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Summery – Carlisle and Esme talk about Esme's baby a year after Carlisle changes her – 1922

Ian Michael

By:

AngelBabs81 and potterfan2006

In the small one story house Carlisle had purchased in Northern Minnesota, Carlisle found Esme in the only room she would be in if not their bedroom, the study. Around her were papers and pencils and art supplies a plenty. Careful not to scare her, he placed his hands on her shoulders, caressing her shoulder blades with his thumbs. "Good morning, Esme," he greeted her softly.

Esme looked up from the sketch book in her lap. "Good morning, Carlisle," she greeted with a small smile as she sat her pencil down.

Carlisle moved to grab the seat next to her. "Is everything okay?" he asked her quietly, rubbing his hand up and down her arm. Truth be told, he loved her. He changed her nearly a year ago... in fact, in a few days, it would be one year. She was still considered a newborn.

Esme nodded. "Yah, I am doing okay," she said. She then ran her finger very lightly over the small baby that was drawn on the paper and let out a sigh.

Carlisle glanced at her as her delicate fingers traced the picture. "You remember your baby?" Carlisle asked, concern etched in his voice.

"I don't remember him completely but I have these flashes of him... it's like one minute the image is clear and the next its not... and I am not ready to forget him," she said.

"And I never wish you to forget him," Carlisle assured. "It is just when you are turned, memories tend to be forgotten. I don't know how to explain it." He carefully lifted her face to meet his. "Do you remember his name?"

Esme smiled. "I do," she said "his name is… was Ian Michael, after my father."

"Ian Michael," Carlisle tested the name on his own lips and voice. "It's a nice name."

"Thank you," Esme said softly. "I know I have been a vampire for nearly a year and I am still getting used to the lifestyle but when I think about my son, I think about how different my life had become because of the way things turned out."

Carlisle didn't know how to respond to that. He smiled at her and caressed the side of her face softly. "I'll let you get back to your drawings. You are a beautiful artist, Esme."

"Thank you, Carlisle," Esme said, and then she put a hand on his arm to stop him from getting up "But please stay for a moment. I wish to talk to you about something," she responded then she put her stuff aside.

Carlisle took his seat again, smiling, but concerned. "You can talk to be about anything," he assured her.

"You know about my life before I was turned. You knew about my abusive husband and how in the end it was hard for me to trust men but it has been almost a year and I think I am finally ready to start over. I have been given a second chance because I should have been dead," she paused. "I guess what I am trying to say is I would like to get to know you better if your willing," she said.

Carlisle had to smile, and caressed the hand he held. "Esme, I am happy to hear that. I understand it is difficult, but I am very happy to hear you say that. Just ask me anything."

Esme smiled and had to laugh a little. "What were you thinking about when you treated me as a teen with a broken leg?"

Carlisle leaned back and rested his hands, folded together, on his abdomen. "You were beautiful," Carlisle recalled. "You had the most amazing strength for a 16 year old. You tried to be strong, but it hurt too much."

Esme smiled, "I remember that. But one thing did help with the pain was this handsome blonde doctor came in and told me that I was going to be fine in no time. I remember how he smiled at me and how that one smile took all my tears away. I remember the cold hands but I did not mind that because somehow they felt warm to me. You were my Angel back then Carlisle and I always dreamt of you. When I was in a bad spot, you were always there in my mind to brighten even the darkest moments of my life," she informed him.

Carlisle wanted to blush but couldn't, instead he lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. "Thank you, Esme," he told her most sincerely.

"No, thank you. Without you I know I would not be here today," she paused. "It's because of you I am alive and I will be forever grateful for that. A year ago, my Angel was there again in my time of need and now I get to spend eternity with him if you will have me," Esme spoke.

"I am no angel," Carlisle told Esme. "For most, I'm considered demonic, as are you now. But, I've succeeded on allowing ourselves to keep whatever humanity we have left by not feeding off humans."

"That may be true but you are the kindest, gentlest person that I know and I thank you for allowing me into your life and giving me a second chance to live," she said. "But now I am afraid that it might be time for me to hunt again for I am starting to feel hungry. Would you care to join me?" Esme asked.

With that said, Carlisle smiled. Esme has come a long way, now understanding the need to feed. Offering his hand to Esme, she took it and they set out into the woods surrounding the house to seek food.

The End