Fire

Characters: Edward, Carlisle, Esme, Bella, Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, Emmet. Mentions of Jane, Aro, Bree and Charlie.

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: I’m not Stephanie Meyer in any way, shape or form.

Summary: Esme had noticed the look shared between us and she pulled away from Carlisle and walked to me. “Speak to him,” she requested as she knelt by me, taking the sleeping Bella into her own arms. “Please, Edward.” Edward’s POV; Eclipse.

Note: I am currently in the process of reading Breaking Dawn. The scene where Jane and Felix kill Bree in Eclipse had an impact on me, and I thought Jane’s reaction to Carlisle’s compassion was intriguing. SO, with no knowledge of how this all plays out in the fourth book (or if it even plays out at all), here is my little interpretation of it all.

“It was nice to meet you, Carlisle - I’d thought Aro was exaggerating. Well, until we meet again…”

-Jane, Eclipse

The pillar of dark smoke had climbed higher in the night sky now - shielding the stars and rippling off into the night. None of us had retreated the area after Jane left. We were too disturbed, I suppose. Bella hadn’t said anything since, and her face was still buried in my shoulder from where we sat on the field. Soon, her breathing evened out and she was asleep.

I sighed loudly but contently and stroked her dark hair, glancing around the field. Alice and Jasper were off together, sitting side by side, their backs to me. Alice’s head was placed carefully in the crook of Jasper’s neck and he was rubbing his hand up and down her back.

My eyes drifted to Emmet and Rosalie, off together as well, a good distance away. They were sitting across from each other, holding hands and talking quietly. Rosalie was smiling at him, eyes alive and twinkling. Her thoughts were centered around how thankful she was that her family was safe and alive, but then the smile escaped her face and she frowned. Her thoughts shifted suddenly to Carlisle, Jane and the newborn, Bree, who had been murdered. She looked down at the grass and Emmet leaned forward to study her.

Carlisle. I looked away from the couple and toward the roaring fire. His back was to me and his arms were crossed tightly across his chest. Although I couldn’t see his face, I knew he was staring intently at the flames.

Esme appeared and walked up to him. She wordlessly put a small hand on his left cheek, cupping it, and turned his head so that he was forced to look at her. Carlisle’s profile looked pained and sad, and it rubbed off on Esme. She broke the gaze she shared with her husband and ducked her head down and moved forward to be embraced by his protective arms. With her face burrowed in his chest, she titled her head up slightly and kissed his collarbone. Carlisle kissed the top of her head.

Of course, I knew what they were thinking. I stared at them, my hand frozen in Bella’s hair. Suddenly, Carlisle looked up from Esme and his eyes met mine. Then they drifted away.

Esme had noticed the look shared between us and she pulled away from Carlisle and walked to me. “Speak to him,” she requested as she knelt by me, taking the sleeping Bella into her own arms. “Please, Edward.”

“Of course,” I said immediately, on my feet. Carlisle had turned his back again.

“Father?” I said, knowing it warmed him up when I called him that, rather than by his first name. “Talk to me.”

He turned to me, and his expression was painful to look at. Poor Carlisle, always trying to do what was right. The protagonist. Our leader. The hero. I wasn’t sure what to say to him - he looked absolutely miserable and I felt helpless. Good things should’ve happened to good people…

Carlisle knew he didn’t have to necessarily say anything to me out loud, but he did anyway.

“Thank you, Edward,” he sighed. His voice was heavy. His jaw tight. I knew what he was thinking of - when Jane had ordered to kill Bree, Carlisle’s mind had been screaming in protest. But he had been too afraid to vocalize what he thought. That alone scared me; that Carlisle was afraid. But realizing this, I had spoken his mind for him. Practically begging for Bree’s life, explaining that we could teach her the rules.

I grimaced. “I’m sorry it didn’t work”

Carlisle shrugged slightly and turned to stare into the fire again. I moved closer, putting an arm around his shoulders as he had done so many times for me. He was stiff as a board, his muscles tense.

“They’re angry with me.”

I bit my lip. This had nothing to do with his feelings being hurt. Anyone who had the Volturi on their bad side was unlucky. And he was right - I had read Jane’s mind.

