Thank you, Pfachgirl, for your review! Sorry about the cliff-hanger; hopefully this will make up for it.

I know that Hoquiam was a stretch, but I cannot bring myself to establish Forks 130 years before its time. "Clallam" is Forks' county, so I just stuck "region" on the end of that and... presto. Take note, however, that this is the Forks area near the Quileutes' land. It'll be important later in the story.

Also, in my research of the 19th century Pacific Northwest, I came across a startling mistake of mine. At the time this is set, the province was called "Oregon Country" not "Washington Territory." I've already edited the inaccuracy out of the first several chapters. My apologies to all you historians out there.

Sorry for the long A/N; here's the new chapter. I wrote this quickly for you guys, as usual, so forgive the mistakes. Notice the date: a year later.

-Scarlet

Chapter 13: Eternity

December 5th 1815, morning

Clallam region, Oregon Country

Caleb was devastated when I ended our courtship. My vague excuses did little to console his broken heart, but I couldn't bring myself to feel anything more than slight regret. I told him to remember me as I left for brighter horizons with my dear uncle, Carlisle Cullen. We stayed for the winter, and I was by Martha's bedside when her first child was born. She named the red-haired, blue-eyed girl after her mother: Delilah.

Carlisle left his home to John Stockton, after selling nearly all the furnishings. We were able to leave Hoquiam with just one wagon-load of goods.

The months following were the happiest of my life. I loved Carlisle, I had discovered quite abruptly. The hours spent in his company had only strengthened that feeling... as did the moments spent apart. He confessed that he had had feelings for me since the first weeks I'd arrived in Hoquiam. He forced himself to interact with me, because he thought I was a final test sent to challenge his control. He often told me that he'd failed the test, and then he would smile and kiss my forehead.

The connection we shared was undying and indestructible, unfortunately. However, this was no curse... because we'd be together forever.

We moved north, to a region called Clallam. The Quileutes were only thirty miles away, and I had stood back in amazement as Titus Black shoot Carlisle's hand for the first time. Titus told me that the area received the occasional nomad, but nothing more.

Carlisle and I built our new home in Clallam from the ground up, with our bare hands. There were windows in every room, unlike his old home. The location was in a thick, pine forest: our personal hunting ground. Few people, besides the Quileutes, even knew of our existence there, and we had little interaction with the outside world. It was our own planet that we had built together.

That day in particular (which happened to be my birthday) Carlisle had planned a "special event," as he called it. He had told me to stay at our favorite spot in the forest as he retrieved the "surprise." I obediently stayed under the large, powerful oak which had seen fit to create its own island in the middle of a river. Some bushes and smaller trees occupied the space as well, but it was excellent for relaxing to the sounds of the forest.

As I waited for him to return, I thought. We often professed our love for each other, we shared passing touches of affection, and he had kissed me too many times to count. However, that was the extent of our relations. Without the eye of humanity holding us back, I thought that we should be much more than just suitors. I'd never once brought up the subject of marriage, and he'd never hinted at the matter... but I hoped, and waited.

One activity that we often enjoyed sharing was experimenting with my gift. I had not harnessed the extent of my power at that point; it had only been a nuisance. Whenever I felt strong emotion of any kind – fear, anxiety, helplessness... affection – my ability would assert itself in the moment that my willpower slipped. The white, misty shields would pop up randomly when I attempted to control them, often damaging things if I was indoors. So, we brought our tests and trials outdoors, where I could damage anything I liked.

I sat close to the river's edge as I waited, twirling my finger in the chilly, surging water. Snow had been delayed that year, so only harsh temperatures had descended upon us. Chunks of ice flowed with the water, having frozen overnight. A cold breeze swept through the forest, causing the frost-laden pines of the forest to sway lazily.

Agitated with waiting, I stood. I wore many layers of clothes to thwart the cold, but I still shivered in the harsh wind. Why today, of all days, would Carlisle wish me here in the cold? I wrapped my arms about myself and shuttered.

Suddenly, I got an idea. Holding my thickly-gloved hands into the wind, I closed my eyes and focused. It took all my concentration several moments before a soft whisper caused the wind to stop. When I opened my eyes, a tall shield stood before me, blocking the harsh wind from reaching me. I smiled at my handiwork, just before a familiar scent reached my nose.

I would recognize Carlisle's honey-like scent anywhere. My shield dropped with the distraction.

He had crossed the river before I even turned around, and I smiled when I saw what he carried in his arms. "The 'surprise'?" I presumed, motioning to the large wicker basket.

