Today's Quote: etc - End of Thinking Capacity

"Holy shit!" I screamed, thrusting my hands at Carlisle's chest when he appeared in front of me. I retracted them the second I realised who it was, but it seemed his blue shirt would now forever have hand print shaped burn marks. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"I'm sorry," he said sheepishly. He looked worried, and I doubted it was just because he was worried about me. "May I sit?"

"Sure, sure," I muttered as Carlisle sat on my bed. "Scare me half to death and then politely ask to sit down. Why not?"

"Because it's important?" he offered. He gestured for me to sit down next to me and I did, sitting cross legged so I was facing him.

"Important enough to risk giving me an early death?" I asked sarcastically. "Kidding. What's up?"

"I don't know how to say this-"

"English works, generally."

Carlisle rolled his eyes fondly and gave a small chuckle, before returning to a serious face. "We're leaving Forks."

"Like on a holiday?"

Carlisle looked sadly at me. "Longer than that, sweetheart."

"A very long vacation?"

"More like, we'll be gone for the next 50 years."

"What?"

"Edward doesn't want to risk Bella's life, and I am inclined to agree. I wouldn't want my mate in danger because of me, either."

I stared blankly at Carlisle. "Okay, so Edward can leave. Why are you guys going?"

"Because we're a family, and we have to stick together."

"Oh," I said quietly. It didn't make sense, though. For one, Bella would be just as much a danger to herself alone as she was with Edward. And that meant Carlisle had to leave, and Rosalie, and Emmett, and Esme. "So that's it, then? You're just going to leave me?"

"It's not like that," he said. He tried to tuck a strand of hair of hair behind my ear and I batted away his hand.

"Sure it's not," I said sarcastically." You're going to leave, but it's not like you're leaving me."

"Morgana-"

"What, Carlisle?" I asked harshly. I regretted snapping though when his face twisted with pain.

"It's not like I want to leave you. It'll be safer for you, though."

I raised an eyebrow. "I thought this was about Bella's safety, not mine."

"It is!" he cried out. "But it's also about yours, and I can't risk losing you."

"Carlisle, look at your shirt," I said. He looked down, and I fingered with the burnt cotton. "I can protect myself, I don't need you worrying about me."

"You shouldn't need to protect yourself."

"And yet here I am, with some messed up fire power that's caused a shit-ton of pain," I said. "If anything, I can believe that I have that power so that I can help protect you."

It was something I had never considered until the words spilled out of my mouth, but it was true. I wasn't going to get bitten, so there had to be some way for human-me to keep him safe. I wanted - needed - to be able to protect Carlisle.

"I don't exactly need protecting, Morgana. I am a vampire, after all."

I groaned loudly, and flopped down so I was laying on my back. "Do you hear us?" I asked rhetorically. "Neither of us need protection, and yet both of us want to protect the other!"

"I know," he said softly. "That's what having a mate is like, or so I've heard."

I closed my eyes. "I don't want you to leave," I admitted.

"I don't want to leave. But I need to stay with Edward, and he needs to leave Forks."

"Doesn't he realise he's gonna break Bella's heart by leaving?"

Carlisle sighed. "He's convinced himself that no matter how upset Bella is, she will get over it, and that his leave will be better for her in the long run."

"Well that's dumb."

"I'm inclined to agree." Carlisle smiled sadly at me. "But my son is strong willed, and persuasive. He has already chosen a new house for us, and has begun packing up everything we will take with us. He's enrolled everyone in school."

"You could still stay behind, with me," I said selfishly.

"I wish I could, sweetheart."

I sat up, and rested my head on his shoulder. "I don't want you to go," I said again. Was I being kinda pathetic? Definitely. Did my voice sound whiny? 100%. But did I care? Hell no! Why did Carlisle have to leave?

What happened to the man who so desperately wanted me to just go on a date with him, but seemed to love me so much he just accepted the fact that I rejected him and backed off?

"I wish you could come with me."

"I can't," I mumbled into his neck. "I need to protect Bella seeing as how Edward's just abandoning her."

Carlisle flinched. "It's not abandonment, Sweetheart. And you don't need me, you've proved that a thousand times."

"Not true," I denied. Maybe I didn't need him to protect me, but I needed him to be close. "Who's going to drive me to school?" I demanded, instead of voicing that thought.

"Bella can."

I rolled my eyes. "Gods help me then. What about if I get injured? Or Bella does. Or anyone in Forks - is the best surgeon really going to leave them to die?"

Carlisle pulled me into his lap and looked me in the eye. "I promise you, Morgana, that if anything goes wrong Alice will see it and I'll be right back."

"It'd be a million times easier if you were there when I got injured," I sang.

"Morgana, please don't make this harder for me."

"For you?" I asked. "I'm sorry, I didn't realise that it was you whose mate was leaving abruptly forever. How ever will you forgive my lack of sympathy?" I said sarcastically.

"Sweet-"

I huffed. "I get it. Edward has some messed up thoughts about how to keep Bella safe, and you need to go with your son to make sure he doesn't accept the cookies and turn over to the dark side. Or human blood, I guess, instead of cookies."

Carlisle smiled sadly. "Exactly," he said. "I'm torn between the two I love most, and as much as it pains me I must choose Edward, for his safety and the safety of those around him."

"I don't like it," I said. Had I been standing I might have stomped my foot like a child. "Can you, we, I mean, still call?" I asked, hope building up inside. If we could talk, then maybe it wouldn't hurt so much.

