Disclaimer: Do not own Twilight or any of its wonderful characters

Warning: Just as a reminder, this story does contain non-sexual spanking, so if you don't like don't read

Chapter 7: Intriguing Discussion

Carlisle's POV:

I cannot describe the feelings I felt when Bella told me she thought of me as her father, and when she called me Dad. I wanted nothing more than to keep her in my arms and tell her everything was alright. Even now, as I heard her heart beat pick up in nervousness, I wanted to comfort her.

I shook my head.

I had to be strong. I was the father, which meant I could not condone her actions and let it go without some repercussions.

We arrived at my office and Bella opened the door. She took a few tentative steps in and then stopped and looked at me, as though unsure of what to do. I nodded towards the chair in front of my desk before closing the door.

We both took our seats and then I watched Bella. She was fidgeting nervously and looking at her hands as though they were the most interesting thing in the world. I decided the sooner we get this over with the better, so I cleared my throat unnecessarily causing Bella to look up at me.

"Why don't you explain to me everything you did yesterday starting with where you got the ridiculous idea of going to a party in Port Angeles" I prodded her.

She took a deep breath and then began to speak while looking at her hands. "Well, it started during lunch…" she began softly.

"Isabella", I interrupted "As interesting as your hands are, I would appreciate it if you would look at me when speaking to me". She blushed and then mumbled, "Sorry". I waved the apology and signaled for her to continue.

She told me about how she heard of the party from Jessica because the party was being hosted by Jessica's cousin. She told me about it being a college party and how cool Jessica thought we'd be for attending. She then told me about how she agreed to go and as she was starting to continue on with the story I held up my hand to silence her.

"Why did you agree to go Bella?" I asked curiously. I knew Bella, and she hated parties. Why she would have agreed to go was one of the questions that I was truly curious about hearing.

Bella blushed and her heart beat accelerated. "B-Because I… I thought it would be f-fun and I wanted to spend time with Jessica and Mike", she finished lamely not meeting my eyes.

I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. I cannot believe that Bella had the audacity to lie to me. I opened my eyes and narrowed them at the girl.

"Isabella Marie Swan" I began sternly, causing her to look up at me with wide eyes. "You have already lied to me once and I cannot believe you have the audacity to do so once more." I leaned forward and stared straight into her eyes. "Don't you dare even think of doing so again" I finished warningly. I didn't think I needed to include a threat judging by the wide, earnest eyes looking back and me.

I leaned back in my chair and placed my hands on the desk. "Would you care to try again, young lady" I stated.

Bella closed her eyes, and took a few deep breaths to calm her rapidly beating heart. "Now would be a good time", I urged her.

Looking at her hands once more Bella stated quickly, "I-I did it because of Edward."

What? I thought confused. "Explain", I ordered "And look at me when you speak to me Isabella. I will not tell you again."

With a beet red face Bella looked at me and then stated exasperatedly, "I'm tired of him telling me who I can and can't hang out with! Edward has no right to dictate my life no matter his reasons! If I want to visit my friend Jacob then it's none of his business! But he refuses to let me because he thinks", she stated sarcastically "that the wolves will hurt me. I thought that if I went to this party and got drunk, then Edward would see that humans can be dangerous too, and would stop trying to keep me from seeing Jacob" she finished softly, averting her eyes from mine once more.

Well, I thought, though I did not expect this to be the reason, her feelings did not surprise me at all. I had told Edward that if he continued to be so controlling with Bella that she would start to resent him for it. It seems that I was correct, and that another serious chat with Edward was in order.

"Bella, look at me" I ordered softly. "I understand your frustrations with Edward, and believe me, I will be speaking to him about this. He should not be trying to control your actions in any way. I also don't think he should be forbidding you from seeing Jacob. I know Jacob cares for you deeply and would never hurt you." Bella nodded passionately at my assessments.

"However," I continued. "Do you not understand why Edward does this?"

"I do", Bella responded slowly. I raised my eyebrow at her, urging her to expand.

