October 31st, 1994

Dear Isabella,

Edward came out of his coma last week. You found out about Edward being in the hospital and we had to go visit him every single week. Lucky for you, Esme and Evelyn were more than willing to take you if I can't. I don't see you much because you practically refuse to leave his side. You read stories to him, fight with him - I am not sure how you do that. But, leave it to my daughter to fight with a boy in a coma. My favorite and least favorite is the whole.

"Edward, I know that you are in there listening to me. Don't you want to stop hearing me whine and complain about you being in that darn coma? Wake up so you can yell at me again! I want to hear you tell me that brown is a better color than green. That M&M's are better than Starbursts. That you are smarter than me. You need to wake up! I need my best friend. Opening doors is tiring! I had nobody to give me flowers OR open my door this summer! I miss your hugs. I miss your voice. I miss you reading your stupid educational and comic books to me. I miss listening to you practicing your piano. I miss singing with you. I miss you. Please wake up. I miss my best friend. I love you, Edward. I don't want to cry anymore."

If Carlisle was not there for many of these fights to explain your relationship, I am sure that you would have ended up with a visit to the children's psych ward and on medication. I am grateful for Carlisle!

Senior is not as good as we thought he would be. He is paralyzed and not handling it well. He is out of the rehab center and home. Carlisle and I moved a bunch of his furniture around to make it easier for him to move around. He is not happy about it. He complains that he should have died with his Lizzie. Hell, both Edwards should have.

Senior can't handle things. Junior is not even home and we are worried about him going to that home. We are trying to get an order to have Senior's rights to Junior taken away temporarily while they both recover. So far, the judge does not see a reason to separate Senior and Junior since Junior is in the hospital and will be there for a while. But, as a favor to our longstanding work relationship, he will keep an eye on him. Senior seemed not too happy when he was questioned on whether he wanted Junior or not. He was at least smart in saying that he doesn't right now since Junior needs to be in the hospital still, but would love him home after his release. He needs to go through rehab first since he can not take care of him yet.

Meanwhile, Esme and Carlisle have offered to take Junior while he recovers so he can be somewhere he knows. Esme works part-time and volunteers, so she would be able to stay with Junior. That between her, Carlisle, Evelyn, me, and you, Isabella, he would be well taken care of. You went to court with Esme and Carlisle and told the judge that you would take good care of your Edward. And if it were not so serious, I might have laughed.

"Your Honor, I know that you don't know me. My name is Isabella Marie Swan. Edward Anthony Masen, Junior, is my best friend. For as long as I have known him, he has done everything that he can to take care of me. He opens doors for me, helps me get things I can't reach, keeps me on my feet instead of the ground. I tend to trip on flat ground. It is a real gift. Ask anyone who knows me. I don't want Edward to go from the hospital to rehab far away. See, I can't take care of him or make sure he eats and does what he is supposed to do if he stays in Seattle.

"If he goes with his Uncle, Aunt, and Granny in Forks, he would have an army of us to make sure he behaves. He might get into trouble without the right supervision. I respect what your job means. My Daddy is the Chief of Police in Forks, Charlie Swan. Daddy and I live next door to Aunt Esme, Uncle Carlisle Cullen, and Granny Evelyn Platt. No, they are not related to me but they are like my family and I hope they think I am to them as well. Edward has been taking care of me for years. It is time that I do my job as his best friend and take care of him. Please let me, your Honor. Thank you, sir."

There were many laughs as you spoke. The judge was impressed that though you are only just turned seven, you seemed to have manners and mostly proper English. You were able to speak clearly and properly in front of a room full of strangers without trouble. That is something that many adults have trouble with - myself included sometimes. I was so proud of you. I am always proud of you.

I was proud when you did not get upset at the judge for his ruling to keep him where he was. What I did not realize was that Carlisle and Esme already told you that no matter what, Junior was going to be staying at the hospital until he was able to go to rehab or to Esme and Carlisle's home. I was grateful that they were able to explain things to you in a way that you understood. I never thought of that. Then again, I was not sure you should really be here. Like you would have stayed away. Anything that might be getting that boy back to Forks was what you wanted to do.

I was also proud of you for telling the judge that you did not like Senior. The few times that you met him, you were not his biggest fan. Not that you even liked him, which was not your normal. You love almost everyone. Senior always made you uncomfortable and because of that, none of the Cullens or I left you alone with him. He was not around much. He just came for a few days here and there which was fine with us.

Edward is going to have a long way to go before he can go home. Wherever that is. I pray that you will understand that soon enough.

I love you, my darling daughter,

Love,

Daddy