Disclaimer - All Characters and Copyrights belong to Stephanie Meyers.
Author's Note: Hope you are still hanging with me on this story. Continued thanks to everyone who has provided feedback or comments on this story. All are much appreciated. If you are still reading this let me know.
Chapter 26 - The intermission is over.
Charlie took a moment to gage how Bella was doing. She had said very little so far, but he knew this next bit of the story might not go down so well. He recalled the emotions he stirred up in her when the next couple of events played out in real time. Charlie cleared his throat, and began to speak again. "So while Jake and Sam were calling together the rest of the Pack, I left what little food we had brought there, and warned Jake to stick to the plan and stay out of sight. We agreed that in order to throw the Cullens off our tracks, that they would need to believe that they had no obstacles coming from this side of the Treaty line. That obstacle mainly being Jake and his stubbornness." Charlie paused as the group started laughing and pushing Jake around. They were saying, "'Not our Jake.' 'Never would happen.' 'Baby Alpha would never think about causing anyone grief'". Charlie noticed the only one not joining the merriments was Bella. Charlie continued nervously, "So, the Pack would start planning the changes to come, and prepare themselves mentally for the plan to begin. We knew that we still had some gap holes in our plan that we needed to think through. How do we stop the Volturi's involvement? How do we take care of the Cullen's and their defenses? Both in terms of their own gifts, but also their "cousins" in Alaska. How do we keep you from being harmed in case something went wrong? So for now, we came up with the simple plan that Jake ran away. We agreed to meet up again the next day to talk further strategy. By then the mind blocks would be in place, and we could talk more freely. As I drove home, I saw the members of the Pack who had gathered by Sam's start to leave towards the woods in a hurry. They were most likely meeting up with Jake and Sam. I knew I couldn't leave La Push without stopping to see Sue first, so I caught her just as she was heading out the door. We spoke for a while, I didn't touch the subject of us at this time. There would be time for that later. I did however tell her about a favor I needed from her. I explained to her for now that what we spoke about was just between us only. She needed to keep it from Billy as well for a bit. She listened and agreed to help me. With her onboard I returned home. When I got there, you were already gone at work. So I began to work on a way to break through your stubbornness, and tried to come up with a plan to let me into your life, or what little time I had left. So, for this next part, I think we will need Ja...". "Stop. Just stop right there!," yelled Bella. Bella stood up, and glared at me, and then at everyone else. I know damn well what happened next. You came home and made me feel like the smallest person alive. The names you called me that night. The comments you made to me. The manipulation of the truth about Jake running away, and then pretending to suddenly become the father I always wanted. Lies. All lies. I knew it was all too good to be true. I just so believed you when you started to... You know what, just never mind. I get it, you all saved me from myself. I just need a moment to...". Bella ran out of the yard crying. Jake was quick to stand up, and was starting to go after her, but I stopped him, "Jake stop." Jake sighed, "Charlie I can't just sit here, I need to go and see if she's alright." I gave Jake a sympathetic smile, but stated, "Sorry son, but this is on me. What she needs to hear right now needs to come from me. She's upset cause she thinks everything we did was fake. That we manipulated her the way they did. Now it's up to me to set the record straight. I'll be back in a bit."
I followed slowly behind Bella. I figured she was heading towards First Beach. By time I caught up with her, she was sitting on a stranded piece of white driftwood. The broken down tree looked so out of place among the dark sand of First Beach. I always loved coming down here with the Blacks and Clearwaters. Sometimes when I was lonely and wanted to reflect on life, I would find my way to the Tide pools and just observe the micro pools of sea life found in them. It was amazing to sit and watch all the communities of the ocean play out in these self contained biospheres. These little pockets of life. I could see that Bella had noticed I was here, but I made no movement to join her. I knew she was pissed and disappointed in what she now thought she knew about our breakthrough in our relationship last year. I could see that her self esteem had taken a hit, but she still needed time to roll the facts around in her head. If she thought what I said last year was tough, she was not going to like what I had to say now. I watched as a small family walked hand in hand along the shoreline picking up shells, but carefully avoiding the cold water. As my line of sight followed them, I noticed that Bella was watching them as well with a small smile on her face, while tears were still hanging from her cheeks. I took a deep breath and slowly walked over to my daughter. As I got close to her she stated in tears, "I have nothing to say to you right now." I chuckled while she glared at me for being so rude as to make jest of her pain. "Now Isabella. We both know that is far from true," I stated. However, since you don't feel like talking. I'm just going to say my piece, then I will leave you be. Screw you."
