A/N: Edward's infatuation with Bella follows similar rules as imprinting. I decided to go with canon characters as this is my first attempt writing for Twilight fans. I do not follow canon timelines/introductions but do attempt to emulate canon character behaviour. The story is set in 1889. Constructive criticism/encouragement welcome.
This chapter was updated 20th Aug 2014. The formatting fails to save as I leave it, sorry about that.
A special thank you to my fantastic beta reader icul8ter and to Jlbrew25 for some much appreciated guidance.
Disclaimer: The Twilight world belongs to Stephenie Meyer.
Warning: Contains Pagan overtones, angst, NON-sexual spanking of a minor/teen, swearing and parental themes. Rated T as some of my views, and the views of this era, may offend.
Chapter Four: Are we there yet!? Part One.
CPOV: Mid-way through the fifth week of our journey, our ship finally sailed into the Eastern coast of North America. The trip had been a strain on us all, especially for our two youngest; Edward who (despite feeding more frequently than the others) fought with his thirst, while Bella battled her own daemon in the guise of 'boredom'.
On the bright side, Edward's attitude on life in general had improved considerably, and I could only hope that this was due to his finding some measure of purpose in Isabella, whom he had identified as his mate just seven short weeks ago.
"Jasper, please escort Alice and Bella to this address." I said, handing him a piece of parchment as we swayed onto dry land; the stationary earth feeling positively foreign beneath our feet. "I'm taking Edward to hunt. No one is to leave the room until we return," I did not wait for confirmation, Jasper and Alice could both sense their brother's thirst and understood the possible dangers should he not feed soon.
"Wait!" Alice exclaimed loudly, drawing attention from the townsfolk passing by, as she froze and stared into nothing.
"Alice, are you feeling poorly?" I asked covering for our seer. Jasper was at his mate's side in an instant grasping her arm to steady the girl. After a moment her eyes refocused on me.
"No, Sir. Maybe just a little wobbly from, umm, land sickness?" she replied for the benefit of the few humans who had stopped to stare. "I think Jasper should go with you and Edward," she suggested, unable to provide details with so many humans now watching her.
"It's me," Edward whispered sordidly, having read his sisters vision. "I lose control before leaving the city and we will cause a scene. Lots of buildings will suffer, umm, 'damage' but," he shot me a mischievous smile, "you're not bad for an old man, and eventually manage to pin me down. Jasper needs to numb my senses a bit."
Alice frowned.
"Ok, ok. A lot! But just until we reach the outskirts of the city," he explained in a whisper barely loud enough for vampire hearing.
I'll give you old man, I thought.
Alice nodded once. "Bells and I will be fine. We will see you all at the inn," she winked knowingly and took her young sister by the hand.
"I do not like the idea of leaving you two alone. This place is unfamiliar to us all." I whispered, but knew there was no other choice. "Go directly to this address and stay there until we return, no shopping on the way!" I fixed my Daughter with a no-nonsense expression before directing it at her sister. "And Bella, do as your sister says, no arguing, understood?" I received a chorus "Yes, Sir," from both girls before they disappeared into the bustling crowd.
As predicted Edward did struggle and had Jasper not been with us it would have made for quite a scene. "We should be safe from here, thank you, Son." I said. We were about a mile out of the city gates by this stage and should Edward become difficult, there would be no one around to see me restrain him.
"Behave," Jasper instructed, glancing at Edward with a smirk.
"Jaz, your lack of faith, it hurts me right here," Edward replied sarcastically, leaning backwards and grasping at his chest dramatically before taking off, hot on the trail of something I hoped was not human.
I rolled my eyes. "Go and see to Alice and Bella," I said with a smile, clapping him on the shoulder then took after Edward.
He took down four white tailed deer and, one fatally curious muskrat before it was safe to rejoin civilization. On the return journey we detoured north hoping to deliver news of more appealing game to Jasper and Alice, but all we found was a revolting odour. We tracked it to the source and found ourselves crouched high on a rocky out crop overlooking a bustling camp of Native Americans.
"Some of them don't smell human," Edward observed, darting his head up for a second look. "They smell like..."
"Wet dog," I finished, jerking him back from view. "We should leave," I encouraged, dragging my inquisitive son from the scene.
"But, how does that even work, unless, shape shifters?"
"It is a possibility. In any case we should avoid this place, we are already strangers to this land, let us not complicate things."
Edward nodded an agreement and ten minutes later we were perched around our spaciously comfortable inn room, advising Jasper and Alice to move their hunt west, far away from the potential threat of our odorous discovery.
"What's a shape sitter?" Bella enquired, while unenthusiastically using her fork to draw pictures in her plate of vegetable and mash.
Edward laughed, thoroughly besotted by the charm of such innocence as he joined her at the table. "Shape 'shifters'", he corrected, "are magical warriors with the ability to transform into animals. It is said the gene is passed down through the generations, until something triggers it and unleashes their magic," he explained.
Bella's eyes grew wide with wonder. "Whoa! And you think those men that you saw tonight were shape shifters! Can I go see, pleeeeeease?" She begged excitedly, tugging at his sleeve.
