AN: Thank you for the reviews and reading. I think this is one of my favorite chapters of this story so I hope you all enjoy!

Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer's owns everything Twilight.

Hope begins in the dark

As senses began to return to me, and bring me out of my comfort of darkness, a feeling of deja vu occurred to me. The steady sound of beeping was invading my peace. I began to become angry, I flourished in the dark, I had no pain there, I had no fear, it was my utopia and that constant sound was stealing it from me.

A small groan escaped my mouth as the pain in my abdomen and the rest of my body began to join the nuisance of the rhythmic beating. A soft hand was placed on my arm and a hushed voice was trying to coax my eyes to open and say a final goodbye to my haven. I couldn't fully make out the words that were spoke and I couldn't decipher what they were saying.

With great reluctance I began to fight with my eyelids and tried to force them open. As the first sliver of light came through they closed quickly, while the same voice encouraged me to try again with promises of dimming the lights in the room to help. After a few moments and with the help of the kind voice I was able to have my eyes fully open and was looking at the concerned face of Dr. Cullen.

A throat clearing to the right side of the room brought my attention from the kind doctor to the police chief sitting in the corner- again deja vu. Dr. Cullen and Chief Swan seemed to have a silent conversation, both with great concern in their eyes, and both looking a little worse for the wear.

Once again Dr. Cullen began a list of my injuries, some internal bruising, but thankfully no bleeding, there was an ACL tear in my knee so I had had surgery to fix it while I was unconscious, also a concussion, and burns from where the rope and duct tape had been tied to my ankles and wrists.

When Dr. Cullen was finished informing my of my aliments Chief Swan approached my bed, but this time brought the chair with him and placed it next to me. I had a feeling this conversation would not go quickly as the last one had. With a resigned sigh I waited for him to begin, only to notice that Dr. Cullen didn't leave this time and that he in fact pulled another chair to the other side of the bed. Ah so they were going to tag team me, good luck gentleman because this time I have no idea who actually did it.

"Bella before we talk about what happened and how you got to the hospital I need you to tell me of what happened and how much you remember." Chief Swan said quietly, it was almost as if both thought if their voices became too loud I would shatter into a million little pieces.

I recounted waking up in the morning and the note that was left for me and the events leading up to my submission to the darkness. Both men looked at each other and Dr. Cullen was the one to ask the next question.

"Bella, what day did this occur?"

"Saturday." I stated confused, shouldn't they know what day that it happened.

Both men paled and Dr. Cullen wrote some notes down in a chart. Chief Swan's voice turned my attention to him.

"Bella it's Wednesday evening, you were found on Monday afternoon."

Dr. Cullen's voice spoke next. "It is truly a miracle that you are still alive."

I wanted to laugh, miracle my ass, it was fate just reminding me that my punishment wasn't over yet, my debt was still owed. Both of the men holding substantial authority in this town were in my room looking to be debating telling me something. Never a good sign.

As they were holding their newest silent conversation over my hospital bed a timid knock came from the door. Dr. Cullen went to answer it and he seemed to hesitate before letting the woman in. When the woman entered I understood why, Victoria was one frighting woman, I'm surprised the state of Washington even allowed her to practice social work, you would think they would not want to scare the children further. I tried really hard to hold in my laughter at the thought, unfortunately a small snort escaped my nose. Then I began to wonder why it was that as soon as I entered the town of Forks, I began to find a sense of humor, then I realized that the three adults were looking at me strangely. Stupid concussion, makes me lose my focus.

After that thought I realized that she was here, and most likely this is not a little check in visit. With one look in her eyes I could tell, I would not be remaining in Forks. I wonder if this was the state's choice due to my few accidents or the Stanley's. It didn't matter because either way I would be leaving.

"Isabella," the shrew of a woman stated in her nasally voice, "As soon as you are all healed up enough to leave the hospital I'll be escorting you back to the group home in Seattle, where you will remain until you are 18. Unfortunately because of your age and the number of placements we've already had to move you too there just isn't enough room. The Stanley's were kind enough to pack a few pieces of clothing for you, and they found your few personal affects on your bed. I'm just going to put these on the chair and I will return when it is time for you to leave." With that she abruptly turned on her heal and left. Well at least she's gone.

As I looked at the two men who were left in my room I noticed that both of their faces seemed to be applaud and angry. I couldn't understand why, I was expecting this at some point, honestly I'm surprised I lasted in Forks as long as I did. While they remained gawking at the opened door, I attempted to reach the chair that held my bag, but more importantly my bear. I had no shame, these men wouldn't see me again after Victoria removed me from the hospital and right now I needed the only thing that brought me comfort, my Charlie.

