I'm sorry if this chapter isn't as well as the last few, Em (Train of Hope, too tired to write it all funky like) was home in bed watching the second season of Angel, a bug running evilly through her veins. (A cold) So if it isn't as good, I'm only as brilliant as the next person.

Disclaimer: Not mine, (Haha, get to say that because I'm the only one here.) never will be, either.

Playlist:

Time – Ozzy Osbourne (lol, I know, I know. I get enough crap from Em about it. Though she likes 80s pop music...)

Secrets - OneRepublic

When I'm Gone – Eminem (I listened to it a lot as I wrote this chapter.)

Say A Little Prayer

The sun filtered through the storm clouds as I sat outside, alone.

The memories of a week ago flooded me, the tears as I explained her parents were in the Heavens of those who would always care for them. Where they would always be safe and together. She was smart enough to realize her parents were really gone.

I sighed, leaning forward to rest my elbows on my knees, my hands fidgeting in anticipation as I wished for Bella to comfort me with everything about her. Her scent still captivated me as it filtered through the house, distracting me from my work. It forced me each morning to sit outside with my paperwork, moving me from my office to the front porch.

I leaned back, crossing my legs and pulling my pen from my shirt pocket. My pen which now had masking tape around it. Because as Bella saw it, she made me scavenge the two halves and remove the small cartridge of ink to replace it with another. It would always be my reminder of that shocked expression. "What a waste." She scolded me, disappointment clouding her judgment.

I laughed remembering her bossy posture as I searched through the house for the "Correct" tape. "It has to be that white stuff, it sticks best."

"What about duct tape?" I called from the garage as she lingered by the door.

"No." She said stubbornly, and I sighed exasperated, just so she would hear. Her tinkling laughter pulled me to where she sat on the floor, her smile lighting up the scene.

I couldn't resist pulling her into my arms, lifting her up to kiss her forehead. She smiled adoringly, looking over my shoulder and pointing. "There it is!" Grabbing it and bringing it forward, the speed and her ever-so-present klutziness making it hit the back of my head.

"Sorry," Her bottom lip jutted out as she hid behind the slim roll.

I laughed, unable to keep my angered facade.

The car I had been long waiting for barely made it up the drive. I stood up, setting my pile of work behind me where I had been sitting. And as I did, the door next to me opened to reveal a fully dressed little girl in the arms of my one and only fortune teller.

Bella reached her arms out for me, and I gratefully took her, cradling her to my chest. She snuggled against my navy blue zip up sweater. And toying with the zipper, she tried to hide her face as the woman came to join us.

Her pace slowed as she noticed the six in-humanly beautiful people behind me. Emmett made a face, causing Bella to giggle, and fortunately brightening her mood. She turned in my arms to the lady as she took her time walking the steps to our regal positioning with me in front and Edward and Esme flanking.

She extended her hand, trying to smile. I positioned Bella on my hip, shaking hands with her reluctantly. She then turned to Bella, her eyes softening in compassion, and gave her a genuine smile. Bella tried to smile back, but it was less of a smile and more of a grimace. She knew why this was happening.

I set Bella on the ground, she tried to complain but I shushed her, nudging her forward. She glared at me, making me smile amused, then turned and shook hands politely, as I had.

"Bella Swan," She said, her lisp giving it a child-like quality.

"It's very nice to meet you, Bella, my name's Ashley."

"It's nice to meet you too." She smiled awkwardly before shuffling backwards, running into me and turning and clinging to my leg. I set my hand on her head comfortingly, and she smiled softly up at me. "I'm hungry, Mister." I nodded once at her, then watched Alice leave to make her breakfast.

I gestured for us to go in, Ashley followed behind our large group, who dismantled into the living room with their respected partners.

I picked Bella up, but she had different ideas as the smell of bacon wafted into the front hall. She leaned forward to whisper in my ear, eying Ashley so she wouldn't hear. "Can I go eat, pleeeeease?" I laughed at her drawn out wording before setting her down again and watching her try to run to the kitchen, tripping once, concerning me. But she disappeared around the corner before I could voice my worry.

"Mr. Cullen, while Bella haves her breakfast, may I talk with you?" I nodded my consent, leading her to my office. It was painstaking having to move at human pace, but as I normally did, I had gotten used to it from working at the hospital.

