Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, enough said.
Warning: This story contains disciplinary spanking, so if this offends you in any way, then DON'T READ OR FLAME!
A/N: Hello! Thanks for the reviews, it seemed everybody really enjoyed the moving going experience with Bell and Carlisle! I certainly enjoyed writing it!
Chapter 10: Momentary Lapse of Reason
Bella's POV:
"Wake up Bella. Come on, sweetheart, it is time to wake up," a voice called, and I let out a groan before opening tired eyes. Stifling a yawn I saw my father dressed and ready for work staring down at me with a small grin.
"Too early," I grumbled as I tried to bury my head back into one of the pillows, but he only chuckled softly before pulling the blankets off of me and putting me on my feet.
"While you shower I will make your breakfast, and when you come down I will take my leave so please do not delay," he told me before guiding me out of his room and towards Edward's.
I just sighed while mentally cursing all vampires and the fact that they never grew tired. I showered and dressed quickly before making my way down the many stairs.
"I made you french toast, Bella," Carlisle announced once I had entered the kitchen and I gave him my thanks before sitting down at the table.
"I see you have recovered from your terrible ordeal yesterday," he remarked and I gave him a confused look. "What terrible ordeal—Oh, yeah," I responded with a blush as I realized he was referring to yesterday's punishment. "I barely feel a thing," I informed him, and I thought he might've looked surprised, but that expression was quickly replaced by a smile.
"Alright sweetheart," he declared, "As you can see I've left my laptop for you right here so you can start working on your essay once you finish eating. I plan on being back around 3:00 or so, but if I am going to be late I will call you."
"Okay," I responded with a nod before his gaze turned mildly stern.
"Bella, I have said it before, but I will say it again: I am being extremely lenient with you, so I implore you to take this assignment very seriously. Since I have gotten you up so early I expect you to have it finished by the time I get home, understood?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Understood Dad, I'll take it seriously and I'll have it done before you get home," I replied, barely resisting a roll of my eyes. Honestly, he's making a bigger deal out of all of this than necessary.
"Excellent," he remarked as he gave my cheek a gentle caress. "By the way, I want you to stay in the house while I am away. If you for some reason feel the need to go somewhere, call me."
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from frowning at this childish rule before nodding my head once more in understanding.
He studied me for a few seconds before smiling, "I'll be going now, Bella. Take care of yourself."
I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his overprotectiveness as I said, "Bye Dad." He winked at me before disappearing.
Sigh, I guess it's time to start this darn essay, I thought once I had finished my meal. Opening up the laptop and pulling up the internet browser, I rolled my eyes for the umpteenth time when I saw that there were already sites pulled up on the dangers of drinking. Thanks Dad, like I couldn't have done this myself. Why don't you just write the paper for me too while you're at it.
Ugh, this paper was a waste of time. I mean, I knew I shouldn't drink, and I knew it could be dangerous. It's not like I planned on making this a habit or anything. It was a onetime occurrence made without thought. It would never happen again!
I shook my head of these thoughts before concentrating on this meaningless task. Okay Bella, Dad wants you to write about the dangers of drinking alcohol and all the bad things that could've gone wrong yesterday because of my drinking. Then, he wants you to come up with possible punishments should I ever behave so recklessly again. Well, I will definitely not be including a spanking in that list, that's for sure.
It was several hours later when I found myself getting hungry. Glancing down at the time I was surprised to realize it was already 11:00. Glancing then at what I had written I assumed I was about three-quarters of the way through. I had written about the dangers of alcohol, but I hadn't really talked much about anything that happened last night. I sighed before deciding I should take a break and have lunch.
As I was eating my sandwich I rubbed my eyes. I was tired and my eyes were aching from staring at the computer screen for so long. Jeez, this assignment was such a waste of time! Dad and I had already discussed all of this anyway. I know I screwed up! I know I let my temper get the best of me and that I was reckless. I don't need to write a paper to know all of this. And why do I need to add a list of punishments at the end? He already told me he was going to spank me if I was ever so reckless again. Not that it mattered because I had already promised him I was done with the reckless acts.
