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What Do I Do?

Charlie POV

I was angry when Renee told me about Phil. I was now confused about what to do, and that is why I had to come to see Carlisle.

"I'm sorry to have come so late, Carlisle; but I didn't know what else to do," I told him.

"No problem, Charlie. We're friends and about to be family, and families stick together in times of need," he replied.

"I have an issue that has come up, and I need your input because it involves my impending change," I explained.

"Alright, explain to me the problem; and we will see what we can do to work it out," he said.

I explained to him everything Renee had told me, and I explained how I felt about it.

I still very much wanted to change, but I also wanted Renee and me to reunite, too.

"Am I wanting too much?" I asked.

"No, I don't think so, Charlie. You can't help who you fall in love with. Renee is obviously your one and only love," he said.

"What happens if she doesn't want to be changed or even be around me after I have changed? I don't want her to be left with no protection, if she knows our secret," I explained.

"If that is the case, we will see to it she is protected at all times; Charlie, I assure you," he told me with a smile.

"So do you think we should tell her now or wait awhile?" I asked.

Just then someone knocked on the door.

"Come on in, Alice," Carlisle said.

Alice entered and smiled, while she went to stand by Carlisle's desk.

"What do you see taking place, Alice?" Carlisle asked.

It was weird knowing she could see the future. I was blown away and totally embarrassed, when I found out Edward could read minds. I felt immediately ashamed for all the awful things I had thought and said about him in my head. I knew he had heard them and still he never showed me any disrespect. Talk about killing someone with kindness, which did not even begin to cover it.

"Well, I see that if you tell her right now that she won't believe it. She will think you have lost your mind; but if you wait approximately two weeks, she will believe you then. She and Bella are a lot alike, meaning she's just as perceptive as Bella is. I have seen that inadvertently Edward and I both slip up and do things in front of her that will make her curious. She will be even more observant and start putting two and two together. She will figure some things out on her own, but we will have to come clean to her and finish explaining it," Alice told us.

"So, we wait then. Thank you, Alice. I can see one of the reasons why you are so invaluable to your family," I told her.

"No problem, Charlie. I'm always glad to help," she said.

She walked over and pecked me on the cheek, then did the same to Carlisle and skipped out of the room.

"So I guess that answers your questions, huh?" Carlisle asked.

"Yeah, it does. I'm glad that I came over and talked to you first. Thanks a lot, Carlisle," I said, getting up from my seat.

Carlisle smiled; and we shook hands, and then made our way back downstairs.

Carlisle POV

Charlie seemed to be a lot more at ease with things after we talked. I could not imagine being in his shoes.

It was obvious he was still very much in love with Renee, but it was just as obvious that he was ready for a change from his everyday mundane life. I really hoped everything worked out for him. I knew Bella would be thrilled to have her parents back together again. I was pretty sure she wouldn't object to them both joining her in eternity as well

Esme POV

I had a feeling what Charlie had come over to talk to Carlisle about, but I wasn't sure. I had a feeling it had to do with his change. I wondered if he was going to go through with it now or not, with this new development in his life.

As I sat and talked with Renee, I became more and more aware that her life was turned upside-down right now. She was looking for something that she would only be able to find with Charlie, and she knew it.

I couldn't stop myself from wondering how this would all play out in the end. I had a feeling that somehow all of our lives were about to get very busy and exciting for quite some time.

How could it not? If we wound up with three adult newborn vampires and one half human and half vampire infant, life would get very interesting. No matter what happened; I was prepared for it. The house in Virginia was almost complete. I had to make a trip down there to check on it next week. Maybe, I could convince Renee to go with me. After all, should she decide to join Charlie in becoming a vampire, I would like to have her input on their likes and dislikes..

Renee POV

The longer I sat and talked with Esme, the more I liked her. I realized in that short amount of time how much she loved and cared for her family. She accepted each of them for whom they were. She didn't hover and suffocate them, like most parents did. She was also very devoted to Carlisle and spoke highly and lovingly of him.

I found myself wishing that when I was through settling things with Phil, that maybe Charlie and I could give our relationship another go of it. Who knew, maybe after all these years that it could work this time around. We were both more mature and knew more about life and ourselves and what we needed and wanted.

For some reason, I found myself feeling that maybe Phil's cheating on me wasn't just a freak out-of-the-blue thing. Maybe, this was Fate giving me a chance to make things right.

Charlie and Carlisle came back downstairs; and shortly afterward, we left and went back to Charlie's.

Once we got there, we changed into our pajamas and got ready for bed. I watched in silence, as Charlie prepared to sleep on the couch. I found myself wishing and wondering if he would be willing to sleep in his room with me. I didn't want to do anything of an intimate nature; I just wanted to feel close to him.

"Charlie?" I asked.

He stopped and looked up at me, as I stood on the bottom step of the staircase.

"Yeah, Ren, what is it?" he asked.

"I-I was wondering if maybe you would want to…eh, you wouldn't…oh, never mind; I'm just being silly. Go on to bed," I said, chickening out of saying what I wanted to.

He came over to me, reached up, and cupped my face with his hands.

I found such comfort in that; it was truly soothing. I felt his strength sinking into me through his fingers. His dark eyes were curious, as they looked up into mine.

"You can ask me anything; you know that," he said.

I smiled because I did know that. I had always known how stable and dependable Charlie always had been. More than that, I could see the love that still burned for me in his eyes as well; and it gave me hope that maybe my coming back here was the right thing to do.

"I was just wondering; if instead of sleeping on that lumpy old couch, you might want to sleep in your nice comfortable bed with me," I told him.

A flash of apprehension flickered in his eyes then, and I saw a flash of what I wanted to think was hope, too.

"It's up to you. If you think it would be awkward or uncomfortable, I understand," I said quietly.

"That couch is awfully lumpy," he said with a smile.

"Well, then why don't you just turn off the lights and join me upstairs? I won't tell on you," I said, teasing him.

He chuckled, and then turned to go turn off all the lights. Once they were off, he took my hand; and we went upstairs together.

That was the best night's sleep I'd had in a long time. I felt safe and secure in his arms, the arms of my one and only real love, Charlie Swan.

A/N: Thanks so much for reading this story; please leave a review and let me know what you think. Check out the blog at http:/ /markingbella .blogspot .com/

Beta'd by melanieintn