A/N: Hello everyone. Sorry this took so long to update but life here in Queensland has been a little crazy lately. To the people that reviewed last chapter, thank you so much. Your words have encouraged me to keep going with this chapter. I will try to have the next one up sooner.

Disclaimer: The original story belongs to S. Meyer, I am just grateful she allows us to play in her playground.

"Bella, Alice had a new vision. Charlie is waking earlier than we expected. GET UP!"

-Epov-

The vision played in my head on permanent repeat. It was accompanied now by Alice's frantic thoughts.

"Edward, get Bella up NOW! I'll get Sue. Esme can take them back to Bella's house. We've got fifteen minutes!"

The rest of the family were flying into action, Rose had gone to bring the car around, Jasper and Emmett were on guard in Charlies room and Esme and Alice were gathering Sue's belongings and rousing her from sleep. Carlisle was standing at my bedroom door, waiting anxiously for Bella to get her bearings after being woken from a deep sleep. Outside, Seth had just phased so that he could inform the rest of the pack of what was about to unfold. Jacob was now anxiously pacing the perimeter of our property on the other side of the river after being shooed away by Alice once she got a glimpse of the vision. The wolves proximity to the house was messing with her visions, and she needed their distance to help clarify them. I was glad they were close though, as I was hoping that Jacob and Seth's presence would be calming for Charlie, although I didn't want to put them in harms way either. It was hard to tell what was going to happen as the the visions kept changing. The only constant was Alice's belief that it was happening in the next few minutes.

Carlisle's thoughts were anxious. He wanted Sue and Bella out of the house NOW. Their scents would be strong in the house and his thoughts turned to thinking Charlie should be taken outside and into the forest now, so as to spare him the pain of experiencing a human scent as soon as he woke.

"Yes! Right now Carlisle!" I heard Alice yell. Carlisle was instantly in motion, moving to Charlies room and lifting him gently out of the bed. Jasper had the door to the landing outside his room open and he and Emmett followed as Carlisle jumped with Charlie in his arms. They landed gracefully and took off running to the forest, Emmett stopping briefly to let a stunned Jacob and Seth know what they were doing before he too disappeared into the forest after Carlisle and Jasper.

I stopped myself from watching their progress through Jasper's thoughts and focused on Bella, who was now wide awake and changing quickly from her pajamas into jeans and sweatshirt.

"What the hell Edward? I thought this wouldn't happen until tonight? What changed?"

"We don't know Bella, the Vision just came on Alice suddenly. Perhaps it's the proximity of Jacob and Seth, I don't know."

I ran my hands through my hair, torn by the need to comfort Bella, but knowing I was needed out there with Carlisle and Charlie.

"I'm sorry love, but I don't have time to help you to the car, Alice and I are needed out there with your father. Esme and Rose will take you and Sue to your house and stay with you. The pack will have someone there with you also and we will pass word through them as to what is happening."

Tears were forming in her panicked eyes. Her heart was hammering in her chest and I became aware of Sue arriving at my door as her heart was beating a staccato in time with Bella's. I had to fight the urge to take Bella in my arms and soothe the terrified look from her face. Esme had the car keys in hand and Alice was a whirlwind as she grabbed my hand and dragged me from the room shouting back to Bella and Sue as we left.

"We'll let you know as soon as we know anything. Sorry but we have to go NOW!"

Alice and I went out the same window as Carlisle had and were following the scent of our family as we ran.

"She will be fine Edward, Esme and Rose will take good care of her and Sue, you know that. Your focus needs to be on Charlie now. Bella would want that and you know it." Alice was glaring at me as we ran. The forest whipped by us as we ran towards the clearing Alice had seen Carlisle take Charlie to. Her glare turned into a smile as I saw what was going through her head ", this is going to be sooo interesting!"

