Author's Note: Sorry for the short chapter. I've been trying to work myself back up into writing mode for several months. A nice person reminded me that it's never to late to pic up a fic you've left hanging. I'm going to do my best to have this puppy finished by the end of next week. No promises though. Good news is the rough draft of the ending is already halfway finished. (Grumbling to myself, now if I could only make some progress on Father of the Fated, drat it!)

Sorry also for any mistakes. I've not had a beta for this fic-none of my friends like Twilight enough to serve. I plan to go back and fix mistakes once this is finished.

Oh, and yeah, I make no money off this fiction. Please don't sue me! I wouldn't be able to buy Twilight books, calendars, DVDs ect if you do.

Jake's POV

"It was already too late. I didn't have to have the red headed freaks power to read the look on the vamp docs face. I chuffed and nodded down at Charlie, cocking my head to the side to emphasize that I wanted information.

"There's nothing that can keep him alive as a human Jake. I'm waiting for the morphine to spread. I'll give him ten more minutes to be sure, but…"

I chuffed again and shook my head. This was going to happen. Hey, Charlie even wanted it, and for all that I hated what these creatures were, I had to admit they weren't the bad guys this time. I couldn't put out of my mind the way our imprint bond was like their mating bond. In this crazy messed-up-supernatural-flipped-side of life, some things couldn't be controlled—only adjusted to the best ya can. I couldn't blame these bloodsuckers for who they are. Seems like they are dealing with their sucky situation as well as they could—same as us.

I could hear my pack grumbling at my thoughts, but I ignored them. I'd made my decision.

I jerked my head in Charlie's direction and mimicked taking a bite.

"You want me to go ahead? I have your permission?"

I nodded.

"Jake, what the…" the protests started.

"He still has time," Embry growled.

"Shut up!" I sent. "I don't like this any more than you do, but there's no need to drag this out. You hear his heart as clearly as I do and his shallow breaths. The longer we wait the more we take a chance that he dies before the doc can bite him. And I promised Charlie he could decide what he wanted. He decided. And we're all going to respect that, capice?"

"Yeah, Godfather," grumped Paul.

Carlisle stood patiently while I calmed the snarls and snapping of my pack. Finally I nodded at him.

He turned to Charlie and gently lifted his wrist to his mouth. He looked down at Charlie with sad eyes—an expression I never thought I'd see on a vamp about to feed.

"I'm sorry," he whispered so softly that we heard it only because of our wolf enhanced hearing.

Then chills ran down my spine, my fur stood on end, and I couldn't contain the growl as I saw the peaceful doc bite into Charlie's wrist.

James' POV

"Why haven't we heard fighting yet?" I snapped

"There was screaming James. We heard it."

"One person screaming. No more. There should be snarling and the sound of vampire being torn apart. There should be sounds of a fight."

I began to pace. It didn't work. "The plan was perfect."

Victoria laid her hands on my shoulders. "James…"

I jerked away. "This isn't over," I snarled.

"No," yelled Victoria. "Now we have two sets of enemies, and we have to leave before they decide to come after us. This isn't a game anymore. If Charlie lived long enough to talk, he could have told them about us. We are in real danger. We have to leave now!"

I let out another snarl of frustration. Then I heard it. The sound of howling wolves. I glared toward the howls before I nodded to Victoria and raced away beside her.

Edward's POV

I looked up even as my grip around my beloved Bella tightened. It was done. A second later everyone knew that the change had started. It was heralded by the wail of wolves. Moments later, silhouettes of the great wolves raced under the pale sliver of moonlight.

"Does that mean?" began Bella, pulling back to look into my face.

"It's done," I answered. "Carlisle started the change."

Bella sighed in relief. A moment later, a shadow of worry crossed her face. "What if he hates me for what he's become?"

I framed her face with my hands. "He won't, love. His love for you will not change. He chose this, and I'm sure everything will work out."

"Can I go see him now?" Bella asked. The others around us stood immobile attempting to give us privacy with their stares off into the distance.

"Give it an hour. That will be enough time for the venom to have spread to the point that he won't smell appetizing to you."

Victoria's POV

We began running the moment we heard the howl of the wolves. I seethed inside as we wove through the trees, once again trying to outrun the wolves. One of the blasted mongrels caught our scent. I told James we were too close! But ever since this whole obsession of his began he wasn't keeping in mind my talent was evasion, and I could sense when trouble was too close to us just as well as he could track others.

