The Kindness of Strangers

by scribe4hire

AH. Esme is on the run from abusive husband Charles. She ends up in small town Forks, where she becomes secretary at the private practice run by Dr Carlisle Cullen. Can Dr Cullen and his family help heal her wounds? Please read and review

9. Chapter 9

SM OWNS ALL THINGS TWLIGHT.

AN; I'll save my apologies till the end. I'll just say that Charles has a dirty mouth and a twisted view of the women. You have been warned. Oh, there will also be a new character POV for this chapter. M stands for violence and bad language as well as Lemons.

CHARLE'S POV

Pleasure isn't half as much fun without a little pain beforehand. So whilst I waited for the whisky to finish burning its way down my throat, I indulged myself in the thought of Esme's face when we were reunited, which despite my current problems, would not be long if I had my way. And, I always got my way in the end, one way or another. Hindsight, a bedroom full of broken furniture and a bathroom full of blood, had made me realize that I may have gone a little too far during our last argument. But she had bought a lot of it on herself. The Hardcastle's were important clients, but instead of keeping that interfering old bitch Helen Hardcastle entertained, whilst I persuaded her husband that the extra underpinning and decking for his summer house really was needed, Esme had sat there almost mute and looking on the verge of tears as she had fiddled with the expensive dress I had bought her. Yes it had been low cut, but she still had a good rack for a woman her age and I wanted to show it off. Especially considering unlike the space hoppers attached to Helen Hardcastle's chest, Esme's tits hadn't cost me a penny.

All the way home, Es had whined about a headache. Usually I would have left her to stew over night, wondering just how pissed I actually was, whilst I went and spent the night somewhere else. But Demi was out of town that night, so I had been frustrated both mentally and physically. Esme had whined and went on and on about her damn headache until I had grabbed her and told her that I had a cure for her headache. Usually, she would lay there like a fucking statue, she was such a cold, frigid bitch, but that night she had tried to fight me off. In my drunken state, that had only added to my desire. She wasn't half as good looking as she had been when we first met, but seeing her so feisty got my blood pumping.

I had woken the next morning, to find Esme gone and the bedroom and bathroom in a mess. After screaming for a full five minutes to establish that she wasn't just hiding somewhere, I began to tidy myself up and head downstairs to the kitchen to wait for her. As hung over as I was, I had also been hungry. She arrived home an hour later, pale and covered in surgical dressings.

"I drove over to Harrow View, said I was mugged." She had said flatly, before I could ask. Her frequent trips to the ER near us, had led to me having to do some pretty fancy talking to the cops.

"Eggs okay?" she asked, moving round the kitchen. I grunted. One of the few things that Esme was good at, was making me feel like a piece of shit. Damn it! It wasn't that, I didn't love her. I did, in my way. But she just made me so damn angry sometimes. I gave her a good life, all she had to do, was behave herself properly, realize that she was my wife and as such, had certain duties. And for the week following our last fight, she seemed to be finally getting the message. And then, she had just disappeared. No note, no nothing.

I hadn't been too worried to start with. She had no money to speak of. That was my responsibility. No car and no one she could go stay with. She was so damn quiet and boring, her friends had left her long ago and the ones that had stuck around, putting ideas in her head, I had soon persuaded Esme to get rid of. But after ten days, I realized that she had grown a back bone and actually left me. I had admired her for about a second, until I realized that there was the house to run, clients to take care and most importantly my needs to take care of. Luckily, Demi had been more than happy to step in. She was just starting to get to the expensive stage of the affair. I usually didn't stay with one woman long enough for that to happen, but the sex was amazing and I had still found her feistiness cute.

But then, the silly bitch had reported Esme as a missing person. Telling me, that she had done it to speed up the divorce I had promised her I was getting. Although Esme had never filed domestic battery charges against me, the doctors at the ER had put her on a watch list, which meant, the police had given me a hell of a rough time over her sudden disappearance. But budgets and the attitude of the officer who had caught the case meant that it hadn't been for long. It didn't stop clients and others at the small business council whispering behind my back and sniggering. I had decided there and then, that I was going to find Esme and make her pay for the humiliation she had caused me. But, I wasn't going to spend a fortune doing it if I didn't have to yet. Wasn't that I paid my taxes to the police for? And anyway, I had met Bree by then and although she was high maintenance, she was worth it. The sex was even better than with Demi and a hell of a lot more adventurous.

"Authorities today ruled out terrorist activity as a cause for the structural collapse and fire at the I-DENT club in downtown Seattle last night. Ten people including five emergency service personnel died, whilst 254 were left injured…" A voice intoned gravely from behind me.

My head snapped round to the TV in the corner of the my office. Film footage of the emergency services crawling all over the wreckage of the I-DENT club filled the screen beneath a banner reading HOLIDAY HORROR.

I poured myself another Scotch.

It was a shame. The I-DENT had been a beautiful building. It was split onto three levels, each level soundproofed, so that the different musical styles on each level didn't affect each other. Each level also came complete with it's own bar, bathrooms, chill out area and large glass dance floors which jutted out like balconies. Clubs catering to more than one musical taste in one building had been done before, but not for quite a while. So with its central location, unique selling point and a town full of college kids, who even in these hard times would always try and find the money to party. It had been financed by a lottery winner with more money than sense, who had laid himself open to be screwed by myself and James Tanner, a new foreman I had hired. We could talk to guy for hours about building regs and such but he all he was interested in was seeing which hot young starlet he could persuade to come to the opening. To men like Tanner and myself, it had been too good an opportunity to pass up.

Ever since my father had first taken me on as a laborer the summer after High School graduation at one of the three big construction sites he was running, I had learnt about corner cutting and how to add a little extra to the "essential materials" bills. Construction was such a precarious business, that you made your money where you could as far as my father and later I was concerned.

Construction is also very much a business of not so much what you know, as who you know. And as business had become a little slow in Chicago, I had decided to reach out to the people I knew in Seattle. And one of them, a real prince of a guy called Alec, who still owed me for standing quite a considerable surety of bond after he had got busted for assault here in Chicago, had told me about the I-DENT club.

The owner of the construction firm that the club owner had signed the original deal with had skimmed a little too much, in places that were too noticeable. When the construction boss, some scmuck named Crowley had not taken my offer of a partnership with a 70:30 split in my favour seriously, Alec had had him investigated and closed down. But as sweet a deal as this looked like turning out to be, I still had enough business in Chicago to keep me here a lot of the time and there was also Bree to consider. I wanted the sex on tap, but I didn't want to have to pay for it anymore than I was, by adding airplane tickets to the equation. I needed a man on the ground. Alec had introduced me to one of his best men, James Tanner. Alec had charged the club owner, a very large fee for taking over at such a late stage, but had left Tanner and I to split what we skimmed off cheap labour and materials. Between us, Tanner and I had quite a little black book of contacts that could supply us some cheap labour and materials that were up to code, just not American code. But my mother didn't raise a fool and I made sure that Tanner's name was on all the suspect paperwork in Seattle, my own copies, bank cheques and other documents were safely hidden away. But Tanner was a street rat, he knew that all though I would catch some heat, that most of it would fall on him. So, I hadn't been too surprised when he had turned up at my office this morning. He wanted money to get out of the country whilst he still could. The man must have been making fortunes, even though I was getting the slightly larger cut.

"You've been well paid for your services, it's not my fault that you manage your money, worse than you do a construction site…" I had sneered. But the smile had been wiped off my face as he had reached across my desk, grabbing my tie and pulling it tight towards him. In the commotion, I had knocked the picture of Esme I had been looking at, following a call from the police to tell me that there was no news and that it could take a while, as she had had no credit card or cell phone for them to trace. That had been another reason I was going to enjoy punishing her, for making me have to explain why in this day and age, my wife didn't have her own bank account or cell phone. His eyes had snapped to the picture.

"Who's she?" he hissed, indicating the picture with his head. He had my tie so tight, it was cutting off my air supply, but I managed to cast my bulging eyes downward.

"W…ife." I gasped. He let go of my tie and pushed me back into my seat. I spent the next five minutes gasping, coughing and threatening to call the police.

"I thought you didn't know anyone but Alec and me in the Washington, Seattle area?"

"I don't." he rasped, looking at me as if I was something that he had stepped in.

"So, the missus has set up in competition with you then has she?"

My eyes widened. "You…you've seen Esme?"

He explained to me about Esme being responsible for him losing a lucrative deal, when she had spotted a few of his scams. I had had to smile at that. She had been at one time, quite smart. I had thrown him out with a cashier's cheque for $150,000. It wasn't a sum that I could afford really, especially with the expensive lawyers I was going to need soon to cover my ass over the I-DENT club, but it was worth it to have news of Esme. I was a man who believed in the sanctity of marriage and the importance of the vows we made before God. Esme had made a promises to love, honor and obey me until death us do part. And I fully intended to make sure she honoured every fucking one of those promises. It was the least a husband could expect from his wife. There was a knock at my office door. Demetri, a tall, good looking Italian guy who had been working for me for the last six months overhauling my computer systems and that of a few of my competitors, stuck his head round the door.