Before I had time to respond to her remark we were upon the small clearing. It was surrounded on three sides by vertical cliffs, ideal for our purpose. Alice and I came to a halt beside Jasper and Emmett in front of where Charlie was laying peacefully on the soft grass. We were all quiet as we listened to the frantic pounding of Charlies dying heart as it fought in vain to stay beating. Emmett and Carlisle moved out a little so that we would form a semi circle around Charlie, effectively cutting off any escape route for him, should he decide to run. Jasper tried to pull Alice back a little but she stopped him with a glare.

"Don't be ridiculous Jasper, it's fine, Charlie wont hurt me, or any of us for that matter. Now that we have him out of the house and away from any temptations, he will be ok. " She looked at me then and giggled, "Although if I were you Edward, I would move back a little, just to give you a head start should you feel the need to run." Emmett coughed to cover his laugh "Don't worry bro, I've got your back!"

I rolled my eyes and looked up as I heard Jacob and Seth arrive at the top of the cliffs. Alice heard them as well and called up to them. "That's good. Stay up there until we have a chance to talk to him. I think he may want to speak to you Jacob but I can't see very well where you're concerned so please just wait until he has time to process the situation."

Jacob nodded his assent as he was in wolf form and I was aware of Sam and the other members of the pack "talking" to him. Jacob was going to phase back to human form so as not to startle Charlie but Seth was going to stay in wolf form so that he could relay the information on what was happening back to the pack and therefore Bella and Sue.

"Any minute now", Carlisle said as we watched Charlies still form. The thumping of his heart seemed to get even faster. It was almost impossible to decipher one beat from another as it galloped in his chest before suddenly stopping altogether. Even though we didn't phsically need to, we all took a breath and held it as we waited for what was to happen next.

Nothing.

Charlie didn't move. I desperately tried to get a read on his thoughts, but there was nothing there to read. I gasped as I realised I hadn't been able to hear anything at all from Charlie for the last fifteen minutes or so. Carlisle looked at me but I just shrugged and shook my head, waiting desperately to hear or see any movement at all from Charlie's now seemingly lifeless body. Even Alice looked unsure.

"I can't see anything, it's like he's not here! I mean I know he is, I can litererally see him, but I can't SEE him, you know?" She ran through the visions in her head, trying to force new ones, and she was getting them - ones of Charlie in the future sometime, with snow on the ground, but nothing of his immediate future.

"You're not getting anything, because I don't want you to! How's it feel to not know what the hell is going right under you nose for once? Not nice is it?"

Charlie was on his feet in an instant and pointing furiously at Alice, then me before any of us could take in the fact that he was on his feet. It was like we were drugged or moving at human pace to his vampire speed. Jasper recovered the quickest and was in front of Alice in a protective stance, a feral growl of warning rumbling from his chest.

Emmett and Carlisle joined them and I just couldn't seem to get myself to move fast enough. I groaned in frustration and Charlies attention focused solely on me. He threw up his hands as if in defeat and moved backwards away from Alice and closer to the cliffs but never took his eyes from me.

"I won't hurt her Jasper, I'm just pissed off!" Alice's laugh rang out then and the tension lifted at the same time I seemed to regain my equilibrium.

"Oh Charlie, you're amazing!" she squealed and then moved towards him.

"Alice NO!" Jasper roared and grabbed her around the waist to stop her from going any further as Carlisle and I moved to stand between her and Charlie. For the first time in my very long life I was dumbstruck as I looked at Charlie. Thankfully Carlisle had more control over his faculties.

"Charlie? How do you feel?"

Charlie looked incredulously at him, "Feel? How the hell do you think I feel Carlisle?" His voice was eerily even. "I'm dead, aren't I? Or is the term undead?" He turned his attention back to me.

"How could you do this to Bella? How long has she known about all this? I'll frigging kill you, you bastard!"

