Moonlight in Forks

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Intervention

Carlisle gazed with deep sadness at the broken boy sitting in front of him. There was no physical resemblance between their two faces. They were bright day and blackest night.

There was no reason for resemblance to exist. Carlisle was not Edward's father in the basic biological sense. They shared no features. The similarity in coloring was a product of what they were, every vampire was corpse pale. The similarity in the color of their eyes was another matter-a reflection of a mutual choice.

Over the last seventy odd years Edward's face had begun to reflect his mentors, to an extent that he had embraced Carlisle's choice and followed in his steps. His features had not changed, but his wisdom had marked Edward's expression, a little of Carlisle's compassion could be traced in the set of Edward's mouth, and hints of patience at his brow.

All those resemblances built over decades had been completely erased within moments of Edward's plans coming to fruition within in his mind concerning Bella's future. Right now, there was nothing left in him that reflected the years he had spent with his creator, his mentor, his father in all the ways that counted. If he tasted Bella's blood his eyes would glow as red as the devi's, all likeness would be lost forever.

Carlisle's kind eyes did not judge him. He knew he would have forgiven Edward had he been given a chance to carry out his terrible act. Because he loved him like a son. Because, despite his recent behavior, he still thought Edward was better than he was.

When Alice had come to him, desperate and afraid, her hands wringing together as she told him what she had seen in Edward's mind, the decision he had come to, Carlisle had begun to despair. She had foreseen the outcome to his plans. It would not go well for him.

"He will die, Carlisle. Jacob Black will kill him. You must intervene now."

Alice stood behind Edward; her eyes were unfocused. Jasper stood beside her, one hand lightly under her elbow, lending his silent support to the girl who was the focus of his world. His other hand remained on Edward's shoulder, using his power of pathokinesis, to manipulate Edward's emotions and keep him calm, almost sedated.

It was Jasper who had brought Edward back into the fold. He had been with Alice when she had her terrifying vision of what Edward was planning to do, the course he had set for his own future. There was no doubt in Edward's mind, his fixation with changing Bella Swan was fixed, there was no fluctuation, no alternative scenario. If he had carried out his plans it would end badly for him.

Jasper was one of the Cullen's most skilled members, being the family's best fighter, the second fastest (after Edward), and the second strongest (after Emmett). It hadn't taken him long to track Edward down, confront, then overwhelm him. He used his powers to create a false reality for Edward in order to keep him under control, making him feel what he wanted him to feel. So, by the time Jasper and Alice brought Edward to Carlisle, he was in a pacified state, almost as if he had been fed a hundred tranquilizers.

"Its going to be okay." Alice finally breathed in relief. She blinked once as Jasper lightly caressed her lower back.

Carlisle met her glance briefly and relaxed. "I'll take emergency leave from the hospital and we'll go today. "He decided. "Jasper, if you would be so good as to accompany us to Denali, just to keep Edward at ease until we get there."

"Of course." Jasper agreed quietly. "Do you really think that time away will be enough?"

"Denali has a healing air. I am certain once Edward is away from the object of his affection, he will begin to regain his perspective." Carlisle tried to sound confident enough to ease his own doubts. "I will stay with him the whole time."

Jasper exchanged a long look with Alice. She smiled at him tentatively. He wasn't entirely convinced. However, his mate had seen nothing untoward happening in Denali, so he placed his trust in her as he always did.

"Edward?" Carlisle coaxed gently.

Edward raised his head with difficulty as if it weighed a hundred pounds. "Yes?" He blinked at Carlisle, his eyes slightly unfocused, a consequence of Jasper's hold over him.

"We're going away for a while, my son." Carlisle explained. "Esme has already packed your things. I will come with you."

"I can't leave." Edward slurred. "Bella…. she needs…me…my protection."

"She has Jacob Black to protect her now."

Edward shook his head slowly like a drug addict coming down from his high. "He can't keep her safe." He mumbled incoherently. "Only I can do that."

"Edward, you need to hear me." Carlisle stated more firmly. "Bella is not yours to protect anymore. She is with Jacob Black now. She has chosen him. She has chosen life. Remember that was what you wanted for her once? To stay human?"

Edward blinked again, his eyes becoming slightly more focused, as Jasper eased the tight grip he had on his emotions. "Yes." He murmured. "Yes. I remember."

"I want you to focus and hold onto that memory, Edward." Carlisle replied gently. "I am going to take you to a place of healing. I will do everything within my power to help you get better, my son."

"We're all rooting for you, Edward." Alice chimed in.

Edward stared into Carlisle's concerned face. The monster glared back at him from the mirror of his eyes. Lucidity returned to him briefly as the image made him recoil in horror. "Help me." He whispered brokenly.

Carlisle reached for him, gripping his hand tightly. "You are not alone, Edward. I am right here with you. You will overcome this, I promise." He vowed.

Unaware of the crisis going on within the Cullen family, Bella went about her daily life in ignorant bliss. She was human and passionately in love. She wouldn't trade her warm, breakable, pheromone riddled body for anything. She couldn't believe she once craved the immortal life. Over the span of the last two years, she had matured and so had her perspective on life. She was finally happy in her own skin, something that her seventeen-year-old self would never have believed possible.

News of her engagement to Jacob had spread like wildfire. She had made the mistake of confiding in Jessica Stanley of all people. The latter's penchant for gossip soon meant it was broadcast quickly among their mutual friends, then to the mutual friends' parents, and so on.

Once upon a time Bella would have died knowing that the whole town was talking about her. She had always hated being the target of speculative gossip, but it didn't bother her now. Let them all think what they liked. It didn't make any difference to her life.

