Disclaimer – I do not own Twilight

A/N – Same Chapter as 35 just in Edward's point of view, I know it ends in a cliffy so I'll post the next chapter soon. Thanks for reading :)

Chapter 36 – Natural Disaster

EPOV

We had been sitting in silence for some time and my curiosity got the best of me again. "What are you thinking?" I asked her quietly.

She looked up at me, and a taunting smile spread across her lips. "How it must kill you not to know my thoughts," she teased.

"You have no idea," I replied. Her thoughts were the one world I wished to know, and yet they were the one world I was denied.

She leaned closer to me and put her head on my shoulder; we were sitting together on the coach in the main room. "Consider yourself lucky. My thoughts would be a bore," she explained.

"Not to me."

There was a moment of silence before she replied. "Well what about you?" She took her head from my shoulder and twisted in her seat to look me in the eyes. She then took her fist and put it under her mouth like a microphone. "What could it be like to be inside Edward Cullen's head? To hear his thoughts and not everyone else's that buzz around in there." She moved her fist in front of my mouth for me to answer.

I stared at her amused. "I only speak off the record. Sorry," I teased.

"What would it be like to jump in a pool of self misery? Tonight at five, Edward Cullen reveals his mind's deepest thoughts." Emmett never failed to let everyone know, exactly what he was thinking.

I rolled my eyes lightheartedly.

More of my family entered the main room and began to find seats. Alice was brimming with excitement, she had been planning Bella's bridal shower for months. Initially it was supposed to be just the girls, but Alice thought Charlie would like to be a part of it, plus Bella wouldn't let me out of her sight. It was like she was afraid I would leave her again. A ridicules notion that I alone was to blame for.

I looked down at her. She was in deep thought again. I hated being in the dark. It was just plain annoying more than anything. I noticed a smile appear on her face. She then seemed to catch on to my starring.

"What?" she asked, now self-conscious.

"You're doing it again," I complained.

"Doing what?"

I shook my head, "You're a mystery Bella."

"Hey Bella, just completely stop thinking; it will make him feel better," Emmett chimed in.

I glared at him and Bella laughed.

All of my family was now in the main room, and I could hear Jacob and Mandy driving up the lane. A few minutes later they walked through the open door.

Bella and I both stood and walked to them.

"Hey!" Jacob all but yelled.

"There's the newlyweds," Bella teased.

He pointed a finger at her playfully, "Speak for yourself."

"I still got a couple days," she replied grinning.

Mandy then made her way to Bella and hugged her.

Jacob and I clasped forearms and nodded once to each other. I was still getting used to the idea that we were friends. I guess I owed Mandy one in that respect.

"Welcome," Carlisle said as he and Esme joined us by the door.

"Doctor Cullen," Jacob said, offering his hand to Carlisle. They shook hands and Carlisle's attention turned to Mandy.

"Anymore broken bones?"

She laughed. "Depends, do you have any more vampires that deserve their face punched?"

Bella didn't miss a beat. "Have you meant Emmett?"

I bit my lip to hide my smile.

"I heard that," Emmett boomed from one of the couches.

"You leave the vampire punching to me," Jacob said, grabbing Mandy's hand in his.

Just then Charlie pulled up to the house. He saw us turn to look at him through the open door and flashed his lights and siren.

"Party's over," he teased when he stepped out of the car.

"Not on your life," cried Alice good-naturedly. She and Jasper joined our group assembled by the door.

Charlie made his way toward us, clapping Jacob on the back when he reached his side. He and Carlisle then shook hands.

"Thank you for coming," Carlisle greeted him.

Charlie grunted and nodded in response. From the outside he made it look like it was no big deal, but from his thoughts I could tell that he was impressed and grateful that we had put a dinner and party together for Bella, and that he was actually invited. He was having trouble letting her go, and coming here tonight helped him not feel as excluded from her life.

"I guess we can get started then, since we're all here," said Carlisle. "If we could all migrate into the dining area and find a seat, I think dinner should be ready."

