26. Her Punishment And The Sniffles

EPOV

I walked up the steps to our bedroom at a slow human pace, trying to ready myself for what was to come. This was it. I had to do it.


Isabella, in her true five year old fashion, had tested me and tested me. And continued to fucking test me. It was clear that she would continue along this route until I put a stop to her behavior and gave her some actual boundaries, making it clear to her what I will and will not put up with.


Sure, I could give her all the rules I wanted, but what would it matter if I never enforced any of them? As I walked, I remembered these past few days and I realized that she had gotten away with so much; racial slurs, rude behavior, refusing to do what she’s told, and whining…just to name a few.


I sighed deeply. This was going to suck. My fingertips found the very tips of her hair strands that fell down her back, and I started to nervously twist them around and around.


Okay, now…there are going to be some tears.


I can probably handle those by now.


And probably some protesting…


Easy. Just remember to stay firm.


Right.


Tears are easy, I can kiss those away. And being a part-time parent requires a bit of firmness. I can do this.


Piece of fucking cake.


“Edward?”


Isabella’s soft voice interrupted my reverie. I tore my gaze away from the steps and looked at her. When we made eye contact, she gave me an adorable smile and kissed my cheek.


Shit.


Okay, I was not prepared to battle her sweetness.


Stay fucking firm, damn it. She is a five year old, Cullen. A five year old, for Christ sakes. You are stronger than that…resist her charms.


Right.


I looked away from her and focused back on my slow steps. “Hmmm?”


“We gonna get to play now?” she asked hopefully.


I just shook my head and continued the walk to our certain doom. Ever since I had to do this with Marie, I had begun to realize the truth in the common phrase parents across the world had used: ‘This is going to hurt me, more than it’ll hurt you’. Truer fucking words had never been spoken.


“But how come?” she asked.


We were walking into the bedroom now. I glanced over to the bed, allowing myself a second to glare at the spot I had been sitting two days ago with Marie over my lap. I suddenly had a change of heart about that position. I didn’t want to sit there, on the edge of the bed again. My eyes drifted up the king size bed to the headboard.


There.


Okay, with Isabella, I could sit against the headboard with some pillows, allowing the parts of her body that aren’t draped over my lap, to lay on the bed beside me, instead of leaving her legs to dangle in mid-air.


But why should the position matter?


Maybe I want her fucking comfortable. Maybe I’m a big goddamn softy. Maybe I suck at this parenting crap.


“Because, Isabella…” I trailed off in a subdued but firm tone. I reached back to loosen her hold on my neck and sat her down on the bed. She looked up at me, so I stared back at her trying to keep my ‘stern face’ in place. After a few seconds of my pointed stare, I sat down against the headboard, in front of her thin form. “We need to deal with your bad behavior,” I finished, keeping eye contact.


“But why?” she asked with a questioning gaze. Before I could answer her, she stated matter-of-factly, “Edward, I wanna play,” then let her eyes drift over to where her baby doll basinet lay on the floor.


I put my finger to her chin and brought her gaze back to my serious one. When her chocolate eyes locked onto mine, I shook my head. “No,” I stated with finality.


She stared at me for a few seconds, just now beginning to recognize my tone and the ‘stern face’ that she had come to realize I only used when I meant business. Her eyes became worried then, and she brought her thumb to her mouth, obviously getting nervous.


I gently grabbed her wrist and pulled that thumb out of her mouth. “Bedtime,” was all I said, then I put her hand back in her lap. All that did was serve to remind me of another rule she had broken frequently in the past few days.


She sniffled and I could start to smell the beginnings of her tears. She was beginning to understand what was going on. And next…oh God, there was that smell of sweet adrenaline assaulting my senses.


Mmmmm, so fucking delicious…


I clenched my eyes shut, surprised by my strong reaction to her scent right now. I would definitely need to hunt soon. Very, very soon.


It didn’t take long for me to reign back in my control. It seemed to take forever, but in reality it was only about two seconds. Isabella wouldn’t have noticed anything was wrong. I looked back at her and noticed that she was sucking on those pink lips.


“Edward?” she asked in a small voice.


Alright, keep eye contact and keep the voice tone soft, but firm. Firm, but fucking soft. Find the goddamn balance.


“Yes, baby?”


Okay, that was pretty good.


“Am I in trouble?” she asked with apprehension.


