Chapter 40

Masen and Leah checked out of the hotel in the early morning hours. To their avail, the four a.m. rain that hung over them was expected to decorate the entire middle portion of the country throughout the day, which would likely make their travels easier should they somehow be spotted in the daylight hours.

They made their way to the same spot where they had earlier parted from the rest of their family. Esme was the first to greet them, running up and hugging both Masen and Leah at the same time. She latched her hands on the backs of both their heads and gave each of them a kiss on the cheek.

"Everyone's okay?" Masen asked.

"Yes," Esme told him, "Everyone's okay." She turned her attention to Leah, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," she said with a shy nod, looking down at the wet grass.

The Quileutes all gave Leah their own special howls and she waved as they all began to slink into the wooded area around them, signaling they were heading back to Washington. Jacob was the only one who stayed behind to stay with Renesme.

"I overheard Masen on the phone," Leah said, scanning the area for her brother, "He said Seth went to Italy?" There was a hint of fear in her voice, though the calmness she portrayed that overpowered it let everyone know that she trusted their insticts to let him go.

Carlisle approached and wrapped his arm around Esme's waist, "He and Luciana went back with Aro and Demetri. Edward told us it would be fine. There should be no danger there."

"Should be?" Masen asked.

Carlisle turn his lip up in a half smile, "There won't be."

Masen and Leah looked at each other as the rain picked up around them. Emmett, Alice and Jasper greeted the two of them with hugs and welcoming high fives from Emmett.

"Little puppy on the way, I hear," Emmett said with a grin.

Leah still looked embaressed by the situation and shrugged. Masen tried not to smile at his brother, though knew if he did it outright Leah may not be happy with him.

Carlisle and Esme both released a sigh at the same time, both unsure on their positions on their situation.

"What, they're engaged," Emmett said, picking up on their simulatenous reactions to his previous comment.

"I guess you're not going to attend school any time soon then," Carlise said, looking over at Esme.

"School?" Masen asked.

"We were going to enroll you at Forks this year," Esme told him, "But I guess that will have to wait for now."

"Yeah, you don't want to be that guy in high school who knocked up a girl," Emmett told him.

Masen laughed, though the rest of them didn't seem to find him quite as amusing.

"Just trying to lighten the situation," he said with his hands out in defense.

"You two should take a plane back," Carlisle said to Masen, "I don't think it's smart to have Leah traveling all this way in the rain."

"Yeah," Alice agreed, "You should."

Leah looked toward Masen, then they looked back toward Esme, who nodded in favor of the decision.

"Okay," Masen said.

"Can I go back with Alice?" Alexandra asked, "I had fun seeing the country on the way over."

Esme knew that she wanted to talk things over with her big sister about Peter and everything that happened. She also noticed Michael stiffen up with happiness at her request to remain with the rest of them.

Alice immediately put an arm around Alexandra's shoulders and looked toward Esme with a grin.

Esme looked to Carlisle who gave an approving nod before the two of them hugged their daughter and tried not to shower her with sympathy over the situation. They both knew it would call for a talk at some point, though knew she was in good hands with Alice as her advisor for the time being.

Leah entwined her fingers with Masen's and Carlisle and Esme escorted them toward the nearest airport, bidding a temporary farewell to everyone else.

When they arrived at the airport, Carlisle was able to get a flight for the four of them to Seattle. Aside from having no baggage and Carlisle and Esme's shoes being overly dirty from their venture through the Maine wilderness, they generally appeared fairly normal in the mix of everyone.

Esme noticed a Dunkin' Donuts along their walk toward the gate, and seeing as though they had some time to kill, she figured she would take the time to chat with Leah and get her something to eat and drink. "Would you like a hot chocolate?" She pointed down the way toward the large purple and orange sign that welcomed all the baggage toting travelers.

"Sure," Leah said with a nod, flashing Masen a subtle smile, "Thanks."

Esme nodded and gave a little wave to Carlisle as the two of them wandered away.

"So how did it all play out?" Masen asked, trying to avoid the conversation he knew his father was going to have with him.

"I hate having to resort to violence," Carlisle told him, "I'd like to talk to you and Alexandra about all of what's happened. Unfortunately, you've had to endure some painful circumstances in your short time. There was a time when we lived in peace. I'd like to get back to that way of life."

