It had been a few days since that time in the library.

And since that time they had spent very little time apart.

With the little exception of Carlisle's rounds in the hospital to which he diligently fulfilled with calm and ease.

But by the time he was due to return home, he did his best not to run at inhuman speed past onlookers as he maintained a reasonably calm yet agile pace as he strode through his usual path that led to his shortcut home.

But as soon as he was alone, he ran as if his life depended on it.

More or less it did.

For there was this unbearable feeling in his chest when he was away from her and an incredible surge of euphoria when he knew that when he would come home she would be waiting for him. And that was the one thing he looked forward to the most when the day was over.

And all through those long hours in the hospital, she was all he thought about.

The way she laughed.

The way she looked at him.

How it felt when he held her in his arms.

She had bewitched him.

It was an early evening, on the first week of December.

The gentle rhythm of the snow was beginning to weave it's way onto the window of her room. Frosting the glass with it's icy breath as it shimmered with transparency from her bedroom light.

He would be home soon.

And secretly she could not mask her impatience.

It did not make sense. Couldn't possibly make sense.

All she knew was she had to see him again.

It was as if there was a precious secret, an intimate notion between them that needed to be revealed. Acknowledged.

Pandora's box.

Black Beard's secret hiding place for his hedonistic treasures.

Whatever it was, it was in the air above them and around them.

They could not escape it.

They did not want to escape it even if they wanted to.

A celestial force pushing them together, urging them onwards with mutual encouragement.

She felt as if she was being pushed up to dizzying heights from the black hole she had once been buried in.

And she was disoriented; somehow she had become pieces of a broken puzzle that were slowly falling into place. It was confusing. But the clarity it gave her was enough to calm her soul.

Slowly she was regaining herself once more.

Finding herself again, in the arms of this man.

Carlisle.

This wonderful stranger she knows so well yet is still hounded by the mystery in his secrets to which he hides so well behind golden eyes.

It was past 9.

She had spent half the day reading and the other half filling her newly acquired sketch book with her lovely hand-drawn works of art.

Esme found herself staring at two dresses delicately spread out on her bed as she debated which one to wear for the evening.

She decided that the floral pink would best suit her.

It was a lovely silk-satin frock that was designed in an empire cut with intricate flower embroidery that was flawlessly tailored to the dress.

She quickly slipped it on and felt the fabric glide smoothly against her skin.

Carlisle was being too modest about measurements.

The fit was just perfect.

She studied herself in the mirror and smiled at the lovely reflection that was staring back at her.

For the first time in a really long while.

She felt, beautiful.

It was not the kind of beauty she felt that was merely skin-deep, but It was something else.

An inner glow that made her feel alive again.

It was, is happiness.

And she felt it each and every time she saw him.

It couldn't be denied.

She smiled softly to herself as she sat down and began combing her hair.

She ran her delicate fingers through her silky hair as she hummed quietly.

Her hands stopped for a moment as a light glistening in her finger caught her eye.

It was her wedding ring.

The wedding ring Charles had given her.

She stopped her brushing and stared at the little gold band that was wrapped around her finger.

Esme closed her eyes as memories of those terrible years flooded her mind.

"Did you ever think you could leave me!?"

It was Charles's voice.

He was dragging her by her hair across the darkened corridors. It was the middle of the night; it had been raining hard, the sound of thunder masking her pleas for help.

She was screaming.

She knew it was useless but she screamed anyway.

Her scalp was burning from the intensity of his grip.

He thrusted her to a corner and she crashed into the cold concrete wall, sliding down to the ground shivering with fear.

"This is unacceptable. This, this act of indecency in my house! How dare you!"

His voice was ringing in her ears as his knuckles made contact with her ribs.

The pain was so unbearable; she could only mutter a soft whimper of pain as she felt the wind being knocked out of her.

He wouldn't stop.

He kept going and going.

He couldn't stop.

He just couldn't.

