sorry it's been so long since I updated but I have been at my dad's house and haven't had time to get on the computer.

If you notice that this chapter is better than the other ones all thanks goes to my best friend smuffymuffin who helped me a lot by adding in a synonyms, or a sentence, or an entire 193 word paragraph to my ruff draft.

My beta rocks, thank you bellamarieswancullen.

I don't own these characters all credit goes to Stephanie Meyer

So enjoy

Chapter 3

Charlie looked up at Edward with huge eyes as though seeing him clearly for the first time.

Edward stood in silence, staring at the figures that were emerging from the shadows of the night.

"Get inside Charlie," Sam commanded but Charlie stayed put, whether frozen by fear or unwilling to leave me, I couldn't tell, but he didn't move an inch. The shadowy figures crouched down in unison like they were preparing to pounce. The whole pack was there... except for Jake. I was surprised I didn't immediately notice his absence.

I didn't have time to think about the reason he wasn't there, because at that moment Edward grabbed me and Charlie around our waists and ran. I could hear Charlie hollering as we took off through a small hole in their defenses. We were back to the car in just a few seconds.

Edward got into the driver's seat, a fact I could tell bothered Charlie. I instinctively got in on the passenger side leaving Charlie to get in the back.

"What the heck is going on here?" Charlie demanded as we sped away onto the highway. I found it strangely ironic that we were doing more a hundred miles per hour down the road with my father the Chief of Police in the backseat and he didn't even notice. I decided this was not the time to laugh.

"Charlie, we don't have time to explain everything right now, we need to get to my house. I need to speak with Carlisle."

"What did Sam mean by 'vampire', and... and how did we get back to the car so quickly?" Charlie inquired stuttering with the stress of accepting what he had already suspected.

I looked desperately at Edward for some clues as to what to say. Edward hesitated, then answered him "He meant... exactly what he said Charlie. And my kind can run extremely fast."

I looked at back Charlie for a second but then he looked over at me and I couldn't meet his gaze. I quickly turned back toward the road and thought of the inevitability of what I knew would come. "Uh... um... ah... how?" He managed to choke out just those few words, but I knew what he meant. Before I could answer, the familiar meadow in front of the Cullen house appeared and Edward jumped out of the cruiser, Charlie and I climbing out at the normal pace of an emotionally stressed human.

Charlie and I walked up to the house, maintaining an uncomfortable distance. Edward was, of course, already inside. I pushed through the door. This is not going to be pretty, I thought.

We found the Cullen family, minus Carlisle already gathered around the table. "Alice told us what happened with the wolves," Emmett said, looking at Charlie whose eyes seemed to grow even wider, though I wasn't entirely sure it was actually possible. "Carlisle is on his way home."

"Charlie," said Alice, in a rather obvious attempt to calm and distract him. She understood, as did I, that Charlie would be much more willing to listen to her than any of the others. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions. Now, why don't you come to the living room with me?" I wanted to go with him, to make sure he would be okay. I trusted Alice, but Charlie's my father and I care about him. However, I also had to know what is going on with the wolves.

"Edward, that was stupid," Jasper chastised him. "Now what are we going to do?"

"I know it was a bad move, but I wasn't going to just sit back and let Charlie die." His response was tinged with a hint of malice.

"The fact of the matter is that the treaty is void and there is nothing we can do about it now," Carlisle interrupted making me jump. I should have been used to it, but I still didn't appreciate being snuck up on all the time.

Suddenly, a loud crash from the direction of the living room grabbed our attention and Alice ran into the room with a frightened expression on her face.

"He fainted," she told the stunned room. I rushed through the door and to his side, followed closely by Carlisle who checked Charlie's pulse.

"He is fine, but I think the shock was too much for him to handle. This might actually work in our favor." He looked thoughtful "Take him home and put him to bed. When he wakes, see if he will believe it was all a dream. I doubt it will work, it tends not to. But it's worth a try, isn't it?"

It sounded pitiful to me as well, but, like Carlisle, I figured it was worth a try. Anything to keep Charlie from knowing the truth about my fiancé and his family. My family.

"Why haven't the wolves attacked yet?" I asked, suddenly aware that they should have been at the house by then.

