Author's Note: Okay, second chapter in five

Author's Note: Okay, second chapter in five...four...three...two...

"You know Edward, I was just kidding when I said that I gave you permission to break the law." Bella's face was still blanched from the time that we'd gotten here in (caused by my "reckless driving" as she called it, of course). It actually had a tinge of green to it, like she was seasick-I didn't need to have gone to medical school for decades to know that wasn't too good.

Even still, I laughed. "I made it here in time, did I not?" She knew it was true, even though she would never admit that I was right about that. I had made it here in less than three minutes, seventeen minutes less than what she could have done, in her best time.

She was still glaring at me, clutching her stomach to show her queasiness, like she was accusing me of causing her stomach problems. Eevn though I did. She hissed, "Yeah, not without having me get sick to my stomach!" She paused, moaning suddenly like she was in pain. "Edward, I think I need to lie down. Now. That is, unless you want your shiny car covered in my breakfast."

I smiled, uncertain if she was joking or not, walking towards her slowly as not to startle her any more than she already was (I decided not to take the chance that she wasn't joking. Better safe than sorry-especially when my beautiful car was involved). I picked her up cautiously, bridal style, and rocked her gently back and forth. Clutching her tightly to my chest, I whispered, "I think I can make it better."

She smiled now, playing along. "Oh, really now? I don't know...you'd have to be an awfully good doctor to cure this disease."

I grinned. "Oh of course-nothing but the best for your oh-so-rare condition. And besides, have you not seen all of the diplomas I've gotten from the best schools in the world?" I exhaled on her; something I had noticed made her dizzy-"dazzled", she called it. It worked, and her warm, chocolate brown eyes clouding over, loosing focus. I tried not to smile. "I think I can cure it..." I leaned in towards her, waiting eagerly to taste her luscious, full, warm...

"HEY! ARE YOU THE BABY-SITTER?"

I jumped, almost dropping Bella.

She was surprised too, to say the least. She leaped out of my arms as fast as she could, facing the now open blue front door. She tried to straighten her tousled hair, a shocked expression flooding her face. After that wore off though, a bright red crept in as she realized who had been watching us.

A young boy stood there in the doorway, maybe four years old and dressed in a striped red and white shirt with khaki, knee-length shorts that reached just below his knobby knees. He had short, sandy brown hair that curled at the ends and bright blue eyes, wide with innocence. His expression was angelic and curious, looking at Bella with wonder.

She, of course, blushed, straightening her shirt. "Um...yes! And who might you be little man?" She smiled towards him, bending down on her knees so she was almost his height.

He grinned cutely at her, his dimples showing. "I'm not little! I'm a man!"

What a cute kid, I thought. Bella might not have as hard a time as she might have initially thought. I looked towards her, who happened tp be gazing at me with a bright smile on her face, as if she were thinking the exact same thing. Her reddened face was almost back to normal now that she realized she wouldn't be embarrassed or told on.

"Of course you are, honey. Now...where are your parents?"

He smiled. "I'll go get Mommy!" And then added, looking back at her again when he reopened the door, "Don't go anywhere lady!" He dashed off inside, off to find his mother in the large house.

It was nice enough, but decorated to be the epitome of cheesy suburban households, with sky blue curtains that opened just enough to give a glimpse of canary inspired wallpaper lining a bright living room. Inside, you could see matching yellow sofas and lime green lamp shades. On the doorstep, even, there was a straw "hand woven" mat that pictured a grinning cat with a big speech bubble reading "Welcome to my Purrfect Home!"

I chuckled at this and looked back at Bella, realizing that I'd best be going before the kid's mother could get out here. "Well, I guess I'll be going now..." I started to walk away back towards my car that waited, engine still humming softly. I'd get into the car, wave to Bella, and pick her up in a few hours. Of course, not that I wanted to get away from her, but it was inevitable. Besides, I could take it for a little while, right? I did it for ninety years. The loneliest ninety years of my life of course, but...

I decided not to think about that.

