DC: I don't own it

Thanks to my reviewers

So Carlisle is my favorite character in the series tied with Emmett (probably because the guy I was dating at the time was just like him). My background is a screencap from New Moon where Bella just cut her arm and Carlisle is kneeling beside her all concerned (fitting!) and I keep getting distracted by it! He's doing that sexy doctor thing he does where he looks intensely off into the distance. My only question is why the hell is he so freaking well dressed!!! Dude cut some slack you're at home!

Also I know I said I would show backstory for Edward but he only wanted to let out a tiny bit. Instead Alice really came out so...well you'll see. I'm writing this note as I'm about finishing and Edward just doesn't want to give me anything! He's so darn stubborn!

Chapter 4,

When Edward came in with breakfast Bella didn't move. He put the tray down and went to her.

"Bella," he said giving her shoulders a shake, "Bella wake up."

She was so pale and so cold. Surely he hadn't changed her yet? Edward couldn't smell any venom in her. He did see a cut on her neck again.

"Fuck," he whispered. He lifted her up and carried her out. "Alice!"

In the library

Edward ran down and she looked alarmed. "Edward what in the world?"

"I think he took too much blood from her, she's so cold and pale. She's still breathing."

"Let's go," Alice said. She put on her cloak and took Bella while Edward put on his. They didn't live in the luxury of having as many cloudy days. They took her down the street to the clinic.

"Name and information please," the receptionist said as she handed Alice a clipboard. Edward set her on a gurney and went with the doctors as they rolled her to a room.

"Will she be okay?" Edward asked.

"We're giving her a transfusion," the doctor said. Edward watched as she was hooked up to a bag of blood and it began to flow into her body. He heard Alice in the waiting room calling Aro to tell him.

"What is it Alice?" Aro asked as he answered.

"Edward and I took Bella to the hospital," Alice said, "you took too much blood."

"You must get her back," Aro said sharply, "if any member of her family is there then they'll know she's with us."

"Yes sir."

Alice snapped the phone closed but ignored the order. She wasn't going to let the human girl die. Besides nobody familiar was here to find her.

In the other room Edward was sitting with Bella. He pet her dark hair softly with one hand and held hers with the other.

"Mama, please get better."

"Edward, love, can you smile for mama?"

Edward smiled and dabbed his mother's forehead with a damp towel. She was sweating more.

"My sweet special angel," she whispered, "you've always been so good to me."

Edward tried not to get teary again. He could hear his mother's thoughts about how much she was going to miss her son and how she wished him a long and happy life.

Bella opened her eyes and saw a white ceiling. There was a cold hand gently stroking her head. She heard machines and doctors talking. She was in the hospital? For what? Did she crash her car on the road or something? Was everything just a bad dream? With that hopeful thought she looked over and was let down. She had expected to see her father. Instead she saw Edward.

"Why am I here?" she asked.

Edward looked down at her. He seemed to have been daydreaming. "Blood loss. You got a transfusion and you were checked for internal bleeding."

"And?"

"None. The story is that Alice and I are your brother and sister. You went biking last weekend and had an accident that explains the bruising in your nether region and the cuts on your arms."

Bella nodded. She was very familiar with public stories. After all the people of Forks Washington knew her as Dr. Cullen's adopted daughter along with Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett. Sure it was just a little more true for her. She closed her eyes. Thinking about her family was painful.

"Do you hurt somewhere?" Edward asked, seeing her expression.

"I miss them. When I woke up I thought maybe it had all been a dream. You're being so gentle I thought you were my dad."

"Not your fiance?" Edward asked.

"His hands are much larger. You saw him, he's a human tank."

"Yes he is. I'd hate to be in a fight with him."

Bella smiled slightly at the thought. "Well, you probably will be if you're anywhere I am when he finds me. Why didn't you let me die anyway?"

"What do you mean anyway?" Edward asked.

"You hate me. Remember?"

Edward shrugged. "Well, because I don't hate you. I don't anything you. You're just some human. But I didn't want you to die because I like living."

