Chapter 28

I own nothing, this is all for funzies.

Beta'd by the talented ladyluck25

Bella's POV

I went to Hunt before I showered. Jasper offered to take me to find bigger game, but I wasn't in the mood for it. I just wanted to feed and get ready, so he took me to feed well. I didn't want to take any chances that I might get hungry in a room full of people I knew my family and my wolves would be there, but I'd gotten by them once before already so I was taking every precaution I could.

When we got back to the house I showered quickly. Jasper tried several times to joke with me, or to get a little frisky to raise my spirits. But none of it did any good. The closer it got to time for us to leave the worse my mood got. I was so scared I'd hurt someone, but at the same time I couldn't get rid of the feeling that I had to be there.

Rose and Charlotte helped me get ready. Alice watched us from the sidelines, lying across the end of my bed with her arms wrapped around herself. I couldn't understand why she didn't go back to her mate, or at least why he didn't come here. It was stupid to stay in that much pain when you didn't have to, but I left her alone. Esme had tried to convince her to invite her mate here and Alice snapped at her. There was no budging the little pixie when she made her mind up about something.

"So I hear we missed a hell of a show." Charlotte chucked as she situated a long blonde wig on my head. Rose had promised that it was a great quality wig and wouldn't bother me.

She lied. "Yeah, it seems Bella can't seem to control the naughty side of her gift when she and Jasper are bumping uglies. " Rose laughed as she applied my makeup. Applying the crap had not come standard with the package, but they promised I'd get the hang of it quickly.

I didn't bother commenting while they laughed about this morning's pleasure fest.

"Alice?" she looked at me and I hated the pained expression on her face. "Do you want Jasper to help you?"

"How is he going to help Bella? It's not like he's got a spare mate in his back pocket that I could borrow till I see mine again." She snapped at me. I didn't get mad, I knew how she felt.

"No, but he could give you something else to feel." I didn't know how Jasper would feel about me offering his services up to his ex-wife, but I pretty sure he wouldn't mind.

"No, it'll just hurt worse when he has to stop and the pain comes back." She sat up and gave me a weak smile. "Thanks anyway Bells. Although, thank you for the brief break this morning." The laughter didn't reach her eyes, but she was trying.

"Really, what does it feel like Bella?" Charlotte asked. "Everyone else keeps talking about it. is it really that great?"

"I don't know, I only feel what Jasper feels." I told her. "But if what I feel from him is what he's feeling from me it's pretty damn awesome." I tried to laugh, but I wasn't feeling it.

"It's kind of like every orgasm you've ever had all rolled into one. " Rosalie supplied. Damn I was pretty good.

"Hmm." Was all Charlotte said and went back to styling the damn fake hair on top of my head, which I wanted to rip off and put down the garbage disposal. It was itchy and uncomfortable. The black pants suit they put me in was at least comfortable. It wasn't silk, but the material was still very soft. I wore a simple blue camisole underneath. They convinced me to wear heels, and to my surprise, the shoes weren't uncomfortable or difficult to walk in as they had been before I became a vampire.

"Are you ready for the final touch?" Rosalie held her hand out. there was a small white case in her palm.

"What the hell is that?" I was pretty sure I wasn't going to enjoy it, whatever the hell it was.

"Contacts." She sounded so cheerful and up beat I wanted to choke her. she wasn't going to have to wear the damn things, that's probably why she was so happy.

"And why do I need them? I'm going to wear sunglasses." I knew why I had to wear them, I was picking a fight and I didn't know why.

"Jasper says you have to wear them Bella. If you don't do as he says, you won't be able to go. " Rose shoved the little white box at me again.

"He couldn't stop me if he wanted to." I growled. "I'd like to see him try and stop me, if I said no to a pair of damn contacts."

"Well, there it is." Charlotte said with an irritating smile.

"There what is?" I barked at her.

"I was beginnin' to think ya were gonna skip over bein' a pain in the ass new born all together, but there is that irrational anger that's goin' ta get ya grounded." She laughed again and it pissed me off.

"And who exactly is going to ground me, you?" I stood up and growled at her again.

"What the hell is wrong with you Bells?" Rose asked putting a little too much attitude in the question for my liking.

Before I could get too mad, a nice refreshing round of calm made its way through the room. I didn't throw up my shield to block Jasper as he tried to sooth the beast in me.

"Leave her alone girls." Peter was in the door way with Jasper.

Rose and Charlotte left without another word, but they threw annoyed glances back at me as they went. I ignored the guys and crawled onto the bed with Alice and wrapped my arms around her. She let out a little sob as I did. I wondered again if vampires could be bipolar, because I was all over the damn place today.