He and Esme then started for the kitchen while the rest of us headed for the dining area.

"Bells," Charlie said putting his arm around her shoulders in a kind of side hug as they walked. I stayed close on her other side, and watched her cautiously. She may have had an aversion to blood, but I wasn't entirely convinced that we all should drop our guard and trust that her true nature would never show through. She was still a newborn whether she ever acted like one or not. She flashed me a smug smile seeming to catch on to my apparently not so stealthy observance.

Once we made it into the dining area I followed her to the table and helped her into her chair before taking the empty seat next to her myself.

Soon the other chairs around the table were filled and Esme and Carlisle brought the food out—large plates of steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, and green beans—on trays. It didn't take long for conversations around the table to start.

I mainly focused on Charlie's thoughts, as they were mostly about Bella and me. Millions of questions were shooting through his mind. Important questions that most people failed to think or talk about before their marriages. Charlie still didn't agree with Bella's choice to marry me, but at the same time his greatest fear was for us to turn out like him and Renée. He wanted her to be happy, not one day living alone wondering what went wrong. He wanted more for Bella than he had given her, more than he thought I could give her.

"You'll still be attending school wont you?" he finally asked me. In his thoughts he believed I was what some call "twitterpated", blinded by love and not thinking of the future or reality. As he put it 'The honeymoon doesn't last forever kid.' But contrary to what he believed, I had thought about the future with Bella, probably more than I should have. And I didn't see any reason Bella couldn't have an extraordinary day everyday she and I existed. She deserved more than an ordinary life, because she herself was not ordinary and never would be. I had once promised him to make her happy, and I was going to do whatever it took. And with me, forever was an option.

"Yes sir," I replied. "We plan to."

I noticed Bella grab her roll and rip off a piece. I wanted to warn her that she should probably start out with something else but I couldn't do much under Charlie's stare.

"Good," he grunted, not fully satisfied. "It'll help you get a decent job." I held back a smile. Little did he know just how much college education I already had. I could probably get a job anywhere I wished, but his concern was still valid, and I was grateful he cared enough to ask.

I was going to agree with him on the matter, but "It…" was all I got out before Bella gagged and leaned forward coughing into her hand.

Charlie patted her on the back thinking she had merely swallowed something wrong and was to some extent choking on it.

Emmet couldn't contain himself and decided to play off this theory. "You know you're supposed to chew it first and then swallow," he explained laughing.

Bella threw him a dirty look before telling Charlie she was fine.

I then noticed her look around the table to see the others' reactions. Their amused grins said it all, mimicking exactly what they were thinking.

Once she regained herself I leaned over and whispered. "The steak is easier to stomach."

She dipped her head down in a nod and began to hesitantly cut into it slowly. Soon she had a small piece on her fork and she cautiously placed it into her mouth.

She shuddered but chewed it for a few moments before tentatively swallowing.

She looked a little disturbed but otherwise whispered "Thanks," to me before cutting another piece and repeating the process.

It wasn't too long before I noticed her plate was practically empty. That's when Carlisle brought my attention to her state of being.

'Edward, she doesn't look like she is doing too well,' he thought.

I turned to get a better look at her. She was staring blankly at her plate, taking deep slow breaths.

"So does this mean you're moving back to Forks?" Charlie asked, looking over at Carlisle. "We could use your skills as a doctor again."

"Bella?" I said softly, but she didn't seem to hear me.

"You're very kind," Carlisle replied. "But I think after the wedding we are headed back to Seattle for a time."

Charlie nodded in reply.

Carlisle went on to ask Charlie about his work, but his thoughts were still focused on Bella.

"Are you okay?" I whispered, louder this time, hoping she would hear.

She didn't reply, but simply continued to stare blankly ahead, hands resting limply on her lap.

"Bella?"

More of the others were beginning to notice her state, when Jasper's thoughts came urgently to my mind. 'Edward, she is not okay. She's going to throw up any second.'

