Important:

TW: Descriptions of Eating disorders, weight, self harm and abuse

Short Summary: After Italy the Cullens find out more about Bellas past and take care of her when she gets sick. Charlie is more involved in Bellas life but not her biological dad. Mainly Carlisle POV

Changes to this story:

Bella was only 15 when she moved to her uncle Charlie, everyone thinks he is her dad,

The Cullens left after her 16th birthday, she goes cliff diving four month ma later (in January)

Bella looks slightly different: she has a little more red in her hair and its slightly longer and curled, she has freckles and is slightly smaller

she had a special drivers license so she could drive while she was still only fifteen,

Renee was not a good mom, Bella still went to save her in twilight because she thought it's her fault.

Renee never visited her in the hospital,

Charlie likes the Cullens and knows what they are, but they don't know that he knows because Edward can barely read his mind, he is sure they left for Bellas protection but is still mad at them for hurting her

I don't really like conflicts so there won't be many, especially none with the werewolves, they are friendly and accept the Cullens.

English is not my mother tongue so please excuse any minor mistakes, though you can still pm me if there is anything too bad.

If you don't like, don't read.

There is so much beauty in letting go of pain,

Watching scars turn into butterflies before they fly away.

- Christy Ann Martine

1

Moving Back to Forks

Carlisle Pov:

Just a few minutes ago we had received a call from Alice telling us that they all made it out alive and they would arrive back in Forks the next day around 3pm. The rest of us had all been there for the call and the tension from the last few days seemed to melt away slightly. They were alive and safe for now.

Rosalie had told us about Bellas cliff diving when we had come back from hunting and found Alice missing. We were shocked and heart broken, thinking that we had lost our sweet human child that we had left behind so cruelly in the hope of keeping her safe. The thought of having hurt her so badly that she took her own life made my unbeating heart feel like it was ripped in thousands of little pieces. Then when Alice had called to tell us that Bella was alive but not well had us packing our bags in an instant, deciding we would move back no matter what Edward thought. Even Rosalie seemed happy about it.

Of course then we were told that Alice and Bella left to follow Edward to Italy hoping to be able to stop him from his suicide mission, as he thought Bella was dead, and now we were concerned about not only one but three of our children. I wasn't mad at Rosalie for calling Edward, I knew she just wanted him to come back to us.

Even though the odds didn't seem to be in our favor ,we kept driving to Forks, praying for the best as there was nothing else we could do. I hoped that my time spent in Volterra and the friendship I had had with the Volturi would keep my children safe. Luckily it had all worked out.

Being able to think straight again now that I knew they were all coming back to us alive it made me think about how we had left Bella behind and about what Alice had said about Bellas condition. I was still hoping Alice had exaggerated when she told me that Bella was overly exhausted, dead on her feet and even skinnier then when we had left her. When she was on the phone she told me that Bella was currently curled up on Edwards lap, not really reacting to much of anything and refusing to eat or drink. I also spoke to Edward for a while telling him to never think about doing something like that again and that we would have to talk about his suicide attempt when he got back. He apologized brokenly and promised that he was fine now that he had his Bella back. I wanted to talk to Bella as well but she had fallen into a light slumber while Edward and I were talking. I asked him to try and get her to at least drink a little bit and to keep a close eye on her. I knew I didn't even have to ask, he would do this anyways but I felt so helpless sitting at home and waiting for them to come back.

That was also one of the reasons why I was now on my way to Forks hospital hoping to be able to take a look at Bellas file to see if there were any indications on her condition and what supplies I would need to treat her at our home.

I arrived at the parking lot and parked at my usual spot, then I went inside.

"Dr.Cullen. What are you doing here? I thought you had moved with your family?" the receptionist greeted me.

I was glad it was Melanie who was there today, we had always had a good working relationship and she knew that Bella was like a daughter to us even though it might not have seemed like it after we had left.

"Hello Mrs.Meyer. We are moving back. My wife didn't like it in New York, as it was really crowded there. And to tell the truth, we all missed Bella. That's also the reason I am here, my daughter came back a little early and told us about Bellas physical condition. I was hoping I could take a look at her hospital file." I answered after seeing if there was anyone around, knowing they weren't allowed to just give away a patients information.

Melanie looked at me, deep in thought. "You know, you really hurt her when you left, she is a wreck. She has refused to get help until now and Charlie didn't want to force her into anything as long as it wasn't completely necessary." I grimaced and nodded at her sadly. "I know. It was the worst mistake we ever made. I just hope we can make it right again, get her healthy again and gain her trust back."

She motioned me forward and led me into her office, where all of the patients files were kept. She took out a big one and I already feared the worst. My fear was affirmed as she gave me the file and I saw that it was Bellas. "Here. If anyone can help her it is you. I can see it in your eyes that you never stopped loving her like your own. Just never make such a mistake again and don't tell anyone I let you see her file, unless you are going to ask for your job back?"