I glared at Dad's laptop before giving a longing look outside. I wished I was in the meadow right now reading a good book. Maybe I could take Dad's laptop to the meadow and finish the essay there? I grimaced at that thought. No, the meadow was too far away, but there was one other place I could go. Edward had showed me this beautiful clearing in the woods that wasn't too far from here, so I could go there. It would help me feel closer to Edward and perhaps make writing this stupid essay easier. I had already gotten the research portion over with, so the rest of it shouldn't take more than an hour to write at most. Smiling at the plan I quickly grabbed a backpack to place the laptop in before grabbing a jacket and making my way out the backdoor.
Once in the woods I realized it would be slightly harder to find this clearing that I originally thought. The trees and rocks all looked pretty much the same to me. Oh well, it was only a twenty minute walk from the house, so it shouldn't be too difficult to find. Hey look, I know I'm on the right path because there's the rock that was broken in half during one of Edward and Emmett's wrestling matches. Cool, this should be a piece of cake.
It was after thirty minutes of stumbling through the woods that I realized this was much harder than I had anticipated, and forty-five minutes afterwards that I realized I might be lost.
Looking around I let out a quiet groan when I found I didn't recognize anything around me. Damn it Bella, you might as well just head home before you really get lost. Man, this sucks! Heaving a sigh I looked around once more only to realize I could no longer remember which direction I had come from. Uh oh. Um, it has to be this way, I told myself before beginning to walk, but after a few minutes I realized I had chosen wrong as absolutely nothing looked familiar.
Okay, don't panic Bella, don't panic. Just turn around and start over. I had only taken a few steps when suddenly the ground gave out beneath me and I found myself in a deep ditch that had no doubt been caused by all the rain that occurred. It had been covered with leaves and debris so I hadn't seen it.
"Ah!" I cried out in alarm before landing on my feet. Taking a few deep and calming breaths I sighed in relief when I concluded I hadn't broken or sprained anything. Now I just had to climb out of this hole. Thankfully, the hole was only a little higher than my head so I was able to climb out after a few tries. Once out I grimaced at the state I was in. My clothes were covered in mud and judging from the tear in my pants and the sting of my leg I had no doubt cut myself. I was also feeling a little sore, which no doubt meant I'd be sporting a new set of bruises. Fantastic. Brilliant plan you had here, Swan.
Standing up, I groaned before desperately trying to find the direction I had come from. Damn, damn, damn! What do I do now? Do I pick a direction and hope it'll lead me home or do I just wait here to be rescued? Ugh, this is going to go over so well with Carlisle. It was at this point that I gasped before sinking to my knees and groaning.
Oh. My. God. I wasn't supposed to have left the house! How the hell could I have forgotten? Carlisle was going to kill me!
My thoughts were in a panic as I tried to figure out my next step before I groaned out loud once more. It would be stupid to try and find my way home on my own. With my rotten luck I'd probably injure myself even more. I'm going to have to call Dad, and that is going to be one unpleasant conversation.
Searching my pockets for my cell phone, I frowned when I couldn't find it. Where is it? I wondered before letting out another gasp. Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no! I gritted my teeth as I fought back a yell of frustration. My cell phone, which I was supposed to have on me at all times was safely back at the house in the pocket of the jeans I had been wearing yesterday. Oh yeah, if I wasn't dead before I definitely was now.
This day could not get any worse, I fumed before it began to rain…I stand corrected, it just got worse.
Esme's POV:
I walked into my home frowning when I heard nothing. I knew Carlisle would be at work, but I had expected to find Bella here. Listening intently I failed to hear her familiar heartbeat. Hmm, I wonder where she could be.
