I'm so sorry this took so long! But, here it is!

This chapter is going to be mostly Bella's POV with a little Edward here and there. The reason I'm doing this is because we need to see how Bella is feeling from her perspective after her father dies. Okay? Glad everyone understands:) Oh! And there's going to be a bit of Carlisle's POV too.

EPOV

I watched as Bella dropped the phone. I picked it up and held it to my ear.

"Hello?"
"Edward!"
"Carlisle? What happened?"
"It's Charlie. You two need to come down to the hospital, now! He was shot when he was trying to stop a hit-n-run. He's not going to make it, so please come down now!" Carlisle said, and my voice shook as I answered.

"We'll come down right away." I heard him murmured agreement, and I hung up the phone. Bella was still standing next to the stove, and I took her arm as I turned off the stove. She followed me, and then collapsed on my back as we were walking to the car, her tears wetting my shirt. I reached around and held her in my arms, letting her sob.

"Come on, Bella. We have to get to the hospital." She nodded slightly at my words, and wrapped her arms around my torso as I walked to the truck. She only let go so she and I could get in the truck; otherwise her arms remained around my torso. Her grip tightened as we got to the hospital, and this time she refused to release me.

BPOV

I couldn't, didn't want to, believe Charlie was going to die; I was afraid. Edward was a rock; he was my rock. I was afraid that if I let go of him, he'd disappear too. I only let go of him so he, and I, could get in the truck. Then my arms were back around his torso, clutching him like the life preserver he was.

When we got to the hospital, my mind shut down. My arms refused to move from where they were. Edward didn't mind, I think, he just rubbed my arm soothingly as we got closer to Charlie's room. The Cullen family was standing near the room, and Alice rushed forward, encasing both Edward and me in hugs. She kissed my cheek, and had a sympathetic look in her tawny eyes.

"Oh, Bella!" She cried, and Jasper took her and held her to his chest. Esme looked into the room, and then turned to us.

"Carlisle says it's okay for you to come in," She said, and Edward nodded. We entered the room, and I wailed when I saw Charlie lying on the hospital bed, wires attached everywhere. Carlisle looked up when we entered, and his expression softened, especially when he saw me, clinging to Edward like there was no tomorrow. He motioned for us to join him next to the bed. Edward gently led us there, and I stood in front of him. Charlie's eyes flickered open, and when he saw us, he smiled. I took his hand and squeezed it gently.

"Bella. I'm sorry. I shouldn't--" He broken off by coughing, and I shook my head.

"Shush. Don't talk dad," I said, tears welling in my eyes. Charlie shook his head.

"I love you Bella. Even if I'm gone, never forget that," He whispered, before turning to Edward. "Take good care of her, Edward. Take good care of my Bella," He whispered, and I let go of his hand.

Carlisle POV

I watched the last moments between the Chief and the children. True, they aren't really children but Bella looked like a child does when she is lost and her parents are gone. I turned back to them when I heard the beeping of Charlie's heart monitor slow. Bella was clutching Edward's shirt in a fist, refusing to let it go. Charlie's chest rose for the final time as he breathed his last. The room was silent as the heart monitor stopped beeping.

"No!" Bella wailed as tears fell from her eyes and she hid her face in Edward's chest. Edward looked down at her, a tear falling on the top of her head. His arms held her to his chest; I assumed that he was calming her with his presence, I can't tell.

"Well, according to your father's will, Edward, Bella, you're going to live with my family until someone else comes," I told them gently, and I waited for Bella's reaction. I heard her gasp, and she looked at me fearfully.

"But, what about my mother? I can't leave with her. I can't leave Edward here alone! He's my brother!" She looked up into his eyes, and he smiled sadly down at her.

"But Bella, what about you? You can't just leave your mother to live here. Are you sure you want to live here in Forks when your father has died?" He asked gently, and Bella nodded, burying her head back into Edward's chest. I put my hand gently on Edward's shoulder, and he looked down, pain etched on his face.

"Excuse me for a moment, Edward. I need to go call Bella's mother. I'm sure you'd like some time alone with Bella, correct?" I asked, and Edward nodded.

"Thank you so much, Carlisle. For everything you've done. I don't think Bella could have handled calling her mother." He looked down at Bella, then said, "Scratch that, I know she wouldn't be able to handle it." I nodded to him and left the room. Out in the hall, I addressed my family.

"Please don't go in there just yet. Bella and Edward, especially Bella, needs some time just with each other." Everyone nodded, and I went to go call Bella's mother, Renée. This was one conversation I was not looking forward to.

The phone rang a few times before a woman answered the phone.

"Hello?"
"Hello, is this Renée?" I asked politely.

"Yes, that's me. What can I do for you?" She asked, puzzled.

"My name is Carlisle Cullen. I work for the hospital at Forks." I waited for the next question.

"Bella! Oh, no! What happened to her?" She demanded, panic evident in her voice.

