I don't own Twilight, S.M. does, I did finally get my Xmas tree down.
Chapter 52
Sorry, Charlie
My return to Forks was uneventful to say the least. No sooner did my butt land into the seat of the Volvo I crashed until right before we hit the outskirts of Forks. I told Edward sorry for not being much company for the trip home, but he just shrugged it off. After Edward dropped me home from the airport it was almost dinner time. Charlie arrived home just as I got our dinner finished. I prepared my homemade chicken fingers and French fries. I'm not normally a fan of deep fried foods but once ever so often will do no harm I believe.
I heard Charlie come in the front door and hang his holster up by the door and yell out a greeting to me.
"How was Florida Bells? Did you have a nice visit with your Mom?" Charlie asks while filling his plate with chicken and fries.
"Florida was good. Renee, is well Renee." I chuckled. I knew Charlie would understand. "How was your Thanksgiving? Did you get to go fishing like you hoped?"
"Yep, got some nice catches too. I got them in the deep freeze. I did see something unusual when I was coming back from fishing." Charlie gives me a sideways glance.
I look at Charlie confused, "What do you mean? Did you see a mermaid or something?" I joked
Charlie looks long at me then just turns back to his food, I think I hear him say "Or something."
I let the matter drop, my mind whirling on what is going on in Charlie's mind right now. I've never seen him act so weird. Something isn't right in the state of Swan.
We complete dinner in silence before Charlie excuses himself to the living room with beer in tow to watch Sports center most likely. I do the dishes quickly. I start a load of laundry before grabbing Deathly Hallows and join Charlie in the living room.
Just as I'm getting to the part where the trio are about to sneak into the Ministry of Magic I hear Charlie call my name a few times.
"Bella?"
I look up from my book, "Sorry Dad, I was just really into my book. Do you need something?"
"I want to talk to you Bells." Charlie then turns off the TV. I know now this is some serious shit if he is turning off ESPN.
I mark my place in my book and set it down on the coffee table. "Sure Dad. Is something wrong?"
"Remember I told you I saw something when coming back from fishing?"
"Umm…yeah." I look at him confused.
"When I was driving back from La Push, I saw…" Charlie just trails off, I hate when people do that. UGH!
I waited a moment before I spoke, "You saw?" I try to prompt him.
"You going to think I'm crazy Bella. I mean, I know what I saw. I know what I know. But I can't believe it, but I do believe it. I don't know what to tell you, but I feel I need to tell you." Okay, Charlie has now officially lost it. He is rambling.
"Slow down dude," The dude remark gets me a eyebrow quirk from Charlie. "Sorry, Dad, you were rambling there." I smiled up at him and move down the couch closer to Charlie. "Now slowly, tell me what you saw. I promise to try not to freak by anything you say."
Charlie stands up and begins pacing the room. ADD Charlie is a new one for me. I've never seen this man so worked up. Charlie turns to me and starts explaining what he saw. While driving back after two days of fishing on Old Quil's boat he saw a huge animal while driving back.
"Like a bear?" I have a funny feeling I know what or rather who he saw.
Charlie turns back to me, "No, it was much bigger than any bear I've ever seen. It was a wolf, a huge wolf."
I feel myself stiffen up but relax myself before Charlie had a chance to see me. "Are you sure Dad? How big?"
"Big. That's not all. I started thinking that night about some old stories that Billy told me when we were younger."
"What kind of stories dad?" I hope I'm pulling off the dumb kid routine.
"Mostly tribal legends, like there is one about the Great Flood, another about the Three Wives," I know Charlie saw me stiffen then, that is the one that is totally vamped out, "and the Legend of the Cold Ones."
"Wow you think they would of come up with more interesting names." I try to make a joke out of it. I don't want to have this conversation with Charlie alone. I see Charlie is in no joking mood. I take a deep breath, "Sorry again, what about these stories that have you so worked up Dad?"