I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and called Bella, only to become surprised when I heard a ring from upstairs. Running into Edward's room I quickly found Bella's phone in a pair of jeans. So much for that option, I thought wryly.
I then deliberated on whether or not to call Carlisle. He did not like being bothered at work unless it was an emergency, but I could find no reason for Bella not to be here. Decision made I quickly dialed his number and waited a few rings before I heard him pick up.
"Esme my dear," he greeted happily, "how are you?"
I could not help but smile at just hearing his voice. God, how I missed him. "I am well, Carlisle," I responded, "and you?"
"Well enough," he answered with a small chuckle before asking, "Are you still coming home tonight?"
"I am already home," I told him. "I was actually calling to ask if you might know where Bella is. I only just arrived, but she is nowhere to be found."
Pause. "She is not there?" my husband questioned in a slow voice, his tone telling me all I needed to know. He had no idea where our daughter was, and she should have been here.
"Have you tried calling her?" he asked in a tight voice, and I told him, "Yes, but I found her phone upstairs in the pocket of one of her jeans."
I heard a low growl on the other end before hearing him take in a huge breath. "Her phone is supposed to be on her at all times," he grumbled angrily, and I too found myself beginning to become upset with Bella.
"Are any of our cars missing?" he then asked, and I furrowed my brow in confusion before he added, "She did not drive herself to our house, so if she drove anywhere she would had to have borrowed one of ours, Edward's most likely."
"No, all our cars are here," I remarked after entering the garage, and that is when I began to become worried. "Carlisle, this means that wherever she went she walked."
"Track her scent starting in the kitchen," he ordered, his voice beginning to sound worried. "She was supposed to be there working on the essay I assigned her. Is my laptop still there?"
I quickly made my way into the kitchen and noticed there was no laptop. "Your laptop is gone Carlisle, and Bella's scent leads to the back door," I informed him, my concern rising. Running outside, I let out a curse as I could no longer locate Bella's scent.
"What is it Esme?" my husband asked anxiously.
"She must have gone into the woods, Carlisle, but I cannot catch her scent as the rain has washed it away," I explained. "What if she's lost or hurt? What if Victoria…," I trailed off not wanting to allow such horrid thoughts cross my mind.
"Do not think like that, Esme," Carlisle immediately said reassuringly. "I am sure Bella is fine. Go and look for her and call me when you find her. My shift ends in fifteen minutes and then I am coming home."
"Alright, I will find our daughter," I stated determinedly before hanging up.
Looking at the forest I pondered which direction Bella could have gone in. What was she doing out here? Where was she headed? Picking a random direction I started running through the woods looking, sniffing and listening intently for any sign of my wayward daughter.
What in the world was she thinking? She is supposed to have her cell phone on her at all times, but she doesn't, and she was not supposed to have left our house and she does! And she chooses to go into the woods, one of the most dangerous places for her! Does she not recall that there is a vampire dead set on killing her periodically roaming through these forests?
I had been searching for roughly ten minutes when I first caught the scent of blood, Bella's blood. Panic flooded through me as I raced in the direction it was coming from and it was seconds before I came upon my young daughter.
"Bella," I mumbled quietly in pure relief as I saw her sitting on the forest floor with a miserable expression. Her arms were wrapped around her knees and she was shivering. Her clothes were soaked and muddy, and I could see a tear in her pants which meant she had probably cut herself there and that was where the blood was coming from. She had not noticed my presence.
I pulled my cell phone out and texted Carlisle that I had found Bella and I was bringing her home. Afterwards, I took a deep breath to control my growing anger before approaching my daughter. Her heartbeat began to beat rapidly when she heard my approach and she looked around before her eyes settled on me.
"Esme!" she cried out in joyous relief before throwing herself into my arms. My anger dissipated slightly at her greeting as I happily returned the embrace.