With that, all hell broke loose. Carlisle pushed me out of the way as Emmett and Jasper jumped in front of me. I couldn't seem to move again. I mean I could, but it was as if I was moving in slow motion, pushing against air that felt like a solid cushion around me. I was on the ground where I had landed after Carlisle had pushed me about twenty feet away from Charlie. Emmett and Jasper had tackled Charlie to the ground and Carlisle had taken a defensive stance in front of me, but as I watched in horror, Emmett and Jasper went flying in the air backwards and slammed into the cliffs. Charlie was staring at me with hatred in his eyes and leaped towards me. At the same time Carlisle was slammed back into the cliffs by an invisible force. He landed right beside Jasper and Emmett who were moving, but sluggishly. It was what I imagined was the same manner as my futile efforts. Just as Charlie landed in front of me, Alice appeared at my side and yelled.

"Charlie, stop!"

"Yeah Charlie, if anyone is going to get the chance to rip him apart, it ought to be me don't ya think?" Jacobs voice came from beside Alice but I couldn't seem to turn to see him.

"Jacob" Charlie sneered. "I've got a bone to pick with you, and your father too ... " He paused as he screwed up his nose and looked at Jacob. "Jesus Jacob, you stink! What the hell have you been rolling in?"

"Charlie" I was able to function again and finally found my voice. "Calm down please, nobody here is going to hurt you, we are just here to help".

"Help? Yeah right! You've been nothing but helpful to both my daughter and me, haven't you? Look at the mess you've bought to her life. To both of us..." He looked from me to Alice and then to Jacob and his shoulders seemed to slump as the anger and fight seemed to leave him. It was quickly replaced with desperation. He moved away from us, back towards the cliffs where he pounded his fists and reduced part of the wall to rubble.

"Ohhh Jesus... what the hell... how can this be happening?..."

"Charlie, please, look at me." Carlisle had moved to his side. "I'm so sorry, we never wished for this to happen to you. Do you understand what has occurred? What you are now?"

He turned to look at Carlisle, and we all moved closer, not sure if Charlies relatively calm demeanor would stay in place. Carlisle understood our concern and took a step back from him, which only made Charlie snicker.

"It's alright, I've got it under control now I think. " He looked at each of us individually, seemingly seeing us for the first time, which in effect he was. His new vampiric senses would be able to process so much more than his feeble human ones. His eyes roamed our features and he blanched as he took in Jaspers battle scars. "God Jasper, what the hell happened to you?"

Jasper smiled back at him. "Battle scars Charlie. I've been through the wars over the years, but I've got to say, I've never seen anything like you and your abilities."

"Abilities? What do you mean?"

Carlisle interupted then "Charlie, we'll get to that in a minute. First of all, we need you to understand what has happened to you. Do you remember anything about the last few days?"

"What do you mean Carlisle. Do you mean do I remember that psycho who bit me, and then Alice being there, sucking on my neck.

Alice looked mortified as he continued.

"Yeah, I remember. I remember the fire burning through me and then Alice was there and the fire was getting smaller, but something happened and the fire got worse and worse. I was being burned alive, but nobody was putting out the flames... I could hear Bella. I heard her screaming for me and then Sue was there too. I had to put the flames out, I couldn't go on like that. I... I could see the lake, and I knew that if I could get to it, then Iwould be able to put out the fire. It took forever, and everything I had to drag myself there, but I made it." His voice trembled, then got stronger. "I made it and rolled into the lake and it put the flames out. It was like heaven, only it wasn't. I could hear you all talking to me, but I couldn't get near you all. I could hear Bella and Sue and Billy, but I couldn't see them. I couldn't get to them... It was driving me crazy... so that's when I decided I would wait. I know Bella, she's as stubborn as me. If I could hear her, then she was near, and she would find a way to me."

We all stood transfixed, waiting for him to continue. I still was not hearing his thoughts.

"Then I started to really listen to what everyone was saying. I could hear you Carlisle. I heard you while I was still burning, and then after I had put the flames out. Your voice and Alice's were what I held onto, it helped to try and focus on what you were explaining to me. Then I heard Bella." He looked straight at me then. "I know what you are Edward. I know what I am."