"It got me thinking, about the tribe and the Cullen's and the feud that is going on between them. A feud until Friday afternoon that I thought was all nonsense." Charlie then sits down next to me on the couch, "But now, I don't think they are all stories. I mean, I've noticed the different things about the Cullen's and Tanya. I used to think that they all suffered from the same medical condition that is why they stick together."
"What kind of things?"
"Haven't you noticed Bells? They are really cold, all of them even in the heat of summer. They all have the same eye color even though they aren't related, they are too graceful almost like they took dance all their lives. That boy Edward of yours its like he can almost read my mind!" Charlie gets back up and starts pacing back and for again. "I feel like I'm going crazy!"
I'm a loss for words. What in the hell do I do? I hear my phone tweet and pick it up. I got a message from Alice.
Just tell him Bella, it will all be fine.
"Sit down Dad and take some deep breaths."
Charlie sits down in his chair, his hands continue to run through his hair.
"What do you think the Cullen's or the tribe are dad?"
Charlie looks up at me with fear in his eyes, what that fear is for is unknown to me. "I think the Cullen's are the Cold Ones, and the tribe has wolves."
I stand up and look at Charlie, "There are things in this world you never knew could be real. But before I talk more you must understand you can't talk about this with anyone outside of the Cullen's or Tanya's family."
Charlie looks at me with question now in his eyes, "Bells?"
"Your correct in your thinking Charlie, the Cullens and Denali's are the Cold ones or what most people call them, vampires. There are young shape shifters on the lands of La Push that protect the tribe from vampires, that is their only job to protect the humans. I know of all of this dad, and we are safe with the Cullens. They only survive on animals, just like you and I. The only difference is we take the meat they just take the blood. Its been over fifty years since any of the Cullens have drunk human blood. Carlisle and Rosalie have never even drank from a human."
Charlie sits there for a bit kind of looking like he is dumbfounded. I find the hidden bottle of scotch in his old tackle box. Silly man never even attempt to hid crap from a woman, I scold him mentally. I pour him two fingers of scotch and bring it to him. I watch shocked as he grabs the glass from my hand, downs it then grabs the bottle from my other hand and pours himself another.
"Whoa, there daddy, you got to work in the morning." Don't want a hangover Chief, that wouldn't be good. He allows me to take the scotch bottle back while he holds on to his almost full glass.
Charlie takes a long sip of this drink then looks up at me. "How long Bells? How long have you known all about this?"
"Charlie, I've known all about this since before I got off that plane in January."
"How?"
I don't feel comfortable explaining the whole soul thing with him right now, he has had one too many jolts in the last few days. "I can't tell you right now, but I will. I promise." I look into his brown eyes begging him to understand. "I can tell you this, the Cullen's are good. Are you afraid of them?"
Charlie thinks for a moment, "No, not afraid of any of them, but I'm wary of Jasper sometimes."
I roll my eyes, "Yeah, Jasper gives off that vibe sometimes, but he really is a sweetheart. He is just the newest to the diet of animals, but he is very well controlled and getting better daily." I smile at Charlie. "What about you and Tanya dad?"
I see a grin spread on Charlie's face, "Tanya is something amazing. I never thought I would find love again at my age."
"Has she told you that she loves you?"
Charlie shakes his head no, I feel my heart drop. "She refuses all my declarations of love. She told me that if I really knew her, I wouldn't want to be with her anymore." I see a tear forming in his eye, "But I don't care if she is a vampire, I just want her to be happy."
"Maybe that is something you should speak with her with. And show her how it doesn't matter." I get up from the couch and sit on the arm of Charlie's chair and put my arm around his shoulders. "Dad, do you feel," and I tap him on his heart, "right here that everything that you have witness about Tanya and the Cullens have been good?"
Charlie nods his head yes. I give him a gentle squeeze on his shoulder. "Then that is all that matters. They are good. Did you know that when a vampire mates its for life. There will be no other in that vampires mind, heart or soul. If something happens to that mate they will never mate again. Most kill themselves or put themselves in harms way so they can be killed. From what I understand there are no divorces in vampire marriages. Let me ask you this. Do you feel a spark when you touch Tanya? Did she ever tell you she felt a spark when you two touch?"
