Chapter 40

Esme made her way back home upon visiting both Charlie and Sue, then Masen and Leah. She made it a point to check in with all of them at least several times a week. Eleven consecutive days had passed without an issue, or disturbance, though the border patrols remained a part of their nightly routines.

Alexandra and Michael had been mainly with Edward and Bella by Charlie's house. It was something Carlisle had requested as it seemed to be the safest place for their daughter, who had the least experience in those types of situations. The four of them patrolling the area were in close quarters, much closer than how spread out they'd been on the Quileute land. It gave both Esme and Carlisle a peace of mind to know Edward was literally only two seconds away should Alexandra find herself facing a conflict.

Outside in the yard, Jasper and Alexandra were working together, one on one, at some strategic fighting moves, the same way he'd done with Masen, and the rest of them at one point. Esme grinned at their interaction, though there was an unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach regarding why they felt the need to practice such tactics.

Carlisle stood in their room when she arrived. He glanced out the window, also keeping an eye on Alexandra's progress. His hands were in his pockets and his shoulders were propped a little upright and tense.

"Hey," Esme said, placing a hand on his back.

He gave her a quick kiss, "Just keeping an eye on Alex."

She nodded, "She's in good hands."

Carlisle nodded back in agreement, "Edward and Bella have Caleb," he told her, "I know you'll be going to the classroom with everyone soon."

Esme smiled, "I still have a few hours." She flashed him a funny, flirty wink, "How often do we have a minute or two alone?"

He grinned back and raised his eyebrows with a sense of guilt, "I have to go to work." He sighed, "I was just waiting for you to get home so I could say goodbye before I left."

Both of them looked at each other before Esme let a grin slide across her face.

"I'm sorry," he told her, wrapping his arms around her.

"We'll find time," she said, "I forgot you were working today."

He nodded and kissed her, "Well you have a little time to yourself, at least."

Esme smiled and kissed him again, "What time will you be home?"

"Around ten."

"Okay."

"I'm sorry," he said again.

"Carlisle," Esme said with a smile, "Don't be silly. You're working. I love you. I'll see you when you get home."

"I love you too," he told her, then kissed her once more before heading out the door.

When he left, Esme laid down in the middle of the bed. She heard Edward and Bella return from where ever they had just been with Caleb. Within a few seconds, Edward was upstairs, knocking on the open door to her room.

"I'll take him back until it's time for me to go down with the rest of the kids," Esme told him, sitting up.

He shook his head, "We've got him. Bella keeps saying she wants some more practice anyway. We keep going back and forth on having another baby."

Esme smiled at the thought, "Are you sure?"

Edward nodded and sat down on the edge of the bed beside her. Right away, she knew he could read her thoughts.

She sighed and looked up at him, "It's nothing."

"I know," he said with a grin, "But all you have to do is ask if you need us to take Caleb once in awhile. Parents usually get some time when their kids are sleeping, or in your case when they grow up and can fend for themselves at an early age. You and Carlisle haven't gotten a break really since Caleb's been born."

"I like-"

"I know," Edward said again with a chuckle, "You love being with him every second, but I can see what you're thinking don't forget."

"It's selfish," Esme told him.

"No it's not. You need to have time with Carlisle, too. It's not selfish to want that. You need that. We all do... well not all of us with Carlisle, but you know what I mean."

Esme laughed and nodded, then shrugged "I don't know, Edward. We've kind of been out of sync lately."

"Both of you are probably just as equally unselfish," he told her, "So neither of you would want to make the call at asking us to take Caleb for a little while, unless you were both working or out helping protect the wolves land. I'm telling you, that at any time, ask us. Even if you two just want to go for a walk, or catch a movie. We'll take him for a couple of hours."

She sighed and thought for a moment before nodding again, "Alright."

"I mean it," Edward told her, "Bella and I would never mind doing that, and you know none of the others would either."

"Thank you," Esme told him. They both stood up and she gave him a hug.

"We'll bring him with us to Charlie's tonight. It's been so quiet that Bella and I end up staying inside and watching TV some nights. Plus Alex and Michael will be with us, too."

"No, Edward..."

"This is what I'm talking about," he said with a laugh, "Just say yes."

Esme sighed and Edward's nod urged her one, "Okay."

He grinned and headed back downstairs to Bella and Caleb. Esme decided to hop in the shower before getting ready for her next couple of hours teaching the children.

William and Madison volunteered to head over an hour early to catch up on some of the things they'd missed while on their honeymoon. Esme met them down there before the rest of them arrived and was impressed at their interest and willingness to ask questions, William especially. Madison always looked like she was paying attention and regularly asked for clarifications on things. William, at times, goofed around and cracked his fair share of jokes, though that day he was focused and serious. The two them had only recently received the news about Jared and Embry, so Esme suspected that played a role in his outlook on things.

When everyone else arrived, Esme started up where she'd left off and went along with what she had planned for them. Several times, a discussion came up about the current situation at hand in regards to the unknown perpetrator that attacked and killed their Quileute friends. From their in depth conversations, the class ran over the time frame that it typically did. No one seemed to mind, nor was anyone urgently waiting to go on their way for some free time.

"I need to hunt," Michael finally said, swallowing hard. He looked at Esme, "I'm sorry. It's just starting to burn pretty bad in my throat."