I turned around, and started walking back to the Blacks. Bella gasped, and then stood up and chased behind me. She raced around me and then screamed at me, "Did you just say screw me? I can't believe you. You betrayed our relationship. You lied and manipulated me. You made me think what we had was real. And now you have the nerve to say, SCREW ME!" Bella was breathing heavily waiting for a response. I pretended to think it over. I finally replied, "Yep." Then I started walking again. I noticed what little people were left on the beach were watching our little exchange with great interest. I just smiled and waved, and wished them a good evening. Bella had been standing where she last yelled at me, but then seemed to notice I had left her behind again. She quickly ran after me, and grabbed my arm to turn me around. I allowed myself to turn in her grasp. "Really Charlie! That's it, that's all you have to say." I looked her in the eye, and spoke. "You're upset...(I stuck my hand up to stop her interruptions) because you think I betrayed our relationship. You think I lied and manipulated you. You think I withheld truths from you when it was convenient to deceive you. You think I played upon your fears just so you wouldn't ask questions. You think I used other people against you to stop you from interfering with your plans. Well let me ask you something. How did it make you feel when you found out our whole relationship was built on lies? How does it make you feel to know that someone you thought you could trust, manipulated you? How does it make you feel, that while what I did was from my fear of losing the only good thing in my life, which was you, that you never had those same noble thoughts for me? How does it make you feel, that while I was willing to fight and risk my life for you, that you were oh so willing to cut me completely out of your life to join another family? Do you know even before I found out about all of this Supernatural crap, how little you made me feel as a father? Every time I attempted to reach out to you, you threw that damn wall of yours up. I get it, I was no father of the year Bella. But, did you ever try to meet me halfway with anything Bella? My god, you could have been killed so many times under my watch. I am a god damn law enforcement officer, and while I couldn't even scratch the surface of any of those things you hung around with, I deserved the respect to at least been given the truth. Every time you ran off with those monsters, you killed me more and more each time with worry. You have the nerve and judge me! Look in the mirror Bella. Look in the freaking mirror." Bella look flabbergasted, but soon replied, "I was trying to protect you from...". I interjected, "From them Bella, from the same creatures that claimed to love you. All the danger: James, Laurent, Victoria, the Volturi, all of it came from them. They had you so brainwashed with their self proclamations of love, that you couldn't see straight. You believed everything they said to you without questions. Jake told me about their abilities during our conversation that night. You know what I couldn't figure out? Do you?" "No what?," she sneered at me. I continued, "I couldn't believe how a girl as smart and observant as you couldn't see through their bullshit. They claimed you were some kind of danger magnet, whom they had to protect. Because if anything ever happened to you, oh what would poor Edward do. What would he do with his soulless life without you? You know what he would of done. He would of found someone else to stalk or separate from her loved ones into his obsessive and abusive behavior." Bella whispered, "Edward never abused me, nor did...". "Stop lying to yourself Bells," I scolded her, "Even now you make excuses for them like all abused victims do. Alice had this gift of vision. Yet every decision that put you in danger of being changed into one of them, was as a result of her visions being wrong:
(In the next exchange, Bella's dialogue will be in bold).
When it was agreed that you would be watching baseball that night, why didn't Alice see your life disappear or the three nomads showing up?
Um, I don't know. I think it was because they hadn't decided to come to the game. She said they were only curious about the Cullens, and wanted to investigate.
So you being there would have no effect on the outcome of the evening?
Well I know everyone else seemed on edge. Edward never stepped away from my side.
So, ok, maybe Alice was just wrong this one time. Now once, it was determined she was wrong. Clearly you had no reason to be afraid cause Alice would have seen otherwise right.
Actually, she kept having visions of what seemed to be the opposite. She saw my old ballet studio, and danger that would be there.
Oh, was that before or after you ripped my heart out with your little act about leaving Forks?
Dad I was trying to protect you.
Knowledge is power Bella. Knowledge of what world you were playing in, and dragged me into by association, that is all the protection I needed. True it wouldn't stop them from ripping my throat out, but everyday you choose to remain in their company put a giant bullseye right on my back. I walked out my door everyday with chance to be killed by some Supernatural monster. Your best intentions was not to keep me safe, it couldn't of been, because you left be ignorant of the danger I was in. No you may want to convince yourself you were trying to protect me, but what you wanted to protect was your little love life. The same relationship, in which my underaged daughter was playing house with her hundred year old stalker. But back to our dear friend Alice. So she had these visions of your old ballet studio, so the decision to go and meet this James there, that was just a sudden decision right?
Well no, I decided that back in the motel we were staying at.
And yet she didn't see that either. No she seemed to have the most convenient lapses in this gift of hers. But she did see James bite you if they got there too late, which they did by the way, correct?
Edward got to me, but James still bit me. Edward did get the Venom out though, cause he wanted me human.
Perhaps at first, but that soon changed once he found out there was competition for your heart. I'm sure though Alice was really relieved you were not changed, at this time at least. No it seems like you were almost not so lucky the next time you were almost bit. I mean who was it that convinced you to have a party?
Alice.
Who said you would just love this same party? She saw you would have a wonderful time? Must of been Rosalie right? No she didn't have the gift of sight did she?
No that was Alice.
Who's husband almost bit you at same party?
Dad, come on. Alice would never...
Never what put you in a situation were you could be harmed. Why didn't Alice see that Edward's leaving you would devastate you so badly? Could it be, because she knew both of you would break? Perhaps she was counting on it. You would become so desperate for their return you would agree to anything they said or did to you. At the same time, Edward would become just as desperate to never let his obsession out of his sight again. Except she couldn't see those boys from the Reservation. Nope, she didn't see Jake fixing you. Now remind me, who convinced you to run away to Italy to save her brother? I know Alice, she saw it all right? Then how come once you decided to join her, she couldn't see that your life would become endangered by the Volturi not two moments later?
