Disclaimer: All characters are SM's.

A/N: I have to thank all the reviewers for the last chapter. I was amazed at the the great response from you guys. Thank you thank you. This should probably be a filler chapter but it's too long so it has to be a chapter. A little respite from all the kleenexes....

Summary: Carlisle makes a strange request.

Chapter 27: Bubble Bubble Toil and Trouble

Carlisle POV

I didn't know how much more of this I could take. Or Esme for that matter. First Jasper, now the three of them! I was loathe to think that maybe we were cursed, perhaps we were?

Esme said I was being ridiculous.

If I had said this to her a week ago she probably would have agreed with me. She obviously forgot how freaked out she was a week ago when all three of our boys were in my hospital, one in ICU for two whole days for that matter and the other one - the sick one, the severely immune compromised one; having to go under heavy antibiotics – again. I swear, I swear that boy had a death wish sometimes. I was only glad that his system had had time to recuperate from the septic shock and he had been very religious with his medication before he decided to be a superhero and save his brothers. Had it been otherwise, I didn't think he would be up and joking around after a week. He was lucky. We were lucky.

Not that I wasn't happy that he went after them, but still..

"Carlisle..you are huffing over hot air," Esme pooh poohed me when I had first impressed the idea to her.

Excuse me for being paranoid.

I couldn't understand it either how she could be so calm so quickly after that incident. Not that I wasn't grateful that she wasn't, I'd be in a much worst position if she were. But again still..

Just cause she's small, it doesn't mean she's not strong…

That left me then. The paranoid one. Maybe Billy was influencing me far too much for my own good now.

"Billy Black said it's good to have a cleansing ceremony of sort.." I said to her deadpanned.

I know – this coming from a medical doctor? Who would've thought right?

I may be a man of science, but I was an open minded individual. Never one of those people who completely disregarded the existence of miracles, mysteries, things metaphysical that couldn't be explained by logic and the rational mind. I was fascinated with esotericism and anthroposophy; and read Steiner, among others extensively in my free time.

If I didn't believe in miracles and things metaphysical, how could I explain then Esme's survival when she took poison 28 years ago? Doctors were convinced she should have died. What about falling in love with her after one date? There had to be destiny there somewhere and not just luck. And what about the boys? Here were three boys born of different parents and yet, from the day we took them in, Esme and I knew they were connected somehow, that they would complete and support each other in some way or another. We weren't wrong in our observation and we weren't the only ones who noticed. Our native friends, who were more in touch with the spirit world so to speak; saw this connection between the boys as well.

Speaking of Natives, Billy was an old old friend, I had been to his hunting ritual initiation when I was still a kid in Forks. His advice was worth a talent of gold in my mind.

Esme looked at me as if I had grown wings or..devil horns for that matter.

"Carlisle, what kind of ceremony are you talking about?" she asked me curiously if not suspiciously.

I explained to her what Billy Black told me then, sparing no detail. She was his mother for heaven sake, she had the right to know what kind of devil ceremony I was allowing our son to be initiated into. I was surprised when she acceded without much so much a fight.

"You don't mind?" I asked a little disbelievingly.

"No.. Billy and his family are our friends, and if he thinks a cleansing ceremony might help, I say why not. As long as it doesn't involve bloodletting and sacrificing animals in our home, I'm fine with that.. Jasper needs all the blessings he can get." She said simply. I obviously underestimated my wife.

"No... he didn't mention anything about bloodletting or animal sacrifices.. maybe a little burning here and there?" I supplied, almost expecting her to put her foot down and say no again. She nodded cheerfully to me.

Now to impress the idea to our kids.

*********

Emmett POV

"Wha..oughfdh.." I nearly choked on my chocolate beverage. By the look of things, so did Jasper and Edward. We were at the moment having a brotherly 'discussion' in Jas's hospital room.

"Could you repeat that ..err dad?" Jasper asked once the three of us had collected ourselves. I caught him steadying his own mug and Edward resting his on Jas's bed. I rested mine on Jas's bed as well.

Dad coughed slightly and calmly repeated himself. We heard it right the first time alright. If dad wasn't standing in front of us right now, I would have laughed outright at the ridiculous request.

On second thought. Cross that.

I laughed out loud and my beverage threatened to spill on Jas's pristine white sheet yet again. My brothers were trying their best not to join me while simultaneously glaring daggers at me it seemed. I collected myself very quickly. It was pretty rude to laugh at your dad, I supposed. Jasper slammed his hand against my shoulder deliberately.

"Oww.." I muttered and rubbed the not so sore place where he had just hit me. He raised an eyebrow to me. I knew what that meant.

"So..rry dad.." I semi chuckled an apology to our dad who was looking a little embarrassed now. He smiled tightly.

