Chapter three - sting in her tail

A/N: Anything Twilight related belongs to SM. I hope everyone is enjoying the festive season. I want to thank you lovelies for your comments on the last chapter. I read every single review, almost everyone wanted to know what the deal is with Bee... hopefully this chapter will answer some (but not all) your questions :)

"Edward, language!" Esme admonished.

She was startled by the sight of her son wrapped around her new but barely dressed daughter: "And let go of Isabella this minute."

Edward pushed Bee away from his body as though she was on fire, leaving Bee to stumble a little before regaining her balance. His face was flushed and he stared at Bee with such an intense gaze she was taken aback at first thinking that he was angry with you for spilling coffee on him, yet again. She whispered softly: "Sorry about your pants." Then she rushed down the stairs towards the kitchen.

Edward was still standing there staring after Isabella's retreating form. Esme gave him a quizzical look trying to work out what had happened when her gaze took in his pants which were covered in coffee and she had to bite back her giggle. The muffled sound she did let escape seemed to break him from his bewildered state. He glanced down to the now cold wet patch on his pants and gruffly turned back towards his end of the floor: "I'll go change my pants."

Esme bit back another giggle and tried to sound supportive: "That's a good idea, sweetheart. Your dad and Em are waiting in the car so be quick."

She bent down and picked up the now empty coffee mug and headed down to the kitchen to find a mortified Isabella sitting in the breakfast nook clutching her wrap around her.

All humour now gone Esme wanted to reach out and hug the young girl but didn't want to frighten her off.

She had no idea if Isabella was a hugger or not. She did hug them the night before as she was going to bed, so maybe she wouldn't mind but still she thought it better not to push things too soon.

Thinking that the safest way to open conversation and get past the coffee incident upstairs was food, Esme made her way to the stove where she had breakfast prepped ready to go and asked as casually as she could: "Hungry Isabella?"

At the mere mention of food Bee's stomach growled loudly. She giggled and decided honesty was the best policy: "Well I can hardly pretend I am not with that embarrassing noise emanating from my body. So I would say it is safe to say that yes Esme, I am quite hungry."

Esme laughed and nodded: "Good. So am I. I didn't eat with the boys, I wanted to wait for you. So let's have ourselves a feast, and then we can talk about what we're doing today. Okay?"

Bee nodded and gave Esme a genuine smile. Esme was a lovely woman with a genuine, authentic manner. Bee liked her; she imagined it would be very hard not to like Esme Cullen.

Just as Esme placed the plate of hotcakes down on the table next to a warmed plate of bacon fresh from the oven, Edward rushed through the kitchen heading out to the garage.

"Bye Mom," he yelled over his shoulder as he escaped the room, avoiding eye contact with either woman.

He headed out to the garage where an impatient Emmett was tapping the roof of Carlisle's car: "About time, dickhead. What took you so long? Doing your hair?"

Carlisle laughed: "Does his hair look like he spent twenty minutes on it? Get in the pair of you, we're already late."

Edward settled into the back seat since Emmett had clearly called shotgun: "Sorry Dad, I had to change my pants."

Emmett turned his seat to smirk at his brother: "What's wrong fancy pants did the other pants make your butt look big?" He turned back to the front, guffawing at his own joke.

Edward slapped Em up the back of the head: "No you prick. Bee spilled coffee on me... again!" Edward pouted as he stared out the back window.

Carlisle and Emmett were silent for all of ten seconds before cracking up so hard Carlisle couldn't even start the car.

"I thought you said we were late, Dad?" Edward whined.

Carlisle did his best to compose himself: "Yes, yes, quite right. We need to get going, don't want to waste a rare day of sunshine."

Carlisle was a dedicated physician who worked long hours away from his family, so whenever he had a day off and the weather was good he kept his boys out of school to go play golf at their club. When the weather was bad but he wanted to spend time with his boys they'd do some indoor activity at the gym. When they were younger they'd go hiking as a family but the boys couldn't afford too many days out of school now they were in their senior year.

It was a win, win as far as he was concerned. It gave him some exercise and some time to just talk with his sons.

His boys liked it too. Time with their dad was precious and they often shared topics which they really couldn't or wouldn't bring up with their mother.

