Mrs. Meyer still owns the charterers, but I own the idea.
This story will contain: Daddyward, Dom Carlsile, lots of BDSM, oh and Constructorward. Pictures can be found in my Facebook group (Addicted-to-romione-bedward Fanfiction) at Photos in the folder named after the story. You can find there the banner made by Falling Stars
A special thank you to harrytwifan for helping me with betaing this one.
We wake up too late. After rushing through the morning routine Carlisle drives too fast to Alice's to take our angel to school.
"I can drop you off at the bank on the way to school," he tells me.
"Nah, I can be five minutes late." I wave him off just as he parks the car. "It's a nice change to drive her together to school. She'll love that."
"You're right." He nods.
I knock on Alice's door, but I doubt she hears it. There's loud music spilling from inside her apartment. Surprisingly, she opens the door quickly, beaming at us.
"Hi, you two! Did you have fun? Don't answer that. I can see it on your faces." She winks, turning on her heel. "Come, we're almost finished getting dressed."
I share a confused look with Carl before we follow her.
Her apartment looks even worse, if that is possible.
There's also food added to the mess. Damn.
It almost looks like the time Jasper had a cold, and when I came home, I thought I had the wrong house. It was all I wanted to see after my horrible college day.
"Maybe she's a bad influence," Carl whispers.
"You think?"
Just then, Kenna storms into the room clad in her little jeans and pink t-shirt.
"Daddy!" she squeals, rushing toward us and wrapping her arms around our legs, burrowing her head between our hips, looking up and beaming at us. She's glowing.
"What..." I frown, crouching to inspect her lips. Then she shows me her hands. "ALICE!" I yell.
"What?" She appears in the doorway. "Oh, we had a slumber party."
"She's five! Too young for this sh...stuff."
"I'm a big gurl, Daddy!"
"Of course, angel, but not big enough for this. Take this off her nails," I tell Alice.
"I just tried to cheer her up. I think she ate too much chocolate and we kind of stayed in bed. Don't worry, she was okay," she explains when I pale.
"I don't think she's okay," Carlisle comments, crouching next to me.
"NO?" I shout. "What's wrong?" I ask, panicked.
He lifts her t-shirt, and I see something on her tummy...like tiny red spots. What's that?
"What did you feed her, Alice?"
"I didn't do anything, I swear. Everything was fresh." She joins us. "Why didn't you tell me you weren't feeling well?"
"I told you I was warm. Daddy gives me tea when I'm warm."
"Uh, guys, it's okay. Kenna, sweetie, do you know when these spots appeared?" Carlisle asks her.
"Yesterday...at some point. They are itchy."
After another few moments in doctor mode, he turns to me. "She has measles."
"What? How?"
"I think you know how, Edward. Kids her age get it all the time at school. I'll drive you to work, then take her with me to the hospital."
I have no room to protest, but if Tanya wasn't on her maternity leave and Steven was competent enough to be left to do my job, I'd join them. So I decide that I will visit them during lunch.
Kenna doesn't seem fazed by her childhood disease. She even pats my hand, trying to get me to chill.
"I'll be fine, Daddy. Look, Daddy C is taking me to the hospital."
She's too happy about going to the hospital, but ever since she learned that Carl saves lives there, hospitals are cool.
"Yes, I'll take good care of her, sugar," Carlisle tells me, parking in front of the bank. "You go and don't worry."
With a kiss for each of them, I leave.
Measles.
Ungh.
Of what I know, it's a really horrible disease.
Kenna has never had more than the common cold.
I'm freaking out here.
Surprisingly, I'm alone at the bank when I step inside. Just our guard.
I turn on the system and computers, then decide to research this measles thing. I want to make sure she won't die.
I may be paranoid by now, but she's my baby girl.
Wikipedia, my love.
Measles (also known as Rubeola [not to be confused with the same term in Spanish which refers to rubella], morbilli, or English measles), is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a generalized, maculopapular,erythematous rash.
Measles is spread through respiration (contact with fluids from an infected person's nose and mouth, either directly or through aerosol transmission), and is highly contagious—90% of people without immunity sharing living space with an infected person will catch it. An asymptomatic incubation period occurs nine to twelve days from initial exposure.[1] The period of infectivity has not been definitively established, some saying it lasts from two to four days prior, until two to five days following the onset of the rash (i.e. four to nine days infectivity in total),[2] whereas others say it lasts from two to four days prior until the complete disappearance of the rash.
Now that I have read about the symptoms, I remember Kenna sneezing and coughing, but hell, it's winter.
Next time, I have to make sure she's okay.
I can't seem to focus on my tasks, and just as Kate waltzes inside almost an hour later, I'm dialing Carlisle's number.
"About time you arrived," I mutter to her.
