Disclaimer: I do NOT own anything Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended.

WARNING: This story will contain the corporal punishment of a minor in later chapters.

Bella & I had barely reached the house from our hunt, when the panicked thoughts started to bombard me…. Or at least, panicked sounding… seeing as they were all trying to keep me from finding out was going on. I could pick out a tone though.. something was not right, and they didn't want me to know. I grabbed on to Bella's hand tighter and we were at the door in a second, pushing it open.

A very tense looking Alice and Jasper awaited us as we stepped through the door.

"What's going on?" I demanded, more harsh than I had meant, but I was getting tense.

"Edward!" Bella scolded.

"I'm sorry love, but something is wrong, just look how nervous these two are!" I gestured to my siblings, still standing before us. Bella sighed giving me a meaningful look but let it drop, turning to face them.

"Well?" I asked again. Alice sighed, and gave a quick glance to Jasper. I instantly felt calm settle over me, and my mind was anything but. I was about to tell him a bit about what I was thinking he should do instead of calm me when Alice spoke up.

"Now.. stay calm Edward, and let me get through the whole thing before you… do anything."

"Alice…" I growled.

"Alright, alright. Well um… Nessie, kind of well… um…" She glanced at Jasper again. "She kind of ventured off. Alone."

"WHAT?!" Bella and I yelled in unison. I was frantic, angry and probably giving Jasper one hell of a time. Good.

"Just wait.. calm down. Emmett went after her and is on his way back with her. They should be home in 5 minutes."

I felt a sudden wave of relief, but it was quickly overshadowed by my anger again.

"Do you mind telling me…" I started, in a faux calm tone. "Why the hell my daughter was able to, as you say, venture off, unsupervised?!"

Jasper, taking a slight step in front of Alice, was the one to answer.

"Well Nessie went down for her nap, while Alice and I were out. Apparently, she woke up and decided it would be fun to explore the woods. She snuck out while Emmett and Rose were… occupied and Esme was in the garden. By the time Alice saw it she had already ventured into the woods, and Alice sent Emmett after her."

"I'll kill them." I murmured, low and deadly.

"But she's safe?" Bella asked, still slightly frantic. I put my arm around her waist and pulled her into my side to calm her.

"She's fine." Alice replied. "But I think you should know. In my vision… well, she knew perfectly well what she was doing… and that she wasn't supposed to. Her mind changed a few times before she actually went. I know it's not my place, but I think, you might want to take that into consideration." She grabbed Jasper's hand and started to tug him away. "They will be here in 3 minutes." And they were gone.

Bella and I moved to the couch… I put my head in my hands to try to think, while Bella rubbed calming circles on my back.

"How many times have we told her… not to go off alone… especially into the woods?" I asked quietly after a moment.

"She's young Edward." Bella murmured. How very true those words were.

"Yes but she's intelligent enough to know to do as she's told. She's been pushing boundaries Bella, they've all been small, but now… " I trailed off. Nessie had been pushing her limits, tantrums when she didn't want human food or didn't want to go to bed. We knew it was to be expected, right now she was mentally and physically the age of a 6 year old, but we've let it pass with scolding, maybe it wasn't enough.

"Well we will sit her down and go over the rules again…" Bella said slowly. "And maybe keep her strictly on human food for a week or two?"

I thought about that for a moment. But that's all we ever did, Nessie needed to learn these rules are in place for a reason, and must be followed… she could have gotten hurt, or lost, or….

"Bella…" I said slowly, trying to think of a way to handle this. "What would your parents have done if this was you?"

She thought for a moment. "Well… I'm not sure. I never really got into much trouble as a kid. I suppose take away desserts or a favorite toy for a day or two or something. Why? Do you remember what yours would have done?"

I stayed silent for a moment, the memories were fuzzy and honestly barely there, but I knew.

"Yes." I said quietly. "I remember."

She waited for me to go on, and when I didn't she spoke.

"Well?" She prompted.

I hesitated. "Well… From what I can recall, I would have gotten a thorough talking to, and…" I paused. "a trip over my father's knee for a sound licking."

I looked at Bella as I said the last, embarrassed for admitting the memory. I could just imagine what she thought of me, her husband, receiving a sound thrashing as a child. If I could have blushed, I would be crimson. It took her a moment but then her eyes grew wide as she soaked up what I had told her.

"So you were…" She hesitated now… "spanked as a child?"

I looked down. Surely she could read my embarrassment as I nodded.

"Hmm…" she pondered. "I was never… I had to grow up fast… I guess I'd never given much reason to…."

I looked into her face, her eyes burning with curiosity.

"Oh Bella… as if I can remember why." I stated exasperated, answering her un-asked question. "That was the way of parenting in my time. All I know is they were a good, though painful, way to get across a message." Again I felt complete embarrassment take over me.

"Maybe… maybe that's what she needs." She whispered quietly to me.

"What?" I asked perplexed. I had almost completely forgotten the reason we were having this conversation. Surely she didn't mean…

"A sound spanking across her daddy's knee." I looked at her stunned. Did she really just suggest that we spank our daughter? That I spank our daughter?