Whoohoo! Chapter 3! Sorry it took so long. I had the BIGGEST writer's block, and of course school is also an issue. Once again, thanks a million to everyone who reviewed and favorited. I'm gonna have to dedicate a chapter to you guys. *sniffs* You make me feel so loved.

That smell…. That strange scent…. It was strongest near Carlisle and Esme's room. It mixed with the sweet aroma of Esme and the smell of fire while still retaining its own unique fragrance. It smelled like untainted air, pure snow, and… was that cinnamon? Emmett inhaled again. Yes, that was definitely a cinnamon-like odor. It's got something to do with cinnamon, he thought.

"Really, Emmett? Cinnamon?" Edward questioned. "I don't think so."

"Well, smart ass, take a whiff," said the bigger vampire, stepping back to allow Edward some room.

Edward took a deep breath, the smell rushing into his nose. Emmett had been right. There was certainly a sort of sweet, nutmeg-ish aroma.

Alice came rushing up to her "brothers". "Whatever it is, Carlisle took it with him. The smell is freshest in the garage."

Emmett groaned loudly. He threw his hands in the air in defeat, and Edward shook his head, chuckling to himself. Carlisle had the gift. Where exactly was he hiding it?

At the Forks hospital, all hell was breaking loose. Staff members were chasing a black and white husky up and down the hallways. Somehow, she had sneaked in when someone opened the automatic doors. It wasn't until a woman with a child pointed at her and said something that she was exposed. There were strange scents all around the hospital, and HIS scent was everywhere. She had to double back on everything.

"This way!"

"No, it's over here!"

"Wait, I see it!"

"Get it!"

The staff's shouts were complied together in a mass of incoherence while the pup kept eluding them. Her claws clicked on the titled floor, and she'd stop ever so often to pick up on HIS scent. She ran past two nurses behind a desk, and then the smell hit her like never before. HE was so close. She heard HIS voice before HE rounded the corner, and she barreled into HIS legs.

Carlisle stared down in disbelief. His staff had been right; the dog had found a way into the hospital. He bent down to stroke her head, and the employees came to halt behind her.

"What are you doing here? You weren't supposed to follow me," he said.

"Well, Dr. Cullen… we just wanted to—"

He looked up, "Oh, my apologies, Jeffery. I was speaking to the dog."

The male nurse blinked in confusion. Talking to a dog? Dogs couldn't understand. Could they…?

The workers dispersed soon enough, and Carlisle led the animal into his office. She lied down by his desk, watching his every move. He was amazed at how she hid from the personnel for so long while he dropped what he was doing as he followed her scent and the people's exclamations. She was truly an amazing dog.

He had to admit that he was a little apprehensive when he first left the room. What if she destroyed a much-needed file? What if she went on the floor? To his surprise, he returned to his office many times to find her lying in the exact spot she was in when he departed. It was relieving in one way, disturbing in another. Dogs just didn't do that.

At the end of the second hour she had been there, Carlisle noticed more movement than just a simple turn of the head. She sat up abruptly, her eyes fixed intently on the door. Her ears pressed forward as she stood to her full height. Carlisle found himself listening for anything she might hear, but there was nothing new. Just the regular sounds of his working area. Then, the door opened a fraction, and Diane, a woman who had long worked in the hospital, poked her head inside. Carlisle focused on his canine's every move; she was absolutely motionless from nose to tail. This hinted that she was probably weary around strangers.

"Doctor Cullen, I wanted to inform you that Mr. Farmingdale in room 302 checked out not too long ago," she said simply.

The doctor nodded, "Yes, I remember saying that he was in good health. That's great to hear."

The woman nodded.

Without warning, the pup darted forward and through the door before even Carlisle could react. She bolted down the hallway and to the entrance to the stairway. Carlisle shot up from his seat and tailed along, at least trying to keep her in sight. The animal was quicker than he imagined as he watched her ascend the flights of stairs in record time. Then, she exited on the third floor with him just a flight behind.

She came to a halt outside a patient's room and began to whine, scratching at the door. Carlisle grabbed her by the scruff of her neck, but she whirled her head around and snapped at his hand. When he drew back, she stared at him, her whines becoming more and more frantic. Nurses appeared from inside neighboring rooms to investigate the commotion, and the dog scratched at the wooden door again. She twisted her furry head toward Carlisle, and with a single bark, began tugging on his white robe. That's when he heard it. The heart monitor inside started beeping swiftly, and he heard an old man's groan. A heart attack…

Carlisle burst through the door with his pet and the nurses right on his heels. The pup sat on the armchair that was in the room, watching nervously as the humans subdued the elder. HE was in the middle of all the action, but she could see that there was something else going on in HIS mind other than what was happening to the patient. Those topaz eyes were troubled and somewhat confused, and HE kept glancing at her from time to time. Finally, the heart monitor slowed to a steady beep, and she got down from the chair and went over to the aged man. When she placed her chin on his bedside, her nose touched his wrinkled hand. Shakily, he picked it up and put it on her head even though his eyes were closed. Carlisle stood stationary, as did the nurses, staring at the odd sight. Once the atmosphere had been fully settled, they commenced returning to their jobs.

"Come on, girl," Carlisle said softly while he waited at the door for her. "Let's go." She only met his eyes unblinkingly. "He'll be okay now. I promise."

For a split second, he thought he saw the corners of her mouth pull up in a small smile. Once he blinked, she looked like a normal dog once more. She gently pulled away from the patient and joined the doctor by his side. The sense to protect was dissipating now, and she could leave the old man without worry.

On the way back to his office, Carlisle couldn't shake the thought that she somehow knew the man was going to have a heart attack. It was downright mind-boggling. If they would have been a few seconds later, he would have certainly died. He had heard of dogs sensing medical changes in people, like a dog sensing a developing cancer cell in his owner or knowing when he may have a seizure, but realizing when a heart attack was coming on? Was that possible?

The rest of the day was routine. Carlisle was in and out of his office many times. He came back once to find that a worker had given the dog a chicken breast from the lounge as a snack. When the day was over, she trailed behind him as she had done times before. He opened the car door for her, and she plopped down on the seat as though it were hers to own. When he slid into the driver's seat, he whipped out his cell phone to call Esme. There was a ring then an answer.

"Esme," he stated, "you won't believe the day I just had."

"Oh, was it bad?" she asked.

He chortled, "No, but was rather strange in its own way."

"Really?"

"Oh yes. Esme… our dog is quite special."

There was a pause on the other line. "You just said—our d—really!? You mean she's ours?"

"Yes, Esme. She's ours." He could imagine his wife's excited face at his words.

"Ohhh, Carlisle! That's wonderful! I can't wait to see her."

"Heheh, I'll be home soon. Love you."

"I love you, too."

The line was disconnected, and Carlisle pressed the gas pedal a little harder. Counting today, three days until Christmas. She hadn't been with him that long, but Carlisle already felt himself falling for the pup. He had never had a dog before; none of the family ever had in their lives as humans. But there were things that came first on his agenda. First, gather as much information about huskies as possible. Second, have Esme take her for tomorrow and the day after that. Come Christmas Eve, the dog would be revealed, and hopefully, they could all live as one happy family.

Aww, one happy family. So sweet. Well, chapter 4 will DEFINATELY be the Christmas one. Now, I shall repeat myself. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO REVIEWED AND FAVORITED. I love you all. Hugs! *attempts to hug readers* Oh, and a huge thanks to CoCo1996 for reviewing each chapter. I appreciate it big time. ^_^