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EPILOGUE

IT'S AMAZING THE DIFFERENCE two years can make to a person. For starters, Jesse quit smoking. Yep after years and years, Jesse finally did it, and cigarette prices rose far too high for Jesse to afford them anymore. That also changed. Jesse couldn't afford cigarettes anymore because he was saving up for a house.

After running for so long, he decided now was the time to stay, not in New York though. His contract was up and instead of renewing it, he spent the last few weeks tracking down Esme Cullen, and he found her.

Sitting on the train to Chicago, something felt right for Jesse. The wind, the grass; whatever it was, it just felt good.

Not many people were at the train station seeing as it was new years eve, but Jesse enjoyed it that way. It gave him a chance to think, reflect. He never realised that this was the first day in weeks he caught himself smiling for no reason.

Well, there was a reason, and her name was Esme. He was so caught up thinking about Esme that he didn't even notice someone enter his compartment.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" the woman asked.

"Um, sure," Jesse awkwardly replied, unsure why she would sit with him when the car was empty.

"You heading home for the new year?" she inquired, sipping a coffee.

Thinking about for a second, Jesse answered back, "Yeah, I'm heading home,"

He turned back to face the window but the woman kept the conversation.

"Heading home to someone?"

"My girlfriend actually. I haven't seen her two years,"

Leaning forward the woman fired back, "And how do you know she's still your girlfriend?"

Jesse stuttered, "I-i don't, but I promised her I'd come home and that what I plan to do,"

This answer seemed to satisfy the lady, who returned to her coffee, "She sounds like a keeper if she waited that long for you,"

"She's fantastic, I'm the luckiest man in the world," Thinking it would be the polite thing to do seeing as the conversation was so one-sided, Jesse asked her a question," Are you from Chicago?"

"Yep, heading home to see my folks,"

"There's a really nice flower shop just around the corner from the station," She pointed over to the florists with the bright red sign," Get your girl some flowers,"

"She'd love that, thank you,"

As the train came into the station, the woman collected her things and headed out of the compartment, "Well, it was nice meeting you, and I hope things turn out well with your girlfriend,"

"Me too," Jesse replied but she'd already left.

Taking a deep breath, Jesse did just what she'd said and wandered over to the florists, buying the biggest bunch they had. Now came the difficult part. When he reached her house, Jesse froze, and his hands began to sweat.

"Come on Jesse, you can do this," he thought to himself, but that wasn't enough.

"You deserve this Jesse, go be happy,"

Peering to his side, Jesse watched as Grace and Kelly slowly began to fade away, both wearing the luminist smiles he knew all too well.

Walking up the stairs, Jesse knocked on the door but was met with someone he didn't recognise.

"Can I help you?" the older man asked.

"I'm looking for Esme Cullen? Does she live around here?" Jesse blurted out, stepping back off the front porch.

"Yeah, your one house out! They live next door," the man chucked before closing the door.

"Wow, Jesse, that was embarrassing," he laughed to himself, walking over to the right house.

Leaving his bags on the steps, Jesse wasted no time in knocking at the door, his eyes lighting up when none other than Esme answered.

"I told you I'd find you,"

Esme ran into his arms, holding on so tight Jesse thought he was going to snap. Looking deeply into her eyes, Jesse leaned down and kissed her like he hadn't kissed her in two years.

"Oh, I'm so happy you came back," Esme exclaimed, bringing him into another bone-crushing hug.

She quickly brought him inside and the whole family embraced him warmly. Finally, he was home. After Carlisle had rustled up some food for Jesse, they left Esme and Jesse alone.

"Thank you for the flowers, they're beautiful," she put them in a vase by the table.

"Just like you,"

Jesse pulled her down to snuggle with him, ravishing her with kisses. Through her giggles, Jesse had managed to slip underneath her on the sofa, with her head resting against his chest.

"It still surprises me someone ain't snatched you up yet," he commented, placing a kiss on her forehead.

"Maybe you'll be the first?"

Taking out a small box from his back pocket, Jesse held the open box in front of Esme, moving down to one knee as she smiled brighter than the moon and stars above.

"Maybe I will."

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850 words

Author's note: I DID IT I DID IT I DID IT!! Happy New Year xxx

*The_lost_flower*