late 1950 //

[betagainstme]

A few days after a victory with Edward, Alice still has an unsettled feeling in the pit of her stomach.

First, Edward's tiny non-reaction to her visions upon waking up, and second, the weighty knowledge of her lack of knowledge. Of her waking up alone and trying to figure out what comes next. It's been thirty years since that happened but she's never...talked about it with anyone, other than Jasper, who has no idea what it is like.

Waking up, completely changed, completely alone.

She wanders down the hall of the first floor, still learning the layout of the house and searching for Carlisle. Unsurprisingly, she finds him in his office, sitting at his desk. Tapping her fingers against the doorjamb, she gives a little wave. "Hey, Carlisle. Can I come in?"

Comments

[ofthefamily]

"Good luck with that. You've got 310 years to get through. Not that all of them were eventful.

"I hope you'll find the effort worthwhile."

[betagainstme]

"Well, unless you're planning on kicking us out any time soon, I think I'll have the time."

She's smiling but also...please don't kick her out?

[ofthefamily]

"How could I? Esme would slaughter me."

[betagainstme]

"Well, as long as Esme loves me," Alice leans forward, her elbows on her knees. "Then I guess I'm safe."

[ofthefamily]

"Enh, you may have a couple more people who want you to stay around than just Esme."

[betagainstme]

“Oh, good.” Alice laughs brightly. “So we’ve got Esme and Emmett on our side, Rosalie and Edward as maybes and you..?”

[ofthefamily]

"Is there actually a question of my opinion here?"

[betagainstme]

“Well, I didn’t want to put words in your mouth, mon père.”

[ofthefamily]

Saying I love you is complex, somehow. He only says it to Esme with any regularity. And the rest of the family was born out of need and his own motivations. Nobody else just appeared like Alice and Jasper did.

Carlisle has never had the time before to decide to love someone.

So he goes for the most true thing he knows.

"I could not be happier that you are here."

[betagainstme]

Alice stands and is by his side in an instant, dipping forward with her hands behind her back to press a light kiss against his cheek. “Me too, Carlisle. Thank you.”

She knows love is harder than she thinks it is.

Alice has loved them since the 1920s, when she could barely make out their faces. A family. One day, hers.

But they will. He will. Love her.

[ofthefamily]

"You're welcome."

While she is still close, a question occurs to Carlisle, though Alice likely picks it up before he voices it. "Will you let me know, if you have any other questions? Or visions, about them?"

[betagainstme]

"Of course," Alice whispers, her hand closing on his shoulder. "Always. Should I keep an eye on anything in particular?"

[ofthefamily]

"If you see a specific face, or specific action.

"I'm sorry to say that they may always be a specter in your visions. From time to time."

[betagainstme]

"I can handle specters." Alice nods, letting go of his shoulder to walk back around his desk. "And you'll be the first to know."

A beat.

"Second, since Edward can see the visions in my head."

[ofthefamily]

"I can handle that."

Even though a thought visibly occurs to him, makes Carlisle's forehead crease slightly.

"Don't give Edward too much of a head start, hmm?"

[betagainstme]

Her head cocks to the side again, but she nods and shrugs. "Of course. You're the one who knows them, anyway. I'll let you know if anything comes up."

[ofthefamily]

"Now.

"Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?" In the way of official business, at any rate.

"There's always medical journals."

[betagainstme]

"Hm," She wrinkles her nose. "Not my forte, I'm afraid. I'll leave the medical degrees to you, Rosalie and Edward. Now, if you want fashion advice..."

[ofthefamily]

Oddly enough, the nose wrinkle shared by Carlisle and Alice makes them look blood related.

"I think I'll pass. No offense, but I feel as though an endeavor like that might not work out in my favor."

[betagainstme]

"Eventually," she smiles, all sharp teeth, "you'll give in, and I'll be in charge of your wardrobe. Better to just give in early."

[ofthefamily]

Trying not to smile himself:

"You know me. Always taking the easy way of doing things."

[betagainstme]

Hah. She just shakes her head at him. Carlisle doesn't know the meaning of the word 'easy'.

"Talk to Jasper, he'll give you the rundown on how wardrobes go." Her face brightens with another smile. "'Course he didn't have much to fight with when I got my hands on him."

[ofthefamily]

"Must have been tiring, disposing of all the sequins," he deadpans.

There's a hey! from the other side of the house, which makes Carlisle actually laugh.

[betagainstme]

Alice joins him in laughter, pleased at seeing his smile. "I'll leave you be, Carlisle. Thank you, for answering questions. And again, for taking us strays in."

She wrinkles her nose at him again, this time playfully, as she begins backing out of his office.