September 13th, 2002

Dear Isabella,

Today is your fifteenth birthday. You have been in ninth grade for over a week now and I can't believe it. Do you know what this means? Your Mother is getting old! I am still a young man of thirty-five years of age my dear daughter! Having you every year is the best gift a man can ask for.

My daughter is the best friend a guy can ask for. Not that I talk a lot. But when I do need advice, you are wise beyond your years. You are also an amazing cook! All those cooking lessons with your mother never helped. Other than teaching you what NOT to do. Esme and Evelyn's cooking classes, on the other hand, have been an amazing blessing to us. Otherwise, we would have starved years ago! Your Mom is not the best cook ever. She knows it too. So, don't think you can rat me out by saying something to her about it to get me into trouble. It is well documented that the fire department prefers the elder Swan's cooking. Or baking.

Now, all my coworkers from the police, fire and EMS stations all think you make the best of just about everything. Unless it includes Esme or Evelyn in the mix. Then, there are no winners. Just happy bellies all around. I am proud to be your Dad. I do miss you calling me Daddy.

There has been a lot that has gone on. Edward finally came to live in Forks with Carlisle, Esme, and Evelyn. It has made you the happiest that you have been in a very long time. Sadly, Edward has seen some things that he should have never seen and done things he should have never had to do to survive. I will forever grieve for the innocence that he lost because of his sperm donor's actions.

I can't fully get into it with you, I am not sure what - if anything - he will tell you about his time with that evil man. But know that it was not a hardship that Senior had to die. Plenty had been willing to pull the trigger if needed, which it wasn't. He took the coward's way out. That is all I can say.

It seems like with a lot of these letters I talked about Edward. As much as I want to talk about you, you never give me issues unless it involves Edward and more recently Jacob or Jake Black as well. Those two boys have been having a pissing match over you for about two years now. It is fun to watch!

Especially since you just do not see it!

Poor Jake! You only see Edward and you as being married and with a family which means that nobody else has a chance! Jake even told you about the Quileute Tribal legends that are supposed to be only for the Tribe and its warriors, which would include him - or so he says. He even told you about the Quileute Tribe's most secret stories about something called imprinting. It took everything I had to not laugh at Jake as I listened to him. He has been trying very hard to get you to love him. Hell, maybe even like him. As much as I would not mind you being with my best friend growing up's son, I have no issues with Edward and his family. I already know that both boys will grow up to be great men who will take care of you. So, as much as it kills me to say this, both guys are great options for you and your future family.

That family better not come for a long time. Like ten or fifteen years from now, my darling daughter. Do you understand me? I am glad you got me. Who am I kidding? Just be happy and married before you give me grandbabies, please.

So about this imprinting magical stuff that I am still not sure I understand with Billy's help. That, Bella, should tell you all you need to know. I went to the Chief of the Quileute Tribe to understand and him, Harry Clearwater, and Old Quil Ateara could not let me see heads or tails of it. It is when the Spirit Warriors look into the eyes of a woman who is their soulmate, their world revolves around that woman. The Warrior is what she needs him to be. A brother. A friend. A protector. A lover. Jacob said that even as young as the two of you were when making mud pies as kids, he knew you were it for him. No other girl would make him as happy as you do. Nobody would make a better wife of the Chief of the Quileute Tribe than you would. You are sweet, loveable, calm, and caring, but also tough when you need to be. You were really understanding and sweet while he told you these things. You never laughed at him, but Jacob was in so much trouble telling you and me overhearing the sacred tales. It was kind of funny. It would have been worse if we had not already known most of the stories from when I was a kid hearing them from Jake's grandpa and Billy's dad William, Senior, and you had already heard them also as a kid from me.

Anyways, Jacob says that Quileute Warriors descended from his great grandfather, Ephraim Black and their Spirit God of Taha Aki. These warriors turn into wolves when they are around the scents of their only real enemy, the cold ones or what us pale faces call, vampires. They protect the Tribe and the surrounding areas from the threat of vampires. I asked Jake if he turned into a giant furry wolf and he said that he didn't as of that day, but was looking forward to it if it ever happened. Because turning into a giant horse-sized wolf makes all the sense in the world.

I can't imagine what it would cost to feed one of these spirit warriors. Especially seeing what Jake eats without it. Poor Billy, living on Social Security Disability and feeding that man child. At least you don't eat me out of house and home. Thank you for that!

You decided that you wanted to take as many A.P. courses as possible. Your grades were good enough and after many fights with you, since it would be cheaper for you to do them in high school versus college, I finally agreed. Granny Evie offered to pay for them since you are her favorite granddaughter. Honestly, it was a true win-win. Evelyn wanted to help pay for both yours and Edward's education in some way. This made her proud that you were going to be ahead when it came to college. Maybe taking as much as a year off. Maybe more, depending on how well you and Edward do. Which between the two of you, you will be great! I know it!

It is surprising that Evelyn is still here. Especially since Edward and Elizabeth were moving here when you were seven because she wasn't well. We have all been so happy that she recovered from the illnesses that plagued her then. She is not as mobile as she was before she got sick, but she gets around and does her crafts and cooking. Baking too. Teaching you and Edward is one of her greatest joys in life. She enjoys you coming over and hooking and sticky yarn with her (I know that is not what either activity is called, but I don't know what either is, I am a man) and making blankets and winter items. You make beautiful Granny Square blankets with the hooker. Scarves that you make are so warm with the sticky things.

She told me not to say anything to you. But by the time you read this, it might not matter. She has been working on blankets and other things that you will need for your future little ones. I am not sure how many she has made of what, but I think that it is a great thing. She did tell me that she did not want you or Edward to know. But I am not telling you. I am writing it to you and who knows if you will actually read it. I am 98% sure that you will. But if she finds out, I am going to pretend I think the opposite. Though she would know that you would never turn down the chance to get into my head as there is so much going on in here. Not really.

Evelyn wishes that she could watch you two get married and have your own family. I agree with her as much as it hurts me to say that you do compliment each other very well. You always have for as long as you have known each other. He has always been a firm believer in treating you like the young woman that you are and when he was in his wheelchair or using the crutches, it killed him that he was not able to hold doors for you as easily as before. Not that you cared. You were just happy to spend time with him and have the chance to take care of him.

He and I had a talk about this when I called to check on him one time a few months ago. For as long as I have known Edward, I had told him that he needed to take care of you. That you are a special girl and should be treated with love and respect. Carlisle made sure to drive that point home. I guess we drove the point too hard. He felt like a failure as a man and that Carlisle and I would be mad at him for not taking care of you the way he normally would. This being the second time that he was in a rehab center to help him to learn how to walk after injuries he sustained from his sperm donor. Thankfully, the second time it was not as long as the first time once his casts were off. Again, a story that he will need to tell you, which Edward said he would do once he is in a better mindset. I about lost it. Never once did I think that he was disrespectful of you when he was unable to hold the door open for you or help you up when you fell. I knew it was bothering him to not be able to do it all. I had to set him straight. We all are now on the same page and have an understanding.

I am proud of the woman that you are becoming, Isabella. I am grateful for the woman you are growing into. I need to get going. Before I really start to cry.

Love always and forever-

Daddy

P.S. I am always going to be your Daddy in my mind, as you will always be my baby girl. Deal with it.