"C'min Demitri…" I slurred slightly. He did so, taking a seat in front of my desk.

"You know the Seattle area quite well don't you?"

"It's been a while…" he said cautiously. I smirked. Demetri had only been out of prison for a year. He had been serving time for computer crimes and then ruthlessly hunting down a witness.

"Well, how would you like to go back, see a few old friends? Maybe, look up one of mine…all on the company."

ES POV

We had taken Emmett's jeep to the hospital as it was the only vehicle we had big enough to take us all. Charlie and Sue Swan were following behind. Jasper had had to drive as he was the only one able to control his emotions well enough. I was sat on the long back seat, with Alice cuddled up to me on one side and Bella on the other. Emmett was in the front passenger seat, he had reached his hand back through the gap in the seats resting it on my knee, my hand was on top of his, with Alice and Bella's on top of mine. Rose was sat directly behind Emmett, gently rubbing his shoulders and crooning in his ear. Alice suddenly began whimpering pitifully. I squeezed her tightly as I heard Jasper's sharp intake of breath.

"He's alright baby…concussion, a few broken ribs and some nasty cuts. It could have been so much worse…" I crooned, kissing the top of her head. It was true, he could have been dead. And if it wasn't for Emmett's good friend Garrett, who had insisted that Carlisle start heading out, whilst he took his place carrying the stretcher with the amputee patient on, he would have been. Garrett and three other fire and rescue guys, not to mention the poor patient, another firefighter who had already lost the lower half of his leg, had fallen two stories to their deaths after some gas canisters used on the first floor for special effects had exploded, causing the already unstable floor that Carlisle and the team had been working on above to give way. Carlisle had been flung down the staircase he had reached the top of and partially buried beneath a wall. I felt awful for the way I had screamed at Emmett, I had only added to the fear and confusion of people I loved, who had already faced the horror of losing parents and for a few minutes, faced the very real fear of it happening again. But at that moment, all I had felt was an overwhelming, crushing, physical pain at the thought of Carlisle being gone. I couldn't wouldn't, have survived without him, my heart that he had so lovingly bought back to life, would have just stopped and I would have welcomed it. It was selfish after all he had done, after all the Cullen's had done for me, but I knew it was the truth.

The hospital had been cordoned off to anything other than ambulances. A temporary waiting area had been set up in a small out building, to accommodate the pale faced, anxious and downright terrified relatives that had begun arriving. We had waited as Edward, had instructed outside. Jasper had wrapped his coat and arms around Alice, Emmett had held me closely to his side in a grip that was almost painful, but I welcomed it and tried to return it as best I could. Fresh tears had formed as he had tenderly kissed the top of my head.

"Everything's going to be alright Esme…Concussion or not, the old man will be issuing orders and driving everyone crazy."

"He is a terrible patient, Edward too." Bella had said wryly.

"I don't care, he can grouch all he wants…" I had replied.

"Heh, just think of all the fun you can have playing doctors and nurses…giving him sponge baths…" Emmett chuckled humourlessly. Bella's strangled sob and the sight of her launching herself through the crowd, had told us Edward's imminent arrival. When he did arrive, Bella was glued to his hip. The poor boy had looked as if he had aged ten years in only a few hours. His face was pale, his shoulders stooped and his gaze was haunted. He had taken the precaution to wear a hoodie zipped over his scrub top, for if a doctor had been seen by the relatives room at that moment, he would have been mobbed emotions were running so high.

"He's doing okay. He has a concussion, but both his CT's came back clear for bleeding. His broken ribs aren't exactly helping his lungs, which are congested from all the dust and he shit he breathed in, but it's not life threatening. Same with the cuts he received from the falling glass, he'll have a few interesting scars, but…" Edward had trailed off then, pinching the bridge of his nose with the free hand that wasn't wrapped around Bella. My heart had threatened to stop again and I could feel the others stiffen. "He was trapped beneath some pretty large chunks of concrete. His lower back and his legs are severely swollen and bruised. That means that we can't get a clear picture of any damage he might of done yet. The…extreme…" Edward's voice had cracked with emotion…"that pain, would make his already painful and ragged breathing worse, so…he's been placed in a medically induced coma…"

I had let out a strangled cry, almost ripping Emmett's jacket with the strength of my grip.

"It's only for twenty hours, to give things a chance to settle…" Edward had said quickly. He had tried to be the professional doctor, but right at this moment, he was a frightened son.

"Can we see him?" I had asked. I felt bad for the other people forced to wait for news of their loved ones, but I needed to see for myself that Carlisle was alive, if not in one piece. The High Dependency Unit had been busy, but quiet, the only sound being the humming and beeping of machines. Emmett was still holding me at that point, but I could feel his broad body shaking as we neared the end of the corridor where Carlisle's room was. I had given him a squeeze round the waist, which had earned me a watery smile in return.

The door to Carlisle's room had opened and we came face to face with Siobhan, a white coat over the top of her scrubs, her hair tied back in a messy bun. I had discovered that despite her emotional problems, she was a respected doctor in her field I just hadn't known, her field was here. Her face had twisted in sympathy and what looked like genuine concern when she had seen Edward and the others, but she was as cold as ice when she had looked at me.

"Only a couple of minutes Edward and only two at a time…she…" she didn't even bother to hide the sneer in her voice as she indicated me with a nod of her head. " will have to wait somewhere else…it's immediate family only."

Edward and the others had immediately began to remonstrate with her, earning a severe warning from the over worked senior nurse on the floor. The bitch was getting her revenge and enjoying every minute of it. I had pulled away from Emmett.

"Siobhan, please…don't do this now…" I had whispered. It stuck in my throat to beg the bitch, but Carlisle…my Carlisle, was the other side of that door, injured, needing me. I would have got down on my knees.

"You are one cold hearted bitch!" Rose had hissed.

"I'm sorry, but we're swamped here…we haven't got time to deal with hangers on…the waiting room is that way...oh and don't think about trying to sneak in, he's on 15 minute obs and the nurses are watching him very carefully." She had sneered as she left.

I had been shaking with fury, fear and a million other emotions. But it wasn't about me. They may have been grown, but the children needed to see their father. I had assured them I would be alright. Alice and Jasper had gone in first. Sue and Charlie had arrived not long after and it was whilst I was in the ladies room with Sue that I had finally vented the feelings that had been threatening to consume me. Sue had taken me in her arms and just rocked me like a child.

The night had seemed endless, but I busied myself making the children comfortable, trying to comfort them as best I could. Alice had finally fallen asleep, with her head on my lap. I was stroking her hair, when Edward had approached me.

"Esme, I have to go back downstairs to the ER, but I promise…I'll sort this out…she isn't the only one able to throw her weight about…" he had said darkly.

"Edward, don't get yourself in trouble…all I care about is Carlisle getting the care that he needs…and if that means her…"

"You're what he needs." Edward had huffed crossly. I was touched by his words and the genuine look in his eye.

All through the night and into the next day, the children, including Edward who had been relieved of his duties by other incoming doctors and the movement of other patients to different hospitals, kept going to sit with Carlisle and report back to me. And just as Siobhan had said, the nurses were watching Carlisle carefully, with not even Edward in full charm mode able to shift their decision to not let me in.

"You must be losing your touch little brother…" Emmett had teased. Edward threw a balled up Subway wrapper at his head.

"You make sure you pick that up." I had chided quietly. Emmett had sniggered I turned to look at him. "And you can stop teasing your brother, it's not his fault that the nurses are all part of Siobhan's little coven of witches." I had huffed. This had earned a few more sniggers. With a noisy sigh, I had buried my head in my hands, running my fingers through my hair.

"I don't know how you did it Bella." I said quietly. She had smiled sadly and given my shoulders a squeeze.

Someone had suggested going home half heartedly at some point. But we all knew we wouldn't move until Carlisle had been woken from his coma and his back assessed. Thankfully, he had had a stable night, his neuro obs being clear for anything more serious than a concussion and his breathing although a little shallow, was becoming stronger. His back and legs were still badly swollen. I had been standing by the window watching the weak November sun, sink behind the Seattle skyline when the waiting room door opened. It was Eleazar. He had come by twice during the night. He had been in surgery for hours and it showed.

He had responded warmly to our welcome, but refused any of the food that Alice had sent out for. His face grew serious. We had all frozen. None of us were in with Carlisle as he was being assessed.

"What is it? What's wrong?" I whispered.

"The swelling is still obscuring the X-rays and we can't risk him moving, so they've decided to keep him sedated until at least the morning."

My legs had given out. I couldn't face another night of not being able to see him, having to rely on second hand accounts, however detailed about how he looked, how he was. After much argument, Eleazar had persuaded me and any of the others who wanted to come, to go back to Carmen and his home in Seattle to at least shower and eat properly. I didn't want to leave Carlisle or the children, but Alice and Bella had decided to come with me.

