The Young One

Carlisle grinned. He could smell Esme from just outside the OR. Since he'd only been assisting he could head home now. They'd have the house to themselves for a couple of hours. Nessie was in Romania with Vladimir and Stefan and the others were relaxing on a beach in western Vancouver.

"What are you so happy about Carlisle?" asked brushing his hair.

"The in-laws just leave?"

"I'm just ready to go home. All of my kids are at the beach or out of the country and it'll just be Esme and I for a few hours."

"Does having so many ever get annoying?"

"No we like it. It's never a dull day in our house." Carlisle said closing his locker.

"Have a good weekend Fabian. Give Cecelia my best."

"You too, my regards to your family as well," replied as Carlisle slipped into the hall in his normal clothes again. The elevator bay was unusually crowded with a large amount of discharges from a case of hay fever some weeks ago.

smiled at a young woman who'd just been discharged after getting an arrow through the wrist at an archery range last week. She'd never been alone. Her fiancé Zachary had stayed with her the entire length of her stay. Only moving from her side when she dutifully reminded him that he needed to bathe for fear of catching something. Her name was Edith. Edith White soon to be Sayers, actually.

Carlisle's car was almost empty when he finally got on. He had no objection to that. It gave him time to think. He wondered how Esme was doing restoring that vanity. Knowing her it was almost complete. When it was she'd send it off to auction, probably in Paris or Milan. The vanity was originally from Madrid though if memory served. The car reached the ground floor and Carlisle exited trying to catch Esme's scent. He heard her before he saw her.

"No thank you . I'm just waiting for my husband."

, Carlisle grimaced. He was fresh out of school and incredibly cocky. He'd apparently been a very hot commodity at Emory especially among the female anesthesiologists.

Carlisle went closer, and he felt his hackles rise at the proximity between the young man and his wife.

"Are you sure? I hear Devil's makes an excellent Cosmopolitan," crooned trying to touch Esme's hand.

She quickly pulled it to her side. She's mine, Carlisle thought. For a split-second Carlisle saw utter blackness in his all consuming rage.

"I don't drink."Esme said as Carlisle walked up. Her eyes narrowed slightly. She knew he'd been listening.

" , I see you've met my wife," Carlisle said politely.

The man nodded, annoyed. If she was Cullen's wife he didn't have a chance in Hell and he was not ignorant to that. He made his exit then. Esme walked ahead of Carlisle towards her MKZ. When they turned onto the street she spoke.

"How much of that did you hear?" There was an almost undetectable note of acidity in her tone. Carlisle of course heard it.

"I heard you say you were waiting for me,and that you don't drink." His tone was apologetic.

"I'm sorry love but is determined to ruin the life of every one of his married male colleagues. That part is out of my control dearest."

"Let me guess, you went a little blind?"Esme asked fondly.

Carlisle nodded not at all ashamed to admit his all consuming love for Esme.