A/N: I do not own Twilight. I am just having fun with my own ideas for these characters. Thanks to my lovely Beta Gooseonline - mistakes are my own cos I like to reread and tinker. Sometimes I may use spelling or expressions that seem odd because I am Australian and we have our own style of English :).

I am so excited so many people have joined me for this little adventure. I have been so excited by your various theories on who Lil Bit is. Well let's see who was right shall we?

Chapter 14 - carrot sticks and a juice box

We sat there on the cold wet ground for what seemed like hours but was really maybe five or ten minutes waiting for the EMTs to arrive. I was rubbing circles with my thumb on the back of Bella's hand as I held it gently. All the while I was holding Bella's child close to my chest, cooing softly in her ear that I would protect her and her momma.

Bella is someone's momma. I just couldn't get my head around it, I mean she is so young. I tilted my head so I could look at the little girl's face and marvelled at how like her momma she looked, everything about her was a mini Bella except for the child's startling blue eyes.

I really knew nothing about children but I desperately wanted to keep this little one calm until Bella woke up. So I rocked gently to hopefully comfort her. I had no idea really what to do but that seemed to be the natural thing.

The little girl's sobs were rhythmic now and her sobs hitched and he head felt heavy against my shoulder so I took that as a sign that she was calming down.

Bella looked so pale. I had placed a shirt I found in her bag under her head gently not wanting to move her at all but I did want to try to stop the bleeding on the wound on the back of her head.

The lady on the 911 number had been very stern about not attempting to move her no matter how uncomfortable I felt about just sitting there next to her. I was growing more agitated about how long we'd been sitting there waiting when the emergency assistance called me back seeking an update on Bella's condition and requesting more specific directions to guide the paramedics to us. I tried to remain calm as I gave what directions I could whilst holding a toddler and watching over the woman I love lying unconscious in front of me.

When the paramedics arrived they starting asking me questions which I tried my best to answer. They referred to Bella as my wife and I didn't correct them as it seemed trivial at this point and I just wanted them to do something to help her.

With the flashing lights and the noise of the paramedics, the little one in my arms started to cry again so I stood with her and moved to the side out of the way. They affixed a brace to Bella's neck, lifted her gently to a gurney and then moved her carefully to the waiting ambulance.

I asked to ride with Bella and they agreed.

I couldn't believe how frail Bella looked strapped into that gurney with the neck brace on. The paramedics attached monitors to her and shone lights in her eyes. I asked them if we were headed to the UW Medical Centre and they confirmed that it was the closest. I held up my phone in a silent question and they said it was okay to text so I shot off a text to Dad to let him know we were coming now.

"My Dad is Chief of Emergency Medicine at UWMC," I told them for no real reason.

"Dr Cullen?" he asked. I nodded.

"He's a good doctor. You wife will be in good hands, sir."

"Edward," I said simply, offering my name to this man who was caring so gently and attentively for my love.

"Mike," he replied. "Listen, your Dad is a dedicated doctor and always does his best to help patients. This is his daughter-in-law, I'm sure he'll make sure she gets the very best of care. Her blood pressure is low but the rest of her vitals are okay. But she's taken a hefty to blow to the head and her back. What happened?" he asked.

"She was walking with Lil Bit," I nodded to the child in my arms. "I was some distance away and lost sight of them. Two men dragged them off the path and tried to steal Isabella's bag. I was desperately trying to find them because I could hear them but I couldn't see them."

I could feel that my eyes were getting wet as I spoke of my desperate search but I took a deep breath to get control of myself. The little one was curled tightly on my chest her hands holding desperately around my neck but her eyes were glued to Bella lying on the gurney still unconscious.

"One of the men grabbed the little one and the other tried to kiss Isabella." I said with disgust in my voice. "She must have put up a fight as the next thing I heard was a sickening thump." I closed my eyes for a moment to regain control, reliving in my head the sickening sound of Bella being thumped against a tree.

"I was shouting out by this stage. They must have heard me as they dropped the baby and Bella's bag before they ran off. She was unconscious when I found them and hasn't woken since. Shouldn't she have woken up by now?" I looked to him desperately hoping he could tell me something that would comfort me.

