Now that Edward has been transferred to Cook County Hospital, I wonder if Elizabeth realizes that Carlisle is *literally* working around the clock now—maybe that's the tip that alerts her to Carlisle being something "other"?

Poor Edward, of course he can't focus on being sick, he has to focus on taking care of Mother! I hope he's more out of it by the time she falls ill too, so he won't have the energy for a massive deathbed guilt trip. Not that she ever would have listened. Better get used to the women in your life not listening to you, buddy ;)

Oof. As a mom, this chapter really hits hard as Elizabeth watches helplessly as Edward's body begins to fail in various ways. And of course she's staying—if she didn't, who would have time to wipe his chin and rub his back the whole time... and sing? It's nice that Carlisle can see the difference her presence makes—whether the actual difference is more about mother or son. And each tender moment he sees is bringing him closer to doing the unthinkable.

Oh no, there goes Elizabeth... Something tells me she's going to go fast.

Lovely chapter, full of those medical details I love to read!

Carlisle is blushing left and right now, but my favorite moment is when he gets to "provide" for Elizabeth when her food money comes up short. And I think that was his favorite too. I really don't think he knows how to react to Elizabeth's more sexual attention, although it's physically thrilling (shout-out to the demi post earlier today). It's the thought of caring for her and raising a family that has him whistling jaunty tunes and coming to terms with a possible change in his career.

Exactly, Thomas! Carlisle would have made a fine vicar. It would take very little effort to be a better spiritual leader than his father has been, and of course he would put *fervent* effort into living out a godly life and shepherding a little flock with love.

Ugh, William is just so... miserly! The ONE time Carlisle offers his hand in willingness to serve in the church, he can't even let on that he's pleased. He's even aware that Carlisle's service would be more along the lines of his late wife's faith...and still he can't bring himself to encourage Carlisle. It's such a shame because this could have been a time for him to admit that Carlisle is takin after his mother and that it's a *good* thing, that it does his heart good to see it.

UH OH. Elizabeth caught exhanging mysterious herbs with a widow late at night, alone... I hear some foreboding music beginning :( Did not see this coming!

And God forbid he should actually have to interact with a single "lost soul" coming out of a tavern... I swear, this guy wouldn't know actual!Jesus if he bumped right into him on the street.

I love Garrett so much. We get all these super magical vampires in BD and Garrett is still the winner somehow. He just swaggers into the scene living his best life and says "Let me just take this drama and add a little gunpowder to it!" And that's exactly what Carlisle needed here. And in 1918 too. Sometimes he just needs someone to light a fire under his contemplative butt so he'll stop thinking and DO.

I always enjoy these little whisper-in-the-corner scenes with the three brothers so much. And the sheer of irony of Aro fussing over Carlisle's need for companionship when they're just crouched together playing will he/won't he over everyone's loyalty for centuries on end :)

I really do feel sorry for Aro sometimes. Loyalty is so, so important to him to the point where he can't help but grab the experiment and shake it. No wonder he's so afraid people will leave him—he's got to know by now that he's the one who drives them away or that he has to literally drug them into compliance. And since (I assume) Chelsea's gift hasn't been used on Carlisle, Aro finally has something resembling a willing friend and... Nope, gotta give that a good shake and see what happens.

Edward IS a good boy, trying to become the man of the house overnight and trying to be strong for Elizabeth. The image of him with now-lopsided trousers because he's carrying his father's pocket watch :( It's so sweet, and a relief that Elizabeth got a short respite from Edward obviously wanting to go to war ASAP. I guess we'll never know if he would have stayed home long enough to miss the war completely, had he survived.

Love the details about the Lucky Strikes and the bathtub gin :)

Oh, but it's heartbreaking to see Elizabeth's desperation the very second she sees that Edward is ill. She'd been so worried about the war taking him away, and now... I just love the jarring shift in this scene when she sees him.

There's something so painfully beautiful about one exhausted person helping another, no matter what the story is. Even though he was careful to move at human speed, it sounds like Elizabeth sees Carlisle's hopeless vulnerability and is appealing directly to it-a necessary ingredient in Edward's change, I think.

The awkwardness here between father and son here is so classic. They both know it's time for The Talk and they're just floundering. If Carlisle knew *why* it was time for The Talk, he might not be so sassy! But I have a feeling his belligerence here is more about William trying to marry him to the church than to a woman.

This carefree Carlisle that Elizabeth's family brings out is so sweet. I wonder if that's where his dream came from—he's had such bitter fuel for his dreams most of his life. Being around a loving family must feel like stepping into the sunshine.

Shy Carlisle is so sweet, I know I keep saying it but he just is! Even though I know his plans will come to nothing in the end, it's still so nice that he's had this secret, sweet little courtship and known a warmer home—I think it's left a mark on him that will last for eternity.

I'm curious, do you have a certain Twilight character in mind for this origin story about "Ares?"

I enjoy the way Aro turns Carlisle over and over in his mind like a puzzle. They really do have so much in common... It's a shame that there was never a question of Carlisle being treated as his equal—he might have stayed much longer.

Ooh, you know I love the details re: how Carlisle slowly exposed himself to more and more temptation. But now that's a puzzle for Aro, too.

Garrett! Okay this is really ironic since just today I wrote about him being in Volterra too!