"Well..soo.. is it okay with you boys if we do this ceremony?" He asked again, as if we didn't hear it the first time. I looked at Jasper and Edward for a moment, before the three of us nodded in unison at dad, albeit a little dumbfounded. His smile relaxed and he walked over to the bed, donned his doctor's coat again and proceeded to check on Jasper quickly.

"How's the chest?" He asked, while checking Jas's temp and heart rate.

"Just a little irritated still but no phlegm, I'm fine," he answered easily.

Dad asked Edward and me next and we responded in the same manner.

"Good.. well great then. You three are going to be released tomorrow, so we'll have the ceremony done tomorrow evening, the sooner the better," he expressed a little too cheerfully, giving Edward a little clap on the shoulder before he excused himself to go do his daily rounds. The moment he was out of sight, we broke into a round of chuckles.

"What..the hell just happened there??" Edward mused, taking another gulp of his beverage.

"You tell me..I was this close to asking dad if he should have his head checked….who..would have thought…" I said a little disbelievingly.

"Billy's a good friend, I suppose there's no harm in doing a ceremony like that if it helps to alleviate their worries," Jasper proposed then. We mused quietly for a moment. We did really worry our parents this time. And I was sure as much as dad was proud of Jasper's superhero antics, I didn't think he was very happy when he had to put Jas under heavy medication to counter the pneumonia he had contracted.

"Hey, remember the time we went to see Jacob's initiation?" he added again, a wide smile appearing on his pink tinged face.

"Whoah..how could I forget..that was shitload of fun!!" I chimed in instantly.

............

******

We went home the next morning. All in all we had spent a week in the hospital. Not too bad considering the accident we had. The only tell tale signs of our unceremonious dip into the Bogachiel now was my cast ankle, Edward's yellowing bruise on his temple and Jas's occasional dry coughs. Other than that we were hale as the sun.

Mom and the girls all came to fetch us in two cars.

"Did mom say anything to you girls?" I asked Rosie as she sidled next to me in the backseat of the Jeep. Bella was driving and Edward had gone up front. Jasper and Alice left with mom in her car.

"The ceremony? Yeah she did," she responded unfazed. Bella seemed relaxed as well. Edward and I looked at one another a little nonplussed for a second, surprised by their reaction or rather non reaction.

"O..kay..I guess you girls are not weirded out by this…" I drawled.

Rosie's response was not what I expected.

"Grandma Hale's done a few séances at her home, it's totally cool," she said easily. I saw Edward flash a "that's freaky" glance at her for a minute.

"Haven't you ever played Ouija board before?? I think it's going to be fun.." Bella chimed in now, while Rosie nodded her head to me enthusiastically. I could only wonder what Alice thought of it.

"Anyway, Esme said that there won't be any bloodletting or animal sacrificing, and she seems really looking forward to it, so I don't see why not," she added again, all the while concentrating on the road.

"Well…if you girls say so then," I responded finally, relaxing into the seat as Rosie settled beside me.

We arrived home soon enough and spent the day chilling at home, waiting for evening to come, for the fanfare to begin.

************

Edward POV

Dad returned at about 6 and we had supper early. Billy and a few friends came over at about half past 7. After a quick introduction, we were ushered into the ceremony immediately. Everyone was gathered in the lounge as Billy started explaining to us what the ceremony entailed. After a short prayer in their native tongue, Jasper was made to stand in the middle of the our haphazard circle while Billy burnt a bundle of loosely tied plant, which mom whispered to us was Sage. When the plant started smoldering, Billy started smudging Jasper's personal space - fanning the smoke upwards from Jasper's left leg to his head, before moving down to his right leg again, going around him as he did so. He repeated this four times, incanting prayers in his native tongue while he worked around him. As he was doing this on Jasper, the other four people burnt the same herb and with dad's permission started going about the house and rooms. The sole lady that came with them performed the process collectively on us. When this was done, Billy burnt another plant – cedar this time. It was a pungent almost disinfectant smelling, but not offensive in the least. We were told that this was to purify and remove any negative emotional energy troubling him. I thought I saw Jasper's eyes darkened for a second there.

Let's hope that helps with his dreams. I thought quietly as they repeated the process with the cedar around the house again.

When that was over, Billy burned a sweet smelling plant called sweetgrass and repeated the process again on Jasper and then the rest of us. He later explained that sweetgrass was one of the Native's most sacred herbs, and its purpose was to bring in the positive energies into our space after having gotten rid of the negative energies and influences. The ceremony took all about 40 minutes and when they had all returned to the lounge with us, it was ended by a short prayer of thanksgiving, before mom invited them for coffee and biscuits.

