A/N: Welcome to my very first vampire fic! I've thought about doing this for so long, but just never had the right story to tell. Well, this all started as a result of a random thought after reading Midnight Sun. Soooo, here we go. Won't bore you, but please read on!

Chapter 1: A Deathbed Plea

Carlisle

"You must do everything in your power. What others cannot do, that is what you must do for my Edward."

Considering how long I had been alive, I never really thought that something could surprise me as much as Elizabeth Mason's plea. I paced in my office, her words circling in my head. She had slipped back into a deep sleep afterwards, and I used the opportunity to escape the ward. Her bright green eyes had penetrated into my mind, causing me to retreat so that I could think properly. Logically, I knew that she was gravely ill, had just lost her husband and was very distressed at the possibility of losing her son as well. But still, the way that she had fiercely gazed into my eyes made me believe that she had other worldly intuition.

Most people are naturally cautious around me. For the last couple hundred years I had come to expect this. They didn't know what I was, of course, but their intuition would tell them that I was dangerous. Which, of course, was true. My very nature was drawn to their blood; but I had learned a long time ago to resist the natural urges. I knew that I had wanted to help others, and that became the focus of my existence.

Elizabeth Mason, though, she had not recoiled from my cool touch. She had not shied away from me at all; rather, she had gone up to me full speed demanding that I help her husband. And now, to help her son. She was a force of nature, and I was intrigued by her. No one had ever looked at me the way she had – with no fear.

Of course, I knew what she was asking. Over the years I had often thought of changing someone so that I could put aside the loneliness and self-isolation. But, forcing someone into a solitary life such as mine was too difficult a choice to make. I knew the consequences of such a choice, though I really hadn't made it for myself.

Knowing how quickly the influenza virus could kill humans, I knew that I couldn't pace in my office for too much longer. Staring out the small window that was above my bookcase, watching the rain hit the glass, I considered my options. The sound was soothing, as it helped to moderately drown out the moans and coughing coming from the ward outside the walls of my office. I could still hear them, of course, but it gave me something else to focus on.

Can I really do this? What if I can't stop? Edward was quite ill; his mother had cause for worry. Elizabeth was worse than her son, though, and I knew she wouldn't last much longer.

The morality of this choice weighed heavily on me as I opened the door and walked back toward the Masons. Elizabeth was still sleeping, but Edward's eyes were on me as I approached.

"How is my mother, doctor?" Edward asked, his voice raspy. He coughed before I could answer him.

"She is very ill, Edward. I am doing everything I can. She is sleeping right now."

Edward grimaced, sitting up slightly. "I heard you talking to her earlier. She asked you to save me." He snorted a laugh, pushing himself into another coughing fit as a result. "We both know I'm a goner."

"Edward, you must be strong. For her, yes, but for yourself also. I've seen people just as sick as you are come back from this."

Edward shook his head. "This is the first time I've had a clear head in days, doctor. I have a feeling it won't last." He looked up at me, fear edging into his eyes. "My mother is strong. Stronger than I am. I cannot lose her as we lost my father. Please help her first. Either I'll die, or she will. Please don't waste your time on me."

I was shocked. Both Masons were compassionate and more concerned for the other than themselves. What a wonderous family to have such thoughts of others.

"Get some sleep, Edward. I'm going to do everything I can for both of you." I regretted the words as soon as they came out. I sat back watching Edward lay down and close his eyes.

I would remember today that it was Edward that had made the decision for me. I just simply couldn't stand by and watch this family fall apart. The mere thought terrified me so much that I knew I simply had to do "all in my power" to save them.

I stood, resigned to the fate that I had chosen. Leaving a sleeping Edward, I walked to stand next to Elizabeth's sleeping form. Her breath was ragged. I knew that there wasn't much time to waste. Carefully, I lifted the sheet and placed it over her head, the universal sign that she had passed on.

The gurneys were against the far wall, so I walked over silently and wheeled it over. Carefully, so as to not jostle her too much, I lifted her, and the sheet, placing her on the gurney. Knowing that she couldn't wake up while we made this escape, I rushed as quickly as I could toward the morgue. No one stopped me, thank goodness, as it was an extremely common sight right now.

