Disclaimer: mentions of child abuse
Bella gazed up at the new home that belonged to the Cullens. Her lips parted in awe as she gaped at the three-story white oak lakehouse with large open windows. It looked like a dollhouse, she thought in amazement.
"Do you like it, Bella?" Carlisle asked as he held her in his arms, allowing her sleepy eyes to get used to the bright morning light, the grey clouds hid the sun completely and made the day seem even brighter than normal. She'd just woken up after their long drive all the way to Alaska and Bella had immediately asked to be carried upon their arrival to their new home. Carlisle couldn't possibly deny her anything as he smiled and unbuckled her seatbelt before picking her up.
"Pretty," Bella murmured before resting her head back down on Carlisle's shoulder, feeling a little embarrassed to admit how she felt. It was an adjustment but she knew the Cullens approved when she spoke her mind rather than keep things to herself. The girl didn't understand how, but they almost always knew how Bella felt or what she wanted without saying it out loud. Strange.
"Hey, why aren't Alice or Rosalie helping too?" Emmett groused behind them, carrying two moving boxes in his hands that should have been a two-person job much to Carlisle's chagrin as he shook his head at his son. Carlisle and Bella watched as the boys grabbed the luggage from the back of Emmett's Jeep and Carlisle's Mercedes before they headed up the seemingly endless stairs towards the front porch.
Alice chimed as she danced her way around the Jeep, "Because we're ladies! Right, Bella?"
The little girl yawned as she gave a muffled, "Uh-huh. Ladies..." that made both Alice and Carlisle smile.
In no time at all, Emmett was back to grab a bright red suitcase—that most likely belonged to Rosalie—but before doing so, he ruffled the pixie's black hair and said, "Bella and Esme are the only ladies here, little sister. You're just lazy."
Alice jabbed his side with a grin and Bella smiled as she watched them walk up the stairs, the two siblings content to be in their new home.
Their home. Not yours.
The little girl's smile gradually fell however as the strange hollowness in her chest started again—loneliness. It was a scary feeling, she thought as her hands closed around Carlisle's jacket.
Alice and Emmett were brother and sister, just as Jasper and Rosalie or Edward were siblings too. Esme and Carlisle were their parents and they all loved each other. But...what does that make her? She didn't understand what her place was in this big loving family—if she had one at all.
What if there's no room for me?
"Are you alright Bella?" Jasper asked as he stood on the front porch, concern etched on his face as he watched Carlisle and the little girl walk up the stairs.
Bella nodded, smiling the same way she used to when her mom or dad used to fight in front of her. Pretend until no one sees you.
Without realizing it, the little girl started humming the song Charlie had taught her, until the hollow feeling in her chest faded away and was replaced with warm, good feelings.
Unaware of the empath who watched her from the top of the landing with a worried look on his face, realizing why she was singing that song in the first place.
By the time all the suitcases were in the house and everyone settled into their own rooms, Bella had taken it upon herself to do some exploring.
She toddled along the halls, looking at the black and white photographs Esme had taken over the years of their family or the cities she and Carlisle had visited. Each were hung up on the walls, one for each member—except for her seeing as she was still the newest addition to the Cullen family.
She wasn't alone in this excursion, of course, as Edward rarely left her side all day.
He was a doting guardian, more so than Jasper or Carlisle it seemed as he held her hand in his most of the time—managing to catch Bella anytime she tripped on her own feet or wanted to venture up the stairs on her own. Edward still couldn't read her mind, no matter how hard he tried, so it made it difficult to understand why she had the occasional bouts of sadness Jasper mentioned all the time.
It still wasn't easy being around Bella—her blood called to the vampire constantly no matter how close or how far he was from the girl. Carlisle had explained she was Edward's singer. It only proved harder to accept considering he'd heard horror stories of his family members who'd submitted to their urges and killed their singers. Edward didn't want to experience the same with Bella. The thought of killing her just to taste her blood was revolting. More so now that he'd come to see her as a little sister.
He'd been lucky. Bella never got hurt when she was home and after the horrible day she had in school with those kids, Bella wasn't covered in bruises on her hands and knees or had cuts anymore. Something he was sure they were all thankful for.
Edward couldn't believe how cruel children could be to each other and how they were merely mirroring their parent's words and actions. It's the adults that are selfish and cruel, not the children. They're merely acting upon what they think is the right way to behave.
But Bella...she was neither cruel nor selfish, which was surprising given what Carlisle had told him regarding how standoffish both her parents had been with the child. It was sad to see the affect her parent's absence had on Bella even though they hadn't been the most loving towards her.
