A/N: Please read te main A/N at bottom of this chapter. It concerns everything with my stories I have on this site.
Oh and because I don't do this often...
I do not own Twilight, but I do have the series on DVD and book. Plus I get to play with them. Don't you just love sites like this one?
Throughout the service I held Bella as she silently cried, lost in her own grief. I couldn't stand there and sympathise with her, because truthfully I had no clue what she was going through. The only ones that would be able to have some understanding about the pain was the Cullen's but they couldn't attend the service due to the weather. The sun ironically came out to greet us all with some optimism. While she smiled at the idea of her parent's looking down at her, I knew she felt something different about today.
We listened to Billy, my dad and Old Quil Sr. reminiscing about growing up, and reliving the trouble that they had caused. I couldn't help but smile, if the pack had been around in their time I couldn't imagine what life would have been like. Charlie would have definitely been part of the pack regardless of his blood line. As the new chief of police, and Charlie's protégé Officer Geoffrey Michaels handed Bella the flag as a sign of respect, I saw Sophie squeeze her hand as Bella's eyes landed on the flag now sitting on her lap. For a small town I doubt that there was anyone left to run any of the businesses today. Both the reservation schools and those in Forks had closed down for today's service.
It was agreed that Bella and I would ride in her car after the casket had been laid in the ground, giving Bella all the time she would need to say goodbye to her father after everyone had left. The ride in the courtesy vehicle had been quiet, as Embroy held his mother while Bella rested her head on my shoulder. I wasn't sure which one was taking it harder, Bella or Sophie. We all knew that while there wasn't anything going on between Charlie and Embroy's mother, there was some connection other than being single parents. As we left the car, the sound of thunder echoed off the mountains in the distance, as Bella curled into me a little more. We had found her sleeping in the corner a few times since Charlie's passing, but so far she had only apologized for upsetting any of us when we found her. Sophie had even asked me to temporarily move in to make sure she would sleep somewhat peacefully during the nights.
As we watched each member of the small town pay their final respects to Charlie, Bella's hand slipped into mine. I could feel her shaking so slightly and I was sure for those of us who were able to watch closely, you could see it too. She had yet to say anything to those who she didn't know too wee, merely smiling at them when they offered their condolences. It was like one of those movies that Emily and Kim would make us sit through when the boys had done something to piss them off. A nod, pat or soft touch on her shoulder before the next person in line would imitate the same movements with slight alterations.
"Take care of her Seth." Sophie whispered in my ear as she left Bella's side; leaving us alone beside the covered mound of dirt. Nodding my head she smiled before making her way towards the car and Embroy.
We sat there for heaven knows how long as the clouds rolled towards us, the smell of rain carried in the wind. "Do you want to be alone Bella?" I asked softly not wanting to scare her. Handling her with kid proof gloves felt wrong; but I just didn't know what else to do. Hovering around her would not be the best idea.
"Please just for a little while." Her voice was so harsh; from the crying or not talking. Maybe even both.
"I'll just be over there near that tree. Call me if you need me." I whispered in her ear before gently pulling her closer to me. While I can't very well leave her on her own, and as much as I would have liked to have respected her wishes I couldn't. But I could at least give her the illusion that she was alone to say good bye to her father.
It had to be the longest and most painful half hour of my life as I listened to her whisper how sorry that she didn't spend enough time with him how she wished there was some way that she could have taken the pain away in those final days. As she traced the words engraved in the tombstone I heard her murmur that she'd do what he had asked. I had this urge to ask what he had made as his final wishes for her.
I smelt them before I could see them as the Cullen's made their presence known. For the last few days they had been hidden from everyone with the weather stopping them from leaving their home. Each one dressed in black, something I'm sure Bella would be grateful for when she realises that they're here. They stood beside me as we watched Bella gently kiss the picture of Charlie that she and Sophie had chosen to be imbedded in the marble slab. Her soft goodbye not missed by any of us, but it gave us enough time to compose ourselves to help her. As she turned and noticed that I was no longer alone I saw her shoulders drop. I could only imagine what was running through her mind. But as quick as that show of emotion had been released she had pulled it back.
