Summary: Carlisle and Bella share a father-daughter moment. Of course, Bella's clumsiness comes to be a factor. One-shot.
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. If I did, it wouldn't be fanfiction.
A/N: Haha, this was inspired by myself falling and spraining my ankle on Father's Day. Air casts suck, by the way. Ick. (And I added some history because Carlisle rocks) (If you guys want, I can extend this story, and Lylia will become more part of the plot.
"Ow, ow," I whimpered. My fingernails dug into the white loveseat as I heaved myself up. My ankle was throbbing, and I assumed that wasn't good.
Moments ago, I tripped and had fallen on Emmett's Xbox. It probably didn't look too graceful, because the console was in plain sight. And I probably would have to ask Edward not to kill his favorite brother.
My siblings, love, and mother were out hunting, leaving my father-to-be and me home alone. It was Saturday, so he happened to be here. Somewhere, I thought. My bet was in his study, studying books he already memorized.
I hobbled over and sat down, lifting my foot and setting it on the couch. Hey, I knew this from experience!
"Carlisle," I called out, not raising my voice at all. He'd hear me even if I whispered. Suddenly – with speed I was already accustomed to – he was before me.
"Bella?" He smiled and glanced at my ankle. "Did you have an accident?" A faint heat covered my cheeks as I blushed and nodded.
"I fell over Emmett's Xbox." I murmured. His smile grew as he kneeled beside me and picked up my ankle gently. I sighed – his cold hands felt nice. Carlisle poked and prodded my ankle, and I would occasionally squeak when he pushed too hard on a certain spot.
"Well, your ankle is sprained, but not too badly. I'll need to put an air cast on you, and you'll need to walk with crutches for a week, at most. Let me get them." He disappeared as I paled. Crutches. Ew… last time I had to walk with them, I whacked numerous people, and almost killed myself. Edward saved me much to often for me to feel comfortable with myself.
"Here you are," Carlisle was back with my two death-traps and the blue and white air cast. I shifted my body so he could have easier access to my ankle.
"Thanks," I whispered as he hooked the Velcro around my foot.
"It's really no problem, Bella. It's nice to be able to take care of a family member. I can't do that so much around here, with everyone being as hard as limestone." He winked at me as I smiled a rather timid grin.
"Of course," he continued, "I'd be on Edward's bad side if I decided to slack off. He wouldn't be too joyous with you squeaking every time you took a step." I laughed with him, but a slight blush was coloring my cheeks.
"At least I don't have to go to a hospital every time I hurt myself. If I had fallen at Charlie's house, I would visit you there." My dad would definitely go to that extreme, no matter what I said. "But of course, I think every one down at good ol' Forks Hospital knows me by name." Carlisle laughed even louder as he nodded.
"That's what Edward said!" He chortled. I don't think I've seen Carlisle this open. Around me, at least.
"I never said 'Happy Father's Day' to you, Carlisle." I muttered, almost to myself. His laughter quickly cut off and he stared at me, a light shock shown on his perfect features.
"Bella… thank you." He whispered, just loud enough so I could hear him.
"I do consider you my father in every way except biological. I'm very honored to have two fathers." So fast that I didn't notice, I was embraced by my adoptive father. I hugged him back, my feeble strength doing nothing.
"Thank you, Bella. I consider you my daughter in every way except biological, too." He moved onto the couch beside me.
"You know," he started, "You remind me of someone in my human life."
"Really?" I was taken aback. He nodded and continued,
"Her name was… Lylia, I believe." His forehead creased as he tried to remember. "She was my best friend, and she looked like you. I could never remember what she looked like until you came into the hospital that day you almost got run over." I listened silently, soaking in this new information.
"When you argued that you where fine, the mental picture came back. She was as stubborn as you! I would think that if you were to dress up in a hoop skirt and wear a corset, I would begin to call you Lylia. I have had to stop myself occasionally from calling you that." I smiled at the same time Carlisle did.
"That sounds vaguely familiar." I commented.
"Does it? I'll have to look into that… the mental picture becomes clearer every time I see you; you could have been twins! Esme is the only one who knows whom Lylia is. Edward sends me strange glances when I almost call you Lylia."
"You don't have to stop yourself from calling me Lylia if it makes you happy." I told him. "I wouldn't mind." Carlisle laughed.
"I might take you up on that." He said. He hung his arm around my shoulders as he turned on the T.V. It was nice to spend some time with my father without Emmett's comments, or Alice's wedding plans. I laid back and relaxed as I rested my sore foot on the coffee table. We stayed there a while; occasionally Carlisle said something more about Lylia, and that made things more interesting.
Hours later, the rest of the family came home to see me dozing off next to Carlisle.
"Bella," Edward murmured in my ear. "Time to get up; I'm home." He just seemed to realize my ankle and the crutches.
"Bella, what did you do?" I giggled as Carlisle beamed.
"I fell over the Xbox." A not-so-friendly glare was directed toward Emmett as Edward picked me up. As we were climbing the stair case, I heard Carlisle whisper,
"Until later, Lylia." I dug my face into Edward's chest to hide my smile.
Edward set me down on his bed and kissed me. But, all too soon, he broke away and started pacing.
"Who the heck is Lylia?"