He turned to find that she was now looking at the grand piano in his study down the hall to the right. Her eyes shined with curiosity as she looked at the black and white keys. The sun shined down on each one from the window, making a gleam bounce across the walls.
"You want to hear me play something for you Bella?" Edward asked as he walked around the piano, only stopping when the rays of the sun settled right over the other side of the piano, over the bench.
The vampire grimaced as Bella nodded, but grinned when she mispronounced Debussy, "Play Busy, please?" Since Forks the little girl had taken a liking to Clair de Lune and asked Edward to play the piece to her. It made him smile every time. The two often bonded over the piano as Edward introduced her to classical music.
He eyed his arms and then back to the rays of sunlight in the room. He wishes he'd thought to pull on the hoodie in his bedroom now more than ever. Bella was still too young to know about their true nature and exposing himself now to her would only make the curious child ask questions. Questions he wasn't sure any of them could explain well enough for her to understand.
Carlisle's reasoning for waiting until she's a little older was valid and Edward couldn't help but agree it was the right decision.
"Sure, I'll play a few songs for you. It's just..." Edward said as he mulled his options over just as Jasper knocked on the doorframe, making both of them look to the empath.
"What are you two doin'?" Jasper smiled at Bella as her face immediately lit up upon seeing him. To neither Edward or Jasper's surprise, Bella made her way over to him, raising her hands up towards Jasper until he picked her up in his arms. "You like the new house Bells?"
"Yes," Bella replied timidly, her hands patting his shoulders as her cheeks turned a light pink shade. "Edward is playing for me."
"Is he now?" Jasper noticed the sun spilling into the room. There were no curtains to block out the sun and it was surprisingly strong enough today that changing into long sleeved shirts wouldn't help hide much.
Edward tucked his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
Why don't you play for her later? Jasper asked, his eyes pointing out the obvious before Edward nodded, a crooked grin making an appearance.
"Esme's making your lunch. You want to eat and then Edward will play for you?"
"Hmmm." Her hesitant glance back to the piano told them she didn't want to do that, but Jasper granted her a small ounce of encouragement for her to speak until she looked at him again, wide-eyed.
The confused look on her face made Edward wonder if the girl had felt Jasper's gift taking hold of her emotions. But then she smiled, "Okay, Jaz."
Edward watched the two leave his music room with a sigh. Turning to face the sunlight, he narrowed his gaze as it gradually shifted over the bronze-haired boy. Though it seemed like Bella was safe from their world, a small part of him couldn't help but worry how she'll react...when she is ready to know the truth of what they are.
The days that passed were spent in noisy bliss as Emmett found every reason known to man to tease and bother Bella at all times. He made it a point to do so especially on the days when the girl barely got any sleep, too anxious to sleep at night on her own until Carlisle and Esme came to her room and slept with her.
Emmett did this if only to make Bella smile and forget her nightmares during the day, to allow her to feel like a kid and not a child subjected to such a horrific day. Other times, however, it was when the nightmares of the nomad wouldn't let her sleep, resulting in tears and sadness that infiltrated everyone's lives and not even Emmett could make Bella happy.
Currently, she was trying her best to ignore the friendly giant while she sat on the soft plush fur rug—her arms were crossed as she begrudgingly allowed Alice to braid her long brown hair. Between Alice and Emmett constantly seeking her attention, Bella hardly had any time to herself in peace.
"Come on Bells! I'll teach you how to play and I'll even let you win a couple of times." Emmett practically whined as he waved the PlayStation remote in front of her face.
Bella surprisingly kept her focus on the tv the entire time, still visibly upset that the teenager had changed turned off the discovery channel she'd been watching so that he could play video games. Discover channel. What kid likes to watch that show?
"A smart one, there are plenty of smart kids out there, Emmett." Edward added from his bedroom with a chuckle. Emmett rolled his eyes.
"I don't want you to let me win." Bella sighed, clearly adorably annoyed with Emmett. "I want to win by myself."
The two bickering made Alice smile as she finished tying Bella's perfect braid.
"Why don't I teach you how to play and then you can beat me for real then?"
"I don't want to." Bella rolled her feet back and forth on the carpet as she fell back into Alice's lap, "I let you and Alice do whatever you want to me! You make me play and dress me up like a doll!" The girl cried as she threw her hands up. "I'm tired of being a doll..."
"Sorry, kiddo. But you're cute as a doll, what do you expect?" Emmett teased, lightly pinching her cheek before letting go just as she tried to swat his hand away, more so to avoid hurting her with his stone-like hand. It was in moments like these where he saw the fire in her eyes that Emmett was glad he could tease and annoy his little sister. It told him that she was alive—living as a child should.