"Isabella; we're sorry we couldn't make it to the service. But we would like you to know how very sorry we are for your lose. Charlie was a good friend of mine and didn't judge us or treat us any differently." Carlisle spoke for the family that had come close to Bella just as we had. I saw from the corner of my eye that Edward smirked at my thoughts. His mind reading thing was going to bug the hell out of me eventually.
"Thanks Dr. Cullen. It means a lot to know that so many people held him in high regard; I just wish I had a little more time with him." The single tear that escaped her softly fell down her face as she reached for me.
"Go home and rest Bella; I'm sure we'll see you again soon." Esme cooed as Bella nodded in my chest.
As we made our way towards her truck I heard Jasper moan about how much pain she was feeling, how her guilt rivalled his from his time before the Cullen's had taken him in. I guided Bella to the back seat, giving her room to lie down and rest. Her breath evened out before we had left the cemetery; giving her time to rest peacefully for a time. The drive allowed me to think back to the information I had read in the book Charlie had given me a few weeks back; and the words of the angel herself. While it would help us understand some of what she would eventually go through, it didn't necessarily cover everything that she would go through. I had to wonder if going through this pain was part of being an angel; before realising that she was the first angel to be born.
I hadn't even realised that we had reached the Call's residence until I saw Emily and Sophie standing outside the house waiting for us to return. Had we really been that long at the site?
"Get her upstairs. The angel's waiting to talk but won't until you're there." Emily said before I had even turned off the engine. I didn't need to be told twice as I raced around the truck and up into the house. She didn't even move once, and if it wasn't for her heart beat and her soft breath I'd have thought she was a life sized doll. Quickly lying her down on the bed I shot out the opened window and made my way towards the woods. The fact that Sophie now knew about the wolves had made things so much easier after we had found out that she would be caring for Bella after Charlie's death.
Barely making it into the thicker parts of the woods before I shredded my clothes and began running on four legs to where I would find the angel, the rest of the pack, and the Cullen's. The silence of the pack mind was peaceful as each was lost in the words that had been said at the funeral. Bounding through the woods, dodging the trees and rocks as I made my way towards the one place that only Sophie had ventured since his death; the Swan residence. Only slowing down once the trees had began to thin out.
As I turned my head towards the angel I felt the nudging from both Paul and Leah. Their concern for Bella and me was astounding. While everyone of the pack and I'm sure the rest of the reservation were concerned for Bella, they had both literally given up their daily lives for the time being to help the more physical aspects of the funeral. While everyone had offered to help, these two had demanded that Sophie allowed them to take some of the burden in everything.
"I'm sorry for this, it should have come earlier but I couldn't leave her in that pain." the angel spoke so softly, almost like she was saddened by what was going to come from her next.
"I have something to show you. Each of you will see it differently to what the rest will see. Please understand that I'm doing this only because of what I have to tell you once you see." Her voice was layered with pain before I was suddenly hit with image after image of a standoff. But it wasn't just my view no I saw it from each pack member's view. Blinding in the middle was a glow of golden white light. I wanted to desperately see what it was, what was going on around me but I couldn't. All I could see was the blinding light pouring from this one point in the field. As fast as it came it ended. I looked towards each member of the pack, only to see that we had each phased back to ourselves. I felt a pair of shorts hit my leg; grateful that someone had the foresight to realise that I hadn't had time to go back and change let alone the time to tie my clothes to my leg.
"Damn, is that what it's like for you all the time Alice?" Emmett murmured before Rosalie smacked him up the head and pointed towards the angel. I chucked at the sight before me.