I had to say, I was a bit disappointed. I was expecting more hoo hah magic I supposed. I could tell Emmett was expecting the same, he looked absolutely let down. Jasper, I guess was at least a little more discreet in hiding his feelings.

"What were you guys expecting? A cauldron filled with magic potion?" Rosie exclaimed to us while we sat down discussing the ceremony afterwards.

"Hell yeah.. magic potion, incantations shit like that, bubble bubble toil and trouble," Emmett stated a little too honestly. The girls only laughed at his response.

"Boys…everything has to be bloody exciting and huge or it's nothing at all," Bella muttered rolling her eyes. Alice and Rosie chuckled after her instantly while the three of us stared at them in mock hurt.

"Hey!" I responded to her mockingly.

"Of course you're not a boy sweetheart.." she jumped to my side instantly and started licking at my bruised ego with her lips. I, of course could not resist that and received a round of groans from my siblings and their respective partners.

*******

JPOV

I had to say I was expecting a bit more fanfare but in the end it didn't matter because I actually felt better. I didn't know why, I just did. I pulled Alice close to me while everyone mingled a bit after the ceremony had ended. I was about to go and get us some more coffee with Alice when the oldish lady approached me and looked at me kindly. Her hair was gray and almost white in some places, but she had this warm and inviting maternal look on her soft crinkly face, sort of the look I would have enjoyed having on a grandma if I had one. I was rooted in my place and couldn't help but smile at her as she approached me. I felt myself relax instinctively when she laid a soft hand on my cheek.

"You have been through so much in your young life, haven't you?" she said softly to me, not so much asking but more so stating it to me. I couldn't help lean further into her hand. I felt my heart tug a little at her words. Tell me about it.

"Sometimes it feels as if there is no light at the end of your path, and you feel like giving up?" Her brown eyes dug deeply into my blue ones.

My heart tugged a little more. Yes. Sometimes it feels like it is easier to just..

"But you're a fighter. It's not your nature to give up," she said to me then, giving me my answer. I smiled again at her insight.

Then I saw the lines between her brows deepen.

"A woman..she hurt you..deeply," she murmured again, sounding a little sad, if it was possible. I felt my own face crease now. Maria. She was talking about Maria. I caught Alice standing behind her looking at me concernedly. I knew she must have heard her. I ignored Alice for the moment and nodded subtly to the woman.

"But no longer." She smiled back at me. I smiled back. She was right about that. The smile did not linger though before her face darkened slightly once more.

"Your dreams are dark, they trouble you?"

I was shocked yet again and I felt myself shudder just a little now. I nodded and my hand went up unconsciously to hold hers that was touching me on my cheek. I squeezed it ever so slightly and welcomed the feeling of safety I got from it.

"Don't let them have power over you child, they are wraiths, they survive only if you feed them with your fear," she said ever so softly.

"There is light within you. Focus on that."

I relaxed almost immediately at her words.

"And stay close to her, she helps to keep them at bay," she smiled at me now. Alice. She was talking about her now. I smiled back again. Somehow I thought I saw her nod quietly at my silent answer in return. Just before she let me go, she came even closer to me and whispered.

"Before the end of the day, you'll need courage and strength. Remember the ones you love and their love for you, yes?" she looked at me intently as if giving me a heads up or a warning, I wasn't quite sure which. My forehead creased again. I was a bit lost for words so I merely nodded and murmured a quiet thanks to her. She enveloped me in a warm and reassuring hug before she let go and joined her friends again. I was left there standing pondering at her final words before Alice's touch returned my thoughts to her.

"You okay Jazz?" she asked quietly. I smiled and draped my arm over her shoulder and pulled her into my side.

"Yeah.. let's go get that coffee." I murmured in return. She gave me a quiet look before leaning into my ribs and squeezing my waist as we walked together to the kitchen. I knew there was a silent question attached to the one she had vocalized to me, and I would ease her concerns soon enough.

Esme POV

"I'm glad you did this honey," I spoke to my husband when the last of our guests were finally gone. He looked down at me happily.

"You don't think I'm huffing over hot air still do you?" he asked a little embarrassedly.

"I'm not sure about the cursed thing still," I smirked. He gave me a mock look of hurt for a second before the smile appeared on his face again. He chuckled at my response lightly.

"… but this was good. Somehow.. they did something. I feel lighter." I told him honestly. He pulled me in and kissed the top of my head quickly before murmuring his agreement.

"Me too.. honey. Me too," he responded softly as we looked at the rest of our family still seated in the lounge. Everyone looked lighter. Happier somehow. Even Jasper looked a lot better. A little rosier. I had been curious to know what the lady had said to him earlier as I noticed him tense a few times while they were talking but seeing how much better he looked now, perhaps it had been something good after all.

