Carlisle Cullen pulled his cell phone out of his pocket as he felt it vibrate. He looked down and recognized the number as his God daughter Bella's school
"Hello, this is Carlisle speaking," He answered, "How may I be of service to you?"
"Hello Mr. Cullen, I'm afraid we have some bad news. Your wife's business partner Renee Swan and her husband were killed this afternoon in a car accident." Said the voice from the other end.
Carlisle felt the color drain from his face as he took in the news. The Swans were like family, Esme and Renee had started their own interior design company 13 years ago and now they were gone. When he felt as if it couldn't get any worse he suddenly began to worry about Bella, Charlie and Renee's 8 year old daughter, his and Esme's precious god daughter.
"What about Bella?" He asked, "Does she know and where are they going to send her?"
"Sir that is reason I called you. In Charlie and Renee's will they left you and your wife sole custody and guardian ship of Bella." The man on said, "She is at school right now and teachers and faculty have decided not to tell her just yet. We need to know if you or your wife can pick her up soon when school gets out"
"Yes of course my wife and I will be there in a fifteen minutes." Carlisle responded walking to his car having already been heading out to go home for the afternoon after completing his shift for the week.
"Thank you sir, I will see you shortly, and I will have Bella waiting in the front office for you guys." The other man replied.
Carlisle felt tears run down his cheeks as he hung up the phone, tears of grief and relief in knowing Bella was going to be ok. He used a tissue to dry his eye before dialing Esmes number.
"Esme, "he said as more tears flowed from his eyes, "Something terrible has happened. Renee and Charlie were killed in a car accident this afternoon. We have to go pick up Bella at school, Charlie and Renee left us custody."
"Oh God, not Renee, I can't believe this. " Esme choked out sobbing on the other end, "Does Bella know about her parents?"
"No the school has decided to leave that up to us and we have to go pick her up. I will be at your office in a few minutes. I'm right down the road." Carlisle said, pulling the car into her office parking lot
"I'm will be waiting outside." Esme replied as she locked the doors to her office.
Carlisle parked his car in the front of the building and went straight to Esme and pulled her in his arms trying his best to comfort her and control his own grief for a short while. Esme sobbed in the crook of his neck for a few minutes before trying to gain some of her composure.
"I'm ok now; let's go get Bella, "Esme said trying to remain strong but with difficulty.
Carlisle and Esme walked hand in hand to the car together. He opened her door and helped her in before getting in on his own side. He started the car and pulled out of the parking lot heading for the highway. Neither of them spoke for fear of breaking down completely with grief though their silence gave the message loud and clear.
'We must stay strong for Bella'
Fifteen minutes later they arrived at Forks Elementary School. Carlisle parked in the visitor's parking lot before looking at his wife. Tears streaming down his face he leaned over to her to give her a kiss and a hug. She did her best to dry both the tears before getting out of the car. When they both finally got out of the car their eyes were semi dry. Hand in hand they walked up to the front entrance and headed for the front office. Bella was sitting on a chair swinging her legs back and forth with a smile on her face with no idea just how drastic her life was going to change in just a few minutes.
Esme and Carlisle stood outside the door for a few minutes before taking a deep breath and opening the door. Bella looked up when she saw the door open up.
"Aunt Esme, Uncle Carlisle, what you doing here?" she asked rushing over to them excitedly
"Hey Bella swella, how are you sweet heart?" Carlisle asked reaching down to give pull her in a close hug.
"I'm doing very good, cause I got a sticker on my math test which means I got a 100 on it. I can't wait to tell mommy and daddy" Bella replied with a beaming smile that stretched from ear to ear.
Esme had tears streaming down her face as Bella spoke, knowing the little girl before her would never be able to tell her parents about her achievement today or ever again.
"That's Great Bella," Carlisle said giving her a hi five.
"What's wrong with Aunt Esme? Did something bad happen?" Bella asked looking at Esme with concern.
"Bella," Carlisle began
"Um Dr. and Mrs. Cullen I don't want to interrupt but may I have a few words with you in my office before you take young Bella home." Said a man standing in from a door behind front help desk, "Ms. James can you take Bella to your classroom for a few minutes, perhaps she can show you what an excellent math whizz she is."
