THANK YOU Kristi for taking the time to proof this! Good luck tomorrow!

DISCLAIMER: whatever... own jack squat!

Chapter 10

Charlie's POV

As Sue and I sat down on the couch, Bella sat on the floor in front of me a few feet away. My heavens, it was so good to have Bella back in my house. Gosh, I had missed her sweet face. Sue and Bella looked at each other briefly before their attention returned to me.

"Dad... we have some things we need to tell you. What we discuss cannot leave this room..." Bella's voice was tender as she slowly spoke.

"Bella... Sue..." What could they possibly have to say that was so secretive? "What is going on? I don't quite understand why you are here and what would be so secretive..." I couldn't help but scowl as I looked at Bella and then at Sue.

The suspense was killing me. All I needed to hear from Sue was a simple 'yes' or 'no'... And why did she bring Bella in on this? I just couldn't figure it out.

"Charlie," Sue began, "There are some... things that you need to know and accept before we can marry... I cannot say yes until you do..." Sue closed her eyes and opened them slowly.

What? I love her... I have accepted everything about her. What hasn't she told me?

"Dad... I am not the same Bella I was a year ago..." Bella whispered.

I threw up my arms in frustration. "Of course you're not! People change when they get married. Why don't you just spit it out and get it over with?" What was going on? Did she think I didn't know how marriages work? For goodness sake, I was married to her mother and I am a completely different man now than I was before her mother and I were married... Speaking of marriage... Where was Edward? Something must be going on... Bella and Edward seemed really happy last night. Was it a cover? Are they splitting up? I knew they were too young...

"I'm a... vampire..." Bella whispered.

Did I hear her correctly? Yeah... she's a vampire and Jacob is a werewolf... Such things don't exist... Her face... she looks so serious... I could feel the blood draining from my face... Oh. My. Gosh... She is serious... I knew there was something different about Edward and his family... They were too... perfect...

I felt frozen in place... I couldn't move and I had to work at making sure I was breathing...

"The Cullen family are all vampires, good ones who protect human life..." She added. I knew she wanted me to say something... I could hear the pleading in her voice. I just couldn't focus... I couldn't take my eyes away from hers... but everything was getting hazy... I felt like I was in a dark hole, their voices seemed so far away...

Sue spoke up softly, "Charlie? Say something..." I could hear the concern in her voice... Wait... she didn't sound shocked... How could Sue know all about this and keep it from me? But wait... I knew something was different about the Cullen's... I could sense it. I never really felt at ease around Edward... But Alice... She was an angel...

"I think... I knew..." I said... "I just... wasn't... sure... They were so... different..." I sat on the couch, shoulders hunched over, struggling to keep myself together. I couldn't take my eyes off of Bella... My sweet baby girl... Now she was what? A fictional sci-fi blood drinker? I took in a deep breath trying to keep the tears at bay...

"Honey" Sue began, "We have some legends in our tribe... some that you need to hear and understand..."

Sue told me the stories of her tribe. I don't know that I paid much attention to what she was saying, all I could think about was my baby girl... how could she do this to herself? How did she change into a vampire? It was Edward... He brainwashed her or something... He did this.

What? Did Sue say something about werewolves? Seth and Leah are werewolves? Jacob? Sam? What the hell was going on? They are enemies with my baby? I felt the tears release and start to fall down my face but I couldn't move enough to wipe them away... Oh, Bella... her fingers felt like ice... She seemed to have the same sweet caring nature as always by wiping my tears away... When Sue was finished, we sat in silence. I could feel Sue's eyes on me but I couldn't take my eyes off of Bella...

I don't know how long we sat there in silence but I couldn't sit there anymore... The silence was doing nothing but make the angry voices in my head louder... Sue lied to me! She knew about Bella before she married HIM! She knew Bella was going to throw her life away... give up her soul to the devil... That is just what he was... the devil! How could he do this to someone he loves? Damning her to hell of all places! I felt the raw emotion of disgust pour through my body as I looked at Bella's face. I couldn't stand it... I had to get out of there... I needed to be alone. I wanted them out of my house but didn't think I could keep myself from yelling so I decided to just get up and go to my room... Hopefully they would get the point and just leave.