Once we were outside the morgue, I stopped and listened carefully. I could hear the humans upstairs but didn't hear any close to them – or any that could intercept me between the morgue and the exit to the back alley behind the hospital.

Moving at inhuman speeds, I picked her up and carried her through the abandoned darkened streets, toward a cabin that I maintained outside of the city. I really couldn't delay this decision, or she wouldn't make it. She was close to succumbing from the disease already. Once we were in the cabin, I laid her down carefully, and bit her once on her neck.

"Dr. Cullen?" she asked, eyes opening wide and staring at me. I watched them glaze over as the venom began to travel through her system. Her eyes shut quickly, and the painful moaning started.

Without wasting any time, or stopping to really consider my actions, I turned and ran as fast as I could back to the hospital. I had to slow several times as I passed humans on the road, and then again when I entered the building, so that no one would suspect anything. Making my way back up to the ward, I slowed when I saw Edward's eyes on me.

"Where is my mother?" he demanded, his green eyes angry.

"I had to take her away, Edward. So she could heal."

His eyes stared into mine, and there was a moment of recognition and fear. "You came back for me?"

I nodded, unable to formulate any words in response. Edward nodded back, and closed his eyes, slowing his breathing. I had to assume that he understood, at least on some level, so I pulled the sheet up over his head and completed the same path that I had taken with his mother.

Once we were outside, Edward began to stir, still fully awake. "Where are you taking me doctor?"

"Call me Carlisle, please. I'm taking you to my cabin."

"Is my mother there already?"

"Yes."

Edward didn't speak again until we were almost inside the cabin, once the moans his mother was making were finally audible to him. He sat up, eyes wide.

"What did you do to her?" he asked, staring accusingly at me.

"What I can…what's in my power to do to save you. Save you both." I sat Edward down next to Elizabeth, studying him for a moment and considering what I should say, before continuing. "She was too far gone to ask her, Edward, but I know that she would want me to save you both. However, you are awake so I must ask if you are willing to let me help you."

Edward looked from me to his mother. He stared at her for a few moments before turning his eyes back to mine with a pained expression. "She's in pain."

"Yes."

"Will that last forever?"

"No. A few days at most."

"But she will heal and live?"

I faltered for only a moment, but Edward didn't notice. "She will, um, live, yes."

Edward studied me for another moment before coughing again. He laid down next to Elizabeth, closing his eyes. I reached over and felt his forehead, realizing that his fever was higher than it had been the previous day. "Your fever is getting worse, Edward. I'm afraid you must make a decision fast."

"Just do whatever you can, doc-Carlisle." Edward didn't open his eyes, but he reached out and grabbed his mother's hand.

I watched Edward fall back asleep and thought about this decision again. Controlling one newborn was bound to be challenging, but I had no idea how I was going to manage them both at the same time. The memory of my newborn years was still vivid in my mind, as it wasn't easy to forget anything since I became a vampire. The thirst would control them, which meant that I was going to struggle to keep them to my diet.

I knew that I couldn't just stand here staring at them; I had to make a decision. I just couldn't separate the two, or the guilt would eat me alive. However, if I could get them far enough away from humans maybe I would stand a chance at controlling them. We only needed a year or so to learn to avoid humans.

Decision made, I worked quickly, biting Edward twice before running outside. I ran into the countryside looking for something that I could put them both in – a wagon, cart, anything that would fit them both.

Finally, there was a hay wagon that they would both fit into next to a quiet house in the country. It would be tight, but the venom consuming them would distract just enough so I could get them away. Bringing the wagon back to my cabin as fast as I could, I tried to avoid any houses so that I wouldn't be noticed. Both Edward and Elizabeth were moaning and writhing in pain, and though they increased the sound of pain, they didn't give any other indication they knew me or what I was doing. The sun would be coming up soon, so I pushed the wagon as fast as I could to get them out of the populated area.

A/N: Just a start, but what do you think? I thought it would be great to explore how different the Cullen's were if Elizabeth were there.

Ok, addressing the elephant in the room here. Yes, this story does include Esme but she and Carlisle are not together. If this bothers you, probably best to stop here. This is a key difference in my story.