I smiled at her gratefully. "Thank you Mrs.Meyer, you don't know how much this means to me. Of course I won't tell anyone and we'll certainly never leave her behind again. At the moment I won't ask for my job back. My first priority is getting Bella healthy again and mending my family. We were all heartbroken without her."

"I gotta get back to the reception but I must warn you that what you will find in her file is not pretty."

I just nodded at her sadly and opened the file when she closed the door behind her.

Her files where ordered chronologically. Oldest at the top, newest at the bottom. I had already looked through her old files when she had moved here as I was worried about her quiet, closed off nature and her tiny frame.

Bella had already been extremely skinny when she had moved here last year. At 1,55m she only weighted 43kg, which was still a normal weight but just barely so. I had looked through her files to see if she had always been that skinny or if she had lost weight recently.I had seen that she had been this way since she was around eight years old which was a mystery to me, had something happened to her back then that made her change her eating habits? I had never said anything to her as she gained one kilo over the time she was here and I was watching her behavior and her eating habits closely during that time. I had also asked the others to make sure she ate at school and Esme was always happy to feed her when Bella was over at our place.

Bella had always eaten what we gave her but kept her portion sizes small. I always had a feeling as if there was something not right about the way she seemed so closed off from everyone and seemed to have a hard time letting anyone in to help or comfort her. She had always seemed so fragile and yet too mature for her age. I never wanted to pry though, hoping my instincts were wrong and I was also relieved a bit when I was seeing that she seemed to slowly open up to us over the course of the months she spent here.

Now looking at those files I was shocked and extremely worried. Bella had been found at the forest in the middle of the night by Sam Uley the night that we had left. She had been exhausted, nearly unresponsive, in shock and close to hypothermia but luckily not injured any other way. Edward had never told us what he had said to her that night and it worried me. Why had she been found in the middle of the night out in the forest? Bella should know that the forest is no place for her to be alone , especially at night. Had she tried to follow Edward? But why hadn't she taken her car? I had question after question and had only seen the first page. Flipping the page in worry of what I would find next I read about how she had been catatonic for weeks refusing to eat or drink. But she seemed to get slightly better after a while. It said she started to go out with friends again after Charlie threatened to send her to a therapist and asked the hospital to recommend one. Of course she wouldn't want to talk to a therapist. She could never have been honest unless she wanted to be locked up.

Next there were notes about a motorcycle accidents. MOTORCYCLES???? Our clumsy fragile Bella riding a motorcycle? Did she really care so little about her health? Did she want to hurt herself? Suddenly worrying that Bella had started to self harm in our absence as well, but surly Charlie would have noticed? I was still unconvinced that her cliff diving was only recreational, I mean she did jump off of a high cliff in the middle of January when she was already physically weak from exhaustion and malnourishment.

There were also a few minor things like a cold and a sprained ankle, each time with a note about Bellas weight and a mental assessment, some of them from the school nurse who had reported her fainting or going home because of a headache.

The numbers that recorded her weight over the month became lower and lower. 41kg,38kg, 36kg, 35kg and lastly 34kg which had been recorded weeks prior but she seemed to have not lost any more weight since then. I stared at the page.

She had lost 10kg over the course of the last four months. 10kg that she definitely did not have to lose in the first place. Her weight was dangerously low and now I knew that Alice had definitely not exaggerated. The files said that Bella refused any treatment and Charlie refused to commit her or force her into treatment unless it was necessary because he felt it would only make her worse. She was already at such a low weight that Charlie could have had her committed against her will for safety reasons. Eating disorders were a dangerous mental illness that not seldomly lead to death due to heart failure or suicide.

I put my face in my hands, devastated. Bella was definitely worse than I had expected and it would take time to get her healthy again. Oh Bella, what have we done? I am so sorry and I hope you'll forgive us and let us help you.

I closed her file. I wanted to go home and order supplies that I would need to treat Bella. I wanted to take her into my arms , wanted to assure myself that she was alive and safe for now but I knew I had to wait, so I wanted to at least be prepared for when they came home. I hoped Charlie would let me treat and examine her after all the damage we had done.

When I left Melanies office she looked at me empathetically. "Worse than you thought, hm?" I just nodded. "Thank you again, Mrs.Meyers."

"You're welcome. I hope it will all turn out alright."

I left the hospital and drove home. When I arrived I saw that Esme and the rest of the children have made the house livable again. I took Esme in to my arms and kissed her gently when she met me at the door. "It looks great." I told her.

"Thank you. Did you find out anything about Bella?" She looked up at me and she saw my expression. "Carlisle?" Her voice was shaky. I didn't answer her. Instead I called out "Lets all meet in the living room" and squeezed Esme reassuringly.

We sat down on the sofas and I pulled Esme to me, I knew this would not be easy for her to hear.

I told them everything that I had found out at the hospital, comforting Esme at the same time as she sobbed into my shoulder. "Oh my baby girl, what have we done?" She whispered brokenly.

"Damn Edward" Emmett cursed loudly and even Rosalie seemed sad.