"What you saw will happen. They will be here before her... my...our birthday. But for that to happen I have to join with her completely... it's the only way for her and you all to survive. I think... she'll still be susceptible to a bite until the date of our birth but she will be able to protect herself a little better." We listened to the angel go on about what will happen with the joining of the two parts of Bella's being. I was lost in the whole thing after she had said Bella will be in no more pain once it was completed. And while we didn't have a real say on whether it happened or not I found myself grateful to know what was going to happen.
"Seth prepare her for this world." The angel said before she turned and walked into the woods leisurely, stopping to gently touch the smaller animals that would normally hide until we had left. We watched until we couldn't see her anymore.
"What did she mean about preparing her for this world?" Quil asked, and I wanted to smack him up the back of the head.
"Tell her about the pack, the Cullen's and what she is. Carlisle calls your friends. I think it's time we get organized." Sam said shaking his head at Quil.
I woke up only to wish I was still asleep. I had gone for nearly two weeks without feeling this pain through my body. I had almost forgotten about the true feeling of physical pain; almost. Groaning I looked around my surroundings. The last thing I remembered was lying on the back seat of my truck as Seth exited the cemetery. At first I thought maybe we had been in an accident, well until I realised that if that was the case I'd have heard the beeping sounds of medical machines and doctors walking the floors. Their squeaking shoes was something I had been able to distinguish from all other styles of shoes. Why they all wore Italian leather was beyond me. Maybe it was something they were taught at college or something.
"Shoot me now." I mumbled to no-one since I was alone in the room. But it was only moments later that I heard the sound of the bedroom door open. Sophie had poked her head around the corner dressed in the same clothes as she had worn to the service.
"How are you Bella?" she softly cooed from the door.
"I think I'm having another one of those things that Dr. Cullen said I would be getting. Everything hurts. My body, my brains, my heart." Replied as I tried to turn on my side to pat the bed. At least she understood that I was inviting her to join me as she strode over towards me and gently sat down.
"How long do they last for? Maybe I can get the time of work and be here to look after you?" her soft eyes betraying the pain she was still feeling with everything, and now that I was having one of my little episodes she was feeling more pressure.
"No you go back to work. Trust me all I'll be doing is sleeping." I answered not wanting to make her feel bad about what was going on with me. It's not something that any of us could understand.
She smiled and began to run her fingers through my hair. It felt so good that I hummed a littler, before wincing as I tried to snuggle into her hand. Obviously my brain had blocked out all the pain and what had brought it on last time.
"Hey can I ask you something. It's kinda personal so if you don't want to its fine but I just wanted to know something." I rambled as she started to run her fingers through once more. Her answering smile caught me off guard a little; but I think it was more of a humouring the bed ridden one than I'll answer everything kind of one.
"You and my dad were pretty close..." she nodded allowing me time to figure out what I was going to say and how I was going to say it.
"Was it more than just friends?" I blushed and tried to hide my face until I was met with the most excruciating pain so far. The wince didn't go unnoticed by her.
The single tear that ran down her face answered everything I needed to know.
"How about you stay still and I'll talk?" she asked as she wiped the tear away. "Yes there was something between us more than friends, but we couldn't take it any further. Your dad didn't want to break my heart once he found out about being sick. It didn't mean that I didn't care for him because I did. I loved your father; but I understood. So rather than push for something h couldn't give me, we stayed friends." Her smile was beautiful as she talked about my dad. Telling me of the things he wanted to do if he could. Who knew that my dad, the chief of police wanted to go cliff diving, or go camping in the woods without knowing where he was. We sat there, or I laid there as she sat and talked about the things that my dad wanted to do and the things that made him happy.
"Rest Bella, if this does go for a couple of days I'm sure you'll need your rest." She whispered as she bent down to bring up the blankets that had fallen. My eyes were closing before I could say anything or smile.
The next time I woke was to find myself wrapped up in a pair of arms that were incredibly hot. The gentle murmur of his soft voice telling me it's alright sending me back into sleep before I could say anything once more. The darkness of sleep matching the vision outside my window.
