Since I'm on a roll here, I might as well update soon before the writer's block creeps in.

I hope this chapter is more satisfying than the last one. Sorry about that. This one has a bit of fluff too.

[Recommended song while reading: "Poison" -Artist: Bell Biv DeVoe]


Part III- Just a Few More Hours

(Carlisle POV)

I must admit that today was going pretty well considering it's my birthday.

My 400th birthday, that is. I really am getting old. And you can confirm that when every male who wishes you 'Happy Birthday' puts their hand on your shoulder.

It was quite amusing actually.

Somehow, the nurses and other doctors found out that it was my birthday.

A few of the nurses that try to flirt with me baked me brownies or cookies of some sort. I even got two balloons from re-visiting patients.

I had no option but to accept them and give a generous thanks.

One of the nurses, Kelly, I think, made me a birthday pin with multi-colored curled ribbon all over it. After all the nurses ganged up on me and forced me to wear it, I had no choice but to comply. All in all, it was a very considerate thing for her to do. I thanked her gratefully, giving her one my 'dazzling' smiles.

All day, people that saw the pin on my lab coat wished me happy birthday, even if I didn't know them.

A few of them asked me my age, and instead of avoiding it, I told them I was 30 to stop any suspicions they might have.

If I didn't know any better, I would say that there's something conspiring behind my back. I swear that people are whispering secrets when I'm not around.

It made me wonder about what Alice or Esme must have told these people about me.

I sighed deeply.

Apart from that, today was going well. Exceptionally well, that is.

There were no major injuries bought to me and a few of my old patients came back for a follow-up visit.

No nurses messed up a procedure and the whole atmosphere of the hospital seemed calmer than usual.

Helping people was actually a great way to spend my birthday.

I closed the book I had open on my desk and sat in the office chair.

I looked down at the wooden desk to see my schedule sitting in front of me.

That was another thing: Alice.

Yesterday morning, she jumped on me and begged me to read my schedule to her. I'm not going to lie; it made me curious as to what my pixie daughter was up to again.

I asked her why she wanted to know and she told me not to worry about it and she ran off before I could ask again. She's a sweet girl, but I worry about her over-exuberant attitude sometimes.

Before I could ponder over it anymore, a call from a nurse pulled me out of my thoughts. She was standing in the doorway by the open door to my office. I should have closed that.

"Dr. Cullen! Happy birthday! You don't look a day older and that's the truth! We have a little girl here who would like to give you something special!," she winked at me, smiling.

"Why thank you. I'll be right there," I smiled in return.

No matter how many times I tell them that I'm married, they just don't give up. I would swear that half of them pray every night for the death of Esme just so they can get their hands on me. They are that desperate.

I pulled my stethoscope around my neck and stood up. I didn't need a stethoscope; I could hear heartbeats just fine. But, like any good human doctor would do, I keep it around my neck as well.

When I stepped out into the hallway, a girl in a wheelchair was in the hallway holding a bunch of balloons and a bag.

I instantly remembered her face. Her name was Hailey and I did reconstruction surgery on her legs about a month ago. She's only eight, but she went through it like a 'warrior'. She liked it when I called her that. She was never afraid.

The last time I saw her was two weeks ago and I knew that I didn't have an appointment with her today.

As soon as she saw me, her face lit up.

"Dr. Cullen! Happy Birthday!," she smiled brightly at me and outstretched her hands to give me a hug.

I bent down and pulled her into a friendly hug.

"Hey sweetheart. How are you?," I pinched her small cheek. She laughed. She was really cute.

"Good!," she nodded happily.

"What brings you back here? I thought warriors don't need hospitals," I pretended to be confused.

It worked. She laughed loudly this time.

"Silly Dr. Cullen! I came to visit you! Birthdays are special!," she smiled.

"Really? You came all the way here for me?," I asked, playing along with her.

"Yep! And I got you balloons and a present! I didn't know what color was your favorite, so I got rainbow colored balloons instead! I hope you like them," she pushed the bag into my arms and handed me the balloons.

"Oh thank you, little warrior. I love them," I gave her a small kiss on her forehead. She was simply charming.

Her smile only grew brighter.

"Where's mom and dad?,"I asked her.

I took a quick look at the clock on the wall behind her and it was almost six thirty. My shift was over thirty minutes ago.

I wanted to thank her parents and see her out before I left to go home.

"They're waiting for me out there," she pointed down a hallway to the waiting room.

"Alright then. How about I take you to them?," I asked.

"Okay!"

I took the brakes off her wheelchair and pushed her down the hallway.

I was getting a handful of stares considering I was carrying about a dozen brightly-colored balloons and pushing a girl in a wheelchair at the same time.

I smirked as I thought of how I must look right now.

We reached the waiting room in less than a minute and when we did, the girl's parents immediately got up and walked towards me.

I got another two 'happy birthdays' and a 'your welcome' after I thanked the parents for everything.

A little small talk and one more hug for Hailey and they were gone.

I gathered up my things from my office and made my way out to my Mercedes.

I was carrying a bucket-load of bags and probably over twenty balloons I received over the course of the day.

About five more 'happy birthdays' and 'good-nights' later, I was stuffing balloons into the trunk of my car.

I sped off towards home thinking of how lucky I have been.

I have a great job and a family that loves me.

And with that, I couldn't wait to go home and have a quiet relaxing night with my wife.

I couldn't help but feel expectant and so I stepped on the gas a little more, happy to be heading home.


I think that this long chapter made up for the suckish length of the last one, right? I hope so.

Anywho, I decided to throw in a bit of fluff to show just how much Carlisle is loved by everybody and what a good person he is. He doesn't get enough love in the books, so I think he deserved it.

The party is getting closer and closer! Who's excited?!

Don't forget to leave a review for me!