Chapter Twenty-One: Where Does That Leave Me?

Bella's POV

Charlie barreled through the door not even a minute after I heard his voice. His anxious eyes searched until they found me and he sighed in what sounded like moderate relief. Not all the pain was gone.

"Oh, Bella. Are you ok? What happened? I thought you were having a girl's weekend at the Cullen's' place? How did you end up in here?" Charlie questioned very fast. His voice cracked with anxiety and worry. He strode over to me and, being careful not to disturb the IV, took the hand that Edward didn't have. Charlie glared at my hand clasped together with Edward's.

"I'm fine, dad. Nothing a little food and rest won't cure. What did Carlisle tell you?" I was certain my assessment was correct but I wanted the confirmation.

"I wanted to see you first, Bells. How did this happen? Esme calls me at work yesterday to ask if you can spend the weekend with them while the boys are camping and today you're in the hospital. Explain yourself, young lady." Charlie was in a panic.

I turned to Edward and asked, " Edward, would you mind giving me a moment alone with my father? You could get me something to eat and talk to the family. Please?"

"Of course. I'll be back later." He bent down kissed my cheek, and whispered, "I love you" in my ear so low Charlie couldn't hear it. Edward crossed to the door but stopped at the door and turned back to look at me. "Feel better, sweetheart" his eyes smoldered and he was smiling that crooked grin of his. I knew he didn't want to leave but he did anyway.

Charlie sighed and came to sit in the chair beside my bed. "Ok, now that he's gone, explain yourself. How did you end up here, Bella?"

"Ok, dad. I did go over to the Cullen's house but not for a girl's weekend. I went to them so that they could take care of me." It was true enough. I decided to keep my explanation as truthful as I could but not tell Charlie that Edward was home the entire time.

"Take care of you? Were you already sick?" Charlie questioned. He looked nervous which made me hesitate.

"Actually, I went to them specifically because they are girls. And I knew you wouldn't want to even think about my female stuff." I was cringing the entire time and so did Charlie as realization hit him.

"Oh, thanks for that." He mumbled. In a stronger voice he added, "Was Edward home for that?"

"Of course not, dad. Edward and his brothers were camping. Alice called them to tell them that I wasn't doing well this morning. Edward insisted on coming home to take care of me. He's only been home about two hours, dad. Emmett and Jasper were more than willing to come back to help take care of me." I told him. It pleased me that I was getting better at stretching the truth. I was smiling because I know my brothers love me. It faded when I saw Charlie grimace. Maybe he didn't buy my version of the truth.

"I wanted to talk to you about that, Bella. The Cullens seem very attached to you. All of them." Charlie sounded nervous and apprehensive to say this but at least he didn't think I had lied to him. I decided to be innocent about that issue.

"What do you mean, dad?"

"Well, I was listening to them talk about you earlier. Emmett was really worried about you. Called you his sister. Jasper and Rosalie were talking to him about how much they love you. Said the family was 'incomplete without you'." Charlie did air quotes about the last three words before continuing. "Alice was comforting Esme as she sobbed. 'Bella, my poor, sweet daughter. Dearest Bella, unconscious in there.' Alice was really upset too." Charlie added in bad impressions of Jasper and Esme's voices.

Either they were too worried about me to keep up the human façade or they intentionally slipped. I decided think about that later. Charlie was waiting for a reaction.

"Not surprising. They really love me." I said as I stared affectionately at the door; the rest of my family being on the other side.

"What?!" Charlie almost yelled in surprise. I looked over at him. His eyes bulged at me and his face was slightly red. "You know that they feel this way about you? How do you feel about them?"

"Of course I know how they feel about me. I feel the same way about all of them." I told him sincerely.

"And how is that? What are they to you exactly? The truth, Bella." He almost demanded to know. I did what he asked.

"Family, all seven of them. I love them as much as they love me. I never had a big family or siblings. Emmett and Jasper are the big brothers I always wanted. Alice is my best friend and sister, Rosalie too. They're my brothers and sister." I managed to say before Charlie interrupted me.

"I suppose you've replaced your mom and me with Esme and Carlisle, huh?" Charlie asked gruffly. He was staring down at his boots and his hand was no longer on mine. I needed to explain this so that he knew I wasn't leaving him.

"Dad, it isn't like that. I'm not replacing anyone. You, mom, and Phil are and always will be my family. I'm just adding the Cullens to my preexisting family. They've added me into theirs." I tried to explain as best I could but Charlie didn't go for that.

"So you're a Cullen now, huh? Carlisle and Esme are your parents. Jasper and Emmett are your brothers. Alice and Rosalie are your sisters. One big, perfect little family. But where does that leave me? Where do I fit in to this family of yours? Don't need another dad. Carlisle is probably a better father than me anyways." Charlie was in a dark, brooding mood now. His negativity was triggering my unpleasant, hormonal side.

" Dad, you know it's not like that. I am Isabella Marie Swan, daughter of Charlie Swan. Carlisle could never take your place so stop being ridiculous. You can choose to be apart of my big family or just continue to share me. Either way, I'm not giving anyone up." I was firm bordering on stubborn. Charlie could see that I really meant what I said.

"And Edward? He isn't going to be one of your brothers, is he?" Charlie asked, trying to sound casual. The anxious, protective tone seeped through anyway.

"As for Edward, that should be obvious. Edward is far from being my brother. He belongs right at my side. He is to me what Emmett is to Rosalie and what Jasper is to Alice. Someday he will be to me what Carlisle is to Esme. You can figure the rest out." I hinted at me marrying Edward on purpose. It was better to ease Charlie into that reality. It took a minute before he responded.

"We'll talk about that later, Bella. I want to go talk to Carlisle. It would be nice to know what is wrong with you and when I can get you out of here. Be back later. Love you, kid." He was dropping it for now to focus on the more pressing concern of my health. I knew that this wasn't the last of that but I let it go too.

"Ok, dad. I love you, too." I told him as he got up to leave.

"Feel better, kid." He said when he got to the door. I nodded before he left.