Thank you eveyrone for the reviews, as promised, here's the next update, Carlisle's POV!

"This is Carlisle; may I ask who's speaking?" I asked curiously. I'd just been about to go out for my lunch break when one of the nurses stopped me to say I had an urgent call waiting.

"Yes, hello Mr. Cullen, I'm sorry for calling you out of nowhere like this but I really have no other choice. Tell me, are you somewhere private?" came a nervous voice. My brows rose and I felt a string of suspicion at this stranger.

"Yes," I finally answered. "Now do you mind telling me who this is?" My voice was probably a bit sharper than I'd intended but this man was making me feel uneasy.

"I'm Doctor Stevens from the Chicago Care Hospital, I'm calling regarding your past foster daughter; Isabella Swan," the man rushed, his voice slightly more hushed now.

I felt my entire body freeze up at that name. Little Bella, I still remembered her fondly. Esme kept all of her albums in the study. We had to hide them after Edward went on a rampage. I wasn't sure what had started it, but suddenly he hated even the mention of her name. We had adopted him shortly after Bella herself had been adopted.

We hadn't expected to get so attached to the young children, but when Bella was ripped from us by that man, we knew we couldn't lose Edward too. He was just about sixteen this year and as volatile as ever. He still refused to mention growing up with Bella and would leave for days sometimes if something reminded him of her. I couldn't for the life of me figure out what had turned their relationship so sour. They'd been inseparable as kids.

"Hello?" the man on the other end inquired, breaking into my memories abruptly.

"Oh yes, yes, I'm still here, sorry about that," I rushed, shaking my head. "Um, is there a particular reason you're calling me about her and not her legal guardian. She was adopted away from us quite a long time ago," I sighed. My heart ached just thinking about that horrible day. Esme had been in tears the whole day.

"About that," Stevens hedged slowly. "I have reason to believe- no, actually I'm absolutely certain Bella is being both sexually and physically abused at her current residence in the care of her guardian. In fact-" the man went on speaking but all I could hear was a dull buzzing growing louder and louder in my ears.

Abused?

Sexually?

Physically?

This man couldn't be serious. Bella was as fragile as a newborn bird. Who could hurt such a delicate little thing? It would take a monster to hurt her.

"Mr. Cullen?" the voice asked again. "I'm sorry, I'm sure this is too much for you, perhaps I shouldn't have-"

"No!" I shouted into the phone and then looked around, startled by my outburst, looking around to see if anyone outside had heard me. "I'm sorry, I meant no, it's quite all right, I'm glad you called me," I breathed sinking into my chair slowly, suddenly feeling the entire weight of the world pressing on my shoulders.

My little Isabella was being abused at her guardians? But, the letters I thought to myself, rubbing my eyes. I still remembered the proud letters Bella would write to Edward, boating about the big house and her many toys. How could this have happened. Surely there was some sort of mistake.

"Why-" I stopped, pausing to gather myself. "But why are you calling me? Why not the authorities?" I asked. Yes, that was right, if this was really an emergency surely any decent medical practitioner would have called in the authorities. This had to be some sort of bad dream.

"Because," he whispered, even quieter now, "her adoptive father is Aro Volturi, surely you've heard of him."

Heard of him? Who hadn't? He was one of the world's wealthiest men with traceable lineage back to powerful Italian nobles and was an international business tycoon with a hand in nearly every honey pot.

"I'm already risking quite a bit by calling you," he went on. "I did some investigating back into Bella's personal medical records and I can't even begin to describe everything that's happened to her. And I noticed one particular doctor that was in charge of her case was brutally murdered in a mugging after filing causes for an investigation into her home life," he said skeptically, obviously not believing it was just a regular mugging gone wrong.

"After that, her records jump around from one doctor to another as if to prevent anyone else from digging any further. In fact, just today Mr. Volturi's secretary called to request a new doctor after Bella's next two week check up," he sighed. "I'm afraid there's not much I can do, but I thought maybe if I told you there was something you could do," he said carefully, as if not daring to hope.

"What's the two week check up for?" I asked coldly, afraid to express any emotion to this stranger on the phone.

"It's routine to check for any signs of infections or abnormalities in the body after," he paused and I heard him swallow. "After an abortion."

Abortion?

No. He had to be wrong because this couldn't be right. My Bella could not have had an abortion. She wasn't even sixteen! What was this about an abortion? She loved playing with her baby dolls. No way would she have consented to an abortion.

"I'm afraid to say this is her fourth one this year," he went on sadly.

Her- Her fourth one THIS year? What was happening to the world!? We weren't even halfway through the year and it was her fourth time!? No, no no no, I refused to believe this.

"There has to be some sort of mistake," I gasped, rubbing my face. "She- She can't have had an abortion, let alone a fourth," I shook my head in denial. "She's not- She's not even sixteen yet." I wanted to curl up somewhere and cry for this child that was now a stranger to me. Some empty chasm yawned open in my heart and I fought to keep my tone even.