I had half heartedly picked at some food, more to keep Carmen happy and set a good example to the girls, rather than out of a desire to eat. And now, I was sat on the large comfortable bed in one of their guest rooms in a robe, having finally emerged from the shower when the water had run cold and I had cried my tears. How was it possible that just over twenty four hours ago we had been sitting round the table as a happy family and I really did now believe that we were, that I was part of Carlisle's family, with the children giving their blessing to Carlisle and I getting married sometime in the future? It had been an accident, a terrible, tragic accident that could have ended up a lot worse, for us at least, but it didn't stop me wanting to scream at the unfairness of it all. It didn't stop me wanting to scream with fear and anger at how close I had come to losing the man I loved. The pain, that I felt deep inside at not being able to see Carlisle, not being able to at least hold his hand, stroke his hair, just let him know in some small way that I was there and that I loved him was almost unbearable. Grabbing a pillow, I had hugged it fiercely to my chest. There was a light tap on the door.

"Come in." I said, suddenly afraid. Had I missed the phone ringing whilst I was in the shower. Bella poked her head round the door. "What's wrong? Did someone call?" Bella shook her head and hurried over to the bed, bending her knee under her as she sat down.

"Esme, Alice and I have decided, with a lot of not so gentle persuasion from Edward and Jazz, to stay here tonight and go back to the hospital in the morning. There is nothing we can do and I really can't face another night on those damn chairs. And Alice is getting a little jumpy…would you stay…just in case she has one of her nightmares. She hasn't had any for awhile, but something like this is going to bring some things back and…"

I held up my hand to stop her. I knew she was telling the truth mostly. Those chairs were damn uncomfortable and Alice's mood had been shifting between withdrawn and too bright. When she had slept on my lap she had begun mumbling about her mother. Alice could remember very little of the accident that claimed her parents, but she did have some memories according to Carlisle and the thought of losing him, must surely be making her relieve some terrible memories. They were also doing it for my benefit. I wanted to go back to the hospital, mostly out of a need to be near Carlisle, but also so that that bitch Siobhan would not get the satisfaction of seeing me leave. But as Carmen had said, I would be no use to Carlisle when, I could actually see him, if I was exhausted.

"What about Rose?" I asked.

"She and Em are at Em's fire house…meeting with his friends…I think Garrett's parents are coming down."

"Those poor people…and poor Emmett…with everything he's been through already…"I said sadly.

"Garrett was a great guy…we owe him…and Em, won't be alone, neither will Carlisle or you…we've got each other's backs…it's the Cullen way." Bella said matter of factly.

"By George I think she's got it…it only took her ten years or so, but she's got it." Alice sang from the doorway. Alice looked tired. She then proceeded to inform us that she had been back to Forks to pick up clothes for us all. Opening my bag a little later, after she and Bella had left, I found on the top of the pile, one of Carlisle's shirts. I couldn't stop the tears from flowing as I buried my face in the material, taking a deep breath of his scent. "I love you my darling…so much…" I whispered. Once I had calmed myself, I slipped the shirt on with a pair of sleep shorts and climbed under the covers, hugging a pillow tightly to me.

As Bella had predicted, Alice had a restless night. So I wasn't surprised when just after two am, when she crawled onto the top of my bed. She lay with her back against my chest and sighed softly as I wrapped my arms, that had the familiar feel and smell of her father round her.

We both woke with a start the next morning when the bedroom door was flung back so hard it hit the wall. Bella ran into the room, her face flushed, eyes excited and nervous.

"He's awake!"

C POV

Something bad had happened. I wasn't sure what exactly, but I knew something very bad had happened. My traitorous mind however would not give me the answers. Instead I was forced to stand in the darkness, grabbing wildly at the images and voices that were swirling all around me. I took a deep breath, god that hurt, but I couldn't tell what was causing it. Focus Carlisle…focus..I told myself firmly in an attempt to calm the rising panic I felt.

It had been Thanksgiving…everyone was there…even Emmett! So the bad thing wasn't anything happening to Emmett. Emmett had said something…"damn it,Em, what did you say?" I demanded.

"When are you going to make an honest man of the old man Esme?" I finally heard him say. I took another deep breath. It still hurt, but not as much as I concentrated on the image that appeared before my eyes. Esme had looked shocked, but then pleased, then anxious as she had told the children that we had talked about marriage. We had even had a practice run of our honeymoon in Lake Como…the image of Esme in lacy lingerie suddenly flashed before me. I groaned. As amazing as she had looked and the night had been, I needed to focus. Esme had started to say something about Elizabeth, only to be stopped by Edward, who had assured her and me, that as much as they loved and missed their mother, they knew how much Esme and I needed each other, how happy we made each other and how they gave their blessing. My heart clenched painfully in my chest. I loved them all so much, was so proud of them as I knew Elizabeth would be… "Thank you Edward" I mumbled

Then I was holding Esme in my arms by the Mercedes, she looked nervous as her small, warm hand stroked my cheek.

"You go do what you have to do, but be careful…I love you…" she had whispered, before pressing her lips against mine passionately.

"I love you too…darling…"

Do what I have to do? Be careful? What the hell? Then another of the swirling images above my head had slowed enough so I could see it. Edward and I were running into the ER at Seattle University Hospital. There were already injured people being rushed through the doors as Dr Marriot, stood on top of one of the plastic waiting area chairs, spoke.

"The I-DENT club, opened tonight, was full to capacity, even on a holiday. At 10.20pm, the first of three balconies collapsed…"

The next image I saw was me triaging and tagging people in the ambulances. That was followed by Dr Marriot grabbing my arm.

"Carlisle, one of the firefighters at the scene has been trapped under some falling masonry on an already unstable floor. The rescue guys can't risk moving what's trapping him as it might take half the floor with it onto the people below. The only way out is to take the lower half of his leg…the two doctor's we have down there don't really have the experience and this needs to be done fast…"

"I'm on it." I had said, recognizing the pleading tone.

Edward had been hurrying past me, when he stopped, his face creased with concentration but also concern. "Be careful Dad." He had said. I had pulled him into a one armed man hug. I felt my stomach begin to tighten and my heart begin to thud painfully against what I was now convinced were broken ribs. This was the bad thing. Something had happened to me at the accident site. Please God…Elizabeth, anyone who can hear me…PLEASE I CAN'T BE DEAD! I couldn't do it to the children…"I'm so sorry Edward…kids…so sorry…" I couldn't do it to Esme… "Esme forgive me darling…"Hot angry tears of frustration were pricking my eyes, as was a dim light, from somewhere behind me. I turned towards it. No, no going toward lights, nuh uh! But then I felt myself being swept towards it, by two firefighters. But now it wasn't a light at the end of a black tunnel, it was a light at the top of a set of concrete stairs. My feet were kicking away lumps of concrete and crunching over broken glass, whilst my lungs stung from the concrete dust in the air and the acrid smell of burning. All around me, I could hear people screaming and moaning for help. But where I was needed was at the top of this staircase.

I was on what looked like half a concrete floor. The patient was blocked from my view, by two of the rescue guys, who were holding large lights over the scene where one of the junior doctors already here was working.

"New doc's here." One of the firefighters that had bought me up the stairs had said. One of the rescue guys turned round.

"Heh What's up Doc?" Garrett, a college friend of Emmett's had said brightly. He had used the same greeting every time we met for the last ten years. "This is Emmett's dad." He explained to the others. Their faces broke into smiles. It made me so proud to see how well respected Emmett was.

"How is he? Still enjoying a little R/R with Rosie?" One guy had sniggered. Garrett shot him a deadly glare.

"Last time I saw him, he was on the phone begging your Captain to let him come help…but…talk to me doctor…" I said, seeing the anxious look on the other doctor's face.

"Mitchell…"the young man had said. He wasn't totally green, but still new enough for his nerves to affect him. He reeled off the patient's vitals

"Doc, this floor ain't that stable…what with our fat asses and the concrete…"

"Doctor Mitchell, I'm sure they have a use for you outside…" I had said, checking the already unconscious patient for myself. Mitchell was gone by the time I turned round.

"Guys, I'm going to need those lights held steady and the one of you with the strongest stomach to assist." I said. Garrett dropped down beside me. The building was moaning and groaning as if it was in physical pain itself, but I somehow focused my mind on the task at hand. Garrett was a little green round the gills, but he stuck with me and did everything I asked him to.

"If I can stomach the sight of Emmett's ass covered in sunburn and poison ivy, I can stomach anything." He quipped. Suddenly there was a loud creaking and rending noise as metal began to give way somewhere beneath us. Garrett's radio crackled into life.

"Doc, they're giving us five minutes max, before they sound the horn to withdraw." The fire and rescue, never withdrew from a building, especially a building that could still have people trapped inside, unless they really feared the worse. This was pure meatball, hatchet, scoop and run surgery and part of me was loving the adrenaline rush.

"Done…" I said two minutes later.

"Right then doc, you start heading out, we'll follow…" Garrett had said firmly.

"I'll carry an end…" I began to insist.

