Thanks to everyone who is reading and reviewing.

****

Previously...

"Esme, my angel. I can't exist without you. I'm sorry for what you are going to go through, but if you'll have me, I want you to be with me. Forever. I promise that I will never treat you the way that you were treated, you will never have anything but love and compassion from me. I promise that you will know what love, real love is supposed to be like."

I placed my lips on her neck gently and felt for the last time the heat of her skin and the inaudible pulse of her heartbeat.

"I'm sorry, Esme."

I opened my mouth and sunk my teeth in…

****

I quickly exchanged placed with Edward as our telephone was on the opposite side of our house from the room that Esme was changing in. I did not want to leave her alone for a moment, but I knew that to ensure this I would need to call the hospital and let them know that I was ill. Being a Doctor was a good thing as I could come up with a medically convincing lie. The Nurse I spoke to believed me and even offered to bring me some chicken soup. I declined, and noted that Edward was here if I needed anything, but still I thanked her for her kindness. I hung up the phone and immediately ran back to her side. Edward was diligently keeping watch over her for the two minutes I was gone, and it was no surprise to me that he kept his distance.

"This is agonizing to watch, Carlisle. Was my change like this?"

I nodded my head as I sat on the bed beside her.

"Yes, Edward. Your change lasted for three days, and although I felt so very bad for changing you, I promised your mother that I would."

"I know, Carlisle. I truly understand. You are a man of your word, and you've never let me down in the three years that I've known you and shared this existence with you. I know you will be exactly the same with her."

He placed his hand on my shoulder and I turned to look at him.

"Thank you, Edward. That means a great deal."

He smiled slightly and nodded his head.

"I'm going to be downstairs if you need me for anything."

"Thanks."

He knew that I wasn't about to leave her side, as I had never left his during the three agonizing days of his change. I suppose it was in my blood, if you will, being a Doctor that when someone was in pain I would want to be there while they were experiencing it, to be at hand should they need my assistance. I knew that there was nothing in the world that I could do to help her through this lengthy process, that the pain she was feeling was my doing and my doing alone. She lay perfectly still, except for her legs convulsing and twitching at an alarming rate for a human. I knew the venom had reached through her entire body at this point, and slowly the blood vessels and arteries would congeal and in two to three days she would open her eyes to a whole new world. In an attempt to make her more comfortable I took an elastic that had been inside my pocket and pulled her hair gently behind her.

Two days had passed, and as I hadn't left Esme's side I decided that I should go downstairs to call in to the hospital to let them know how I was feeling. Edward had stayed in the room with Esme to ensure she was not in need. I ran back up the stairs and I knocked quietly. It was only polite to do this, since I was entering a lady's bedroom. I opened the door, knowing she would not be able to respond.

"It's almost over, Carlisle."

"How much longer do you think, Edward?"

"Her body is getting very close to the end. She knows that she's not alone, but she doesn't know who is here with her. She thinks she's dreaming."

He smiled slightly at me and I returned to her bedside, gently brushing away the pieces of hair that were framing her face. The elastic apparently hadn't stayed as secure, but it didn't bother me at all. She looked so peaceful right now, so angelic. I leaned towards her and whispered softly.

"Esme, Edward and I need to leave for an hour, but I promise you that we will be right back."

Edward handed me a piece of paper and a pen and I scribbled across the paper, leaving her a little information about where she was and that I would be right back – just in case she woke up and we weren't, make that I wasn't here to see hr face and her beautiful eyes. I placed the note on the table beside her and laid out my robe and slippers for her. If she were to wake up and I wasn't here, the least I could do was to ensure that she was comfortable.

Two hours had passed, and I knew that Edward and I needed to hunt. He kept reminding me that we needed to go, but I just couldn't bring myself to leave. He could tell that I was incredibly worried about Esme and that I was not wanting to leave her side, holding her hand, but I needed to hunt. I was starting to form circles under my eyes and Edward's were doing the same. I leaned over her and placed my lips gently on her forehead. I whispered softly to her.

"We'll be back very soon, Esme. I need to be at my best when you wake up. Rest well, my love."

I ran my finger gently along her face as I stepped away from her, my eyes never wanting to leave her. Edward put his hand on my shoulder.

"Carlisle, if you'd like I'll stay close to the house. You need to run for a few minutes."

I looked in his eyes as my hand reached his shoulder.

"Thank you."

