Disclaimer: Do not own Twilight or any of its wonderful characters
Warning: Just as a reminder, this story does contain disciplinary spanking, so if you don't like then don't read or flame!
A/N: You guys all rock! So glad you're enjoying this rewrite! Here's one of the longer chapters as thanks!
Chapter 6: Interrogation
Carlisle's POV:
My young daughter took her sweet time as she climbed the stairs, but I allowed it as I mentally prepared myself for the coming conversation. I had no idea how Bella would react as I had never been in or needed to be in the position to scold or punish her. With my other children I had known them each for at least a year before the first time I had to seriously chastise any of them, so I had already begun to learn how quick they were to anger or how best to phrase something so as to help the situation remain as calm as it could be.
With Bella though, I had never even had a disagreement with her, and she had always been nothing but polite and respectful the times we had spent together. I knew she was not a perfect child, of course. I had already witnessed how stubborn and reckless she could be, and I knew she was extremely independent and private. I frowned at that thought, hoping her need for privacy would not make this discussion difficult.
I gave an internal shrug as we finally reached my office. There was no use worrying, I supposed, as I was about to find out the answers to my questions. Whatever came would come, and I would deal with it as I thought best. This was not my first rodeo, as Jasper would say, so I really should just trust myself to act accordingly.
Walking into my office, I quietly closed the door before turning to look at Bella, who looked extremely nervous and a little lost. I gave her a warm smile to help ease her worry, and was gratified to see her relax slightly.
"Sit down, sweetheart," I told her, pointing to the chair in front of my desk. She gave a jerky nod before making her way and sitting down. I made my way to the other side and sat in my chair before beginning to survey the fidgeting child in front of me. She kept flicking her eyes to me and then to her lap. It was clear she was still nervous, which I expected, but she also looked to be completely lost and unsure like she had no idea what to expect. It was as though she had never been in this situation...Huh, I suppose she hadn't. I bit back a groan. This was only going to make things more nerve wrecking and stressful for her, and I had learned long ago that stressed teenagers tended to have short tempers. Sigh.
"Alright Bella," I finally stated, capturing her attention, "You know why we are here, so let's not beat around the bush. I would like for you to explain exactly what you did yesterday in detail starting with where you got the ridiculous idea to attend a college party in Port Angeles."
Bella blushed at my obvious disapproval of her actions yesterday as she stared down at her lap. I gave her a few moments to collect her thoughts before advising her in a mildly stern tone, "Bella, this is not how you want to start this discussion. When I ask you a question I expect an answer, and an honest answer at that," I tacked on at the end, hoping to cut off any feeble attempt of lying to me. I had a feeling she was already in enough trouble without adding lying to the mix.
"Sorry," she quickly replied embarrassedly as she fidgeted nervously with her hands. I could already hear her heart beat pounding away alerting me to how nervous she was, and I pondered how to best help her relax. She was much too tense, and that was only going to make an already difficult discussion even more so. I had to find a way to make this easier on her. Hmmm…
I abruptly stood up, startling the already panicked child as I rolled my chair to the other side of my desk next to hers. Sitting down I then turned her chair so that we would be sitting facing each other, and I took her fidgeting hands into my own. Perhaps this close contact would help keep her more relaxed, I mused as I rubbed comforting circles on her hands.
"I need you to relax, baby girl," I told her in a soothing tone. "You are getting much too worked up over a simple discussion. I promise I mean you no harm," I mentioned, a small grin gracing her features as she scoffed at my last words.
"I know you would never hurt me," she sighed with some exasperation, and I gave a small chuckle before placing a light kiss on her left hand.
"I appreciate your trust, my dear," I remarked emphatically. "Now, would you care to explain what has got you so nervous?" I then asked.
Bella bit her bottom lip in contemplation before giving a small sigh. "I just—I know I messed up yesterday, and I-I'm afraid that y-you're going to be really m-mad at-at me," she stuttered, her shame and fear clear on her reddened face and downcast eyes.
"Oh Bella," I sighed as I lifted her chin so she would look at me. "I cannot promise you that I will not be upset or disappointed in your actions, but what I can promise is that no matter what you do, and no matter how angry I may seem, I need you to know that I will always love you and I will always forgive you. Do you understand, sweetheart?"