Of course Elizabeth keeps sneaking back into a disease-ridden sick ward :) Just like lil' Edward kept carrying his sled back up the hill despite being half-frozen (loved this flashback, he's so cute).

Elizabeth is a sharp one, noticing the oddness of Carlisle have a supposedly infallible memory and yet not remembering who she reminds him of.

That influenza was so cruel and violent. Ugh. It's heartbreaking that she didn't realize her husband had already died and now she can't even have a funeral or a normal grave for him. That scenario must have repeated itself thousands of times.

Carlisle seems so weary, so tired of living without hope for more. I think the stress and sadness of the pandemic really primed him to be in a more receptive, perhaps even reckless mood when Elizabeth makes her plea for her son. And the way you've set it up for this particular family to stick in his mind fills in the rest.

Lovely chapter. Even though Carlisle sees these moments of intimate compassion with certain patients as a weakness, these moments are when his spirit really shines.

Aw... I knew Carlisle would need a haircut before the fateful night to come, but still...I wonder if he's ever told Esme about his long hair? I really like the detail of how the haircut was a point of contention with his father. Even without the rules of Protectorate still echoing in everyone's ears, I'm sure William would have been against any evidence of "vanity."

Carlisle is SO adorable when he's being shy. Augh I love it. And what a fun, bittersweet way to make Elizabeth Masen and her family stand out to him in 1918.

Mmm... Sounds like Carlisle just got the first hint that his father's health might be failing. I really enjoyed the details of the bloodletting. If William had lived a few centuries earlier, I'm sure he would have happily worn a hair shirt and made Carlisle do it too.

This brief moment of tenderness when Carlisle is sleeping...!

... And this IS the work he's built for. Say you're not a doctor all you want, Carlisle, we know you can't resist the rush of validation when you heal someone!

Honestly, I wonder how many jobs he's had to leave because someone is INTENT on setting him up with some young lady or other. He doesn't realize how attractive his shyness is lol.

This scene with Aro and Sulpicia was a nice surprise. It sounds like Carlisle really is a breath of fresh air to everyone in Volterra...at least to those who like fresh air ;)

Hmm, who is the stranger?

Poor Carlisle...he's just not build for this kind of "work." I imagine him looking back to these days and wondering why he didn't stand up to his father sooner.

At least he has a nice distraction this time :)

Carlisle thanks you for letting him work three jobs with no one the wiser. Standing useless and alone at home for hours at a time would have been more exhausting, I think. I wonder what Aro would think of his race against human mortality here.

This moment with Dorothy taking care of him is one of those scenes I wish I could see as fan art :(

As a mom myself I'm aching with Elizabeth as she feels Edward Junior slipping out of her protective embrace. I wonder if he remembers Margaret... But then I suppose he never met her.

And with Elizabeth I'm savoring the image of Edward sleeping so peacefully—a type of rest he will never have again. Somehow, she knew.

Carlisle's first glimpse of Edward! The moment I've been aching for :) Oh and he's going to regret that promise. Oof. I love your writing so much.

I am not ashamed to confess that I sobbed like a child as soon as I anticipated Elizabeth's fate, and all through those critical chapters. This entire story is exquisitely crafted, deeply emotional and utterly believable. Bravo!

Thank you

I read this months ago and thought I reviewed? weird

Love the imagery of the rain and how Aro ponders the larger patterns he has come to see as the centuries come and go. I think I have similar imagery somewhere-how he had once thought of the march of time as a rising flood but now it is no more than an ebbing tide washing in rhythm against his toes. It makes me wonder how much harder it might be for an ancient vampire to switch to the veggie way, when they've come to see humanity as such a small, transient thing.

I've always wondered if whoever does the cleaning in Volterra has ever had to dust cobwebs off of Marcus.

and again SAME HAT! The headcanon that in the centuries following Marcus's little stunt, they had a shrine to St. Marcus for the very purpose of attracting delicious pilgrims. Love when our headcanons match up :)

Nooooo I love Carlisle wearing a cloak while he lives in Volterra! And of course this is so much better, his using it as a home base to visit FAR afield. And Carlisle seems happy to bring the record of his thoughts and everything he has seen as a gift for Aro every time he returns.

You've really captured the mutual respect and curiosity between Aro and Carlisle... as well as the slow souring of it and the feeling that something will have to change soon. I wonder if Aro used that "Young One" name because he knows Carlisle is listening? Or just coincidence?

Carlisle's down-to-earth contentment feels so simple and wholesome here. The strain of muscle, the relief at the warm sunlight, the quiet pride of making something sturdy with his own hands... despite all the lack between him and his father, he seems to have built himself a strong foundation for the trials ahead. Love his insight about how he somehow seems to find more comfort in their faith and in their little church than his father does. Even at this point, I wonder if he can look past his own hurt and pity his father.

Carlisle had a friend named Thomas in Tale of Years too! I'm curious why he said that it was obvious the Reverend wasn't home-is Carlisle not allowed to hum while he works, even a hymn? Or just Carlisle's general state of contentment?

Of course William saw the Great Fire as judgment against *something*. I'm glad you slipped into his POV for a bit. As much as I dislike him as a character, it's still important to find those tender spots and see what good things he might still hope for... even it's as simple as a legacy and a grandchild or two. Seeing Carlisle through his eyes is really intriguing. It makes me wonder what his marriage with Sarah would have been like if she had lived—whether he would have been much different.