AN; I am so very sorry to all of you who received email announcing the start of Unconditional the sequel to SR, only to find it had disappeared. Literally just after I posted, my computer had a seizure and my RL began kicking my ass. And whilst I do now have computer access, my RL means that I can't devote as much time to sequel as I would want to at the moment. I did not want to hopefully get you interested in the sequel, then leave you hanging around waiting for updates, so I pulled it. You my wonderful supportive readers deserve more than that. So, whilst I am in limbo, I am hoping, a few outtakes seeing how Carlisle, Mae and little Alexander settle into family life, might help you forgive me.

CARLISLE POV

Turning over to find Mae's side of the bed empty, my eyes snapped open and focused on the alarm clock. It was almost five am, meaning that Alexander, who had woken for a feed at three, was having another restless night. My son, it was ridiculous, but I could feel the smile twitching my lips even just thinking about him, thinking about the fact I was a father, had so far been a happy, healthy, he was already trying to lift his head and was very alert baby, he just would not sleep…at night anyway. He would whimper, then explode into the most heart breaking wail every time we tried to put him back to bed, only calming, when he was safely back in our arms. At first, we had thought it was because of the colic he had developed. He was a hungry baby almost from his first feed, and so on the health visitor's advice, we had added another feed, one which I did with a bottle of the milk Mae was forced to express, to try and find some relief, from the backache, her incredibly sexy, but uncomfortably inflated chest caused her.

I looked forward every day, to that quiet time with my beautiful boy. Any stresses I had had during the day whilst teaching at the Academy, or nerves I felt as the time for me to go back to running the SCI came closer, melted away. My growing frustration at the fact that that was the only time, Mae would allow me to help her care for Alex when he was being difficult, preferring only to allow me to 'do the fun stuff' like cuddles and bath time, took until the meds and the new way that Sue had shown us to wind him, a way she used with Edward, who had turned almost crimson with embarrassment, as she had informed us that he had screamed the place down with colic, for three months solid, had helped, to fully leave me. I knew that she was so desperate to prove, that after waiting so long, that she could be a good mother in more than just the daydreams she had had for so long, that she could prove it to the world…to Jane, but it had hurt me, made me think of what my father must have gone through. And even thinking like that, even for a second, had made me feel sick with guilt. Mae was nothing like Jane. She was as Sue had said "She was a hormonal new mum, with a painful history, trying to find her feet. And unlike...Jane…all Mae needs, is time and you to just keep loving her…" It just seemed that Alexander was just one of those babies, who for the moment needed a lot of cuddles.

"Well of course he's a night owl…with two parents who have spent more late nights on stake outs, and in offices up to their necks in paperwork, than any coppers I've ever met…it's inherited…" Emmett had declared sagely, when I had come home one afternoon, to find him sat on the sofa with Alexander, glued to the preschool children's channel.

"I'm taking my godfather duties very seriously…some of these kids shows, have hidden subversive messages…" he had said earnestly. Emmett had cried and almost cracked at least three of my ribs, when Mae and I had asked he and Rose, to be Alex's godparents. He had then driven us all mad for days, impersonating Marlon Brando.

"Listen Carlisle, you and Mae…shit; all of us have waited a hell of long time for that little boy. He's helped heal something in all of us. But he's made you and Mae even stronger…he can sense how happy he makes you and how much you adore him…so the kid is just feeling the love…" Emmett had chuckled roughly one day, when he saw me, yawing widely.

"Moon river, wider than a mile,

We're crossing you in style, one day…

The sound of Mae's gentle, sweet voice echoing up the stairs, pulled me from my reverie and pulled me, almost as if I were hypnotized, down the stairs towards the lounge. If a picture really does paint a thousand words, then seeing Mae, sat on the sofa, gazing down at Alexander, who was resting on her drawn up bent knees, with such love, despite her tiredness, summed up what Emmett had tried to say beautifully.

