Carlisle's POV

"Hey, aren't you supposed to be heading home?" Sarah's voice brought me out of the chart I was finishing. She had her bag slung over her shoulder and keys in her hand. After spending a day in Seattle yesterday and coming back to a full shift, she seemed quite relieved to be off for the day.

I sighed. "I wish. I still have paperwork to finish."

"Oh, poor you," she teased.

"Hey, a little sympathy would be nice." Both of us liked interacting with patients much better than the paperwork surrounding it.

Sarah patted my arm. "I know, you want go back home to Esme." She winked. "I promise I won't keep her too long."

"Better not!" I called after her.

I smiled to myself as I turned back to the chart. I was glad to see her in good spirits, despite what she's been through lately.

Just as I finished the last of the paperwork, Amanda joined me at the station after finishing with a patient. "Oh, hey, did Sarah leave already?"

"Yeah, you just missed her. Why?"

"I was going to ask her if she wanted to come to that game night Josh and I are having." Amanda finally plucked up the courage to ask Josh out and they've been dating for almost a month now. "Do you think she would want to?"

"I imagine she would, since Esme and I will be there, but you'd have to ask her." Amanda already bombarded me earlier with an invitation and I couldn't refuse. It was a rare thing to be invited to something casual like this.

Forks really was something else. I never would have predicted this tiny town would have provided the friendships Esme and I developed. I thought we'd be constantly on the edge, not just because we were vampires. Towns this small tended to close ranks on newcomers.

On my way home, I stopped for gas. As I got out, another car pulled up to the pump opposite of mine.

The man was a stranger, someone I hadn't seen around town before. He had dark hair combed back, dark eyes, and wore a sport jacket and jeans. I briefly locked eyes with him and he nodded. I stilled, muscles ready to spring, mouth pooling with venom. It wasn't a reaction to the scent of his blood, but rather that of a predator recognizing another predator.

I turned and busied myself with getting gas. If one looked closely, my movements were awkward; I was trying hard to reign in my natural strength. I took a deep breath in attempt to get my vampire brain – as Emmett liked to call it – to calm down. I couldn't afford to reveal myself by attacking the stranger now.

Something was off about the man. I'd been around humans long enough to tell when someone was dangerous.

My mind went to Esme at Sarah and Sydney's house and then to Sarah's husband even though I didn't know what he looked like.

No, no. Forks may be small but not everything that happened revolved around my wife and her friends. The man could just as easily belong to someone else or be passing through.

The numbers on the gas pump seemed unbearably slow. I didn't like having the man out of my sight.

Our gas pumps finished nearly at the same time and I followed the man inside to pay. He didn't immediately go to the cashier to pay and headed over to the drink section. I ducked into the snack aisle and surreptitiously kept an eye on him. I grabbed a bag of hot Cheetos and Hostess cupcakes, snacks I knew that Josh and Amanda liked. When the man came back around with bottled water in hand, I lined up behind him. I took a deep breath, memorizing his scent, and I had to swallow back more venom.

He finished paying and I stepped forward, almost blocking his way. His eyes had a dangerous glint as frowned at me and I was sure mine did too. "Is there a problem?" he demanded.

Yes. "No." I pushed past him and flashed a friendly smile at the cashier. I recognized her as Jordan Noriega, the daughter of another doctor I worked with. She was in high school and seemed nervous at our little standoff. "Hey, Jordan. Are you almost done with school?"

I felt the man's eyes on me but then he left. I continued making small talk with Jordan and when I returned to my car, he was gone. There was no way to tell which way he went. I tossed the snacks into the passenger seat and hesitated before starting the car.

Part of me wanted to swing by Sarah's house, but I couldn't justify it. Logically, he could have been anyone.

But I couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't just anyone.

I was about halfway home when I stomped abruptly on the brakes and wheeled my car around to go back into town.

Esme's POV

Sydney was out front with Angela and Jessica. They had come over some time ago and I let them have some time together without an adult hovering over them. I heard them talk and laugh while I sat inside reading. It sounded like they were doing gymnastics things and Sydney was trying to teach Angela to do a backbend.

Angela let out a shriek.

"I've got you, you're not going to fall!" Sydney said. "Keep your arms locked by your head."

A body flopped down on the grass. "Okay, that was too scary. I'll just stick with cartwheels," Angela laughed.

I heard Sarah's car pull in the driveway and Sarah greet the girls. She came inside and, while she changed, I got tea started. It became our quiet ritual.

"Carlisle got held up with paperwork," Sarah told me when she came out and joined me at the table. "I promised him I wouldn't keep you long."

I smiled and waved a dismissive hand. "He'll live."

Sarah laughed and then eyed me holding my mug, enjoying the warmth. "It's okay, you don't have to pretend to drink it."

"What?" It was the only thing I could say.

Sarah lifted a brow, a silent challenge. "Sometimes you pretend eat and drink. I've seen Carlisle do the same."

"Oh." I set down my mug, unsure how to proceed. I've never had to deal with humans guessing at our secret even though I'd been waiting for it ever since I messed up while baking with Sydney. It was some consolation to know that it wasn't just me that Sarah caught.

"You don't have to tell me why," Sarah said with a wry smile. "It doesn't make a difference to me."

"It doesn't?" I asked, surprised.

Sarah shook her head. "We all have our quirks."

Quirks was a light way to put our being vampires trying to blend in with humans. "I suppose we all do." I lifted my mug. "Tea is good for keeping you company, though."

"Hey, I thought that was what I was here for," Sarah teased.

"Oh, yes, you too," I laughed, but worry still gnawed at me. Since Sydney never brought the baking incident up, Carlisle and I decided it was still okay for us to be here. But would this be the line in the sand?

Even though I knew it would have to happen eventually, I really did not want to leave. I desperately wished there was a way to keep Sarah and Sydney with me. I loved them both too much.

But I didn't have time to dwell on it.

Outside, I heard a car pull up by the house and then someone getting out.

"Sydney!"

It was an unfamiliar male voice, but I could instantly guess who it was.

Oh God.

"What is it?" Sarah asked, wide eyed. I must've said that out loud.

I went to the window and Sarah followed me. Outside, a man knelt before Sydney. Her face was blank with shock and Angela and Jessica stood off to the side, curious and nervous. He stood up and took her hand, leading her to the house.

Suddenly, it was like I was back at my cousin's house when Charles found me.

I felt Sarah stiffen with fear. "No," she moaned. "No."

AN: Yes, Mark, there is a problem. Carlisle knows you're sus.

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