The only reason I didn't rip him limb from limb was because he was my mate. I loved him in spite of everything, but part of me—a big part of me—wanted to toss him in the nearest bonfire.

James and I had enemies now. And I had the sick feeling we would never be safe again.

Bella's POV

I leaned in to Edward's shoulder as we sat on the grassy shore of Lake Cullen. We were alone and far enough away from the home that we could hear no words. But not far enough away to hear my father's screaming.

"How is he?" I asked.

Edward pulled me into his lap and held me tight. "I see him through Carlisle's mind right now. He's doing as well as can be expected, love."

I released a shaky sigh. "The change is working though?" I asked weakly.

"Yes, love. He should be like us in a few days.

"What are we going to do?" I sighed, leaning into his chest. "What if he hates this life? What if—

"He wanted to be with you. As long as you're in his life he'll be okay. We'll all make sure of it."

I took a deep breath.

"He said he wanted to walk his little girl down the aisle on her wedding day. He told Jacob to tell Billy that's why he was choosing this life." Edward lifted my chin and gently kissed me.

"It should be okay for you to approach now if you want to. Carlisle and Alice have gotten rid of all traces of human blood from the house, and the venom has fully saturated his veins. Charlie will smell more like us than human."

I stood and pulled Edward up beside me. I leaned into Edward's embrace as we walked to see my dad.

Charlie's POV

I don't know how long I'd been begging for death when I finally heard her.

"Dad, I know it hurts. I'm so sorry, but it's going to pass, and we can be together again."

My body continued to thrash. I was screaming myself hoarse. I tried to control the screaming, but I couldn't. I wanted to tell Bella I loved her. I wanted her to keep talking. I needed to know she was near me, but I couldn't stop. The pain was too much.

"He wants to tell you he loves you," I heard Edward say. "He wants you to keep talking with him."

How the hell? I thought in some small part of my mind not consumed in pain.

"Some vampires have gifts that are psychic or physical in nature. I can read minds." He said over my shouts of pain.

Then read this! You are the sorriest slimeball I've ever met, and I intend to beat the holy shit out of you when I come out of this. The only reason I'm not going to find some way to kill your sorry ass is because you make Bella happy. Only a low down dog would steal a man's only daughter the damn day after he got her back, I intend to put you in a world of hurt you stinking bastard!

"Edward, what's wrong?" I heard Bells ask.

"Charlie is sharing a few choice words with me. Nothing I don't deserve."

Damn right you deserve it! I thought then seized up as a new wave of fire raged up toward my chest.

"Dad, don't worry about Edward now. Just listen to me."

I'd managed to tone my screams down to guttural groans for Bella's sake when I heard light steps enter the room.

"My journals," Bella said, sounding grateful. "Thanks. Dad, I filled these journals Rosalie just me with letters for you and mom from the moment I could hold a pen without breaking it. I can read you more of your letters, or, if you want, I can read you all of them, yours and mom's."

All of them—hear that you little shit. Tell her.

"He wants to hear them all," Edward said, sounding uncomfortable.

Good. You should be uncomfortable, I thought. Then my breathing hitched as I felt a tiny hand in my own.

"Am I hurting you?" Bella asked, and the hand began to pull away.

"Noo…" I managed to groan. Bella held on tighter and began to read.

I tried to concentrate on Bella's voice as she shared what becoming a vampire was like for her through each letter. I found as time passed it was easier to focus on her, but it came at a helluva price. I was able to feel pain so acutely that I was sure a million tiny flames were burning me up a cell at a time like some medieval torture.

It was around the time Bella was reading about some stupid bikini stunt Alice, Rose, and Esme were putting her up to that I noticed the flames seemed to die down in my fingers. It would have been nice, but then my chest started burning more; how could this blasted fire get hotter? I was listening to Bella as well as I could, but the increased heat was too much to endure with quiet moans and muffled curses. I screamed and thrashed. Somewhere in my pain filled mind, I noticed Bella hadn't let go of my hand.

How much longer? I can't take this!"

"Alice, how much longer?" I heard Edward ask.

Why the hell would Alice know? Then I remembered Bella's letters. Psychic—maybe she can see what I intend to do this precious closet full of clothes Bella told me about. That's what she gets for lying to me.

"Less than an hour," I heard. "And don't you dare, Charlie Swan. You can get mad at me all you want, but you won't take it out on my closet!"

Everyone around me laughed, and I felt Bella squeeze my hand. "Good one, Dad. I'll help."

I was panting and gasping now. "My chest," I rasped.

"I know it hurts. But the burn in your chest means it's almost over."

