Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

A/N: I had a bit of an emergency after the last time I updated. I'm so very sorry for the delay, but it really just couldn't be avoided. Hope you can all find it in your hearts to forgive me and continue reading – I love sharing this with you all. Without further ado…Edward.

- perfectshadeofdarkblue

Best Definition of Good Intentions

9 – I'll Take the Truth at Any Cost

"You guys are so going down!" Alice menacingly laughed.

Her attention was on the large television mounted to the wall. She, Emmett and Edward were gathered on the couches, battling each other in video games. Through the open glass doors behind them, Carlisle and Esme sat on the porch enjoying the view from the porch of their Italian villa. Their conversation was light as they were paying more attention to their family inside. They always found it humorous when Emmett challenged his younger sister to a video game, underestimating her every time. Emmett, in his need of an opponent, had raised Alice on these games, teaching her the ins and outs only to have student surpass the master. Emmett thought luck might be on his side as he and Edward challenged Alice, but he was quickly learning he needed more than luck.

Edward's player turned a corner, but there was Alice's, crouching behind a pile of boxes readying her shot.

"Come on, Edward!" Emmett urged when Edward's lives were reset.

"I couldn't prevent it! How did you get there, Alice?" Edward demanded half-heartedly.

"I jumped from the level above. It was obviously to see where you were going. You boys are so easy to read!"

Edward's shoulders, tight with tension, were squared to the screen. His eyes, despite being locked on the moving figures, were glazed over. It was clear his attention was not on the game. With no urgency, his thumbs danced across the yellow and green buttons of the controller. The look on his face did not match Emmett's determination. Emmett had sweat dripping down his temples and he was biting his tongue so hard blood was threatening to escape.

"What are you doing, Masen?!" Emmett shouted as he lost yet another life.

Suddenly, the game paused.

Slowly, Edward turned his head toward Emmett seated beside him. His determined gaze bore into Emmett's eyes.

"Please, do not call me that," Edward said through gritted teeth.

Emmett racked his brain trying to remember what he had even said. He looked to Alice for help, but her confusion was clear. He resisted turning his head back towards Edward; he could still feel that fire-filled gaze burning him. Emmett had the clear advantage in a fight, with his size being almost twice that of Edward's, but it didn't matter at the moment – Emmett was scared of Edward.

"Alright, man. Sorry. I won't do it again," finally their eyes met. Masen, Emmett's brain rang out. He'd only called him by his last name, just like he'd been doing for the past fourteen years since they could talk.

As Edward broke their stare-down and restarted the game, Carlisle and Esme exchanged a worried look. Carlisle nodded his head, signifying he would take a chance later on to talk to Edward. He waited until the taunts and trash-talking started back up before leaning over and closing the sliding door. He and his wife didn't want Edward to know they were so concerned about him until they'd decided what to do. He was an extremely perceptive boy and could hide his emotions well and they didn't want to tip him off.

"I don't know what else we can do for him," Carlisle started off.

"I'm not sure there is anything we can do, Carlisle." Esme was met with a blank, pleading look from her husband. "I think we've done all that we can for him. I think it's just going to be a matter of time now."

"Things are only going to get harder for him when we leave at the end of the week," Carlisle was at a loss.

"Talk to him. Find out what he's thinking. We've been walking around on eggshells all month, trying to avoid upsetting him, trying to avoid reminding him of his parents. But maybe that's what he needs. Maybe he needs to remember to move on. I think that's the only way to make this better – to talk to him. He can tell us what to do." Esme looked to Carlisle for assurance, but he was looking out into the country side. He gave a slight nod of his head when he sensed her expectant gaze. Esme stood and walked inside, running her hand lovingly across her husband's shoulders. She thought he might like some time alone to think.

"I think I'm going to head into town. Anyone want to come? Alice, some shopping?" Esme asked with perfect timing as the game ended.

"I'm in! I still need to find something for Jasper!" Alice ran into her room to freshen up.

"What about Bella?" Esme shouted.

"Already got it!"

"And what about you, Emmett? Did you get something for Rosalie?"

"No," he answered simply, itching to play another game.

"Don't you think she'd like a small present after being apart for a month?"

"Isn't my coming home enough of a present?" Emmett joked, knowing he'd end up accompanying his mother and sister.