Though she still looked a bit unsure, I did note that her heart rate had decreased with every word I spoke until eventually she nodded her head in understanding.
"Good," I remarked softly as I gave her cheek a gentle caress. "Now, are you ready to begin our discussion?"
Bella took a deep, calming breath before answering, "Yes, I'm ready." I gave her an encouraging smile, all the while feeling relieved. This was turning out be much harder than I had ever anticipated.
"Where did you hear about the party?" I questioned without preamble, and Bella took a breath before replying, "At school yesterday during lunch. Jessica mentioned that her older cousin had invited her to the college party, and she asked me if I wanted to attend. I told her yes."
"Why did you lie to me about what you were doing?" I then asked, causing her to blush.
"I, um, I didn't think, well, I wasn't sure whether or not you'd approve of the party or not, and I didn't want to risk you telling me no, so…," she trailed off as she stared at her knees.
Tapping her chin, I gave her a brief smile before raising an eyebrow and asking, "Did you really not anticipate what my answer would be?"
She looked away from him for a second before reluctantly looking back at me as she answered, "Well, I guess…no, I knew you wouldn't approve of the party."
I nodded my head with a proud smile. "Thank you for your honesty, sweetheart, I appreciate it."
I then paused a moment, taking in her confession before asking, "Why did you agree to attend the party? I know you Bella, and you hate parties, so I cannot fathom why you would have agreed to go." This was one of the many questions that had been bothering me all night. Bella had made no secret of her dislike for parties, so I could not understand why she would ever have attended, let alone gotten drunk!
"Um, well, I would rather not say," Bella mumbled, looking anywhere but at me.
"I am afraid that is not an option," I countered in a firm tone as I turned her face back towards me.
"But it's really not important," she argued feebly, and I found myself becoming extremely curious. What was she hiding?
"I will deem what is and is not important Isabella, so please answer the question," I told her sternly, noticing her slight wince at my tone.
"It's stupid, I was just angry, and…" she trailed off, and I stared at her in confusion. She went because she was angry? Angry about what, or perhaps who?
"Did they pressure you?" I questioned uncertainly. I was aware of how one's peers could pressure someone into doing something they would not normally. My children did it all the time to each other, but Bella had not struck me as the type to be swayed so easily, at least not by humans.
Bella's eyes showed complete surprise at my question, alerting me to the fact that she was not in fact pressured into going. I waited for her to confirm this, but she only bit her bottom lip as though she were deliberating what to answer. I fought back a frown, worried that she was going to try and lie to me. I tensed when she began to nod slowly, and then let out a small breath when she changed her mind mid nod and settled for shaking her head.
"No," she sighed unhappily, "no one pressured me into anything. I made the decision on my own."
"Thank you for your honesty, sweetheart," I praised with an appreciative smile. "Now, can you continue to be honest with me and explain why you went?"
She bit her lip before giving a quiet groan of defeat. "It-it was because of Edward," she confessed quietly with a bowed head. What? I thought in bewilderment. I definitely needed to know more. Reaching out, I gently lifted Bella's chin so she was looking me in the eyes.
"I need you to explain in a little more detail, and please do me the favor of looking me in the eyes when you speak to me," I told her in a calm voice.
She grimaced, but nodded her head anyways before taking a deep breath and lifting her head.
"I'm just so tired of him telling me what to do," she ground out in frustration. "I'm sick of him thinking he has the right to stop me from seeing Jacob. He's my friend, and I know he's a werewolf, but I also know he would never hurt me, but does Edward listen? No, he makes up his own damn mind and cons all of you guys into going along with him!" she told me, her voice rising with every word. "I mean, isn't it a bit hypocritical for you guys to be calling anybody else dangerous? I mean, it's alright for me to hang out with vampires, all of whom thirst after my blood, but I can't hang out with werewolves whose job it is to protect humans?!" she spat angrily, rising out of her chair. "I don't need to be babysat, and I don't need overprotective vampires monitoring my every step!"
She paused so she could take a breath all the while glaring at me as though daring me to disagree with her. I just stared back with an impassive look still waiting patiently for her to explain her reasoning for attending the party, while also letting her get things off her chest. It was quite apparent to me that she had been keeping this all bottled up inside of her for quite some time.
