Chapter Twenty-Five: Scheming Pixy

Carlisle's POV

I never would have expected Charlie to ask me to take Bella in and care for her. Of course, I was more than willing to have Bella live with us. My entire family will be overjoyed to have her with us but she lived with her father. Charlie didn't seem like the type of person who would let go easily. But he was a reasonable man.

After I explained that Bella wouldn't be able to care for herself, Charlie started to think. I offered to do house calls so that Bella could go home. I knew she wouldn't want to stay in the hospital for much longer.

Charlie shook his head and said, "No, that wouldn't work. As much as I want to, I can't stay home to care for her and you have work here. It would be a constant job to watch her."

"What would you suggest we do, Charlie? She can't stay here for more than a few days. I wouldn't have her here anyway; she wouldn't like it." I asked him. I didn't think he would really want to keep Bella here. She would be so miserable and Charlie knew that.

"I almost don't want to suggest this." Charlie grunted, shuffling his feet. He squared his shoulders and looked me straight in the eye. "You love my daughter, don't you? Be honest, I know you do."

I wasn't sure why he wanted to know about my affection for Bella but I decided to tell the truth. "Yes, I do love her. The exact same way you do. If I had a daughter of my own, I would want her to be exactly like Bella."

"I thought so, she's a good kid." He agreed, smiling slightly. "Does Esme feel the same?"

"Yes, she does. My entire family loves her as if she were our own. Why do you ask?" I thought I knew the why of it but it was better for him to ask instead of me offering. It would go over all the better if Charlie suggested it.

"So you all would be willing to take care of her? Be willing to take her in?" Charlie continued to beat around the bush, to which I understood. If it were myself, I would not want to entrust my only daughter's health to another even if he were a doctor and a successful foster dad. However, it was what was best for Bella.

I continued to feign ignorance. My enhanced vampire brain was already planning out how to handle Bella's move into my house but Charlie should think that I have no idea what he's getting at. "Yes, of course. Bella is always welcome at our home and so are you. I would think that you would know this, Charlie." Charlie was more than welcome with us, even though he did not know that we weren't human and that his daughter was going to be one of us soon. It made me wonder if Charlie would ever sacrifice his humanity to stay with Bella. Would he choose to be a vampire too if he knew that was what Bella wanted? Maybe but I couldn't tell. AN:Hint for a future chapter

"I think that it would be better for Bella if she lived with you until she is healthy again. I can't take care of her and I don't want you to have to take time out of your work here just to treat her at home. She would be alone a lot if she were at my house. She would be in good company and in good care if she lived with you. Is that ok with you?" Charlie reasoned out. It seemed like he was trying to convince himself that this was a good idea more than he was trying to convince me.

"I think that would be a good idea. She would be in the best of care at my house. It would be all too easy to treat her if she lived with me." I assured him. It would make my entire family very happy to have Bella come live with us. We all wanted her with us. I knew she would be one of us since the day I met her.

"Now back up a step, Carlisle. This will only be temporary. As soon as she can take care of herself again, she moves back in with me. You have to agree with a few conditions, too. I want to be able to visit Bella whenever I want. I'll probably come for dinner. And Edward sleeps in a separate room. No funny business with them." Charlie clarified in a strong voice. It was important to him that he made these issues clear, I could tell.

I agreed with him. Edward doesn't sleep so that was an easy way to circumnavigate that requests if he chose. Dinner would be tricky though. We would all be uncomfortable with that one. Human food doesn't sit well with any of us. Oh well, we would all live with it if it meant we got Bella.

Alice's POV

As I walked with Charlie to the cruiser, I was ready to shout with joy. Bella, my best fried and soon-to-be sister is coming to live with us! Finally, my entire family will all be under the same roof. I'm positively giddy at the prospective. The only downside is the circumstances. Bella is sick but I can see her being better in a month. And in the meantime, I can work on Bella and Edward's wedding.

I can't believe she wants a small wedding! This should be huge, a real celebration. Maybe I could throw them an engagement party. She said no big wedding but never objected to an engagement party. Excellent!

Charlie interrupted my planning -or everyone else would call it scheming- by saying, "don't know what she took from here yesterday but I wont get in your way. Just do what you got to do and I'll help you carry it to the car."

"Sure, Charlie. This won't take long. Don't worry about a thing. I'll make sure Bella has everything she needs." I promised him sincerely. I would never let anything happen to Bella. I care for her almost as much as Edward does. I liked her from the very first moment I saw her in my vision. Now I love her like the best sister I could ever have. I would face a whole horde of newborns to help her.

"You'll let me know if she gets worse, right. Keep an eye on Edward for me too." Charlie grunted. He was really shaken up by this. I didn't blame him, I was a little worried myself. I love Bella and I can't bear to have her die. I suppose it was a plus that he was himself enough to worry about Edward and his daughter.

I laughed a little. "Yeah, I can do that. Don't worry, Bella will be fine. Come on, Esme will have dinner soon." I wasn't going to eat much at dinner, the less to throw back up. I could excuse myself from dinner all together by saying I have sketches that I need to finish but I would save that excuse for another time. I quickly gathered up more of Bella's clothes and her bathroom bag. She would appreciate having her own blanket too, I think.

What should the theme of the wedding be? When should I throw them their engagement party? Probably after they announce it to Charlie. I could make it a surprise party so that Bella couldn't object to it. That would work. She would be annoyed at first but eventually, she would come around and have a good time. Bella would never stay mad at me.

Charlie helped me carry Bella's stuff out to the cruiser in silence. I could tell that he was worried about Bella. Maybe I could do something to let Charlie know that he would be apart of my family soon. I'd seem him and Bella join us within the next month. AN: hint for future chapter I have so many plans to make and things to do!

I love being a scheming little pixy!

AN: I've had this up for two days and none of my reviewers have caught my subtle hints. So I came back and put author's notations next to my hints. Now lets see if you guys can figure out what I have planned for the future of this story. He HeHe! Lots of love to those who reveiw. You motivate me to post faster. Thanks for beiong patient with this. I had writer's block which is rare for me but there it is. enjoy!

emeralda violeta