As I started to climb the stairs, I felt Bella's cold hand on my arm.

"Dad..." She whispered.

I spun around to face her.

"Give me time..." I groaned, "I'll call you... when I'm... ready."

Sue was right behind Bella, I looked at her trying to hide the disgust I felt toward her at the moment from showing.

"I just... I'll call..." I mumbled.

I turned back to the stairs and headed up, closing and locking my bedroom door behind me before sinking down on my floor.

I sat with my back pressed against the door letting the fits of anger come out... I wanted to drive over to the Cullen's house and rip Edward a new one before pumping him full of lead... That son of a...

"Oh... Bella..." I cried. She made the choice... She loves him... It would kill her this time if he was taken away from her again...

I couldn't stop my shoulders from heaving up and down and I sobbed... I couldn't sit any longer... I had to get up. I stood up and paced back and forth in my room...

Sue... I shook my head in disbelief. How could she keep something like this from me? How could she let my daughter do this to herself? What was wrong with her? How could I choose so badly when it came to women? I could feel my heart breaking... I loved her so much... but was enough to get past her betrayal?

Exhausted I sat on my bed and stared at the floor. My mind was finally blank... I couldn't think anymore. My stomach rumbled reminding me of the food I never got to eat. I took in a deep breath and looked at my digital clock... it was 2:58am... Had I been up here that long? I was starving so I got up and made my way down the stairs.

I flipped on the light noticing the food had been put away... I pulled a few containers from the fridge and loaded a plate of food and stuck it in the microwave. I watched the plate turn in circles as I waited for the food to get hot.

I couldn't help but tense up as I heard Bella's soft voice from behind me.

"Dad" she whispered...

I closed my eyes, I didn't know what to say to her yet... the microwave beeped alerting me that my food was ready so I pulled it out and turned to set it on the table. Bella was standing there in the doorway watching me. Her eyes were full of sadness and longing as I sat down in my chair. I propped my elbows on the table and dropped my head into my hands...

"Please Bella..." I pleaded, "Let me eat... just... let me eat..."

I picked my head up and grabbed my fork. I stuck a mouthful of food in my mouth... Bella sat down across from me and just waited while I ate. The food all tasted the same, but I ate everything on my plate because I was so hungry... When I was done I got up to put my plate in the sink. I wasn't ready to talk with Bella... I turned to head back up the stairs.

"Dad!" Bella's voice was firm, "You can't shut me out... I love you. What about Sue? She loves you... You have started to plan a life together..."

I clenched my teeth as I turned to face her.

"Do you know how it feels to find out that your only child... your sweet, innocent baby girl has given her soul to the devil? Believe me when I say this Bella... I know I am not a religious man and I know Renee switched from church to church as the wind blew her but I would NEVER give up my soul for anyone... no, any THING! You disgust me... And as for Sue... For her to watch you with him... knowing what was going on and not tell me... That is unforgivable..." I growled, failing to keep my voice down.

I heard quiet sobbing coming from the family room. I closed my eyes as I heard footsteps running down the hall towards the front door. I flinched as the door slammed and cursed at myself. Sue was still here... she heard every word I said. Did I care? It sort of felt good to know that I hurt her with all the pain I was feeling now.

Bella stood up glowering at me.

"Charlie!" she screamed, "You have NO idea what you are talking about! She had NO CHOICE but to keep quiet! I am the only one who had a choice in this matter! If she would have told you... she would have broken a treaty and started a major war between the Cullen family and the wolves! I fell in love with Edward even after I figured out who and what he was..."

I cut her off, "Don't you stand in MY house and raise your voice at me young lady! I am your father and you will treat me with respect!"

She sucked in a deep breath and blew it out quickly.

"Do you want to know everything or are you going to just be an ignorant ass?" She was furious and so was I...

"What more is there to say? You're not even human anymore... you made your choice... I can't help it if I don't like it..." My voice broke as I tried to keep the angry tears at bay.

Bella closed her eyes and waited for a moment, obviously collecting herself.

"Dad... there is so much to say... remember back when I took off for Phoenix?"

I closed my eyes remembering the night clearly... Bella was frantic... angry... scared. I had to sit down again. After I sat down, Bella joined me at the table.

