AN: So it this is the newest chapter for Eternity with a Stranger. A few of my reviewers asked the question "Where's Carmen?" I figured I'd answer in this chapter. Also a question I will answer is how Charlie will remain safe after being told everything about vampires and shifters. In this story Bella's shield will advance to the point where she can protect other people's minds as well as her own.

Chapter 3: Charlie is told/Departing from Forks

The dawn broke with clouds and rain, so typical Washington weather. Eleazar and I had spent the night talking and while we had discussed everything about myself and Edward, we had not spoken of his own mate Carmen. I was afraid of bringing up the woman he had spent decades with, but she needed to be addressed if we were to have any type of future. Our new closeness helped relieve some of that fear but I knew she still needs to be talked about. I didn't want Renesmee to hear our talks so I decided to order her breakfast while Eleazar and I talked. We dressed in silence, but I could sense that something was bothering him.

I quickly left the room and went Renesmee's, and found Alistair still sitting at her bedside but seemingly asleep. I gently woke her and asked her what she wanted to eat. Renesmee said, "French toast and orange juice please Mama." I nodded and let her get dressed and went to the phone by the door to order her breakfast. As I spoke with room service I saw Eleazar stepped out onto the balcony's cell phone at his ear. As I watched he seemed to be having a heart-to-heart with whoever was on the phone. Then I saw him say the word Carmen. I was surprised that I couldn't hear them talk, but I had a feeling that this was a hotel that was 'friendly' to vampires. I was about to turn away, to let Eleazar speak to his ex-wife in private, when I saw him say, "I love you too."

He was still in love with her? I knew that our bonding wasn't exactly normal, but I didn't know that he wasn't willing to give it a shot. I guess I had read things wrong the night before. I pushed my pain aside as there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find not only room service, but also young man holding a series of envelopes. I let the room service in, and then signed my name to the delivery slip before taking the envelopes and shutting the door. I watch Renesmee dig into her food with Alistair sitting right next to her. I open the first envelope to find new identification for Renesmee and myself under the names Isabella Camargo and Renesmee Camargo. Alistair also had new documents which gave him the last name of Whitlock. He smiled at the last name as did I, knowing that our little pixie friend had given him the family he'd always wanted. A second envelope yielded the deeds to other properties both in my name, but also in Renesmee's.

The third envelope yielded financial information in my name. Carlisle apparently wanted to make sure that Renesmee and I were taken care of no matter what. The fourth and final envelope yielded four things. One was a marriage license in Eleazar's and my name. So not only were he and I mated, we were also legally married. Two sets of divorce papers were also in the envelope, each with their respective signatures. Last but not least, there were adoption papers listing Eleazar as her adoptive father. I guess this was to ensure that we would have no issues with police wherever we went. At the moment I didn't see the point in the marriage license, seeing as Eleazar apparently was not willing to give our "marriage" a chance. But paperwork was paperwork and it was necessary. I stuffed all the papers into Renesmee's backpack and put it out of my mind for the time being.

Eleazar finished his phone call and came inside. Still hurting from the apparent fact that he was giving up on us, I gave him the cold shoulder. Renesmee finished her breakfast and went to tidy up. Alistair also left the room to pack his own belongings. I put the tray outside and then got my phone to call Charlie. Not wanting to be in the same room as my so-called mate, I went out onto the balcony and dialed Charlie's home phone. It rang a few times before I heard him say, "Hello?" It's it a few minutes to reply but I did, "Hi Dad." "Bella! Where are you?" "I'm at a hotel. Dad, we have to talk." "Bella, what's going on?"

"Dad I hate to say this, but I'm going to have to break my promise. All of us have left Forks and we're not coming back for a while." "Bella, you told me you were never leaving." "I know Dad, but I don't have a choice. None of us do." "What you mean?" "Do you remember when I told you that whatever you needed to know was on a need to know basis? I promised to stay based on that knowledge, but since I'm being forced to break my promise I'm going to tell you everything now." "So tell me." So I did. I told them everything. I told him about the Cullens, the pack and even the Volturi. I told him the truth about Renesmee and what I've done to bring her into the world. I told him how one vampire's mistake has led to a final confrontation with the Volturi and what our punishment was. I assured them that our separation was only for 10 years, and also told him how Edward and I were no longer together. He did ask how I was dealing with my divorce, but all I could tell him was I was dealing with it. Renesmee was waiting patiently to talk to them so I say goodbye for the time being and handed her the phone.

