"I'm telling you, that's what he said." Edward insisted. "Well thought at least."
"I just can't bring myself to believe that." Rose called from the bed. Not bothering to look up from her book..
"But you can bring yourself to believe that I'm a liar?" Edward asked, his annoyance clear.
"No, but I can bring myself to believe that you're stupid." Rose replied as she thought about throwing her book at Edward. She smiled when he flinched never losing her spot in it's pages.
"Look. I know I shouldn't have been snooping, but this is exactly how it went down."
"Do you think I am doing right by our children?"
"Of course my love. You have a great weight on your shoulders keeping everyone safe and in line. The life we have chosen is difficult, but not a single one of us would have it any other way."
"I often feel like I'm too harsh with our brood. Perhaps one day, I will push them away."
"You could never do that."
"Maybe it's time I take a different approach. Maybe physical correction is not the right thing anymore. Maybe I need to try a gentler approach."
"My darling, your wife and children will always love you, no matter what choice you have to make to keep the family together. But I will support whatever decision you feel the need to make."
"And then Carlisle thought, 'Then that settles it. No more physical correction. My heart needs a break anyways.' And they ran off into the sunset together to be gross." Edward finished his story.
"Didn't need that last bit in my head. But I think this needs further investigating." Said Emmett.
"Investigating? Really?" Rose finally pulled away from her book to join the conversation, now that her husband was involved.
"Yes!" He shouted plopping himself on the bed next to his wife. He immediately jumped back up and began rubbing at his rump, still sore from his latest correction. "Pops has been way too strict lately. Always wanting to know where we are and who we are with and when we are coming back. Plus he's been weilding that belt of his at every inconvenience. If you ask me, I think the old man is getting lazy. Beat first, ask questions later."
"You're just mad that he doesn't fall for your excuses anymore." Rose shot rolling into her back and placing her across her husband's side of the bed. Emmett instinctively reached out to run his fingers through her hair, but he was swatted away.
"Daddy is just trying to protect us." Chimed Alice. "This world is a lot harder to stay hidden in than it used to be."
"He has got a little swing happy if you ask me." Added Jasper.
Alice pouted. "Not you too! Is anyone on daddy's side?" Jasper scooped her up in a hug.
"Aww darlin', I didn't mean it. I reckon I've just been a mite more of a handful than usual."
The troup sat silently for a moment. Each lost in the reverie that there might be no more whippins.
"So how are we going to this theory?" Emmett questioned.
"We aren't!" Warned Rose.
"Oh! Cmon Rose! I am dying here. I need some freedom you know? Gotta stretch my legs so to speak."
"What if someone breaks a small rule? Like..." Edward thought a moment. "What if someone took his car without permission?"
"Or his credit card and bought something expensive?" Added Emmett.
"Or someone could purposely fail a test at school."
"Oh oh! What if we broke the couch wrestling?"
"No we could..."
Rose groaned loudly. "You two are so dumb, and you're going to make it painfully obvious that you're trying to get into trouble. If you seriously need someone to test out your stupid theory, I'll just tell Esme to shut up next time she asks me to cut the attitude. Then we'll know everything we need to know."
"Rose you shouldn't..." started Alice. But she was interrupted by Emmett.
"Aww. Thanks babe. I knew I could count on you."
"Now can you all get OUT of my room. I'm trying to read."
As they all began to slowly exit Rosalie and Emmetts room and head for their own, Alice added, "For the record, I think this is going to end badly."
"Oh, just shut up..."