Okay, my darlings! Thank you for your continued support and for the reviews. I don't own these characters, *sigh.*

Carlisle POV

I left Isabella's tree early that morning, Charlie had already left and I needed to go to work. I had a few patients that I needed to check on, as much as I wanted to be by her side constantly, I did have a life that I have to attend to. I was elated; the fact that she said my name was just the kind of stroking my ego needed.

When I got home Edward was not there, he was probably in his way to see Isabella. There would be no way to hide the fact that I had spent the night in the tree, my scent would be all over it. I would try to keep my thoughts blank and tell him that I was just checking on her after what she saw, that would be innocent enough.

"Did you crawl in there and have your way with her yet?" Alice smirked at me.

"Well, my dear, what are you asking me for? You would have seen it." I sighed and hung my coat up. "Besides, I don't know if I can do anything like that. Whenever I am around her I feel like I'm sixteen again and human. I get all flustered." I didn't know how to explain myself. Isabella was bringing up emotions in me that I had never felt before, emotions that were hidden under the animal in me. It was hard to keep my rational mind when she was close. The scent that came from her was driving me wild. I had practiced self control for hundreds of years and just her being close to me was enough to break my resolve.

"You need to show her how you feel, more now than ever, or you will lose her to Edward. Edward has been acting strangely for awhile now. It didn't just start when he met Bella. It only intensified. She could get very hurt." She furled her brow and gave me a frown. "I don't think that is something you can live with. You need to at least try harder."

I didn't want to lose her. She was mine! My soul ached to have her close to me. The animal in me cried out to claim her, to show the world that she was mine, to have my scent all around her. "Tell me exactly what I need to do," I begged.

"What?! And miss all the fun of seeing you trip over yourself? No way. Just treat her like a woman and she will respond to you the way a woman should." She laughed at me and flitted to her room. Sometimes that pixie really annoyed me!

I raced to my office, my son's had done a good job cleaning up the mess that was made, with a little paint and sanding, it would look as good as new. I found what I was looking for. Alice had brought back my robe. She didn't wash it, Good Lord, Alice was going to kill me! It still smelled of that beautiful perfume of Isabella. I put the robe to my face and inhaled. I felt my heart jump. What I wouldn't do to have the real woman in front of me. I would lower my nose to her neck, near the pulse point and take her scent in deeply. My tongue would lower to her collar bone and trace the line up to her ear. She would whimper, oh yes, would beg me to kiss her. I knew I would tease her, nibbling at her neck, then her earlobe before making my way to her lips so I could end her suffering, her pleading.

I could feel the hungry animal in me begin to purr at the thought, just waiting to be let out of the cage. Alice screamed, jarring my thoughts "No Edward!" She was in her car before I could get to her, speeding down the road. I picked up my cell phone and dialed her.

"What's going on?" I demanded.

"An accident. Edward gets a little to, let's say, excited… for lack of a better word, and breaks Bella's jaw." I could hear her push on her accelerator, forcing the car to move faster.

A growl erupted from my chest. He was going to kiss her! He was going to kiss my soul mate! Then I felt a stirring in my chest, she was afraid! I knew beyond a doubt that she was scared! The vampire inside wanted to run to her and snatch her from him. She was my beloved! I started for the door when Alice's voice brought my rational side back.

"No, Carlisle! Get the others to the mall. I can deal with this myself. She needs friends right now, she is confused. A day of shopping with me can cure anything." Shopping…always her solution.

"Are you sure?" my breath was ragged as I thought of tearing at Edward's throat.

"Yes, go get something for lunch for her. Just remember, Edward hates the smell of garlic above anything other food." Her voice tinkled. I knew she was trying to help me, but this dance was driving me crazy.

I made my way to the hospital, to see my patients and then to the grocery store, picking out a dish that I remembered on Food Network, it had a lot of garlic in it. My mind was racing. I knew that Alice had reached her in time or they would have called me from the hospital. I knew she was safe, but it was driving me crazy not having her in my sights, not seeing her smile.

I almost didn't hear my cell phone ring. I had been missing things lately because of my distraction. "Hello?"

"Carlisle," it was Edward. "We need to talk. At the house. Now." I could tell he was angry when I pulled up. The waves of rage were rippling off of him. I walked slowly into the house, clearing my head, and went to the kitchen to put the groceries away.

"I wouldn't have hurt her, I was in complete control! How could you let Alice come and take her from me?" His voice got louder with each word until he was screaming from behind me.

