Disclaimer: None of it is mine, though I'd like my own Carlisle.

Thanks to my friend Julie(JewelzisWeird) she's allowed me to pick her brain, and contributed quite a few ideas to this story. :)

"May I inquire as to how that happened?," he asked, gesturing to my broken leg. I chuckled nervously to myself. It wasn't like it was a great, adventurous tale. It was me being silly, bored, and defiant of my mother. I hoped he wouldn't think of me as some ridiculous child once I told him. I braced myself for the embarrassment.

"My friend and I were bored," I stated simply. He raised an eyebrow. His eyebrows were perfect too. "So I challenged her to climb the tree, but she got scared and refused to climb with me." I waited to see if he was going to respond, but he didn't so I continued.

"So I told her to time me, because I was still determined to climb the tree." "Why?," he questioned. I looked down, "I enjoy defying my mother, I suppose." A small smile graced his lips. It was a genuine smile, that much I could tell. Perhaps I had misjudged the reaction I was going to receive; he didn't see me as a ridiculous child at all.

Our eyes locked for a mere second, and my train of thought disappeared. "What cause you to fall?," he questioned, breaking my trance. I shook my head gently. "About halfway up, a branch broke under me." "You are quite lucky you didn't do more serious damage," he said. I glanced at my leg. "I could have broken my neck, or face, or something," I said laughing. He joined in my laughter.

Carlisle , I'll never get tired of hearing that name, has such an aura about him. He's charming without trying to be. I can tell he truly cares about his work, but there is something special about him, that I can't put my finger on just yet.

"You are quite lucky to be alive, Esme, I shall say that,"he stated, standing. My heart sank when I thought he was leaving, but then he picked up my chart and stepped towards my bed.

He reached down to my wrist, and took my pulse. I flinched only slightly at his cold hand, but he noticed. "Your hand is cold," I said with a half smile. "Sorry," He said shyly. "It is a downfall of working in a hospital," he said, scrawling something on my chart. "Huh?," I questioned. He sat back down. "Hospitals are kept cool to prevent the spread of bacteria." "Oh. I can't be fun being cold all the time." "I suppose I hardly notice it anymore," he said, shrugging.

I don't know why it took me so long to notice, but it did. He wasn't wearing a wedding ring. Well, perhaps he just forgot to put it on, or maybe he took it off when he was dealing with a patient. There's no way a man like him wasn't married. But then again, when I first heard that there was a new doctor in town, a family was never mentioned. I wanted to ask so badly if he was married, but I knew that was rude. The eagerness to know boiled inside me. I had to keep my mind away from it, or I'd just blurt it out. "Where are you from?," I asked, hoping I would forget about my yearning to know his marital status.

"Where am I from? Oh Lord I certainly hope I haven't lost it already," he said laughing slightly. It hit me then. Why was I being so unobservant lately? His British accent flowed so amazingly from his perfect lips. I was quite embarrassed that I hadn't noticed it.

"I was born in London, but I've lived in America for many years," he said. "England. Wow. I've never been outside of Ohio," I said leaning against my pillows. "I don't even get out of my house that much," I said, shrugging. "I'm sure we can change that," he said smiling at me. "It's nice to get outside," he said. "You'll take me out?," I asked, a little shocked. "Yes, I will. Besides it will be beneficial for your leg." I was surprised, but more excited than I could possibly describe.

"Are you an only child?," he asked. "Yes. My parents were never able to have another child," I answered solemnly. "What a shame. I'm an only child as well. My mother passed away during childbirth; left my father to raise me on his own," he said, as he looked away from me. Grief washed over me. He looked utterly miserable, it pained me to see him like this. "I'm sorry, how awful," I said. I felt the strong urge to reach out and console him. "Thank you, but it was a long time ago," he said, keeping his eyes on the wall. "Your father must have done a wonderful job raising you. You're quite an amazing person," I said, smiling softly. He turned his eyes back to me. Gold meeting green. "Thank you, Esme," he said placing his hand over mine that laid on the side of my bed. My heart fluttered, but this time I didn't flinch.

A/N: There is SO much more to this story, but I have to work up to it. :)