"Certainly Mr. Whitlock," Ms. James said walking towards Bella with her hand out to take the little girl's, "Come on Bella, you can teach me a thing or two and you can even use the whiteboard."
Bella took her hand and looked back at Carlisle and Esme and said, "I will see you guys in a little while."
Esme and Carlisle waved goodbye and walked into Mr. Whitlock's office. In his office there was another man and a police officer sitting down. The police officer stood up allowing for Esme to sit down in the chair.
"Dr. Cullen," said the other man in the room, "Mrs. Cullen, I am Jacob Black, I was Mr. and Mrs. Swan's lawyer and close friend I'm here to go over their will with you since they left you with custody of their daughter."
"Charlie told me about you numerous times Mr. Black, I'm sorry that we now meet under these circumstances." Carlisle said shaking Jacob's hand.
"You can call me Jacob sir, "Jacob replied shaking his hand.
"Jacob, it is nice to meet you, Renee also talked about you regularly at work." Esme said.
"Yes they spoke of you guys too, and I don't want to cut you guys off but we really must get started on the paperwork. I have a few other place and people I need to speak with regarding Charlie and Renee." Jacob said pulling out a file with the name Swan written across it.
"Of course, let's get this over with, I feel the sooner we can get Bella home the better." Esme stated scooting the chair closer to the desk.
Carlisle took a seat next to Esme while Jacob went around the desk and sat in front of them. He opened up the file and began to pull out a few pink and yellow forms. He selected a pink one and put it on top of the pile.
"This one here is a copy their will and right here is where they speak about Isabella," Jacob said pointing a paragraph in the middle of the paper.
Both read the paragraph which read,
'We leave our darling daughter in the hands of Dr. Carlisle Stregone Cullen and his Wife Mrs. Esme Rachel Cullen. They are her god parents and she is not to be put in the foster system.'
"They have made it very clear they do not want their daughter to be put in the system. We are going to be sure that doesn't happen however we need to check with you guys to be sure you are willing to take her in or if we need to find some other arrangements for her." Jacob told the two of them.
"There is no way we are going to let anyone beside us take her in. She is very precious to my wife and me both. We will be taking her in, us and no one else." Carlisle stated firmly.
"I didn't doubt you would say that for even a minute," Jacob said," I just have to say those things out of business. Now since we have verified that you do want custody of Isabella Marie Swan I must ask you to show your id's to Officer Connors. I will also need to ask you to allow for a copy of your license for my records."
Carlisle and Esme pulled out their drivers licenses and placed them on the desk where Officer Connors picked them up and examined them and both Carlisle and Esme.
"These are proper Indemnification Mr. Black they will work for your paper work." Connors stated giving the licesencs to Mr. Whitlock to make copies of them.
"Thank you Mr. Connors," Jacob stated, "Now that your IDs have been verified I simply need for you and your wife to read this paper sign it and date. "
Carlisle and Esme took the paper he handed them each taking a turn to read it and then sign it before handing it back to Jacob. Jacob reviewed the papers and signed his name as well. He then took the paper to the copy machine and made a copy for the Cullen's to keep.
Mr. Whitlock walked back into the room with a two papers, one with Carlisle license on it the other with Esmes. He handed the IDs to the Cullens and the papers to Jacob.
"Here are the copies you asked for sir." He said handing the papers to Jacob.
"Thank you Mr. Whitlock." Jacob replied before returning his attention back to Carlisle and Esme, "That sums up all the information I need from you. You can take Bella home now and I am very sorry again for your guy's loss."
"Thank you Jacob, and we to are sorry for your loss. We know Charlie and Renee must have been very important to you." Esme said standing from her seat dabbing away the tears from her eyes.
Carlisle and Esme shook everyone's hand before exiting the office and returning to the front desk.
"Where is Ms. James classroom at ma'am?" Carlisle asked the secretary politely.
"Go down that hall way and make a right her classroom is the second one on the left of the hallway." She replied kindly.
