A/N: Any and all things Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer
Previously in Against All Odds:
I realized that Isabella was innocent. Way too innocent. Whatever feelings I had for her, I had to push them inside. She didn't have the emotional maturity to even think about romance.
Why was I thinking that anyway?
Did I want to have a romance with Isabella?
Why does she affect me like that?
It couldn't be possible!
Even so, right now, all I could think about was leaning in and kissing her red lips.
What the fuck!
I am in so much trouble!
Episode 8 – Bewitched
Carlisle
I was very curious and somewhat annoyed as I sat on the waiting room of my clinic, waiting for Edward. I also worried. What was going on that I had to lie to my wife and meet him on my clinic to see a girl that wasn't even sick? Something if off in this story. This is completely out of character for Edward. He is always so reserved. I've never met one of his 'girlfriends' intentionally.
Notice I am not counting the time I walked in on his and one of his conquests having sex on the piano. It was an accident and I try very hard not to remember that. But sometimes the image pops out in my head. I can't help it. It's burned into my brain and it gives nightmares. People think seeing their parents having sex is traumatized, well, let me tell you, it's no piece of cake when it's the other way around.
Anyway, my point is, Edward is acting totally out of character. And he is late. 15 minutes late. Edward is never late.
As I get to get myself yet another glass of water I hear a car parking outside. Seconds later I hear doors slamming. And then, there is a knock. He's here. I turn to face the door and order him to come in.
Jasper walks in first. I'm surprised to see him. I didn't expect that.
"Good morning Dr. C" – he greets me.
Then, Edward walked in. He's not alone. There's a young girl with him. I look at Edward and then at the girl. They are holding hands. She is wearing jeans, a t-shirt with a picture of a cat wearing sunglasses and black converse shoes. She looks a little scared and fragile. She was definitely thinner that she should be. Other than that, she looked fine. And extremely familiar
"Sorry we are late"- Edward said. I drew my eyes away from the girl and looked at Edward.
They had stopped a few feet from where I was standing.
"Dad, this is Isabella"- Edward said. Then he turned at the girl, who looked up at him with adoring eyes. "Bella, this is my dad, Dr. Carlisle Cullen" – he completed.
Wait. Did he just say Isabella? Bella? As in…
"Dad I was wondering if you take a look at Bella and see if she is ok. Maybe do some exams. She hasn't been to the doctor in a long time" – Edward said.
"We are also wondering if you could collect some of Isabella's blood for a few tests we want to run" – Jasper completed
A few tests?
"Isabella, is nice to meet you"- I said, holding up my hand. She didn't take. Instead, she looked at Edward as is asking for permission.
"It's ok. He won't hurt you" – he said
Then she took my hand and shook it lightly. Why would she think I would hurt her?
"Isabella, do you mind staying here for a few minutes while I talk to my son and his friend?"
Again she didn't answer. And again she looked at Edward. He guided her to one of the armchairs. The one located by the window, with a view to a small garden I had on the back of the clinic. She sat down and he kneeled in front of her.
I looked at Jasper and saw that he was watching he scene with as much fascination as I was. I turned back to Edward and the girl. He cupped her face in his left hand before speaking.
"I'll be right back, ok. The front gate is locked and so is the front door. No one will get to you here. If you need anything you can call me. I'll be at the second door to your left. Do you know where your left is?"
He was talking to her as if she was a child.
"Yes. I know" – she responded. She seemed annoyed with the way he was treating her. He chuckle at her response.
"Okay. Okay. Do you want a magazine to read while you wait?"
"Really?" – she said, excited.
What was so exciting about a magazine?
"Really" – Edward said, standing up and picking up the new issue of Hello that had just arrived yesterday. Did she really eager to know what was going with the rich and famous? She took the magazine from him and looked at it fascinated. And Edward watched her with the same fascination in his eyes.
I look at Jasper one more time and he was watching the scene with a little smile on his lips. He seemed emotional about something.
"I never read a magazine before" – Isabella said
This was getting stranger by the minute.