"Come on, it'll be my treat. It's the least I can do after pulling you away for a month without being able to talk to her." Emmett conceded and went to the room he was sharing with Edward to change clothes. "Edward? Would you like to join us? Alice and I have set up your room back in Forks, but you're welcome to do anything you'd like with it. Maybe we can look for some things you'd like."

"No thanks, Esme. I'd rather just stay here," Edward responded politely without looking at her.

"If you're sure, dear." Alice and Emmett miraculously appeared and without hesitation the three took off.

The villa suddenly became quiet as its current occupants were in somber moods. Edward moved off the couch and, after shutting off the television, joined Carlisle outside. For a few minutes, they just sat together but alone in their thoughts. Neither knew their thoughts were moving simultaneously. Edward was the first to break the silence.

"My dad used to tell me about the times he came out here with you." He spoke so quietly that Carlisle wasn't sure he heard correctly. This was the first time Edward had brought up the subject of his parents. It was exactly what he wanted to talk about, but he decided to let Edward set the pace.

"Every break from school we got," Carlisle treaded carefully.

"It was your father's?" Edward finally broke his admiration of the horizon. Carlisle took it as an invitation to continue.

"It was. He left it to me when he passed. Your father and I always had plans to build a villa in Northern Italy together. But life got away from us and we never got the chance to do it," Carlisle had become so preoccupied with worrying about Edward that he was forgetting that he, too, was mourning. Speaking about the past he shared with Edward's father and all their plans for the future, really made him remember how devastating this tragedy was.

Finally, Carlisle turned to Edward.

"Is it getting any easier for you?"

Immediately, Edward knew what he was asking. "No."

"Give it time. It will."

"How can you say that? You've had as much time as I had and you're still caught off guard by the memories."

"I don't know what to tell you, Edward."

"I'm not asking you to tell me the secret to make it all better. Just don't lie to me. Don't tell me it will get better, because neither of us knows that with any certainty."

"I do know that with certainty. The way you're feeling now – you won't always feel that way. It may take awhile, but I can promise it will get better. Eventually. The amount of time it takes, though, that's up to you."

Edward thought for a moment. "What's that suppose to mean?"

"It means you need to try to move on. You can't trap yourself in the past. You need to make an effort."

"I am making an effort! You think I want these burning images to show up every time I close my eyes?"

It was clear he was getting angry, but Carlisle thought it was progress. He'd been practically emotionless all month, so it was a least a step in the direction of becoming human again. Carlisle waited for Edward to continue.

"I don't know how else to make an effort, Carlisle." His voice was pleading now. "I don't want to remember this. But I don't want to forget them either."

"You're focusing on the wrong things, son. Don't remember them in death. You need to remember them in life. That's the only way to cope." Carlisle watched as his words changed Edward. He waited for an explanation, but none came. Instead, Edward's face remained changed, thinking. His eyes shone with possibility, with hope.

"What is it, Edward?" He could no longer stand his ignorance.

Still, Edward offered no answer. His eyes were moving fast, from Carlisle's face, to the sky, zoning out, then back again. repeating the pattern.

"Edward?" Carlisle tried again.

"You called me 'son.'" It didn't make sense to older man so again he waited. Edward repeated, "Son."

Suddenly, it clicked. "Let me ask you a question, Edward."

Edward focused his eyes on Carlisle in anticipation of the question he knew was coming.

"Why did you get mad at Emmett earlier when he called you by your last name?" Carlisle avoided the actual name in fear of setting Edward over the edge.

As Edward closed his eyes, breathing in deep, collecting his thoughts, Carlisle tried to prepare himself for the answer. All the time in the world wouldn't have helped.

"It's haunting," Edward whispered, eyes still shut.

"What do you mean?" Carlisle needed clarification. If this conversation was going where he thought it was, he needed Edward to say exactly what he meant. There was no room for wrong assumptions.

"No matter where I am, what I'm doing, that name pulls me back. I'm forced to think of my parents, of what will never be now. I try so hard not to dwell on them. I only think about them when I'm making a conscious effort and can control where the thoughts lead me. I hear that and automatically, without fail, I lose control. It's like their deaths are happening all over again. And this time, I'm there to bear witness."

Edward had worked himself in a frenzy explaining and his breath was now coming heavy. Carlisle was at a loss for words, but it didn't matter; Edward wasn't finished. He managed to collect himself enough for another request.

"Adopt me."

