Carlisle

I paced back and forth in front of my children who sat on the couch in silence.

"I'm sorry…" Bella spoke after a few minutes.

I stopped pacing. Her tone of voice, she felt terrible, and it was because I reacted badly.

I didn't know how to say what I wanted to, so I tried my best.

"Bella, you don't need to be sorry. I just reacted badly. I just wanted to talk to all 3 of you about it."

"Really? The talk? We've heard it a thousand times. We know how it works." Rosalie said.

I snickered. "No. I just wanted to make sure that if you're making these choices, that you don't do it just because you can. You do it when you love the person."

"I do love him…" Bella whispered.

"Then that's okay. It goes for both of you as well." I looked at Rosalie and Jasper.

They nodded. No one said anything else. I decided I didn't want to keep talking about it. They all looked uncomfortable.

"Can we please go back? Emmett and I were in the middle of a video game…" Jasper asked.

I nodded.

He and Rosalie both stood. Bella just dropped her head slightly.

"You can go too…" I said to her.

She looked up at me, not expecting to hear that, and smiled. She stood and hugged me before walking out with Jasper.

Rosalie didn't move and looked like she wanted to say something. She waited for the front door to close before turning to me.

"Dad, do you think it's too early to fall in love? It's been just over a week."

"No. I believe that if you find your soul mate, then it's instantly felt."

"Did you feel it instantly when you met Esme?"

"I felt different. Happier, somehow."

"See, I don't know if I feel that with Emmett. He makes me happier than I have ever been before, but other than that, I don't know, I feel normal. I didn't want to ask Jasper what he sensed because that would just be awkward." She sat back down.

"Rosalie, you do what you think is best for you. If you don't think that he is your soul mate, then don't try to make yourself feel that way about him. If you're not sure, then give it some time. You might not realise it's there."

"What if it isn't? I don't want to be alone anymore."

"Things take time, Rose. You'll get there eventually; you just have to wait it out."

"What does love feel like?"

I sat down beside her. "From my experience, it's like nothing that you ever felt before. It doesn't feel the same as the love you feel for your children, or your parents or siblings, it's different. Different how? I don't know, it just is. It's like they spark something inside of you, something beautiful. Their hair is perfect, their eyes, their smile, their laugh, everything is perfect. You feel like you've known them for a very long time. They seem more beautiful and interesting than anyone you've ever met. They make you feel special." I explained.

"I don't know." She dropped her head in her hands.

"Close your eyes." I instructed. She stared at me for a few seconds before closing them. "Imagine your life in 10 years time. How you want it. Where is it?"

I waited for her reply. "Still here."

"Do you seem happy?"

"Yes."

"Who is there?"

"Everyone."

"Who stands out?"

She was silent for a few seconds. "Emmett."

"Well, there you go." I smiled when she opened her eyes and looked at me.

She threw her arms around me. I returned her hug and kissed her head.

"Thank you, daddy." She kissed me cheek and stood up to walk out.

"Rose?" I stopped her.

She turned around.

"Do you know if anything is going on with Bella lately? If she's upset over Jacob or something else?"

"Not that I am aware of. Why?"

"Esme says she can see that she is hurt over something. And that's probably why she slept with Edward early."

"I don't know. I think you should ask her though, not me. She trusts you more."

"No she doesn't."

"Yes she does. We all do. Why do you think I came to you about this instead of Jasper or Bella? Or even Alice or Esme?"

I smiled and motioned for her to leave.


I walked at a human speed back over to Esme's house, thinking about everything happening.

When I got there, I went to knock before remembering our conversation that evening. I walked in. Jasper and Emmett were yelling at the TV and each other while playing their video game. Alice and Rosalie were sitting on the couch talking about the wedding. Edward and Bella were nowhere in sight. Neither was Esme.

I walked upstairs and Esme opened her bedroom door before I knocked. She smiled and moved so I could walk in. Bella and Edward were sitting on the couch in the corner. They were laughing about something and Bella hit him playfully.

"Alice and Rosalie are already starting to plan the wedding…" I smiled.

"I'm not surprised. Alice loves parties. It'll probably too extravagant for our liking and too big for 8 people, but I doubt she'll take that into consideration."

I laughed and sat down on the end of her bed. "Why are we hanging in here?"

"It's where Esme was and we were bored." Bella answered.

I nodded and looked up at my new fiancé. That's when it sunk in. Esme was my fiancé. She was perfect, and I loved her so much.

"Let's go." Edward whispered to Bella. They stood and walked out. Esme turned back to me.

"You know what I just realised?" I asked.

"What?"

"You are my fiancé…and we are going to get married. You are going to be my wife." I smiled adoringly at her.

"Yes, yes I am." She smiled back.

"What did I do to deserve you?" I shook my head.

She laughed and leant down, kissing my hard. She pushed me backwards and continued kissing for several minutes.

She stood up and pulled me upwards then. "I think we should get married sooner, rather than later."

"Agreed." I said before kissing her again.

"Movie?" She asked.

"With them or just us?"

"Which do you prefer?"

"I don't mind."

Edward knocked and walked in. "Since neither of you care, us. We're bored."

Esme laughed. "Okay."

He walked out and Esme grabbed my hand before hugging me. "Thank you Carlisle."

"For what?"

"For being perfect. You have no idea how long I have waited for you."

I kissed her. "You're the perfect one." I whispered.

She took my hand again and we walked downstairs.

"I heard that there are several nurses, female and male, that have taken a liking towards you…" she said.

"Hardly."

"He got asked out 3 times last week…" Rosalie said.

"I'm picking you up from your next shift, and I'm coming inside so they can see me."

"Oh no, protective Esme comes into play…" Emmett joked. Edward and Jasper laughed.

"Damn right…" she said before sitting down. I sat beside her and we waited for the kids to pick a movie.