After the chase, {open to all}

[carlisle]

A little hunting was called for on Carlisle's part, he had let himself get too thirsty recently, and it was showing in his character at work and home, he was the furthest thing from himself, and he did not like that. His eyes had become dark brown, close to black in the right light. He had hunted most of that afternoon, catching a couple of goats. It was enough for him, at least for now his eyes had returned to their previous golden state, as he finished up the last of his meal. He sighed in a slight relief, at least he could now, not be fearful of drinking or even biting another human. He had showed great restraint around them, also working around the smell, taste and sight of human blood, it was a great acchivement, and was not about to fail at that now. Working of late the hours at the hospital, he hardly got the chance to hunt, and he had pushed himself a little too far with the amount of time between hunts. Carlisle had to hold his tongue a few times, working with one intern who seemed to be clumsy. Or a whole other state of clumsy, around him. Though for now the goats had satisfied his thirst.

Carlisle noticed the sun beaming through the fog and mist, that surrounded the mountain. Another no show for school and work, he immediately thought as he began to walk slowly down the path he had so hurriedly raced before hand. The meadow was a place that he and his family set out for, on sunny days all be them rare, it was still a good place for them to hide. And by all accounts, today was one of those days, the sun had cut through the thick gray clouds that, usually covered Forks and as he walked, the sun brightened every tree and was even cutting though the dense forest. He picked up his pace from a slow walk, into a run as he tore by trees and then suddenly appeared into the sunlight and Meadow.

His skin icy cold, sparkled like diamonds, at least the parts that were visible underneath his grey sweater, and black pants, he wore for his trip to the mountain. He lowered himself down onto the grass that was still covered in a dew, he guessed had not lifted from the morning. He stretched out on the grass as he looked directly up into the sky. It was a magnificent blue, as the sun shone down there were only a few clouds left in the sky, and even they seemed to be a little out of place. Forks was the one place that was the darkest, and had the least sun, or intense sun. Though there were no beating days like these, even if they were risky ones.

Carlisle knew that the meadow was one of the few rare places, where he and his kind could come out during the day. Although the day was one of the nicest, it was one of the worst. There was no way he could work, or the children could go to school. Not that they really needed it, however learning over and over again was not a bad thing. Though right at that moment, he was alone, but he knew someone was not too far behind. He closed his eyes as he sat in the bright rays of sun, the light refracted from his skin like a disco ball. He folded his arms behind his head, as he listened intently for the sound of anyone approaching. Though he would smell them first.

[Esme Cullen]

Esme walked through the trees. It was sunny today. It was rarely this bright. Dressed in a pair of grey twead pants, a frilly purple shirt, and a pair of ballet flats Alice had lent her. She had her hair half way pulled back to avoid it geting in her face.

She knew Carlisle was out here somewhere. He had needed to go hunting and she had let her while she finished things up at home. But when the sun began to peak through the clouds she decided that she needed a break.

The kids were all home and doing various activities. But Esme knew that she didn't want to participate with them. She wanted to be with Carlisle, so that was what she was going to do. She had followed his scent and retraced his steps and now the trail was becoming stronger. She had slowed only as she began to grow closer.

As she walked out in the clearing, her skin began to sparkle like the facets of a million diamonds. Esme looked around and spotted Carlisle on the grass, his eyes closed. She strode right up to him and sat down next to him. "It is beautiful today isn't it?" She asked him with a soft tone of voice.

[carlisle]

Carlisle was lying, pondering over his life choices, and his family. He had turned Edward, and Esme but seeing what they had to do now. Hide from the world, maybe it was not such a good idea. Though there was no going back on it now. Being a veggie vampire was better than dead, was it not? It was a question he had asked himself a lot over the years, how ever today was too beautiful to let his mind linger on such dark thoughts. He put them to the back of his mind, as he lay there staring at the darkness that surrounded his eyes.

Carlisle had not left an exact location for them to reach him, though if anyone of the family needed to. It was not going to be difficult for them to find him. Hunting was something he needed to do, and felt it safer if he went alone. Not because he did not want anyone there, he just would rather not see anyone hurt, though he knew that was next to impossible. At least now, he could relax until the next time he became hungry, or some of the others were going to go out hunting. It was ever so slightly unfair that the speed they had, gave them many advantages over their pray, but it was better them than another human.