"You aren't coming with us today huh?" I asked her.

She gave a little strained chuckle, "I wouldn't miss your funeral Bella. Everyone will just assume I'm in extreme mourning for you." I wished there was something I could do for her.

"Do I really have to wear the damned contacts?" I asked Jasper as he came around the bed where I could see him.

"Yes baby, it's just in case you forget and take the sunglasses off." He gave me a small smile.

"When will my eyes turn like all of yours?" I'd fed a couple of times now, and today I'd over fed. Surely the blood red color would start to diluted soon and I'd get a hint of the caramel color of the Cullens' eyes.

"Not for a few more months, at least, little bit." Peter said from behind me. "Don't feel too bad, Charlotte and I have ta wear em' too."

I gave in and agreed to put the damn things in. I offered to help Alice get ready, but she informed me she could still manage it fine and left to get ready. I sat in the high back chair and stared out the bedroom window and ignored everyone as they finished getting ready. I was scared. I was worried that seeing my mother was going to be too much for me , that I wouldn't be able to control myself and I'd go to her.

I had to keep repeating it over and over again in my head, I can do this, I can do this. I hoped I could.

"Bella baby, everyone is ready." I turned to see Jasper. He looked damn good in a suit even through the slight fuzziness around the edges that the contacts were causing. His was black like mine, with light blue pin striping. He wore his black boots of course with it, but they looked good. His golden hair was loose, but well tamed in soft lightly gelled curls hanging almost to his shoulders. "If ya changed your mind honey, I could stay here with ya." He was concerned about my erratic mood swings.

"No, I didn't change my mind. I was just enjoying the view for a minute." I tried hard to make the smile reach my eyes.

"Well if ya enjoy seein' me in a suit that much, I'll have ta start wearin' em' more often." He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close. He didn't kiss me; he just leaned in and rested his forehead against my own. "I'm serious baby, if ya want to stay, we can."

"No I need to go, Jasper." I closed my eyes and enjoyed his scent. I let it wrap around me and tried to relax a little. "Let's go before I let you change my mind." I took one last look in the mirror to make sure I still wasn't recognizable. I was pretty sure if anyone did see me, they wouldn't recognize me.

The other's all looked good even in mourning clothes. Emmett and Edward both wore black suits with thin black ties and white shirts. Carlisle's suit was black as well with a white shirt, but he wore no tie.

Peter wore a black suit, with a black shirt and a black string tie, and of course his boots and cowboy hat. His eyes were a muddy looking color. A mixture of the blood red and the brown contacts he wore. Charlotte wore long sleeved knee length black dress that was trimmed in white and looked a little like one of Peter's cowboy shirts. She wore her black boots with it and her eyes were the same color as mine, a strange violet color, blue contacts over a red iris.

Rose wore a tight black dress that had a lacy top form just above her bust, and down her quarter length sleeves. Esme wore a simple fitted black dress with a shiny black belt. Alice's dress was a knee length, high collared, sleeveless dress that was trimmed in white and had ruffles down the skirt. They all had black coats to go over the outfits. There was a time when I would have worried that I wouldn't fit in with them. But now I was one of them, I matched just fine. And with the blonde wig I could pass for Rosalie's long lost sister, or maybe cousin.

We had to take Carlisle and Esme's cars, plus one of Edward's to get us all there, Jasper and I road with Charlotte and Peter, Alice road with Edward, and Rose and Emmett road with Carlisle and Esme. I didn't know how it was in the other cars, but our car ride was silent and somber feeling. Jasper started to change the mood of the car car until I glared at him, causing him to stop quickly."I needed to deal with this, I couldn't have him trying to change my mood every time I got down or I'd never be able to get past it.

The memorial was in the church my father had gone to as a child. It was a pretty good sized building with stained glass window. I couldn't remember if I'd ever attended church here. I had a quick moment of irrational fear that I might burst into flames when I went into the church. But I pushed that thought away with a chuckle. We weren't the evil vampires from movies, with no souls. We were the sparkly kind that munched on forest critters, churches, holy water, and crosses didn't bother us.

I sat in the car with Charlotte and Peter while the others went in. Jasper made sure to kiss me and remind me that everything would be okay before he left. I was to stay put until all the humans were inside. Once the last person went in, we got out and hurried across the parking lot and into the building out of the light sprinkle that had popped up.

Just inside there was a large entry way. There were two sets of open double doors that led to the main area of the church. They were open and everyone was seated. I'd taken one final breath before we entered and held it. I didn't have the urge to slaughter anyone, so far so good.

