A/N: Okay, I'm really sorry it's been so long since I've updated. I wasn't sure on what direction I wanted to go, but Stephenie Meyer gave me a hint where she wanted Carlisle's story to go with a nice scene from the partial draft of Midnight Sun. So here it is, and I'm already working on the next chapter. I've got a few days to write so, maybe I can get you another by Monday. We'll see. Read, Review, Pass it on!

-Wish

Chapter 28: Old Visitors and New Thoughts

Edward returned to school the day after the argument and life moved on. He seemed to be getting back to a normal routine until one unusually sunny day in March.

We'd all stayed home, making the excuse of a "family hiking trip". But really, we had a pleasant surprise (well, actually it wasn't that much of a surprise, since Alice had predicted it the week before). Two of Jasper's old acquaintance, Peter and Charlotte, stopped by for a visit. They were in the area and looking for something to do on a sunny day.

Peter and Charlotte arrived on Monday morning, just as Alice had said they would. Edward was out, having not given us an explanation at all. Jasper immediately warned his friends about hunting in the town and briefly explained a bit of Edward's situation.

"We will be sure to stay away," Peter assured him. "We do not intend to create trouble for you."

"Thanks Peter," Jasper replied.

"Besides, we fed before we even set foot on your peninsula," Charlotte added. "This isn't our first visit."

"Thank you again," I put in. "Edward's just a bit…touchy, at the moment."

Peter and Charlotte assured me of their understanding and we moved on. Emmett wanted to go out and do something. He never liked just staying inside on a sunny day. Even though we couldn't go amongst humans, that didn't mean we couldn't go out at all. Forks was surrounded by miles of forest with nothing but animals and plants.

"Football," Emmett challenged Peter. "Rainer Field."

"You're on!" Peter replied.

"Shouldn't we wait for Edward to get back?" Esme suggested. Edward had been absent the past couple nights, hunting or simply running. He wasn't back yet.

"Here," Emmett said. He grabbed a scrap of paper and a pencil and scribbled Football at the Rainer Field—c'mon! Please? He stuck it to the newel post. "I doubt he's gonna come, but if for some reason he wants to play, there it is. Alright? Can we go now?"

"Okay we can go," Esme conceded.

Emmett whooped and raced out the back door, followed by Peter and Charlotte and then the rest of us. We ran southwest towards Mt. Rainer. Rainer field was an open area, big enough for vampire-size fields, where we liked to play sports. We'd found the field within a week of our arrival at Forks. Emmett arrived first, holding the football.

"I pick first!" he called. "Jasper!" Peter became the other "captain" and he and Emmett went back and forth, choosing the two teams. Eventually, Emmett's team consisted of Emmett, Jasper, Rosalie, and Esme. I was on Peter's team with Charlotte and Alice. We kicked first. Alice punted the ball almost all the way to the edge of the trees on the opposite end of the field. Jasper caught it and sprinted forward, Emmett his blocker. But Peter and Charlotte made quick work of them, Peter taking out Emmett and Charlotte going in for the tackle. Jasper hadn't gotten far.

We played all day, none of us getting tired. Emmett's, Jasper's, and Peter's competitive sides kept the game going most of the day and a good part into the night, before Esme finally called the game. The score was 410-392, Peter's team. Emmett was grumpy for a while on the run back, but by the time we arrived back at the house, he'd all but forgotten the loss.

Edward still wasn't home when we got back, though he'd stopped in. A sorry was written in his neat, calligraphic handwriting.

"Edward must be busy," Peter commented.

"Maybe," I replied, looking to Alice. She glanced my way and gave a subtle nod.

"Does he still play?" Charlotte asked. She ran her fingers over the piano, sitting in the corner.

"Sometimes," Esme replied. "He has a new composition that he's been working on. You should hear it, it is beautiful."

"If he ever comes home," Emmett snorted. Rosalie scowled. She still harbored ill feelings about Edward's actions on the day of the car crash. I gave Rosalie and Emmett a warning look, reminding them of our guests.

"Tell me, what have you been up to Carlisle?" Peter asked.

"Working at the hospital. Jasper, Alice, Rosalie, Emmett, and Edward all go to school, though yesterday and today are sort of an unofficial break for them. They'll be back on Wednesday."

"I imagine you can't have too many sunny days, if they can go to school," Charlotte commented.

"Forks is almost perpetually cloudy," Rosalie said dryly.

"Though I know I could definitely use more sunny days," Emmett said. "High school is boring the first time, let alone the fifty-something-th time."

"Do you know where you might move on after this?" Peter asked.

"We have been thinking about Canada, or maybe back east," I replied. "Perhaps even returning to Europe."

"You have to tell us when you decide," Charlotte insisted. "It's always fun visiting the Cullens." She smiled, looking around the room at each of the members of my family.

I heard the kitchen door open and Edward walked in. Emmett and Esme greeted him and he nodded coolly before sitting down at his piano. He began playing softly, but the melody began to pick up an edge. Edward was impatient about something. Perhaps he wanted to leave again. He was probably just trying to be a gracious host in staying for a while.

We listened to his music for a while, but eventually Peter and Charlotte began hinting that it was time for them to be moving on. The sun was setting and they would be able to go out in public again very soon.

"Do you see anyone from the south?" Jasper asked.

"Not really," Charlotte said. "We may run into a fellow escapee once or twice more south then here, but there aren't many."

"No," Jasper agreed. "If you see Maria again, tell her I wish her well."