"You'll carry your rear end the hell out of here…I don't want no pissed ol grizzly bear coming after me…" he joked, but his tone was firm. As I reached the top of the stairs, I heard two things, the harsh sound of a siren blaring from outside and the screams of four men. Then I was returned to darkness, until I saw Edward's face looming over me, blocking out the harsh neon strip lights of the emergency room that were blurring before my eyes.

"Dad…Dad…can you hear me?"

"Edward…"! I said frantically reaching for him, only to see his face and voice begin to distort and swirl away from me.

"EDWARD! Don't leave me here…what the hell is going on"? I demanded. My chest was burning from the effort of shouting and my body was screaming with pain.

"DAD! Dad, if you can hear me…open your eyes…open your eyes dad…" Edward insisted firmly. What was he talking about? My eyes were open, but why the hell couldn't I move properly? Suddenly, Edward's face swam back into my line of sight, along with some blinding sunlight. I suddenly felt sick. I closed my eyes, which obviously hadn't been open pretty damn quick

"Dad, you're okay, you're in the hospital…pretty banged up, but okay…just lay still for a second and open your eyes slowly. You have a concussion, some broken ribs and some severe bruising to your back." I heard him say. His tone was catching with emotion.

"That's the last time I wrestle Emmett for the wishbone of the turkey…" I wheezed. I heard a deep chuckle from Emmett. Opening my eyes slowly, into a room where the blinds had thankfully now been drawn, I saw Edward, Emmett and Jasper by the side of my bed. All three looked exhausted and terrified.

Over the next half hour, Edward explained what had happened again including the fact that I had been out for nearly three days. Emmett had also explained about Garrett and the others. I had shed a few painful tears at that, so had Emmett, before Emmett had embraced me surprisingly gently and told me that as much as he loved and missed his friends, he loved me more. As much as I was worried about what had happened to me, I was more worried about the effect it would have had on the others.

"Where are they all?" I asked quietly, my throat was sore.

"Rose is outside on the phone calling them…" Emmett began. The door opened to admit Eleazar.

"Yes, they have all just squeezed into Alice's Porsche…they should be here any minute, knowing the way Alice drives." Eleazar chuckled. I was glad they were taking care of themselves, but there was a little part of me that was a little hurt that they weren't there. Eleazar proceeded to tell me about the pain in my back. I had been extremely fortunate that it was deep bruising, soft tissue and a nerve damage that would heal itself in time.

"You gave us all quite a scare my friend." Eleazar said gravely. I nodded, not trusting my voice. I really had come close to the edge, to losing everything.

"Eleazar, please tell me that that bitc…" Emmett began. Edward and Jasper shot him death glares.

"Siobhan will not be in charge of your father's treatment from here on out. Treatment, that for the next couple of days consists of bed rest and pain relief…this is my floor. And no Edward, there is no need to offer to buy us a new wing. Esme is free to come and go as she pleases…"

"Okay, somebody needs to start telling me what the hell has been going on." I exploded. As gently as they could, they told me how Siobhan had refused to let Esme even see me in the HDU, instead making her wait in the waiting room. I felt my muscles begin screaming in protest as I tried to sit up. Esme was a changed woman from when we first met, but there was still a fragility there.

"Carlisle, do you want to hurt yourself even more?" Eleazar demanded sharply. "Let me give you something for the pain…"

"No, no pain meds, not until I've seen the girls and especially not till I see Esme." I insisted. My mind was determined, but I just hoped that my body could hold out. Luckily, Alice's lead foot plus the Porsche's finely tuned engine meant that she, Bella and Esme took the boys place in my room fifteen minutes later. Like the boys, all the girl's looked haunted and exhausted. I was so glad to see them all and made sure they knew it, how much I loved them and that Alice knew that I would do whatever it took to be able to walk her down the aisle in three weeks time. Esme had sat back letting the children surround me, but her eyes had never left mine. I was desperate to talk to her, touch her, feel her touch me and I could see by the look in her eye, she felt the same. But I was tiring and the pain I was in was becoming unbearable. And almost as if he had read my mind, Edward had returned to my room, followed by Jasper and Emmett, who with his own unique way of cutting to the chase and lightening the mood had said;

"Come on guys, Esme and the old man want to brush up on their mouth to mouth technique…oww…Rose!" Rose had flicked him across the back of the head, before rolling her eyes and dragging him from the room. We were finally alone. Esme came to sit on the edge of the bed. Her eyes were soft, full of relief, love and unshed tears. She reached up and started to gently stroke my face, carefully skimming across my various cuts and impressive black eye.

"Hi…" I wheezed slightly. I was still on oxygen to help my lungs. I caught her hand and kissed her palm, before pressing it against my chest. The warmth of her hand seemed to ease the pain that was there.

"Hi yourself." She replied softly.

"How are you?"

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?" she laughed.

"I fell like a wall collapsed on top of me…I'm sorry love, but I don't think it'll be long before the nurse comes in with my pain meds, I've put them off as long as I could."

"Oh Carlisle! The children were right, you really are a difficult patient." She chastised gently.

"Esme, I'm sorry…"

"Don't…Don't you dare apologize for what you did! A man was hurt, badly hurt and like the great doctor and selfless man you are, you went to help him. I am so damn proud of you, we all are…"

"It didn't do him, them any good though did it…they still died." I sobbed, the emotions of the last few days hitting me harder than the wall that had fallen on me. My lungs were burning and my muscles hurt but I didn't care. Esme stood and came to lean over my head, her hands gently holding my face in hers. She let me cry for a moment.

"Carlisle, Carlisle, look at me…look at me…" she said firmly.

"You gave that poor boy a fighting chance to make it, what happened was a terrible, tragic accident…I know it's easy for me to say, but it's true. And god forgive me, but at the moment all I can think about is how close the children, how close I came to losing you…" I knew what she was saying was true, I also knew that part of the guilt I was feeling was because I felt exactly the same way she did. "those few moments when I thought I'd lost you…and then not being able to see you…" she sobbed, tears running freely down her face now. "I love you so much…never…ever…doubt…or…forget…that…" she said, gently brushing my lips with hers. And as I saw the fierce look in her eye, I knew whatever happened to us from this moment on, I would never doubt how much she loved me.

I reached up with the hand not restricted by the pull of an IV and twisted my fingers in her hair, holding her face to me as I pressed my lips to hers, desperately trying to tell her in that kiss that I felt exactly the same way. Unfortunately however, in my enthusiasm, I had forgot about the stitches in my lip and pulled away quickly, hissing in pain.

"Oh baby…" she crooned, smoothing my hair from my forehead.

"Damn it! I hurt everywhere." I moaned.

"Well, how about, whilst you're in here, you let the nurses take care of your pain…then when you come home…you let me kiss all your little aches and pains better." She purred.

"They might not all be so little." I growled.

The next ten days were grueling both physically and mentally, but I had my family and Esme beside me, even when I became the patient from hell. I had been weaned off the oxygen as my lungs had cleared and the swelling in my back was clearing, I was still in pain, agony sometimes, but I was pushing on with the physical therapy. I was desperate to get home for Christmas and keep my promise to be able to at least hobble down the aisle with Alice. Being so tired, meant that I usually slept quite well, but that didn't stop the nightmares. Eleazar had started me on intense PTSD therapy, but some things the mind has to work through by itself. After two particularly bad nights and my insistence to Eleazar, that I didn't want sleeping pills. He came up with an "alternative treatment." Esme stayed with me till I fell asleep anyway, but on the third night of nightmares, she came prepared for a sleep over.

"Esme…I'll be getting out of here the day after tomorrow, can't we start your kissing therapy a little early." I had almost begged as I had seen her come out of the little bathroom in one of my T-shirts and a pair of sleep shorts.

"Down boy, I would love to…but I don't want to hurt you…" she said. Two days earlier, I had caught her in an intense kiss as she had helped me out of the shower. And after my almost pathetic begging, she had started to gently pump me with her hand. It had been amazing, until just as I was about to come and the muscles in my back had spasmed in pain rather than pleasure. An embarrassing discussion with Eleazar had informed us, that to be on the safe side, we should wait another couple of weeks.

"That's your Christmas present taken care of." Esme had purred in my ear, only making my problem worse. And Eleazar smirk.

I huffed as she turned her back on me and began rummaging in her bag. I was bored, fed up and horny. I was a terrible patient.

"Now hopefully, it's not better than sex with me…but I think right at this moment it may come close…" she said, walking towards the bed, holding a box from Marco's.

"Canola?" I hissed. She nodded. "you really are a wicked woman." I growled. The contraband sticky dessert was heaven, made that little bit more special when Esme had proceeded to lick cream from my fingers, imitating almost perfectly, what her talented mouth could do so well to another part of me. We had fallen asleep, with Esme in the recliner next to my bed, holding my hand.