Peter and Charlotte went in ahead of me. I was surprised when I stepped in. Every pew was filled. Most of the wolves were standing around the walls, because there were no more open seats. I looked like the whole town was there. My father was a much loved man. It made me smile.

We stood next to a large pillar and I hid partially behind it, Peter stayed in front of me, and Charlotte stayed beside me. She put a comforting hand around me and smiled. I felt like an ass for acting the way I did earlier. "I'm sorry for earlier." I whispered to her. She smiled and gave me a little wink. I was forgiven.

I scanned the church looking for the others; they were on a pew near the front. Carlisle sat next to the isle, Esme between him and Alice, Edward was on the other side of Alice and Rose and Emmett were on the end of the pew nearest the wall. Jasper wasn't with them.

I nudged Charlotte and mouthed 'where's Jasper.' She pointed to the very front of the church. He sat on the front row, next to a woman with medium length wavy brown hair. It was my mother. On her other side was Phil. She was shaking as she cried. I took a step forward, I needed to comfort her. Charlotte caught me before I could move any farther. I could have broken her hold on my arm but I knew somewhere in me that I shouldn't.

I wrapped my arms around Peter's arm to anchor myself to the spot and Charlotte kept her arm looped through mine. Peter patted my hand on his arm and gave me a reassuring smile.

The preacher approached the podium at the front of the church, thing were about to start. I sensed movement beside us and looked over to see Charlie's friend and Jacob's father wheeling himself in. He stopped and looked up at us with a surprised and hostile look on his face. I didn't understand the look.

I hadn't given Billy much thought since I'd been turned. But I assumed he knew about everything. He would have to know about Jacob, and I was sure Jacob would have told him about my being turned, and probably the specifics of Charlie's death. Maybe that was where the hostility was coming from. He blamed me for what happened.

He sat there just staring at us. I had to get him to move on before he started to draw attention to me.

"Billy?" I said in a quiet voice.

His angry expression turned into one of shock and horror. He looked over to the Cullens, then back at me, and then he scanned, his eyes landing on Jacob standing near the Cullens. Then he looked back at me again.

"Billy are you okay?" I whispered him, and let go of Peter to reach out and touch his arm.

He jerked away from me and quickly wheeled away from us. He was heading in Carlisle's direction.

"How could you?" he asked way too loudly when he stopped next to Carlisle. The people around them all turned to stare at them.

Carlisle just looked at him in confusion for a minute. "Billy I didn't…"

"It doesn't matter! One of you did and it was your responsibility to make sure this didn't happen!" Billy yelled at him cutting him off.

I saw my mother, Phil, and Jasper turn to stare at the commotion. This was going to get out of hand very quickly. I wrapped my arm back around Peter's, I found myself wanting to go break it up. I didn't like how Billy was talking to my family. But I had to stay put, I told myself as I watched helplessly.

"Dad, you need to stop this." Jacob had moved to Billy and tried to wheel him away, but the older Black reached down and threw on his brake so Jacob couldn't move him. Billy looked up at his son in such anger. "You should have told me!" he snapped at him. "And you should have done your duty and disposed of the trash the minute you found out!"

"Dad, this is not the place, we can deal with this in private later." He tried reasoning with his father.

"Billy, please." Jasper had gotten up and went over to try and get everything calmed down. I felt it when he sent out soothing calm emotions. But Billy was too far gone for it to have any effect on him.

Billy unlocked his wheel and steered his chair away. Jacob started to go after him, but Jasper put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. "Jake, let him go. He needs time."

Billy stopped and glared back at his son, "You are no son of mine! Not while you consort with monsters like those!" with that he left the church.

I couldn't believe that Jacob hadn't told his father about me being turned. But even with that I couldn't believe he'd write off his own son just for choosing to live peacefully with us instead of starting a war over things that had been unavoidable.

I turned back to look to see how my mother was dealing with all the weird drama. I stood still shocked. She was staring back at me. The grief and aguish on her face broke my heart. I was almost sure she recognized me but after just a moment Jasper moved back to sit with her and Phil, and she turned back around. The preacher called everyone to order and started.

I couldn't handle it. After she'd looked at me I wanted to get out of there. not to mention talking to Billy had depleted all of the oxygen I'd taken in before entering the room. I didn't need the air to live, but I still wanted to breathe just out of habit, and when I took in a shuddering breath flames shot up my throat. Even with over feeding the scent of humans in the room was so tempting.