"What?" Carlisle was caught even more off guard, but he couldn't ignore this.

"Adopt me," Edward repeated more solidly this time, while running his hand through his golden hair. His eyes were dancing. He'd found the answer, the solution he'd been searching for.

"Edward, you can't be serious."

"Come on, Carlisle. Why not? I'm practically adopted anyway. Why not make it official?"

"I will not adopt you to help you erase the memory of your parents. I care for them far too much to let you do that," he spoke with conviction.

"I'm not trying to erase them," Edward's voice became softer as he realized his mistake. Carlisle misunderstood his intentions. "I just want to speed this mourning process along. I'm sick of being depressed, but I can't force myself to get better. Every time I think I'm getting past this, something pushes me back. Like Emmett earlier when he called me 'Masen.' I'm only trying to erase things that will unexpectedly remind me of them."

"Do you honestly think you'll succeed at that?"

"I can only try." Edward met Carlisle's eyes. "Please. Help me try."

"I don't think I can do that Edward. And it has nothing to do with not wanting you as my own son. You know I already consider you that. You're as much a part of this family as you've always been; you just need us more now than ever. And we are more than willing to help you in your need, but I don't think you're asking this for the right reasons. I think you need to find a different way to work through this. It's unrealistic." Carlisle hated seeing the disappointment in Edward, his newest son's eyes, but he knew it was unavoidable. Still, he would talk to Esme about this and hear her opinion on the matter. In fact, the two had debated adopting Edward outright, but didn't want him to think they were trying to replace his parents when in fact they were only trying to solidify their relationship if he ever needed anything. They wanted to make sure he knew he could come to them for anything as though they were his parents. Carlisle wasn't sure whether it was his own opinion of the manner of adoption prior to the vacation that was clouding his judgment or actually the reasons he voiced and for that, he needed his wife to help make sense of things.

"Just don't rule it out, alright?" Edward sounded more like a kid now that Carlisle had ever heard before.

"Alright," Carlisle agreed, standing up. "Now let's go enjoy our last days in this beautiful country."

-

"I'm really not going to get to see you for awhile, huh?" Jacob put down the wrench and wiped the grease off his hands. Throwing the towel over his shoulder, he took a seat on the stool next to Bella.

"Nope," Bella answered, taking a sip of her soda.

"Alice doesn't know how to share?"

"Nope," Bella repeated, smiling this time.

"What am I suppose to do now?" Jacob asked.

"I'm not dying, Jake. I'll still be around. But I haven't seen Alice in a month. It'll probably take two weeks for her to let me out of her sight."

"Two weeks?!"

"My goodness. You had friends before me, hang out with them."

"They aren't as fun."

"Because having me sit here for the past month while you work on your car is more fun than anything you would do with Embry and Quil?" Bella snorted at the thought.

"Yes," Jacob wouldn't look at her.

"Oh, get over it. Nothing's going to change it, so you might as well resolve to have fun now."

"Such great advice."

Bella leaned over to grab the greasy towel off Jacob's shoulder, brushing it across his face as she spoke her words. "Sarcasm is not going to help you. Besides, I didn't have to come over this morning. I thought I'd be nice and spend a last bit of time with you before Alice gets home later."

Jacob grabbed the towel from her hand and flicked his wrist to give Bella a taste of her own medicine. Anticipating the attack, she quickly leaned back to get her face out of the towel's greasy reach. Her sudden movement threw the stool off balance and she felt gravity pulling her body towards the cement floor. Her arms flew behind her to brace the fall just as Jacob leaped off his stool to catch her. His arms snaked their way around her tiny waist, pulling her away from the ground and towards him with such force that she slammed into his chest.

The collision knocked the breath from Bella for a moment. Jacob stared at her as she collected herself. Once she ascertained that she was still alive and well, she met Jacob's eyes, the lust emanating apparent.

Bella adjusted her gaze and looked up to Jacob through her eyelashes. For good measure, fluttered her eyelashes while smile sweetly. Only then did she speak, with a very soft voice, "I swear, Jacob Black, if you kiss me again, I will punch you."

She tried to push him away but found his grip too tight. She was done playing games. She threatened again, this time with venom, "Let me go, Jake."

Jacob brushed it off coolly, but still set her free. "Just making sure you can handle your own two feet."

"Oh, shut it. You're making me glad I won't see you for awhile."