I gestured for her to take a seat as I sat in the chair next to her. Avoiding the opposite side of the desk agenda. She took Bella's folder from her bag, opening it across her lap. I handed her my pen while she searched for her's, smiling gratefully, she scribbled quickly before looking back up at me.

"Just a few questions..." She trailed off uncertainly, looking at the newly stocked pictures of Bella and my family.

"Go ahead." I urged her politely.

"Have you adopted before?" She asked, shaking her head in her own stupidity, but still waited for me to answer.

"Yes," I said simply, crossing my legs in comfort.

She turned a page, looking for her next question.

"What is your position in Bella's life?" I fidgeted nervously, unsure of the answer myself.

"As it goes now, were all just siblings towards her, but as she grows I will accept who she chooses to spend her time with." She smiled softly, observing my words with curiosity.

"If you don't mind me mentioning." She looked towards me for confirmation to continue, I nodded. "It already seems she has chosen you." I tried not to smile, but hiding it didn't work as she smirked knowingly.

"Next," She mumbled, "What brought Bella to you?"

I lowered my head, thinking of how to word this without hints of our secrecy. "She was at our front door when we found her, then searching for her rightful parents, we located them at their home... they were... dead." I said bluntly, fidgeting with my shirt's sleeve.

"Oh," There was a quiet pause, as if she was discreetly waiting for more.

"I did my best.." I trailed off, a knot in my stomach as I remembered the events in vivid detail.

"Forgive me," She mumbled, once again scribbling something on her messy folder. "How is the relationship between Bella and your children?"

"They love her already, can't shoo them away long enough to be alone with her." She smiled as she noticed my lightened attitude and the obvious love towards everyone in my family.

"What is your source of income?"

"Forks General." She nodded, filling in the blanks on her applicative envelope.

"How often are you home, with your family?" I thought sorely for a few seconds, counting my work hours and time with my family.

"Generally I work ten to twelve hour shifts, five days out of the week, except on the rare call day. I get home at five each night, then spend every minute with my family." She laughed, once again writing down my answer.

"Every minute," She muttered with a smile. I also did, only because what I said was true, being away from those whom I loved during the day was the worst part of my job, but it was the weekends that I made it up to them.

Only a few minutes went by with the continuous questions before I heard the soft heart beat out side of my door, and quieted whispers coming from my unequivocally and oblivious son, Emmett.

"Stop eavesdropping, my son, it's the worst crime of the household." It was true, while we still considered ourselves a loving family, the general case of blackmailing from overhearing, and eavesdropping, comes up quite often.

"Sorry, dad." He called, opening the door to let Bella in, she still had yet to reach door handles in the house. I laughed when she sheepishly walked towards me, blushing from being caught.

"Sorry, mister." She said softly, crawling into my lap.

"I'm just teasing, kitten, you've done nothing wrong." I wiped the hair from her eyes so she could see properly. I hadn't considered it before, but she would soon need a haircut.

"Nicknames?" Ashley asked, curiously flipping to a new sheet, and excitingly writing something.

"She hasn't yet learned to say my name, so it's easiest for her to call me as she does. Mister, the only one name she sticks to."

"What about the nickname you have for her, kitten was it?" I nodded, positioning Bella better as she tried to snuggle against my side. She pulled my sweatshirt, experimenting how far it could get before it snapped back. I grabbed her hand, holding her's in mine as I put them in my lap, reminding her to be polite.

"The first time I met her, she fell asleep on my lap, effectively branding her with the name Kitten."

"It seems you're the first person to have given their child a nickname." She grinned, noting that as well.

Another few moments went by with questions, some I had answers for, and some I didn't know of myself. She smiled apologetically when I stumbled over words, skipping over that question or filling it out herself.

Once done, she closed the folder, handing me my pen back, but before I could take it Bella snatched it. "Bella." I said sternly, she looked at me innocently, holding the pen carefully in her small hands. I sighed, "Only because you're too cute," I mumbled, lifting her chin to look at me.

"May I speak with Bella?" Ashley asked carefully, watching our interaction. I nodded, standing with Bella clung to my sweatshirt pleadingly, but I only to set her back on the couch. I tried to resist the urge, but I gave in, placing my hands on either side of her face, leaning forward and kissing her forehead softly. This was the boiling point in the interrogation, it came down only to Bella.

