Chapter 86

As Carlisle and Esme neared their home, a wave of familiar scents struck their senses. The areas just outside the house were filled with a countless number of footprints and tracks left in the snow, some nearly covered, while others were fresh.

"What's going on?" Esme asked aloud, not necessarily to Carlisle, but he answered it anyway.

"I think some of our friends are here. Did you know about this?"

She shook her head, "No one mentioned anything to me."

"Oh, because you were out and about still mad at me?" Carlisle joked.

Esme grinned and shook her head. She reached in the back and handed him his jacket and scarf, before the two of them left the car and entered their home, hand in hand.

"Well it's about time!" Emmett bellowed from the kitchen. His arms were folded over his chest and he smiled wide. Scattered around the room were most of the vampires who had backed them on their previous run-in with the Volturi; the Denalis, the amazons, their friends from Ireland, Egypt... Not to mention a few of the wolves who were now accustomed to frequenting the Cullen house - Jacob, Leah and Seth.

"Everyone has met Masen," Eleazar explained, approaching the two of them, "I hope you're not offended that we didn't wait for your introduction."

Carlisle and Esme smiled at each other, and he put an arm around her shoulders, "Not at all."

"I have to say, you're quite the rule breakers," Garrett said with a smile. His golden eyes matched the rest of his new family's.

"I see you've decided to join the vegetarian lifestyle," Esme said with a smile.

He looked at Kate, who raised her eyebrows and grinned at her mate. "It took him about a month," she explained, "But he's been very... dedicated."

"It was a process," he admitted, "Very difficult for me in the beginning, but I've gotten accustomed quite well to the lifestyle." He looked back to Kate with a smile, then to Carlisle and Esme again, "It's been worth the struggle."

"I'm glad you've been able to adjust," Carlisle told him.

Masen approached his parents, "Are you guys alright now?"

They looked at each other, then back to their son, "Yes," they answered at the same time.

"I'm sensing a lover's quarrel," Garrett said with a laugh.

"We're no strangers to that," Katie added with a grin.

Emmett nodded subtly with a snicker that made Rosalie nudge him, though her demeaner was lighthearted.

Garrett smiled at him, "I suppose the making up part of it's worth the fight."

Carlisle and Esme both smiled at each other, and a few others laughed in the room. They eagerly made their way around to everyone with thankful greetings, yet again, for their support.

"I hope this doesn't become an annual thing," Esme said jokingly, though had a hint of seriousness in her voice.

"It gives us a reason to visit," Zafrina smiled, "We don't get out of the jungle much. The snow is quite beautiful."

"I'd like to be totally honest," Benjamin spoke up. He looked at Masen and put a hand on his shoulder, "I don't think any member of our kind, any vampire who's lived in our shoes for centuries, decades even, could see this miracle child as a negative thing. There is no threat here. People will see that."

"They'll all wish for the same thing," Tia said, "Now that they know that there is a way to make it happen."

The positive voices of Tia and Benjamin voiced their loyalty to the Cullens, as well as their support, though for some reason, they still worried Carlisle. As grateful as he was for his friendships and alliances, a number of them still fed on human blood. Although they had determined, as Esme put it, that there was no exact science to a vampire's procreation, the chances of the human feeding couples having uncontrollable children was much higher than that of their family, or the Denalis. It was something he feared Aro would bring up, despite deciding to have his own secret offspring.

Liam, Siobhan and Maggie were in deep conversation with Jacob and Renesme, apparently fascinated by her growth and their relationship in general.

Kate pulled Esme aside and the two of them attempted to speak privately, though Kate didn't seem to mind an great deal if anyone heard what she was saying. "I think I've been affected more than the rest of my family when I heard that you and Carlisle were able to have a child of your own," she looked over her shoulder at Garrett who was mingling with Jasper and Alice, "I never thought I'd have a true mate like the rest of you. I never even desired it a great deal until I met Garrett. We've talked a lot over the last week, and maybe it's selfish because we haven't been together as long as most of you have, but we'd like to try for a child. Are the rumors about the lunar eclipse true?"

Esme nodded, "I'm happy that you've found Garrett, and it shows how much he loves you from the change in lifestyle he was able to make. I imagine it couldn't have been easy. And yes, on the night of a lunar eclipse, we're pretty positive that's when it's possible."

"Carmen and Eleazar explained for the most part, but I just wanted to go right to the source."

"Did they tell you the part about the wish?" Esme asked.

Kate nodded, "Yeah."

"That should be all you need."

"I hope we all make it through this," she said shaking her head, "I can't believe Aro has come to try to make this miracle look like some sort of crime."

"We'll make it through," Esme assured her, "Thanks to all you. We're so grateful for your friendship, and the sacrifices you've made for us."

Kate seemed to be lending an ear to Garrett's conversation, who had now made his way to Emmett. "So Emmett and Rosalie tried?" she asked Esme.

"Yes. It didn't happen for them yet, but it will."

"Why do you think that is?"

"Carlisle believes it's just like a human experience. Sometimes it happens right away, and other times it takes a little while."

Kate seemed to understand, "That makes sense," she seemed satisfied, "I'm happy for you guys. We all are. Eleazar said there was no two people who deserved it more than you and Carlisle."

"Thank you," Esme hugged Kate, "And I hope you get your chance, too."

"Thanks. Me too."