Previously:

"Do you happen to know the way to Dr. Carlisle Cullen's residence?" I inquired of the coachman as soon as we were settled for the short road ahead.

"Aye, Sir," the coachman replied.

"Then set a steady pace to his residence," I ordered. "I have sent word to him in advance, he should be expecting us."

"I can take her if you wish," Miss Young offered.

"No, it is all right, thank you, I do not wish to disturb her. She should rest while she can, she has a long night of probing ahead of her."

As the coach was set into motion, I stared at the sleeping form of Isabella Swan in my lap thinking, 'What a beautiful mess I have gotten myself into.'

Captured by the Code of Fear

Waking Sleeping Beauty

Washington

1871

Mr. Whitlock's POV

The commotion caused by Isabella's arrival was something that never fully settled, not even to this day. I remember there was plenty of pacing done before and after everything was said and done. There were allot of tears shed and brushed away, arguments aplenty too.

All of us were being swept into a turmoil that we did not know how to react to. We just knew we were of one mind when tending to Isabella Swan. This unified agreement alone united us and kept us from saying, or doing anything that might jeopardize the tenuous progress we had all made into reconstructing Isabella's threadbare and fragile mind state.

However, before that, there was the unnerving coach ride to Doctor Carlisle Cullen's residence.

Washington

September of 1861

I sat in a panic, listening to the grating and scraping of the carriage being drawn, as the reality of what I had just done settled about me. Meanwhile, the horses lead a fast tempo that disturbed the gravel under their steady hoofs.

What had I done? My hands began to sweat profusely and thoughts of my lack of knowledge on how to take care of someone revolved around my spiraling thoughts. What had I gotten myself into? I could not do this! I was discouraged, suddenly, to say the least. What had I been thinking? I should have never agreed to this, I realized abruptly, I should have never–

Isabella Swan abruptly shifted in my arms, halting all my panicked thoughts, and held tightly onto my vest as she trembled in her sleep. I held her tightly to me, making a silent vow, and her little frame settled and accommodated to my own as she relaxed. Shacking my head, I tried to rid my mind of doubt. I needed to be strong for the sleeping child in my arms, if for no one else.

Stealing one more look at Isabella, who now had her head resting just bellow my heart, I smiled tenderly at her and looked outside the carriage window and watched the trees blur by. Thankful that Miss Young had remained silent, I took a moment to quiet my mind.

Get a hold of yourself, Jasper, I told myself. How hard can it be? I almost groaned at myself. I did not even know the first thing about taking care of myself! My mind was in turmoil again, when I was interrupted once again.

"Mr. Whitlock?" Miss Young called quietly.

"Miss Young?" I flinched at my unpleasant tone and amended. "My apologies, Miss Young."

"Not at all Mr. Whitlock," she dismissed kindly.

"Please, call me Jasper. There is no need for formalities."

Miss Young fixed me with level eyes before she smiled apologetically and spoke. "I am afraid I cannot do that, Mr. Whitlock," she informed me. "I am an engaged woman, after all, despite my being here." Her eyes shone brightly in the darkness with the happiness this statement brought to her.

"As you wish, Madam," I allowed. "I am afraid that I have little use for conforming to society, arrogant though that might sound. Sometimes I forget that, though I might have forsaken the mannerisms, others have not."

"Quite." Miss Young was agreeable and I concluded that I would benefit from her company. "I respect your views, Mr. Whitlock, my hope is that you will respect mine."

"Equality," I supplied with a sincere smile.

"If I might be so bold, Mr. Whitlock?" She was being careful now, tentative. Slightly tensed, I nodded, asking her to go on. "I do believe you need not worry yourself sick. I am of strong opinion that you will do just fine."

She sounded so sure, I could not help but placate her with a dubious smile. "This is where you and I differ, Miss Young," I told her honestly. "I can barely manage myself, how can I know the first thing about managing a child whose needs are greater than my own?"

"Love." I looked to her unblinking, uncomprehending. "That is all this child needs, love," she supplied, looking at Isabella, a tender smile on her lips.

"Certainly she needs more than that," I scoffed.

"The foundation is what matters most," she replied stubbornly.

"Really, Miss Young, I–"

"And would you just stop your fidgeting?" she snapped. I gaped at her, astounded. "Else, she will wake," she added a little quieter, looking abashed.

I smiled. "You know, Miss Young, I think you and I will get along just fine. Isabella will be just fine." My acknowledgement made her smile. Every single doubt I had had up until then remained but I felt a strong stubbornness settle over me, a sort of defiance. "With such a fearless woman on her side, how can she not be?"