Every other single time she had asked that question, my answer had been ‘no’. I could tell that right now, she was hoping with all her might that she would hear my usual response.


Not this time, sweetheart…


I sighed, steeling to my resolve. This was for her own good.


I nodded. “Yes.”


She gasped. “But why?” she asked. She sounded to small and devastated at the prospect of getting into trouble.


I was puzzled for a second. What did she think was going to happen?


Um, probably nothing because that is all that has happened so far. She has learned not to take you seriously.


I hated that my internal ramblings were true. I had put this off for too long, and now…not only has her behavior gotten worse over the past few days, but now that a punishment was actually going to be dealt out, she was confused by it.


Way to fucking go. Awesome parenting skills. Dumbass.


All of those times I had given her a break because the tears had started, or I thought that she had learned her lesson…I was only being a neglectful softy and instead of it helping her, it was going to hurt her in the long run.


Okay, stop analyzing everything and just fucking do it, already. It’s just a spanking. Plain and simple. Over in a few seconds.


That thought comforted me...over in a few seconds. Okay, time to get down to business.


“Because, you were rude to Carlisle in his office this morning. You didn’t apologize when I told you to. You’re also still breaking the rules about whining and your thumb. What are those rules?” I asked her, wanting them to be fresh in her mind before I actually got started.


She wasn’t going for her avoidance tactics, anymore. She was going for the guilt angle with those small and salty tears that had just started to slowly fall during my explanation of why she was in trouble.


She sniffled. “B’cuz no whining and I only get my thumb at bedtime,” she said earnestly, and wiped her cheeks. “I know my rules, can I get outta trouble now?” she asked hopefully in a slightly shaky voice.


I shook my head. “Isabella, I’m happy that you know your rules, but that just means that you should have been following them. Since you know them so well…” I trailed off suggestively.


She seemed to realize then, that instead of me being proud of her for reciting those simple rules, like she had obviously intended for me to be, I was more upset. Isabella knowing her rules by heart but choosing not to follow them, had just cemented my resolve even more. And with that realization, came more tears.


“But your daddy was mean to me…” she said desperately.


I was quick to respond. “He was not, and don’t lie to me about that, young lady. Lying gets you into more trouble, Isabella. What is your rule about lying?” I asked.


She sniffled and wiped her right eye with a fist. “No lying…” she whimpered.


“And are you lying?” I prodded gently.


She nodded then stopped holding back her cries. “I’m sorry,” she cried, her watery gaze boring a hole into my determined one.


I swallowed the lump in my throat. This was truly a pitiful, heartbreaking sight before me. “You need to say that to Carlisle when we’re through,” I reminded her.


She sniffled again and her breath hitched. “But I can tell him now,” she squeaked.


I shook my head sadly and slowly crooked my finger at her. “C’mere…”


She shook her head frantically, not moving from her spot in front of me. “Edward, nooo…” she cried, then hiccupped.


I sighed, keeping my firm façade going. I pointed out, “See, we have to work on that too, angel…you need to start doing as your told. Do you understand?”


She wiped her left eye and nodded, “Yah-huh…Edward, I’ll be good,” she told me through pleading, watery eyes.


“I know you will,” I assured her, pretty damn sure that she wouldn’t misbehave again once I was through making my point.


I swallowed back the venom at her enticing adrenaline and breathed in her lovely scent, letting the burn in my throat relax me. I looked at her sitting before me, all teary-eyed and distressed. I took in her thin, fragile form. She was a lot smaller than me. Her weight drop while I was away had really emphasized her petiteness. At 96 pounds, I could envelop her tiny waist with both of my large hands, letting my thumbs barely touch, with about an inch of space in between them. Her height wasn’t much better, for she came up to just below my shoulder. After a second of staring at her ironically small form, I spoke again.


“Let’s try this again,” I said with determination. “Come here, baby…” I told her, keeping my tone smooth and soft.


She only cried and gave me a pleading look as she started to suck on her pretty lips, switching quickly from bottom to top, and back again.


When she didn’t immediately comply, I asked, “Do you really want me to have to put you over my lap? It will be so much better for you, baby, if you cooperate and do as your told,” I informed her. “You said that you could follow your rules, like a big girl…” I trailed off.


She nodded.


“So then do it,” I concluded. “Come. Here,” my tone ringing with finality now.


