Disclaimer: None of this is mine, nor will it ever be (sigh). I like to play with the characters that Stephenie Meyers created and make them do pervy things or become angels with a bad attitude.

Leaving everyone in the dark regarding the reason why Bella is the focus of Lucifer/Riley's ire. And why she has the protection of some of the strongest angels in the entire legion of angels. We need answers and we're going to hear from Carlisle and Esme, in Edward's point of view. What will they say? And what about that job in Bellevue? Real or fake?

Chapter Twenty-Seven

EPOV

I don't know how we got through the rest of the day. I was an anxious mess. Bella was even worse. This meeting with Carlisle, Esme and all of the local angels, it freaked us the fuck out. When the day was done, Bella and I drove back to the house. She was gripping my hand, holding it so tightly, my fingers would probably be numbed if I were human. Arriving back at my home, we went inside and it was filled with angels. Bella shrank back, obviously not comfortable in a crowd, her heart stammering against her ribs.

"It's okay, Bella," I said soothingly. "This is just the team of angels protecting you. Protecting this region."

"I never knew there were so many," she whispered, her eyes wide.

Carlisle turned around, dressed in another expensive outfit and looking out of place. "There are a great many more, but are within listening range," he said. He took my hand. We pressed our foreheads together and I tried to get a read on him, but his thoughts were blocked. I looked over and Bella was wrapped up in an embrace by Esme.

Guiding Bella into the living room, we sat down. Alice arrived, looking a little disheveled and disgruntled. "Sorry about being late," she said, her voice tired. "I was tracking a lead."

"Was it fruitful?" Carlisle asked. Alice made a face, shaking her head. "We'll discuss it after we have our meeting." He walked over to the fireplace, his hands clasped behind his back. "Now, up until a few hours ago, I was in the dark, just like all of you, regarding the threat that Lucifer posed to us and to Bella. We'd seen an increase in violent crimes, more of Satan's minions being created and recruited, and essentially preparations for a war, dangerous, deadly war. The only thing that seemed to be the impetus was Lucifer's fascination with Isabella." Bella trembled and I held her close, protecting her with my wings.

"Bella, did you know your father?" Esme asked.

"No. He was never around. My mom was …she was a total fucking mess," she trailed off. "Does this have something to do with my father?"

"It wasn't confirmed until today, but your father was an angel, a Dominion lordship," Carlisle explained. "He was Renee's guardian angel, to be exact. However, he had an attraction to her, a love that transcended everything. They had a moment."

"A moment?" Bella questioned.

"Oh, Carlisle. You're a fuddy-duddy," Esme snorted. "They had sex. Your father didn't think he'd be able to have children. They didn't use protection and your mother fell pregnant."

"So, are you telling me that I'm part angel?" Bella squeaked.

"No, you're completely human, but your goodness comes from your father," Carlisle said. "It's why your spirit wasn't completely broken when you …" He trailed off, his face flaming.

"What happened to my father?" Bella asked. "Is he still an angel?"

"No. He was punished for having sex with Renee and he was recycled," Carlisle grimaced.

"Is he close?" Bella whispered. "In America? Can I see him?"

"Closer than you think," I said, reading Carlisle's mind. "He's the police chief of Forks. He was just elected in this past election. His name is Charlie. He's a few months younger than you."

"A police chief that's twenty-six?" Bella asked.

"He ran, uncontested," Carlisle said. "The old chief retired and no one stepped up but Charlie, who was an officer."

"Why was he recycled? Why did they do that to him?" Bella whispered.

"We all love our charges. It's that love that threads us together, binds us to our humans," Esme explained. "But, that love was never meant to become romantic. It's more akin to a parent loving a child. It's taboo and not appropriate for a guardian angel to do what Renee and your father did. Your father …"

"What was his name as an angel?" Bella interrupted.

"Charles," Esme said. "Apparently the parents who had him liked the name. Anyway, a guardian angel and his charge should never cross that line." Bella gestured to me, arching a brow. "You're mates. And Edward was never your guardian. Up until a few months ago, he was exiled to earth for his own crimes. He's since had his powers restored and he's acting as your guardian, but it's as a mate, not as an angel."

"Now why is Bella's father being an angel so important?" asked Seth. "Charles received his punishment and was recycled. Bella doesn't have any of his powers."