"You will do, Mr. Whitlock, you will do." I had no idea I had been put under a test. All I could say is, I am glad I passed.

"Love, huh?"

The carriage was quite for a long while after that, allowing me to burry myself in my thoughts once again. This time my thoughts were not as dark, but I still had my reservations. Time would tell, I resolved. Deciding to let go and just do was such a relief that when the coachman announced we had arrived I was slightly startled.

"Jasper, we have been expecting you," Mrs. Cullen, greeted, sounding relieved. I exited the carriage and immediately Esme took Isabella into her arms, fussing over her like only she could. Isabella did not stir. "Please, both of you, take Mr. Whitlock's luggage inside and prepare a warm bath," Esme instructed and two of her housemaids obliged, eager to please.

"Esme, Carlisle," I greeted with a smile. "Isabella Swan is in need of your medical assistance."

"I will do whatever I can to help," Carlisle promised. And I knew I could trust his word. Carlisle has been a trusted friend of mine for a long time now. I had met him overseas, on one of my voyages with my father to London and kept in contact, forgoing the distance. We had taken quite a liking to each other, in spite of our ten-year age difference.

However, our friendship strengthened furthermore when he sent word that he would be studying medicine in Texas, two years after our first meet. I was joyous at the news and, more than obligingly, opened our home to him, showed him around, and introduced him to Esme. Esme is my uncle's, on my mother's side, wife's daughter, in other words, she is family, though not by blood.

"Jasper, she's lovely," Esme said in wonder and I knew she all ready loved Isabella. I smiled at her. "How could anyone have the heart to hurt an innocent child?"

"Jasper, what took you so long?" Carlisle inquired, looking between Isabella and his wife, concern creasing his brow. "From the nature of your message I was expecting you much earlier." I could see he was all ready cataloging her with expert eyes and he was not happy with what he found.

"I suppose that would be my doing," Miss Young interjected as I helped her exit the carriage. "Thank you," she said to me. I nodded.

"Carlisle, Esme, this is Miss Emily Young, Miss Young, Doctor and Mrs. Cullen," I introduced. "Miss Young has been gracious enough to offer her services of governess for our young Isabella Swan."

"Shame the circumstances under which we are meeting, but it is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Young, nonetheless," Carlisle greeted, taking Miss Young's offered hand and placing a kiss on the back of her palm. Always the diplomat. Esme showed her a winning smile and a kiss to each cheek. "How very gracious of you."

"Not at all, Dr. Cullen, Mrs. Cullen, the pleasure is all mine. Besides, I have been Miss Swan's governess since the moment she was born. I just could not possibly bare to part with her, she is such a sweet child." Once again, I saw that telltale shine, her love and attachment for Isabella evident in her gaze.

"How old is she?" Carlisle asked of Miss Young.

"She will be eight this month, the thirteenth," Miss Young supplied speedily. How come I had not thought of asking that? It would be less than a week from today! There was much I did not know and I had not thought to ask on our ride here. I would amend that soon enough, I vowed.

"Does she have any allergies?" he asked her next. "To any medicine, food, or anything at all?"

"None that I know of," Miss Young told him uncertainly. Carlisle nodded, pondering. "She has never been a sickly child."

"That is good, good news…"

"That would be all, Sir?" the coachman inquired, bringing my attention to him before I could ask some questions of my own. "Or would you have me do anything else?"

"No. Thank you for your service, but that will be all for tonight," I told the man. "Good night, Sir," I bided. After biding his own farewell in return, I paid the coachman and sent him on his way.

"Mrs. Cullen, Madam?" I heard the housekeeper, quietly speaking to Esme. "The bath is set, Madam."

"Thank you, Wodell, I will be in shortly. Make sure to keep it warm."

"As you wish, Madam." With that, the housekeeper knew she had been dismissed and curtsying made her exit.

Esme turned to me then. "I shall go attempt and wake this sleeping beauty and get her all cleaned up. Jasper, I shall call upon you if I need your assistance at any given moment."

"That would be great, Esme, thank you."

"Carlisle, dearest, Isabella and I shall wait for you inside, while I get her all cleaned up. Once she is all cleaned up, you can probe her all you want, and not a moment before."

"Of course, dearest wife, you have my word on it," Carlisle nodded. "Your wish is my command."

"It very well is," she whispered to him, teasing, and with a gentle pad to his cheek and a peck to the lips, she followed after her housekeeper. Carlisle and I could not help but laughed at Esme's frolics and watched her go.

