"Don't look at me like that, Alice"

Alice continued to glare at her older brother. " How could you, you heartless cold blooded-" She stopped suddenly, as Edward shot her one of his glares. " I had no choice, Alice" He said firmly. He knew it was the right thing to do. Mary had disobeyed the rules,and now she was in their father's office, paying for it.

Alice only looked at him. " She's fifteen, Edward" she tried another way. Maybe a more softer way would entice him to see her way. Unfortunately for Alice, it had the opposite effect on Edward. He turned to her. " Fifteen, or not , Alice, she is old enough to just say no! She did not have to fall in love with Chambers, she could have walked away while she still had the chance.."

"It was young love, Edward!" Alice said almost dreamily.

"Young love? Young Love?" Edward couldn't comprehend the term. To him, love was simply a thing between a parent and a child. He had no knowledge of any other love, the love which God places in our hearts from the time we are created to the time we die. The passion each man and woman reserve solely for each other, the feeling, the emotion which , unknowingly to us, is the force that drives us all our lives.

And it was his being without this knowledge, that had carved his black temper into existance.

Alice had been lucky, in that respect. A born romantic, she had eagerly devoured the vast tolms of books in the family's library, learning about love, and to her, it seemed the most beautiful thing on earth. Edward, however, didn't seem to see it that way. Oh well.

Alice, took one look at Edward, and quickly decided against arguing further with her older brother. He had slipped into one of those moods, the ones where he would not talk to anyone, and snapped defensively at anyone who came near to him.

Vaguely, Alice, was comparing him to wall. Made of brick, or stone, as hard as a rock , and absolutely unyielding, to no one, no matter how hard you pushed against it. No matter what you did, it would be stubborn in that even after all your efforts, it would be contrary, in standing.

Sighing, Alice moved away from the wall, and skipped lightly back to the library. The voices, Edward noticed, in his father's office, had grown quiet. He knocked softly at the door. " father?" A part of him was debating whether to step inside the door, whereas another part told him to wait, what would happen next?

Suddenly, the large heavy wooden door opened, and all Edward could catch as Mary ran past him, drenched in a torrent of her own tears, was the light blue of her dress against the redness of her hair.

The echos rang through the hallway, as her footsteps grew fainter. Edward turned to look at his father.

Edward Sr 's face was twisted with anger , and pity for Mary. He sighed as he saw Edward watching him.

"It had to be done, father"

"I know" Edward Sr said, tiredly. I just wish it hadn't happened. But, cant help that now...

"What's done is done, father" Edward's velvet voice was sincere. He honestly believed this was the right action to take. " So, what's going to happen now?"

"Well.." Edward Sr straightened up. " Mary is going to leave us for a while, Edward. I have sent her back to her parents home." He closed his eyes, drained. " There is no room for a baby here. I will have to tell your mother."

Edward nodded. "Of course. And.."

His father alreadly knew what her was going to say. " I will advertise for a new maid, immediately. In the meantime..."

Edward groaned. " She better be better then the last one.. "

I want to thank the following people for reviewing:

Lucy 83 xxxlookingformyedwardxxx

Mettle Skweekie red

MhlyCullen TwilihtFan

Again, thanks, and I'll try and update soon!

~Dawn Run~