Author Note:
No drama in this chapter. I assure you that I plan for there to be some but I think a little normalcy in a whole load of supernatural might be appreciated before I dive into anything. [Things are coming up] Lastly, keep in mind that Bella remembers her previous choices and the way her relationships turned out with people last time.
Chapter Four:
''Wake up, Bells. Rise and shine, sleepy-head'' a voice called as Bella felt herself being shaken.
The voice continued to call out to her as she tried to shrug off the hand that was shaking her shoulder. The last thing she remembered was watching Ephraim fade from her sight as he'd advised her on what to do.
Perhaps this was his idea of a joke, dragging out this endless process where she stayed in the cross-roads of life and death. Waiting for the chance to make the right choices, to make amends. She was pretty sure the spirits were pissed at her and who could blame them? She had royally screwed everything up for nothing in the end.
Her life and existence had achieved her nothing but pain.
''I tried to be nice'' the voice warned before she felt herself tip and fall forwards into a very big, hard object. Perhaps this was how they undid her choices through all this pain? It felt like she hit the hard object in slow-motion as pain slowly burst through her entire body and cried out.
Opening her eyes, she bit down on her lip and looked around her surroundings, curious as to where she'd landed. With a startled gasp, she sat up from the floor as she gazed around one very familiar room.
Is this possible? Was she actually human?
Bella looked down at her body, stunned to see that she was, indeed, human again. ''Bells, you alright over there?'' a gruff, chuckling voice asked as Bella snapped her head up and turned in the direction of the doorway.
Charlie stood, leaning against the doorway as he viewed her with thinly concealed laughter dancing in his eyes.
''DAD'' Bella shouted, jumping up and racing towards her father who laughed as she stumbled in her haste and crashed into his open arms. Bella's joy at seeing her father again, happy and content meant that, for the first time, nothing was awkward between them.
There was no awkward silence, nothing awkward about either of them as they held each other close.
''I missed you so much'' Bella whispered, bursting into tears as the realization of just what this second chance meant dawned on her. Charlie rested his head on his daughter's head as he held her close and replied'' Bells, I told you I'd be fine. There was no need to work yourself up into such a state.''
Bella nodded, holding Charlie tighter as she went over Charlie's words in her head. Charlie must have been on shift and th...there was a robbery. I vaguely remember him checking his gun and telling me he'd be fine before he left.
''Was everything okay last night?'' Bella questioned as she released her hold on Charlie and began to wipe her tears away.
''Everything was fine, Bells. The guy's gun was so poorly looked after that it jammed. He's in Seattle now, wanted on a bunch of other charges'' Charlie informed her.
Bella nodded, relief filling her at Charlie's words as Charlie continued'' There's a parcel from your mom, Bells. Wanna go take a look at it? Appease your old man and all?''
Bella laughed as she replied'' You're hardly old, Dad. I mean, come on. You're 39 and you make it sound like you're 79.'' Charlie laughed and ruffled Bella's hair before turning and walking downstairs. Bella followed after, still in slight shock as she thought about how different Charlie was being with her.
Perhaps that was the problem. I always felt so awkward that I simply didn't make an effort with Charlie. This is the happiest I've seen him since I told him I was coming to live with him last time.
No wonder he never tried to rebuild our relationship. It would mean taking a chance on me, taking a chance that I would work alongside him to make things easier and simpler for us both. Why would he take a chance when I could hurt him far easier then Mom ever did?
''You daydreaming?'' Charlie's voice interrupted Bella's inner thoughts as she looked up to see that she'd already walked down the stairs and into the kitchen without so much as a stumble.
''Thinking a lot over, Dad'' I replied, watching as Charlie nodded and took a seat at the table.
''I'm here if you want to talk about anything, Bells. I know I've not always been there, kiddo but I'm here right now'' Charlie quietly said before he cleared his throat and turned his attention to the massive parcel that lay on the table in front of him.
''Oh my god'' Bella cried as she covered her face with her hands. '
'This makes my wrapping skills looks brilliant'' Charlie commented, picking up the end of a ribbon with his fingers gently as Bella glared at him and replied'' You are not helping matters, Dad. Did you know she was going to do this?''
Charlie shook his head as he began to laugh.
''It's not that bad'' he tried to reason as Bella arched an eyebrow and shook her head. Charlie held up a pair of scissors that Bella snatched from him before marching up-to the hideous parcel.
I don't remember receiving this parcel last time. Did I change something already? Thankful I somehow missed this last time, mom really is something else
Renee had wrapped a large rectangle box in bright pink wrapping paper and had then tied it with an assortment of different colored ribbons.
Charlie was currently chuckling to himself as he made a note of the different ribbon colors as he said'' Jesus, Bells. I think your mom ran out of ribbon that was long enough.''
Bella glared in her father's direction before attempting to cut through the packaging. It took several attempts and never-ending laughter from Charlie before she succeeded in opening the monstrosity of a parcel.