"Edward wouldn't-"

"Edward wouldn't know," I interrupted, rolling my eyes. "Besides, maybe you feel obligated to follow him around like a lost puppy, but that doesn't mean he gets to control who you're talking to."

Carlisle was silent, then, "Alright. I suppose I'd miss you terribly if I didn't." I raised an eyebrow, and he hurried to keep talking. "Of course, I'd miss you all the same, but I'd miss you even more."

"Nice save," I said.

He chuckled, and began stroking my hair. "I'll most likely have to change my number, but I have yours, and Alice will see if you change it, so we can keep in contact."

"Okay. When do you leave?" I asked, switching the topic before he could rethink his agreement.

"Tonight."

"So soon?" I asked, surprised.

"Yes. Edward is taking Bella for a walk-" he cocked his head and listened "-Edward is now explaining to Bella in the forest, and when he gets back we'll leave."

"Oh," I said, my voice quiet.

"Oh," he agreed, never ceasing stroking my hair.

"What will you tell people?" I asked.

Carlisle sighed. "Most will assume I got a better job. It's better to let them make their own guesses, rather than tell them."

I nodded. "Will you tell the others goodbye from me?"

"Of course, Morgana."

After that, words weren't necessary. All I wanted was to enjoy the last few moments I had with him in person.

It wasn't until a few minutes after we moved, Carlisle shifting us around so, for the final time it seemed, I was facing him.

"Edwards back," he said. "I have to go, he'll be getting impatient."

I nodded, and put a tiny smile on my face. "I'll call you. Or you'll call me."

"Of course," he assured me. As if acting purely on impulse, I kissed him softly. Sparks flew, and a warm feeling bubbled in my stomach as he kissed me back, just as sweetly.

Our kiss ended far too soon though, because even with my human ears I could hear Edward grumbling downstairs.

"I love you," Carlisle said, and before I could respond he was gone in a flash.

I fell against the bed, pressing my fingers to my lips. I had kissed Carlisle Cullen. Carlisle Cullen had kissed me back. And now he was gone, probably for years, and I'd never get the chance to do it again. All I could do was wait for him to call me.

I pushed the burnt spaghetti around in my bowl, the metal of my fork screeching every time it hit the glass.

"And you're sure Bella didn't tell you where she was going?" Dad asked me for the millionth time, raking his hands through his graying hair with worry.

"No," I repeated. "I knew she went for a walk with Edward after school, but after that I don't know. Also," I said, spitting out a piece of uncooked spaghetti, (seriously, how was some of it burnt and some of it cold?), "you suck at cooking."

"Not the time, Morgana," he said, glaring at me. His features softened. "Sorry, I'm just worried."

I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm sure she's fine. It's what, 7:30? She's probably just at Jessica's bawling her eyes out because Edward left town."

"Cullen?"

"Do we know any other Edwards?"

"They skipped town?"

"I wouldn't say skipped," I said, remembering the lie. "It was more like Dr Cullen or Esme got a really good job somewhere else that they couldn't refuse."

Dad sighed. "I always knew they'd have to leave eventually, but damn. Dr Cullen was the best surgeon we've ever had, and a really good guy."

I hummed in agreement. Dad would never know just how good a person (vampire) Carlisle really was.

Dad began tapping his fingers against the wood of the table. "I'm calling a search party."

"Like, right now?" I asked, dropping my fork in surprise.

"Yes."

"And what if Bella's at Jessica's? Or Angela's?"

"Okay, fine, I'm calling everyone, you're helping, and then we're calling a search party."

"Seriously?" I groaned. "Fine. But when it turns out she was moping around at her friends, I expect flowers or something."

It turned out she wasn't at her friends. Seventeen calls from me to students, and nineteen from Dad to parents, and no one knew where she was.

It was official - Bella was missing.

Please Review!

Kinda important A/N. Kinda.

So, I finally realised I'm a little aromantic and very asexual (like, vomiting from sex, asexual). While that probably means nothing to you all (it's not like you know who I am), I think that's the real reason why I've really been holding off on Morgana and Carlilse getting together. It kinda weirds me out, because I don't really feel the same way my characters do. I love exploring their friendship side of the relationship, and I'm far better at that then their romantic side.

But don't worry - they'll still get together, I just won't be writing sex scenes or anything.

Anyway, it's not exactly relevant to the fic, but it's something I needed to say. No one really knows, which makes hanging out with my sex-crazy friends hard. Oh well - they may have giant sex drives, but I love them and hanging out with them all the same.

Anyways, thanks for reading.

eeeeaud - I'm glad you've missed it. Well, sad it took me so long to get back in the flow, but happy it was missed.

Marie Yoshina - You can't help but love him for it (but not really). It's fun to write, though.

Guest (Guest) - Well, about that... It may take a while. But they kissed, so yay! And then Carlisle left, and Morgana is gonna have to go through a lotta feels. But maybe soon. Like in 10 chapters or so...

AnimeFreak71777 - Right back at ya. Thanks for reading.

Annabeth (Guest) - Do you mean oh dear? Or is Odeia a Bella in another language?

Ghostwriter71 - Your continued support always amazes me, and I'm always so grateful for it. For the weird review thing, I had that 'Giving up H.I.B.' chapter, which meant the next actual chapter was number 18. Then I deleted that adoption chapter, so you reviewed on chapter 18 which then got pushed back to 17. I think. Maybe. Or it might just be a tech problem - I'm not 100% sure.

diamondeyes323 - Aww, thanks. Me too. I have a couple cool ideas, but they all contradict each other so everything I write is kinda a surpirse to me too!