June 12th, 2023

Carlisle's POV

We got our answer from the Department of Justice mid May, granting us the permit. Esme had slowly gotten over her worry and was happy to open the letter when it came in the mail.

Esme had chosen the 12th of June, the same day she buried her son 102 years ago, to have the disinterment. She felt it was symbolic.

I stood in front of the floor length mirror in our bedroom, buttoning up my charcoal grey dress shirt. I could hear my wife in the bathroom as she combed out her hair. She had disappeared into the bathroom over and hour ago and had been in there since.

I fixed my last few buttons, leaving the top two undone, exposing my gold crucifix necklace.

"Esme?" I asked, looking at the open bathroom door in the reflection. I could see her shadow in the bathroom light, but she didn't respond, "Esme?" I asked again, turning around to look at the door directly.

"Yeah?" her voice was shaky, even though she was trying to hide it. I furrowed my brow and slowly walked towards her.

"Are you ok love?" I asked when I peered around the corner or the door and saw my wife standing at the bathroom corner, pulling her brush slowly through her locks. She was staring at her reflection, almost lost as she combed. She didn't seem to notice me appear in the doorway beside her.

"Esme?" I asked once more, and she snapped out of her daze.

"Sorry…what's wrong?" she asked, setting her brush down and looking at me.

"Are you alright?" I asked, as I slipped my arms around her waist, my eyes meeting hers in the mirror. She was wearing a black dress that fell to her knees with three quarter length sleeves and a scalloped neckline. She too had a necklace around her neck; a small silver cross on a little chain. It was rare, her wearing one.

"I'm…I'm ok," she said softly, reaching up and fiddling with a piece of her bangs. I leaned closer pressing my lips softly to her neck, just near her ear.

"You're nervous, I can feel it," I whisper softly, "You're tensed up,"

She was silent, but let her eyes slip closed, taking a deep breath. I held her a little tighter.

"You look beautiful," I added, touching her locks of brown hair gently with my fingers. She smiled sadly, opening her eyes and they met mine again in the mirror.

"Thank you," she mumbled, her hand falling from the pendant, "We should go," she said, seeming to mentally shake away the state she was in. She turned, slipping out of my arms and walking out of the bathroom. I sighed, staring at my own reflection, and fixed a piece of my hair before following her.

She was slipping her phone into her purse and closing it. She looked up from where she was at the end of the bed, and her eyes met mine for a brief second.

"Ready?" I asked, as she picked up her black flats, setting them on the floor, and slipped them on. She nodded, and I slipped my hand into one of hers, squeezing her fingers reassuringly.

The kids we're standing at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for their mother. I held her hand tightly as we descended the staircase slowly. Her hand that wasn't in mine was grasping the railing, as if she would fall.

When we reached the bottom, I looked around at the kids, all standing silently. Esme had decided they could be there for this. As a support system. If I had to step in or away for a moment, she would need someone.

"All right…let's get going," I said, and they filed out swiftly. I leaned over and gave Esme a soft kiss on the cheek, "It'll be ok," I assured her, and let her leave so I could lock the door behind us.

I held her door open as she climbed into the passenger seat of my car, closing it once she was settled. I rounded the car and climbed into the driver's seat, starting up the engine. Edward, Rose, and Jasper were in the back seat. Edward and Rose to comfort Esme if she wanted to talk, and Jasper to keep her emotions collected. Alice, Emmett, Bella, and Ness were in the car behind us.

The car was silent most of the way and anytime I felt Esme's hand tense up in mine, my eyes would meet Jasper's in the rear-view mirror, and then Esme's hand would relax.

"Are you doing ok, mom?" Edward asked, breaking the silence finally. Esme snapped out of her daze again and looked back at Edward.

"I'm ok sweetie," she said softly, reaching a hand back towards him, "I'll be ok,"

I slipped a hand across and let it rest on her lap. She smiled softly, taking it in hers.

"Talk sweetheart," I encouraged her. Esme looked over at me, letting out a shaky exhale.

"Talk about what?... The fact that we're driving to Ashland to dig up my child after a hundred years and I know everyone is tiptoeing around me and expecting me to have a breakdown and I'm only keeping it together because someone keeps controlling my emotions when all I really want to do is feel something!" she said all in one breath, her voice elevating as she went on.