"Aro would kill you?" Bella asked, amazed.

"Probably not. Alice and I are too valuable to him."

"Well you are his children."

Edward didn't say anything. He summoned the nurse by pushing the call button so that he could get an update on Bella's condition.

"So you thought I was your father," Edward said, "why?"

"You two have about the same hand size. His are maybe a bit bigger. But whenever I was sick he would sit with me and do that."

"I see."

The doctor came in and Edward asked him how she was. Bella didn't know Italian so she had no idea what was being said. Edward gave her cues with his expressions though so she smiled when he did. When the doctor left Edward relayed his message.

"He said your vitals are stable and the blood has taken. We're leaving."

Bella got out of bed and he helped her dress. He held her hand and led her out. They met up with Alice who looked relieved.

"He's pissed," she said as they left the hospital. "He doesn't want her out of the tower."

"Well did you tell him that if he would just control himself we wouldn't have had to take her?" Edward asked.

"No you idiot!"

They then began to bicker in Italian and Bella sighed. They took her back to the massive castle fortress. Bella had to admire it's beauty even if she hated being there.

"I'm going to go tell the cook to make you something easy to eat," Alice said, touching Bella's back.

"Why don't you take her with you," Edward suggested. "He only said to keep her in the fortress."

"Sure," Alice said. "Come on Bella."

Edward let go of Bella's hand and let her go with his sister. His phone rang just then and he saw it was Aro.

"Perfect," he sighed. "Hello?"

"I don't want to be him right now," Alice said as they walked down a long hallway.

"Why?"

"Aro's pissed that we took you out," she answered. "He doesn't want to take a chance that you're seen."

Bella just sighed. They were walking at a gentle pace and she was able to look around. There were massive paintings depicting wars and triumphs. Bella stopped at one when she recognized Carlisle's face. He was sitting with the three brothers. Edward was sitting with them.

"That's Edward's first portrait," Alice said with a smile.

Bella looked up at his face. It was so different. Physically he looked the same, casual reddish brown hair and a slight frame under a thick black cloak. His eyes were different.

"He looks younger."

"He was a newborn there," Alice said, "that was just before your dad left us. I actually miss him sometimes. He was a great conversationalist."

"Still is."

Alice reached over and wiped Bella's tear away. "You do cry a lot."

"I miss his face," Bella mumbled, "if I could see any of them just once it would be my dad."

"Not your fiance?"

"He's a close second," Bella admitted, "I miss Emmett so much I feel like my heart is being ripped out. But I have a stronger relationship with my dad."

"What kind?" Alice asked, pulling Bella back into a walk.

"He didn't have to take me in," Bella said quietly, "nobody else wanted me. I came with a large medical bill."

"For what?"

"My legs," Bella said, "I had severe burns from the fire that killed my parents. I needed physical therapy because my feet didn't work right anymore. I remember asking dad if he was an angel."

Alice smiled softly and they turned into the kitchen. There was a large stock pot on the stove that Alice checked on.

"How long have you been here?" Bella asked. Alice thought for a moment.

"About seven hundred years or so," she answered finally, "I lose track from time to time. Why do you look so surprised?"

"I just wasn't expecting you to be so old."

Alice laughed and ladled some stew into a bowl. She gave it to Bella and sat with her.

"I'm not really that old physically," Alice said with a smile, "I'm nineteen. I was born in Russia in 1345 to a Frenchman and his wife who were on vacation. My mother died when I was a baby from the black plague and I had been very sick as a child."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Bella said. Alice just shrugged.

"I don't remember her at all. I barely remember my father. I just remember that he tried to kill me because I had premonitions. Then Aro came along. He learned of my powers and adopted me."

Bella could only eat her stew in silence. She didn't know much about Stefan or his brother, just that they didn't like Carlisle very much.

"So just like that you let him take you?"

Alice didn't answer. She seemed like she didn't have one. Bella looked at the stew and Alice watched her. She really liked having the human girl around even if she couldn't spend a lot of time with her. She brought up memories that Alice had long forgotten. Memories from her life. Running from her father after no priest could cleanse her of the demon she said she had. He felt it was his duty to god to destroy the demon.