"Bella, darling," I asked after she broke apart, "are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," she immediately responded before looking down at herself. "I'm a little scratched up because I fell in a ditch over there, but it's nothing," she remarked sheepishly. "What are you doing home early? I thought you weren't supposed to be home until tomorrow evening. Is Edward home?" she then asked rapidly and I couldn't help but to smile at the hopefulness in her voice.
"No dear, Edward is not here. It is only I that came home early, and I did so because I got the feeling I was needed here," I informed her.
"N-needed?" she asked through chattering teeth, and I immediately took off my jacket and wrapped it around her.
"Yes, now enough talking for now," I told her. "I need to get you home before you freeze to death." She nodded her head in complete agreement as she snuggled into my jacket. Picking her up into my arms I then ran home as swiftly as I could. Once we arrived I ran her up the stairs and into Edward's bathroom. I set her on her feet before running and grabbing a pair of Edward's sweat pants, one of her t-shirts and a sweatshirt. I had a good idea of what was awaiting my young one once her father got a hold of her, so it would be better for her to be in comfortable clothing beforehand.
I arrived back into the bathroom to see Bella running the water and slipping off her soaking wet jacket.
"Here are some dry clothes, sweetheart," I said, and she gave me her thanks before I walked out.
As Bella showered I too took a quick shower before changing into dry clothes. By the time I was finished I heard Bella walking out of her bathroom. It was at this point that my husband arrived home, and I quickly went down to meet him as he stormed into the house.
He looked quite angry, but to his credit the first words out of his mouth were, "Is she alright?"
"Yes," I answered immediately in a soothing voice. "She has some scratches, but nothing serious."
His expression turned relieved for a second before it once more became angry. A growl rumbled in his chest as he stared towards the stairways and I placed a calming hand on his bicep. His black eyes turned towards mine, and I gave him a loving smile which caused his expression to soften.
"Go hunting," I ordered, and he shook his head. "No, I am fine and Bella"—
"Go hunting," I repeated more firmly after placing a finger on his lips to silence him. "You are much too upset right now and all that you will accomplish will be to frighten Bella."
"She could use a little fear"—he began to snap before I once more placed my finger on his lips. I gave him a mild glare warning him to remain silent.
"Bella needs you to be calm when you deal with her," I said. "Do you want her to fear you?" I then questioned, and I saw as the anger immediately left him.
"No, of course not," he answered after having let out a sigh. "You are correct, my love, as always," he told me as he graced me with a sad smile. "I will go hunting."
I gave him a kiss on the lips before saying, "Good boy." He rolled his eyes before heading out the backdoor.
I sighed before hearing Bella tentatively make her way down the stairs.
"Feel better, darling?" I asked her and she nodded her head before asking in a worried tone, "Was that Dad I just heard?"
I smiled inwardly at her calling Carlisle Dad as I nodded my head.
"Is he angry with me?" she then questioned, and I shook my head as I gave her a gentle smile.
"Disappointed," I answered before putting an arm around her shoulder. "Now, come and sit," I requested as I guided her towards one of couches. "Wait here momentarily while I make you some hot chocolate," I then told her, and she blushed before opening a protesting mouth. "You don't have to do that, I can make it."
"Nonsense," I responded fondly, "It is no trouble." She let out a small sigh, and I quickly went about making her the hot chocolate. In less than five minutes I was done and back in the living room. I handed her the cup, smiling proudly when she took her first sip and sighed contentedly.
"Thank you," she said sincerely, and I nodded my head.
We sat in comfortable silence as Bella drank her hot chocolate and warmed up. When she finished, she set the cup down on the coffee table before giving me a nervous glance. I took this as my cue to begin talking.
"What were you thinking, sweetheart?" I asked.
"I'm sorry Mom (my heart warmed at the title), I didn't mean to be disobedient. I just kind of forgot," she explained, and I frowned in confusion. Forgot?
"Bella, why do you think you are in trouble?" I questioned.
She gave me a slightly confused look before she answered, "For leaving the house when Dad told me not to."