"I went to the party," she finally stated in a tired voice, "because I wanted to get back at Edward. He told me before he left that he didn't want me to see Jacob, and that I should hang out with my human friends, so I thought I'd show him exactly how safe humans could be." With that, she took a few steps towards the door before just stopping and standing in angry silence.
I kept my gaze on her to make sure she was not about to walk out while at the same time mulling over what she had told me. I was not surprised to find that she had finally become fed up with Edward's overprotectiveness. I had warned Edward that he would only be pushing her away if he kept trying to dictate her life. Unfortunately, it also seemed as though she were upset with all of us for supposedly going along with Edward's plan. I would address her complaints at a later time.
What did surprise me, however, was the manner in which she chose to get back at Edward. If I heard her correctly, then she just insinuated that she purposefully endangered herself by drinking because she wanted to prove to Edward how unsafe her human friends were. This little tidbit not only worried, but angered me. I would have to ask her to confirm my thoughts though before I decided what to do next.
"Bella, sit down," I ordered mildly, and she let out an angry huff before walking over, throwing herself in the chair, and gazing at me with a defiant look.
Bella, Bella, Bella, I thought with an unhappy sigh. "So, you went to the party to prove to Edward that humans are unsafe," I mused out loud. "How exactly did you plan on doing that?"
I watched as she frowned and looked away stubbornly. "Answer the question, Bella," I told her sternly.
She threw me a petulant look before brazenly stating, "You're a smart man Carlisle, I'm sure you've already figured that one out on your own."
Hmmm, I thought as I slowly sat back in my chair and pierced her with a penetrating glare. It seems my young child has quite the feisty attitude. It was unexpected, but I knew how to handle children with attitude problems, so I was unconcerned.
"Is this really how you want to do this, Isabella?" I asked her in a dangerous tone, taking note of her pounding heart and reddening face. Her expression turned guilty before she looked down at her lap. I let her stew for a few more moments before ordering her to look at me. She slowly lifted her head, staring at me with wide eyes full of apology.
"I'm sor"—she began to say before I held up my hand to silence her.
"Bella, I do not know how you treat Charlie and Renee, but in this household I expect you to treat both Esme and I with at least a modicum of respect," I lectured in a calm tone. "I understand that this is an unfamiliar situation for you to be in, that our relationship is still new, and that you are feeling quite nervous, but you will only make things more difficult for yourself by acting like this. I am trying to be as patient and understanding as I can with you right now, baby, but you are really pushing your luck." I paused at this point to allow her to absorb my words.
"I'm so sorry Carlisle," she apologized sincerely, "I didn't mean to be disrespectful or difficult. I promise to behave," she told me, nearly in tears.
"It's alright," I reassured her with a caress of her cheek and a smile. "Just remember your manners and we shan't have anymore problems," I advised, and she readily nodded her head.
"Wonderful," I remarked before turning serious. "So, my previous question still stands: How exactly did you plan on showing Edward how unsafe humans could be?"
Bella played with a loose strand of her hair before confessing, "I-I was"—
"Eyes," I interrupted as I gently tapped her under the chin.
"Sorry," she muttered as she acquiesced. "I was-I was planning on getting, um, on getting drunk," she whispered so quietly I would have had trouble hearing her had I not been a vampire.
Disappointment and anger flooded through me at her words even though I had already anticipated them. How utterly reckless and foolish of her! Bella was so much smarter than this, and she knew better. I withheld a sigh as I shook my head.
"How old are you Bella?" I finally questioned, and Bella gave me a slightly confused look as she answered, "Eighteen."
"Eighteen," I repeated with a mock-thoughtful nod. "Now, remind me again what the legal drinking age is?"
Bella's shoulders slumped as she quietly mumbled, "Twenty-one."
"Indeed," I remarked before then asking, "Have you ever been drunk before?"
"No," she answered with a definite shake of her head.
"Have you ever even had a drink before?" I then asked.
"No," she answered once more, a little more uncertainly this time, not quite understanding where I was going with this.
"Have you ever seen anyone drunk before? Did you have any idea how it would affect you? Did you have any idea how much alcohol was too much for you?" I quickly questioned in a clipped tone, and she cringed as she just shook her head at me ashamedly.
