Thanks for beta'ing and prereading, K.K. Fush and TheMortician'sDaughter!

Esme POV

The sticky, red liquid ran down my leg as I hissed in pain. Tears formed in my eyes as I realized that Carlisle was here to pick me up and I had kept him waiting...all because I had cut myself out of pure idiocy. I was holed up in my room and had ripped everything off me. Not even Alice could coax me out of my paranoia.

The door opened and my mom walked in. "Mom to the rescue. What happened...oh, dear, let me see."

"Ugh!" I groaned and threw the ten dresses that I rejected across the room so they landed on my bed. "I have nothing to wear because I've gotten fatter over the past month, and I cut myself shaving my legs! He's gonna think I'm still a cutter! Whoever made razor blades so sharp needs to go to fucking hell!" I glared at the offending piece of steel. "This shouldn't have happened with an electric razor... I want to start all over!"

"Mommy, you have a potty mouth."

I looked up at my daughter who was perched on my bed near my tossed clothes. "Sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean to swear. I'm just frustrated. My hair dried already, and I wanted him to see me with my hair wet." Because a girl's wet hair that is spread around her shoulders looks really sexy, apparently.

"And you don't even have your makeup on." Mom added.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. "Thank you very much for pointing that out."

"Don't worry, I'll help you. Alice, you can go entertain Carlisle downstairs."

"Okay!" Alice agreed happily and scampered out of the room.

"First of all, Esme, you've made a deep cut right where your knee bends, so let's just wash this off in the sink." I wrapped my towel around my naked form and limped toward my bathroom with Mom's help.

"I can't see over my belly or through my hair when I'm bent over for five minutes. This is my first time shaving. Forgive me for being a little nervous!"

"It's all right," she murmured while soaking my injury in cool water. "Now, I'm going to pat this dry and put gauze and tape around it."

"This is so humiliating and it makes me sick..." I moaned and covered my eyes. "I was clumsy with an electric razor!"

"It's not your fault. It was an accident! Come on, I'm done with your bandage, so let's go into your room to pick out a nice outfit."

"Okay." I hopped back to my room and kept my towel securely around me. "The problem with all these dresses is that they don't hide my stomach! Everyone will know that I'm expecting! Do you know how embarrassing that is?"

"There are some dresses here that don't show your stomach as much...what about this dark blue dress?" She picked it out of my closet.

"I just bought that today...but then I didn't think he'd like it all that much. It's summer, and I can't wear dark clothes in the summer. It...it was the only one I could afford and...and fit into." I looked down and felt ashamed.

"Carlisle's a man. He doesn't give a shit about fashion. You will look exquisite, my darling. I promise you that right now."

Mom closed the door with the dress still in her hands and came back to me. I dropped the towel so it fell into a pool around my feet. Taking her hands for balance, I stepped into the dress and she tied it in the back. It was a halter dress and when she turned me around so I could look at myself in the mirror, I was astonished. I pivoted to one side, then the other. My mouth fell open in an 'O' shape.

"Wow. Not bad."

My mom hummed to herself. "Not bad at all. It shows off your long legs pretty nicely." She tapped her chin. "Okay, you put on your makeup and I'll do your hair."

"I'd like a half pony, please." I walked towards my fallen makeup kit, picked it up, and sat in front of my magnifying mirror. My mom decided to straighten my hair while I did my makeup. My hair was now hot against my bare back and shoulders and my bangs hung straight across my forehead. I took off my glasses and applied mascara on my eyelashes, black liner on my eyelids, and added white eyeshadow. I smacked my pink-glossed lips together and finally, I felt good about my appearance. The last step was putting on my heels.

"Pretty as a princess!"

I smiled and twirled around. "Thanks!"

"Ready to go meet him downstairs?"

I nodded my head yes excitedly.

"I'll go downstairs first and then you can follow me."

As soon as my mom walked down the stairs, I put on a black cardigan in case it got cold, and slowly went downstairs. I saw Carlisle with Alice and they were just talking away. I took him by surprise when his name escaped my lips.

He tore his attention away from my little girl and stared at me. "Wow..."

"We match," I giggled. "I'm wearing a blue dress and you have a blue shirt on underneath your jacket. Very handsome, by the way."

He came closer to me and gathered me in his arms. "Thanks. Rosalie picked it out."

I laughed. "She has good taste in fashion."

"Apparently, so does your mom. Esme, you're...I just can't take my eyes off you."

