It was a quiet afternoon. The clouds that drifted over Forks were the usual dull grey, the drizzle falling from them making the airy clammy.

"It has been so long now," Carmen sighed from the end of the phone

"I know, we must visit soon." It was true, it had been a long time since we had seen our friends from Denali, and I missed the four women I called my sisters. It was then that I heard the familiar sound of tyres at the top of the drive.

"Please do, life here is rather dull at the moment!" Carmen exclaimed.

"I'll speak with you tomorrow, see if we can arrange anything. For now I must go, the others are coming home from school now! Give my best to Tanya, Irina, Kate and Eleazar."

"Goodbye Esme!" she said cheerfully. "Hope to see you soon."

"Goodbye Carmen." I smiled as I hung up. Carmen was a real sweetheart, and it was true, it had been so long since we had seen them.

Drifting down the stairs to meet my family, I was surprised when I heard the engine of the car cut off, followed by slamming doors. Then the car was back into drive, and gone within a second.

It took longer than usual for the others to reach the house. I was curious as to why one of them had taken the car without coming home first. It worried me. It didn't take long for the shapes of my children to emerge from the trees, and I could tell in an instant who was missing. Which worried me even more. Rose and Emmett were walking arm in arm, talking softly to one another. Alice and Jasper walked apart. Jasper wore a grave expression, but it was not him that worried me. It was little Alice. Her face was blank as she searched the future, before turning to that of upmost misery. Something was very wrong.

"Alice, what has happened?" I asked,hurrying down the steps to greet her. Her sad eyes met mine, and she was in my arms in a second. "It's Edward, isn't it?" I breathed. She merely nodded into my shoulder. Emmett patted her back affectionately as he passed.

"Alice, do you want me to explain?" Rosalie murmured gently once we were inside.

"No, it would be better if I did," she replied, smiling wearily at her sister. "But thanks Rose."

"There is a new girl at school," Alice began slowly, getting up and walking to the window. She stared out of it over the river, trying to word her thoughts. "Edward was... tempted. Tempted beyond anything he has ever been before."

"What do you mean? I don't understand." I was beginning to feel something gnaw the bottom of my stomach.

"Her... blood." Alice grimaced, and looked up for a moment.

"Her blood?" I repeated. My fears were confirmed, and my heart dropped. My son. My darling Edward. This would break him. "What happened?" I hoped that her words would not be what I feared they were.

"Do not worry. He didn't give in... as such." Her brow was furrowed.

"But...?"

But he almost did. The visions, what I saw... it was horrible. But he made it through the hour class he had with her, and then bailed."

I felt calm, more assured, as she told me more. But there was still something wrong. "And now what?"

Alice looked glum. "He has gone to see Carlisle. From what I can tell, it was only the thought of Carlisle that kept him from devouring the Swan girl."

"Charlie Swan's daughter?" Of course it was. There was no one else new in the small town of Forks. Alice nodded slowly, still staring out of the window. "What is he planning to do now?"

"To leave." Alice was silent after that. I followed her gaze out over the garden and down the river. It was a grey, murky day, but there was no use denying that is was beautiful. The wet, green grass swayed gently in the breeze, the leaves rustling quietly in the trees. I could hear the faint trickling water of the stream, and birds twittering in the trees. Jasper came quietly to stand with us, wrapping an arm around Alice's waist. She leaned up to kiss his lips briefly, before turning back to face outside. The three of us stayed like that for half an hour or more, the quiet murmuring of Rosalie and Emmett coming from the garage.

"Carlisle is coming home, Esme."

I looked at Alice. She was watching me. I gave her a questioning look, not daring to ask the question.

"Without Edward," she replied in a quiet voice. I sighed, sadness washing over me, and made my way slowly to the study.

The huge door creaked open when I pushed it, revealing the tall, wide room that was used by my husband. I walked slowly around the edges of the room, running my fingers over the books that lined the walls and let my hand rest on a leather-bound book. Edward wrote that book. I could hardly bear to look at it, knowing that I may not see him for a year or more. Until we left Forks, no doubt. The office had a comforting smell to it. Edward's scent was still fairly fresh in the room, as he often spent time with Carlisle in here. Most evening they were together up here, talking for hours on end, although nights were a different matter all together...

I shook my head, reminding myself to stay focused, but couldn't help smiling. Nearly ninety years, and still the magic was as strong as it was the first time. But I was brought back crashing down to earth as I saw a note in Edward's hand. My poor, darling son. We had all been there, been tempted beyond anything before. I had not been strong enough to come away though. The final scream of my victim still tortured me. At the time I thought that his blood would make it worth it, worth the regret, worth the kill. It really wasn't. But the strength that Edward had shown, was still showing, to be able to walk away, to resist, made me proud.

The familiar sound of tyres at the top of the drive pulled me out of my thoughts, and I became nervous. Nervous for the news that Carlisle no doubt bore. I walked slowly over to the leather chair that sat behind the desk, and waited...