I turned to face him, completely calm. I need to stay calm. "I did no such thing. Alice had a vision of you accidently breaking Isabella's jaw. We know it was not intentional and no one was questioning your self control. But, if you had broken her jaw, and there may have been blood, could you really have stopped yourself from draining her?" He was quiet while taking in my words. I put the water on to boil and began dicing the garlic, basil and tomatoes.

"I have to have her, you know. Her blood calls for me. I don't think I can be without her," he hung his head, looking defeated.

I didn't want to continue this conversation, but he was my first son, and my fatherly instincts took over, I hated to see him in pain. "Do you think you love her or is this just an obsession?" I tried to keep my voice soft and keep her out of my thoughts.

"I'm not sure, but I want to find out."

"That could be very dangerous for Isabella." Maybe I could deter him. He looked at me funny, picking out my last thought and raising an eyebrow. I made my way up to the second floor, quickly. I wanted to fill my head with thoughts of medical journals instead of her.

"That kiss, though, was amazing!" he was mocking me. "I have never felt anything so wonderful in my life."

I shook my head, trying to dislodge the image of him kissing Isabella. I didn't want to think that it was done willingly.

"I think tonight that I will try for a second," he was pushing me, wanting to see what would come into my thoughts.

I took a deep breath. "Good luck, son. If she chooses to be with you, then I will be happy for you."

"And she will choose me," his choice of words did not escape my notice.

How long have you suspected? I thought.

"Since the emergency room. You try to hide your thoughts, but you can't block everything." He sneered.

She is a beautiful, caring woman, not a prize to be won. Try to remember that.

"Thank you for the good advice, father."

We could hear the cars approaching and I could make out her beating heart. Edward darted down the stairs and I followed at a human pace, not wanting to scare Isabella. I finally understood why he raced to her with such gusto. Jasper and Emmett had rubbed their scent all over her. I felt the animal in me start to rise to the challenge, to get rid of the other males that might claim her, caress her, love her. I knew it was just a joke, they did it to get Edward and I riled up, but I could not give into their game. I resolved right then that I would do more, show my feelings more. I couldn't lose her to this boy, son or not. If she didn't feel the same way, at least I could try to get on with my life, watching and pining from afar until her death, and then I would join her. But, either way, I needed to know how she felt.

I felt a reassuring hand on my shoulder, it was Alice. She shook her head 'no' and busied myself with preparing Isabella's meal. I could hear Jasper, Emmett, and Edward head outside, to release some built up tension; they would look for any reason to see who was the strongest. It was usually a tie, but the argument still remained and was "debated" often.

"Bella, dinner is ready," Alice called from the kitchen. I was not prepared to face her head on. Her sweater clung to her body in ways that made me ache, and the skinny jeans she wore hugged her butt so tightly that it took all my strength not to go over and sink my teeth into her heart shaped flesh.

The only thing I permitted myself, with Edward so close, was to put my arm around her shoulder. It left my scent on her, reminding him that I was going to fight for her. I could hear her heart make accelerated noises and I saw Alice flash me a wink. This was all new to me, just as it was to Edward, but I knew I could have my soul mate!

I wasn't prepared for Edwards's reaction. I could hear Alice's low warning growl and Jasper was instantly on alert, trying to calm everyone down. I can still see Isabella's panicked face as he yelled "Mine!" and swept her out the door.

I was on my way out the door; he took my mate, brazenly, from in front of my eyes. It was only Alice's warning that kept me from going further. "He'll kill her if he knows you're following. He won't be able to control himself and you will both lose her."

"Why didn't you see this, Alice?" I paced the floor, tearing at the hair on my head, but nothing came out.

"I didn't see it because it was a snap decision. I saw what would happen when he grabbed her. I couldn't stop it." I could tell by her tone that I had offended her. I knew her visions were subjective, it wasn't her fault.

"My apologies, Alice. Can you tell me; will she be alright?" I wanted to run to her. I could feel her fear and her helplessness.

"Yes, she will be fine. Oh, Edward," she groaned.

"What now?" Please don't let her be hurt.

"Nothing big, but you are going to have to go get her. God, he's immature!" I was out the door before she was finished.

Okay, breathe; lemons are on their way… But Carlisle is a romantic and a gentleman and conditions need to be perfect, or do they… he is vampire and a man… No promises for next chapter…but lemony goodness is on the way!

Reviews keep me going and feel free to PM me with any suggestions; if the idea is good I will incorporate it and dedicate the chapter to you!