Chapter 41

There were some lighthearted disagreements about the trip the kids had planned for their parents. Carlisle was far too organized and regimented to just leave on a moment's notice, unless there was some kind of emergency.

In the same way that Esme felt, he did not want to leave Masen behind, despite how reassuring the rest of them had been.

Alice motioned to the bags she had packed, "But you're all packed."

"And the tickets are paid for," Jasper added with a smile.

"We can't just leave," Carlisle said.

"Why not?" Edward asked.

Carlisle stared him, "Because," he hesitated, "I have work to do. And Masen."

"Masen was part of the plan," Alice said.

"He's too young for us to leave him for a week," Esme told them.

Masen shook his head, "I'm not too young," he said firmly. He bumped Emmett with his elbow, "We'll keep ourselves busy."

The room got quiet before Carlisle managed a laugh at his son's confidence, "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah," he said smiling and ran to hug his father, "Me and Emmett will practice hunting. You know I'm getting good."

"I know," he squeezed him tightly.

Masen backed away, "Just go have fun."

Alice laughed at his dialogue, knowing he was copying what the rest of them had been saying over the last couple of hours.

Carlisle and Esme looked at each other.

"Listen," Alice said, "You haven't had time to yourselves in like..."

"Fifty years," Emmett said with a laugh.

"Exactly," Alice kept on, "Like we've told you, everything is paid for and packed, so I don't even know why we're still having a discussion."

"And I'm sorry I pretended to be you on the phone," Emmett told Carlisle.

"I don't know how you passed for him," Edward said with a laugh, "Hi, uh, this is Mr., I mean Dr. Cullen. Think it's about time I used some vacay time so..."

Everyone laughed as Edward mocked him, and Emmett gave him a hard, friendly shove. Jasper got a real kick out of it.

Carlisle laughed and shook his head. He and Esme both looked at each other simultaneously, feeling Jasper's gift being put to use again. He looked at him across the room and continued shaking his head.

"What?" Jasper said with a smile.

"You know what," Esme accused, "Are you guys planning on having a party when we're gone or something? Is that why you're so enthusiastic about this?"

"We just think you both deserve a vacation," Rosalie told them, "You do so much for us. We thought it would be nice to do something for you."

"You've done enough," Carlisle told them, "You don't have to do anything else."

Bella shook her head, "No, she's right. You guys deserve some time to relax. Get some sunlight."

They both smiled at her, and appreciated everyone's intentions.

Alice looked at the clock, "You're going to have to leave in about fifteen minutes if you don't want to be rushing to the plane."

"Guys-" Carlisle started.

"Just go," Edward pushed. "We're not going anywhere."

"Yeah, we'll be here when you get back," Masen said. Jasper lifted him to his shoulders and he laughed with excitement.

Carlisle and Esme looked at each other, "If this house isn't spotless when we get home," Esme started.

"And if Masen learns any bad habits when we're gone," Carlisle cut her off, "You'll wish we would have stayed there."

Alice clapped her hands a few times, "Yay!"

Their tentative agreement lingered in Carlisle and Esme's minds. He heard his phone go off in his pocket and reached for it.

"Don't watch it until you're on the plane!" Masen said again, the same way he had to Esme before.

Carlisle smiled, "You got it, buddy." He looked at his son with a sadness, "Come here." He hugged him tightly, "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too," Masen said with a much more carefree ring in his voice.

Esme felt a lump in her throat and she hugged and kissed her son goodbye, "I love you Masen."

He kissed her cheek, "I love you Mom."

They solumnly made their way out the door and got ready for a week without their baby.