I waited for the rage to return, and the suffocating feeling of whatever it was that had restricted my movements before to envelop me. It never came though. Charlie just stood there, staring a me, then Carlisle. His gaze softened as he looked at Alice, but hardened again as it fell on Jacob beside her.

"I heard Sue tell me about the Quiluete legends, I'd heard them all before mind you, but I started to understand what she was saying." He scoffed as he continued "Billy talked of the treaty between his tribe and the vampires, and for some reason, it all made sense. After hearing everything that was being said, I started to understand what had really been going on all this time." He sighed and looked around us all again. His eyes rested on Jacob.

"Yeah, I know what I am now. And you Jacob, are you my enemy now? I know why everyone else is here, but you, you seem to be the odd one out?"

"No Charlie, I am not your enemy. I can't say I am comfortable being here but I am here to make sure you are ok and that you pose no danger. Hearing old Quil talk, you're apparently the second coming of God or something like that. You are very important to all of us, to our tribe. " He snorted as he said that "So yeah, I'm here as your friend, wanting to make sure you're ok. Dad would have been here for you if he was able."

"Hmmph. Billy. My oldest and dearest friend. I thought we knew everything about each other, he sure as hell knows all my secrets. Don't I feel the fool? I used to think he just considered it his duty as the tribes chief to believe in their legends."

I was in shock. There was no way Charlie should be able to stand here and have a conversation in the manner he was. It was as if he had just woken up from a nice sleep. He had to be thirsty and completely disoriented, but I could tell from his thoughts that he was relatively calm, his thirst just barely registering a scratch at the back of his throat. I was amazed as it registered that I could now recognise his thoughts. Moments ago, I could get nothing. I just couldn't understand it.

I wasn't the only one in shock. Jasper and Emmett were on high alert, watching Charlies every move. Jasper was sending calming waves of emotion Charlie's way, but I wasn't convinced it was his efforts that were creating the current ease of conversation. Charlie's thoughts were now taking on a bemused sense as he waited for someone to speak. He had decided that it was best to wait for Carlisle to say something as unease crept into his mind as he thought about how Carlise and Jas and Emmett had been thrown into the wall.

"Did I do that?"

"Yes Charlie, I think it was you." I answered his thought and he turned his attention to me.

"Did I say that out loud?"

Alice's tinkling laugh rang out. "Oh no Charlie, you didn't. Edward was responding to your thoughts. He can read minds. You are not the only talented vampire here you know!"

Surprise registed on Charlies face but he remained still and said nothing. His thoughts were something else altogether though. I cringed as I heard his outrage towards me but you would never know from his outward demeanor. He was remarkably in control of his actions.

"Yes Charlie, you have every right to be angry with me, and I am sorry for everything that has been kept from you. I can only say we have always acted in your and Bella's best interests." His outward demeanor did change then and everybody present could see that Charlie didn't agree with my sentiments. He still made no move towards me though, for which I was very thankful. At this point I didn't know what Charlie was capable of.

"Right now we have more pressing things to deal with, I promise we will talk about all of this later. Firstly we need to get you fed, it will help you feel more in control and comfortable. Are you thirsty?"

"I.. I think so. Is that the burn I can feel in the back of my throat?"

"Yes, Charlie. We can take you for a hunt. Do you rember us telling you about what we eat?"

"Yes. I understand." He grimaced as he realised what was ahead. "Will I be able to see Bella and Sue after that? Do they know where I am?"

"Charlie," Carlisle said, "They both know exactly where you are and we will have to wait and see how you are after you have fed. Alice is also talented. She can see future events, but her visions are determined by decisions. She has seen that you will be able to be around Bella and Sue but we cannot accept that as fact yet. Edward, Jasper, Emmett and I will come with you."

"How do I do this, will I know what to do?

The thirst was becoming more intense for him, I could feel it. It was always that way when we thought about hunting. I didn't want to make him wait too much longer.

"Yes Charlie, you will know exactly what to do. It is an instinct that will come perfectly naturally to you, and as soon as you are fed we will take you to see Bella." Alice chimed in.

