"You know, Marie, I really think you're misinterpreting the saying…" Jeanette peered over her friend's shoulder as Marie Llewellyn carefully placed the apple atop the wooden desk, letting it rest against the small nameplate that read, "Dr. Cullen." She chewed the inside of her lip, freckles furrowing slightly before giving a small, nearly triumphant nod.

"That should do it…" Marie mumbled, turning to leave. Jeanette sighed, following her friend out the door quickly, glancing back at the desk every so often. She turned back to her friend, blue eyes questioning, but smirking also.

"Why are you giving him apples? Do you want Dr. Cullen to stay away from you?" A smile lit up both their faces, knowing that they would probably sell their souls for an opportunity to let that particular angel of a doctor follow them around. Marie sighed.

"No, it's just my way of…thanking him, Jeanette…you know…for taking care of me after the…accident last week," Marie looked down, face twisting slowly into a guilty smile as the friends walked down the narrow cobblestone streets of Italy. Jeanette linked arms with her brunette friend, shaking her head in mock shame.

"It's bad for you to have so much on your mind before a show, Marie. I know you're just trying to be nice to him, but he's just as busy as you are with your job. You've thanked him enough after nearly cleaning out the market's supply of apples…give it a rest. We have to travel back to Venice soon anyway…" Marie's stomach dropped as well as her head as she focused on the stones. Jeanette's words were the truth, but the truth was always hard to accept for Marie.

"Yes…I should just forget it…just remember I'm lucky to have been treated by the best doctor in Italy…move on like we always do, yes?" Marie's brown eyes were dark as she tried to smile. Jeanette smiled back, but her blue eyes reflected back the same face.

"Yes…and remember that not only is he the best doctor, he is the best angelhere on Earth by far!" Marie couldn't help but laugh at her friend's words. Their giggles echoed off the alley walls as Marie was overcome with nostalgia. How she would miss this place…more so the faces. Her laughs died down as she focused again on her small black shoes. Her mind began drifting to the memory she wished to forget and couldn't help but remember.

His laugh echoed along with mine: warm, deep…calming. I couldn't help but sigh in utter relief, as his voice seemed to wash away all my pain and troubles. I glanced over at him as a smile continued to light up his face and his bright golden eyes, his tousled blonde hair reminding me of Jeanette's.

"Alright, so is it my turn?" He asked, voice low and just as comforting as to not wake the other patients around me. I nodded, bracing myself for whatever question he may ask…I was not one who liked talking about myself, but with him I felt more relaxed than with Jeanette.

"How did you decide to settle in Italy and perform? Is it even your decision?" I shook my head immediately, as he smiled more. This question wasn't hard to explain, but would eventually be the hardest to deal with in the near future.

"No, Thomas chooses the places we visit and perform. I am the actress; he is the director. We have no choice in where we go. We travel more often than I would like, but Thomas insists on showing the whole world what we can do," I smiled bitterly as I also saw his smile waver. We both waited in silence for a moment.

"I see…" he spoke softly, but just as methodically as usual. My disheartening bit of news did not disturb his calm aura, or so it seemed…

"We will by leaving soon, I think…" I whispered; this was the bit of news I had regretted telling him. He merely nodded.

"Where?" he was whispering also, out of fear of waking the patience, or just because of the importance of the situation, I could not decide which.

"Most likely Venice, then Verona…Thomas is greatly enthused by the idea of Venice. Many performers go there, and maybe he'll decide to settle," I prayed for this option. It would be too far away to visit this small town I had grown fond of, but close enough to write to the doctor I had grown so close to.

"I've thought about working in Venice," he was nearly muttering to himself; I had to strain to hear him. "It's very nice there; a very diverse crowd resides," He grinned as I did as well. "You'll fit in nicely." I winced slightly, my right arm twitching as he sat up immediately. He walked over to the cabinets to bring me more unwanted medicine. I was not a fighter, but I hated being looked after like this…

"I'm not that bad…" I murmured, squirming under the needle he was inserting into my arm. His eyes concentrated on his work, as usual, before he glanced up at me. His eyes had a darker shade of orange, but he still smiled.

"You're bad enough to come here," He walked back over to the cabinets, his white coat nearly touching the floor. "What were you thinking anyway?" he muttered, busying himself with other medicines at the counter. "Jumping off the stage like that, nearly crashing into the hot lights. I'm surprised you lasted through it with one arm still attached…" I grimaced, wanting him to forget my stupidity; especially when I found out he had been in the audience. I guess I was lucky there was a doctor so close by…three rows from where I fell, to be exact.

"Thomas agreed that we should change the curtain call because of me…" He looked back at me from his desk, up from his paperwork and stared into my eyes. He looked almost angry, but then he laughed and I laughed along with him.

"Smart…especially if there are more clumsy people like you in the cast," He stood up with a sigh and a groan. He walked over to my bed as I looked up at him, feeling helpless that I wasn't able to move. He paused, and gave an even deeper sigh.

"I should start around the hospital giving medicine. It's about that time again where I must leave you, Marie," His voice sounded like he was about to add, 'The time that you and I both hate.' I wished he had said it because I knew it was true.

"You'll be back later though, right?" I hated how pleading my voice was. He nodded, smiling down at me, lightly touching my non-broken arm.

"I always have questions for you," he ran his fingers down over my bruises that covered my left arm; his hand was cold, but so light that I barely noticed. He stopped at my fingers, tapping against them ever so slightly, almost playfully.

And then he was gone. It was the night I wanted to burn into my memory. I wanted to remember his smile, his cold fingers, and his intellectual banters with me. I never wanted to forget Carlisle Cullen, but knew once our acting troupe was gone to Venice, he would…just like everyone else…

"Marie, come! Warm ups!" Jeanette called across the laughing, happy room. Marie slammed back to Earth, sighing out of pure disappointment. She wanted to stay lost in her subconscious, but knew she had work to do. She took a deep breath, trying to get into character, before standing gracefully and taking Jeanette's side near the old, broken piano.

The rest of the night blurred past Marie; the cheers meant nothing tonight, the dance moves all a blur, her voice speaking the lines she knew too well only seemed to blend and mesh together. Marie was unsure whether it was because she was in character and it had become natural for her, or if she was just being herself…either option made Marie uncomfortable.

The cast bustled about backstage, most cheering and laughing and talking once more. Marie stayed quiet, but many people were patting her on the back, Jeanette constantly talking in her ear about how wonderful she was. Marie smiled faintly at them all, nodding and giving out 'thank you' s just like they were free toothpicks. The room grew silent as Thomas- dressed in his typical tuxedo and top hat that he wore when watching the show- stood in front of the crowd.

"I will start off by saying, you were all amazing tonight! The best I've seen of this production!" An amazing uproar of cheers echoed off the backstage walls, Jeanette one of the loud clappers. Marie smile broadened as she clapped softly, still watching Thomas. He continued on, color flushing his pale cheeks as he brushed a piece of brown hair from his eyes.

"Secondly, and I hope this is good news for you all," He seemed to be taking a dramatic pause, just to get on Marie's nerves. "We will not be moving anywhere! This town has greatly enjoyed our performances and I believe we've all grown accustomed to it. Therefore, I have agreed with the town's Stage Company that we stay here till the end of this year and maybe longer!" Marie could not hear the triumphant cheers that erupted. She knew she was smiling, cheering also, maybe even jumping up and down, but her mind heard nothing. It was back to focusing on the nights she had spent with him…

Carlisle…