She screamed as she fell. She looked down and saw her leg was almost completely severed. She struggled to breathe against the corset.

"PLEASE DON'T!" she screamed holding her hand up. "FATHER IT'S ME! I'M YOUR DAUGHTER!"

"When I kill you the demon will be destroyed and I will have my sweet daughter back!"

He swung the sword over his head and brought it heavily down. Alice shielded her face with her arms and expected the pain to come. Instead she heard it hit something heavy. Her father screamed as another man was sucking on his neck. When he was done he threw the body down and turned to Alice.

He had long dark hair and ruby red eyes set in pearly white skin. Alice pushed herself away from him. Her father's blood stained his chin. "You're much too good for this life. You're not like them. You've a powerful gift and I can give you a powerful strength."

Faster than she could see he grabbed her hand.

"I see your pain. You've been used by men and labeled a demon. I can save you sweet one."

Alice couldn't look away. His eyes, so deep and strong, held her attention. He smelled of cinnamon and blood. A strange combination.

"Do you want to live?"

"Yes. I want to live. I want to be strong enough to defend myself."

He grinned before biting her hard on the neck. Alice screamed and he squeezed her shoulders to keep her still. She gripped his to get through the pain. She was barely aware of his weight between her thighs and a lesser pain. He pulled back and she saw her own blood on his lips and his teeth when he smiled. She still gripped his shoulders tight and felt something change. For the first time in her life she wasn't under her father's control. Before she could relish the feeling of her new freedom or begin to feel pleasure from his movements between her legs the burning pain began.

"You'll suffer sweet girl," he promised, "but when the suffering is done, you'll awaken a vampire. You'll awake my child."

"Aro is my maker. My vampire father. His venom gave me new life when I would have been killed. If you ask any vampire they have a strong bond with their maker. Whether or not they like it."

"So do you stay loyal to him because you want to or you have to?"

"Now because I want to," Alice answered. "I know it is possible to become disloyal to ones maker. I know it isn't easy."

"Do you know anyone who has?"

"Yes," Alice answered, "the vampire that was to be my husband. After a span of several years he grew unhappy with Aro and hated him more and more. Finally he tried to kill him. He didn't live much longer after that."

"You don't seem upset at all."

"Mario wasn't my soul mate," Alice shrugged, "I loved him casually. I can't seem to hold down a husband."

"How many have you had?!" Bella cried. Alice grinned and poured her some more juice.

"Only two. Edward was given to me to be my husband."

Bella wrinkled her nose. "You're siblings!"

Alice laughed. "Not technically! We share the same maker, yes, but we aren't related. We had fun together but in the end I know he's not the one I'm meant to be with."

"Does Aro have any more children?" Bella asked.

"No. He doesn't like changing humans unless he deems them worthy. He'll change you in time to be his wife."

"That's depressing," Bella mumbled, poking at a potato chunk with her spoon.

---

Carlisle sat in his car figuring out his next move. So far none of the vampires he visited knew where Bella was. None of them even seemed suspicious! He was so emotional it was hard to keep focus sometimes. It had been a month since he last saw her and he missed his baby girl so much. He knew his family was giving up. Between the five of them they had visited every single vampire coven they knew of and even covens that the others knew of.

Emmett had tracked down several nomads and Jasper found Maria and used her connections to find even more. Nobody had seen or heard of Bella though they had gotten several comments on how she looked quite succulent.

He turned back onto the road and found himself near home. He drove up the familiar driveway and saw the other cars there. Bella's volvo was sitting still in the garage. It hadn't moved since he drove it back. He saw his teenager in his memories when he gave her the car after making her swear she would be careful. She had hugged him and then went for a drive with Emmett to break it in.

Carlisle shook his head and went inside. Esme was knitting rapidly, trying to keep her hands busy. Jasper was sitting in thought and Rosalie looked unhappy. He heard Emmett upstairs so that's where he went. He found his son sitting in Bella's closet looking at the bag that held her wedding dress.