Chief Swan noticed me stretching for the bag and got up to grab it for me. I smiled slightly at him, thankful for the pain to stop when my efforts to stretch ended. He wasn't watching his footing closely and stumbled over one of the cords on the floor. He was able to catch himself before he fell on the floor, however my bag did not have the same luck. All three of us watched as my small processions tumbled out of the cloth, first the book, then my mother's picture and finally my bear.

I waited patiently for the Chief to pick them up off of the ground because there was no way I could even attempt to reach the scattered items that rested by his shoes. A moment later I realized that he was not moving at all, he was frozen with his gaze focused on the items that littered the floor. Dr. Cullen seemed to take note at the same time that he wasn't moving.

He began to round the bed to assess what was wrong with the other man.

"Charlie is everything okay?" His gazed drifted down to see what had caught Chief Swan's attention.

"Is that Renee?" he whispered, almost afraid that if he said it any louder something would break. As he said my mother's name he bent and held the picture up to get a closer look.

When her name left his lips, Chief Swan seemed to snap out of his daze, he picked up the bear and looked at me expectantly.

"Where did you get these things? How do you know Renee Meyer?"

I looked at him confused for a moment before answering.

"The picture is my mother, Renee Dwyer, and the book came from a school library in Michigan I think. As for the bear, I'm assuming some man thought he was my father and gave it to me at some point, but I don't know for sure. I don't remember getting it, just always having it." I hesitated before asking my own question "Can I have it please."

I needed my Charlie, because the two men in the room were getting odd looks in their faces, and the silence that was left in the room after I answered his questions was almost deafening.

Chief Swan nodded his head slowly and handed me the bear, his face still appeared to be trying to solve the worlds hardest math equation. Suddenly something clicked in his head, he held my eyes for a moment, his face getting impossibly red. Then he walked over to the wall and punched a hole, all while a slew of curses escaped his mouth.

"CHARLIE!" Dr. Cullen yelled, he grabbed the irate mans shoulders and tried to calm him down and get him to tell him what the problem was. However the chief shrugged off his advances and continued to pummel the wall.

I was surprised that my first emotion was concern for this man, and not fear. Normally any act of violence frightened me beyond recognition, but not this. I think because he looked more like a man falling apart than a man hell bent on destruction.

"Carlisle, she lied, she... sh... she said she had an abortion. Don't you remember, it was the day I told you about the baby, I went and bought the bear, just like I did when Sue had told me about Emmett. The crazy bitch lied, and … and... oh god Carlisle look what's happened to my baby." With that he broke down. He sank to the floor words mumbled, incoherent sentences stumbled from his mouth. He clutched as his chest as sobs overtook his body.

Something in Dr. Cullen must of solved the question as to what has caused this stoic man to crumble, because he as well began spouting off words of hate directed towards Renee. I'm fairly certain one of them said it's a good thing she's dead already, I'm not sure which because my head was throbbing.

After about 10 minutes I was still utterly confused as to what the hell just happened, and why two grown men were in a heap on the floor angry and sad all at the same time.

Suddenly Dr. Cullen was on his feet looking at my chart, flipping wildly through pages until he found what he was looking for.

"Charlie what's your blood type?"

"AB positive." came a broken voice from the floor.

"I think it's true, we will need to run the DNA test to be sure, but I think your right."

Chief Swan jumped to his feet quicker than I would have thought possible and looked at Dr. Cullen with a determination I have never seen on another living soul.

"Of coarse I'm right, how could we have not seen it before." He said as he gazed at me with an affection I've never received before in my life.

Then it was if my own light switch went off in my head and things started falling into place...lied... Renee...bear...blood type... DNA. I looked back at this man and my own sobs erupted into the room. I felt strong arms wrap around me in a protective case. I was rocked from side to side as my body reacted to all this information. My father is Chief Swan.

As the thought was proclaimed in my mind, the darkness I was fighting to maintain only a short while ago returned.

Ж

Some time later my eyes began to flutter open, but the sting that has usually accompanied this action when I've been in this room was missing. I turned my head slightly and saw that it was dark out. I wondered how long I was asleep for. I looked at the wall and saw no damage, I assumed I was moved after I lost consciousness.