Contraception, for example, was an occasional topic which Carlisle would discuss with his boys. Edward would roll his eyes at his Dad but Emmett would ask loads of questions, especially in his younger years.

Mostly though, these outings gave the Cullen men time to hang out in each other's company.

In the Cullen kitchen, Esme and Bee were making plans for their own day out. Bee expressed curiosity as to why she wasn't going to school and why the boys weren't in school either for that matter. Esme explained Carlisle's regular boys bonding days: "We have an arrangement with the school that so long as the boys' grades are in the top 10 percent then the school turns a blind eye by allowing them a little 'vacation' day whenever it suits Carlisle. Of course that arrangement extends to you now too, and considering you are besting Edward in several classes you must be vying for the top academic spot in the whole school. So they won't give us any trouble."

"Four," Bee mumbled.

"What's that dear?"

"I'm besting Edward in four classes," Bee shared. She gave Esme a little smirk and Esme laughed: "That is wonderful Isabella, congratulations. It is no doubt making my son crazy!"

Bee giggled: "To be fair, he's really annoyingly smart and besting me in four subjects too. We're a dead heat for English."

"Oh yes, well Edward loves to read. He always has, even when he was a little boy. Emmett has always been a more physical creature but he's smart too, don't let his boyish dimples and those muscles fool you."

After breakfast, Bee carried their dirty dishes to the sink, rinsed them and loaded them in the dishwasher.

Esme watched her new daughter clean up without being asked, she considered it quite the contrast to her two boys but decided not to draw attention to it.

"So we need to get you some new things," Esme was practically bouncing on her chair.

She was excited at the idea of spoiling her new daughter: "You'll have to forgive me for being a little excited Isabella, I've never had a daughter to share my day with. I don't want you to think our girls days will always just be shopping but you do need some clothes and other personal things so for our first girls bonding day I think we should drive to Port Angeles and hit the mall. I only wish we had time to drive to Seattle, the stores are so much better there but PA stores are nice too!"

Bee squirmed in her chair a little: "I don't want to rain on your parade too much Esme but I don't have money for new clothes from the Mall. I usually go to the Serenity House Thrift Store in PA to buy my clothes second hand. But I do have some clothes in my house, not many but some, so we can just go there and pick them up."

Esme sat silently for a moment trying to compose herself enough to speak. After a few moments she spoke quietly: "Isabella. You are living here with us now. Carlisle and I have committed to the judge, the chief of police, and your new social worker, that we would look after you as if you were our own child." She paused choking back her emotion: "I know you have been looking after yourself with extraordinary success but you don't have to do that anymore. Please, Isabella. Please, let me look after you. You will be doing ME a huge favour. I have longed for a daughter and ... I ... well I hope that you can enjoy me being your mother ... please?"

Bee was completely immobilised by Esme's outpouring. She hadn't wanted to be a burden but now she could see that this was a way she could repay Esme for her kindness. After all, if she and Dr Cullen hadn't volunteered to take her in she'd be being shipped off to ... well that didn't bear thinking about.

She reached across to take Esme's hand: "Okay, if it will make you happy we can buy me some things... but no dresses!"

Esme laughed: "Okay, no dresses...except for the one you'll need to wear to go shopping. The only thing I have which will fit you will be some things that are too small for me and they're all dresses I am afraid."

Bee dropped her chin to her chest, released a deep sigh and then smiled at Esme: "Okay, well no MORE dresses."

Esme held out her hand to her adopted daughter: "Deal."

They shook hands, laughed and headed upstairs together to find something for Isabella to wear.

On the golf course Carlisle read a text from Esme saying she and Isabella were headed to Port Angeles to do some shopping but would be home for dinner. Carlisle smiled, grateful that his wife was being so gracious and welcoming to Isabella.

"Well boys, your mother has taken Isabella shopping in PA so we'll have the house to ourselves for the rest of the day. Looks like your pants are safe from any further coffee spills Edward, for now at least."

Emmett chuckled as he moved to take his final putt on the last hole of the morning. The ball obediently dropped into the hole and he air punched excited for his victory.

Edward grimaced: "Ha, Ha, Dad. What's the story anyway? You said Bee didn't have anywhere else to go, doesn't she have a home of her own? Where are her parents?"

