Chapter Thirty Six

Charlie

My head told me that I had finally learned the truth about the situation but my heart was singing a slightly different tune. Sophie had told me enough to understand the things Bella and Jasper had accused her of were at the very least distortions of the truth.

"I warned you Jasper Hale hated me, Charlie, I blame him for corrupting Bella, he was a bad influence despite Esme's assertions otherwise. After all how much do they really know about the children in their care? It's not as if any of them are their natural children. I saw him turning her against us, against you. He twisted her mind until she didn't know which way was up and because you liked him you couldn't see it. It's his fault Bella and I never stood a chance. Yes, I tried to keep them apart sometimes but I did it for you, Charlie. I hated seeing the way he was drawing her away from you."

Whatever happened in the future Bella was better off with the Cullens for now although I would make a point of speaking to Jasper again and this time I wouldn't be so easily fobbed off, he needed to have more than accusations if he wanted me to believe him, Bella, too. Having missed most of my shift earlier I was unable to stay home all night with Sophie but she said she would go to bed and rest. Luckily by the time I reached my office Jasper had left for the night, I really wasn't in the mood for a confrontation yet. I was more worried about my wife and the attack on her by my own daughter, a side of Bella I had never seen before and hoped never to see again.

Jasper

As I left work I sensed something was wrong and determined to go straight to the Swan house, to reassure myself Bella was OK but as I approached my car I saw Edward stroll up and then sensed Emmett behind me.

"What's wrong? Why are you here? Is it Bella?"

"She's fine, she's back at the house waiting for you."

I tensed and Edward shook his head,

"Don't even think about it Jazz, Bella needs you now."

So something had happened and that's why they were here, to make sure if I heard I didn't do anything stupid!

Emmett took my keys and wrenching open the door pushed me into the car,

"I'll drive, you listen, and no funny business."

Edward slid in the other side effectively boxing me between the two of them and Emmett drove off as Edward explained what they knew, which turned out to be very little. Bella had attacked Sophie? Then the bitch deserved it, she deserved to die, but that wasn't an option, not yet at least, not while I was being chaperoned but it wouldn't be difficult to get away later if necessary.

As soon as the car pulled up outside the house I pushed Edward out and ran for the door taking the stairs to my room three at a time and ignoring Esme and Rosalie who stood watching. Bella had seen me from the window and fell into my arms shaking and crying, clinging tight which felt good, she was looking to me to comfort her and no one else would do.

We sat together in the chair and I eventually got the full story from her, the things Sophie had said, but seeing my rage she shook her head, she didn't want me to do anything rash. For some time we sat there and slowly her body lost its rigidity as she relaxed then I heard a tap at the door and indicated to her that someone was coming. Bella, afraid it might be her dad, sat up rigid once more but when she saw the others file in she relaxed although I could tell she was puzzled. From their emotions I gathered they had a plan of some kind and Esme stepped forward as the spokesperson.

While she explained to me Bella read her words on a sheet of paper Rose handed her.

"We need to do something or Bella is going to lose her father and that's just not right Jazz. Charlie isn't going to believe any of us without some proof and right now we don't have any. So, Edward and Alice are going over to the house to look for some, there has to be something, Sophie isn't that clever, she's sure to have left something we can use but only if Bella agrees."

She stopped looking at Bella and waiting for her reaction.

Bella sensing her gaze picked up her word board and with my help we worked out what she wanted to say.

"Why are you all so willing to help me?"

"Because we don't like liars or injustice and you are a part of this family."

She smiled when she read this and I could feel her wish that this was the truth.

Sensing this was my opening I held up a hand to stop Esme continuing and stood up taking a deep breath. Then I sank onto one knee and took Bella's left hand in mine although I had nothing to put there, since this wasn't planned. I didn't need to say anything, she understood and her cheeks flushed as she nodded squeezing my other hand in hers.

Another hand came over my shoulder and dropped a gold band into my lap, it was Rosalie, she had slipped off her own engagement ring for me to use. As I slipped it on Bella's finger everyone clapped but Bella had eyes only for me and we kissed sealing the bargain. I quickly wrote that I promised to buy her a ring the next day but she didn't seem to mind a borrowed one for now.

The next hour was spent in congratulations and planning for the sortie into the Swan residence and what we might find. Bella sat quietly beside me gazing at the borrowed ring with a satisfied smile on her face and I understood that whatever happened she was mine and mine alone. Charlie had already lost her, he just didn't know it yet.

When Bella finally began to droop with fatigue I carried her up to bed while Edward and Alice accompanied by an eager Emmett left for Forks. We had no idea how long it would take to find what we needed if it even existed, but I knew they wouldn't give up looking until they knew, one way or the other. For now, I was too preoccupied with my fiancée to worry much.

While she showered and changed I went back down to speak to Carlisle and Esme, apologizing for springing the whole proposal thing on them but I needn't have bothered, they were both delighted.

"Bella is right for you Jasper and you for her but don't forget that you haven't broached the subject of her becoming one of us yet."

"I know and I won't until I'm sure she's ready for it."

"And if she's never ready?"

"Then I'll stay with her until she dies Carlisle, what else can I do?"

He nodded, pleased with my answer, and I went back up to join her.

Bella was waiting for me and looked very serious, she had something on her mind and I joined her on the recliner called into service as a bed once more. I would have to buy a bed for my future wife as well as a ring. She handed me a sheet of paper with a crude child's drawing of a vampire, almost illegible but she had laboured over it so I knew how important it was. Then she lifted my hand already in hers and placed it on her chest, over her heart. Her meaning was clear, she wanted me to turn her, to make her like me and I wasn't sure whether to be pleased or shocked but what could I do? She had just made my life perfect. I nodded but then touched her face with my hand and lifted the ring decorated hand to my lips with the other.

"Once we are wed Bella, not before. You need closure with your father first."

She took some time to make sense of my words but I didn't want to write them down, this was too important, too personal.

"Then I'll make you mine for eternity I promise."

Bella

I was so happy I wanted to shout for joy, to dance around the room, tell everyone how perfect my life was going to turn out. From disaster Jasper had propelled me into paradise, I would be his wife and a vampire so we could be together for all eternity. I wondered if becoming a vampire would mean we could communicate more easily. I knew Jasper could feel my emotions and I sensed his too so maybe words wouldn't be necessary any longer. Yet still, I longed to hear his voice, to tell him how much I loved him from my own lips. The longing sometimes threatened to overwhelm me but I bit it down, I had been given so much, how could I possibly believe I deserved more?