She cried and desperately tried again. “Edwaaaard, don’t want a spankin,” she exclaimed with a hiccup and a sniffle.


“Yes, well…maybe you’ll be a good girl from now on,” I suggested softly, understanding her dilemma. “Hmm?” I asked with raised eyebrows.


She nodded, but didn’t make a move towards me, so I reached out for her. I was ready for this to be fucking over with. I was quick with my movements, and before she could protest again, her position had changed. Her stomach and chest were now laying on my lap, with her legs stretched out on the bed to my right.


As soon as she realized her position, she quickly turned on her side, facing my body and did her best to curl into a ball, tucking both her hands to her chest, which only served to actually curve her body around my midsection. I was fine with this new position, so I didn’t protest. She fisted a handful of my shirt and burrowed her face into my hip, much like Marie had done.


I kept my hands at my sides as she cried out, “But, I’m sorry!” her voice muffled by the cotton fabric of my shirt.


“I know,” I assured her gently. “And you’re going to tell Carlisle that too…aren’t you, baby girl?”


She nodded but didn’t speak again while her cried. I really did feel sorry for her. I mean, I hadn’t even started yet, and she was getting all worked up. I guess for kids of a young age, the anticipation is worse than the actual punishment. At least, that is what she is conveying to me right now.


I lifted my right hand a bit, noticing how her new position caused her bottom to be by my other hip, instead of my knee. I decided five was a good number. She was five years old, after all, right? Yes…five would be her number. That would always be the number I would use if and when she found herself over my lap in the future.


I clenched my eyes shut and breathed in again, feeling that relaxing burn of my throat. “Isabella, after this, I want you to apologize to Carlisle for your rude behavior, and you need to follow your rules from now on,” I informed her while running a hand roughly through my hair. “Alright?” I hedged quietly.


“Ed-ward…sorry,” she whimpered out, before my right hand made contact.


She gasped. “Owwwie,” her voice muffled into my shirt as my hand came down a second time.


“Edward, owwie…stop,” she sobbed out with a hiccup.


Jesus fucking Christ. How about only two swats…


No. Goddamn it, I really need to stick to a decision with her for once. I spanked her again, making sure to keep up the same exact pressure for each one. It was barely a flick of my wrist really, but I knew it would be painful to her delicate flesh. That was my intention, after all. She squirmed in my lap then, and reached a quick hand behind her back in an effort to protect herself.


I gently grabbed her wrist and moved the hand out of my way. I kept a hold of it in my own, preventing her from doing that again. It would really hurt her hand if I smacked it instead, by accident.


“No, Isabella," I scolded her. "You keep your hands out of my way,“ I said before landing a particularly sharp swat once my target was clear again.


She screamed then sobbed out, “But it hurrrrts…Ed-ward, owwie.”


Fucking hell. Just one more...


I gritted my teeth, before relaxing my jaw to speak again. “It‘s supposed to, sweetheart,” I responded before I half-heartedly landed the final blow.


Another sob tore through her throat, causing her small body to shake with the force of it.


Well, thank the fucking lord that’s finally over.


As she lay curled up on my lap for ten more seconds, I realized that she hadn’t yet come to the realization that I was done. It was over. She wasn’t in trouble anymore.


I carefully gripped her under her shoulders and lifted her curled body to the left a bit, straightening her out before me, then brought her to my chest. The grip she had on my shirt was finally released as she tried to acclimate to her new position. She straddled my hips in our upright position, placing a knee on either side of me. Her arms wrapped tightly around my neck and she pressed her face into my shoulder, continuing to cry.


I hugged her to me and kissed the hot skin on her temple. Her face was flushed due to her exertions of crying so much. After a few seconds, I lifted her head from my shoulder and cupped her beautiful face in my hands. My concerned gaze met hers as I softly grazed my thumbs over her rosy cheeks, wiping those sad tears away. When most of the tears were gone, I kissed her runny, little button nose. Her sweet, warm breath fanned across my face as she continued to cry and whimper pitifully.


Why does this part of trying to parent her suck so fucking much?


I felt like crying too, but that wasn’t possible…so, instead I breathed out a sigh of relief, fanning my cool breath over that overheated skin on her face. I knew that the pleasant scent of venom on my breath would calm her. So I did it again. And again, letting it just gently wash over her face. I was relieved knowing that it was over, and that I had survived her tears along with my guilt, always keeping in mind that this was for the best. The results of it could only be positive, right?


