A/N: Hi all! This little plot bunny attacked me on the way to work while I was listening to some country. It'll be a short and sweet little story, and its already written. I'll post a chapter a day until complete (so before the weekend, haha) Thanks to the wonderful HopelessRomantic79 for her quick editing skills

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Twilight works nor do I own any songs from Tim McGraw whose music inspired this...just sayin...

Don't Take the Girl

Chapter 1 - When he was 8 years old

Carlisle POV

"Come on Edward, time to get up," I whispered in my son's ear as I carefully sat down on the side of the bed. Emmett was asleep on the other side of the room. He had a camping trip later this morning with his friends and wouldn't be joining us on this trip. "Come on Edward. You do want to go fishing right?"

He stirred in his bed. "But Dad, it's too early."

I laughed. "It's only 5:30, come on. You just have to get dressed. I have the car loaded, the boat hitched up and an ice chest full of snacks already made."

"Only 'cause Mom did it last night for you," he mumbled as he rolled out of bed. I tried to not laugh too loudly. Emmett only grunted and rolled over, ignoring us.

"I'll meet you out by the truck in a few minutes." As I waited by the truck, tightening the top on the boat to make sure it wouldn't fly off down the road, I spotted the headlights of my friend's truck down by the gate. I hope Charlie remembered to leave it open this time. Within seconds, he was pulling up and parking on the other side of the garage.

I watched as he gruffly got out of his truck, gingerly helping his eight year old daughter out as well. I couldn't help but laugh to myself. You'd think after pulling the early morning shifts at the station he would be more accustomed to waking up this early.

Grabbing their fishing poles out of the bed of his truck, they walked over to me. "Tell me that your wife made those amazing muffins again for this morning," he grumbled as took a swig from his travel mug.

"Of course she did," I laughed. "There is even a fresh thermos of coffee in the front seat."

"Thank God," he mumbled as he walked to the front of the truck. I turned and looked at his daughter. She had her hair pulled back in two uneven braids and had on a pair of pink galoshes, jeans and overly large plaid shirt; Charlie had to have helped her get ready. She looked like a total tomboy, complete opposite of my little girl.

"Good morning Isabella. How are you liking your summer up here so far this year?"

"It's good." She was always really quiet. Still shy I suppose, but a good kid nonetheless. "But… um… it's Bella now… just Bella."

"Alright Just Bella, Eddie should be down soon and then we can go." She made a face. Those two never did like hanging out with each other over the summers. Charlie and I liked to fish on our weekends off and oftentimes dragged our kids with us. Charlie because he didn't have a wife or someone else to have watch Bella, and Edward just liked to be included in something. Emmett was eight years older than him and very much into his own world. And Alice was my little princess, and Esme completely spoiled her.

After securing their fishing poles I made my way up the front porch to go find out why my son was taking his sweet time. As soon I opened the front door he was there. "Oh good, let's go. It's a bit of drive and we need to get on the road soon."

Edward's eyes landed on Charlie's truck and he smiled. "The good chief decided to join us."

"Of course." I chuckled. "And he brought Bella too."

Edward stopped and spun towards me. "Ew, Dad no. Please don't bring her."

"Son…"

"No, you do this every summer. She is a girl. She shouldn't want to fish. Why does she have to come?" I stooped down to his level so I could look him in the eye. I glanced back and noticed that Charlie and Bella were already in our truck waiting.

"Edward, Bella wants to go fishing with us. Her dad only gets to see her those few short weeks every summer, you know this. That is why she is coming with us."

He stomped his foot, acting like petulant child. "Dad, no! She can stay here and play Barbies with Alice. Please? Take Emmett instead. Or my best friend Jasper. Mike likes to fish and he just lives down the road. You could even take the class nerd Eric, anybody but her, she can't go!"

"Edward. Stop. We can't leave her behind. You will be nice to Bella while she is a guest here. Now, you will get in the truck and behave or else you can stay here and help your mother and sister with the fundraiser. Understood?"

"Yes Dad."

"Good." I stood up and laid my hand on his shoulder as we started walking over to the truck. It was going to be an interesting day, that was for sure. And my son was stubborn just like his mother, but someday, he would see. "Edward…" I whispered as we approached the truck, "One day you will change your mind and you'll be happy that she wants to come with us."

"Ew, Dad. Never," he said callously. I just laughed. Little did he know…