"I don't imagine that will happen soon," Peter replied with a quick laugh, "But, should it happen, I certainly will."

We got up and began saying the more final goodbyes, shaking hands and Alice giving them hugs. Edward stopped playing and stood up.

"Peter, Charlotte," he said with a nod.

"It was nice to see you again Edward," Charlotte said politely. Peter simply returned Edward's nod. They soon left, Jasper seeing them out. Edward was impatient until finally he left once more without an explanation. He took his car this time.

Alice was the one who finally told us what Edward was doing. She saw a vision of him in Port Angeles, following Bella. And then she saw one of him rescuing Bella from the gang and the dinner at the restaurant. She tried to call him, but Edward didn't answer his cell-phone. When he returned home, Alice was waiting for him on the porch and I was in my study. I could hear their conversation easily.

"Carlisle's in his study," she said.

"Thank you," Edward replied. Alice must've said something silently to him because after a moment he said, "Oh. Sorry. I didn't even check to see who it was. I was…busy."

"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry too. By the time I saw what was going to happen, you were on your way."

"It was close."

I assumed Alice apologized silently. "Don't be," Edward replied. "I know you can't catch everything. No one expects you to be omniscient, Alice."

"Thanks."

"I almost asked you out to dinner tonight—did you catch that before I changed my mind?"

"No, I missed that one, too. Wish I'd known. I would have come."

"What were you concentrating on, that you missed so much?"

Alice laughed and Edward said, "You're shameless."

"Yep," she replied.

Edward sighed. "Yes. Later." Alice must've asked another silent question.

"Sure," Edward said.

I turned my attention away from their conversation. When Alice started asking her questions silently, eavesdropping didn't make any sense. I went back to reading, or at least partially reading, until I heard Edward's footsteps on the stairs. I looked to the door as he entered.

"I heard Alice tell you where to find me," I said, smiling at my longest son.

"I need help," Edward said, almost unnecessarily. Edward really only sought me out when he needed advice or help.

"Anything Edward," I promised.

"Did Alice tell you what happened to Bella tonight?"

Almost happened, I corrected him.

"Yes, almost. I've got a dilemma, Carlisle. You see, I want…very much…to kill him." He began speaking faster. I could see the passion in his face and hear it in his voice. "So much. But I know that would be wrong, because it would be vengeance, not justice. All anger, no impartiality. Still, it can't be right to leave a serial rapist and killer wandering Port Angeles! I don't know the humans there, but I can't let someone else take Bella's place as his victim. Those other women—someone might feel about them the way I feel about Bella. Might suffer what I would have suffered if she'd been harmed. It's not right—"

I smiled. I was proud of Edward for his control. He was resisting the urge to murder the man who tried to hurt Bella tonight. Edward looked puzzled. She'd very good for you, isn't she? So much compassion, so much control. I'm impressed.

"I'm not looking for compliments, Carlisle," Edward replied.

"Of course not. But I can't help my thoughts, can I?" I said. I couldn't help smiling again. "I'll take care of it. You can rest easy. No one else will be harmed in Bella's place." Edward was right. To know a serial rapist and murder and not do anything about it would be allowing the crime and injustice. It was just as bad as actually doing the act. We would sedate him and leave him near the police station, not in Washington. That would keep the suspicion from us. That was the right way to do this.

"I'll show you where to find him," Edward offered.

"Let's go." I picked up my black bag. In it I had some sedatives, some pain relievers, and medical supplies; everything I might need in an emergency. When we left, Alice was still sitting on the steps. She smiled and waved as we got in Edward's car and drove away.

Edward drove without the headlights, completely crushing the speed limit. My thoughts turned to Bella. I didn't foresee that she would be so good for him. That's unexpected. I had thought it would be better for Edward to stay away from Bella after the accident. But perhaps that wasn't so. Perhaps this was somehow meant to be. Perhaps it serves a higher purpose. Only… My mind drew up an image of Bella, but as she would look as one of us. I flinched away from the image though. Bella wasn't dying. She didn't need to forfeit her life. But, Edward deserves happiness. He's owed it. There must be a way. I believed this whole-heartedly.

Edward drove me to where the murderer was drinking with his friends. It was hard for Edward to be near this man when he harbored such hatred towards him for what he wanted to do to Bella. He gripped the steering wheel.

Go, Edward, I told him gently. I'll make the rest of them safe. You go back to Bella.

Edward listened to me and left running back towards Forks through the forest. I was left to deal with the murderer and his friends.

Lonnie, the murderer, was already drunk and half passed out to begin with. Two of his friends were already fast asleep. I came up behind him subtly and gave him just a bit more. He collapsed, unconscious. The bartender looked over, disgusted.

"I'll take him home," I said. "He's an old friend of mine. This wouldn't be the first time. Actually, if you help me, I'll get his friends home too."

The bartender seemed happy to get the three of them out of his place. He carried one of the friends out to Edward's car and shoved him in the back seat while I handled Lonnie. I went back in and grabbed the other friend and put him in the back seat with the first. I gave a nod to the bartender and drove off. My first stop was to drop Lonnie's two friends at an alcoholics' clinic. I left them in the care unit where they would be monitored until they sobered up. Then I drove Lonnie himself south. I would leave him in Portland, away from Forks, Port Angeles, and my family.

Lonnie didn't even move during the ride down to Portland. I left him in an alley only a few yards from the front door of the Portland police station. They'd find him in the morning and he'd be brought to justice. And most importantly, the people would be one killer safer.