Even her cries and screams for mercy, he did not hear her.

The blows she endured was turning her vision dark, all she could see was Charles's face.

How his eyes looked when he would hit her.

Not an ounce of kindness or remorse.

He had slapped her face roughly, creating a split lip. She could taste her own blood as it trickled into her mouth.

The last thing she remembered before darkness took over was crying out Carlisle's name.

Esme sat there in the dresser.

Her expression sombre.

She was clutching the brush in her hand so tightly that it broke into several pieces.

She felt helpless anger course through her veins.

Her lips quivered as a sob escaped her mouth.

She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. Trying to push the violent memories back into their steel cages, lashing them back inside like wild animals. Trying desperately to forget.

She then stood up as she twisted the gold band around her finger, together with her engagement ring and slipped it off.

She then proceeded to her window and opened it.

The sky was black.

Not a single star was in sight.

She took one last glance at the rings in her palm and used all her strength as she threw them out. Not even bothering for a second glance as she slammed the window sill shut.

She sunk onto the floor. Her body wracked with dry sobs as she pressed her palms to her face.

Fighting the pain that came with the memories.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a gentle knock on the door.

She took in a breath but her voice failed to conceal the emotions that she felt, "Who is it?"

The door handle twisted and Edward's head poked in. His beautiful face, strained with worry.

One look at Edward's face, Esme knew that he knew as well what had just happened.

There was no need of words.

The silence in the air was more than clear to either of them.

He slowly walked towards her and knelt by her side as he gently embraced her.

She returned his embrace as she rested her cheek on his shoulder.

Her silent sobs quietly receding.

"I'm so sorry..." Edward gently whispered.

Esme shook her head, "It doesn't matter now." She replied, a quivered smile touching her lips.

"It's over. That was the past. My past. But it's over now..." She said quietly.

Edward helped her to her feet, his eyes still worried.

"No one can hurt you now, Esme. Not with Carlisle and I to protect you." He said, embracing her once more.

She smiled at the sound of Carlisle's name. "Thank you Edward," She said gently touching his cheek.

"And, you are sort of indestructible now, so I don't think anyone could hurt you physically for that matter." Edward added, chuckling lightly.

Esme laughed as she shook her head. The warm feeling of happiness returning, "Edward, will you play for me?"

He smiled sweetly at her and said, "Of course."

It was past 12 midnight. Carlisle's shift at the hospital had just ended 30 minutes earlier.

He was walking in the dark. His sharp vision guiding him through the forest, the sound of the forest ground crunching beneath his long stride.

The snow was falling slowly from the sky, resembling like stardust as it glistened lightly in the murky moonlight.

The house was soon in sight as a soft smile touched his lips.

He stepped onto the porch steps as the wood creaked ever so slightly under his weight.

He proceeded towards the door and pushed it open as he walked past the threshold, closing the door behind him as he began shedding his outer coat.

The house was echoing with Edward's music. Carlisle walked over to the living room to check on his son.

Carlisle was surprised to find Esme not there with Edward.

"Where's Esme?" Carlisle asked, gently patting Edward's shoulder.

"I don't know." Edward replied, fighting back a smirk.

Carlisle gave him a look.

Edward chuckled, "Alright try the library, she was with me earlier but she went elsewhere. Not quite sure why."

"Alright, thank you son." He said softly.

Edward nodded and continued his playing.

He headed down the hall and proceeded towards the library. Even halfway there he could hear that it was empty.

He paused and tried to think of the places she could be, the sour feeling of distress was starting blur his mind. Just then he felt a pair of delicate arms embrace him from behind as a relieved smile etched itself onto his face.

"Try to guess who," The sweetly feminine voice murmured onto his back.

He chuckled softly as he covered her hands with his.

"And what shall my reward be if I get it right?" He asked, playing along.

"We shall see." She giggled.

"Hmmm," He said under his breath, "I can sense you are a lady,"

She bit back a laugh, "Very good, go on."

