A/N: Decided to start another story. This one actually came to me in a dream/nightmare and from just writing. I haven't really thought the story through though. I can try though, right? Hope this story isn't hated. Here we go.
Carlisle's POV
"Carlisle please, just let me send you her file and then think about it" Renee's voice begged over the receiver. "You know I would never ask you for something like this unless it was important."
Esme nodded, encouraging me to say yes. I knew she wanted a little one running around the house but it seemed impossible. Now we were being thrown an opportunity. Plus, Esme wanted to know what made this girl so important.
"Okay" I said apprehensively.
"Thank you so much. But I should warn you before you read her file" Renee paused. "She has gone through things no one should have to go through, and much less an 8 year old. It has left her… well broken." Renee said sadly. "I'll send you the file and then you can decide."
True to her word Isabella's file came in the mail the next day in an express mail package. The rest of the family had gone out hunting. Esme sat on the couch and we read it in horror.
3rd Person
(A/N: First time I'm doing this and it's only for this chapter probably. It's necessary)
A week later, Isabella Swan sat in the back seat of Renee's car silently. Her gloved hands were balled into tiny fists and stuffed into her coat pockets. Her ear muffs were still in place on her head even though the car was warm. Her head hung low but her hair stayed back because of the ear muffs. Isabella's seat belt was on even though it was unnecessary; Renee wouldn't crash, it would be impossible for her to crash. One of the benefits of being a vampire. But Isabella had her seat belt securely around her. It helped her stay in place, remember where she was and not think about where she didn't want to be. She didn't look up when she felt the car roll to a gentle stop.
Renee got out of the car and walked around to Bella's side.
"Bella" She whispered, using a safe name. "We are here"
Cold air intruded the toasty car air. Bella hated the cold.
"Come on" Renee coaxed.
Bella finally looked up with wide eyes. Her heart beat automatically sped up when she saw the house. Tears sprang to her eyes quickly and she was on the verge of a panic attack.
"Take a deep breath Bella. Come on, in; now out"
Bella followed Renee's instructions until she was calmer. Renee reached over and unclipped Bella's seat belt. Slowly Bella's hands came from her pockets and the seat belt completely disappeared. Renee handed Bella her teddy bear Salt which did a good job of calming Bella again. Bella took Renee's out stretched hand and left the safety of the car. Renee grabbed Bella's only suitcase before closing the car door and leading Bella to the house.
The door opened before anyone even knocked. Bella stiffened when she saw the man and woman smiling down at her.
"Come on" Renee coaxed again, gently tugging Bella. She refused to move. "Bella, if we don't get you out the cold soon you're going to be very sick."
Bella also hated being sick so she walked into the warm house. The door closed behind them and once again Bella refused to look up. Renee got on her knees and got Bella out of her coat. Next she took off her gloves, ear muffs, and sneakers.
Bella finally looked up and stepped back quickly. She was suddenly very scared and wanted to flee. She was looking at a hallway and a flight of stairs. Each side wall led to a different room. The house was big, big is not safe.
"Whoa" Renee said with a small smile. "Calm down. Let's go sit in the living room."
Renee half pulled Bella into the living room. She lifted Bella onto the couch. Someone handed Bella a mug, but she didn't look up to see that it was Esme. Bella secretly smelled the contents of the cup and recognized it as the same smell of the hot chocolate Renee had given her before. But Bella wasn't thirsty.
A few minutes later Renee took the cup and put it on the coffee table. She got on her knees to level with Bella.
"Bella" She said before waiting for Bella to look at her. "You are going to be safe here. The Cullens will take great care of you. You will be safe" She promised.
When Bella didn't answer she frowned and got up. Renee left and the sound of the front door closing brought Bella back to reality. Had Renee really left her? Bella jumped up, dropping Salt in the process and ran to the front door. She swung the door open and was pushed back from the cold wind the invaded again.
"Renee" She screamed running out of the house. "Don't leave me here! Please"
Snow soaked Bella's feet and caused a shiver to pass through her body. She slipped, but didn't get up. She stayed in the snow and sobbed loudly. Someone swept Bella out of the snow and she automatically struggled to get free of the person. The hold tightened and Bella was suddenly almost paralyzed by fear.
Man hands. A voice in her head told her.
"Put me down" She half screamed and half begged. "Put me down"
Shhh his voice said as they hit warm air.
It was the softness of Carlisle's voice that finally pushed Bella over the edge. A scream tore out her throat so loud it was about to go silent. Carlisle put her down in surprise and she took off like a bat in hell. She ran straight into the living room and grabbed Salt. She wouldn't let anyone hurt Salt. She made her way to the only empty corner in the living room and tried to push herself into it; of course she couldn't. She pulled her knees up to her chest and sobbed into Salt's chest.
"Bella, sweetie" A woman's voice said a few minutes later. Bella didn't know it yet, but this was Esme. "Calm down, can you look at me?"
Suddenly Salt disappeared from her grasp. Carlisle had taken him.
"Carlisle" The woman said worriedly, but it was too late.
