(A/N: Thank yall for waiting! yes the story is sad right now... I know, but it has to be. dont worry. it wont last to much longer... then we get into the real good stuff. Stay with us. its gonna get alot better. -SouthernGals)

{3 years later: Lala POV}

I looked out the window and saw my paw outside, chopping fire wood. It was early November, and soon, we would be harvesting the crops and selling them to the local marketers. And with the winter coming on, paw has been working mighty harder then he usually would. I guess with the approaching winter, it always made things harder. But the look on his face always brought me to a state of wondering. He looked so terrified. He looked determined, and he looked sad. He has always had a bit of a sad demeanor for as long as i can remember. Im sure it has something to do with my mama, since the passed away to heaven to be with God, 7 years ago.

I know paw loves me dearly, and would never blame me, but sometimes i cant help but to blame myself a little. What if i hadnt been born, mama would be here, or what if i hadnt tried to come out and 'land with both feet on the ground' as paw said. Many of times i saw him look at me and have to fight the tears back, and smile. I know why. I look alot like mama. my hair, my eyes, my nose...

"Lala, are you going into a daze lil' Darlin? Your about to pound that dough into nothin' here in a minute." My paw said, snapping me out of my thoughts. He walked around the kitchen and got him a glass of water from the water pump.

"Whats for supper?" he asked turning toward the stove and looking into every pot on it.

"Get out of that!" I smacked his hand away when he dipped his finger into the bowl of icing on the counter beside the cooling cake i had made.

"Were having Pot roast with potatoes and carrots, with a side of snapp peas, a bit of bread and a cake for dessert... If you ever stop putting you finger in the icing!" I half yelled at him and swatted his hand away from the bowl again.

"Ok ok. Im gonna go finish up some chores. call me if you need someting Lala. If you are needing help with the cookin', settin' the table, or..." I cut him off with a huff.

"Paaaaaw! I'm a big girl now. I can take care of it all by myself." I said smiling big at him, then returning to finishing supper.

{JPOV}

I watched as my little Lala scurried around the kitchen, barely reaching the counter, but reaching it none the less, as she cooked up a storm. I felt a sense of bitter sweet disappointment in the fact that she was so independent and no longer needed my help to manage a kitchen. Soon she wouldn't need my help for anything anymore. But when they day came, I would be a proud paw and would give her praise for a job well done.

I walked back outside and finished my chores.

A few days later, I woke up and I was feeling very poorly. My head felt like I had drowned myself in a bottle of whiskey and then busted the bottle over my head for good measure.

As I stood to get ready for the day, I could hardly walk straight; I stumbled all over the place, my legs weak and my vision blurred. Fortunately, I managed to make it the wash basin in my room to wash my face. My vision came back after a few time of rubbing my eyes with the cool water. The chills on my body calmed down after i pulled my clothes on. I made my way down the stairs to see Lala was already up and cooking breakfast. I didnt understand why i was feeling so weak, but hopefully after a good breakfast i would regain my strength.

"Good morning lil' Darlin'." I told my baby girl when i saw her.

"Good morning paw. There is some coffee on the stove, and im just about done with breakfast. Go ahead and sit at the table, ill bring your breakfast." I nodded at her and kissed the top of her head.

"Yes ma'am." I chuckled when she ordered me to sit and relax.

After breakfast, i began my chores, and watched as Lala made her way off to school. I barely got through the long day of work without passing out. the heat beating down on my back was almost to much.

Later that night as i tucked Lala into bed and told her about her mama like i did every night, i tried to fight back the obvious, i was tired. I didnt want Lala to worry. But the look on her face told me tht she had already figured out that i was under the weather.

"Goodnight lil' Darlin'." I kissed her forehead, and walked out of the room. I stumbled and swayed the whole way to my own room. My head was still hurting, and i felt more dizzy now then i had this morning. when my head hit the pillow on my bed, visions of Anabelle dance behind my eyes, and i fell into a deep sleep.

{Lala POV}

I woke up with a start before the sun was even up. checking the clock on my night stand, i saw that it was just a little after 5 in the morning. Making my way down the stairs, i began to cook up breakfast, losing myself in what i was doing. I hadnt even noticed that it was half past 6 and paw was still not awake yet.

I ran up the stairs to his room and knocked on the door. I waited at the door for a few seconds, but i didnt hear anything. I knocked again, when i heard paw groaning behind the closed door, i peeked it open.

Paw was paying in his bed, trying to pull himself into a sitting position, but failed when his arms gave out under his weight. sending him crashing back down to the bed. I ran into the room to his side.

"paw? Paw, do you need me to call for the doctor?" I asked as i felt his head. I didnt know much about telling when someone was sick, but i knew he was burning up when his forhead was clammy and hot. really hot.