My gaze dropped to the floor and I blushed madly. "Th...thank you."

Carlisle placed his finger under my chin and lifted it so my eyes could meet his. His lips came in close contact with my own, and then he pulled away, leaving me gasping for breath.

"W...what was that?"

"Close your eyes," he instructed me. I obeyed.

I heard him walk further into the living room and when he re-entered the foyer. When I peeked, I noticed he was hiding something behind his back.

"Okay, you can look. For you, milady." He handed me a colorful bouquet of roses, lilies, and daffodils.

I took the flowers and closed my eyes again. "Gosh, they're gorgeous."

"I'm glad you think so."

"I'll...I'll put these in a vase."

"Don't be silly, dear. I can do that for you," Mom offered. I gladly handed over the flowers to her and Carlisle looped his arm through mine.

"Shall we go?"

"We shall." I hugged my mom and daughter goodbye. They waved back at me and wished me luck.

Carlisle helped me into his car like a perfect gentleman, and then he started driving us to our desired destination.

"I heard you were having some trouble up there?" he started.

"Yeah..." I crossed one ankle over the other, and the slight movement left a stinging pain where the cut was. "Ouch!"

"What's wrong?" he asked worriedly.

"Oh, nothing, I just cut myself..." I glanced at him quickly before I said, "shaving my legs." His facial features softened when he realized that I didn't do it on purpose.

"Damn, that bites. I've had that happen to me before, but it was on my chin. I went too fast and the razor just about sliced my face open."

"Eeewww," I said distastefully and wrinkled my nose. "Delightful," I commented sarcastically.

"Yeah, not very pleasant," he agreed. "Hey, we're here."

"Ooh, cool!" I unlocked my car door and unbuckled my seatbelt while Carlisle did the same. He came around to the passenger side of his car and held out his arms.

"There's a puddle from this week's summer rain. I'm carrying you over it, bridal style."

"I'm not complaining," I said giddily. I grabbed my purse and wrapped my arms around his neck as he cradled me to his chest. He walked to the restaurant and suddenly, I noticed a light rainbow that was about to fade away.

"Esme, what is it?" he asked when I gasped softly.

"Look at that rainbow!"

"Wow, yeah..." his eyes traveled to where I was pointing upwards at the sky. "It's amazing, a rainbow just before sunset."

"Speaking of which, let's get a sunset view! That would be lovely."

"I'll request it," he promised me. "Anything for the birthday girl."

"It's not my birthday til' next week!"

"Close enough," he smirked with his hand still on the doorknob. Then, he let us in and greeted the hostess with a friendly smile.

"Hello, we'd like a table for two with a sunset view."

"That rhymes," I giggled.

"Hola. Por favor, sígueme," the young woman gestured for us to follow her. "Your waitress will be here soon."

"Gracias," Carlisle thanked her.

"De nada," the woman answered him and gave us our menus. Then, she left.

Carlisle pulled out my chair and I sat down. He took the seat that was across from me. We read our menus and I knew what I wanted right away.

"Aha, yes! They have a vegetarian burrito!" I exclaimed triumphantly after scanning my menu.

"You ordered that last time. Are you a vegetarian, or...?" He trailed off and didn't finish his question.

"No, no, I just don't like meat except for hamburgers and hot dogs," I quickly explained. "Hey, we're the opposite! You don't like cheese, but I love it. I hate chicken, but you wolf that shit down! In fact, I bet you're getting a chicken burrito like you did last time we went out for Mexican food with our kids." I realized my mistake and felt embarrassed. "I-I mean my daughter and your son," I corrected. Thankfully, he didn't notice, or maybe he just didn't care.

"You're right, I am. What are you getting for a beverage?"

"Strawberry margarita, just like last time."

"Mmm, although my favorite drink is a beer, I'll try that too."

"What? You don't have to. It's your choice!" I protested.

"It's okay, I want to!"

"Okay then...well a strawberry margarita is the only alcoholic drink I can handle. The rest are too carbonated."

"Do you have sensitive taste buds or something?"

"Yeah, I'm really picky," I admitted with a sigh.

"I can be too, sometimes. Ravioli and Pop-Tarts are nasty! With the squishy-squishy and the squares!"

I burst out laughing at his grossed-out facial expression. "Are you kidding? I love that crap! Oh well, every man for himself!"

"Yep!" He put down his menu, as did I. "What's your favorite dessert?"

"Brownie sundae...and strawberry shortcake! I have a lot."

"I love those too. Everyone likes dessert."