"Your wife has taken a nasty hit Edward. We're almost there and I'm sure your father will be waiting ready to look after her. I know it is difficult but you need to remain calm especially for your beautiful little baby girl." He gestured towards the child in my arms.

Instinctively I held the little one just that little bit tighter and I placed a comforting kiss on her forehead. She took in another shaky breath.

"Momma wake up soon?" she asked.

"Soon, Lil Bit," I told her. "We're taking her to the hospital so my daddy can make her feel better."

I placed another kiss on her temple as she turned her face back towards Bella while leaning her head on my chest. I slowly stroked her beautiful hair which was just like her momma's.

"Dat smelly man gave Momma an owie," she said.

I squeezed her closely to me as I realised that she had seen the violence against her momma. Poor little love, she must have been so scared.

"I know my little love but the smelly man is gone now and Mike here is taking really good care of Momma," I said hoping to comfort her.

She looked up to Mike and gave him a little smile. "Fank oo," she said to Mike.

"She's very cute," Mike said. "How old is she?"

I felt uncomfortable because I didn't know and if I really were Bella's husband and Lil Bit's daddy I would know the answer.

"I free," the little angel said holding up her fingers and waving four fingers at Mike.

I took her fingers gently and kissed the tip of each one counting, "One," kiss, "Two," kiss, "Three," kiss. I then folded the other two down and smiled down at her.

She beamed up at me and then turned her three fingers to Mike, "I free" she said proudly.

Mike shook his head and smiled. "Such a lovely little family. I am so sorry this has happened." He gave me a reassuring look and a press on my shoulder.

He stood up again and walked to the doors ready to open them as we arrived at the Hospital. The doors opened and there was Carlisle. I was never so glad to see my father in my life.

Mike climbed down out of the ambulance to grab the end of Bella's gurney. The other paramedic who had been driving came through and went to the head of the gurney when they moved her out of the ambulance.

I climbed out holding tight to my small precious charge following as close behind Bella's gurney as I could manage.

From the moment Mike stepped out of the ambulance he was giving Carlisle information about Bella's condition. He referred to her as Isabella Cullen, at which Carlisle raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Mike spouted off a whole lot of numbers and medical terms which I didn't have a clue about.

It was amazing to watch Carlisle in his element. He had one hand on Bella's gurney and was listening to everything Mike told him. A crew of people were following us, nurses and interns all trailing behind Carlisle. He was spouting out instructions and people were running to do his bidding. I hadn't realised how commanding Carlisle could be.

Mike shared the story I had told him in the ambulance of what had happened in the park to Bella. He referred to me as Isabella's husband and Carlisle shot a quick look at me.

A woman came between me and the entourage wheeling Bella into the Emergency Unit. I had to stop or run into her.

"Excuse me, sir," she was holding a clipboard and I wanted to hit her over the head with it. I looked past her to where they had taken my Bella.

"I am sorry sir," she said calmly. "I just need to get some details and then I can take you to the waiting room."

"I don't want to go to the waiting room," I told her firmly. "I want to stay with her."

"Only family can go in and only with the doctor's permission," she explained. "Let me get some details and then I'll speak with the doctor and let him decide, okay?"

"I don't think that will be a problem …. Sue." I said as I glanced down to see her name tag. "The doctor is both the Head of Emergency as well as being my father. Also the patient is my wife and this child's mother."

I was happy to claim the title of husband if it meant I could avoid being relegated to the waiting room. And from what Bella told me the other night she doesn't have any living family to come to be with her. Mind you she didn't tell me about Lil Bit so who knows what the fuck is true.

Sue, looked at me a little nervously now realising I was Carlisle's son. She was only doing her job so I tried very hard to be patient with her.

"Sue, can this paperwork wait a little please until I find out Bella's condition and speak to my father?" I spoke softly now.

"Where's Momma?" Lil Bit was turning her head this way and that trying to see her momma. Her voice was a little high and panicky. I really didn't want her to start crying again.

"Mr Cullen," Sue said quietly, "it is very noisy and stressful in the Emergency Unit. Your father may need to run tests and take blood samples from your wife."

