AN: Thanks everyone for your awesome reviews! I truly cherish everyone who takes the time to do so. I was very very busy on my vacation but I am back home now, and able to work a little more diligently on writing chapters and responding to each of your reviews. This one was a toughy. I re-wrote it three times. I have to send much love out to TheUnderStudy for her amazing and encouraging beta work. This chapter is sorta sad. Sorry in advance.

Beyond the door
There's peace I'm sure.
And I know there'll be no more...
Tears in heaven

Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton

CHARLIE

It's very hard to describe the way it feels when you cross over to the other side. Although, I am not fully aware of where it is I am exactly. I can say one thing for sure, it's not Heaven, nor is it Hell. It's just a space in between maybe. The first few seconds I started to cross I was being greeted by people I knew, some I didn't, but in all my stubborn resistance I held myself back from going with them. Harry Clearwater was over there, he told me it was time, but I didn't want to see him just yet. He died of a heart attack a few years back and I wasn't ready to see him. I just shook my head. I wasn't ready. I have a lot to do still. I have a daughter that still needs me to check her oil in her truck and change tires for her. I have words of advice to give to my grandchildren, words they will never be able to hear now.

To say I am angry is an understatement. Not just anger towards that shithead who put me here, but anger for the way Bella was treated after I was gone, or taken, or... Well, I don't know how to accurately explain where I am so I don't know how to describe how I got here. Some sorta limbo, I guess.

I was murdered. It wasn't a painful death, peaceful actually. It was my soul that was in pain, I knew it wasn't my time to go. I wasn't going to accept death easily. I have so much to look forward to. My daughter, who needs me, is just wandering around out there and there's no way to warn her of the filthy traitors that go around posing as friends, as family! I did try to, I called her before being caught off guard and... Well, now I am here, and trying to help her but I know she can't hear me, the most I can do for her is cause a draft, which is what I did yesterday. I hope that I, in some way, helped her to walk out that door. He's from a bad breed and though I was always skeptical of them, it wasn't till recently I realized how bad they are. Though, surprisingly, they aren't even the worst of the lot that live in Forks. I learned that lesson far too late.

Today is my funeral. It's the day of mourning over my passing. I remember when my father died how I use to wonder if he was there somehow. I can't speak for those who fully crossed, but to be able to be here and see all the people saying their farewells to my human form, well, it's just surreal. I hover around Bella, who has just been making me so proud. She's been stronger than I anticipated. I'm overjoyed by the fact that Jacob has been there for her. I feel as though he was being put here for her. It's a weird perspective on destiny to see things falling into place, almost like a puzzle, but not a physical one, more like a spiritual one.

I moved down to be around Bella. It hurt me to see her so upset. I wish I could tell her it was all okay. I moved to hug her. The service was about to start when I noticed that Edward was sitting next to Bella. Although it seemed like she wasn't really paying attention to him much. I pulled back to find Jacob. I saw him two rows back sitting next to a strawberry blonde woman. She looked uneasy sitting next to Jacob who was all but ignoring her. I wondered what the heck was going on as I was certain Bella and he had been making progress.

Once the ceremony began I couldn't help but divert my attention to my killer. As he sat there with his family, pretending to care about what he had done. How foolish he seemed to me. I know the reasons behind what he did now and I think them so superficial that it astounds me. What gets me the most is that in life I would have never pictured him the type to do this sort of thing. It goes to show how little you can trust anyone.

I turned my attention away from him. I couldn't stand to look at him any longer. I focused back on Bella and saw her crying still, Edward trying to console her but her stiffly rejecting his affections. It made me smile to see her refusal of him. I can't say he is all bad but just not right for my daughter. I'm sure there is someone out there better suited for him than her. I looked back at Jacob to see the girl sitting next to him getting up in a huff and the heels of her shoes clicking loudly as she walked out the door. Jacob had a stone cold stare in his eyes and his jaw was flexing. I could only imagine the thoughts going through his head. People were looking quite put off by her rudeness.

I moved to be next to Bella. I tried to wrap myself around her to let her know I was there. Her crying became softer and she looked up to watch the minister give his sermon. He was talking about trusting in the Lord unconditionally. He then asked if anyone had anything they would like to say about me. A few of my fellow officers came up and talked about me and my bravery, my dedication to my job and my family. It felt nice to know that's how I would be remembered. I focused mainly on holding Bella throughout the speeches. I pulled back slightly as Bella sat up straight when Angela walked up to the podium to give a eulogy...

"I knew Charlie my whole life growing up here in Forks. He was like extended family to me and just about all of us here. When I was ten years old my own father passed away... I remember all the people that came to us and gave their condolences and how compassionate everyone was, but the memory that has always stuck out to me was when Charlie pulled me aside after my dad's memorial service." She paused as her voice broke. I looked to the side of her and saw her father's spirit standing next to her sending his love to her to help her through this. I smiled at him and he waved. Angela took a deep breath and continued.

