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Prospects

Carlisle's P.O.V

"Esme, come with me please?" I cringed at the formal tone, now the rest of the family, with their sensitive hearing would know something was afoot. Esme also knew. I could it on my dutiful wife's face.

"Of course dear," her voice mirroring my formal tone as she followed me out of the living room. Both Jasper and Edward's heads towards us, their eyes watching us intently. Oh dear, Jasper was assessing my mood and Edward was trying to read my thoughts. Blast. I focused my attention to radiating calm and the feel of my wife's slender hand in mine. Jasper, reassured looked away and Edward quickly kept his mind reading to himself. Good.

Esme and I reach our suite. The front room- the "privy chamber" as Esme preferred to call it (she was poking fun at my age) — served as a lounge and Esme's office. I had of course offered that she choose another room as her office but she had refused. We sat down on a cream colored loveseat. She looked at me with serious eyes. He soft voice floated to me, "What is the matter darling? You've been looking troubled all week." Her white, heart-shaped face looked at me.

I smiled at her, "It is a hard task to hide things from you love. You are much too observant." I kissed her forehead and we smiled into each other's eyes.

I let my face go serious again and Esme quickly became concerned. I took a breath. "Love, we need to leave Forks."

"Is that all?" she chimed. "Darling, don't look so. I've known that for a week. I knew for awhile that this was going to come up. We've been in Forks longer than most places anyhow and it was only a matter of time before you spoke of it. We must leave some time."

I laughed. I couldn't help it. "Bless you wife. You're never at a loss." I kissed her again, this time one the mouth. "Here I was, dreading at telling you that we would have to leave and mover elsewhere, whereas you already knew. What a woman you are!"

Esme laughed right along with me and a small part of me marveled at the little tinkling bells of her laugh. "We'll tell the rest of the family later, at the dining room table," she assured me, "though we may want to as Alice where she can see us living. And the others will want to have their say as well."

"Yes dear," I said meekly. She grabbed my hand and said, "Let's go get this matter resolved now, if you please. Everyone is at home today."

We walked down the hallway and as we were descending the great spiral staircase, I quietly call out, "Alice, Bella, Edward, Emmett, Jasper, Renesmee, Rosalie to the dining room table please," putting a ting of calm authority in it. I would have called Jacob as well, if he was here, but he was in La Push training the younger wolves with Sam today.

By the time Esme and I reached the dining room table, everyone was seated and looked expectantly at the two of us. I walked calmly to the head of the table with Esme to my right.

Before speaking, I looked at every face at the table. Esme, on my right, her gold eyes were full of support. Her caramel hair was in a chignon at the base of her neck. She was wearing a fawn-colored cardigan over a white blouse and a light gray pencil skirt. Her whole body was leaning towards in support. I smile a smile just for her and turn to look at Jasper, on her right.

Jasper surely knew what I was feeling. I look into my third adoptive son's face. His eyes were dark; he would have to feed soon. His dark eyes were narrowed, no doubt at trying to get a read on my emotions. His brow furrowed, highlighting the two scars above one of his eyebrows. He was wearing another ivory sweater, covering his scars again. He still could not face his past completely.

Tiny, inquisitive Alice sat next to him. Could she have seen this coming? This was a bit spur-of-the-moment. But something this big couldn't have escaped her notice. She also had an expression similar to Jasper's. So maybe she didn't see this coming, good. It was nice to surprise her once in awhile.

The newest addition to our family sat next to Alice. Nessie. The only one of us who didn't have gold eyes. My vampire eyes took in everything. Pale blue sweater and a white skirt. Bronze curls. My granddaughter. She didn't have a clue as to what was this about. Well, neither did the other except for Esme. But Ness and Bella were the only one that hadn't experience a move. This would be difficult for her.

Across from her sat Emmett. Big, hulking and jovial. You wouldn't find a better-natured person out there –alive or dead. He was wearing a form-fitting light gray sweater. No doubt Rosalie forced him to put it on. He leaned towards me, excited no doubt. That was just like him. My second son was always up for a challenge, like his mate—Rosalie.

