All characters are Stephenie Meyers. I don't own them I wish I did ;o)

Most of this story is in EPOV. I know I kind of dropped a good one on you a few days ago. Yes - there is a funeral in the prelude. No – I am not telling who it is for. You will have to read the story to find out. No – I am not giving out advance notice. If you have a guess as to what happens next and want to see if you're right by all means please email me or pm. I hope you really did like the prelude because here is chapter 1. Please read and review. They are always welcomed.

~munchkin1978


Why?

Chapter 1

I watched as Charlie insisted on taking her things inside. She had just returned home. She had no idea that I was here or was watching her. She was in heels. Something she never wore except for that one time at the prom. I wanted to go to her. Her blood was ringing out in my head. I had to stay hidden. I knew a battle would ensue and she just got home. I didn't want her upset anymore than she would be when Charlie told her what was going on.

Her beautiful brown hair was loose and blowing slightly in the wind. Her scent of freesia's and strawberries fresh in the air. She insisted again that she take her bags to her room. Charlie was just insisted again that he was taking them. Did she know something was wrong? Did Charlie tell her? She finally won the battle and took the heavy one from her father. He took the light one. A carry on bag. She must have flown here. From where I had no idea.

I never did find her. I couldn't break my promise. When my family returned just months ago we had found out that Charlie was sick. Carlisle had taken over his case. He took over by request of me. Breaking the promise that we would not interfere in her life or others. I would keep anything that Bella loves safe now. I would watch and keep her safe with out interfering directly. I would promise her this, even if she wasn't here to accept it.

I watched as she lifted her suitcase into the house. She walked in those heels as if she was born in them. Something had changed in her. She held a grace about her now. She was more beautiful now than she was before. I pulled back further into the forest as she peered out the door before closing it. She had taken her shoes off and was barefoot now. She closed the door and I listened to Charlie telling her what was going on. He wasn't going to waste any more time.

"Bella."

"Yes dad."

"I need to tell you why your back here. I know you didn't want to come back. You left so quickly all those years ago." I watched Bella looking at her father through Charlie's mind.

"I know dad but I'm here for you. I came to see you finally."

"I'm sick Bella." Charlie said just spitting it out. He didn't want to beat around the bush and lie to her another moment.

"It will get better dad." I watched her face as Charlie was watching. She hadn't clued in yet that there was more.

"No Bella sit down please." He waited for her to sit before he continued. I watched her fold her skirt under her legs and sit gently on the couch. "I'm sick. This is not a cold or something that I will get over." Charlie paused again. "I have cancer and it's not going to get better."

I watched as Bella's face contorted. Charlie was wishing he had said more to ease the blow. I wanted to come in and take her in my arms and hold her tight. I wanted to tell her it would be okay. But I couldn't. I couldn't tell her I was here.

"Dad…" I watched as the tears started to fall from Bella's brown eyes. It had sunk in enough to realize what was happening.

"Don't cry honey. It's going to be okay." He was trying to placate her.

"Why didn't you tell me on the phone?" I knew she was trying to hold in the sobs that were starting to break through. I knew Bella all to well.

"I needed to tell you in person. Not over the phone."

"Dad I would have come back months ago if I had known."

"I couldn't disrupt your life Bella. You left here for a reason."

"Dad I would have come back for this." She was putting on her brave face now as I watched through Charlie's eyes.

"You're here now honey. I should tell you something else. You're not going to be happy about it." I listened to Charlie's mind as he debated how he was going to say this next part.

"What is it dad?" She asked quietly not wanting to let the sobs go. I watched her face as Charlie was. She was questioning. Questioning possibly if it was us.

"Carlisle is back." He paused. "He is looking after me as my doctor." Good Charlie don't tell her about me yet. I listened without looking through Charlie's mind. It was quiet. Bella was quiet. Then she pulled in a gasp of air and something heavy dropped onto the floor. Was she in shock? I searched Charlie's mind for a view of Bella. She was in shock. I wanted to show her I was here now. I was willing to throw everything out the window just so I could hold her and tell her it was okay.

"When…." She asked. "When did he come back?"

"A few months ago." Charlie paused thinking back. "Well closer to six months ago."

"Oh. Is it....?"

"All of the Bella. Including Ed…." Not yet Charlie. You should have eased her into this. One thing at a time.

"Don't say his name dad." She spat out cutting him off. This reaction was not one I was expecting.

"Bella honey, there is something else you should know." He paused. Bella just watched her father so Charlie continued. "He is one of my doctors too."

I heard a rustle of fabric and pure silence before Charlie spoke again.