"Carlisle…Carlisle…wake up sweetheart, you were dreaming…" Esme's calm, but firm voice pulled me out of the darkness of my troubled mind. She was now sitting on the side of the bed. I was sitting bolt upright, my back aching, shaking with fear. In my dream, Garrett had let me carry the other side of the stretcher and when it had given way, I was falling, falling through the arms of all the children and Esme who were desperately reaching for me. I couldn't speak, didn't trust my voice, instead, I just hugged Esme to me as fiercely as I could, burying my face in her hair, taking deep drags of her scent. Her hands gently rubbed my back.

"You're safe Carlisle, you're safe here with me…I'm not letting you go…" she crooned in my ear. I shifted over and she cuddled up against my chest on the hospital bed. My chest was still tender, but I needed to feel her close to me.

"We need to find you a happy place…somewhere to go after a nightmare…" she said quietly. Her voice soothing in the dark.

"Where's yours?" I asked roughly. She raised her head and even in the darkness, I could see her eyes shining as she looked at me.

"Under that tree on the little island where you told me you loved me for the first time." She said quietly. I pressed my lips against hers tenderly, causing her to sigh against my mouth.

"Is there room under that tree for two?" I asked.

"Always." She replied.

"Good, but as much as I love that place and what happened there, I think my happy place must be, Saint James' Basilica in Como. Seeing the excitement, wonder and peace on your face, it was the most beautiful thing I had seen. Of course, there was also what you said to me." I replied, reaching over with my free hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"That priest taught me to say something else as well…" she said.

"Oh?"

"Lo ti ameranno e wrap sempre nelle mie braccia, di tenervi sicure dal ombre nelle tenebre per sempre." She breathed quietly, her voice full of emotion.

"You'll have to translate love, my head is a little foggy."

"I will love you always and wrap you in my arms, to keep you safe from the shadows in the darkness forever."

DEMETRI POV

The attractive woman, who was laughing happily as she strode down the road arm in arm with a short pixie like younger woman, who looked damn familiar for some reason, looked nothing like the photo Platt had shown me of his wife. That woman had been thin, drawn and although she had been smiling for the camera, her eyes had looked hunted, nervous. And some checking around had told me the reason for that look. There had been several domestic disturbance calls to their address over the years, although as usual no charges had been filed. She was even on her local hospital's watch list for battered women.

Esme Platt, nee Hollister was not a stupid woman. She had graduated with a first class degree from architectural school, having won many student prizes. She had been loved and tipped for great things at Elliot and Elliot, the city's top design firm, until the day she had met Charles Platt, who had inherited his father's large and generally well thought of construction, company. The rest, had been the stuff of nightmares according to two women who remembered her and still hated themselves for not doing more to help. But experience had taught me, that years of physical and verbal beatings would chip away at her confidence, that even if she had the money to leave or somewhere to go, she would be too frightened. And for fourteen years Esme had been that woman, until the day the bastard had caused her to miscarry the baby, that people who even vaguely knew her, knew that she desperately wanted. She had packed up, pawned her mother's meager jewellery and got as far away as the little town of Forks, somewhere in the middle of nowhere outside Washington.

There she had been taken in by Doctor Carlisle Cullen, a local doctor, who was widowed with three adult children, connections in Washington and a large inheritance from his late wife. In Forks, after a shaky start, Esme had bloomed into the woman that everyone who ever knew her, knew she could be. And was on the verge of divorcing Platt, so she could take the next step with the Doc. My cell phone ringing pulled me out of my reverie. I snapped it open.

"Yeah, it's her…what do you want me to do?"

C POV

I was finally home. I was still bored, I wanted to take some of our patient load off Edward, but realistically knew I couldn't and therefore was only really good for doing paperwork, something I detested and avoided as much as possible when I was well, this had made me cranky. But thankfully, I wasn't quite as horny, the length of time it can take for soft tissue, bruising and nerve damage to heal, despite my fitness for a man my age, meant that the most Esme was able to, was pleasure me with her soft hands and dangerous mouth. And that pleasure was not without pain. I felt extreme guilt at not being able to do much in return, but Esme told me often and most passionately that she just loved the feeling of us being close again and that she fully intended to book in for a full physical as soon as I was able. The boys and I were engaged in movie night downstairs, whilst the girls sprawled upstairs watching something that had them sobbing loudly by the end.

"The Notebook!" We all said in unison. But our laughter and any further enjoyment of The Hangover, was cut short, by the sound of Esme screaming.

"NO!"

I was up out of my chair quicker than I probably should have been, but she had sounded so terrified. The boys and I came to stop outside Edward and Bella's suite, to find Esme sat on the bed, rocking backwards and forewards, being held by Rose. Her eyes were fixed on the TV screen.

" A major Chicago building contractor, has been arrested in connection with the Thanksgiving night collapse of the I-DENT nightclub in down town Seattle. Charles Platt, seen here arriving for talks with the District Attorney…" The newscaster intoned gravely

"So that's bastard the builder…" Rose had said flatly. The boys and I had made it into the room to see, just enough of Charles Platt to commit him to memory. He was not quite as tall as Emmett, but just as broad, although his muscle had run badly to fat and his hair was badly receding. I heard a low growl from Alice as she took in his designer suit and thought back to the pitiful belongings that Esme had arrived with. His eyes seemed almost red in the flurry of camera flashes, but you could see the cunning and sheer evil behind them Glancing round, I could see the shock on the children's faces, give way to pure hatred as they imagined as I did, a man that dwarfed Esme, using his considerable height, weight and strength against her. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Emmett's large arms begin flexing.

"THE BASTARD INJURED ALL THOSE PEOPLE! HE KILLED GARRETT, HE ALMOST KILLED YOU!" Esme screamed as she sprung up from the bed. Her eyes were wild with shock, fear and anger.

"Esme, ESME! I'm fine, I'm here with you…I'm safe…we're all safe…he can't hurt you." I said firmly, taking hold of her shoulders. She looked at me a little confused for a moment, before shaking her head.

"You don't understand…I want to hurt him… That sonofabitch almost cost me my family. I want to hurt him so bad at this moment!"

Emmett almost fell over he was laughing so hard. We were all a little shocked. But the fierce look on her face and her words had us all laughing. Esme was upset and shaking, but I knew I had to let her work it out in her own way, she would talk when she was ready. I went to join the boys in the garage, wishing that I could really let loose on the punch bag as they were doing. I was on the stairs when I heard the girls.

"Esme, I love you…but c'mon…the man is fat and fugly! Girl, you must have had better offers in college…"

"I was young, inexperienced and…"

"In desperate need of a visit to an optometrist!

They all started cackling with laughter. It was an odd conversation, but it seemed to be one that Esme wanted to have. I went to move, but the next part of my conversation held me transfixed.

"We know he was rough sexually…animal…but did he ever, was he ever normal like that?" Rose asked.

"Are you sure you want to hear this?"

Yes, there sure, after years of hearing embarrassing questions about my children's sex lives, they could take a hit for their dear, injured old dad. It was wrong in so many ways, but I needed to know. I was feeling fragile and old.

"Before Charles, I had only slept with one other guy…once, because he could get it up, but not keep it up…I was 19, innocent…I didn't know what to do and of course he blamed me. That put me off for years. Then I met Charles. He was finished before I had even realized he started."

"Sensitive trigger?" Alice asked.

"No, he was so damn small I didn't know he was inside me, unless he told me! Esme said incredulously. The cackles of laugher were deafening. And as pathetic and juvenile as it was, I couldn't help but stand a little straighter. Esme never had that problem with me.

"Your father…let's just say, being with your father is the first time that I have ever been with a real man." There were sighs from the girls and some quip from Alice about being scarred for life. The sincerity and emotion in her words had massaged my heart as well as my ego.

"Are you feeling better now sweetie? Or would you like me to give them the details about the sun lounger by the pool in Aro's villa?" Esme called innocently. There was a moment's pause, then the cackles of laughter started again. How the hell did she know?

"You are a wicked woman Esme!" I grumbled.

"I am what you made me sweetheart!" she called back.

Despite her bravado, Esme had been shaken by Charles being on the news and his involvement with the club collapse. Her nerves weren't helped, when Aro had turned up at the house and informed us, that the divorce could be held up by this matter. And, that she would have to tell the District Attorney and possibly the FBI anything she knew about Charles' business dealings. We had gone to Washington. Aro was practically vibrating with excitement of it all.

Charles had been arrested on charges ranging from manslaughter for the twelve people that had ended up losing their lives that night and 254 counts of other variations of endangerment and assault. James Tanner had skipped the country. To think, that bastard had been in my home, around my family and I had stopped the boys hunting him down. The amount of lives that could have been saved, if I'd have let Emmett have him for five minutes, I thought.

"Fourteen years Mrs Platt, you must have seen, heard something?" The agent demanded.

"My husband regarded me just another inanimate object he owned, to be used as a punch bag or sex toy, depending on his mood. He did not credit me, with any intelligence. The letters I typed were standard quotes and invoices."

"Agent Harper, my husband had a number of very expensive personal assistants over the years…I'm sure one of them will be able to help you."