"This has been an increasing epidemic I'm sorry to say Mr. Cullen, I've only been her physician for the past year and I can tell you it's only getting worse. I'm afraid if she's pushed any further her body just might break. She's already balancing on a very precarious precipice of total destruction. With the number of invasion operations and constant physical abuse, I'm almost positive she will die."

Die? No, not her. Not Bella. Beautiful, tiny, fragile, clumsy, wonderful Bella could not die. I wanted to hang up on this atrocious man for even suggesting such a macabre thing. I was dreaming, no, having a nightmare. This wasn't happening. It couldn't be. I was going to hang up on this horrible man and forget all about this conversation. Then, I would wake up and shake it off. He had to be lying.

Please be lying.

Why did this man call me? What did he expect me to do? Did he just want to off his burden on to me instead so he'd feel less guilty maybe that he couldn't do anything? But what could I do? I was on the other side of the country!

He shouldn't have called.

But no, that was wrong. It was good he called. I needed to know. There had to be something I could do. While my wealth was not as spread out as the Volturi's, I certainly carried enough influence myself. A majority of my inherited fortune was gathering dust in the bank for the kids my wife and I had adopted over the years. We wanted to give them everything. But maybe, I could use this money to save my first daughter?

I had to try.

"What time exactly is her next appointment?" I asked sickly, trying to steel myself for what I was thinking about- no, what I was preparing to do.

Papers rustled and I heard a computer go one before he spoke to me again, relaying the date and time, emphasizing how punctual Mr. Volturi was with their appointments.

A sick sort of dread dawned on me as I checked the calendar. I would miss it. Esme was going to hate me because I couldn't tell her where I was going and what I was planning to do. I was going to miss our anniversary for the first time ever and I could not give her a reason.

I hung up before this evil man could pass on any more news to me that might upset the balance of my life. Already everything I knew seemed to be changing around me. I sat there quietly for a few minutes, enjoying the solitude of my suddenly cramped office. Depression seemed to fill every crevice with a thick, cloying fog that weighed everything down.

I forced myself to stand up against the grasping hands attempting to suck me back and gathered my things. Each item requiring twice the amount of strength they usually would. Had I always been so heavy? Since when had my jacket weighed so much?

I stalked past startled and frantic nurses and orderlies as they squawked around me, wanting to know what was wrong. I had changed so much in the span of a few minutes. A single phone conversation and my world crumbling beneath my feet.

I fumbled in the car and eventually got it started, heading home on automatic, my motions robotic. I was certain if I wasn't so used to this little routine I would have gotten lost of crashed somewhere, so preoccupied was I.

When I arrived home, I noticed all of the cars were parked in the driveway. Everyone was here on the one day I wish their social lives would keep them out. I sat in my car for some time, just staring at the brightly lit house.

Inside I could almost hear Emmett and Jasper playing video games and wrestling around. Edward would be angsting over the piano, trying to finish a single composition that had eluded for years before giving up and storming upstairs to read or listen to music. Rosalie and Alice would be upstairs poring over fashion magazines and discussing the latest trends and gossip. Esme, my beloved Esme, would be attempting to keep some semblance of order while she prepared dinner.

I sat there until the porch light went on the confused face of my wife appeared, haloed in a golden light; a makeshift angel. She was followed by a curious Emmett, Jasper, Rose, a tiny Alice wedge under them all, and Edward at the window.

I turned off the car and left my too heavy burdens in the car. Slowly I dragged myself up the way to meet my puzzle piece family. Every child adopted, a haphazard family of misfits who'd grown to love each other, some more than others as they became romantically involved.

I wondered where Bella would fit in this puzzle. Sometimes late at night I thought we were overcompensating for her loss by adopting all these others. I would never share these thoughts with anyone, because I did love them all. But still, I couldn't help but think if Bella had remained, and we kept Edward, that Esme and I would have been satisfied with that. Just two amazing little children.

Instead, we continued to adopt. Even though neither of us had even touched thirty at the time, we had taken in five children. By now, they were all almost completely grown. Edward was our first, but still the youngest.

I was so lost in my reminiscence about Bella I neglected to hear my family as they fluttered around me, parroting each other's questions. Everyone was so concerned. Even brooding Edward and selfish Rosalie, all of them wanted to know what had happened. Had I lost a patient? Was I dying? But I couldn't hear anything; I just focused on my darling wife's face.

Finally I drew in enough breath to speak and everyone was quiet, waiting to hear what I had to say, expecting answers and receiving none as the only the words that left my lips were: "Love, we need to talk."

The entire house descended into the heavy silence of a funeral. Something was seriously wrong, but they could only guess. This was not for them to know, and even to Esme I could only describe the barest of details and hoped she trusted me.

"Kids, leave us alone for a while," I sighed.

