April 1922

"Well that was a bit sooner than expected," Edward said as he embraced me. "It was inevitable though, and I'm truly happy for you both."

"You're not upset?" He knew before we spoke the words that we were engaged. Whether it was in our minds or just the look on our faces, he knew.

"Of course not, but Carlisle, you really should make it official." He nodded toward the direction of Carlisle's office. At the moment the thought of a ring was far from my mind. I was going to be Mrs. Carlisle Cullen, but I was more concerned about the steps to getting there.

"You're right," Carlisle agreed and was gone and back in a flash, standing before me.

"Are you in a hurry? Afraid she will change her mind?" Edward teased.

I saw Carlisle open his mouth to protest but I intervened.

"I can assure you I won't," I said, taking his hand in mine and squeezing it gently.

"Do you want me to leave?" Edward asked.

I turned to him. "No, you know my answer."

"Thank you, Esme, but I was asking him," he said as he nodded toward Carlisle. What's going on in Carlisle's head?

"No, Edward. Of course not," he said, his voice not showing any signs of discontent. I only heard happiness.

He looked down at me and his eyes never left mine as once again he lowered himself in front of me to his knee. It was unnecessary, but I wasn't going to object. I felt a thrill run through me as he again took my hand in his and with the other held up the glittering band to present it to me.

"Esme, will you marry me?" His voice was laced with just as much emotion as it was the first time.

I reached down and lovingly touched his cheek.

"If you ask me a million times, a million times my answer will be yes."

He was beaming at me, but looked down to kiss my left ring finger before sliding the band onto it and sealing it with yet another kiss. As he climbed to his feet, he kissed me lightly on the lips, but it was chaste compared to earlier.

He still held my hand and I just looked in his eyes. I could be content forever just staring into them and seeing his feelings for me. He was mesmerizing.

"Are you going to look at it?" he asked quietly.

I felt the weight of the ring, but I didn't need to look at it to know he loved me and wanted me for his own. He had taken the time to choose this symbol of his desire to bind himself to me for eternity. The least I could do was admire it and as I broke my gaze from him and brought my hand into my vision, I saw immediately that it was a piece worth admiring.

"Carlisle," I gasped. "It is too much!"

The stone was large, round, and brilliant. It was at least twice the size of another diamond I wore in another lifetime. It had a dozen tiny diamonds encrusted around the prongs, and caught every facet of light. It was perfect. It was beautiful. But it was also extravagant.

"But do you like it?" His voice was so warm.

"I love it, but would a doctor's wife wear such extravagance?"

"The wife of a doctor who comes from 'old money' who can afford such things, why yes she would," he said as a matter of fact.

I had never thought much about his wealth. I knew Carlisle must have been a man of means, as he was able to afford to purchase two homes rather quickly and he owned an automobile. Doctors did relatively well. Additionally, Edward had his own inheritance.

"How wealthy are you?" I questioned.

Edward snickered.

"You will never want for anything," he declared soothingly, but I didn't want to be placated.

"That's not what I asked, Carlisle," I insisted. His face changed as he took my request seriously.

"I've been gainfully employed consistently for nearly one-hundred years but with few living expenses. I've amassed sizeable fortune over the years."

"We're rich," Edward said lightly, but Carlisle reprimanded him with one word.

"Edward."

"Fine," he huffed. "We are extremely wealthy."

"But we do not flaunt it," Carlisle insisted. "It is advantageous though to have so much money at our disposal when it comes to our lifestyle."

"Your lifestyle?" I questioned.

"Having to move on a moment's notice. Having to start over frequently. We erase pasts and create new histories. Money is beneficial to make these things happen."

"Are you saying money is no object?"

Edward nodded yes, but Carlisle was more measured.

"I'm saying that we have enough to do anything we want but only use what we need."

Like creating another life for me.

My thought didn't go unnoticed as Edward turned to me with curiosity and Carlisle didn't miss the expression.

"What am I missing?"

"How is this going to work?" I worried.

"Pardon?"

"How am I going to become your bride? Legally I'm married to another man, but technically I'm dead. So on paper what does that make me?"

"Confused," Edward added.

"Edward, you're not helping. Plus, how am I going to suddenly show up in your life? How will you explain me?" My voice had risen, but Carlisle again tried to ease my concerns.

"Paperwork is easy, Esme. I have ways of getting or creating anything that we need. I would get some rather odd questions if I presented a medical degree from 1830."

"So you forge new documents whenever you move?"

"Or whenever it is necessary. It is a necessity for us to live a normal life and it forever will be."

"I'm fated to forever keep changing who I am," I realized.

