A/N: Hi Everyone! Here's chapter two! I've been on a roll with this fan fiction; I've been writing in it almost every day at school. So, um, you get to see Emmett's…unique… sense of humor. The term "engagement woman" comes from a Twilight fan comic called "Man Time" on deviant art by sunni-sideup. You should all go check out that series of comics. I laugh so hard every time I read them! I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Please read, review, and enjoy!

~BlackLaceBeauty

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My Shining Sun

Chapter Two

As Time Marches On

Three months had passed since Esme had left Carlisle. The Cullens had fabricated divorce papers to explain to the people of Forks why Esme Cullen was absent and why Dr. Cullen was no longer wearing his wedding ring. The nurses and female staff at Forks General Hospital had secretly rejoiced when they heard the news. The extremely attractive doctor was now available. However, Carlisle showed absolutely no interest in them.

Since Esme's departure, Carlisle had changed. Before, he had been happy and content. Now he was quiet and withdrawn. Esme's wish to leave had left him crushed. They'd been together for decades. Carlisle knew, in retrospect, that his and Esme's relationship had been nothing but a charade in the end. It was just that he had never wanted to face that fact. He had companionship; his adopted children were always there for him. But Carlisle craved the companionship only his true mate could give. And that companionship evaded him like the sun evaded the moon.

Edward, Emmett, and Jasper had each tried to get Carlisle to go out and explore after some time, but these days Carlisle preferred to hole up in his home office alone. In his first two hundred years Carlisle had searched for a friend who shared his viewpoints, it was then he created Edward. After that it had been Esme. With her Carlisle had thought he had it all but he had been wrong. His daughters, Alice and Rosalie, had been constantly trying to reassure him that he would find his true mate someday. Carlisle didn't believe that, not anymore.

Perhaps, Carlisle thought, that since he damned the others to this life that he was damned to never find true love. He thought that karma had come after him with a vengeance. But all Carlisle had tried to do in his life was do good. Why was this happening to him? He did not feed on humans; he saved lives in the E.R. every day. These thoughts plagued his mind every spare moment he had since Esme had left.

Since Esme had left the coven, Emmett and Jasper took up an offer from an old acquaintance of Carlisle's. Carlisle's old friend, Solomon Jacobson, had given the boys a chance to explore other worlds. In their exploration, Emmett and Jasper had found another dimension of Earth where they did not sparkle in the sunlight. It was an amazing discovery, one that brought Carlisle out of his solitude by a fraction.

Carlisle had always been thrilled by the discovery of new information. So this discovery had really caught his eye. They found a nice area in the heartland of America where the landscape was natural and the weather varying by season. There had been two nice sized homes go up for sale in the area, and after much debate, Carlisle decided that a move was what he and his family needed. He bought both houses and they prepared to move. The only bump in the road was Carlisle's job. He liked working in Forks, but he would have to move on before long anyway, before anyone could realize that he was not aging at all. It didn't take very long for Carlisle to gain a good position at a hospital in a nearby town only forty five minutes from his new home.

Rosalie and Emmett were going to live in the house nearest to town, which really wasn't close to town at all. The house was, however, near the main road. Their house was lovely, classic somehow with an artistic touch. The house was two stories, a lovely brown with sandstone pillars in front, supporting the balcony above. The house boasted lovely windows and large spaces. It also had a large in-ground swimming pool and a garage big enough to house Emmett's Jeep and Rosalie's BMW. It was near perfect for the couple.

The other house was also large, but secluded in the woods a bit. It too was two stories tall. It was fashioned to resemble an old fashioned wood cabin and it was in the center of a beautiful forest. The yard around the house was landscaped well; no doubt cared for by someone who knew exactly what they were doing. There was a moderately sized porch leading up to the entrance of the house and there was also a huge porch along the back of the house, allowing an amazing view of the surrounding area. The house had an attached garage, only big enough for Carlisle's Mercedes and another vehicle. In the house there were many rooms more than necessary, really. One was given to Alice and Jasper, one was Carlisle's new office, and another room was for Edward when he came to visit. He was staying at their old home in Forks, because he could not bear to leave his human love, Bella.

The Cullens got settled in their new homes and the "kids" were enrolled in the local high school. On the first day of Carlisle's new job and Emmett, Jasper, Alice, and Rosalie's first day of school, they all gathered in the kitchen of Carlisle's new house where they had an interesting conversation.

"Yo pops, I've been thinking lately," Emmett said to Carlisle as he sat atop the island counter.

"What have you been thinking about, Emmett?" Carlisle asked in return.

"Here we go," Rosalie muttered under her breath. Carlisle took this as a sign that she'd heard this idea before.

"I've been thinking that there needs to be an e-Harmony website - for vampires!" Emmett said gleefully as Jasper began to guffaw uncontrollably. "Then we could put you on there and find you a woman and get you to fall in love- 'cuz there'd be a 95% success rate-and you'd be happy and you and your engagement woman could skip in a meadow-wait, Edward already does that-and…" Emmett rattled on.

"Emmett!" Carlisle said to get his son back to Earth. "I appreciate the thought, but I am perfectly happy. I have you guys and that is enough. Now shoo, otherwise you'll be late for school."

The four Cullen kids went out the door to leave for school. When the door shut behind them, Carlisle sighed a sigh of relief. He loved Emmett as a father should, but boy, the ideas he could create! From the bottom steps of the front porch Emmett yelled, "This evening we'll start on your profile!" Then he got into the jeep to drive him and the others to school. Carlisle took his time getting ready for his first day on the job. The night before Carlisle had already laid out his attire for today.

Black slacks and dress shoes accompanied by a blue shirt and tie made up his work clothes for today. Carlisle had brought along his lab coat from Forks, the one with his name embroidered on in blue. His black leather bag, usually full with supplies and paperwork, was empty except for a few trivial things. After getting dressed, Carlisle looked at the clock which read seven forty five. He still had quite a bit of time before he had to be at the hospital. So, he brushed his teeth again. Then he brushed through his hair once more. Carlisle glanced in the mirror, assessing his reflection. Three hundred years of practice had perfected his control of his facial expressions. He would have no problem blending in to his surroundings.

As Carlisle left the house, with the keys to his Mercedes S55 AMG in hand, he decided today would be a pretty good day.