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Thanks as always to my wonderful pre-reader and amazing Beta Courtney0624 and Kymbersmith90

Chapter 37

Bella Cullen

Carlisle was as good as his word. He was back in just over an hour and brought Edward with him. I was so happy to see my husband; every hour we were apart seemed like an eternity to me. It felt like I was missing a limb.

He pulled me into his arms and held me tight. "How's he doing?" he asked, indicating to where Charlie lay.

"He's mostly been asleep. Carlisle's been topping up his morphine regularly to keep him comfortable."

Edward nodded. "Can we step outside for a moment?" he asked. "Esme has a few questions she'd like me to ask you and I'm sure Carlisle wants some time to organise Charlie's move back to Forks."

I nodded in agreement and he led me by the hand down the corridor, into the hospital's reception area and finally outside.

The morning air was fresh and the weather was typically Pacific coast, dull, grey and gloomy. Just the way we needed it to be for my family of vampires.

"You won't believe the difference we've made to Charlie's house already," he smiled. "Esme really is a little tornado when she gets going. She's worked everyone so hard. It's lucky that Bree and Alice have been studying her cooking so much, they've been keeping the pack boys fed all night. I think that's the only reason that they kept going."

"How did they manage that?" I asked, knowing that Charlie's fridge and cupboards would be almost bare.

"They weren't overly confident to begin with," he admitted. "Then Sam suggested that he'd call Sue and have her meet them at our house, not the cottage, the big house. Esme keeps the refrigerator and freezer well stocked for Nessie, Jake and the boys.

"Is Nessie okay?" I asked, suddenly feeling guilty for not being with her.

"She's fine, Bella. You don't ever have to worry about her. Jacob wouldn't let any harm come to her any more than you or I would."

I took some re-assurance from that. I'd been so worried about Charlie. I realised that I hadn't given my wonderful daughter enough thought over the last day. The fact that I hadn't only proved that I knew she was always protected, not only by Jacob, but the whole pack, not to mention our entire coven of vampires. She was one lucky young lady.

"So what did Sue do?" I asked.

"Well she was keen to help out in any way she could, so she met Bree and Ness back at the house and helped them to make dozens of bacon subs, waffles and I think it was four different types of grilled cheese sandwiches, onion, ham, tomato and mushroom."

"How many were they trying to feed?" I asked, surely the whole pack couldn't have got through that lot.

"You'd be surprised about how much support we've had." Edward told me. "As usual they took it in turns to run the perimeter of our lands, but they all showed face at some point. They all love Charlie."

I felt my breath hitch slightly in my chest. My father meant so much to so many. I had never even realised it when I'd lived with him. He was always so quiet, so private. The fact that he'd chosen to die if necessary hit home. He truly was my hero.

Edward kept me outside, telling me about the progression of Charlie's house renovations. There were things that were needed for his new en-suite bathroom that couldn't be bought until the stores opened today, but it appeared that most of the exterior work had been done already.

"Edward, I want him to have the best of everything. You don't mind, do you?"

"Bella, Esme wouldn't have it any other way," he assured me. "Don't you realise how important you are to our family yet? Charlie will have nothing but the best. I promise you that; maybe you should help Esme pick out the fittings?" he asked.

"I'd love to help, that would be a shopping trip I think I'd enjoy for once." I smiled at my gorgeous husband, slightly over-awed by the quick progression of the extension and the generosity of my family and friends.

Edward told me about the rest of Esme's questions. Most of them were about his personal tastes. What type of bed and bedding he'd prefer etc. To be honest, I didn't think Charlie would have ever taken his own personal tastes into account. He probably had just gone with what he thought mom and I would have liked, or whatever was most economical. To think that I could actually think about what my dad would have really liked; along with the knowledge that I could afford to get him these things had me really buzzing. I was suddenly elated. I had visions of a black and white en-suite bathroom; with chrome accessories; a total bachelor pad type of bathroom. Charlie would be so stoked.

His bedroom would have none of the floral bedding that his current one had; a throwback to Renee's time here in Forks. Clearly dad hadn't thought of re-decorating once over the years.

No, he'd have duck egg blue and brown walls with matching bedding with a plain, but extremely rich and plush mink colored carpet. One that he'd lose his feet in almost up to his ankles. That would be so cool for him. I was having a lot of fun envisioning what his room would look like. I knew deep down that Charlie would love a football or baseball themed room, but he'd made a very grown up decision and so he was going to have a grown up room... one that I hoped he'd be proud to bring a lady friend to eventually.

Edward brought me out of my thoughts by asking, "Should I call Esme and let you speak to her?"

I nodded, "Yes please, I would like to be involved in this."

Edward took out his phone.

"I'm going to see how Carlisle's getting along while you speak to mom," he told me.

I nodded in agreement and took his phone from him. I heard it ringing on the other end as Edward disappeared back into the hospital.

"Hi, Edward," Esme answered.

"Hi, Mom," I replied. "It's not Edward, it's me, Bella."

