The family, coming from Milliways.

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle originally hadn't wanted to go home. Everyone was so loud at Milliways, though, and when Edward starts to even think the phrase There would be fewer people to listen to -- Carlisle's already standing to go

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[themidnightson]

Edward doesn't ask to follow. His thought process barely ghosts over the nature of the idea of leaving Carlisle to his own devices at the moment. The steps are silent on the well kept carpet and wood paneling. The voices of his (their) family, the key stones of his very comfort, are an unavoidable onslaught to Carlisle. He wants to say it gets better (easier) but he doesn't. Because he hopes it doesn't get better. He only hopes it will stop soon.

Do you want them to know?

Edward would keep them away, after all, if he didn't.

He's not certain how yet, but the offer and the intent are iron clad.

[ofthefamily]

I think so? Does it get easier if there's one person to focus on?

Is it always like this?

Carlisle moves too quickly for human to his office, dropping himself in his usual desk chair with a weariness Carlisle hasn't experienced in centuries.

This has to be temporary, Carlisle starts to argue with himself, staring at his hand rather than Edward. The carpal bones are scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform, trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate --

[themidnightson]

You'll still hear them, because they are so close.

He can tell where all of them are right now, but then he can also tell where very much more than all of his family is. There are cars passing on the road and there's a convenience store that he hardly considers 'convenient.'

"Your focus might be served better if you talked to them one on one and not in a big group. It could be--"

Hell is what he doesn't think or say. Instead it's a catalog of mismatched thoughts and images and reactions and emotions all layering on each in a dizzying whirl. Having to deal with all them reacting or acting or thinking at once to him, at him, around him, avoiding their thoughts for his problem.

[ofthefamily]

This is going to give me vertigo. Or should.

Carlisle's already on to the bones of the foot.

How you managed when we traveled --

Carlisle's thinking of the times when they've moved as a family, and earlier.

[keptherwaiting]

Jasper was watching the television with Alice when Carlisle comes in. Some fashion show or another where they remake someone over. His wife keeps a running, colorful commentary on the clothes as they watch, he mostly frowns and keeps his thoughts to himself.

- Something's wrong with Carlisle. He's agitated. Oh! Alice would look nice in that. I wonder if - God, this woman needs to keep her mouth shut. She has the most annoying voice, how can Alice watch this? Is she the host? I would rip her throat.

And as soon as the last unbidden thought occurs, a slew of bloody images accompany it, some memories and others not, until Jasper shifts uncomfortably on the couch, attempting to rid himself of the thoughts and the tickle in his throat.

Only, the more he tries not to think about it, the more he does.

Stop thinking about it. Think of Alice. Think of your wife. Just stop thinking about it.

[themidnightson]

Edward left the office and walked downstairs calmly, pulling on decades of lying flawlessly without meaning to, even if he is distracted by most of his focus staying on Carlisle waiting in his office.

"Jasper, Carlisle and I were hoping we could talk to you."

His glance shifted to Alice, with a bit of a smile for the place her thought were in on the tv and fashion clothing. He'd be watching her do new designs in the closet soon enough. "We'll return him soon enough."

[keptherwaiting]

Jasper disentangles himself for Alice, only stopping to drop a kiss to the top of her head before she shoos him away because a nice pair of shoes just flashed on the screen.

He follows his brother. Is something wrong with Carlisle? He doesn't think the request for his presence would be about the stray thoughts he just had. He has those all the time. That's normal, Edward deals all the time with, Carlisle's distress is not.

[themidnightson]

There's a glance at the question, making sure to catch Japer's eye when he does so. It comes with a pause long enough that means even though the answer isn't yes and isn't no there's something missing in the middle.

Something Edward isn't saying out loud yet, due to his respect for Carlisle handling this as he would. He's sure between that and his feelings Jasper got a clear enough picture that this isn't about the fashionista on the TV.

Edward opened the door holding it for Jasper, with a nod inward that made it even more apparent his request wasn't exactly for Carlisle and himself. It was about getting Jasper to Carlisle.

Once Jasper is in, Edward closed the door and moved toward the wide window silently.

[betagainstme]

Alice has since stopped watching the fashion show and has since turned to drawing out new designs for the family. She hangs off a couch in the Closet, her heels dangling off her feet as she stares up at the designs she's finished.

Her mind is filled with so much, the designs, the future, her nit-picky thoughts on said designs. She flips her pencil and erases a bit and re-draws it, pausing as minor futures spin out before her (Rosalie sliding her hands over Emmett's shoulders, sliding further-- Alice snaps herself out of it before being forced to endure more of that), frowning at the lack of any idea as to what Jasper has planned for their anniversary.

She shifts, swinging around to lay on her stomach on the couch. He's diving me insane, not telling me, not making any decisions, it's so-- maybe blue instead of pink here...

[ofthefamily]

Alice is nearly more difficult than Jasper, but at least Carlisle can get her attention from his office.

In thirty seconds, Carlisle is going to take his best Alice-approved tie and shove it through a paper-shredder.

Twenty-nine.

[betagainstme]

She's up in a flash, her heels shoved back on, and then up the stairs to his office.

Whether or not she truly does believe he's going to do it, the scowl on her face is...scowlerific. "Carlisle."

[themidnightson]

Edward doesn't stop her because Carlisle is summoning her with his decision, no matter how debatable its realistic basis is. As such, he's actually there at the perfect moment to open the door, timing it with her thoughts, her movement, and the sound of her scathing disapproval.

Maybe if Carlisle isn't too distracted, he'll noticed that milliseconds before Edward moves to do so Edward had also seen and acknowledged himself doing exactly that in his mind from Alice's.

She gets a quiet glance, honest (for the situation) and amused (at her dawning horror of the threat), before he's shutting the door behind her. No matter what or how this is, having them both in the room makes him more relaxed. It's intrinsic to who they are.

[mamavamp]

Esme is holed up in her office, working on sketches for a house she wants to purchase and re-model.

Knock out this wall... add a half wall between the living room and dining room... could make this a great house and sell it low so a needy family has a nice place to live... wish I could do something like Extreme Home Makeover, but that would draw too much attention to us... with the light in this room, I could paint it a darker color, maybe wood paneling...

[ofthefamily]

She's the only person in the house that would make Carlisle leave his study like this.

Carlisle's pace actually quickens moving towards his wife. He can hear Edward behind him not more than two paces away.

He raises his hand in a little wave. It's better than speaking.

[mamavamp]

Hearing two sets of footsteps heading towards her office makes Esme put her colored pencils down and look up expectantly.

Something's wrong. I hope no one was hurt.

She raises an eyebrow when Carlisle waves. "What's wrong?"

God, please not the kids. I wonder if it's Milliways. I knew that bar was going to be trouble.

[themidnightson]

He's watched them for years, and it makes him as reluctant to intrude here on them talking and now as it is impossible for him to feel comfortable leaving Carlisle in his state. Edward choose to remain remotely near the door this time, not closing it.

Remember. Out loud.

It's only a quiet, easy reminder.

Even as he's giving Esme a tried half-smile.