"Why don't we go upstairs and you can take a nap? Maybe that'll help you feel better." Alice offered, wrapping her arms around the little girl lovingly.
Bella frowned, a worried look suddenly making its way over her face. "You want me to go to my room?"
Alice glanced to Emmett—the two exchanging knowing looks before Alice said, "No honey. You can sleep here in the living room if you want. Whatever makes you comfortable!"
After some more coaxing Bella did climb up into the couch and laid down, facing Alice and Emmett as the latter convinced his sister to play a gave with him. Somehow however, Alice won every game. Almost as if she knew the levels they played by heart or could predict every move Emmett wanted to make before he did it.
The amazement that filled her then didn't let her fall asleep and she ended up sitting up to watch the Cullen siblings play.
A seedling of loneliness began to sprout within her belly and grew, wrapping around her heart and squeezing it tightly. A nagging, suffocating worry blossomed in her mind. Were Emmett and Alice...her siblings too? What does that make her to them? What would she call any of the Cullens when someone asked her if she had parents or a family for that matter? What could she call them?
It wasn't long before Jasper walked down the stairs and took a seat on the floor, his arm wrapping around Alice lovingly before he turned and smiled at Bella, "Tired, Bella?"
Bella nodded, averting her gaze when the loneliness seeped into her further. She started wondering if Jasper was her brother—like he was Emmett or Edward's brother.
Turning onto her other side so she was facing the cushions, Bella shut her eyes and willed herself to sleep.
When a gentle hand patted her back with affection, Bella let out a sigh when she suddenly felt very comfortable, too comfortable for it to be normal.
"We love you, Bella," Jasper whispered into her ear before placing a kiss on her temple, making Bella's eyes snap wide open.
Tears filled her eyes as she shut them tight, not wanting Jasper or anyone to see, but she felt it. Felt the love Jasper spoke of as it bloomed in her chest, and she held onto it long after she fell asleep.
The words died on her tongue, but Jasper knew what she felt and he smiled as he tucked her in with the fleece blanket draped over the back of the couch.
Love.
The next day everyone was home, each milling about in their rooms before occasionally stopping to see the youngest member of their family. It seemed no one could stop themselves from gravitating towards Bella, wanting to hear her laugh or listen to her wandering thoughts.
Jasper was sitting in the living room with Bella on his lap while Esme prepared dinner for the girl. Emmett and Alice claimed to be Bella's favorite siblings, but there was no doubt in Jasper's mind that the little girl was already very attached to him.
He could feel it in the love she felt whenever he walked into the room. Cherished whenever he felt her sadness wash away, replaced by the safety she felt around Jasper.
Hell, I really love this kid. She's going to have all of us wrapped around her little finger, he thought to himself with a sigh as he leaned forward and rested his chin atop Bella's head while she watched the television. She'd taken a liking to two different channels currently—the discovery channel and the food network. Anytime Emmett insisted on introducing her to cartoons, she vehemently rejected the offer.
It wasn't long before he caught Bella staring curiously at the scar on the corner of his jaw. And while his instinct was to hide his scars from humans, Bella was the exception. Her curiosity was like a breath of fresh air but the worry that followed made him frown, "What's wrong, darlin'?"
Bella's little hand reached up to cup his cheek, making him tense for a moment before the warmth of her hand soothed him. She's so small and fragile, but her emotions are never-ending.
"Did it hurt?" Bella asked.
Jasper smiled sadly, "It did for a little while, but not anymore."
Bella leaned back to eye his scar before seeming to notice the few that were on his neck too. Sadness coated his senses then.
"Did your mommy hit you because you were bad?" Bella whispered as if to keep Esme or anyone from hearing.
They heard. Jasper felt everyone in the house suddenly grow silent the moment they heard her question. Esme's worry hit him like a freight truck then, and he tried his best to reassure her it was alright.
He shook his head and took her hands in his, "No, no one hit me, darlin'. It was an accident that caused these scars. But why would you ask if someone hurt me, Bella?"
Bella shrugged as she turned to focus on the show she was watching, biting her bottom lip nervously before she spoke softly, "Because that's what mommy's do when they're mad at you. If you're bad..."
Jasper cupped her cheek this time, making Bella look at him again. He frowned, feeling venom rise in his mouth as he recalled the way Renee had yanked on Bella's arm the one time he'd seen her mother in the grocery store. Jasper knew now that if he ever saw anyone treat his little sister like that again, he wouldn't hesitate to protect her. Not at all. That was a dangerous realization.
"Did your mom hit you, Bella?" When she barely gave him a nod in answer, he pressed, "Why did she hit you?"