I saw when she began sucking on that bottom lip. I felt her right arm loosen from around my neck, and when she reached it behind herself, I caught her wrist and silently shook my head at her. She would not be allowed to rub the hurt out just yet. I really, really, really needed this spanking to be a lasting memory in her mind, in hopes that she would remember how much it hurt, and how much it sucked, and then she would do her best to keep this from happening again, at all costs.


Her brow furrowed at me as I kept a hold of her wrist.


She hiccupped. “Hurts,” she told me in a broken voice, then sniffled. "My owwie..."


I nodded and looked back into her watery chocolate eyes. I spoke softly, “I know, baby.”


I let go of her wrist, then moved my hands down her back slowly, and gently cupped her sore, jean-clad bottom, feeling the heat radiating off of her skin. I kept my hands still and firmly in place, knowing that while this prevented her own hands from rubbing the hurt away, my cool touch could also inadvertently help relieve some of her soreness.


I kissed her damp cheek as she cried. “Shhh…” I whispered in her ear then began a very subtle slow rock in our seated position. I knew the rocking motion would help pacify her.


She laid her head back down on my shoulder and cried for a little while longer. She had quieted down significantly though, in the past few minutes, with the help of my sweet, venom breath and cool hands.


After a minute, she spoke into the silence of the room. “Edward?” she said, her mouth right by my ear.


“Hmm?”


“You wanna keep me?” she croaked out softly.


“Always baby girl,” I whispered in her ear.


“Even if I’m mad and do mad things?” she asked weakly.


“Always, no matter what. No ‘mad thing’ you could do would ever change my mind, sweetheart,” I assured her, remembering when I had to reassure Marie of the same thing after she had gotten into some trouble.


She sniffled. “But…you like your daddy more than me?”


“No, I love you. More than anything, baby girl. You are mine,” I reminded her.


"You gonna let your daddy be mean to me?" she asked, clearly still worried about her beliefs on people with blonde hair.


"Never," I told her with conviction. I sighed and kissed hair, "Isabella I will never let anyone hurt you or be mean to you," I reassured her.


“Edward?”


“Yes, baby…” I trailed off, staring to lightly run my fingers along her back.


I was spelling out ‘I love you’ on her spine with a single, cool digit when she finally responded.


“Sorry…”


“I know,” I assured quickly.


“Edward?”


“Hmm?”


“I can be a good girl,” she hedged lightly.


“You are a good girl, Isabella,” I assured her. “Sometimes, good girls just mess up…and sometimes they do bad things,” I tried to explain.


“How come?” she asked.


I shrugged lightly. “Dunno, angel…it’s all apart of learning what is good and what is bad. But don’t worry, I’ll always be here to teach you the differences between the good stuff and the bad stuff. Because I love you. And I always will,” I soothed her.


My fingertips had reached her shoulder when she spoke again. “Edward?”


“Yes?”


“Sometimes your daddy wants me to tell him stuff ‘bout my daddy that I don’t wanna. What do I say if I don’t wanna?” she asked curiously in her small voice.


“Just tell him, sweetheart. It’s really easy, you know…just say ‘I don’t want to talk about it,’ and he should leave it alone,” I informed her.


She sniffled and yawned. Noticing that she was ready for yet another nap, I brought the comforter around us, bundling her up as I continued the subtle rocking motion. Her grip around my neck stayed tight as her breathing began to slow and deepen.


“Edward?” she mumbled sleepily.


“Yes, baby?”


“Love you…” she whispered.


I smiled. “Love you too, angel.”


Son, you need to hunt Carlisle suddenly thought to me.


Shit, that’s right.


I held Isabella tighter to me, knowing that I probably wouldn’t be here when she woke up. I stuck my nose in her hair and breathed in deeply, recognizing the excessive sharp burn in my throat.


“Edward?”


“Hmm?”


“Sorry to your daddy…”


Oh yeah.


“You need to tell him, baby,” I told her with a kiss to her cheek.


“Carlisle,” I called for him at vampire frequency, knowing that this had to be handled now because she was drifting quickly.


A few seconds later, there was a knock on the door.


“Come in,” I said, more so for Isabella’s sake than Carlisle’s.


