A Talk Between Fathers

Chapter 2: Community Spirit

Edward

It was after midnight now, and a heavy rain continued to beat against the glass walls that lined the back of the Cullen house. Esme stood pressed against the window, her eyes on the garden she delighted in.

"Poor plants. Drowned again. Maybe I should give up and just plant moss."

Carlisle, his arm around her shoulder, hugged Esme closer. "How about a green house? You can grow flowers all year round."

"That's a wonderful thought." Esme stood on tip-toe and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, dear."

Edward focused on tracing the whirls of wood in the table to ignore the intimate thoughts of his parents as they stood entwined. It took considerable willpower not to sigh out loud. He stood up and pulled out a chair to seat Esme as she and Carlisle sat at the dining room table as the last two members of the family came downstairs.

Rosalie's high heels clicked on the wood floors as she trailed after Emmett to join the rest of her family. She kept her eyes down, sliding into a chair without speaking.

Without a preamble, Carlisle started the meeting. "You all know that I met with Bella's father this afternoon. He's concerned about her relationship with Edward."

Rose scowled, but she said nothing, not even mentally. Her guilt for helping send him racing toward Italy and a final death was keeping her from expressing her usual spite. Edward wondered how long the reprieve from her ill will would last. Well, I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.

"You're going to get permanent wrinkles if you keep makes faces like that, dear." Esme said.

Rose look chagrined at Esme's mild rebuke. Even while knowing it wasn't possible, she ran fingertips across her face to smooth out invisible wrinkles. Emmett whispered something into her ear. Her lips turned upwards.

"Chief Swan has been paying more attention to us than makes me comfortable," Carlisle ignored the byplay. "He pointed out some discrepancies in our behavior that makes us susceptible to unwelcome speculation."

"Discrepancies? Like what?" Emmett asked.

"Our lack of a social life."

The silence grew as his siblings exchanged puzzled glances.

"Going to school isn't enough?" Emmett asked.

"Apparently not."

"What are you thinking, Carlisle?" Alice asked. "I can't see us doing anything specific yet. That's kind of scary for me."

"Carlisle won't make us join any high school clubs," Jasper reassured Alice. "Edward warned him that it would be too hard."

"Don't know about that," Emmett said. "Think what fun I could have on the wrestling team."

Edward grinned at him, knowing he wasn't serious.

"Sorry, Emmett. Sports are out," Carlisle said, smiling. "I've asked Esme to do some research on what activities are available locally for your apparent age groups."

Emmett raised his hand. "I've got an idea."

"Yes?"

"Carlisle, I'm thinking you should be taking a course in English. I mean, you ever hear yourself talk?"

Edward snickered.

Carlisle's sat back, his face reflecting his surprise. "I'm sorry?"

"Come on. You talk like a some freaken'-"

"Emmett!" Esme's voice was sharp. "Carlisle's English is perfect."

"Exactly my point." Emmett leaned forward, his face earnest. "Learn some slang, man, loosen up a little."

The room filled with laughter. Jasper and Edward exchanged a knowing glance. Emmett did have his uses.

"Esme?"Carlisle asked.

"Since Forks is such a small town there aren't a lot of options available." Esme passed out copies of a list. "The community center offers the best chances. They have evening classes and some clubs. Perhaps you can all find some activity to suit you."

"Beading and jewelry making?" Rosalie turned to Alice. "Maybe that wouldn't be too bad."

Jasper eyed his wife as if concerned she'd make him take the class too. Alice patted his hand. "You could bring a book and sit in the back. As long as we pay the fee, no one will care."

His relief could be felt by everyone in the room. Emmett hunched his shoulders, pretending to be too busy reading the list to look at his own wife.

Edward didn't see much in the way of choices. Which one would bore me the least? He said, "I could take the introduction to investing."

"Me too." Emmett brightened.

Edward refrained from telling Rose that Emmett had picked it only because it was the same time as the jewelry class. His brother didn't trust Rosalie, fearing she'd make him take the jewelry class with her. Emmett was right. Rose had been planning on it.

"Jasper?" Carlisle was giving his oldest brother a chance to make his own choice.

The blond just shook his head. Alice beamed, wrapping her hand around his arm.

Carlisle hesitated, then decided not to pursue it. Edward knew why. Carlisle had seen the same signals Jasper had been off giving earlier that afternoon. Somehow, the combination of empathy twinned with his violent past had damaged Jasper, crippled him in some fundamental way. Edward agreed with Carlisle's thoughts. Forcing Jasper into more interaction with humans, alone, was too dangerous. Letting him be with Alice would make all the difference.

"Alice, do you see anything?"

Obediently, Alice closed her eyes. Everyone waited. It wasn't long before she returned to them mentally.

"No, Carlisle. At least, I don't see anything negative happening." She shrugged. "But I don't think it'll be enough for Charlie to change his mind about us."

Carlisle steepled his hands. "He likes you, though."

Edward didn't have to be a mind-reader to know what Carlisle was thinking. Alice was their best chance to convince Charlie that there was nothing wrong with the Cullens. Or more specifically, wrong with him.

"Maybe I could spend more time with Bella?" Alice tilted her head. "Let me think about it, okay?"

"Of course. Thank you, everyone. Please think of anything else we can do to make us appear to be more-" Carlisle hesitated.

"Human? Normal?" Emmett piped up. "Hey, I got me some ideas. Gotta work on them though." He leaned across the table to glare at Edward. "Keep your trap shut, little brother, got it?"

Unfazed by the implied threat, Edward just grinned at him. "Sure. It'll be more fun to see you embarrass yourself anyway."

Emmett growled, then returned his followed Rose upstairs. As Jasper and Alice got up, Edward heard Carlisle say silently, 'Edward, please stay'.

He nodded. It was a politeness. To pretend that the rest of the family wouldn't be able to hear their discussion. Esme stayed as well, so he knew that Carlisle had already talked it over with her.

When it was just the three of them. Carlisle turned to him. Edward winced at what Carlisle's thoughts.

"Now we have to talk about you and Bella."