Carlisle could hear her, her sobs echoing in his mind, her pain running through him, ripping open old wounds as it filled him with an ache that wasn't going away. He belonged with her right now, calming her, telling her it was okay, but he wasn't there for her as he should have been. He sighed, shaking his head as he sat on the edge of the bed in his room, pulling his polished dress shoes off, sitting them in the closet neatly as he tried to block her out. It wasn't working. It hurt; every step he took away from her, the pain was nearly overwhelming. Had she been in pain all this time? Hadn't she been the one who shunned him, hadn't she told him to forget her? He sighed, unbuttoning his shirt slowly, his mind running on overdrive. He didn't hear Esme enter their bedroom, her slight fingers pulling his shirt off slowly, her fingertips running down as his back as she kissed his neck lightly. That feeling wasn't the same, either. He didn't respond to her touch the way he should have, he pulled away from her slowly, unbuckling his belt. She watched him, her gold eyes following him curiously, confused. "What is it?" She asked, slightly hurt as she sat on the bed, her eyes following him. "It was a long day at work." He answered, pulling the white shirt over his head, revealing his chiseled chest. She smiled, slyly, "I could help you forget it." He smiled lightly, not addressing her hint the way he normally would. "I know, but I'm in no mood, Esme. I think I'm just going to shower and read tonight, catch up on some filing." He told her, grabbing a white shirt, plain black boxer-briefs and a pair of plaid pajama pants, walking into their bathroom, pushing the door closed. She followed him, still hurt, opening the door. "Carlisle, what is it, really?" She asked, watching as he unbuttoned his pants, her desire growing even stronger, her stomach tightening as he pushed his pants and boxer-briefs off his hips, standing before her naked. "Just work, love." He smiled, stepping into the shower, turning the knobs, still trying to push Beth from his brain, unsuccessfully. She watched him for a moment longer, all but ripping her dress off, ridding herself of her undergarments as well, and stepping into the shower. She wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder. "I don't usually have to offer myself to you this many times." She whispered against his skin, her lips resting against the back of his neck. "Esme, I'm in no mood. My mind is elsewhere." He sighed, slightly irritated. At least he wasn't lying. She didn't move, instead her lips moved across his skin slowly, to his shoulder as her hand started to slide down his stomach. He moved out of her grasp quickly, and out of the shower, before anymore damage was done. He dried off in record speed, pulling on his boxer-briefs and pajama pants quickly before disappearing from the bathroom, and bedroom. His hair was damp and messy as he walked toward Edward's old room, nervous. The shower was off. His fingers wrapped around the knob, but he heard her moving toward the door, her footsteps so light, so frail. He moved quickly, disappearing down the stairs, cursing himself for even going near her room like that. He listened to the door creak open, her feet padding lightly down the hall. She jogged down the staircase, shivering lightly as her wet hair brushed against her bare back. He was in the kitchen, washing dishes that were already sparkling clean when he turned to face her, smiling as if there was nothing between them. "Hope you're comfortable in your room." He commented, looking back at the dishes, his jaw clenched. Her red rimmed eyes lingered on him before she looked away finally, walking over to the fridge. "I am. Thank you." Her words were short, punctual, with no emotion behind them. Her poker face was just as good as his. He shut the water off, drying his hands on a dish towel, turning to watch her as she grabbed the orange juice, glancing over the expiration date by habit. He smiled to himself, internally, glancing over the face he knew so well. "If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask." He offered, trying to spark conversation. It'd been so long since he'd heard her speak more than a short sentence; it'd been too long since she was this close to him, her scent washing over him in waves. "Edward already told me." She sighed, screwing the top off the orange juice, sitting it on top of the counter as she reached for a glass, her camisole pulling up as she reached up, exposing part of her side and stomach as she stood on her tippy toes, trying to reach a glass. Desire rushed through him, as did an ache that had been gone for too long. "Let me get that." He said; his voice a mere whisper as he was next to her in a second, his arm and body brushing against hers as he grabbed a glass. She ripped away from him, moving quickly as she hissed slightly, like his touch had hurt her, singed her, and burned her. He hid his hurt with a smile, extending the glass toward her. She watched him, reaching her hand out, snatching the glass away from him, careful not to touch him. "I think I'll just get water." She whispered, her eyes dancing over his face as she glanced back at the orange juice behind him, letting her front down for a moment, her tone full of the emotion that had set her eyes on fire. She filled the glass with tap water, gulping it down, not turning to face him. He listened as her heartbeat slowed, her blood no longer rushing. He smirked, almost, still hurt. She filled the glass again, swallowing the second glass just as quickly as the first, her grip on the sink loosening. "I'll be in the library, if you need me. Usually Esme's in and out throughout the night, so if you need her either, just knock on our door. Same with everyone else, we don't have to sleep." He smiled, saying Esme's name almost inaudibly. "Thanks." She whispered, her voice cracking as she sat the glass in the sink carefully, her breasts heaving as she tried to catch her breath. His eyes lingered on her, taking her in just a moment longer, lovingly, longingly, painfully. "Night, Lizzie." His whispered, saying her name so lovingly that her heart skipped a beat as she bit her lip. She just nodded, unable to speak.