Chapter 2

The plane ride was smooth and in my opinion, too short. I stood on the sidewalk of the Port Angels Community airport, the rain coming down in a soft mist, trying to figure out exactly what to do next. It is not every day that the daughter that you rarely see, shows up on your front step. I let out a heavy breath and walked toward the yellow cab that was waiting to take someone like me, somewhere.

"Can you take me to Forks?" I asked the driver who was standing outside smoking a cigarette.

He looked me up and down before finally nodding his head. He opened the back door for me and I slide in, thankful that it was warm. In my haste this morning I did not bother with grabbing a sweater. I honestly did not think I would need it.

I clutched my backpack to my chest; all of my worldly processions now could be put into one black JanSport bag. The tears began to brim over my eyes again as I realized how much of this plan was actually thought out. All I had with me was a change of clothes, a few hundred dollars, wallet and some of my favorite books.

I could already picture Charlie standing on the front step looking at me like a drowned cat, abandoned by its owner.

I watched as we pulled out of Port Angeles and made our way to the highway. The scenery here is nothing like that of Phoenix. Here, in the tiny town of Forks, Washington, it is wet, raining, clean and green. Back home, it is dry, hot, dirty, and brown. As opposite as night and day.

"Where to?" The cabbie asked looking at me from the review mirror.

I quickly gave him the address to Charlie's house. The driver made a few turns and eventually we pulled into the drive way of the home that Renee and Charlie shared for the length of their very short marriage. I threw a few bills over the seat and gather my bag.

I saw that the police cruiser was parked out front and a few lights on.

I walked up the short walk and climbed the three steps to the door. I put my hand up to knock on the door, I bit down on my lip. Nervous about what to tell Charlie. I have not seen him since summer vacation. What does a daughter say to a father that she does not have much of a relationship with? Especially, if said father is the Chief of Police. There was only one way to find out.

I knocked heavily, hoping that he would be able to hear me, if he was in fact asleep.

I took a step back as I heard the door unlock and then saw my father stand in the low light, his figure towering above me. Or so it seemed.

"I'm in trouble, daddy," I said as soon as the door was open and before he had a chance to speak.

Charlie's face twisted in confusion. Not sure if it was the site of me standing on his front porch or the fact that I called him daddy something I have not done since I was six.

"Bella?" he asked, his voice low, almost as if he was not sure if he should be talking at all. "What are you doing here?"

"I…didn't know…" I let my voice trail off.

Charlie stepped aside. "Come in, you must be freezing."

I nodded my head and walked inside the small house. The warmth was a welcome feeling. At first all I could do was just look at the ground. My father and I were never meant to do much talking, let alone touching. I could tell that he was just as mystified about what to do with me, as I was. But I could sense that he knew something was wrong, something big.

He walked clumsily toward me and put a hand on my shoulder, giving me a comforting squeeze. "Why don't you go take a shower and I will make you some soup. Then if you are up to it, we can talk."

I lifted my head and looked at him. I do not know what possessed me to do what I did next, but like everything else so far today, it felt right. I leaned into his touch and wrapped my arms around his waist. He stiffened from the touch, but eventually he relaxed and put both of his arms around me, giving me a hug, only a father could give. I pulled away after a minute and turned on my heel to head up the stairs.

I opened the door to my old room, thankful for once the familiarity of it. I placed my backpack on my bed and began to put the few things that I had away. I opened up my dresser and saw that my father put a few things that I have left on previous trips were in the drawer. I grabbed a clean shirt and turned to look at the same blue walls of my childhood. Nothing much has changed in this room.

I walked across the hall and took a long hot shower. I scrubbed and scrubbed until I felt like I was clean, even though deep down I felt dirty and I would probably continue to feel that way for the rest of my life. I climbed out of the tub, being careful to have my foot squarely placed on the bathmat, so I would not slip and fall. I wrapped the towel around me and then picked up one of my old hair brushes. It felt good. This, right now, felt right.

I went back to my room and quickly dressed. Taking the stairs one step at a time I could begin to smell the chicken soup that Charlie was heating up. I sat down in one of the old unmatched kitchen chairs and placed my head on my arms. Finally realizing how tired I was and how long that this day ended up being.

Charlie's back was facing me has he took a deep and heavy breath. "I called Renee to let her know that you were here."

I didn't say anything. I figured that he would.

"She's worried about you," Charlie continued. "But she did not go into very many details. I have the feeling that she doesn't truly know all the details."

I nodded my head as I watch him turn and look at me, a small bowl of soup in his hands.

He placed it on the table in front of me and then took a seat across the table to look at me. I could tell that he was studying me, not the way a father would, but more like the way a cop would study a victim or suspect. I lowered my head and shielded my face with my hair. More from an act of shame than anything else.

"Well, I guess we should at least start with the basics," Charlie said as he watches me take a small bite of soup. "How long do you plan on staying?"

"As long as you will have me," I said quietly. "I can't go back."

"Okay, I will plan on getting you enrolled in school at Forks High first thing Monday morning. School is just starting back up from winter break, so you shouldn't be missing much."

I nodded my head in agreement.

"I saw that you did not bring much with you, I guess I should take the day off tomorrow and take you shopping. Get you a coat at least."