Renesmee started talking a mile a minute as soon as the phone touched her hand. She ended up being the one to tell them about the imprint being broken and who her new mate was. I realize then that out of everything Aro could have done to us, this was the worst. Separating Renesmee from her grandfather at such a young age was going to ruin us all. Charlie had barely begun to know her and now he was going to be separated from her for 10 years. By the time we returned she would be a grown woman. I saw Eleazar looking at me funny, and not really wanting to talk I left the room and went into our bedroom to start packing. Unfortunately, he followed me. After hearing the heartbreak in my father's voice at the loss of both myself and Renesmee, I really wasn't in the mood to deal with his rejection. So I ignored him as I opened drawers and put clothing in suitcases. If he was really still in love with Carmen, I didn't see how we would work. Frankly I wasn't going to sit by and watch as another man left my life.

Eleazar seemed to sense that I was angry for some reason, but was willing to wait it out and see what would happen. Finally he seemed to have enough of my silence and asked, "Isabella, what's wrong?" I shrugged and said, "Nothing is wrong Eleazar. I have to pack." He growled a little, walked over to me and took the suitcase at my hands. Putting his hands on my shoulders, he asked again, "Isabella, what is wrong?" Giving into the small amount of pain I felt I said, "Do you still love her?" "Love who?" I rolled my eyes and said, "Don't act stupid Eleazar. I may not have heard you say it, but I saw you tell Carmen that you still love her." He was silent for a few moments, which led me to believe that my suspicions were correct. I push his hands off my shoulders and went to resume packing, but Eleazar stopped me and said, "It's not what you think Isabella, please let me explain."

I reluctantly nodded and he continued, "I did say that to Carmen, but it does not mean what you think. I'm going to tell you something Isabella that I've never told anyone, not even Carlisle. Carmen and I were never really mates. We were more along the lines of companions. She and I met in Volterra and we became friends. Aro had tired of her and was going to execute her when I intervened. Marcus knew that we weren't mates, but he convinced Aro and Caius otherwise. With his gift it was easy to do. So I took her with me and we were the best of friends. It wasn't until later down the line that I realized that being friends was all we would be to each other. She had been on the human diet for many years and resented me for making her change. The Denali sisters made it easier, but she's been cold to me ever since." "But do you love her Eleazar? I need to know this before...before anything happens between us." "In a way I do, but not as a lover. She's been a friend to me for many years and a wonderful companion. Bella, I love her as a friend and that's the honest truth."

I was stunned. I had assumed the worst and it was the complete opposite. I asked, "So what was her fate?" "Well so far, she hasn't been mated to anyone else. For now she staying with Kate and Garrett. As an unmated female, she will be allowed to remain with part of our family. Other than that I don't know, nor do I care." The way he spoke of her made me think that something else had happened between them. I asked, "Eleazar, have you been celibate this whole time?" He ducked his head, but nodded all the same. I felt really bad for assuming the worst about him. I walked closer to him, took his hand in mine and said, "I am so sorry. I shouldn't have assumed anything, please forgive me?" He smiled and said, "Of course you are forgiven Isabella. I cannot blame you for assuming the worst. Just promise to talk to me next time okay?" I nodded and then asked, "So where do we go from here?"

He shrugged and said, "It depends, where do you want to go?" Taking the deeds out of Renesmee's backpack, Eleazar and I looked over the properties. Both were an ideal locations for our kind, but only one had me really interested. It was isolated, but had a great school system for Renesmee should we decide to put her in public school. I wanted her to have the same opportunities, so this was actually a great choice. Not to mention, when it was time for her and Alistair to really be a couple, no one would notice. I pointed out to Eleazar the property I had chosen and he nodded agreeing with me. He and I finished packing and then headed out into the main room of the suite, finding Renesmee and Alistair already packed and waiting as well. I noticed that Renesmee's eyes were red and swollen, knowing immediately that she had been crying at the loss of Charlie. I didn't blame her, since I was already missing him myself.

