Chapter 82

Carlisle and Esme sat across from each other on separate couches, both leaning forward in deep conversation. A fire was burning across the room, and a light snowfall had begun outside. Far away they could hear the dull sounds of the boys showing Masen a good time snowtubing and sledding. In the Cullens' house, the mood was far more dark and serious.

"I'd like to meet with Aro," Carlisle told Esme, "I know how you feel about the situation, but I was part of their coven for a time. We may be able to form a sort of truce."

She shook her head, "You heard what Carmen and Eleazar said. Aro isn't looking for any kind of truce. He wants to demonstrate his dominance."

"He can be reasonable," Carlisle continued to insist.

"He can be," Esme said, "But will he be?"

"What if he were to try to keep Alice and Edward there for good? Then what?"

"I'd go alone."

Esme shook her head, "No."

"Esme-"

"Carlisle," she said sternly, "I understand your intentions are good, but if you go to their.. home, all by yourself.." Her voice trailed off, "You can't do that."

"I know how worried you are," he began.

"I don't think you do," Esme said. She folded her arms in front of her chest and leaned back on the couch.

Carlisle bowed his head momentarily, knowing his wife was upset. Her body language spoke louder than her voice. When he looked up, she hadn't moved from the position she was in, and eyed the fire to avoid eye contact. He placed his hands gently on the outside of her knees, "I know Aro very well. And I do understand your concerns, believe me I do. If this were reversed, I wouldn't allow you to go."

Esme focused her eyes on his, "So, you'll understand why I won't let you go."

"I don't think he'd do anything..." Carlisle tried to think of a word to complete the sentece.

"Just like with Felix and Demetri?" Esme exclaimed, "He wouldn't do anything to hurt you, is that right?"

"That was just-"

"That could have ended way worse than it did," she said strongly, shaking her head.

Carlisle took in a breath of the night air. It wasn't often that he and Esme found themselves in this position. He hadn't seen her this angry in a long time, possibly ever. He knew inside that he couldn't blame her for the way she was feeling.

Alice suddenly whipped into the room and stood in between the two couches, looking at Carlisle.

"What is it Alice?" Carlisle asked.

"Are you planning on going to Italy?"

He was about to answer, but she continued before he could.

"You can't go," she stated.

"What did you see?" Esme asked, springing up from the position she was previously in.

She shook her head, "If your mind was made up, Carlisle, you need to change it. Listen to Esme."

Carlisle made eye contact with his wife before the two of them looked back to Alice.

"Did you have a vision, or do you just agree with Esme?" he asked.

"No, I had a vision," she told him, "Don't go."

Esme could tell why Alice wouldn't go in depth on what she had seen, but Carlisle continued to insist on knowing.

"If you go," she looked down, then back up switching her eyes between the two of them, "Carlisle, if you go.. Aro is going to kill you."

A silence fell over the three of them.

"Thank God we have you, Alice," Esme said. She continued to look away from Carlisle, who was desperately scanning her face for eye contact.

"So," Alice said, "That's that. You're not going."

Carlisle looked to her, "Thank you."

Esme stood up and hugged Alice, then began to leave the room.

"Esme," Carlisle said gently, "Why are you upset with me?"

"I'm not," she lied.

He stared at her, waiting for her to tell him the truth.

"Carlisle," she said, "You were going to go despite what I had to say. You would have been killed if it weren't for Alice's gift."

He began to talk but Esme silenced him with a simple hand up and left the room.

Carlisle looked around the room, then to Alice, who looked at him with a helpless expression. Neither of them said anything for a few seconds before Alice decided to break the silence.

"She'll be okay," she assured him, "I think she was just scared for you."

Carlisle had a defeated look on his face, but he tried to straiten up, though it didn't fool Alice. He looked toward a clock that hung on the wall, "I have to leave for work in a few minutes."

Both of them recognized at the same time that Esme had left the house.

"I'll send Jasper after her," Alice said, recognizing the look on Carlisle's face. She quickly removed a phone and texted her love, who was out with the rest of the boys. A few minutes later, he wrote back and Alice smiled at her father, "He's following her now. He'll calm her down."

"Thanks," he said, looking again at the clock.

"Go to work," Alice instructed, "When you get home later you two can talk. I'm sure she'll blow off some steam before then."

Carlisle took Alice's lead and agreed with a nod. He got everything together and before he left the house, Alice pulled him in for a hug, sensing he needed it. "We'll all be fine," she assured him, "We always are."

"I know," he said, "Thanks again for telling me-"

"Oh stop," she said with a smile, "Like I'd let that one stay up here." She pointed to her head.

Carlisle forced a smile and headed out the door. He hated parting ways with Esme on the terms they had. It didn't happen very often, but that night he headed to work with a heavy heart.