Bella seemed to think it over, but with a little encouragement she answered with a shrug, "If I didn't listen. Or if I a-annoyed her? I'm supposed to be quiet and listen. Be a good girl." Bella said a matter-of-factly. "Be good or mommy and her friend would hurt me."
Now Jasper felt an overwhelming dose of alarm shoot throughout the house, some of it belonging to his family and to him.
"What did this friend do? Was he a man or a woman?"
Bella frowned, trying to inch away from Jasper's arms but he didn't let her—wanting to know the answer and dreading hearing it all at once.
Bella began shaking her head, her eyes shifting from one side of the room to the other as if seeking an escape. Panic rose in her small body, "N-no...no one."
"Bella, please be honest with me. I won't be mad but please tell me who this friend was. You can tell me anything, I won't be angry with you."
"He was mommy's friend."
Feeling dread in the pit of his stomach, Jasper looked up to see Rosalie at the bottom of the stairs now, her hand clutching the wooden railing as a dark expression filled her black eyes.
"How did this man hurt you? Can you tell me?"
"He'd get mad if I left my room while daddy was away. Mommy didn't like it either. There was always loud music and...weird noises. I didn't like it."
"How did they hurt you, darlin'?" He asked again, knowing he needed to hear the answer. To know this man—this monster—hadn't hurt his sister the way he suspected.
Bella told Jasper reluctantly after he used his gift to encourage her to be honest. He didn't want to manipulate her but given what she was revealing...he needed to know. Carlisle needed to know.
"The scary man threw things...or came into my room sometimes when he was really mad and smelled bad. They were always drinking something." She answered in a low voice. "Mommy hit me sometimes if I told him to go away."
Bella shrugged, looking at her little hands as embarrassment flooded her mind. Jasper gritted his teeth. She does not need to feel this at such a young age. Hoping to help her feel safe again, he placed his hand gently on Bella's head, granting her silent comfort she seemed to enjoy.
"I had to be quiet," Bringing a finger up to her lips, Bella began saying the same words over and over again. The panic in her little voice crushed Jasper into a million pieces, "Shh. Mommy used to say 'be quiet or my friend will take you away.' But sometimes," She whispers into his ear, "I called my daddy to come home because...I didn't want the man in my room again."
"Bella...did this man ever touch you? Other than hitting you, did he try to touch you too?"
Jasper couldn't tear his eyes away from her, feeling all of Bella's sadness and confusion at this very moment. It haunted him. Enraged him for the little girl.
She frowned at him, glanced away before shrugging, "I don't remember." He'd felt it then as Bella bit her bottom lip nervously. She honestly doesn't remember...
Jasper didn't know what was worse, that Bella didn't recall at all what that man had done to her or that he didn't know the truth. The truth that would eat at his mind and heart the same as it would the rest of the family.
Without hesitation, Jasper pulled her a little closer to his chest and kissed the top of her head, shutting his eyes tight as he heard and felt Rosalie's anguish and rage as she disappeared through the back door, practically ripping it off its hinges before she ran. He wasn't surprised to find Emmett following after her a moment later, mirroring those exact sentiments for his little sister's tragic past.
"Jaz?"
"Yes, Bella?" He cleared his throat, feeling an odd knot in his throat forming.
Bella hugged her sides as she sat beside him, looking so small now as she stared outside the large windows that looked out towards the lake.
"Am I bad now? Because mommy didn't like me if I was bad. I don't want Esme or Carlisle to not like me," Tears filled her eyes instantly, and fear coursed over her trembling shoulders, making Jasper's heart break for her. "I want everyone to like me. I want to be...loved too."
"Honey, look at me." Jasper took her hand in his and brought it up to his lips, placing a gentle kiss and hoping that she would never feel this scared again. "You're a very good kid. Of course, we love you. You're a part of this family and always will be. Nothing will ever change that. And no one will ever hurt you again, okay?"
Carlisle walked into the living room this time with Esme by his side and Edward lingering by the hall, all sporting grim looks on their faces as they watched Jasper pull Bella into another hug, rocking her back and forth as she cried silently, still staring out towards the still waters of the lake—ever haunted by the mistakes of those who were supposed to love and protect her.
A week went by since Bella's revelation to the Cullens and it had been more than difficult to look past the abuse she admitted undergoing. Edward and the boys wanted to hunt down the son of a bitch that harmed their little sister—all three enraged beyond compare and wanting the man to suffer the worst fates.
Carlisle had been the one to refuse once they all gathered around the living room the same night after Bella had been put to bed by Esme.
"We can't do it. Killing humans is not what we do."