Carlisle slowly walked into the room and Isabella turned her head towards him, keeping it pressed onto my shoulder. She looked up at him through the corner of her bleary eyes.


“Hello, Isabella,” he greeted in his bedside manner.


She sniffled. “Sorry…” she said in a weak, tired voice.


“That’s okay, dear. All water under the bridge, as they say,” he told her conversationally.


She fractionally nodded her head against my shoulder. “Kay g‘night,” she mumbled and stuck her thumb in her mouth.


I nodded at him then spoke in our frequency, "I'll be down in a minute."


He left the room as I stuck my nose into Isabella's long silky locks, enjoying her scent entirely too much. Damn...I would miss her.


It's just a couple of hours...


Right, a couple of hours, and then I wouldn't have to leave to hunt again for another four or five days.


I would just do as I had done this last time. I was in a hurry to get back to my Bella because of her odd behavior, so I had rushed through hunting, gluttoning myself on animal's blood. Sounds like a plan.


"Mine..." Isabella whispered out as she slipped over the brink of unconciousness.


I moved our position then. I was quick with my movements, so I wouldn't jostle her awake. Once I had her rolled over onto her side, I made sure to tuck the blanket around her ridiculously small form before gently extracting that thumb from her mouth. She really needed to gain some weight...she was almost too fragile. I kissed her forehead, then quietly made my way back downstairs.


In the front room, I was met with the concerned faces of six vampires. Before they could voice their questions, I rolled my eyes and stated with finality, "She's fine."


I knew how to handle Isabella and I would never actually hurt my Bella. Five swats was nothing, and they all knew it. Isabella was just being dramatic with her cries, because that's just what five year olds do, apparently. She had worked herself up to sniffles and hiccups before I had even touched her.


They seemed placated because they all went back to their various activities. Alice and Esme came up to my side as I was slipping my hiking boots on.


I looked to my mother. “I’m going to head out. I’m staying close though, so I should be back here by her dinner time. When she wakes up, make sure she eats a little bit, she skipped lunch.”


Esme nodded. "Of course, dear. Are you sure the child is alright?" she asked with worried eyes.


I smiled lightly. "Yes, she is fine. We should see an improvement in her behavior and she apologized to Carlisle."


She smiled. "Yes, she did," Esme said with a nod. "When she wakes, I'll give her a yogurt for a snack before dinner."


"That'll work," I nodded, then turned to Alice.


I smiled at her and she grinned back. A big, goofy grin. "Guess what, Alice..."


"I know!!" she squeaked with a giggle. "I'm Isabella's playmate and Marie's bestie and Bella's best friend. I fucking rock!"


I smiled, knowing that I was leaving my girl in good hands. "Please keep her company while I'm gone..." I pleaded, feeling really reluctant to leave, but I knew it was a necessity.


"Oh, I know! We're going to have so much fun," she said with a wistful smile. She gave a little gasp, then started, "There's dress-up to play, and manicures to be had, and music to dance to, and a trampoline to jump on, and a swing to-"


"I get it, Alice," I told her, amused with her excitement at being able to spend time with her best friend again.


I opened the door then, and stepped out onto the front porch. I turned back around to kiss her cheek, "I'll be back soon."


She winked. "See ya, bro!" she said, then closed the door behind me.


I looked at my watch...just after 2pm. My girl would eat dinner around six. That gave me four hours. I smiled, knowing that was plenty of time.

**********

I had just drained three deers and decided to take a quick break, before finding a bear to finish off my meal. I walked back into the thicket of the trees and sat down on the forest floor, leaning up against the bark of a thick tree trunk. I reached into the zipped up pocket of my jacket that I had left on the ground before my hunt, and pulled out my compact silver cell phone. I hit the button to power it on and waited until it showed a strong signal so that I could call home. I missed my Bella. I missed her terribly.


*RING*


I sighed.


*RING*


"Hey!" Alice's voice exclaimed over the line.


"How is she?" I asked, not quite hiding the anxiety and longing in my voice.


"She's alright, I guess. Marie and I had fun. We played on Bella's Nintendo DS for a while and then we jumped around on that huge freakin trampoline, and then she let me put her hair up, and then... oh yeah!" she squeaked suddenly. "Marie gave me that friendship bracelet! I'm wearing it right now. Oh Edward, it's so pretty..." she trailed off sweetly.


