Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN THE PLOT OR THE CHARACTERS IN THIS STORY © Stephanie Meyer 2008

The song for this chapter is Undying Love by Two Steps From Hell

Chapter 2

She bounded across the room with her newfound swiftness and crushed her face to mine.

It was so confusing, and I couldn't make out words to tell her what I felt. I stood stiff for a moment, then melted into her arms.

It was wonderful.

Her cold, unnecessary breath melted into mine, and we couldn't tell where one's body began and the other ended.

Finally, she broke away and looked at me, a thousand questions in her eyes.

"Dr. Cullen?" she laughed shakily.

I smiled at her, and I was young again. she was so free now, she could go anywhere she wanted. Vainly, I hoped that I could go with her.

"Where am I?" she asked, and looked around the Victorian home.

"You haven't figured it out yet? You, my dear, are at the famous Cullen home." She laughed, and it was a jubilant sound. "And," I continued, "My name is Carlisle."

"Why do I feel so... so strong?" Sadness crept into my eyes. I hoped that she would forgive me.

"I have transformed you, healed you, by turning you into a vampire." I said, and the same sadness that drowned my eyes leaked into my voice as well.

She sounded surprised. "Oh," she said.

Was she not angry? She didn't sound it.

She would have heard the stories of the vampires, the ones who are savage, and drink blood, and kill mankind. would I have time to explain that there was another way, a better way to live this life?

I was distracted by her head turned towards the mirror on the wall.

"Why are your eyes gold, and mine blood red?" she asked.

"Because I drink animal blood, and you are a newborn vampire. If you drank human blood, your eyes would stay red. But if you decided to drink animal blood, with me and Edward, your eyes would slowly turn golden." I said.

"So you and Edward Cullen are vampires too?" she asked, a blazing hope in her eyes.

"Yes. If you would like, you could join our family."

"Of course," She said, "but under one condition."

"Anything you desire."

"I will join your family as your wife." She said it so abruptly, and her eyes flushed with embarrassment.

"Yes, Esme. Will you marry me, and accept Edward as your son?"

"I would die if I had anything less."