I stared at her as I waited for her to list how she had endangered her life, but she just stared right back with a suddenly unsure look. "T-that is why I'm in trouble, isn't it?" she asked me.
"Why do you think your father told you to not leave the house?" I decided to ask, hoping I could help her realize what she had done.
"Because he's overprotective," she grumbled moodily, and I raised my eyebrows in surprise at her.
"Excuse me?" I responded sternly, and her momentary irritation vanished.
"Well, I-I don't really know why, Mom," she told me. "He didn't really tell me, so I just figured…" she trailed off before shrugging.
I crossed my arms as I studied the girl in front of me. She really didn't understand. Well, I guess I was going to have to open her eyes a bit. It certainly would not help Carlisle's temper if he heard what Bella has just told me.
"Sweetheart," I began, "Carlisle banned you from leaving the house partly because you are in trouble and he wanted you to spend your time working on the essay he assigned you, and partly because he was worried about the kind of trouble you could get into."
"I know how to take care of myself!" Bella snapped in frustration. "I don't need you guys to"—
"Isabella, that is quite enough!" I scolded sharply, cutting off her mini-rant. She went silent, looking quite taken aback by my tone of voice.
"I'm sorry Mom," she mumbled contritely, and I now understood what Carlisle had been telling me earlier. Our youngest had quite the temper, but she took our rebukes much harder than Edward and her siblings. I had to stop myself from instantly forgiving her and pulling her into my arms. Instead, I settled for a stern glare that caused her to fidget nervously.
"You say you can take care of yourself, Isabella," I lectured after letting her squirm for a minute, "but did I not just have to go find you in the woods and bring you home?"
She flushed at my words, but did not respond.
"Bella, I know you are a resourceful, independent young woman," I then stated more gently, and she flicked nervous eyes to me. "I also know that normally you are more than capable of taking care of yourself, but you have done a poor job of showing that recently. Carlisle did not mean to demean you in any way when he asked you to remain inside this house. He was only looking out for your well-being, which I think he has not only the right but the reason to do so. Just look at your actions from Friday and today."
Bella blushed once more as she bit her lip. "Look, I know I screwed up on Friday, I really do," she said earnestly, "But I'm not always like that. It was a onetime occurrence that won't happen again. Dad has already lectured and punished me, and I learned my lesson."
I withheld a sigh at her stubbornness, or was it blindness. I would argue she had not really learned her lessons as she had already made the same mistake that landed her in trouble in the first place. I knew Carlisle had been too easy on her in regards to her recklessness, but I had not imagined we would be regretting it so soon.
"What lessons did you learn?" I asked, and she let out a frustrated sigh before telling me, "No lying, no drinking, and no fighting." No mention of recklessness, hmmm.
"What was your essay about?" I then asked, and she answered, "I was supposed to write about the dangers of alcohol consumption incorporating my actions from Friday night."
"The dangers of alcohol consumption," I mused out loud in mock thought, and Bella gave me a confused look. "And why do you believe Carlisle was so upset about your drinking?"
Bella's eyes narrowed as though she were trying to figure out where I was going with all of this before she said, "He was upset because-because I endangered myself."
"Yes," I agreed full-heartedly, "you endangered your life. You behaved recklessly."
My daughter frowned unhappily before nodding her head. "I know," she admitted softly, "and I'm sorry, Mom, but like I said before, Dad already lectured and punished me for this, so why are you bringing it up?"
I glared at her, angered by her impertinence, and she cringed away from me before I answered. "I have every right to discuss your actions with you even if you have already discussed them with your father, young lady," I rebuked, and she gazed at me with wide, apologetic eyes. I pierced her with stern eyes as I continued to speak. "The reason I bring this topic up is because I wanted to assure that you truly understood why both your father and I are so upset over the drinking. It is not so much the act itself, but the fact that you were endangering your life so thoughtlessly, and for such a ridiculous reason. We love you so much, Bella, and we would hate to see you hurt in any manner because of your temper and/or lack of thought. Your life is to be cherished and protected."