"He's doing it to protect me" she stated softly. "He says that he could not bear it if anything happened to me."

"Edward loves you dearly Bella" I stated kindly. "Though he may be a bit too over-protective of you, he is only doing it for your well-being, and not to make you miserable" I finished smiling.

Bella nodded her head slowly at me with a soft smile on her face. "I guess I might've gone a little overboard" she mumbled wryly.

"Indeed you did", I agreed seriously. "Although your frustrations are valid, your reasoning for attending the party was not. It was extremely foolish and childish of you," I chided her.

Before she could respond I continued, "And was I hearing correctly when I heard you mention that you went to the party with the intention of getting drunk?"

I gazed at Bella disappointedly as she closed her mouth. "I expect a verbal response Bella."

She looked at me and replied quietly, "Yes sir".

I watched her fidget under my gaze for a few more minutes before deciding to broach the subject of drinking at a later time.

"Why did you lie to me Bella?" I asked sadly, already knowing the answer.

Tears began to fill her eyes at the sound of my disappointment. "It-it was b-because I knew y-y-you w-would say no", she responded tearfully wiping at her eyes.

"So you knew that I would not approve of you attending this party and still went" I continued sternly.

"Y-yes", she answered softly.

"What happened at the party?" I then asked.

She groaned softly before looking at me and explaining about the drinking game she played, getting sick, her fight with Lauren, and then getting arrested.

Beer pong? I thought astonished. And the fight with Lauren; Bella was delusional if she truly believed that she would gain independence by acting so irresponsibly and recklessly. On the contrary, I thought running my hands through my hair, her actions just make me want to lock her up and keep her close so that she doesn't get any other crazy ideas.

"So let me make sure I understand everything clearly", I stated holding up my hand. "One: you knowingly went to a party with the intention of becoming drunk even though you knew it was illegal. Two: You lied to me, twice. Three: You knowingly went to a party that you knew I would not have allowed you to attend. Four: You illegally drank alcohol. Five: You got into a fist fight with another girl. And Six" I stated while holding up my second hand, "you were arrested".

Bella winced and stared at me with open-mouth and wide, guilt-ridden eyes. Good, I thought, she should feel guilty.

"I'll take your silence as confirmation, but please feel free to add anything I may have missed" I stated angrily. Bella winced again as tears filled her eyes.

I took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of my nose. I needed to calm down. It would not do for me to deal with Bella when I was angry.

"Bella, I need you to go to your room right now, so I can think clearly. I will come and get you when I am done."

"O-Ok" I heard her say softly before she practically ran from the room.

I took an unnecessary breath and listened intently to assure Bella had followed my instructions before standing up to pace.

What upset me the most was about how reckless Bella had been. Not once did she stop to think about her safety. Not once did she stop to consider that attending a college party with older boys who could easily take advantage of her as dangerous. Not once did she stop to consider how dangerous drinking was, let alone drinking large quantities. I growled at the thought of all the things that could have gone wrong. She could have been raped, gotten alcohol poisoning, or be lying in a ditch somewhere. I had to make sure Bella learned to take her safety seriously and to think her actions through. I had to make sure that Bella learned that needlessly putting yourself in danger was a rule you did not break in this family for it would get you nothing more than a well spanked bottom.

The next issue I pondered over was her lying. Lying was another big rule in this family. I considered it a form of extreme disrespect and in my book there was never a good reason to do so. My children learned quickly that lying to me or their mother would get them a trip over my lap faster than they could say 'unfair'. I would make sure Bella learned that rule as well.

I sighed thinking of the third big rule Bella had broken: fighting. Esme and I did not tolerate violence of any kind. We know the kids, the boys especially love to roughhouse with each other, but the minute they attack anyone in anger we quickly step in. Once again, the consequence for breaking a 'big rule' was a trip to my office. And it seemed that Bella would be learning about this rule the hard way, as well.

