Chapter 10 – About…Charlie…

Carlisle:

We were all shocked that Jane left so suddenly. I honestly think she was embarrassed and wanted to get out of here as soon as possible. I emailed Aro and explained to him what happened and that Jane had just left and to expect her back sooner than he expected. All he did was send a reply stating he was glad Bella was now one of us and that we followed his orders. About Jane, he just stated it was unfortunate she disobeyed me. I was just glad this little episode was behind us now. This brings about a new bridge to cross, explaining Jake's phasing in front of Charlie to Bella. Since Bella had recently fed, I decided to call her and Edward to my study and then have Jake come in while we tell her what he did. This could be dangerous with a newborn so I am having Esme in to help calm things.

Bella and Edward sat in the chairs in front of my desk and Esme sat next to Bella holding her hand. I decided to get straight to the matter at hand. I told Jake to be ready when I called him in.

"Bella, now that Jane has left we can continue with your getting used to being a vampire without all the tension of having her spying eyes around us. How are you feeling? Is the thirst as bad now that you have fed?" I asked curiously.

"Not as bad but it is still there. I still need to get used to hunting and killing," Bella said.

"Dad, she did great. I took her out and Emmett and Rosalie stayed around in the background. I taught her how to listen and smell to seek out the prey. She picked it right up. She caught the scent of some deer and I showed her how to track them and wait to pounce on them. While she had a deer in sight, a cougar came tracking the same deer. It lunged for the deer and Bella tackled the cougar in flight and quickly took it down and bit its neck. She was awesome, like she had done this her whole life!" Edward said proudly.

"Dad, did you give any thought about how to deal with Charlie?" Bella asked softly.

"As a matter of fact Bella, that's the main reason I called you in. I'm afraid something has happened and there has been a change of events. Charlie is fine, but…" I tried to explain.

"What? What happened? Did something happen to Charlie? Tell me! Edward?" Bella asked looking at Edward.

"Love, just listen, dad will explain," Edward told her.

"Bella, I'm afraid Jacob…" Before I could get the rest out, Jake came bounding in the room.

"Bella, I'm sorry but I phased in front of Charlie so you wouldn't have to give him up," Jake stated nervously.

Bella looked at him with a startled expression on her face. She rose from the chair and angrily faced him. She quickly flashed to Jacob and placed her hand on his chest, pushing him backward and getting in his face.

"You what? You phased in front of him? Why would you do that?" Bella demanded.

Esme, Edward and I quickly flashed over to them. Esme got next to Jacob and Edward and I grabbed Bella to keep her from harming Jake.

"Bella, calm down," Edward tried to say to her.

"No! How can I calm down? You know what this means for Charlie now! Why would you do that, Jacob?" Bella demanded again.

"I was only trying to help. It killed me that you would have to give Charlie up and it would kill him too if he was told you were dead, so I decided to fix it so you could still see him," Jake tried to explain.

"How dare you do that? He will have to be a vampire now!" Bella screamed at Jake.

"Bella, listen to me, Dad will explain, please calm down and let him fill you in," Edward said dragging Bella back to the chair.

Bella was furious with Jacob and was glaring at him the whole way. Edward practically had to drag her back to the chairs and then sat her down holding her shoulders. Esme and I walked with Jacob and had him sit over on the couch. Esme sat next to Jake in case Bella made a charge for him. Sitting back down in the chair across from Bella I filled her in on Jacob's phasing and the meeting we had in the living room while she was transforming. I explained all that was discussed and how we came to the conclusion, this could possibly work if Charlie kept our secret. I also informed her Jake said nothing about vampires. Bella eventually calmed down and seemed content with the way things worked out.

"You mean I will be able to see and talk to Charlie? We don't have to fake my death?" Bella asked excitedly.

"Yes you can see him and no we don't have to fake your death. As long as Charlie keeps our secrets, you can be with him. However, he does not want to be totally informed about the wolves or us at his own wish. So you must honor his wish." I explained.