"They probably don't want to fight right now because we are evenly matched. They can't ever be sure of success, but if they can pick us off one at a time then it will be a lot less dangerous for them," Carlisle answered.

"Will it be safe at Bella's house?" Edward asked Carlisle.

"I think so. They won't want to hurt any humans, but Emmett should stay with you over night, so there will be more protection."

I looked at Edward, suddenly realizing the danger he had put himself and his family in just to help me. It was too much. I tried, but I couldn't hold my anguish in. I felt small, hot tears start to wear their usual tracks down the sides of my face.

"Bella, calm down," I heard many voices trying to comfort me. I attempted to compose myself. Falling to pieces wouldn't help anything. Edward grabbed on to Charlie and I followed him out to the car, with Emmett close behind.

On the way home, I tried not to think about what would happen if and when Charlie did not believe that what he'd seen wasn't real. I concentrated my thoughts on happier things, staring at the dark road beyond the headlights, almost the same black color as the moonless sky above. Despite my attempts, however, those unhappy thoughts returned just a few minutes into the ride. I wondered if Charlie could ever accept the fact that I was about to marry into a family of bloodthirsty monsters. At least that's how he would see them. I also wondered whether he would still be willing to walk me down the aisle, or even show up to the wedding, knowing that once it was over, he would most likely never see me human again. Or see me at all. My tears came faster, more urgent now. They wouldn't stop.

When we got to my house, I couldn't help imagining the wolves emerging from the cold night ready to kill Edward, the love of my life, my reason for existence. We finally made it inside and got Charlie to his room. We then went into my room and sat staring at each other for what felt like an eternity.

I had to ask. My voice shook. I had stopped crying, but I knew I might start again any moment. "What's going to happen?"

He told me exactly what I didn't want to hear. "There is no way to avoid it. We are going to have to fight." He told me solemnly. I couldn't take this. My friends were being pitted against my family. I loved them both and now I had to choose between them. I couldn't do it. I wouldn't.

Unexpectedly, Edward grabbed my hands looked into my eyes. As he leaned forward to kiss me, we heard a shout from the next room. Charlie was up. Edward grabbed me tightly and we flew down the stairs, so I was seated at the table when Charlie came bursting into the room. Edward was no where to be seen.

"What's going on?" Charlie shouted. "One minute Alice was telling me about how they are good vampires and hunt animals and then I am in my room."

I looked at Charlie as incredulously as I could, trying to seem as if I thought him a madman. I wasn't sure it was working. "Dad what are you talking about? You haven't left this house since you came back from work. And vampires? Dad, you know vampires aren't real." I tried my hand at fake scoffing. It didn't work.

"Well, yeah, but..." he muttered sheepishly, embarrassed that he had made such a foolish outburst.

"Listen Dad, it is getting late and I am going to Alice's house early tomorrow so we can pick out a caterer, so I really need to get to bed." And so I walked up the stairs, leaving him dumbstruck behind me, uselessly opening, closing, and reopening his mouth like an overgrown goldfish.

I went into the bathroom and changed into my pajamas. I brushed my teeth and all such human things, and then walked in my room to find Edward sitting comfortably on my bed. I crawled in bed with him and closed my eyes as he hummed my lullaby. I'm not sure how long I stayed there motionless in his arms, but he quietly got up and went out my door, clearly thinking that I was asleep. I sat up in my bed after he left, wondering where he was going. I heard Charlie talking at the base of the stairs.

"...know the truth. Bella has always been a terrible liar. I've been suspicious of your family for a while and now I know what is so different about you." I leaned more toward the door so I could hear more. "Bella is planning to become one of you, isn't she?"

There was a short pause as Edward contemplated whether or not to tell Charlie the truth. I held my breath while he thought, and then I heard his answer. "Yes."

"Just... promise me that... that you will... keep her safe." at this point Charlie was sobbing. My heart tweaked in my chest. I wanted to go to him and tell him that everything would be alright, but I knew I would be lying. After all, I am an excruciatingly awful liar.

Edward's voice was softer when he replied, almost too low for me to hear. "I will protect her with my life."