A/N: Hey guys! Well, I wrote most of this chapter and the next today. They go together. This one was obscenely long, but I cut it in half. A lot happens during these two chapters, so I hope you enjoy it. This one cuts off a little cliffy, but the next one is done, so no long waits. Yay!
Ok, go, read, enjoy. REVIEW! ~AP
BPOV
Ok, so maybe my whole world wasn't falling to pieces, but this was not good.
"Hey Bella, It's Jake. I need to tell you something, and I don't want to do it on an answering machine, but you are not answering your cell. I left a message there, too. Bella, my dad is in the hospital. Apparently, he took a bad fall and now they are running tests on him."
Once the message ended, I ran to my room and started throwing clothes into a suitcase.
"What are you doing?" Rose and Alice stood in my doorway.
"I am going to Forks." I did not have time to explain this to them.
They just looked at each other and left me alone. I found every clean piece of clothing that I could, cramming them into my suitcase. I hope Billy is ok, I mean, nothing can happen to him. I paused, thinking about if something did happen to him. My heart tore a little at the idea. When I finished packing, I walked into the living room. It was empty but I just shrugged, the girls are probably over in Pennsylvania, I will stop by there. I left my suitcase in the hallways when I walked into the guys' apartment. I found everyone in the living room.
"Hey, I am heading to the airport now." All eyes turned to me, some angry, some unsure.
"Why are you going?" Edward was one of the ones with angry eyes.
"I have to." I closed my eyes, willing back the tears that were trying to surface.
"No, you don't." It was Rose this time.
"Yes, I do. Not for Jake. I am not going for him, I am going for Billy. He has been a second father to me for so long, it is as if that phone call said that Charlie was the one who was in the hospital. I can't not go." My voice shook as my eyes pleaded for them to understand. I saw Edward and Rose both soften a bit. "I will call you all as soon as I get there."
I leaned up and hugged Edward, kissing his cheek, before I ran over and hugged everyone else, too. I wish I could take them all with me as my own personal support team. I walked back into the hallway, grabbing my suitcase and making my way down to the street. I hailed a cab, and directed him to the airport.
~*~*~
I am now in Forks. I had called my work from the airport and explained everything to them, clearing me from the schedule for a while. Then I had called my father and let him know I was coming in. He met me at the airport in Port Angeles, so on the ride back to Forks, he filled me in on Billy. I had also called Rose and Alice when I landed, letting them know the flight went smoothly. They promised to pass it on to the guys.
I was trying to keep in constant contact with Edward, I needed someone to be with me.
"So, what is going on with Jake? Why didn't you two fly in together?" My dad finally asked, we were sitting in his tiny kitchen.
"Dad, that is not important right now." I did not want to discuss this now. I had almost forgotten that my parents had not been filled in on anything yet. "So, Dad, I, uh, have some new friends in New York. I believe you know them." I was trying to lighten the mood.
"Oh, yea? Who?" He looked confused.
"The, uh, Cullens." I watched his face flush bright red.
"I want you to stay away from them, Bells! That big one is trouble!"
I could not stop myself from laughing.
"Emmett is just silly. He acts before he thinks sometimes."
Charlie grumbled about that. I reached across the table, resting my hand on top of his.
"I have missed you, Dad."
He smiled at me, before standing up slowly.
"Let's get you to the hospital. Billy will be excited to see you."
I nodded, following Charlie out to the cruiser. I still hate riding around in it. It wasn't long before we made it to the hospital, and it was pretty small, so Billy's room wasn't hard to find.
"Hey Billy, I have someone here who wants to see you." Charlie walked into the room ahead of me.
When Billy saw me, his eyes lit up.
"Bella!"
I hesitated at the door before running to his bedside.
"Billy! What have you done to yourself? I am the one who is meant for one of these beds, not you!" I hugged him, careful not to pull any of the wires currently attached to him.
He laughed a little. "Yes, well, I figured without you around to keep the place busy, I would give them something to do."
I smiled at him. Billy had always been great to me. I wondered if Jake had told him about us yet.
"How have you been, Bells?" There was something in his eyes that told me he knew everything.
I sighed. "I have been better. How have you been? And what exactly did you do to get stuck in here?"
Charlie brought a chair over to me and I sat next to the bed, never letting go of Billy's hand.