Arguments ensued but I could only bear so much at once. The pressure of Bella's situation bore down on my heart until I thought it might snap and fall to my feet. All of their voices ringing in my head made me almost feel sick. I felt tired, but high strung at once. Their harping snapped at my nerves.

"It wasn't a suggestion!" I bellowed and everyone quieted, stunned by the force of my voice. I had never once raised my voice to them in all of these years. In a way, I was almost surprised myself, but already so much different that I didn't let it affect me.

Slowly the kids trickled out of the house, the last to leave was Edward there, standing there and glaring as if he had as much a right to know as my wife. We had had him the longest but I knew the chances of my slipping up on what I was setting out to do were worse if he was in the room. He and Bella had been so close. I couldn't face him as he slowly walked outside, shutting the door firmly behind him, a sign of his anger surer than nay slam could have done.

"Carlisle, what's going on?" Esme asked, shaking like a determined autumn leaf on a tree. Her eyes were wide and afraid. I cupped her sweet face in one hand and she leaned into the touch, her eyes fluttering shut in comfort of this gesture.

I drew her closer to me and held her in a tight embrace. When I breathed in I could taste fresh soil and flowers from her carefully tended garden. I stood there for a short while, just breathing her in. This at least had not changed.

"Dear, what's wrong?" she finally asked and all of my problem came back to me. Still I clung on to her, relishing in the warmth of her small body, the scent of fresh rain hanging over her, dripping with the lush flowers that flourished in such an environment. Here, with her in my arms, I was home. I wished nothing would interrupt us, but the world would not allow such idle peace.

"I'm so sorry my love, but I can't explain more than this," I finally sighed, answering. Her body went rigid in my arms and she braced delicate hands on my arms as she pushed away, looking at me confusedly. Her eyes were narrow and determined.

"Carlisle, what's going on?" she asked. "What are you talking about?"

"In two weeks time I have to leave, it's an urgent matter," I said. "I'll be gone a few days at the very least, but when I do, I want you to take the kids to Isle Esme for a while and then maybe to one of the vacation homes somewhere else. Visit the Denali's in Alaska is you want," I suggested.

"Carlisle, what, what are you saying? You're leaving for some urgent business and you want me to just uproot our family when you go without any sort of explanation?" she demanded.

I knew she'd argue. But there was no choice in the matter. I thought maybe I could keep her and the kids safe if they disappeared too for a while. Once Bella went missing one of the first places Aro was sure to look was at my family.

"In a way," I answered, grasping at straws to find another way to phrase it and coming up empty handed, "yes."

"If it's so urgent why can't you leave now? Why does it have to be in two weeks?" she asked, holding tightly to my hands, her eyes pleading. "And why do we have to leave too? Carlisle, I'm your wife, please just tell me," she begged.

"I can't love, I can't. Telling you would only break your heart and put you in more danger," I shook my head, refusing to give in to her heartbroken expression. I could only imagine the damage it would do to tell her about Bella. It was better she didn't know.

"Break my- Carlisle, answer me true, is it a woman? Is that what's so urgent, is there some girl I should know about?" she demanded. Her voice was strong but I could feel her pulse drumming like a hummingbird as she dug her nails into my palm.

"There is a girl, but, it's not what you think," I tried to explain. "She's in danger, I have to help her," I clutched at my retreating wife. "Please believe me when I say I'm the only one left who can help her. I can't involve you all as well, please Esme, love," I said softly.

Her back was to me and her head was bowed. Even if I'd been blind I knew in my heart she was crying. But if I told her, and the Volturi came down on my family, I dared not even fathom the thought. Plus, if she knew of Bella's condition she'd both be more heartbroken and want to come help. That I could not allow.

I was about to give up and go upstairs when she spoke, just a fine tremor, a quiet foreboding before the storm.

"Go then Carlisle, go to this urgent girl you must take care of in two weeks' time," she nearly hissed. I almost thanked her when she carried on, "but know this, if you really do leave, I will move this family, but it will not be to a place you know. I will move us all and you will never see us nor hear from us again do you understand me?"

I could feel my heart breaking into tiny pieces and my eyes burned as I stared at her cold back. "Love I-"

"Do you understand?" she repeated shrilly. "If you leave, you will be leaving this family."

I rubbed at my face, trying my best to hold back the storm of emotions welling up in my chest. I wanted so badly to tell her, but there was no other way. When I thought it was safe, and Bella was okay, I would get a hold of her somehow and explain everything. There was no other way. Bella was apart of our family as well, I couldn't leave her knowing what I did and I knew Esme would forgive me when I explained it all. But for now, she would hate me.

I hung my head in shame, in remorse, in guilt.

One last word hung between us, testing the bond of our marriage, of our love.

"Yes."

My god man I was crying while I wrote this towards the end. It's definitely my longest one so far I think because of all of the emotional tension. Next I'll be skipping up two weeks to the check-up, might be up tonight or tomorrow, I'm picking between Carlisle's POV or a split of Bella then him. . .review!!!! It makes me happy and I write faster ;3