Carlisle-Rosalie.

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle is in the house for several reasons. One - it's a rare sunny afternoon. Two - he doesn't have a shift until this evening.

Three - it's actually quiet. Most of the family is out.

So Carlisle's in one of the sitting areas by a stretch of windows, pen and notebook in hand.

Comments

[jealous-rose.livejournal.com]

"She sounds... very mysterious," Rosalie notes.

"How long have you known her?"

[ofthefamily]

"Not so long after Bella's appearance in our lives."

But he glosses over too much discussion on Bella - he knows his daughter's mind.

"She knows of my history as well. Trust me, it gets unnerving."

[jealous-rose.livejournal.com]

"You mean... you told her? Or she just... knew?" Rosalie asks, blinking in surprise.

[ofthefamily]

"She knew. Apparently she saw, which is much more mind-altering."

[jealous-rose.livejournal.com]

Rosalie falls silent. She had no idea there were people like that in Milliways... She starts to have second thoughts about spending more time there.

[ofthefamily]

Rosalie is very rarely, if ever, silent for good reasons.

"What is it?"

[jealous-rose.livejournal.com]

Rosalie pauses a moment to consider her words before answering.

"Do you really think it's safe... that some of them know about us?" she asks, her expression gravely serious.

[ofthefamily]

"I think it's a risk, most definitely."

Behind Star's picture is one of the layout of the Milliways infirmary.

"Even with everything that has happened there, I have difficulties believing that the risks outweigh the benefits that can be reaped there."

[jealous-rose.livejournal.com]

"Like what?" Rosalie can't help asking.

She glances down at the drawing of the infirmary. That's all well and good for Carlisle, certainly, but in her usual selfish way Rosalie's wondering what good it would do her to go more often.

[ofthefamily]

"So many questions.

"I am a vampire, but I can practice medicine there. Be all of myself all at once."

Carlisle shrugs. "As adept as I am with it? Not having to lie is sometimes a welcome experience."

[jealous-rose.livejournal.com]

"I just can't help wondering what the Volturi would have to say about it," Rosalie points out, flat and blunt.

[ofthefamily]

And needed. Carlisle can't begrudge that of Rosalie either.

"They'd most likely be upset at us having discovered a potential asset to exploit before they have."

[jealous-rose.livejournal.com]

"Doesn't that just make them more likely to kill us?"

[ofthefamily]

"Rosalie."

Carlisle isn't really sure how to explain this.

"They would have no interest in killing you, my dear. Or Emmett."

[jealous-rose.livejournal.com]

Rosalie gives her father a long, intense look. It's almost angry, almost hurt, and somehow confused.

She seems to break out of it, though, before she asks, "How do you know they wouldn't?"

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle doesn't. Not really. He can't guarantee anything when it comes to the actions of the Volturi, or any of their whims when it comes to Carlisle's family.

"You haven't done anything against them."

[jealous-rose.livejournal.com]

"We will have if we tell people what we are," Rosalie objects immediately.

And then, almost as though it were an afterthought...

"Besides," she swallows-- her voice is too soft; it seems to come out with difficulty. "You're missing the point."

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle just arches an eyebrow to wait - he doesn't want to assume.

[jealous-rose.livejournal.com]

Rosalie's embarrassed, or maybe hurt, so she gets a little defensive.

"You're acting like I wouldn't care if anything happened to the rest of you," she accuses, her voice a little higher in pitch than normal.

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle's mouth opens, then closes again.

He had been.

"I apologize, Rosalie. That had not been my intent. I guess...I want it to be okay. Milliways. Even with everything that has happened there."

Looking back at the sketchbook with a sigh, "I like that people know me."

[jealous-rose.livejournal.com]

Rosalie can never stay irritated with Carlisle for long. She's never figured out why-- maybe it's the way he tends to turn the other cheek like that... But she can't bring herself to mind, either.

She sighs, heavily. And gets up off the armrest to kneel and lean over it, resting her cheek lightly on Carlisle's shoulder.

"I'm sorry," she admits, unable to look at him. "I'm just... worried." She adds, with difficulty again, "I don't want anything to happen to you."

[ofthefamily]

"Thank you, Rose," Carlisle mumbles into the crown of hair so near his own.

"Between you and Esme, I fear for those who would act against us."

[jealous-rose.livejournal.com]

Rosalie just closes her eyes, settling ever so slightly closer into her father's arm.

She can't help thinking that only someone who was purely evil would intentionally hurt someone like Carlisle. At the same time, she thinks about how grateful she is for him and Esme and the rest of their family, even if it's more people to worry about.

But she's not sure she can admit that out loud.

[ofthefamily]

The good news is that she doesn't have to.

"What are you going to be doing with yourself for the rest of the day?"

[jealous-rose.livejournal.com]

She exhales, and sits up to look at him.

"I'm not sure," she admits. "Emmett won't be home for another couple of hours."

After a pause, she asks, "How about you?"