Unbelievable, I thought in mounting disappointment. "Tell me what happened at the party and do not leave any detail out," I ordered firmly, and she gave a small groan before reluctantly beginning her tale. I listened quietly and intently as she recounted taking her first drinks with Mike, the bartender who flirted with her, dancing, more drinking, becoming sick, and finally losing her temper with Lauren and attacking her.
Shock was the prominent emotion that I was feeling, absolute shock. With all the drinks she had she is extremely lucky that all she suffered was an upset stomach. I cannot believe how irresponsible she was. I shook my head in disbelief before I moved my thoughts over to her fight with Lauren. So she had instigated the fight, and from what the cops had told me they had to physically drag her off of Lauren to get her to stop. To make matters worse, Bella also got into another fight with this girl in the jail, one where I had to physically stop her.
Where had my child's mind gone yesterday? It was as though she were a completely different girl than the one I knew because I just could not comprehend the things she had done! My Bella was well behaved and responsible. She did not act like the average, reckless teenager, or so I had thought.
"Carlisle, what are you thinking?" Bella suddenly asked in a distraught tone, causing me to stop my musings and stare into her panicked eyes.
"Are you angry with me? I'm so sorry about the drinking Carlisle, please don't hate me"—she spoke rapidly until I interrupted her.
"Hush Bella, of course I do not hate you," I said soothingly as I pulled her into my arms. She wrapped her arms around my neck, burying her head into the crook of my neck. "I told you before that nothing you do could ever cause me to hate you," I reassured her as I rubbed her back in comfort.
"I'm sorry," she whispered again tearfully, and I gave a small sigh as I responded, "I know, sweetheart, I know."
I gave her a few more minutes of comfort before gently pulling her away and looking into her big brown eyes. I wiped away a few stray tears before declaring, "I love you Bella so much and nothing will ever change that. Please believe me when I say that even when I am angry or disappointed with you I still love you, so never think any differently. Do you understand?"
Her eyes teared up at my words before she graced me with a watery smile and threw her arms around me with a half-sob, half-laugh. "I understand," she responded thickly as I returned her hug. She broke away soon after, embarrassingly wiping away at her tears before sitting down.
I grabbed her hands before gently wiping her tears away with my own hands. "How many times must I tell you that you need not be embarrassed for crying?" I asked lovingly, and she just blushed before giving me a sheepish smile.
"You are so stubborn," I sighed as I gave her an affectionate smile. She responded with another blush before ducking her head embarrassedly. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from chuckling at her expression. A little levity was good, but we still had important matters to discuss, and I did not want her to take any part of this conversation lightly.
I waited patiently for her to get her embarrassment under control enough so that she could look me in the eye before continuing my interrogation.
"At the party," I finally began, "What did Lauren do to incur your wrath?"
Bella unhappily fidgeted in her seat as she fingered a loose string on her shirt sleeve. Reluctantly she eventually lifted her head to look at me as she began to speak. "She-she was being condescending and treating me like a child just because Jessica and Mike were ready to leave because of me. It was infuriating," she whined. "I get enough of that attitude from Edward, but I wasn't going to put up with Lauren of all people doing the same!"
I gazed at her in silence, noting by her quickening heart beat that I was making her nervous. "Look, I know I shouldn't have done it, but I-I was just so angry and I couldn't help myself," she tried to explain.
"Bella, it took two grown men to pull you off of her," I rebuked gently. "Were her actions truly deserving of such an attack?"
"Ye-I-I mean no, of course not," she stuttered unconvincingly at my raised eyebrow. I frowned in disappointment as I leaned forward, elbows resting on my knees and hands steepled in front of my face. Bella immediately sat back in her chair, staring at me with wide eyes, and I fought back an amused smirk at her actions.
"What happened at the police station? And please spare me no detail," I added sternly, immediately noticing as her face paled.
"I-she, well she insulted me," she hedged slowly, "and-and she said some things…" she trailed off with a mild look of disgust. Before I could even roll my eyes at the pathetic excuse for an explanation, she quickly added, "And it was her who started the fight! She attacked me, which caused the cops to come and pull us apart, and the cops wouldn't believe me when I told them this! They were taking me away when I-when I, um…" she trailed off once more as she turned her head away from me.