I had to get out before I did something stupid. Even if I didn't attack someone, I wasn't going to be able to resist going to my mother much longer. I jerked away from Charlotte and let go of Peter and fled the room. I stopped in the foyer. I didn't want to go outside in case Billy was there. I didn't want to take a chance on harming him. I spotted a small stair well that led to the upstairs store room. Humans hadn't been up here in a while. The only smells were dust and old wood.

"Honey, just let her be." I heard Peter from the bottom of the stairs. "She just needs to be alone." I hadn't really been alone since being turned.

I still wasn't really alone now. I knew that the vampires could still hear me. I could still hear everything going on in the downstairs area. The wolves could probably all hear as well. I didn't care. I couldn't stand in the back of the church staring at my mother crying and not go to her.

I sat and listened as one by one people from Forks stepped up to say something nice about Charlie. Then I was surprised to hear my small group of human friend step up to say how nice, and fun I'd been. I hadn't remembered being fun, but it was still touching. Angela cried. Then there was music playing and the preacher announced that there would be a slide show. After another fifteen minutes he closed the service and I heard everyone start to make their way out.

Renee was at the front of the church receiving condolences from everyone who passed. I went to a small window and watched from the shadows of the musty room. Once the last of the humans were gone the Cullens approached Phil and my mother.

"We're so sorry for your loss." Carlisle reached out and took my mother's hand and squeezed gently. She jerked slightly at his cold touch, but kept ahold of his hand.

"Thank you, Mr. Cullen." Her voice was horse and weak.

"Please call me Carlisle." He smiled kindly at her. "Bella was very dear to us."

She smiled at all of them. "I'm so happy that she had such good friends here. She never had many back home."

"I know that this isn't the best time to ask this, but I don't know when we'll get a chance to see you again before you leave, but have you decided what you might do with Bella's truck?" he asked.

"Oh, um no I hadn't even thought about it." She probably wouldn't have either until the last minute.

"Well I was wondering if you might want to sell it. I wanted Jasper to have something of Bella's and the house, well…" he let the rest of the sentence drop. There was no need to remind her of the horrible facts.

Renee looked at Phil for an answer. "Well it would be very expensive and time consuming to drive it all the way home with us. It's really up to you though, hun. We can do whatever you wish." Phil's voice came out just as horse as my mother's they'd been crying together.

She looked to Jasper. "I'm glad my daughter had you. She spoke so lovingly about you when she talked to me about you." she choked up a little but got it under control fast. "You don't have to pay for the truck. You can have it. We don't really need another vehicle and I want you to have something of hers as well."

She let them know that the truck had been towed to the police station. They hadn't found the keys in the rubble, and they'd have to file for lost title. Carlisle assured her he'd take care of everything. He offered again to pay, but she refused.

I felt so crappy right now. I was going to live forever, never wanting for anything. My mother and Phil weren't exactly poor but they both still had to work hard for what they had. I'd figure out a way to provide for them, so they didn't have to work as hard. I could send them money and make it seem like a life insurance payment for my and Charlie, even if I had to get a loan from Carlisle to do it. Surely living forever I'd be able to pay it back eventually.

Jasper stepped up in front of my mother holding a small white envelope. "These are all the picture I could find that we had of Bella while she was in Forks. They're from school, and some from her birthday, and just some random shots of her." Renee took them with a tearful thank you. "I want ya ta know I will always love your daughter with all my heart, forever, and thank ya so much for the truck. It means so much to all of us, not just Me." She hugged him.

She and Phil said their goodbyes and left, but not before she threw a look back at the church and I skittered back away from the window. I was afraid she'd see me. I sunk down to the floor, put my head in my hands and sobbed as silently as I could manage.

Jacob and Jasper found me there ten minutes later. Jacob sat next to me on the floor. "What ya doing hanging around up here all alone?" He asked me with a sad smile. His eyes were puffy, he'd been crying to.

"I can't even shed a tear for my dad."

"Well I can. I'll cry for the both of us. " He leaned forward and hugged me and cried silently while I sobbed tearlessly.

Jasper let us have our moment. He knew I needed it. When we finally pulled apart he helped us both to stand.

"Everyone is gone if ya want ta go down and say your goodbyes, baby." He wrapped an arm around me and kissed the top of my head.

We made our way down and I stood in front of the two pictures they'd displayed for us. Mine was my last school picture in Phoenix. Charlie's was a picture of him in his uniform in front of an American flag. "This feels stupid to say goodbye here. I don't feel Charlie here. I don't even know the last time he went to church."

"Well, come on then, I know where we can go." Jasper said and took my hand leading me out of the church.

"Why didn't you tell your dad?" I asked Jacob before we left.

