Chapter 10 – Billy's Exam

Carlisle:

The living quarters in the Lodge are now complete and we just put the finishing touches on them last night. Emily and Sam are anxious to move in, however, Rosalie is having a hard time with this and I'm not sure Billy is ready to move in yet. We still have to finish the rest of the Lodge, but they can stay there while we work around them.

"Well Billy, seems like your new home is ready and waiting for you," I said to him.

"Yes my brother, it seems so. I'm going to miss being here," Billy replied.

"You know you don't have to leave. You can stay here as long as you like. You don't have to move to the Lodge if you don't want to. Everyone loves having you here and Rosalie adores you," I offered to him.

"I appreciate that Carlisle, but I need to be with my people," Billy said.

"I understand that, Billy. I just want you to know you can stay here and if you decide to go to the Lodge, you can always come and spend time here whenever and for how long you wish," I made clear to him.

"Thank you, my brother. I may take you up on that," Billy said grabbing my hand. I placed my hand on top of his. "Whew, I just can't get used to how cold your hands are," Billy said feeling the chill.

"I know, it's hard to explain also," I said to him. We both chuckled.

"Let's go to the medical room, I want to examine you again before you leave us, or if you leave us," I said pointing him toward the medical room.

"This is one thing I won't miss," Billy said with disgust.

"What won't you miss? Where are you going?" Rosalie asked coming in with a tray for Billy.

"Having exams. I can't escape Carlisle here, but at the Lodge, I'll be able to duck him," Billy laughed eyeing me.

"Yes, you just try it, young man," I warned shaking my finger at him.

"Please don't leave us, Uncle Billy. I'm going to miss you so much. You're the only one who understands me," Rosalie said sadly.

"Now my Rose Bud, you know that's not true," Billy said grabbing her hand.

"Oh for the love of…come on will ya! Quit giving her hope, she's bad enough and then you had to go and make her into this…this…well…look how she is now…she's got you sticking up for her and she's even nice to me at times…I don't like nice from her…it scares me…," Jake complained shoving Rosalie.

"Enough you two," I cautioned them.

"Get off me, you badger!" Rosalie said shoving Jake back.

"That's the Rose I remember!" Jake announced. "Vicious!"

"Irritant!" Rosalie called him.

"Strife!" Jake came back.

"OOOOOOoooooo! You make me so mad," Rosalie said flipping her hair and turning away from Jake.

"Next time you swish your hair around like that, dunk it in a bucket of soap water first and clean the floor. Make yourself useful," Jake laughed.

"I said that's enough," I said louder this time. They both looked at me. "And you wonder why Billy wants to move to the Lodge," I stated, fed up with their arguing.

"Now you've got Dad yelling at us. Nice work petal brain," Jake said to Rosalie.

"Go chase a rodent," Rosalie scowled at him.

"Keep it up and I'm moving to the Lodge," I said lifting Billy out of his chair. "Come on Billy, I want to give you an exam," I said.

"I'd rather stay and hear the arguing," Billy joked.

"Not in the mood right now, Billy. You're coming with me, and you two will stop your bickering or I'm coming back down here and if I have to stop Billy's exam to deal with the two of you, you're both in for it," I warned them.

"How so?" Jake tempted fate.

"Remember Jeb?" I said to him.

"Yikes! Uh…we'll stop Dad," Jake said as his face flushed remembering Jeb's spanking.

"Wise choice, son," I said to him as I flashed with Billy to the medical room.

Medical Room:

"Can I help Daddy," Rosalie asked coming in the room.

"Sure you can, you can take down the readings and hand me what I need," I said to her.

"This will be more pleasant since you are here to help Rose Bud," Billy said smiling.

"Thanks Uncle Billy. I don't know why you have to leave us," Rosalie said to him.

"Now Rose Bud, you know I have to leave," Billy reminded her.

"Why? You can stay here with us and still be close to the Pack. Plus you will be with Jake," Rosalie explained.

"They're my people. I am their Chief, I need to be with them. I will miss being here though," Billy admitted.

"There you see! You could live here and go there during the day or when you need to be there. You're comfortable here and Daddy can keep an eye on your health here," Rosalie pointed out.

"Yes, that's the reason I'm leaving," Billy laughed giving me a smirk.

"Don't you smirk at me, mister," I said giving him a stern look and shaking my head. "Naughty Chief."