"I was running from a bad vampire named James who wanted to kill me... The only way to keep you safe was to leave... Edward was scared to death. Alice and Jasper came with me to protect me while Edward, Emmett and Carlisle tried to track down James and destroy him... I didn't trip down the stairs to end up in the hospital... James had bitten me in the hand which would have started the transformation into becoming a vampire, but Edward didn't want that life for me... He sucked the venom out to stop the process... He wanted me to stay human... to live a full life, not missing out on anything... I almost died then... Edward came just in time and saved me..." Bella spoke so softly.

I kept my eyes closed. The muscles in my jaw were aching because of my inability to unclench my teeth. I still felt nothing but disgust and anger at Edward... for doing this to my little girl... When I stayed silent, Bella continued talking.

"Remember when Edward left me?" I could hear the hurt in Bella's voice as she asked.

I opened my eyes to look at her. Her face was full of love with a hint of sadness.

"How could I forget?" My voice broke as I remembered the pain that she went through... It was so painful to watch her all those months... trying to keep it together... pretending to be alive when she was dead inside...

"Dad..." Bella reached across the table and touched my arm lightly. "Edward left to protect me. Alice threw me a birthday party and something horrible happened at it..." She paused for a moment, "I was opening gifts and got a paper cut... Blood and vampires is not a good mix... Jasper struggles with the diet we live on the most... When I started to bleed, he tried to attack me... he had not fed for awhile so the urge hit him strong... Edward knew that I wasn't safe around his family and knew that the only way to protect me without changing me into what I am now is to leave... It nearly killed him to do it... He was no better off than me all those months."

"That makes a little sense I guess..." that was all I could mutter... I knew that if someone I loved was in danger and the only way to keep them safe was to leave... I would make that difficult choice and go... But then... he didn't stay away did he?

"Bella... why did he decide to come back with you?"

"I was getting to that... Alice. She has these visions we call 'future flashes' and she saw me jump off the cliff the day Harry died... She thought I was dead so she came back to Forks to comfort you. She was shocked to find me alive and breathing when she got here." Bella took a deep breath and continued as I still tried to wrap the idea of Alice seeing the future around my brain.

"All this time, Edward stayed away from his family for the most part. He would check in here and there but never stayed more than a day or two. Rosalie was desperate to get her family back under one roof so she thought that if she told him I was dead that he would come home. So, she called him and told him. He didn't believe her so he called here on the day of Harry's funeral. Edward pretended to be Carlisle when Jake answered the phone. When Edward asked for you, Jake told him you were not here but that you were at the funeral. Edward assumed it was mine so he took off to Italy to see the vampire royalty. He no longer wanted to live if I was not alive..."

Bella broke off suddenly intaking a sudden deep breath. I could see the pain in her eyes as she relived the memories that were playing out. Bella's voice was a little shaky as she finished the story...

"Alice saw Edward petitioning the court in Volterra to end his life and knew that the only one who could save him was me... Alice explained that it was very dangerous for me to go and that if we were caught trying to save Edward that I might not make it home alive... I couldn't not go dad... No matter how I thought Edward felt about me, I knew that I couldn't exist in a world knowing he was not in it... Most of those months that he was away and I didn't think I would ever see him again, I continued on knowing that even if Edward wasn't here with me that he was somewhere... that every night, we had the same sky above us... the same wonderful moon and stars..." Bella smiled. "It was a race to Volterra. We knew that the courts denied his petition so he was planning on exposing himself to the city as a vampire by walking out in the sun. It is highly frowned upon to tell humans about us... In most cases, punishable by death. I was scared to death that we wouldn't get there in time if we didn't, I was sure that I didn't want to make it back..." Bella flinched when she realized what she said, "Oh... I'm sorry dad... I was so desperate at the time... My only prayers were that I would get to see him one more time..."

"Bella..." I interrupted, "I remember just what type of state you were in before you left... I was scared every time I came home from work that you might have... you know, ended things..." I tried to keep my voice from showing the pain of my memories.