I fought my body's natural ability to wake itself up when the sun filtered through my closed lids. As Seth's arms were no longer wrapped around me; holding me tight as the pain lessened I was hit with the full force of the pain. The urge to throw up hit me once more. I knew what would happen afterwards but I really didn't want to smell my own vomit for the rest of the day. Getting out of the bed was the easy part, making it to the bathroom was not. I was seriously questioning whether it would have been better to stay in the room and put up with the smell before I finally made it to the one place I needed to be. I didn't even try to close the door knowing it would take more energy than I had to begin with.
Slumped over the toilet what little I had been able to eat during my time of awareness had left my body; while my arms held me up shakily. I didn't even try to brush my teeth, just rinsed my mouth a couple of times before I collapsed on the floor. Felling the steps more than seeing or hearing them I closed my eyes for a few seconds, allowing my body to get accustomed to the view from my standpoint. Emily and Sam stood in the doorway looking down at me; both clearly worried about how and what to do next.
"Run a bath Sam. She probably feels sticky right now." Emily said, and I wanted to agree with her but my body was not going to give me the satisfaction of a polite response.
As the water ran in the tub beside me I listened to the movements around me; the conversation between Sam and Emily sounding a little foggy to me. I felt as Emily and Sam stripped me down to my bra and panties and if I wasn't feeling so sick and completely useless I would have been ashamed that they were having to do this for me. The water more tepid than hot or cold felt amazing on my aching body. I could have and probably did fall asleep while they cared for me. Not realising until I heard Emily call me name asking if I wanted to get some clothes on or if I was fine in my underwear. While I didn't mind Sam seeing me in my panties and bra, there was no way I was letting him see me naked.
It must have payed out in my eyes that I was comfortable in what I was in as I felt the towel being tucked in a little tighter around me before I was picked up once more and placed on the bed. Closing my eyes once more I fell asleep dreaming of nothing and hoping that the pain would leave again. I felt when Seth had come back from school as he joined me in the bed. I sensed that others had come and made themselves comfortable while I was asleep to keep him company. I would have smiled at him and them if it didn't hurt so bad.
It was how my week went, gradually getting better as the days passed. Angela would drop my work off in the afternoon when I was a little better. Talking when I was awake and not in so much pain; talk had started about new people coming into town to speak with the Cullen's. Apparently they were looking into starting a group for teens and young adults who had been adopted to get together and talk. Swapping stories about their experiences. Some of them even talking about people looking for temporary homes. I smiled at that; it would be good for people to get together and see the ways others have dealt with that kind of thing.
On the Friday morning I felt good enough to get out of bed and make my way down to the lounge room. Embroy was taking the day off school to keep me company much to his joy and Seth's annoyance. So it was slightly surprising to see that he was talking to Seth on the phone when I made it down the stairs. I only caught the end of the conversation before he spotted me.
"Hey how're you feeling today?" he asked as sat down beside him.
"Okay I guess, it doesn't hurt so much and I'm up so that's a plus." I answered laying my head on his legs. "Hey did you know our parent's had a thing. We could've been brother and sister if things were different." I mumbled not knowing what to say but not wanting to talk about how I was. His shocked face told me plainly that, no he didn't know about it. I smiled at this; knowing that regardless I'd always see him as a brother. Not sure why but I did.
A/N: hey guys and gals. Sorry that it has taken me so long to update this chapter but unfortunetly I am having serious trouble with updating anything. And while I owe a big debt to AELGP for telling me how to update I have yet to figure out how to start a new story. So my entry for the BTLC contest has not been able to be uploaded. However i have made it into a two shot because I needed to show exactly how much Bella had grown in that one.
Okay so i'm not one hundred percent happy with this, but please bare with me considering I'm actually fighting not only the flu but a servere boute of Hayfever and my medication is counteracting the other.
For those who are also reading Prom Night Trouble; Edward's chapter will be up on my blog in the next day or so, it's just that I've been a bit stuck on what to say for him in that chapter considering it was more a lead up to the first blindside.
Until next time, Please Review and enjoy.
Dee