I pinched the bridge of my nose at her words, a bit of frustration beginning to build in me. Narrowing my eyes at the child in front of me, I firmly pulled her head back towards me before telling her with a hint of impatience, "I asked for a detailed account Isabella, not some vague words and a trailed off explanation."
"I know," she sighed as she tried to pull her head away from my grasp, "But she said some horrible things about me and-and, well I don't want to repeat it," she tried to explain. I studied her face carefully, feeling as her cheeks burned in embarrassment. "And this was said before she attacked you?" I questioned as I let go of her chin.
She nodded her head, and I mulled her words over before giving a nod of my own. "Very well, you do not need to tell me what she said, but you do need to explain why you lunged at her when the cops were trying to separate you, and why exactly I had to physically restrain you. I have never seen you so angry with anyone Bella, so I would really love to understand what that girl could have possibly done to get such a reaction out of you. If the cops and I hadn't stopped you, I have no doubt you would have seriously harmed her!" I said exasperatedly, allowing her to get a glimpse of how confused her actions from last night had made me.
Bella became visibly distressed at my words and tone, tears beginning to shine in her eyes and breaths beginning to come in shorter gasps. "I don't know," she choked out with a bewildered shake of her head, and I immediately sat back in my chair as I gave her a disbelieving look.
"That is not an answer," I told her sharply and she gave a mild flinch before groaning and burying her head in her hands.
"I'm telling you the truth Carlisle!" she gasped when she looked up at me. "I just don't understand what happened. I lost it," she explained distressingly. "I just couldn't stand her stupid smug looks, her superior attitude, and her, ugh! I was tired of her constant bitchiness and I wasn't going to take her insults anymore!" she yelled, attempting to stand, but I placed my hand on her shoulder effectively holding her in place.
"Take some deep breaths and calm down," I advised in a calm tone, keeping her pinned in place until she complied. When her heart beat eventually slowed down I lifted my hand off before giving the girl a mild glare.
"First off, believe it or not, my hearing is perfectly fine. In fact, it is excellent, so I would greatly appreciate it if you did not yell," I lectured quietly, making it clear with my tone that this was not a request. "Secondly, mind the language, there is no need for it, and it will only land you in more trouble." I paused, letting my words sink in.
Bella shifted in her chair as she gave me a repentant look. "Sorry," she mumbled as she gazed up at me through the fringes of her hair.
I ran a hand through my hair, withholding a sigh as I wearily nodded my head in acceptance of her apology.
"So you tried to seriously harm that girl because she was mean to you?" I abruptly questioned, unable to hide the disbelief and anger I was feeling at her dismal excuse.
"I-um, yes," she reluctantly answered in a very small voice.
I let out a breath before leaning forward and resting my chin in my hands. I studied Bella, gauging the state she was in, and whether or not I felt she had lied or left anything out. She squirmed in her seat, guilt, shame, anxiety, and anger clear in her every movement and expression. She avoided my gaze, but I got no sense that it was as an attempt to hide or deceive me. Regardless of what I perceived though, I decided I should ask her and make sure. She was a terrible liar, so I would know right away if she was keeping something from me.
"Bella, I do not mean to insinuate anything, but I have to ask: Have you been entirely truthful with me?" I asked her, my voice and face serious.
"Yes, of course!" she immediately answered earnestly, and I nodded my head. "You have told me everything that happened? You've left nothing out?" I then asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I swear I told you everything, Carlisle," she responded with pleading eyes, clearly worried that I would not believe her.
"Alright," I reassured her with a pat on her shoulder and a smile, "I believe you." She let out a breath of relief as she returned my smile with a small, hesitant one of her own.
I gazed at her for a few more seconds before glancing at my watch. "It is a tad bit early," I announced as I looked up at her once more, "but I believe you should go downstairs and make yourself some lunch."
Bella blinked, giving me a confused look as she slowly began to stand.
"I need some time to take in everything you have told me, and I need to call Esme to inform her of what has happened," I explained, and her look of confusion quickly turned into one of panic.
"You're telling Esme?" she gasped unhappily. "Why?!"
I gave her a stern look as I answered, "She is my wife Bella, and I do not keep secrets from her. She deserves to know what happened so she can help me decide on a proper punishment."
"She's going to be so angry with me though," she protested, nearly in tears at the thought.
