Hello all Twilight fans out there. This is my first venture into this area, but I have done some stories with a similar theme to it in other properties. I have only read Breaking Dawn, but seen all the films. If anything doesn't fit the books' plots, please let me know. And if any of you want to check out either my Hotel Transylvania or Women of the Otherworld stories, thank you for that as well.

Prologue

In the past three and a half years since the Volturi allowed the Cullens to live in peace, everything had returned to normal. Garnett had returned to Denali with the rest of the coven and to everyone s surprise, adopted the vegetarian diet. Even more surprising to the Cullens was that several of the nomads had attempted the diet, and a few had stuck to it.

In addition, during the celebration of Bella and Edward's first wedding anniversary, there was a promise that Charlie insisted on from Bella and Edward; he asked that in the future they would tell him the entire truth about what had happened to her in the aftermath of their wedding. Edward was concerned of the repercussions from this, but Bella agreed. She felt that her father deserved the truth, even if he had to wait until he was on his death bed. Except that Esme and Alice had other plans.

Chapter 1Check-up

Today was Renesmee's fourth birthday, but the child looked to be about ten. While her rate of growth had slowed significantly, she was still developing significantly faster than a human should. Most of the family's friends that could control themselves around humans would be attending the party. Renesmee had created a bond between many of the American covens, so the Denali vampires would be joining them. Also, Zafrina had decided to attend even though her sisters declined the invitation.

Last year, Benjamin and his mate Tia left the Egyptian coven to set out on their own. They had been looking for several other vampires to start their own coven with, but to this point had been unsuccessful. They decided to settle in South Africa, and had both adopted the vegetarian diet due to Benjamin's sense of morality. Tia still cheats a little bit, feeding on some humans, but tries to limit her kills to warlords in neighboring countries that targeted innocents, similar to how Edward acted during his rebellion. To Carlisle's pleasure, both of them would be attending the celebration.

Three humans also attended the festivities; they being Billy, Sue, and Charlie. Charlie had officially been told that his granddaughter simply has a genetic abnormality that results in her growth being at an accelerated rate, but Carlisle had told him that her growth had been slowing recently. Charlie wasn't stupid, and he saw Renesmee almost every day. He could tell how old she was developmentally and intellectually. Billy and Sue both knew the truth about her genetics, but still all three humans absolutely adored Renesmee.

Finally three wolves attended; Jacob, who was never separated from Renesmee for more than a few hours, Seth and Leah. All three of them had become fiercely loyal to the Cullens since that day facing the Volturi.

All of the supernatural beings had been socializing, while a few also talked to the humans. Charlie always felt uneasy around the vampires other than the Cullens, even if the Cullens thought that he wasn't sure of exactly what they were. But he was still guarded around strangers. Since Renesmee had been standing by her human grandfather most of the day to make him feel better about the strange beings present, the first vampire stranger he met was Zafrina. Charlie wasn't a short man, but the Amazonian towered over him. When first meeting the vampire, Charlie was terrified of this woman, and instinctively reached for his weapon which wasn't with him tonight. But after the woman spoke to his granddaughter, he was certain that she wouldn't hurt him.

Zafrina smiled at Charlie, a friendly smile and said, "You do not need to fear me. Anyone invited into the home of the Cullens is a friend of mine as well. I will not harm you."

Renesmee looked at her grandfather quizzicality. She couldn't believe that he would have thought that one of her friends would hurt her family. But after a minute, the girl realized why he was cautious around vampires he didn't know; it had been a struggle for her to resist the call of a strange human's blood. Once she learned that Charlie was her family, someone that her mother felt a deep connection to, she never felt the call of his blood. "Zafrina's really nice!" Renesmee shouted to her grandfather to vouch for her friend.

Charlie, confident in his safety after the testimony of his grandchild, extended his hand to this stranger who he hoped would soon be a friend to him also. She was stunning, an absolutely breathtaking beauty. Zafrina also extended her hand to his, and Charlie bent his waist to kill the back of her palm. "Charmed," he said smiling as he released her hand. The touch of her hand was strange. It was cold, sure, but it wasn't any different than when he did the same thing to Esme.

Charlie reached down at his granddaughter to pick her up. Since her parents tried to lie to him and tell him that she had some rare genetic disorder that resulted in her growth being exponentially faster than normal, so any chance he had that he could lift up Renesmee and hold her, he took advantage of. He still absolutely adored the girl, and so did Renee, even if the two rarely got to meet.

Renee was still madly in love with Phil, and the former ball player had realized that his career was not in playing, but coaching. He was the manager of a triple-a minor league team outside of Birmingham, AL, and had been talked about as a potential major league manager in the near future. Renee would come to see Renesmee any chance she had to come to the west coast, but she was not as excited to be a grandparent as Charlie was; she just wasn't ready for it yet.

While Charlie carried Renesmee around on his shoulders, she made an off the cuff remark, "Grandpa, you smell funny," followed by a giggle.

Charlie tried to laugh it off. He hoped that it was just something he ate that was still on his breath, but he was trying to think what it could have been.

Carlisle was across the room, but heard Renesmee's comment. He had been noticing a slight change to his scent the last year or so, and just assumed that it had to do with him aging. But tonight there was something else he noticed; Charlie had been wheezing a lot, and he seemed too out of breath for what he was doing.

"That's kinda mean, sweetie," Charlie said to Renesmee as he lowered her down.