ESME POV

"Oh dream maker, you heart breaker…where ever you're going…I'm going your way…"

I crooned softly as I gazed into my son's fathomless blue pools, which were finally beginning to grow heavy with sleep. After finding that talking to him only soothed him for so long, reading to him was something that only seemed to work when Carlisle did it, and he could take or leave the flickering pictures of the TV and any recorded music I might play, I had tried singing to him. We had gone through my limited repertoire many times over the last few nights. This song, had stuck in my head after I had watched the movie on cable, whilst ironing this afternoon…but it seemed to be working! And the words were so very true.

"Three drifters, off to see the world…there's such…a lot of world to see…"

And your Daddy and I, we're going to make sure you see as many, of the beautiful things in the world as we can my darling boy. I thought as I gently smoothed down his soft blonde hair that had been ruffled by sleep.

"We're after the same…rainbows end, waiting round the bend…my huckle berry friend aaand me…"I finished, softly lowering my head, to kiss his tiny little hands was holding in my own.

Alexander yawned and continued to fight his closing eyes, giving me one last glimpse of his beautiful eyes, and what I was convinced was a smile. Finally however, he gave in and fell into a deep, steady rhythm of sleep.

"Not that I'm complaining, but I always thought, it was two drifters…" Carlisle said softly from the doorway, making me jump.

"Sorry love…" he said, coming to sit on the end of the sofa and stroking my leg and Alexander's soft head.

"Did Audrey Hepburn spinning in her grave wake you?" I asked, chuckling softly.

"So it looks like our little vampire, has a new lullaby…" Carlisle said smiling.

"He's not a vampire!" I said protectively. "And yes it is two drifters…but we're not two anymore…we're three…"

Even in the dim, early morning light streaming through the small chink in the curtains, I could see Carlisle's dazzling smile as he scooped Alexander up into his strong arms, whilst holding out a hand to me. Alexander snuffled and wriggled, but a few quiet words from Carlisle as we climbed the stairs, soon settled him. To think, I had, not intentionally, tried to come between and deny Alexander the love, support and security, this wonderful man was so desperate to give us.

We had made so many plans about sharing everything to do with looking after Alex, wanting to give him the attention and love that our own parents couldn't or wouldn't give us. I knew how important it was to Carlisle to feel part of everything. And yet, when things got tough, when Alex had fallen out of the easy routine we had been lucky enough for his first eight weeks, becoming colicky after his feeds, something which was thankfully now settling, I had turned into a growling Momma Bear, snapping at anyone, even Carlisle, who had tried to offer me help.

I was Alexander's mother I was supposed to know how to soothe him. Carlisle was getting up every morning to go teach at the Academy, my job, was to look after our home and our son I had reasoned to myself.

"Yeah I thought that in the beginning with Danni. Wouldn't let Jazz do anything, then I came down with the flu…remember? I had to let Jazz look after Danni. Anyway, she was grizzling really badly one afternoon and Jazz panicked. I ended up screaming at him that all she needed was her Mr Hefalump toy. And he turned round and said to me, quite calmly, 'how was he supposed to know that?' when I wouldn't let him do anything for her, never told him about her toys? The look on his face, it reminded me of one night we were at Harrowview, before you and Carlisle got back together. Edward and Carlisle, were talking about some of the stuff they got up to as kids…Aro had this really sad, pained look on his face, he didn't know any of it…she…she made his life so hard, he couldn't be at home with his sons…despite the fact he really wanted to…" Alice had said one afternoon , when she had come round, to see me in an exhausted heap on the sofa, crying softly into a cushion. " None of us have parents around, to give us the benefit of their parental wisdom Mae, we are all, having to learn as we go…and believe me, it's a lot less scary learning together."

"It's time to wake up Sleeping Beauty…" Carlisle's deep, rich voice whispered softly in my ear, causing a tremble of pleasure to run through my body and a sleepy, but wide and loving smile to creep across my face, as I felt him trail soft, kisses from behind my ear and along my cheek. With a soft purr of pleasure, I stretched my arms over my head, before turning on my back and opening my eyes. I was met by his fathomless blue pools, staring back at me, full of love, desire and I didn't have time to try and work out what the other emotion I saw there was, as looking into Carlisle's eyes, had cleared the fog of sleep from my brain, and reminded me with the force of a slap to the face, about..