Collecting all of our luggage, we made our way down to the lobby to find a car waiting for us. A bellboy handed me a note and I recognize the handwriting as Alice's. Alice had apparently bought the car on a vision, and she seemed to have gotten my taste and Eleazar's right in one. The vehicle in question was a 2013 Dodge Charger in a solid black that had plenty of room for Eleazar, Renesmee, Alistair and myself. We quickly stowed the luggage in the trunk and got in. Eleazar put the address of the property into the GPS and soon we were off.

The drive was long and frankly, kind of boring. Luckily we were easily entertained by Renesmee trying to get Alistair to play games. The man was decades old, so the games she wanted a play seemed very silly in his eyes. But soon enough he was playing along with her as if he'd been doing for years. The property we've chosen was in Maine, just on the outskirts of Portland. According to the documents we received, the house itself was pretty large which meant that if needed would all have our privacy. During the drive I received a call from Jacob, who apologized for his actions after Chelsea used her gift on him. According to him and the rest of the Pack, after Chelsea had rendered her gift they had all felt a little fuzzy in head, like they weren't in control. The coldness in his eyes after she'd torn apart their imprint was not because he hated us, but because he was no longer control of himself or his ability to shift. I accepted his apology and told him that if he wanted to make it up to me and Renesmee, all he had to do was keep an eye on Charlie and call me if anything happened to him.

All during the drive, Eleazar kept his hand in mine. The action reminded me of a day long ago when Alice and Jasper had taken me out of Forks to protect me from James. I had envied their obvious love for each other then, in hopes that I would be the envy of them in the days to come. About three hours into our trip, Renesmee asked us if we could take a break. We stopped at a little bed and breakfast and decided to stop for the night. Since we were posing as a family, it was easy to get the biggest from the place had. Again Renesmee had her own room, as did Alistair even though I knew he would probably never spend any time in it apart from showering. We quickly unpacked and went outside. Renesmee found a cute little park right next to the bed & breakfast and immediately started running around, Alistair chasing her. Eleazar and I sat at one of the bench tables the park provided and watched her play.

Eleazar wrapped his arms around me and said, "She's a good kid Bella and to be honest, I don't see much of Edward in her." I snorted and said, "That's not surprising, considering he never wanted her. So what's the plan from here on out? I mean, how does Alistair fit into our family?" He chuckled and said, "Well, I guess since we will be living somewhat close to town, I guess he'll play our cousin in public. In the privacy of our own home, it really doesn't matter." I nodded and then asked, "So what did you talk to him about the other night?" He shrugged and said, "Just basic rules for how to appear in public with Renesmee. Also, I told him that he has to hunt more often since he's new to our diet. If there's anything else you want to talk to him about, go for it. I just covered the basics as the leader of our coven."

I nodded and said, "I just want to make sure that as she gets older, that he doesn't push her for anything she's not ready for. I know that in a few years she'll be fully grown, but in my mind, she'll be my little girl who should be seven years old, not an adult. When she was Jacob's imprint, I knew that even though she'd age quickly, he wouldn't rush. It's against their nature to do so." "What do you mean?" "When Jacob first told me about imprinting, he explained that when it happened, he would be whatever the imprint needed him to be. Like Quil, he imprinted on Emily's niece and she's two years old. So right now, Quil will be her protector and brother and when she's ready, he'll be her lover. With Alistair, I'm not sure what to expect." Eleazar nodded and said, "Well, he won't hurt her, that goes against our instincts. He might push a little as she gets older, but not in a way that would be dangerous. He'll probably open her mind up to new things and let her decide what she's comfortable with as far as intimacy."

Looking up at him, I asked, "Will you do the same?" He smiled and said, "We'll go at a pace that is comfortable for the both of us Bella. I will say, it will be interesting considering how we were bonded. If anything, we might have to send Renesmee and Alistair somewhere else the first time we make love." "Why?" "When vampires are first mated, it's a frenzy. Both try to dominate the other and the feeling of becoming one with your mate is more intense than the first hunt. I don't think we want our daughter to hear us, do you?" My heart warmed as he referred to her as 'our daughter' and I understood what he was getting at. I nodded and said, "I agree. Either we can send them to a hotel or go to one ourselves." Silence ensued, but a comfortable one as Eleazar and I watched as Renesmee tackled Alistair. We laughed as she declared herself the winner of whatever game they were playing, and kept laughing when Alistair started tickling her in self-defense, causing her to giggle and beg for mercy.

