A/N – (I don't own twilight or the characters in any way.All credit goes toStephanie Meyers)
Downhill.
Esme's P.O.V.
(1 Year later.)
It had been one year. One year since the death of my son, the death of myself, and it marked the change I had been through.
So much had changed over a year. I wasn't that timid woman anymore, every time I looked into the mirror; I looked at a different person. I was free to be myself, and I had the best husband – family – in the world, well in vampire terms, and I was happy.
Though the past year had helped me recover from invisible scars, it also offered new milestones for me. I had learnt so much, and Carlisle, along with Edward and the Denali's, were the only ones I could thank. And on top of everything else we had moved again. This time we had settled down in a city called Red Deer in Central Alberta, Canada.
"Esme..." I felt Carlisle strong arms slide around my waist pulling me into him. I turned around in his arms, pecking him on the lips.
"How was work darling?" I ran a hand through his silky hair.
"Surprisingly calm." I tapped his nose, reaching for the medical bag which he held in his hand.
"So I guess there wasn't that much blood." He laughed, holding me tighter.
"Does a nose bleed count?"
"Yes."
"Okay, well then...I guess there was lots of blood for a boy of his age." I smiled, pulling out of his embrace and dropped his medical bag by the coat hanger situated near the door.
"Shoes as well, sir." I reminded him.
"So demanding," he whispered into my ear. "I like that." I wacked him on the arm the same time the door opened.
"Edward," I greeted.
He nodded in my direction before running up to his room. He was like a ghost lately. Quietly working his way round the house, barely speaking to me or Carlisle, and his temper – although usually controlled – was starting to get the better of him.
"Do you-
"No, leave him. He'll come down in his own time." Carlisle nodded before giving me a small kiss on my forehead and placing his shoes in the cupboard under the stairs.
"What's up with him lately?" The soft chords of the piano turned crescendo as the music got angrier. My lullaby was rarely played lately, and the atmosphere in the house could be slice with through with a knife.
"I don't know Esme, really."
Carlisle and Edward had had their fair share of arguments; each one of them containing the same content.
Edward argued on his behalf that we were damned. That Carlisle's theory of an afterlife for our kind was unbelievable and indubitable. I strongly disagreed with him, not because Carlisle was my mate and husband, but because I did believe there was something for us after "death."
Carlisle retorted that there must be something for our efforts, that by refraining from the monster within, we must be rewarded in some way. By making the choice we did we are choosing to follow the right path for our "futures." I supported his statements, after all, if there was something after this life Carlisle and I would never be lost.
He grabbed my sides, making me jump.
"You always do that." He smirked.
"Because it always gets you."
He brushed my cheek with the back of his hand.
Suddenly, the tinkling of the piano had stopped completely and the sound of the fall board sounded through the house as it smashed down over the keys.
Frantic footsteps could be heard running across the landing and down the stairs.
I looked at Carlisle, my eyes questioning, as were his.
"What do you think is the matter?"
"I don't know..."
Edward appeared in the hallway, his eyes like a wild animals. They were black as midnight and for the first time, he looked like a real vampire.
"Edward, what's happened?"
His nostrils flared as his breathing became deeper, shallower.
"Nothing that concerns you," He shot back at Carlisle.
"I'm not letting you leave like this."
"Why not? Shouldn't you know already?" He scoffed as I shook my head, bracing myself for the argument ahead.
"If I knew I wouldn't ask. What's affected you so badly?" He pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes.
"You want to know do you?" He tested. "You want to know what made me react like I have," he spat.
Carlisle demure stayed calm as he awaited an answer.
"Carlisle, today, tell me who you saw." Carlisle's eyes flashed with recognition before he composed himself. "You know who I'm talking about." The bronze haired boy leaned back on the edge of the door way.
"My usual patients..."
"Yes, but the woman."
"Who? Dianna Rose?"
Edward gave a sharp nod, his eyes narrow. "And what did you treat her for?" Carlisle ran his hand through his pale hair before responding.
"Broken ribs..."
"And?" He pressed.
"A black eye and a deepish cut. It needed three stitches, that's all."
"And do you know why she needed these stitches, the ribs strapped?" Carlisle was beginning to get annoyed.
"I don't delve into my patients' personal circumstances."
"Well maybe you should." Edward ignored his comment. "After all, have you asked how she received them?"
"She fell down the stairs." His voice betrayed his calm features and I could hear the pain behind the words.
"You don't believe it though, do you?" Edward exclaimed.
"Of course I don't, but you tell me this. What do you expect me to do?" He raised his voice, which was alarming, considering Carlisle barely, if ever, did it at all.
"I expect you to confront the problem."