"I just don't like nuts."

"No nuts for you, then."

We looked out the window in unison and noticed the sun setting. I leaned against the wall that was underneath the clear window and propped my chin on my fist. I started to move when he took out his phone.

"What are you doing?" I asked him.

"Just don't talk or anything, okay? Stay right there. I'm taking a picture of you with the sunset in the background."

I fluffed my hair, took off my glasses, smiled and kept my eyes open until after the camera on his iPhone clicked. "What was that for?"

After I put my glasses back on, he turned his phone around so I could see the photo he just took. "I want to remember you when we're not together. See, now it's my wallpaper on my iPhone. I just can't get over how beautiful you are tonight...or anytime, in fact. Can I take another one of you with your glasses on? You have a sweet smile."

I blinked and my cheeks flushed a deep red, I was pretty sure of that. "Yes?"

"Why don't you make a funny face?"

I did a peace sign with my fingers, rolled my eyes, and stuck my tongue out crazily. He took it while laughing.

A girl who looked to be in high school noticed him taking pictures of me and got his attention. "You two are so adorable. Would you like me to take a picture of the both of you?"

"Sure, that would be great," Carlisle allowed and handed the teenage girl his phone. "Just press the middle."

"I got it."

Carlisle stood at the front of the table and put his arm around me. I gave the girl more directions. "Just our top halves, please. The camera adds ten pounds."

"Of course."

We grinned from ear to ear when she took our picture. "There you go."

After she handed Carlisle his iPhone back, I commented, "That was nice."

"It was." We sat back down until the waitress came over to get our orders.

"Sunsets are so lovely," I murmured.

"They're prettier with you there."

"Aww, stop being so corny," I teased him, even though I swooned at his compliment. I swear, he was going to give me a heart attack if he didn't shut up.

A peppy voice chirped, "Hi, my name is Jessica, and I'll be serving you tonight. What would you guys like to drink and eat?"

We turned to a short woman in her late teens with blonde, curly hair. When we didn't respond right away, because the woman made me jump out of my seat, she said, "Come on, I don't, like, have all day!" Patient, wasn't she? I thought to myself and scoffed quietly.

"You first," Carlisle told me.

I told her my order and then Carlisle went after me.

"Are you guys, like, dating or married?"

"Neither," I spoke up. "We're very close friends!" Then, I noticed the way she was eyeing him and beginning to touch his arm. Oh hell, no! Not my man! That rude bitch! "Extremely close friends," I emphasized and sucked on my finger really hard.

"Ohhh! Like-" she dropped her voice down to a whisper, "-friends with benefits?"

"Fuck yeah! Mmm!"

"I don't wanna know!" she wailed and ran away with our orders. He stared at me with raised eyebrows. I cracked up.

"Esme, did you just lie to our waitress and tell her we're having sex?"

"To get her eyes off your package, yes. You're welcome, by the way."

Carlisle shook his head. "You're one of a kind."

"Is that a good thing?" I wondered hopefully. "I mean, at least I didn't try to kill her this time."

"It's an excellent thing. I love your creativity."

"Thank you."

The next time the waitress came back with our orders, she didn't dare look at my man, who wasn't really mine yet. I smiled innocently at her and took my food. "Thanks."

She didn't say anything to either of us when she set Carlisle's food down in front of him.

"Thank you very much!" he said when she hurried away.

"Are you thanking her or me?" I asked.

"Well, you...it makes me uncomfortable when other women flirt with me."

"Ah. Then you're welcome, again." I started eating. "Oh, god, this is good!"

"I couldn't agree with you more."

"Maybe she's trying to kiss up to us so she'll get a tip and be forgiven for flirting with you."

"She still won't get one."

"Awesome, dude. If she writes her number on the back of the receipt, I'll laugh."

We chewed our food until it was gone about ten minutes later.

So...do you want dessert?"

"Sure. Let's get strawberry shortcake this time," he suggested.

"Mmm...sounds good." I licked my lips slowly.

He raised his hand. "Miss, we'd like dessert," he told our waitress. I decided not to make her feel awkward by just not speaking. I let him talk to her. I wasn't supposed to be jealous! We were only friends.

"Of course," Jessica chirped.

"Strawberry shortcake with whipped cream, please," Carlisle said politely.

"Why are you so calm?" I asked him after the flustered waitress took our order down on a notepad and walked away.

"I guess women are more emotional than men."

"Yeah, that makes sense, actually."