"No, but if she becomes an angel, she'll become a Dominion," Carlisle said. "Charles was a lordship, like me and like Esme. It killed Gabriel and Michael to recycle him, but he succumbed to temptation. She'd acquire his powers and rule with us. What do you know about Lucifer?"

"He was once an angel," Bella whispered.

"Yes," Esme nodded. "And now, he's the lord of darkness. If he got his hands on you, you'd be ruling by his side and the darkness would overwhelm the world, Bella. You'd be powerful as a Dominion, but as Lucifer's partner, his ally, the earth would cease to exist as we know it."

"Now, we know the why," Carlisle said. "We weren't sure since your guardian had not been very diligent in taking care of you, Bella. You were lost in the shuffle and for that, we extend our sincerest apologies."

"Lost in the shuffle?" Bella seethed. "LOST IN THE SHUFFLE? I was molested, beaten up and raped from the moment I became a woman, Carlisle. My childhood was stolen from me. My womanhood was torn from my body from the violence of my last attack. I'm broken, so broken that I can't even open up my heart to care for someone. I'm terrified of being broken again, my life ruined forever because of what happened to me. And now, I find out my mother had a one-night stand with an angel, a lordship, who was RECYCLED and I was conceived. My guardian was slacking and I got the short end of a very jagged stick. I don't know how much more I can take of this. Your apologies mean nothing to me because I'm fucking broken. I can't love. I refuse to let myself be that vulnerable again. Everyone I've ever loved has hurt me, shattered me. Not anymore." She flew from my lap, ran out the door and my car pealed out of the driveway.

I was flummoxed. I felt like half of my soul was torn from me. I couldn't find it in me to care the explosion of activity around me. My mate had left me and pretty much said that she couldn't love me. Ever. Her heart was too broken because of us, because of our inability to keep her safe. Esme sat down next to me, taking my hand. "Edward, look at me."

"She's going to give into the darkness," I whispered. I closed my eyes, tears streaking down my cheeks.

"No, she won't. Alice left and is tracking her. What she said was out of anger and I don't blame her. Carlisle's words were … unfeeling," Esme said, holding my hand in both of hers. I shot her a look of disbelief, anger. "I know what you heard was harsh, but I can see how much she loves you."

"She said it … she can't love," I said, my body aching from absence of my mate. My heart was shattering. "Am I not enough?"

"Oh, Edward," she soothed, pulling me to her body and hugging me. I let the tears flow.

APOV

I flew overhead, tracking Bella's scent, her pain, her tears. I wanted to smack Carlisle. I didn't blame her for what she said. Not. One. Bit. She was driving erratically, probably because of the emotional outburst. But, I knew there was one person who could help her. One person who could show her that she was worthy of love and sharing that love. I kept my mind open and flew to the Forks Police Department. Landing on the roof, I made my way inside. I found Charlie Burke sitting in his office, reading on his computer. "Excuse me, are you the police chief?" I asked.

He blinked up at me. He hadn't changed from his time as a Dominion, save for the mustache. I do not like that. His hair was dark, like Bella's, with deep chocolate eyes, broad shoulders and sharp jaw. "Excuse me. How did you get in here?" he asked, reaching for his side arm.

"Please forgive me," I whispered up to God. I walked over to Charlie and held out my hand, giving him back his memories as an angel. He gasped, his eyes unfocused. When I was done, I stepped back. "Do you recognize me?"

"Alice?" he choked out. His hands running over his body and he stood up, confused, befuddled and clumsy. "What happened? Where am I? Why am I carrying a gun?"

"You were recycled," I said. "What was the last thing you do remember?"

"Being with Renee. Showing her what it was like to be truly loved," he said, his brow furrowed. "I was stripped of my powers for that?" He growled and his hands clenched into tight fists. "I'm human …"

"Yes, and now, I need your help," I said. "I know with everything that happened, you may not want to help …" He looked at me, his brow cocked. "Your moment with Renee resulted in the birth of a child. Her name is Isabella. Isabella Swan. She was put under the care of Heidi."