Dad really? You think she wanted my death so badly?
No Bella, I think she wanted your life so badly.
Bella looked to be in deep thought. I continued speaking, "Alice knew how much Edward obsessed about you. She loved her brother. There wasn't a thing she wouldn't do for him, much like myself for you. She knew he would never be happy without you around. She couldn't let you grow old, cause she knew the moment you passed away, he would kill himself off. The only way to ensure her perfect brother was around, was by creating him the perfect mate. They dressed you. They isolated you from all others. They made you become dependent on them for every thought and action you took. When you tried to break free from them, a new disaster or emergency would push you right back into the safety of their arms. So now you had this perfect family that you would lie for. That you would die for. That you would give up everything that made you, Bella Swan. Everyone saw it but you. However, we were just as determined to fight for you with all we had. You think I pushed your buttons that night to manipulate you. Perhaps a little. I was so angry those first two nights after I found out, I was angry with everyone who I trusted. However, what I accused you of, certainly rang true to you for you to have the reaction that you did that evening. I accused the Cullens of being prejudiced, and they were. Not just against the Quileutes though, but against all humanity. I'm sure phrases like, 'Those silly mortals. Those foolish humans. Those obnoxious dogs,' were uttered more than once by one of them. You think I used Jake's running away to punish you maybe. Well that couldn't be further from the truth. I knew at that moment you only loved one other person as much as those Cullens, and that was Jake. And Bella don't even try to insult my intelligence to say it was me. You couldn't have lied and played me more of a fool if that was true. Every time I attempted to interject myself into your life you threatened to run away or move out. You played on my greatest fear of losing you to look the other way when it came to you and Edward. So I had nothing else to lose. I could try all I wanted to improve myself, but if you weren't paying attention, then my changes would of gone unnoticed because you were blind to all in front of you except Edward. I could make promises of how much I would do better, but you were deaf to everything but the whispers of the Cullens. I could of showered you with extravagant perfumes, flowers, and chocolates, but you could not smell anything but the aroma of the Vampire's fragrance and their alluring thrall. I could try to get you to open up to me, but you wouldn't speak badly of anything about Edward or his family. So yes, I used Jake's disappearance as a jolt to wake you up to what was happening in front of you. However, I never lied about the reason for his disappearance. When I pulled up that day, Jake's every intention was to leave and live as a wolf in the wild. He couldn't stand by and watch the girl that he loved kill herself. If it weren't for the fact that I had agreed to help fight for you, he would have been gone that day. However, it was that guilt and anger that you had at the Cullens, that allowed me to finally get through to you. And every conversation we had starting that night, and every emotion we began to develop after that night was 100% true. When I offered to redo the kitchen for you, it wasn't done to trick you. It was done to thank you for all you had brought back into my life. To show you how much I loved and would do anything to make you happy. You wouldn't let me do much for you over the years, but the joy in seeing your face as you planned the redesign of that kitchen, well it made my heart swell, knowing that I, I brought that smile to your face. That I, Charlie Swan made my daughter that happy. If I gained nothing more from my attempt to claw my way back into your heart, then I could die a happy man remembering the smile on your face when the kitchen was completed. You really think that everything we tried to do for you was a con? Well for that all I can again is, screw you."
I turned, but this time I started walking towards the shore. I stood looking down the coastline, and noticed the little family I had observed earlier were wrapping up their stuff to leave. I felt a pair of arms wrap around me, and could feel her tears as she pressed herself into my chest. She was hiccuping as she cried, "I'm sorry dad. I'm so sorry. It was just a shock to hear. And you're right I was afraid that what we had built over this time was just a lie. I didn't realize how much I have hurt you in the past. I just never thought you cared that deeply about what I was doing. I did use Edward's family as a substitute for you and mom, because I never thought you capable of giving me the love and protection I needed. I kept you at arms length because I was tired of being disappointed in who we were, who I was. They put me on this unbelievable pedestal, that made me feel important. So I had to sacrifice parts of myself, who cares because they wanted me. I just never put my own value, above that need. Jake tried to prove and tell me that all the time, that I was worth more than I thought. He said you felt the same way, I just could never open myself to you to believe him. I know I owe you all more than I can ever pay back, but if you just give me the chance, I would like to make it up to you." I kissed her on the head, and said, "Honey, you see that family over there. That. That is all the apology I will ever need. I just need you to live. To grow older and, to have a family of your own someday. To love them the same way we have grown to show each other over these last 9 months. That's the only thing you ever need to show me." "Not sure about the family part, but I hope. I hope someday we might have that. Each day I spend with Jake opens me up to more hope for the future, a future I hope have you around for a long time dad." Bella hugged me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "I will be around for as long as you will love me honey. Are you up for anymore tonight?," I asked. She shook her head yes. "Good, cause the intermission is over. Next you'll hear about seeing a guy about a bomb." "WHAT," she shouted.