Chapter 25

Caleb and Delilah had been getting more antsy as the following day began to trickle away as quickly as the night before had. Neither of them had experience doing what they were about to, and Carlisle tried to remain positive in the way he approached his talks with both of them.

"Caius won't let either of you get hurt," Nicole told them.

"He's already made it a point to keep you out of the action as much as possible," Alice said, "I saw him planning while they were still in Italy."

"Where are they now?" Esme asked her.

Her eyes shifted, "Canada... I think."

She sighed and nodded, knowing they were just under the border.

"Stay inside no matter what," Carlisle said, looking at Esme.

"As long as none of you are in danger," she said, "If I can do something to prevent any of you from getting hurt I can't make any promises."

"We'll be fine Mom," Masen said, "You have to stay inside. We're going to have the house surrounded."

"If you-"

"I'll be fine," he reassured her, then looked to Leah, "I have my warrior wife out there looking out for me." He smiled, and Leah grinned at him from where she sat.

"I feel like you're all in football hurdle," Emmett said, making his way toward where everyone stood together. He smiled and hugged Esme, then kissed her on the cheek.

Esme smiled and hugged him back.

"I'm going to have to start giving you my hoodies," he told her, playing with the hood of the sweatshirt he was currently wearing.

She grinned, having been fantasizing about that for some time for whatever reason. The thought briefly made her feel calm and at ease, but disappointment washed over her when reality came back like a slap in the face.

"It's about that time," Nicole said with a sigh. She looked at her father who had been standing solemnly and silently in between her and Alice.

Esme looked at Carlisle, sending feelings of helplessness in his direction with her eyes.

Masen picked up on her look, "Mom," he said, "We got this."

"Ready?" Nicole asked, looking directly at Emmett.

He nodded at her and went to rejoin Rosalie and their children, who were out back with the Denali clan.

Esme sighed and pulled in Caleb first for a long hug. "Be safe Caleb."

"I will," he told her, unable to hide the worry that echoed in his voice.

Esme sighed again, taking a long time to let him go, then looked him in the eyes and took his cherubic face in her hands. She placed a single kiss on his cheek, then hugged Delilah for just as long.

Alex and Michael seemed to be almost waiting in line as she parted with them on the same terms, with similar words and lots of "I love you's".

Masen looked at his mother and couldn't help but feel everything she was feeling. There was no one who was more deserving of happiness than her, and it hurt him deeply to see her in such pain during a time that was meant to be so uplifting and special.

"We're all going home together after this," he told her, "To Forks."

Esme nodded, thinking that sounded like a perfect plan. "Can't wait," she said lightly.

Masen smiled and stood for a long while hugging her before Jacob's whistle caught his attention from outside.

Leah had every intention of staying inside with Esme, Cassandra and Mackenzie for as long as possible, and wanted to make sure she was as comfortable as possible. She made her way to Masen to talk quietly for a few more minutes while Esme had a moment with Carlisle.

"So, this is it..." she said, hoping he could give her some information before he left; the information she was dying to know that he kept to himself.

Carlisle walked her toward the couch and sat with her for a moment, finding a heavy blanket and tossing it over her.

"This was the same blanket you were wrapped in when you fell into the lake," she told him, "When you were laying right over there." She pointed across the room, remembering the image of him sleeping peacefully despite the serious nature of what had happened to him that day.

He smiled at her partway and kissed her, pulling the blanket around her tighter at the same time. "I'll come back for you," he told her, "If you remember anything I've ever said, remember that."

Esme nodded, "Okay." She was surprised at how well she was holding it together. She hadn't cried at all since their time together in the woods two days before.

"I love you," he told her, keeping his face an inch or so away from hers.

"I love you more," she whispered, touching his face gently.

Carlisle closed his eyes as her lips touched his again. He never wanted the moment to end, but he knew that was impossible.

Esme extended their embrace, keeping him close to her for as long as possible before she knew he had to make his way out with the rest of the family. "I'll remember," she told him, referring to the statement he had just made.

"Don't forget that," he said again, "I love you."

"I love you too Carlisle."

They took a minute to completely part, but he eventually made his way toward the back door where Masen and Leah stood. He looked at both of them. "Be safe. Stay in close proximity of each other. I'll try to do the same."

"Okay," they said at the same time.

The three of them looked out onto the deck where Alex and Caleb stood talking quietly together with Michael and Delilah nearby.

"Thank you," Carlisle told them, "For making the wish that you did. I haven't really thanked you for it, but it's the biggest blessing we could ever ask for." He glanced out toward Caleb again.

Leah looked at Masen before they both glanced over at Carlisle.

"I love you, Dad," he said, hugging him hard.

He patted his son's back once, "I love you too. Take care of your mother."

Leah looked over her shoulder, "I'm going to go in there," she said, giving Carlisle a hug before she went.

Masen gave her a kiss, then opened the set of French doors that went led outside. Carlisle allowed him out first, then followed and stared out to where everyone was more or less waiting to distance themselves from the house.

Mackenzie made her way inside upon a tearful departure from her parents and brother, shutting the double glass doors behind her as she did.

"It's time," Nicole said, standing almost directly in the center of everyone.

Shane paraded from the house where Mackenzie had just entered and once he got off the deck he phased on the run and began to snarl, now looking in the direction of Carlisel and Masen.

"Ready?" Masen asked his father.

Carlisle closed his eyes and nodded, then hurried toward the group, looking over his shoulder at Kayla and Jeremy's house as he did. Before he knew it, the single light from the back window was the only thing that could be seen from what was now Esme's place of safety and security. The guilt of not being by her side hit him harder than he could even imagine. He prayed silently that the visions of Alice and Nicole wouldn't change.