She was looking at Lil Bit now, "It may not be a good idea to take your little girl back there. It could frighten her."

I looked down into the big blue eyes of the little angel in my arms. Sue was right. I sighed. Carlisle was looking after Bella. There was nothing I could do to help him but I could help Lil Bit.

I stroked her hair, "My daddy is looking after Momma and he's going to make her all better so we need to stay out here while he looks after her, okay?" I looked at her soulful eyes.

She pouted her pretty little lips and nodded.

"Brave girl," I said and kissed her forehead.

She reached around my neck to hold herself tighter to me. So I hitched her up a little higher and held her a little tighter so she'd feel safe and secure with me.

"Sue, is going to show us where we can sit down and wait until my daddy comes to tell us how momma is, okay little love?" I looked to Sue hoping she'd pick up my cue and take us to the waiting room.

"Of course. This way to the waiting room and I'll get all the details I need while you're waiting." She turned and led us down the corridor to a room with lounge chairs and small tables, there was a vending machine and a small play area with toys in it in the corner.

Mike caught up with us just before we went in to the room. "Edward," he called. "Here's your wife's bag, we picked it up at the scene."

He handed me Bella's large shoulder bag.

"Thanks for everything Mike," I said grateful for his kindness.

"All part of the job, Edward. You take care of your two beautiful girls okay man." I nodded as he slapped my shoulder gently, turned and headed off.

I made a mental note to make a sizeable donation to the paramedics service. They do a tough job.

I gave a quick glance into Bella's bag and noticed there were spare clothes for Lil Bit as well as little lunch boxes with food and a juice box in them probably for the little one. It suddenly occurred to me that Lil Bit probably needed to go to the bathroom. Fuck. Can I do this? Well it's either that or a mess all over the floor and a screaming kid, Edward. Man up!

"Sue?" I turned to the administrator, "I need to take my little one to the bathroom, where can I take her?"

"Oh, yes, follow me there is a unisex toilet on this floor so you won't have to take her into the men's room."

Thank God for that, I don't want to think of taking her into a men's room with guys coming in and out, using the urinals. No fucking way!

Okay I can do this, she's just a little girl, I can take her to the bathroom. What if she needs help? Fuck.

"Lil Bit?" I looked down to her sweet little face as we followed Sue to the unisex bathroom. "We're just going to go to the bathroom, okay?"

"Ehwed needs to go potty?" she asked me. Adorable.

"Well no, I don't, but do you need to go potty little love?" I asked desperately hoping she knew how to do this.

"Mmm," was all she said. Was that yes? Was that no?

"Here we are." Sue was holding the door to the little room which had a small wash area as well as a toilet cubicle. "I'll meet you back in the waiting room."

Inside I was panicking and feeling very foolish for being terrified of taking a toddler to the bathroom. C'mon, idiot. How hard can it be?

"Okay, Lil Bit," I announced placing her down on the ground and acting as though I took little toddlers to the bathroom all the time. "Do you need help?"

She pouted her little lips and nodded slowly with a sad little face.

Poor little thing, c'mon Edward, of course she needs help, she's only 'free'.

"C'mon little one, let me help you okay" I said smiling at her. She gave me a very small smile back.

I unbuttoned her jacket and placed it in Bella's bag. Lil Bit reached under her little blue dress to pull down her green tights and her little panties. Thank god she seemed to be able to handle the mechanics.

I took one look at this tiny little girl standing next to a toilet which was almost her height and realised I would have to lift her up. I put my hands under her arms. "Okay little love up we go." I lifted her and held her so she wouldn't fall in.

Fuck these things are dangerous for little kids.

"Momma sings when I tinkle, Ehwed," she told me.

"Does she little love? That's nice." Then I realised she wanted me to sing too. "Oh umm. I don't know if I know any children's songs?" I told her.

"Tinkle, tinkle's my favwite. You know dat song Ehwed?" she looked up at me smiling.

I chuckled that she said tinkle instead of twinkle because she was supposed to go tinkle. I am an immature idiot!

