AN: As per request... another point of view. But - probably not someone you were expecting. Oops :P

Esme

I was in the middle of a few projects; most of them pertained to the houses I was restoring, and a few to our home. I idly sketched at each component as I walked through the living room. I had affixed my blueprints to the windows, and was pacing between them. The thin paper allowed plenty of light through, and I could layer each sketch as I wanted to, to morph my project houses however I chose. My hands were covered in thin smudges of blue pencil, and my fingers played idly with an eraser. My hair had a ruler, a compass and two pencils all pinned into it. I was speculating more than I was drawing, but I was still making progress in leaps and bounds. I glanced at the time, trying to figure out when most of my family would return, and remembered that tonight was probably the night I should take one of them to our weekly 'grocery store run'. I should also probably begin work on Jasper's birthday present. I was painting him a large landscape based on a beautiful scene he had described in vivid detail – or at least I was going to. I sighed, putting the last pencil into my hair and twining my fingers together.

"I should probably focus on one thing at a time. I'd get them all done much faster," I mused aloud to myself. I began to stare again at my projects. Which one should take precedence in the next two hours? Two hours until the children were home from school, and another two until Carlisle returned from the hospital.

Those two hours flew by. Soon enough I heard the distinctive sound of the Volvo driving much too quickly down the highway. It screeched to a sudden stop, and I heard the quiet sounds of four leaving the car. Two doors slammed, and then four sets of footfalls raced their way to the house, while the car sped towards town again.

"My dears," I greeted them. I looked around in surprise at everyone except for Edward. "Where's-"

"Esme… he's leaving again," Alice's voice was heavy, and heartbroken. My hand flew to my mouth and a sudden chill of dismay ran through me.

"What?" I was only able to articulate the one word. Edward had left once before. They were very dark, and very long years. Carlisle and I had never given up hope that he would return. We had stayed in the same house for far longer than we should have, so that we would be there when Edward chose to return. The day of his homecoming was one of the most haunting memories I had. He was in tattered, sullied clothing and his eyes were the awful shade of rust that occurred with the blending of gold and red. I could have easily overlooked all of this if it wasn't for his face and the permanent alteration in temperament. He was so dark, moody, haunted, guilty, and in a pain I couldn't comprehend. Our overwhelming gratitude at his safe return and our honestly happy and loving thoughts both helped and healed him, while solidifying his resolve to remain with us. We had never felt disappointed, only worried, and the sincerity of those thoughts and feelings had only made Edward feel worse about himself. It was a long healing period after, for all of us. I had found it extremely hard not to hug him every time I saw him. In those days he had chosen to leave because of a teenage rebellious instinct combined with an analytical reasoning that he could save more lives than he took. What could have possibly respawned that attitude to break away from his family? Had Rosalie and he fought? Was he finally sick of the restrictions we applied to ourselves? Surely Jasper would have felt something if that was the case. Alice would have seen it.

"There was a new human girl at school today. Police Chief's daughter I think," Alice said, wringing her hands together nervously. "I saw her die today. A hundred different ways. Edward was battling with the decision to kill her. I'm not sure why. He's normally so controlled." She turned to Jasper for reassurance.

"He wasn't in any unusual discomfort at lunch. A little thirsty sure, but we all were. Then in the car," he paused, searching for the right word. "Anger. Hatred maybe. Towards her and himself I think."

"I didn't see it until it was too late. I wasn't looking in the right places," Alice tucked her head into Jasper's shoulder, and then she rushed to me for a tight embrace.

Rosalie was agitated. "He was right to leave. I'd rather we not have to explain away another death and leave town. We have another five years here at least."

I resisted the urge to snap at her. She had always been a tenacious and centered individual. Normally I had the patience for it. Today was not one of those days. A wave of calm seeped through me, and I looked at Jasper gratefully. He'd be working very hard at repairing the anxiety and distress that poured from all of us until Edward returned. I tried not to let pity seep through me, but a small smile from him made me realise I hadn't managed very well.

