Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all.
Rated M for several reasons.
Chpt 10 Charlie Horse
BPOV
I make us lasagne, one of Charlie's non fish related favourites, I tried it with fish once, and no, just no. Anyway, I'd have cooked fish but with no one actually fishing the freezer was finally bare and Charlie won't countenance store bought.
"There's nothing wrong with your appetite." I observe dryly as he clears his plate.
"Shot not dead." Is his only comment as he mops up the sauce with the bread Sue made.
I clear the plates when he's done and sit back down opposite him at the kitchen table, hoping I'm ready for whatever is coming . . . .
"He doesn't eat?" Charlie asks, stroking the outside of the only beer I'm going to allow him.
"Not human food, no."
"Well I guess that explains how thin you are."
"I'm not thin."
"Seriously Bells? When we're done, go upstairs, strip off, and examine yourself in the mirror with a new eye."
"I'm not thin."
"Fine. Ask Sue. Or Billy. Or Jake. Or anyone in Forks. You're skin and bones. And more so every time you come home. So he doesn't eat, doesn't mean you don't need to."
"I eat Dad, and plenty of crap too, Edward's a fantastic cook, I'm never hungry."
"Okay, just promise me you'll think about it. You scraped half that lasagne into the bin. I'm guessing you've gotten used to eating little and quickly so you're not doing something Edwin can't share."
Jesus, Dad.
"So, you told me what really happened in Phoenix and Edwin saved your life?"
"Yes. Why?"
"From what you told me last night he could have taken that opportunity to make you like him. Forever."
"He could have."
"So why didn't he?"
"He doesn't want to take my soul away."
"Jesus, Bells, does he play soccer in an English league?"
"Its not that simple Dad, he loves me."
"Pfft."
"If he'd let me change he'd have taken me away from you, he knew, knows, how much I love you."
Silence, Bella wins again . . . .
"If that would have kept your mother by my side I'd have bitten her in a heartbeat." Charlie mutters, inspecting his empty place setting with undue attention.
"Don't lie to me Dad, this is my life we're talking about."
He fixes me with his best brown eyed stare.
"Alright Isabella Swan. I love, loved, your mother with every fibre of my being. Enough to want her to be happy, to let her go on and live her life, your life, without me. But if she'd asked anything of me to make her stay I'd have given her it."
"Edward and I compromised."
He snorts.
"I'm not you Dad. We're not you and Mom, we make it work."
"Your Mom and I could have made it work, lots of couples do. You think that would have ultimately made either of us happy?"
Silence.
"Is he completely dead?"
"What?"
"Am I going to get grandkids?"
"No."
"And you don't want kids?"
"Jesus Dad, they're not the be all and end all of a happy life."
"I didn't say they were. But you sure enhanced mine. And you're here, now."
"Edward looks after me Dad, he'll always be here, he's immortal."
"No he's not."
"Dad . . . ."
"This James vampire, he's dead ain't he?"
Fuck.
"What are you going to do Bells when Edwin ends up dead and you're in your sixties? You'll have wasted your life."
"No! I won't have! I love him. And that's no different from any other couple. Cancer, accidents, disease, we all die sometime."
"Yeah, but most of us live in the meantime."
"I'm alive. Don't you dare judge me!"
Charlie sighs and inspects his place setting again, worrying at the edges of the rattan mat.
"You broke up with him the first year of college Bells. And you've just officially broken up with him again. I realise now that he never went away, just stayed hidden, but I don't care what you call that, it ain't living."
"Dad . . . ."
"Bells you were never a stupid child, quite the opposite, is he going to stay hidden forever or are you going to start introducing him as your Son at some point in the future? Nephew? Grandson? You gonna spend your whole life hiding too?"
...
I got him into bed, eventually, and then collapsed into my own, with no Edward to comfort me.
Charlie hasn't told me anything I don't already know, even the skinny part, but I don't like it and I'm going to reject it. There are few alternatives.
I'll live my life as an old maid, as long as I have to, with Edward. He'll change me when Charlie's mended, I know he will. Its hard right now but other people have had it harder. We just need to be strong.
...
"Bellski."
"Arthur, what the hell are you wearing?"
"A lumberjack shirt, I thought you'd appreciate the show of solidarity."
There are no words, even a man as good looking as Arthur can't pull off that shirt, not even with the slightly suspect resolution of a webcam.
"Anyway, I'll need to fit in when I come visit you."
"You're coming here?"
"I sure am. Greg has a pitch that needs working on with a corporation in Seattle and he thought you might like to freelance on it with Ty and me."
"Ty?"
"Yup Mr Perfect, I bet he can carry off a lumberjack shirt."
"Wow."
"I didn't realise you liked him that much." Arthur snickers.
"Not Ty you muppet, the freelance idea. I don't know how it would work though, I have Newton's and Charlie . . . ." And Edward.
"We'd only need you for a few hours a day, Ty and I can do the rest while you're flogging tents and being selfless."
"I don't know."
"Come on Bellski, you're bloody good at what you do, you don't wanna get ring rusty do you? Greg wouldn't normally do this, he likes his team where he can see 'em but he trusts me and he trusts you, and, for some reason, he seems to like us. Be rude not to accept his offer."
"Maybe, if I talk to him . . . ."