Ordinarily, Edward would do anything for his betrothed; however when it came to risking her safety the teen could be quite protective. "You most certainly may not," he replied with a frown. "Shape shifters are extremely dangerous and volatile creatures with little control over their abilities. To engage one would be,"
"But, I don't wanna 'engage one,'" she interrupted, mocking his tone. "I just want to look. Besides, you and Dad got to see, and I bet Alice and Jasper will look!"
"Not likely. You heard what Father said, they won't go near the camp."
"But!"
"Isabella, the answer is no," I interjected, no longer able to ignore their bickering. "Now, if you want to join us for a walk later you will stop playing in your meal and eat it, you are underweight as it is." I raised a brow to punctuate my words before returning to Jaspers map. He had prearranged an eight day rail journey west to Forks that would be leaving the day after tomorrow and I wanted everyone recovered from our previous journey as much as possible.
The Transcontinental Railway was indeed heaven sent. Had we made this journey by wagon it would have taken around forty days, I'd explained to an increasingly bored, Isabella. Traveling was not easy on young children, and despite impressive resilience and a two day break, Bella's patience was wearing thin fast.
"Are we there yet!" she asked for the third time that hour.
"I am afraid not, sweetheart," I replied patiently. Thankfully our trip was broken up due to track availability and we were seldom on the same train for longer than eight hours.
Day Two: Indiana.
"Dad?"
"Yes, Bells?"
"How about now, are we very close yet?"
I sighed. "Not yet. Have you finished writing your alphabet already?"
She sighed. "No, Sir."
Iowa.
"Do we get to change trains soon?" Bella asked for the second time that hour.
"No, but we do get to spend tomorrow night in South Dakota, which is the half-way point on our journey.
Day Four: South Dakota.
"Dad? Dadddd?" she shook my arm gently. "I know you're not sleeping, I've never seen you sleep! You big pretend-era!"
Had I been a cursing man, now would have been my moment to truly shine. As it was however. "Argh! I have been outed!" I said playfully, plucking the unintentional antagonist from her seat and hanging her by a foot.
"You know what we do with children who know too much around here?" I asked, our antics drawing amused expressions from the few passengers in the cabin opposite. "We hang them out the window!" I said, lifting the giggling child so I could tickle her stomach.
"But you - you can't, OPEN tha, the windows!" she informed, through a stream of giggles.
"Hmm yes, well, I guess today is your lucky day." I lowered her gently onto the seat, only to have Edward scoop her up and toss her over his shoulder.
"Let's go for a wander, I bet we can find some pear juice and a cookie around here somewhere!" he stated, earning cheers from his surprisingly unfazed captive.
Day six: Montana.
"heyDadarewecloseyet?" Bella whispered into my ear through cupped hands.
"One hour closer than the last time you asked," I set the child on my lap and turned her to face me. "Now, did I not tell you to lie down and close your eyes? You must get some rest, sweetheart, it is very late."
"But I'm not tired, and, it's not fair! No one else has to go to bed at 7:30pm, so why do I?" she whined, wriggling in frustration.
"Enough." I said patiently, carrying her back to the small bunk. We had been fortunate enough to secure a large cabin for this, the longest stretch of our journey, not that the luxury of a mattress on the floor could be appreciated when Bella refused to stay on it long enough to sleep. "Lay down, please" I instructed, crouching to untangle the knotted mess of bedding.
Bella flopped onto her stomach, kicking her legs in agitation and burying her face into the pillow. "I-DONT-wanna go togoddamnedSLEEEeeP!" she cried in frustration. Her words were far too muffled for human ears, however, I was not human and unfortunately heard all too clearly. "Isabella! A temper tantrum is not an acceptable reaction, and nor is blasphemy." I scolded in a hushed tone, lifting the cantankerous youngster to stand facing me. "What do you have to say for yourself?" I demanded. Even at a crouch I towered over her, my expression clearly disapproving.
"I-I'm nottired! 'n I, didn't think you would hear me!" she grumbled, a little too sharply for my liking.
Alice shot me a beseeching expression on behalf of her younger sister, prior to discreetly slipping from the cabin, a scowling Edward in tow. It is true, this trip was certainly frustrating for the seven-year-old but she would learn, the hard way if need be, that I would not tolerate such behaviour. "Mind your tone young lady." I cautioned, raising a finger in warning. "Tired or not, this is the third time you have been put down to sleep tonight. What did I say about obeying my instructions?"
"But!"
"No, not 'but'. What did I say about minding instructions?" I repeated calmly.
"That I should do what you tell me, b-because it is in my best interest," she recounted, her gaze sinking.
"Correct. And what did I say would happen the next time you chose to disregard my instructions?" I persisted, her face flushed with guilt as she recalled previous warnings.
"Aww, that, you would spank me. But I'm really not tired and I didn't mean for you to hear, honest!" she stated.
I raised a brow at her reasoning. "So you believe it is acceptable to disobey, curse and throw tantrums as long as I am not around to witness?" I queried, lifting her chin to meet my gaze.
"Well, I guess, no. No Sir," she corrected, pausing for a long moment until my silence and expression became too uncomfortable. "'Msorry, Daddy."