Charlie takes a swig of his drink and nods again.
"Did you feel that with Mom?"
Charlie shakes his head no.
"Its believed that when one soul mate meets another that spark is what helps identify us to the other. I get the same spark when I touch Edward and I know it happens with Kitty and Thomas too. From what I know from Tanya she hasn't had that spark happen before you. So this is a good thing."
"So you believe your Edward's soul mate? That Tanya's mine? How does that work Bella, I mean I don't want to see you hurt."
"If Edward wanted to hurt me he would of by now. Don't worry Charlie I can protect myself somewhat against them." I pull my bic lighter from my jeans pocket and flick it on. "This is the only thing that can kill a vampire Dad. Fire." I click the lighter off and return it to my pocket. "I know the Cullen's won't hurt me, but there are a lot of vampires out there that will just because that is their nature. Just remember if their eyes are gold like the Cullen's they feed on animals, but if they are blood red they drink humans, and by the time you would notice their eye color you most likely will be dead."
I noticed the time and see its almost midnight. "Dad I know this was a lot to take in, and there is even more."
Charlie just groans and finishes his scotch.
"But how about for now you sleep and think on what you learned. Talk to Tanya and maybe sometime this week we can get together with Cullens. I would even like to get have a small get together with the Uleys and Clearwater's. They both have seen how good hearted the Cullen family is and I think its up to you and I to build a bridge, how unstable it might be, for true peace between the two. The Cullen's are more than willing I know, but the wolves have generations of teaching to knock down."
I started to do some thinking while in Florida to get more of the wolves on friendly terms. Since they have given the go-head on Kitty's and my transformations incase of death I felt we should still keep on good terms with the family. If the Volturi were to ever confront us I know the wolves would be a great asset to the fight. Plus, I've always wanted to pal around with Seth, he sounded like such a little charmer.
Charlie agreed and I kissed his head before switching the laundry around and heading up for bed. No one likes to have wet jeans to wear. I walk into my room and see a mess. I really need to clean my room up, but I'm hardly here anymore except to sleep some nights. I look at the school books and papers just thrown about, I've always been a bit messy but this is getting bad in my books. I sigh and quickly head into bed, I'm wondering where Edward is since it's so late but honestly too tired to care.
=S.F.=
Edward did come during the night at some point. I remember at one point barely waking up and feeling him come under the blankets and pulling me to his chest. By the time I woke up the next morning I felt truly rested even with the lateness of my bedtime.
I feel cool kisses trailing up my neck until he reaches my pulse point on the crook of my neck and feel him gently suck there.
"Please don't leave a hickey Edward, I don't think Charlie's heart will take it." I turn over and pulled myself to Edwards chest. "Especially after learning his daughters boyfriend is a vampire."
Edward smiles that crooked grin of his at me and I feel my panties get drenched. "Now I wouldn't want that love. Don't worry too much about Charlie, love, he'll be fine in the long run."
I lean up and lick his neck, god I love taste of Edward. "Mmm, you taste so good." I move up his neck and place small kisses along his firm square jaw. God I love kissing this man, its nothing like it in this world. I reach his lips and begin to suckle on his lower lip and I feel and hear a soft growl come from him.
He is quickly on top of me with my hands pined above my head, and his firm erection grinding into my thin boy shorts. "I wish we had more time, my beautiful Bella, but you need to get ready for school, and I have to run and get changed so I can come back here and pick you up."
With that he was quickly off of me again and standing by my window, "Tease!" I yell before throwing a pillow at him as he exit's the window laughing.
=S.F.=
School was more tense than ever this week. Thankfully so far we have had no sunny days this week, its first semester finals and they are a bitch. With both Edward and Alice in all of my classes its been a bit easier to get through. I do try but some of this shit is just way over my head.
Right now we are sitting in the middle of chemistry taking our final and I was doing good on this fifty question exam until I had to start writing out equations and such. Crap, I forgot the whole Bohr Theory.
I open up my shield to Edward, Edward what is the third principle in the Bohr Theory? I got The electron may be found only in one of a fixed set of closed circular orbits. I also have the position and velocity of the electron can be described with a high degree of certainty. But I forgot the last one.
