A short Carlisle/Esme one shot to help me get over writers block for my main story.

The first part of this was written by Torchwood-Babe, I hope you all enjoy.

Esme stood in the door way to Carlisle's office watching him as he was writing something at his desk.

He suddenly looked up. "Esme, darling, what's wrong?"

Esme walked up to him, her head bowed as though she was ashamed, he looked up at her waiting . She sat down on his lap and turned to him, though kept her head down, taking one of his hands in hers. She ran the other through his hair. He placed his free hand on her back and looked up, waiting for Esme to speak.

For a long moment Carlisle looked at Esme and Esme looked at the floor before Esme began, "Carlisle, I..."

She was unable to finish and buried her face in his chest, dry sobbing.

Stunned and worried in equal measures Carlisle wrapped his arms around his wife, caressing her back lovingly.

"Shhh, darling. What is it?" he asked gently.

"I'm...so...so...sorry...Carlisle." Esme choked out.

His earlier anxiety giving way to fear, Carlisle began to pull Esme gently from his chest but she clutched at him and refused to move.

Confused and scared Carlisle continued to caress her back, "Esme, honey, please talk to me. What have you got to be sorry for?"

Slowly Esme pulled back and looked into Carlisle's face. He gasped as he saw her eyes for the first time. Their usual beautiful topaz had been replaced with a deep scarlet.

"Oh, Esme." Carlisle whispered, realising what this meant.

Esme stood up and looked down at Carlisle as she released his hand. "I'm so sorry Carlisle." She repeated as she walked away.

Her hand was on the door knob before he realised what she was doing.

"Esme, where are you going?" He asked, standing up.

She turned back to him, grief clear in her ruby eyes.

"I'm sorry. I wish it didn't have to end like this," she said softly, as her eyes filled with tears she could never cry.

As Esme opened the door, Carlisle ran to her and grabbed her wrist. "End like this? What's ending?"

She looked at him and spoke, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Carlisle, do you not know what I did? I killed someone. I ended someone's life. How could you ever look at me the same way again?"

"It's not your fault. It's our nature," Carlisle argued.

"It is my fault!" Esme's body shook with the force of her tearless sobs. "Even if it is our nature, I should have more control. How could you want to be with someone as weak as me? You deserve someone stronger. Someone who can control herself."

Esme opened the door to leave but Carlisle slammed it shut, took hold of her shoulders and spun her to face him.

"If I killed a human would you stop loving me?"

"Of course not!" Esme replied immediately. "But you're stronger than that. Stronger than me."

"But if I did, would you not want to be with me?"

"Of course I'd want to be with you!"

"Then why is it so hard for you to believe that I still want you too?"

"You do?" She breathed in disbelief.

He put his hands on her hips and looked directly into her crimson eyes. "I do." He responded, before bringing his lips down to hers. He felt her arms wrap around his neck as he pulled her close to him, deepening the kiss.

And it was true. There was nothing his love, his perfect angel, could do to make him love her any less.

Please review, thank you!

Annie