She looked at her watch, revealing they had stayed an extra hour and a half, "Michael, go right ahead," she told him, "We've been in here for a long time. Any time you need to hunt, just go. You don't even have to ask."

He nodded, "Thank you."

Esme, too, realized her thirst was beginning to intensify and released all the kids for the day. She knew it would only be a few more hours until they would all be taking their places on the watch. For the first time, her and Carlisle would be taking the night off, and she hoped to have a talk with him when he got in from work.

"Hey," William approached Esme. He gave her a smile, "Thanks for doing this with us every day. I know I fool around sometimes, but I do pay attention and I know it's important."

She gave him a smile, "I know, William. And you're welcome. No need to thank me though."

"Yes I do," he told her.

Madison quickly joined him, "We don't thank you enough for doing these things with us."

Esme quickly shook her head, "I'm glad you all just come and listen."

They both smiled at her and left, also to hunt, before their night out.

Esme shut down the small building for the night and made sure everything was in order before she made her way through the woods for dinner. Realizing she had some time to kill, she decided to go a little farther than normal, hunting down a few animals that she didn't typically feed on. It was a little change and very appetizing. She stalked down an extra deer to feel fully satisfied before finally making her way back home.

When she arrived, Carlisle sat in front of the fireplace with a box full old mementos from his days with Aro, and other things the Volturi had given him over the years. He tossed an piece of paper in as Esme entered the room.

"Hey," she said, looking at the clock on the wall, "You're home an hour early." She looked down at the box in his hand.

Carlisle moved few feet back from the fire and sat down in a chair he'd pulled up next to it, "Yeah. There was an emergency procedure. I had to tend to someone from the ER. I finished everything by quarter to nine, so I was able to come home after that." His eyes shifted to the clock that read nine-thirteen.

"Are you burning everything?" she asked him.

He shrugged, "I don't have a need for them."

"You saved them for a reason." Her hand rested gently on his back and she looked into the box.

Carlisle pulled Esme onto his lap and she draped one arm around his neck. He tossed the box to the side.

"I know things haven't been exactly the same since Caleb's been born," Carlisle told her, "In lots of good ways, of course, but we'll just have to continue adjusting when it comes to other things."

"Did you talk to Edward?" Esme asked him.

He gave her a puzzled look, "No. Why?"

"He read my mind earlier and we had a little talk. I just didn't know if you were bringing this up because he talked to you."

Carlisle shook his head with a smile, "No. I mean, I know we haven't exactly had much time for each other lately," he paused, "I think we've got the parent roles down as Mom and Dad."

Esme nodded in agreement.

He pulled her slightly closer to him, "We just have to get back to balancing our lives as 'mom and dad' without leaving out the 'husband and wife' part of it."

She smiled, "You're right. We've kind of been leaving that out in the last couple months."

Carlisle grinned, "The opportunities haven't really presented themselves lately, but we'll just have to make time. I mean I'm sure any couple would find some difficulty if their baby never slept... ever. Not to mention everything that's been going on with the wolves and just, you know, life."

Esme looked around them, "We have time now." She studied his expression in the dark. Half of his face was illuminated by the flickering flames and the other was set in the darkness, though she could see both of his eyes clearly.

Carlisle took in a deep breath and leaned in to kiss her. Esme sighed and let him take the lead as he guided her onto the floor beneath him. She closed her eyes as his lips landed gently on her neck while his hands glided toward her hips where he firmly secured them. For a second, the distant memory of her transformation played in her head, though it only lasted a second before his lips crashed back against hers.

Esme took in the details of their time together like series of snapshots that would be framed in her mind; Carlisle's eyes pressed shut tightly, the rippled muscles she traced over on his upper back and just the right amount of lighting the fire cast upon them that made the night seem more like a fantasy dream sequence than reality.

If there was one plus to the lack of intimacy in their lives as of lately, Esme thought, it was the overly intense and magnified feelings that arose during the times they were able to be together.

The hours that were given never seemed like enough, and felt more like minutes than the actual time frame. The only indication that time had passed was the darkness that fell upon the from the dying fire. Only embers remained as they struggled to stay burning amongst the ashes in the fireplace.

Carlisle took a deep breath and cuddled himself beside Esme under a blanket he'd pulled off the couch awhile before. She faced where the fire's last life died out and locked her fingers with her husbands as his arm laid over her.

"What time is it, Carlisle?" she asked.

He rolled onto his back and read upward onto the couch where he left his phone, clicking it on. "A little after four."

Esme turned to face him, "We should probably get up. Everyone will be back soon."

He tossed his phone back onto the cushions before pulling her back to him, "They won't be back for over an hour. Lay with me for a little while."

She smiled, more than willingly to do as he asked, "Alright."

Carlisle brought his lips back to hers and Esme's eyes closed as her palm rested on the side of his face. He then laid flat on his back and guided her so she laid partially on top of him, running a hand up and down her bare back.

Both of them sighed, "I love you," he told her, "I hope you know that."

"Nope," she said, jokingly, "I couldn't really tell."

He opened his eyes and looked down to where she was smiling. A grin spread across his face and he laid his head back down flat.

"I love you, too," Esme said.