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"Come on, Princess. I have to show you my Barbies," Lily explained, wrapping her fingers through Bella's. She was just about to tug her around Uncle Emmett when her grandmother appeared at the end of the hallway.

"Lily," Esme called with a stern expression. "We need to get you to the bath. You only have an hour until bedtime. Let's go, young lady."

"But, Nana," Lily pouted, her fingers tightening around Bella's. "I wanna show the Princess my toys. Please."

Bella watched the older woman approach. While she had expected her to look stern and mean, she was surprised when a soft smile bloomed on her face. Bella was even further shocked when the lady offered her hand, saying, "I'm Esme. It looks like you made a friend."

"I'm Bella." Why did it appear as if everyone in the house was friendlier than Edward? What happened to cause him to be so angry and bitter? Was it his business dealings that had turned him so cold or something else entirely? "Lily is adorable and really no bother at all. I would love to go meet her Barbies."

"Well then," Esme started as her smile broadened, and her hand came up to rest on the small of Bella's back. With a light urging of her fingertips, Esme directed Bella in the direction of Lily's bedroom. "Edward says you will be staying with us for a few weeks."

"Ahh, yeah." Bella turned in the direction of the stairs, trailing Lily as she led the way. Curiously, she looked over at Esme. "He also said I wasn't to talk to anyone in the house."

"If everyone here did what Edward said," Esme laughed; she continued, "We'd all be locked in rooms for the rest of our lives."

Emmett followed close behind as they wandered leisurely toward Lily's room. Approximately an hour ago, Edward had instructed Emmett to follow Bella to ensure the woman didn't attempt to bolt. So like the puppet he was, he trailed the three ladies, hanging back slightly when they went into Lily's room.

Unless Isabella had grown wings, there was no chance of her escaping. Folding his arms over his broad chest, Emmett rested his back against the wall, giving the women privacy. A smile lingered on his lips as he heard Lily excitedly introduce Isabella to her toys. When the woman sounded just as eager to meet them in return, the corners of Emmett's mouth tipped further.

He stood there for nearly thirty minutes as they visited. Hearing a noise at the end of the hall, Emmett turned his attention in that direction to find Edward of all people striding toward him. Oh, shit. This was going to get very interesting. Emmett could barely contain himself as Edward moved closer.

"I thought I told you to follow Miss Swan?" Edward asked, glancing around the vacant hallway. "I don't see her. She could be running toward the forest right this second."

"Not unless she sprouted wings and learned to fly," Emmett shrugged, throwing his thumb in the direction of Lily's door. "Lily discovered the Princess about thirty minutes ago. They are playing now."

"Doesn't anyone in this fucking house listen to a word I say?" Edward growled, taking a step to Lily's room. "I specifically said I didn't want anyone socializing with her. She won't be here long enough to form attachments."

"Honestly, " Emmet started with a serious light in his eyes; he continued, "We all go out of our way to ignore your assholish ways."

Edward brushed off Emmett's belligerence as he stepped into the threshold of Lily's room. His heart gave a small tug at the vision before him, and the words of reprimand died on his tongue.

Isabella, Lily, and his mother sat around her little table with teacups and saucers set before them. Lily chatted as if she were speaking to old friends, and his God blessed mother was throwing her warm gaze between Isabella and Lily.

His heart pinched when Isabella's head tipped back, and she laughed at something Lily said. Edward studied the woman, his gaze dancing over softened features, and he couldn't dispute her beauty. As the knowledge tickled a spot deep within, another emotion clamored to the surface and fought for dominance.

Guilt.

This insufferable guilt wiggled in stealing the momentary peace. As the shame was born, Edward shoved it aside, his mood darkening.

"Isabella," Edward called, his harsh voice snatching the attention of the little party.

Edward didn't miss the way Lily's eyes went wide or the way delight melted from his mother's face. Ignoring them, Edward focused on his guest. "Didn't we discuss boundaries as conditions to being released from the confines of your room?"

Of course, her head tilted, and her chin lifted at a stubborn angle. "Edward, Lily wanted to introduce me to her babies. What is wrong with that?"

Edward's nostrils flared as his eyes darkened. "I'm only going to remain calm long enough for you to walk out of this room. If I have to, I will put you back over my shoulder and cart you straight back to your room."

"You are such a—," Bella broke off as Lily gasped in response to her snappy tone. Glancing toward Lily, Bella smiled softly as she rose. "Why don't you go take a bath with Nana while I talk to your dad."

"Okay," Lily huffed. "But only if you come back soon to finish …"

"Lily." Edward pinned his daughter with a hard stare. When she blanched and her complexion paled, Edward could have kicked himself. No matter the circumstances, whenever he spoke to the little girl, his tone always came out harsher than he intended. Then, of course, Isabella and his mother stared at him as if he'd just leaped from the closet. Clearing his throat, Edward attempted to soften his voice. "Please go with your grandmother and take a bath."

Lily's chin wobbled, and she slowly nodded. "Okay, Daddy. Can the Princess come back to play tomorrow?"