"Bella," I sighed as I stood up and pulled her into my arms. "Your mother loves you dearly, just as I do and nothing will change that. She may become angry, but she will forgive you and she will still love you," I soothed as I ran a hand through her long hair. "Please do not doubt our feelings for you, baby girl, because I am not lying when I say that we both love you as if you were our own flesh and blood. You are family. You are our daughter, and we will never stop loving you," I finished in an earnest tone, gazing into her brown eyes as I willed her to believe me. I hated how much she feared that something she did would someday cause us to hate or leave her. I hated how I had to keep telling her over and over that we would never stop loving her, and that we would always forgive her; but I would continue to repeat this for as long as it took for her to believe me.
My stubborn daughter stared right back at me, her eyes boring into mine as she took in my words. It was only when I noticed she had stopped breathing that I broke the eye contact. "Breathe child," I ordered concernedly, causing her to shake her head slightly before mechanically taking in a breath of air. I rubbed her shoulders in comfort as color began to return back to her cheeks. I monitored her closely to assure she was alright when she abruptly threw her arms around and stated, "I love you too!"
Warmth spread through me as I returned her embrace. When she pulled away and looked up at me I gave her a brilliant smile. She responded with a shy smile before burying her head in my chest and saying, "Carlisle…"
"Yes Bella?" I asked curiously, wondering why her heart was suddenly beginning to pound away and why she was blushing.
"Can I, um, can I ask you a question?" she asked slowly, and I gave a low chuckle as I furrowed my brow at her.
"Of course you can," I responded. "You can ask me anything you want," I said as I tried to get a look at her face. She resisted my attempt, tightening her arms around me and keeping her head firmly pressed against my chest. My curiosity and confusion rose at her actions, and even though I knew I could have forced her to look at me, I felt it would be best to let her be.
"I was wondering," she finally murmured, "I mean, only if you want to of course, but I, um, would it be okay if I called you Dad?" She asked the question so quietly that I had to strain my ears to hear her, but when I did I immediately froze. If my heart beat I was sure it would be pounding from the sudden joy I felt. She wanted to call me Dad! She wanted to call me Dad! I gave a wide grin, and it was only when I heard my daughter's heart beat even more rapidly that I realized that my silence was being taken the wrong way.
"Of course you can call me Dad," I immediately declared, giving a warm smile as Bella looked up at me hesitantly.
"R-really?" she asked in a small voice, and I let out a joyful laugh as I leaned down so we were face to face. "Really," I answered. "I would be extremely honored if you were to call me Dad."
Bella's face slowly broke out into a wide grin as she visibly sagged in relief. I pulled her in for another hug as I kissed the top of her head. When she broke away, she gave me a hesitant look as she said, "Dad (I grinned like a fool at the title, which caused her to giggle), do you think Esme would mind if I"—but I did not let her finish as I already knew the answer to her unfinished question.
"Esme would be beyond ecstatic if you were to call her mom," I informed her happily, and she nodded her head with a wide grin.
"Okay, I-I'll let you call Mom then while I go and eat," she announced with a shy smile before walking out the door and down the stairs. I followed her footsteps with my ears, wincing as I heard her stumble on the last steps before finally reaching the kitchen. I then listened as she rummaged through the fridge before shaking my head as I reminded myself of what I was supposed to be doing.
Bella's request had put me in a deliriously happy mood, causing me to forget why exactly Bella was here in the first place. I paused at that thought, unable to stop the cynical part of me that was suddenly wondering if she had planned it out that way. She knew she was in trouble, and I had told her I was going to be discussing her punishment with her mother…hmm. I knew the others liked to soften me up by calling me Daddy, especially the girls. Ugh, stop thinking like that Carlisle, I chided myself.
I heaved a sigh as I ran a hand through my hair. Walking over to my couch I lay down, resting my arm over my face as I closed my eyes.
Bella had really dug herself into a hole. Her reason for attending the party and drinking was childish and immature. I understood her frustrations with Edward, I really did, but that did not excuse her behavior at all.
And she was so damn reckless I thought with a low growl. She gave no thought to her health as she drank copious amounts of alcohol, no thought at all to what those high amounts could do to her. Bella was better than this, so much smarter than this! I knew that she knew better as well.