"He gave me a hug and told me that he could see how sad I was but that he knew my dad was with me. That my dad would always be around me, protecting me, because that's what he would do for his daughter if he were to pass away." Her voice cracked and it took a minute for her to gather herself then looked at Bella with a genuine and tearful smile. "I saw the... love... in his eyes when he spoke about Bella and I have no doubt that he is here, right here, with her right now... Because he loved her, and he loved this town, and I know he is watching over all of us and protecting all of us still." I smiled at her, wishing I could tell her she was right. I remembered that day and I remember not knowing what to say but I am glad that it seemed to be the right thing. I'm glad it helped. Her voice trembled a little as she finished with a poem.

"There is this poem that I think, would be what he would want all of us to hear.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die!"

She started to cry and walked off the platform and sat next to Bella. Bella threw her arms around Angela and they sobbed together, Angela whispering consoling words to Bella. Angela's father and I wrapped our arms around our girls and held them. There was hardly a person in the room who was not crying. Had I been there physically I would have cried and told her she did a good job.

The minister walked up quietly to the podium and asked if there was anyone else that would like to offer any last words. I looked back at Jacob and saw both hands on his face concealing his tears. Billy was next to him with teary eyes, rubbing his sons back to comfort him. I felt envious of his ability to comfort. I wished that for one second I could do that for my Bella. I wrapped my arms around Bella's back, she shivered just slightly and she lifted her head a little higher and smiled, a little joy rose in me that it may have been due to my presence.

The service ended with a few officers from the station as pallbearers and they carried my coffin to the hearse. I stayed close to Bella who was trying to keep Edwards hands off her. Once they exited the home, Bella took Edward by the hand and walked him to the side of the building. I stayed close to hear what was going on.

"Edward, I really appreciate what you're trying to do. I do. I just don't think it is the best idea given our situation. Please, please, give me some space today."

"Will you call me later?" He asked sounding so sad it almost made me feel sorry for the kid.

Bella stared down at the ground for a minute before looking up at him.

"Edward. It's over honey." She said as sweetly as possible. He nodded his head and turned around and walked to his car.

Bella cried for a few minutes when Jacob walked up.

"Hey Bells, are you okay?"

Bella glared at him with teary eyes and walked quickly to her truck and got inside. She pulled behind the hearse. Jacob ran to his car and got in and pulled up behind Bella, the rest of the cars fell in line behind them. When they arrived at the cemetery Bella walked out and followed the pallbearers who sat my coffin on the lift that was going to lower it in the ground.

I watched as Bella was held by Angela and they listened to the scriptures that the minister was reading the twenty one gun salute followed shortly after. As the coffin was lowered the people there were throwing roses into the grave and walking back to their cars. I stayed back a little watching Jacob who was looking torn standing on the other side of Bella but not touching her. Angela tossed her rose into the grave and turn to whisper to Bella something I couldn't understand, and Bella nodded then turned toward Jacob with cold eyes. Jacob held his hand out to her and she took it reluctantly.

"Bella, I can explain. I know you're mad about Tanya but there is nothing between me and her, she showed up unannounced."

"Oh, that's great. She obviously thought there was something Jacob or she wouldn't have come all this way."

"Look, she asked a guy at work where I was, I didn't even know, I.." he stopped, took a deep breath and then had a defeated look cross his face. "OK I should have told her that I wasn't interested in a relationship, but I honestly only went on a few dates with the girl. She isn't and never was a girlfriend."

Bella shook her head looking off into the distance. "Like I need to deal with this shit today..."

"I know Bells. I'm sorry. I don't know what to say. You're the only person in the world that matters to me right now." He took his hand and cupped Bella's cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into the touch. He pulled her to his chest and held her. His other hand holding a rose. After a few moments she pulled back and told him she'd meet him back at my, or I guess now, her house. Jacob nodded and watched her walk to her truck. He turned to my grave and looked down at the rose saying a silent prayer for me. He tossed the rose into the grave.

"I'll take care of her Charlie. I promise." I smiled knowing that it was the truth.

I turned around to see Harry was standing behind me.

"It was a nice service Charlie. She did real good by you. Even put your grave site under the tree you liked."

"Yeah, yes, she did a real good job. She always makes me proud." I affirmed.

"You can see her whenever you want Charlie, and you can still cross, it's okay to be at peace Charlie. It seems to be harder for those that were forced to cross but I promise you'll like it up there." Harry declared.

A sudden rush of warmth filled me inside, I felt myself being lifted calmly into the air. I looked at Harry and he smiled and started to fade away. I allowed the warmth to take me up, to the place I deserved to be. Peace and calm filled me inside. I looked back down at the Earth that was fading away behind me. I started to pull back a little part of me wanting to stay. I heard a loud and powerful voice calling above me.

"I'll show you the way Charlie and she will be fine. Trust in me."

I let go of my apprehension and faded into the light above, to my eternal existence.