"All the better, sweetheart," she told me. "Has Edward filled you in on everything?"

"He has," I assured her. "I want to help Esme; I have so many thoughts for Charlie's room and bathroom," I told her.

"Wow, that's wonderful," she said. "Alice has already thrown in her two cents, but I'm sure you'll know best what you're father would want."

"I'm sure Alice's thoughts might not be too far from my own, but why don't we go shopping in Seattle this afternoon? We could go when Charlie is being transferred back to Forks? I'm sure we won't need much time. I have a clear idea of what I'd like for him."

"Really, you do?" My mother-in-law sounded surprised, but I'd spend more than two years in Charlie's small house, washing his clothes and keeping things tidy. I'd had plenty of time to ponder why he'd never changed his style. I'd come to the conclusion that he'd found no need to. I'd re-styled his bedroom more than once in my head, thinking of how he could have made it nicer for him. He'd saved every penny he'd had towards my college education and I'd thrown that back in his face to an extent. Now was the time for payback.

"I really want to," I told Esme sincerely. "Could you arrange for Alice to come with us? I'll get Edward to stay with Charlie until the ambulance arrives to take him back to Forks General, so we can meet and go then," I suggested.

"That sounds wonderful, sweetheart," Esme agreed. "I'll speak to Alice; we'll be waiting for your call."

"No need, I can be out of here in twenty minutes or so, I just need to check on Charlie first. Can you pick me up here?

"Of course we can; we'll be there as soon as we can." Esme assured.

I turned Edward's phone off and headed back into the hospital. When I reached Charlie's room I found him awake and more alert than he'd been previously.

"Hi Bells," he greeted me. Edward and Carlisle were hovering nearby.

"You're sounding better and better," I replied.

"Carlisle's explained what's going on; I'm getting an ambulance transfer back to Forks." He smiled, clearly trying to avoid wincing in pain.

"That you are, Dad," I agreed. "You'll feel better closer to home. Do you mind if Edward and Carlisle go with you? I have a few errands to run."

"Of course not, you do what you need to do," he responded, exactly like I'd expected.

"I'll stay with you, Dad, till the ambulance arrives to take you back, then Edward will be with you until you are settled back in Forks. I'll be back as soon as I can be," I assured him.

"Bells, it's fine," he winced.

"Carlisle?" I asked, worried.

"Bella, for Christ sake, I'm fine," Charlie told me.

"Charlie is just a little uncomfortable," Carlisle assured me. "He'll be taken to the ambulance within the next half hour," he promised me.

"Am I good to go now dad?" I asked.

"Of course you are, Bells. I know Edward and Carlisle will take care of me from now on in," he replied.

~TCOB~

Edward Cullen

Whilst Bella was talking to Esme on the phone I went back into the hospital and joined my father in Charlie's room.

"Bella's going to be going shopping with Esme," I whispered to Carlisle. "Is there any reason that she shouldn't? Will she need to sign anything or the like for Charlie to be re-located?"

"None whatsoever," came his silent response. "Charlie is doing better than I'd hoped, he's a fighter."

I nodded to assure him that I'd understood.

Bella came back shortly after and explained to Charlie that she had some things she had to do. I heard him thinking some relieved thoughts. He wanted as little fuss as possible and he didn't want Bella to know how much pain he was in.

The private ambulance turned up just minutes after she left.

"Before we go, Carlisle, is there any chance you could top up my pain meds?" Charlie asked. "I'm starting to feel a little sore again and I have the feeling that the move won't help me much."

"Of course," Carlisle responded immediately, adjusting Charlie's IV to release a little more morphine.

"Thanks." Charlie said and I heard him hoping internally that he wouldn't drift off again. He had questions for us.

Unfortunately these were questions that we wouldn't be able to answer until later. We'd decided that we'd face this together as a family. It wasn't a conversation that I was looking forward to. I felt that Charlie may want to go for his gun, and although it couldn't harm me, I didn't really fancy being shot by my father-in-law.

"Are you ready now?" Carlisle asked Charlie.

"Sure am, Doc."

Carlisle called for the orderlies to take Charlie to the ambulance and we followed on behind. Once we were settled in for the journey, I heard Charlie thinking about how to pose the question. I decided that attack was the best form of defence.

"Charlie, I know the last two days have been very difficult for you and I know that you must have a lot of questions for Carlisle, both about what happened to you and what he asked you, but I think these questions would be better left until Bella can be with us to explain the answers to you properly."

Charlie looked shocked. That didn't surprise me.

"How...how did you know?" Charlie asked.

"We will explain everything to you, Charlie. I promise you that. But for now you should rest, get some sleep," I implored.

"And you promise you'll tell me everything?"

I nodded and heard Charlie giving in. He closed his eyes and drifted off into oblivion...

~TCOB~

A/N I hope you enjoyed the chapter... Next up will cover the talk with Charlie. I know that a lot of you are looking forward to that. Seth and Bree will speak to Carlisle too, so questions and answers all round. There will also be a little surprise...

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