Warning: Contains non-sexual spanking. Don't like, don't read, don't flame.

Disclaimer: Do not own Twilight in any way shape or form.

A/N: CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES, COME ON! Finals are OVER BABY and I am FREE! jump up and down like a crazy maniac To start off my celebrations I am giving you guys TWO, count them, TWO chapters today!

Chapter 8: Enlightening Interview

We walked back into the family room and took our seats. I looked down at my sweaty palms and rubbed them on my pants. I know I had agreed to talk, but now that it was time I was regretting the decision.

I glanced up at my father, who was leaning back in his chair casually and staring out the window as if it was the most interesting sight in the world. I smiled softly. He was obviously giving me time to sort through my thoughts and I was extremely grateful. Thinking back, I could not help but be touched by everything Carlisle had done for me in the past day. He had saved my life, hummed to me the entire night so that I wouldn't have a nightmare, and had held and comforted me when I had completely broken down. If I couldn't trust Carlisle with my thoughts and feelings, then I couldn't trust anyone. With that reassuring thought I began to steel myself for the conversation.

Almost as though he sensed my resolve, Carlisle turned his eyes away from the window and towards me. He gazed at me silently, and then nodded to himself before leaning forward and giving me his complete attention.

I took a breath, and then paused. I had no idea how to start, and so I looked at my father inquiringly. He smiled in understanding before beginning to speak. "First thing I want to say Bella is that I am very proud of you for willingly opening up to me. I am touched by your trust in me and I promise to treat everything you say with the utmost respect it deserves." He gave a warm paternal smile, filling me with courage.

"Since you are unsure as where to begin, let me ask you a few questions. To begin with, last night Charlie mentioned that you had periodic nightmares during our absence and that after our return they came to a stop. Would you care to expand?" he asked inquiringly.

"When…when you guys left I started having nightmares almost every night. They weren't as bad as the ones I have now, but they did cause me to wake up screaming…" I said softly.

"What were the dreams about?" my father asked concernedly.

I glanced at his face, and could see the understanding and guilt enter his eyes as he realized what I had dreamed about. "I am so sorry Bella" he told me emotionally. "Don't be, it's not your fault", I responded forcefully before going over to sit next to him. He placed his arm around me and I leaned in to him; both of us seeking comfort from the other.

After a minute, I continued answering. "When you all came back, the nightmares went away only when Edward slept with me", I said, blushing a little at how it sounded. "When he would be away for any night, the nightmares would usually always come back. However, now… now they included Italy."

I shuddered and promptly buried my head into my father's side.

My father responded by pulling me closer and rubbing my back. "It was so horrible", I told him tearfully. "I can still hear the screams of the men, women, and children who had been led into the chamber! I can still see Edward's face as Jane tortured him!" I then felt my father stiffen slightly before he began to console me.

"I am so sorry you had to see that Bella, and if I could take it all away I would. If there was anything I could do to undo that event, I would do it", he told me emotionally. As there was nothing more he could really say, he just held me until my crying came to a stop. He then brushed my tears away before looking into my face earnestly.

"You have been incredibly brave and strong through so many horrible events that most people would not be able to handle, and I am so proud of you for that. However, my precious daughter, you do not always have to be brave and strong. You are allowed to feel fear and to cry without being looked down upon", he told me sincerely.

I nodded slightly, finding it difficult to digest what he was saying.

My father assessed me silently before speaking once more. "So, you continued to have nightmares, but only when Edward was away…" he trailed off.

"Yes", I nodded, "that's how it was for a while. However, eventually the nightmares became a rarity, even when Edward was gone. I think it was because I knew- I knew you guys weren't going to leave me again", I finished softly. It had been after my drinking adventure that they had stopped. That was when I really realized that the Cullens regarded me as family.

Carlisle nodded with a slightly pained look on his face. "Your nightmares have started again" he stated factually, "and even Edward's presence no longer soothes them away, so I assume the nightmares themselves have changed in content".

