Esme's Story – Part 4 Extended

I was breathing in deeply and exhaling in a fruitless attempt to calm myself for meeting Carlisle's son, Edward.

"Don't worry, love. He'll love you." Said Carlisle, as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders, "You can now come in Edward." He called out.

"Edward is special in his own way, he can read our minds, so don't be alarmed if he is a bit perceptive." Carlisle quickly whispered before the door opened.

A bronze-haired boy entered the room; he appeared to be seventeen or so but I knew he was much older. He had the same butter-scotch eyes Carlisle had – but not as beautiful in my opinion, he had a long bridged nose and his mouth was pulled up in a crooked smile as he held out a hand and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, finally, Esme."

I took it and gently shook it, "The pleasure's all mine, Edward." I smiled back, I couldn't help it – his smile was infectious. He looked at Carlisle and winked at him, Carlisle chuckled softly.

"What is it?" I inquired about the silent conversation going on between them.

"Nothing. Nothing at all, love." Carlisle answered.

15 year later

Ever since Carlisle had welcomed me into his family, I was happier than I'd ever been before. Since I was changed, Rosalie and Emmet joined our family. Rosalie was like a daughter to me, and I hoped that she would be what I was to Carlisle to Edward. Edward was still as stubborn to remain the eternal bachelor though, and didn't respond to my and Carlisle's efforts to get them together. Then Emmett was brought to us. Rosalie found him and brought him to us; afraid she wouldn't be able to change him properly. She loved him dearly and he loved her as she deserved, after what Royce did to her. And I got my chance to be a mother again. It was good, but it still doesn't stop me from missing Alice. My little girl.

*********

A tiny knock came from the front door of our house in New Hampshire. I walked to the front door and to my absolute and utter shock there was my Alice. I gasped. Her hair was cut brutally short, there were shadows under her eyes that weren't there the last time I saw her and I worried about what could've caused them. Behind her was a quiet man. He had blonde hair in wild curls and had red eyes and was really tall. I ran and embraced her in a tight hug.

"Um, Hi. I didn't expect this welcome. What's your name?" she said.

The horror grasped me, threatening to choke me, "You don't remember me?"

"No," she shook her head, "Should I?"

My Alice didn't remember me. My Alice. I choked down the sobs which were steadily rising up my throat.

"No don't worry about it sweetie. Who is this here?" I asked her.

"Oh how silly of me. This is Jasper Whitlock," she gestured to him.

"It's very nice to meet you ma'am." Jasper said with a southern accent.

"And I'm Alice."

"Come on in," I gestured for them to enter.

They did with a certain amount of grace; it was as if they were dancing across the threshold of the house.

"You've got a lovely house, ma'am." Jasper said very conventionally.

"Why thank you, Jasper. And it's Esme by the way."

"Yes ma'- I mean Esme."

Alice linked her hand in Jasper's.

"Esme?" Alice started.

"Yes, sweetie?" I replied.

"I can see the future, and that's how I met Jasper here, and that's how I saw you – I saw all of us as a family. And I was wondering..."

"Did you want to stay with us?' I asked her.

"Well, yes." She said straightening her coat.

I smiled; I've got my Alice back. She may not remember me but we've got time.

"Of course you can."

She ran up and hugged me, "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Jasper smiled at her exuberance, "Yes thank you, ma'- Esme."

"I've got a guest room for you Jasper," he said 'thank you' again, "And Alice you can have Edward's room for now- we'll have a room up for you in no time."

She grinned at me and ran up to Edward's room and started to put his stuff down stairs in the garage.

*********

Jasper, Alice and I were all waiting downstairs for the other's to return from the hunt. The door was opened by Carlisle, followed by Rosalie, and then Emmett and Edward bragging about the kills they had 'bagged'.

"Who are you?" Rosalie demanded as soon as she saw Alice and Jasper.

I stood up and introduced Alice and Jasper. Despite Rose's rudeness Alice and Rose both paired up and went away talking and giggling. Emmett just walked up to Jasper and punched him in the arm and said, "Welcome to the family, brother."

Jasper just smiled and pulled his arm in such a quick manoeuvre I didn't know what he did until Emmett fell to the floor.

"Bring on the competition." Jasper chuckled.

"Rematch!" Emmett cried, running out the door into the vast fields we had at the edge of town. Jasper laughed and followed after.

"Edward, honey?"

"Yes, Esme?" he said.

"Alice has… taken your room for a while… but we will get you a room built in no time." I said to him, "For now you'll be in the garage."

He shook his smiling, "I'm going to have a word with Alice. Excuse me." He said as he walked away. I listened as he ventured upstairs to Rose's room where the girl's were based. I laughed because as soon as the girls saw him they chucked some pillows at him, squealing 'Girls only.' The pillow fight raged until Edward accepted defeat and grumbled all the way to the garage. I then turned to Carlisle.

"Carlisle," I whispered.

"Yes?" he stepped closer to embrace me.

"That's her. That's my Alice! She's come home, finally. But – she doesn't remember me." I spoke; my voice was muffled by his shoulder. I felt the strong urge to cry again but I knew the tears would never come. Carlisle stroked my hair and held my face with both hands and looked me in the eyes before saying, "Don't worry, love. We have nothing but time to tell her. It'll work out. Trust me, love."

"But what if she hates me? She told me while we were waiting for you guys, that she was put into an asylum by her parents. She won't listen – even if I tell her that I had nothing to do with it, she won't believe me." My voice broke.

"Well, sweetheart, you'll have to tell her the truth sooner or later – she deserves that much. And you never know – she may listen to you and believe you. You may be able to have your true family again." Carlisle said to me.

"Okay, I'll tell her." I breathed in deeply and exhaled, "But not right now. It's just too much --"

Carlisle silenced me with a finger on my lips. And he bent down and gently kissed my lips.

"Don't worry, we have forever."

~THE END~

Author's Note: And that's it for Esme's story, thank you for taking the time to read this, it means a lot to me. Thank you to everyone who added this to favourites or subscribed. Thank you. If you want to read more, I'm thinking of doing Alice's reaction to Esme telling her the truth, I don't know, but if you want to read it - just send me an email and I'll write it for you guys. Thank you xox