I paced nervously in my study, thanking my lucky stars that Esme had gone hunting and couldn't hear my nerves getting the best of me. I knew I had every right to be nervous today, but Esme couldn't know about it because it was for her.

Tonight I was going to propose to the woman of my dreams.

Esme had every quality Someone like me could want: her ability to love was matched by none, and her kindness had no equal. The joy she added to my life made me feel like my life had been in black and white before we'd met. When she came into my life, everything was filled with color. It was as if I'd never lived before.

She was my soulmate. There were no words for the connection between us. It was like electricity, fireworks, and dynamite all exploding at once- and that wasn't even a fraction of it. I wasn't sure what I believed in when it came to
religious beliefs, but I knew that Esme had been created just for me.

I stopped pacing when I sensed her presence coming near me. I couldn't help but smile. She made me giddy with excitement. I went downstairs, unable to endure another second away from her. I caught sight of her for an instant before she saw me; She was so beautiful that, had I been able to, I would have wept.

"Hello, love." Somehow my voice came out normally. She grinned.

"Hello, darling." She kissed me, and it was like a fire lighting inside me.

"Would you like to go out with me this evening?"

She grinned. "Dr. Cullen, I'd go anywhere with you."

I beamed at her. "Excellent."

"Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

She raised an eyebrow but didn't question me. I glanced at the clock. It was ten minutes to four.

"Would you be ready by seven?"

"Of course."

My lips tipped up into a semi-triumphant grin. "Perfect."

As I prepared myself for our evening out, I took particular care in my appearance. Normally I wasn't very concerned with that, but this was a special evening. I wore my best suit and tie with a rose boutonnière at my breast. I slipped the ring and it's box in my pocket, combing my hair over and over even though it was already perfect, my carefully boxed up fear slipping through.

Edward assessed me as he passed my doorway. We shared a look and I knew it was meant to reassure me.

I went downstairs flipping idly through a book of works by Edgar Allan Poe, just to appear casual.

I knew she was coming before she ever took a step toward her door. It was instinctual. Natural. I looked up, and then there she was.

She wore a long dress that hugged her body perfectly. It was black and simple. She wore a string of pearls around her neck and white gloves. Her hair was twisted up and out of her face with a few ringlets hanging down. Only enough to make it look natural. She took my breath away.

"You look stunning."

She smiled, and I took her arm.

We walked out the door and into the night.

We took a walk down the beach, holding hands and talking. What Esme didn't know, of course, was that I had a surprise planned for her.

I had taken candles and put them in mason jars. There were over a hundred of them lighting up the beach. Then I had strung them up on and made a small fortress of sorts for us out of blankets and some lumber I nailed together.

"Carlisle, it's beautiful!" She gushed. I flashed a grin at her.

When we got there, I opened the front of the fort for her and she gasped.

After laying a blanket on the floor, I had covered it in rose petals.

"Oh Carlisle... It's wonderful."

I smiled, then let her in first.

There were more mason jars lining the insides of the fort, too- insulated, of course, by holes in the lids.

"This is beautiful." She whispered, clearly stunned.

"I was hoping you'd like it."

"I love it! It's the sweetest thing that anyone has ever done for me." She smiled, and I felt my stomach clinch in a happy way.

We spoke for a long time, and I could feel myself getting more tense with every second that passed. If I didn't ask her soon, I think I might burst.

I got the feeling that she knew something was going on. She looked at me speculatively, like she wished she knew what I was thinking. I looked at her, smiling a little. I was so grateful that she couldn't trade places with Edward for a day. She was looking at me with loving eyes, and I knew this was it.

I took her hand and led her outside, where I'd hired a few people to rearrange the lanterns to read "Esme, will you marry me?"

Her jaw dropped, and when she turned to look at me, I was down on one knee.

"Esme Anne Platt, I love you. Your beauty, your grace, the way you look when you smile. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever met from the inside out. I promise to devote my existence to making you the happiest woman on earth. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

I pulled the ring from my pocket, opened the case, and heard her gasp.

The diamond glittered in the candlelight. I had picked it out especially for her. It was sterling silver with two smaller diamonds flanking the sides. The main Diamond was about half the size of a golf ball. It was surrounded by several tiny diamonds.

Esme was gawking at it, speechless. Slowly, a smile graced her face. She threw herself at me, laughing happily.

"Yes!"

We kissed, and it was the best moment of my life.

I had found my mate at last.