"Be good, kitten." I said, before leaving them confidently in my office, closing the door softly behind me. I knew I would be able to hear them from anywhere in my home, though decided upon joining the other eavesdroppers on the stairs.

I sat down next to Jasper on the first step, his hand on my shoulder to calm my nerves. "Thank you." I whispered, before tuning out to listen anxiously.

Bella squirmed nervously against the arm rest of the small chair, trying to hide behind her curls of brown hair. "Bella?" Ashley asked curiously, "There's just a few questions, nothing too hard."

"Okay," Bella said nervously, lowering her head to look at her lap.

"Do you like it here?" There was no doubt in Bella's answer, it was quick and simple.

"Yes."

"Out of all that live here, I noticed you have a connection with Carlisle, is he your favorite?"

I felt surprised that she would be asking and assuming favorites.

"Yes."

I couldn't help the smile.

"Do you like the others as well?"

"That's just silly," Bella giggled, "I love them."

The others smiled as well.

"Are you comfortable with the nicknames Carlisle has provided?" She didn't have an answer.

"I don't know, what does provided mean?" There was a pause, "And comfortable?"

We all laughed at her childish answers.

"Do you like your nickname, kitten?"

"Mister's really smart, anything he gives me I like." She giggled as if it was obvious, before secretly smiling, and deviously crouching lower in her chair.

"Do you see Carlisle often, is he with you a lot?"

She refused to use Bella's nickname for me, at that I was grateful.

"He's with me a lot, he's the only one that holds me when I'm sad or can't sleep, I like that he's with me all the time."

"He cares about you, sweetie." She told Bella softly, reaching over to touch her knee encouragingly. "You don't see that often." She muttered to herself. She leaned back into her chair, crossing her legs.

"Would you like to stay here?"

"Yes." Another short and curt reply. "Can we be done?"

"Of course," She stood up,

I ran my fingers through my hair, happily standing to meet them. She smiled at all of us sitting together at the top of the stairs.

Bella came running when she saw me, but Jasper picked her up so I could speak with Ashley alone. "Crooks, let me go." She complained, bouncing in his arms.

I turned to look at Jasper curiously, he only shrugged, but smiled adoringly at Bella anyway. "I like that," He whispered softly, though cautiously and on guard.

She smiled, "What?"

I started walking back towards my office, letting Ashley trail behind me slowly so we could both hear their conversation.

"My nickname," He asked, mock hurt by her question.

"Crooks!" She giggled, clapping her hands like a little child. We all laughed as I held the door open, taking my seat as I had before.

"I'll be blunt," She said with a small smile, looking around my room again. "You adore her, it's obvious, and to be frank, she adores you also." Taking a deep breath, she continued shyly. "But, I'm not sure an environment where she's smothered with attention would be good for her."

I sighed, leaning forward in my chair, resting my elbows against my knees worriedly. "We don't, it's not like that." I tried to explain, though now at a loss for words.

"You have so many children, Carlisle. It's obvious you love them, too, but wouldn't it be unfair to them to have your attention stolen away with a small girl?" At this point it already felt like I was dwindling into my old self, locked away in a small corner of my mind for the rest of my life. The doubt was, quite literally, eating away at my defensive shell.

"But..." I trailed off, "I wouldn't. I couldn't deprive them of the love that they will forever deserve. The hearts a magnificent thing, Ashley, it has an endless capability to love, no matter how much you already give, there's always more. The heart has chambers for each person, blocked off with endless desire for him or her, but it's so large, there's always more room for another and another." I ran my fingers through my hair in thought. "This girl, this wonderful opportunity has presented itself to my family and I, she's the missing piece to our puzzle. It's corny, but it couldn't be more accurate."

"The thing is..." She started, looking ashamed of what she wanted to say. "I believe you, I agree with you. But is this healthy? Is this good for you? You've gotten yourself too attached already. What was it like for you to come upon her dead family? Emotional and stressful situations as such are bad for both the adoptive family and the child. I feel it's best if she was to find a new home." She stood from her seat, rubbing her forehead forcefully. "I'm sorry Mr. Cullen, I'm trying to think of you and your family." I didn't say anything as I looked up at her, she stopped halfway to her destination. "I know you care very deeply for her, but you're attachment is unhealthy, your attachment to a child you've known only a couple of weeks."