"Esme! Esme! Relax, calm down hun," I told her, trying to relax her as I grasped her arm tightly. My eyes met Jasper's in the mirror, and he nodded once. I nodded back as a silent communication. Esme relaxed, exhaling heavily, falling back into her seat.

"Better?" I asked her gently when her eyes slipped closed. She swallowed the venom in her mouth and nodded slowly.

"I'm sorry," she exhaled sadly. I saw Rosalie in my peripheral vision as she leaned forward, gently wrapping her arms around her mother, trying to offer comfort with the seat in the way.

"It's ok," Rose said softly to her, stroking her hair.

"I know Rose," her mother sighed, "I'm just…still processing all of this,"

The car was quiet from that point.

OoO

We pulled into the parking lot of the funeral home at the edge of the cemetery. The front of the building has a big sign near the door that read Henderson Memorial Funeral Chapel & Family Services. There were three other vehicles there and a cop car parked out from as well. I parked the car and unbuckled myself just as the rest of the kids pulled up beside us. I jumped out and was on Esme's side, holding her door in seconds. Emmett rolled down the window from the other vehicle.

"This it?" he asked, and I glanced over my shoulder as I held Esme's hand while she stepped out of the car.

"You guys stay here. There's a few things we need to discuss alone first," I said, closing the door behind my wife. I let her link her arm in mine and we walked into the building. The front area was welcoming; two couches, a coffee table, a reception desk with a middle-aged woman behind it. There were three men sitting on the couches, chatting among themselves. The woman behind the desk looked up when we approached.

"How can I help you folks?" she asked, her voice soft but happy. I smiled, back at her.

"We're here to see-"

"Dr. and Mrs. Cullen, we spoke on the phone. I'm Mark Henderson. I'm sorry, I was just talking with the groundskeeper…" an older man in his mid 50's rounded the corner and interrupted. Both of us looked at him and offered a hand to each of us to shake. Esme extended her hand nervously.

"Just let me do the talking," I whispered to her, too low for the man to hear.

"Gentleman?" Mr. Henderson inquired and all three men on the sofa stood up and came over, "Dr. and Mrs. Cullen, may I introduce you to the gentlemen who will be accompanying us today. This is Officer Michael Staten, he will be ensuring the protection and privacy of the disinterment, since we are by a major highway, and the cemetery is still open to have visitors at any hour. This is Robert Cunnings the Environmental Health Officer who will be overseeing that the remains and the grave itself are handled properly; and Daniel Gunner the landowner," he introduced each one and they shook our hands. Both officers were in their mid 40's and the landowner looked like he was around 60.

Mark picked up an envelope from the receptionist, and opened it, pulling out one of many papers inside.

"So, we're exhuming the site for cremation?" he asked, and I nodded when Esme stayed quiet. She had zoned out again, staring at some painting on the wall.

"Uh, yes. We just thought it would be the right thing to do. To keep the ashes together," I told him. He nodded understandingly. He had heard the entire made up story that we had concocted. I had spewed it off at least a dozen times to multiple officials on this case.

"Our groundskeeper is just headed out to the site now; shall we head out there?" he continued, gesturing kindly as we both nodded, following him back out the front door.

The kids had the windows on the vehicles down and were looking at all of us.

"Oh, Mark, sorry. These are our kids…" Esme said softly, looking around as the kids waved. He smiled fondly.

"Nice to meet you all," he said kindly, looking back at us, "Shall we?" he asked, we nodded, "Well then, we'll meet you over there," he said.

I led Esme back to the car, closing the door after her.

"We're going to the grave?" Rose asked softly as I climbed into my seat.

"Yes," I replied, starting up the car, and backing out of the parking space, following the other vehicles down the road slowly, with the rest of the kids behind us.

When we pulled up along side the area where the others parked. I sighed, turning the car off again. The kids didn't hesitate to get out of the car but didn't wander more than a few feet. I looked over at Esme, who had her gaze fixed out the window, away from me.

"Esme," I said softly, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear. She turned her head, looking at me, but her eyes didn't meet mine, "I'll be right here with you," I assured her. Her eyes met mine and I could see the pain in them; the fear. But the longer I held her gaze the more I could tell she was just worried. About her baby; about this, and what would be happening to him.

"I can do this…" she said with a deep inhale to steady herself.