"Yes," he said, leaning down to kiss my cheek. "I think you'll be very pleased, my dear."

I sat on the blanket he situated on the ground, and we weighted the edges down against the wind with stones. The tea he brought for my was half-cooled, and the biscuit was half-crushed by the apple. We laughed at his misfortune, but I insisted that the chocolate drops had been a success.

"Perhaps I'll find some way to atone for my carelessness," he said, smiling as he brought my hand to his lips. He laid across from me as I finished eating, propped up on his elbow.

I giggled into my other hand as his cool lips kissed my knuckles. "What could you possibly procure after the cheese?" I laughed, pointing to the half-dirty chunk of yellow cheese that he'd dropped on the way.

"Well...," he mused, smiling devilishly, "perhaps I can redeem myself in a non-food related way." He pulled a red rose from behind his back and set it between us.

It was withered from the cold, and the stem was uncut of leaves. Charmed, I smiled as I stroked the soft petals. "A rose in mid-winter?" I asked slyly, feeling warmed by the gesture.

"I suppose poinsettia would have been more fitting, but I didn't have the time to run up to Canada... again." He brushed my cheek with his fingers so that I would look up at him. His face became more serious. "Happy Birthday, my love."

I slipped the glove from my hand so I could touch his face. "Thank you, Carlisle." I beamed.

"Cornelia, I love you." He put a hand on my waist and drew me close, until only the rose separated us.

"As I love you," I breathed faintly, affected by his nearness.

His golden eyes burnt with love as they gazed into mine, and his voice was full of genuine sincerity. "I have loved you since the day I knew we were meant for each other... which was the first time I saw you." He pulled our foreheads together, and rested his hand on my neck. "You are my soul mate and my true love, Cornelia."

I felt his other hand slip something cold into my palm, but I couldn't bring my eyes from his to look down. "Carlisle..."

"I promise to love you for the rest of eternity." His hand closed around mine, and his lips brushed my own. His voice was just above a whisper. "Will you marry me?"

I felt a wave of affection rise up within me, and my eyes brimmed with tears. My throat felt like glue as I tried to form words. "Yes," I gasped. "Yes, Carlisle. I love you."

Our lips met as he slipped the ring onto my finger. I kissed him with all the love and passion that blazed in my soul. A heat burnt between us so intense that I forgot about the icy wind and the cold ground.

Suddenly, I felt a cool tingle in the palms of my hands, and I jumped away from Carlisle in surprise. Gasping, I looked down at my bare hands and clenched them together tightly. As I did so, the shield that had formed around us like a wall vanished from sight. I sighed, regaining control.

"Oops," I said, smiling at Carlisle's surprised face. "Sorry..."

"That was excellent." He held out a hand to help me to my feet. "How did you do it?"

I chuckled softly, falling into his embrace again. "I didn't do it. You did..." I reached up on my toes and pecked his lips. I held my hand against his smiling face, and only then did I see the sparkling diamond ring. But I only saw it for a moment, as his eyes captured mine in their gaze once again. "Thank you for loving me," I whispered.

His eyes danced at the words, and he took my lips in a sweet kiss. After a moment, his lips stilled against mine, and he pulled back a tiny inch. A hint of regret laced his words, "Thank you for letting me – in all that I am."

My fingers twined in his golden hair, and our bodies molded to one. "I love for who you are... not what you are." I leaned my head against his silent chest.

We held each other there for many long minutes, as the brook chirped behind us and the wind whispered through the trees. Carlisle swayed me gently back and forth with the wind, and it felt as though heaven had opened to us for one shining moment. My heart trilled at the thought of this lasting an eternity.

It wasn't until half an hour later that I realized what the rhythm of our motions was set to...

My heartbeat.

*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*

I stroked the soft metal of my gold ring as I gazed into boundless depth of the flames in the fireplace. They danced and swayed to the melody that Carlisle softly played on the piano beside it. His fingers flowed gracefully over the keys, and his breathing matched the steady tempo of the wistful song.

The music ended with a bitter-sweet tone, and my love came to sit by the sofa that I laid upon. He took my ringed hand gently in his own, and kissed the gemmed face of my fourth finger. His eyes reflected the moonlight of the window above us, and I stared into his loving gaze for what felt like an eternity.

"I love you, Cornelia. With my whole heart and soul... nothing will ever break us apart."

My eyes slipped closed as he took me into a tender embrace, and I wrapped my arms about him tightly. I sighed in the peace of the heavenly moment, and wished that it might stay...

"Forever, Carlisle... I love you."

Can such a thing last for eternity? Review and find out sooner.

-Scarlet