I was so proud of how Esme held herself together, but the questioning was relentless for four days. She wasn't eating much and what she did eat, she was throwing back up. I felt so hopeless, especially when my temper had got the better of me and I was asked to stay outside. The children called all the time, but Emmett had to attend Garrett's funeral and Alice's wedding was at the weekend.

On the morning of the fifth day, the worst happened. We arrived as Charles was leaving. Aro,Jasper and I, immediately stepped in front of her. But not before the bastard grabbed her arm. She had tried to stare him down, but her body was practically convulsing with fear.

"You're looking good Esme…"

"Mr Platt please! His tall, thin nervous looking attorney had practically screamed. He let her go.

"I'll be seeing you Es…" the tone was pleasant, but the menace was clear.

Aro had exploded, saying that heads would roll and that he would personally rip them off. But that and the fact that the DA's office decided that Esme really didn't know anything about Charles' dealings, did little to calm Esme.

"HE WHAT! NO FUCKING WAY! Dad, Edward and I will be there in a couple of hours!" Emmett had roared when I had phoned home, to let them know that we would be home for the wedding and what happened. I hadn't meant to, but I was so angry. It had taken me nearly twenty minutes and five shrill minutes from Rose in the background to calm Emmett down.

We were staying with Aro, who was locked away in his study making angry phone calls to some prominent people, when I came into the large bedroom to find it empty. I could hear the shower running and Esme crying. Hurrying into the bathroom, I saw a sight that broke my heart. Esme was sitting on the floor of the shower, fully clothed, rubbing furiously at the arm he had grabbed.

"Esme…sweetheart…" I called softly. She looked up at me. Her eyes still wide and scared, but also pained.

"He touched me Carlisle…he touched me…I can't get his smell off me…he makes me feel dirty…used…frightened…" she sprang to her feet.

"Help me Carlisle. Help me get rid of his stench pleassse…" she was begging. "Take him out of here…" she said tapping her head. "You're the only one who can…only you can touch me…make me feel safe again…"

I stepped into the shower and took her in my arms. I held her, gently rubbing her arm until the water ran cold and even for a little while after. Finally, she let me lead her out of the shower and help her dry off and get ready for bed. Once in bed, she had clung to me fisting my T-shirt in her hand, desperate to hold me to her. I told her over and over again how much I loved her and that she was safe, although the words had been a little forced. The first time she had come into contact with him and what had happened? He had grabbed her arm and verbally menaced her. Damn I felt so useless, some protector I was.

"Esme are you still cold?" I asked as I felt her begin to shudder more against me.

"No, I'm just worrying incase I've given us both pneumonia the night before Alice's wedding." She chuckled quietly in the darkness. "Carlisle, I'm sorry for freaking out like that…"

"I was just thinking that I should be saying that to you." I said. It seemed that the darkness gave us a confidence. "I've spent ages telling you that I wouldn't let Charles get near enough to hurt you and what happens the first time you see each other." I sighed frustrated. Esme pulled herself away from me, propping herself up on her elbow.

"Carlisle, he may have touched me physically and yes I freaked out as you saw…but this time it was shock more than anything…because in here…" she tapped her head "In here I was safe…you were with me in here…keeping me safe…not letting him touch me…just like you promised." She said softly. I felt tears begin to spill silently down my cheeks as I heard the love and trust in her voice. Her lips brushed mine softly. I twisted my hands in her hair, holding her face to me as I tilted my head to deepen the kiss. This wasn't a time for words from me and any I had would have been inadequate, I just had to show her, with my limited mobility how much her love, trust and faith in me…us meant to me. Esme parted her lips to me with a soft moan and a whispered I love you, easing into her mouth slowly, I let my tounge caress her tounge and mouth with an intensity that I wish I could have used on her body. She pulled away finally when she needed to breath, leaving her fore head pressed against mine, we were almost sharing the same breath we were so close.

"Do you still think we will be this passionate when we can eventually get married…" she breathed. These added problems with Charles meant that the divorce could be held up for quite awhile.

"What do you mean eventually get married? We are married, even had an amazing honeymoon night in Lake Como…one of the most romantic…sexy as hell nights I've ever had…" I chuckled, lightly brushing her lips. She smiled, but sighed. She pulled back from me slightly.

"Esme…" I caught her hand that was lying on my chest and moved it to lay over my heart. "I've told you already, I don't mind waiting to get the legal piece of paper, because in here…where it matters, you already are Mrs Carlisle Cullen." I said. She let out a strangled sob.

"Say that last part again… I'd forgotten how wonderful it sounds when you say it."

"Mrs Carlisle Cullen." I repeated.

"Doctor and Mrs Carlisle Cullen." She said, enunciating every syllable in a way that sent crackles of pleasure shooting down my sensitive spine, to an even more sensitive part of my anatomy.

Charles was no longer a faceless monster lurking in the darkness. He was unfortunately, alive, kicking, able and extremely willing to cause us all problems in the near future. But the next day, the threat of the future, took a back seat to the problems facing our family, God, I loved thinking, let alone saying that, in the present. It was the day of Alice's wedding and on the way back from Washington as Esme drove, I practiced my speech. I was almost word perfect, when we pulled up in the garage, having been shooed off the drive by some very serious looking young uniformed valet parking attendants. Alice was having the wedding and reception in large, heated marquees in the garden of the house. It was December in Forks, but Alice had assured us that the weather would be unusually mild and so far she was right. We had just climbed out of the Mercedes, me leaning on the car arching my stiff back, when the internal door to the house flew open. Bella and Rose appeared in the doorway, their hair in various in curlers, clips and twists.

"Thank God you're home…" Rose huffed.

"You're late." Bella informed us gravely.

"We have a schedule to keep to people…" Rose said in a pretty accurate impression of Alice. We all smirked.

"Well Carlisle you'd better kiss her now and make it a good one, because you won't be seeing her again for awhile…hairdresser, make up, manicure, pedicure." Bella said her tone serious, she made these things sound like tortures rather than treats.

"Carlisle, when we do finally get married can we please elope?" Esme had teased.

"Poor naïve fool." Rose had said shaking her head sadly.

From my bedroom window, I looked out across the garden that had been transformed into a winter wonderland of ivories, soft gold's and reds even the trees had been dressed with twinkling lights. I smiled as I heard laughing from the girls upstairs, the boys were getting dressed at Esme's cottage.

I had thought a lot about today and Alice's two mothers. Both of them had been responsible for shaping her into the kind, compassionate, loving, loud, demanding and at times downright scary woman she had become. They would be so proud. But I was certain that they would understand and give their blessing to the relationship she was developing and needed with Esme as she started this new chapter of her life.

The ceremony had been beautiful and there had not been a dry eye in the house when Alice and Jasper had recited their own vows to each other. Even Jasper's parents had looked a little moist eyed and in his mothers case I didn't think it was still because she thought he was marrying the wrong woman.

I was sat by the side of the dance floor, watching with pride and a little jealousy as Esme was swirled round the floor by both Japser's father and Billy Black, who having had a couple of drinks, was holding her two damn close for my liking.

"Don't worry pops, it'll be your turn soon enough, but all we ask is you keep the dirty dancing at PG-13 level!" Emmett boomed slipping into a seat beside me, pulling Rose, who like Bella and one of Alice's friends from design school was wearing a beautiful burgundy red halter necked dress with some kind of fur lined wrap, down onto his lap. We were talking, when a breathless Rachel Black, Billy's daughter who had come in from Portland for the wedding and Christmas on the reservation, came and fell into a seat nearby to Rose. She hadn't noticed me.

"Jeez Rose…do you think that catering firm you're using hires out their waiters by the hour…there's one, a guy named Demetri, tall, Italian, sexy as hell…I'd pay whatever it took to get him serve me breakfast in bed!" she cackled.

If I hadn't been about to leave the table anyway, to spare both mine and Rachel's blushes as she finally was able to see round Emmett and see me, the next song the song the band started to play would have got me up. I had recovered from my father daughter dance with Alice. I made my way across the floor.

"Do you think you have the energy for one last dance?" I asked shyly.

She smiled and stepped into my arms. There were so many emotions swirling through me today, I just needed to hold her, feel her close. And as she kissed me softly, tenderly, her fingers playing with the hair at the nape of my neck, I knew she felt the same.

You can dance-every dance with the guy

Who gives you the eye, let him hold you tight.

You can smile-every smile for the man

Who held your hand neath the pale moonlight.

But don't forget whose taking you home

And in whose arms you're gonna be…

So darling, save the last dance for me..

"You know, this dance is always yours." She said softly.

ES POV

Alice and Jasper had spent their wedding night and the following weekend in a hotel. They were planning on a proper honeymoon somewhere hot in the New Year. And as intimidating as she could be, I was actually quite glad to have Alice around to help with my Christmas shopping. I had, reluctantly, accepted a credit card from Carlisle and Alice was more than willing to help me christen it, although our trip hadn't lasted long or been very productive. I hadn't been feeling great since the accident and my nausea and general tiredness had been getting worse ever since. Carlisle and I had put it down to the stress of that and of course Charles, whatever it was, I just wanted it to go away, so I could enjoy my first real Cullen Christmas. And Bella was feeling the same way, she had been suffering as well, but had put it down to all the food she had been forced to try from Alice's wedding caterer. There had been a mini crisis apparently, something I had missed whilst in Washington. The caterer had bought over a test menu and it had succeeded in making even Emmett sick. It had cost Alice a small fortune to hire another caterer so late. But it seemed Bella was still suffering.