"She has got you all railed in, Carlisle," I observed teasingly. Carlisle nodded solemnly with equal humor.

"I like her," Miss Young simply stated, bringing our attention to her. "She has a commanding presence," she explained. Carlisle and I, once again, could not control our chuckling, if only she knew how much of a commanding presence it was,running through our heads.

"Please, let us take this inside," Carlisle requested, now that Esme disappeared inside with Isabella and we were outside, standing in the dark. "I have much to ask. Now, if the both will be so kind as to follow me, I would like to welcome you into my home." With that, we followed Carlisle inside to wait for Esme and Isabella.

Once inside, Carlisle requested one of the housemaids show Miss Young to a room, since we were to be his guests for the night. I was grateful for this. I had not paid it any thought until Carlisle had made the decision for me. Which made me think, I should have probably asked him prior to arrival for the use of his gracious accommodations.

No matter, Carlisle dismissed my apologies in the matter soon after I had expressed them. I was family, was all he would say in the matter, there was no need for prior arrangements as far as he was concerned, and he was speaking for both, Esme and himself. I was beyond grateful.

"Carlisle, may I borrow your footman?" I asked Carlisle. "I would like to send word with him. I need to let my household know not to expect me tonight and send instructions for Isabella and Miss Young's arrangements."

"Most certainly, Jasper," he assured me. "That would be the thoughtful and polite thing to do. Let me call John for you so that he might fetch you something to write with and be on his way."

"Thank you."

OoO

"Our family is growing," Carlisle told me once the arrangements had been done, John had departed with my letter, and Miss Young had been taken to her room for the night, after much debate. She had wanted to remain in the room and witness that Isabella would be taken proper care of. A tad insulted, Carlisle fixed her with his steely, steady gaze, telling him he was the best in his profession and he should be thought as such, not insulted in his own home.

I had remained quiet through the entire argument, not wanting to have Carlisle's wrath directed at me as well. I had seen the compassionate and calm Doctor Carlisle Cullen angry less than a handful of times in the past –thankfully, never atme– and it had never been a pretty sight to behold, let me tell you.

Finding this out for herself, Miss Young relented and her argument fell to deaf ears as she allowed herself to be shown to her room, most obliged. However, the frightening thing about an angry Carlisle is the aftermath. He would be as calm as a clam right after, as long as he got an apology, as if nothing had ever happened. Really, he made it seem like you had seen some sort of dark illusion that never took place in the first place. Frightening, I tell you, bloodcurdling even.

"Yes, it is," I assented, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders once again. Thankful that Miss Young was not in the room, I allowed myself a moment of weakness. Feeling like my feet had been made of lead and my body was momentarily boneless, I sank with a loud thud onto Carlisle's furniture.

Carlisle was instantly at my side, checking my vitals. "Jasper, are you feeling ill?"

"Carlisle, I do not know what I am doing," I confess, choking on my words, head in my palms, and trembling. "I do not know how to care for a child! I cannot even take care of myself! How can I do this?" It was a repetition of my earlier outburst, I knew, but somehow, telling Carlisle made it real and easier to deal with.

"Oh Jasper…" He put an arm around me, hugging me to him and comforting me. I allowed this, knowing that there was no shame in this and that if there was anyone that I could throw my inhibitions away in front of and would not bring up my moment of weakness later on in life, it would be Carlisle. He knew me better than anyone. "I know you are young and you have been through so much… but I have faith in you. You can do this, you have been catering for your sister for as long as I can remember so you can do this."

"That is different Carlisle," I argued, looking into his eyes and allowing him to see the agony in them. Carlisle stared into them without flinching, there was nothing he had not seen before there. The mention of my sister always brought this singular look into my eyes, it was like a void was suddenly consuming me from the inside out and I had no control. "It is different and you know it!" I was screaming now and I did not care who heard, it was shameful. Still, Carlisle held on to me. "Just do not! Do not! I beg of you…"

"Jasper, you listen to me now and you listen to me good," he ordered, holding onto both of my shoulders with great pressure, it was almost painful and I welcomed it, it brought me to the here and now. "You are not alone in this–"

"How can you say that Carlisle," I hissed at him. He knew, he knew that I was alone now. Except for my sister I had no one else. My father was gone and my mother… I swallowed hard through the pain and the acid raising through my throat. My mother, she could not bare the loss and followed soon after, her body and mind too deteriorated to keep her with me, to keep her with us.