"Yeah, I think I know that one," and I started to sing. "Twinkle, Twinkle little star how I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high..." Lil Bit was making a star with her hands and was now holding them above her head. I chuckled as I kept singing, "... Like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, Twinkle little star how I wonder what you are." She was twinkling her fingers as I sang the last line and it was possibly the cutest thing I had ever seen in my life.

"Finish," she announced proudly. I was relieved to see her take some toilet paper and wiped herself clean. I stood her on the ground and we pulled up her panties and tights together.

I took her over to the sink and held her up while she washed her hands. I put her back down on the floor as I tidied up after us.

"Do you want your pretty jacket back on little love?" I asked, not knowing if she was cold.

"No, fank oo," she told me sounding a little tired. She turned and put her hands in the air, "Up Ehwed"

I reached down and picked her up. "Let's go back and wait to hear about how momma is okay?"

"Mmmm," she said. Yeah definitely sounding tired.

We made it back to the room and Sue was waiting with her clipboard. I sat down beside Sue with Bella's child nestled on my lap playing with my shirt buttons with her little fingers.

I reached into Bella's bag and pulled out a little cooler bag lunch box which had a juice box, some little sandwiches with no crusts and some carrot sticks in them. I smiled thinking about what a healthy little snack this was and that Bella was obviously a good momma to her Lil Bit.

"Are you hungry little love?" I asked handing her the little lunch box.

She climbed down off my lap and sat on the floor at my feet, putting the lunch box on the little coffee table. I opened the box for her and she put the lid down to use it as a plate. Such a good little girl.

Sue reached forward. "May I?" she asked, taking the juice box which she opened and set back on the table with the straw in it ready for drinking.

Lil Bit turned to me, "Ehwed can oo pweese dink some so I doesn't spill?"

I wasn't sure what she meant at first but then realised that it was very full and if she tried to drink it she'd likely spill it everywhere. Bella had obviously taught her what to do to avoid that. Clever momma.

I took it from her and took a long draw of the juice and then placed it back on the table for her.

"fank oo, ehwed"

"My pleasure little love." Once satisfied that she could manage the rest I turned back to Sue who was smiling at me.

Sue handed me the clipboard and pen. "Just fill in the name, medical insurance, who is responsible financially for any items not covered by insurance and address details. I can get the rest later when she's settled into her room."

"Room? Will she have to stay here?" I asked.

"Well, I'm not a doctor Mr Cullen so I can't say for sure but your wife's had a head injury and been unconscious for over an hour. I think it would be safe to say that your father will want her to be here at least overnight for observation," she explained.

"Of course."

I wish we knew how she was. I filled in the forms calling her Isabella Swan Cullen. I used my address and gave her my credit card details for the financial responsibility. I didn't know if Bella had medical insurance but we could sort that out later.

Sue left and I was glad of a few moments alone with Lil Bit. Luckily we were the only ones in the room for now. I reached into Bella's bag and found her mobile phone. I scrolled through the contacts wondering whom I should call to let them know what has happened. I decided to call Rosalie.

"Hey Bells, how was the park?" Rosalie answered.

"Rosalie, it's me, Edward. Bella has had an accident and we're up at the hospital," I said not knowing really how to break the news.

"Oh my god Edward, is she alright? What happened? Where's Lil Bit?" She was very upset and practically shrieking over the phone.

I reached down and stroked Lil Bit's hair. "Lil Bit is here with me, it's okay I'm taking good care of her.

"Bella was mugged, I can't say too much over the phone because I have the little one here with me and I don't want to upset her by talking about it, too much, okay?" I prayed Rosalie would understand.

"Oh… okay… you're right. Thanks Edward. Can you tell me how Bella is at least?" she asked much quieter now.

"She's unconscious but my dad is looking after her." I told her quietly.

"Your dad? Oh right, he's a doctor of course, Emmett told me that." She sounded a little confused but it was likely the shock.

"I'm coming up there. Are you at UWMC?" she asked.

"Yes. Rosalie? Is there someone else I should call?" The question made me nervous, Bella told me to trust her and I wanted to but perhaps the little's one father should be called. If it was me I would want to know. But just the thought of some other guy made me feel ill.