"Sorry, grandpa," the girl apologized with a slight blush.

"It's okay, Nessie; papa still loves you." Charlie hugged the girl tightly. Renesmee returned the hug, accidentally touching his cheek which began to show him something through her eyes; the first time that she had done that to a human. Charlie gasped at first, but then smiled as he saw her view of his first meeting of Renesmee. "You're so special!" he said gladly hugging his granddaughter even closer to his heart, which still made Renesmee feel nothing but love; absolutely no desire for his blood.

Edward had heard the thoughts of Charlie, and was horrified of them. His daughter had used her gift, and shown him something. He rushed to the small group, and Renesmee leapt out of her grandfather's arms and ran to her approaching father at superhuman speed when he was still more than fifty feet from them.

"Nessie," Edward whispered to Renesmee so quietly that only those with superhuman hearing could hear it, "you can't do that to Charlie. He's not supposed to know about our secrets."

"Sorry, daddy," the girl apologized, at which by chance Carlisle approached the group.

Carlisle smiled at his son and granddaughter as he made it clear that at this time they were not his objective. "Whoa, Charlie you look a little off," the doctor said trying to explain what he had heard Renesmee say. "When's the last time you had a complete physical?"

Charlie looked questioningly at his in-law and had to think about it for a minute. "I don't know; maybe five years."

"Five years?" Carlisle questioned, sounding completely astonished. "My last appointment tomorrow is at 3:30; why don't you come in about four, and I'll check you out."

"I don't want to be a bother. I feel fine."

Carlisle sniffed again and he was certain of it. There was definitely something wrong with Charlie. His breathing was labored and there was a scent of decay coming from his breath, almost like something was rotting in his own body. "It's no trouble. I just want you to be there to see your granddaughter grow up."

The thought played loudly in Edward's head. "Why wouldn't I be around for another twenty or thirty years?" Charlie thought as he scratched his head. "I'm about as healthy as a horse; aren't I?"

Even still, Charlie lied slightly to Carlisle, "Okay Doctor, I'll take you up on your offer." He worried that Carlisle was right and there was something wrong with him, but he didn't show anything to him, even though Edward knew.

Carlisle smiled back at Charlie and the two laughed about it for a moment. Now Carlisle thought something that played in Edward's mind, "I hope it's nothing, but always better to be sure."

For Bella's sake, Edward hoped Carlisle thought was accurate and nothing was really wrong with Charlie, even though he suspected that something was off.

The next day Charlie worked his regular shift, leaving the police station about 15:30. He made it to Dr. Cullen's clinic in about fifteen minutes, and was greeted by Esme. She worked as his receptionist which was doable, since the office had no windows and his office complex had a parking garage. The two could be in shade the whole journey when humans would see them.

A little under five minutes later, a nurse came for Charlie. She was young, perhaps mid to late twenty's with long blonde hair that flowed to her mid back and a near flawless face; not as perfect as his daughter's had become in the last year, but still very good. The nurse did the tasks that would have been expected; his blood pressure was a little high, 135/98, but all things considered that wasn't unexpected. Charlie was a little overweight, but by no means obese, and his temperature was the within normal human range.

Charlie was left to sit alone for about five minutes before Carlisle entered the exam room. The two shook hands with a smile as he entered. "I'm sure it's nothing, but I just wanted to make sure," Carlisle said sounding a little worried.

This was a little worrying for Charlie. Carlisle always was positive and upbeat, but now he almost sounded morbid. "Thanks, Carlisle," Charlie said as his look began to match the doctor's.

Carlisle began by listening to his heart with his stethoscope; as good as could be expected for someone who was in their late forty's. No extra sounds or murmurs, but it was sounding strained. He moved his focus to Charlie's lungs, and Carlisle became concerned.

There was a noticeable wheeze and Charlie's lungs sounded as if they were not getting enough air in them. He proceeded through most other items that a routine physical would consist of before suggesting something that Charlie was not ready for.

"When's the last time you had a chest x-ray?" The doctor asked sounding concerned

"I don't know; why?"

"Were you ever around asbestos or did you ever smoke?"

Charlie was getting even more concerned. Why would he be asking me these questions? Charlie thought as he said, "Never smoked, but asbestos," he thought for a moment before adding, "I don't think so."

"Did you ever work around ships?"

"No-" he started, but cut himself off. Of course, he thought before saying, "After Renee left with Bells I joined the navy, but I was only in for like two years."

"On ships?"

"Yeah? What else would I do?"

Carlisle did the math in his head. The navy had begun removing asbestos in the late '70's, but if he was in the wrong specialty he could have been exposed to any number of carcinogens. "I'd like to make sure there is nothing wrong with your lungs. Can we get an x-ray?"

"Sure," Charlie said as concerned as Carlisle was. Carlisle had never been as concerned as he was now around Charlie, and it was making him uncomfortable. He hoped that the x-ray would eliminate Carlisle's concerns, but there was something on it that would change his life forever. Carlisle panicked when he saw the developed film. It was the first time in more than eighty years that he considered doing something that was extremely taboo, and could destroy the peace that they had worked so hard to establish with the Quileutes and also the love of his family. But the only reason he even considered it was for his family. He'd discuss it with them later, and there would be more besides them that needed to be spoken to. Doable, since Carlisle had suggested that they all go over the results together as a family, especially when blood work confirmed an even worse thing.

Leaving a cliffhanger. Sorry cant resist. Please review and let me know what you think.