We shared our dessert and I ate more than he did with no shame. He stared at me curiously.

"Enjoying your early birthday treat?"

"Oh! Um, yes..." I wiped my mouth free of whipped cream, strawberry juice, and crumbs. "All right, I'm done. We can go now, if you want."

"Perfect. Check, please!" he called out to Jessica who was coming to collect our food. She didn't get a tip and I stifled my giggles with the palm of my hand when she wrote her number on the back of the receipt.

Call me, she mouthed at Carlisle, and then sauntered away.

"Let's go somewhere private, hm?" Carlisle asked me while I finished my spouts of laughter. He held my hand and I slipped my arm through my purse strap. We walked out of the restaurant and a gust of cold air hit us both. I shivered and put on my cardigan, but it was still freezing. He noticed and took off his own jacket to lend to me.

"Thank you," I murmured gratefully. "Your jacket feels nice around me. It's cozy and warm."

"I'm glad you think so." He let go of my hand and put his arm around my shoulders instead. I leaned into him and hugged his free arm. "So, did you have fun?"

"Oh, yes, I had a blast."

"Great!" When we got into his car, he turned on soothing music and started driving me home. I suddenly didn't want this night to end. We didn't say a word to each other, but we sang to the lyrics loudly and proudly when the radio began to play a song that I wanted to dance to. I sighed sadly when I saw my house come into view.

"Well, I...I guess this is good night."

He opened his arms for a hug. "I can walk you up there, if you'd like?"

Men hate clinginess, Esme! Make him want you more by rejecting him!

The voice in my head was right. So, I simply put on a brave face. "It's okay. I'll go up by myself." We shared an awkward hug and I let myself out of his car. I practically ran up to my door without looking back. He stayed there until my mom let me in.

"Hey, baby, how was your date?"

"It was nice," was all I said. I scrambled up the stairs and locked myself in my bedroom. I sank down against my wall and squealed happily.

Alice knocked on my door. "Mommy, I take it you had a wonderful time?"

"Yes!" I almost screamed. I was too excited to go to sleep.

The next weekend was my birthday party. The hotel was decorated pretty nicely, with silver and red balloons, circular tables with candles and roses in the middle, and a big space for dancing. There was even a disco ball above our heads. Everyone dressed fancy. I had on fake French nails, my long red strapless dress and silver dangly earrings that I'd bought during my preparation week. My hair was curled and I was soon all dolled up in front of the mirror. I sat at one of the tables and waited for my guests to arrive. Alice was in a cute purple dress while Mom was in an elegant blue evening gown. My dress was perfect since it hid my stomach very well.

The first people to come were the Hales and the Swans. I gave my friends big hugs and Renee spun me around. She looked darling in her purple dress and it was funny how Charlie's tie matched his wife's dress. Lily was in a black dress and Rosalie was in white. The little girl hugged my daughter and then waved around a toy stick with a star attached to the end. She touched my belly with the star as soon as the men were distracted.

"Baby, come out, now!" I tried not to laugh because she frowned when nothing happened. "It doesn't work!"

"Oh, sweetie, don't worry, it'll come out soon," I assured her and tousled her blonde hair. "In December."

"I can't wait that long!"

I smiled down at her. "Sorry."

"Let's get this party started!" I heard someone shout. It was some of the students in my former class, and my heart warmed. Ella, Carmen, Siobhan, Elizabeth, Sue, and Sarah came through the door with their husbands and kids after, and we exchanged hugs. Someone was missing, and so was half of my heart.

Everyone went to their assigned seats just as Carlisle and Emmett arrived, finally! Renee, Charlie, Carmen, Eleazar, and I welcomed Carlisle to our table, while Emmett joined Rosalie, Alice, Jasper, Angela, Bree, Diego, and Maggie at the kids' table. We had tortellini for dinner and water to drink. I felt shy when my mom told people to say something nice about me in a microphone. My friends and my mom said they were lucky to have me in their lives, the kids thought I was the best grown-up ever, which I laughed hysterically at, along with everyone else, and Carlisle announced that I was his favorite girl in the world. My audience 'awwwwed' at that. I just patted his arm and smiled at him fondly. Suddenly, I used my newfound bit of confidence I'd gained from meetings with Ella and stood up.

"Thank you, everyone!"

There was a round of applause and then the dancing started. People break-danced and slow danced to all kinds of songs. Of course, for the slow songs, I ended up in Carlisle's arms.