"A very beautiful lady," He said in his melodic voice, "With caramel locks fit for a Queen,"

Esme was giggling wildly from behind.

"Ah, yes. You have lovely eyes the colour of honey and lips that taste just as sweet."

He turned around to look her, gently stroking her face as he pressed a chaste kiss to her cheek.

Esme shook her head as she glanced up at him with mischievous eyes and kissed him softly on the mouth, teasing him with such a brief kiss.

He purred sadly in her ear as she smiled warmly up at him. Wrapping her arms around his neck as she stood on the very tip of her toes just to meet his towering height, embracing him tightly.

He did the same as he slid his strong arms around her waist and nuzzled his nose into her hair as he breathed in her scent.

He pressed a soft kiss to her jaw as he whispered in a voice filled with impassioned emotion, "I missed you today. . ."

She closed her eyes, drowning in his voice, "And I too. . ." She replied.

Carlisle held her tighter, determined not to let her slip away from his arms again, but Esme laughed softly as she slowly wiggled from his embrace and took him by the hand and led him through the opposite end of the hall. Guiding him towards the large veranda that overlooked the dark forest.

"Come look," She said with child-like optimism, "The snow has already started falling."

Esme turned to look at him with those smiling eyes of hers, "Isn't it beautiful?"

He looked at her lovely face as his lips parted, his voice dropping an octave lower, "It's very beautiful."

She shook her head as sweet mirth escaped her lips.

If Carlisle noticed her newly bare ring-finger, he made no comment.

The snow was still falling as they stepped out. Lightly dusting the oak floorboards with frosty droplets. Making the ground glisten like melted diamonds.

The air was cool and dry, but they felt no chill as they walked towards the wooden railing.

Esme watched with delighted eyes as the snowflakes soporifically fall from the sky, a wayward flake being blown in her direction by icy breaths of winter.

She smiled softly as she stretched out her palm, allowing the infinitesimal flake to land on her hand before being swept away again by the December wind.

She was suddenly filled with nostalgia as early memories of her childhood that were spent during Christmas came rushing back at her with sweet resonance.

She winced slightly at the thought of her parents. It's already been years since she last saw them.

Especially her mother.

She could not lie to herself and say she did not miss her own mother.

She did, more so than she dared to admit.

But Esme knew she could never see them again.

They were now simply a memory of the past.

Her past.

She shook herself out of her own thoughts before they turned dark again.

The pain in her heart when she would begin to relive her memories was already enough of a reminder.

Carlisle somehow sensed what she had felt. For she found him slipping his arms around her waist from behind, pulling her close to him as she leaned her head back against his chest. He pressed a soft kiss to her temple as he slowly intertwined his fingers with hers.

His brows furrowed infinitesimally. Silently worried for her.

Somehow either of them just knew what the other was feeling when the silence was long, and their breaths grew quiet.

Connected by some sort of cosmic fate.

"Where were you?" He murmured into her ear.

"I'm just here," She replied sweetly, veering her head lightly to look at him.

She chuckled at the sight of the snowflakes that had gathered at the crown of his head.

"I think we should return inside," She said as she gently dusted the frozen flakes off his head.

"Indeed." He said shaking his head in amusement.

They returned inside a few moments later, the wind blowing a few remnants of snowflakes throughout the corridor.

They were walking side by side in the dim-lighted hallway. Their hands surreptitiously brushing against the other at their gait.

"Will you be working tonight?" Esme asked, pausing briefly.

"I'm afraid so," Carlisle replied quietly, "I have a few papers to go through tonight."

"Oh," She said softly, concealing her mild disappointment.

"But I'd love for you to keep me company while I work." He said, shooting a side-ways glance at her as he smiled.

She smiled warmly, "I'd love to."

Carlisle's study room had the same dark paneling as his bedroom and was a lot like the library he had downstairs.

