Edward had spent the entire night marveling at the peaceful sleeping form of Catherine Platt. The way her breathing was slow and rhythmic calmed him, much like his fingers brushing against the ivory keys of his piano. Each breath she took was like his own personal soothing melody, something he felt so relaxed listening to he could easily have drifted into a dream state himself. He watched her closely for any sign of her waking but none showed. Her mind was filled with thoughts of chocolate; specifically dark chocolate which he guessed was her favorite and something he made a mental note of to make sure he didn't forget. Sitting there next to her after what had been said afforded him a certain sense of responsibility. He knew already he was concerned with her safety and wellbeing but the cause of that was what scared him more than anything else.

With that in mind Edward heard Esme and Carlisle entre the house. Both seemed more than happy with their appetites sated for the time being as he heard them climb the stairs before entering Kate's room. They both held a happy and relaxed smile that seemed to radiate from them in an almost infectious manor. Edward had never seen or heard Carlisle so happy in years; the man had been a solid marble mass of composure for so many years it was heartwarming to see him so apparently happy.

"Oh Edward thank you." Esme gushed walking over to him, "Carlisle said I shouldn't have been nervous and that you all might like some time with Kate to adjust but thank you for staying with her."

It was then Edward felt the hand on his shoulder, the small squeeze that signified a job well done from the man he called a father. It was a simple gesture that meant as much to him as if Carlisle himself had praised him.

"It is my pleasure Esme." He replied seeing Carlisle smile warmly toward him. "I should probably go and give you some space."

Edward was loathed to leave however it was something he thought would have to happen eventually. After all Esme was Kate's mother and he couldn't however much he would like to, monopolize her for the entire evening.

"Thank you Edward." Esme said warmly as Carlisle and Edward took their leave from the room.

Stood on the stairs Edward turned to face Carlisle stopping the man in his tracks.

"Carlisle may I speak with you privately? I require some guidance on a personal matter." Edward asked.

Carlisle merely nodded and followed Edward to the garden. He knew there was something wrong but without confirmation from Edward it was only his theories. They passed the tree line and walked toward the edge of the river where the rushing water masked their voices from any prying ears in the house. Carlisle stood motionless waiting for Edward to speak what was on his mind. The boy had asked for his guidance and as of yet even though Carlisle had a good idea what it might be about, the subject had not yet come to light. Edward swayed awkwardly before taking a few much needed paces left and right. That night Edward had considered his questions and the conversation however now he found himself silent with no words and just a simple pleading glance toward Carlisle.

"So Edward, do I need to state the plainly obvious here?" Carlisle said in a matter of fact tone that only he could use, "Correct me if I am wrong but I do believe there is some level of attachment to Miss Catherine Platt. Is that what this meeting is about?"

Edward nodded guiltily, he knew that Carlisle had a more than passing attraction to Esme and even thinking about her daughter in any impure manor was unholy. Yes he knew his own unholy and impure thoughts better than anyone else and still that did not help him. The moment his lips had touched against her forehead there was the same blissful feeling he had earlier experienced in Carlisle's office.

"Might I enquire as to the level of attachment Edward?" Carlisle probed a little further unsure on the exact goings on himself.

"You might Carlisle and I… I feel." Edward found the idea of voicing his dilemma to Carlisle suddenly wrong as he shook his head.

"Edward, you can speak to me about anything." Carlisle said seriously, "Now what has you so bothered today?"

"Carlisle you must understand I did not ask for this or want this." Edward replied in an equally serious tone, "I… It just happened and I did not expect it to. I thought myself immune to such thoughts or feelings for another but it is too impure to even speak of. It shames me to even admit this."

The shame on the matter was clearly evident to Carlisle whose brow furrowed with concern and curiosity. Carlisle had known Edward for a great many years and despite their differences they never once failed to understand each other however this time Carlisle felt the simple answer was going to be a long one. Perhaps he had bestowed his own belief that he himself was of monstrous creation upon Edward, the brooding and pessimism toward their existence was something he had come to deal with in time. However for Edward Carlisle knew he felt dammed and soulless no matter how many debates to the contrary they had engaged in.

"I do understand that you did not ask or want for this but please explain to me precisely what 'this' is?" Carlisle asked patiently.

"Honestly I do not fully know myself to answer truthfully." Edward said, "When Kate was in hospital she was different, she was fun to talk to and she understood. She understood me in ways most humans can't even fathom. She saw past the beauty and saw me as myself not as a vampire. Then we were in your office and it just happened."