Jacob could tell she was completely serious. It was time to own up, "I'm sorry, Bella."

"You're the one who promised me you could handle this. You told me you were a big boy. And I told you that if my feelings changed then I would tell you. Have I told you?"

"No."

"Then where do you get off looking at me like that?"

"What am I suppose to do, Bella? Ignore everything you say? You don't make this easy. You let me flirt with you, you let me compliment you, you let me hold your hand. Do you honestly expect me to be able to ignore that?" Jacob was frustrated. He'd really started to believe that Bella's feelings had changed and he didn't want to be having this conversation. Especially when he didn't know the next time he'd see her.

"Yes, Jacob. I do expect you to ignore that. Because I told you I'd tell you if I started to have feelings for you. I didn't mean to lead you on, I really am sorry about that. I didn't realize you thought so much of it. You've been such a great best friend to me in Alice's absence and I don't want that to change, but I think some time apart will be good for us," Jacob could see the hurt in her eyes. It was obvious she really didn't know what she was doing to him.

He tried to negotiate. "Alright, how about this…"

"I'm listening."

At least she wasn't shooting him down outright. He held on to hope as he continued, "You spend your two weeks with Alice and I won't bother you. But I made a promise to take you cliff diving and I intend on hold that promise. It's the perfect time; the water isn't as cold in the summer. So in two weeks, we're diving."

"Jake…" He could sense her hesitation.

"Bring Alice. And her boyfriend Jasper can come. And her brother, too. And the kid that's moving in. Everyone can come. Embry and Quil wouldn't miss it for the world, watching you dive for the first time. And I'll invite Sam and Leah and Seth, too, since you like that kid so much. We'll make a thing of it – spend the day at the beach, cook out, dive. How does that sound?"

Bella couldn't deny him, he was trying too hard. "Alright, I'm in. I'll have to check with Alice, though. I doubt she'll want to cliff dive and she'll probably think I'm crazy doing it, but she'll probably agree to the party."

"Bella, come on!" Charlie's voice rang out into the garage. "I promised your mother we'd be home to help with dinner. We need to get a move on it!"

"I'm coming!" Bella shouted back then turned to face Jacob, "That's my cue."

"Two weeks," he reminded her.

"Two weeks," she confirmed with a nod. "Bye, Jake."

"Bye Bella. Don't forget about me." He leaned in to hug her.

When they pulled away, she said, "I could never." She watched his face light up like the sun as the smile spread across his lips.

Bella met Charlie in front of the house and climbed into the cruiser when he unlocked the door.

"So what'd you and Jake do today?" Charlie asked, trying to make conversation.

"What do we do any day, Dad? I watched him while he worked on his car," Bella answered with a laugh. It was just enough of an ice breaker to keep the car ride from becoming awkward with forced conversation.

"Is he getting any closer to finishing? I feel like he's been working on it forever."

"Please, I'm the last one to ask that question. I have no idea what he's doing."

"Maybe he could teach you a thing or two about cars." Charlie's eyes never left the road as they sped for home.

"I doubt he has the patience for that," Bella dismissed the idea offhand.

"Oh, I bet he has the patience for anything when it comes to you."

"Dad!" Bella couldn't believe her father was attempting to intervene in her love life. He'd never even recognized the fact that she was dating when Tyler was around.

"What? Come on, you can't tell me you don't know what I'm talking about. I've seen the way that boy looks at you. He's lucky I like him so much, or else he'd be in big trouble. You two have been spending an awful lot of time together…"

Bella picked up on Charlie's thoughts without needing to hear the rest of it. "Yea, Dad. We have been spending a lot of time together, but that doesn't mean anything. And yes, I've seen the way he looks at me. In fact, today I told him I'd punch him if he tries to kiss me. We're just friends, Dad." She tried to drive that point home.

Charlie laughed. "Punch him, huh? Not that it doesn't make me happy to hear that you can take care of yourself, but you don't want…you don't like him?" Of course, he stuttered talking about his daughter kissing a boy.

"Ugh, Dad. Do we have to talk about this?" Her voice was filled with disgust.

"I feel like I don't know what's going on in your life these days. Ever since your mom stopped working, she's been split between us, leaving no time for us. Not that I'm complaining about your mother – you know how much I love that woman. I just feel out of touch." Bella didn't understand – they were never in touch. She would get it if they had talked about these sorts of things before, but they hadn't. Where was this coming from?