I bristled at Alice's words, and she scoffed at me. "Oh stop it Edward, you have seen the same thing I have. You know I would never put Bella in danger and besides, do you really think you could keep her away anyway?"

Jacob and I looked at each other and both answered at once. "We will if we have too."

Carlisle laughed "Yes, well, we will just have to see, wont we. Do you feel in control now Charlie?" He nodded his assent and his thoughts were in agreement. Since nobody was flying through the air propelled by some unseen force at the moment, I had to agree. His control truly was amazing.

"There are no humans in this area, and we will be right beside you. We will take you to a small herd nearby. What do you think Edward?"

I didn't like how fast this was happening and Jaspers thoughts were once again mirroring my own. He looked at me and raised an eyebrow as we communicated silently.

"What the hell Edward, what happened before? I've never seen anything like it. I don't know if we can stop him if he goes postal on us again. Carlisle seems to think its ok but I worry that he relies on Alice's visions too much though."

I agreed with him. "Wait Carlisle. Charlie, before when you woke. You were angry with me and wanted to get to me. What happened to my brothers and Carlisle. Did you do that?"

"I don't know, it all happened so fast. I didn't do it consciously if that's what you think. All I wanted to do was rip Edward's head off. That was the only conscious thought I had." He looked at me "Don't think I don't still want to though, but at the moment I have other priorities."

Emmett laughed his booming laugh and clapped Charlie on the shoulder. "Excellent. I can see some fun times ahead man! I would appreciate it though if you keep that mojo of yours aimed at Eddie here and not me, ok?"

Charlie looked at Emmett like he was crazy, but then laughed himself. "For the moment Emmett, yeah ok. But I can't make any promises if you annnoy me in the future though."

Carlisle looked at him appraisingly, "Really Charlie, we knew you were going to be different, but I am amazed by you. We will take you to hunt, but we must be prudent in how we proceed from there as far as being around Bella and Sue. We will not put them in danger. Do you understand?"

He nodded his agreement, "Wouldn't have it any other way, Carlisle."

"Well I guess there's no time like the present then, is there?" Alice was insistent.

Jacob looked uneasy. This was always going to be a difficult moment for him. It went against his instincts to allow a vampire free reign to hunt, let alone a newborn that was in fact someone who until a few days ago he looked upon as a second father.

"What if he loses control. I saw how you three were thrown around just now. How do we know that won't happen again?"

"Jacob, we don't have a choice. We have to take this step."

Charlie looked pained. "Jake. I don't know what happened before, but I promise you, the last thing I want is to hurt anyone. Maybe, I should just stay here for a while, or go further away into the wilderness. I WILL NOT allow myself to hurt anyone."

Alice looked to me as an idea formed in her head and I nodded in agreement. She turned towards Charlie.

"Charlie, you have to feed, but I have an idea. Usually I can be fairly certain of whether or not any given situation is going to be dangerous. Unfortunately, with the wolves close by my vision can be a little blurry." I rolled my eyes at that particular understatement. She ignored me as she continued.

"I knew you would be in control, but also a little angry with all of us. I didn't however see this particular manifestation of your talent. I amsure though that once you have fed we can all be a little bit more certain of you being less volatile. We will bring the meal to you. Would you mind staying here, while Jas and I go to find you something?"

Charlie looked to Carlisle who was now smiling. "I think that should work Alice. I know there is a herd of deer not far to the east of here. I think two should be sufficient for now."

"Great, be back in a sec!" She grabbed Jaspers hand and they took off running, leaving us in an uncomfortable silence.

Charlie turned toward the cliffs with his back to us and stood in contemplation of them as Jacob looked between Carlisle and myself.

"Well, what now? I'm thinking I really don't want to be here watching him devour a deer. I'm going to go back up to the top of the cliffs to meet up with Seth. The rest of the pack are in position around us, should they be needed." I nodded my agreement.

