Bella had fallen asleep in the car as the driver transported us to the airport. I had little trouble winning over the staff at the airport to allow her to accompany me on the flight back to America; my smile always seemed to loosen the females up. My gestures and movements were slow and quiet, as I aimed to keep her knocked out during the few hours that we had to be airborne. I was successful, mostly due to the fact that we were nestled alone in first class, with little disruptions from the stewardesses. It wasn't until we were in America, and exiting the airport lobby, that the angel in my arms began to stir.

"Daddy?" she mumbled weakly. I inhaled a sharp gasp at the smell of her breath as she pulled her sleepy face away from my neck. Her eyes were half-open, and her stunning brown orbs were shining from the slits of her eyelids. She yawned, and I tensed as her eyes fully opened. They were wide as they stared at me for a few seconds, but her small arms locked themselves around my neck for the second time as I continued to carry her out of the building. Don't hog her, Edward. I want to see her too. My head snapped up, and I saw Alice leaning against a crimson red Honda Accord. Her grin grew as her eyes danced upon Bella.

"I told the family. They're all preparing for her-"

"No." Alice frowned, but stepped aside as I opened the backseat of the car. I sat Bella down, and reached over to buckle her seatbelt, when her tiny fingers wrapped around my wrist. I gulped down the venom as I glanced at her face. Her chocolate eyes were big and fearful when they met with mine.

"Don't leave me, Edward," she mumbled, her bottom lip quivering. I melted instantly when she said my name. I flashed her a smile, and rubbed my thumb across her forehead, brushing some hair out of her eyes.

"I'm not going anywhere, sweetheart. I'll be right back," I assured her, and gave her another smile as I shut the door. Alice was right behind me, confusion etched across her flawless face. Her arms were crossed over her chest. What do you mean, no?

"She's not living in a house full of vampires. It's out of the question."

"But where else would she go? Her parents are dead, and we don't know anything about her." I sighed, and my eyes flickered to Bella, who was sitting impatiently in the backseat. She was drumming her palms across the denim of her jeans, as she stared up at me in curiosity. I couldn't help but grin at her, before I turned back to Alice. She huffed in frustration.

"I'm taking her to an orphanage. She's much better off living with other human children."

Alice's face dropped. I think you're wrong. I shook my head, and opened the car door to the backseat once more. Alice was in the driver's seat before Bella had a chance to look up. I slid in the back beside Bella, and she smiled up at me. I was amazed. This little girl was quickly on her way to becoming my life, if she hadn't already taken the role. Her beauty was marveling to me. For some reason, she was special to me, and the past few hours spent with her had been more enjoyable than any of the 73 years of existence combined. I heard Alice giggle from up front, and both Bella and myself turned to look at her. Bella sank into my side as she stared at Alice, obviously uncomfortable with the stranger.

"Hello Bella. I'm Alice, it's nice to meet you!"

Alice leaned over the console to extend her pale hand to Bella. She cocked her head up to look at me as if asking permission, and I smiled in encouragement. She shakily took Alice's hand, and shook it. She mumbled a small hello, before her cheeks flushed and she diverted her attention to her lap. She's gorgeous, Edward. I looked up, and smiled to my sister, nodding in agreement.

"Bella, are you hungry?"

"Yes, please," she answered Alice, digging herself deeper into my side. The venom was building in my mouth, swirling in my mouth as if Bella were some piece of meat that it eagerly awaited to taste. I swallowed it down, as I turned my head away from Bella's face, watching as Alice pulled the car into some fast food restaurant. Stay with her, I've got this. Alice opened the door, and was about to step out when Bella spoke up.

"Mom says I'm not allowed to have fast food," she announced to Alice. She looked ashamed, and Alice only grinned at her. She leaned back into the car, facing Bella.

"And why is that?"

"Cause she says it's greasy, and not healthy, and it'll go straight to your eyes!" Bella exclaimed. Alice pulled her face down to hide her laughter from Bella, and I had to look away as well. I leaned down, and grinned at the clueless little girl. She was frowning as she looked back between Alice and I. I immediately felt guilty, but replaying the sentence in my head, I couldn't help but chuckle. She didn't know that the saying was, it'd go straight to your thighs.

"I don't think your mom would mind it just this once. It'll be our little secret," I whispered, winking at her. She grinned and giggled, as her head bobbed up and down. I laughed, and nodded to Alice, who was already in the process of closing the door. I watched as Alice skipped into the small building, and my attention was immediately given back to Bella. She was staring up at me, biting her lip.

"Mommy and Daddy aren't coming back to me, are they?" she whispered, her voice breaking. It was like a sheet of ice was building around me, as my entire body froze. I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to tell her the truth, because it would upset her, but I didn't want to lie to her. She was the most important thing right now, and I hated that I put her in this position. I pressed my lips together, and frowning, I shook my head. Tears were already pooling under her eyelids.

"Why did the bad people take them away? They didn't do anything! Daddy was going to give back the towel he took from the hotel, I heard him say it!" she exclaimed, the tears now running down her face. My heart .. Oh, my poor dead shriveled up heart. It was like a cycle of never-ending shattering. Every time Bella shed a tear, it pained me. Every time she cried, I felt myself breaking a little bit. This was a strange feeling, and I didn't have the slightest clue what to say to her.