But then she did something I didn't expect. Bella ran over to me and wrapped her hands around my arm, tugging like it was a matter of life and death. "No Edward, don't go! Stay! You can help me babysit this kid! You're probably way more responsible than me! No..scratch that! You are way more responisible than me! Come on, Edward...please?" Her wide brown eyes pleaded, begging me in a way that was so extremely hard to resist.

"Bella-I don't think-"

But then the door opened again, revealing a woman. She was dressed in a t-shirt and shorts, the perfect gym uniform, complete with sneakers and leg warmers. She carried a bottle of water and smiled hugely when she saw Bella. "Oh, hello! You must be Bella-Charlie's always talking of you, I feel as if I've know you all my life! And let me tell you, his descriptions don't do you justice-you are the prettiest thing!"

Bella flushed, smiling uncomfortably; she didn't like it when other people complimented and gushed over her.

"Anyway-" She looked over at me with a surprised look, noticing that I was there for the first time. "Oh, hello there! And you are...?" After the initial shock, she realized what I...looked like. Her eyes became a bit glazed and far away, and her cheeks reddened a bit (I noted that it wasn't near as gorgeous and cute as Bella's blush was). Her thoughts were like a chant, as if she were trying to convince herself. Too young, too young, too young...God, remember Suzanne, remember Albert...Albert...

I shook my head, trying to get away before something happened to make her think I was actually staying. "No I was just-"

Bella cut me off hurriedly, making sure I didn't get to explain why I was really here (to drive her and pick her up). "He was just coming to help me. This is my...ahem...friend, Edward. He's going to help me, if that's alright with you. He's extremely responsible, and he's applying to be a doctor so he knows what to do if there's an emergency! He'd be such a help to me, so I'd greatly appreciate it if you would let him stay and help!" Bella spoke quickly, not giving me enough time to interrupt.

The woman smiled, having calmed herself down after a few more chants. She gently plucking off the little boy that clung to her legs. "Oh, of course dear! Sammy here just loves people! I'm sure he would really enjoy spending time with you two. Who knows? Maybe, by the end of the evening, you'll be his best friends!"

"No! Er, ma'am, you seem to be under a misapprehension. You see, I-"

She didn't way for me to finish, and just started walking backwards to the driveway. She called to us as she power-walked, "Thank you, so much! You will be such a great help. But I have to get to the gym now, goodbye and I'll be back around..." She glanced at her watch quickly. "Um...five-thirty!" And she sprinted the remaining distance to the car, got in, and sped off before anyone could get in another word.

I glared at Bella, who smiled innocently, as if this whole strange scene hadn't happened. She turned the to boy, who now stood grinning eagerly. He now hugged her legs, after having found that his mother wasn't here to be the one that was hugged. She smiled, though, and said to him, "Okay Sammy! What do you want to do first?"

He kept grinning. "I know what to do! Let's play with clay!"

I groaned inwardly. Clay? I hadn't played with anything like clay since...Since before I could even remember, I'm sure. Not that they had that artificial, non-river-taken clay when I was even close to Sammy's age...I sighed.

Bella nodded. "Well, Let's go in then!" And she gestured inside, waiting for Sammy to get inside the house so we could start the sure to be long hours that we would be here. But to both of our surprise, he didn't go in.

"No, no." He shook his head, then held out his hand to her. "Ladies are always first!"

Bella raised her eyebrows, incredulous. Even I was shocked at the small, polite gesture that this four-year-old showed. Most little boys these days would just chuck a handful of dirt at a girl and laugh like an idiot. She grinned. "Okay, thank you..." She took his hand, going inside. Soon, I couldn't see her behind the half-way closed door as she turned around to go into what I presumed to be the living room.

But before he went in, Sammy turned to glare at me-something that came as quite a shock after the cute, innocent gesture that he presented just a few moments ago. His voice came out in a cold hiss as he said, "Listen, I saw you, mister. You better stay away from the pretty lady or else!" And he went inside, a smug smirk on his face. I was utterly shocked, but started towards the door, following him in a daze.

This was going to be a long day.