Carlisle started pacing, his eyes pained. "Don't you think I've thought of doing that? Don't you think I've worked out who the problem is?" Realisation dawned on me.
"She's being abused, isn't she?" My voice seemed so quiet in the sudden war zone.
Edward's eyes found mine, Carlisle stopped in his track, breaking his rhythm.
"Yes." Was the only answer I needed and expected to hear.
"Esme, I couldn't tell you," Carlisle's soothing voice broke through the tension.
"I understand. But Carlisle, I'm stronger than before."
"I'm sorry."
"You shouldn't be..."
"He should," Edward butted in. My scrutinising eyes found his.
"Why?"
His body turned slightly so he was addressing Carlisle.
"Because this...doctor, this man who is so against damaging and wasting human life, does nothing about this Diana Rose." His voice was taunting.
"Don't Edward." Carlisle argued. "You can't expect me to help a cause which is already too far out of my control."
"You can stop it-
"I cannot." His voice was full of authority. "I am not the law, nor do I play God." Edward scoffed.
"Since when have you not played God? Haven't you already reversed the impossible?"
Carlisle's eyes burned with something I didn't understand. "I did not do it out of selfishness Edward. I saved you because your mother required me to. She told me to do all within my power, and so I did. I only did what your mother wished me to."
"And Esme?" I was completely ignored, as if they had forgotten that I was in the room.
"She deserved another chance. She was too young, she offered too much opportunity."
"And I thank you for saving me," I agreed.
"But you were lonely," Edward carried on, accusing Carlisle.
"No, I wasn't. I saw her there and Edward, the connection I felt was overwhelming. I knew she was my mate, I couldn't have just left her there."
"Connection..."
"You will understand when it happens to you." Edward threw the boomerang, looping back round to the start of their disagreement.
"Esme was the same though Carlisle, so why don't – won't – you help this woman?"
"Because I can't risk her condition already."
Edward tutted and I cut in.
"I understand where he's coming from Edward." I exhaled shakily. "When I was living with Charles, I couldn't bring myself to confess the truth to my doctor. I wasn't brave enough to go to the police for I knew, if he found out I had said anything, my life would've been in the balance."
Carlisle rubbed my back.
"So why are you so against putting the fiend in his place?"
"Because I don't know the position of the woman." Carlisle's breathing became uneven as he tried to calm himself down.
"I can't watch you look by Carlisle. Something has to be done." He sighed. "There are other women as well Carlisle other women who are petrified to go home, scared because they know what they do will lead them to a severe beating. Tell me how that's fair." He walked over to Edward, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"It's not." Edward shook his hand off, walking towards the front door.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"I'm going to stop this...problem. I can't watch these...monsters be allowed to walk on the face of this earth. People, especially women and children, need to feel safe. I can't watch the murderers and rapists walk away scot free, after all, you don't live with the thoughts. People don't need to suffer; by doing this I'm protecting their lives, their well being."
"Edward, don't, please." He looked pained. "I know what it's like to be in a position like that, but please, you must understand, they choose not to get help. It damages their cause even further." He walked back to me, placing his hands on my shoulder, leaning forwards and planting a kiss on my head.
"I'm sorry," he choked.
"You're leaving?" I cried.
"I can't stand by and see innocent people suffer Mum." He cupped my cheek before dropping his hand to his side and looking at Carlisle.
"Will you be back?" He asked.
"I don't know." He gave Father and icy stare before opening the door. "If I am back, you won't recognise the monster that returns." He took his leave, running out into the cold night air.
And then just like that, he was gone. I had lost another son, another loved one.
My knees buckled as Carlisle caught me in his arms. We fell to the floor together, and for the first time in my life, I felt, heard and saw Carlisle sob. I held him tighter as my chest shook harder.
"Shhh, baby, I understand." I stroked his hair, looking through venom filmed eyes.
"I should've been stronger." I kissed his cheek, capturing his face in both my hands, forcing him to look me in the eyes.
"He's old enough to look after himself. He wanted to go, would you have really stopped him?"
"No, I just..." He took a shaky breath. "I just didn't think it would be like this." I rested my head on his shoulder, my body still shaking, invisible tears still falling.
"Nor did I." I closed my eyes, feeling the tightness of Carlisle's arms around my body. "We just have to hope he sees sense." He slumped forwards in my arms, his shoulders hunched. Pain radiated from his despairing figure.
For the first time Carlisle had been destroyed by fate, and now I had to help him through it. Past experiences had made me experienced, stronger, and now with me by his side, I had to recover us from this downhill of life.
A/N – It was only a matter of time until this would happen.
It's kind of sad, but it was unavoidable.
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