Then there was the fighting, I recalled as I rubbed an irritated hand over my face. If one fight was not bad enough, she had to get into two, one of which she started, the second of which she did nothing to stop. I still could not believe that I had to physically restrain my daughter to keep her from lunging at Lauren. She was completely out of control, and I was not lying when I told her she would have seriously harmed Lauren had the cops and I not intervened. I let out an annoyed huff as I thought about her dismal excuse for the fights. It basically boiled down to her losing her temper because Lauren had been mean to her. So juvenile, and so unlike the Bella I knew.
I have no doubt the alcohol helped influence some of her behavior, but it seemed the crux of the matter was that Bella did not like being ordered around and treated like a child. She had a right to be upset as neither Edward nor Alice had any right to control her actions, but Bella had dealt with her frustrations in the wrong manner. She had acted like a child having a fit.
Staring up at my ceiling I pondered over what to do about all this. Bella was definitely deserving of some punishment, but I was unsure of what- no not of what, but whether or not I could go through with the punishment I knew she deserved. There was no use in denying it. My young daughter had earned herself a spanking, possibly even two.
She had broken several family rules and it did not matter if we had not discussed them because they were over matters I felt were not needed to be discussed: lying, fighting, and endangering her life. Each one of these misdeeds by themselves was enough to earn my children a trip over my lap, and Bella had done three in one night! I massaged my temples in frustration as I considered what to do about this. There was no way I was going to spank my baby three times! I was having a hard enough time considering spanking her once.
Alright, let's start thinking this through starting with her lying. Out of all her misdeeds I considered this one the least offensive. It was serious, and I hated it when any of my children lied to me, but I was considering letting her off with nothing more than a stern warning. In lieu of everything else she had been up to, and considering the fact that I was not going to spank Bella three separate times I was leaning more and more towards the warning option. It left me a bit dissatisfied, but I still felt better than I would if I decided to blister her backside.
Her drinking and fighting were worse offenses, so they would deserve harsher punishments. This was where my biggest dilemma lay. I felt each one of these actions warranted a spanking, but I was conflicted. Bella was the most sensitive of my children and I knew she would take a spanking harder than any of them would. Not to mention the fact that she still had not completely accepted my use of this form of punishment. I knew my explanation had helped ease some of her fear, but it did not erase it.
If I were to only administer one spanking though, for which offense would it be: For being reckless or for fighting? Her brilliant idea to get drunk had been reckless, especially since it was her first time. She was lucky she had gotten nothing more than an upset stomach. Thinking about how she thoughtlessly endangered herself angered me, but then again so did her loss of temper with Lauren. She had seriously tried to harm that girl several times for such petty reasons. Fighting in anger was never the proper response, and this little incident worried me, especially since she didn't really seem sorry. She had at least apologized for drinking.
I gave a low growl of frustration before pulling out my cell and dialing my beloved's number. She needed to know what our baby had been up to, and she would hopefully be able to help me come up with the proper punishment.
I heard a single ring before Esme picked up. "Carlisle," she sighed in relief, "finally, I have been waiting for your call since last night. What is going on? Alice would only tell me that Bella had gotten into some trouble. What kind of trouble? Is she alright?" she asked rapidly. I smiled at her concern before deciding it would be best to cut her off.
"Esme, darling," I interjected lovingly, "Bella is fine, so please relax." I heard her give a soft exhale before she demanded I explain what was going on. I immediately obliged, informing her of all our daughter's exploits, along with this morning's breakdown and the resulting conversation, finally ending with the interrogation. Esme remained silent throughout the entire explanation before letting out a sad sigh as she muttered, "Unbelievable."
"My sentiments exactly," I responded drily.
"It's just-I mean Bella is so much smarter than this!" Esme exclaimed in astonishment.
"I know, believe me, I know," I responded with a groan, completely understanding of her surprise.
"I need your help on deciding her punishment," I announced, and I heard a pause before she asked with some confusion, "You're not going to spank her?"
"Yes, but I am not sure whether to go easy on her or not," I confessed somewhat reluctantly.
"What do you mean?" Esme questioned in a perplexed tone.
"Well, I cannot decide whether to spank her once or twice," I admitted slowly. "I have already decided to let the lying slide with nothing more than a warning as it is the mildest of her offenses." I paused, waiting for Esme's opinion.