"Now listen boys, I will tell you what I know but there are a few mysteries yet to be solved when it comes to Isabella. Let's head in and have lunch in the club, but let's eat outside since the weather is still good. That way we won't be airing Isabella's private business where nosy gossips might hear us. Okay?"

Emmett slapped his father on the back: "Sure Dad but it's your shout today since Ed and I beat you!"

Carlisle chuckled: "Okay, my shout but try not to eat everything on the menu Emmett, I'd hate to have to dip into your College fund just to pay for lunch."

Emmett scoffed: "As if, I could order the whole menu and not make a dent in the ready green you have in your wallet right now Dad. And since I am the victor of the day my dear brother you get to wash my balls!"

Emmett roared with laughter as he walked to the clubhouse to book their outside table for lunch, while Edward and Carlisle made their way to clean their equipment and golf balls before store it in their lockers.

Carlisle liked Salt Creek Club as, unlike a lot of fancier clubs, Salt Creek welcomed players of all levels and he could take out a family membership which covered the boys as well. It was one of their favourite places for a weekend get away since they had nice accommodations onsite. Esme could spend time reading, writing or visiting friends in PA while the boys enjoyed the golf.

"Is it really bad Dad? Bee's situation?" Edward asked quietly while they cleaned their gear.

Nodding solemnly: "Yes son, I think she's had a very hard time for quite awhile."

Edward just nodded and went back to cleaning and pack up their gear. He was a little worried about what his Dad was about to share with them.

They finished up and met Emmett in the changing areas where they washed up for lunch.

Carlisle walked proudly through the club house with his two tall sons at his side. He nodded and waved to his friends in the clubhouse as they passed them on their way outside. Tony the club manager waved and gestured that the food was on its way, since Emmett ordered their favourites when he booked their table.

The boys settled in while drinks and food were placed on the table. They were quiet waiting for Carlisle to share Bee's story, knowing he wouldn't start until the staff were all out of earshot.

Emmett was surrounded by food so he started on his Chicken Quesadilla and Hoosier Fries, while Edward and Carlisle looked on in awe before starting on their favourite Mushroom & Swiss burgers with side salads.

After a few mouthfuls Carlisle mused: "I'm not really sure where to start."

"How about telling us how she hurt her wrist," Edward asked. "Besides the fact that she is a klutz and could trip on air, did something else happen?"

"Actually that's a good place to begin, since that's how I met her at the hospital," Carlisle said. "Apparently some time just before lunch some boy grabbed Isabella while she was putting her books into her locker and kissed her. Let's just say it was not consensual."

Edward's eyes bugged out.

Emmett put his food down and swallowed loudly: "Are you saying some boy at school hurt her wrist while kissing her against her will? I will beat him to a pulp, who the f... hell was it, Dad?"

"Well now, that's not quite right but in a way... yes, it is what happened. The boy's name was Black or something?" he hesitated.

"Jacob," the twins said in unison with a matching disdainful tone and a clear lack of surprise. "Little prick," Emmett mumbled.

"Yes, that was his name," Carlisle remembered. "He was on a dare to kiss a senior since he's a junior. He chose Isabella and cornered her at her locker. He's quite big for his age by all accounts and just grabbed her from behind, spun her and kissed her."

"I'll kill him," Emmett was furious. "He's almost as big as me and only a Junior, so he thinks he's god's gift. Poor Bee."

Carlisle chuckled and the boys looked at him like he'd lost his mind.

"Sorry boys, it's just that 'poor Bee' punched Jacob in the jaw and surprised him so much he was caught off guard. She laid him flat out in front of all his friends."

Emmett laughed: "So that's how she hurt her wrist, punching that idiot and teaching him a lesson! Well, who would've guessed our little Bee has a sting in her tail!"

Edward couldn't help the smirk that crept across his face as he thought to himself, 'well done Busy Bee, well done'.

Carlisle continued: "Anyway, Mrs Cope saw the whole thing and dragged this Jacob boy to the office to wait for the principal, I believe he is now on suspension. Mrs Cope sent Isabella to the school nurse who took one look at her wrist and promptly called the ambulance to take her to the hospital which is where I met her.

