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Edward couldn’t breathe.
Not really.
Not through the thumb in his mouth, not through the hiccupping gasps, not through the ache that felt like it had sunk into the bones of his chest. His legs were pulled up so tight to his body that his hips hurt, but he couldn’t stop.
He felt like a broken doll, shaking and whimpering in the dark.
The teasing wouldn’t stop echoing in his head.
What if they all saw? What if Bella saw? What if Carlisle is disappointed?
His sobs sharpened at the last thought. “Daddy,” he whispered hoarsely, around his thumb. “D-daddy... I messed up.”
He barely heard the hurried footsteps echoing through the halls.
But the others did.
---
“He ran this way,” Alice’s voice rang, clear and focused. She had her hand in Bella’s, her eyes glowing with fury.
“His feelings are all over the place,” Jasper added, his brow furrowed. “He’s so ashamed. So scared.”
“He shouldn’t be alone,” Bella said, breathless. She didn’t sound angry, just scared for him.
“I think I hear him,” Rosalie murmured, turning toward the back hallway. Then she called, soft but sure: “Eddie? It’s Rosie.”
Nothing.
But Emmett heard it.
The tiny, muffled cry behind the closet door.
---
Emmett moved first, crouching fast and quietly beside the door. “Buddy?” he asked gently. “You in there?”
A choked, broken sob answered.
Alice’s hand flew to her mouth. Bella looked like she might cry herself.
Emmett didn’t wait, he cracked the door open slowly, and there he was.
Edward, curled up, red-eyed and trembling. His face was wet, thumb in his mouth, and his body flinched like he expected to be scolded.
“Sweetheart,” Bella whispered. “Oh, Edward.”
Edward looked up and broke.
Another sob tore from his throat as he tried to speak. “I—I—I didn’t mean—I was tryin’, I didn’t—” He hiccupped, gasped, tried to pull his thumb from his mouth to explain, but all that came out was more crying.
“I was t-trying to be big, I tried so hard, but they all—they saw me—they said—” he couldn’t finish. The thumb went back in. He just shook.
Emmett moved without hesitation.
He gathered Edward up into his arms like a baby, holding him close to his chest and sitting on the floor so they wouldn’t jostle him too much.
“I got you,” he whispered. “Shhh. I got you, little man. You’re okay.”
Edward clung to Emmett’s shirt, his fists trembling, thumb still in place as he hiccupped against his brother’s chest.
---
Bella stepped back and pulled out her phone with shaking hands.
She called the hospital.
There was a pause, then a click. Carlisle’s voice came through a moment later, calm and concerned. “Bella?”
“Carlisle…” She took a breath. “Edward had a really bad regression. At school. People saw. They teased him. He ran and locked himself in a closet. He’s… he’s crying so hard, Carlisle. He needs you.”
The sound of Carlisle immediately standing up came through the line. “Where are you?”
“Back hallway, past the east stairwell. Janitor’s closet. Emmett has him now.”
“I’m leaving now,” Carlisle said. “Don’t move him too much. I’ll be there in five.”
---
Exactly seven minutes later, the front doors opened, and Carlisle entered the school.
He moved with purpose, face composed, but his eyes were sharp. Bella met him halfway and guided him back, whispering quick updates as they walked. Carlisle nodded once, only speeding up when he heard the faint sound of Edward’s sobs from down the hall.
When Edward saw him, his voice broke through the sobs.
“Daddy!”
Carlisle reached them in two strides. “Give him to me,” he said gently, and Emmett carefully passed Edward into Carlisle’s arms.
Edward buried his face in Carlisle’s chest, wailing now, full-bodied cries that shook his frame.
Carlisle held him tightly, a hand supporting his bottom and the other rubbing circles over his back. “I’ve got you. I’ve got you, precious. Daddy’s here now.”
He rocked gently, keeping his voice steady. “Shhh, I know. I know it hurt. It’s okay now. We’re going home.”
He turned to the others, eyes softening. “Thank you.”
---
Carlisle carried Edward through the school with purpose, avoiding anyone who might see too closely. He kept his son’s face tucked into his neck, his own coat draped protectively around him.
His car was parked right at the front, and he managed to settle Edward into the passenger seat without waking the panic again.
“Seatbelt,” he murmured. “Got to stay safe, love.”
Edward clutched his hand the entire time Carlisle buckled him in.
Then Carlisle slid into the driver’s seat, took one glance at his boy, still trembling, still sobbing softly, and started the engine.
---
The ride home was quiet except for Edward’s broken little sniffles. He stared out the window, silent tears still falling, his thumb resting just near his lips.
Carlisle didn’t push him to talk.
He only reached across the console and held his hand, letting his boy know he was safe.
Edward looked at him once.
“Everyone saw,” he whispered. “They’re going to talk. They’re gonna tell everyone.”
Carlisle’s heart twisted.
“I know,” he said gently. “But we’ll figure it out. I promise. You don’t have to face it alone.”
Edward curled up tighter in the seat, another tear tracking down his cheek.
“I don’t wanna go back.”
Carlisle squeezed his hand.
“Then we’ll talk about that, too.”
And as the trees of Forks blurred past the windows, Carlisle focused on getting his baby home.
Because whatever came next, they would face it together.