"I'm right here," I assured her again. There was a pause between us before we both cracked our doors at the same time. When I closed mine, I waited for Esme to round the vehicle. I felt her hand wrap around my upper arm, and I leaned over, kissing her temple softly, before leaning her forward, towards the waiting men by the gravestone. The kids followed behind.

"I know it's going to be hard, but you will have to speak once or twice, love," I whispered, low enough for only vampire ears. She nodded, biting her bottom lip.

As the family gathered around the grave, I noticed the groundskeeper had two shovels partially stabbed into the grass beside him.

"This is our groundskeeper, Henry," Mr. Henderson gestured to the man with his shovels, who waved. "Alright, today we are disinterring lot 256. Grave of Joseph Henry. Buried on June 12th, 1921," he read off the front of the envelope he had taken from the receptionist. I nodded, squeezing Esme's hand, encouraging her to answer as well.

"Um, yes," Esme said, trying to cover up the nerve in her voice.

"Alright then, we'll start digging," he said, looking at Henry, who moved into position and started cutting the grass around the edge of the grave with the shovel.

"This is really happening…" Esme breathed out, just low enough that the humans couldn't hear. I slipped my hand down to rest on the small of her back.

"You're doing great," I encouraged her, my eyes darting over to Jasper, who nodded to confirm he had no control over her emotions right now. It made me smile softly to myself as she clung to my arm.

We listened to the kids, standing around us making small talk, because Esme and I were abnormally quiet for something that shouldn't seem so personal in the eyes of these humans. I appreciated them trying to take the focus off us.

"The poor guy looks like he's having a hard time," Esme said quietly, a pang of guilt in her voice as we watched the elderly groundskeeper tearing the turf up. It was then that Edward stepped forward, clearly overhearing his mother.

"Can I offer you a hand sir?" he asked, "That's a whole lot of dirt for one man,"

The man looked up and smiled gratefully, nodding, and pulling the second shovel out of the spot where it was stabbed into the grass, and handed it to Edward, who started digging at the newly exposed dirt. My son stole a glance at us, and I saw Esme smile warmly at him, probably telling him in her thoughts that she appreciated it.

The spot they were digging wasn't very big. But a two by four-foot plot that was four feet deep was still an extensive amount of dirt for one older human to be digging. I knew after a while, Henry would become tired, and Jasper or Emmett would offer to step in and help, even in their nice clothes that they had worn. They would do it for their mother.

Edward made quick work of the first foot deep, pretended to act tired as he lifted each shovelful and added it to the growing pile beside him.

"You can trade off anytime there, son," the man told Edward as he himself was taking a break, leaning in his shovel.

"I think you need it sir. Why not pass the shovel off to one of my brothers?" Edward suggested and the Henry nodded, agreeing.

"I'll take it," Emmett offered, leaving Rosalie's side to take the shovel from the man, letting him rest.

Rose wandered over and stood by her mother's side, letting a hand rest on her shoulder.

Emmett and Edward powered through the rest of the dirt in record time. Edward set his shovel down, and Emmett gave his back to the groundkeeper, who climbed into the little hole that had been created. The more dirt Henry threw out of the hole, the more tense I could feel Esme becoming. We were standing at the foot of the hole and could see Henry using his hands to shuffle dirt aside, revealing the top of a rusted metal box. I had the wrap my arms around my wife's arms to keep her from jumping down into that hole herself.

"Here we are," he said as he wiggled the box free from the earth at the bottom of the grave with the shovel. The Environmental Officer, Robert, stepped forward with heavy gloves on, and passed a set to the old man, who put them on before lifting the box from the hole and handing it up to the officer. They had a tarp laid down in the grass a few feet away.

Esme pulled away from the grip of my hands and walked carefully around the hole, over to the men gathered around the tarp. I wandered closer as well, the children gathering near us.

"Can I have the box Mark?" Robert asked, and Mr. Henderson brought over a stainless-steel bin, removing the lid.

Esme crouched down examining the rust covered metal vault that had the unknown in it. I was standing right behind her, just in case.

"You're…opening it?" she asked softly, the nervousness in her voice as Robert flipped the two rusty latches. But when he tried to open the door along the entire length of the longer side, it wouldn't move.

"Trying to at least. A hundred years had rusted this thing shut," he said to her, "Can I have a screwdriver and a hammer?" he asked Henry, who had climbed out of the grave. He fetched both from his tool bag, handing them over to Robert, who used them to pry the door open. I reached for my wife's shoulder, touching it softly to reassure her.