"But that is not a human! That's a monster, Carlisle. A filthy, wretched monster that doesn't deserve to see another light of day," Rosalie hissed, slamming her hand down in the table as she clenched her teeth in frustration. "How can we allow him to live when he probably sexually abused Bella?"
"We don't know if that's what he did," Edward added, frowning deeply at the table. Jasper sat stiffly in the chair, barely keeping his own emotions in check as Alice rubbed his back. The pain in his black eyes couldn't be ignored.
For the first time, Emmett did not envy Jasper or Edward for their gifts in this moment. They could feel and hear every emotion and thought coursing throughout the house. And it was just as much a burden as it was a gift.
Emmett had cringed at Rosalie's words then. Sexual abuse. His little sister—little Bella—had been sexually abused? It didn't sound right. It sounded like a sick joke, but it wasn't. It was a horrible thing that only monsters did to the defenseless.
The worst part was that Renee not only knew on some level what her so-called friend had done, but continued allowing it to happen who knows how many times. It explained why Bella didn't want anyone to touch her in the beginning, even if she only related it to the attack.
"Mett!" Bella's sudden outburst ripped Emmett away from his thoughts and stopped him in his tracks. He turned around to see that the little girl had stopped walking up the trail and he instantly felt bad for leaving her behind like that. Too lost in his thoughts to realize he'd walked ahead.
She swayed from side to side as her hands cradled her stomach as he made his way back over, "I gotta go potty!"
"Oh? Ohhh! Okay," Emmett reached down towards her, his large hand engulfing hers the moment she took it. "Sorry. I forgot that's something you need to do." He murmured the last bit to himself as he walked them back down the trail.
They were halfway up the hill of the trail when Bella stopped walking. Her big brown eyes were pleading as she cradled her stomach again, "I gotta go! It hurts!"
Emmett grimaced, not liking that she was uncomfortable and looked beyond the hill where he could see the lake house beyond the trees. He cursed himself for not making sure she was all set before taking her on a walk around the property.
If we ran there we'd make it...
"I really gotta go, Mett..."
He scratched the back of his head before kneeling in front of the little girl. "Okay, uh, want to go to the bathroom in the bushes?" Bella blanched and he took that as his answer. "Ah shit. Okay then."
Bella giggled despite wincing, "You said a bad word."
"Yeah, you can tell on me after I get in trouble for this stunt I'm about to pull." Emmett groused as he scooped Bella up in his arms and held her close to his chest. She looked up at him curiously, but before she could ask him what he was doing, Emmett said, "Just hold on to me and close your eyes tight. No peeking. Got it?"
He sent her a pointed glance until Bella closed her eyes tightly and scrunched up her nose, making his chuckle, "Good, good. Alright, here we go."
And then they were off, running at incredible speed down the hill and past the trees surrounding the trail. Bella's breath caught in her throat before a delighted giggle resounded in their wake.
Emmett grinned as he ran faster, glad she wasn't the least bit scared when she said with a shriek of delight, "Faster, go faster!"
The sound of her voice instantly filled the house as Emmett rushed in, zooming past Edward as he walked down the stairs and headed straight into the bathroom. Emmett plopped Bella down on the closed toilet lid and stood proudly, "Here's your bathroom!"
Bella spun her head comically as she grinned, "Wow! Mett, you're so fast!"
Emmett's smile immediately faded when sounds of Edward, Jasper and Rosalie rushing to the hall reached him. All three sporting alarmed glances between Emmett and the little girl who now looked paler than before as she tried to make the room stop spinning by shutting her eyes.
"Emmett McCarty Cullen! Downstairs, right now!" Esme called from the bottom of the stairs.
As he made his way out of the bathroom, he received three sets of slaps upside his head.
"Stupid." Edward chuckled.
"Do you want to die? Do you really want one of us to kill you?" Jasper shook his head incredulously.
Rosalie pushed past her burly husband and rushed to Bella's side, "Did that idiot hurt you, Bella? Are you okay?"
Bella's lips turned upside down, "Mett's not an idiot. I had to potty and he can run really fast! Can we go again later?"
Rosalie sighed, shaking her head at the little girl as she heard her brothers chuckling in surprise just as Esme began laying down the law on Emmett downstairs.
The incident would only prove to be one of many shenanigans Emmett and Bella would get into over the years. And not once did they fail to scare the hell out of Esme and Carlisle.
Thanks for reading x
A lot happened in this chapter, but I wanted it give you all a glimpse into a few key moments Bella had with the Cullens before the time jump that will ultimately lead to more.
This story will have about three or four stages of Bella's life—the first focuses on Bella's transition from her old life to the one with the Cullens.
The second is Bella going into early adolescence and middle school.
The third is high school and Bella's first experience with love!