A/N I've been wanting to write a story like this for a while. I didn't ever know exactly what to write about, but I've hit inspiration. It starts out a lot like most of the other Carlisle/Bella Father/Daughter stories, but there will be a difference after the first few chapters. However, I haven't written them yet, so don't hold me to that.

I hope you enjoy it. Don't forget to review. Thanks.

Hush Little Baby

"No, baby, my child, don't cry. Daddy'll be here in the morning." I smoothed back the hair over her forehead, but she refused to look at me. My eight-year-old girl, wise beyond her years, the light in my life of darkness, wouldn't talk to me. After having begged me the entire day not to go, she had given up.

"My little girl, my angel, my life and heart, nothing will happen. I'll come back to you, I promise," I whispered, trying to wrap my arms around her soothingly. However, she recoiled and started to weep again. I tried not to let her behavior hurt me, but I'd never been rejected by her before.

"What can I do, please? I can't bear to see you this way, my love."

"Stay," she hiccuped, her voice hoarse. "I can't lose you, too."

"Mother is still with you here," I said, pointing to her heart. "She will always be watching over you from heaven." The truth was, she hadn't died, in fact she was still alive and well as far as I was concerned. But she'd left us – me, in actuality – unable to take care of herself let alone a little child, a little girl, our little Isabella Marie Cullen.

She finally peeked up at me from beneath her long, graceful eyelashes. I tugged playfully at a strand of her leather-brown hair, a habit of mine, and smiled comfortingly so she would stop crying. It broke my heart to see her so upset, and that I was the cause of it made it even worse.

"Will you always be watching, too?" she finally said.

I felt confused, taken by surprise. I feared that she'd taken my words out of context; I'd be proven wrong, of course. "No matter what," I promised, in order to appease her.

But suddenly she was quiet, lost in thought, which was a common occurrence for her. I knew she was still worried as she rubbed her wrists nervously. "Look at me, Isabella," I suddenly demanded softly.

Her head lifted in surprise, her red eyes studying me questioningly. I reached into my pocket, never removing my gaze from hers, and pulled out my pocket watch. It was one of my most prized possessions, because it meant that I held power. It also had the Cullen crest on the outside cover, labeling me as a member of one of the town's most prestigious families.

When she was little I let her play with it, promising that one day I would have a necklace with the crest made for her. She'd always told me she preferred my watch to a necklace, but I woudln't listen. "I went to the shops the other day and asked Mr. Giles if he would make me a silver necklace, about this big," I gestured with my thumb and index fingers, "with our crest on it and room for a locket inside. He promised me that it would be finished soon, but not soon enough, apparently. Therefore, until I return in the morning, you may keep hold of my crest. Can you do that for me?"

She nodded and her eyes widened comically as she traced the lion on the cover with awe. She was hesitant as she took it from my outstretched hand. "My Isabella," I started, "you are my world. I will always be alive as long as your heart still beats. Promise me you will be careful until my return."

She nodded once, but her expression spoke of her dread. "You will not reconsider?" she asked just once, promising to let it rest once I'd given her my answer.

"I cannot," I admitted regretfully.

"I will miss you," she whispered. It held more maturity than she should have been capable of, and as I looked into her face, the way her lips were downturned, the way her eyes looked anywhere but at me, and the way she clung to my watch, I knew that she meant it.

"And I you, my Isabella." I stood up reluctantly, watching her as she fell back onto her bed, crawling under the covers. She still refused to look at me, instead staring at the hands of the watch as they chugged ever forwards.

"I love you," I whispered. I stood in the empty doorway, hoping that she would look up at me just once more before I was forced to leave her behind, but I was not so lucky. However, as I closed the door, I heard her respond with,

"And I you, daddy."

A few hours later I knew that I, indeed, would not return to my child, my little girl. As I lay in the cellar housing rottten potatoes and their skin, I knew that I would break my promise. I would not return to her and I would not be able to watch over her without putting her into unnecessary danger.

As my veins turned to ash within my body, I truly became a shell with nothing inside, not even the heart that struggled to beat on. Without my life, my love, my Isabella, I would have no reason to live. This would be a lonely existence if I didn't die this night, because I would never find someone to replace my little girl, my own flesh and blood.

The only thing that prevented me from screaming out was the thought of Isabella seeing me this way, looking down on me with digust. "I told you so," she would whisper, and I knew that she would rather me be dead than a monster.

There was only one thing that rang true. "I will always be alive as long as your heart still beats."

And again, I would not understand how true that was.

A/N Let me know what you think. I should have the next chapter posted soon.