A/N: I'm so glad you guys are still enjoying the story! Thanks for all the nice reviews.

This chapter was originally going to include all of Monday, but I needed to change POV. I was at a good stopping point, so I decided to go ahead and post it. I hope you enjoy!

Just so you know, I'm not a lawyer. I took my own liberties with this chapter, and it won't be accurate. But this is fiction, so just go with it.

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. The end.

Song for chapter: I'll Stand By You (I prefer the Carrie Underwood version)

Take me in into you darkest hour

And I'll never desert you

I'll stand by you

And when, when the night falls on you, baby

You feeling all alone

You won't be on your own

I'll stand by you

I'll stand by you

Won't let nobody hurt you

I'll stand by you

Esme POV

I woke up feeling well rested but extremely nervous. It was Monday- the day I had to meet with the lawyer. My feelings were mixed about the upcoming meeting. I wanted to know what was going to happen with Charles, but at the same time, my ignorance was pretty blissful.

The bubble Carlisle and I were in was incredibly comfortable. Our weekend had been a perfect opportunity for us to begin communicating openly and compromising. I felt truly blessed to have a man like Carlisle in my life. He always tried to include me in every decision and respected my opinions and ideas. He was also wonderful with Emmett which meant the world to me.

Saturday had been a day of learning for all of us. We quickly figured out our dynamic which made everything go smoothly. Sunday was exactly what we needed- a day of relaxing and enjoying being together. Carlisle helped so much with Emmett, and even though I hated asking him to help me, I greatly appreciated his efforts.

Our conversations throughout the day were also helpful as I dealt with both new feelings and feeling I had kept hidden for a while. Carlisle was always there to listen and knew exactly what I needed to hear. Knowing he would be with me every step of the way made me feel a little calmer about everything that had yet to come.

I got out of bed and looked over at Emmett. He was still sleeping, snuggled up with his blanket. I felt bad that Emmett had to sleep in his pack-and-play, but there really hadn't been a chance to move any of the large furniture. Hopefully by the end of the week, he would be sleeping in his crib again.

I crossed the hall to the bathroom and didn't hear any noise in the apartment. After I was finished, I walked down the hallway and peeked in Carlisle's room. The door was ajar and I could see he was also still sleeping peacefully.

I desperately needed a way to work off some of my nervous energy, so I headed for the kitchen. Cooking would be a good distraction, so I got some bacon and eggs out of the refrigerator to make for breakfast.

Carlisle making me breakfast had been one of the nicest things anyone had ever done for me. In fact, I was pretty sure Carlisle was behind almost all of the nice things that had been done for me. His gesture was out of love, and he actually made a good breakfast. I could tell he was embarrassed about his muffins, but they had tasted perfect. Although his cooking skills were improving, I knew he would still appreciate someone else doing the cooking. And I really enjoyed cooking for Carlisle, especially since he always cleaned up.

I hummed quietly to myself as I fried the bacon. I was surprised Emmett wasn't awake yet since he had fallen asleep so early, but I still didn't hear any noises in the apartment other than my own. I was quickly adjusting to working with only one hand which made everything a lot easier. The swelling was continuing to go down in my fingers, and I was hoping to be able to use my left hand to grasp items soon.

Once the bacon was done, I placed it in the toaster oven so it would stay warm and started on the eggs. While I was scrambling the eggs, I heard Carlisle moving around in his room. He soon joined me in the kitchen and wrapped his arms around my waist from behind me.

"Good morning, sweetheart," he said and placed a soft kiss on the side of my neck. "Did you sleep well?"

I nodded and turned to kiss him back. The pain pills I took really did help me get a full night's rest.

"How did you sleep?" I asked him as I went back to focusing on the eggs cooking in the skillet.

"I slept really well. These past couple of nights, I've gotten some of the best sleep I've had in quite a while."

I hummed in agreement. Even without the pills, I would probably still sleep well just from the knowledge that Carlisle was near.