"I have Bella's phone and there are lots of names in here but I was wondering if there's someone…. important…. I should call?"

"Jacob," was all she said.

My heart sank. Who the fuck was Jacob? I knew I didn't really want the answer to that question right now.

"You call Jacob and I'll let everyone else know." she said.

"I don't want too many people coming here Rose. Please, she'll need to rest and recover in peace." I was worried we were going to be enveloped by everyone in the contacts list and there were a lot of names in there.

"Sure Edward. I'll just send out a group text and promise them an update later." I could hear her moving around in the background, she must be getting ready to head up here.

"Okay Rosalie. I'll call this Jacob and you handle the others. See you soon." I ended the call and scrolled through the numbers until I found a Jacob Black listed. It was the only Jacob I could find so I selected it and pressed call.

"Bells. What can I do for you today?" a friendly masculine voice answered.

"Hello. Is this Jacob?" I asked.

"Who is this? and why are you calling from Bella's phone?" He sounded agitated.

"Edward Cullen." I told him, I was about to go and explain my call when he interrupted me.

"Oh you. You're the idiot that upset Bella this week. You still haven't explained why you're calling me and from Bella's phone." Now he sounded agitated with me.

What. The. Fuck.

"Listen. I called because Bella's been in an accident. We are at UWMC and Rosalie thought I should call you. I'm not sure why but she said I should so I am." I was rambling a bit but all I could think about was who this guy was to my Bella.

"I'm on my way," he said simply and then ended the call.

What the ever living fuck. I sighed and stared at the phone for a moment before I threw it back into Bella's bag. Fuck.

I looked up and saw my father was at the door.

"Edward," he strode into the room to sit in the lounge chair opposite me, his eyes fixed on Bella's little girl who was happily eating her food and drinking her juice box.

"How's Bella, Dad? Is she okay?"

"She'll be fine son," he said calmly. "She took a nasty hit to the face and the impact obviously knocked her into a tree. She has a gash in the back of her head and some nasty bruising on her back."

"Luckily, her ribs are fine and the CAT scan showed nothing for us to be worried about. She has woken up a couple of times and is being moved to a room upstairs.

"She'll need observation for the next 24 hours at least," he stated, his eyes still glued to Lil Bit.

"Can we see her now Dad?"

"We?" He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Lil Bit?" She looked up at me, eating one of her carrot sticks. Fucking adorable! "This is my daddy," I told her gesturing towards Carlisle.

"Hi," she said very shyly. "Oo fixed momma's owie?"

Carlisle smiled. "It is lovely to meet you, Lil Bit. Yes I looked after your momma's 'owie' but your momma is going to need to stay here tonight to rest okay?"

She turned back to me and climbed back into my lap. She started playing with the buttons on my shirt again. "Can we stay with momma too, Ehwed?"

"Well, let's go see Momma and ask her, okay?" I didn't want to promise she could stay when Bella may not want her to stay here or want me to stay either. The thought upset me.

"Can we go now Dad?" I was already standing to put the little one's things away and back in the bag. I slung the bag over my shoulder and hitched Lil Bit higher in my arms and started moving out of the door.

"Yes," Carlisle chuckled watching me, "I'll take you up."

I was grateful he didn't ask more about Lil Bit, I didn't know how to explain.

We followed Carlisle who was stopped multiple times by other staff with questions about other patients and other goings on. I was getting irritable as I wanted to get to Bella immediately. When Carlisle was paged he just gave me the room number and we parted ways.

We got to her floor and went to the nurses station. They told me to keep quiet and calm while visiting Bella. She was in the room opposite which had all glass walls and doors so they had a clear view of her room. I knocked lightly and slid the glass door open. There she was sitting up looking bruised, pale and a bit woozy but smiling.

Lil Bit tried to wriggle her way out of my arms and was reaching out to Bella. "Momma," she sobbed out.

Bella was reaching out for her so I took her the little one over to her. She crawled up the bed and snuggled into Bella.

"Oh baby, it's alright, shhhhh," she cooed to the little one.

They were both crying now. I silently sat in the chair next to Bella's bed pulling it closer to them so I could touch both of them.

