la belle dame sans merci | carlisle cullen

05

The third time their paths cross, she caught him off guard again. She saw him first this time. He was leaving the hospital early in the morning after the night shift, still sliding his jacket on as he headed into the parking lot. Minerva would have recognized him anywhere.

"Carlisle?" The way she said his name sent a wave through him, like a shock. He turned toward her voice and she smiled when he faced her. Sitting on a cement block with a cigarette dancing between her fingers, "I thought it was you."

"Hello." The warmth she fostered in his heart saturated his tone, "What are you doing here?"

"I was dropping off some flowers." She responded, "I hoped to see the sun rise but it was a long shot." The sun was hardly shining through the cloud cover, painting the sky a periwinkle. "It's the only thing that bothers me about the weather here."

Against his better judgement, he made his way over and took a seat on the empty space next to her. "Smoking is terrible for you." He comments nodding at the burning cigarette.

Her eyes flicker down to it like she's forgotten it, "Sorry, Doctor Cullen." Her lips are turned up in a smile, "I've got better lungs than most. Gotta take myself down a peg." It makes him laugh and her smile grows as she chips the cigarette against the block. There's a moment of silence where he sees nervousness cross her face as she looks away from his face and down at the burning ember in her fingers, "Did you like the drawing?"

"I did." Carlisle couldn't help the elated grin on his face. The internalized excitement he'd deprived himself was jumping out for her. He damned himself for it. "Very much. It's magnificent."

Minerva looks satisfied, "I'm glad you liked it. I was worried it might seem weird."

"Not at all. It was very thoughtful." He assures. There's a comfortable moment of silence where he can't think of anything to say but he doesn't want to go. "I should go. I've got to get home before the kids go to school."

"Of course." Minerva says, pushing herself up as he does, "I should too, the shop is supposed to open soon. Erm.." she hesitates a little, several unreadable emotions flash across her face before she speaks again. "Would.. you like to get coffee sometime?"

His still heart hammers in his chest and he tries to keep it from reflecting on his face. No. He thinks, too dangerous. You'll give her the wrong idea and get her hurt. "I'd like that." He says instead, heat spreading through his chest when her smile grows again, "I've been on the graveyard shifts lately so I spend my days sleeping." It's a lie of course but it buys him some time, "When my days are more regular, I'd love to."

"Great." Minerva says, sliding the chipped cigarette into her pocket, "You know where to find me." She gives him a smile and a little salute, "See you around, doctor."

"See you." Carlisle watches her go for a second, crossing the parking lot toward a little green car. "That was stupid." He mutters to himself as he makes his way toward the Porsche. The excuse about the night shift would buy him some time. Coffee didn't have to mean anything. Coffee as friends, that was all.

Minerva was practically vibrating as she dropped herself into the seat of her little car. "What on earth has gotten into me?" She mumbled pressing her forehead against the chill leather. In spite of her second guessing, she was grinning like a fool. The whole way to the flower shop and even when she began her tasks, she felt like she was on top of the world. It was stupid, she was aware. It was just coffee, it didn't really mean anything.

Yet the prospect of seeing Carlisle again, seeing him with intention? That was something and certainly a reason to grin.