I see Edward out of the corner of my eye glance at the teacher who is busy reading today's paper, then before my eyes could blink my paper disappears and reappears with the last part of the theory. How could I forget the easiest one of the three, the electron orbit is a planar figure-a circle. God I've found to hate Chemistry too. I will never take it again unless I'm about to be burned at the stake but only then if I'm allowed to mix things to blow up.
I look over at Edward and mouth Thanks to him and he smiles his grin at me. After this mornings entertainment my panties are now at Defcon two. I finish the rest of the test closely behind Edward and Alice thanks for their quick wrists in helping me. So the remaining time in class my mind has been occupied by what Edward learned last week with Dan the Dom. Edward has been tight lipped and will not tell me anything yet other than he was taught all kinds of things but he wants to go over with it alone the next time the family is gone. Which means it could be tonight or next week, which is making me half worry and half wonder what he thought about it.
=S.F.=
While leaving school Edward informed me we were heading to his house. Esme wanted to go over house plans for our home up in Alaska. It seems that while Edward and I are on our honeymoon, the others will be closing up the Forks house and moving up to Alaska. The Cullens have huge property up there and one house already. Edward and I decided we wanted our own home close to the family but not in 'hearing' distance for Edward.
We quickly got back to the house and met with Esme in the dinning room.
"Hey kids how was school today?" Esme calls out.
"It wasn't half bad, as long Edward and Alice help me." I groan while putting my backpack on one of the chairs around the table. Edward then pulls my jacket off and runs off to hang it up.
Esme frowns at me. She doesn't like how I cheat in school. "You should try harder Bella."
"I do really try Esme, its not my fault that my brain refuses to learn stuff it has no interest in knowing in the first place?"
"You should get used to it Bella, because when your like us High School is part of the deal." Alice chirps while bringing me a PBJ sandwich and some milk. I grab the Sandwich and beginning eating. I take a swig of milk before answering Miss Know-it-all.
"But why keep repeating High school? I can think of better ways of to appear normal while still having to be our age. I mean the news is always filled with stories of kids who were starting their businesses as young as eleven or twelve years old. We aren't even trying to be that young. When I can be around humans again, I don't want my first chance at the outside world going to high school, I would rather open up my own business. When we move I could either sell it, or keep it and let others run it while I'm gone. Let lawyers be the in-between guy for me. You know like Jenks."
By the time I finished my little ran Jasper had joined us at the table. Emmett and Rose were still off in the Amazon somewhere looking for Nahuel and his aunt.
"You know Jenks?" Jasper questions me while looking at me very intent. I guess I forgot about the whole paperwork thing from Breaking Dawn.
"Not personally but I do know of him. He is your paper man, right?"
"Yes, he is good at what he does plus I put the fear of me in him when I see him." He grins at me.
"Maybe you should peal back that fear a bit. Your going to send him to an early grave, something we don't need right now. But after my change when in the Book the Volturi was going to get the baby, Book Bella had to use Jenks to get ID and papers for both the baby and Jacob so they could run. Book Bella felt that the baby would be safe with Jacob because of the imprint thing. So she went to Jenks and got it, then decided to become the in-between person for the family and Jenks so he doesn't have an early death."
"How did you come across Jenks in the book?"
I pointed to Alice, "She did she left a message in one of my favorite books with his name and I tracked him down, sort of in a dingy part of Seattle before being sent to his more nice office downtown. Alice did this before you and her left for South America looking at 'blind spots' in her vision to find Nahuel. She left me the message since I could block out Edward and Aro incase she wasn't able to find Nahuel in time. If Aro had gotten wind of the backup plan all could have been lost if war broke out the moment Aro touched any of you. So the secret was safe with me."
We chatted a bit more about some of the smaller details involved with my plans of getting the baby out of reach of the Voltirui. I told them I would just run with her until I found someplace safe and then go and fight them. Edward asked me where I would take the baby if it happened again like it did in the book.
"I can't tell you, but I know it would be safe."