"It's a document or two – a name, a date on a piece of paper, Esme. That won't change who you are."

He was right, but one thing I knew was that if we were going to be married, I wanted him to be married to me.

"I don't want a fake name on my marriage certificate."

"Esme Evenson?"

"No, Esme Platt. Esme Evenson died last year."

I knew the words weren't completely true. Parts of that time and my life were forever etched on my being. As much as I longed to forget it, I felt like there were scars that wouldn't completely fade. I could never predict what would trigger a memory. A touch, a scent, a look…it was unknown. Carlisle wasn't Charles. I knew to my core that Carlisle would never harm me, and I was furious at myself for my muscles and my body, reacting in a way that indicated that I thought he might.

"I would be very pleased to marry Esme Platt," Carlisle said in his tender way.

"And Esme Platt wants nothing more than to marry you." I glanced down at my hand again. "It is very beautiful. Where and when did you get this?"

Carlisle chuckled. "From Minneapolis on that day in March when I said I was kept at work and couldn't make it back here – I went to the city to look. I didn't expect to find anything on the first try, but when I saw this one, it looked like it was made to grace your finger."

I was surprised by the date.

"In March? You knew in March?"

"He knew long before that, whether he will admit it to himself or not," Edward mumbled.

"Edward."

"It's true. You two were meant to be."

Carlisle and I looked away from Edward and locked eyes on each other. It seemed to be the case.

"We'll figure out the details. We'll make it work," Carlisle said, changing the subject. "Edward has been the brother of my deceased wife before. What if he's the brother of my bride to be?"

I smiled. I loved the sound of that – his bride to be – and my grin spurred him on.

"I can take a leave and go 'home' to get married and bring back my wife and her brother. We can go to Minneapolis to marry or some other city."

"When?" I eagerly asked.

"In a few months," he said as reached out and brushed a strand of hair from cheek. "You're not ready for that much excitement yet, love."

"I'm ready to be your wife."

"But there are steps to getting there. You are doing so well in town, but a wedding will require actual interaction with humans."

"What he means is he doesn't want you going after the minister."

"Edward," Carlisle reprimanded again.

"No, I understand. Of course, you're right. I'm not ready, or if I am, I haven't been tested."

"But we will take those steps ahead of time. I want you to be as comfortable as possible on that day. The last thing I want you to feel is fear or anxiety." There was so much more behind that statement – I could see it in his eyes. He was concerned about my reactions to him and I was too.

"There's no rush, Esme," Edward said. "He'll wait for you. He's waited this long."

We sat down to discuss the future of this "family." We were brought together in the strangest way, but we were bound to each other for eternity. I just had to overcome my personal obstacle to get us to forever. If Carlisle and Edward could do it, there's no reason I couldn't do it.

June 1922

"You were brilliant!" Carlisle exclaimed as we halted a few miles outside of the city. He kissed my cheek and touched it tenderly while looking into my eyes showing me his approval in the dim twilight. I grinned back.

"I agree, Esme. You were so in control." Edward sounded impressed.

"It is getting easier. Not easy, but easier."

Edward chuckled and Carlisle beamed.

The speakeasies of St. Paul and Minneapolis were a perfect place to test my human interactions in public. I didn't know how Edward was figuring out how to get us into these places, and I probably didn't want to know. Carlisle had acquired a small apartment on the edge of Minneapolis as a staging area but usually when these evenings were over, I just wanted to run. I usually needed clean air, but tonight we ran to escape.

We had started my training with streets – walking along through city neighborhoods in the evenings when people were around but it wasn't bustling. We then moved on to earlier evening and to shopping and entertainment areas where the crowds were thicker at night. At times I had to hold my breath, not allowing the scent in. Slowly, it became easier, so then we moved to inside; first department stores and libraries, large spaces but also airy and easy to escape. My first conversations were with clerks and librarians – simple interactions of a sale or a request for a book. At times my mouth watered, the venom rising, but I held it back with all my might by focusing on the men that stood by me now. They were never far from me as we continued to test me.

We moved onto speakeasies for their low light, isolation, and, just as Carlisle knew centuries ago, it was easier to blame my mistakes to a human's eye on liquor. With the right clothing, we blended into the scene. I could tell that Carlisle didn't always like the environment, where women were loose and men behaved less than gentlemanly, and he especially didn't like to have me in it. It was never about any of those things for me. I had bigger things to worry about, like making sure I didn't attack anyone.

First, we kept to ourselves, Edward or Carlisle taking care of "drinks" and me just trying to adjust to my surroundings. Then I ordered my own every so often.

