A Distant Memory

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

A/N Okay so I just realised that I posted the wrong one. Oops lol. But I don't think there's much of a difference. The bit in italics are Carlisle's memories.

Chapter 6: A Trip Down Memory Lane

Let's recap

"What did you say Annabelle's surname was?" he whispered.

"I didn't. I think it's Swift or something like that. Actually, I'm pretty certain it's Swift.."

His body didn't relax. He stood there rigid like a statue, muttering to himself. I could catch an odd word here and there but it made no sense to me..

"No. It … it couldn't be. She couldn't have … is it possible? Of course it is, look at your family … but … she can't possibly … I know she was upset but she can't blame me … I was off duty, there was nothing I could've done... It was too late." He was pacing up and down the room, running his and through his golden hair.

"Carlisle, dear, what's wrong?" Esme asked, her voice filled with worry.

We were all worried, we never saw him like this.. Not ever.

He turned to look at us. His eyes filled with concern and could that be … fear?

He looked at each of us in turn before his eyes rested on me.

"I think I know why Annabelle wants Bella."

Bpov

When those words came out of Carlisle's mouth, I froze. So many questions were running through my mind. How could he know? Did he manage to figure out something from the little information I had provided to them? Has he met Annabelle before?

"How? Why?" Esme asked in her concern-filled voice. She has never seen her husband like this. From the thoughts of everybody else, neither have they. In the few years that I've known the Cullens, I've only ever seen him calm and collected.

"I need to explain something to you all," he spoke calmly again. He's tried his best to take control of his flustered state, but he was pinching the bridge of his nose because of the stress he was under. It was obvious where Edward learnt that habit.

"The time I changed Edward was not the first time I had lived in Chicago. I had lived there one hundred years before and worked in the same hospital."

As he spoke, I saw everything in his mind. I saw an old hospital in his mind. The same one in which I started my nurse training when I was human. The same one where I stayed by Edward's side until I was told he had 'died.'

Carlisle's memories

I had been told of an emergency case on my ward. They couldn't figure out what was wrong with the person so they called for me. Because of my enhanced abilities, I was able to diagnose people by the smell of their blood. Of course, my colleagues didn't know that. They simply thought I was an especially gifted doctor.

I looked at my chart. The name said "Jack Swift." I went into his room. Lying on the small bed in the white room was a frail, middle-aged man. He looked no older than forty. His mousy hair was tousled and his forehead was drenched in sweat from the fever. As soon as I entered, I could smell the horrid stench of his blood. This poor man was terribly infected with disease. It made his blood smell almost as bad as a werewolf's did. Thankfully, I knew what was wrong with him, so we could start treatment with him immediately. The treatment was a long process and it would require for him to fight. I didn't know if he had the strength. It may be too late for him but only time will tell.

I left his room and was met by a tall young woman. She had eyes the color of rain and long jet-black hair.

I gasped when I saw the woman in his memories. It was a human Annabelle. So Carlisle had known her as human.

"Are you Dr. Carlisle Cullen?" she asked me.

"Yes I am," I replied.

"I'm Annabelle Swift. The man in that room is my husband," she said to me.

"Annabelle and I became close. I became her confidante," Carlisle said, sighing deeply.

A growl escaped from Esme's lips. I giggled quietly to myself. Someone is a little jealous.

As he continues with his story, the memories in his mind change. He's in the hospital room with Annabelle and Jack. Jack is asleep. She's sobbing and Carlisle has her arm around her.

"Shh!" I rub circles in her back, hoping to soothe her.

"Please, God, let him be alright. I'll do anything, just let him survive." She sobbed uncontrollably into my shoulder. "Dr. Cullen? Promise me something, please?" she pleaded to me, her eyes wild with distress and slight madness.

"Of course," I said.

"Promise me that you'll do everything in your power to help him survive."

I was shocked at first, but then I relaxed. There were no hidden implications in her request. She simply wanted me to do all I can as a doctor to help him. She hadn't meant anything about my power as a vampire/doctor.

I had thought about changing someone, to make myself a companion but I wouldn't know how to do it. I wouldn't know if I could be strong enough. I've never tasted human blood. I've been training myself for centuries to resist blood but it's only been the past sixty years or so that I've worked amongst humans. If I did taste it, could I be strong enough to resist the bloodlust and stick to my beliefs? That was the one thing that stopped me. I was scared that if I bit a human, the monster in me would take control and all my years of careful preparation and control would be wasted.

No, I was not ready yet. I couldn't do it until I was sure of myself.

"Will you, Carlisle? Please?" Her voice pulled me out of my train of thought.

"I will." I will do all I can as a doctor. If I was strong enough to change him, even then I don't think I could do it. He would have to be taken from her anyway.

"I don't know what I'll do if I lose him. He's all I've got. I love him so much." She sobbed into my shoulder again.

The scene in his mind changed again. It was similar to the one before. Carlisle and Annabelle haven't changed their positions but the hospital bed is empty.

"Why did he have to go? He was supposed to be getting better." She was sobbing again, barely able to speak. "You told me he was getting better." She accused me. Her swollen, bloodshot eyes narrowed at me.

"You broke your promise. You said you would do all in your power to save him but you didn't. If you had tried your best then my Jack would still be alive," she screamed at me, her voice thick with emotion.

"Annabelle. There was nothing I could do. I was off duty. If I had known that this was going to happen, then I would never have left but my superiors insisted I go home to sleep. Believe me when I say I regret your husband fault deeply. He was a fine gentleman and his death will be felt by me. I'm deeply sorry for your loss and I know that no words can comfort you at this time—" She cut me off before I could continue.

"Don't you dare apologize to me. What good is an apology to me? My husband is dead and it's your fault," she said to me fiercely before rushing from the room in tears.

"Annabelle must have been changed not long after Jack's death. She would have figured out that I was vampire and must now still blame me for Jack's death," Carlisle said, frowning.

"But, how does that explain why she would want Bella?" Rose asked, confused.

"She was the one who changed Bella. So maybe she sees Bella as a chance to have a family again. She wants Bella to be her daughter. That may also explain why she changed the others. Annabelle knew that Bella would never willingly leave us, so she showed Bella what would happen if she didn't go to her, and then used her power to change Bella's memories."

"I'm sorry Carlisle but do you seriously believe that Annabelle went through all this bother just to keep Bella as a daughter? It just doesn't add up. No offence to you, Bella," Alice piped up.

"I would listen to Alice, Carlisle. She's a smart one," a cold voice said from behind us. We all turned. It was Annabelle. Dawn, Christian, and Antoine were behind her.

"How very stupid of you all to let your guard down while doing a little reminiscing. Tut, tut, tut," she said, smiling cruelly at us from the door.

"I don't want Bella to be my daughter." She laughed mirthlessly, her red eyes glowing in the darkness. "I want revenge."

A/N Sorry it's so short but I had very little free time this weekend. I hope you like it and I'll try my best to update soon. =]

R&R, I'd really appreciate it. I have 68 reviews for this, do you think you could help me get between 80-100 before updating again.

Sorry again about posting the wrong one.

Helen =]