I tore at my shirt with my free hand and heard the fabric rip away.

"Read, Love," encouraged Edward. "It helps."

My baby started to read again. I latched onto the sound of her voice as my heart sped up and a furnace exploded inside my chest.

Deep inside my mind, a part of me was still listening intently to Bella's letters, but it was a very small part. The rest of me was consumed with the intense pain overwhelming my heart. It raced so fast that I was sure my whole chest was going to fly apart. I could feel my back arching and my feet kicking as my heart slowed. With my last heartbeat, I fell flat against the table. For a moment, I was sure I was dead. Then I took a deep breath.

My eyes snapped open and I saw everything. It was like I was seeing for the first time.

"Dad?"

Before I even registered the thought, I had turned my entire body toward that voice.

I blinked several times. "Bells?"

"Dad!" she said as she reached out for me.

"Careful Bella," warned a voice nearby as I wrapped my baby girl in my arms.

I turned toward the voice, holding my daughter tighter to my chest, and a hiss erupted from me. The others…the Cullens…all so beautiful except the one covered in bite marks. I began to back away, keeping Bella by my side.

"It's okay," Bella said, placing her hand on my cheek and turning me to look her in the eyes. "No one's going to hurt you. You're safe."

"What about you?" I practically snarled. Hell, I don't sound like myself.

"I'm fine. We're all fine, Dad. I promise."

I didn't let her go, but I stopped moving away from the others. I took another deep breath to calm myself, but it burned as it went down my throat. I clutched my throat. "Ah…Damn, that hurts."

"You're thirsty," Bella said, pulling from my embrace but never letting go of my hand. "Come with me dad. You need to hunt."

Charlie's POV

I pushed the mangled corpse that used to be a deer from me like it was soured milk.

"That was…ugh," I looked up to see Bella smiling at me from a short distance.

"I know it didn't taste very good, but your throat? Is it better?" I swallowed and noticed the fire in my throat had died down to a dull ache.

"Yeah." I stood and looked around me. Several piles of meat and fur lay around me. "What?" I murmured to myself. "I don't remember doing all that."

Bella came down and grabbed my hand. "Your instincts took over; You were very thirsty dad. It's normal to be messy and a little out of control during your first feeding. I looked down into my daughter's smiling face. I lifted a hand to brush her hair behind her ear when I noticed it was covered in blood. I backed away and looked down at my shredded and blood-soaked shirt and my mud and blood caked pants.

I must have looked as disgusted as I felt, because Bella laughed and took one of my bloody hands in her own. "Looking like a reject from a horror flick is normal at first too."

"Bella, Charlie," I heard Alice's voice—at least I think it was Alice—everything was so crazy now. "We'll clean up the kill if you want to head back to the house and clean up."

I bristled at the sound of her voice but Bella's hand on my shoulder calmed me down.

"Come on. I'll race you."

I laughed. "You race? You sure that's safe, Bells?"

She punched me in the arm and acted offended. "Are you calling me clumsy?"

"Maybe," I said with a shrug of my shoulders.

"Clumsy is still faster than old, Dad. I'll see you back at the house," she called over her shoulder as she started to run. "When you make it there in a few hours."

"It's on," I laughed, and sped after Bella.

Charlie's POV

"What the hell?"

"Dad, what is it?" Bella called through the door of the room I had cleaned myself up in.

I walked to the door, dragging my hand over my face. Bella was waiting for me when I threw open the door.

"Who shaved off my 'stash?"

Bella giggled. "Sorry, dad. I asked that too when I first saw you during your change. The others told me how messy feeding was when one had facial hair."

"Ugh," I hadn't thought of that. "In that case, I guess I'll deal."

"Dad, you look great without it."

"If you say so kid. I'm not so sure great describes me now. I barely recognize myself."

"You'll get used to it. I promise."

"As long as I have you, Bells, it's worth it."

Bella threw her arms around me and hugged tight.

"Forever, Dad. You have me forever now."

I smiled and looked into my little girl's eyes. "Then it's all worth it."

Bella took my hand and pulled me toward the hall. "The rest of the Cullens want to talk with you, Dad."

I bristled.

Bella looked up at me with her puppy dog stare. Darn kid knew I couldn't resist that look.

"Please try to stay calm. Remember my letters—they mean a lot to me. I need you to forgive them, and try to get along."

I sighed. I was barely treading water to keep calm and in control. And even the thought of being around the ones who took my girl—for whatever reason—made me mad as hell.

"I'll try, Bells."