"Char…Dad," I started. I knew that if I am going to be living here, he needed to know the truth, or at least some of it.

Charlie looked up at me. "Yes, Bells?"

"I need to tell you something, but I'm not sure how. I couldn't even tell mom."

"You can tell me anything," he smiled weakly. "I have the feeling it is about why you ran."

I nodded and took in a deep breath; it was going to be now or never. "I couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't keep going to school and seeing them."

He cocked his head to the side, curiosity was written all over it. "Bella, did something happen?"

"Yes," my voice sounded more like a mouse. "I'm pregnant, dad."

I watched as Charlie's face changed a few shades of red. I could see the questions in his eyes, the some one's that mom had a this morning.

"I can leave if you want," I went to stand but felt his hand rest on top of mine.

"No, you won't," he said sternly. "What happened?"

I swallowed hard as the memories of that night came piercing through my mind. It hurt. The tears rolled slowly from my eyes and I think my father knew instantly as to what happened with just one glace. He stood up and for the second time that night he hugged me. I felt him rub his hand up and down my back.

"Did you report it?" He asked.

I shook my head and I could hear him blow out a heavy breath. I pushed back and brushed the tears off of my face.

"I just found out. It happened two months ago. Mom, she took me to a clinic, but I couldn't…"

I watch Charlie nod his head in understanding.

We stood in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before he guided me back to the table. I sat and finished my soup. I washed my bowl and then sat back down at the table. I knew that we had a lot to discuss, but I had the feeling that Charlie was going to just play it by ear.

"I guess I will head up to bed. It's been a long day. I love you, dad."

He didn't say anything as I climbed back up the stairs, there was no need to say anything. I was broken and he did not know how to fix me, if there was even a way to fix me.

Just like all the other nights since my life took a turn for the worse, I had the same dream.

"Shh," he whispered in my ear. "Bella, it's just me."

I shot up out of bed in a cold sweat. Shaking, trying to figure out my surroundings. I could hear the faint sound of the rain outside and realized that I was at Charlie's.

I pulled the blanket up tight around my chin and tried to go back to sleep, but I knew that it would be a wasted effort. I reached over and pulled my watch off the night stand and groaned when I realized it was three in the morning.

Eventually sleep took me. I woke with a start when I heard a slight tapping on the door.

"Bella," Charlie said through the door.

"Yeah, Dad, I'm up."

"Well, when you're ready, we'll go ahead a leave."

"Sure thing," I said quickly changing into my only change of clothes and met Charlie by the front door with a pop tart in hand.

I took gratefully. "Thanks."

He shrugged his shoulders and opened the door; of course I was met with the drizzling rain, which matched my mood.

The day passed in a blur, going from one small store to the next out in Olympia. Charlie and I stocked up a great deal on my wardrobe, as much as I hated having him spend money on me. I also kept it limited; knowing that in a few short weeks, the chances of my belly expanding was very likely.

On the way back to Forks, Charlie took a detour down toward the beach.

"We are we going?" I asked looking as the water crashed along the beach.

"I have something that I wanted to pick up, something that you will need."

I shrugged my shoulders starting to think what I could possibly need. Eventually the beach began to disappear as we head back toward the forest and a small house peeked into view. Standing outside by an old red pickup truck was a boy with a man in a wheel chair.

"Billy," Charlie said as he opened the door and jumped out of the cruiser. I slowly climbed out and walked behind Charlie and watched as the two men shacked hands. I vaguely remember the Blacks from the small amount of time that I have spent up here at La Push during my summers.

"We cleaned her up for you," Billy said.

"I really want to thank you for doing this," Charlie said. "I know that Bella would not want to be riding around in the cruiser with me all the time."

I finally grasped what the conversation was about. Charlie was buying the truck from his friend Billy. Sure, they were both right, I needed a car, it definitely not cool to drive around in a police car. I walked over and took a closer look at the truck. It really seemed like the perfect vehicle for me. Heavy duty, something a tank would not even be able to wipe out.

"It is good to see you again Bella," Billy nodded his head in my direction. "You remember my son, Jacob?"

I turned my attention to the boy standing next to the front right fender of the truck. His long black hair was pulled back in a pony tail at the nape of his neck. Dark, round eyes looked at me, studying me. He appeared to be tall for his age, with a round face, that still had a hint of baby fat.

I shook my head no. "Sorry."

"Well, it has been awhile since you last came up here," Billy said from his chair.

We all stood there for a moment, the sound of distant waves pounding the surf. "I guess we better get going," Charlie said eventually as Billy hand him the keys.

I watched as Charlie climbed into the driver seat and started the monstrosity of a truck. I had to pin my arms to my side just so I would not cover my ears. The engine roared to life, stirring all the animals in its sound waves to life.

"Bella, go ahead and start driving home, I will follow behind you," Charlie said stepping out of the truck's cab.

I stood there in shock think he was crazy, wanting me to drive. I quickly came to my senses and climbed in. For the first time in a long time, I felt safe.

A/N: I am not sure how often I will update this story, I was so overwhelmed by the responce of reviews that I have decided to turn it and make it my own. Please check out my profile, as I have updated it, as well as my home page. Thank you!