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Summery – Carlisle talks with Edward after "A Prelude to a Beginning" – 2003

Protecting the Family

By:

AngelBabs81 and potterfan2006

Carlisle had left Rosalie's room and took a few minutes before knocking on Edward's bedroom door. He needed to ensure that Edward would protect this family as much as they all would.

Edward heard Carlisle coming, so he got up and turned off his classical music. And soon after he heard the knock on the door, he pulled the door open. "Hello, Carlisle," he greeted as he stepped out of the way so Carlisle could come into the room.

Carlisle entered the small room of Edwards. There was a bigger room on the other side of the hallway, but Edward preferred this room. "How are you doing?" Carlisle asked as he took a seat on the edge of his "couch-bed".

"I am doing alright," Edward responded. "How about yourself?" Edward asked in return.

"I'm good, thanks, Edward," Carlisle responded. "I need to talk to you about what happened earlier." Carlisle jumped to the point.

Edward nodded his head. "Okay," he responded as he sat down on his desk chair facing Carlisle.

This was a different conversation than Rosalie's. Edward was calm, not one bit mad. And calming Rosalie to see that her actions as irreparable was easier than Edward's calm façade. Carlisle shrugged his shoulders slightly to get rid of some tension knotting there. "I want to know your side of what happened this morning," Carlisle finally spoke.

"I knew this was coming," Edward said folding his hands in his lap and sitting up a little straighter. "I know what I did today was a risky thing for me to do, but what should I have done? Let that van crush Bella? I think I am in love with her and I could not let anything happen to her," he pleaded for Carlisle to believe him.

Carlisle didn't need to pleading from Edward, but a smile curved on his lips. "Edward, I see that you do love her, but the risk you have taken has affected the entire family. How do you plan to protect this family if another student implicates you were there to save her? Miss Swan was disciplined on the thought that you stopped the van. It took me off guard and you know I don't like being taken off guard when it comes to the humans," Carlisle stated firmly.

Edward sighed and slumped in his chair slightly, looking down at his hands he spoke, "I'm sorry Carlisle." At this moment, he looked every bit like the chastised 17-year-old he was supposed to be. "I did not mean to put our family on the line. I will do anything to keep them safe."

Carlisle leaned forward and placed a hand on Edward's shoulder. When Edward looked at him, Carlisle continued, "Do you have a plan to keep Miss Swan from telling everyone in the school about your ability? According to Rosalie, 15 students saw you by your car before the van went out of control."

Edward looked directly into Carlisle's eyes. "No, but I did tell Bella that I was right beside her when the van almost hit her. When she told me that she saw that I wasn't, I told her that she hit her head and was confused."

"That's a start," Carlisle agreed and stood up. "I want to make sure that you understand the consequences of your actions, Edward. But no matter what happens, we will be here to back you up, even Rosalie."

Edward stood up as well. "I know Carlisle and thank you," Edward said sincerely.

On a softer note, as they walked to the bedroom door, Carlisle looked proudly at his "son". "I'm happy that you found someone, Edward."

Edward smiled then. "Thank you, Carlisle. Let's just hope that if this works, in the long run I can be as happy with Bella as you are with Esme," he responded.

"Yes, you can," Carlisle smiled and opened the door. "If you have any questions, you know you can talk to me," Carlisle told Edward and left the room, walking down the hallway to the stairs.

Edward smiled and returned to his music. Some how he knew everything would be okay.

The End