"What about the Volturi? Or the pack? Surely Sam won't step aside and let you change him too?" I placed a calming hand on her face.
"Bella, we've spoken to Sam about it briefly. He and the pack would consider it if Charlie makes an informed decision and shared his desires with the pack. Do you think he would be able to handle the truth?"
"I'd like to think so. You aren't going to just tell him, are you?"
"No, but we won't, but we also won't be able to hide everything either. He will surely notice that we don't enjoy meal times, or plain don't eat; we all leave the house at all times for hours on end, and the amorous activities of the 'teenagers' in the house. If he asks, how should we or you handle it? He may approach you alone. You need to be prepared."
"Your right; there is a lot to be considered. Have you picked up anything from his thoughts? Does he suspect anything?" Bella asked me.
"No, he was wondering if there is something that no one is telling him because of what Billy said at your house. He's basically dismissed it after seeing how I treat you. He doesn't perceive me as a threat other than taking his daughter away from him; normal teenage boy stuff."
"Should I talk to Jacob again? I'm not forgiving him, but as he doesn't seem to get that there is no relationship of any kind any more so I thought that maybe I should just tell him straight to his face to leave me alone."
"It's a thought, but I doubt he'd believe you. I wouldn't leave you alone with him at any rate."
"I don't want to be alone with him." She shivered in disgust.
"I'd like to think that Charlie would be able to handle the news and be accepting of everything. I'm prepared to talk to him. Part of me thinks it will be nice not to have to keep this part of my life a secret from him any longer."
"Ok, well we'll invite him over when we go to get your things. Are you ready?" She nodded.
"Esme, will you come with us?" She asked shyly.
"Of course dear." Because of her cast, Bella was relegated to the backseat for the time being. I drove over to Bella's and Charlie's cruiser was sitting in the driveway. Bella led the way and I could sense that we were being watched.
"Dad, I'm back." She walked carefully into the main room. Charlie sprang up from his seat as soon as he saw her.
"Oh Bella."
"It doesn't hurt right now. I'll be ok."
"Charlie, it's good to see you again." I helped Bella to sit and then joined her after Esme claimed her seat.
"You too. What brings you by?"
"Well, we'd like to invite Bella to stay with us during her recovery so that there is always a woman around to help her as she needs it."
"That sounds fine. Thank you for opening your home to her."
"You're welcome. We'd also like to invite you to stay with us as well. You'd get a home cooked meal every night and still be able to see Bella. Also, we feel it is safer for you as well. Jacob is an unbalanced, emotional, unpredictable, obsessed teenage boy and those types of boys have lost all rational thought and are very dangerous in that aspect. He's even already hurt the object of his obsession. We'd hate to see you get hurt because of his anger." Charlie sat and thought for a moment. The idea of home cooking was appealing, but felt insulted by Esme's implication that he couldn't look out for himself with a teenage boy. He didn't understand what the danger was. I could understand his thought process though, Esme's words did emasculate him just a bit and he felt like a child she was educating.
"I'm still pretty sure I can take on one kid."
"Normally, I'd agree with you, but in this case; I don't think so, Dad. How hard do you think you have to hit someone to fracture a bone and dislocate a joint at the same time? When I hurt my hand after he kissed me, I was punching his face. He is really strong and very sneaky." Bella added.
"Is he on steroids or something?"
"Or something." Bella mumbled. I exchanged a look with Esme. She nodded. Charlie needed to be made aware of how dangerous Jacob is. I looked to Bella, knowing she had seen the exchange. She sighed and nodded. Edward, wait, let's take him to our house first. It's a safety precaution in case any wolves are watching. Esme thought to me. I nodded in concession to her point.
"Charlie, if you don't want to stay indefinitely, then please, just stay for tonight." I pleaded. He nodded. Esme went upstairs with Bella to pack her things and I waited downstairs for all of them. Charlie was the first one down with his overnight bag. We took two cars and all drove back to our house in relative silence. Charlie was wondering why it was so important for us to have him leave his house. My family had been made aware of the discussion that had started over at Bella's and they weren't too happy about it. They also were slightly relieved that they wouldn't have to play human around him either. Esme took Bella's bags to my room and set Charlie's bag in the guest room across the hall from. That will be interesting. I made the introductions of my family to Charlie. Carlisle called Sam and discreetly told him that Charlie was here for the night and that he would update him in a few hours.