"What happened in my office?" Carlisle said calmly knowing something had but until now he was at a loss as to what it was.

"She fell, I caught her and then… then there was a world in front of me Carlisle." Edward gasped, "A world of possibilities and feelings that I… that I thought I had lost when I became dammed. I never wanted to feel Carlisle, I am content with my existence as a monster and yet I find myself wondering and thinking and worst of all feeling."

Edward had to take breath as he swayed on the spot feeling he had already spoken too much on the subject. Feelings were never discussed in his day, a man never spoke of such thoughts to another and most of all they never discussed feelings. Now here he was spilling his thoughts to someone he considered to be a father and that father figure was also attached to the mother of his very problem.

"If there is one thing I have come to accept Edward, we are not the dammed." Carlisle said with a certainty that Edward hadn't heard before. "Until recently I was of the same opinion but I ask how can we be dammed when one so angelic walks among us?"

Edward laughed softly knowing the angel he was referring to was Esme Platt. A woman who Edward had seen change Carlisle's mind and also his heart in the few days the two had known each other. Perhaps much like stubbornness it was another Platt family trait however Edward felt more confused than before.

"I agree but I feel so… so"

"Happy?" Carlisle added.

"It is so much more than that. The trees seem greener and the sun feels warmer, it feels like I can see things again for the first time." Edward rambled, "The world seems so much better just knowing that she… that she is here. I feel bound and tied to her somehow and yet to think that she will leave this earth one day has my chest tightening to the point where I feel it might cave in on itself."

"I do believe what you describe comes under the just one word." Carlisle said smiling fondly, "Love Edward, I do believe you describe love."

Edward nearly choked on the air he took in. Love was that the best Carlisle could come up with after spilling his feelings, something that was so rare it was practically unheard of. The mere idea caused a surge of anger to flow through him; there were only a select few people he considered himself to love. All of those people were all considered family and now Carlisle mocked that with the very assumption that it was love?

"Carlisle monsters do not love their prey. They kill it!" He almost yelled feeling himself grow a little weary of the conversation.

"Edward please do remember that however many years ago it is, we were once just like Kate; human beings so fragile in their existence and now this new life was afforded to us. Catherine Platt is not prey; she is a reminder of who we used to be." Carlisle explained. "And I shall not have her thought of in that manor again."

Over the past few days Carlisle knew his own attachment to Esme ran deep. His heart that he had scarcely afforded the mere dream of love was now fully prepared for the possibility that Esme was that one person. Carlisle understood that Esme was not on her own, there was her daughter to consider as well, a girl who was fragile in so many ways and who Carlisle hoped would eventually be accepting of him and his family. To think of her as prey went against everything he had worked so hard for, every single day that he tried to convince Edward they were not monsters while not fully believing it himself until now.

"Then what do I do Carlisle? Tell me please, this cannot be love because I am incapable of such an act. I made my own peace with that." Edward pleaded, "Tell me what I need to do."

Staring at Edward Carlisle noted the black hue of his eyes, the unfortunate tell tale sign of a vampires thirst. Carlisle was well aware of his own personal limits and very in tune with those of his family.

"Perhaps this conversation is better left for later after you have sated your thirst?" Carlisle said motioning toward the tree line on the other side of the river.

Edward nodded before turning back to look at the house. The back door opened as Esme descended the few steps and walked toward them both. For a split second Edward wondered if she had caught even a snippet of the private conversation with Carlisle however from her thoughts Edward could already tell she must have been unaware.

"Carlisle, Charlie called from the police station to say I need to answer a few more questions. Alice has volunteered to drive me if that would be okay?" Esme asked looking toward Carlisle and smiling.

"Of course and I will wait inside for Kate to wake up." Carlisle replied.

Edward was surprised to see the look of relief present upon Esme's face. It was almost as if Carlisle had read her mind and answered the very question that seemed to cause her worry. For a moment Edward considered staying in the house alongside Carlisle however since the mention of thirst Edward felt he was pushing his own limits. He watched as Esme bid them both farewell and Carlisle walked both Alice and Esme to his Mercedes insisting that Alice drive it with care. Edward turned on his heels about to take off into the trees when he heard the footsteps, the clunky and mismatched footsteps of only one person. Kate. Edward moved back from view of the house forcing himself not to offer to stay a few more minutes with her. Deciding to take a watchful view he knew Carlisle would be there if she needed anything. He watched as Kate walked slowly out onto the decking at the back of the house.

