Carlisle's POV

"Is there any new development at all?" I asked my son as we sat in a little café just down the road from the hospital. We were both working, but had somehow managed to both squeeze a few minutes out so that we could eat lunch, something that we hadn't done much of lately, but I missed.

Sighing, he ran his left hand through his hair, while his right one gripped his coffee mug. I could see the exhaustion building up on his face again, his eyes hosting dark circles, and his shoulders just slightly slumped over.

"Nothing." He took a sip of his coffee and then set the mug down again. "It's like he's been a ghost since about two years after Bella went missing." He confirmed and I nodded, not really sure what I could say.

We knew enough about the man that we all suspected had approached Nessie. Once Bella had given us his first name and a description of him in the days that followed her own recovery from that bunker, Edward and Charlie had tracked down his record. He had been somewhat local for a time and had been picked up by Charlie several times before Bella's disappearance for possession, petty theft, and break and enters. We also knew from Victoria Sutherland's statement, that he had followed her when she had left town. Following that, there had been nothing too much that Edward or Charlie could find on the man.

"Is Bella doing any better?" I tried a different tactic. I could see my son focused inside his own thoughts, most likely retracing every piece of information he had ever come across in regards to Laurent Da Revin. It was easy for me to see him returning to that obsessive place that he had lived in for most of his life, and I was truly worried. Taking care of Bella and Nessie, he was once again running himself ragged. His obsessive side also never letting him rest, insistent on finally capturing the last of the trio involved in Bella's disappearance, and determined to never let anything happen to either Bella or Nessie again. But as much as he felt it was his obligation to do this, it wasn't healthy for him either.

"We both feel better and get at least a little more sleep with either them at your place with me, or me staying at Charlie's." He answered and I nodded. I suspected as much.

"I wanted to thank You and Mom for always letting them spend time at the house, and for taking time with them as they've needed it. I know Bella's conversations with Mom are so important to her… and I know I have the house almost ready now… but until he's caught… I was hoping that we could still spend time at your place." He jumped around a little with his thoughts and I gave him a small smile to let him know I understood what he was both saying and asking me.

"Of course Son, you know you are always welcome." I responded gently and he nodded. Not saying anything I watched him run both hands through his hair again, his face reddening slightly, and his eyes beginning to form tears. Blowing out a breath, he gathered his thoughts once more.

"All those years I spent searching for her… I didn't think…" He paused, swallowing thickly. These conversations were difficult for my son, and I knew that he didn't show many other people this vulnerable side to himself.

"I had resigned myself to a future of constant searching, without ever finding her." He finally stated and I frowned. I didn't quite understand his words this time. He had always been so determined that she was out there, and that she would be found…

"I knew she was alive… I knew it deep within me… but I also…" He paused again and I shifted in my chair, folding my hands across the table in front of me, and leaning forward so as to give him my full attention.

"I had begun to believe that not finding her was a punishment for losing her in the first place." He admitted quietly, and I watched as my son broke apart in front of me, tears flowing down his cheeks and his eyes distant, focused somewhere in his head.

"Even the parts of me that searched… those parts believed that if we ever did find her… that she would never return to our – or rather my – life." Taking his napkin he wiped his cheeks, his eyes coming back into focus. "I never could have imagined how her return would change my life." He told me and I nodded carefully. "This past year has been so up and down with so many emotions, new experiences, and honestly brand new territory for us all." He stated nervously, glancing past me and around the quiet café.

"Edward, there are some things that I will never be able to comprehend." I tried to think through my words thoroughly. "None of us will ever be able to understand her twelve years of captivity, or the minds of the people who participated in either her capture or her abuse." I swallowed thickly, I couldn't even try to comprehend those things… even the thought still churned my stomach. "I know your nature Son, and I know that you still hold yourself accountable, even after all of this time. But it's time to let that go now. It isn't healthy for you, and I worry that it will hinder you and Bella from ever truly moving forward." I stared him down, I wanted him to hear me as I said the words.

"From Nessie's description of what happened at the beach, I understand your fear and your determination to find him. But I also believe that given time, he will be located and that as long as we remain vigilant, he will not be able to harm anyone at this point." I knew he would disagree with me here, and the reality was that we didn't know much about the man and what his capabilities were.

However he had approached Nessie, and from his words believed that she was Bella.

"Keep looking for him, but remember to keep your focus on those two girls." I reminded him gently and I saw him nod his head. I know Rosalie had called him several nights ago, calling him out on the same thing and telling him to spend time with them. She had done it for Bella's sake – it was clear that she wasn't sleeping any longer, tormented by her own memories and nightmares. But I was telling Edward this for himself. He would do no good if he wasn't taking care of himself, and remaining connected to Bella throughout his searching.

He didn't respond, and he didn't need to. I could see my words tumbling through his head and knew that he would heed them to the best of his abilities. He would still continue his searching for Laurent Da Revin, but now he would also put more focus back on Bella, and his relationship with her and Nessie.

For the next few minutes we sat together in relative silence, sipping our coffee and enjoying a few minutes of 'down time'. Words were unnecessary and I watched with pride as I saw the shift in my son's face throughout our time together.

He and Bella were truly unique, their relationship fascinating as it had grown and blossomed since she had been found. Esme was as surprised as I was, always watching to ensure that she could offer them help if it was needed, but generally as perplexed as I was at how easy the two of them had re-bonded.

"Your mother also asked me to tell you to call her." As I paid the bill, I remembered Esme's message. "She wants to plan a small party for Bella and Renesmee's birthday next month." I chuckled lightly and Edward nodded, smiling himself.

"Nessie's been asking for a party already." Edward's face lit up when he mentioned the girl. He loved her like his own, and although he had never spoken the words as far as I was aware, I knew that to him, she was his daughter. But to be honest, we all felt that way – Nessie was as much our family as any of the others were… Esme had cried when she told me that Nessie had asked to call her Nana, and I had nearly done the same the first time that she called me Grand-Dad.

"Call your mother, I think she and Alice have already sorted out many of the details, they just want you to confirm a few things." I told him and I watched as he rolled his eyes.

"Small party? With Alice involved?" He laughed and I smiled. Alice was known for going all out with this kind of thing.

"Just call your mother." I laughed again and he nodded, the both of us standing up and moving towards the door.

Just as we reached his car, I heard his phone chiming and when he glanced down at the display, his face darkened again.

"Cullen." He responded quickly as I got into the passenger seat of his cruiser. He had picked me up and was going to drop me back at the hospital before continuing his shift.

"I'll be right there." He slammed his door shut and threw his phone onto the dashboard.

"Do you need me to walk back to the hospital?" I asked as he threw the car into drive and he shook his head quickly.

"No." He sighed loudly, turning out of the café's parking lot and heading towards Forks General. "They found a body down at La Push… Charlie thinks it's him."

Silence once again consumed the car as we drove the three blocks to the hospital. As he dropped me at the main doors, I got out of the car and turned to my son, not saying a word but looking him in the eyes, hoping that I could convey every thought I had through that one look.

Nodding, I knew that he got it, and then he was gone.

Pulling out my phone, I opened up my contacts and selected Esme's name.

"Carlisle?" She picked up immediately as I walked towards my office.

"Edward just dropped me back at the hospital. He got a call." I spoke quickly and quietly, knowing that I shouldn't say anything yet, but wanting to prepare my wife. She would be Bella's primary support if it was true.

"They think they found his body."

A/N: I just wanted to pop by and say thank you to everyone who has continued to read this story up until this point. I apologise in the randomness of the updates. It has been a hectic year and I try and post when I can. Please remember to keep reviewing and let me know what you like about this storyline!