Carlisle

"Esme?" I walked into our room slowly, closing the door behind me.

"I cannot believe you." She started. "When are you going to wake up to yourself Carlisle? Not everyone deserves a fair fight; a fair trade; a fair life."

"I don't understand why you're so upset with me over this…"

"Are you serious!?" She yelled.

I didn't reply, but I felt very vulnerable right now.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them and looking at me again. "Carlisle, you got Tanya, and you still took a step towards them. Even though you had already got her back you were going to go with him."

"I made a trade…"

"That you didn't have to follow through with."

"Esme, I stick to my word."

"Well you can't do that in situations like those. You didn't know the wolves would pounce. What if they didn't? You were just going to leave your children; all 6 of them. And you were going to leave me. Carlisle I don't think you realise just how much that hurts." She was choked up.

I didn't know what to say. A simple apology would definitely not be enough.

"Imagine the situation in reverse. You would be just as upset as I am, you just wouldn't show it…"

I nodded and looked down.

"I'm sorry that I'm not as good as you at hiding my feelings. I'll try harder next time."

I shook my head and took a step towards her, "Esme I am so sorry. To be completely honest with you, I wasn't thinking about anything except getting Tanya away from him."

"She's a big girl."

"So was Rosalie…"

That stopped her. She closed her eyes again, "I'm sorry. It wasn't your fault at all; I'm just really stressed right now. My sons were out there risking their lives, you were out there. Bella and Rosalie were—"

"Stop." I cut her off. "Can we just forget about this? Please?"

"We can forget about the argument, but not the events leading up to it. I think that will be quite impossible for me. You scared me, Carlisle. Terrified me, actually."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart."

"Just don't do it again." She closed the few feet between us and threw her arms around my neck.

"I'll make it up to you."

"How?"

"I don't know yet…"

"Kiss me and we'll call it even." She whispered.

I kissed her once, twice, three times. She sighed when I pulled away.

"What?"

"We have to go back downstairs."

"Why?"

"The Denali's are coming. Tanya might feel a little out of place. Alice is shaken up. Jasper is still extremely angry. It's just a mess right now. We have to go fix it."

I sighed and nodded before letting her pull me out of the room behind her.


Esme was sitting beside Alice, whose head was lying in Esme's lap. Jasper was pacing the room. Emmett was still hyped up, jumping around, talking a lot. Rosalie looked exhausted. Bella was lying in Edward's arms. Tanya was sitting awkwardly on her own. I could tell that she felt uncomfortable with our family's new arrangement.

"Tanya." I got her attention before motioning for her to follow me.

"What is it?" She asked once we entered the kitchen.

"I understand that you're a little shaken up after this afternoon's events, and the wolves involvement, but is there something else bothering you?"

"What are you? A detective?" She asked snidely.

I ignored the comment and she sighed, "I'm just a little…impatient…that's all."

"Care to explain?"

She hesitated, "You're family all found your soul mates at the same time. Carmen and Eleazar and Kate and Garrett found each other just years apart. I've just been wondering lately if there is anyone for me at all. I guess I wouldn't mind if there wasn't, but it would be nice to have someone to talk to, to love, to get angry with me when I make stupid, life threatening trades…" She raised her eyebrows.

"That's all sorted. Tanya, patience is the key. I'm sure there is someone who will find you soon enough." I tried to assure her, but I was tired and felt weak. I did my best.

She smile and thanked me. She turned around to walk out, but stopped at the door, "Carlisle, you care too much for others. Sometimes you need to do what is best for you." She left swiftly, not allowing me to reply to her.

I walked back out into the living room where everyone was the exact same as when I left.

"Dad, why do they want Alice?" Jasper asked his voice cold.

"Her gift?"

"He was planning to overthrow the Volturi. He was gaining a lot of numbers, but had to keep killing them so the Volturi wouldn't see what he was up to. He wanted Alice so he could see who would be useful, who would behave, who would stay loyal etc. He didn't know exactly how the visions worked." Edward explained.

"It doesn't matter anymore, he's dead." Rosalie said. She tried to hide the small smirk that was spreading across her face from me.

"How many more people out there will be desperate enough to threaten our family?" Esme said quietly to herself. Her mind was somewhere else. She was staring out the windows.

"You can lie down in our room. Upstairs, to the right, and the very end of the hall." Edward told Tanya.

Bella stood up, "I'll show you."

Once they walked out, Alice spoke almost silently, "How long was she with them?"

"Less than 24 hours." Edward said.

Bella returned to the room and walked over to Edward who was now standing. He put his arms around her and kissed her forehead. Alice sat up from Esme and walked over to Jasper, calming him with her touch. Esme hadn't noticed. She was still in her own world.

"I'm going to hunt." Bella said, peeling away from Edwards's side.

"You went yesterday…" Rosalie said.

"And yet I feel weak. I just need to do something." She turned and walked out. Edward followed.

"Rose?" Alice asked.

"Yes?"

"Can I please do your nails?"

Rosalie nodded and they walked into the dining room where Alice last did her own nails.

"Want to take your anger out on the game we never finished?" Emmett asked Jasper.

They went upstairs to the game room.

"Esme?" She didn't respond. "Esme?"

"Hmm?" She turned her attention to me. "Sorry, I was just…thinking." She patted the space next to her and I sat down willingly.

She put her feet up, and rested her head on my shoulder. She intertwined one of her hands with mine. I put my other arm around her. Despite our ice cold skin, there was still warmth that radiated off of her.

"Did the wolves ever come by?" I asked after a while.

"They called and said they had to do something else."

"Okay." I replied.

We heard Alice and Rosalie laugh lightly in the next room. It was nice to know that despite the recent events, they were still able to find happiness.