"Good girl. He's calling you tomorrow, I said I'd soften you up first. So, tell me, how's our moustachioed hero healing? I can't wait to worship at his feet."
Jesus, first Edward and now Arthur, Charlie's gonna pitch a fit . . . .
...
"It's a good idea Bells. Best of both worlds, you won't be stuck here with me forever and it would be a shame if you had to start all over again from scratch when you've already worked too hard and done so well."
"I'm not sure . . . ."
"Charlie's right Bella." Sue interrupts gently. "Between you, me and Edward we can take care of Charlie."
"I am not a house pet." Charlie objects.
"Shut up Charlie." Sue says easily, swatting his arm. "It doesn't sound like the kind of break most of us get, you really should go for it Bella, we'll make it work."
"I guess. I should ask Edward, I don't want to make any decisions without him."
"I'm sure Edwin only wants what's best for you too Bells, but if you need his permission then go ahead and ask for it."
"Dad, it's not like that."
"Good. Sue, is that stew ready yet, healing and physio are doing wonders for my appetite."
...
"Of course it's a good idea Love. And of course we'll make it work. I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks." I sigh, settling back on my bed, relieved for some reason. "How are the others?"
"The same." He chuckles. "Carlisle and Alice are happy we're in no danger from Charlie knowing about us but Rose is having a conniption."
"She's very protective."
"Yes she is, it's one of the reasons we all tolerate her behaviour when she gets bent out of shape. Alice is threatening to visit, she loves Charlie."
"And he loved her, that's a brilliant idea."
"Is it okay if I bring her back with me? She's desperate to see you."
"Yes she is." A faint voice agrees.
"Hi Alice, I've missed you too. What about Jasper?"
Edward laughs again, such a warm musical sound, even a cell connection via some satellite or aerial network can't dim it.
"He says he can survive for a couple of days and Em's promised to keep him occupied."
"Oh dear . . . ."
Another laugh.
"That's exactly what Esme said."
...
Charlie does seem somewhat cheered by the idea of a visit from Alice, I always wondered if maybe he had a bit of a benign crush on her, she has that affect on people when she wants to.
So now I only need to get through tonight and Edward will be home, with my favourite sister in tow.
I can't wait . . . .
Which is probably why I completely fail to sleep.
...
"Are you alright dear?" Mrs Newton asks as I stagger into work for my shift. "You look absolutely exhausted, is looking after Charlie too much for you? There's always help available you know . . . ."
"No, Mrs Newton, I'm fine. I just didn't sleep very well last night."
"Well if you're sure, there's no shame in asking for help you know."
"I know that Mrs Newton, thank you." I assure her as I struggle into my tabard.
I'm sure, somewhere in the mists of time, some Newton ancestor deliberately picked this color in the full knowledge that it would make look like I've got jaundice.
"Mike!" She calls, clacking away in her heels.
How can she even walk in those things, never mind stay upright on this shiny floor . . . .
Customers suck, really, how is it okay for you to waste an hour of my life looking at fishing poles you clearly can't afford? And to be obnoxious about it too? You sound like you swallowed one of Charlie's fishing journals but I know more about it than you do . . . . just fuck off and ruin some other sales clerk's day . . . . and use deodorant, for the love of god . . . . I'll even buy it for you . . . .
My cell vibrates and I pluck it out of my pocket while he's pretending he knows how to cast . . . .
'Two hours out. What time do you finish?'
'Noon.' I tap back.
'We'll hunt and meet you at home'
'Okay x'
'xxx'
"Excuse me." My customer huffs. "I said this one doesn't feel right."
That's because it's like Harry's wand, it knows you're an asshole and it wants to be picked by someone worthy.
"In what way Sir, what difference are you looking for?"
"Something lighter."
And we're back to the carbon poles again.
I hate you. I don't know you but I have decided to hate you anyway. This makes me a bad person, but what can you do?
"Certainly Sir, would you like to try the carbon poles again?"
...
Edward and Alice emerge from the trees as I pull onto the drive, engaging in a brief fight, which Alice wins, to get to me first.
"I've missed you so much." She growls into my neck.
"Me too."
"And me." Edward drawls.
"Sorry." Alice says with no hint of actual regret. "But you get to see her all the time, I'll let her go in a minute."
...
Charlie's in his favourite chair when we eventually get inside.
"Well color me happy." He chuckles, opening his arms. "Its Mini Dracula."
She hugs him very carefully but has probably punctured his remaining ear drum with her happy squeals.
"Chief." She sighs when she lets him go. "Looking good."
Oh my god, he's blushing like a twelve year old, any minute now he's going to say 'aw-shucks'.
"Aw-shucks."
"Jesus, Dad . . . ."
...
We eat dinner, well Charlie and I do, and then retire to watch SportsCenter.
"Alice and I need to catch up and she'll take care of me." Dad announces. "Why don't you two go on a date or something?"
"Dad . . . ."
"Oh right, you can't. Shame that. Still, I'm sure you'll find something to do."
Jesus, Dad . . . .
"Off you go then, don't worry about staying out late, its Sunday tomorrow."
My mouth and brain are still flailing when Edward pulls me gently outside.
"Come on." He urges. "I've missed you and the Bachelor Cabin is ready and waiting. Just for us."
"Okay, let's go . . . ."