Robert pulled the door open and revealed the contents. I could see the side of the small casket that was once a light oak. The bottom of the casket was a rusted color from the box rusting and the water bleeding into the wood. I could see the rubber gasket on the door was dried and cracked, which had allowed the water to leak in a bit.

"Ok, let's see if we can take this out," Robert said, turning the box so he could reach his hands into the vault box. I held my breath as he touched the old, partially rotten wood. My nerves were getting the best of me too now. The last thing we needed was for the bottom of the casket to give out and have remains all over the tarp. The black stained fabric from the body decaying in the box. Esme would be mentally scarred by it for eternity.

"Nice dad, that's not gross at all," I heard Edward's voice from beside me whisper in my ear low enough that his mother couldn't hear him. I let out a heavy exhale.

"Sorry," I apologized in my thoughts as I crouched down beside my wife, holding her hand.

When the little casket was pulled out of the metal vault, I was surprised to see that the lid was in a much better condition then I thought. On the top of the lid was tiny little cross. It was once a beautiful yet simple infant casket. It looked to be about 12 by 24 inches.

"Well, a hundred years has been merciful to you, little guy," the Robert said with a smile, touching the wood lightly. I saw a soft smile appear on Esme's lips at his statement, "This is probably the best kept casket I've seen that's over a hundred years with a water table as high as this one," he added.

He was right. The water table in Ashland was high and in the rainy season the ground became soaked extremely quick. It wasn't usually good news for caskets, especially the ones in concrete vaults.

"Ok, let's get this into the crate," Robert said, slowly and carefully sliding his gloved hand under the casket and moving it into the stainless-steel bin, and setting it down gently. That was the last look we had of the casket before the lid was put on the box, and it was tagged by Mark.

I pulled Esme to her feet, enveloping her in my arms softly.

"If you folks want to come back to the main office, we'll leave Mr. Cunnings and Henry here to fill the site back in," Mark said as he lifted the steel bin from the ground and walked back to his vehicle with it. Officer Staten followed him, and the kids as well.

I turned Esme away from the grave as the two men started filling it back in. I let her cling to my arm as we walked slowly along the row of headstones, back to the car.

"Are you ok?" I asked her gently. She snapped out of her daze again and looked at me.

"I…I don't know…"she said with a heavy exhale.

"You did good," I said, as we reached the vehicle. I pulled her back into a hug, resting my lips against her forehead, "Everything will be ok," I whispered.

OoO

When we got back home later that afternoon, the mood of the house was somber. Everyone went in their own direction. Esme hadn't said a word the entire ride home, and when we got in the door, she went immediately upstairs. I stood at the doorway, watching her disappear up the steps. I sighed to myself, following her up to our room, where she was kicking her shoes off. I closed the bedroom door behind me as she sat down on the edge of the bed, closing her eyes.

I approached her slowly and touched her cheek softly with the back of my fingers.

"Are you alright?" I asked her gently. She looked up, her eyes meeting mine and her face fell slightly.

"Why do you keep asking me that?" she asked me in reply, almost defensively. I paused, brushing her hair away from her face.

"I'm just worried about you," I said, sitting down beside her, and touching her back softly, "You haven't said much all day,"

Esme sighed, leaning into me and wrapping her arms around my sides. I wrapped my arms around her as well, stroking her hair softly. We sat in our embrace for a moment, inhaling each other's scents.

"I should go shower," she said, breaking the silence and sitting upright again, "Can you unzip me?" she asked, her voice quiet, shaking as she turned her back to me. I gently undid the tiny zipper and she sauntered off to the bathroom slowly, closing the door behind her. I let out a heavy sigh.

She was hurting and trying her hardest to contain it. All day I had been anticipating the moment she would crumble, letting her walls downs to let herself feel her pain. But she stood strong in front of everyone.

I could hear the shower turn on and the sound of her dress falling in a pile on the tile floor. I left her to her own accord as I heard the glass door on the shower close when she stepped in. Rising from the bed, I slid my dress shoes and socks off, and then wandered across the vastness of our bedroom to draw the sheer curtains closed. I was watching the sun through the trees and it was beginning its descent to setting. I knew the kids would be heading out to hunt as soon as the deer came out for the evening, leaving us alone in the house for a few hours.

