Here we go again... again.

Disclaimer: While making the characters of 'Twilight' and its respective franchise suffer is very entertaining, I don't own them, and can claim no rights to them. Those belong to Stephanie Meyer.

'Edward.' Carlisle broke the silence that had fallen after Bella had left to do... Well, whatever it was she was doing now. Stabbing holes in some poor human's foot, maybe, judging by the shoes she had been wearing, something that would no doubt get confiscated at an airport, sent off to some poor sap who would have to dissect them, and thrown away. Alice would no doubt twitch spasdamonically at such a tragic waste of fashion.

'Yes?' I said, snapping out of my reverie.

'I'm old, but I still remember that time. Do you?' I knew immediately what he was talking about from his almost cautiously blank tone, his insistently distant look. I knew that he knew I remembered, too. The way he asked me the question, it was more of a statement than anything else. 'I said I won't interfere, but I will give you a warning. Be careful. The peace here looks so solid, and getting more so every day, but it's like glass. Fragile. You don't have to go off the rails to cause everything to come crashing down.'

By now, I had already stood up.

We both knew the warning was pointless. Things had already gone too far. And Carlisle knew his role well, almost too well.

He'd be there to pick up the pieces when everything shattered.

'I'll see you later, Carlisle.'

I walked for a while, no place in mind, no reason to rush. I passed Esme's botanical masterpieces, glanced into a window, on the other side of which was some happy discussion or other, the details of which I didn't care to know, and as I passed, they waved, happy, oblivious smiles on each of them, and went back to discussing something involving someone called a 'Gene Genie'. And I walked on.

'Father!' It was Renesme's sweet, melodic voice. I turned, watching her run barefoot towards me, another dress that looked a bit small on, but was nevertheless a flattering shade of green. When she caught up with me, she embraced me. 'I couldn't find you for a minute, since you run way faster than anyone else I thought I'd have to use a Tardis or something.'

I looked at her blankly.

'You know, a Tardis. Makes a noise like...' She proceeded to immitate something, the origin of which I had no doubt was television. We would really have to get rid of that thing, Renesme and a remote control were too much of a danger to everyone around when they were together. 'But I'm not the Doctor. Wait, isn't Grandpa a doctor? Maybe he's the Doctor!' She seemed satisfied by this conclusion, so I didn't interrupt her musings. 'Anyway,' she continued. 'I want to go shopping. This dress Aunt Rosalie got me is already a tight fit, and I want a new one.' As she said it, she didn't quite meet my eye.

'You want me to go with Jacob.'

'Don't read my mind! That's not very nice.'

'I didn't have to read your mind, it's obvious.' I sighed.

'What, is it a gut feeling? Are you like Gibbs now, or something?'

'When we get home, I'm getting rid of the tv,' I informed her. 'It's going straight to the--'

'Alright, alright, I'll stop making tv references,' she said, and pouted. 'But we can keep the tv, right?'

I sighed again. 'Yes, we'll keep the tv.'

'Good. And you didn't give me an answer. Will you come with us?' Although she was smiling, I could see that tense hope, the anticipation of a yes, but the rare time when she was uncertain that she would get what she wanted.

'No.'

Her face fell, and she looked at my shoes, lip trembling slightly. We really did spoil her too much.

'But why?' she asked, looking back up at me. She was playing the pity card, hoping I'd give in to her.

Not this time.

'You can't see him any more.'

'What? You don't like him, Father, but I like him! I can like him even if you don't! So why not?'

'Because I said so.' I looked at her with barely controlled anger, and she seemed to crumple in on herself. No one had ever looked at her like that before. 'You're not even two yet, Renesme. You don't know anything about the world, anything about him that he doesn't want you to. You need a break from him.'

'I hate you!' she screeched at me. 'I know I'm young, but I'm not stupid, and I know he would never hurt me! You don't want me to see him anymore because you don't like him!'

'That's not true, I--'

'Don't li--' She broke off. There, witnessing it all was Jacob. He hadn't been around to hear everything, but from his expression, it was obvious that he had heard enough.

'Edward, what is this?' He had a slight smile on his face, as if he was expecting to laugh at some concealed joke, but there was no trace of humour in it. Renesme ran into his arms, hugging him tightly.

'Get away from her. Get away from her!' They still didn't let go of each other.

The sight only made me angrier.

'Calm down, Edward. We'll talk about it--'

'No, we won't. What will happen is, you will walk away and stay away. I can't... I can't stand to look at you. You make me sick.'

He still looked confused. No doubt he was thinking about the jewellery shop, the peace, tense, but there. A weird friendship, even.

He had been around Bella for far too long.

We stood, looking at each other for a moment.

Gently, he prised Renesme off of him. 'Alright, if that's how you feel.'

After he left, Renesme shouted at me for a while. I stood there, not saying anything to contradict her, and eventually she seemed to get tired of the complete lack of resistance, going to find refuge with the others, who had been tactfully ignoring the scene. I didn't even remember what she said, all I could see was her in Jacob's arms, that sick cradle robber, that wolf, that bastard, that...

Now he was gone.

All gone.

And that's the end of another chapter. Reviews, good and bad, are welcomed.