Sweet Child of Mine - Bella's Castle

Robert pulled up in front of the castle.  "So what is your name little one?" He asks his passenger.

"Lex.." She responded quietly, her shivering has stopped now that she was surrounded by warm air.

"Well Lex, were here." He gestured at the castle, "Want some cocoa?"

She stared up at the spooky building, she swallowed so hard it was visible. "Mmhm.."

He chuckled, "I know it looks scary, but inside its gorgeous."

He climbed out of the car, going around and scooping her up in his arms gently.

"Where are your parents by the way?" His tone was one of care and concern.

She curled against his chest again, merely shrugging at his question.

He didn't seem to mind her lack of answer. Carrying her up the front porch he opened the door.

"Hello? Anyone here?" His voice carried through the ballroom and possibly into the wings.

He looked down at the girl in his arms, a soft sympathetic smile on his face.

There was no answer in the house, though upon walking up to the door he saw a bright pink post-it note.

Robert read the note, a small smile on his face.

"Looks like nobody's home." He brought the girl over to the bar, and set her down on the countertop. He began searching for cocoa mix. This was Bellas house, she should have some.

"There should be some around here somewhere."

He found in in a cupboard full of different tea bags and iced teas and other variations of drinks.

"Ah, here it is." He held it up for her, a huge grin on his face.

Filling a teapot with water he set it to boil. "So, what is the last thing you can remember Lex?"

He leaned back against the counter, his eyes happy.

She lowered her head some, "Water.."

"Coming from where, my dear? The sky? Was it all around you?" His tone was warm, and kind.

"She drowned me in the ocean.." She spoke softly. "She held me underwater.. then I woke up here."

Robert frowned at that just as the teapot started to whistle. Taking it from the burner he poured some into a large coffee mug and stirred in the mix. Handing it to the little child, he asked, "Sweetheart, why would she do a terrible thing like that?"

She sniffled taking the mug carefully. "I don't know.." Her eyes teared up as she stared down at the still swirling chunks of chocolate. "I love her so much.. I don't know why she would betray me.." She sniffled once more, taking a shaky breath, "She had to have had a good reason.."

Robert frowned, "Would you die for her child? Who is this woman?"

She glanced up at Robert once more, crocodile tears rolling down her flushed cheeks. "Addison.. I would die for Addison.."

"Who's Addison? Is she your mother?" His eyes were growing more intense, children didn't think that way, dying for someone else. Children were selfish little things whos sole thought revolved around them.

"Or is she someone else?"

"She's my friend, she's my best friend.. she saved us from the orphanage, she teaches us and takes care of us, she protects us and makes sure we have everything we want.." Once the words started, the rest spilled out as if someone had opened a dam. She started to sob, her hot chocolate swishing back and forth in the mug, dangerously close to the rim.

If it spilled, hed clean it up later. He let her keep talking, taking in the information with a sympathetic smile and a warm look in his eyes.

She continued, suddenly dropping the mug. It shattered on the floor, bits of cyramic flying every which way.

"I just wanted to be with her forever, she said that someday I'd have to grow up and leave, but I don't ever want to grow up, I want to stay young and beautiful like Addison does forever. Forever with her."

Roberts expression shifted, his suspicions confirmed.

"Little one look at me." His smile still held but his eyes had grown more intense. He wanted her to look him in the eyes, he wanted her to tell him everything.... And she would.

Her dark eyes moved up to meet his gaze, tears still flowing down her cheeks.

His smile dropped as her gaze met his, the entire sympathetic tone of his voice disappeared in an a moment. His demeanor changed, imperious and hard.

"Tell me everything you know about Addison." His words were commanding and broached no reproach. The little girl could not deny him.