I smiled, relaxing with the image of Marie and Alice getting along.


Breathing a sigh of relief, I asked, "Did she eat her yogurt?"


"Yes, and we found out that she likes the flavor strawberry and that peach is apparently, trash-worthy."


I chuckled. "Alright...can I talk to her?"


"Um..."


"What?" I asked quickly, my anxiety returning.


"Nothing. It's just that Marie's not around anymore, Edward."


"Bella?"


"Nope."


"Ohh...no. How is she, Alice?"


Alice was quiet on the line for a few seconds.


"Alice?"


I heard her sigh. "She's sad."


"Let me talk to her. Put her on the phone," I practically demanded.


"Alright, alright. Hold your horses...jeez."


A few seconds later, I heard through the line that Alice was knocking on a door. Then I heard the distinct squeak of a door being opened.


"Hey..." Alice's voice trailed off softly. "Your Edward wants to talk to you," I heard Alice say.


Eight fucking seconds later...


"Here she is, Edward," I heard Alice tell me, before there was some shuffling over the phone.


Then I heard a delicate little sniffle.


"Isabella?" I hedged softly.


"Edward, I miss you," her soft, child-like voice rang clear in my ear.


I sighed and closed my eyes at her sweet voice. "I know, sweetheart. I miss you too."


"When you comin' back?"


"In a little bit."


I heard a sniffle and a rushed sigh. My chest clenched in anxiety at the sound of it.


"Baby, don't cry..."


"But Edward, how come you left and I couldn't go with you?" she asked, clearly upset.


"You were sleeping, baby girl. I had some stuff that I had to do..." I trailed off.


"You mad at me?" she whispered.


"No. Isabella, no. I'm not mad. I promise," I quickly reassured her.


"But I wanted to come witchyou..."


"You were sleeping, baby," I softly reminded her.


She sniffled again. "B-but your daddy said that you had'ta go get somethin to eat b'cuz you were hungry."


"Mm-hmmm..."


"But *sniffle* he...he's lying to me b'cuz it don't take that long to go to Mcdonalds to get a happy meal," she told me in a pitifully small voice.


I smiled at her assumption that I would need a happy meal from McDonalds.


Oh, if it were only that easy...


"I'll be home soon, sweetheart," I assured her.


She coughed. I immediately worried that she could be getting sick, but banished that thought. It was just a little cough.


"Edward?"


"Yes?"


"My baby dolly is sick..." she told me in a worried tone.


"I'm sure she'll be fine, baby. You're a good mommy, just make sure she has a blanket wrapped around her and she'll get better soon."


"Kay," she said, then cleared her throat. "Edward?"


"Yeah?"


"I wanna cuddle with you."


"We can as soon as I get back, Isabella."


"Edward?"


"Hmm?"


"I love you," she said, then sniffled.


"I love you too, sweetheart. You're mine."


"You're mine, too."


"Mm-hmm..."


"Edward?" she sniffled. Again.


"Yeah, baby?"


"I need a tissue," she squeaked, then sneezed.


"Go get one baby," I told her.


"Don't know where they are. Gotta use potty paper?" she asked and coughed again.


Maybe she is getting sick...


"You can, but the tissues should be in a shelf next to the linen closet."


She was silent for a second, then asked. "Where?"


I sighed and ran my hand through my hair, realizing that she didn't really know her way around the house yet. "Ask Esme, baby..." I suggested.


"Your mommy?"


"Yes."


She sniffled. "Kay. Edward?"


"Yeah?"


"Next time, can I come with you?" she asked hopefully.


"We'll see, baby," I placated her.


"Edward?"


"Yes, what is it baby?"


"Can I go play outside?"


"Yes, you can," I assured her.


She coughed again and it worried me. "Isabella?"


"Hmm..." she sniffled.


"Do you feel okay, baby?"


"Feelin ucky," she whispered and coughed again. "Need a tissue..."


The prospect of her being sick made me want to hurry up and finish so that I could get back home to her as soon as possible.


"Go get one, sweetheart. I'm going to hang up so that I can finish doing what I need to do, and then I'll be home soon, alright?"


"Edward?"


"Hmm?"


"You hangin up now?"


I nodded, then remembered that she couldn't see me. "Yes, baby..."


"But *sniffle* I miss you."


"I know, and I miss you too. But you know what?"