"Sorry, but last night... One word—fantastic! And look!" She shoves her hand in front of my face. "He proposed! I really wanted to say no just to see how he'd react, but poor Garry was a mass of nerves and... Are you even paying attention?"
"Yes," I answer, hanging up when Carl doesn't pick up. This isn't helping my nerves.
"How about your night?" she asks.
"Awesome, but I bet you don't want details. Though this morning...we came back to reality with a hard slap. Kenna's sick."
"Oh, no! She was okay yesterday!"
"Apparently not. She's got measles. I'm going crazy here!" I take a fistful of my hair in my hand, tugging at it.
Just then my phone rings.
"Carl, baby! Tell me how she is!" I answer promptly.
He chuckles. "You need to lay off sugar. Seriously, it's just measles. She'll be fine. I prescribed her a few lotions to soothe the itch, and pills. Now she's with Esme in my office, so no one else can get it from her. Kids don't know much about their sickness, and even with high fever, they run around. Maybe we should take a leaf of their book, huh?"
"You just gave me a long speech. I think you're just as worried, doc!"
"Well, I never had a child. Now that I have one...she's sick, and you know I broke the rules by consulting her. I shouldn't be her doctor."
"But...I trust you."
Carl chuckles. "I trust myself, too, sugar. Though, next time—because there will be a next time—I'm talking with Alistair. He's the best pediatrician in the hospital."
"Besides you," I tease.
"Aw, don't boost my ego." A loud noise comes from his side. "Fuck. I have to go. Code blue somewhere. Love you."
"Love you. Go, save a life."
We hang up and I relax in my chair. Kenna is fine.
My day just brightened. I even pay attention to Kate's ramblings in between customers. She speaks of her night any given chance—even with a poor customer when the woman notices her ring.
I want to bang my head against the desk.
Only when I leave, I realize why I'm starving. Besides the burgers the guard bought for us…I haven't had anything else to eat.
Carlisle is still at work, having sent me a message about an hour ago that he had to scrub in a surgery. That could last hours.
After stopping at a take-out place, I buy various meals, then drive to the hospital.
The problem is my plan doesn't work when my car stops not even half-way there…and I'm in the middle of the road. Literally.
Fucking piece of shit!
I kick the steering wheel before getting out and maneuvering it to the side of the road. I fish in the glove compartment for the number Carl gave me—his friend's garage.
I can very well call Jake, but on one hand, his garage is more like a restoration of old cars place, and secondly, I'd probably hurt Carl's feelings for not even thinking of accepting his help.
"Felix's Garage. Felix speaking."
I clear my throat. "Hello, Felix. It's Edward. Uh, I know Carlisle…" I trail off.
"Oh, Booty Call!" He booms a loud laugh.
I cringe, frowning at the steering wheel. I was hoping he forgot that. "That's me, though I passed the booty call stage."
"Good for you, man! Can I help you with anything?"
"Yes, actually that's why I called. Obviously. You see, my car…it's pretty old."
"We're sort of booked for this month."
"Not even an emergency?" I whine. "I'm stuck in traffic…but I managed to steer the car to the side."
"Why didn't you say so? Can you tell me your exact location?"
"I'm on the Dan Ryan Expressway…near Jefferson Park. Is that helpful?"
"Perfect. Just wait there. I'll send my guys."
"Thanks, Felix," I say gratefully.
"Anything for Carl's friend."
We hang up and I purse my lips.
Why did it have to be today?
I miss my baby girl and I have to know if she's okay.
Stupid piece of junk.
I wish I could get rid of the car, but the mere thought scares me. It will mean parting with the last thing keeping me close to Jasper.
After I decide to eat some of the food I bought, I call Carlisle, hoping he's out of the surgery.
"I was just about to call you," he answers, chuckling.
"Telepathy," I mumble.
"Meet you at my house?"
"Actually…I'm…" I huff in frustration. "My car died on me. I called your friend and he's on the way."
"Felix? Where are you? I'll pick you up."
"Yes, Felix. I'm close to Jefferson Park."
"Got it. We'll be right there. I hope you don't mind terribly, but Kenna's having dessert. Esme's fault."
"I bought food. Tell her she's not getting real food if she loses her appetite," I instruct him. But deep down, I know she doesn't care about real food.
Five minutes after Felix's mechanics arrive, Carlisle parks behind my wreck of a car. He quickly comes to me and helps me carry my things to his car.
I allow the mechanics to take my vehicle, while I'm assured Felix will call me as soon as he has a diagnostic.
I think I'm slowly wrapping this up. Though, I have no idea what else to write...how to end it. I have two more chapters written.
So...if you have any ideas on how you want it to end, please share. I'd like to hear as many opinions as possible! Thanks.