"So how'd you get out of going?" Edward asked Emmett, who reached into his backpack.

"Guess who forgot to hand in their history report."

Rosalie put a hand on her forehead. "Guess who has a slight fever and can't possibly spend the weekend outdoors?" She gave a fake cough making Bella chuckle.

"Come on man," Emmett hit Edward's arm. "Let's go hit the town and score some booze."

"Don't get caught," Bella said, biting her lip.

"His mom's the headmistress," Emmett reminded them. "What's the worst that can happen?"

The two of them wandered down toward the security building at the entrance of the school. They managed to talk their way through security, using Esme as leverage and then hurried the length of the half mile driveway that led out of the wooded, tucked away school into the small downtown area.

..x

Esme wandered around past little shops in the quaint downtown area after parking her car along the road.

She smiled as a group of young kids passed by her, all clad in Halloween costumes with bags ready to collect candy. Esme tried to relax, telling herself that the holiday truly was about collecting candy, bobbing for apples and decorating like every small shop and restaurant she past had done in their windows. There were pumpkins and skeletons..

No Michael Myers, she reminded herself. Esme placed her keys in her purse and then glanced up toward the window of the restaurant where she agreed to meet Carlisle. In the reflection she saw it - the white mask, the jumpsuit, the dark eyes staring her down from just a foot behind where she stood.

Esme turned abruptly and jumped, holding her chest when Carlisle crept in behind where she had been standing.

"Whoa," he put his hands up. "It's just me."

"You scared me," Esme admitted.

"I'm sorry. I thought you saw me."

She shook her head.

Carlisle wrapped his arms around her and spoke just an inch or so from her lips. "Do you see me now?"

Esme smiled and nodded, kissing him a few times in a row and feeling herself relax.

He looked her in the eye. "Are you okay?"

Esme nodded again. "Yeah. Come on." She took him by the hand and the two of them headed into a small sandwich shop.

They sat down at a table and ordered a few drinks then began to talk.

"Do you think it's possible that something can happen to a person so bad that they never recover from it?" Esme looked across the table at him.

"I like to think recovery is always possible," Carlisle said honestly.

"I think you need to counsel me." She gave a small smile.

"Oh no," he shook his head. "I love you just the way you are."

"I've tried everything," Esme told him, "Everything.. self help, group therapy, books.. meditation."

"That's not everything."

"What's left?" She took a sip from her water.

"I'm a very good listener." Carlisle acknowledged that she hadn't indulged in the details of the event that left her anxious and often waking up in a nightmare. He never pressed her to tell him.

"Maybe tonight.. by a fire?"

Carlisle smiled and the two of them looked up when the waiter came back to take their orders. Neither of them noticed Edward and Emmett as they wandered down the sidewalk.

The two boys slunk into a package store, both taking off their maroon ties and jackets that signaled they went to the high school up the road. Emmett stuffed them both in his backpack and dropped it by the entrance.

"This is illegal," Edward whispered to his friend as they waved towards the cashier.

"And harmless. All kids our age drink a little here and there." He headed toward a beer fridge. "Why don't you go grab a couple bottles of red wine. I'll get us a twelve pack of beer."

Edward agreed and huffed a breath, snaking through the isles of the small store before meeting back up with Emmett at the register.

"My man." Emmett high fived the cashier, both smiling.

"How are you doing? Long time no see." He rang up the alcohol and Emmett made small talk with the man before they headed back out on the street.

The two of them loaded the backpack up, struggling to zip it but finally got it closed and then turned to walk back toward campus.

As they passed by the shop where Esme and Carlisle still sat eating Edward turned and this time made eye contact with his mother.

"Oh shit," he mumbled under his breath, watching as she rose to her feet. Emmett looked just as speechless and scared.

"Edward?" She burst out into the street. Carlisle followed and the four of them all stood looking at one another. "Edward what are you doing here?"

"Just, uh, having a little off campus lunch."

"You're not allowed to have a little off campus lunch," Esme scolded him. "You too Emmett."

"I'm sorry," he said shyly, careful not to move his backpack too much.

Edward knew Esme was mad but was trying to hold it in. She removed her keys. "Come on I'll drive you back." She began to walk but stopped, "You know what? Emmett.. go wait in the car." She handed him the keys and looked at Carlisle briefly before laying into her son. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Mom-"

"Do you know what day it is?" She asked. "Of all the days for you to pull this.. what do you think you can do just wander around town? I don't ask you for very much just give me one day."

"I've given you seventeen years!"

"And I need you to be responsible. Do you know what that means? Responsible!"

"I'm not responsible for you. That's it.. I can't take it." Edward huffed a breath. "The things that happened to you.. the past is the past. You said you watched him burn."

"I didn't.. I didn't exactly.. stay to see his ashes."

"He's been gone for twenty years.. twenty years. What's he waiting for huh?" Edward shook his head and walked past her. "I can't live like this."

Carlisle gently touched her arm. "I'll go get the check."

Esme silently thanked him and then went after Edward, shouting his name.

"Look if you want to stay handcuffed to Michael Myers that's fine but you're not dragging me along. Not anymore." He hurried to get in the car and sat with his arms crossed and a scowl.

Esme walked back into the shop and placed her hand on Carlisle's forearm. "Carlisle I am so sorry."

"It's alright." He gave a smile.

"No it's not."

"It is." He touched under his chin and then kissed her once on the lips. "Make it up with dinner?"

Esme sighed and nodded. "I'd like that." She reached into her purse but he shook his head.

"Paid for already."

"Carlisle.."

"Go bring the boys back," he said, a small grin on his face. "I'll see you at the office."