"Huh..."


"The sooner we hang up, the sooner I can come back home and we can cuddle."


"Cuddle up and watch a funny movie?" she asked hopefully with yet another sniffle.


"Yes, sweetheart."


"Kay."


"Okay, it's time to say goodbye now."


"Kay."


"Okay, goodbye Isabella. I'll be home soon. I love you."


"Love you, Edward. Good bye-bye."


I flipped my phone closed and stuck it back in my jacket pocket, zipping it closed for safe keeping. As soon as I was back on my feet, I let my instincts take over. I crouched low and inhaled the cool, damp air around me. Picking up the scent of elk to my left, I took off in that direction, intent on draining it and anything else in my path as quickly as possible. I needed to hurry.


My little angel needed me.

**********

I had finished up quickly, and had been running back to my house for the past twenty minutes. Soon I was approaching the familiar river, and took the leap to the other side, then slowed my pace as I neared my home's back yard.


I could hear my Bella's heartbeat, but she wasn't outside playing on her trampoline or swing. Before I could allow myself to breath in her scent, in an attempt to track her location, I heard her sweet voice. My eyes immediately shot up in the direction of her humming, and soon I had zeroed in a a thin leg with creamy white skin, dangling off the side of a tree branch.


Goddamn it, Alice. I ask you to do ONE fucking thing...


It was then that I noticed Alice, Emmett and Carlisle standing at the back door with their eyes zeroed in on the same thing I had my intent focus on.


Isabella. Up in a fucking tree.


The sight angered me and filled me with that wretched anxiety.


She was sitting on a rather large, thick branch, more than capable of holding her slight weight, and she had her back against the trunk with a small backpack set down behind her, between her back and the tree trunk. She was leaning forward a bit with a colored pencil in her right hand. She hadn't noticed me here yet, and kept up her light humming. Soon, her gaze shifted to something in front of her before shifting back down at her paper, and that's when I noticed that she was sketching the approaching sunset. The look on her face was serene, as her hand trailed dutifully across the paper pad in front of her.


Well, okay...she can stay up there and draw if she wants. For just a little while. Only until she done with her picture. But damn it, then it's time to come back down I decided with finality.


I looked back at my sister noticing her apologies flowing through her thoughts into my head. I simply waved her off. Isabella looked fine to me.


Carlisle and Emmett kept there intent stare on her, clearly ready to catch her if she fell. I saw in Emmett's thoughts how she had insisted and fought for them to leave her alone so that she could find herself a tree. She stated that she wanted to draw. They finally relented, but made sure that she got up there safely, before going back inside to give her some privacy.


Isabella sniffled, before she began to sing softly while continuing her picture...

If all the flowers faded away

And if all the storm clouds decided to stay

Then you would find me

Each hour, the same

She is tomorrow and I am today

And if right is leaving, I'd rather be wrong

She is the sunlight and the sun is gone

If loving her is heartache for me

And if holding her means that I have to bleed

Then I am the martyr and love is to blame

She is the healing and I am the pain

She lives in a daydream where I don't belong

She is the sunlight and the sun is gone

Cuz if right is leaving, I'd rather be wrong

Bella is the sunlight and the sun is gone...

"Isabella..."


She startled a bit and tore her gaze away from her picture.


She looked over to me and coughed, then smiled brightly. "My Edward!"


I smiled back, but then noticed the evening's cool breeze coming in. "Baby, what are you doing up there? And without a jacket on? You're going to get sick, sweetheart."


"I'm drawin..." she trailed off with a delicate shrug, then closed her book and reached behind her for her bag. "Gotta put my stuff away, Edward," she told me.


It only took her a few seconds to pack up her bag with her sketch pad a pack of colored pencils. When she stood on the branch, my instincts went on high alert.


"Isabella, no."


She looked down at me, where I stood on the ground. "No, what?" she asked nonchalantly.


"Sit back down, I'll come-"


But she had already crouched down and slid off of that branch onto the one below her, while gripping the bark of the branch she had been sitting on. Once her toes touched down onto the new branch, she let go of the one above her.


"Edward?" she said, while walking along the new branch towards the tree trunk.


"Isabella, sit down," I demanded.


"Why?" she asked with a curious gaze my way.


"Because I said so."


"But I want down..." she said in a slightly whiny tone.


