Goodbye
"Bella. Are you sure you can control yourself?"
"Yes. I mean, I can't trust myself with strangers, but I am pretty sure I can resist my own father now. We already took all of the cautionary steps...I think we'll be okay." Her eyes had no trace of red. Edward nodded.
Jasper, Alice, Emmett, and Rosalie came along, to wait outside of Charlie's house, just in case anything went wrong.
Bella took a deep breath, out of habit, and rang the doorbell. They could hear Charlie walk to the door. He opened the door with a surprised look. "Bella!" Despite the cold front Charlie liked to put up, he quickly wrapped his arms around his only daughter. Bella held her breath and returned the embrace as gently as possible.
"Charlie, she's not feeling very well so she might need some space." Charlie shot Edward a look with narrowed eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. We just don't want to have a nice mess all over your exquisite shirt." Edward chuckled.
Bella smiled, thankful she didn't have to speak. "Bella," Charlie said with worry in his voice. "You look..." No words could describe the change in his daughter. She looked...well, sort of like Edward and the rest of the Cullens. It was eerie. Bella, needing to speak, was about to take a breath of air, but Edward quickly directed Charlie to the kitchen.
Bella stood as far away as possible; she inched towards the opposite end of the kitchen. The kitchen had not changed much since she was here, except some of the pots were noticeably black at the bottoms. She took another breath. "Dad, I'm in serious trouble. I need your help." Only audible to the vampires, Bella whispered, "Bring him in, please."
Alice caught Charlie's attention as she came in with EJ in her arms. She placed him gently into Bella's arms and stood nearby. "This is EJ." Bella's eyes grew soft. It was the first time she had a chance to hold her baby boy. He was so warm and fragile. She tried to ignore the delicious scent of his blood.
Charlie's face grew two shades redder. "You!" he pointed an accusing finger at Edward.
"Dad...I know. We made a big mistake. But...we're in a lot trouble right now. We...have to go away for a long time and I need to leave EJ in your care. It's too dangerous for us to stay here. I don't know when it will be safe for me to see you or the baby again..."
Charlie's anger quickly disappeared. "Dangerous? You're...leaving?"
"I wish I could explain, but it might kill the baby...and you...and everyone I love..."
"Bella, I am a policeman. You can tell me; I'll take care of it."
Bella frowned. "No, dad...it's way bigger than anything the police force can handle. Please, if I leave now, it'll be completely safe. I promise. Please, do it for EJ."
"Bella, I honestly don't understand what's going on...and I hate to say this, but I am a terrible father..."
Bella balanced the baby in one arm while her right hand reached for Charlie's shoulder. She was going to place her hand against his cheek, but remembered that it would feel very cold to Charlie. "I know it's hard to take in...but I really need to leave, Dad. I know you've had a hard time taking care of me, but second time's a charm right? It'll probably be easier with a boy instead of a weird girl like I was. I know you'll be fine, Dad. Maybe you can take him fishing." Bella forced a smile.
Charlie's eyes wandered to the baby in his daughter's arms. "Grandfather, huh," he muttered.
"We have to go, Dad..." she looked at him apologetically. She gave the baby to Alice so that she could hug Charlie again. "Love you."
"I love you too, Bella. So much. Please keep safe."
"I will...don't worry about me. No matter what happens, just know that I'll be happy."
In the meantime, Alice had gone out and now came back in, pushing EJ in a baby carriage and carrying large bags.
Bella and Edward bent over the carriage. "Mommy and daddy will love you for an eternity," Bella whispered. "We'll always be thinking of you," Edward promised. Bella kissed EJ's forehead and went to stand in the doorway next to Alice. Edward gently stroked the baby's soft, chubby cheek and followed Bella out.
They left and closed the door gently behind them. Renée's going to love hearing about this, Charlie thought to himself sarcastically.
Charlie began to unpack the items in the stuffed bags. He found many baby formulas, stuffed animals, toys, diapers, books, and clothes. One bag surprised him most. It was full of bundles of cash. It was enough to care for the baby and himself. For at least two decades. He grew worried about the amount of money in the bag. Moreover, he worried about Bella. He had a feeling he would never see her again. He sat motionless until he looked over at the baby inside of the carriage. EJ was sound asleep. He looked absolutely angelic. The way he resembled both Edward and Bella...Charlie was convinced this baby was the most beautiful of them all.