"Thank you," Carlisle replied
Esme reached for Carlisle's hand as the two of them made their way out of the front office and down the hallway towards the classroom where Bella was at. It wasn't a long walk but they took their time trying to prepare themselves as much as possible for the upcoming talk they were going to have with Bella once they got home.
When they reached the classroom they could hear Bella giggling about something. Upon coming in the room they found the source of her amusement, Ms. James had two markers on the top of her head and was doing a voice impression of an alien.
"That's funny Ms. James," Bella laughed.
"Bella, sweetheart it's time to go home now," Esme said reaching for Bella. "Do you have all your stuff?"
"Yep I do it is all in my backpack." Bella said taking Esme's hand. "Bye Bye Ms. James I will see you after Christmas break. I hope you have fun."
"Bye Bella and I hope you have a good Christmas too." Ms. James replied before looking sadly at both Carlisle and Esme.
Carlisle stood on the other side Bella and took her other hand as they walked down the hallway and out into the parking lot. He opened the back door for Bella and the passenger door for Esme and whispered in her ear.
"I'm going to call Edward really quick and tell him he needs to come home after he is done a tutoring this afternoon."
She nodded and got in the car shutting door. Carlisle walked around to the front of the car pulling out his phone and dialing his son's number. It rang a few times before his son answered
"Hey dad what's up?" Edward answered
"Edward I can't talk long except to tell you to come home after tutoring today no going to your friend's house. I will explain more when you get home Am I understood." Carlisle said into the phone.
"Yeah sure dad I will be home in about an hour then." Edward replied.
"Good, and Edward, I love you son." Carlisle said.
"Love you too dad. Talk to you later the tutor is here. Bye." Edward said hanging up.
Carlisle hung up and got in the car. He started it and pulled out before speaking again.
"Bella, you are going to come stay with Esme and me for a while. Ok Sweetheart."
"Why, where are my mommy and Daddy?" Bella asked catching on that something was very wrong.
"Let's talk when get home ok darling." Esme said turning to look at Bella.
She had tears in her eyes so Bella decided not push the matter. Bella didn't know what was going on but she knew it wasn't good, not good at all. She nodded at Esme and looked out the window for the duration of the trip home.
Carlisle took the longer route home by taking the back roads. He felt the tears streaming down his eyes and looked at Esme and could see the same thing in her face, she handed him a tissue from her purse taking one for herself. He took the tissue wiped his eyes just before pulling in front of his house.
Turning around to face the back seat he took his house keys from his pocket and spoke in a calm voice to the little girl sitting in the back.
"Bella, honey why don't you let yourself in the house your Aunt and I will be in just a few minutes." He told her handing her the keys.
"Ok Uncle Carlisle," Bella said taking the keys and getting out of the car.
When he heard her door shut he looked at his wife. She had tears rolling down her cheeks and was choking back a sob. He had tears streaming down his face as well, taking her in his arms he held her for a few minutes before breaking the embrace.
"Esme dear, we have to be strong for Bella. I know it is going to be hard but we can do this." Carlisle told her quietly.
"I know and I'm ready to head in now. I just need a minute to dry my eyes." Esme replied trying to dry her eyes one last time.
They both stared at each other for a few minutes before leaning in a kissing each other and getting out of the car. They made the way up to the front door with their feet feeling like stones in cement. Be
Bella was standing in the living room staring at the fish when they walked in Carlisle stood behind her and picked her up holding her close to him as he sat on the couch next to Esme.
"Bella, Uncle Carlisle and I have to tell you something about your parents. It is very important ok." Esme told Bella who was sitting in Carlisle's lap.
"Ok," Bella said swalling nervously.
"Bella," Carlisle began, "This afternoon when your parents were taking a drive they had an accident."
"OH NO! Are Mommy and Daddy going to be ok? When Can I see them?" Bella asked getting out of Carlisle's lap.
Carlisle and Esme both took one of Bella's hands before either spoke again.
"Sweetheart I'm afraid I have to tell you that they both died in the car accident." Carlisle told Bella pulling her to him again.
Bella stared at him tears pooling in her eyes.