"Okay Charlie, we were speaking about safety and certain skills that Jacob possesses. Well, Jacob is about as strong as I am; as my whole family is." His thoughts didn't think much of my figure.
"I hate to tell you this Edward, but you don't look all that imposing." I smiled gently. My family, especially Emmett and Jasper, were cracking up in their heads, but verbally, they kept it to a chuckle.
"Would you like a demonstration?" I asked. He nodded. I gathered several phone books and handed one to each member of my family. I ripped mine in half and each member of my family followed suit. Charlie's eyes bugged out of his head.
"What is going on? Isabella Marie, what kind of people are you hanging out with?" Bella flinched at the use of her first and middle name.
"They're good people, Dad, you said so yourself. They just have a few extra abilities."
"I don't know anyone who is able to rip phone books in half."
"Sure you do. There are seven of them right here. I'm sure that most of those boys down in La Push can do the same thing."
"This is nothing Charlie. Do you really want to see how strong we are?" Emmett asked with enthusiasm.
"I'll pass for right now. What other abilities do you have?" My gaze flickered between Alice and Bella. He's still ok as long as we go slow. Alice thought. I looked to Bella.
"They are all very fast." Bella said.
"Would you like something to drink, Charlie?" Alice asked. He nodded. She zipped to and from the refrigerator in less than a second, handing both Bella and Charlie some water.
"What the hell was that?"
"I got you water." She said.
"Dad, what else do you notice about them?" Bella prompted. This caused him to re-evaluate everything he knew about Carlisle and the rest of us. He knew we were all adopted, and finally noticed that we all have gold eyes. He remembered shaking hands and that our skin was cold to the touch. He knew that we were super strong and lightening fast.
"What are you?" He asked.
"Well, just know that at one point all of us were just like you. We've all gone through a change and we are now frozen as we speak. Physically and biologically, I'm only twenty-three years old." Carlisle explained.
"What do you mean?"
"Dad, what would you say if I had told you that you are biologically the oldest person in this room and yet still the second youngest?"
"If you had told me this yesterday, I'd think about sending you to a shrink, but now? Now I'm not sure what to believe."
"Charlie, do you believe in the supernatural?" Esme asked.
"No, not really."
"Maybe you should start." Bella took the lead Esme delivered.
"What are you saying; that none of you are human?" He asked with disbelief.
"I am." Bella said with a smile and I laughed to break up the tension. Most of my family chuckled as well.
"Don't be a smartass, Bella."
"I'm still telling the truth. There's so much more than you know, but you need to figure this out first and no one can tell you." She explained.
"How long have you known?"
"Since I went to First Beach with Mike and his gang last year; though I'd been suspicious for a few weeks before that." She said.
"Charlie, why don't I show you to your room?" Alice offered. He nodded gratefully. She took him on a small tour before taking him upstairs. He'd caught the phrases, 'mine and Jasper's room', 'Emmett and Rosalie's room', and saving the best for last, 'Edward and Bella's room'.
"Edward and Bella's room! What the hell is going on?! Isabella Marie Swan, get up here right now and bring that boy with you!" He bellowed, thinking that we wouldn't hear him. She looked at me and I tried to calm her down with a smile. I took her hand and walked up the stairs with her.
"Faster, now that I know you can." He yelled again. I whipped Bella in my arms and placed her slightly behind me as we faced Charlie.
"You share a room with him?" He glared at her.
"It's not like that with us Dad. We're both still…pure." She whispered that last part.
"I don't care if you were both toddlers. You have no reason to be sharing a room with your boyfriend."
"I don't sleep sir, so it really is innocent. I keep a watch for her. I do it all the time." Shit!
"What?"
"Edward comes over to the house most nights after you're asleep to protect me while I sleep." Bella said softly. Alice was getting a front row seat for mine and Bella's embarrassment and humiliation, but the rest of the family was listening intently and loving it.
"So that night that Jacob accused you of being in my house after I thought you left, you were actually there?" I nodded.
"How long has this been going on under my nose?"
"Since the second month that she was here, but Bella didn't find out about it until the third month." I explained and I figured I'd tell the whole truth since I was already in the doghouse with the man.
A/N: Well, it looks like Edward and Bella are in trouble. Think that they can get out of it?
Reviews are wanted and appreciated. Have a great day!
