A.N. Thanks so very much to everyone that reviewed! Your all so amazing it's unbelievable! It still... puzzles me at how much you like my stories! I'm sure I'm not that good but you still take the time out of your day and read my work! I can't thank you enough.

If thy owns nothing, thou can't sue.

"What were you reading?" I asked in a small voice to change the subject.

CPOV

"Jasper?" I didn't look up from my paperwork that I was so far behind on as I called his name.

"Yes, sir?"

I wrote down a few more notes, filling in more information. "Would you mind waking Bella for me?"

He hesitated and I glanced up at him. "I-I don't want to scare her."

I hadn't thought about that. "Could you get Alice to do it?"

He looked distraught. "She's changing."

I frowned slightly, filling in more information. "Just wake her gently." I sighed in defeat.

"Alright..." I heard his footsteps getting farther away.

I tried very hard to not let my thoughts be distracted by Bella and focus on my much overdue work- I tried, I really did- but I ended up daydreaming about her. It pained me just to think about all the pain she's had to endure due to all those horrible bastards. It enraged me that these people couldn't find the decency in them to control themselves and allow this sweet little angel to live. She's done nothing in all her life to deserve any of this- it just isn't fair. Well, I guess the statement 'life isn't fair' is one-hundred percent true.

I found myself doodling on the side of my extremely important patient information. I cursed myself for being so oblivious- and for using a permanent pen. Jasper walked in a while later, his expression confused me. I stood immediately.

"What's the matter?"

He looked up at me, seemingly shocked from some other thought that had been occupying his mind. "Um... nothing." he muttered nervously.

I eyed him sternly, putting my hands on my desk and leaning towards him for emphasis and to be slightly more menacing. "Is something wrong with Bella?"

He seemed to take a double-take but stood his ground. "She... I think I scared her when I woke her."

I immediately became worried. "What happened?"

"She kind of went out of it for a moment but then she started shaking and crying horribly." he informed me hesitantly.

I became somewhat angry. "And you weren't planning on informing me of this." I stated, knowing it was truth.

His eyes became hard. "She asked me that I not tell you- I already see her as my little sister. I wished to gain her trust."

This time, I was the one that did a double-take. "Oh," I mumbled.

He seemed suddenly ashamed. "But I am sorry, I probably should have intended on telling you in the first place."

"No, I do see your point. I'm glad you already see her as such, protect her at school seeing as I cannot. I'll not tell her that I know." I looked at him pleadingly.

"Of course," He nodded and grinned.

I walked around my desk and down to Bella's room to check on her. I paused outside the door as Alice's and Bella's words drifted to my ears.

"You don't deserve what they did to you, you are beautiful, and Carlisle does love you." Alice reassured Bella.

"I just... feel so used. He deserves better than a broken, useless, whore like me." Her voice broke in several places.

Her words tore my heart into pieces. It was obvious she thought her statement truth. I walked in without knocking. Alice looked up at me with tears in her eyes as I wrapped my arms around Bella and pulled her close.

"Your not any of those things. Your my princess and I love you dearly. Your the most beautiful person I've ever met and you do not deserve what those people did to you." I spoke with all the sincerity in the world.

***

I was so worried about Bella, and my worry only worsened when they left for school. Bella and Jasper got in the car and Alice stayed back.

"Don't worry Carlisle, I think Jasper and I can protect Bella from anything high school throws at her." Alice said in a reassuring voice, giving me a hug.

I squeezed her tightly. "Please... try," I sighed heavily as I released her.

She smiled at me. "Believe me, Jasper will kick anyone's ass-"

I cut her off. "Language, Alice." I chastised gently.

She grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. I mean, Jasper will kick anyone's butt if they attempt to do anything to Bella." Alice said with a loving/proud smile towards Jasper in the back seat of her yellow Porsche. "He already sees her as his younger sister." she informed me just as he had earlier.

I nodded in agreement. "You had better get going, don't want to be late." I ordered gruffly, still worried over Bella.

"Bye, Carlisle. Love you!" Alice called over her shoulder as she walked to her car.

"Love you too, sweetheart!" I called after her and she laughed at the nickname.

I watched as they backed out. Bella waved timidly at me before they turned to leave the driveway. I waved back and blew her a kiss. She caught it, metaphorically speaking, and touch it to her lips. I smiled as I watched them drive off and leave my sight.

Unwillingly, I took my eyes off where the car had just been and walked back inside the house. I shut the door behind me and locked it. I looked around the empty house and it seemed creepily silent for once. I couldn't take the silence so I walked over to my iHome that still held my iPod docked to it and turned it on to shuffle.

Satisfied, I walked over to my huge bookcase and chose a random book. I looked at the title and it turned out to be Pride and Prejudice. I decided to go with that since it had been quite some time since I had last read it. I sat myself down on the couch, fully intending on staying right there until Bella returned. I opened the book to the first page and immediately became lost in the happenings of 19th century England.

***

Before I knew it, I heard the door shut. I looked up to see Bella, she looked nervously back at me. "Bella," I said in surprise, placing a bookmark where I had left off. I stood up from where I had been sprawled on the couch and took a look at the clock to see it wasn't yet time for school to be out. I instantly became anxious as to why she'd be home.