Rose was the fairest one in the family. Long, blonde hair, heart-shaped face, the girl should have been a measuring board for beauty. A classic beauty. He light pink sweater lent her white skin a slight rosy hue. She would want to move to a bigger city, with more grandeur than Forks.

To Rosalie's left sat Bella. She hadn't experienced a move with us either. When we left Forks last time, she was left behind, as a human. What a mistake that had been. We hadn't any idea that Victoria was to return for revenge. This time however, Bella would be coming with us. She was wearing a pale green stretch cotton shirt. Edward sat on her other side, he who watched me with a hawk's eye.

He was trying to read my thoughts. Stop it, I directed at him, you'll find out soon enough.

Out loud I said, "Family, it is time to leave Forks."

Their reactions were just about as what I had expected. Jasper was calm, as he had to be when he was in everyone's emotional climates. Alice was excited. One could practically see the sparks flying off of her. Renesmee looked sad and hurt. Poor child. She probably was thinking of Jacob and Charlie. Well, those matters were to be discussed. Emmett, big child that he is, looked disappointed. He was probably hoping for something more exciting. Rose was satisfied. She was always bored of Forks; it was too mundane for her. Bella, oh Bella, she looked stricken, like Nessie, she was most likely thinking of Charlie and Renesmee and Jacob. That girl should have been more in century when martyrs were more commonplace, the 13th century for example. Edward, of course, was thinking of his wife and daughter. His eyes were worried.

I felt bad at springing such a large announcement like this, but we did not have many choices. It was either leave or the Volturi's return. I turned to look at Esme; she already had notebooks, lists and papers in front of her with a pen in her hand. Bless that woman.

I cleared my throat. At once everyone turned their attention back to me. I spoke calmly, "We have to leave, and soon. The town has noticed that we never seem to change," I look directly at my granddaughter, willing her to understand. "This put us all in danger. I am trying to pass for thirty-eight People are wondering, talking about how you younger ones do not change age you should. Edward, you know this. You hear it in their thoughts. Don't lie. You've kept a still tongue in your head for Bella and Nessie's sake. But now for the sake of the family, must leave. Esme already has a list of prospects for us. I would like for all of us to remain together, but of course, you are free to choose."

Alice spoke up first. "We stay with you Carlisle," laying her hand on top of Jasper's, "wherever you go." Jasper nodded.

"We stay with you too," Emmett's loud bass boomed out. Rose added, "We're family Carlisle. We need to stay together. Who else would go shopping with Alice?" She smiled at the dark-headed pixie that beamed in response. "It won't be Bella for sure. She hates to shop." We all laughed.

Bella timidly spoke up, "May I have some time to discuss it with Edward and Nessie? There are so many factors to consider: Charlie for one, and Jake for another," Bella went on, ignoring Rose's hiss at Jacob's name. "Renesmee is Jake's imprint. It will cause both emotional pain and physical pain for Jake to be apart. Jake can't leave when Billy's health is declining at such a rate. Billy's health has been declining for the past two years. Who knows how much more time Jake will have with him? He may not live that long and Jake can't leave him." Her voice shook, "If Nessie stays…" she trailed off. Poor Bella. She and Ness had the hardest decision to make. They had the most roots in Forks.

Edward spoke, "Bella," he crooned gently, "Charlie can handle it. He's tough, and we'd always visit. Jake on the other hand needs to stay with his father. I know what it is like to see your father's life slip away." Bella and Nessie looked at him. We all did. Edward hardly ever talked about his birth parents. It hit home with all of us.

"Jacob should stay here and we can visit as need be." The voice came from Rosalie. I was surprised to hear her speak Jacob Black's name without the customary antagonism. That made Bella and Nessie really look at her. Nessie's lip quivered. Rose continued, "Losing your father is no easy thing. The mu—Jacob, must be here. And you can always visit regularly."

"Oh Rose," Emmett sighed. He hugged his wife. We all understood the depths of Rose's words. She too, like Edward lost her parents though in an entirely different way. Whereas Edward lost his parents from the Spanish influenza, Rosalie lost her parents from her own death. Rose still missed her family and her former life. The pain was evident in her voice.

"Alright," Renesmee said. "We have to move. I can see that. I'll talk to Jake tomorrow."