"They called me in for a surgical consult because her x-rays showed ... well, let's just say that girl's had more than her fair share of broken bones over the years..."

The table went silent for a few minutes letting that information soak in a little.

Emmett asked the question his brother was thinking as well: "Do you think someone has been hurting her, Dad?"

Carlisle nodded: "I think it is a very real possibility boys. She has a lot of old injuries, although if she is a 'klutz' as you call her, it could just be that but ... "

Edward dropped his head in shame; once again he'd shown himself to be a judgemental prick where Bee was concerned.

Carlisle ate some more of his salad but then continued sharing his information: "'When the school nurse tried to call Isabella's listed emergency contacts to notify them that Isabella had been hurt and taken to hospital, she found that the phone numbers were all bogus. The school called the police to check on the address listed in the file. Chief Dawson came to the hospital to question her after having visited the house and seeing the conditions she'd been living in.

"The only good thing he had to say was that it was clean and neat but there was next to no food, little furniture and no heating or electricity. There was a single cot with a sleeping bag and a blanket where she'd been sleeping. Everything was in the one room with the rest of the house all closed off. She'd obviously tried to keep to the one room for warmth but how she managed in Forks with no heat and a threadbare blanket I have no idea. There's a privacy policy of 'no judgement, no disclosure' at our Church's homeless shelter so we strongly suspect she's slept there on and off, probably in the really bad weather."

Emmett was clearly shocked and looking at all the plates surrounding him from all the food he'd just eaten: "Shit Dad, we had no idea. She's always kept to herself and was always ... well, busy. She never even comes to the cafeteria at lunch time. She just goes to the library."

Edward looked to Emmett: "Em, do you think she's being doing that because she has no money for food?"

Both boys looked to their Dad.

He nodded his head solemnly: "Yes, I think that's exactly what she's been doing."

The boys were staring gaping like stunned fish as Carlisle continued: "When Chief Dawson questioned Isabella she tried to tell him some nonsense about her Dad being out of town and forgetting to pay the electric and that's why there was no heat. But according to Dawson her Dad, Charles Swan, died some 16 years ago.

"When she heard Dawson say something about calling social services she became hysterical and that's when your mother came in. She was coming in to meet me for lunch but when she heard Isabella crying and her pleas not to go to social services, Esme stepped in to console the girl.

"She sat with Isabella for quite awhile until she calmed down enough for the technician to come in and fit her with a splint. Isabella's wrist has a small fracture so she'll need to keep it braced for a few weeks. Anyway, while the technician and Chief Dawson were with her your mother came to me with the idea of Isabella living with us until she finishes her senior year. Chief Dawson had already told me that he'd have to take Isabella to Seattle since she was seventeen and there was no available places for a girl her age with any foster families in Forks or Port Angeles.

"I wanted to help the girl but was unsure how you boys would feel about it. When Esme told me that Isabella's biggest fear was that she'd lose her chance to get into college if she had to move away, I knew we should take her in. I mean I hope that if one of you boys were on your own in the world someone would help you.

"We gave Judge Meadows a call and she agreed to meet with us to discuss the situation. Esme and the Judge went to school together as you know so, knowing us to be of good character and our reputation for doing good work in the community she agreed. She was especially willing given the circumstances and the consequences to Isabella's education if she didn't come live with us. Judge Meadows had a good conversation with Isabella and authorised the placement with us so long as we agreed to check in with her and the social services team regularly. So that's how Isabella has come to live with us."

"If her Dad is dead, does anyone know where her Mom is?" Emmett asked.

"No, Em as I said earlier there are still some mysteries yet to be solved about Isabella but now you know all that I know. I have no idea how she came to be living in that abandoned house or how no one has registered her as missing or how the school hadn't picked up that all her contact details were false or even how she's been feeding herself all this time."

Edward had finished his burger and was playing with the remaining salad on his plate while he listened to Carlisle's story. He threw the piece of lettuce he'd been torturing down on the plate and pushed it away. He looked to his brother for some kind of understanding. "Fuck," is all he could say. Emmett slapped him on the back: "Amen, brother."

A/N: So there's a bit of Bee's story. I'd love to hear your thoughts.