Carlisle-Edward.

[ofthefamily]

Coming home to Alice and Jasper's fight was not the most thrilling way to start Carlisle's afternoon.

"Maybe I should have taken that extra shift at the hospital..."

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[themidnightson]

Edward's on the main floor, watching the rain through the glass wall.

He's heard everything, but that's hardly news to anyone here.

[ofthefamily]

Certainly not after the goings-on upstairs. Carlisle can't seem to find peace in his office after that, so he decides to go down to the first floor, perhaps see what the rest of the family is up to --

"Edward." Carlisle manages a smile for the boy, though his heart's not really in it.

[themidnightson]

The house has gone from angry to repentant to otherwise occupied. And Edward with it.

Listening to all their concerns, he can't help bear their thoughts, words and actions as the parallel for remembering he'd gone, in part, to forget something that inevitably has stopped being forgotten as well.

"They'll be fine," he said, quiet and even, without looking away from the rain. But, perhaps, Carlisle is smart enough, or used to Edward enough, to read what he's really saying.

That they'll all be fine.

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle is still not quite in the mood for obtuse.

He stops at the bottom of the stairs. "Was there a specific reference point you wanted to clarify with me with that statement?"

[themidnightson]

He's over reacting, Edward doesn't say.

It's rude and he's not in the mood to rude right now.

Edward glanced over finally. His clothes are clean, fresh off one of Alice's many racks that make them look like the runway supports their house. And there are still crystalline drops of water in his hair.

"There was very little risk to it. It has far more cause for annoyance."

[ofthefamily]

"I'm assuming you heard what I explained to Alice," Carlisle starts, efforts at calming himself being aided for better or worse by the turn of events in Alice and Jasper's bedroom.

"I know you both are capable of taking care of yourselves. Presuming the rest of us will not be concerned is simply illogical."

[themidnightson]

"Neither of us expected you wouldn't be."

But the fact that they would hadn't stopped them either.

There's a wry, not quite fitting with the conversation, twist to his expression as he looked back out.

[ofthefamily]

"What."

'What do you want from me?', or possibly just 'What is so funny?'. Maybe both.

I want to like the place --

Or maybe he's just tired of looking at Edward's back.

-- I haven't found much cause yet.

Carlisle retreats to the kitchen.

[themidnightson]

It takes about forty seconds, but then Edward follows.

He's not really going to explain the in bad taste thought he'd had about how every conversation anyone had with him lately has the word or the essence of concern in it.

"It started out as a hedge maze with a polka dotted dinosaur."

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle's frustration stuttersteps.

"What? Why?"

[themidnightson]

Edward gave an offhand shrug.

"I'm not certain. It didn't look anything like Bonzo's memories of the place. It seems to shift and change at will. It's entrances, occupants, and the rooms."

[ofthefamily]

("I will not have my family splinter at each other about a bar.")

Carlisle perches on one of the stools tucked under the breakfast island, not appearing to have anything to say. Instead, an old habit: replaying images needlessly from his point of view, letting them explain what Carlisle is too tired or too much at a loss to explain verbally.

("Someone needs to tell me what they would have me do -- ")

[themidnightson]

Edward didn't cringe, though he watched the impulse to come and go before letting his hands drop to rest, whisper silent, fingers pressed on the opposite edge of the island.

Things crowded his mouth.

But one by one he dismissed them.

They were right but they weren't enough.

"Would you have had me not tell them?"

[ofthefamily]

"...No." It's sincere, even if slow in coming.

With a wry thought towards an upcoming birthday, "Perhaps I'm getting old. I'm not going with the flow of things as much anymore."

[themidnightson]

"Well," Edward said, with a faint curl to his lips even though the sentiment in his eyes didn't change. "You are getting particularly ancient."

His expression shifted though, without looking away.

"None of us take particularly well to sudden change," he said, with quiet begrudging honesty. Their past was a checked blanket of certain moments of just that.

[ofthefamily]

"Except for perhaps Esme. Or Alice, if any change is ever sudden for her."