ALICE
I shifted Bella's head slightly so that I could pull my phone out of my pocket. I was so anxious about Jacob's condition, that I didn't even bother checking the ID before flipping the phone open.
"Hello." I stated.
"Hi, Alice, it's Charlie."
"Charlie, hi." I answered. "What's up?"
"Well, they just brought him out of surgery. Dr. Erikson is talking to Billy about the technicalities of it all, but it was successful and they expect a full recovery." Charlie explained.
"Oh, thank God." I breathed. "How's he doing right now?"
"Well, he's sleeping off the anesthetic and has several different kinds of pain meds in him at the moment. However, Dr. Erikson expects that he'll be awake by tomorrow afternoon. He says you can all come up and see him then." he answered.
"Excellent." I replied.
"But I want all of you to go home before you come here. Your parents are probably worried sick about all of you. And I know that you, your mom, and Ed have a lot to discuss."
"Right."
"Also, I'm going to have one of my guys at the hospital tomorrow. I need a statement about everything that's happened in the last seventy two hours from each of you."
"Of course."
"I wish I didn't have to ask Bella to talk so soon, but it's for the best."
"She knows that."
"How is she doing?"
"Better now that she's knows he's going to be alright."
"Good. Can you tell her that I love her?"
"Of course. And Charlie, I'm really sorry for not listening to you. All of this could've been avoided if we had just listened to you."
"Don't apologize. You guys were just doing what you had to do to help your friend. If it was me, I probably would've done the same thing. Now, I want all of you to get some sleep and I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay. Goodnight."
"Bye."
I flipped the phone shut with a sigh. Everyone's eyes were on me. I knew that they had heard enough of the conversation to know that Jake was okay. However, I knew none of them would dare believe it until I said it outloud.
"He's going to be fine." I stated. Everyone let out a long and relieved sighed. Bella burst into tears of relief as I continued explaining, "He's sleeping off the anestetic and should be awake by tomorrow afternoon. We'll go see him then. However, Charlie would like us to go home first. Our parents are probably worried sick. We should let them confirm that we are safe and unharmed. Besides, we could all do with a shower and change of clothes."
Which was true. None of us had thought to bring extra clothes for after the rescue. We were all still in our black sweats from that morning. Not to mention how bad we smelled in them.
"She's right." Rose stated. "We all look horrible. And we all smell like shit."
Everyone laughed.
"We should probably get some sleep." I stated. "It was a long day, and tomorrow's going to be just as long. We have to talk to the cops while were at the hospital."
"Fantastic." Bella muttered.
"It'll be alright." I promised. "Now, sleep, everyone."
Jasper's bed was small and not made for five people. Especially when one of those people was Emmett, yet somehow, we mananged to wriggle and snuggle into a semi comfortable position. It took a couple hours, but we all eventually fell asleep in a tangle of limbs.
We woke up around nine o'clock the next morning. Jasper made everyone bacon and eggs for breakfast. Which we all ate very slowly, wanting to prolong going to see our parents. I especailly wasn't ready to go talk to Ed and my mom.
I mean, I knew that Ed accepted me as his, but I wasn't sure exactly how far that went. It's not like he told me he loved me every day or even hugged me. I always figured, he accepted and took care of me because I was his wife's daughter. Not because he loved me. What if he loved Edward more than me?
I really couldn't hold it against if he did. Edward was his blood, after all. And I had aided ijn getting Edward put in jail. Not to mention that I had every intention of testifying and making sure that he got put in prison for as long as possible. What if Ed decided that he couldn't take care of a daughter whon was doing that to his son? I mean blood is blood, regardless of the situation. There really wasn't any reason that I could think of that would make Ed want to choose me over Edward. I'm wasn't even his real daughter.
I supposed that I could handle it if Ed decided that he couldn't take care of me anymore. If he kicked me out and cut me off, I'd just move in with Jasper and use my savings to pay my way. I'd get a second job if I had to. It wouldn't be too bad for us because we had each other.
The person I was worried about was my mother. She'd most likely back me up in my endeavor. What if Ed decided that he didn't want to be with her anymore because of that? She'd be left with nothing again. She have to work two jobs and I'd hardly ever see her like I did when I was growing up. I didn't think I could do with that again.
I decided that if Ed wanted me to go, I'd do it without complaint, as long as he allowed my mom to stay. She didn't deserve to suffer over this. It wasn't her fight. It was mine. I needed to defend my friend. She, however, didn't need to defend her daughter. I could do that enough for the both of us. She needed to stay with the person who could take care of her.
Jasper, who could always sense how I felt, washed, dried, and put away all the dishes. He also, too along shower, as well as made his getting dressed last lonager. All to prolong the time before we had to leave to see the parents.
He stalled so much, it wasn't until nearly two and half hours after we got up that we left the house. Emmett drove everyone in his jeep and we dropped Bella off first.
Charlie was sitting on the porch waiting for her when she arrived. She got out of the jeep and limped over to him before throwing his arms around him.
The drive to Ed's house was short and silent. I had no idea what would happen when we got in there. And that's what scared me the most. Jasper held me hand tightly, doing his best to comfort me. He promised to go with me for a little morale support. I appreciated that. I think he alone understood what a delicate and scary situation this was for me.
When we pulled into the driveway, I didn't move out of my seat. Jasper squeezed my hand but I still didn't move.
"Are you okay?" he asked after a minute of just sitting there.
"Of course I'm not alright!" I nearly shrieked. "I have to go in there and tell my stepfather that I helped put his son in jail and I'm going to do everything in my power to keep him there. How do you think that's going to go? Not very good. He's probably going to kick me out and maybe ask for a divorce. And I could handle being kicked out but if he divorces my mom...."
"Alice, stop." Jasper stated soothingly. "He won't kick you out. You're his daughter."