"Emmett" I reprimanded. "What?" He thundered " he was the one who made us leave." He justified himself.

"Yes Emmett. And he was wrong. But we also left. It is all our fault, not just his. Now we can only hope that she'll forgive us and take us back and that she'll accept our help."

It was quiet for a while as everyone thought about what had transpired over the last few weeks and days.

I broke the silence "I am going order some supplies to treat Bella. "

I turned to Esme. "Esme, could you go grocery shopping and get some things that Bella likes?" She nodded and stood up so I turned to Emmet and Jasper " Emmett and Jasper could you go get some soft warm blankets and maybe books or movies or games for Bella? I want her on bed rest as long as she is so underweight" They looked at me sadly. "Of course dad, anything specific?" Jasper asked.

"No, just get things that you think she'll like and some things that might comfort her." They nodded and left after Esme.

I turned to Rosalie who looked at me a little uncertainly. "Do you want to help as well?" I asked her. "Yes" she whispered, her lips seemed to tremble slightly.

"Rosalie? What's wrong sweetheart?" She didn't answer so I just opened my arms for her, hoping she would let me comfort her. She jumped into my arms immediately and started sobbing. "I'm sorry daddy" she cried brokenly. I was taken aback. Rosalie had never called me daddy before and she usually never came to me for comfort.

I stroked her hair and hugged her tighter to me. "What are you sorry for honey?"

"I never hated her. I just felt like I had to protect her from the start and I was scared about what I was feeling so I was pushing her away because I didn't want to get hurt when we had to leave. And I didn't want her forced into this live like I was. I treated her so badly. I was so stupid. It still hurt so bad when we left her behind. And then a few days ago I was so shocked and hurt that Bella would to this and I just wanted Edward to come back and for our family to be whole again and …" Rosalie was hyperventilating by now.

"Ssh sweetheart. It's gonna be okay, calm down. " I kissed her forehead, hoping it would help her feel my love for her. She seemed to calm down a little.

"I know you have a great heart ,Rosalie , and that you are a very loving person. I'm sure Bella will forgive you. And I know that you just wanted our family back, what happened is not your fault. I love you sweetheart, and nothing will ever change that."

Rosalie relaxed slightly in my arms. "So you forgive me?" She whispered brokenly. I raised her chin with my fingers so that she was looking into my eyes. "There is nothing to forgive sweet girl".

She must have seen the truth in my eyes because she had a slight but still sad smile on her face then and gave me another big hug.

"What can I do to help?" She asked when she had composed herself again.

"How about you and I get our laptops and while I order some hospital supplies you can order some comfortable and warm clothes like pajamas or comfortable sweatpants for Bella?"

Now she had a bigger smile on her face. "I can do that" she said and ran up to her room to get her laptop. I chuckled. My girls certainly liked clothes shopping. Alice would be mad that she didn't get to help.

I got up to get my laptop and sat next to Rosalie on the sofa where she was already looking at clothes. I ordered a scale, a more comfortable looking hospital bed with bed rails, things like IVs, Vitamins and supplements, Antibiotics, Tylenol, Bandages, a feeding tube just in case, hoping I wouldn't need to use it and anything else that might come in handy or would be needed to treat anything that might arise. It would all arrive the next day.

I looked up at Rosalie. "Did you get everything?" She smiled at me and nodded, closed her laptop and came over to me to give me another hug. "Thanks for earlier dad, I love you. I'm really glad you saved me ". I hugged her back tightly, a little overwhelmed by her unusual show of affection and relieved that she finally seemed to forgive me for changing her. "I love you too sweetheart. So very much. I am so glad to have you as my daughter."

We stayed in the embrace until we heard the boys come back.

Rosalie flew into Emmets arms immediately and I went to hug Jasper, knowing he had a hard time the last few months and especially the last few days as well.

"Are you okay?" I asked him at the same time Emmet asked Rosalie the same.Rosalie and Jasper chuckled. "I will be as soon as Alice and the others are back. I just hope Bella will forgive me." Jasper told me as Rosalie told Emmet she was feeling better than she had in a long time.

"I don't think Bella ever blamed you Jasper" I told him honestly. He didn't answer but showed me what they got for her instead.

They had gotten plenty of things that I was sure Bella would like and would keep her and us occupied for a while. I smiled when I saw the stuffed mountain lion they got her as a little comfort item. Esme came home as well and we started putting the things away. We put the blankets, stuffed animal and a child's bottle (it would be easier to handle lying down or just in the car without spilling if it was shaken too hard while open) filled with apple juice and a few crackers in the car we would drive to the airport tomorrow. It was our only family car that we seldomly used . It would be the best car for tomorrow as everyone would fit in it and we wouldn't need to split up in two cars. I don't think anyone wanted to split up when we had just been reunited again, not even for the drive. The rest of the things like books and movies were put in living room and the room that would become a little hospital room for Bella.

When everything was prepared it was already late at night and we decided to go hunting to keep us occupied until we had to leave for the airport to pick up Edward, Alice and Bella.