''I think your mom's trying to get a point across to you'' Charlie chuckled, leaning over Bella's shoulder to look in the box. ''I'd say she's definitely trying to get her point across, Bells.''
Bella hit Charlie's shoulder in mock-anger as she replied'' Thank you, Captain Obvious. Why couldn't I have a mom who writes a letter instead of sending 50 hand-written flyers on reasons to avoid marriage? Would have saved on paper.''
''Renee do something conventional? That's wishful thinking, kiddo'' Charlie chuckled, taking another look at the box of flyers before Bella slammed the box shut.
''These can stay in the cupboard for now. It's way too early to deal with Mom'' Bella groaned, picking up the box and strolling over to the downstairs cupboard. Without so much as a glance in the cupboard, Bella threw the door open and tossed the box in before slamming the door shut.
''While I agree with you about Renee, I was hoping to talk to you. Figured I'd see how you were feeling about the whole I'm-getting-married thing and not speaking to Jake. The longest you two have not spoken has been a week since you became friends again.''
Bella nodded as she sat down at the table and lay her head down on her arms. ''I've made some awful choices, Dad and I don't know how I can undo all the hurt I've caused. I've been making bad decisions since the moment I came to Forks and everyone around me ends up paying for my decisions'' Bella admitted, trying to hold back the tears as she finally told someone about the way she felt.
''Bells, making mistakes is part of growing up. You can't expect to have all the answers without making mistakes first and learning from them. Whoever is expecting you to make the correct decisions for you when first given them is in the wrong here, not you. Talk to me, kiddo. Your old man can't give you advice if you don't tell me what's up,'' Charlie said, feeling his heart break as his daughter began to finally let him in.
''I ruined everything, Daddy. I alienated all my friends and Ja... Jake hates me. What can I do?'' Bella began to sob violently into her arms until she felt the safe, strong embrace of Charlie who began to rock her gently as he tried to soothe her.
Charlie cupped her face in his hands and turned her to face him as he promised'' We will figure this out together, Bells. You're wrong about Jake through, I know my god-son well. That boy has been in love with you and wrapped around your finger since the moment you set eyes on each other. He might be angry right now with you but he could never hate you.''
Bella nodded slowly as Charlie released her face and stood up. ''How can I make things better?'' Bella asked, looking up at Charlie who smiled sadly before replying.
''First of all, let's talk about this bloody engagement. Do you still want to marry Edward? I always got the feeling that this whole wedding fiasco was his doing'' Charlie queried, raising an eyebrow at his only child who looked away and shook her head.
''Thank the lord'' Charlie said as Bella looked up at him in shock. ''What? Bells, why the hell would I want you to marry that pasty control freak? I never liked him, sweetie. You can do so much better'' Charlie admitted, grinning at his daughter.
''I need to break things off with Edward first and foremost'' Bella said, sounding more confident then she felt.
Charlie held the phone out to Bella as he suggested'' Or you could do it over the phone?''
Bella sent a pointed look at Charlie who put the phone down and muttered'' I certainly wouldn't do it in person, pale-ass jerk-face.'' Bella turned to stare at Charlie, having heard his mutter before replying'' You have been spending way too much time with Seth. You're Chief of Police, you can't seriously go around calling people a pale-ass jerk-face.''
''Sure, Bells. Whatever you say'' Charlie grinned, bending to kiss Bella's head before standing up and strolling over to the fridge. ''Now I know I can't cook but I make a mean bacon sandwich. Want one?'' Charlie inquired, looking over his shoulder at Bella who nodded and smiled.
''You know he does have a point'' said a very familiar voice from beside Bella's chair. Bella jumped, almost falling out of the chair before turning to look at Ephraim who stood right next to her chair, his eyes on her father.
''What are you doing? How can I see you? Can he see you?'' Bella angrily whispered, firing off question after question. Ephraim merely chuckled and sat down on the empty seat opposite her, leaning back and continuing to watch her father.
''To answer your questions; I'm here for spiritual support which also answers why you can see me while your father cannot. You got a question, I'm your Answer Man'' Ephraim replied, smirking at Bella.
''All the time or when needed?'' Bella quietly questioned as Ephraim continued to smirk before replying'' Just because I'm a spirit guide doesn't mean that I don't have things to be doing with my time. You can do your own thing and I'll just be around, whether you need my advice or you don't need my advice. This is going to be the start of a beautiful friendship, my dear girl.''
Bella glared at the spirit briefly before glancing to see that her dad was almost finished. ''I'll leave you to your father-daughter bonding. Just remember that I got your back against human, vampire or shapeshifter. Everything will work out fine.''
With that said, Bella's eyes widen in shock as Ephraim literally disappeared in front of her eyes, his words reverberating through her mind on repeat.
Ephraim's words brought a sense of security and trust with them that made her believe that, at the end of the day, everything would be okay.
You know eventually.
When the tornado of drama bypassed and she could survey the aftermath of the damage and destruction it would cause.
When she could rebuild or fix the damage.
Author Note: Opinions and feelings on this are welcome. st.