Disclaimer: It's SMeyer's not mine.

School has had me overloaded with crap, so this took forever. :)

"I'm going to fall down." "I won't let you." He placed his hands under my arms, and put me on my feet. "I can't walk by myself!," I shrieked. "Just walk, I won't let go." He took one of my hands, and placed his other at my waist to steady me. I involuntarily leaned back against him. "Alright, here goes nothing." I stepped forward pulling my cast along with me.

"Why are we doing this?" "Even though you have a cast on your leg you still need to work the muscles." I crossed my arms. "Come on, you're doing fine." I didn't move. "Esme, you're doing great." I still refused to move. "This is beneficial for you," he sighed. I remained stationary. He kissed the corner of my mouth. "Please walk." I walked a few paces. "We certainly aren't on a reward system, and don't be sneaky," he chuckled. "Well it did work, now didn't it?" "Not again," he said, nudging me forward.

"So anything interesting at the hospital?," I leaned against him on the bench. "No, nothing out of the ordinary. It has been a bit dismal since you were discharged, though." I smiled, and stroked his arm. This moment was perfect in my eyes, but truly dishonest all the same. Weren't secret romances a ticket to scandal? But it wasn't something shameful. We just simply wanted to wait a little while before telling my parents.

I watched birds flutter from tree to tree, chirping as they went. The autumn leaves spun like miniature cyclones along the ground.

I watched his hand open to reveal a single penny. I took it and smiled up at him. "It's so unfathomable. If I hadn't decided to climb that tree...," I trailed off. "You said you believe in fate, dear," he held me tighter. "I do, because there is no other way for this to be possible." "Quite true," he mused.

I felt the wind pick up. I looked up to watch it toss his blonde hair about. I laughed as he seemed to grow annoyed with it. "Time has passed quickly once again," he whispered. I groaned, and held on tighter. "This shall show you how quickly time passes. It won't be long now."

He pulled me from the bench, and led me to the car. As he reached to help me in the car, I stretched up to capture his lips. It made me blush just to think it, but the feel of his lips on mine was something I'd never get tired of. I eased down, and he cupped my cheek. "You're a quick one," he smiled.

The ride was fairly quiet. A few odd conversations here and there. We were quite content just being in each other's company.

"When will we tell my parents?," I broke through the silence. "When your cast comes off." "How long?" "A few weeks, your leg is healing extremely well." "I desperately.." "Want to tell them, I know," he said, stroking my hair. I smiled inwardly at the way he finished my sentence.

"What would you like for you birthday?" I looked up at him, but he eyes remained transfixed on the road. "Never mind it will be a surprise," he smiled. Normally I hated surprises, but a surprise from Carlisle I could deal with.

The weeks flew by, and my seventeenth birthday arrived. I sat at the kitchen table as my mother made my cake. "Feel older?" I looked up. "Not really." "Well you are, and you'll be married before you know it." She went off on another one of her marriage speeches, sp I tuned her out.

"Your cast is coming off tomorrow, Dr.Cullen said." I smiled at my mother. "I extremely happy about that," I glared at the ugly thing. "I loathe this thing. I can't even sit on the porch swing, and you know how much I love to do that."

"Oh, that reminds me. I found this on the porch earlier," she handed me a box. I turned it over in my hands, and raised an eyebrow. "It has your name on it, from Ava maybe?" "No, she would have just brought it to me."

I opened, and a small gasp escaped my lips. It was gorgeous. The bracelet was composed of silver bands intertwined together, housing my birthstone in the middle. My mother's eyes grew wide. "Who on earth would give you that? Who could afford such a thing?"

I saw the note wedged in the top of the box, and quickly stuffed it in my pocket. "I don't know," I lied. "Mother, you're going to spill the batter." She turned back to my cake.

I trudged outside dragging my cast. I sat on the steps, and opened the note.

Esme,

Happy birthday, darling. I can't wait to see you wear it. I shall see you tomorrow.

Yours truly,

Carlisle.

A smile seemed to explode on my face. 'Yours truly.' He considered himself to be mine? Now, now don't jump the gun quite yet I reminded myself. Of course I ignored that reasoning and relished in the thought of him as mine.

A/N: It's going to get juicy. Stay tuned. :)