Carlisle POV

'When is the battle?' I asked.

'About a week, I think.' Said Alice.

'oh' I looked at my wife. Her head was buried in my shoulder. I couldn't see her face, but I desperately wanted too. I stroked her beautiful caramel hair. She looked up at me.

'Err, anyone want a hunt?' said Edward.

'Well, I ate yester-oh, yeah sure.' Said Alice.

'Yeah sure.' Muttered the rest of my family. They filtered out of the living room. Edward was the last to leave.

'Thanks'

'It's the least I could do.' He said before leaving to hunt. Esme looked at me. She wasn't hiding her sadness. I smiled at her. Her weak attempt to return it broke my heart. I stroked her perfect face with the back of my hand.

'I love you.' I said.

'I love you too.' She whispered. She moved so she was sitting next to me. Her legs tucked up, her arms hugging them. Her forehead resting on her knees.

'Esme,'

'Yes.'

'If I had to choose between loving you and breathing, I'd use my last breath to say I love you.' I said.

'Carlisle! Don't say that! Soon you will be taking your last breath! I can't stand it. I love you too much! I literally died to be with you and now you're being taken away! Carlisle…' she sobbed. I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her close. I loved her so much and I was about to die. I felt my soul being ripped apart. I knew it would be worse for Esme, so I decided not to tell her about how scared I was. I held her close and took in everything about her. It was going to be a hard few days.

An hour later, my family returned from hunting. I was still on the sofa with Esme. She was on my lap, her face on my neck. I held her to me. As Rosalie walked into the room, Esme lifted her head. She looked at me. I could tell she wanted to be in private again. I picked her up and carried her up to our bedroom.

'I can walk you know…' she commented.

'I know, I just wanted to hold you'

'Oh, okay' she said softly. 'I want to be in your arms'.

I carried her into our bedroom. I closed the door and went over to the bed. I sat down and started to put Esme down next to me. She clung onto my neck so I placed her on my lap. She snuggled into my chest. I breathed in her scent, before asking the question that had been playing on my mind for a while…

'Esme, can you promise me something?'

'Anything'

'Can you promise not to go insane and kill yourself when I die? Please?' I asked. She stayed silent. 'Esme?'

'I can't promise I won't go insane, but I can promise I won't kill myself. The kids will need me.' She mumbled into my chest.

'Thank you.'

'I'll miss you' she sobbed.

'I know, but you've got to be strong for me, promise?' I said trying to see her face. She said nothing.

'Esme…' I said, firmly. She shifted away from me a little. I had been a little too firm. I pulled her closer to me. She let me. She was so weak and sad. I wondered what she would be like when I wasn't here to comfort her, to talk to her, to hold her…I loved her and wanted nothing bad to happen to her, yet me dying could be the worst thing for her. I lifted her head so that our faces were level. I looked into her eyes. They were filled with sadness. I brought her lips to mine.

'Do you have to fight tomorrow?' she asked.

'You know I do. You might get hurt or die…'

'But if you didn't fight I wouldn't lose you.'

'But I might lose you.'

'But I wouldn't lose you…sorry, I'm being selfish.' She said before getting up and walking to the window. I missed the feeling of her in my arms. I longed for that feeling again. I walked over to the window and wrapped my arms around her. She turned around. I looked into her eyes. This time they were filled with love and sadness. She took my hand a walked over to the bed.

'Esme…'

'I want to forget about what's going to happen. This is the only way I think how…' she trailed off, undoing my shirt.

'Okay, but promise you'll tell me if I hurt you?'

'Carlisle, you say that every time and you never do' she smiled. I was glad she was smiling again. She ran her hands down my back.

'Are they…you know…like Rose and Emmett?' asked Renesmee from downstairs.

'Yeah, but they won't be as loud and their sensitive to the subject, so don't mention it, okay?' replied Edward. I could feel Esme cringing, but knew she would do it anyway…

After a few hours, we ventured back downstairs. Most of our family were in the living room. Alice and Jasper were watching a documentary on animals, Edward and Emmett were arm-wrestling, Jacob and Renesmee were talking in the corner, Bella was in the kitchen making some dinner for Renesmee and Jacob and Rosalie was hovering near the doorway.

'So feeling a little better?' Rosalie asked Esme.

'Yes, thank you.'

'Are you sensitive about…you know what?' asked Renesmee. I could tell Esme was embarrassed but she answered anyway.

'Yeah, I suppose we are…' she said softly.

'Aww, that's well sweet!' Renesmee cooed. Emmett laughed.

'Why are you laughing?' asked Renesmee 'Its cute!' I could tell Esme was getting a little uncomfortable with everyone talking about out private life. I was a little uncomfortable too. Lucky Edward came to our rescue.

'Guys, I think Esme and Carlisle are getting a little awkward…'

'Oh sorry!' said Renesmee.

'It's okay sweetie' forgave Esme, smiling. I thanked Edward in my thoughts. He nodded to tell me he'd heard.

A thin wisp of smoke came from the kitchen. Esme turned and ran into it.

'Oh no! Oh I'm so sorry Esme!' we heard Bella say from the smoky kitchen.

'It's fine, really' said Esme, laughing 'It's almost like I'm the only one who is trusted in the kitchen!' she laughed. I smiled. My beautiful wife wasn't sad, thank goodness, because this was the only time she would be truly happy maybe ever. That though made me want to burst into floods of tears, but I had to be strong. If she saw I was crying, her happiness would be gone in an instant.