la belle dame sans merci | carlisle cullen

19

Carlisle had been knocking a question around in his head since she'd mentioned it. He knew the time to ask was now, she wouldn't mince her words in trying to downplay her reasoning. "Why didn't you want to go home?" He asks gently. They were flying down the road, he kept his foot from pressing down like it normally did but the car certainly wasn't moseying.

Mineva's head rolled against the headrest to look at him. Her grey eyes were half closed, open enough to see him. "Why what?" She mumbled.

"Why didn't you go home?" He repeated.

"Oh," she inhaled deeply, "Sometimes I don't like the empty. If I go to the empty, it'll get in." She blinked slowly, Carlisle's heart constricted painfully in his chest, I'm used to it but sometimes it's just too much."

"I'm sorry." He said softly.

"It's okay." Minerva murmured, "I earned it." He turned his head to glance at her, her eyes had closed but her face was still angled toward him.

"You earned it?"

She didn't answer, he didn't realize it until he tuned into her breathing that she had fallen asleep. Her breathing had steadied, her head lolling a little with every bump under the wheels.

Carlisle sighed softly, his grip tightening on the wheel for the remainder of the drive. He sped up then, letting her unconsciousness press the petal to the metal.

He could have given Charlie the directions. The cheif was definitely quick enough to follow the complicated twists and turns that led to the dirt road by the water. Maybe it was selfish to insist but he couldn't care, not now. All he cared about was her.

Pulling into her driveway he sighed softly, he made his way around the car to open her door. It surprised him to find her eyes slightly open, "Carlisle." She breathed with a sleepy smile.

"You're home," he said holding his hands out to her, "Can you walk?"

"Am I dreaming?" She grumbled, sliding her hands into his and making a disgruntled face, "You're warmer in my dreams."

Carlisle's breath hitched as he helped her out of the car, "You dream about me?" He managed to utter out.

"Yeah, I am right now." She replies as if it's obvious, leaning to him. He wrapped his arm around her waist, keeping her upright as they made their way to the door. She stumbled over the threshold, nearly buckling into the linoleum before Carlisle's other arm narrowly caught her around her stomach to keep her upright. "You're fast." She says when she straightens up.

"Thank you." He says shaking his head a little, "Let's get you into bed, hm?"

"Take me out to dinner first, buddy." She says with a giggle, "or don't."

"Yeah, yeah." Carlisle chuckles, his face would have burned if it had the capacity. He guided her forward, "Where's your bedroom?"

"Last door." She hummed, eyes hardly open. Her foot fall was ungraceful, even with his support, resulting in Carlisle mostly carrying her down the hall. The atmosphere in her room was cozy, painted a brown with shelves lining every wall. Her bed was massive, occupying at least 2/3 of the room, swathed in several comforters. There was only one bedside table, so he guided her to that side. She grasped him tightly as she settled into the cloud. Carlisle carefully unlaced one sneaker, cradling her ankle as he slid it off, "why are you so nice to me?"

His eyes flickered up to hers, she was watching him. "Why wouldn't I be?" He moved on to the other shoe.

"I can't figure out what I did to deserve you." She mused as he let her other shoe fall.

"I've been asking myself the same thing." Carlisle said fondly, bringing the blankets up to cover her. Her hands grasped his when they reached her chest making his eyes shoot back to hers.

"Can I see you tomorrow?" She asked quietly, like she was unsure that his answer would be yes. As if he could ever deny her anything.

A gentle smile rose to his lips, "Of course." He assured before adding with a tease, "If you remember."

"I will." She hummed pulling the blankets up to her chin with a sigh.

"Of course." He whispered, "I'll get you some water and then let you sleep."

When he returned with the glass of water, she was fast asleep. Turned on her side with her face pressed in the pillow and the blanket pulled up over her mouth. It was adorable, if he was honest. It took everything in him not to lean down and place a kiss on her forehead. He tore himself away, heading for the door though his heart stayed behind to crawl into bed next to hers.