The turning of a page alerted me to someones presence in the room. I put my focus on the chair that was usually occupied by Chief Swan. Expecting to see him there I was shocked when a tall woman with dark hair and a slightly tan complexion was there. She hadn't noticed me yet, there was something familiar about her, she looked to be around the same age as Dr. Cullen and the chief. I must have made some sort of noise because suddenly I was no longer observing her and was instead staring at her dark brown eyes.

"Hi honey, I'm glad to see you're awake, we were all worried." I looked at her slightly confused, she seemed to understand the questions floating around in my head that I couldn't verbalize.

"I'm sorry you are probably scared out of your mind. My name is Sue Swan, I'm your fa... uh...Chief Swan's wife. I think you know our son, or have at least seen him at school. Emmett." I nodded not really sure what I needed to say or do, I guess that was enough for Sue though as just kept on talking.

"The Chief and Dr. Cullen are both out getting some things worked out, and they asked me to sit and wait with you in case you woke up. They, uh, didn't want you to be alone." After she was done talking I did have a few questions of my own and I didn't know if I could wait for the two men to return to answer me.

"Sue" she looked up at me "Did you, um, did you know my mother, Renee Dwyer, I mean Meyer, that's what Dr. Cullen and Chief Swan said her last name was."

"Oh honey, yeah I knew her. Can't say I was a fan though." I snorted at the thought and blurted out my next words with no filter.

"No, you would have to have a dick and be really inebriated to be one; and even then the fondness doesn't seem to last." I threw my hands over my mouth, shocked that I said that, but Sue's laugh filled the quiet room and soon my own giggles joined. I felt relief to be laughing with her, she was a comfort and gave a maternal vibe that I've never known.

The door opened suddenly and in walked Chief Swan, with a look of confusion on his face as he stared at the two of us trying to calm ourselves down.

"Is a, everything alright?" he asked. Sue smiled and nodded her head. She then looked at me and said goodbye and quietly left the room.

Chief Swan sat in the chair and moved it closer to the bed like he had before, we both remained quiet. I don't think either of us really knew what to say. While the silence in the room existed I took notice of his clothes, gone was the uniform and instead he had a pair of worn jeans and a blue flannel shirt with a gray t-shirt underneath. I realized that he wasn't here as chief Swan, but as Charlie, my own Charlie.

He eventually cleared his throat and just began saying a whole lot of stuff and didn't leave any room for me to interrupt.

"Bella, Sue is my wife, we were high school sweethearts. When I was 22, so that would have been 1991 we had Emmett. Neither of our parents were too happy, since we weren't married. We moved in together and things were okay for a while. Eventually the stress of my job, and having a newborn got to us and we broke up. She moved with Emmett back in with her parents and I kept the house. I met Renee Meyer in a bar one night. Things got heated and well, uh, we started a relationship. After about a month I realized that it wasn't right, something between her and me just didn't click so I broke it off. She showed up at my house a week later and told me she was pregnant. I was so excited, even if we didn't work a child any child has been a blessing in my eyes. The next day I went out and bought that bear." he gestured to my teddy that I was holding.

"I bought something similar to Emmett when Sue told me about him. I was so excited, even though we didn't work out, I wanted that baby, you, so much. I came home the next day and Renee was sitting on my porch. I handed her the bear and started talking about everything we needed to do to get ready. She stopped me, she looked at me and just said that she wasn't ready to be a mother. She said she got an...a...an abortion. Bella you have to believe me, had I known she lied to me I would never have let you stay with her. Carlisle is running a DNA test to help with the legalities of all of this, but I talked to the child protective services and have been given temporary custody of you on an emergency basis." During his speech stoic tears fell down his cheeks.

After he was finished I just sat in stunned silence, I mean what was I really supposed to say to all of that.

"You said Sue is your wife, I thought you broke up?"

He looked at me a moment before answering. "I said all of that, and that's what you ask me" he laughed quietly before continuing: "Sue was there for me, she had been seeing someone new as well. I showed up at her house the night Renee told me what she did, or supposedly did. I begged to see Emmett, to see and hold my child. She let me in and I told her everything, I broke down. After a while we reconnected, and our problems seemed so unimportant. We got married a year later."

The next question I had to ask was much more difficult, I guess that's why I asked something that didn't directly relate to me first "Are you, um, are you sure that you want me?"

"Oh baby girl." he said softly and then had me in a tight embrace "Of course I want you, I've always wanted you, and I promise" his voice cracked before he said anymore "and I promise you this" he took my face between his hands and held them firmly "that I will never, let another person harm a hair on your head."

That was my breaking point, this time darkness didn't follow my sobs, instead a feeling of hope overcame me and I hugged this man for all I was worth. My father. My Charlie.