All I wanted was my bed and some peace and quiet, which I couldn't get at a full Cullen house, especially on the night of decorating the tree. Ever since Charles had made that threat that he would see me soon, Carlisle and the boys, not to mention Charlie Swan, had barely let me out of their sight. I loved them for it, I really did, but I was tired and cranky and needed some space. After insisting that I would be okay after a nap and that she could come pick me up in a couple of hours to take me back to the main house, I persuaded Alice to drop me home.

DEMITRI POV 2.30pm Seattle

Forks, was a nice place to visit, but I was a city boy through and through. I needed concrete, pollution, reliable internet connection. I also had a very large family to Christmas shop for. But that would be difficult on my salary. The bonus I could have made from Charles Platt, would have sure come in handy.

Esme Platt, Hollister, whatever she was calling herself these days, most definitely was living in Forks. I had a file full of photos, the layout of the little cottage she was renting and even a piece of wedding cake she had given me. Taking the cater waiter job had been a bit of a risk, especially with that ex police chief, who I had run into several times and who I could tell, wasn't stupid, watching me so closely. But I had to tie up all the loose ends and make cover every base. Esme was a nice, kind woman, she had come down at the end of the night to thank all the staff for their work, hand out cake and envelopes that held generous tips. She was happy, making a life for herself and obviously loved up with a man that clearly adored her. I couldn't hand her over to a cold, violent, control freak like Platt. He hadn't been pleased, but with the DA breathing down his neck more closely, especially since two pissed off ex girlfriends called Demi and Bree had started talking, He was a little preoccupied, as the surveillance photo's from his police tails had shown. He was being watched very closely as a flight risk, even though he had surrendered his passport as part of his bail conditions.

It had been a long couple of days and all I wanted to do, was have a long hot shower and crawl into bed. I was just stepping out of the lift, when my cell phone rang. Looking at the I-D, I thought about ignoring it, but I knew it was more than my life was worth.

"Heh Pop!" I said with a smirk. He hated it when I called him that.

"How is she?...Shit! Okay, look give me twenty minutes to grab a shower and change…no trust me, I reek. WHAT! This just gets better and fucking better…okay bye."

I slipped my key in the lock, only to find the door swing open. I tensed and instinctively reached for my gun, but that was locked away in the bedroom of my apartment, which I was now entering, knowing that there could be someone in there. I wasn't scared, scared, I could handle myself, just anxious and pissed as hell. I pushed the door open flat against the wall. Even in the dim light from the gap in the drapes, I could see my place had been turned over.

"Listen up fuckface if you're still in here. I've had a very long, hard couple of days, so I hope for your sake you're near a window. Three storey's isn't that far if you're that desperate!" I called roughly, reaching for the baseball bat I kept by the door. It was gone. I should have stayed outside, called for help, but I didn't and that was why, the last thing I remember hearing was Charles Platt say from somewhere behind me

"It is, when you're wearing a $3000 suit."

Before it all went black.

ES POV-5.45pm Forks

I stood outside the cottage watching Alice drive away. She was coming back to collect me at 7.30pm. It didn't give me much time for a nap, but I was so tired, I'd take whatever I could get. Alice would only shower and dress me later anyway, so I decided to dump my bags and just crash.

Kicking off my shoes, I literally flung myself back on the bed. I was just drifting off, when a familiar smell, caused my heart to pound, but not in a good way. I froze. This couldn't be happening. This was just another nightmare. I willed myself towards my little island with Carlisle, my happy, safe place. But the water I usually glided over was crashing over me in waves, knocking me from the little rowing boat, choking the air out of my lungs. I tried to swim for the Island, but it kept moving further and further away.

"Carlisle!" I sobbed, still too frightened to open my eyes.

"Is that his name? The guy you've been playing Doctors and nurses with? Well you've had your fun, a little pay back for the times I did it to you and it's obviously done you good, you look great, but it's time to come home now Esme."

My heart stopped as I heard Charles' grating, sneering voice. My eyes snapped open. It wasn't a dream, he was here. He had found me…all alone. It's funny what you think of, when you're life is in danger. I was so worried that Carlisle would blame Alice for leaving me alone, when it had been me that insisted. As I saw Charles move to sit on the bed by my head, I forced my shaking, body to try and roll across the bed towards the stairs and a chance to escape or if not total escape, Emmett's baseball bat. But for a man of his size, Charles moved quickly, I managed to get a few slaps and even a couple of bites in before his back handed slap spent me sprawling back onto the bed, my head spinning.

The overpowering stench of stale sweat, cigarettes and alcohol forced me to turn my head away.

"Why, do you always make things so difficult Es? All I want is what's mine, my rights as your husband." Charles slurred slightly as he leant down licking the length of my neck. I didn't know how much longer I would be able to control the bile rising in my throat. But I couldn't stop myself from hissing

"Your what?"

"My legal right to make love to MY wife."

I began to squirm in his vice like grip once more.

"Make love! Any animal can FUCK something the way you do. It takes a real man to know how to make love to a woman!" I spat the words and as big a gob of phlegm as I could manage into his face. And despite the danger I was in, I couldn't help my mind wandering back to the night Carlisle had made love to me for the first time. I never knew that being with a man could be so loving, sweet and passionate. And as I felt Charles vibrating with anger above me, the fingers of one hand digging into the wrist that he was holding above my head, whilst the fingers of the other hand dug into my throat as he began to try and choke me. With my freed hand, I began hitting him and then tried to prize his fingers from around my throat. I realized that I may never get to experience that wonderful feeling with the man I loved again. But I wasn't sad or even really scared, as in amongst the lights and colours flashing before my eyes, I could now see Carlisle standing on the Island holding out a hand to me. I was angry. I had spent too long cowering in fear. I had suffered enough. I had earned my happiness with Carlisle. The man I loved and adored, the man who loved, adored and wanted to marry me. I wasn't going to give Carlisle, our love, up without a fight.

"Bitch!" Charles hissed. Flecks of spittle sprayed across the side of my face. "Look at me bitch!" I turned my head back towards him, he was swimming in and out of my vision, but I really hoped that I wasn't showing too much fear. The lack of oxygen and my already run down state, made me realize that I wasn't going to last much longer. But then he let go of my throat. I gasped and choked in air my heart pumping, my lungs burning. I was so disorientated, it took me a moment to realize that he was pulling at my clothes. I began to claw and curse at him in my raspy voice. It was when he was moving to try and restrain me fully, that I saw my chance, freeing one of my legs from the tangle of his and bringing my knee up into his groin hard. He screamed and toppled sideways off the bed. I sat up, my head spinning, I had seconds if that. I rolled off the other side of the bed landing heavily on my knees. Using the bed post, I pulled myself up. I was almost at the stairs when a felt a sharp, hard tug at my ankle. It took my feet from under me and I cried out in frustration as I felt myself falling and my head connect with the side of the ottoman. In those last few seconds before the darkness claimed me, I swore I heard the front door slam open against the wall and Carlisle's voice frantically calling my name.

"I'm so sorry my darling, I tried…I love you…" I whispered, before it all went black.

C POV 6.25-7.00pm Forks

"Damn it Emmett, every year this happens. That tree must be seven feet tall if it's an inch."

"So I'll cut it down." Emmett said matter of factly. We all shuddered. Emmett really enjoyed his power tools a little too much. This was a yearly ritual where all the men in the family went all caveman and went out and bought back the Christmas tree. We deliberately left our cell phones in the car, so our decisions could not be influenced by bribes or threats of violence or worse sex bans from the girls. As Emmett began driving, the rest of us reached for our phones. It made my heart sputter in my chest, to realize that this year I had someone waiting at home for me. Esme had been going Christmas shopping with Alice and I wanted to know how she had gotten on, Alice in full shopping mode would bring a marine to his knees begging for mercy, let alone Esme who still wasn't well. I didn't care how much she argued, I wanted her to get a proper checkup. I could see Edward thinking along the same lines as Bella.

"Carlisle! Damn it Carlisle where are you?" The first message I had, was from Sue Swan. I suddenly felt as if a bucket of ice water had been tipped down my spine. As I listened to the second message from Sue, I swear my heart stopped.

"CARLISLE! HE"S HERE…CHARLES IS IN FORKS!…I'VE JUST SEEN HIM IN THE DINER TALKING TO A GUY CHARLIE WARNED OFF FROM HANGING ROUND ESME'S COTTAGE. CHARLIE WENT TO CHECK ON THINGS AFTER I TOLD HIM…" the machine cut Sue's tearful, screamed, terrified rant off. The bastard was here. He'd made good his threat. And she was ALONE! Inside my head I was screaming, but my mouth just seemed to open and close.