Then there was dancing. I had enjoyed the jazz and I could tell Edward had too. I wasn't sure if Carlisle particularly cared for it, but he easily picked up the dances and was an excellent partner. On a crowded dance floor, scents were heightened and proximity was close. I focused on my partner to get me through it.

Gambling was next. Some places wouldn't let women gamble, but at the ones that would, it was good for close and brief interactions and conversations. Edward seemed to enjoy the games more than Carlisle. We played roulette and if the mood was right, interacted with our fellow gamblers. At the blackjack table I could have words with the dealer and those that played at the table as well.

But tonight, I went for it all. I went to the bar, I danced, I gambled, and for the first time, I held conversations. I had been standing behind Carlisle as he played poker and decided I was ready to venture out on my own.

I leaned forward to his ear and whispered, "I'm going to powder my nose and I'll get you a drink on the way back."

His head turned to me almost too fast. "Are you alright? Do you need me to go with you?"

"She's fine," Edward said quietly, never looking up from his cards. He trusted that I was fine.

"I'm fine," I said, as I patted his shoulder then swept out of the room, past the man with the gun under his jacket watched the room. I walked through the main hall, past the dance floor. I nodded to the hat check girl as I made my way down the narrow hall to the ladies lounge. The attendant nodded and gestured to an open stall but I waved her off with a thank you as I headed for a vanity. The air was thick with perfume. I stood before the mirror for a moment taking myself in.

I certainly fit in. The dark blue dress lay flatly against me, but it was difficult to flatten what was underneath it to fit the style. I was wearing the right undergarment but my body wouldn't adjust to it. The cut of the dress, though, managed to make it work. My bare arms were liberating. After having to hide them completely for years to cover up bruises, feeling the air on them was fantastic. I adjusted my beads before taking a seat.

I opened my purse and pulled out a tube of lipstick. I gently rubbed it over my lips making them bright red. The shadow and mascara held its place around my golden eyes. I opened my compact and powdered my nose. As another girl came bustling up to the mirror, I slipped my items back in my purse and examined myself once more.

"How do you get your skin so pale?" I heard her say. I turned to the flapper beside me and found her staring at me. She looked to be a few years younger than me. Her dress was shorter than mine. Her jet black hair was bobbed and her makeup was heavy. I could smell the alcohol on her, mixed with a flowery perfume and of course, her blood. I swallowed before responding with a smirk.

"I stay out of the sun."

She laughed loudly. "Really? No makeup?"

"Just some powder," I said as I turned to the mirror to check my hair. I had it tucked up in a loose bun.

"Oh, you should bob it. It would be the bee's knees on you."

"You think so? I've thought about it, but I'm not sure if the style will last and my hair takes forever to grow." I was placating her, but she would never know.

"It's hair to stay," she snorted a laugh. "Get it, 'hair to stay.' Besides a hot little number like you must be popular among the snuggle pups."

I held up my left hand to wave the ring in her direction.

"You're handcuffed? Already?" She sounded so disappointed in me. "I'm sorry to hear that. Looking like you look, I'm sure you could get any guy in here's attention."

I chuckled. "Thank you for the compliment, I think."

"It's not just a compliment, I'm reeking of envy. Are you here with your stiff?"

"Oh, he's not a stiff, but yes, he's here."

"Damn, I would have gotten one of my friends to help you enjoy your last little bit of freedom."

"Thank you, but I'm happy to be taken."

"Aw, well you should come by our table. Meet my friends! What's your name?"

"It's Esme. And yours?"

"Gertie," she said throwing her hand out at me. I shook it gently.

"Your hand is cold. Do you want a cigarette? It will warm up your fingers," she said as she took one out and lit it.

"No, thank you. I should get back to my fiancée."

"One drink with me and my friends. C'mon." She tucked her bag under her arm and grabbed my hand with her free one, holding her cigarette in the other one.

Her friends were amiable enough,and I held the gin she pushed into my hand. She had three girlfriends with her and between them, three men at the moment. The men's attention turned to me, but Gertie quickly pointed out the ring and that I was taken. Suddenly, I was less of a threat to her friends. I stood there talking with them at length but excused myself when one of the men asked me to dance. That was the moment that we had become too friendly.

I knew I was smiling as I stopped by the bar to get drinks that would go un-drunk for Edward and Carlisle.

"Why are you fetching drinks and not being fetched for, darling?" asked the man standing next to me at the bar.

I didn't know what came over me but I replied with a bite, "Because my man is earning me a new sable at the poker table."

"And you have to work for it? That doesn't same fair."

"Hardly. I do it because I love him," I said holding up my hand.

I caught his scent a moment before I heard him. "And I love her," Carlisle said behind me and did something that surprised me. One hand wrapped around my waist pulling me to him as I felt his lips press just below the nape of my neck. I felt it down my spine.