Carlisle knew a handful of the kids activities, most of which hardly bothered him. He wondered what Edward would be doing, though he might not have had to think about that too much as Bella might have taken the day off as well. So who knew where they were. Alice he was sure, would be around somewhere with Jasper, and Rosalie and Emmet would be around. The meadow was a safe place, though so was the house, and the forest on days like this one. However it had never, stopped him worrying about them and what they were doing.

His nose had picked up a familiar scent and not one that he was afraid of. Totally the opposite, as he kept his eyes closed and lay there still. He knew Esme was around. He smiled softly at her question, "Yes it is" He replied, as he sat up and opened his eyes. "And don't you look lovely today" He said to her, as he put an arm around her shoulders. Her complexion was the most beautiful he had seen, sitting there in the sunlight it was almost surreal. "Come here for some peace?" He asked her, as he stared straight ahead.

[Esme Cullen]

Esme smiled softly to him. "You know me all too well. The children are best left to have their fun. I will just have to face the mess they leave later." She knew there would be a mess, there always was. Usually it was Emmett dragging in foliage. He was a pro at that.

"We have the whole day to ourselves. Do you have any suggestions on what we should do with it?" Esme was happy to let others take the lead. She was always there to catch them if they should fall or to help in any way possible. It was jusst easier for her that way.

[carlisle]

"Do I really?" He said, as he smiled, they had been given a long time to get to know each other. Longer than any human couple, and he was grateful for his time with Esme. She meant more than life its self to him, as did his family. There was nothing in the world that could change that, he would sooner give up his life for them. Than see any of the hurt, or killed. "Do not worry about their mess. I can clean that up, and give you a rest for a night at least. After all, I have not kept up with the house hold chores recently." He told her, he wondered just what he was letting himself in for, but there was no use fretting over it now.

"When was the last time we had a whole day together?" He asked her grinning slightly. "I have a few, but what would you like to do? It is not often that we have time off" He said, Carlisle was always going courteous, and let Esme chose what she wanted to do. He took many liberties in his life, and more often that not, Esme was the one who cleaned up after him, and looked after the family while he was out working. So today he thought was going to be her day.

[Esme Cullen]

"Why don't we clean together? It could be fun." She said opting to help him with the chores. She had grown accustomed to the cleaning and wouldn't know what to do with a night off. Especially if Carlisle wasn't going to spend it with her.

"I think it has been a month or so. I guess time has flown past me." She said with a soft smile. "I have no ideas. I tend to not have plans on activities, unless it is a baseball game. Plans change too much and I would rather not get my hopes up and be disappointed later." She admitted. It was a normal way of thinking too. "So what were your ideas?"

[carlisle]

Carlisle nodded to Esme, "Yes we could, and I'm sure it would be." He said, the time that he gives her to herself, she wanted to spend it with him. How did he really deserve such a caring and loving person? Who knew, but Carlisle was glad she was in his life. There were only three things that he liked to spend time on and with. They were Esme, family and the hospital. They were mostly the only places he went to, unless Charlie had something for him, but he was glad that was a rare occurrence.

"Past us both it seems" He said, with a warm smile that played across his features. "The one thing we never run out of, and we hardly spend time together" He remarked, as he thought about it. He squeezed her shoulder gently, as a slight look of worry crossed his face, and soon after departed. "I would never disappoint you, if we had plans. You do know that? You are the most important thing to me" He told her, as the smile that crossed his face was warm and welcoming. "My ideas, would you like to accompany me here for a while? After all it is a beautiful day." He said to her.

[Esme Cullen]

Esme nodded with a smile. "It doesn't matter where we are or what we are doing, I will be happy just doing them with you." She was happy just sitting here with him talking. It really didn't matter to her what they did. At least here it was quiet here. She could only imagine what it was like at home. She shook the thought away and leaned her head on Carlisle's shoulder.

[carlisle]

As Esme spoke, he smiled there was one thing he loved about her, was the way she made him feel. "Same here" He said, what ever they decided on doing it was not of a concern as long as they were together. "If there is anything that you would like to do, just tell me, and it is as good as done" He told her, knowing that he would do anything for them, anything for his family.

As Carlisle felt her head on his shoulder, he smiled nearly beaming as they sat there. Shining in the sun light. "How did I ever live with out you?" He said, as he pulled her closer to him gently. She was one of the best things that had ever happened to him, in his life. And now he wondered how he lived with out her.