"I'm, um,…I'm sorry…," she trailed off quietly, and I could see she was touched by what I had said; however, I was not finished yet. I still needed her to realize the danger she put herself in today.
"When your father and I talked yesterday about your punishments he had intended to spank you twice, for the fighting and the drinking, but for some reason he changed his mind," I informed her, and she gave me a shocked look. "So, when he told you he was lenient with you, he really meant it."
"Why are you telling me this?" Bella questioned confusedly. "Am I going to be punished again?"
"No," I responded immediately, "not for the drinking."
She relaxed for only a second before stiffening. "Wait, are you saying that I'm going to be sp—I mean punished for having left the house?" she yelled in fearful outrage.
"Yes and no," I replied, holding up a silencing hand when she looked ready to argue with me. Unfortunately, she ignored me and began to argue anyway.
"This is so damn ridiculous! I mean, okay, so I shouldn't have left, but that was a stupid rule to begin with!" she raged with tears of frustration brimming in her eyes.
"Bella, darling, you must calm down," I tried to interject soothingly as I heard the quick approach of my husband. He was no doubt hearing every word of Bella's tirade, and I did not want my little one to land herself in any more trouble than she already was. I was already chiding myself for having put her in such a state. I obviously went about this the wrong way.
"NO!" Bella countered heatedly as she jumped to her feet. "Don't tell me to calm down! I can say whatever I want!" I heard a growl from outside and had to fight down one of my own at her increasing disrespect.
"Isabella, that is enough. Your father will be"—I began to say as a last attempt to warn her, but she rudely cut me off.
"I DON'T CARE WHAT DAD SAYS OR THINKS!" she roared just as said man stormed into this house for the second time today.
"Is that a fact, Ms. Swan?" my husband asked in a quiet yet chilling tone as he suddenly stood next to me. Bella's eyes widened and she froze as her heart began to pound rapidly. I could literally see the anger just melt away from my petrified daughter as she stared up at her father. I always marveled at how Carlisle could put the fear of God in our children with a single look. It was a trait I envied at times.
"That was not a rhetorical question," my husband added in nearly a growl, and Bella swallowed nervously before flicking pleading eyes towards me. I responded with a stern look to let her know she should expect no help from me as I too was completely unimpressed with her behavior. Besides, I had tried to warn her and she had refused to listen.
The low growl erupting from Carlisle alerted me to the fact that my normally patient husband was reaching his limits. A glance at his nearly black eyes revealed that his hunt had been nowhere near long enough. I dimly wondered why he had come home so soon. Looking once more at Bella, I could tell she was too petrified to speak, and with another look at Carlisle I could tell he was too angry to listen. Deciding after all that I should interfere before things got any worse I stood up with a loud sigh to gain both their attentions.
Laying a calming hand on my husband's chest I looked at our daughter and said, "Isabella, I want you to put your nose in that corner and I want you to get that temper under control. Do not move until you are told otherwise." Bella responded with an uncomprehending look until Carlisle took a threatening step towards her, at which point she hastened to obey, but not before Carlisle could land a powerful smack on her backside.
"Ouch!" she yelped with a small jump before hurrying over to the nearest corner. I grabbed hold of Carlisle's arm as he looked ready to land a few more swats and led him upstairs to his office.
"How dare she speak to you like that!" he hissed angrily the second I closed the door. "And what the bloody hell does she mean by saying she does not care what I say or think? I ought to tan her hide for that comment alone!"
I watched as he paced up and down the length of his office feeling quite astonished by this rare display of temper. Yes, Bella's behavior left much to be desired, but it certainly was not the worse we had experienced. The others had gotten into worse mischief before, and he had never acted like this. What was it that was making him so angry?
"Carlisle, my dear, please calm down," I finally spoke, but like Bella, he too completely ignored me.