"Jake, I'm sorry. Thanks for helping us and allowing me to keep Charlie in my life. When can I see him?" Bella asked.

"Not for about a month, but you can talk to him on the phone, but I don't want him coming here until we know how you can handle your thirst and being around humans. This is for his safety," I informed her.

"That's okay, I understand. I'm satisfied with calling him for now, thanks dad!" Bella said smiling at me.

"Bella, you still are confined to the house and you cannot go out without at least 2-3 of us with you. No driving, no calling on the phone except to Charlie and in my presence and no going into town or calling your friends. Remember this," I told her.

"Yes dad! I remember. I'll do my best," Bella offered.

"Bel-la! Don't make me have to remind you of this the hard way," I warned.

"I said, I'll do my best," Bella said smartly.

"Love, please. Don't push it," Edward warned her.

"You would be wise to listen to Edward, missy. I know your hormones will be all over the place as you go through your newborn stage, but you will talk to and treat me with respect or learn a hard lesson, young lady," I warned her again.

"If I had a dollar for every time you called me young lady, I'd be rich by now," Bella came back.

"Bella! Come over here," I called to her.

Bella defiantly walked over to me and stopped and stared at me with her arms crossed.

"You want to try that again?" I asked her.

"Yes dad, I'll watch my mouth," Bella answered.

"You better," I said to her.

We then left the study to join the others. Everyone was in a good mood since Jane had cleared out. We all breathed a sigh of relief with her gone. We enjoyed the rest of the evening talking and Bella getting used to being close to my wolf children and tolerating the smell. It was tough for her, but she did well.

A Week Later:

Bella:

Dad was at the hospital and Edward, Jasper and Emmett were out in the yard playing a game and sparing. Esme, Rosalie and Alice were shopping in town at the grocery store, and Jake, Leah and Seth were doing homework. I hadn't seen Seth all day and just assumed he was in his room. I was bored. I was tired of being in the house all day and decided I would like to go to our meadow and just look around as a vampire now. Since everyone was occupied with something, I decided to sneak out the back door of our room. Esme had designed our room the same as Edward's with a door leading out to the forest. I quietly opened the door and jumped into the tree. I still couldn't get used to the way I could move and jump so effortlessly.

I eventually jumped down to the ground and made my way quickly to the meadow. It was not the same there without Edward, but I found it this time with no problem and was quite proud of myself. I walked around and remembered all that had happened here over the past years after Edward brought me here for the first time. I was finally like him and I could not be harmed. I was by myself for a change and was reveling in the bliss of being by myself. I stayed a while and then decided I better get back before someone discovered I was gone. As I was running back I heard voices in the woods. I got quiet and hid up in the tree and listened and waited. Soon Seth and some of the Quiluete wolf pack were talking and goofing around. I heard them say see you tomorrow same time same place to Seth. He agreed and then ran back to the house. The others took off for the Reservation. What was he up to? I thought he was supposed to be studying. Dad will not like this. I decided not to say anything and see how things went.

Arriving back at the house I quickly jumped up to the open door to our room. Thank goodness, no one missed me. I could hear Edward and his brothers outside in the front and I could sense Mom and the girls were still out and Jake, Leah and now Seth were home in their rooms. I thought of asking Seth what he was up to, but then decided not to since that would reveal I was out when I wasn't supposed to be. I decided to keep it to myself. I thought it was safer for both of us.

After a while Edward came in the room and we decided to go out for a hunt. I was getting better at stalking prey and finding them on my own. I couldn't believe how easy it was to bite through the neck of the animals. I had a pang of regret at each animal I killed but then when I smelled and tasted the blood that regret was replaced by an insatiable thirst and I drank happily trying to satisfy my craving. I brought down an elk. The larger game animals tasted better. I still hadn't taken a deer yet. It will be hard for me to take a deer because they are so pretty. Edward had an elk also. I like the taste of cougar like Edward does more than anything. Someday we are going in search of cougar or bear. Edward said bears taste so much better. For now, I was happy with the elk. In fact, I was happy…

To Be Continued…

Please give reviews!