Chapter 26

Sam and Emily sat close by a little fire, each eating a s'more. She put hers in front of his mouth and he chomped down and took a big bite, getting chocolate on his face. Emily giggled and wiped it off with her thumb and finished off the gram cracker sandwich.

Jacob and Renesme were each roasting marshmallows side by side and were in the process of making their own.

"Hand me yours," Jacob said, "Grab a few gram crackers and put some chocolate on them."

Aside from Quil and Embry, who were setting up an area to light off fireworks, everyone sat somewhat close around the large campfire.

"Masen would like this," Emmett said, "We'll have to take him back here some time when they get in from their honeymoon."

"They go down to lover's island?" Jacob asked with a grin.

Edward snickered, "Yeah."

"They called about a half hour ago," Esme said, "Seems like they're having a good time."

Carlisle smiled as she talked and looked around at everyone.

"Want to hunt fast?" Edward asked, looking at him.

Carlisle raised his eyebrows and quickly realized he was asking for a reason, "Yeah. It's been awhile. I hadn't even noticed."

Esme turned to face him, studying his eyes, then saw how black Edward's were.

"We'll be back in a half hour," Carlisle told her, kissing her forehead, "Save my spot."

She smiled, "Of course."

Edward squeezed Bella's shoulder and stood up, looking at Alexandra and Michael out of the corner of his eye as he and Carlisle distanced themselves from the rest of their family.

"What are you going to say?" Carlisle asked.

"Well, first," Edward said, "I really do need to hunt."

He nodded and looked around, "I should to."

They each roamed about the forest until a pair of deer caught their attention and they were able to strike and feed. When Edward felt satisfied, he approached his father. "It's about Alex, and Alice."

"Alice?" Carlisle asked.

"She told me about a vision just before you and Esme joined us at the fire. Aro's coming here. He's on his way to see Lucy."

His eye met Edward's more directly.

"He's not meaning any trouble, and Alice's vision wasn't complete, but he should be here by the weekend. Saturday she thought, but she wasn't certain."

"So, what's going to happen?"

"Alice didn't sense anything dangerous, but his idea was to talk to everyone. She didn't give me the impression that it was anything to worry about."

"Will he come alone?" Carlisle asked.

"Yes," Edward told him, "That she was sure of."

He nodded, seeming relieved, "And Alexandra?"

"She wants to speak with Aro about Michael's situation, or have Lucy do it for her. They planned a talk about it already."

Carlisle looked down and shook his head. "That's probably what they had planned for the weekend. That's why she didn't elaborate."

"Alice doesn't think he means any harm, and he's traveling alone strictly to see Lucy. I don't think there's a huge threat there. Neither did she."

"But she couldn't see the entire vision?"

"Because of Seth, she suspects."

Carlisle nodded and traced the lines of his jaw while he thought.

"Bring it up when you take Alexandra to the airport," Edward suggested, "That'll probably be your best bet."

"She was suppose to give her final decision about that tonight," he nodded again to himself, "I'll talk to her then."

Edward nodded back and looked around.

"Thanks," Carlisle said, "Want to get back?"

"Sure," Edward said. The two of them took off toward the Quileute camp ground, beginning to hear fireworks as they approached.

"Wooooo!" Jared called into the air as a collage of greens and blues decorated the sky.

Quil and Embry remained far enough away to leave a good distance between themselves and the trees.

Edward linked back up with Bella as he and Carlisle entered the clearing. Alexandra spotted them and whispered quietly to Michael before jogging over to Carlisle.

"Hey, Alex," he said with a smile.

She pulled him away from the group by the sleeve of his shirt with a smile, "I've decided to go to Denali with Michael. We can hang out with Lucy and Seth some other time."

Carlisle raised his eyebrows.

"I'll go back with you or Mom tomorrow," she continued, "Or both of you."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yeah," she nodded, moving her eyes from his to the trees and back to his eyes.

"Were you planning on meeting with Aro?"

Alexandra's eyes widened and her jaw dropped, "What?"

Carlisle didn't break his stare, "Is that why you wanted to stick around? Because you thought Aro would be coming to town to see Lucy, and then you and her could approach him about Michael's parents?"

Alexandra was lost. She wasn't sure if he was testing her, or if he had his facts confused. The fact that he didn't seem angry gave her a slight edge of confidence and she decided to take a chance.

"Um, well, kind of. But-"

"If you're serious about going to Denali, tell Lucy to hold off. I'll speak with Aro."

"Dad, no. I mean... no we're not going to ask, okay."

Carlisle looked at her skeptically.

"I admit, I was thinking about it. Michael wasn't, but I was. I'm not anymore. We'll go to Denali and have a good time."

Esme joined them away from the group and Carlisle looked at her.

"You heard everything?" Alexandra asked.

She nodded.

"Can you guys take us back home tomorrow some time to catch the plane?"

"Sure," Esme assured her.

The two of them stared at their daughter before she cleared her throat and looked around.

"Well, thank you for being honest," Carlisle told her, "And I won't speak with him if that's what you both wish."

"Yeah," Alexandra said with a nod, "Don't."

"Okay."

Michael looked over his shoulder from where he stood and Alexandra held up a finger, signaling she'd rejoin him in a minute.

"Go ahead," Esme said. She stepped to the side.

"Sorry," she told both of them.

"For what?" Carlisle asked.

Alexandra's voice was a bit solemn, "For lying."

They looked at each other before Carlisle spoke, "Go enjoy the fireworks."

She nodded and scampered away to Michael's side.

"What did Edward tell you?" Esme asked immediately as their daughter left.

"Aro's coming into town," Carlisle whispered, catching Esme's worried expression, "But he's only visiting Lucy, according to Alice. Nothing to do with Alexandra or Michael."

She nodded.

"You know how you said the two of them and Lucy and Seth were acting weird?"

Esme nodded again, "Yes."

"Well, from what Edward could see, they were planning on talking with Aro about the possibility of Michael visiting his parents."

She sighed and shook her head, "You told her not to right?"

"I said I'd talk to him myself, but she said they didn't intend to do it anymore. She had originally wanted to, but changed her mind and the two of them plan to use the tickets we got them for Denali."

Esme still looked worried and eyed the fire that sat some twenty yards from where the stood at the edge of the tree line.

"Hey," Carlisle gently grabbed forearm, "Alice said Aro isn't coming here for trouble. His whole idea is to see Lucy, and that's all."

"Okay," she nodded, "So we'll bring them to the airport tomorrow afternoon?"

"Yeah," Carlisle said reassuringly.

"Alright." Esme took in a deep breath of the night air.

Carlisle could tell the news didn't please her, and that worry still lingered in the undertones of her expression. He pulled her in toward his body and kissed her temple, "No worrying."

"I'll try not to," she sighed, "When he's gone back to Italy, I'll be fine."

He kissed her again on the cheek, then once on the lips as he sensed that was what she was waiting for. "We'll be fine."

Esme wrapped her arms around him and he pulled her into his chest. The two of them looked up at the fireworks display that the Quileute boys were continuing to put on.

"Want to watch them from a different spot?" Carlisle asked her, looking down to meet her eyes as she turned.

"From where?"

He smiled and shrugged, "Somewhere else."

Esme felt a grin slowly spread across her face, "Sure."

Carlisle stepped back and held out his hand before the two of them disappeared.