"Please..." I whispered after an uncertain silence. I stood, my chest beginning to rip a hole as the emotions overwhelmed me. I had never imagined myself getting so attached to Bella, as Ashley had said, but as she did this to me, I couldn't understand what I was doing. "I've never lowered myself, my pride, and begged. But if that's what it takes, dammit," I breathed weakly. "I swear I'll do it."

She opened her mouth to say something, but instantly closed it again, shaking her head and leaving me cold and dead in my office. I was numb, I didn't know what to do, the first time in my life that something this good as happened to me, and when it's threatened to be taken away, I don't know what to do. "Kitten," I whimpered, doubling over as my heart broke at the loss. We would never see her grow, never see her accomplish elementary school, graduating with high percentage like I knew she could. Or I would never get to take her shopping for clothes when she refuses to wear the ones Alice got her. But the worst thing was, I would never know what could have been.

My family had yet to hand Bella over as she hid behind them. She clung to Edward, the man at the back of the line. I made my way to them, their heads rose as they noticed my silent stalking. My eyes had darkened, and my posture stiff.

Bella ran to me, and I instantly picked her up, burying my face in her hair and her's in my neck. She had been crying, I could feel the warm tears rolling down the front of my throat, soaking into the collar of my sweater. I cradled her, pulling away to whisper to her.

"We fought, right? We did the best that we could?" She nodded, her blood shot eyes staring up at me under her eye lashes. I kissed the tip of her nose. "She's going to take you now, you'll be okay, I promise you, you'll be okay." I repeated, the goodbye further tearing me apart. "I love you, kitten." I whispered, my chest heaving.

"I love you, mister." I shook my head disbelievingly, closing my eyes and inhaling her scent. A few days and already she had me falling for her cute routine. Hell, who was I kidding, the first time I saw her I had fallen for her.

"We'll be with you forever, in here." I touched her temple softly, "The memories of us will never fade, kitten, live your life and promise us you'll never forget." She nodded, watching me with wide eyes, the seriousness of this situation sinking in as I kissed her forehead lovingly, as a father would do for his only daughter, the person in his life he loved more than anything.

Ashley stepped forward, her grim mask exactly that, something fake and cold. Bella grabbed to me with all her strength, clinging to even my hair to keep her next to me and my family. "You can't do this, Bella." I said angrily.

"No!" She screamed, sobbing against me as I untangled her arms from around my neck. "I hate you!" She screamed, falling into the ready arms of Ashley."I hate you." She continued weeping as she struggled to get away.

My knees gave out on me, the wrenching pain those words brought was unbearable. "I love you," I whispered as she was carried from my home, and another apologetic look from Ashley. I could hear Jasper and Edward's low growls as they pulled me from the floor. "L'amore." I whispered, gratefully using the support my family brought as they all wrapped their arms around me for comfort.

Ashley looked one last time at us before slipping into her car. Pulling from the driveway as best she could with the screaming Bella struggling to get away.

"Were we not good enough?" I asked, closing my eyes and bowing my head. "Were we not capable, lord? Is this our punishment, or do you know something that we could never?" We tangled our hands together. "Bring her comfort in this lonely life, protect her, we love her and wish nothing bad upon these mortals who have stolen her from us." Another few low growls. "In Christ's name..." I trailed off, looking towards the ceiling and sighing. "Protect her..." In synchronization the others spoke, for I was unable at this time.

"Amen."

Well, umm... I must say that though I was alone and lonely as I wrote this, I think it turned out well.

Em and I talked about this chapter, originally it was only going to be Carlisle telling Bella her parents were dead... :( But we decided against that, it would've been too short.

She trusted me to write this, and I went with my instincts and made the part about him telling her only a paragraph, because I know it tends to get boring when you read a story and it takes ten chapters to get past the death and the adoption agent. By the way, what did you think of Ashley?

The next chapter will be a few years into the future. And hopefully a bit longer, though this was double as long as the last chapter...

P.S. Bella is five, just to let you know.

Review if you liked it! a few thousand hits and only 19 reviews? That's just not right...

-CarlisleCullen1645