Edward looks at me with hurt. "But why?"
"It's nothing to do with trust Edward, it just goes back to Aro knowing what you know if he touches you. I'm the safest with this idea of where to take the baby, but really this is a mute point. We are avoiding the Italian Vampire Mafia for as long as we can. We are planning to drop off the face of the earth after the wedding anyway and not come back until the baby is fully mature. I know someday we might have to deal with them, I just hope it isn't for a couple of hundred years."
"Your right love, I know you trust me. I just have a hard time understanding your thinking sometimes."
"I know I think backwards compared to most other people. I always plan for the worst not the better. It goes back to what I had to deal with most of my life. I would rather plan for the worst then be happy when the better happens. Planning for the worst gives me some control on the inside. That is one area book Bella and I have in common when it comes to our thinking. Once I have made a choice I stick with it when it comes to something big. Like the safety of my children. Even when I was Charlene I had backup plans incase my family showed up on my door. The odds of it happening were small since I lived on the other side of the country from them but my kids knew what to do incase she showed up on my doorstep. She never did but it didn't stop her from sending the cops to do a 'wellness check' because I refused to talk to her. After the third time the cops came I filed a restraining order to stop her harassing me and I also told the cops if they showed up on her request one more time I would have to get a lawyer involved to stop the invasion of my privacy."
"What where you afraid she would do?"
"You all don't really want to know exactly what I thought she would do, even if it seemed impossible even to me." My family was twisted and once I learned not to underestimate them I never did again. I was always worried them showing up and embarrassing me in front of my children, or doing harm to my children, to kidnapping my kids because I refused to let them see my children. I know I kept my kids in a bubble of sorts while they were little. But I had a hard time trusting them to other adults even other children until they started school. Then when they did I insisted that a lot of their get together with their friends happened at my house. It stayed that way until I died. I guess you could say I am very overprotective when it comes to my kids but I would never hold them back. My kids knew why I was so overprotective too, I didn't hide the reason why. They needed to keep their guard up too. It work, because of my teaching both Kitty and Charles had friends that were being abused, not by family but friends and we were able to help them out to get them help. Once a neighbor a few years older than Charles tried something with him and his little friends. The neighbor was fifteen at the time and Charles was seven. He tried to touch Charles in the groin area while playing in the backyard. I remember that day Charles came running in screaming with his little friends coming in right behind him. Charles told me everything that happened. I called the cops and came to find out that the same neighbor had been abusing my friends boys for a month. We took Charles to a therapist and found he didn't feel bad about what happened. We were told that because we gave Charles the tools to deal with something like this it made Charles feel proud and strong he was able to do the right thing. The fifteen year old was shipped off to a state school for kids like him and we shortly moved out of state because of Chuck's job and never heard anymore about it.
The conversation switched after that to the plans for our new home in Alaska/Canada. It seem the property is so big it runs into Canada. Esme unrolled the blueprints for a few designs that we might like. Edward and I settled on a lovely Cape Cod style house. It will have two floors, three if you count the basement that Edward and I both want. The main floor will have a living room, family room, a theater/game room, kitchen and dining room. Our master bedroom will also be on the first floor along with a huge bathroom with a bathtub that will fit four easily. I requested a shower just like the one in Edward's bathroom and that earned me giggles from the ladies. They all must love the shower of the gods as much as me. The second floor will have three bedrooms as well as a office/study. One of the bedroom will be turned into the nursery, another will be my craft room. I've started building room boxes again. I'm hoping to start an online dollhouse building business. Make miniature houses for people. I usually do themed houses like the buildings from Harry Potter which are always fun. But I've also made ones per requests like exact mini homes of their current home including the furniture that matches and the dolls that look like the family members.
The basement will be where our playroom will be. Edward asked to make sure that both the basement and our bedroom is sound proof. Neither one of us want our child to hear our late night activates while she is sleeping. I know I wouldn't if I was her. Edward and I haven't talked about what exactly what we would want in a playroom but I figured we still have time for that.