"Bella is perfectly fine. But, something did happen to Charlie."
"What happened?" She asked, concern in her voice.

"He was shot on the job, and there was nothing we could do to save him. He's dead." I waited for her outburst.

"Oh my… Bella! How's she taking it?"
"She's taking it pretty hard. She's refusing to let go of Edward."

"Edward? Who's he?" So she doesn't know about Edward… I thought.

"He's a young man Charlie was taking care of after his parents died from pneumonia. He and Bella are good friends from what I've seen," I told her, and it was true from what I heard Edward say at the dinner a while ago and from what Alice said when they were at lunch. I heard Renée sigh.

"I'll come down as soon as I can." She replied.

"Thank you, Renée," I said.

"Who is Bella and Edward going to live with for the time being?"

"They'll be living with my family and I."
"Thank you." We said our good-byes, and I hung up the phone. I returned to the hallway, and I saw Edward sitting in a chair, Bella curled in his lap. Alice looked at me.

"They've been like that since you left. Bella collapsed and Edward picked her up into his arms. He got a chair and has been holding her ever since. I can smell the salt from all their tears from here!" She said, and Jasper sent a calming wave to her and the rest of the family. I nodded to him, and I returned to Charlie's room.

BPOV

I barely noticed when I fell to the floor, but I did notice Edward pick me up and hold me in his arms as I cried. I didn't notice Carlisle enter the room either until he spoke.

"Edward, would you and Bella like to come to our house?" He asked, and I held on to Edward tighter.

"Yeah. I don't think Bella can be here much longer," He said, and I felt him stand up, and I was still encased in his arms. I felt us walking, and I felt the cool air of outside when we exited the room. Edward kept me in his arms, and I felt safe. But my mind wouldn't, refuse to, to work properly. I heard Alice speaking to me; her tone gentle but my mind didn't comprehend what she was staying. I just wanted to stay in Edward's arms, where I was safe, and where the only thing that plagued my mind, besides Charlie's death, was images and scenes from my nightmare.

"Bella." I looked up and saw Edward looking down at me. His eyes were gentle and calm, but I could see the pain he hid. That one look begged me to return to the world, but I couldn't, not yet.

"Edward, this is her room." I heard Alice say, and I felt him start walking again. He set me down on the bed, and then sat down next to me. More pressure on the bed alerted me to the fact someone else was sitting next to me.

"Bella? C'mon, you're stronger than this. Everyone is worried about you. Please, Charlie wouldn't want you to be like this." Alice's soft voice spoke on my left, and I felt Edward wrap his arms around me again. Feelings began to return to me, and I felt the tears coursing down my cheeks. I let out a sob. My mind began to work again, and I curled into a ball, sobbing.

"Is she awake?" A gentle voice asked, and I heard Alice speak as I was lifted from the bed and set on something warm.

"She's back to the conscious world. But, she's taking it hard." I heard Alice say from my left. I looked up, and saw Edward, his face slightly tear-streaked.

"I'm sorry," I said, and I looked down. I felt his gentle fingers raise my head, and I looked into his sparkling emerald eyes.

"Don't be. Anyone would be like that if their father or parent died. I'd know. I was unresponsive for a week before I could actually do stuff," Edward said, and I hid my face in his chest again. Finally, I felt my eyelids droop, and I fell into a fitful sleep.

The next morning, I woke up tucked into a warm bed with my quit draped over me. I looked at the clock, and sighed. It was Friday today, and that meant I had to go to school. I did not want to deal with all the sympathies and condolences. I got out of bed, and walked over to the closet, only to snap it shut again. It was full of designer clothes, but I saw some normal jeans and a shirt.

"Alice, one of these days," I murmured as I walked out of my room and down the stairs. When I found the kitchen, a warm meal was already sitting there for me, and I sat down to eat. Edward appeared from the backyard, with Emmett and Alice trailing after him. Edward smiled at me.

"Morning, Bella," He said, and I smiled at him. Alice walked over and hugged me.

"I'm so glad you're okay!" She said and I continued to eat.

"If there's one thing I'm not looking forward to, it's today. I don't think I can bare all the sympathy and condolences that are bound to come Edward and mine's way!" I said as I finished up. Alice took the bowl and washed it for me.

"Come on! Let's get going! Bella and Edward, you're taking the Volvo with me, while Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper take the Mercedes. Not the M3!" She called to Rosalie as she left.

"Humph!" She said, and I laughed. Alice smiled at me and grabbed my hand. She tugged me to the garage, where my bag sat in the passenger seat. I got in and heard Edward slide in behind me. As we started to drive off, I felt an ominous feeling hit my gut. Something was going to happen. Something big.

I'm sorry this chapter wasn't that long! I wanted to get this out to all my faithful readers, including those who don't review. The next chapter will, and I promise this, be longer. And I won't take as long!

So, drop a review, and if you have any questions, PM me or leave them in a review!

Thanks!

Arear