Disclaimer:- I own nothing

Sorry it's been so long I have had major writers block, and life getting in the way. I hope to finish this soon though.
Let me know what you think. I this a second posting as the first was full of code.

Chapter 23

Esme POV

The first week after Emmett was born, I think I was a zombie. I didn't sleep more than 2 hours at a time, I haven't showered, I smell, my hair is greasy and looks like a birds nest. I'm wearing nasty maternity pads and my breasts and nipples are sore. No one told me it would be this hard. They never tell you about the hard parts. Carlisle was brilliant, after Emmett fed he would take him so I could sleep. I hadn't got the fed and pump down just yet, it I was getting there. My parents had been round everyday for cuddles and to make sure Carlisle and I were eating properly.

I had just finished Emmett's 11am feeding when my mother came in to our bedroom.

"Right, Carlisle go run Es a bath, I will look after my grandson and Carlisle can strip the bed while you relax, no buts he will be fine with me, won't you." She cood as she took Emmett from me.

I just cried. "I'm a bad mother I can't even look after myself let alone my baby." My mother shood Carlisle into the bathroom and sat beside me.

"Now you listen her young lady. You have just had a baby, your hormones are all over the place you are doing a brilliant job. All you need is a nice soak in the bath a good 4 hours sleep and a hot meal. I know what your going to say about Emmett needing to be fed, but isn't that why you got the bottles and formula, so we could help out?" She looked he dead in the eye, just waiting for me to disagree, I just nodded. "So we are going downstairs and into the garden I don't want to see you until at least 4pm. I will send Carlisle up with lunch then you are to both get some sleep. Understood"

"Yes ma'am." My mother got up kissed my cheek and walked out the room, "Carlisle be downstairs at 12 to get Esme's lunch." She called behind her.

Carlisle walked out of the bathroom. "Well you heard the lady chop chop, your bath is waiting." I smiled at him and took his hand that he was offering.

"Your mother really is a force to be reckoned with isn't she," he said as he helped me into the tub.

"She's is is. Ooohhhh yesss", I said as I slid into the hot water. "I thought I was supposed to make you say that." Carlisle whispered in my ear. I just gave him a big smile. "Not this time buddy, not this time."

I just laid in the hot water relaxing, I could hear Carlisle stripping the bed and mother and daddy moving around downstairs but I didn't care. I was in heaven at this moment. I washed my hair twice and then took my time washing myself once I felt clean I just laid back and closed my eyes.

I don't know how long I laid there but it was Carlisle calling my name that jolted me out of my thoughts.

"Hey don't fall asleep or you'll drown", he said as he grabbed a towel.

"I was just relaxing." I stood up and Carlisle wrapped me in a towel and helped me out of the tub.

"Lunch is ready you mom brought it up about 10 minutes ago."

Lunch was great soup and a sandwich. I can't believe something simple could be so delicious. After lunch we cuddled in bed and I think we both nodded off as when I woke up it was nearly 4pm. I felt really good, rested. I turned over to find Carlisle gone. His side of the bed was warm so he must have just left.

After getting up and dressed I made my way downstairs, to find Carlisle in the rocking chair feeding Emmett. I had to smile it was a beautiful site.

"Do you sleep well?" I made my way over to them.

"Yeah I did, but you were gone when I woke, so I came to find you and this is what I find. Where are Mom and daddy?" I kissed Emmetts hair then kissed Carlisle.

"Yeah they are in the garden, I came down to get a drink and your Mom was warming a bottle for him, she passed him over". I still can't get over how beautiful he is.

"I know I can't keep my eyes off him, we made him can you believe it." I was running my fingers through Carlisles hair absentmindedly.

"Now that one is going on the wall." I turned to look and saw mom taking photos.

I left mom, Carlisle and Emmett in the family room and went to find daddy. He was on the deck on the phone in a heated discussion.

"I don't care I want him found and I want my daughter and her family safe do you hear me."

He disconnected the call and shoved his phone back in his packet.

"Daddy everything alright?" I was very nervous about o had just over heard.

"How much did you hear Esme?" His voice was very hard. I hadn't herd that tone for a long time.

"Enough to know there is something going on and we are not safe here." I hadn't moved from my spot but my father walked towards me, grabbed my hands and sat me down.

He looked at our joined hands. "Esme things have gotten bad while you have had Emmett, and I have to deal with them and if I don't they will come after you, Carlisle, Emmett and your mother. I will likely not come back from this but I have to do it to guarantee my family safety."

I was shaking my head as the tears where starting to flow. I know what he was going to do and I knew that he would come back.

"Daddy no please we can figure a way around this you don't have to go please."

He gathered me in this arms and kissed the side of my head.

"Esme it's already sorted, your mother knows and has already tried to talk me out of it. If I want your family safe for good I have to go."

With that he got up and walked out.

—-
Carlisle POV

The next few days where bad. I mean really bad. Mary was running around trying to do whatever she could to keep her mind busy. The house had never been so clean, the garden, the pool and pool house where spotless not a speck of dust anywhere. Now Esme on the other hand was just trying to get through each day without breaking down. It was heartbreaking to see.

All I knew was that Jonathan had made a deal with Aro. He wouldn't say anything else he wanted to keep us out of it as much as possible. He was either coming back alive or in pieces. No one knew what was going on and we kept it that way, everybody was told Jonathan had gone on a business trip and would return when he could.

10 days after Jonathan left we got some news. Jared turned up. Dead. Well some of him did. They identified him by his DNA. Nobody new what was happening everyone was clueless. We were all on high alert, but trying to deal with everything that was going on.

Emmett was a great distraction with him needing feeding every 3-4 hours. He kept us busy. I had taken a leave of absence from work so I didn't have to worry about that.

1 month after Jonathan left we got the news that we had all been waiting for. He was coming home. Alive.

3 months after Jonathan's return.

Life had started to get back to normal since my father in laws return. He wouldn't talk about what went on only to say that he was now out of the business. Nobody understood what he meant but things had changed. Apparently Jason was now in charge, he had been found locked in a basement close to death. He had lost his left hand due to infection. He was still recovering in a private hospital somewhere in Canada.

Aros body was dumped outside Chief swans office, no one knew who did it or why but we all could breath a sigh of relief. It was all very suspicious that Jonathan had gone off and now body's were turning up. I for one didn't ask I was just glad that my family was safe.

After a few months passed life started to go back to normal. Jonathan and Mary moved back into their house, Mary had been staying with us while Jonathan was away. Esme, myself and Emmett had gotten into a routine. Emmett was now 5 months old and was eating solid food. Esme had to stop feeding him as she couldn't keep up with him. We even started to ween him early. We couldn't keep up with him. He would eat everything you put in front of him and lots of it, heavens knows what he is going to be like growing up, I dread to think. He was a big boy but he had the most beautiful ringlets on his head and when he smiled his dimples came out. He was going to get away with murder with those things.

Esme was loving being a mom, she was brilliant at it. She was thriving being at home. She was already talking about having more children. I told her to wait a while. But the practice was great!

My work was back to its usual manic self but I loved it. Getting into the thick of things. Just didn't like the long hours again but that's part of this life.

Marcus, Grace and the kids were doing really well. We haven't seen them since Jonathan came home, but we were planning on meeting them next week for a BBQ.

All I know is that life is slowly getting back to normal, whatever normal is. We will just have to wait to see what the future holds.

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