"Are you okay Bella?" I asked.

She looked over to me with tears in her eyes. "I am now," she said kissing the little one's head.

"Thank you for helping me Edward. You calling out sent those horrible men running, I hate to think what would've happened," she sobbed again.

I stood up and reached over them both and kissed Bella's swollen lips very carefully, she'd obviously been hit hard. The evidence of the brute force used was getting darker on her face.

She smiled sadly at me. I sat down again.

"I see you've met Elizabeth," she said, stroking the little one's hair.

"Elizabeth?" I looked at the little angel in Bella's arms. "I've been calling her Lil Bit," I laughed.

"Her real name is Elizabeth but when she tried to say it, all she came out with was Lil Bit and it kind of stuck with all of us," she said quietly.

"That was my mother's name," I said quietly.

"Really?" she beamed back at me, well as best she could with a swollen lip and cheek. Fuck those bastards for hurting my girl.

Lil Bit sat up a little. "Ehwed give me wots of hugs, momma," she told her mother proudly, "and he took me potty and he sang tinkle, tinkle and her gave me my juice box and sammiches."

Bella looked up at me with tears in her eyes. "Thank you Edward. Thank you so much. She is the most precious thing in my life."

I decided to confront the elephant in the room. "Your daughter is a very sweet angel Bella. You didn't have to hide her from me. You didn't have to … say you were a virgin." I didn't want to call her a liar.

"Thank you," she said quietly. "Elizabeth is my daughter now but she was born my sister, half sister really. She was Renee and Phil's little girl."

I stared at them both for a long while and then said softly and sincerely, "I don't care. It wouldn't matter to me if she was your daughter, Bella." I shrugged and smiled at her.

"Edward… I," she started.

"Bella?" she was interrupted by the man I saw her with at the bakery.

She looked up to him and smiled as broad a smile as she could. "Jacob? How did know I was here?"

"The idiot who made you miserable all week called me and told me you'd had an accident," he said gesturing towards me.

I stood up set to confront him when a tall beautiful native american woman came in carrying a small boy around the age of Lil Bit.

"Leah!" Bella called out and reached her arms out to the woman.

Leah put the little boy down and rushed over to Bella. "Sweetie, look at your face what on earth happened?" She gave me a look to kill.

Fuck that, I didn't do it.

I was just about to set her straight when Bella explained. "Leah, Jacob - this is Edward. Edward saved me from getting much worse from two hideous men who jumped me and Lil Bit when we were in the park. I don't know what would've happened to us today if it hadn't been for Edward," she told them.

Jacob stretched his hand out to me to shake. "Thanks Edward, sorry about teasing you before. Isabella and Elizabeth are very special to us."

Leah came over and planted a kiss on my cheek and gave me a quick hug. "Thank you Edward."

"I'm glad you got over your jealousy man!" Jacob slapped me on the back. "As you can see I have my own gorgeous woman and child - this is our son Seth."

The little boy was sitting on the floor with a book quietly reading.

"Leave Edward alone Jacob. Stop teasing him. He's a hero remember." Bella laughed.

"A hero, huh?" I leaned in close smiling at her and gently touched my lips to hers again.

"We've got a lot to talk about, haven't we," I whispered to her.

She whispered back to just me, "I want you to know everything, Edward."

"I want you to know everything about me too Bella. So you'll understand why I was such an idiot on Monday".

"Ehwed?" Lil bit called. "I need go potty pweese," she whispered very loudly in my ear.

"Okay, my little love," I said picking her up and moving towards the ensuite bathroom.

"Will you sing tinkle for me again, Ehwed," she asked holding my cheek with her little hand.

"Yes Elizabeth, I'll sing for you."

As I started to shut the bathroom door I chuckled at the shocked faces on Bella, Jacob and Leah as they watched us.

I scoffed, "What? You think I've never taken a toddler to the bathroom before?"

A/N: So for those who guessed correctly well done :) Isn't Lil Bit gorgeous. Thank you for reading. Please leave a review and tell me what you thought.

song credit:

. /e541640/twinkle-twinkle-little-star-lyrics