Who does he think he is, exactly? When dealing with the newborns, there is no room for a Good Samaritan. She broke the rules, and for Carlisle to assist her by breaking the rules himself…well…Aro might have something to say about all this.

She had then thrown a look my way - knowing I heard.

“Yes,” I agreed with Carlisle, my voice soft. “She’s not pleased.”

Carlisle turned to look at me again and my arm dropped from his shoulders, back to my side. I didn’t like to see him upset. Esme’s thoughts were running wild and Emmet, usually so silly, was suddenly sullen.

“And it’s not only about me, either. With Bella still being human…after the promise…” he broke off and shook his head. “To them, Edward, we have failed. Never mind that what we’ve done is good. Tried to help a surrendering newborn” - he gestured toward the flames - “decided to wait until Bella was ready, until she could leave her old life behind…” his eyes fixed on Bella now and he sighed. “Right now, by their standards, we shouldn’t be existing. We’re breaking the rules, we exposed ourselves to a human.”

Carlisle noted the angry flash in my eye and he put a hand on my shoulder.

“But I don’t regret that, Edward. Ever.”

A low growl suddenly escaped through my lips. “I would never let them touch you, Carlisle. Or anyone in this family - including Bella. If they plan anything…” I ground my teeth together. “We will not be scared into changing Bella - don’t mention this to her. When she wants to change, I don’t want her to feel like anything or anyone is making her do it.”

Carlisle nodded - this was something he never disagreed with me on. Although, his thoughts told me something else.

Yes, we will wait until she’s comfortable. Until she’s ready. But that will have to be as soon as possible, Edward.

Of course, he was right. Carlisle was always right. It wasn’t him that I was mad at - it was myself, for even bringing Bella into my family. If I truly loved her, I would let her go. But no - I always told myself that. Leaving her behind the last time hadn’t worked out in the least bit.

As soon as possible.

I nodded this time. I knew that Carlisle never saw Bella as a nuisance. He loved her just about as much as her own father, Charlie, loved her. I couldn’t exactly say the same about the rest of my family. Perhaps only for Alice and Esme. Of course, Alice adored Bella. But she was frustrated that Bella wasn’t into makeovers, shopping and other incredibly girly thinks that Bella made fun of on a daily basis. Esme loved her, too. But she was constantly worried about Bella; wondering if she had the strength to deal with everything that our family had put on her.

Rosalie, on the other hand…I had practically given up on reading her thoughts on Bella. It went from jealousy, hatred, anger…sometimes she did like Bella, but she never came close to love.

And Emmet. Emmet thought Bella was the silliest, clumsiest person he’d ever met. She was amusing to him. He never thought much past that. But he knew that I loved her, and thought higher of her because of that.

Jasper. Jasper had grown closer to her, but sometimes his thoughts still orbited around the fact that she smelled delicious. But he never thought about killing her - not anymore.

Like me, Carlisle loved her unconditionally. He had felt sympathy for me; that I had never found my soul mate. Esme had been his, no doubt. And while Rosalie was meant for me, I felt no attraction and she found Emmet. Jasper’s face had been in Alice’s mind since the beginning of her new life. And there had been no one for me until now. Whomever I loved, I knew Carlisle would love. And we would have his blessing, his support.

“I don’t mean to upset you,” Carlisle spoke up, interrupting my train of thought. “But there won’t be much time, now.”

“You haven’t upset me, Carlisle,” I assured him. “And yes - I know.”

It would be soon, as much as I was afraid for it to happen. But it wasn’t all about Bella, now. It was about my family’s safety, too. Carlisle’s, especially. The Volturi saw him as our leader, understandably. “Mistakes” that we made could rest on his shoulders. Especially after his reaction to killing the newborn.

Bella was awake now - she was staring at us from her spot by Esme. Esme and I switched places, and she was back by Carlisle. Talking quietly, smiling slightly. Her arms were wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer. His hands were on either side of her face.

Bella was looking at them, too. “Is Carlisle ok?” she asked, tracing circles on my shoulder absently.

“He’s all right,” I answered, refusing to give her specifics. She raised an eyebrow at me, knowing I was keeping something. But something stopped her from pressing on - exhaustion maybe - and her head fell down on my shoulder.