Carlisle started running his hands up and down my arms in a comforting gesture. "Don't be nervous, my love. Everything will work out. I promise."

I melted into him, still disbelieving how well Carlisle could read me. I had already told him he always knew the right things to say to me, and this morning was no exception. Carlisle was truly my other half. He completed me and could recognize what I needed and how I felt even if I didn't know it myself. His calming words relaxed me for the time being, and I went back to cooking with a smile on my face.

"Thank you," I whispered.

He kissed my cheek before moving from behind me and turning to the cabinets. He got down plates and glasses for us and started the pot of coffee. As I was pouring the cooked eggs onto a plate, Emmett woke up. I could hear him quietly talking to himself as he did every morning.

Carlisle excused himself from the kitchen to tend to Emmett, and I placed the food on the plates. I had finished putting our plates and glass on the table when Carlisle returned with a smiling Emmett. I had a feeling Emmett had spoiled me. He was generally such a happy baby, and I knew not all children would be like that.

I took Emmett and sat down while Carlisle poured coffee and juice. I loved how much time we were getting to spend together, but I wondered how much that would change when Carlisle went back to work. I was a little worried about how I would handle Emmett by myself, but knowing Carlisle, he already had a plan coming together in his mind.

Breakfast was pleasant as usual. Emmett actual sat still during the whole meal while eating his eggs with his hands. He knew how to use a spoon, but it was easier to just let him eat the food however he wanted to. As long as he got the nutrients he needed, I didn't care how he put them in his mouth.

Carlisle cleaned the kitchen, and I took Emmett to the living room to watch some TV. Morning and nighttime were often my favorite times of the day because that was when Emmett was extra snuggly. He would always let me kiss him and hold him tightly against me without a fuss. When Carlisle finished with the kitchen, he joined us and received his own snuggles from Emmett.

In the grocery store yesterday, I had heard the comments made to Carlisle about Emmett being his son. Carlisle didn't correct them, and I would never even think of it. Carlisle was actively taking the role of Emmett's father, and nothing could make me happier. Emmett seemed to be flourishing under the attention from him, and I hoped he knew what a difference he was making in my son's life.

It was soon time to get ready to leave. Our appointment was before lunch, and even though I was dreading it, I was thankful we were able to be squeezed in early so I wouldn't have to be anxious all day.

After all three of us were dressed, we left the apartment. I called Maggie and asked if there was any way possible she could watch Emmett. I felt bad about calling with such short notice, but I really didn't want to have to worry about entertaining Emmett while we met with the lawyer. Maggie insisted she would love to, so we headed over there first. When we got to Maggie and Ben's apartment, Emmett was very happy to be there, so we had no problems leaving him.

As Carlisle drove to the lawyer's office, I tried to find ways to calm myself. I knew this lawyer was a good man from what Carlisle told me, and would do everything in his power to help.

I closed my eyes and leaned back against the seat. I'm safe. Emmett's safe. Carlisle's with me. Nothing can hurt us. I repeated the mantra in my head, and it helped tremendously.

Before I knew it, Carlisle had parked the car. When I opened my eyes, he was facing me, waiting patiently to make sure I was okay. I gave him a small smile which he returned.

"I promise everything will work out. Liam is a wonderful lawyer and a very kind man as well. I'll be right beside you the whole time."

Carlisle words gave me the extra push I needed to get out of the car. Normally, I would have waited for him to open the door for me like he enjoyed doing, but I didn't want my courage to wane before I could get out.

I held Carlisle's hand tightly as we walked into the building. He informed the secretary of our arrival, and then led me over to a couch to sit down. I was practically sitting in Carlisle's lap, but he didn't seem to mind. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and held me tightly. I was trying not to fidget in my seat but I didn't have much success. Carlisle talked softly to me. The sound of his voice provided comfort by itself, but I tried to focus on what he was saying as a distraction.