A few minutes later, the four of us went back inside so that Renesmee could eat something. This time, we had to join her, since we were sitting in a room full of humans who would notice if we didn't eat. Luckily, I had come up with a plan after having to eat with Charlie in public shortly after he saw the new me. I knew that human food would taste disgusting, so I had tried to find something that would be easier to 'digest' and luckily came upon tomato soup. It was still gross, but it was easier to deal with than solid food. So when the waitress of the bed & breakfast came to take our order, Renesmee ordered what she wanted, while I ordered 3 bowls of their tomato soup for us. We wouldn't need to eat much of it, just enough to appease the humans in the room.

Our order didn't take long to make and we quickly ate what we could before ordering Renesmee a small dessert and then going upstairs. Since we were leaving early the next morning, I told Renesmee to take a bath and get into bed. She would be allowed to stay up and watch a little TV, but I wanted her to at least be in bed for the night. Once I was sure that she was tucked in, I took a shower and crawled into bed next to Eleazar. As I cuddled close to him, he asked, "So what do you want to talk about tonight?" I giggled, because it sounded like we were turning bedtime into therapy sessions. Which was true to a point, but to be honest I couldn't wait until our nighttime routine included more intimate activities.

Yes, I was wanting to make love with Eleazar, but his confession that he had been celibate for the majority of his 'relationship' with Carmen, cooled my desires to a point. Not to mention that we were still getting to know each other. I had pushed with one lover, I wasn't going to do the same with the new man in my life and risk rejection or making things uncomfortable between us. So we spent our second night together just talking about random stuff. He asked about my life before I was changed and I asked about everything he had seen in his years as a vampire. The things he had seen only confirmed that my choice to become a vampire was the right one. I wanted to travel and see the world through new eyes.

In the end, Eleazar and I spent some time making out like teenagers before calming down and talking some more. As we talked, I realized that I had been more open with Eleazar than I had ever been with Edward. In the short time we had been together, Eleazar now knew pretty much all of my secrets and fears. He knew almost everything about me. Edward, I now realized, never took the time to really get to know me. Sure, we had talked and he had asked me questions, but he never used his knowledge to better our relationship. Edward had known from day one that I hated expensive gifts and his spending ludicrous amounts of money on me, but he did it anyway. Eleazar had yet to buy me anything, but I had the feeling that he would take my wishes into account.

I wasn't ungrateful for anything the Cullens had done for myself or Renesmee, but I didn't want her to become spoiled rotten due to their gifts. I had already promised myself that she would have as much of a normal, healthy childhood as I could possibly give her.

As I went to 'sleep' next to Eleazar, I wondered what would happen when we reached our destination. Would things get easier? More to the point, would the Volturi leave us all alone now that we had been torn apart by his command? I had seen the look he had given me as he had left the field. He now had a new thing he wanted to possess: me. He had seen the reach of my gift when I had protected Edward from Jane's gift, so I knew that he would be intrigued by that. Maybe that's why he had separated us? Take away the thing keeping us together, family, we'd be at his mercy if he decided to attack when our guard was down? With Alice and Jasper on their own, she'd have too much to watch out for if she wanted to keep an eye on all of us and the Volturi.

I reached for my phone, which beeped just as I touched it. It was a text from Alice, saying that she and Jasper had come to the same conclusion as me and she would be watching the Volturi closely. She also told me that while everyone was separated, we were to keep in contact and that Carlisle had called in a favor with Marcus of all people. Marcus would make sure that none of the guard were sent our way without warning us first. Apparently Marcus, and Caius, had not agreed with Aro's punishment at all. I texted my relief back to her and told her to watch out for herself mostly. If Aro captured her, we were all screwed.

Eleazar spent the rest of the night holding me close and keeping me calm. Aro had torn apart my family once. He would not live to do so again…