"Alexander!" I squeaked, as a quick glance at the alarm told me it was past eight, nearly forty minutes past his feed. Sitting bolt upright, I looked over Carlisle's shoulder, into my son's empty Moses' basket.

"Mae…Mae…calm down love, he's here…he's fine, he was helping me make you breakfast in bed…" Carlisle said quickly, bending down and freeing Alexander from the padded bouncy chair that we placed him in, when we were in different rooms.

"Never mind my breakfast, he must be starving…look at the time…why didn't I hear him crying? You should have woken me.." I snapped, looking at Carlisle as if he was crazy, worrying about feeding me, before our son. Our son, who was lying quite contentedly in the crook of his Daddy's arm, observing me, with the same beautiful blue eyes as his father. Only know, his father's eyes, were tinged with hurt.

"I took him into the kitchen the minute I heard him wake. Mae, he was so cranky with his feeds last week, you were up for hours every time because you wouldn't let me help during the night.…" Carlisle said, the hurt in his voice clear.

"You had to get up for work you needed your rest…" I argued weakly.

"Mae, sweetheart, you know I can and have, survived on nothing but cat naps, coffee and cigarettes for days and functioned fine. I want I need to do my part to look after him and you…please…"

It had hit me then like a slap to the face. What the hell was I doing yelling at Carlisle? He had waited as long as I had for this moment, for Alexander. He was desperate to learn from the mistakes of the past, to give the son a blind man could see he adored, and who adored him, everything he never had and so desperately wanted as a child. And wasn't that, the one thing I had wanted for Alexander as well, to give him the security and love of two parents who loved him as much as they loved each other? For him to see that love and develop into a good man…

It would hard enough for us, when Carlisle went back to work full time. I really would be the one totally responsible for Alexander's care during what I knew, despite Carlisle's best efforts, would be some long days and nights. I had realized, I was crazy denying myself Carlisle's help and support now, as we navigated these first daunting months of learning how to care for this beautiful little boy, who was totally reliant on us for everything. And I was being cruel, denying Carlisle the chance to love his son and give him the family life to come home to, that he had always wanted

"Mae…are you getting up love?"

"I…don't think I can…" I whimpered from beneath the duvet. I had been slowly reintroducing exercise back into my routine, I wasn't vain and I had managed to get my figure back pretty well in the ten weeks since Alexander was born, but I wanted to shift my baby belly a little faster and whilst I could not change my diet whilst breast feeding, I knew that running would help me. The doctor had said it was ok, as I had healed well from the birth and the two stitches I'd had to have and because my body was used to the exercise and probably craving it.

A Saturday morning jog had been a routine of Carlisle and mine, since almost the first weekend we had spent together, and he had been delighted when I had shyly suggested it again on Friday night. His smile had become even bigger, when I said that it would be just the two of us, as I had asked Rose and Emmett to babysit.

The thought of leaving Alex with anyone worried me, but I knew I had to, if I was ever going to get to spend some much needed alone time with Carlisle. I missed my husband and it appeared he had missed me just as much and as Carlisle had said, it would be good practice, for Valentine's Day, when he insisted we were going out. So yesterday morning, we had gone out for a jog in the park. Nowhere near at the same speed we were used to, but it had felt so good to stretch my muscles, to have some control back over my body, but maybe the best part, had been being so close to Carlisle. To feel his arm brush against mine, to laugh with him as he gently teased me and encouraged me. Now though, the morning after, my entire body was aching, throbbing, and painfully stiff.

"Well I did say, racing me up that hill, might have been a mistake…" Carlisle said, trying and failing not to laugh.

"Only cause I won…" I growled.

Carlisle pulled a face at me, before lying back down beside me, and peering over the top of the duvet I had pulled over my head.

"I'll get you some painkillers…you've expressed enough milk for today…" he said in answer to my argument, that I did not want to take even smallest risk, that something could taint what I fed Alexander.

"Then, I shall run you a bath…" Carlisle said firmly.