"Charlie?" Jacob spoke to his back, not ready yet to touch him or get too close. Charlie paused his contemplation of the cliffs to turn around again, looking Jake squarely in the eye.

"Are you off then Jake?"

"Yeah. I'll be right up there at the top of the cliffs with Seth. It's probably a good idea for me to not be too close while you're feeding."

"Hmmph. You're probably right." Charlie said as he looked up towards where Seth was positioned on the edge of the cliff.

"Edward, watch him. He hasn't seen them in wolf form yet. I don't know how he will react." Carlisle had the thought at the same time it registered with me. We both tensed, but needent have worried as Charlie muttered a low "Damn ..." and shook his head as he took in the sight of the huge wolf perched atop the cliff.

Seth, being Seth, raised a paw in acknowledgement of Charlie and we all laughed at the slightly comical sight of him doing so. It served to cut the tension a little.

"We'll be close Charlie. Once you've ... taken care of yourself, we'll talk again."

"Sure Jake, see you soon." With that Jacob left the clearing, his thoughts telling me of his relief that everything had gone reasonably well so far.

It was all very surreal. Carlisle wanted to talk to Charlie further about what he was feeling, but was reluctant to break the tense silence. We all stood looking at each other until Emmett couldn't help himself any longer.

"So Charlie, just how did you manage to throw us around like that anyway? Can you do it again so we can see how it works? And whats with the slow motion movement thing, what did you do?"

"Emmett!" Carlisle admonished him. "Leave it alone, let him get fed first and then we can talk about what happened."

"No Carlisle, its ok. He's right to be curious. I am too. I've got no idea what happened myself. "

He started pacing. "I was just so angry. I was really sick of knowing what was going around me, but not being able to talk or move. I wanted answers." He looked at me with what I considered to be confusion. "I wanted to kill Edward."

Emmett chuckled and muttered what I thought was "yeah, stand in line" and Carlisle looked worried.

"No, don't worry, I've got that urge under control for now." He glared at me. "But I just wanted to get to him and needed you guys out of my way. I don't know ..."

His thoughts were once again silent to me until I became aware of Alice and Jaspers scent and thoughts as they approached. They then appeared in the clearing each carrying a valiantly fighting doe.

Charlie caught the scent and as Alice released her doe, he pounced on it with a growl. He wasn't exactly graceful, but he was feeding without hesitation and I was aware of the relief the blood from the neck of the unfortunate doe was bringing him. He drained the second doe in record time and stood as he wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt, leaving a bloody stain there.

"Wow, that was easier than I thought" He said as he dropped the does body to the ground and then looked at Carlisle. "Well, what happens now?"

"Well, Charlie, how do you feel about going back to our house, so that you can clean up and we can talk a little? Do you feel up to that?

He looked around the clearing, his gaze lingering on the deer. "What about these, do we just leave them here?"

"This time yes. We normally bury our kills, we don't like to leave any evidence of how they were killed lying around for humans to stumble upon." Carlisle was watching Charlie's reactions to his words. "However, this time, I know there are mountain lions in the area. I'm sure they will appreciate the meal we have left for them."

"Ok then," Charlie looked up as he spoke. "Jake you coming?"

There was a muffled laugh from above "Yeah Charlie, we'll see you there".

"Ok then, Charlie, we will all run with you. We won't leave your side." I said, hoping that thought wasn't going to infuriate him.

"Run? How far out are we. Will we be back by night?"

Alice giggled as she danced to his side. "Oh Charlie, we are about a ten minute run from the house. Come on, you are going to love running!" With that she started dragging him out of the clearing and we all stayed close. Each of us on alert for the slightest indication that anything might go wrong. Alice however didn't share our misgivings and was clearly enjoying herself as she watched Charlie become accustomed to his newfound speed.

The pack fell into position behind us, also on alert as we all headed back to the house unsure of what the remainder of the day would bring.

- 000 -

Thanks for reading everyone! I'll say it again, please leave me a review :)