"How do you like it at the hospital?" Esme asked as Carlisle entered their home upon completing a full week at his new job in Forks.
Carlisle smiled, "It's great. People are friendly enough. The police chief stopped in for something and I got acquainted with him."
"That's nice," she said back with a smile. Esme straightened up a few pillows on the couch before letting out a short, decompressing breath and stared at him.
"What?" He smiled back, but felt a little self-conscious, thinking his wife may be waiting to say something.
Esme shrugged, "I like it here," she said simply, "It's a nice, quiet little town. Reminds me of the old days a little bit."
Carlisle's smile widened. "When life was a lot slower?"
She nodded, "Simpler."
He agreed and hung his jacket on a rack not far from the door and kicked his shoes off before greeting Esme more officially with a hug and a kiss. He kept his arms around her, making her smile.
"The kids seem like they're off to a good start," Carlisle said. "They don't seem to have any complaints as far as I know."
"No, Emmett just said today that he likes it here. There's a lot of wildlife and it's very private."
"And the house is huge," Rosalie commented, passing by where they stood without bothering to stop in on the conversation. As quickly as she'd entered the room, she was gone to some other area of the house.
"She's right about that," Carlisle agreed. He kissed Esme's forehead and released her. "Too big?"
She shook her head, "There are seven grown vampires living here. I think space is essential."
He smiled at her, "Agreed."
"Let's hope Emmett and Rosalie don't knock this one down," Esme whispered, "What would we tell the insurance company? There aren't tornados here."
Carlisle chuckled lightly and agreed with a nod. "We should have a talk with them, maybe."
"Maybe." Esme turned to him with a grin and gave him a kiss.
The two of them headed in to where they heard some of the other members of their family gathering down the hall and rounded in to see them.
"Look out for Jessica Stanley," Edward teased Rosalie in a monotone voice, "She's got eyes for Emmett."
"Shut up." Rosalie rolled her eyes, "Even without superior sight you can pinpoint all of her flaws… never mind the annoying, cliché cheerleader voice." She proceeded to mock the young blonde.
"Emmett, she might drop dead if you ask her to the Spring Fling in April," Jasper joked dryly. He smirked and looked at Rosalie, who found no amusement in the situation.
Emmett began to chuckle, but quickly tapered it off and looked his angelic, feisty wife. "Babe, I don't want to go to the dance with anyone but you."
"Do I know Jessica Stanley?" Alice asked. She looked at Edward, "Is the one who's always gawking at us?"
"At Emmett, yes," Edward replied, drawing a profanity-laced reaction from Rosalie.
"Rose…" Esme looked at her with a grin and shook her head.
"I'm not about to get all 'teenager' on everyone," Rosalie started, "Even though we have a child in the room who was apparently frozen forever at a very immature seventeen, but do you hear him?" She motioned to Edward.
"I'm just being honest," Edward said, putting his hands up in defense.
"You need a hobby, already," Rosalie told him, "Or a girl. Why don't you make a trip to Alaska to see Tanya."
He shook his head, now the one to roll his eyes, "No thank you."
"Or are you only attracted to your precious piano?" Rosalie went on.
Esme eyed both of them and shook her head. "Guys… girls…"
"Still angry I wasn't attracted to you?" Edward asked.
Rosalie cackled and leaned her head back. "That's a riot."
Emmett began to laugh, as did Alice. Jasper stood silently by her side smirking, taking in the events that were taking place.
Esme looked at Carlisle, who raised his eyebrows at her and shrugged. He knew they had no real control over their "kids" when they argued, but he knew Esme felt the need to intervene at times to try keeping the peace.
"Why don't you two separate?" she suggested, keeping her voice light-hearted in her approach.
Rosalie took Emmett by the hand and towed him away without saying anything more. "Let's go hunt," she suggested, as they exited the room.
Emmett's laughter continued to make Jasper and Alice smile.
Carlisle exchanged a look with Edward, thinking as loudly as his mind could think the question: Was all that really necessary?
Edward smiled slyly to himself and looked at his father-figure. "Sorry. I was bored."
"I think Rosalie will be fine," Alice said, placing a hand on his back, "No permanent damage."
"She got a few good zings in at lunch," Jasper added. He grinned and looked at Carlisle and Esme.
"Any… temptations?" Esme asked him. She couldn't help herself, and almost felt bad for asking but Jasper didn't take offense. He answered honestly.
"Well as good as Jessica Stanley smells," he said, "My desire to eat her is minimal."
Carlisle breathed in heavily, never completely comfortable or content in discussing the matter, particularly with Jasper.
"He's fine." Alice waved a hand. She was nonchalant about his current state, but always outwardly proud about his progress. "It's not like it's the seventies anymore and we even have to worry."
Jasper snickered. "No more bellbottoms." He scrunched his nose and looked at Alice.
"Hey, you wore them, too." She poked him lightly in the chest. They shared a quick laugh before he pulled her in for a brief kiss on the lips.
"Not by choice."
Carlisle and Esme laughed at their interaction and then turned their attention to Edward, who now stood with his hands in his pockets.
"I think I'd better hunt," he said, "It's Friday, no school for a few days. I'm going to take my time a little."
"Enjoy," Alice told him with a smile. "Stay to the west by the coast," she suggested, "Rosalie and Emmett went toward the northeast and she's a real bear when she's hunting."
Edward laughed at his sister's joke and nodded. "Thanks, Alice." He glanced at Esme and half-smiled before ducking away, out the house and into the woods.
When Esme sensed he was far enough away, she turned to Alice. "Have you seen… anything?"
Alice eyed the two men and then shook her head.
Carlisle looked at Esme, waiting for an explanation without actually asking for one. She caught his eye and then came clean with the meaning behind her question.
"I just keep hoping that Edward finds someone," Esme said, "So every so often I check in with Alice… particularly when we move somewhere new."
"You're not hoping he'll fall for some human high school girl, are you?" Jasper asked, looking back and forth between Alice and Esme.
"No immortals around here that I know of," Alice said with a deflated shrug. "Sorry."
"I don't know if it's even possible for an immortal to fall for a human," Jasper stated, forming it more like a question.
Carlisle and Esme exchanged a glance before he grinned and looked away.
"I think we have proof that that's not the case," Alice said, motioning to the two of them with a smile.
Esme snickered, "He didn't fall for me as a human," she argued, "I did fall for him, though."
Alice and Jasper glanced at Carlisle, who didn't confirm or deny any of their claims. He shifted awkwardly before Alice tugged on Jasper's arm, "I think that's our cue."
Carlisle let out a decompressing laugh and Esme cuddled against him as Alice whisked Jasper away.
The two of them stood in the previously crowded room and looked all around.
"Wow," he said, "We know how to clear a room."
"I guess so," Esme agreed with a light flutter of laughter. "I guess we're no fun for these kids."
She shook her head, prompting Carlisle to laugh again.
The two of them stood in silence for a moment, before he grinned at his wife.
"Don't ask the question," Carlisle told her playfully.
"What question?" Esme asked him, unable to keep a smile from her face.
"The human-vampire thing."
She laughed, "I wasn't going to."
Carlisle smiled as she brought her lips back to his.
He kept his face close to hers, "Maybe Forks, Washington will be Edward's Ashland, Wisconsin."
Esme grinned, "So, that's when you fell in love?"
Carlisle brought his lips to her ear. "I always knew," he whispered.
She grinned and pulled him close. "I love you."
"I love you more."
Esme looked back at him and whispered to him, "Impossible."