"I was over at Sue's place, checking on the kids. I fell down walking outside. It is nothing." He shrugged it all off.
"If it was nothing, you would not be here old man." I closed my eyes when I heard the husky voice in the doorway.
"I will be out of here soon, just watch."
I heard a new set of footsteps come into the room.
"Mr. Black, you seem to have a full house now. Cheif Swan, welcome back." I looked up at the doctor and my face instantly flushed. "Ah, Isabella Swan, I am glad to see you still in one peice."
I nodded, the blush burning my cheeks. After a few minutes, I excused myself to go get something to drink. When Jake made to follow me, but Dr. Cullen called him back about something. I made a mental note to thank him.
I was standing at the vending machines, trying to decide on something to drink. I put in my money and pushed a button, but nothing happened. I pushed the button a few times, seeing if maybe I had not pushed it hard enough the first time. Still nothing. I pushed the return money latch - nothing. I kicked the machine, then remembered something someone told me in high school. I glanced around the hallway, making sure no one was around, before pulling the large machine as hard as I could. It moved about six inches out of place, that was enough for me to reach my arm around. I felt in the back for the large empty spot and reached into it. I was in luck, a soda had fallen back there, so I grabbed it. It was warm, but I could grab ice from the kitchen. As I was pulling my arm back around, I felt something sharp. I felt the burn as it tore into the skin of my arm. I cursed under my breath, finally getting my arm out. I left the vending machine how it was, examining my new cut as I walked down to the cafeteria. There was a nice, somewhat deep cut that ran from a little under the inside of my elbow, down about four or five inches.
When I walked into the cafeteria, I grabbed a couple napkins and wiped away the blood. I grimaced as I looked at the gash. Good Job, Bella. I mentally kicked myself. After getting a cup of ice from someone who worked there, I sat at a table with my warm soda, cup and napkins. I was holding the napkins into place as I poured soda into the cup.
"You O.K.?" I heard the familiar voice and cringed.
"Fine, it is just a small cut." I looked up at Dr. Cullen.
"Let me see." He sat across from me.
I pulled the napkins away and he grabbed my arm, inspecting the cut.
"It is not too deep, but you should let me put a bandage on it to keep it clean."
"Of course. I can't see you - or any hospital, really - and walk away bandage-free." I laughed a little and he joined in.
I picked up my things and followed him to an empty room.
"So, I hear you have met my sons." He smiled at me as he started cleaning out my cut.
"You could say that. It is like our lives revolve around each other now. They are great guys."
I heard my cell phone beep, and pulled it out of my pocket. It was Edward. I laughed a little and looked at Dr. Cullen.
"Speak of the devil, and he shall call." I flipped open the phone. "Hey." I smiled.
"Bella!!" Emmett's voice boomed through the phone and I had to hold it back from my ear a little. Dr. Cullen laughed softly.
"Hello, Emmett. Why are you calling me from your brother's phone?"
"I lost mine. How is the trip?" He made it sound like I was on vacation or something.
"Just peachy. I am sitting with your father right now." I held the phone out to Dr. Cullen. He looked up from my arm, but did not take the phone.
"Hello, Emmett." He said, continuing with my arm.
"Dad!!" I pulled the phone back to my ear, laughing at the sounds of Edward trying to get the phone away from him.
"Emmett, give the phone to Edward." They kept fighting.
"Bella?" Edward's velvetty voice finally spoke into the phone. I could not stop my smile from growing.
"Hey."
"Why are you with our father?" He sounded worried. Crap.
"Uh, you know, he is a doctor at the hospital." I scoffed, hoping he would not push anything. They would all make fun of me forever if they found out I hurt myself at the hospital.
"I am well aware of my father's occupation. I am just wondering why you are spending time with him. Did you hurt yourself again?"
"Me? Hurt myself? Psh!" I heard him start to laugh a little.
"Right, sorry. I mistook you for the other overly clumsy girl I know." I could hear Rose and Alice asking what happened in the background.
Dr. Cullen finished with my arm and I sighed. "I have to go, I am going to see Billy now."
We said our goodbye's and I hung up. I smiled at Dr. Cullen.
"Thank you."
"It was my pleasure." He smiled at me.