"Mind if I sit?"

Emmett shook his head no. Carlisle sat and took a deep breath. It smelled like her.

"Eleazar told me that we should maybe start accepting that she's gone."

"He told me that too," Carlisle mumbled. He drew his knees up and rested his arms on them.

"Rosie has. I can't believe it but I think I hate her for it."

"You don't hate her," Carlisle replied quietly, "you're just upset."

"No really. I don't know if she even cares that Bella's gone! She more or less said that I'm single again. I mean even if Bella was...you know...I can't just move on like that. I can't stomach the idea that I'll never see her again."

Carlisle didn't say anything even though he knew Emmett wanted him to. For as long as Emmett had known the gentle doctor he always had something wise to say when things went wrong. There was always something he could say to make things better.

"I wish I had something to say," Carlisle said finally.

"Kinda hoping for something," Emmett admitted with a weak smile.

"I've been unspeakably drawn to Bella since I first met her. Even when she was just my patient in the hospital I felt this powerful urge to protect her. It kills me that if I had only gone with her like she asked she would still be here."

"If I never asked her to marry me she'd still be here," Emmett mumbled into his knees.

"You aren't allowed to feel like this is your fault, Em," Carlisle said sharply, "you make Bella so happy and she loves you so much."

"Jasper said her dress is beautiful," Emmett sighed, "it's scary how fashionable he can be."

Carlisle laughed a bit. "Well he went through the modern wedding. Lord I haven't been to one since Eleazar married Carmen. You know when Bella told me she was getting married I actually felt old."

Emmett laughed a little, "well you are old."

"I miss her teasing me about being 'ancient'."

Emmett dropped his head back against the wall. "I miss her. But I'm completely out of ideas."

"Me too."

Emmett sighed and got up. He walked around Carlisle and went back outside. Carlisle looked over and saw several tissues with his bloody tears.

---

"Tell me it hurts," Aro growled behind her. He pulled her head back by her hair and Bella cried out. "Tell me how you're in pain."

"It hurts," Bella cried.

"So you'll participate in foreplay next time?" He asked, thrusting his hips harder. "Answer."

"Yes."

Aro licked her neck. "Good girl. Now why does it hurt?"

Bella couldn't answer. Her head was spinning again.

"Answer."

"Because I can't handle your penis."

"And why is that?"

"Because I'm a human and beneath you."

"You are learning," Aro praised. As a reward, in his opinion, he moved his free hand around to her front and caressed her breast. "You're such a good girl when you want to be."

Bella could always feel when he came because it was almost hot. She dropped when he let her go and fell onto her hands. She was so weak.

"You seem to want me again with your ass in the air like that."

Bella made to move but it was too late. She cried out when he pushed into her again.

"I spoil you princess," Aro grunted. He held her hips tight and kept moving. He sighed when her arms gave out. He moved the pillow to keep her from suffocating. He finished up and pulled out. He stood and dressed then brought Bella to her feet.

"I love you sweet girl," he said. "When you love me too you'll be happier."

He sighed and pushed her back onto the bed. Without a word he just left. He glanced over at Edward who was standing guard as he was ordered.

"She won't return your feelings," Edward said, "she doesn't trust you."

"Edward when I want you're opinions I'll ask for them," Aro sighed as he finished buttoning up.

Edward looked like he wanted to say more but Aro gave him a sharp look. He backed down and Aro left. A few minutes later Alice came up with some of the stew that Bella really liked. She found that Italian cuisine wasn't Bella's favorite. Edward opened the door for her and they both went in.

Alice set the tray down and went to Bella. She was still breathing but she was out of it.

"She's unconscious," Alice said, "I don't smell any internal bleeding, just exhaustion."

"Let's dress her," Edward said. He went to the wardrobe and took out the chemise she wore for pajamas. Alice meanwhile helped her sit up.

"She's starting to come to," Alice said, "hey there sweetie."

"Alice?" she mumbled weakly.

"Edward and I are dressing you," Alice said gently. She held Bella's arms up and Edward pulled the cotton over her head and arms.