She continued to stare at me as she cried, probably waiting for some words of comfort. I desperately wished that I could quickly find something to say, but my breath was caught in my throat, and I was speechless. For the first time in my existence .. Edward Cullen didn't have a single thing to say. She didn't wait for my voice, but I watched as she unbuckled her seatbelt. I was about to find the strength to protest, but she whipped the seatbelt away from her, and scrambled into my lap. My teeth immediately snapped shut, and I stiffened, holding my breath. She leaned her head into my shoulder, and grabbed one of my ice cold hands. She didn't seem phased at the temperature of my fingers as she played with them soundlessly.

"Thank you for saving me from the bad people, I love you," she whispered as she dropped my hand and leaned back into my side. I gulped, muffling the gasp that I was tempted to let out. She doesn't know what she's talking about. She just has nice manners. She's four years old. Four god damn years old, but the three words impacted me greatly. Pieces of me were coming together, and I hated it. I hated that I had to give her up. I hated that she was the most important thing in my life, because I couldn't keep her, no matter how much I wanted to.

"I'd do anything for you, Bella."

A smile graced her beautiful face as she hugged me around my torso. I couldn't erase my joy, which was apparent on my own face. I heard someone clear their throat, and looked up to see Alice grinning at me, a happy-meal in her hand. She handed me the small bag, and slid into the front seat, turning the key in the ignition. The car purred to life. I opened the bag, and placed it on my knee, allowing Bella access to reach for the food herself. The smell of the chicken nuggets and French fries were enough to induce vomit from Alice I, if we could.

Where are we going, Edward? Are we going to leave her with no clothing, no toys, nothing?

I nodded at her as she stared at me in the rearview mirror. She looked angry, but I brushed it off, and looked back down at the angel on my lap. She was chewing a fry loudly, while playing with a matchbox car that she had been given in the happy-meal as well. She made small zooming noises, and ran the car across my thigh, making me laugh. She giggled as she grinned up at me.

"Lasseter Hills, Alice," I hissed quietly. She sighed loudly, and nodded. Lasseter Hills was the most well-known and prestigious orphanages in Washington. Children were adopted from their program everyday. Bella would have a fighting chance there. She would be swept up in an instant. She was the most amazing little girl ever, and I was positive that she'd have a great human life with her new, human foster parents.

Still, the idea made me frown. I was openly giving away my life. In a few short minutes, after Alice turns down this street, we were going to arrive at Lasseter Hills. I was going to leave Bella. She was going to forget all about me, and for some reason, the thought of her never remembering agonized me. In a few short hours, she had effected me so incredibly, and had little hope that I might have the faintest bit on her as well.

Alice pulled the car over, stopping in front of a large brick building with colorful handprints stamped across it. She turned around to look at Bella, and watched patiently as she finished her meal. When she was done, she gripped the small car in her left hand and looked up at me. She was just now realizing that the car was stopped. She looked around, taking in her surroundings.

"Where are we? Is this your house?"

I shook my head, and gulped down my sadness. This was it. Alice threw me a sympathetic smile, and exited the car. I held Bella tightly for a moment. Reaching around my neck, I pulled out the hidden gold chain that was tucked safely under my shirt. Attached to the chain, held my mother's wedding ring. It was the closest thing to my heart that I had, and I was giving it to Bella. I discarded it from around my neck, and placed it around Bella's doubling it so it wouldn't be so long. She picked up the ring with her tiny, fragile fingers and studied it.

"Wow, it's pretty!" she gasped. I smiled, and nodded.

"Just like you," I murmured, and touched my cold fingertip to her nose. She giggled again, and another rush of red spread across her cheeks. I opened the car door, and gripping her tightly, rose to my feet. She wrapped her legs around my torso as I carried her onto the front porch. I set her down, but she was reluctant to let me go. I pried her fingers from my t-shirt, and kneeled down to her level. I could feel Alice's presence from behind me.

"We have to go now," I whispered sadly. I watched her face drop, and she began to shake her head furiously. She launched herself at me, and locked her arms around my neck. I sighed in frustration. This was making things so much harder. I detached her from my body, and let my hands cup her cheeks as I tried to still her head, which was still shaking violently.

"B-but you can't leave me too! What about the bad guys?"

"You're safe from the bad guys, Bella. I'll always be watching over you. But you have to stay with these nice people, okay?" I asked, and my dead heart crashed when I saw fresh tears slip from Bella's eyes. She nodded.

"Will you come back and see me?" I smiled, and nodded.

"Do you promise?"

"I promise," I declared, and held my pinky out. She sniffled her tears, and twisted her tiny pinky finger with my mine. I grinned, and brought our two adjoined pinkies to my mouth. I kissed them lightly, and she smiled. I let her go, and gave her a soft nudge towards Alice, who caught her with open arms.

"It's been fun meeting you, kid!" she exclaimed. She held out her hand, expecting Bella's timidness to continue, but Bella shoved the hand away and wrapped her arms around Alice's neck, surprising her. She smiled, and inhaled her scent while rubbing her back gently. I heard the thoughts in the building becoming closer, and I knew we were being rather loud. I quickly pulled Bella back to me once again. I held her against my chest, trying to find the will inside of me to let her go. I felt her small hands pushing at my chest, and I immediately lightened my grip. She leaned in, and I held my breath as her warm, soft lips brushed my left cheek.

"Love you," she whispered again, before I regained my posture. I tried my best to smile at her, to show her that this is what was right. She nodded, and stepped toward the door.

"Take care Bella," I whispered, and she stared at me one last time, before opening the door, and disappearing from my life for good.