What Goes Up, Must Come Down By Holly Jane
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, just the plot.
Everyone still seemed confused. "Let me explain more…carefully." Carlisle mused, pacing the room, deep in thought. His thoughts were scattered profusely as he spoke the words aloud. "It's sort of a…what goes up must come down situation. Since Bella hit her head and ended up like this, or perhaps fell and ended up like this, maybe if she fell and hit her head again then…" he trailed off suggestively as he waited for everyone to catch on.
Suddenly awareness dawned on all of them and they all smiled, nodding their heads. But then it hit me. "We can't hit Bella on the head…" I said unsurely. "What if it didn't work and we ended up giving her a concussion or something? The situation would be much far worse!"
Carlisle nodded seriously while everyone grew quiet in stony silence. "It's a risk we'll have to be willing to take, Edward." He said calmly, surely. I had a funny feeling he was Dr. Cullen and not Carlisle, the father figure when he said this.
I debated it for a moment as everyone watched me warily. After what seemed like forever a decision was made. "Instead of hitting her on the head, why don't we let her alone and see if she falls and hurts herself again…maybe that's what caused it and that's what needs to be done to… 'undo' it. Her hurting herself unintentionally, perhaps?" I inquired.
Carlisle nodded, seeming to like the idea. "Yes. That's probably best, considering I don't think any of us would like to bring harm to Bella in any way, intentionally…"
I shot an icy glare at Rosalie who looked at her feet. Shut up, Edward, she scolded. I would never hurt Bella how dare you even think such a thing!
I sighed heavily and sat Bella down. She smiled up at me childishly and I smiled back weakly. She seemed to understand my distress and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. She studied everyone in the room, watching her. She shifted on her feet uncomfortably. "Why you all look at me?" she asked, annoyed.
Everyone laughed softly. "And so now we wait?" Emmett questioned.
"Wait for what?" Bella asked.
Nobody answered. Well, now we wait for Bella to hurt herself. Boy never thought I'd think that. Carlisle chuckled internally. I shot him a disapproving look and he laughed out loud before leaving with Esme.
So now we can just have fun with a five year old Bella until then! Alice thought happily.
For the rest of the night Alice and Emmett sat in the middle of the living room floor playing games with Bella like Crazy Eights and Go Fish. "No fair!" Emmett shouted at a confused looking Bella. "You so cheated!"
Bella pursed her small lips to keep from laughing. Alice looked at Emmett levelly. "Emmett. For the love of all things good in this world. Bella is five years old how could she possibly cheat?"
"She's a mastermind! She's a cheater! The devil in disguise!" Emmett sneered, throwing the cards on the floor and stomping away.
Alice shook her head and Bella started giggling. Bella motioned with her small hand for Alice to come close. Alice's eyes brightened. Oooooooo! Secrets! Alice leaned forward anxiously and angled her ear at Bella's mouth. "I cheated!" Bella whispered in Alice's ear.
Alice gasped. She then grinned deviously. "Wait!" she held her hand up and a confused expression dominated her features. "How do you cheat at Go Fish?"
Bella just giggled in response. Alice shrugged and grabbed Bella's hand. "Come on let's go play dress up!" Alice skipped along, dragging a depressed looking Bella up the steps.
"No dress up," Bella muttered. Alice ignored her.
I laughed and Emmett came up to me, grinning. "Arm wrestle ya?"
I shook my head no and rested my head on my knees. Emmett sank down on the couch next to me, wrapping a muscular arm around my shoulder. "C'mon, Edward," he complained. "You're acting like you did before you met Bella. All mopey and sour. Bella will be fine. I'm pretty sure Carlisle is right about the whole 'what goes up must come down.'"
I sighed heavily. "But what if it doesn't work? What if Bella doesn't remember?"
"You're so pessimistic," he mumbled under his breath. "C'mon!" he complained suddenly. "Just…be happy and things will work out fine! You have to let your worries go, c'mon, shake it off." He shuddered and grinned at me.
"Easy for you to say. Your wife isn't a five year old." I muttered grumpily.
"Technically she isn't your wife. Yet." Emmett corrected solemnly.
I starred at him stupidly. "Thank you Mr. Technical." I snapped.
He laughed. "Still, I get your point. I'm sorry, bro."
"It's fine," I finally said.
Suddenly we both heard a loud crash from upstairs. "DAMNIT BELLA YES YOU WILL WEAR THAT PINK DRESS WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT DO YOU HEAR ME!?"
Emmett doubled over in laughter and I just scowled at him impatiently.
"Nooooooo!" I heard a protestant Bella scream. "I WILL NOT!"
"YES YOU WILL!" Alice screeched. I heard Bella's tiny footsteps running but Alice must have caught her easily because her footsteps ceased. Bella started to cry uncontrollably.
"Edweeerrrrd!"
Emmett chuckled beside me. "Good luck…" he muttered before disappearing out the front door.
I sighed. "Some brother you are," I growled, walking up the steps to Alice and Jaspers room. Jasper was reading a book on the bed while Alice held up a pink dress with sparkles and a pouting Bella in the corner of the room. I swear Alice is like the devil in disguise. She was fuming at Bella who had her arms crossed and pouting, facing away from her.