"I thought I'd better warn you before you see him in the hospital honey." Charlie paused as I searched for Bella's current emotionally status. "I've forgiven him. He apologized to me for leaving you. He told me he didn't want to leave you but circumstances beyond his control took him away, along with his family."

Bella was still silent. I heard more fabric rustling and I heard bare feet suctioning on the floor. She was leaving the conversation with her father. She was upset about both of us. I heard her head to the stairs and go up them with a small door close. I heard the water turn on and a sob break through finally. It was only the first of many. I listened as she collapsed onto her knees onto the floor and just cried.

I listened to her for fifteen minutes cry and sob and run the water to hide it from her father. She finally turned the water off and stood with the rustling of fabric. I heard the door open and the fabric smoothing. She was fixing her self before she headed back to the living room. I heard her feet reach the bottom step and Charlie's voice ring out.

"Bella honey, I'm sorry. I should have waited to tell you. I shouldn't have dropped it all on you like that."

"I'm okay dad. Now anyway. That won't happen again." I heard her pause as I searched Charlie's mind for the image of Bella. "Did you want supper?" She was going to throw her self into cooking so she didn't have to face her father.

"There is nothing to make here Bells. Sue has been coming over a lot to cook for me. You remember Harry's wife. Well widow."

"Yes I remember dad. I was still here when Harry died. It was a sad day for Seth and his sister, they were so young."

"I know."

"Will you be okay while I go to the store then?"

"Yes. Bells don't get too much. I don't eat a lot anymore."

"Okay dad."

I heard the click of heels and a twitch of fabric. The door opened and I watched her get into the rental vehicle she had. Her eyes looked better from just moments ago. They still had red in them and they would for a while. She took out sunglasses from the purse she tossed into the passenger seat and put them on shielding her red eyes. Bella backed down the driveway and stopped at the end. She turned her head and peered into the forest. She turned back and sped off down the road. I stepped out of the forest cover and watched her speed down the road at a faster rate then she used to drive. She was still my everything. I had to be with her. I would try everything to make it right. I had to. If she now knew that I was back she would know what I would do to see her. I had to make it right for Charlie's sake and my own.

I was tempted to watch her for the rest of the evening but I had to return to my family. They had to be told. They had to know I was going to patch things up with Bella. I waited a few more minutes and silently said goodnight. I would see them both tomorrow for Charlie's appointment. I turned and started running through the forest.

I was going to explain everything to Bella. Why I left, why I didn't come to find her when I came back. Even why I chose to be a doctor like Carlisle. I had had medical training from before and I just decided to finish it. I had to finish what I had started. Carlisle was proud that I did finish it and followed in his footsteps but he would question me now that Bella was back where my loyalties lay. I would make sure Charlie was okay and also Bella.

I arrived home and slowed to a stop on the front porch. I listened to see where Carlisle was and I didn't hear his thoughts or smell his scent. I opened the door and Alice was waiting for me with a sad smile on her face.

"What are you doing here Edward? You should have gone after her."

"And scare her half to death."

"No. Talk to her, tell her why we all left."

"It will come Alice." I paused and picked up her thoughts.

'Edward I want to go see her.'

"Not yet Alice. She just found out about Charlie. Let her take it one thing at a time."

"Humph. She was my friend too."

I hated when Alice got this way. She would be like this till I agreed and being as stubborn as I am could be weeks. Today I was willing to speed that up.

"Okay you can go see her in a few days. Let her settle back in first." I was being nice. I didn't have the heart to keep her from Bella any longer. Especially when I wanted to see her just as bad.

"Thank you Edward."

"Where is Carlisle?"

"At the hospital. Night shift tonight."

"Okay thanks."

I had a shift in the morning so I would go early and speak with him before both of us saw Charlie tomorrow.

********

Night time was quiet and slow for me. So I ended up going hunting. If I was going to see Bella I would need to be as full as I could be. I know I would never hurt her but just as a pre-caution I always was full with her around. My throat ached for her blood but since I was away from her for so long I wouldn't know how my body would react.

Hunting was a game for me. I would chase the prey and drain it with in minutes. Tonight I went further into the mountains. Waiting for me was the mountain lions I desired. After locating their scent I followed in a chase, tackled and then destroyed.

I drank 3 lions and decided to head for home. Tomorrow I had to prepare for. Tomorrow was a day I thought may never come again. Tomorrow I would see Bella face to face for the first time since leaving her in the forest.

Well what did you think?

I know some of you want to know about the funeral. I am not telling at all. You will have to read to find out. Please read and review. I love reading them!!!

I didn't really have a particular song for this chapter. I was just listening to my ipod and what was on it.

~munchkin1978~