[Esme Cullen]

Esme smiled. "I am just fine sitting here with you. There isn't much things that I indulge in. Gardening is one of them and cooking for Bella, but that is about it." Esme admitted. She had become so domesticated? There was a time when Carlisle, Edward and Esme would roam around, not staying in one place for too long. Now she was Susie Homemaker.

"I don't know. But those years after I met you the first time almost killed me. You were the only one I could think of." She knew that she had told him that at least once in their life together. It was all true though. She almost died without him there. He had saved her life in more than one way.

[carlisle]

Carlisle smiled and nodded, "As long as you are sure. Maybe we should take up a hobby, other than gardening, cooking and baseball?" He suggested, though he was far from sure as to what they could do. It wasn't as if they could do that much, as risking being found out, was incomprehensible. "We could spend more days like this together?" He said, as he sat there and looked across to the other side of the meadow. It was one of the most peaceful places he had been, and one of the most beautiful.

She had told him once before, but they had never really spoken about what had happened. "I'm sure there were others that you could think of." He said, as he smiled at her softly. "I'm just glad that you are here with me. I wouldn't want anyone else." He told her truthfully. Esme was the only one for him, there were few people who he really cared about in this world, and Esme was one of the few he would give everything for.

[Esme Cullen]

Esme smiled softly. Carlisle was always worrying about everyone but himself. It wasn't fair to him. He needed a hobby. "Maybe we can find a hobby together. You don't spend time to yourself unless you are working. It isn't healthy, dear." She loved him so much and he was the only person she wanted to be with. "Spending days like this seems ideal to me. I like just being around you." And it was all true. She was comfortable around him.

She had to supress a giggle. "You were the only man I ever thought of. You were like a drug. I became addicted to your very presence. I needed you. I didn't even know that I was falling apart slowly until you were back in my life." She had never admitted any of that before. She was suprised that it even found its way out.

[carlisle]

Carlisle really could do nothing, other than worry about everyone else. Family came first, to him and it was more important than himself. He really didn't bother about fair, as long as Esme and the children were happy, that was all he needed to he happy and content. "Now that sounds like a plan. I work in the best place to be healthy, thought a hobby together sounds appealing. Did you have something in mind?" He asked her, Esme was special there was no one like her, and he would most definitely do anything for her. "I know what you mean, I would not want to spend a day like today with anyone else." He said, as he looked at the way her skin shone in the light.

"Really?" He said, surprised by her sudden revelation. All these years and she had never told him that, it had never been mentioned. Tough it made him smile, more than he was already. "I tend to have that effect on people. Though as soon as I saw you in the hospital. I hated to see you like that. I couldn't let you die, maybe selfish but I couldn't let you go." He told her, as he gripped her shoulders for a moment before relaxing his grip again. He was still slightly startled by what Esme had said, it was something she had never told him before.

[Esme Cullen]

"I don't know. Maybe weekly hunting for just the two of us. Let the kids prove to be responsible and just leave for a day." She didn't require much. Just being with the man was all she ever needed. She was a rather low maintenance woman. "I wouldn't want to be here with anyone but you." She told him with a smile. His company was perfect. His very presence was intoxicating. She didn't need anything else but this.

He was such a gentle man and he was passionate. She couldn't ever be selfish. Turning her wasn't selfish for she loved the ability to be with him for the rest of eternity. "You weren't selfish to make me like you. I love you for it because it gave me the chance to be with you. If I would have died, I would have never known this love."

[carlisle]

"Weekly hunting sounds good to me. The kids responsible.... are we talking about the same people here?" He asked joking, he knew they were responsible, and he could not ask more of them. They were the most mature people he knew, however they had plenty of time to practice. He grinned at her, before speaking, "Well Brad Pitt might be nicer" he said teasing her slightly. Esme was the only one for him, there would never be anyone else. She was the most loving wife anyone could ask for, and he was lucky to have her in his life.

He was happy to hear her say those words, more happy than he could show her. "That is true, and I would never want to be with anyone else." He said to her truthfully. "Have I ever told you how much I love you?" He asked her as he hugged her for a moment. It was nice to sit there just talking like a normal couple, though they were far from that in reality.