"No, Jazz, I'm just his stepdaughter." I whispered trying to fight the tears.
"No, you're his daughter."
"No, I'm not!" The tears were now coming and I couldn't stop them.
"Yes, Alice, you are. I can garuntee you that he doesn't feel any different about you than he does Edward." He took his thumbs and wiped the tears away.
"How can you be so sure?" I asked.
"Because I've seen him around you." He answered quietly. "Since, the day you brought me home to meet him, I knew how that he didn't think of you as anything less than his biological daughter. He's just was overprotective and adoring as any father of a teenaged daughter. He even gave me the whole cleaning-this-gun speech the day we met. Remember? And whenever we meet new people, he introduces us as my daughter and her boyfriend. He never favors Edward over you. In fact, I think he tends to take your side more often than Edward's."
"But he's never said that he loved, either." I stated.
"I think he's worried about overstepping his boundaries, but you're never going to find out how he feels if you don't go in there."
"I know." I sighed.
"Come on, I'll be right there the whole time. I promise. And whatever happens, know that I'll always be there." He stated then kissed me gently.
"Okay." I whispered when he broke the kiss. "Let's get this over with."
We crawled out of the jeep and headed to the door as Emmett pulled out of the driveway. Jasper held me hand tightly in his as I pushed the door slowly opened.
The foyer was empty as we walked in. I headed directly to the living room because that's where we usually met for something important. However, that was empty too.
"Mom, Ed." I called as I looked around. "I'm home and I've brought Jasper."
"We're in here, sweetie." my mom voice came from the direction of the dining room.
I pulled Jasper in that direction. Sure enough, both she and Ed were in there. Ed was sitting at the table with his head in his hands. His body shook like he might have been crying a little. Things were defiinitely messed up if Ed was crying. I didn't think the man even had tear ducts. My mom was standing beside him with her hand on his shoulder.
The minute she saw me, however, she left his side to wrap her arms around me. I hugged her back.
"Oh Alice, I'm so glad that you're alright." she cried then smacked my shoulder when we pulled apart. "Don't you ever do something like that again! Do you hear me? You should've just let Cheif Swan and his men handle it. You didn't need to go risk your life!"
"I know mom," I stated rubbing my stinging shoulder. "And I'm sorry. I know what we did was stupid, but if we had let them handle it, who knows how long it would've taken them to get to her. I know if we had waited, they wouldn't have gotten there in time to stop him from raping her. We just barely got there in enough time."
"He tried to rape her?" Ed growled from the table.
I knew it wasn't a question so as much as shock, but I answered the question nonetheless.
"Yes." I stated. "But we got there before he could do anymore than get her clothes off."
"Damn him!" Ed yelled and stood slamming his fists on the table.
In that moment, he looked so much like Edward in one of his rages that I was very frightened. Was he going to hurt me like Edward so often had? I squeaked and jumped behind Jasper for protection. Ed stared at me for a moment in shock then he took a few deep breaths to regain control of himself.
"I'm sorry, Alice, dear, I didn't mean to scare." he stated. "I just can't believe that Edward would take things this far. I mean, I know he has problems, but I would've never guessed that he would go this far with anything."
"I'm sorry." I whispered from behind Jasper, "I'm sorry that it came to this. And I'm sorry that I've got to be involved in the whole ordeal."
"No, Alice." he replied, "Don't be sorry about that. None of this is your fault. Edward made his decisions, even if they were the wrong ones. There's nothing I can do to change what he's done or make him into a better person than he's become. He now has to suffer for the wrong decisions that he's made. However, you made the right decision in helping your friend. You did want you had to do to save her and you will continue to try to keep him in jail and away from her. That's the right thing for you to do and I couldn't ask for anything less of you. Edward has to pay the consquences of his decisions and if you have to be involved with that, then so be it."
"Thank you." I stated with a smile. "I really needed to hear that."
"I know." he replied. "And I know there's something else that you need to hear from me right now too. Alice, you are the daughter that I've always wanted and I love you very much. As much as I love Edward, in fact. You are a beautiful, intelligent, funny, brave and well mannered young lady and a truly great friend. You're passionate about everything you do and very compassionate, even to those who don't deserve compassion. I am very proud to call you my daughter. The fact that we aren't blood doesn't even matter. You're mine and always will be. I love you now and will still love you, when all of this with Edward is over, as much, if not more. You mean so much to me. And I know I don't tell you that enough. I jut worry that you might not feel the same."
His speech brought tears to my eyes. I just stared at him for the longest time. The truth was, I had been waiting a good two and a half years to hear him say those words. None of his action ever matter to me because I didn't think they came with any sincere emotions. Now, that I knew they did, my heart was so full of nothing but love for the man in front of me.
I didn't trust my voice to say anything, so I just moved from behind Jasper, and threw my arms around her.
"I love you too, dad." I whispered through my tears.
He pulled away from me and stared at me in utter shock. It was the first time that I ever called him dad. I figured it caught him off guard. His face broke into a smile as he pulled me close again. We held on for another moment before he pulled me away again.
"Now," he said. "I believe that there is a brave young man lying in the hospital, waiting for his friends to visit. Why don't you grab a shower, change and go see him."
"Thank you." I said again with a smile as I dragged Jasper up the stairs.
"See, I told you, you were his daughter." he said teasingly.
"Oh shut up!" I told him with the same teasing tone. I gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Make yourself comfortable. I won't be too long."
I grabbed my shower stuff out of it's caddy in my dresser drawer and headed to the bathroom feeling so much better about my relationship with my stepdad.
A/N: I'm not sure why I wrote this chapter. I think I just needed to give you guys a better understanding of Ed's side of the whole thing. I don't know, though. The muses told me to and I have no choice but to listen to them. Anyway, what do you think?
