Disclaimer: SM owns all.

A/N: Thank you to each and every one of you that reviewed the prologue. I'm glad you all liked it so much. I hope you continue to read and enjoy the rest of the story as well.

Chapter 1

It was about five years later. Renesmee had just turned three. Carlisle came home in a very somber mood one day. He was being very careful with his thoughts, because not even Edward knew what was wrong, when Carlisle saw him.

"Carlisle?" Renesmee asked.
"Just a hard day at work, Nessie. Where's your mother?"
"She's home. Daddy was hunting. They should be back soon."
"Thank you, Renesmee. I am going to go find her. Please find Esme. I'd like to speak to her when I get back." Carlisle went to the cottage. Bella was reading a book and sitting next to the fireplace. Edward was not there.
"Hey, Carlisle. Come on in. Please, sit somewhere." Bella invited.
"Thank you, Bella. Where might Edward be, I wonder."
"He'll be home shortly."

"All right. I'd like to talk to the two of you, together."
"Okay. Would you like a book to read while we wait?"
"No, thank you. I'll just wait quietly."
"Okay." They fell silent and Bella went back to her book. Edward came back twenty minutes later. Carlisle stood as soon as Edward entered, and Bella put her book down.
"Carlisle?" Edward asked.
"I would like the two of you to come down to the hospital with me. Edward, shall we take your volvo?"
"Yeah. Sure. What's up?" Edward asked, as they walked into the garage.
"We'll talk when we get there."
Carlisle drove quickly. They arrived, parked, and Carlisle showed them to a room. A man was laying in the bed.
"Carlisle! Is that Charlie?!" Edward asked, shocked.
"Yes."
"What happened?!" Edward asked.

"He has suffered from a stroke. Bella? Are you all right?" Carlisle turned his attention on his newest daughter.
"Is he going to make it? Is he going to live?"
"We have much to talk about, Bella."
"Is he going to live?"
"I took the liberty in calling Renee."
"Damn it, Carlisle! Answer me!"
"Why don't you sit down, Bella?" She tuned around and let out a low growl. He guided her to a chair while he spoke in a low voice. "He might not make it through, Bella. Now, we have a lot to discuss. Beginning with telling your mother what we are. If we do that, we will have to be extra careful. She won't be able to come around when Alice sees visitors coming. We don't want another visit from the Volturi or another tracker incident. And, she will not be permitted to tell anyone what we are. Not even Phil." Carlisle paused, and Bella nodded. "Now, there might not be a chance of your father surviving. That was a serious stroke he suffered. But, there are options. And, it will be totally up to you. We can keep him comfortable, and you can let him go peacefully, or I can try to change him. I'd rather not change him, but I'll leave the decision up to you. Two options. Think carefully. Let him go happy and pain-free to be with his friends, Harry and Billy and Jacob or, spend the rest of eternity with your father. I loved you dearly as a daughter of my own before you became one of us, and that is why I am leaving the decision up to you, and your mother, should you choose to fill her in on our secret."
"I have a few questions first. Before anything is decided."
"Ask, Bella. That is why I brought you here. Ask me as Dr. Cullen, not Carlisle, if it helps."
"Is there any chance of my dad surviving?"
"A slight possibility."
"If he does survive, what will he be like?"
"Unable to live on his own. A vegetable,mostly. Feeding through straws, wearing diapers, unable to control bodily functions. Possibly unable to speak."
"Okay," Bella said quietly.
"Is that all?"
"I don't know."
"Okay. Well, think about it. Would you like to stay for a while?"
"Yes. Will he be able to talk to me?"
"I don't think he will be. But, he can hear you."
"Okay."
"Do you want to be alone with him?"
"I don't care. When will my mother be arriving?"
"Day after tomorrow at the latest. She said she was going to get on a plane sometime tomorrow."
"Will that be enough time?"
"I don't know. I'm not Alice." Bella gave a small smile at his attempted humor.
"I'm sorry for growling, Carlisle. I lost my temper."
"It's understandable, Bella. Not to worry."

Carlisle stood in the corner of the room quietly for the next hour as Bella talked to her father. Edward sat in a chair on the other side of the room. Finally, she spoke to the two.
"Will someone go get Renesmee and bring her here, please?" Carlisle left the room. Bella turned back to her father. "Dad, Carlisle just went to get Renesmee." Charlie looked at her. She could tell that he was happy about that.
Carlisle returned just five minutes later. Renesmee climbed into her mother's lap.
"Carlisle? What are his chaces, percentage wise?"
"Maybe fifteen percent. Why?"
"I want to tell him everything. Right now. Before anything is decided. I want him to know. To understand."
"Well, I don't suppose it could hurt. Go ahead, Bella."

A/N: Well, I hope you really liked it. Let the terrible week begin. Trust me, do not become to complacent in thinking that you know what it going to happen next, there are always twists and turns. I changed quite a bit around, and in this story, Nessie doesn't grow quite as quickly as she was expected too. She only looks twice her age. I hope you like it. Reviews would be wonderful.