"I'll get you down."


She shook her head. "I can do it, I'm a big girl," she stated proudly.


"Isabella, sit."


"Huh-uh Edward, you sit," she said with a smile, then grabbed onto a thin branch in front of her.


She began dangling off of that branch and I was about to rush up the tree and get her, but she let her grip go. She fell a short distance through the air and landed into an instinctual crouch onto the ground with a soft thud right in front of me.


When she stood back up, she wrapped her arms around my waist and breathed out, "Missed you..."


I enveloped her in my arms, and breathed in her scent. I stuck my nose in her soft hair, "I missed you too, baby girl."


While I hugged her to me, I remembered my Bella's words of caution: Isabella is very flexible. She likes to climb on anything and everything. She's quite the little escape artist.


Yes...I could definitely see that.


Isabella coughed and I loosened my grip on her. I held her away from me at arms length, keeping my grip on her shoulders.


"Baby, do you feel okay?" I asked.


Her face fell and she shook her head sadly. "Me and my baby dolly feel ucky, Edward," she informed me.


I nodded, "Let's go inside. You shouldn't be out here without a jacket on," I said firmly.


Once we were inside, Isabella went straight for the tissue box on the kitchen counter. While she blew her nose, Esme made Isabella's dinner plate. Tonight she was having tacos and rice. Esme was paying special attention not to put any tomatos on Isabella's tacos. It was confusing her a bit because my Bella likes tomatos a lot, but Isabella seemed to despise them. It was all very interesting. Not only were all three of my girl's interests completely different from eachother, but their tastebuds reacted differently from one another, too.


So fucking fascinating.


I had gone upstairs to get Isabella's micro-plush 'little angel' blanket for her, because she had stated that she was cold. When Isabella was seated at the dinner table, wearing her pink blanket like a cape and happily chewing on her food, Emmett decided to join us.


"Hey shorty," he greeted her.


She immediately looked to me. I wasn't sure what she wanted me to do, so I just gave her a reassuring nod, and surprisingly, she turned right back to Emmett and smiled.


"Hi," she said shyly.


"You mind if I play on your trampoline for a while, kid?" he asked excitedly.


She shook her head delicately. "Huh-uh, you can play on my jump-a-lene if you want..." she said, then grabbed her Hi-C juice box, taking a drink from it.


He gave her a big grin. "Thanks!"


She nodded a little bit and blushed. He got up from the table then, and jogged towards the back doors.


Him and Isabella would get along just fine. They were both just big kids at heart.


"Isabella, why did you look to me when Emmett said 'hi' to you?" I asked.


"B'cuz he's a man," Isabella stated matter-of-factly and sniffled.


"Mm-hmmm..." I trailed off, already knowing this.


She just looked up and nodded along with my hummed agreement.


"Why does that matter though, baby?" I said, clarifying my question for her.


"B'cuz I belong to you. If you're by me, then I can't talk to a man without you sayin' it's okay first."


I just stared at her.


What?


"Won't I get in trouble...?" she hedged with a slight cough.


I shook my head slowly. "No, baby...you won't be in trouble."


"Does he want to fuck me?"


"No," I growled out before I could stop myself.


She furrowed her brow, like she didn't believe me, but nodded hesitantly anyway.


"Edward?" she said, turning her attention back towards her plate.


I sighed and reigned in my anger and her previous question.


Please don't let it be a fucked up question. Please don't let it be a fucked up question. Please don't let it be a fucked up question...


"Hmm?"


She picked up her fork. "Marie is mad..." she said quietly.


"Why's that sweetheart?" I asked, intrigued.


"B'cuz we don't feel good," she said sadly with a little shake of her head.


"Oh..." I nodded.


Yes, Marie avoids illnesses...


"She was playin' with Ali and then started to not feel good no more. So, even tho' it's Bella's turn, she wanted me to come out and play, b'cuz Bella won't," she informed me, then scooped a forkful of rice into her mouth.


"Why won't Bella come out, baby?" I asked, and I noticed that we had Carlisle full attention from the other room.


She shrugged delicately. "Can't get her to..."


"What do you mean, baby?? You can't get her to what?" I asked, my anxiety beginning to spike, but I was trying desperately not to show it.


She swallowed. "Come back out." She sniffled, then added, "She's sad."


"Why is she sad?"


"B'cuz of daddy."