I ran out of the house, up the hill and stood at the top. I took in a deep cleansing breath then I caught the scent. It wasn't a mountain lion or deer - that I knew. It was an elk. I knew that this would be what I needed, and sensing no humans around I went in for the kill. My senses took me over and I ran after the elk and caught it with ease; sinking my teeth in and draining the animal quickly. After disposing of the remains I ran back to the house and saw Edward standing on the front porch.

"I'm sorry I took so long, Edward. I lost track of time."

"You were only gone for two hours, Carlisle. I'm usually gone longer than that."

"Is there any change?"

He smiled up at me.

"She's awake and I'm craving a mountain lion. I'll be back in a few hours to give you some time alone."

"Thank you, Edward."

He took off into the forest and I headed up the stairs slowly, trying to collect my thoughts. When I reached the room Esme was in, I knocked very gently.

"Come in."

I walked in slowly and glanced over to the bed, but she was not there. I looked around the room and saw her wrapped in my bathrobe and slippers, staring out the window at the forest that surrounded our home. I didn't approach her, as I didn't want to frighten her any more than I figured she would be already at this moment.

"Where am I?"

Her voice was as beautiful, if not more so than I remembered. She continued to look out the window as I responded to her question.

"You're at my house, still in Ashland. We're just on the border."

There was silence as she continued to look out the window.

"What am I?"

How would I ever be able to answer that? Honesty has always been the best policy.

"Esme, I'm not a normal human like I'm sure you had thought 10 years ago"

"Your voice is exactly as I remembered it to be, Carlisle

. I could never erase it from my memory."

I smiled at that.

"What you need to know Esme, well, I'd prefer to see your reaction to what I need to tell you."

She turned to look at me, her beauty even more apparent with her change. She sat on the bed and I sat down gently beside her, taking a deep but unnecessary breath. I closed my eyes and as I did I felt a gently hand cover mine.

"Whatever you have to tell me, Carlisle, just tell me. I'm not the fragile little girl whose leg you fixed 10 years ago, you know."

She smiled at me and nodded her head as I hesitated. I had to do it, and this beauty was going to hate me.

"Esme, if you choose to leave after I tell you this, I hope you know I completely understand. If you wish to stay, not only will Edward and I help you to deal with all of this, but it will make me happier than I have ever been in my existence."

"Oh great. The reason why you left is because you and Edward are togeth…"

I laughed right out loud.

"Esme, Edward is my adoptive son."

I saw a look of relief wash across her face.

"Esme, I have never wanted anyone as much as I want you I assure you of that. What I need to tell you is what Edward and I both are, and now, what you are also."

She nodded her head gently.

"Esme, I'm a vampire."

She laughed and it was music to my ears.

"Really, Esme. I am a vampire. I don't feed on humans because I don't want to be a monster, so I only hunt animals. Edward was the first person I changed. His mother begged me to do it, and I'm a man of my word so I did. When I saw you lying in the morgue, Esme, it killed me – again – and I couldn't bear the thought of never seeing your beautiful face again, so I brought you back here and changed you. If you don't want to stay here with us I understand."

She stared at me with her newborn eyes blazing at me. We sat this way for a long time, and after what seemed like hours she looked directly into my eyes.

"Is that why your hand doesn't seem cold to me anymore?"

I smiled and nodded my head.

"It's because your hands are the same now. Your skin doesn't feel so warm to me, it feels comfortable."

She nodded her head.

"I don't know why you would want me, Carlisle. I'm second hand, damaged goods. You deserve perfection and that, I am far from."

I placed my hand under her chin and forced her to look at me.

"My beautiful Esme. You are certainly not second hand or damaged goods. Even on the odd chance that you were, I wouldn't want perfection. You, Esme, are all I have wanted in all the years that I have existed. No one, human or not, has sung to me the way that you have."

She tried to close her eyes and look away from me, but I forced her to look at me.

"Esme, I promise you right here and now that if you choose to stay with me, I will do everything in my power to show you just exactly how very special you are. I hope you don't mind, but I fully intend on courting you too."

She smiled at me, her beautiful face lighting up as she looked at me.

"I fully intend on letting you."

I smiled at her, and she spoke quietly.

"Carlisle, we'll have to talk about my past soon. You need to know what happened to me over those ten years."

I nodded my head as I knew she needed to talk about this.

"Alright, Esme. That can happen anytime, we don't need to do that now. I have a question for you. Do you still like climbing trees?"

She laughed and it was music to my ears.

"I haven't climbed a tree in a long time, Carlisle."

"Well, you need to come with me."

"Where are we going?"

I took her by the hand and she removed the robe and slippers, revealing her tattered dress.

"Edward got you some new clothes yesterday, but these may get messy where we're going anyway. Let's go."