Chapter 8

The drive didn't take us long as we surged along the highway to bring us to my club, it wasn't long before I could see the spotlights in the sky from the red carpet. Damon squeezed my leg as we approached the front of the club, a number of cars were already in the line ahead of us when our cars joined it. I smiled at him and took his hand as kissed it before letting them fall back onto the soft leather as we waited our turn in line. It was only a few short minutes before our 3 SUV pulled up. The lights of the flashes front the cameras were bright even through the heavy tinted windows. Mac got out first to open the back passenger doors the rest of the security team were focusing themselves around mine and the Cullen's SUV.

"Alright." Said Mac, as he pulled open the back door for Demi and Stephan, holding out a hand for her to help her step down. The screams from fans and shouts from various photographers looking for attention towards their lens intensified seeing the first occupants get out. Edward's had went to the handle to let himself out as I called to him.

"Answer no questions, just smile and follow Nat's lead, Edward." He nodded quickly before exiting and moving around the SUV holding his hand out for Natalie.

"See you inside!" she turned and blew a kiss to us once she was on her feet, taking Edward's arm and leading him down to their first stop for photos. Edward seemed to be taking it in stride, though I should have expected nothing less, taking his cues from Natalie on where to stand and look, he looked like a natural.

They moved on to the next spot and Mac opened the door again signaling it was our turn. Damon jumped out ahead of me, and turned eyeing the slit in my dress, he grabbed my hips and gently lifted me out of the tall SUV. He took my head and the whole crowd roared at once, as though our appearance was unexpected after the vehicles previous occupants should have been a clear give away. The plush red carpet was lined on both sides with hundreds of screaming people. Fans on one side, shouting, crying, waving thing for us to sign. The other, filled with various media with still and video cameras yelling for our attention all wanting the best shot possible. We took our time as we hit each spot marked with a small X of black tape. Finally as we headed to our last position I glanced back to see how the Cullen's were managing, they too were breezing through, the media have no huge concern for them they way they did for my family made it relatively simple as they striding gracefully to each mark, pausing and posing briefly at each. Alice grinned at me, her and Jasper were hot on our heels as a security guard followed the a few feet away. I winked at her and turned to get the last of our photographs done. We finally moved towards the doorway, I paused and looked to Mac.

"How are we doing for time?" I asked.

"You can have 5 minutes." He replied checking his watch and eyeing the crowd.

I nodded and took Damon's hand, and started pulling him to the far side of the carpet. I caught Jasper's eye first as Alice had that look, no doubt seeing what I had just decided. I mouthed to him I would meet them upstairs. I could hear Mac instructing their guard before following us.

This part was actually one of my favorites, spending a few minutes with fans, knowing what a difference it made to them. We signed as many things and had as many interaction as we could with our brief time with this but it wasn't long before I felt Mac's hand on my back telling me it was time to get inside for what we can here for. I sighed and allowed Mac lead us back towards the club waving to one particularly cute little girl before going inside away form the chaos.

I smiled taking in the large main room, it had been transformed for tonight's event, it was all draped fabrics in rich tones of golds and blues, set for dinner that would take place before the rest of the event.

"Be sure to tell tonight's event planner that this looks perfect Mac!" I told him as I surveyed everything.

"Of course," He nodded "Your family and guests are all upstairs, then we will move you all to the front table after dinner."

"Excellent, that will work." Damon nodded as we began to be approached by some of our finely dressed guests, looking to shake hands and pretend they are as important as their money. We put on good smiles and nodded as people introduced them selves. Mac and two other guards kept a tight perimeter around us keeping a close eye on everyone who came up. Slowly we wove our way through the mingling and milling guests. Finally we were able to make it to the front of the room and to the side of the stage where we were handed two glasses of champagne and made our way to the stage that had been set up here.

Hand in hand we took the stage and approached the mic set up front and center looking out at all the tables facing the balcony of my VIP area where I could see our friends and family had gathered at our entrance. Quickly the room exploded into a round of applause as we took center stage. Raising our glasses in thanks the room noise quieted.

Damon started," First off, Issy and I would like to thank you all for being here at our annual charity night. We founded this charity as it funds a cause very near to our hearts."

"The Officer Down Foundation is what that helps the financial needs of the families of first responders who died in the line of duty. My biological father is one of these such officers and I know the struggles these families are facing during these times so we hope to be able to support them by any means during this difficult time in their lives." Another round of applause rounded the room, I smiled and raised my glass again.

"Thank you, thank you, we hope you keep this in mind during tonight's event as everything cent spent here tonight goes directly to our charity. So please, our your heart and wallets to our cause, we have a great line up for you tonight including an auction and a live exclusive mini concert following dinner, so thank you once again, and enjoy the night!" Damon finished, he clicked his glass against mine and we both took a sip as everyone cheered and ushers led people to their seats to get dinner started.

The way to the stairs was much less crowded as people were being herded to their seats, we climbed the stairs and went to the couches where everyone else was arranged among each other. I was so happy to see every getting along so well, I didn't noticed at first the Cullen's sullen faces as they sat among my family on the cozy couches.

"Bella," Alice started before I got a chance to sit down "I am so sorry. I didn't know. I didn't see... Charlie" her voice braking at the end.

I touched her face, "It's alright Alice, it's not your fault. There's nothing to be done for it now, it was a long time ago."

"What happened to him Bella?" Edward asked as I settled into the nook under Damon's arm, as dishes clinked below us, the humans enjoying their dinner.