I didn't waste any time. "Bella and I will dish up the dessert for everyone," I volunteered.

I then stood and put my arm around her, lifting her gently, while paying close attention to Jasper's thoughts to make sure I wasn't making it worse for her.

I then walked with her into the kitchen and straight out the back door. We barely made it about ten feet into the trees before she stopped me and curled forward.

I caught her before she face planted, but she pushed me away.

"Bella," I complained.

"I don't want you to see," she said, embarrassed.

I chuckled. As if her throwing up could make me look at her any differently.

She dropped to her knees and I stood behind her, moving my hand gently on her back while her upset stomach got the better of her.

…

She looked one hundred percent better when we walked back into the kitchen.

"No fair," she complained. "How come everyone else can keep it down so well?"

"Practice," I replied amused.

I was running around the kitchen getting plates and putting pie onto them. I had to do it fairly quickly so Charlie wouldn't be wondering what was taking us so long. Soon I had eleven plates of pie neatly assembled on a tray.

"Ready for dessert?" I asked her, picking it up.

"If by that you mean, ready to invest in a dog so I never have to stomach human food ever again, then yes. I'm all too ready for dessert."

I laughed at the thought, wondering how long a dog would last in a home full of "vegetarian" vampire's. Though I was pretty sure she could have just thrown her scraps to Jacob if she wanted.

We both walked back into the dining area. My family's worried thoughts began to dissipate as they saw Bella back to her usual self.

Bella and I went around the table handing out the plates of pie.

"Mmmm!" Emmett exclaimed as Bella laid the biggest slice we had before him. Though he was sarcastic, he seemed to be up for the challenge.

After everyone had a plate Bella and I again sat at the table.

It wasn't long before dessert was over. Carlisle then graciously invited everyone into the main room and we all obeyed, finding a seat on one of the couches or chairs. I lead Bella to a small two person couch where she would most likely be the center of attention. After all, this was her night. She snuggled up to me and laid her head on my shoulder.

Carlisle, Esme, and Charlie sat across from us and the others filled the seats between. Once everyone was seated we were in a type of circle where each of us could see everyone else.

The room then went silent and everyone's focus turned to Bella. She tensed and shifted uncomfortably.

"What?" she finally asked.

Carlisle nodded once to Alice and she hopped up excitedly.

"Well Bella," she began. "We knew you would have found some way around it if you had really known what tonight was about…"

Bella sighed seeming to know what was coming.

"And I know it's not very traditional with all of the guys here," her face scrunched up disapprovingly, "but we thought we'd make an exception."

"Alice," she complained. "You didn't."

Alice smiled smugly. "You know me; I can't pass up an opportunity for a party, especially not my own sister's bridal shower."

Bella then turned on me. "You knew," she lectured.

I held my hands up innocently. "There's nothing I could have done," I defended. "She would have seen me coming a mile away."

She tried to fight the smile forming from my statement.

"They all knew," Alice explained. "Even your mother knew. She tried to be here tonight, but her flight was delayed." Alice had tried to book the flight for Renée, knowing that the airline she had in mind would be delayed, but Renée had insisted she had it taken care of and that Alice need not worry. "But the party must go on," Alice continued.

Her expression became bright again and she reached toward Jasper. He handed her a rectangular box and she then handed it to Bella. "This is from Jasper and me," she said sitting back down excitedly.

Through Alice's thoughts I got a fleeting glimpse of the lacy lingerie packed neatly in the box.

I put my fist to my mouth, hiding my amused smile.

She noticed and quietly whispered, "I don't really want to open this do I?"

When I didn't respond she reluctantly continued opening the present. She cracked the lid about an inch, peeked inside, realized what it was, and immediately shut the box again.

She looked up embarrassed. "Thanks," she whispered sheepishly to Alice before setting the box down on the arm of the couch.

"Oh, come now," Emmett complained grinning. "Why don't you show us what the present was?"

"Only if you're willing to model it," she retorted, knowing that everyone else had caught on to what it was by now.