"I need to get to her," Charlie gasped. "Heidi is the laziest, most unqualified …"

"She's been recycled as well because of her laziness," I muttered. "Charlie, your daughter, she's been … damaged." His eyes widened and tears welled in them. Even though, as a human, this man didn't have a family, a wife or a child, the love he had for his daughter was overbearing. "Carlisle told her of your past and how you were her father and his words were uncaring, to put it mildly. She flew off the handle. She believes that she's unworthy of being loved and incapable of loving anyone in return. She's mated to Edward."

"Edward, the one who was exiled down here on earth after causing World War II?"

"Yes. He's been redeemed and is among the legion once again," I said, taking his hands.

"Can you just show me? I know that my mind is no longer wired as an angel's, but I need to know and it might take too long to understand verbally," Charlie said. I nodded. I held my hands up to his temples and gave him a watered-down version of Bella's history, our mistakes and how her spirit was shattered by anyone she cared for, including Carlisle. Charlie grimaced, his nose bleeding and his head beginning to pound. I stopped, healing the damage. Charlie blinked slowly. "He loves her. Edward loves her."

"More than anything, but so much has happened to her," I frowned. "She needs to know she has family."

"But, I'm just the human recycled version of Charles," he spat. "I'm not him."

"You look exactly like him, minus this thing beneath your nose," I chuckled. "I think it would be called a porn-stache." Charlie gave me a wry look. I listened and smirked. "It would appear that Bella had the same idea as me, but I got here faster."

"She's here?"

"She's here and needs reassurance," I answered. His phone rang on his desk.

"Chief Burke," he barked. "Send her on back, Sue. Thanks." Charlie looked up at me. "Are you staying or going?"

"Staying. If you can get through to her, I'm going to fly her back to Edward's home," I answered. "He's shattered at what she said."

I turned around, seeing Bella as she stumbled into the office. She blinked up, her face filled with ire. "What are you doing here? Trying to cover your tracks? You guys fucked up. Big time …"

"No, I was giving Charlie a chance to remember his past," I said. "He's human now."

"But, I know all of it, Isabella," he said, looking at her. Charlie was, physically a few months younger than Bella, but his eyes held an ancient sadness, one of a lost love and time lost. "Bella …"

"Did you love her?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Did you love my mother?"

"Very much so. She was … she was hurt and afraid, much like you," Charlie said. "She didn't believe that anyone could show her unconditional love, until I did. I made love to your mother … well, my previous body did. My current body is a virgin." Bella's eyes popped out. As did mine. "I'm waiting for the right woman. Not everyone is a sex-crazed maniac."

Bella's face grimaced. "You'd be surprised," she spat.

Charlie moved, wanting to hug her, but Bella took a step back, her fear of unknown men rearing its head. I felt something shift and I arched a brow. "Bella, please," Charlie whispered, moving slowly toward her with his hands out in front of him. "I may not be your father in the traditional sense …"

"Why was I forgotten?" she asked, fat tears falling down her cheeks. "Why did I get the guardian angel who was a bitch? Edward said that all angels and God himself can sense humans, their joys, their pain. Didn't they feel the agony I was enduring? The fear?" Charlie moved to her and pulled her into his arms. She sobbed and a blinding white light surrounded the both of them. Charlie's body was shaking. Tearing through his black shirt, white wings appeared and he sobbed with her, his body changing to become the reincarnation of the lordship, minus the porn-stache. Thank goodness …"My daughter …" His voice was deep, resonant and angelic.

What the hell just happened?

They broke apart. Charlie looked like Carlisle, with the subtle glow around his body. He'd been restored? "I can feel your pain, Bella," Charlie intoned. "I'm so sorry that I wasn't there to save you."

I felt a prick of darkness, followed by anger, fear and anguish. "Charlie, we need to go. Whatever happened to you … it caught the attention of Lucifer. Something's building," I hissed. Bella blinked, staring at him, her hands running down his arms. "Charlie!"

He nodded, picking up Bella. We made our way to the rear of the police station. I saw them first. Minions, demons, pure hatred. "Shit. Can you feel Edward?"

"Through Bella, yes," Charlie nodded.

"Then, GO!" I snapped. "Protect her." He took off like a comet, disappearing in the fading late winter light. I held out my hand and a fiery sword appeared. I held it in front of me, preparing for battle. "Please, God, help me …"

A/N: I think I figured it out. This chapter flowed through me … I was quite pleased. But, what will happen with Charlie, Edward, Bella and Alice? Leave me your thoughts.