Edward kneeled again and kissed her forehead. The moment seemed so intimate that I felt like I should be looking away, instead, I stared.
Edward got up again and headed to my office without saying a single word. Jasper and I followed in silence.
Edward
"You two are crazy" - my dad exclaimed. I had just told him about what happen in my life since Friday afternoon, when Bella came back into my life. I initially intended to leave out the part where I held her all night and promised I wouldn't leave her, but Jasper didn't let that go by and told the history himself.
I still didn't know what was said between him and Bella in the bedroom a couple of hours ago. He wouldn't tell me when I asked and I was too shy to ask Bella.
Yes. I was shy. I was completely turning back into a 13 year-old boy, who got nervous talking to a girl. Pathetic, I know.
Bella was fascinating. Everything she did amazed and dazzled me. And as hard as try to fight this feeling, it only seemed to get stronger.
When she told me that she had never read a magazine before, I wanted ton outside and buy and entire newsstand for her.
Yep, that was my life. Everything she asked me I would do.
"Just to be sure, which part do you think it's crazy?" – Jasper asked
"The whole thing is crazy" – dad answered. "Edward, you can take a girl off the streets and take her home. That's not how it works. And Jasper, you can't take someone's blood without their permission"
"How does it work?" – I asked. "What was I suppose to do leave her there?"
"No, I guess not" – dad answered. You should have… you should have…"- he was trying to come up with a better solution then the one I found, but it was clear that he didn't have any. "Do you really think it's her?" – he asked, amazed
"Yes"- I answered firmly. Why did everybody needed to question me about that?
"This is crazy. If even she does allow me to collect some of her blood, we would have nothing to compare it to" – he said. It was clear that he was considering the idea.
"But you are the King's doctor" – I reminded him
"Yes. But it's not like I can store his blood in my fridge." – he answered
"But you have ways to get this blood, right. You can say it's for an exam" – Jasper suggested
"What does that mean for my ethic?" – Dad was an honest person. He valued his position as a doctor and didn't misuse the power he had. Yes, power. People would tell anything for their doctors because they trust them. And being the King's doctor, God knows the secret they shared. How much he knew about the monarch. Information is power. Especially at a time when the King has gone crazy.
"We figured you wouldn't want to give the Royal Family false hope. Imagine f we tell them and the girl turns out not to be the Princess. Don't you think it would crush their spirits even more?" – Jasper said. He was appealing to my dad's emotional side. As the King's long time doctor he was also a friend of the family. Reason I was able to stay at Balmoral during the summer. And why I taught riding to princess Isabella and her annoying cousin, Lady Jessica. No need to say that time spent with Bella were much more pleasant then the ones with Jessica. Not that I had any romantic interest on her at the time. She was 10 years-old while I was 15. We weren't exactly friends like I've told Bella earlier. But saying that was easier to explain than saying 'well, you were 10 and I was 15 and my dad forced me to give you horse riding lessons. You were nice but we didn't have much in common in fact, you were like my little sister'. Isabella was a lovely child. She was quiet and a little shy but she was very smart or her age and liked hearing stories about what happened to people's life outside the palace. No romantic feelings then. Now, was a different story. She was grown up and beautiful, fragile and fierce at the same time.
Wait. Did I just admit to having romantic feelings towards Isabella?
"Don't try to manipulate me, Mr. Whitlock"- dad said. "I'll have to think about what we are going to do next"- he continued, including himself on my future plans about Isabella. "For now, I think it's best if she stays with Edward. As you told me, she is already settled in your apartment. And plus, she seems to trust you" – he said
"Dad, I appreciate that you support my decision to take care of Bella, but believe me, she would have stayed with me regardless of what you said"- I told him. No one is taking her away from me. Not again.
My dad stared at me for a good minute after hearing what I said. His eyes held fascination, curiosity and… proud?
"As you wish, son. Now, you two can leave and please send Isabella in"- he said, standing up and opening the door, waiting for Jasper and I to leave.
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