I stared back at my father apprehensively before nodding my head. I knew what he was going to ask next, and I really didn't want to answer.

Carlisle sighed softly before shifting us on the couch so that we were seated facing each other. "What are your nightmares about Bella?" he asked softly.

I swallowed before looking down at my hands. My heart began to pound, and I fought back the tears as the images from my dreams flashed through my head. Echoes of screams and cruel laughter reverberated throughout my conscience.

I looked up when Carlisle placed his cold hand on top of mine. He squeezed both my hands with his large one and began to rub his thumb soothingly over them. He then leaned forward and I could see my pain reflected in his obsidian eyes.

"Sweetheart, please talk to me. I hate seeing you in pain like this. You don't have to deal with this alone. That's what I'm here for", he said emotionally.

I could see and feel the love he felt for me coming off in waves, and it both comforted and encouraged me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to calm myself before speaking.

"The dreams picked up again after the fight with Victoria and the newborns, and you're right, they are different than the ones I had before. In fact, I'd say they're much worse", I said hollowly. My father nodded, remaining silent.

I closed my eyes as I remembered nightmare after nightmare. Biting my lip, I took another deep breath as my father continued to rub soothing circles on my hands. "The dreams almost always involve the-the Volturi" I choked out venomously, "and sometimes Victoria. A-And… and they're always torturing or killing you guys, or the wolves, or Charlie and Renee!" I blurted out quickly stifling my sobs.

I kept my eyes closed and continued on. I had to get it all out now or I would never be able to do it. "If that wasn't bad enough, horrible enough to have to watch over and over again, the dreams always end with the Volturi and all of you telling me it's my fault!" I choked out, openly sobbing now. My father remained quiet, continuing to hold my hands with his. "And I've even seen what your guys life would be without me, and it's so much better than it is now! You guys aren't stressed or worried about anything, and you're happier!"

I pulled my hands away from Carlisle and put my head in them. I rubbed furiously at my tears and then looked up at my father. He had an intense look in his eyes and his expression was unreadable. "My dreams are right y'know", I said hoarsely. "I bring nothing but danger to you guys. Life would be so much simpler for you without me involved. You wouldn't have to worry about nomads, newborn vampires, or the Volturi. I don't know why you put up with me", I finished desolately wiping at stray tears. "You should've just let that truck hit me"- I started to say before I was roughly grabbed by the shoulders and pulled forward.

Carlisle's POV:

I held my daughter by the shoulders inches from my face. "Isabella Marie Swan", I began furiously, "don't you ever, I repeat, ever say something like that again! Do you hear me?" I asked, shaking her slightly. When all she could do was nod dumbly while staring at me with wide eyes, I growled lowly in exasperation. Abruptly, I then let her go and stood up.

Beginning to pace, I ran a hand through my hair before rubbing it over my face. With my back turned to Bella, I took a few breaths while pinching the bridge of my nose in an effort to calm myself. I cannot believe that Bella would say such a horrible thing! Turning back towards my daughter I walked up to her and kneeled in front of her.

"Do you not understand our feelings for you Isabella? Have we not made it clear how much you mean to us- how much we love and cherish you?" I asked angrily before standing up abruptly once more and turning away. I needed to get in control because speaking to her while in a temper would help no one.

"Dad, I"- Bella began to say before I held up a hand silencing her.

I was seething and hurt by Bella's last comment. How could she truly believe that we would be better off without her- better off with her dead? My mind was racing so quickly I could barely string together a coherent thought. All I felt was the upsurge of emotions at remembering yesterday's near fatal accident. I closed my eyes against the onslaught of emotions and took a few calming breaths.

Once I had calmed down, I decided that I would have to address this matter at a different time. I was in the wrong state of mind to deal with her flippant comment, so I decided I would instead discuss Bella's dreams. Decision made, I abruptly turned around and startled my daughter when I pulled her into a hug. As though I had Jasper's gift, I tried to put all the love I felt for my young daughter into the hug. When we broke apart we sat back down again and she looked at me nervously before looking down at her lap.