He was telling me all about his lawyer, Liam Murray. Liam's father had owned the law firm many years ago, and he had been good friends with Carlisle's parents. When he retired, Liam took over. The families had known each other for years, and it made me feel better to know how much history was actually involved. Carlisle really did know and trust this man, and I trusted his judgment.

A few minutes later, a man exited an office and walked toward us. He was of medium build with sandy blonde hair, and seemed to have a cheerful disposition. His warm smile immediately eased some of the tension I was feeling.

"Carlisle," he called and extended his hand. "It's good to see you."

Carlisle removed his arms from behind me and held my hand instead as he stood. He never let go, so I stood up next to him.

"It's nice to see you as well, Liam," Carlisle said as his hand met Liam's in a firm shake.

Liam turned to look at me. "And you must be Ms. Platt. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Liam Murray, but please just call me Liam."

I was very glad he didn't use my married name that I tried to avoid as much as possible. He extended his hand to me, and I reluctantly released Carlisle to shake his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Liam. Please call me Esme. Thank you for meeting with us on such short notice."

Liam shrugged. "It's no problem, especially for you. Shall we continue this in my office?" He motioned with his arm for us to follow him, and we walked together to the room he had come out of. The office was not what I was expecting. It was furnished in neutral colors which made it seem warm and welcoming, nothing like I was picturing for a lawyer.

Carlisle and I sat down on a love seat that was off to the side, resuming our earlier position with his arm wrapped around me. Instead of sitting behind his desk, Liam pulled a chair in front of it and angled it toward us. The lack of formality relaxed me further, and I started to gain confidence.

Liam grabbed a file off of us desk and began going through the papers before looking up at me.

"Now Esme, I have read the police report as well as the statement you gave them. With that information plus what I have gathered from talking to Carlisle, I think I know enough of your story, and I will not ask you to tell me anything you don't want to."

I sighed in relief and nodded. I had not been looking forward to telling someone else about the horrors of my past. I was ready to move on, and having to tell that story every other day was straining me emotionally.

Liam studied the papers once more before continuing.

"The police have had Mr. Evenson in custody since Thursday night. They would not release him on bail because of other charges he is facing in the state of Ohio. I'm not sure if you were aware of that."

"The lieutenant mentioned it to me," Carlisle answered. "But he didn't go into too much detail." I vaguely remembered the conversation between Carlisle and the officers, but I had been too distraught to actually understand what they were saying.

"Well the finer details aren't really that important. Mr. Evenson has been indicted on multiple counts of embezzlement, with amounts up to about half of a million dollars. He has also been charged with extortion and larceny. So basically, he is a thief. I also found that he is being accused of multiple counts of sexual assault."

I was a slightly baffled that none of these things surprised me. My suspicions proved to be correct, and I was glad his illegal activity had been found out.

"So what does this mean for me?" I asked.

"For you, these other charges could be very helpful. All of these charges are felonies, so he will more than likely be sentenced to more than 25 years in prison if he is found guilty, and with all the evidence they have, I have a feeling he will be. The sexual assault is a different matter entirely. Those charges are much more serious, and after a trail, he could possibly receive so many years that he will basically be in prison for life."

I felt a whole lot better knowing that Charles would most likely go to prison for life in Ohio, but Liam's explanation still didn't shed any light as to why this was helpful to me personally other than getting Charles away.

"But why are these charges helpful to me? I'm sorry. I just don't understand." I was worried I was taking up too much time with my questions, but Liam didn't seem to mind laying everything out for me.

"Even with all the charges stacked against him in Ohio, they still aren't as serious as what we could charge him with here. We could easily indict him with attempted murder since he was in possession of a firearm."

My heart felt like it stopped beating when the last word was said. Charles brought a gun into my apartment? I couldn't help but imagine what could have happened to me or Emmett if he had gotten around to using it.

I didn't realize I was hyperventilating until I felt Carlisle rubbing my back and heard him speaking softly to me.