"Alice," I said disapprovingly. "If Bella doesn't want to wear the dress don't make her."
"Edweeerd!" Bella squealed, jumping into my arms. I sighed, picking her up and hitching her on my hip as I starred at Alice.
"You huff a lot," Bella noted sweetly.
I looked at her in confusion. "What?"
She imitated my sigh. "You huff a lot," she repeated.
I laughed loudly at that. Bella cracked a smile at me.
"Edward, leave!" Alice snapped. Bella pouted at her. "We were playing dress up, thank you."
Suddenly, Emmett bombarded into the room. For the love of Christ. He had a red cape on with a bigger letter 'E' in blue. "Emmmmmeeeetttt to the rescue!" he chanted, picking Bella up out of my arms and speeding out of the room.
"EMMETT!" Alice screeched, running after him.
I rolled my eyes. Jasper sat on the bed and continued to read as if nothing had ever happened. "How do you put up with Alice?" I asked impatiently.
He just shrugged, eyes never leaving the book. I sighed, smirking at myself as I realized I 'huffed' again, and went downstairs to find Emmett, Alice and Bella.
Edward, dear, Esme called internally. I turned to look at her. "Yes?" I asked. I was wondering, if perhaps, maybe I could spend some time with Bella? I nodded my head at her, smiling slightly as I realized it would get Bella away from Alice and Emmett. I didn't understand why they liked Bella the five year old so much, anyways.
Oh, thank you! She smiled, rushing out of the room in a hurry.
Why is it that I'm sharing Bella with everyone so much? Its like she's a fame and adolescent package deal.
The next morning, after Bella ate her breakfast and changed out of her pajamas, Emmett and Alice were by her side, pressuring her with questions.
"So, Bella…" Alice started casually.
"Do you want to play with me?" Emmett finished, smiling goofily at her.
I was a little concerned about having Bella play with Emmett after what he was up to with Rosalie last night. "Do you want to play with me?" Alice asked, pushing Emmett aside and holding up a green dress and a crown.
Bella wiped her mouth on her shirt and starred at them blankly.
Emmett pushed Alice aside and flexed his muscles in front of Bella. "How 'bout we go to the park, just you and me, buddy? You swing and I'll push and look at that." He pointed to his flexed muscle. "You could fly to the moon with these bad boys!" he kissed his biceps sweetly.
Bella giggled and Alice grimaced. "OR!" Alice said quickly, pushing Emmett away once more. "We could go to the mall and get some pretty princess outfits and accessories!" she dangled the dress in front of her.
Bella pouted and Emmett grinned. "Hey, buddy! Instead of that boring girl stuff, we could go to Chuckie Cheese's! They have games and everything!"
Bella nodded and reached out for Emmett. Alice growled, annoyed, and stomped out of the room. As I followed Emmett and Bella out into the living room, Bella squealed and reached over Emmett's shoulder to the TV which was set on MTV, Jasper and Rosalie sitting casually on the couch, not even paying attention to it.
"You wanna watch TV, do you, buddy?" Emmett grinned and snatched the remote of the coffee table in front of the couch and started flipping through channels, flopping down on the love seat, Bella in his lap.
"STOP!" Bella screamed suddenly, pointing to the TV as I sat down next to them.
Emmett paused on Dora the Explorer and groaned as Bella got up and started dancing around the living room. "Couldn't we watch like Go, Diego, Go?" Emmett grumbled.
"What is Go, Diego, Go?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow at him.
"It's like a dude version of Dora the Explorer, I think…"
As the show progressed, Emmett and I actually found ourselves interested in it. Little kids shows are actually addicting in a very unhealthy way. Its like you can't look away after they suck you into it. Bella was sitting Indian style on the floor in front of us and Emmett was getting aggravated at the screen.
"It's right behind you, Dora! What the hell is up with that!?" He yelled, throwing his hands out.
It took everything I had not to laugh at how serious he was being.
"No, don't use your fucking backpack, just follow the trail!" he growled.
"Fucking?" Bella said, looking at Emmett and I in confusion.
Emmett and I exchanged a quick, frantic glance. "Uh…never say that again, Bella!" Emmett said hurriedly, biting his lip.
"Why? What does it mean?"
"It means something bad… uh…it's a no-no!" I told her, scooping her up quickly and setting her in my lap.
Bella starred at Emmett with wide eyes. "Ooooo!" She said, shaking her head with an utterly serious expression for a five year old. "You said a no-no." She said, pointing her finger at him. She then turned to me quickly. "Is Emmy going to be in trouble?"
I smirked at Emmett. "Yes. He's going to be punished. Oh, Rosalie…" I called tauntingly, even though she was sitting on the couch across from us.
Rosalie smirked at Emmett. Emmett starred at Rosalie, petrified from the devious look on her face.
Hmmm, how shall I punish my wonderful husband for teaching a five year old inappropriate vocabulary?
I just laughed, returning my attention to Dora the Explorer with Bella.
Lucky for me, it was a marathon and Bella insisted we watch every single episode. I swear my brain is melting out my ears.
Poor Edward! Imagine watching Dora the Explorer for hours...yikes. I'm not even sure if there is such a thing as a Dora the Explorer marathon, but oh well. It's my story :) Review and I'll update like a speedy monkey! ...yeah...