Begin from the Beginning
Chapter One: The Times They Are A-Changin'
Summary: What if Charlie was married throughout the Saga? Sylvia Swan is the wife of Forks' Chief of Police. As a nurse at Forks Hospital and the stepmother of Bella Swan, she recounts firsthand how the Cullens impact her stepdaughter's life.
Rating: M (Lemons later on...possibly)
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, Charlie Swan, Bella Swan, or Forks. I do own Sylvia Swan and the random saleswoman. That's all.
Profile of Sylvia Swan:
Name: Sylvia Claire Vincent-Swan
DOB - March 11, 1968 (making her four years younger than Charlie)
POB - Seattle, WA
Physicals: Auburn hair, average build, about 120IB. Approximately 5'2. Green eyes.
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I watched as Charlie spoke with the saleswoman, it was a wonder the pride he had for his daughter could be contained in his body. You would think with this kind of careful thought, he was looking into buying his first house or picking out a new car; something that he would have to commit to in a long term sense. Alas, he was only picking out bed sheets. For the past twenty minutes, he has been debating over a deep purple bed set with an ebony ivy pattern or a plain light jade.
"Charlie, I think she'd like the purple best. Besides, we can always do an exchange later on if she wants something else..." I was trying to solidify a decision so we can get home at a decent hour. I still needed to finish cleaning the house while he assembled the brand new desk we had bought earlier this week.
We have been preparing hastily for Bella's move to Forks since we received her phone call last month. Bella, Charlie's 17-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, had decided to move to Forks to finish out the rest of her high school career.
Charlie sighed and gave a simple nod directed to myself. He pulled out his wallet to thumb out some cash as the saleslady rang up the purchase. I smiled softly and gently patted his shoulder blade, "I think she'll love it. You need to relax, hon. "
He looked at me with those deep brown eyes that I fell hard for seven years ago and slightly smiled. "Sorry, Syl. I guess I'm going a little overboard, huh?"
I chuckled before lightly pecking his cheek, "Just a little."
After paying for the bed set, Charlie grabbed the bag with one hand and took my hand with the other. We exited the Macy's and walked to the cruiser; ready to battle Seattle's Saturday afternoon traffic . Charlie popped the trunk and tossed the bed set inside before unlocking the car. I got inside the passenger seat and buckled up to appease the 'chief of police'. Charlie was a real stickler about the seat belt law. If only Charlie knew that I never wore my seat belt in my own car...I'd bet with the utmost certainty that he'd pass no judgment on the fact that I'm his wife and would gladly write up a traffic violation.
The mere thought of Charlie pulling me over to write me a ticket made me blush and think back to the day we met...
It was the fall of 1998 and I was known as Sylvia Claire Vincent, age 30. I just moved from Seattle two months after graduating from the nursing program at UW. I stumbled on the little town of Forks when running through the job postings in the newspaper. Forks Community Hospital was looking for nurses to work the morning shift. It seemed kismet: I wanted to start somewhere small and new. The 'big city' lifestyle had never been my cup of tea. It felt right.
After two interviews with the chief of staff, I was asked to join the ranks. Things began to fall into place. I found a small apartment on the edge of town for rent and managed to pack four years into ten boxes and two large suitcases. I was independent and free! Things were going according to plan and Monday morning I was on my way to work...
Well...until I blew through a stop sign.
Luckily, no one was hurt...it was still too early for anyone besides myself...and Chief Swan...to be out. I wasn't too happen to see the flashing red and blue lights that morning. I naturally became flustered when I was asked for my registration, ID, and proof of insurance from the cop that remained to be seen. It wasn't until I handed the documents over to the officer that I took the opportunity to look up at his face.
I didn't believe in love at first sight until I met Charlie Swan. I found the whole notion of love at first sight a bit unreasonable, but somehow in some odd way, my feelings changed. Maybe it was the way his brows furrowed slightly as he looked over the registration form I had given him or the way he lightly smirked when I prattled on about being really, really sorry for my lack of observance and how I had a case of the jitters. Or maybe it was the way he looked up at me once I stopped babbling for a breath. He was very handsome, with his chocolate brown eyes glittering in the flickering squad lights and his boyish smile. He cleared his throat and with an official tone said,
"You should be a little more observant next time, Mrs..."
"Miss...Miss Vincent..." I said with a breathy voice.
"Yes, Miss Vincent...I'm going to let you go with a warning though."
I can't tell you how what exactly that ticket said that he handed me that day. I could tell you how he blushed slightly when I thanked him on a loop or how soft his fingertips felt when they slightly met mine when he handed me the ticket.
He chuckled slightly, maybe due to the fact I was blushing furiously at the exchange, before wishing me a nice first day at work and a pleasant stay in Forks.
Work had gone smoothly that day but the best part was when I was going on my lunch break. I was on my way to the cafeteria when I saw Chief Swan at the front desk with my driver's license in hand and a slightly embarrassed smile on his face. He went on to explain how he forgot to hand it back to me.
That's when it all began.
Charlie and I dated for six years before we decided to settle down. We were married last September in a small ceremony at the courthouse. We both agreed that we didn't want something over-the-top or outlandish. Charlie simply stated that one Vegas wedding between the two of us was enough. I could see his point.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
I blinked a couple of times in an attempt to clear my head and focus. I looked over at him, now seated in the driver's side and ready to start the car. I didn't even hear him get inside the car. I shook my head and slightly laughed, "No, just thinking about how much we have left to get done before Bella arrives. I think you are passing your jitters onto me..."
Charlie smirked and brought my hand to his lips, gently kissing the knuckles. "Sylvia Swan getting the jitters? Wasn't this the same woman that told me just a month ago that everything will fall into place and not to freak out?"
I blushed and nodded, "The one and only." I turned to face him and felt my blush deepen as I peered into his eyes.
He grinned and leaned forward to kiss my forehead. "Things are going to be great. I know you are nervous about all this...being that you hardly know Bella and now you are going to be playing a major role in her life. You are an amazing wife, so there is no doubt in my mind that you will be an amazing mother too..."
After one last kiss, we both turned forward and Charlie started to drive. I thought about what he had said and I prayed that he was right.
