Twilight is the property of Stephenie Myer, I'm just borrowing.
Warning: This is a discipline fic and contains the non-sexual spanking of a vampire. If you find the idea of corporal punishment, when applied to the backside of a fictional character, too much trauma for your psyche, please turn back now.
"I had a bit more trouble with the rules…" -Emmett Cullen
This is in Emmett's own words, explaining to Bella his early years with the Cullens. The conversation takes place in "Emmett and the Bear" an outtake of Twilight.
Chapter One: The Newest Cullen
They probably should have left Appalachia months ago. However with a volatile newborn, barely 6 months old, Carlisle felt that staying in relative seclusion would be safer. The nearest populated town was over 100 miles away and they didn't dare go there for a number of reasons. He had already resigned his position at the local hospital, giving the vague explanation of "family issues." The excuse was closer to the truth than Dr. Cullen would have liked. Their newest edition to the family was more of a handful than he expected. Having changed Edward decades ago, and then Esme and Rosalie, Carlisle thought he had a handle on this newborn thing. However, nothing could have prepared him for the destructive force that was his newest creation: Emmett.
Most times, the boy was a complete joy. Of all of the vampires he sired, Emmett had the least trouble with what he had become. There was none of the grief or anger that Carlisle had experienced with the previous three. The adjustment period for Emmett to come to terms with his new lot in life had been short lived. To Emmett's thinking, he got to live forever with his angel, Rosalie, and he got the added bonus of being stronger, faster, and more powerful than he ever could have imagined.
He was an affectionate young man, prone to hugging for just about any reason that came to mind. He was quick to smile and his booming laughter was infectious. Carlisle sat back in his desk chair, looking out the window at the forest beyond their home. Where it had taken Edward years to address him as anything other than Carlisle, Emmett had started calling him Dad within weeks. Carlisle had to admit to himself, the boy was easy to love and just as he had Rosalie and Edward, the man considered Emmett to be one of his children. Carlisle also had to admit, the boy was frustrating beyond belief.
Carlisle had very few rules for his coven, his family. To his way of thinking, rules boiled down to one key word; respect. Respect themselves and all members of the family. The patriarch wasn't looking for blind obedience and they all understood that their opinions on everything were valued, but on the issue of respect, he would never waiver.
Respect encouraged honesty. He would never lie to them and he insisted the same in return.
Respect ensured their safety in the family. While bickering was to be expected, no member of the family could attack another.
Respect protected the coven and those around them. The choice they made to follow Carlisle's path meant that they respected the choice to abstain from human blood. Mistakes happened and Carlisle accepted that. Too many mistakes could draw the attention of the Volturi and that could mean their destruction.
Thus far, his philosophy of respect had worked fairly well with Edward and Rosalie and, of course, Esme. His beloved doted on the two of them as if she gave birth to them. There were some times of discord, of course, and they didn't always get along, but instances of ignoring the respect rule were few and far between. In those moments, usually all it took was a family talk, once everyone had calmed down. He'd never had cause to exact any punishment on either of his children, and truthfully, Carlisle wouldn't have known what to do if he did have cause.
That brought him back to Emmett.
For the first time in nearly five decades, his one rule didn't seem sufficient. Emmett, for all his affection, could be surprisingly unruly. Part of that was the result of being a newborn and part of that was just his nature. Newborns were erratic, and their unquenchable desire for blood made them hard to control. Emmett was not allowed to hunt without at least three members of the family accompanying him. On more than one occasion, it took all four of them to bring him down once he caught the scent of human blood. Carlisle had to be so much more cautious with Emmett than when any of the others were newborn.
It just wasn't his uncontrollable thirst that caused problems. If it was merely that, then Carlisle would be fine. Emmett was just prone to doing what he wanted, when he wanted, regardless of what anyone said. Carlisle thought back to three months ago when Emmett had disappeared without warning for nearly two days. After searching and not finding him, the family thought the worse. Emmett had abandoned their way and gone on his own. Rosalie was inconsolable. She couldn't understand how he could just leave her. To their surprise, the boy returned home two days later, sheepishly explaining that he had started running and didn't stop until he'd been well into Canada.
Vampire speed was a still a novelty to him and he was just testing it out. Emmett admitted that there was an incident with a human just passed the Canada/US border. Carlisle was understanding, but tried to explain to Emmett that this was why he could not go off on his own and Emmett blew up at him. It took an hour and the destruction of most of their furniture before he calmed down. Even afterwards, Emmett was apologetic for his temper, but not for his lack of foresight in running off. Agree to disagree, Dad, was his way of blowing Carlisle off.