"Ha ha, that's true, I'll admit it," Billy laughed.

"I don't think it's funny," Rosalie said in her haughty way.

"Rosalie, Billy wants to move to the Lodge," I said to her.

"Well I don't know why he wants to," Rosalie sassed at me.

"Watch it missy," I cautioned her.

"You don't understand Daddy," Rosalie shouted and ran from the room.

"That girl needs her Dad right now, Carlisle," Billy said to me.

"Yes she does. Do you mind if I go and talk to her," I asked Billy.

"Of course I don't mind. She's hurting," Billy said feeling for Rosalie.

"It won't take long," I said to him.

"Take all the time you need, Carlisle," Billy said chuckling.

"Did you cook this up with Rosalie to get out of your exam?" I asked him.

"No, no, just enjoying the short reprieve," Billy laughed.

"Short is the word there," I stated as I left the room.

Rosalie's Room:

As I approached Rosalie's room I could hear her sniveling and Emmett trying to console her. He was very concerned about her since he knows how much Billy has come to mean to Rosalie. I wouldn't mind a bit if Billy stayed with us, but he has chosen to go back to the Lodge so Rosalie needs to understand this. I gently knocked on the door.

"Pops is here to talk to you, Rosie," Emmett whispered to her.

"Princess, may I come in," I asked waiting for a response. In about 2 seconds the door opened and Emmett greeted me.

"Come on in Pops, she's bawling over there on the bed. I hope you can get through to her," Emmett said clapping me on the shoulder as he left to give us privacy.

"JASPER! COME PLAY A GAME WITH ME OR ANY OTHER TAKERS!" Emmett bellowed right next to my ear.

"EMMETT! Please!" I said covering my ear.

"You don't like to play the games, Pops. Besides, you're going to talk to Rosie," Emmett said to me. Sometimes I wonder about this boy.

"I don't want to play games," I said to him.

"I didn't think so, you have a senior moment Pops?" Emmett roared laughing now in my ear.

"EMMETT! Stop yelling," I said to him.

"Oh, is that what you wanted?" Emmett said.

"Yes, you about blew my eardrum out," I said to him.

"Oh sorry Pops," Emmett whispered so low even as a vampire I could hardly hear it.

"Proud of yourself?" I asked him.

"Pretty much!" Emmett said standing there grinning like I was about to take his picture!

"Do you mind?" I said motioning toward the hall.

"No, not at all," Emmett said still standing there with the same goofy grin on his face.

"Emmett, I'm going to count to 3 and you better take off if you know what's good for you," I said holding my finger up as #1.

"I'm gone Pops!" Emmett yelled and flashed downstairs. "Hey Billy, want to play a game with me?"

"Yeah, let's go to the Lodge and play," Billy shouted for my benefit.

"Billy, you are grounded until after your exam," I called down to him.

"How did that happen?" Billy asked sounding stunned.

"Ha ha ha ha ha! Told you not to mess with Dad," Jake laughed hearing that his father was once again grounded. "I'm calling the Pack."

"Sorry, Princess," I said walking toward her bed. "Rosalie, could you sit up and talk with me," I asked her.

"Yes Daddy," Rosalie said sitting on the side of the bed. I pulled a chair up and sat facing her.

"Princess, you have to face the fact that Billy is going to move to the Lodge," I said to her.

"I don't want him to go. He's the only one who ever saw through me like that. I don't know why he can't stay here," Rosalie went on.

"Princess, he knows he is welcome to stay here, but he has chosen to go and live at the lodge to be with his people and Tribe. They want their Chief near them," I tried explaining to her.

"Why does he have to live there? He can stay here and still be their chief," Rosalie tried reasoning.

"Princess, what if I decided to leave and live at the Lodge?" I said to her.

"NO! You can't do that Daddy! What about us? You're our father and leader," Rosalie said to me. "Why would you leave us and live with a bunch of wolves?"

"Why not?" I asked her. "It would be a change of pace and something different," I said to her.

"But, what about Momma? She would miss you and so would we," Rosalie said. "You can't leave us, Daddy!"

"Exactly why Billy can't stay here and wants to go to the Lodge. Princess, they are his people and Tribe and he is their Chief. He needs to be with his people. He can always come and visit and stay for any amount of time he wants, but he is needed in the Tribe. How would they feel if he lived here with us?" I pointed out to her.