She realized they were close enough to home that she could answer the question and not have to worry about any follow-ups. She'd worry about the reasoning later. "No, Dad, I don't like Jake like that. He's a great friend, but that's it. And yes, he knows that's how I feel. I've made it very clear; he's the one who still insists on spending so much time together despite his feelings."

"Well, maybe he's hoping you'll come around."

"Oh, please. Do not tell me you're on his side. I don't need you backing him up."

"He's a nice kid, Bella. Maybe you should give him a chance," tactfully, he avoided directly answering her question.

"Oh, look, we're home. Let's help Mom with dinner!" Bella jumped out of the car before Charlie had even put it in park.

Renee's car was in the driveway so Bella knew she was home from running the errands that had kept her from visiting the Blacks with them earlier. She raced inside, eager to start up a new conversation with her mother before Charlie had another chance to say anything about Jacob. As soon as she was through the door, she was met with the smell of something burning. She could hear a pan on the stove sizzling. She made her way to the kitchen, picking up a stray water glass to rinse out on her way.

When she entered the kitchen, the sight she saw stunned her. Automatically, her hand rose, covering her mouth. She whispered, "Oh, God."

Bella was frozen. She could not move. Not matter how much she wanted to turn and run from the room, her feet were unwilling. Her brain had suddenly lost its connection with the rest of her body. She was no longer in control of her actions.

Her eyes were glued to her mother who was sitting on the kitchen counter. Her head was thrown back, her eyes were closed. Her mouth was open and Bella could hear her heavy breathing from across the room. Her legs were wrapped tightly around the shirtless man standing before her. His mouth was attached to her neck. He was the reason her mother's head was thrown back, the reason for the heavy breathing, the reason moans were escaping her mother's lips. He was not Bella's father. He was not her husband.

Bella finally regained control of her eyes. For the first time, she noticed Renee's shirt, torn, on the floor. For the first time, she noticed the man wasn't the only shirtless one in the room. Renee was perched on the counter, wearing only her bra. This man's hands were pulling Renee close, caressing her skin in a hurried fashion. Bella watched as his right hand snaked from her back and down her leg, disappearing out of sight between their bodies. She watched as his left hand made its way to her Renee's bra strap, quickly working at the clasp. Bella couldn't tear her eyes away as she watched Renee's hands pull the man's mouth away from her neck, only to replace it on her own.

Bella heard Renee moan, "Oh, James."

And suddenly, everything made sense. The mysterious wrong number, all the time her mother spent at work, the avoiding phone calls in front of her. Her mother was having an affair with James. Her mother was having an affair with this man. Her mother was having an affair in the kitchen.

The glass Bella was holding crashed to the floor and she repeated, louder this time, "Oh, God."

Bella heard Charlie finally make his way into the house and she realized she'd only been taking in the scene for a minute, instead of the hour it felt like.

"What's burning?" He asked making his way toward Bella.

She was still rooted to the spot. There was nothing she could do to stop her father from witnessing this scene.

Her eyes were still glued to train wreck in front of her. She watched James pull the bra off of her mother and toss it behind him. It landed perfectly on the already burning stove.

That was the catalyst that snapped Bella to action. It was bad enough she was watching her family burn down before her eyes, she refused to watch her house do the same.

"Oh, God," she shouted at the exact same time as Renee. Bella was responding the garment that had burst into the flames while Renee was responding to James' mouth's newest target – her breast.

Bella ran into the kitchen to distinguish the flames as Charlie turned the corner and took in the scene for the first time. Bella applauded his ability to be able to react more quickly than she was.

"What the hell, Renee?" He demanded, his voice loud enough to catch the attention of the lovebirds on the counter.

Renee's eyes snapped open, her head quickly turning to Charlie. She pushed James off her and jumped from the counter. She grabbed her torn shirt and threw it over her, quickly making her way to Charlie. Before she stopped walking, she turned back to look at James. In that moment, it was clear to Bella that her family was over.

She opened her mouth, but the words came from Charlie.

"Save it. I don't want to hear it." His eyes were on fire. It was clear he wanted to hit something. James made the most sense, but he knew his wife deserved it more.

At the tone of Charlie's venomous voice, James backed up. No one noticed Bella, putting out the fire, behind him and he backed into her, pushing her toward the flames.

