms. Greene."

Alice gripped Edward's hand when the other lawyer, a young man with greying hair, stood up.

"Mr. Cullen, how can you be sure that it was your mother that killed your sister?" he asked.

"I was there."

"But you were so young. Your honor the witness is not only biased, but unreliable! He was only with my client for four years. There is no possible way that he can clearly recall the incident! Would you agree, Mr. Cullen?"

"No," Jasper said, "I saw her kill my sister."

"You say she put a bat in your hands."

"Yes."

"Can you be sure it was a bat?"

"Yes," Jasper said, "it was a wooden bat."

"Though no wood fibers were found on the body."

"Objection! Irrelevancy."

"How so?" The judge asked.

"The murder weapon isn't the question here, your honor, but who did in fact kill the child. Medical data clearly shows that Jane Doe Reynolds..."

"Shani," Jasper said, "her name was Shani. That's what I called her."

His lawyer gave him a gentle smile.

"Shani, was beaten to death with a blunt object."

"I agree," the judge said, "Mr. Edgeworth please sick to the topic."

"Your honor I merely wish to prove that Mr. Cullen can't be considered a reliable witness. A child's mind at the age of four or any years before, is not reliable."

Esme gripped Carlisle's hand tight and he looked over at her. She could only watch as her lawyer pushed question after question on her son. Finally, Jasper snapped.

"SHE KILLED MY SISTER!" Jasper screamed, "YOU KILLED HER! SHE WAS SO SMALL AND YOU BEAT HER SO HARD!"

Vera looked offended. Jasper leapt off of the stand and ran at his birth mother. The security officers rushed and stopped him. The judge banged his gavel several times to restore peace to the court. Jasper kept screaming at his mother.

"Just tell me why! Why her?! She did nothing! I was the one that spilled your coffee! It was me!"

"Order! Order! Mr. Cullen will be asked to step down on the grounds that he is too emotional for this case. Ms. Greene is there anything else?"

"NO!" Jasper screamed. "I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE OUTCOME! I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY!"

"You killed your sister because she deserved to die," Vera said calmly. You knew that I couldn't feed both of you."

"But you could buy your drugs and alcohol! You sick bitch!"

"Mr. Cullen if you do not restrain yourself there will be consequences."

Jasper overpowered everyone in the room with a sense of pain and sorrow. He stopped abruptly when he felt arms circle around him.

"Jazzy, please stop yelling," Alice mumbled as she hugged him, "calm down okay."

"Alice?"

"I'm here," she whispered, "I'm here. We all are."

---

Jasper didn't have to sit up with his lawyer anymore. The judge, seeing how distraught he was, allowed him to sit with his family. He curled up and sat with his mom's arm around his shoulders.

"Mr. Foreman, did the jury reach a decision?"

"We did your honor. We the jury find the defendant guilty of murder."

The courtroom burst into applause and cheers. Esme and Carlisle hugged Jasper tight and kissed his head. The judge banged his gavel a few times and people calmed down. The joy and support for the abused teenager was unbelievably high.

"Your honor, move to appeal."

"Denied," the judge said. "You are sentenced to execution on July seventh 2002."

The judge looked like he was going to say more but Vera leapt out of her chair and charged at Jasper. He jumped to defend himself and blocked the swing to his face. He retaliated with a swing of his own and when it connected with her eye he felt a sense of revenge. Carlisle took over. He was holding her shoulders while she was screaming at Jasper.

"I SHOULD HAVE KILLED YOU TOO YOU LITTLE SHIT!"

She was dragged away by the officers and Carlisle looked back at his son. He took his hand and checked it quickly, assessing if he broke it at all.

"Dad I'm fine."

"Straight shot to the cheekbone, son, let me just check. I know it hurts."

"Does not," Jasper lied.

"Swelling. At worst you cracked the bone but I don't think that's happened. We'll get you some ice. You keep exceeding your break limit."

"It felt good though," Jasper said.

Carlisle chuckled and patted his head.

---

Four teenagers on a drive across the country was just about as difficult as a cross country trip with children. Emmett and Edward kept getting at each other and Alice was complaining about the altitude making her sick. Jasper was trying to sleep and when he was woken up yet again he put out a wave of calm. Finally all four of the kids were asleep leaving the parents to themselves.

"Do you want me to drive for a while?" Esme asked.

"No, I'm fine."

"You just look tired."

"I'm fine, Esme," Carlisle said stiffly. "Get some sleep."

"Whatever," Esme sighed, turning in her seat to watch the scenery. The mountains were okay. They were prettier on the ride out when she had Carlisle calling her on the phone and warning her to be careful. They lost their appeal when her husband wasn't really talking with her. "You can't stay mad at me forever."

"Yes I can."

Esme looked at her hands. Her wedding ring still glittered on her finger. He had taken his off that morning and didn't put it back on.

"Carlisle, we can't keep living like this."

"Yes we can."

"You're not happy with me around. You're still so angry."

"I'm angry because I keep imagining what it was like. What did you say to provoke him? Who made the first move? Things like that keep me up at night."

"It was in the back, outside by the dumpsters. One minute Wes was trying to bring up things I had told him in confidence, things that I was insecure about, and the next...I should have been stronger but I wasn't."

"What kind of things?" Carlisle asked.

"I don't want to fight."