Kate smiled weakly as she headed outside of Cullen house feeling slightly worse than she had done. She figured some fresh air might help though in her pink pyjamas she knew if anyone saw her she would look ridiculous. Perhaps it was moving around that had caused her sudden weariness or maybe just the excitement of the previous day. Her eyes glanced upon the river that ran just feet from their back door; it was a beautiful sight she thought to herself as she ventured out onto the wooden decking. Taking a deep breath Kate found herself clutching at her side once again, she bent double gasping trying to catch her breath but the pain was intense and unrelenting. She leaned forward reaching for the wooden fence that separated the decking from the rest of the forest however she missed it. She felt herself falling toward the steps and then nothing.

Rosalie was stood at her window lecturing Emmett on how he was supposed to hate the newcomer with passion and not tell pointless jokes. That was when Rosalie saw her, down below stood on the decking it took Rose a minute to fully appreciate her scent as it seemed to penetrate the open window and waft into her room like a sordid reminder of a life that had been taken from her. While looking down at her Rose noticed the girl grab her side and then like a horrid movie in slow motion she saw her lean forward to grab for the fence and miss it. It took Rose mere seconds to leap from her window much to the surprise of Emmett who followed her blindly.

It was then the scent caught the back of her throat. It was the sweet and forbidden scent of nourishment that was so wholly good and yet so off limits. The scent of fresh blood permeated the air around her as Edward flew from the tree line and toward Kate's still body that lay sprawled at the bottom of the steps. The fresh blood covering one corner of one of the steps, blood that now oozed from a gash on her head. Edward glanced up seeing Rose and Emmett stood there.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?" Edward screamed at Rose who stood there unmoving.

"Nothing, she fell!" Rose screeched back.

It was then Rose saw it. The constriction of muscles in Edward's neck, the hunched shoulders of a predator that was ready to attack its prey and the all too familiar look that crossed his face as he stared at Kate. Rose had never had felt such a strong instinct to protect another human being other than that of Emmett as she lunged forward. She hit Edward square in the chest throwing him easily off balance and toward the river. She heard the vile animalistic scream erupt from Edward who tried to run past her only to be met by Emmett who threw him into the nearest tree dislodging leaves and branches that fell around them.

"CARLISLE." Was all Emmett could yell as Edward lunged straight for Kate's lifeless form once again.

When Carlisle had suggested the girl stay with them Rose had been completely against the idea. Esme was tolerable to her but yet she found herself jealous that Esme had such fortune to be gifted a child, a child she could see was adored and loved. Something Rosalie desired more than anything else and yet it was so far from her grasp. The idea that Esme could have her child taken away so cruelly was something Rose could not contemplate as she did her best to stop the bleeding head wound. Rosalie had found a commonality with Esme and now with Kate she never thought possible however Edward was threatening it. Her eyes shot toward Edward who was screaming and clawing at the ground only being pinned down by Emmett who was clearly struggling to keep a firm grip. His eyes were no longer golden they were almost black and the frenzied look on his face was one they had all worn at some point.

"Edward stop this." Rose shrieked pulling Kate's still body toward her as a mother would a child.

She could see his teeth snarling and fingers clawing gouges into the soil beneath him and yet he refused to quit. Even when she saw Esme burst through the door, her horror stricken face at the sight that greeted her followed by Carlisle who appeared to be the picture of calm. Edward kept snarling and growling causing chaos that would not subside. Rosalie was glad to see Carlisle, the man never lost his composure in a crisis and this was one of the worst. Rose could feel her own venom rising in her throat and the smell of fresh blood was all too tempting as she held Kate close to her only relinquishing her grip to Esme.

"Get away from her." Esme cried as Carlisle tried to tend to Kate, "Leave her."

Carlisle held his hand up. The palms facing Esme as if some kind of statement of peace however Esme was too far into a panic stricken state to think.

"What have you done?" She sobbed looking directly at Carlisle. "What have you done to her?"

It was the first time that Rosalie had seen Carlisle's facade crumble. A simple string of words caused an otherwise unshakable being to crumble before her. Carlisle could barely catch his own breath as he stared at Esme, he never thought he could have his heart ripped in two by such a statement and yet there it was. There were two sides of him that had two completely different views. The doctor that told him that Esme was completely irrational and he should physically remove Kate from Esme and the man himself, the man who felt like he had caused this entire thing. Carlisle tried to whisper small comforts to Esme who sobbed holding her daughter as if she was life itself, he tried to take a step forward only to have her recoil in horror.