"No, I just have to stay in bed today. Ill be alright Lala." he gave me a small smile, then i saw his eyes close, as he surrendered to sleep again.

4 days later, i was still staying home from school, trying to nurse him back to health as much as i could. Cold rags to battle the heat coming from his head, small sips of water and bowls of warm broth. But nothing i was doing was making any difference. I noticed the black scab looking things popping up all over his neck and arms at day 2 of my nursing mission. I had no clue to what they were, so i made some salve from the ingedients i had picked from the land. Grandma had taught me how to make it. even the salve wasnt doing anything for the spots all over him. I was worried, and scared that he would never get better.

On the 5th day, He was beginning to get worse. More spots and the fever was higher then ever. I didnt even think it could get any worse.

I made my way up the stairs with a tray of soup. I opened his door, making my way over to his side, placing the tray on the night stand.

"Paw, c'mon. I got some good soup here for ya." I said as i shook him lightly. He didnt wake up.

"Paw, c'mon. wake up. you cant be laying down while im feeding you, you'll choke... Paw?" I shook him again. still nothing but his feint breathing. "PAW! Wake up! Wake up!" I yelled at him, and felt the tears swell in my eyes.

I placed my hand behind his neck and pulled him up a little unsteady. I shook him again, trying to get him to look at me.

"Paw, open your eyes... please!" I cried. But nothing was working. grabbing the rag that fell onto his chest from his head, i hurridly dipped it in the cold water in the wash basin and placed it back on his head before running from the room into the kitchen, where the phone was at.

'Im sorry paw, I have to call the doctor. I dont know what else to do...'

Standing on my tip toes, i grabbed hold of the ear piece and held it to my ears as i harshly pushed the call lever.

"Houst..." A woman answered.

"Help! I need the doctor please... My paw wont wake up and i dont know what to do!" I practicaly screamed at the woman on the line.

"Lala? is that you sweetheart?" The woman asked.

"Yes, Help me. Get me the doctor, send him over here fast! Im scarred..." I yelled at her again. I heard shuffling, then she came back on. Lala, The doctor is on his way over right now. I just told him." I sighed in relief, but didnt want to spend to much time on the phone with her so i hung up.

I ran back up to my paws room and found him tossing and turning wildly in the bed. his breathing was coming out in short breaths.

"Lala... Lala!" he was screaming my name out.

"Im right here Paw... look at me, im right here!" i touched his face and saw him shiver at my hands touch. to him, im sure my hand felt cold as ice.

"La...la... Run..." he wasnt making any sense. run? I wasnt in any danger...

"Paw... I'm ok, im right here..." he became really still. and his chest stopped moving. 'no!'

"Paw! NO! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! PAAAAAAAW!" I screamed pushing on his chest to get him to look at me.

I hadnt even realized the doctor had gotten there untill I felt cool hands pull me off of my paw. I looked behind me and saw Mrs. Cullen, holding me closely to comfort me.

Dr. Cullen, began to push on my paw's chest in almost the same fashion i had been, and breathing big gulps of air into his lungs.

"Pa...aw!" I stuttered through my harsh tears. Then as if he was answering my call, his head began to turn toward me.

"Lala..." he said, and his eyes opened to see me standing there.

I rushed to his side and grabbed his hot hand in my cool one.

"Paw... I was so scared... " I started as i cried into the back of his hand.

"Lala... you must... go call you grand...ma. I love you... lil'... Darlin'." he said to me, and i watched as his eyes closed again, only this time, he was sleeping.

Dr. Cullen looked at his wife. "Go get her someting to drink in the kitchen. call her grandmother and tell her to come pick her up. She doesnt need to be here for this." He said, and i felt a sense of unease at his words. I didnt know what he was talking about or what he was planning on doing to my paw... but i complied to his orders.

Mrs. Cullen handed me a cup of milk after she got off the phone with grandma.

"Its going to be ok Lala. Dr. Cullen is an excellent doctor, and your paw is going to be fine..." I cut her off.

"Do you promise?" I asked her quickly. I saw her face relax a bit and become soft.

"I promise you sweetheart... your paw is going to be ok." she said as she hugged me close to her hard body.

"Lala! Come to me!" I heard my grandma yell to me from the wagon outside.

"Goodbye sweetheart. Dont you worry. He is going to be ok." she said as she kissed my head. I ran off to my grandmother, and we rode to her house.

{Carlisle POV}

His sickness was bad. I wasnt completly sure what it was, but i had a good idea. Typhus. All his symptoms point to it and the black holes in his skin indicates scrub typhus. Esme walked in the room just as i was replacing the rag to his head.

"What is it Carlisle?" she asked as she grabbed his hand to comfort him.

"Im not sure, but i think he has scrubs Typhus..." I looked down at this man on the bed. never in the whole time i have knew him, did i ever see him so frail as he was at that moment.