I continued to gaze at her, causing her to fidget and then finally speak. "I'm sorry", she blurted out, while blushing. I raised my eyebrow before asking her what she was sorry for. She frowned uncertainly before replying, "For… for what I said". I lifted her chin up to look in her eyes before shaking my head. She doesn't understand, I thought sadly. She doesn't really know what she's apologizing for.

"Bella, we will discuss what you are apologizing for at a later time. Right now I would like to discuss your nightmares", I told her seriously. It would be best to go over her nightmares, because once I helped her get over those it would be easier to help her see how ridiculous a notion it was for her to believe we would be better off without her.

Bella's POV:

I bit my lip while staring at my dad nervously. I was regretting saying so much, especially since what I'd said had royally pissed him off. He was calm now, but I was afraid of setting him off again.

Carlisle stared at me intently, clearly expecting me to begin speaking. I rubbed my sweaty palms on my shorts and looked away, hoping foolishly that he would let the subject go for now. When I felt his cool fingers turning my head back towards him, I knew I would not get my wish.

"Bella", he began softly, "your nightmares deal with our family being harmed by the Volturi or Victoria and her newborns, correct?" I nodded my head at him. "And they always end with them or us telling you that these events are your fault?" he also asked. I nodded my head again, wondering what he was thinking. "And these dreams have shown you that we would all be happier and safer without you in our lives?" he questioned. I felt tears come to my eyes as I nodded once more.

I glanced up at him when I felt his gentle touch wiping away my tears and caressing my cheek softly. "These dreams, Bella, are a manifestation of your fears and doubts. You, my loving daughter, have seen fit to take sole blame for everything that has happened this past year. You feel guilty, believing that you have endangered the lives of our family by merely associating yourself with us. And you feel that we will one day come to realize this and cast you out", he explained to me quietly.

Now he will understand how dangerous I am to his family, I thought devastatingly. More tears continued to fall from my eyes as I looked into my father's eyes. I had expected to see disgust or anger, but what I saw took my breath away. His eyes were red rimmed and venom tears were falling down his cheeks. What shocked me even more was the amount of love in his eyes. The way he looked at me, it filled my heart with so much warmth that I immediately burst into tears, wrapping my arms around myself. Before I knew it, though, I found myself in my father's lap once more with his arms wrapped securely around me.

I couldn't believe it. After everything I had said, Carlisle still loved and accepted me as a part of his family. I don't deserve him, I thought sadly; he doesn't understand. However, as much as I tried to tell myself this, I couldn't help but think that no matter what I said or did, Carlisle would always love me. This only caused me to cry harder and cling to my father like a small child. He responded by wrapping his arms even more securely and whispering loving words to me.

Once calmed down, I could not help but feel embarrassed. I had once again broken down sobbing in my father's arms like a pitiful child. Another part of me, however, felt more content than I had in a long time. Wrapped in my father's arms I felt safe; I felt that everything would be OK. Wrapped in my father's arms I didn't have to be strong because I knew he would take care of me and make everything better.

A/N: Aww, I wish I had a dad like Carlisle. sigh And boy oh boy, Bellas got some serious issues to work out, right? Anyways, I know Stephanie Meyer's vampires can't cry tears, but I've read other fics where they cry venom tears, and I liked the idea. Hope you're still enjoying the story and please REVIEW! It doesn't take that long and you don't have to write me a long monologue.

To Kimberly S: I love your name by the way, it's the same as mine. Also you need get an account so I can reply to your wonderful reviews. You asked me what my career choices were, so this was the only place for me to answer. I want to go into wildlife biology and research animals. I got to go to Malaysia over the summer with a professor, catching reptiles and amphibians, and had the time of my life, so yeah. Love your career choices by the way, they sound fun! Thanks for all your reviews!