"Come in with me?" I said. The words had left my mouth, before I even realized. Carlisle's face, showed the surprise I was feeling

"I…I may need you to scrub my back…I mean if you want to…Alex will be asleep for at least another hour…you don't have to…" I stammered.

What the hell was wrong with me? This was Carlisle, my husband, the man who had made love to me, seen me naked too many times to count. But suddenly I was stammering over my words and blushing, I could feel the heat prickling over my face and down my neck, like a shy teenager. But as crazy as it sounded, I had felt very much like an insecure teenager in regards to Carlisle seeing my body since Alexander was born. We had shared lots of cuddles and gentle kisses, but the need for my body to heal, exhaustion and Carlisle's work, meant that although the doctor had said it was fine, we had not yet resumed any type of physical relationship. And part of me was glad, as I had wanted to try and get my body, back into some sort of shape before Carlisle saw it again. But the feelings of overwhelming love I had felt as I watched how gentle and loving Carlisle was with our son, coupled with an unexpected, but not unpleasant, spike of lust at the sight of Carlisle's ass in running shorts, had overcome my anxiety. Carlisle's continued, intense gaze of surprise and uncertainty was making me fear, that my relief would only be temporary.

Oh please, please don't let him be one of those men, who couldn't, didn't like the idea of making love or being physical with their wives when they became 'mothers'.

" I mean…I can't…I'm not really able to do much today…too stiff…but…I thought…it might be nice…I…I miss seeing…touching you…feeling you touch me…"

My continued embarrassed, awkward babbling was cut off, by Carlisle claiming my mouth with his own. He tasted of coffee, cigarettes, mint and Carlisle. I whimpered softly, my hands slipping round his neck and into his hair as he traced along my lower lip with his tounge, before engaging mine in a playful duel. A slight whimper from our left caused both our heads to turn.

"Please baby...not now…" Carlisle and I breathed in unison, which then caused us to both laugh.

Thankfully, Alexander settled and Carlisle moved like lightening. It seemed no sooner had the taps started running, than he had come back into the bedroom and scooped me up bridal style in his arms and carried me into the bathroom.

Our deep tub was rapidly filling with bubbly hot water.

"I can suffer smelling like spiced Vanilla, if it means I get to hold you for awhile…" Carlisle said in answer to my surprised face. He hated bubble baths, the scent of most of them making him sneeze. The only one he seemed to be able to stand, being the spiced Vanilla that matched my body lotion.

I suddenly felt anxious again as I watched Carlisle strip off his clothes and step into the tub. He hadn't been working out as much as he used to and he had lost a little of the hard, sculpted look he had gained whilst boxing. But he was still breathtakingly beautiful. His broad chest covered in a dusting of the finest blonde hair, his abs, defined and strong and screaming at my hands and my mouth, that were there, ready and willing to be rediscovered and claimed as my own once more. And then, my eyes were drawn against my will, to the happy trail of darker blonde hair, which led down to…

"Mae…darlin…if you want us to have some time before the little Vampire wakes up…"

"He's not a vampire…" I snapped out of habit "And I do…really I do…it's just…oh…never mind…" I huffed almost ripping my PJ's off, in my annoyance at how insecure I was feeling and to get the inevitable over with, so that I could get into the water. I had barely stepped gingerly into the tub, my already aching muscles screaming in painful protest at my little temper tantrum, before Carlisle had reached up, holding gently but firmly onto my hips and lowered me to sit between his legs in the water.

My squeak of surprise, was quickly replaced by my hiss of pleasurable pain, as the warm water began the task of soothing my aching body.

"Just relax Mae…" Carlisle purred in my ear, his voice deep, rich, soothing yet holding a firmer undertone that would allow for no argument. Carlisle…my husband, was taking control of this situation, of me and I was more than happy to let him. With a deep sigh, I let my head fall back against his shoulder, my heavy legs float and tangle with his. We sat like this for…what felt like forever, but was probably only ten minutes, just allowing the feel of each other's skin, the scent of each other made all the more potent by the warmth and the water, seep into each other and soothe us.