I thought about Bella's arrest next. The fourth and final 'big rule' of this family is not to attract unwanted attention to the family. If it had been any of my other children, I would have considered the rule broken, but since Bella isn't legally a part of this family, I will make an exception. That did not mean I was any less angry about her arrest, but in lieu of her other transgressions, I decided I'd let her off with a warning.

I groaned in disappointment. Out of the four 'big rules' of this family, Bella had managed to break three in one night. Granted I had not discussed these rules with her, but I knew that Bella knew better. She knew what she was doing was wrong and reckless, yet she persisted to do so. These were no accidents, I thought angrily.

I walked to my couch and laid down on it putting my right arm over my face. Breaking any one of those four rules would earn Bella a spanking. She had broken three: What was I going to do about that? I refused to just let any one of them slide, but I did not want to have to spank her three separate times either.

I briefly considered using the belt, but then quickly banished the thought. I only used the belt in extreme cases, and although Bella had broken many rules, she had not done so to the extreme. I also took into account that Bella has probably never been spanked before and to use the belt on her the first time would be cruel. I mulled over possibilities in my mind before coming to a decision.

I would spank Bella today for the recklessness and for endangering herself so foolishly. I would then spank her again tomorrow night for the lying. I would have to call Esme to make sure they came back late. For the fighting, I would be lenient, taking into account she had been drunk and not thinking clearly at the time. I would make her write an apology letter to Lauren, to be checked over by me. Lastly, for the arrest, I would be lenient again and give her nothing more than a stern warning.

Very well, I thought to myself while slowly sitting up. I had better call Esme and inform her of the situation. I imagine I'll have my hands full with Bella for the rest of the weekend.

I pulled the phone out of my pocket and dialed.

"Hello Carlisle", answered my darling wife on the second ring. God, I missed her already.

"Hello Esme", I responded tiredly. "Has Alice told you about Bella yet?" I asked despondently.

"Yes, she has Carlisle, but I don't fully understand. She wasn't very forthcoming on information. Why don't you explain to me what our youngest has gotten herself into?" she asked curiously.

I sighed and then explained everything that had happened yesterday and today starting with my phone call to Bella and ending with my decision on how to punish our errant daughter.

I heard my lovely wife sigh in disappointment at the end of my explanation.

"I don't believe it" she stated astonished. "She did all that because she was frustrated with Edward."

"I know", I replied wryly. "Perhaps you should speak with Edward. Do not inform him of what has happened, but inform him that Bella does not need a controlling mate, no matter how noble the reasons."

"Yes, I will speak with Edward" she stated determinedly. "It seems clear that this has gone on too long."

I paused and then asked hesitatingly, "Do you agree with my punishment for Bella?" Esme was always fiercely protective of her cubs and I was not in the mood to argue with her on this matter. I truly believed Bella deserved what I was planning and hoped Esme agreed.

I heard a sigh and then "Carlisle, darling, I am in complete agreement with you. Isabella's behavior has been abominable. She could have seriously gotten hurt because of her lack of forethought, and you know how I feel about lying. I think the idea of writing an apology is brilliant, and in regards to the arrest, I believe a warning will be sufficient in lieu of the two spankings she will be receiving. Do not doubt yourself Carlisle, you are a wonderful father."

I felt a rush of affection for my wife as I sighed in relief. "Thank you", I replied softly, eternally grateful to God for having given me such a loving and caring wife.

"Don't forget to come home a little late tomorrow, please. I love you my beautiful Esme", I stated emotionally.

"I love you too my darling Carlisle" she responded lovingly. "Be sure to tell Bella I agree with you completely about her punishment and that she is not to fight you on it. I will see you both tomorrow night." And with that, she hung up.

I stared at the phone wishing to hear the voice of my Esme again. I was not looking forward to spanking Bella at all. I never enjoyed spanking any of my children, in fact I hated doing it, but that never stopped me from doing so. My children were eternal teenagers, and as such needed to be reeled back in every once in a while. Such was the job of a father. I steeled myself for the coming discussion, and then began walking towards Edward and Bella's bedroom.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did! Please please review!