Second Chances

Summary: Fate never changes, and from the time Carlisle met Esme, she was destined to be his. It's a lesson he learns when she shows up in his morgue, presumed dead.

Carlisle POV-

Her breathing comes in small, choked gasps, her heart slow and uneven. Blood is strong on her breath, stemming from the multitude of internal injuries she had acquired from her fall from the cliffs near her home.

They had immediately brought her to the morgue after they found her body.

After all, who could survive a fall like that and live?

If it wasn't for my exceptional hearing, I would have thought the same; her pulse point on her neck and wrist is slow and weak, her breathing shallow and light.

From the moment they brought her in, I had recognized her scent.

It was something I hadn't smelled in nearly a decade, since I had seen her last.

The last time, she was a bright and happy teenage girl, her eyes alight with new possibilities and love.

Now, she was broken, bloody and lifeless… and not simply from her injuries.

I gasp at the stark contrast of her appearance.

Then, she had a wild, adventurous spirit with a thirst for knowledge that made me want to answer any and all questions she had from the moment I met her.

And ask them, she did.

That day, her family brought her to my hospital with a broken leg. Unashamed and looking me dead in the eye with her chin held defiantly, she had told me she was climbing tree because she wanted a better look at the clouds.

I believe she expected shock or outrage, but I felt none of those things.

I merely asked her if she got her good look at them and smiled when she had said yes.

After that day, I heard her name exclaimed from a floor above and went to investigate, wondering if she had hurt herself again.

It surprised me to learn that every day since was young, she came by the hospital, visiting the patients that had no family, reading to them and bringing them food.

There was something about her that called to me; whether it was her easy laugh and uncaring attitude about what people thought about her, I don't know. Often, I found myself drawn to her, unable to help myself. I listened to her stories she told the patients, and when she scolded me for spying and not making my presence known, I was asking my own questions about her.

The more I spent in her presence, the more I found myself staying; I told her all about my travels around the world and the things I've seen, loving the way her eyes light up when she listened.

It baffled me, why she would waste her time listening to my boring tales, but when she asked, I felt compelled to share.

What if I told you sometimes I lose my faith

I wonder why someone like you would even talk to meIt was a strange feeling, this emotion of longing I had whenever I looked at her. How empty and lonely I felt when I wasn't in her company. It wasn't until I heard the whispers from the around the hospital that I realized what I was feeling.

Love.

It was uplifting and staggering all at once.

I had too many secrets.

Ones that I couldn't share, and ones that I wouldn't share.

Surprisingly, it wasn't my biggest secret of being a vampire that I didn't want to mention.

No, it was the foolish choices I made during my first year as an immortal that I wanted to keep hidden away.

The ways I had tried to end my life were horrendous and would probably drive her away.

Drowning, burying myself alive, and walking into a burning building were just at the top of the list.

I was ashamed at my behavior, at believing that nothing good would come of my new life and it would damn me to be alone.

With her, I knew everything I had been through brought me here, to her. I believed I could finally have a sense of peace and forgiveness… but only if came from her.

I just needed to tell her and pray she would still love me anyway.

There was so much I wanted to say to her, but time wasn't on my side.

I had already spent too much time in Columbus; too much time lost in my head and not seeing what was in front of me.

Whispers were circulating about my ageless appearance, and I knew I needed to move soon.

But I couldn't go without Esme.

I didn't want to.

During one of our routine afternoon strolls, I had casually asked her if she would like to travel and see the world, experiencing things only told in fairy tales.

So I'll say

What I don't want to

And I'll just pray

You want what I do

She had confessed that it sounded like a good idea; she wanted to experience glorious adventures, and I was elated… only to be crushed moments later.

"Imagine the stories I'll tell my children! They'll think me a liar! Or a very good weaver of tales. Either way, it'll make wonderful bedtime stories."

If my heart had been beating, it would have surely stopped.

How could I entertain the thought of taking her away with me when I couldn't give her what she wanted? I could give her everything else in the world, except for the one thing she wanted more than anything.

A child.

"Is that something you deeply desire? Children?" I had asked, trying to keep the tremor from my voice.

"Oh, yes," she had said. "I know it's what's expected of me, but I love the idea of having a child. Children, even!"

Briefly, there was a moment of selfishness on my part. I had done something I hadn't done in a long time.

I prayed.

I prayed she could forget that type of life, of being a mother, and come away with me, forever young. I had asked her if she could live without one and her face had saddened, something I never wanted to see upon her features again.

"I suppose if it wasn't meant to be, then I would accept it. But, I would pray that it would be possible."

With that, I set my resolve.

I was a vampire, but I wasn't a monster.

I couldn't take her away from her dreams just because I didn't want to be alone.

The next few days, I spent all the time I could with her before bidding her goodbye with a kiss to her forehead, once more praying.

Only this time, I prayed her dreams would come true.

"Esme," I shakily gasp, my trembling hands hovering over her broken body.

Her lids are half open, her eyes lifeless and dull; that has nothing to do with the tremendous pain she must be in.

Her mouth opens to reply, but all that leaves her is a broken gasp.

She's dying; I can hear it in her heart and feel the heaviness in the air. It's a strange feeling I noticed that occurs just before someone passes. It's overwhelming and something I've not gotten used to, no matter how many times it happens.

Only this time, instead of accepting there's nothing I can do and saying a prayer for their soul to go into heaven, I feel panic.

All those feelings I had for her before come rushing back, stronger than ever.

Except now, things are very serious.

I can't lose her.

The thought of her not being in this world anymore cripples me so much my knees buckle and the voice inside the dark recess of my brain starts to whisper.

Down here, I'm alone.

There are no witnesses, and everyone has already declared her dead anyway.

I can help her.

I can save her.

I can keep her.

"Esme," I whisper, sweeping a hand over her head. "I can help you."

Her lips twitch in a faint smile, her head moving ever so slightly into my palm.

I wish there was something I could do to take her pain away so I would know whether she wants to be turned, but I'm running out of time.

Her heart is slowing too much.

Leaning forward, I let my teeth slice through the sensitive skin of her neck with ease. Her gasp is garbled and broken, and she tries to jerk away, but cannot move.

I take in one pull of her blood before pushing it back into her wound, not wanting to take more blood than I have to. Immediately, the warm liquid pours down her shoulder and into her hair, and I work quickly to seal the wound with my venom, licking at the teeth marks now adorning her throat.

For the longest second of my life, I wait to hear whether or not I've given her enough venom.

From Edward's changing, I know what a heart should sound like.

Holding my breath, I wait and when I hear a familiar weak but steady heartbeat; I sigh in relief.

She'll live.

She'll be okay.

Hopefully she won't resent me for taking away her choice… hopefully she'll let me give her a life filled with the happiness she deserves.

Hopefully, she'll love me as I have loved her.