"I'm sorry, something happened and..." she trailed off as I walked over and hugged her hesitantly.

I felt horrid that she was apologizing. "You mustn't apologize, sweet princess." I murmured softly with a reassuring smile as I pulled back. "What happened?" I asked as I led her over to the couch.

She proceeded to tell me about her encounter with Mike Newton. My anger for that kid grew so much more. How dare he hurt two of my girls? First Alice and now my Bella? That kid needs some help.

My fists clutched at my sides. "I'm very sorry, Bella. I wanted you to feel comfortable here..." I internally cursed that wretched kid.

She looked down at her hands. "What were you reading?" she asked in a small voice.

BPOV

He looked back at where he'd placed his book- he had seemingly forgotten it. "Oh, Pride and Prejudice," he recollected.

I was shocked. Everyone I met had no patience for the classics. This one in particular happened to be my absolute, all-time favorite of the works of Jane Austen. "I love that book!" I exclaimed in shock.

He grinned. "Really?" he asked in disbelief.

I laughed. "Yes! Jane Austen is amazing!" I gushed.

His grin widened. "Want to read it with me?" he offered.

"Sure!" I agreed immediately, today's happenings long forgotten. I hesitantly snuggled closer to Carlisle and leaned back, further into the soft, leather, white couch..

He did the same after retrieving the book from the coffee table. He put his arm around my waist and held the book so we could both look at it.

An idea came to mind and I decided, what the hey? I snuggled up to him and got into his lap.

He looked shocked for a moment before encasing me in his loving embrace.

I kissed the hollow of his throat. "Will you read it to me?" I breathed, trying to sound endearing.

He kissed my forehead. "Of course, my princess," he murmured.

I pouted, my bottom lip jutted out just a bit.

His eyes widened slightly. "What?" he asked innocently.

"You missed." I breathed before bravely capturing his lips with mine.

He immediately responded with his own intensity. I wrapped my arms around his neck and wove my fingers into his beautiful golden blond locks. I pushed myself closer to him, sitting up so my knees were on either side of his legs. We eventually broke apart, needing to breath. I leaned my head against his, feeling slightly nervous about my sudden burst of bravery.

Carlisle sensed my nervousness. He gently kissed my nose and I giggled. "Thank you,"

I became confused. "For what?"

"For not being afraid to kiss me."

I grinned to myself. I sat back on his lap and curled up in it. "And thank you for allowing me to." I murmured as I nuzzled his chest affectionately.

He rubbed my back before sliding his arm around my body to hold me in his lap. "Anytime, sweet girl," He kissed the top of my head.

He spent the next few hours reading aloud to me Pride and Prejudice. After a bit, he suddenly put the book down. I looked up at him, confused. His mischievous expression only confused me further.

I was suddenly laying back on the couch with him on top of me, careful not to put all his weight down on me. "Carl-" I couldn't finish his name for he started tickling me.

I immediately started laughing like crazy. My limbs flailed about in a useless attempt to get him to stop. "Quit... it!" I exclaimed through giggles.

He grinned. "Not until you tell me you love me." he conditioned, still tickling me.

I laughed harder. "I... love... you!" I managed to get out while gasping for breath.

He finally stopped but I was still gasping to regain my breath from all the laughing. He grinned triumphantly. "I love you too, princess,"

I smiled back at him. "I haven't laughed like that in years." I admitted.

He smiled knowingly. "You'll be laughing like that a lot more now." he promised.

"I'm going to hold you to that." I suddenly recognized the song filling the room. "Clair De Lune?" I asked in shock- that was my favorite piano piece.

He looked just as shocked. "You know Claude Debussy?"

"Of course... I can play every one of his pieces on the piano." I admitted sheepishly.

He raised an eyebrow. "Beautiful, sweet, strong, loving, unselfish likes Pride and Prejudice, Clair De Lune, and can play the piano? You're beyond perfect." he murmured in awe, kissing me lovingly.

I rolled my eyes when he pulled back. "I'm nowhere near perfect, Carlisle." I sighed.

He ignored my statement, as if I hadn't said anything. "You also have the most beautiful laugh I've ever heard." He inhaled and smiled. "You also smell like chocolate dipped strawberries."

I blushed furiously. "You're all the more beautiful when you blush." He gently glided his thumb over my cheek.

I smiled. "Thank you, Carlisle. Your the first person in a long time to actually think of me as perfect." I murmured appreciatively, happy and sad tears brimming at my eyes.

He kissed away the few tears that escaped. "That's because no one has had the courage looked underneath the covers." he said knowingly before kissing my nose again.

I smiled. "And what made you decide to look?" I questioned curiously.

He thought about that for a moment. "I had a very good feeling." he told me. Which only left me with more questions but I didn't voice them.

I shut my eyes, feeling quite tired all of a sudden, and yawned. Carlisle kissed both of my eyelids. "I love you," he whispered.

I yawned once more. "I love you too." I then drifted off into a sweet, dreamless sleep.

(A.N.) Aw! I think that was rather sweet! :) I love Carlisle and Bella... ha ha. Tell me in a review whether you like it or hate it! I will love you for it!!!

Love,

Ms. White Christmas