"We got some tylenol for you today," Edward said as he went to the tray and got the two pills. He brought them to her with a glass of water. Bella took the water with shaky hands and they helped her take the pills.

"Why are you being so nice?" Bella asked. "It's kinda weird."

"Aro is making you feel bad enough, you don't need more from me," Edward said, helping her drink more water. "He's calling you Alice."

"Damn," she sighed. "Be nice, Edward."

They both watched her leave and Edward looked back at Bella.

"I have to eat before the medicine sets."

Edward nodded and helped her sit at her table.

"You frustrate me, that's why I'm usually so cold."

"Why?"

"Well you've got Aro going to such lengths. He's formed an obsession. He thinks about you constantly and wants you in many ways. I agree with him that you are attractive and your blood smells very sweet but I'm not going to kidnap you. I saw you at the party and thought, wow, he's so lucky. But Aro had to have you. I also hated that I had to babysit you."

"As you told me many times."

Edward nodded. "So then I see Carlisle Cullen here. The last time I really spent time with him he was calm and collected with this air of grace. He was this strong vampire that knew his strengths but had unlimited control. He'll never use it like Aro does but he has about the same strength. So then I see him at the party and he's different. I know now that it was because he was happy."

"That bothers you?" Bella asked.

"It didn't. Then I saw him here looking for you. He was crying actual tears. He was so devastated and I was surprised. I've never see a vampire care so much about a human so much. Or anything for that matter."

"So you didn't like me because I bring out odd reactions in vampires?"

"Wow sum it up like that and I sound like a jerk," Edward said with a slight smile. Bella let out a weak laugh. "How did you meet him anyway?"

"I met him when I was in the hospital," Bella said with a sad look. She was drawing shapes in her stew with her spoon. "He was the doctor that admitted me and had to tell me my parents died."

"How did they die?"

"A fire. When I was eight. I think it was decided to be an electrical fire that started in the living room while we were upstairs sleeping. My dad died in the house and my mom died shortly after she got me out. I was juggled around afterwards and finally dad found me again when I was sleeping in the graveyard. I was sleeping by their tombstones."

"That's creepy, not gonna lie."

Bella shrugged. "He brought me home and right away Esme took care of me. I remember Jasper and Emmett went to get me some clothes of my own. The next day mom and dad put in papers to adopt me. They've been mom and dad ever since."

"I'm surprised you never got a skin graph for your burns."

Bella shrugged. "I don't mind them. The remind me of my birth parents and how I came to belong to such a loving family."

"Aro wants to get rid of them sooner or later."

"That scares me," Bella admitted. She sighed and Edward felt bad for her.

"Well...you did get teased about them right? Wouldn't this be okay?"

Bella looked sad and Edward wished he hadn't said anything.

"My dad died trying to find a safe way out for us. He fell through the floor and into the fire. My mom carried me to safety. She had to run literally through fire to save me. She was burned and she was too hurt because she used her body to shield me. I guess when I look at the burns I have I know that the reason I'm still alive is because my mom saved me. They remind me of her."

"Don't you have pictures or anything?"

"I have some. To make me feel better dad called some of my relatives and got some. But I don't have any of us as a family. Those were all lost in the fire."

"But they'll surely heal when you become a vampire," Edward reminded her.

Bella shook her head no. "They aren't just scars, it's how my skin is. They won't heal completely."

"I see," Edward said quietly. He could see them now. The skin of her legs was warped and wrinkled. They were mostly on the lower parts of her legs. In todays world of vanity she was so proud of something that made her imperfect. Every human woman he came across was obsessed with perfection. He was fancied by the human women he was about to devour every time Heidi brought dinner because of her perfect looks. He saw advertisements for plastic surgery and weight loss drugs. But here Bella was. She loved her body the way it was and she was happy with her imperfections.

"What are you?" he asked quietly.

"Human?"

"A human woman is obsessed with beauty."

"Well I did go through that," Bella said, "during puberty mostly. But Emmett tells me I'm beautiful and he doesn't lie very often."