"Is this man giving you any trouble?"

"No, he's not a problem," I said patting the hand still peculiarly at my waist. He then leaned around and kissed my cheek, lingering a little longer than usual and certainly longer than he ever would in public.

"It's getting late. We should get going," Carlisle said against my ear. His hand slid across my ribs again and sent a thrill through me as he released me.

"I meant no disrespect to the lady. Let me buy you a round," said the stranger waving his hand at the bartender.

"That's very nice, but we do have to get going," I replied.

"Another time, then."

I suddenly heard Edward say low enough that only we could hear him, "We have to go NOW."

"Yes, another time," I smiled and let Carlisle take my hand. "Good night."

He was pulling me away now. "They're about to get raided," he hissed. "Where have you been?"

I giggled not really caring about the impending doom of one of our favorite gin joints. "I was socializing. I was talking and interacting with this girl named Gertie and her friends. I was fine. I chose when to walk away."

Edward grabbed my other hand. "Too late. This way," he said as he pulled us back toward the gambling hall, but stopped just past the entrance to it as the alarm began to sound. People began to scream and panic. Edward was perfectly calm as he watched the curtain that led to the backstage area. One of the heavies ran through it and that must have been his cue.

"Follow me." He pulled us through the curtain and to the left the man was opening a secret passageway – an escape.

"Hey! You can't be back here!" The man screamed at us. He was just as panicked as the chaos that was ensuing on the other side of the curtain.

"Let us through," Edward yelled at him.

The man was reaching for his gun but I was faster, pulling it from the man's grip and pointing it at him. His face turned red and he threw his hands up.

"There's no need for violence. Go ahead. Be my guest," he said gesturing to the tunnel.

"You two, go ahead. I'll be there in a minute," Edward ordered removing the gun from my hand, but keeping it pointed at the heavy. We could hear the police now.

Carlisle pulled me behind him into the narrow passageway. It was dark but that didn't stop us. Soon we burst through a door into an alleyway. We could hear the sounds of the raid close by. Edward came out behind us and we ran all the way out of town until we stopped here.

"I can't believe I did that!" I exclaimed as the two of them continued to stare at me.

"Which part?"

"All of it! All of it! I was human! Except for grabbing the gun. That was probably a bit out of character."

"You scared and surprised the hell out of him," Edward said as he laughed.

I turned to Carlisle who was looking at me with a bit of disbelief.

"Now can we set a date?" I demanded.

He walked up to me and took my cheeks between his hands. "Yes, and Happy Birthday, love."

One year ago today I awoke to this life and I've gone from teacher to gangster.

Edward chuckled. "Not quite. But I'm impressed. You did well tonight. I was listening to your 'friends' and yes, they were none the wiser that anything was different about you."

"It felt good. At times I had to focus my thoughts, but I just kept reminding myself what is at stake," I said as I leaned in to kiss Carlisle.

"We'll keep practicing, but I should get back to Virginia soon."

Carlisle had taken a leave from the hospital in Virginia to travel home to the bedside of a dying relative. The story we agreed on is that while there, he sees the woman he left behind when he took the position in Virginia. He realizes how much he wants her in his life and proposes. She accepts and her and her only family, her younger brother, will be moving to Virginia to live with him after the wedding takes place in Carlisle's hometown at a yet to be determined date. That is the public story of Dr. Cullen.

The truth is he took a leave from the hospital in Virginia to focus on getting his fiancée, me, comfortable around humans so she can bear shopping, a wedding and being in society. It had been more than two months and he did need to get back.

"But we need to set a date," I insisted again.

"We will. Soon. I promise you. We will."

AUTHOR'S NOTES

Do you like Esme's "growth" and how she has adapted to her vampire life? What did you think of their night out?

This chapter took a turn while I was writing it. I needed to convey that Esme has made it through the newborn period and I hope this worked for you as much as it did for me.

If you follow me on twitter or tumblr, you may have seen that I posted a picture of Esme's engagement ring and why I decided to go with that one. The link to view it is on my profile page.

I've been diligently working on Chapter 10, and I must say it has some of my favorite moments in Esme's tale so far. It hasn't been an easy chapter to write, and I still have a bit of a ways to go, but I am very excited to get it in front of you. I would love to offer you a teaser on my tumblr, but being that it's a tease, I'll ask for some love in return in the way of reviews for this chapter. Give me some love and I'll tease you later this week. Thanks!

Thank you as always to my beta MelissaMargaret, who's works you should also be checking out. Thank you to Mod Sweetishbubble and Batgirl8968 from PTB too!