"Ow!" She yelled, grabbing the attention of everyone in the room.

Renee's eyes went wide when she realized what her daughter had witnessed.

"Bella," Renee took a step toward her.

Bella turned and ran. She ran out of the kitchen, out of the house, down the driveway. She didn't stop until she hit the blacktop road, and then she only slowed to a walk. Tears were streaming down her face. She had no idea where she was going. She was going anywhere that wasn't where she came from.

She'd lost track of where she was and how long she'd been walking as the sun continued its path down the sky. She could barely see it over the trees that surrounded the sides of the road. So far she hadn't seen one car, at least that she'd noticed. She was lost in her thoughts until her phone rang.

Without looking, without thinking, she answered.

"Bella!" came Alice's happy voice. "We just passed the 'Welcome to Forks sign.' I'll be at my house in ten minutes, meet me there."

"Alice," Bella croaked, unsure if her words made sense. "Alice, I need you."

"Bella? What's wrong? Where are you?" Alice was no longer happy. Her voice was thick with worry.

Bella could only repeat, "I need you, Alice."

Alice spoke to whoever was driving the car as Bella heard hushed voices. She didn't even bother to try and make sense of them. Why would that make sense when nothing else did?

"I'm coming, Bella. I'll be right there. Just hang on."

Bella didn't even bother to hang up the phone, even after Alice had. Her hand just dropped to her side, holding the phone limply, as though it was a life preserver to save her and she'd given up hope of being saved. She kept walking, as the sky darkened more quickly now.

It wasn't even five minutes later, that Alice's car pulled up alongside her. Alice jumped out of the passenger side and pulled Bella into a hug. At the contact, Bella lost any control she regained. As her body reacted, her mind was in overdrive. Bella finally understood the meaning of an out-of-body experience. It felt like she was watching the scene from ten feet away, not feeling what was really happening to her, but seeing it. She couldn't believe her body could produce as many tears as it was. It was only a matter of time before her eyes were dried up. Bella knew that wouldn't stop her, she knew her crying would turn to dry hiccupping. Alice pulled Bella onto her lap in the front seat, closing the door behind them.

"Jasper?" Bella croaked out as she saw who was driving. He reached over to grip her shoulder, but even his normally soothing manner couldn't help her.

"He was waiting for me when I got home. I figured he could drive so I didn't have to when we got you," Alice explained. She pulled Bella's face up, so her eyes could meet hers. Alice took in Bella's appearance. There was grease stained on Bella's face. Her eyes were red and puffy and she was heaving trying to get enough oxygen.

"Calm down, Bella. You've got to calm down," Alice tried soothing her. She rubbed her hand along her back. "What happened, Bella?"

That simple, expected question, threw Bella into another frenzy and no amount of soothing could help her.

Jasper pulled into the Cullen's driveway, which was surprisingly empty.

"Where is everyone?" Bella croaked out, noticing the lack of cars as part of her out-of-body self. She was expecting a bustle of activity since they'd just returned from their trip.

"My mom and I are the only ones home so far. My dad, Emmett and Edward should be back in a couple of hours. They flew into Chicago a day before Mom and I left to get Edward's car and are driving it home. Mom already parked the car in the garage."

At the mention of a mother, Bella lost all the control she'd held onto while asking her question. Jasper made his way around to the passenger side, opened the door and scooped Bella into his arms. She didn't object because she knew she'd never make it on her own. He carried her into the house, up the stairs and into Alice's room. He placed her on the bed and tried soothing her while Alice remained downstairs to explain to Esme.

Quickly, Bella fell asleep, despite the early hour. Jasper left soon after helping Bella relax, leaving Alice and Esme to wait for the boys. They called first, telling Carlisle the situation, who urged Edward to drive faster. He managed to cut an hour off their trip, arriving just after eight o'clock. Edward exhausted from the entire experience of the vacation immediately went upstairs to his room. He was too preoccupied with his own pain to be concerned about someone else's. Emmett rushed off to see Rosalie, before returning home to help.

That left Alice to pace back and forth in front of the wall-sized window while Carlisle called Charlie and Esme listened in on the other extension. Charlie explained the heart of the situation and asked them to keep track of Bella over the next few days while he made sense of things. He asked Carlisle to make sure Bella called him when she was feeling up to it. The devastation in his voice made Esme tear up at his heartbreak and they quickly promised to his requests.