"You look good in that suit," I noticed aloud. He was wearing a short sleeved green button-up paired with black slacks and dress shoes.

"Thank you. I love you in that dress. Strapless really suits you."

"Thanks," I mumbled.

"Your cheeks match your dress."

"What? Oh, god!" I hid my face in his shoulder.

We were speechless while we danced around the room slowly. His arms were tightly wound around me and I started to feel lightheaded. What if he felt my disgusting baby bump? Oh, no...

"My legs feel like jelly...why did I just say that out loud?" I asked him.

"Because you're very attracted to me. You deserve to have this kind of birthday party, you know."

"Really?" I asked.

He nodded and smoothed his hand down my hair. "You mean a lot to me." He pulled out a black box out of his pocket.

Oh my god, was he gonna propose? my mind panicked. He gave the box to me.

"Should I open it?"

"Go ahead, Ezzie. It's one of my birthday presents to you."

I lifted the lid of the box and found a gold necklace with a heart on the end of the chain inside.

"Help me put it on?"

"Certainly." He loosened the clasp on the necklace and opened it up while I held up my hair. His fingers brushed the back of my neck and I got a very tingly feeling in the pit of my stomach, right where my baby was currently residing. "There." He appeared in front of me again and I touched the heart that was just above my cleavage.

"I love it..." I was beginning to get choked up.

"That's great to hear." He put one arm around my back and his other hand tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear. He fingered my earring and rested his palm on my cheek.

"Carlisle..." I grabbed his hand which was on my cheek. "Please don't make me cry on my birthday," I said softly. My voice was thick with emotion.

"I'll try not to," he whispered in my hair.

Tears slipped down my cheeks, but they were overjoyed tears. I loved being in his strong arms and feeling protected. For a moment, it felt like we were the only ones in the room. We gazed into each other's souls until a random line dance started and we were pulled into it.

"This party rocks!" I cheered.

"Yeah, because you're here."

"Of course I'm here, I'm the birthday girl!"

For the next few songs, I danced wildly with my girls and twirled the little girls around. Carlisle took pictures of us on his phone and his camera.

A really sappy slow song came on and this time, I wrapped my arms around his waist and leaned my head on his shoulder. Carlisle rocked us from side to side. I looked out at the other couples dancing, even the children. It was such an enchanting scene to watch. The disco lights shined down on us all, making the room and people have a pinkish glow. Pictures were taken and I opened all my presents. The best one was a computer from my mom and an iPhone from Carlisle.

"Wow, you guys didn't have to get me this...thank you," I told them and gave them big hugs. Now, I finally looked like a normal person with technology to their name.

"It was no problem," Carlisle said with a grin. My mom rubbed my back soothingly and went back to snapping pictures.

Soon, it was time for the chocolate cake with the words, "Happy twenty-sixth Birthday, Esme!" written in red icing with green and pink flowers around it. I stood over my cake while everyone sang, "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Esme, happy birthday to you!" Then I blew out my candles and made a wish.

Please, let me learn to love again, I prayed in my head. Please, God, I need romance in my life.

As everyone ate their slices of cake, Carlisle got up from his chair. "Now, I'm going to sing."

"What, you're singing?" I asked, shocked.

"Well, yeah." With that, he jumped up on the stage and everyone paused their movements to look up at him. "Microphone, please." My mom tossed him the microphone and he spoke into it. "Thank you, Anne. Now, this song is dedicated to a special girl in my life." He looked right into my eyes. "You know who you are, birthday girl."

I swayed along with the music as everyone else did. I found out that I could actually relate to the song.

"She's saying 'Love is like a barren place

And reaching out for human faith is like a journey

I just don't have a map for.'

So baby's gonna take a dive and

Push the shift to overdrive

Send a signal that she's hanging

All her hopes on the stars

What a pleasant dream

She's sayin,

'I would fly to the moon and back if you'll be, if you'll be my baby.

I've got a ticket for a world where we belong

So would you be my baby?"

He continued to sing while I loved it.

YAAAAAY! The Breaking Dawn Part 2 trailer came out! I'm so excited! ^_^

Please read and review TeamCarlislex's story Esme's Hunger Games and K.K. Fush's stories Toxic and White Picket Fence.

Thank you to readers and reviewers K.K. Fush, CarlisleandEsme, that kiwi chick, MrsCarlisleCullen13, TheMortician'sDaughter,Just4Me, TeamCarlisleandEsme8, Msoxcookie, Caresme'sChild & TeamCullenx!