Chapter Eight : Cottontail

A/N: Here is some Italian for your edification: Padre=Father and Cara=Dear. Bella's parents prefer her to speak in Italian and it being her native tongue, she also thinks in it. Unfortunately though, I don't know any and I presume that most of you readers don't know much either (please don't bite my head off if you do). At any rate, whenever you see a few token Italian words, unless otherwise specified we are going to pretend that the characters are speaking/thinking in Italian.

All characters but the last belong to Stephenie Meyer. The last character belongs to Beatrix Potter (I rescued her from Mr McGregor).

EPOV

Inevitably it became time for us to leave again and, inevitably it was worse than before. Bella found out and climbed down her shoot to beg us not to leave. We were packing up our things when she came hurtling through the doorway.

'Please don't go! Please don't go!' she wrapped her arms around my legs and balled into my knees 'Your my best friends! Please, please, please!'

I didn't know what to say. We had to go, I had no intentions of becoming a permanent member of the Volturi.

Carlisle came to the rescue, placing a hand on her shoulder and bobbing down to her level, 'I'm sorry Isabella, but we have to. I know this makes you sad, but its necessary. We'll be back for another visit soon enough'

She sniffed and nodded before running off.

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After that there was a fair amount of shouting. Bella's attempt to make us stay had given away her secret 'tunnel' and Sulpicia wasn't happy. She had the chute bricked up at once. Bella was truly trapped in the tower now. At least Chelsea would be taking over my role of Bella-Sitting, feeding after the others. That was something at least.

Regardless, I still felt incredibly guilty. The whole time we were leaving, my mind was completely fixated on a way to help fix things.

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Sulpicia's POV

The Cullens had left again and I couldn't be happier. Much as we needed the doctor's help, his family was getting far too close to my little Isabella. I was none too happy about the prospect of her spending time alone with Chelsea – she and my husband shared far too many secrets – but it was far better than the Cullens. Should Carlisle's services ever be made redundant, I would not hesitate to cut his family away from my Bella forever.

"Mamma?" My precious angel looked up from her story. "What does the ocean look like?"

I glanced at the book she was reading – Robinson Crusoe. "Isabella, where did you get that?"

"Emmet gave it to me before they left"

"You know I don't like you reading such complicated novels. Why don't you read one of your other books?"

"But Mamma, their boring and I've read them all. I don't like picture books!...'

"No whining Isabella."

She sighed, "Yes Mamma"

I smiled at my little girl. "Now. How about we do some painting and I'll show you what the ocean looks like?"

"Ok!" she jumped up and ran to her paint box. I helped her with her art smock, making sure there was no part of her between her ankle and neck which was not covered, and lay a protective sheet on the ground. If there was anyway for stray bits of paint to make it past our precautions I'd like to know about it. There was never to be any mess in my treasure's room.

As Bella began taking her paints out I heard a pair of footsteps ascending the stairs of the tower. I ignored them, whoever it was could wait. Moments later, my husband entered the room followed by Chelsea. He seemed exceptionally pleased with himself. I touched his hand.

What has happened?

He merely gestured towards Chelsea. I grimaced before noticing that she held something in her hands, that there was a heart beat other than my daughter's in the room.

Bella's POV

I smiled as Padre and Chelsea entered my room. Padre seemed particularly happy, though Chelsea looked bored. I hugged my Padre's legs and waited to see what would happen. To my surprise he knelt down and handed me a letter. I recognized the handwriting at once and my heart ached a little, I missed the Cullens already. Still, as I read the note, I couldn't help but smile.

Cara Isabella,

We're all so very sorry that we were unable to stay with you. Here is a friend to keep you company in our absence.

Missing you always,

Edward

I looked up again questioningly and then Chelsea knelt beside me, handing me a white, fluffy, terrified looking baby rabbit. The bunny was absolutely adorable and seemed to like me a whole lot more than it had Chelsea. It was the first time I'd seen an animal up close and I smiled even wider. I had a friend! A friend that would never leave me! A friend that was as warm as I! And best of all, a friend that I could share my secrets with and not have worry about Padre finding out!

I stroked its fur as I tried to come up with a name. My first choice was Crusoe, but then I remembered how much Mamma didn't like the book. I remembered back to my picture stories, trying to come up with a name to please my mother....

"I think I'll name you...Cottontail. Cottontail Volturi"

Now, if your one of the once eleven, now fifty-five visitors who have read chapter five but not chapter four could you please tell me why? Is the title off putting? Are you having trouble accessing the page? The number keeps rising and its really confusing me.