Esme awoke in the morning, letting her eyes flicker open. Again, she had to think for a moment in order to accurately perceive reality. Carlisle's light snoring behind her was the first indicator that the night before was real. She felt his arm lazily strung around her and suddenly felt insecure about the lack of clothing she had on now that the room wasn't dark. The insecurities only lasted a moment because her thoughts immediately began to relive her evening with Carlisle.

I can't believe all of that really happened, she thought with a smile.

Esme let out a deep breath, feeling her stomach rise and fall. She felt like everything was unreal. Her life had changed so drastically over the course of a week that her mind, heart and body didn't know how to deal with it. There were a few things that Esme was certain about - she felt genuinely happy and safe with Carlisle. She wished that she had met him before she met Charles because this could have been her reality all along. She wouldn't have had to suffer for so long, or put Carlisle in a spot that was completely unfair to him.

She turned and looked over her shoulder to see Carlisle sleeping peacefully. Another smile escaped her lips as she continued to listen to his snores. He looked peaceful and almost boyish from the way his blond hair was perfectly messy from tossing and turning throughout the night.

Esme wanted to lay with him forever. She had never felt so euphoric from any single act the way she did now. Carlisle made every terrible day with Charles worth it, and Esme knew she would go through that same hell all over again if she knew it would lead to a moment like this. She hoped whatever was going on between them wouldn't be temporary.

She sighed and closed her eyes, linking her fingers through his by her waist. Esme felt completely different than she ever had in the past. She didn't care what time it was, what the weather was like or what responsibilities lied ahead of either of them. All she could focus on was the moment.

Carlisle stirred for the first time as he felt Esme's hand link up with his beneath the covers. He felt a chill from the air and pulled her closer against him before finally letting his eyes adjust to the morning light that flickered in through the pulled curtains that covered the window.

He laid still for a few seconds and felt his own insecurities begin to weigh in on him. They were far different than Esme's. He hoped that he hadn't moved too fast in what had happened between the two them. He felt responsible now for her safety and well-being and knew that Esme's emotional state was hardly at its peak. She was healing and asking for help and now here the two of them were lying in bed together.

Carlisle didn't regret a thing. He had thought of Esme in ways that he hadn't thought of another woman on all levels. If by some miracle he was given the opportunity to take up next to her every day from here on out he would be blessed.

That being said, Carlisle didn't know where to start. He didn't know what to say or if he should say anything at all.

You have to say something, he thought and then let out a deep breath.

Carlisle quietly cleared his throat and Esme turned her body around so she could see his face.

He half-smiled, "Hey."

"Hey." Esme hadn't felt so nervous in all of her life. She felt butterflies in her stomach from the second he spoke.

Carlisle had to ask, and hoped that it was alright to do so. "Are you okay?"

She nodded and tried not to cling so protectively to the covers. "Yeah."

He ran a hand through his hair and looked around the room, laying his head flat on the pillow. "I hope you don't think that I-"

Esme silenced him before he could continue, as she knew exactly what he was about to say. "Carlisle last was probably the greatest night of my life. Not just because of this. I've already felt amazed from everything you've done for me, and then you brought me home that gift. I didn't have to think, and I know that sounds irresponsible but I've been thinking about you for weeks and months and it felt right to... act." She thought for a moment and continued, "I feel the need to tell you that I have never been in this position before. The only man I've ever kissed was Charles. I've never been in another man's bed. I never strayed from my marriage. I-"

Carlisle cut her off by touching the side of her face gently and bringing his lips to hers.

Esme closed her eyes and felt her body relax from the long, closed-mouth kiss he had initiated. Her hands released the blankets she had been clutching and she placed one against his bare chest.

"I know," Carlisle told her. "You don't have to explain anything to me."

Esme opened her eyes and stared back into his. "Well, actually when I was thirteen there was a boy, Oliver, who kissed me at school on the playground. But aside from that I've never even kissed anyone else."

Carlisle smiled wider and laughed lightly, making her laugh with him. He kept a hand on the side of her face. "I wasn't anticipating any of this happening," he told her, "At least not last night."

"Me either," she admitted, looking down for a moment.

"But I'm glad that it did," Carlisle went on. "I'm sorry if you feel like you're stuck in the middle." He sighed and reciprocated when Esme brought her lips back to his.

Carlisle kissed her again for a moment before pulling away. "I love you, Esme."

She didn't hesitate. "I love you, too."

"We're going to figure this out," he promised.

"I want to be with you," Esme told him, "Permanently. I don't want this to be something that comes and goes. I've never met anyone like you, Carlisle."

Carlisle saw the fear in her eyes as she spoke the last few sentences. He had no intention of leaving and felt that same level of hurt thinking that Esme might one day slip out of his life, or that someone would find out she was alive and their lives would suddenly be turned upside down. Esme would be back to her life with Charles and who knows what would happen to him. He tried not to think of the negatives.

"I want this," Carlisle told her, "I want to take care of you forever."

Esme smiled and again wanted to ask, "How will it work?" But she didn't. She kissed him another time and took the initiative by urging him back on top of her.

Carlisle felt the weather played into their favor. The snow had begun falling again and no one expected him in at the office on his second day off. Monday he would return to work and for the time being Esme could remain in his home, painting and reading at her leisure. Things weren't going to be overly difficult over the course of the week to come.

He couldn't control the future, and knew they would sit down and discuss the options soon. Now, he decided to take Esme's lead and live in the moment.

Carlisle forgot about the cold and the difficult decisions they would face, and rather let the warmth of Esme's touch and the joys of new love take control.