Hello all. I have nothing witty to say today. I am trying to get this
out to you without falling into an exhausted sleep, which would
only last about an hour before the coughing and stuffy nose will
wake me … again. Yay.

Sorry, just tired of battling this round of cold season. Ugh!

Hope today finds you all well.

*huggles*

-LWTC-

Chapter 13

Bella awakened as Edward gathered her in his arms. She tried to protest, but was so fatigued, and had been so deeply asleep that she snuggled against him, and immediately passed out once again. Edward was grateful that she had discussed her schedule with him earlier, so he knew that she had Friday off from work. He carried her to his room, and laid her under the covers of the bed. When he tried standing to leave he found it difficult, as she was clinging to his shirt.

He gently pried her hands away, and tucked her into the down blankets. He smoothed her hair back from her face, and kissed her soft cheek. As he tried to rise off the bed, and leave her, she grabbed his shirt again.

"Don't leave me," her sleep addled voice plead. "I need you."

"It's okay, Princess," he assured her, and wrapped her into a tight embrace. "I need you too, and I'm never going to leave you. Goodnight beautiful girl."

He placed another kiss on her forehead, and was finally able to extricate himself from her clinging hands. He knew she would most likely not remember the exchange in the morning; he was not sure she was actually awake.

He grabbed a blanket and pillow from the linen closet before heading back down the stairs to sleep on the sofa.

"Son," Carlisle called to him, "a word, please?"

"Dad," Edward joined him in the dining room. Carlisle motioned to the chair kitty-corner to his own, and pushed a mug of peppermint tea toward him. This was not an unexpected custom. Whenever his father felt the need for a heart to heart, he had always waited until the house had quieted at night, then called the other party into the dining room to sip peppermint tea, and talk. Carlisle had never been big on yelling, or angry words in his home. His home was his castle, and his place of serenity. He chose to deal with his children as intelligent, but small people, and discussed things with them rationally, never in the heat of his anger.

That wasn't what this was about, though. Edward had a suspicion what his father wanted to discuss. He had openly claimed Bella as a daughter that evening … not just for her benefit, but for Edward's as well.

"Bella is a really pretty girl."

"Yep," Edward agreed, nodding as he swallowed his first sip of tea.

"A much more natural beauty than you ever took notice of before," Carlisle stared over the top of his tea mug, daring his son to argue with the expression of his eyes.

"The only one I've ever loved," Edward took another swig of his tea, then pushed the mug back, and leaned back in his chair. "What do you want to say, Dad? Lay it out for me."

"That lovely woman sleeping under my roof … the one I called 'daughter' tonight? She's got no one to speak up for her."

"She has a father now," he grinned at Carlisle. "So, let's talk … Mr. Cullen."

"What are your intentions toward my youngest daughter, young man?"

"I aim to marry her, sir."

"That seems awfully premature, don't you think," Carlisle's façade seemed to crack, as he looked at his son with wide, disbelieving eyes.

"I love her. She is my best friend, Dad. I may not know every little thing about her, but I know her. I'm thirty-nine years old. I don't want to play games anymore. I don't want to beat about the bush. I know what I want … and that's forever."

"Who are you," Carlisle smirked at his son, "and what have you done with my son, Edward? He was quite the 'playa' a while back." Carlisle used air quotes as he spoke through a rather smug grin.

"He grew up, and realized that more isn't better. Quality trumps quantity, and all that jazz."

"Are you prepared to fight for her, Son? She's got so many walls built up," Carlisle sighed. "Poor girl has lost everyone, Edward. Everyone!"

"She's not alone anymore, though … is she?"

"No, she certainly is not alone." Carlisle rubbed his face, and yawned deeply. "Just remember, Son … I may not be a young man any more, but if you hurt the girl, I'm going to make sure you pay."

"I wouldn't have it any other way, Old Man," Edward chuckled as he grabbed both mugs off the table and stood to place them in the sink. "Just one question."

"What's that, Kid?"

"Do you expect me to officially ask for her hand?"

"I thought that was what this was all about?"

"Yeah, well … I just wanted to be clear. I mean, you know Bella's father, Dad … he can be a tough customer." Edward's teasing smirk lit up his entire face.

"So I hear," Carlisle dead-panned, "now get in bed, and don't let me catch you sneaking upstairs, or I might have to pull out my twelve gauge."

Edward started laughing at his father. He had to put the mugs down quickly so that he wouldn't spill the remnants of the tea. He knew his father was a terrible marksman.

"Yeah, make sure you load it with buck-shot. You might hit something!"

Carlisle joined him in the laughter, and pulled his son into a hug.

"Seriously, though Son. I'm proud of the growth I've seen in you over the last few years," Carlisle squeezed him a bit more tightly, "I was worried about the man you were becoming out there in the city. I'm so glad you remembered who you really are."

"Me too, Dad ... me too."

-LWTC-

Are you loving DaddyC? I am, completely and utterly!

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