"He's lucky," Edward said with a smile, "you are beautiful. For a human."

"See you can be sweet," Bella said. She got up and sighed. "I'm really tired. I'm going to go to sleep."

Edward nodded and helped her to bed. He tucked her in and Bella smiled weakly at him.

"Sleep well. I'll see you in the morning."

Bella nodded and closed her eyes. Before too long she was asleep. Edward sighed and left. He went to the library where he was most likely to find Alice. She wasn't there, instead she was looking at the painting from the time Carlisle was with them.

"What's up?" Alice asked.

"He took her in without having to. He and his family adjusted their lives to accommodate a human. What vampire does that?"

"I have no idea," Alice admitted. "I don't like her being here."

"Me neither."

"We have an assignment. A vampire named Samson is causing problems for a small village in Scotland. I keep thinking about how peaceful Cullen is. Why couldn't Bella just be a sniffling little crybaby that did nothing but whine?"

"I dunno I think she does spend a lot of time crying."

"You know what I mean Edward."

Edward shifted a bit. He felt the same way. Bella wasn't a good little hostage. She snapped back at him and had a mind of her own. She missed her parents but she liked to suffer in silence. But it wasn't just that that was keeping Alice in a mood. His sister didn't like feeling things. She was a vampire's nightmare. She was strong and very fast. Not to mention she could see what they were planning. But Bella made her feel compassion for her. Edward headed out for their assignment and Alice followed him.

Edward knew how she felt. He too was warming up to their human prisoner. Knowing that his father was going to once again have his way with Bella against her will while they were gone made him feel angry. He felt bad for her, especially when she expressed how she missed Carlisle.

"Edward," Alice said, getting his attention as she tossed him his cloak. He caught it with ease and swung it over his shoulders.

"Where are you headed this time, Edward?" Carlisle asked.

"For a walk," he answered, fastening his cloak.

"You seem angry."

"We can't all live in a world of joy."

Carlisle chuckled and leaned against the wall.

"Why are you always so happy?!"

"I'm not always happy. Though mostly content."

"That doesn't make any sense."

Carlisle looked out at the sunset. "I feel happy just being with people like me. I've been lonely for a very long time. I used to be so restless just like you."

"I don't belong here."

"So leave," Carlisle suggested.

"I can't. Aro's my maker and he wants me here."

Carlisle looked saddened by that. He never really knew the pull a maker had over their child as his just bit and ran.

"D'you want to come with me?" Edward asked.

"Would you like me to?" Carlisle asked. Edward shrugged.

"I guess. I mean it wouldn't bother me."

"I suppose I could stand to see the sunset," Carlisle sighed. He grabbed one of the cloaks to protect him from the sun and left with the younger vampire.

"I heard you and Aro fighting," Edward said as they walked.

"Not fighting, merely arguing. We both have different views."

"Animals taste bad."

"Ah but I love that I don't get the guilt with it."

Edward looked at him curiously. Carlisle didn't say anything though. He was looking at the ocean.

"It has been a pleasure getting to know you Edward."

"You too. Why say that though?"

"I'm leaving tomorrow," Carlisle answered, "I'm heading for the Americas."

"But why?" Edward cried.

"I feel that if I stay here I won't become truly happy."

"But you said you were content here."

Carlisle nodded. He looked over at Edward and was saddened as usual when he saw his ruby newborn eyes.

"I will hear humans killed in mass to feed the vampires here. That life doesn't make me happy and I wish I could force it."

"But what if you don't find other vampires that have the same diet?"

Carlisle shrugged. "There's bound to be some. I'll search until I find them. I'll find where I belong."

"But I'll miss you, Carlisle."

Carlisle smiled at Edward and put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I'll miss you too Edward."

"Edward hurry up," Alice snapped. She was in a bad mood again. Edward sighed and just obeyed. Nobody messed with Alice when she was in a mood.

TBC

Okay Edward is opening up. To me anyway. Is it weird that I talk to the characters while I'm using them? What does it say about Edward that he keeps lending himself to really dark situations? Hm.