"Because he's a racist old man who hates vampires." He gave a weak chuckle. "The rest of the council knows, and they agreed with me that you being turned wasn't worth a war, and that telling my dad was a bad idea." He gave me a little hug. "I'll see you at home."

"Home?" I smiled at him.

"Yeah, I think I've been kicked out of Billy's, and Esme said I could keep the spare room. None of the other wolves can really put me up except for Paul and I'm not living with him. He's an ass." His smile reached his eyes a little.

"So, you're really going to be that big brother I never asked Santa for, huh?" I nudged him.

"Yup." He nudged me back.

"Jake, come on man, we've got things to do! " We looked over to see Edward behind the wheel of his car.

"Where are you two going all chummed up?" I asked with a laugh. Edward, the uptight jack ass was still acting all weird and happy. I was glad not to have to look at him moping around anymore but it was still weird.

"He said he had an errand to run and he wanted me to help." He held his finger up at Edward telling him to wait a minute. "I figured I might as well make an effort to get along with him if I'm going to be living with you guys." We said our goodbyes and they left.

Rose and Emmett rode back with Peter and Charlotte, and Alice rode with Esme and Carlisle. Jasper and I slunk into the forest and ran to our destination. We came out at the area around the burnt remains of my home. A lot of it had been cleared away now.

I walked out and sat down next to the remaining ashes, just on the other side of the tree that had been outside of my room. No one would be able to see me here. The tree had been singed, but hadn't gone down with the house.

Jasper was right. This felt right. I could tell Charlie good bye from here. He stayed in the forest giving me what privacy he could. I didn't need privacy from him though. I waved him over to me. He sat down behind me with his legs on either side of me, and rubbed his hands up and down my arms.

"I'm sorry, dad." I reached out and picked up a small piece of charred wood. "I should have been more careful, I should have protected you better. I shouldn't have brought my world into your house. I'm going to miss you so much. You were a good dad, maybe a little unsure of how you were supposed to handle the whole parenting a teenage girl all of a sudden, but you were still a good dad. I love you so much."

There was so much more I wanted to say, but I didn't know how to say it all. I pushed out my feelings and hoped my dad would feel them where he was now. "Goodbye daddy, I'll think about you often and maybe someday, I'll see you again." I held onto the piece of wood and leaned back into Jasper. "I'm going to make them pay for doing this to you."

Jasper didn't comment about my promise. "Carlisle bought the land here." He said kissing my temple. "We can rebuild whenever you're ready. Or we can leave it vacant. He had it put in your name."

I just shook my head. It made me happy to know that when we came back to Forks again I'd be able to stay in my home again if I wanted. It would never be the same but it would be a place I could feel near to Charlie when I needed. "What pictures did you give Renee?"

"They were pictures from your party, some from school that Rose and Alice took of ya. There were some that Jake snapped of ya with his phone. Esme had a lot of all of us hanging out with the wolves. There were two of you and Rose covered in oil from the cars. Why did ya not want us to give em' to her?" He was running his fingers through my hair now.

"No it's fine, I didn't even realized you guys had been taking pictures of me." I must have been severely unobservant as a human. He let me sit in silence until the sun started to set.

"Do ya want ta hang out a while longer, or head back ta the house?" He nuzzled my neck.

I couldn't help but smile a little. I felt a slightly better now that I'd had a chance to say goodbye. There was still so much sorrow in me over Charlie's death, and I would keep my promise. I would make Maria pay dearly for sending my father's killer to town. But I felt somewhat lighter, like some of the guilt had lifted a little. I hoped it was my dad telling me he didn't blame me.

"Let's go home." I stood and helped him up. "I want to get this damn wig off. Rosalie is a damn liar. This thing is horribly uncomfortable."

We ran back to the house. I took the wig off and chunked it into a tree outside of Emmett and Rose's window, so she'd know how I felt about the fucking thing.

Everyone was gathered in the living room. Embry, Quil, and Paul were there with Carlisle, Peter, and Emmett. They were gathered around the coffee table looking over a map. Esme was stroking Alice's hair as the tiny pixie laid on the couch with her head in her mother's lap. Rose paced in front of the windows. Charlotte just stood with her arms crossed over her chest, watching the guys look over the map.

"What's going on?" I asked worried.

"Aro decided?" Jasper asked. Alice just nodded her head yes. She didn't have to say it. If everyone was this worked up he'd agreed to what Maria wanted. He was sending her reinforcements.

"What's wrong?" Jacob asked as he and Edward entered.

"Looks like the big bad is on its way boss." Embry told him.

Chapter 28

Hope you guys enjoy and please review and comment.

I'm working very hard to get the next chapter out soon.