Her life?

Wow…how close she had come to losing it! If she had gone through with her original intentions to change after graduation, she would be a newborn vampire now. Her biggest personality trait would be her thirst. She remembered Alice telling her about those wild early days. It would take several years before she was even close to being herself again.

Bella shuddered at what she had so nearly given up. Pushing the morbid thoughts away, she decided to concentrate on the here and now. For that was all that mattered.

Right now, Jacob was in the middle of telling his family about the engagement. He had delayed telling Billy and Rachel, wanting to choose a moment when Lahote was out of the house. Which was rare as Paul was literally stuck to Rachel's side like an annoying tick. They had decided together to let him do it alone, with his unpredictable sister there, Jacob thought it would be easier to control her reaction if he faced them alone. He didn't want Rachel running her mouth off and upsetting Bella.

Bella wondered how it was going. She knew Billy would probably have a similar reaction to Charlie. He would be pleased for them, but with an underlying current of worry that they were too young.

It was Rachel who was the problem. Jacob's sister had made it known that she wasn't Bella's biggest fan. She partially held Bella's relationship with her little brother responsible for putting a wedge between him and her beloved Paul, completely overlooking what a hot head her imprint was.

Oh, well, she would find out soon enough. Bella hoped Jacob wouldn't be too much longer. She hated being separated from him for any length of time. Love did that to a person, she guessed.

Humming to herself, Bella went back to her chores, to distract herself until Jacob's return.

In fact, it was going far from well in La Push.

When Rachel had come home from Washington State at the end of the summer semester, Jacob's main worry had been that it would be hard keeping the secret around her. He wasn't used to covering things up in his own home like some of the others had to. It made him real sympathetic to his brothers-like Embry and Collin-whose parents didn't know they were werewolves.

Embry's mom thought he was going through some kind of rebellious stage. He was permanently grounded for sneaking out, but, of course, there wasn't much he could do about that. She'd check his room every night, and every night it would be empty again. She'd yell and he'd take it in silence, and then go through it all again the next day. Embry was practically begging for his mom to be let in on the secret at this point. Jacob had raised it with the elders, but they had insisted the secret was too important and wouldn't back down.

So, Jacob had been geared up to learning to keep the secret from Rachel like Embry and Collin when she got home, when the worst thing ever happened. Rachel ran into Paul on the beach. Just like that-true love! No secrets when you supposedly found your other half, and all that werewolf imprinting garbage.

Now Rachel was Paul's biggest champion. No criticism of her chosen one was allowed. It made things tense in the house. She refused to acknowledge Paul's flaws, which were plenty. He may have mellowed out a lot, but he was still an ass.

So, when he broke the news to his family, Jacob planned on doing so when Lahote was nowhere in sight. It would make things go smoother. Or so he had hoped. He could deal with Rachel's barbed tongue, but not Lahote's at the same time.

Unfortunately for Jacob, Paul had walked in right after he had announced his big news. Things had gone downhill from there. Paul had run his mouth off about Bella, about imprinting, encouraging Rachel to do the same. That's why, right now, Paul was holding his bloody nose, cursing madly at Jacob for punching him.

"I am so done with his bullshit!" Jacob growled, ignoring his sister's protests. "I'm out of here!"

"Jake! Jake! Jacob!" Billy called after him as his son stalked out of the house.

Jacob skidded to a stop, just outside, he looked at his father. Billy steered himself closer, his dark eyes clouded with worry.

"Jake, your sister didn't mean it? You know what Paul's like."

"Yes, I know what he's like." Jacob scowled. "He practically lives in our house rent free. He eats all the groceries. He doesn't contribute. Why do you stand for it?"

Billy laughed nervously. "Have to start hiding the groceries if we're going to avoid starvation." He tried to make light of it.

"Tell Rachel to go and stay at his place." Jacob demanded.

Billy's joking tone vanished, and his eyes got soft. "We've only had her home for a short while. First time she's been here in a long time. Its hard-the girls were older than you when your mom passed. They have more trouble than you being in this house."

"So that gives her an excuse to take advantage?"

"No." Billy said sadly. "Of course not. Her and Rebecca are my girls. I miss them, Jake."

Jacob sighed as he thought of Rachel's twin. Rebecca hadn't been home since she got married, though she did have a good excuse. Plane tickets from Hawaii were pretty pricey. Though the distance shouldn't stop her from making the effort to phone now and again. On the other hand, Washington State was close enough that Rachel didn't have the same defense. She'd taken classes throughout the summer semesters, working doble shifts over the holidays at a café on campus. If it hadn't been for Paul, she would probably have taken off again really quick. It was the reason why Billy didn't want to kick him out.

"I can't go on like this, Dad. Either Paul goes. Or I do." Jacob had reached the limit of his patience, no matter how much he felt for his dad's predicament.

"Jake, please." Billy begged. "Just be patient for a while longer."

"No." Jacob was adamant. "Tell Rachel she's won."

"Jake, you can't leave. Where will you go?"

"Bella's."

Billy shook his head. "Charlie would never stand for it. Especially now the two of you are engaged."

"Bella will persuade him. Anyway, he knows I won't break his trust. I'll sleep on the sofa."

"Jacob, look at me. If you need…a break for a few days. Take it. Just don't move out permanently. I need you here." Billy was back to begging again.

"I'm sorry, Dad." Jacob replied firmly. "Until you put your foot down with Rachel and sort your household out…then I can't come back. Its your choice. Bye, Dad."

"Jake, wait – "Billy called after him.

But Jacob was already gone.

A/N-thanks for reading!