"Ms. Swanson," Mac's voice came from behind me. I turned my head to him as he approached carrying a cooler. A waitress behind him with the tray of empty glass. She wordlessly left the tray on the table in the midst of the large couches and Mac opened the locked cooler of bottles of blood.

"Thank you, Mac. Always two steps ahead of me."

"Of course." He nodded and bowed out from our circle, back into the shadows by the staircase out of ear shot.

Emmett reached in and grabbed a bottle of blood. "This is animal blood." He stated the obvious. We could all clearly smell it was. Demi and Stephan helped themselves to a bottle and two glasses, and Damon reached for ours.

"Yes, Emmett." I laughed as Damon poured and I pointed to my eyes no doubt a murky gold if Mac had brought this.

"Does that dude know?" He asked.

"No," I shook my head and gingerly took the glass of blood that Damon offered. "He's not dumb though, I'm sure he has his suspicions but he's paid well enough to not tell or ask for that matter." Emmett never the shy one, grabbed a glass for himself and poured one as well, the others followed behind as Damon handed Natalie a glass. "It's easier this way, it's not as good as fresh but it does the trick for a busy schedule, we can't risk our eyes having different colors in photos from week to week. Like I said, he's smart I don't even have to ask, soon as he notices my eyes getting darker he's got this ready. We hunt when we can but." I shrugged as I took a sip as a way of finishing my sentence.

"Charlie?" Alice prompted.

"Um, it was a couple years after I turned.." I looked down into my half empty glass as Damon replaced his arm, back around my shoulders, pulling me in tighter. "He was responded to a 911 call for a domestic dispute with a child in the house. He didn't wait for back-up. The wife was already dead when he got there, he heard the shot and he kicked in the door and had his weapon drawn, he saw the lady right away, in the middle of the living room, already had bled out, or close to it. The child was beside her crying. He didn't see the husband, and the child wouldn't come to him in the doorway. He made the decision to go in and get the child out. A little girl, three years old, brown hair, brown eyes. He had her, and he was just about out the door. He died in the hospital, but he got that little girl out. Alexis." I looked up finally meeting all their eyes, filled with sadness for me.

I took a deep breath, "She has a son now. Charles." I smiled, "I've kept tabs on her and her growing family her whole life. Made sure she had what she needed to succeed. Paid for her collage via scholarship through this charity, among other things. She didn't have it easy but I hope I've been able to make some small things easier for her, and she's honored my dad the best way possible, in a way I can't. Her son even wants to become an officer." I smiled as remembered the letter she most recently sent the charity updating us on her life.

"Bella," Edward started.

"Don't worry Edward. It's nobody's fault but perhaps my own, and it was a long time ago. Besides, in this life, everyone you love dies eventually." I lifted my glass and emptied it. "Renee struggled with it but Phil helped her though it, shes passed of old age along with Phil since but they enjoyed their retirement years back in Phoenix." I finished as Damon leaned forward to take the bottle off the table and refill our glasses.

" He would be proud of you Bella, they both would be." Edward stated holding my eyes.

I laughed once, humourlessly, "I don't know if I would go that far, but thank you Edward." I tipped my glass towards him, "One thing I do know is he would love this charity. Which is why I keep it up and do my best to help as many as I can like Alexis."

The topics took a much lighter course as we waited out dinner. An hour later I heard Mac come up behind Damon and I.

"Sir, the event planner has called up. They are ready for the auction, would you like to move down to the table at the front we've prepared." He spoke quietly to Damon as Alice questioned me about our next concert.

"Sure Mac, let's get the fun started." He stood and smiled at me, extending his hand to pull me to my feet.

"If you'll all follow me, we will get you seated at the front of the room for the live auction." Mac lifted his voice to address the group. They all stood as I did, and started to make their way down the stairs in pairs. Before I could put my foot down on the first step, Damon grabbed my waist and pulled me into his chest. As we were the last upstairs only Mac noticed our delay and stopped mid way down the stair case and waited for us.

"I haven't got a real chance tonight," Damon said as he dipped his head to run his lips along my neck "to tell you how amazing you look." Running his hands down my sides, as he got to my hips his long fingers were tickling at my bare leg through the slit in my dress. I turned in his grasp and pulled his lips to mine as his hands found my ass we deepened the kiss. When we broke apart, his eyes were dark with hunger.

I guess you'll just have to show me exactly how amazing I look later." I winked at him and we started our decent down the stairs, my hand in the crook of his elbow.

"You'll be keeping those heels on that for sure." He said his velvety voice a little rough. Mac resumed walking down the stairs when we made it past him. He took up post alone the wall as we got seated front and center just in time for the auction to start. It took about another hour to get through the outstanding prize lineup we had and we raised tons of money, breaking last years record. Alice being Alice of course won a bidding war. Shopping was shopping after all!

Natalie leaned into me while the other were deep in conversation making plans for the weekend trip to Paris Alice won.

"Ready for tonight?" She asked squeezing my hand, I knew there was double meaning to her words, this was always a bit of a hard night, and now with the Cullen's here as well, but she had the tact not to voice these concerns in front of people.

"I am, I'm very excited actually, I love this new song, and this is a great way to debut it!" I squeezed her hand back, and held her gaze so she could feel the truth in my words. I saw from the corner of my eye, Edward's eyes flash over us, before back to Jasper who was talking about the last time they were in France.

A moment later the event planner waved to us from the stage. I elbowed Damon, "I think they are ready for us." nodding towards the overly excited woman.

He laughed, "Yes, I think your right." He stood and again helped me up, and my family followed our lead.

"See the rest of you soon!" I grinned calling me over my shoulder.