"I've missed this…missed you…" Carlisle said quietly, turning his head and sweetly kissing my temple, before allowing his hands that had been resting on my own, to begin stroking my arms

"I've missed you too…" I sighed, the water was warm almost too hot, we both liked hot showers and baths, but I was shivering beneath Carlisle's touch.

"I guess we didn't realize just how tough it was going to be, having a new born little vamp…"

"He is NOT a vampire…" I huffed, splashing Carlisle. "He's just very alert…"

"Especially at night…" Carlisle chuckled.

"Stop it!" I growled, turning slightly and giving him a nipping kiss. "But you are right…things haven't been…as easy as we hoped…I guess that's why you never see what happens after the happy ending in fairy tales. Might spoil the illusion"

" Has it spoilt it for you?" Carlisle asked quietly, his blue eyes full of genuine concern as he looked at me.

"It's been hard…but I've never been happier. We have our beautiful little boy, a real home…and I know that no matter how hard it gets…I have you. And as Emmett is so fond of saying…there ain't nothing that Cullen and Mae can't do…" I said a little roughly, praying that the threatening tears I felt didn't fall.

The kiss Carlisle gave me was sweet, tender and told me far better than any words, how much he loved me and that he was in total agreement. He pulled away in slight alarm however, when I let a hiss escape me against his lips. Turning as I had and Carlisle sitting up slightly to kiss me, meant that our chests had crushed together causing me to cry out, not in pain as Carlisle thought, but pleasure, something that he was quick to see after he had looked at me properly. With a slight smirk twitching his lips, Carlisle turned me back round, so I was laying against his chest, resting my head in the crook of his neck, before picking up the body wash on the side of the tub.

"Carlisle…I…" I stammered biting down on my lip in an attempt to stifle the deep moan I could feel building in my chest at the feel of his warm soapy hands, moving over my skin.

"You've been hiding from me Mae…" Carlisle growled lowly against my ear, his hands gently skimming over my breasts.

"Oooh…please…" I hissed, desperately trying not to scream or buck clear out of the tub as the intense pleasure crackled through my sensitive peaks.

"Please stop?" he queried.

"No..no…" I mumbled. "But I…my body…it's not…the saaaammee…" I whimpered, struggling to concentrate as Carlisle teased and kneaded.

" You've just had a baby Mae…but…please…believe me…I…still love every…part of it…if anything, seeing you…feeling your curves soften a little…makes you look…feel even more beautiful to me…" Carlisle rasped as he let one hand slide down my side, before dipping beneath the bubbles and caressing my stomach. My sudden turn, sent a wave of water sloshing over the edge of the tub, but I didn't care. I needed…I needed Carlisle I just wasn't sure what I wanted first, him to kiss me, or to let his hand, which was idling on my stomach to move lower. I saw the same confusion in Carlisle's hooded eyes.

"Touch me…" I whispered against his lips.

We were twisted at an awkward angle, the bathroom floor was covered in water, but I didn't care, I was just grateful to have his mouth and his shoulder to lose my moans in, as his fingers, gently stroked and teased my aching, hot core. Every touch was sending an intense crackle of pleasure shooting through my entire body. It hadn't really been that long since Carlisle and I had been intimate, but everything felt incredibly intense. For Carlisle as well, judging by his own soft growls. But as much as I loved him for being so gentle and considerate, it wasn't long before I was pleading with him to move his dangerous fingers a little faster, a little harder to counteract the lack of friction caused by the water. I could feel the tight coil of need in the pit of my stomach was so close to springing, and giving me the release I hadn't realized I so desperately needed. All I needed was a little more, which Carlisle gladly gave, increasing his speed and pressing his palm firmly against me.

It took me several long moments to register Alexander's whimpers echoing through the half open door and baby monitor.

"Oh god…did I…did I wake him?"I stammered horrified.

"No…but at least I know now, which side of the family he gets his vampire tendencies from…" Carlisle said. My chastisement died in my throat as I followed his eyes to his shoulder, where in an attempt to stifle my cries, I had bitten down and left a thankfully not deep, imprint of my teeth.