Carlisle was as uncomfortable as I was. He had returned from the hospital an hour early, in the Volvo, explaining that he had let Edward take his car north to Alaska. I gripped his hand forcefully while I stared around the living room. The others re-explained the little they knew about the scenario, and I stared idly again at my blueprints. How trivial they seemed now.

Alice continued looking into the future, making sure – as best she could – that he arrived safely, and more importantly, that the new arrival to town remained alive in the weeks to come. We would have to extract Edward from school with a note. That would be my job on Monday morning I suppose.

"Their futures are very clouded. Edward has resolved himself to not returning home for a while, but that could very easily change. The new girl, Isabella I think, I see her at school tomorrow, but not much more than that. I didn't meet her, so it's hard to get a read," Alice was mumbling. She was facing Jasper but talking to all of us. He held her hand as reassuringly as I held Carlisle's. Even Rosalie and Emmett were leaning against each other. We all loved him. We all wanted him home and safe.

…

I was playing a game of scrabble with Emmett and Rosalie. Carlisle was reading a medical journal beside me and chuckling as we guessed about how to spell the occasional medication or protein, or diagnosis, or whatever it was that he asked of us. Our home lives this week had been filled with endless amounts of distractions. I had painted the walls in the living room and re-done the back-splash in the kitchen. I was beginning the planning of a delicate wall mural in the entryway. Rosalie had taken apart her M3, and was removing any specks of potential rust, lubricating and cleaning everything. Emmett most often served as her jack, but he also enjoyed helping me if he could. Jasper had begun learning Japanese, and Alice had hand woven a beautiful wool coat for me.

"Yay!" I heard the squeal from the floor above us "No you can't take it off yet – I have to fix the hem."

Alice flitted downstairs, tiny sparkles of silver yarn on her shirt, and Jasper came down moments later, rolling his eyes as Emmett laughed. Jasper was wearing the partially finished ladies coat. Alice needed a moveable mannequin and her partner was a willing and gracious enough one.

"Edward has made the decision to come home!" she clapped, sending a few stray slivers of silver flying. I grabbed Carlisle's knee and looked up at him, hoping he saw the same exuberance in my face as I saw in his.

"This is wonderful news Alice," Carlisle beamed.

"He'll be home Saturday morning at 1:37," her face fell slightly. "And it seems as though he'll be in school Monday too. I'm not as sure about that possibility, but the two visions came hand-in-hand, so to speak."

She said nothing more, and her brow furrowed slightly. She beckoned Jasper to follow her upstairs.

"It's a hot look for you Jazz," Emmett called.

"Damare baka," he responded curtly.

"Language!" I scolded. Jasper ducked his head sheepishly. Carlisle looked at me with surprise.

"I didn't know you could speak Japanese. When did you take up that study?" He asked.

"I didn't. But it doesn't take a genius to figure out the intention." I smiled back.

…

Saturday morning at 1:37 was exactly right. Carlisle's car door shut in the garage and I was instantly out of my chair, hugging Carlisle. I knew Edward wouldn't be comfortable with me hugging him, so squeezing the non-existent life out of Carlisle would have to do. Alice showed no restraint. She leapt at him, squeezing him with her arms and legs, and scolding him about all the things she had seen. At least, we assumed that was what she was doing. It was a one-way conversation.

"I know Alice…. Yes and I'm sorry about that too… well it wasn't my intention… yes probably… no I don't think I could have… of course you're right." He paused looking at her pointedly and she let go, returning to Jasper's side.

Edward looked at me next. I'm glad you're safe. And home. And if there is anything I can do please let me know. I said, restraining myself, and limiting the barrage of affection that my brain wanted to throw at him.

He nodded to Rose and Emmett, and then walked over to us, half-hugged us both, giving a quick squeeze and moving away, upstairs to his room. He paused for a moment.

"Thank you all…. And yes Jasper, that's probably a good plan." He disappeared upstairs for a moment and returned in tougher, hiking gear. Jasper followed his example, and the two boys disappeared to hunt.

They returned mere moments before they were supposed to leave for school. Edward had no doubt timed it so that I couldn't give him a reassuring pep talk. His smirk as he grabbed his school bag in slipped into the Volvo made me grin and shake my head. Children.