"But it would be better for him here. You could monitor his health and eating. You know he will cheat on his diet when he goes back there," Rosalie said.

"He probably will, but I will know by his readings and tests and then he will have to answer to me," I said to her. "Sweetheart, its Billy's choice and right to live at the Lodge. Thankfully it will be comfortable and dry, not like his house was. He will have better surroundings now and people to look after him. You can also check up on him and he would probably like that. He listens to you better than he listens to me," I suggested to her.

"I guess so. I'd love to keep checking up on him and monitoring him," Rosalie offered.

"That's good because I think you are the perfect one to take charge of his health. I can oversee it, but you can continue as you have here and we can work together," I said to her.

"I'd like that. At least he would have the best care and I can make sure he is eating properly. I can draw up menus and give them to Emily," Rosalie said.

"That's right sweetie, you should do that," I said encouraging her. "Do you feel any better about him moving now?" I asked her.

"No, I still want him to stay, but I understand it better now that you talked to me," Rosalie said. That made me so happy to hear her say I helped her.

"You know you can talk to me anytime, Princess," I said to her.

"I know, Daddy. You're always busy either with work, or Mom or dealing with Seth or the one giving you grief at the moment," Rosalie said smirking at me.

"With a houseful of nine teenagers, what do you expect?" I said to her. She giggled along with me.

"Seriously Princess, no matter how busy I am or who I am dealing with at the time, I will always make time for you or anyone who needs to talk to me or just needs me to be their daddy at the time. Don't you ever forget that, Young Lady," I said grabbing her chin in my fingers and giving her a stern look.

"Yes sir!" Rosalie replied smiling at me. She then kissed my cheek.

"My baby Princess," I said grabbing her face in my hands and kissing her back.

"Da-ad, I'm not a baby," Rosalie said to me.

"You'll always be my first baby girl," I said to her twitching her nose. Rosalie grinned with embarrassment. I know she hates it when I can make her feel sentimental.

"I better get back to Billy before he tries to escape out the window," I said getting up. Rosalie laughed at that. "You want to come and help?"

"I think I'll make up some menus and I'll help the next time. I check them over with you first," Rosalie said.

"Sounds great Princess," I said as I winked at her and left her to her menu planning.

Back in the Medical Room:

"How'd it go Carlisle? Is she okay," Billy asked me.

"Yes, I think I finally explained to her why you are moving to the Lodge. She seems to accept it better but she still wishes you would stay. I told her she could help in your care and work up some menus for you," I told Billy.

"You would have her do that. Very clever my brother. I see what the kids mean about how you care for them. Couldn't care a little less for me?" Billy asked.

"Billy, now stop that. You know you are going to have to follow my instructions for your health so just get used to it," I warned him. "Now come on, I need to get your vitals," I said picking up my blood pressure cuff and stethoscope.

"Daddy, can I ask you something real quick?" Leah asked standing in the doorway.

"Can it wait Punkin? I'm just starting Billy's exam and you know how he is," I said to her.

"Sure Dad, it can wait," Leah agreed.

"No, come on in Leah. Talk to your Dad, I'll be happy to give you some privacy," Billy said beginning to move his wheelchair toward the door.

"Not so fast, my brother Chief. You stop right there," I said firmly to Billy.

"I knew I should have had Sam soup up this chair," Billy said snapping his fingers in afterthought.

"Very funny, Chief Black," I said to him.

"Daddy, I don't mind talking in front of Uncle Billy," Leah said.

"Oh I mind, you should talk in private," Billy said trying to get away again.

"Billy, do you really want to push it with me?" I asked him.

"Uh…no not really. Jake said it never turns out good for the one doing the pushing," Billy resigned himself.

"Wise son, that Jacob. Now Punkin, what's on your mind?" I asked her.

"Daddy, David is going to transfer at the new school year to UCLA. I was wondering if I could transfer with him and finish nursing school there with him," Leah asked. I have to admit I was stunned.

"What?" Billy asked surprised.

"Why? Because of the program they have there?" I wondered.

"Uh…no…um…just to be…be…near him," Leah stuttered.

"Punkin, I don't think that is a good idea," I said shaking my head and wondering what possessed her to ask for this.

"I'd say it's a ridiculous idea," Billy said.