"What in God's name was she thinking going out into that damned forest? What could she possibly have needed to do there? Bella promised me no more recklessness, but at the first chance she got she broke that promise!" he ranted. I narrowed my eyes at him, finding myself growing angry as for the second time today I was being ignored, and by my husband no less!
"She could have died!" he continued, his voice rising in volume. "Victoria could have been out there or some passing nomad! She could have been attacked by some animal, or tripped and hurt herself! I should not have gone easy on her yesterday!" he declared, self disgust and guilt evident in his voice. Oh, I thought in sudden realization. This is the reason behind his temper. He is upset with Bella, but he is also downright furious with himself. He is blaming himself for what happened. Well, that is just ridiculous.
"Alright, that is enough, there is no reason for you to be so upset"—I started to say, but he cut me off with a growl as he hissed, "I have every right in the world to be upset, Esme!"
I shook my head at my husband's attitude, unsure of whether I wanted to slap him for having had the audacity to growl at me, or laugh at his childish tantrum. In the end I settled on a middle ground as I placed myself in front of him. Hands on hips I gave him a stern look as I said, "Carlisle Cullen, will you get your temper under control or am I going to have to treat you like Isabella and place you in a corner?"
Carlisle looked at me with an astounded expression, and I could not help the giggle that escaped me. He continued to stare at me for several seconds before he gave a small snort. He then let out a tired sigh as he ran a hand through his hair.
"My apologies, Esme," he said with a good amount of embarrassment, "I do not know what came over me. I just"—
"Stop," I ordered kindly as I gave him an understanding smile. "I know what is bothering you, darling. You are blaming yourself for Bella's actions today because you feel that your leniency yesterday led to this."
"No, I…," he frowned before literally plopping himself down on the couch. "Yes, you are correct, my love, as always," he remarked, giving me a wry grin.
I sat down next to him and soothingly rubbed my hand up and down his back. "Bella's actions are the fault of no one but herself," I told him firmly, and he just shook his head in disagreement.
"If I had spanked her yesterday for the recklessness as I had originally intended, she would not have been foolish enough to venture into the woods," he argued, and this time it was me shaking my head in disagreement.
"You do not know that, Carlisle," I countered. "For all you know the decision you made was the correct one." Although, I admit I did not really believe that, and judging from the disbelieving look my husband was giving me, he did not either.
"I made a mistake, Esme" he said, "and that mistake could have"—
"No," I interjected sharply, "do not do this to yourself, Carlisle. You did what you felt was right and it will do no good to ponder these 'what if's'. What we need to do now is discuss our little troublemaker's actions and decide on a proper punishment."
Carlisle pondered my words before letting out a sigh and a nod. Turning his head towards me he then gifted me with a loving smile. "You, my love, are a godsend, and I am forever thankful for your presence in my life."
I responded with a warm look before I began to speak once more. "Alright, so here is what Bella and I were discussing before you arrived home."
A/N: Bella, Bella, Bella, way to dig yourself a hole. I hope you enjoyed your dear old dad's leniency because it will not be making a reappearance.
So, that thing with Bella falling in a hole, that totally happened to me. I was hiking through the jungles of Malaysia at night with a professor of mine and a few other peeps when they called me over to come check out this parachute frog (frog with feet that look like parachutes—very, very cool). The whole forest was obviously covered in leaves and such, but I do remember having a passing thought that the ground by them looked like those traps they set out for animals to fall into. Little did I know… So, I stroll over when BAM, the ground gives out from under me and I fall into this hole! Shock of a lifetime, let me tell you! Thankfully, there were no spiders or poisonous snakes in the hole, which was the first thought that raced through my mind. Anyways, my professor quickly hauled me out of there and I was basically alright. Like Bella I was muddy and scratched, but it was my poor pride that suffered the most. I was totally embarrassed. Sigh, good times, good times. Shout out to any Malaysians! I LOVE YOUR COUNTRY!
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