"Well you brought it up. Now tell me what kind of things."

"No!"

Carlisle put the brakes on and pulled over to the shoulder. "Tell me what he said, Esme."

"Carlisle keep driving. You're acting like a child."

"He turned the car off and sat back in his seat with his arms folded."

"Why are we stopped?" Emmett asked around a yawn.

"Because your mother slept with another man."

"Again?" Emmett asked sleepily. "But the only other men are me, Jasper and Edward."

"Go back to sleep dear, your father is just being childish."

Carlisle glared at her. "He mentioned me didn't he?"

"Carlisle please, let's discuss this when it isn't so crowded."

"Oh for the love of all that's holy," Edward moaned, squeezing his eyes closed.

"Don't worry kids we'll get back on the way when Esme answers my question."

"Okay look," Jasper said sharply, "you two are acting like babies and you seriously need to stop."

"Jasper..." Alice began.

"No, you know what I'm tired of listening to it! Mom got drunk and her coworker took advantage of her. Dad is still feeling upset and betrayed. Instead of working it out like the mature adults they're supposed to be they're acting like selfish teenagers! Seriously! Who stops a car in the middle of the mountains just so his wife will answer him? Why don't you both just shut up, keep driving and act like parents."

The silence was impossibly suffocating after Jasper's rant.

"You know he's right."

Carlisle sighed and looked over at Esme. "We will talk later," he promised.

Esme didn't say anything. They started moving again and the kids settled back into their sleeping positions.

---

The first thing Bella wanted to know when they returned was how the trial went. She had avoided watching national news so that she could hear it form her friends.

"Bitch is gonna fry," Emmett said, "and Jazz bruised his knuckles punching her in the face."

"Worth it," Jasper sighed with a smile. "Oh god my knuckles buried in her cheek was like heaven."

"Creepy," Bella muttered. "So we got our new class schedules, let's see what we have together."

After going around the circle and comparing classes the gang learned that they actually had very few classes together.

"What a bummer," Alice groaned. "At least Bells and I have gym together. Oh and Spanish."

"Well Mr. Latin over here chose an annoying language to study. I thought you were going with Spanish too."

"If I'm going to be a doctor I have to learn the language," Edward sniffed.

"Why do you want to be a doctor?"

"What better way to spend my life than to help people. Look how happy it's made dad."

Emmett looked over at their father who was reading a medical journal. "That's debatable."

"I can hear you, Emmett. And being a doctor has made my life about as rewarding as raising a beautiful family. It's just the whorish colleagues I'd rather do without."

"Yes Carlisle because everyone you work with is a whore," Esme muttered.

"Some, yes."

"Why do you turn everything into a fight?" she demanded. Carlisle chose to ignore her and the kids sighed in unison.

"We're going to Bella's," Alice decided, standing.

"Why?" Carlisle asked casually.

"Because we don't want to be around you two. We hear enough drama at school," Alice replied with a bit of venom in her tone. "C'mon guys."

The five teenagers got their coats and left the parents alone. Carlisle stood up and went into the bedroom while Esme continued to dominate the couch. She sighed and put her book aside. She was in a bad mood and she knew Carlisle was too. She heard his footsteps in the hall and wasn't surprised when he appeared.

"What did he say?" he asked.

"He kept reminding me that I felt pressured to have a baby."

"You told him that you didn't want my baby?"

Esme felt a surge of anger rush through her. "I trusted him as a friend. How was I supposed to know that he was going to use it against me?"

"So you just told him all of our personal problems?"

"I told him things that I was insecure about! I told him that I was worried that you may fall out of love with me some day, or that you'll fall in love with someone else."

"Why would you ever think that?" Carlisle asked in amazement.

"I was right wasn't I?" Esme asked, wiping away a tear that fell down her cheek. "You don't love me anymore. That's what this is about. Not that I was taken advantage of but you don't love me."

"But I do, Esme, I do love you. I wish I didn't so this pain would go away!"

Esme was surprised by his statement. They stood across the room from each other, both beginning to cry. Carlisle clenched his fists tight by his side and Esme hugged her arms lightly.

"Esme I keep seeing him with you."

"I love you Carlisle. But you're never going to trust me again."

He looked at her through his tears. She was right. He was always going to question her motives if she wanted to go out with friends. He was always going to wonder who she was with when she wasn't with him.

"So?" he asked quietly. "How do we do this? How do we do this without hurting them?"

"We'll stay in Forks. Both of us. I'll get an apartment and be nearby so we won't have to work out weekend visits. I could take Emmett and Jasper..."

"I don't want to split them up," Carlisle said, "we've caused them enough pain as it is."

Esme nodded. She didn't want to split them up either but she had no legal claim or right to demand custody of the twins. Even if she did, asking Carlisle to part from them was something she could never do.

"Did you ever think I would come to this?" she asked quietly.

"I was sure you'd be the one I grew old with."

"How are we going to tell them?"

"They already know."

---

"What's wrong?" Bella asked when Alice and Edward grew very silent and began to silently cry.

"It's over," Alice mumbled.

TBC

So I'm all moved in and I kinda have internet but I kinda don't. It's a very weak signal. I don't have a bed but I have inherited a very comfy couch! Wee! I have a very fun plan for Carlisle and Esme so please refrain from killing me.