Esme POV:

I nodded and took his hand. The kids followed us so we could drive them to Renee's house. She was going to take Edward and Bella to the movies and then take care of Rosalie, Alice, and Emmett.

"Bye, Mommy! Bye, Carlisle!" Alice shouted, waving to us at the same time Rosalie called out, "Bye, Daddy! Bye, Esme!"

"Bye, kids," we both answered.

"Bye, guys!" Renee said, taking the kids in through the doorway.

"Bye, Mom and Dad!" Edward said quickly. We waved to them as we drove away.

"So, Esme," Carlisle started. "Just wondering if you've bought a tree yet?"

"Yes, have you?"

"We're buying ours tomorrow. Do you and the kids want to help Rosalie and I decorate it?"

"We'd love to," I said, smiling. "Wait, where are we going?" I asked as he drove us into a deserted part of town.

"You'll see," he said, grinning mischievously. He soon pulled up to a Mexican restaurant, which I loved, and stopped the car. I started getting out, but he held my arm gently.

"Hold on," He got out and went to my door and opened it. Then, he took my hand, kissed it, and helped me out of the car. "You look lovely, you know that, right?"

"Thanks. And you don't look so bad yourself, handsome," I said, and he wrapped his arm around my waist and gingerly ran his fingers through my hair. I melted into his side. He opened the front door of the restaurant where music was playing softly.

"Table for two, please, in the back," he said, and the waiter led us to a round table in the back that was decorated with candles and flowers. Carlisle handed me a huge bouquet of roses, violets, orchids, tulips, and lilies. "For you,"

I put my nose into the flowers and smiled. "Thank you," I said as I sat down when he pulled out my chair for me. I looked around in wonder at the spot he picked out for us. "Oh my," I said quietly.

"You like it?" he asked, lightly stroking my fingers with his thumb.

"I do," I said, nodding. "This is wonderful,"

"I'm glad you think so,"

"So, how do you like your job?"

He groaned, rubbing his face. "Same old, same old. All I want to do is play with my daughter and be around you and the rest of my friends,"

"You can always work as a doctor for the elementary school I work at,"

"Well, I make more money there, so…"

"Yeah, well, what happened in the office today?"

"I gave some little kids their shots, they screamed bloody murder, and there were more babies born…let's see, what else? Oh, and there were some cancer patients, and I had to give some bad news to people who got themselves dehydrated…some people just don't know how to follow the doctor's orders," He laughed, shaking his head.

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Maybe those people should just eat apples," I said, trying to joke around.

"You're right. But don't you be eating any apples, I want you with me. Never go away again,"

"I won't leave you. I promise. My father and Charles are gone, so there's no chance I'll leave you,"

"I'm so happy to hear that. So, what happened in class today?"

"Well, we're having a sing-along with Renee's kindergarten class. She and I planned it, and we think the kids would get along really well. But Alice is shy around Jasper, I don't know why. I see them on the playground, but Alice only plays with Maggie, and Jasper only plays with Emmett,"

"Maybe it's the cootie problem. What about Rosalie? She likes Emmett a lot,"

"I never see her on the playground. Renee says she eats her lunch in class,"

"I'll have to talk with her about that. She was so excited about kindergarten and playing with all the kids…do you think people leave her out of activities?"

"I don't know, she seems very nice with you, me, Alice, and Edward,"

"She does have sort of an attitude, so maybe. Don't worry, I'll talk to her. Maybe she's just really shy,"

"She's a great girl, Carlisle. She seems to really like my daughter, but they only play together at home. Do you think Maggie doesn't let Alice play with Rosalie?"

"No, there's nothing wrong with Maggie, Siobhan and Renee would have told me. I'll have to get it out of Rose,"

"Yeah, I really hope she's okay," I murmured.

"So do I,"

"What do you want for a drink?" the waiter asked when he came to our table.

"Margaritas," we said in unison, and laughed.

We continued talking about various things until the food came. We both ordered tacos with spanish rice, refried beans, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. Our dessert was a brownie sundae, which we shared.

"Yummy!" I said, feeling like a little girl all over again. We both dug in, and I got some whipped cream on my chin. "Ooops,"

"Here, let me get that for you," Carlisle wiped my chin with his finger and then licked it. I laughed.

"I haven't eaten anything like that in years!" I said when we finished.

"It was good, huh?"

"Yeah," I said as he stared into my eyes, or rather, into my soul.

We didn't say anything until the waitress came over to clear our plates and then Carlisle gave her a tip. He took it back when she gave him her number and I glared at her.

"You have no reason to be jealous, my princess," he said, helping me up. "My eyes are only for you," Right in the middle of the restaurant, he started swirling me around.

"Wow…" I breathed. "So…um, what do you want me to get you?"

"Don't worry about it, honey. What would you like for Christmas?" he asked.

"I don't need anything, don't burden yourself with buying me gifts,"

"I'd give you the world if you asked me for it, darling,"

"I don't want the world," I whispered. "All I want for Christmas is you,"

"And you can have me," he said into my hair. Then, he lifted up my chin and we crashed our lips together.

"I just don't know what I did to deserve this," I said, feeling tears come to my eyes. He kissed my tears and then wiped them away with his thumb, cupping my chin in his other hand.

"Esme, you're my one and only love. I've been in love with you since the first time I saw you in that bar thirteen years ago. And I've missed you so much," I leaned the side of my face into his chest as he caressed my back and my hair.

"I've missed you too," I said breathlessly.

Read and review…did you swoon? I know I did! The next chapter has a lemon, so just be warned…you might get a little weird down there! haha!