"How can you insult me?" Carlisle argued, his own voice rising. I flinched away, astounded. "How can you insult Esme, my wife?" What was he talking about, I could not comprehend. I tried closing my ears to that which I did not understand, pressing my palms over them but Carlisle made sure I heard. "Stop acting like a child yourself and open your eyes, Jasper! We are your family, Esme and I. Do you understand?" He was talking more calmly now, whispering really, and I looked to him astounded. He looked on the verge of crying, so pained. "It hurts that you do not see us as such… that you dismiss the thought of us as a family, apart from you."

"Carlisle, God, no!" What had I done? My head sank deeper into my palms. "I am sorry… so sorry…"

"Why did you come here then?" Carlisle challenged. "If you were so alone in the world, with no family to speak of?" He stared at me intently as my head lifted from my palms and my eyes met his, dancing between them, searching.

"To be with… to be with my family… Esme… you."

"There is your answer, young Master Whitlock," I groaned at his formality and Carlisle chuckled. I was emotionally exhausted. "We are here to see you through this and support you."

"I will adopt her," I told him. "I need to contact Mr. Scott." Carlisle nodded and then hesitated. "What is it Carlisle? Spit it out, we have been screaming at each other, now is not the time to get all shy on me, now, is it?" Carlisle smiled morosely at me, shaking his head.

"What is best, I think, is for you to simply take custody of her, for the time being," he began slowly, brow furrowed in thought. "And wait until she is older to ask her weather or not she would like to be adopted and take the Whitlock name." I nodded. That made sense.

"Custody, understood," I sighed. "I shall send word to Mr. Scott first thing in the morning. That would be best."

"Yes, it would."

"Thank you Carlisle."

"This is what family is for." We smiled at each other and then looked away, seriously abashed. We were men for heaven's sake! We did not do emotionally distraught. However, I kept smiling like the fool I was, feeling better and sure of myself. This would work out, I thought, and for the first time I believed it.

"Gentlemen," Esme's voice interrupted my happy musings and my head snapped to her almost painfully. I robbed my neck absentmindedly as Esme beamed at the two of us. "It is my great pleasure to introduce you to the new and improved Miss. Isabella Swan!" That was when she directed our attention to her skirts.

I frowned lightly and then smiled when I caught sight of pudgy little fingers holding on tight to Esme's skirts. I chuckled silently at her bashfulness, understanding that she was hiding behind Esme.

"Hello sweetheart," I began quietly, trying not to frighten her. "Why not come out from behind there, so that I can see how pretty you look?" Now her other hand joined the first and holding on to Esme's skirts, she peeked out from behind them with curious, cautious, innocent brown eyes. As soon as her eyes saw me, a jolt seemed to shake her little body and she looked to Esme, as if asking for permission.

"Go on, lovely girl," Esme encouraged her, kneeling before her and brushing aside her hair lovingly. Isabella did not have to be told twice. Slightly hesitant, she hugged Esme, nodded, and looking resolute, made her little feet, one after the other, make their way toward me.

"Isabella," I greeted with a smile as soon as she was standing but one foot away from me. Her head went up, startled by the sound of my voice and her body quivered, tears springing up in her eyes. Feeling apprehensive, I shuffled on my feet and watched her watch me. Scrutinize me really. "Everything will be okay, I promise." I offered a tentative smile and that was it. She smiled shyly, whipping her tears away with the back of her hand, and hiding behind her curls, she hugged herself to my leg, much like she did upon our first meet.

I looked toward Esme and Carlisle in turn, asking for some kind of guidance, when I noticed them together, beaming at me and nodding with approval.

"Go on," Carlisle urged, "get acquainted with your new family member."

Okay, I thought and scooped Isabella up into my arms, if after a bit of wrestling her into relenting her hold on my legs. Once she saw and understood I only wanted to have her in my arms, she was a willing participant and held on tightly to my neck.

"Isabella, my name is–" I stopped midsentence as Isabella shook her head vehemently at me. I frowned and then remembered a little trivia about this little, lovely lady. "Bella," I tried and beamed when I saw her smile at me and nod. "Bella, my name is Jasper and that over there is Carlisle" –Carlisle smiled at her and she smiled shyly at him in return– "he is your doctor. He will make sure that are not hurt. Will you let him have a look at you?" Isabella put her pudgy little side on my cheek and looked into my eyes then, as if asking me something. Somehow, I understood the meaning behind her worried, dark eyes. "I trust him," I assured her. She nodded and I smiled to Carlisle, returning his smile.

"Welcome to our family, lovely Bella," the three of us welcomed together, beaming at a blushing, bashful Bella. And I knew, without a doubt that she would fit into our little family everything else, we would just have to take it in stride.