Bella's smile was small but she continued, "We got there just in the knick of time. Although I saved him from exposing himself, the guards for the royal family were waiting for him to make his move into the sun. When I showed up, things got dangerous. We were taken into custody. The only way that we were going to make it out of the city alive was for Edward to promise to change me into a vampire. It killed him to agree to that but he finally did. I can't even tell you the joy I felt to see him again, to feel his strong embrace, to know he was safe. I didn't know if he would leave me again, but I did know that the love I felt for him was stronger than ever... I was so scared to close my eyes so I forced myself to stay away the whole time it took us to get home. I know how worried you were when I was barely conscious when Edward brought me home. I knew you were angry and wanted Edward gone for good. Edward knew just how you were feeling, what you were thinking dad... he always did. It killed him to know of the hatred and disdain you felt for him every time he was around..."

"Well, with good reason! I knew I acted poorly around him, but I never once told him after the night he brought you home just how poorly I thought of him." I didn't mean to shout, but the painful memories were hard to relive again. I did start to understand the mechanics of their love though...

"Dad..." Bella whispered. "Edward knew... he has a special ability to read minds..."

I sat back in my chair as I felt like the wind was being knocked out of me. We sat in silence as I agonized over every bad thought and feeling I used to have for Edward. I heard myself groaning in shame as I recalled all those nights Edward came to spend time with Bella, always being polite, acting like the perfect gentleman. I felt sick... I truly liked Edward now... From the time I gave him my blessing to marry Bella, I accepted him as a son...

"I-I... am so... ashamed..." I closed my eyes as the waves of sorrow swept over me.

I felt Bella's hand on my knee and opened my eyes to find her squatting down next to me. She looked so calm and understanding as she looked into my eyes.

"Dad, it's really ok. Edward knows that you accept him now... Well, we both hope that you will continue to accept us... but there is more I need to tell you. Is it ok if I tell you the rest?"

I tried to smile, "Yeah, go ahead..."

Bella stood up and sat on the edge of the table as she continued,

"Remember all the hikers that went missing and the reports of wolf sightings?"

I nodded in remembrance. Bella went on to tell me about Victoria and the army of vampires she had created. I couldn't help but feel gratitude for the Cullen family and Sam, Jacob and the rest of the pack for coming together to protect my girl. After she finished telling me the story I just sat there shaking my head in disbelief. How could all of these things have happened right in front of me? What kind of father was I to not notice the trouble my child was in?

"I am so sorry for everything you had to go through Bella! I should have been more understanding... I should have known!" I felt like a complete failure now as a father.

"Oh, dad... you have nothing to apologize for!" Bella's laugh was musical as she threw her arms around me.

I pulled away from her and took her hands from my shoulders, holding them tightly in my hands. I felt too overwhelmed with the information that was shared with me. My thoughts felt like a tornado as they spun around and around in my head. I could feel a headache coming on as I sat there trying to come to terms with everything.

"I really think I need to lay down and try to get some sleep..." I glanced at the clock. It was 4:43am and I was supposed to be to work by 7am... I already knew that I would be calling in sick from lack of sleep... I started to stand as I thought of Sue. I closed my eyes. I didn't know how things would be between us yet... Could I forgive her and accept her family's secret? I didn't have the answers yet, but I knew that I needed to call her and at least tell her that I was sorry for what she had overheard.

I grabbed the phone and dialed her number and apologized, promising that I would call her after I got some sleep and my head was clear.

I was exhausted as I headed up the stairs to my room. I could hear Bella coming up behind me.

"Bella... really, I am fine. I am going to take a few sleeping pills so I can sleep. Go home to Edward and I will call you when I get up." I yawned as I headed into the bathroom.

"Alright dad... I will call your office in a few hours and let them know that you won't be in today."

I glanced over my shoulder at Bella and nodded.

As I crawled into bed, I felt the exhaustion take over and was asleep before my head hit my pillow.

AN: Sorry this took so long to update... Life happened! (I know... how dare it! Sheesh!) It is extra long though. I plan on going back into Bella's POV for the next chapter where this one leaves off...

I have never gone with anyone but Bella's POV before so please let me know if you liked it... should I try with another character or just leave it with Bella? I absolutely LOVE all the reviews I have gotten so thank you! As always, I respond to everyone I can (can't if there is no email to respond to when they are anonymous)

Thanks for reading! Tell me what you think!

Kim