"Indeed." I lifted the sulking child from her feet, sat on a bench seat, and turned her face down over my lap. "Give me your hands, please" I requested evenly.
"But! Please, Daddy. Don't!" she pleaded, as I captured her wrist, pinning the tiny appendages gently to her lower back where they could not interfere.
"When I ask you to do something I expect compliance, we have been through this before, Bella." I stated calmly. Resigned to my task I flipped up the back of her night shirt and landed two sharp swats to her underwear clad behind.
"Ow! Hurts, Dad please, Oh'Wahhh!" she screamed, twisting in vain to escape my hand. Had her embellished reaction not attracted concerned glances from the cabin adjacent, I may have considered escalating the severity to match, as it was however: "Isabella! Stop this nonsense and be still!" I admonished, prepared to hold her across my knee until I saw compliance. Thankfully it only took a minute or so before she calmed down and stopped trying to wriggle from my grasp. "Thank you," I said patiently, and dealt the final swat, which was considerably harder courtesy of her antics. She squealed again, but to her credit refrained from thrashing around and simply sobbed into the leg of my trousers. Honestly, such dramatics! I thought, flipping the back of her night shirt down and lifting the sniffling child to stand at my side.
"Th-hat h-hurt," she hicupped.
"That, young lady, was a reminder," I corrected, lightly cuffing her hands as they darted back to rub, pinning them at her sides. "However, the next time you choose to disobey me or throw a temper tantrum in response to an instruction, I will not be so lenient. Do you understand?"
"Yessir," she whispered, her eyes over-bright with tears. I nodded approvingly, but kept her by my side.
"Now, I want you to stand up straight, keep your hands by your sides and think about how to avoid this situation in future. One minute, please," I explained evenly. After a few unsuccessful attempts, the impatient youngster finally managed a solid minute devoid of fidgeting, sobbing, slouching or complaining. "Good, girl." I encouraged, drawing her into my arms. It was unusual for me to offer comfort after punishment, as I believe it soothed away the lesson, however Bella was not a fifty year old vampire trapped in an adolescent body and therefore lacked the capacity to understand. "Alright, sweetheart, you are forgiven," I said in a comforting tone as she buried her head into my chest. With Bella safely swaddled in my arms I stood and began a slow pace. "Is there anything you would like to discuss?" I asked kindly, as her sniffles began fading into smooth breaths. Ordinarily I would have asked this while she stood at my side, however, I sensed an unusual amount of discomfort in response to such a minor spanking.
"Why did, uumm," she scrubbed at her eyes with a balled fist, clearly struggling with the query. I handed her a clean handkerchief and glanced at my oldest son who was still pouring over the latest John Dever novel. Sensing my gaze, and Bella's awkwardness, Jasper stood from his perch by the door and slipped outside, his eyes never leaving the page for a second. I concealed a laugh as I watched the preoccupied boy almost sit on another passenger before deciding to remove himself from the novel long enough to find a spot.
"Take your time, sweetheart, you know you can always ask me anything without fear of shame." I encouraged as she blew her nose.
"Mmm, but 'm," she took a deep breath gathering the new found courage privacy had afforded, and risked a glance up from her hiding spot in my chest.
"Why did I have to lay over your lap to get spanked?" she asked, sheepishly.
The question was simple enough, however not at all what I had expected. "Well," I said, doing my best to remain serious, "to provide support, safety and most of all, clarity."
"Clarity?" she questioned.
"Yes. It is important to understand the difference between a spanking and ill-treatment," I explained, glancing down to meet her curious expression. "If I deem it necessary to spank you, Bella, it will come from a place of love, not anger. You will be given a warning, a reason and then a chance to explain yourself. I cannot say that it will be pleasant, however, I can assure you consistency; I will always position you in a specific way that you will come to associate with being spanked, always spank on your backside and always for the same infractions. I do not agree with, nor do I expect you to accept punishment from any adult who does not follow these rules. Do you understand?" I asked in a gentle tone.
Her face was flushed with embarrassment. "Yes, Sir," she replied, looking quizzical for a moment before meeting my gaze once again. "So does that mean if a school teacher wants to whack my hand with one of them horrible rulers, I can say no?"
I had to laugh, the child was too clever sometimes. "Yes, sweetheart, that is exactly what I mean. I am reluctant to allow a school to use corporal punishment on any of my children, that said," I added, noting her surprised expression. "You can be sure that when I find out, the punishment from me will be equal to or worse." I warned, my smile giving way to a more sombre expression for the moment. There was a long silence as she digested my words.
"Dad? Will you tell me all the infra-ctons that you would, umm. Spank me for?" she enquired.
I readjusted her weight in my arms to allow more comfort from my hard limbs. "Of course, I intend to hold a meeting when we arrive in Forks, we will discuss the rules as a family then. Just so you know, you will never be spanked for something you have not been warned about."
She nodded and concealed a yawn with her hand. It was not long after that sleep finally won out and her breathing grew slow and peaceful.
Thank you everyone, I appreciate the feedback and kind reviews! Sorry it has taken me so long to update, but I've been busy with the essay from hell. (Those of you who've endured the pain fest that is 'physiological psychology' will know what I mean.)