The big city.

Cora frowned.

"It's okay..." She said softly, stopping and reaching up and placing a hand on his cheek. She hadn't seen him like this before.

Carlisle shut his eyes and breathed in deeply. He was silent as he stood there trying to calm himself down.

Cora frowned, and hugged him. She closed her eyes tightly, holding him close to her. She wanted to help, but didn't know how. This was all she could do.

Carlisle calmed down in her embrace and sighed lightly "Do you mind only meeting one at a time? I might not be able to handle them both together." he asked as he hugged her back.

"That's fine," Cora said quietly, finally opening her eyes. "Whatever is easier for you." She didn't like seeing him stressed out or angry.

"Thank you." Carlisle said quietly. "I love you." he told her after a few moments.

"I love you, too," Cora said quietly. She finally pulled back. "Are you okay now?" She asked quietly.

Carlisle nodded and gave her a small smile, "Thank you for being here for me. I'm not sure what I'd do without you." he admitted.

Cora smiled at him.

"And I don't know what I'd do without you," She said softly.

Carlisle gave her an affectionate smile "Shall we continue our walk?" he asked her kindly.

Cora nodded, and took his hand again. As she began to walk, she tried to keep her mind away from the many scenarios she had seen each night in her dreams, each worse then the last. Of what could happen.

She wanted to focus on just now, but she couldn't seem to keep her thoughts clear.

"You seem unhappy." Carlisle said after several moments of walking. "What's wrong?" he asked her worriedly.

"It's nothing," Cora said quickly. "I'm fine." She sighed lightly, then forced a smile at him.

Carlisle looked at her and raised an eyebrow at her, "Right..." he said skeptically.

"Really," She insisted. "I'm fine." She smiled at him again, and started to walk again, still holding his hand tightly in her own.

Carlisle stopped himself from rolling his eyes and pulled out his cell phone. "Hey Rose." He said when the other line picked up. "Yeah, but just Andrea." He said, "Thank you." he then hung up. He then turned to Cora. "She'll be at the house when we get back." He told her, trying to sound happy.

Cora frowned, then nodded. She knew this was stressful for him, and wanted to make it as easy for him as she could.

"I'll be fine." Carlisle said, more for his benefit then his own. He gripped her hand tighter and then loosened it just as quick "It's fine, I haven't seen then in a while and they can't possibly still be that way." he added to himself.

Cora smiled somewhat sadly at him and kept walking, though her mind was a million miles away again.

Carlisle realized that she was no longer with him mentally. He kept walking wordlessly, still trying to convince himself his parents weren't that bad.

Cora was thinking about her own parents now. What would they think of her? Would they be proud? Disappointed? What?
~~~~~
Andrea was in heaven again, in one of the gardens, chewing on an apple thoughtfully.

Andrea was at Ashley's home now, sitting on the couch, looking quite bored, like she wanted to leave already. She had her hands folded on her lap, getting somewhat impatient.
~~~~~
Cora was still holding his hand as they walked back towards Ashley's house. Now she was getting nervous about meeting his mom.

Ashley and Carmen sat in the kitchen, listening in on Andrea and Rose.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the living room Rose sat in a chair stiffly, waiting for Carlisle and Cora to return.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Carlisle gripped her hand tightly in his. He was slightly anxious for his mother to meet Cora, even if she didn't like him there was no way she could not like Cora, in his opinion anyway.

Andrea seemed to have little interest in conversation. She just sat on the couch, staring at the door, as if waiting for them to come in so she could pounce on them or something.
~~~~~
Cora could tell he was anxious again, and she wasn't sure how to make him feel better. So she just kept walking silently, trying to think of what to say to his mother.

Rose was perfectly fine with not talking. She sat still and waited.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Carlisle stiffened slightly as the house came closer into view.