"I agree," she said, her tone clearly imploring me to continue.
"The drinking and fighting however, are serious offenses to me and I believe she deserves two spankings, but I am considering only administering one." I remarked.
"Why?" Esme asked, and I could hear the curiosity and confusion in her voice.
"I do not believe Bella could handle two spankings," I admitted, allowing some of the fear I was feeling to seep into my tone. "She told me she was terrified at the thought of a spanking, and I tried to alleviate some of that fear, but I am not sure if it worked. She has never been spanked, and I do not believe she has ever even been in real trouble before. I have had to be very gentle with her because she takes my scoldings so much harder than the others. She is so afraid of angering and disappointing us because she believes we will leave her again."
"Oh, my poor baby," Esme cried in distress, and I immediately sought to reassure her.
"I tell her over and over that we love her and that nothing she ever does will cause us to hate or leave her, but she can be quite stubborn," I said with a sigh, a sigh that was echoed by my wife.
"She is so insecure that I am almost tempted to not spank her at all. It is only when I remind myself how utterly foolish her actions were yesterday that I am able to brush that notion away. That and the fact that I refuse to treat her differently than our other children." I told Esme, hoping she would have some reassuring words or helpful advice.
"It is unlike you to be so unsure of yourself, Carlisle," Esme stated, and I frowned before she added, "You should trust yourself darling, I do. You have never done wrong by our children, so do not let fear rule your decision."
I took in her words, feeling touched by her trust in me, although I still felt unsure. Did I really feel one spanking would suffice or was I letting my fear get the better of me?
"What do you think I should do, love?" I asked Esme, desperate for her opinion. I heard her sigh softly before slowly answering, "Carlisle, you must treat Bella as you would any of our other children, and I know that if any of them had acted as Bella had you would not hesitate to spank them twice."
I grimaced, noting the truth of what she said but not liking it. "Yes," I finally acknowledged unhappily, "you are correct."
There was a pause where I am sure my wife was waiting for me to say more, but I remained silent, upset with what I would have to do.
"So, you will spank Bella twice, for the drinking and fighting?" my wife finally questioned, and I let out a sad sigh before answering, "Yes, I will spank her twice. One today and the other tomorrow evening."
"I am sorry this is causing you so much distress, Carlisle," she then said. "If you want I will come home now to"—
"No, of course not darling," I interjected. "You do not need to come home, we will both be fine. I am being ridiculous."
"You are not being ridiculous," Esme argued fondly. "You are just being a concerned father." I grinned at her words, remembering the many times I had told her the same words.
"Thank you, Esme," I replied with a smile, "I can always count on you to soothe my worries."
"It is no trouble at all, darling," she responded lovingly. "Now, I think it's time you get back to our daughter. It seems you have many more things to discuss and I know the sooner you get this punishment over with, the sooner you will both feel better," she said knowingly.
"Very true," I agreed, trepidation beginning to set in as I thought about spanking my youngest daughter.
"It will be fine Carlisle," Esme reassured me, no doubt having heard the distress in my voice.
"I know," I replied somewhat unconvincingly.
"Darling," Esme sighed sadly. "Look, I want you to call me as soon as you can after it's done, do you hear me?"
"I will," I promised, wishing that she was here right now to offer me the support and comfort I so desperately needed.
"Okay," she responded quietly, "I love you Carlisle, and I trust you, so please have some faith in yourself."
"I love you too Esme," I replied emotionally, "and thank you."
We exchanged good-byes and then she hung up. I stared at my phone for several minutes wishing to hear my beloved's voice once more. Heaving a sigh I put my phone in my pocket as I sat up. I rested my head in my hands as I began to steel myself for the coming conversation.
Ugh, why was the thought of punishing Bella causing me so much worry? I knew the girl deserved a trip over my lap, but I was so afraid of truly frightening or traumatizing her. I shook my head as I took a deep breath. Bella is stronger than you think, I told myself. She would have to be to put up with everything she has been through.
I sat in silence for a few more minutes before deciding to go check on Bella.
A/N: So, Carlisle is pretty upset with Bella, but he's a little hesitant when it comes to punishing her. Will he go through with the punishments? Let me know your thoughts, and PLEASE REVIEW!