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Some lemons at the end of this one.

Esme's POV

Several hours of silence later, as we passed Chicago, and then Madison, and began heading north on interstate 39 up through Wisconsin, the weather was starting to get very dark and gloomy.

I was in the passenger seat again, fiddling with the pendant of the necklace, tipping it back and forth, watching the sand travel through the tiny hourglass. Carlisle had one hand on the wheel and the other resting on the center console. I tucked the pendant away again and slipped my fingers in between his. He glanced over, almost surprised, but then his expression relaxed.

"You haven't said a word in almost 8 hours, love," Carlisle said, squeezing our hands softly. I looked over at him, catching a glimpse at the clock. It was the late afternoon already. We would probably arrive in Ashland close to nightfall.

"I'm just… lost," I sighed, lifting his hand and placing a kiss on it. He gave me a dreary smile.

"Talk to me," he said softly, and I looked out the window.

"Can it wait?" I requested, "At least until we get to the house,"

Carlisle nodded, and turned his focus back to the rod. But I shifted closer to him and snuggled up to his arm, wrapping my hands around his bicep.

"I love you," I whispered, and he turned his head, kissing my temple.

"And I love you," he replied, capturing my lips for a moment.

OoO

Eight miles east of Ashland, Carlisle turned the car onto a gravel road that was hidden in the density of the bush. The road headed north for one mile, and crossed a bridge over a small river, before it curved slightly and turned into a dirt driveway. The house sat near the riverbank, surrounded by tree cover.

When we had moved to Duluth, I knew Ashland was only an hour and a half drive. But I had not taken the plunge to drive out here and visit. Tackling the memories alone was just too hard, and with Carlisle trying to settle into his new position, and the kids going to school, I had pushed off the thoughts.

As the house came into view, I lifted my head from my husband's arm, and ran my fingers through my hair. The years had been cruel to it, but not as harsh as they had been to the farm. The Ashland house, as Carlisle had explained to me when I first joined the family, had been built in 1919 and was brand new when he and Edward moved in. The farmhouse had been in the family since 1881, putting nearly 40 years between it and the Ashland house. But considering this one was also over a century old; it was holding up okay.

Carlisle pulled the car up in front of the house, killing the engine. Silence hung in the air between us for a moment as we both looked at the house.

Carlisle unbuckled himself, and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small bunch of keys on a ring. He shuffled through them before handing a selected key to me.

"Do the honours," he smiled, and climbed out of the car. I hesitantly followed, unbuckling myself and climbing out of my seat. Carlisle was already on the passenger side, opening the door for me, and offering me a hand sweetly. I gave him a soft smile and stood up, closing the door behind me.

We walked up the front step that was littered with old, decaying leaves from the fall. I slipped the key into the lock, and it clicked loudly when I turned it. The hinges creaked even louder as the door swung open, and we stepped inside the tiny home.

It was a quaint, two story home, with a kitchen that had room for a table, and a living room with a large fireplace. The upstairs had three bedrooms. One had been Edward's space, one had been my room; later shared by Carlisle and I, and one had been Carlisle's office. As well as a bathroom. It was small, simple, and dimly lit even when the power had been on. But in the dimness of the late April afternoon, the house felt almost abandoned.

"I'll go grab our bags," my husbands voice almost made me jump out of my trance. I nodded as he walked nonchalantly back out to the car. I stepped further into the house, leaving the door open as I did.

Some of the furniture that we had left behind had obviously deteriorated over the years. The table in the kitchen had been bleached by the sun that peered through the east facing window every morning. It was also obvious that a mouse had gotten it at some point, because the legs had little scratches and nibbles all over them; matching the chairs. I wandered further into the house.

The living room was partially empty. A couch had been left behind, draped in a heavy linen. As well as a long wooden coffee table. The mantle that sat empty was coated in a thick layer of dust like the rest of the house. The entire house had that stale dust smell, but it wasn't terrible. I parted the dusty living room curtains, letting in the remainder of the days light, and opened the window, letting the draft of fresh air into the house.

I pulled the linen sheet off the couch and folded it carefully, keeping the settled dust from moving around, and set it aside. I shuddered at the sight of the fabric and walked out of the living room. As I passed the door to head upstairs, I noticed Carlisle closing the trunk of the car.

The old wooden steps creaked like the door with each step. Upstairs was completely empty, except for a few things. The plastic covered mattress leaning against the wall in our old room, as well as the chest of draws, the shelf Edward hadn't wanted from his room, and his old chaise lounge chair.

I wander aimlessly into our old room, running my fingers across the dust covered dresser, my fingers leaving a trail in their path.