"I don't think that's a good …"

Before Edward could finish, Bella interjected, pushing a tress of hair behind her ear. "You bet, baby. I'll be up to play as soon as you eat breakfast."

"Yay!" Lily cheered, jumping up and down. "Come on, Nana. I can't wait until morning. Yipeee!"

Esme looked between Isabella and Edward. There was a fight brewing, and she was so disappointed she had to miss it. While Irene had been a beautiful, sweet woman, Edward's wife had never had the backbone to push back against Edward. Isabella didn't seem to have a problem standing up to her arrogant, and at times, obnoxious son. Focusing on her granddaughter, Esme urged her to take her fingers. "Let's take a bath and braid your hair. You want to look your best, right?"

As soon as Esme followed Lily into the bathroom and closed the door, Edward glared at Isabella. "Why would you promise her something you can't fulfill?"

Bella studied Edward for a long quiet moment. In a gruff and rugged way, he could be considered handsome. Hell, what was she thinking? Edward Cullen was a very pretty man. The hardness lining his features, however, kept people at bay. Bella hadn't decided if it was intentional or if, at this point, it came naturally.

Whatever the case, Bella wasn't scared of the big, bad king. Up to this point, besides giving her the butt whipping of her life, Edward hadn't done anything to harm her. Her lashes dropped a fraction. "I didn't promise Lily anything I don't plan on fulfilling."

Edward literally seethed as he returned her unwavering stare. "It'd be tough for you to do if I put you back in that room."

"Well," Bella shrugged, walking past him to the doorway as she continued, "that will be the only way I don't come back up here to play with her. Are you going to prevent Lily from enjoying a few hours?"

Bella didn't wait for Edward to answer. Slipping out of the room, she was halfway down the hall when his fingers wrapped around her bicep and turned her around. "I meant what I said about staying away from my family. You have no right promising my daughter you will play with her. When you leave, what happens to her when she forms an attachment to you, and you aren't here?"

"Do you even care?" Bella wanted to know. It was faint, but Bella noticed the way his face twisted, and the shadows clouded his eyes. Licking her lips, she whispered fiercely, "Lily thinks you are a monster. Did you know that? Is that what you want? Your little girl thinking you are a tyrant?"

Monster? Lily thought he was a monster? "How would you even know that?"

Emmett watched the byplay between Isabella and Edward. A faint smile traced his lips as he headed in the opposite direction. Apparently, their guest wasn't scared to put Edward right in his place. Even though the part about Lily thinking Edward was a monster was intriguing, Emmett decided to let them hash out whatever was happening. Maybe Isabella might be able to break through where he and his family had failed.

Bella noticed when Emmett slinked away but kept the information to herself. "Lily told me when she visited my prison. We talked through the door for a long time. She is sad and lonely. You would know that if you bothered to talk to her at all."

Hearing what Lily really thought of him bothered him far more than he wanted to admit. In his efforts to keep his distance from the child, Edward had fortified this barricade between himself and his daughter. His lips thinned, and his nostrils flared, his gaze snapping into Bella's. "What happens between my family and me is our business. You would do well to mind your own while you are here."

Bella yanked her arm out of his grasp. "You have three choices, Edward. One, I play with Lily in the morning. Two, you play with your daughter. Or three, you lock me back in my room, and your daughter continues thinking you are the monster she already believes you are."

Edward watched the minx walk away as pretty as you please. He was angry enough to spit nails. Chewing on his bottom lip, he cast one final glance towards Lily's bedroom before following Bella down the stairs. When he hit the bottom, he turned for the comfort of his study. Once inside, he stood in the darkened room, his eyes closing against the rage. His usual stoic constitution was in a wealth of torment.

Edward's fingers tightened into fists as he fought the urge to shred his study piece by piece. Then there was a smidge of something else burning in his gut. While his eyes adjusted to the dark, Edward focused on the picture of his wife. Instantly, Edward felt some of the turmoil melt from his stance, and slowly, he made his way to the desk. Sitting heavily in his chair, his fingers ran through his hair, and before he could stop himself, he reached for the bottle sitting in the corner.

Lily thought he was a monster. Stupidtified, he poured a drink and lifted the glass to his lips. Rolling the liquor on his tongue, he cursed as his eyes fell closed, and his mind wandered to that fateful night. The night his daughter drew her first breath, just as Irene drew her last.

Life was a series of gives and takes, and Edward wanted to forget. He just wanted to forget everything. Shit, just for a few minutes. He didn't want to think about Irene dying. He didn't want to deal with the pretty guest annihilating his household structure and … wait. Hold up … pretty?

Since when did Edward notice a woman's looks? No, he wasn't a fucking saint by any means, yet since Irene died, he rarely considered such things. Perhaps it all had to do with being without the touch and comfort of a woman in … in how many days? Shit. He didn't even know the answer to that anymore. Honestly, he didn't want to contemplate it either.

Yet, as he sipped his drink in the darkened office, his mind wandered time and again to pale blonde hair and blue eyes. Only briefly as the hum of alcohol filled his veins did he realize, the woman fitting the description was not his wife.

Please review... If you aren't reading Under Fire you might wanna check it out. They are adorable.