Bella's breaths quickly became quick and shallow. She was swallowing air instead of breathing it in. Bella was having a panic attack. From the file Esme knew what to do though. First she handed Salt back to Bella.
"Bella, taking a deep breath with me. In. Out."
Bella tried to follow Esme's breathing and found it to be extremely difficult.
"In, out" Esme said again. "One, you are at your new home. In, out, two, you are sitting in the corner with Salt. In, out, three you are having a panic attack. In, out, four, you are going to be okay. In out, five, no one is going to hurt you."
By the time Esme got to five Bella had her breathing under control.
"Can you look at me sweetie?" Esme's soft voice said.
Slowly Bella opened her eyes and looked up into Esme's. She automatically noticed that they were the same color as Renee's eyes. It actually helped her calm down. Esme smiled reassuringly at her.
"I'm Esme" She said softly.
Bella nodded and took Esme's out stretched hand. Esme helped Bella to her feet and led her to the couch again.
"That is my husband Carlisle" She continued gesturing to him.
Bella almost tripped in her attempt to move further away from him. Esme lifted Bella and sat her on the couch. She got on her knees like Renee, so that she was level with Bella. Esme took off Bella's wet socks and her feet where icy and red.
"Tuck your feet under you sweet heart, it'll warm them up faster."
Despite what Bella had been taught she did it. She hoped this wasn't a trick and she would be punished for putting her feet on the couch. Esme put the throw blanket around Bella's shoulders and Bella tightened it around her. She was still shivering when Esme handed her the cup of now warm hot chocolate.
"Drink some; it'll help warm you up faster." Bella sipped the coco and couldn't help but love it. "What cartoons do you like to watch?"
Bella looked away. She didn't know the answer to that question. She had never really been allowed to watch TV and only caught glimpses of shows that Vicky used to watch. She shivered involuntarily at the thought of her name.
"How about we watch SpongeBob" Esme said with a small smile. "It is getting late, do you like pizza?"
Bella nodded. She had pizza once and she loved it, but that was over a year ago.
"Okay dear, I'm going to get you some pizza for dinner and then we can get you ready for bed." Esme said.
Bella nodded, she was feeling sleepy. That always happened after a panic attack. She stared at the TV at a yellow sponge. She was crying and there was a blue thing with a big nose that was yelling at him. Bella almost smiled, but she didn't think she remembered how to.
"Come on sweetie, let's get you to the table" Esme said a little while later.
They walked back through the hallway and into the dining room. There was a long table in it and Esme sat Bella the head of it. There was a small pizza from Papa John's o and a tall glass of juice waiting for her.
"Eat up" Esme said.
"What about you?" Bella said in a small voice.
Esme could barely hold in the smile that was threatening to overtake her face. Bella had actually spoken to her, and it was a huge step since Bella didn't talk to people she didn't know or trust.
"Don't worry about me, you eat up."
Bella didn't answer, but waited for Esme to leave before she started to eat. She had eaten half the pizza, three small slices, before she was full. She was surprised because the only time she had pizza she only ate one slice and was stuffed. She didn't register the difference in the size of the slices. She grabbed her now half empty cup of juice and practically jumped off of the tall chair. She walked back into the living room entrance and stopped. Drinks were not allowed in the living room, she learned that at a young age.
"Esme, I finished eating" She said.
She was scared that Esme would be angry at her for interrupting her watching the yellow sponge. But Esme smiled. She got up and grabbed Bella's hand. They made their way up two flights of stairs, until they got to the third floor. There were two rooms on this floor. The room to the right of the stairs was closed and the one to the left was open. We went to the open door.
"This is your room" Esme said as we went in.
The room was huge; Bella never had a room this big. Esme led her to another door in the room, by another door.
"This is your closet." She said opening the door. Bella automatically noticed that her clothes didn't even take up a quarter of the closet. "I'm sure Alice will love to take you shopping"
"Who's Alice" Bella whispered.
"She is one of my daughters. You'll meet her and the rest of the family tomorrow"
This made Bella nervous, but she stayed quiet. Esme took Bella to the last door and it opened to reveal a bathroom.
"Let's get you in the tub" Esme said.
"I can do it" Bella squeaked.
Esme nodded. "I'll wait for you in your room"
Bella showered quickly what took her the longest like always was washing her hair. She left the bathroom wrapped in a towel. Esme was sitting on her bed.
"Here" She said handing Bella one of her night gowns and under clothes.
Bella took it and ran back to the bathroom. She dressed quickly and left the bathroom again.
"Come sit; let me brush your hair"
Bella was surprised. No one ever brushed her hair except her. Bella sat at the edge of her bed and Esme brushed it softly. Bella's hair had never been cut do it hung above her behind.
"Here" Esme said when she was done.
Bella took the cup of juice and her medicine from Esme and took it quickly. Bella brushed her teeth and then Esme tucked her in. The TV was on Nicktoons thanks to Esme. This was the first time she had ever gone to sleep while watching TV. Maybe this house would be different, Bella couldn't help thinking.
She tried to stay up but her medicine kicked in quickly and she fell asleep.