Carlisle's thoughts were all over the place. He remembered the tingle in his fingertips when he had helped Bella out of the car. And when she had closed her eyes, he hadn't been able to resist leaning in to brush his lips to the corner of hers, before recovering with a jolt. Then in the house he had been shouting and raging and he couldn't believe how immature he had acted and then she had kissed him. Oh god.
He paced through the house, trying to find anything to do and in the end only continued to think and spin. This wasn't like him, absolutely not.

When she hadn't come out of his office three hours later, he decided to take a look. It was nine o clock and Charlie would probably storm into the house any minute, if she didn't return home.
He knocked on the office door: "Bella?"
She didn't answer and so he knocked again softly and then opened the door. He saw her immediately. She was lying on the leather sofa, with the crutches and an open book cluttered in front of it on the floor. Her eyes were closed and he could hear her calm heartbeat and the soft breathing noises. Slowly he walked closer and looked down at her. She looked so innocent and young lying there, with her forehead snuggled against the armrest, her brown wavy hair framing her face, half covering the bruise she had left from the accident.
How could he even think about giving in to this? She may be feeling a bit of a connection, but she would be happy enough with any other boy, too. He wasn't human and he was in no case a boy. She needed someone her age, or at least her mindset. Edward had been old in years, too, but he had still been a young vampire and his youth would always be a part of him.
Carlisle sighed. Bella knew him as the father, the leader of all these youngsters. How could she want to be with him? He remembered the shocked expression on her face, after she realized what she had done. The kiss hadn't been consciously, it had been the vampire mates bond making her do it.
Suddenly a sigh broke through his thoughts and he focused on Bella again. Her eyes were still closed, but she had a smile on her lips now.

"It's okay, don't be scared." The whisper made his stomach lurch. What did she dream?
She moved a bit and her arm slid down the front of the seating surface, but she didn't wake.
"He looks so scared," she whispered again and then: "Carlisle."

As if on command, his legs gave away and he knelt down by her side, hand stopping midair on the way to her face.
"I'm here" he breathed.

Bella opened her eyes and was met with black orbs, just a few centimeters from her face.
"Carlisle!" She backed away and sat up, blushing furiously. Had she talked in her sleep again? What had he heard?

"I'm sorry." Carlisle stood and walked a few steps away, before turning around, gaze fixed on the wall. "I was wondering what happened to you. I knocked, but you didn't answer. It's late already and Charlie..." his voice broke at that and when he looked at her, she could see the desperation in his eyes.

"Carlisle, what happens to us?" He couldn't believe her stupid. He had to know, that she would come to her own conclusions with all that was going on!
He flinched and opened and closed his mouth, before continuing to look at her, saying nothing.

"Is this what I think it is?"

'NO' wanted Carlisle to scream, "yes" he said.

Bella gulped and fumbled with the hair tie she wore around her wrist. Her thoughts were all over the place and she kept watching him, while her mind wandered off. Edward had never trusted her to manage the truth. Now that Carlisle had answered her so directly, she had to act like an adult. She could do it.

The conversation with Edward came to her mind:

"Carlisle was there, wasn't he?"

"I did not ask him to!"

"You don't need to."

That made sense now. Edward had known. He had probably known from the moment they walked into the waiting hall. He must have read Carlisle's thoughts.
That made her wonder. What had he thought? So she blurted: "What did you think?"

He narrowed his eyes at her. "What do you mean?"

"When we walked into the waiting hall at the airport. Why did Edward go wild?"

"I don't..."

"I really want to know," she pleaded.

He sighed and closed his eyes. "Mine."

"Only... mine?"

He opened his eyes and Bella saw that they were still pitch black. "Mine," he growled in the most possessive tone she had ever heard. "I thought about that you are mine and that you live and that he can't have you anymore!"

He spat the words, but she knew the hatred wasn't directed towards her. Still, she was left speechless.

He sighed. "I know you are your own. You're not a possession." The words hadn't been much more than a whisper.

Bella leaped up and hobbled towards him. "I know that you do," she said and watched as his eyes turned softer and he took her hand in his, steadying her. "Carlisle, you are the most compassionate being I know. I trust you with my life."
She felt the heat flare up in her cheeks at her own words, but refused to back down now.

"Bella..."

"No! I meant what I said when you stitched me up. You can't be damned. How could you?"

"I just was the reason the relationship between my son and his mate ended."

"But I was not destined to be his, was I?"

"You're not a vampire, it shouldn't matter to you."

"But it does," she pressed.

"You are young and you are not as affected as you were if you'ld be a vampire. I refuse to let you do this only because you think you have to, because I'm some kind of soulmate to you. I'm not. You are no vampire and that's how it should be."

"Why did you even come back then?"

He pursed his lips and stared at her stoically.

"Because I think you did it because you couldn't stand away any longer." God, she had to be as red as a tomato by now.

"And you're the expert now?"

"Jacob told me a few things about imprinting..."

"I'm not a werewolf!"

"It's close enough. I can see Alice and Jasper and how they act around each other, you know?"

"So?" He glared at her. "What did he tell you?"

Bella hesitated due to so much un-Carlisle-ness, but then answered: "He sees it as some kind of curse. He doesn't believe it to be true love. He says you are not yourself anymore."

Carlisle scoffed.

"Do you think that, too? Did I ruin your marriage with Esme?"

"I'm claiming you as if you were a thing I could possess and you are asking me if you are the problem? You did not! And no, I'm not thinking of it that way, but I can understand why Jacob does."

"Why did you leave?"

"I told you what I think about it. I was willing to let Edward try."

"You were okay with him lying to me?"

Carlisle's lip curled and a growl erupted deep from within his chest. He just knew the boy had made it worse. "What did he tell you?" He demanded.
Now it was on Bella to purse her lips and refuse to speak. "Tell me! I need to know!"

"He told me you weren't willing to keep fighting for me. Especially not with the Volturi."

"Did you believe him?"

"Yes."

Carlisle dropped her hand at that and closed his eyes again. Hadn't she just said she trusted him with her life? The sharp pain in his chest let him inhale a breath he didn't need. His destined mate didn't trust him. Deep down he knew the reaction was ridiculous. Of course she would believe Edward. He was her boyfriend, why wouldn't she? Still, instinct took over and it hurt.

He felt her hand on his arm, but he could hear a car and then the unmistakable steps of Charlie Swan.
"Your father is here."