The only difference it had was the reading material, which consisted mostly of thick and heavy-looking medical textbooks that were either half-open or piled neatly against his desk.

Carlisle was sifting through his paperwork while Esme made herself comfortable with her sketchpad. She was seated in one of the easy chairs near his desk, creating another drawing that would be added to her ever growing collection of artworks.

A few minutes of undisturbed silence passed them, each engrossed in their work yet either of them thankful for the other's presence.

Carlisle glanced at her once a moment to see how she was doing. He hid back a smile as he watched her brows furrow in intense concentration at the work she was doing.

For the first time in a long while.

He felt, less alone.

And it was wonderful.

Later into the early hours of dawn, after everything there had to be done was finished, after the mundane little things of daily life were put to rest. They had resorted into re-arranging the easy chairs till it faced the window.

So that they could watch the sun rise, together.

She was in his arms once more as he cradled her close to him. She didn't deem it likely to sit in separate chairs so instead she sat on his lap and made herself comfortable as she laid her head on his chest.

They started talking, but always in the softest of whispers. For some odd reason they could never understand, when daylight was approaching they always resorted to soft whispers, some primal fear of disturbing the peace and tranquillity the sun brought when it would arise from it's secret chambers.

Esme started to talk about her early childhood as Carlisle listened obediently.

He was quite silent for the most part of the early morning, which did not go unnoticed by Esme.

It would not be long till she would learn the reason that plagued his sombre silence.

Esme looked at him with those searching eyes, urging him to tell her what ghost from his past was haunting him.

And in the end, he decided to share a dark memory to which he still remembers clearly to this day.

He began telling her his memories of the war.

His voice sounded foreign and distant, his mind wandering through some dark corridors of the past as he spoke.

He never told anyone about what he saw or the difficult circumstances he endured, those memories were for his eyes only and now he found himself telling her about. Everything.

And somehow her silent understanding calmed him in a loving embrace, giving him comfort to soothe the wounds that did not show.

"The stench of death was in the air," His eyes lowered as his lips quivered for a moment only, "Hundreds of broken bodies piled against each other. It seemed what I was doing was never enough to ease their pain. The devastation it caused in France as well in England was unfathomable."

"There were men and some even boys no older than 18. I was surrounded by death and the wounded still gasping for life." His voice trailed off.

"My secret was quite a challenge to hide from silently observing eyes, so I had made it a point where I worked the evening shifts alone. I could not risk having being exposed out in the open during such a calamity." She could feel him tense slightly.

"The ones who passed on made me feel ashamed," His head bowed slightly as the gentle rays of the sun found it's way onto the glass window. His face hidden from the light, "Ashamed of myself knowing that I could never know their peace."

Esme squeezed his hand lightly, comforting him with her gentle touch.

He smiled sadly at her.

"For a while I prayed that I might find solitude in this strange life I have been given, but I knew I was here for a purpose. I knew I wanted to be a doctor the very first night I saved a patient's life. The humbling blessing God has given me knowing that even though this thing I have it was not just a curse, it is also a gift." He said, gently tracing the outlines of her delicate fingers, his eyes thoughtful.

"Knowing I could help people. Ease their pain, knowing that I could never ease mine. . ."

"It's something I would have done time and again rather than to live a life without meaning, without direction. . ."

She listened to him intently, his voice clear with untainted honesty.

The sun had fully ascended to the sky as it's light softly penetrated through the thick white clouds, gently lighting the room with it's hazy glow.

Carlisle turned to look at her.

His eyes open, filled with the golden depths of time.

She knew she was in love with him.

A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for the semi-delay haha! My pc was acting up this week so my apologies my beloved readers! Thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews, I LOVE YOU ALL! :)

You are the best readers a writer could ever have and hope for! :)

So here's Chapter 23 I hope you enjoy! And stay tuned for Chapter 24 ;) God Bless! And to a question a reader asked, yes I'm a Catholic haha :) We celebrate Easter here in the summer :)