*********

JPOV

She crept up to my side and ran her tiny hand on my thigh and looked up at me.

"You're not tired yet?" she asked, probably wondering why I was still sitting on the bed instead of lying down.

"Getting there.." I murmured softly. Our fingers played catch again for a moment. She tinkled a laugh when I caught hers quickly.

"What did you think of the ceremony?" I asked her.

"I don't know if this makes sense, but something's changed somehow," she said a little unsure, though maybe only of her wording. She quirked a curious eye at me. You?

"I actually feel a lot lighter…you know what I mean?" I responded. She nodded. I laughed a little then, recalling our reactions when dd had first suggested it.

"To think we thought dad was a little mad when he first suggested it,"

"Oh yeah..tell me about it, when your mom first mentioned it to us, I was a little shocked to know where it came from, but I ..didn't think it was proper to say that to your mom," she responded. We chatted a bit.

"Babe..something you want to tell me?" she inquired a little later when she noticed that I was delaying snuggle time.

I sighed. Time to open Pandora's box. It was now or never.

"Yeah.. I want to tell you about Maria…" I started.

She instinctively turned her body and turned me to face her. When her legs were draped over my thighs and mine were crossed behind the small of her back; and her hands were on my arms rubbing me gently; when she had made her calming presence known to me through our physical contact, only then did my story begin.

If I had thought I was through feeling the feelings I went through with Maria and because of her, I was wrong. She no longer taunted me in the way she used to, but the dark memory and the emotion that went with it still beset me. I had to stop a few times to recollect myself and not get angry or emotional over the things I was relaying to her. She listened silently. The assurance that she was indeed listening to me intently was the changing color in her face and eyes as I told her the details of my dark history with Maria and the aftermath of it. The other was her ever present touch on my arms or my sides, on my chest or my face.

I was spent when I finished. She pulled her legs away from mine suddenly and for a second I was afraid she was disgusted by my story, disgusted by how weak I had been. Being played and taunted; no abused by a girl, no less. I almost panicked. Was she going to change her mind now? I calmed down the moment I realized she was only rearranging herself so she could kneel close and wrap me in her arms.

"I am soo sorry Jazz.. for what you've been through," she whispered to my hair. When she pulled back, I could see emotion swirling in her eyes. Anger, pain, sadness.

"You shouldn't feel weak or disgusted at yourself though. There are just some really evil people out there and sometimes we just get unlucky and cross paths with them, you know? Perhaps your only weakness is your kind nature, your faith in the innate goodness in people, and your hope that there is good in them somewhere; and that landed you in the darkness you were in all those years. I know - it's depressing and disappointing when people you care about deeply don't come up to scratch. But you see, it's not your weakness, it's theirs. She could not appreciate you for what you were and are still and resorted to all those things to make herself feel better. Really babe, it's her loss at the end of the day."

"You don't think I'm weak? That I cry? That I hurt myself for her?" I asked, my hands holding her on her hips.

"No. I only think that we make mistakes and sometimes people take advantage of it. Heck I made a lot of mistakes in my life. I think in a way you were very brave to have hoped for the goodness in her. Not all of us are courageous like that you know," she answered me honestly.

I let out a self deprecating chuckle. Look where it got me.

"Sweetheart, I don't think you're weak. I think you're courageous. The fact that you're still capable of loving the way you do so unreservedly and passionately after this... You..you have an amazing, kind and beautiful soul inside here.." she tapped into my chest with her finger gently.

I could only gape at her in amazement. How she could render me into a blubbering statue with a few sentences, I couldn't even begin to explain. I pulled her in and kissed her wholeheartedly.

"She's no longer hurting you?" She asked me a little later. I looked at her silently for a second. I remembered my conversation with the old lady again.

"No. Not anymore." I said to her with absolute sincerity. She smiled. I pulled her down eye level to me again and lavished her lips with my own.

"You're very good for me Alice," I told her when we were lying in bed several long minutes later. Her tinkly laugh vibrated against my skin.

"That makes two of us babe.." she said to me, throwing her leg across my torso again and her arm draped over my chest, while my arm went under her neck and the other clasped her hand that was on my chest; our customized sleeping position. I pulled up the duvet to cover us.

"I'm glad Bella was there for you…remind me to thank her tomorrow will you?" she said to me just as we both yawned. I nodded with a smile on my face.

"I love you Jazzy," she murmured looking up at me, her eyes closed. I kissed her nose and returned the sentiment to her as I pulled her closer to me still and we snuggled for the night. I smiled at the knowledge that the dark dreams were not going to disturb me again tonight.

A/N: No vampires and wolves, but had to just add a bit of Native ritual in there..how was it?