I didn't need any special necklace to be taken back in time to the first few months of our marriage. It made me smile, the thought; the giggles of a young woman as her husband kissed her neck, making her laugh as if she had been ticklish. Pure, unhinged happiness filled the air of the room. They were truly happy.

I heard footsteps approaching up those creaky stairs and I sighed, brushing the dust off my fingers, being pulled from my own recollection.

"What are you doing up here?" his voice asked softly, and I smiled to myself, turning to see him leaning in the doorway. He had a gentle look on his face as he stepped forward and I slipped into his embrace.

"I was just thinking," I said quietly, letting his scent envelope me, pushing out that stale dust.

"How about we stay here for the night, and then go into town tomorrow?" he suggested, resting his lips on my forehead. I nodded in agreement, "I'll go find some wood to throw in that old fireplace," he said, as his arms let go of me and he touched my hair softly before turning and leaving the room.

When I heard the front door close, I slowly made my way downstairs. Carlisle had set our bags on the dust free couch. I noticed he had also brought in a blanket from the car. I pulled the dusty sheet off the coffee table, setting it aside, and moved our bags to the table.

I pulled my makeup wipes out of my bag and sat down on the couch, wiping my face the best I could with the small handheld mirror I had. When I finished I pulled off my jacket, setting it across the table, and I was about to find something more relaxed to wear than the leggings and blouse I had still been wearing since we left home, when my husband reappeared with a large armful of logs and kindling.

He smiled happily, setting them down by the fireplace, and began building a fire.

"Found some dry one's luckily," he said as he pulled a small match box from his pocket; the one from the car's emergency kit, and set the kindling ablaze. The sun had set below the horizon, and the living room was lit primarily by the fire now.

My phone suddenly rang from somewhere within my bag, and I hurried to find it. Seeing on the third ring that it was Alice calling, I answered, trying to sound cheerful.

"Hi Alice," I said, and Carlisle smiled at me from across the room.

"Hi mom. We got your note. Are you guys having fun on your road trip?" she giggled slightly. I smiled, leaning forward.

"Yeah," I said softly, "Sorry we ran off sweetie," I said, trying to sound apologetic.

"Oh it's ok, you guys deserve the extra time away from us," she said, and I smiled to myself. There was silence on her end of the phone for a minute.

"Alice?" I asked, and suddenly her voice was much more somber, almost upset.

"Are you and dad ok?" she asked, "All weekend you guys have been disappearing in and out of my visions for no reason," she told me, and I felt my body tense. Carlisle's eyes had locked to mine, knowing he could hear Alice's end of the conversation too.

"We're ok sweetie. I promise," I tried to assure her.

"It's just…everything is all fuzzy. I keep seeing that necklace that Emmett gave you, and then you and dad vanish from my sight, and reappear at random. It's all so weird," she said, almost sounding in distress from it. I felt awful for not being able to tell her.

"Alice, hun, I promise we're ok. Your father and I are just…" I paused, trying to find the right way to not give away this secret she clearly had no idea about, "…taking a little nostalgia trip," I finished. Alice seemed to lighten up.

"Ok, well, you'll call if you run into trouble?" she asked, clearly wanting to know she could rely on us if her foresight was failing her.

"Of course, sweetheart. And we're not far from home, so call us if you guys need anything, ok?" I told her.

"We will mom. Have fun. Stay safe. Bye dad!" she finished a bit louder, although unnecessary. Carlisle smiled to himself.

"Bye Alice," he said in a normal tone, as he wandered across the living room to close the window and curtains.

"See you soon hun," I said, and then hung up, sighing. Carlisle came and sat down beside me, sinking into the old couch. The springs on the couch seemed to be the only thing in the house that didn't creak.

I tossed my phone on the table, as Carlisle slipped an arm around me, and I leaned into his shoulder. The sound of the crackling fire filled the silence between us momentarily.

"Something's weighing on you, love?" he asked me, although he already knew something was. I closed my eyes, trying not to think about it for a moment, but it wanted out.

"I don't know why I wanted to do this?" I said, leaning my full weight into him. He leaned back against the couch, embracing me with both arms, "This was all so stupid," I scolded myself, "After how long it took to not think about all these things, and now I'm just cutting open old wounds again," I said, resting my cheek against his chest as one of his hands came up and stroked my hair.

"Wounds heal. They always do," he said soothingly.

I felt that pain growing in my chest; the one that you get from holding back agony or sorrow.

"It's not fair that you have to stitch them up again. Wasn't once enough?" I asked, rhetorically, and sniffled, then buried my face fully against his neck, letting his scent calm me. I felt him chuckled slightly.

