Title: Love Makes Martyrs Of Us All
Rating: Overall, it will be Nc-17, but this chapter is PG-13
Summary: In a re-working of New Moon, Carlisle trades himself to free Edward from the Volturri. How far will Esme go to get him back, and what will be the final cost?
Disclaimer: I do not own Carlisle, Esme, Aro, or anyone else in this fic. Stephanie Meyer does. I'm not 100% sure she'd like what I've done with them, but I won't be making any money.
A/N: This fic will, in the next chapter, contain description of rape. I know firsthand how triggering reading things like that can be, so please, don't read it if you think it'll effect you badly.
Also: Alternate Universe where Alice got Carlisle, not Bella, to come with her to Italy.
Title from a Mary Ann Douglas song

PLEASE read the A/N, I don't want anyone hurt by the material in the next chapter.

Esme looked up from the table she'd been staring at for two days when she heard a car pull into the garage. She was on her feet in an instant, rushing to open the door. Edward stepped out of Alice's car, paler than usual, and when he catches her eyes, he can only hold her gaze for a moment before he looks at the floor.

"Esme…Mother…I'm so sorr-" She cut him off, holding out her arms to him. He went into them immediately, shaking with relief and long-crushed emotion.

Esme gentled her oldest son into the house, settling them both on the sofa. She rocks him, glad to have him safe with her again. He shuddered against her, and she smoothed a lock of bronze hair, humming soothingly.

Alice entered the room, looking almost as wrecked as Edward. Esme looked up at her.

"Thank god you found him, Alice." She looked back at the door. "What happened…and where's Carlisle?" Alice's eyes closed for a moment, and Esme felt her face drain.

"Esme…we…Carlisle and I….we were too late. The Volturri already had Edward when we reached the city. He'd already shown himself…in the sunlight." Edward pressed closer to Esme's side and she held him tighter, nodding to Alice to go on. Alice took a deep breath.

"They wanted to kill him. They were going to kill him. But Carlisle…" she broke off, unable to look at Esme. Edward didn't look up, but forced himself to speak in his sister's place.

"Carlisle…called in every favor Aro owed him. He reminded him of their friendship, their years together." He hid his face in his hands. "He begged Aro on his knees, for me!"

Esme rubbed his back. "You would have done the same, Edward. No one blames you. And he let you go. So…" Alice swallowed.

"Aro said he would spare all our lives, and let Edward and I leave if…if Carlisle would take Edward's place in their prison."

Esme closed her eyes for a moment, trying to unhear what her children were telling her. Edward looked up at her.

"We'll get him back, Esme, I swear. We'll all go, we can fight, and-"

"No." Esme cut them off. "I go. Alone." Both of them gaped at her.

"Esme you can't! They'll kill you." Alice cried, dropping to her knees at her mother's feet. Esme shook her head.

"He created me, Alice. He…saved me. Every day of my life belongs to him." She looked down at her lap, and couldn't stop her breath from catching. "More than that…he is my husband. I need him. I've lived for him, and I will die for him." She looked at them both, raw emotion in her eyes.

"What would you do?"

It took two days to reach Volterra, and another to get past the city's gates. She fed daily, knowing she'll need the strength to face the Volturri. And the moment she entered Volterra, her planning was proved wise. Demitri and Felix found her immediately, their eyes full of glittering hunger. Her thoughts whirled around her head (wherearetheykeepinghimohgodisheevenaliveohCarlislei'llfindyoupleasepleasebealiveplease) but she kept her composure as they led her through the catacombs, and by the time she finally sees Aro, her fear has turned to hate.

"Where is my husband, Aro." She demanded, her voice low and cold and new to her. Aro simply smiled at her.

"Dear Esme Cullen! I knew it wouldn't be long before we met you." He effused, reaching to embrace her. She pulled away from him, not bothering to ask how he knew her. Edward had explained Aro's gifts. She swallowed hard, and squared her shoulders.

"I'm a patient woman, Aro. I do have five teenagers. But when it comes to Carlisle, I refuse to play your games. You give him to me now, or, God as my witness, before this is over? I will look down on your corpse and smile."

Her words had little effect if any. Aro mearly laughed, clapping his hands.

"Such spirit! I'm impressed, my dear." He shook his head. "Carlisle is wrong about you. His thoughts showed me a dove, but here stands a lioness." He waved a hand at the guard. "Leave us, dear ones. Mrs. Cullen and I must speak in private."

The guard filed from the room, and Aro seated himself in one of this high back chairs behind the long stone table.

"Let me be frank, Mrs. Cullen, Esme, if I may?" She simply glared at him, but he continued. "The truth of the matter is, you don't have much to offer me. You have no powers, no special skills. And no one hear needs a mother."

"I don't have much, but whatever you want, it's yours. Take my life, if you wish." She held her head up, daring him to mock her.

He studied her intently. "And you would give it up that easily? Martyrdom must be the Cullen curse."

She shook her head, her eyes and mind sure. "My life was his the moment his lips touched my throat."

Aro rose from his chair, still staring at her. "You are full of convictions, dear girl. But tell me…" he was beside her in an instant, his impassive stare more terrifying than any anger. "How much further than that would you go? You would give up your life but what else?"

She held still as she could, staring ahead, not daring to catch his eyes. "What do you mean?"

He twirled a strand of caramel hair around his fingers, and whispered in her ear, almost caressingly. "Would you prostitute yourself, to save him?"