Rosalie was struggling as she watched Edward persistently fight her husband and Carlisle try and talk Esme down from a ledge only a mother could understand. In that moment she knew what she had to do, the idea that hour's earlier Esme had been her least favourite person in the world to become now the only person she felt could understand her pain. Taking a few much needed steps closer to Esme Rosalie took up the same stance as Carlisle, her hand held out and unthreatening.

"Esme... Esme you have to let Carlisle look at her." Rose said softly as she pulled at Esme's arm, "Let him tend to her. Let him do his job."

It was as if Rose was suddenly speaking a language that Esme understood. Both women looked at each other before Esme relinquished her grip and backed away letting Carlisle kneel next to her daughter. Rosalie took Esme into her arms firmly and held her while she sobbed into her shoulder before reaching back for her daughter.

"We need to get her to the hospital." Carlisle announced as he scooped Kate up.

"Emmett can you..."

Carlisle didn't have to finish his sentence before Emmett dragged Edward into the trees at speed. The smell of blood seemed to seep everywhere as Carlisle ran toward his car as Rose and Esme held open doors.

"Rose will you drive?" Carlisle asked as he slid Kate into the back of the Mercedes as Esme joined him.

It was cramped with two full grown adults and a teenager all bunched up on the back seat however Carlisle made do. He could barely look at Esme as he probed and prodded at Kate who remained still. Esme held a kitchen towel to her daughters head as Rose opened a window letting the air clear of the smell of blood. Her driving skills were somewhat fast and lose as she threw the car around a few sharp bends before bouncing the Mercedes into the front parking lot of the hospital. Carlisle was already making a speedy run through the hospital doors as Esme and Rose abandoned the car.

Esme watched as Carlisle was met by a few other doctors and nurses who disappeared down the corridor. All she could do was stand there in the middle of the hospital entrance and fight the sobs that threatened to overtake her. Rose managed to place an arm around Esme steering her toward the nurses' station and asked for the bathroom. It was bad enough that they were surrounded by the smell of blood let alone the flaky red blood that covered her hands and Esme's top. A nurse showed them to the bathroom offering to leave new tops for both of them; it was typical hospital style blue shapeless scrubs. Had it been under any other circumstances Rosalie might have protested the garment however she was more than grateful for the clothing.

Esme didn't speak as the water turned red and cascaded from her hands, the small paper thin towels she used to wipe her shoulder and neck as she stared into the mirror. There were no words to describe the sight before her, both women were covered in the red life that was her daughters and both women wore the same look of unknown fear.

"What happened?" Esme croaked as Rose looked up from the sink.

Honestly Rose had no words. Had she not been so self obsessed and been there with Kate she might have stopped the entire thing. Had she jumped a few seconds sooner things might have been different and yet she was stood in a hospital bathroom washing the blood of an innocent human from her hands.

"Kate she... she fell and hit her head." Rose began as Esme winced, "Then Edward... he ... he just."

Rose couldn't put it into words that were adequate. Bloodlust was the reason however Rose was suspicious of that, there had been many a time when humans had nose bleeds at school and they would calmly leave. Edward's resolve over the past few decades had been impeccable almost to the point where she could see Edward turning into another version of Carlisle. That was until today.

"This was a mistake." Esme said suddenly appearing harsh. "I shouldn't have trusted him, this is what always happens."

For a moment Rose couldn't think, perhaps it had been a mistake and yet Carlisle seemed happy for the first time in decades. Even Edward had a new lease of life about him until today.

"You can trust us Esme, Edward didn't mean it and Carlisle... he can help Kate." Rose said almost pleadingly.

"No, you don't understand, she is my daughter, my responsibility." Esme sobbed sliding down onto the floor of the bathroom.

Rose winced at those words. There was nothing in the world she wanted more than a child of her own, a child she would love and take care of. Then there was Esme, a woman who had what she wanted most in the world that was telling her she didn't understand what it was like.

"Esme there's no one better than Carlisle to take care of her." Rose insisted, "And I might not understand but I want to."

Esme smiled weakly as she pulled on the blue top. Her daughter was everything to her, the very person she tried to protect from both the natural and unnatural. Each world had its own hurdles but never did she think she was the reason why her daughter would get hurt. She herself had decided that staying with a family of vampires would end well, she herself had her mind clouded by a man and yet again it turned out wrong.

"I need to know what's happening." Esme said gasping as she stood. "I need to go."

With that Rose walked with Esme from the bathroom and back toward the nurses' station. Much too both their dislike there was no news to be had only the offer of a coffee while they waited. Something which had they been human might have been nice but for the time being the only comfort was Carlisle's office as the wait began.