After we got that all sorted it was time to take me home. Charlie wanted us to have dinner tonight and I know he will have more questions. Boy I'm so not looking forward to dinner.
=S.F.=
"Okay Bells, I have some questions." Charlie begin after pushing back lightly from our small kitchen table. Charlie has been quiet since coming home tonight, I guess we both have been. I figured to let him lead the way when he is ready.
"Questions about what we talked about last night?"
Charlie wipes his face with his napkin, "Yeah, I do. Why don't we leave this stuff here for now and talk in the living room?"
Charlie gets up from the table and I follow closely behind him. I quickly grab my My-touch incase I need to call Edward. I sit down on the couch, while Charlie sits in his overused Lazyboy.
"Now I've done a lot of thinking Bella, and maybe this isn't the right environment for you to live in. You need to be safe. I think you need to go live with you mother."
OH HELL NO!
"I'm not going anywhere Dad, this is where I belong." I start to stand up. I'm trying real hard not to lose my temper at him, we need to talk like adults.
"Bella, your safety comes first. I want you on the first plane down to Jacksonville in the morning!"
I stand up "Charlie, I'm not going anywhere. I'm an adult I live in your house by my choice not yours. You know as well as I you can't force me to go to Jacksonville. But if you no longer want me in your home I will gladly move elsewhere."
"Of course I don't want you to move out Bells! You just got here, but how can I allow you to hang out with monsters!" Charlie bellows at me. Alright I guess he is done being an adult.
"Dad, you just don't understand, I need to stay here. The Cullens have been helping me. The Cullen's aren't monsters!" I yell back at him. "Now enough of this, what are your questions?"
Charlie sits back in his chair, thinking. I could see he knows I will just up and leave if he pushes me about going to Jacksonville. "What about the sun? How can they be out in the daytime? What about garlic and crosses?"
"Most of what you know about vampires are myth. The garlic, coffins, crosses, stake through the heart, burning in the sun. All of them myths. But they can't be seen in the sun or else everyone will know they were different."
"What happens?"
"Let Tanya show you sometime. It's a sight to see. Trust me it is nothing bad, just really blinding and beautiful." Seeing Edward sparkling in the sun for the first time, is a sight I will never forget.
"I don't know if Tanya wants to see me anymore. I haven't heard from her since Thanksgiving."
Oh, this isn't good. What in the hell is up with Tanya, I told her not to dick him around! "Have you tried to call her?"
"Err, well…No." Charlie scratches the back of his neck.
I roll my eyes at the whole male species now, they can be so dense. "Well, why don't you call her and invite her over. I can go stay at the Cullens tonight so you two can talk."
"I think I do that Bells. I'm sorry about trying to get you out of here. I do want you here but I'm worried about your safety."
"Dad, I have twelve overprotective vampires looking out for me now. I like to think I'm the safest human in Forks." I'm never without a vampire looking over my shoulder. I know Edward is waiting in the woods now, its just his M.O..
"Alright, but just one more thing I want to talk to you about." I see Charlie's face start getting pink. "I know you and Edward have been getting really close and I just hope your being safe. I don't want any grandchildren soon."
I start laughing while I notice Charlie's face get redder and redder. Is this the same man I've heard for the last four months go hot and heavy with the succubus? Now he is talking about safe sex? I get my laughter under control before I answer him. "Dad we aren't having sex. Edward is really, really, really old fashioned. We are both still virgins and plan to keep it that way for now." I don't think he is ready for the whole I'm getting married talk yet, let Edward field that question when he asks for my hand.
Charlie's coloring slowly returns to normal. "How old is Edward anyway?"
"Seventeen."
Now Charlie rolls his eyes at me, "You know what I was asking Bella. How long has he been seventeen?" Takes a swig of his beer.
"Since 1918." I say quickly and Charlie spits takes all over himself. I run out of the room, up the stairs. Just as I close my bedroom door I hear Charlie's voice yelling from downstairs.
"WHAT?"
=S.F.=
Sorry this was late getting up. Real life is a bitch sometimes. But now I should be back on track. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Beta-ed by kittyfiction2008
