1982, Chicago

He watched the sun play with her hair. He loved her hair. He loved almost everything about her. Maybe, he should marry her. Just like she wanted him to. Just like everyone wanted him to. Yes. He would marry her.

Esme glanced up to see Carlisle gazing at her intently. She felt butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She liked the feeling, she decided, as she gazed into his blue eyes. She gave him a small smile and suddenly stood up.

He watched her, amazed and confused. Why did she just stand up? Did she not want to be with him? He could feel anger pulsing in his veins. His blue eyes-that had been so warm before-were now icy. Esme took in the change with a heavy heart. Why did he have to be so mercurial? She did not like it when he was like that. His mood swings gave her whiplashes. She wasn't so sure if she liked the latter. Ignoring his cold demure, she excused herself, telling him that she was going to the lady's room. She saw him visibly relax. This soothed her nerves. This was her Carlisle. If he accepted all her faults she would accept his too. With that, she left.

He watched her retreating form with interest. He would propose marriage tonight. Soon they would be tied in holy matrimony and will live a long and happy life. The thought made a very rare smile grace his pale handsome face.

Esme still felt conflicted. Bewildered. How could the man who she loved so much act as cold as he had just a few minutes ago? She forced herself to relax as she took a few deep breaths upon her arrival in the lady's room. It was then that she saw it, a beautiful diamond ring. It was oval, set with rows of glittering diamonds. She loved it and so she took it.

He saw Esme race back to him excitedly, her brown silky hair blowing in the wind, her normally pretty pale face flushed and rosy. She finally reached him and took a few deep breaths to calm her racing heart. "Carlisle_" she wheezed "_look what I found!" she one pale brow in surprise, mere inquisitiveness gracing his visage. What could get his love so excited? She shoved her hand under his nose. He looked down to see an exquisitely cut diamond ring in her palm. It was lovely, as lovely as her. He took it from her palm and suddenly grabbed her left hand. Esme could now feel her heart beating wildly. What was he going to do? Her thoughts were answered asCarlislegently but firmly slipped the ring down her finger. She was now officially his. She looked up at him in surprise. He smiled at her. And she graced him with a radiant smile of her own.

…

1986, Arizona

Why was she so jittery? Charlie wondered as he eyed his wife Renee fluttering her hands nervously and trying to smooth out the non existent wrinkles in her skirt. It's nothing. He realized. I'm just getting worked up these days on the pettiest and most trivial of things. A commotion in the hall interrupted his thoughts. Glad at the intrusion, he raced out of the kitchen immediately to find his three year old daughter Isabella sprawled facedown on the floor. He raced to her and gathered her in his arms, beginning to coo soothing words in her ear. She was his angel, his beautiful angel. He would never let anything hurt her or grieve her.

Renee watched her husband leaving the kitchen, probably to check on Isabella, their cherubic baby girl. As she thought of her little angel's big brown doe eyes, ivory skin and chocolate curls, she felt a whole other tidal wave of guilt crashing on her. If she couldn't stop seeing Phil for Charlie, she could at least do so for Isabella. No daughter deserved an unfaithful mother. No husband deserved a cheating wife either, the nasally voice of her conscience reminded her as she thought of Charlie. There was more guilt.

Charlie re-entered the kitchen, Isabella still cradled in his arms. His eyebrows pushed together in a scowl as he examined his wife leaning weekly against the wall, lost deep in thought. He decided to remain quiet and simply pursed his lips as he looked on at her some more.

Renee was pulled out of her reverie as she felt her husband's intimidating presence. She turned towards him and gave him a smile. She watched as the scowl on his face faded and he began to take fast purposeful strides towards her. Finally he reached her and stooped down low to plant a soft, tender chaste kiss on her full lips. She liked the kiss. It wasn't rough like Phil's. With a rush of blood to her pale cheeks she realized that she absolutely loved Phil's kisses. Getting rid of the troubling thought she gave her husband another smile, a genuine one that reached her eyes.

As he watched her smile, he felt his heart soar. It was like he was an 18 year old boy again. He remembered how she smiled at him for the first time, not only having stirred his libido but a love so strong that he thought his young heart would just not be able to contain it but rather give out with strain. He loved her so much. She was so beautiful. He found himself hoping that his Isabella would be just as pretty, little did he know that she would grow up to be even prettier. Smiling to himself, he quickly handed Isabella over to Renee and left for work.

She sighed with relief as she watched her husband's police cruiser drive away. It was time to put Bella to sleep. Phil would be here soon.