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The first time Beau Swan hears about the massive conservatory attached to the Cullen mansion is when Elle mentions it in passing in the cafe Arcana.
He and Mike are spending their afternoon huddled in a booth there, discussing and working through their biology homework together. It's not necessarily difficult, but there is simply so much to do and both of them agreed that sugar and caffeine was needed to survive the session. Angela soon arrives at their table, hands over Beau's tea and Mike's coffee, and grabs a chair to join them with their study session.
About halfway through their session, Elle visits their table and asks them if they're up to try a new creation of hers— and they would be a fool to reject an offer of freshly made desserts from an expert like her. She returns with a small tray of petit fours, some with chocolate cake and dark chocolate truffles and some with an almond buttercream layered over a sweet cake, both types filled with raspberry jam.
"These are amazing as always, Elle. But that raspberry jam is especially good!"
Mike addresses the vampire as Beau nods awkwardly with his mouth still full. She laughs and motions at Beau to not rush and end up choking, which is fair.
"I'm not surprised! Those raspberries are from the house. I just picked them off the bushes this morning!"
"Bushes? They've already fruited, even though it's barely even spring?" Mike asks.
"Oh, you don't know? The Cullens have a conservatory greenhouse," Angela replies.
A what now? That sounds pretty freaking big!
Though now that he thinks about it, the few times Beau has visited the Cullen family home, he's seen the pointy top of something near the back of the house.
So that's what that building is…
The next time Beau heads over to the Cullen family house, this time to work on an AP English paper with Elle, he remembers the greenhouse and asks about it.
"Oh yes, I'd be happy to show you around!"
He leaves his items in the family room and dutifully follows after Elle through a few hallways. They pass by tall glass panes and Beau can already see the lush greenery within the wildly oversized greenhouse… though considering Elle's culinary needs and the weather that haunts Forks, it makes enough sense.
His curiosity is answered as they wander past various sections of the space designated for flowers, vegetables, fruit bushes and trees, and herbs and other spices, before eventually arriving back in the central area of the greenhouse. The murmur of a gently cascading waterfall catches Beau's attention and he notes a rock formation framed by lush green vines, and follows the path of falling water to the large pool sitting in the center. Lily pads and small water blossoms dot the surface and multicolored flowers line the sides, mirroring the rest of the verdant space, and a glass table with cushioned chairs is positioned beside it.
Alas, they have work to do so they cannot spend the rest of their time here.
Still, Beau makes a note to return to this refreshing space sometime soon.
About one week later, he finds himself back at the Cullen house, this time to work on an AP Biology project with Edward. Rosalie tells him that the "ridiculous guy" is running late and to make himself at home. Instead, Beau tells her that he will swing by the conservatory and she sends him off with a nod.
He retraces his steps and to his surprise, spots a tall silhouette carefully cutting herbs from bushes.
Beau does not expect to find the oldest Cullen sibling standing among the lush greenery—a miniature jungle of sorts if you asked him, scissors and basket in hand.
At the moment, Carlisle stands before a row of surprisingly tall sweet basil bushes, carefully snipping bigger leaves from the top and placing them into the basket before continuing down the line to the mint, thyme, and rosemary bushes.
The aroma of this particular wing of the greenhouse is simultaneously rich and potent in its earthiness and sweetness, yet still delicate and soothing and not at all overpowering. It feels like a gentle embrace, simply standing among the greenery and allowing everything to wash over his senses.
His eyes follow the motions of the doctor's hands, carefully untangling a stalk from the rest, positioning the scissor blades, and cutting in a swift and efficient, but very gentle manner. Those fingers occasionally pause to trace over a delicate leaf, fluttering in the air, before resuming their artistic, almost hypnotic motions.
"Good afternoon, Beauregard."
The doctor glances back and meets his eyes.
"Do you care to join me here? Unless you prefer to stay there?"
The note of amusement in his voice confirms what Beau assumed from the start.
That Carlisle knew he was around the entire time and was waiting for him to act.
Beau knows exactly what kind of disaster he can be in front of this very handsome, way out of his league man that he has a terrible, no-good crush on (memories of a certain terrible vampire pun comes to mind and he shudders), so he had opted to stay behind and assumed that Carlisle had let him be… until now, anyways.
But Beau is also very weak for this man and his smooth voice, so he proceeds ahead.
Several years later, even after the resurgence of the Dacian army, his own transformation into this odd not-quite human but not-quite vampire entity, and the entire courtship process with his now vampire doctor of a fiance, Beau Swan still finds himself spending a fair bit of time in the Cullens' conservatory greenhouse.
Vague memories flash through his dreams every so often— dreams of sunflower fields and lavender bushes, of incense and herbal blends, of ancient forests and of lush harvests. He doesn't quite know if there is more to those dreams or now, but they bring him a sense of peace anyways, and the conservatory reminds him of this.
This time, he is the one walking past the bushes of herbs carefully snipping leaves, not-so-secretly imitating his partner's smooth, efficient motions, and continues on to the citrus trees. He notes a new sweet and acidic thread woven alongside the other aromas. Beau cannot help but come to a pause and allow the crisp scents and the refreshing greenery to wash over his senses.
"Good evening, Beauregard. Enjoying the space?"
Beau turns back and finds Carlisle standing mere feet away from him.
Even to this day, despite his supernatural senses, this man slips past him sometimes.
Beau occasionally finds himself regressing back to his awkward teenage self in front of his amazing and handsome partner. It is quite embarrassing to think over his antics from back then, only to realize he isn't much better now.
Though now, he is much better at following through.
Beau strides up to his fiance and places a kiss on his lips.
"Indeed I am. Care to join me?"
"It would be my pleasure… though I had something different in mind."
Fire floods Beau's face. It seems this man will always get the better of him.