"We didn't cause any of this though," Masen said.

"I know," he agreed, "But I just have a fear that it may stick with both of you. The rest of us have been around for awhile, so we've experienced many years without having to go through these types of crisises. The thought of having to kill someone, it's horrible, even in these situations. It's just, you have to take certain measures to assure your family is safe. I hope we can return to living peacefully, because these battles we've had to take part in are a last resort."

Masen nodded, "I know.

Carlisle looked at him, reading the deeper parts of his expression.

"I do know that," he said again, reassuringly, "I know who you are, Dad."

He nodded and put a hand on his son's shoulder, peering down the high traffic area that lead to the Dunkin' Donuts. When he realized that Esme and Leah were still down that way, he decided to speak with Masen regarding Leah's status.

"I'm worried about the situation you and Leah are in," Carilsle admitted, "There's never been a... mixture of our kind with theirs before. At least not to my knowledge."

Masen sighed and looked down, "What could go wrong?"

"I'm just worried that it could end up being similar to what happened when Bella and Edward had a child. Bella was in grave condition and was only saved by venom. Edward was able to save her in time, though only at the cost of her becoming one of us. I'm afraid that wouldn't work with Leah."

"But I'm here now," Masen told him, "All I have to do is stay within a touch's distance and she'll be fine. I cured that boy with cancer, I'd be able to make sure Leah was fine too."

Carlisle nodded, agreeing with him, and extremely grateful for his son's unique gift, "I just hope everything ends up being compatible. I don't know the difference between the womb of a person who is able to shift into a werewolf in comparison to a human's womb. I suppose it would be strong enough to hold the baby."

Masen could see the questions that ran through his father's mind were causing him stress, and he tried to let him know that things would be alright.

"I know the stress and worry that happened during Bella's pregnancy. They've told me. You've kind of told me, too. But had I been around then, maybe it wouldn't have been so bad, and like you said, Leah is.. superhuman, I guess like us. She's not as fragile."

"I know," he said, inhaling a deep breath, "There are just so many unknowns. It's unsettling."

"We'll be okay. We always are."

"And you think you're ready for this? I suppose it's a bit late to ask you that question but your experiences are very limited. You've barely lived your own life. That's why I had that talk with you awhile back about... everything."

Masen sighed, "I know. I probably should have listened a little more," he admitted, "But, I mean, yeah. I love Leah. We'll figure everything out together. We have our whole family and hers; the pack too. I mean, yeah. What's there not to be ready for? And who knows, he'll probably be my age in a year anyway."

"So many things we don't know about..." Carlisle's voice trailed off and Masen knew he was trying to put a self-educational spin on it and could probably sit there for hours pondering each possibility that could come of it.

Esme and Leah reappeared in the mainstream walkway and strolled back toward them, smiling at each other. Leah had a large styrofoam cup in her hand and the two of them exchanged a hug while still walking in their direction.

"Should we head toward the gate?" Esme asked when the four of them were rejoined.

Carlisle nodded and joined hands with her as they walked behind Masen and Leah.

"Did you talk with him?" Esme whispered in his ear as they strolled toward a row of chairs.

"A little, yeah," Carlisle told her, "One of many in the near future."

Esme kissed him on the cheek and stroked his hair lovingly, "We'll have to have another one with Alexandra when we get in."

He nodded, "If this is our biggest stressor for awhile, I'll take it... but it's still a stressor."

"Things always work out when there's love involved, Carlisle."

He couldn't help but smile at her optimism, and if the past was any indication, she was right. She returned the happy go lucky expression that she'd put on his face and he leaned in to give her a kiss.

"I just hope Alexandra doesn't give up on love," he told her, still holding her close.

"We'll talk to her when we get home," Esme told him again, "Plus she has some great sisters to take care of her for now.

Carlisle nodded in agreement and was about to take a seat in a chair nearby when their plane was called to board.

"I can't wait to get home," he told her.

"I think you should give me a nice massage in the bubble bath again," she said with a smile, playing with the collar of his shirt, "It's been a long trip."

He raised his eyebrows with a grin, "Sounds like a plan."