"He's not," Rosalie answered for him, before he could agree.

That's when Carlisle stood up and walked to her with her next present. "Esme and I hope you both will enjoy this," he said before returning to his chair.

"Thank you," she replied. She then looked to me, hoping to see if this one was safe to open.

When she found the answer on my face, she began to open it. Carlisle had talked to me about this gift before he and Esme had gotten it. It was my past in that box. The time in my life when I had not known Bella, not known a depth of love as deep as I had for her could even exist. How I went from day to day then without her, I'll never know, but with this gift I could make her a part of that time in my life, even if it was an unrealistic way. I could show her where I had lived, where I had grown up, where my mother had taught me how to play the piano. Bella liked to know those kinds of things. I couldn't help but think that if Bella had been there when Carlisle had changed me, maybe I wouldn't have done some of those things I regretted. With her there with me now it could be a new start for me, a new hope; maybe I could even learn to accept Carlisle's belief about our souls… maybe.

She opened the box and took the tickets out gently.

"Thank you," she said, holding them protectively in her hands.

Carlisle and Esme smiled at us in reply.

Jacob then grunted and stood up. "Sorry to kill the moment, but we left your present in the car, so I'll be back." In his mind I could see the "his and her" towels Mandy had wrapped early that week for Bella.

He started for the door, and then Charlie stood and stepped behind one of the chairs where he emerged with a fairly large square box. I searched his thoughts, curious to know what was inside, yet he offered no answer, his thoughts completely absorbed with worry of what her reaction would be.

"I sneaked it in when you two dished up the dessert," he said. "Sorry it isn't much."

"Thanks dad," Bella said softly, taking the box. He sat back down and she lifted the lid.

There on soft pink fabric lay a picture of Charlie and Bella. She was a very young child at the time, not even old enough to walk on her own. Charlie was standing behind her, holding her little hands in his as she unsteadily stood on her feet. She had a surprised look on her face, starring wide eyed at the camera with a gapping mouth, but Charlie was looking down at her with the most loving expression.

Bella turned the picture over and on the back were two short notes, one to Bella and one to me:

Bella – You'll always be my little girl.

Edward – I now give you her hands. Take care of her.

I looked up at Charlie, a soft expression of gratitude and empathy on my face. I literally knew what he thought of me, and what he thought about giving up Bella to another man. The gift was more than I could have asked for. He was willing to accept me, willing to accept us, Bella and I, together.

Jasper shifted in his seat, and I then noticed her emotions through him. Her overpowering sense of love at that moment matched my gratitude and increased my joy. Her happiness always made me happy. I turned my focus to her and found her bleary eyed, staring at the picture, her hand slightly shaking.

She blinked a few times and looked back into the box, noticing there was more to the gift.

She lifted out a small pink blanket and underneath found a little pink dress, a pacifier, a story book, and a bib that had the words "Daddy's girl" embroidered on it.

My breath caught in my throat and my heart sank. At that moment all my joy instantly turned into self loathing. A child, the one thing I could never give her.

"They were yours; I was hoping they may be of use to you in the future," said Charlie.

His words splashed over us like ice water. Bella took in a shaky breath, staring at the gift on her lap without really seeing it. A moment later she dropped what she was holding and the box slid from her lap and crashed onto the floor.

"Bella?" I whispered. She didn't respond, it was like she couldn't hear me.

'Edward!' it was Jasper. Her incredibly powerful emotions had filled his entire being to the point where he could hardly breath. I could see them through him, building up as more love, despair, anger, and grief poured from her.

"Bella?" I said again, my tone urgent, but now I knew she couldn't hear me.

Her gaze rose until it locked on Charlie, she simply stared at him and her emotions intensified.

"Bella!" I pled.

And at that moment my entire world changed. It felt as if a line of cool water had rushed through me, clearing some haze I had lived in before, and the next instant my mind found hers and I heard one fatal word resonate throughout her thoughts.

'BLOOD!'

A/N – Please Review :)