"Esme, sweetheart, you're alright. Focus on my voice. You're safe. Emmett's safe. I'm here, and I won't let anything happen to you now."

His words of assurance mirrored my own from earlier. I listened to him carefully, but my breathing was still too fast. I turned to look at him, my eyes begging for help.

Carlisle did not look panicked. His face was calm as he talked me through my attack.

"I need you to breathe in and out with me. Do you think you can do that?"

I could only nod in response, and I grabbed his hand tightly in mine.

"Okay. Breathe in and hold it and then breathe out slowly. That's it. In…and out. Good job, just keep going." He held my hand in both of his and maintained eye contact with me. We breathed together, inhaling for three seconds and exhaling for four until my breathing returned to normal.

Once I was calm again, I leaned back against Carlisle and closed my eyes. I could only think about picking up Emmett and going home, but then I remembered where we were and what we needed to accomplish.

When I opened my eyes, Liam was standing in front of me holding a bottle of water. I was slightly embarrassed over what happened, but Liam didn't look judgmental. I thanked him for the water and drank it slowly.

"I'm terribly sorry about that," Liam said regretfully. "I didn't know you weren't informed of that detail."

"It's alright, Liam. Don't worry," Carlisle said. "But perhaps we should continue now so we can get this over as soon as possible."

"Of course. So as I was saying, we could get him with attempted murder, but my plan is to offer a plea bargain. We could bring the charge down to assault in the second degree if he will plead guilty. I know you wouldn't want to go to trial, Esme, and I have a feeling Mr. Evenson wouldn't want to either. Judges around here feel strongly about domestic abuse, and I think that would be the best for all involved to avoid a trail."

I was beginning to understand. "So what you're saying is that Charles will most likely want to avoid going to trial because of the other one he is facing in Ohio?" Liam nodded so I continued. "And we are going to come up with some kind of bargain so we don't have to go to trial?" Another nod. I continued to think about what this meant.

"So dropping the charge down to less severe is being lenient, isn't it?" I asked.

"Incredibly lenient," Liam answered. "But this way, you could possible get whatever you wanted out of him. I have a feeling he has a crooked lawyer, but any lawyer would probably advice a client to agree to this kind of a deal."

"Anything I want?" I asked hopefully. This idea was getting better and better, and I could easily think of a few things I wanted from Charles.

"Within reason," Liam conceded.

"I want a divorce," I said immediately. Carlisle and Liam both chuckled at my eagerness, but I couldn't think of anything I wanted more. I had appreciated Liam never referring to Charles as my husband. To me, that was only a technicality I wanted resolved as soon as possible.

"We could find a way to work a divorce in," Liam said. "I don't know of any judge who would deny it after what has happened. We just need to fill out a petition for divorce and then decide what your demands are and how to divide up the property amongst the two of you…"

"No," I interrupted. "I don't want anything from him. He can keep it all. I just want out."

"Are you sure about this? That condition will make things easier, but you need to be positive you don't want anything. No alimony?"

"I am positive," I answered Liam confidently. "All of his money is probably illegal anyway. I don't want any of it."

"Alright. I'll draft up the papers before you leave and you can go ahead and sign today. Is there anything else you would like to add?"

I knew what else I wanted, but I wasn't it would be as easy to get as the divorce.

"Well, is there any possibly to way to force him to give up parental rights?" I didn't want Charles to ever have the chance to even see Emmett, let alone have any say in his life.

"I would say there is a good chance. No judge in his right mind would think of giving a man like him custody of a child. Mr. Evenson will probably spend the rest of his life in prison anyway, but I understand you would want his parental rights terminated. That way he would have no control, correct?"

I nodded. "Yes, but I have a bit of a problem." I gripped Carlisle's hand tighter in support and he kissed my temple while whispering words of encouragement in my ear. "Charles forced me to sign a prenuptial agreement. He had it included that all children would go to him if we divorced, and he doesn't even know that Emmett exists."