"It's my job. Literally and figuratively," he said, and I looked up, as he offered me a soft smile, then pressed his lips to my temple. There was more silence between us before I spoke.

"I know the pain isn't going to disappear overnight," I sighed, "I wish I could sleep. Just forget and turn off the hurting for a few hours,"

Carlisle exhaled deeply before speaking.

"Think of something happy," he said softly, "Look where we are," he added and my eyes darted around the room, picturing what the house had been a century ago. "I remember only good times here," he said.

My brain was in such a dark place after the events of today I could only feel the bad things creeping into my mind.

"I killed 6 people while we were in this house," I muttered miserably, wishing tears wold pool in my eyes, "And had more than a dozen mental break downs…. I debated leaving 3 times. I let Edward run away-"

Carlisle pressed a finger to my lips to stop me.

"Happy thoughts, love," he said, and then scanned the dimly lit room himself. "This is where I fell in love with you. And that's the happiest memory of my existent. This is the place I first felt like I was coming home to something I cherished. And the place where my family was. A hundred years ago I was sitting on this exact couch while you were gardening right out there, and I was reading that stupid Emily Bronte book I hate so much, but you made me read, when I realized I wanted to marry you. It's the place I first danced with my wife, and where you first told me you loved me," he said, and then looked down at me and smiled, "Everything about this place makes me happy,"

I smiled softly at the memory of myself sitting across from the fire in the old wooden rocking chair that had been my grandmothers, knitting a pointless scarf to practice my strength. Edward was still at school, Carlisle had come home from his shift early, and he had been on my mind all day…

"This was the first place you kissed me," I said quietly, making him smile.

He leaned down and sealed our lips together gently.

I felt a hand slide down my back, and then slip partially up my blouse. I knew what he was doing, and I would gladly go right along with it. I moaned softly against his lips, intensifying the kiss, and then slowly laid back, pulling him with me so he was forced to hover over me. I pulled him closer, moving my lips to his neck, and down his collar bone that his partially undone button up was giving me accept to.

He broke away from me, only for a moment to smirk,

"How many times has this happened?" he asked, chuckling. I smiled,

"What?" I asked, faking dumb.

"Us making out on this couch like teenagers," he laughed, dipping his head to kiss down the center of my V-neck.

"More than I can count," I said with a sharp inhale, "But once more wouldn't hurt," I added as he sat up and began unbuttoning his shirt slowly, but I shot up from my back and grabbed his wrist, stopping him abruptly. I gave him a sultry look and torturously slow did I straddle his lap and began unbuttoning his shirt myself. Sliding it down his shoulders, he shed it and tossed it onto the table along side my jacket.

"Esme," he breathed against my neck and I captured his lips once more, letting his hands slide fully up my ribcage, hooking my blouse, pulling it along, until it was up over my head, and tossed alongside his shirt.

I moaned as his lips grazed the edge of my bra, and his and his hands slid around to my backside, squeezing under my thighs. His bit the edge of my bra, pulling the fabric out of the way, and enveloped the freed nipple with his lips, making me gasp lightly.

"Carlisle," I exhaled, running my finger through his blonde locks, messing them slightly, and tugging, "Oh god,"

His hands made quick work of undoing the clasp and throwing my bra over the back of the couch. Suddenly my back was flat against the cushions and he was hovering over me, peppering my bare skin with long kisses as he slid himself down my body, towards my waistband. When he hooked the edge of my leggings with his teeth I gasped, my back arching as his nose grazed just above my core. I bit back a moan as he slid my leggings off, placing kisses along them as the skin was exposed. When he threw them aside, I pulled him back down to me, and flipping him into the spot where I was.

He reached for me, touching my arms as I straddled both his thighs, taking my sweet time to undo his belt. He groaned every time my hand grazed him through his trousers. When I undid the button and zipper, he got restless and pushed his pants and boxers off himself. As he shuffled, lifting his body to pull off the clothing, I fell forward, my hands resting on his chest as I snaked up his body, kissing all the way up to his neck, making him moan.

I felt the blanket he had brought in being thrown over my back, covering both our lower halves. Carlisle relaxed back into the couch, and slide his hands around me, stroking my back softly as I suckled the scar on his neck.

"Esme," he moaned again, as I felt him shift, his erect member pressing against my bare core. His hands slid up, gently pushing my lips away from his neck and exposing my own scar, returning the action. I moaned, melting against him as his teeth gently pressed the mark, sending tingles all the way down my spine and to my core, making me grind into him. My inner thighs were already wet with venom, and the need to have him in me was building.

And being the dominate that I was, I would have him.