"Uncle Billy, please," Leah said. "Why not Daddy? I could come back now and then," Leah added.

"Punkin, you wanted to go to school around here to be available to the Pack. You do have a responsibility to them. I think you would do well to stay here," I said to her.

"But Daddy…he…he might find someone else," Leah pleaded.

"Well better to find out before things get too serious," I said to her.

"That's not fair," Leah said.

"Why isn't it fair," I asked her.

"Because…just because," Leah said.

"I'm sorry, Punkin, but that's not a good enough reason to want to stop your studies here to begin at a new school so far away from home, just to follow your boyfriend," I said to her.

"There's never a good enough reason to pull up your roots and run after a boy," Billy said with a little firmness now.

"You keep out of this. This is between my father and me," Leah said rudely to Billy.

"Leah Cullen, you watch your attitude, missy. Now you apologize for your disrespect to Billy," I ordered her.

"What about his disrespect for me," Leah shouted.

"Leah, apologize right this minute," I demanded of her.

"No, I won't. He should stay out of it. Besides, we have the money, so why can't I go to school there?" Leah said to me smartly.

"You will apologize and I don't care how much money we have, you are not changing schools to run after your boyfriend, now apologize," I said sternly to her.

"I'm sorry you're such a small-minded man! Seth was right, you don't love us as much as your other children," Leah said sharply and turned to leave the room.

"Leah!" Billy shouted at her.

"Leah Cullen! Get over here," I said sharply to her.

"Humpf!" Leah said and haughtily stuck her nose in the air.

I had it at that point and flashed to her before she knew what was happening and turned her to the side and landed one sharp vampire strength SMACK to her backside.

SMACK!

"OOWW! DA-AD!" Leah screeched and raised up on her tiptoes.

SMACK!

I landed another to the other side.

"OOWW OUCH! Daddeeee!" Leah shrieked again vigorously rubbing her stinging backside while marching in place from my hand's little gift to it.

"How dare you insinuate that I play favorites with your brothers and sisters. I have never heard such insolence in all my life, especially from you! You're just using the incident with Seth to try and get your way. All it's going to get you is a sore behind, Young Lady!" I scolded her.

"I second that," Billy added.

"Why can't I go to the same school as David? It wouldn't cost that much," Leah tried to bargain.

"You are not changing schools just to run after your boyfriend. You can still see each other at times. Besides, this will be a good test to see if this relationship is serious. Now get it through your head, you are not changing schools," I said sternly to her.

"But it's not fair," Leah protested.

"Life isn't fair, Leah," Billy said to her.

"Mind your own business, this is between my dad and me," Leah said smartly to him again.

"Leah! You watch your mouth little wolf girl or I will wash it out for you. Now you apologize to Billy right now," I commanded her.

"No! I'm not apologizing to him for butting in. It's not his place and he was way out of line," Leah said to me.

"Leah Cullen, the only one who is out of line, is you Young Lady. Apologize or it's over my knee right here in front of your uncle," I warned her.

Leah stood there with a defiant look on her face and was thinking it over. She had her arms crossed and had a willful look on her face. She looked at me then at Billy and her common sense must have come back just in time as she did as I ordered her.

"I'm sorry Uncle Billy. That was wrong of me to say that to you. Please forgive me, I'm just upset about David leaving the area, but it's no excuse for smarting off and hurting your feelings," Leah said with sincerity.

"Thank you for owning up and apologizing to me, Leah. Your father is correct though, you need to stay here with both your families," Billy advised her.

"Leah, go to your room until I call you to my study," I said pointing toward the door. "We need to have a little chat about manners and respect for your elders."

"Yes sir," Leah said as she turned and made her way out of the room.

"I'm sorry about that Billy," I said to him.

"No problem Carlisle, it's not easy raising teenagers. In fact, why don't you forget about this exam and go relax a little before you call Leah to your study," Billy suggested.

"Not going to work Chief Black and you better watch it or I'll send you to your room also," I warned him.

"Uh…okay, I'm ready for my exam," Billy laughed. "How much trouble is Leah in?"

"I'm going to have a nice long chat with her. Just a lecture, no spanking unless she can't control her attitude," I said to him.

I began his examination and we talked all the way through it. Soon it was over and Billy was doing great except for a slight weight gain and all his vitals and his heart was stable. Now I have to go deal with my willful wolf daughter…

To be Continued…

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