I slowly pulled my dress shirt out of my slacks, unbuttoning it, and laying it across the chair we had in the corner. As I was pulling my belt from the loops of my pants, I heard a whimper from the direction of the bathroom. I paused, listening to the sound of the water hitting the shower floor. A loud sob, a cry fell from her lips.

I rushed over to the door and was about the open it forcefully, but collected myself and turned the knob slowly, slipping into the already steaming bathroom.

"Love?" I asked gently, closing the door behind me. Her figure was obscured by the water droplets running down glass. She choked back a sob when she heard my voice.

"I'm ok," she said, unconvincingly as she let another whimper escape her lips.

I pulled the shower door open, stepping in with her. Her dark eyes met mine, and then scanned my half-dressed form.

"Carlisle you're dress pa-"

I pulled her into my arms, her wet, bare body pressing to my dry chest. She stiffened, and then wrapped her arms around me, and pressed her face into the crook of my neck. Finally she let go, her body relaxing, and she began sobbing into my shoulder.

"Let it out, sweetheart," I cooed softly to her, turning my head and kissing her temple. She cried softly against my skin as I ran my fingers through her wet hair, "It's ok to cry,"

She cried for several minutes before I reached around her and turned the water off, and reached out of the shower for a towel. I wrapped the huge fluffy white towel around her and scooped her up in my arms, carrying her out of the shower and setting her down on the counter. I grabbed a second towel from the rack for her hair, that was dripping down her shoulders. I wrapped my arms around her again, pulling her into my still wet body. I felt her slip one hand up my chest, and then realized she had a fistful of the towel and was wiping water droplets off my chest. My soaked dress pants were heavy, dripping water on the fluffy bathmat under my feet.

I sighed, placing a kiss on Esme's forehead. She was still taking in short, unsteady breaths through her mouth. She would have been sniffling if she were human; trying to calm herself down from the crying she had done.

"Dry off love," I said as my lips grazed her skin, "I'll be back in moment,"

Esme's POV

Carlisle slipped out of the bathroom with a towel in hand, and I felt numb again. The same numbness had consumed me all day. I couldn't feel anything, until I was alone in the shower, with the water beating down on me, and I could feel the pain creeping up. When he stepped into the shower, still half dressed, and enveloped me in his arms, it was like being embraced by warmth; by emotion. From there I felt everything, and the crying consumed me. Everything I had held back during the day washed over me like an ocean and I felt like I was drowning in grief.

When Carlisle returned, he was dry, had discarded his wet dress pants, and was dawning only his grey lounge sweats. In his hands were a pair of underwear, fluffy pyjama bottoms, and a tank top for me.

"Here, my love," he said as he set them beside me, and then handed me the underwear. I sighed, sliding them on as he went about wiping the glass of the shower dry.

He waited until I was in the clothes he had brought before embracing me in his arms again. I inhaled his scent, letting a wave of calm wash over me. His bare skin was soothing. He didn't hesitate to scoop me up gently in his arms and carry me out of the bathroom, settling me down gingerly in my spot on our bed. The covers were turned down, allowing me to wriggle my feet under the sheets.

A quiet whimper fell from my lips at the loss of his touch, but he quickly rounded the bed and climbed into his spot. I smiled softly and nestled into his chest, his arms wrapping around me.

"Better?" he asked, pulling the covers over us, and I nodded into the crook of his neck.

"Always," I whispered. It was; everything was better with him. As we lay in silence, I noticed it… the silence. "It's quiet," I said, my voice was barely a whisper, but he heard me clear.

"Mm, the kids went hunting. We're alone for a few hours," he replied, his voice just as soft as mine.

"Perfect," I whispered, as he kissed the exposed skin of my shoulder. He wasn't trying to engage in anything; I could tell by the tenderness for his lips. He was offering added comfort to already being in his embrace.

"I know today was hard, sweetheart," he said in his soft tone gently near my ear. I let out a heavy sigh, nuzzling the underside of his jaw with my nose, "But he'll be with us now. With you. We don't have to go back there anymore if you don't want to,"

His sweet, breathless whispers in my ear calmed me. I let my eyes slip closed, enjoying his scent, his presence, as it surrounded me, keeping me safe. He continued to place soft kisses on my skin, letting his lips relax me into a state of blissful calm and serenity for the night.