"You're lying, lying, they aren't dead. I saw them this morning. You're lying." Bella wailed before breaking into sobs and falling the ground.
"No Bella I'm not lying sweetheart. I'm so sorry baby. Come here." Carlisle said picking her up off the floor.
"I want my mommy and my daddy." She cried in to his shoulder.
Esme stood next to Carlisle her own tears falling from her eyes as she rubbed Bella's back in soothing circles. They stood like that for twenty minutes listening to the little girl in Carlisle's arms sob and ask for her mommy and daddy. This is how Edward found them when he arrived home.
"Mom, Dad what's going on? What is wrong with Bella?" Edward asked coming into the room.
Esme turned towards her son before pointing to the kitchen. Edward got the message and followed her in to the kitchen.
"Edward, Charlie and Renee were killed this afternoon. As Bella's god parents she is coming to live with us now." Esme told Edward choking back a quiet sob.
"Oh no," Edward said as he felt tears start to stream down his face.
He leaned into his mom and cried for a few minutes before pulling away and drying his eyes. Looking in to his mom's eyes he said.
"I 'm going to miss them terribly."
"I know we all are, especially Bella." Esme replied giving Edward one last hug.
"How is Bella taking it?" He asked her hugging her back.
"As well as to be expected for an eight year old." She replied, "We better go back in there and see what's going on."
"Ok," Edward said drying his eyes again before heading into the living room.
When Carlisle heard them coming into the living room he put his finger to his lips signaling them to be quiet.
"She has cried to sleep." He told them quietly, "I don't want to wake her up."
Esme nodded and very quietly said, "Let's put her to bed for now. She can sleep in the guest room."
Carlisle nodded and carried a sleeping Bella upstairs with Esme following in step behind and Edward not too far behind her. When they reached the top of the stairs Edward very quietly walked to his room.
Esme walked in front of Carlisle and into the room so she could pull back the blankets for him to place Bella on the bed. He laid her on the bed Esme took off her sneakers. Carlisle pulled the blankets over her before bending down and kissing her gently on the forehead. Esme also gave her a kiss and brushed the hairs from her face. They shut off the lamp beside her bed and were about to head out when they saw Edward standing in the door way with an old brown and white teddy bear in his hands.
He walked over to the bed placed the bear next to Bella before walking out again.
"That was very nice of you Ed," Esme told him in the hallway.
"Yes son it was very kind of you." Carlisle agreed.
"I gave it to her because I remember how hard it was when my mom and dad died. I remember that was when I first met Charlie. He gave me a teddy bear from his car and that bear happens to be the one he gave me." Edward told his parents.
Carlisle and Esme smiled for the first time that day. Edward smiled back at them before walking into his room and shutting the door. Carlisle and Esme walked down the hall to their own room both holding the other close. When they got into their room they sat on the bed and finally let out the sobs they had held back for Bella's sake.
They held each other for several minutes before getting up and drying their eyes. Carlisle looked Esme and said,
"I love you Esme."
"I love you too Carlisle." Esme replied kissing him.
"I think I'm going to take Edward to Charlie and Renee's place to pick up some clothes and toys for Bella." Carlisle said hugging his wife. "She can't stay in those same clothes for the rest of Christmas break and I am pretty sure she is going to want to play with something other than the bear Ed gave her."
"Yes you should go and I think Edward need some time with his dad right now. This has to be bringing back memories from when he was six years old. While you guys are out I will get started on dinner and if Bella wakes up I would like to spend some one on time with her." Esme said holding Carlisle's hand and walking down the hall.
"Sounds Good hon." Carlisle said quietly knocking on Edwards's door.
Edward opened his door and asked. "Do you need something dad?"
"Do you want to go with me to Charlie's house to pick up a few things for Bella?" Carlisle asked.
"Yeah I'd love to go." Edward replied pulling on his jacket.
"Ok I will meet you in the car in a few minutes then." Carlisle told him walking down the stairs.
He found Esme in the kitchen drinking a glass of tea. Esme we're leaving now. I will see you in a little while. She smiled at him and waved good bye to him, he waved back and left.
He got in the car and waited for Edward.