"Not just for this. But, for keeping Jake from following me."
He laughed a little. My eyes narrowed.
"Edward told you to, didn't he? He knew Jake would be here, and he asked you to keep him away from me." I planned to smack Edward when I got back. I am a big girl, I don't need someone watching over me 24-7.
"Actually, it was Emmett." I stared at him in shock.
"Emmett?"
"Yes. He has grown quite fond of you, you know. If every phone call did not surround your friend Rosalie, I would think he had feelings for you." He smiled at me and I felt myself blush.
"Well, I am quite fond of him. Of all of them. You raised amazing sons." I smiled.
He scoffed. "Amazing? Hardly. Insane? Yes. They have always been a handful. I will have to let my wife know you are here. All three of our sons talk about you and your friends constantly. She can't wait to meet you all."
My heart warmed.
"I don't know what to say. I would love to meet her."
He smiled and we parted ways. I made my way back to Billy's room in a daze. After having the three of them question my new bandage, I gave in and told them what happened. They had a good laugh at it - and Charlie lectured me a little - Billy fell asleep. Not long after that Charlie and I got ready to leave. He wanted to go say hello to a couple people, so I waited outside Billy's room. I heard the door slowly open, and watched as Jake came out.
"Bella."
I sighed. "What is it Jake?"
"I just wanted to thank you for coming. It made my father really happy, and you didn't have to."
"Jake, I love your father as much as I love Charlie. Even if you would have told me to stay away, I would be here."
He sat on the bench next to me and rested his head back against the wall.
"I am so scared about what is going to happen to him."
"I know, Jake. I know." I wanted to hug him or do something to comfort him, but it did not seem right. "He is strong. Whatever it is, he can fight it."
"I am moving back home."
I looked at him, shocked. "What?"
"I am moving back. I am ending the lease on the apartment, and moving back. My dad needs me, and I feel weird living there alone. I need to get my life back in order, and what better place to do it than home?"
"Oh. Well, good luck with that, Jake." I did not know what to say.
Charlie walked around the corner then, and we both stood up.
"We will stop by again tomorrow, Jake. You should go home and get some rest, too." Charlie shook his hand and turned to leave after Jake agreed to get some sleep.
"See you tomorrow, Jake." I waved, following my father out to his car.
~*~*~
The doctors quickly let us all know that Billy seemed to be in good health, and the fall did not seem to be linked to anything serious. They let him go home a couple days later, after keeping an eye on him to make sure nothing else happened.
Monday was set to be my last day in Forks, so that morning I took a trip to the grocery store while Chalie was at work. I was going to make dinner for us that night, so I needed a few things. While I was staring at diferent boxes of pasta, trying to decide which to get, my cell phone rang.
After glancing at the caller ID, I flipped it open. Rose and I chatted for a couple minutes before Emmett jumped on the line.
"Bella! When will you be back? We need real food again." I could hear his pout.
"Aw, Emmett, I will be home late tonight." I laughed.
I caught sight of a few girls walking down the isle and moved my cart to the side so they could pass me.
"Alice tried to make dinner the other night and burnt the rice."
"Well, don't worry. Tomorrow I will make pancakes for everyone." I laughed as he errupted with cheers.
My phone beeped that it was low on battery and I tried to get his attention.
"Emmett, my phone is going to die." He was still yelling about pancakes. "Emmett!" He did not hear me. "EMMETT CULLEN!" He heard that one, then again, so did everyone in the store.
"Huh?" I laughed at him.
"My phone is going to die. Tell Rose I will call when I land."
He agreed and I was finally able to hang up. I laughed quietly as I placed my phone back into my pocket.
"Excuse me." I glanced up to see the three girls who had walked onto the isle. They were all staring at me.
"Yes?" Did I have something on my face? A booger?
"I am sorry, but were you just on the phone with Emmett Cullen?" The tallest spoke.
I quickly looked over them. All three were blonde, the tallest more of a strawberry blonde, the shortest was more of a dark blonde and the other was a platinum blonde. None had the golden color like Rosalie. The tallest had deep blue eyes, the platinum blonde had green eyes and the other had blue as well, just not as pretty as the first. The shortest one looked oddly familiar, but I could not figure out why. They were all beautiful, and they all stared at me angrily.