"Dad?" I heard Edward say

"Apparently, Esme wasn't feeling so well, so Alice took her back to her place…Esme told her she'd take the blame from you Carlisle…she wanted a little peace and quiet. Al's on her way to pick her up now." Jasper said.

"He's here…Charles…" I finally managed to ground out. My tone was low, but they all heard me. There was silent for a moment, before Jasper began screaming at Emmett to floor it. And then it hit me, Alice could be walking in on…No! No! Please God!

"Sonofabitch is going down." Emmett growled. It was a statement of fact.

I think we were all out of the car before it stopped running. The screams of my back, were nothing compared to the silent screams in my head. Or the frantic calls for Esme coming out of my mouth

Emmett kicked the front door open so it slammed back against the wall. The lamp on in the lounge illuminated the staircase and Charles Platt, half way down it. His face was scratched, bleeding, his shirt torn and were they bite marks? He was carrying the baseball bat Emmett had given Esme.

"ESME?" I screamed. There was no answer. Dear God, what had he done to her? He advanced down the stairs, waving the bat to keep us at bay.

"What have you done to her?" I snarled.

"They might not have taught you this at med school doc, but possession is 9/10's of the law…" he sneered. He was drunk, but he was also frightened and full of adrenaline. He continued advancing towards the door. But didn't get far, before Edward grabbed the bat from him and Emmett had both of his arms pinned behind his back, causing him to scream like a girl.

"There is also a law, that states you can use force subduing a burglar in your own home…kill even if you feel your life is being threatened." Jasper snarled in his face.

"Don't know about you Em, but I'm feeling frightened?" Edward said, his tone quiet but lethal.

"Shaking in my shoes little brother…straight up shitting myself." Emmett replied. Then two things happened at once. Alice's Porsche pulled up on the driveway and there was a loud groan from the kitchen. Our attention was split and Charles managed to break free from Emmett. I moved before I realized it, grabbing the baseball bat Edward had thrown to one side. I swung it with a furious snarl across Charles' midsection. He folded up on himself winded, falling to his knees, his face purple and blue.

"How'd I do Charles? I demanded. "I mean you're the expert on low body blows…putting the bruises were no one can see them?" I snarled. He was still gasping for air. I wanted to hurt him badly, who the hell was I kidding, I wanted to kill him, but at that moment, Edward came out of the kitchen where he had gone to investigate the noise. He was leading a dazed Charlie Swan, who had a nasty looking cut to the forehead. Then Alice burst through the door, having escaped from Jasper who had gone out to stop her. She froze in the doorway, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene and Charles. She walked towards him, hawking in her throat, before unleashing a large spit ball at him, hitting him right between the eyes.

"I told you those spitting lesson's would come in handy one day munchkin." Emmett said.

There was a sound of groaning from upstairs. The red haze of anger was clearing.

'Esme!" I raced for the stairs, quickly followed by Alice. I let out a groan as I saw her sprawled on the floor face down, her face turned to one side, blood trickling from her forehead, her face swollen and dear god were they finger marks? I dropped to my knees.

"Darling…Esme can you hear me?"

"…lisle…car…lisle…" she muttered her voice hoarse and rough. Her eyelids were flickering as she tried to open her eyes and her left hand was grabbing the air, trying to find me. I took her hand in mine, kissing it as I begged her to keep still. I could hear Edward on the phone to the ambulance. Her eyes opened, but were unfocused. She tried to pull herself up. She cried out in pain.

"Esme please sweetheart…you have to stay still…" I was trying to be calm, professional…but this was my Esme. There was a reason why doctor's weren't allowed to treat loved ones. It fucking broke you.

"He's here!" she cried panicked, trying to raise again.

"We've got him…here that darling…" I said, giving her a minute to hear the approaching ambulance and police sirens. "the police are coming to lock him up…"

She was struggling so much, I decided to help her before she hurt herself more. She leant her head in the crook of my neck, her arms wrapped tightly round me. I kissed her hair, rubbed her arms gently, letting her know that she was safe, that Emmett, Edward and Japser were downstairs.

"Don't touch him Em…don't know…where…he's been." She slurred.

There was a slightly pained chuckle from Emmett below.

"Aw Aunty Es…always spoiling all my fun." He whined.

Suddenly, she fisted my shirt tightly, pulling away from me slightly.

"I didn't…didn't let him touch me…only you…only you touch me…wasn't scared…island…you and me…" she insisted, before starting to drift again. She couldn't sleep or close her eyes not yet.

"And what did I say on the Island sweetheart? Tell me what I said."

"Love me…you love me…"

"And what did you say after you teased me about my baseball prowess?" I demanded.

"Love you too… so much…love you…"

The paramedics arrived then and it was as they were carefully loading Esme onto a trolley, that I remembered Alice had been up here watching us. She had been so quiet. I was torn, I could see she was practically vibrating with emotion and her shoulders were shaking with unshed tears. I could see she was on the verge of another flash back to her own mother's accident.

"Mommy!" she whimpered suddenly, the sobs now became loud. Emmett flew up the stairs.

"C'mon squirt…let's give them some room." He said gently.

"NO! I'm not leaving her." Alice said sharply. Her eyes were slightly unfocused, her voice a little higher, she wasn't in this room, she was back in that car as a little girl.

"Alice!" I snapped, my voice harder than I meant.

Esme turned and reached out a hand to Alice.

"C'mere baby." She rasped. Alice flew to her side and didn't leave until we were at the hospital and Jasper, Emmett and Edward managed to talk her down. Esme had been lucky, her physical injuries were mainly superficial, but she would be kept in over night as a precaution because of her concussion. I wasn't leaving her side. The others were camping in the waiting room. When Esme was able to understand a bit more, I told her about Charlie. She had insisted I go check on him. I found him standing next to the trolley of a young man who looked vaguely familiar.

"I knew there was something about you." Charlie crowed.

"You had me worried that's for sure. Then when I came to after that bastard hit me, I called you,to warn Miss Hollister and then 911. I had wanted to say something to Emmett, we know each other from college. I just wish we'd been able to warn Bree." He said sadly. It turned out that Demetri was an undercover FBI agent that had been investigating Charles and his dodgy deals for ages. They'd never been able to get enough information, until Bree one of Charles' many "assistants" had got jealous, when she had heard on the office grapevine that Demetri was looking for Esme. That and the fact that several of her friends were in the I-DENT club, had prompted her to hand in a copy of Charles' suspect files. The only thing was, Charles had found out. Demetri had said bitterly, that enough money can make even good cops, agents, lawyers do something they'll later regret. Bree had been found at the base of her eight storey apartment building. But in begging Charles for her life, she had let slip that despite his words to the contrary, Demetri had found Esme. Charles had then ransacked Demetri's apartment and coshed him. Charles was going away for all the things about the club, Bree's murder and attacking Esme and Demetri. I thanked them both profusely and then hurried back to Esme. She could know the details later, all she needed to know now, was that Charles was going away for a long time.

I got back to Esme's room to find her sobbing pitifully. I rushed to her side.

"Esme…baby…it's all over…they're going to lock him up and throw away the key." I said. She flung herself against my chest a little harder than I would have liked, but I didn't care.

"I'm sorry…sorry Carlisle…didn't know…sorry." She sobbed against my chest. I pulled her away so I could look in her swollen and battered face. Her eyes were swimming with tears and she looked scared.

"Esme…you really are safe now."

"Always safe…you…Carlisle, I didn't know…I didn't plan it…please believe me.?" She begged.

"Esme, none of this is your fault, you didn't know he was coming…" I said firmly.

"Not him." She huffed. I was confused.

"Then what are you sorry for love? What could you have possibly done that would make you think you could ever…"

"I'm pregnant." She whimpered. I froze, I wasn't even breathing. This made her look all the more terrified. I couldn't believe it. It was a shock, at my age…but the woman I loved was having my baby.

"Please Carlisle…say something?" she begged. I gently cupped her face in my hands and gazed down into those beautiful eyes.

"I didn't think it would be possible for me to love you more than I already do…but…you're having my baby…oh Esme!" I breathed, tears flowing as I pressed my lips to hers.

AN: Okay, so first things first. I'M SORRY for the cliffie on Chapter 8. I was mean, cruel even according to some. Lol. But did you seriously believe that I would, could kill off Carlisle? Go on, I holding out my wrist, slap it if you want, it might even put some feeling back in it after all this typing.

99.999% are good honest men, but there are the odd ones that aren't. I have nothing but respect for construction workers, come from a family of them.

Don't own Save the last dance. I know I skimped on Alice and Japser's wedding, but it would have added another 30 pages lol. Hope it didn't spoil it for you.

Charles may be gone for now, but will return for the reason I put him in story, so please don't shout cause I made legal stuff after the club brief.

I know some people don't like pregnancy and babies in stories, but I do…so much so, I've done it twice. I hope it doesn't turn you off too much.

Please, please, please hit the little green button. I think there's something in here for everyone.