Liam looked shocked at my statement. I heard him mumble something that sounded like "bastard" under his breath, which he quickly apologized for.

"I have never heard of anything like that in my whole career. I will research it, though. I have a feeling it isn't legally binding, but a judge would still be able to override the agreement."

I immediately felt better knowing it was possible to keep Emmett away from Charles. My worst fear was Charles getting my son.

"I think we are about finished here," Liam said with a smile. "So you demands are a divorce and termination of parental rights. Do you have anything else?"

I couldn't think of anything else that mattered, but Carlisle quickly spoke up.

"What about if Charles ever gets out of prison? Is there any way to make sure he isn't allowed to contact Esme or Emmett?"

I smiled at Carlisle, very thankful that he thought of something like that. I wasn't even thinking about what could happen if Charles ever got out of prison, but I certainly didn't want him able to come after us again.

"I can include a no-contact order. He won't be able to have contact in any form or he will face serious consequences. Does that sound good?"

I readily agreed, and Carlisle supported my decision. After Liam finished writing down the information, he retrieved a petition for divorce form from his filing cabinet. He made a copy and brought it back for me to sign, agreeing to fill the rest of it out for me.

"I have one last thing to add before you leave," Liam began. "My wife, Siobhan, works as a counselor with women and children victims of abuse. If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm sure she would love to listen and help with whatever she can."

His statement caught me off guard, but I accepted the phone number he offered me. I had never thought about to counseling to deal with what happened, but now I was questioning whether or not I needed to.

Carlisle and I both thanked Liam for his time. Liam told me I could come to him if I had any questions, and he said he would contact us as soon as there was a new development. After a quick handshake and a hug, we left the office.

I felt much calmer than when we had first arrived as we walked out to the car. I would never feel totally at ease until this was resolved, but knowing the path we were on was helpful.

"You handled yourself beautifully in there," Carlisle praised as he drove toward Maggie's.

"Thanks, but I feel really embarrassed. I can't believe I hyperventilated."

"Don't be embarrassed. That news was rather shocking, and your reaction was normal. It honestly scared me a little, too, but having you safe in my arms was a great comfort."

I understood exactly what he meant. The only thing that kept me grounded was having Carlisle near.

"So what do you think about me going to counseling?" I asked in a quiet voice. "Do you think I need it? I don't think I'm crazy or anything."

Carlisle laughed at my statement. "No, dear, I don't think you're crazy either. You have an extremely level head, and I don't think mental illness is an issue. So far, you haven't shown any signs of post traumatic stress, rationalization, or self-victimization. It could show up later, and having someone to talk to could be a good idea. You can always talk to me, and I'm sure Carmen and Eleazar will always listen as well. But sometimes, it's best to have an outsider's point of view; someone who isn't personally invested in the situation and can be objective."

"I guess I'll think about it," I responded. I did sound nice to have someone to talk to about anything I might be feeling. Saturday morning proved that I still had baggage to deal with, and a counselor could help me work through that.

"Just remember, no one is forcing you to do anything. This is another one of those instances where you should do what feels right for you. If you want to talk to Siobhan, then go. If you don't want to, don't feel like anyone is pressuring you into it. I'll support you no matter what decision you make."

My heart swelled with love for this man I somehow got to call mine. "Carlisle, you are a wonderful man. I'm not sure what I did to deserve you."

"Oh no. I think it's me who doesn't deserve you."

I opened my mouth to say something, but Carlisle interrupted me.

"And I think for the sake of time, we will have to agree to disagree on that point." He smirked at me, and I couldn't help but laugh.

We picked up Emmett from Maggie's, and I was very happy to have him in my arms again. I squeezed him tightly and didn't want to let him go, knowing how close I came to losing him. Maggie refused to let us pay her, saying that she always loved playing with Emmett.

The drive back to the apartment was spent comfortable chatting with Emmett about everything he saw out the window. I was content knowing we had crossed another hurdle to get to our future together as a family.

Up next: Family dinner!