And not a week ago, Emmett had an argument with Edward and stormed off while Esme and Carlisle had been away, spending some much needed alone time together. Carlisle returned home and was about to look for him when his son appeared out of the forest looking somewhat scared. When pressed, he told his father that he'd come across another vampire. In Emmett's already agitated state, a fight ensued. His son, being a newborn, was stronger, and he was able to quickly dispatch the other, but even Emmett had been startled and afraid of his own ferocity. Carlisle hoped that this would be the turning point and used the experience to remind Emmett just why they kept him on such a short leash. For a moment, Carlisle thought he was getting through to him, but just as quickly he realized that Emmett had tuned him out. His lecture fell on deaf ears and the incident was pushed aside.
And the elder had let the issue drop, unresolved. He hoped that Emmett's unruliness would resolve itself with time and patience but Carlisle wasn't very optimistic. The problem was, if he was being honest with himself, that he had no idea what to do about it. The doctor was a little out of his element with this one. If reasoning didn't work, what would? If he chose to punish the boy, what could he possibly do? He could never ask Emmett to leave or physically harm his son, as other coven leaders would. He could give his son extra chores, but Carlisle failed to see how that would help Emmett understand what he was doing wrong. He certainly didn't think it would motivate him to change.
His only option was to continue as he'd been doing and hope that sooner rather than later, Emmett would see reason. Edward had his rebellious years and Rosalie had been downright caustic for the first year of her transformation. Even Esme had a period of depression and self-loathing.
Hell, Carlisle thought. You tried to kill yourself.
All of them came around with time. This was just Emmett's way of adjusting to his new circumstances.
Carlisle rubbed his forehead with one hand and took in the darkening sky. It looked to be a nice storm brewing just to the east, which suited Carlisle just fine. They had plans to go hunting, and the storm would keep hikers from straying into the woods. These were the kinds of precautions he was taking now. With a weary sigh, he pushed his chair back from the desk and got to his feet.
"We are going hunting in five minutes." He said this quietly, but he knew anyone in the house would be able to hear him. He personally didn't need to hunt, as they had just been hunting two days ago. Carlisle would just enjoy spending time with his wife while the children hunted.
Coming out of his study, he nearly ran into Rosalie and was surprised to find her alone.
"Where is Emmett? I assumed he would be with you."
His daughter shook her head. "He's outside with Edward." She rolled her eyes. "Something about needing male bonding time."
Carlisle smiled faintly. "It is good to see him getting along with your brother." Edward's limited patience and Emmett's endless energy could sometimes cause issue.
Rosalie shrugged. Apparently, she didn't seem to find their bonding as reassuring as Carlisle.
"Dad." Edward's quiet voice drew Carlisle's attention at the bottom of the stairs. The patriarch noticed a confused and worried look on Edward's face. "Emmett isn't with me. I haven't seen him all afternoon. And…" He paused, listening intently, Carlisle knew, for his brother's thoughts. "I can't hear him either."
Carlisle turned back to Rosalie quickly and she held up her hands. "I'm not lying, I swear. He said…"
Esme joined Edward at the bottom of the stairs. "Why would he run off again? After what happened the last time?"
Frustrated, Carlisle shook his head and moved quickly down the stairs with Rosalie. "We have to find him before something happens."
"I can stay here just in case he returns," Esme volunteered. "The three of you go." Her eyes narrowed slightly in concern for her boy.
Carlisle nodded and kissed his wife's forehead, soothing the worry lines away. "We'll find him."
He motioned his two children and together they left the house in search of its newest, wayward member. They had been running for a few minutes, following Emmett's scent, when Edward spoke up.
"Carlisle," he said hesitantly. "We can't let him keep doing this. It's too dangerous." He ignored both the look and derogatory thought Rosalie sent his way. "He doesn't listen to anyone." The look and thoughts became more insulting and Edward huffed, before turning to his sister. "Do you want to see him get hurt?"
Rosalie turned away from him. There were times she was glad that Edward was a telepath. The things she was thinking at Edward right now would not have made Carlisle happy.
"No one wants to see Emmett hurt, Edward," Carlisle said. He sighed. "And you're right. Something must be done."
Rosalie broke off insulting Edward and turned her attention to Carlisle. "Something?" She hissed.
Carlisle was not ready to deal with Rosalie's protectiveness, especially when he was not sure just what "something" entailed. "Edward is right, Rosalie. The more we…the more I ignore this, the worse it will become. I see that now." He put the responsibility for Emmett's continued defiance directly where it belonged; on his own shoulders. As the boy's father and coven leader, he was somehow not giving Emmett a reason to follow his lead. "One of these times he will get hurt. Even if he doesn't, we have a responsibility to the humans nearby. I can't put them in danger because Emmett wants to be disobedient."
"Disobedient?" Rosalie scoffed. "He's not a child."
"He's acting like one," Edward muttered and then rolled his eyes at the string of profanity his sister sent to him. "Guess it runs in the family." He suddenly pulled up short. "Wait!"
His father and sister stopped on a dime and then turned to him.
Edward was quiet for a moment. "He's close by." His eyes widened. "And he's not alone."