"Hes already so sick... i dont think quienine is going to help him..." I said.

"your going to change him?" she asked looking up at me.

"I dont think i have a choice Esme. He wont make it though the night if i dont. his heart is already trying to go into cardiac arrest... I cant just let him die. He has a daughter to take care of..."

"But carlisle, if you change him, how do you know for certain he wont be a danger to her? he wont be able to control his bloodlust as soon as he wakes up." she said to me. I knew she was right, but i knew that in time, he would. That gave me enough reassurance in the matter. I was there when his wife was tragically taken from him. I didnt was to see the kind of man he would become, if his daughter was taken from him as well. this man, at the age of only 17 had taken on the role of father by himself. he had lost everything. his wife, and now he was about to lose his life. I would not allow him to lose his little girl to. no, i would make sure that she is with him.

"Esme, i need you to make a trip out to Mrs. Whitlocks. tell them that jasper is really sick and they all need to stay away from him until further notice. Lala included." I told her. I saw her nod at me and walked outside.

I looked down at Jasper as he labored to breath. felling a bit of guilt for wht i was about to do, i replaced the cold rag on his forehead.

"Im so sorry, but i have no other choice if i am to save your life." I told him, then bent down quickly, sinking my teeth into the side of his neck. It didnt take long, before the fire took hold of his body, and hes screams echoed off the wooden walls of his house.

{Lala POV}

Its been 3 months since i last saw my paw. I missed him terribly, but wouldnt dare go home to see him. Mrs. Cullen said it was very important for everyone to stay away so he didnt get any outside contamination from us coming. I had no desire to see him get worse on account of me missing him and running home. Although, i really hoped that he would be better by the time my birthday came around. Every years, we celebrate together and he has never missed one yet. But i knew there was a chance that paw would not be able to celebrate like we usually do.

Ill be turning 8. My paw always told me he was gonna cut me off at the knees so i could stay his little girl forever. But i grow everyday. In these past 3 months, my hair has gotten longer, past my behind now, and im a few inches taller. Im doing well at school as well. I know that paw would be proud of me.

I heard a wagon approaching up the road. when i saw who was coming my direction, my heart began to pick up speed. what had happened for Mrs. Cullen to come out here?

"Grandma! Mrs. Cullen is here!" I yelled into the house from the portch.

Grandma came running outside, wiping her hands on a towl.

"Mrs. Cullen, What can we do you for today? Is everything ok with my boy?" she asked. Mrs. Cullen smiled brightly.

"oh, no its perfectly fine. Mr. Whitlock is doing alot better. He wants Lala to come home." she said as she smiled down at me. "I told you Lala, your paw would be just fine." She smiled at me again. The terrible ache in my heart, turned to one of relief, and i smiled brightly.

"Of course, just let me..." Mrs. Cullen cut her off before she could finish.

"Mrs. Whitlock, although jasper is doing so much better, we still do not want to risk to many others to get him ill again. please forgive me, but we can only allow Lala at this time." She said, and i could see the dissapointment in grandmas eyes, but she nodded anyways.

"Yes, of course. Lala, go get your things sweetheart." Grandma told me. I felt bad that grandma could not come see paw with me, but not enough to dawdle. I raced up to my room, slinging my clothes into my bag and was back down, loading up into the wagon with mrs. Cullen before i even had time to think.

"Are you ready to go Lala?" Mrs. Cullen asked me. I nodded, afraid that if i opened my mouth, i might forget my manners toward adults and start demanding we leave at once.

The ride back home, was going to slow, and i was getting anxious to get home. 'paw' I thought as i finally saw the house coming into view.

We pulled into up to the portch and i hurried down from the wagon. Racing around the back of the wagon, i froze in my steps. There standing on the portch, looking healthy and normal, was my paw... i felt the tears pricking at my eyes as i saw him bend down and open his arms to me. "Lala..." He didnt even get to finish because i ran straight into his arms, and clung to him, crying and thanking the lord that my paw was alive.

"Lala, its alright lil' Darlin. Im ok now..." I cried harder.

"Paw! I was so scared! i thought i would never see you again! I tried to help you but i couldnt. you just kept getting worse everyday and you refused to let me call for the doctor. I was so scared! Im so happy to see you are alive!" I cried into his shoulder as i clung to his neck. His skin was ice cold. It didnt make sense to me, but my paw was alive... and i was happy he was so.

(A/N: Thank you all for reading! We are looking for anyone who wants to be our beta reader. we are working hard on both stories and dont have time to sit and edit it like we want to. So please contact us if u are interested. So once again, Dont forget to review! we are looking forward to finding out what yall think about this chapter. REVIEW! And if you liked this story, check out our other work. 'under Fire' Thank yall! yall are AWESOME! -SouthernGals)