Alice and Edward locked eyes again. Alice bowed her head, closed her eyes and whispered, "Charlie."

Charlie?

My mind refused to grasp the word. Charlie?

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks

Charlie!

No. No. Not Charlie.

Charlie was supposed to have been out fishing with Billy and Old Quill on Old Quill's boat on Sunday. He had been excited and talked about it for over a week. It had been so cold, would they still have gone? Did he get sick? Today was Tuesday; he would be at work. Was something going to happen there? Could we stop it? Was he going to be shot or in an accident? There were too many questions in my mind to form one with my lips.

I stood there in shock, not even breathing. I barely noticed as Jasper quietly sent the Amazon coven to find everyone else and bring them back to the house. The game was over. I took a breath, the first since Edward grabbed on to me.

Alice looked at her watch and began the slow and deliberate explanation, "Charlie is having a heart attack," She looked again, "right now. He is at work. The deputies will find him in about 30 seconds and call the ambulance. Carlisle is at the hospital and will be right there waiting for the ambulance to bring Charlie in. He will not be able to help him; the damage to his heart is too extensive. There is really nothing that can be done." Alice sighed, "I think we should get back to the house. We will need to call Renesmee." She grimaced at the thought.

I turned into Edward's shoulder, "Oh, Renesmee is going to be devastated." I couldn't even imagine telling her. I was already going through my own waves of sorrow. Charlie. I knew I would see his death, but I didn't think it would happen so soon. Charlie. Charlie. Charlie. My mind cried out.

Each time I thought his name an oddly familiar hole made its presence known in my heart. It was not the gaping wound that Edward had left but the feeling was much the same. I, instinctively, wrapped my arms around my body and broke down. Sobs rip through me as I collapsed to the ground. Suddenly, I was in Edward's arms. He just held me there until the wave of panic began to subside. When he could tell I had calmed some, he raced to the house. I didn't really notice until we slowed under the massive Cedar trees that surrounded the Cullen home.

When he walked us in, Alice was on the phone pacing back and forth at a slightly faster than human speed, "Jasper's working on getting your tickets back, but you've got to get back to the mainland as soon as you can…you need to be at the airport as soon as possible. There are several flights leaving in the next few hours, and then none until tomorrow," she quickly explained. Her words brought me out of my stupor.

I could hear Jake on the other end, "Calm down, there's no need to panic. Let me talk to Ness, I'll call you back." He was using his Alpha leader voice. I knew what that meant. He was trying to keep himself calm and together. He would tell Renesmee. My heart ached for them. It was not fair to interrupt their honeymoon with such tragic news.

With a blast of cold air, the room was suddenly full of vampires. Maggie had a big, triumphant smile on her face and a flag clutched in her hand. Apparently, she had made it to the fort making us the winners. Her smile immediately vanished as she saw the anguish on every face in the room.

Alice turned to us. My usually happy pixie of a best friend looked at Edward, "If you leave right now, she will have time to say goodbye." A knowing expression crossed his face and I wondered what Alice had shown him.

I was still in Edward's arms. He sprinted with me to my Ferrari. I worked to calm myself down as we sped along the highway toward the hospital. I could do this. I had to do this.

I had promised myself a long time ago that Charlie would know the truth, one day. One day was suddenly today. I would tell Charlie I was a vampire, his beloved Nessie was a vampire human hybrid and that he was a grandfather. A lump caught in my throat. How would he take the news? I hoped he would be happy for me, but what if he wasn't?

I took deep unnecessary breaths trying to calm myself, but it didn't work. So, I sat absolutely still and watched out the window unseeing, while I tried to work the words out in my mind. Hey, Dad I know you know I'm different now, and that's because I'm a vampire. No. Dad, do you remember when I was really sick? Well, I was pregnant with Nessie and I almost died and Edward turned me into a vampire like him. No. Guess what? I'm undead. Groan.

I went through hundreds of scenarios in the five minutes it took us to get there. None fit, none felt right. In my mind's eye I pictured Charlie's brown eyes wide with fright as I explained my new life to him. My heart sank with the thought. Don't over think this I assured myself Charlie has been hanging out with vampires and werewolves for over 7 years he can handle it.

The receptionist at the hospital recognized us as we entered the lobby. "Dr. Cullen is waiting for you in room 35," she said in a very unemotional tone.

We walked at a quick human pace but it felt so incredibly slow. I took a deep unnecessary breath trying to calm myself. The predictable burn in my throat barely registered. The emotional pain was far too great.

"Are you ready to do this?" Edward whispered so low a human ear could never pick it up. I nodded but I wasn't really sure. How can you ever be sure you are ready to see your father on his death bed, to say good bye? The more I thought about it the more I realized I wasn't ready at all.

Carlisle must have heard us because a door on the left side of the hall opened and Carlisle stepped out to greet us. "He is conscious right now but he doesn't have much time left," he said with a grim expression. "I'm so sorry, Bella. There isn't anything else I can do." Carlisle's tragic expression was disconcerting. He had always been the picture of calm and ease to me. How was I supposed to keep myself together when Carlisle couldn't even do it?

"I know," I whispered. I looked at Carlisle and then Edward. "I want to tell him," I said simply. They both nodded in understanding. When I was sure I would be OK talking to him, I went into the room. Edward stayed with me, never letting go of my hand.

The room was the same as most others in the hospital. It smelled sterile. A clocked ticked loudly on one of the white walls. I glanced around avoiding looking at Charlie for as long as I could. There was a stack of monitors on one side of his bed an electronic line bounced with every heart beat. I didn't need the line to tell me how his heart struggled I could hear each weakening beat. I could hear the drip of his I.V and each labored, raspy breath.

The life was leaving him. I wasn't sure how to say goodbye to my father. The hole in my chest ripped open at the idea and I hung onto Edward so I would stay standing. Edward supported me in every way. With a cheerless smile he directed me over to a set of chairs next to Charlie.

I could no longer avoid it, I looked at him. Charlie was tucked into a hospital bed. He looked old and tired. He had never seemed old to me before but he looked 20 years older than he had at the wedding just a few days ago. His skin had an unhealthy grey tinge to it. My heart ached. How could I do this? How could I sit here and watch my father die? I continued to listen to the labored beating of his frail heart and each difficult raspy breath. His eyes were closed. He almost looked peaceful.

We sat in the chairs next to the bed. Edward made a clearing his throat sound, I gave him a look and he shrugged. Charlie opened his eyes at the sound and made an attempt at a smile. "Hey, Bells," he whispered.

I reached over and took his hand. I noticed how much colder his hand was than usual. He no longer winced at the coldness of my hands as he had gotten used to it over the years but I wondered if he could tell the difference today. "Oh, Dad," I tried to smile back. Tears please, I begged in my mind. I just wanted to cry to feel the release of tears running down my cheeks. My eyes burned but no tears fell, no tears would ever fall again.

"How are you feeling?" I knew it was a stupid question but I had no other ideas of how to start talking to him.

"Oh, I'm all right," he wheezed, "You know me, tough as nails." He tried to smile again. That my father could have a sense of humor at a time like this brought a little smile to my own face.

Edward whispered to me so Dad wouldn't hear, "He knows he's dying, Bella."

My dead heart ached I didn't want to do this. If I told Charlie the truth, then I was admitting he was dying. I wanted to deny it, I desperately held on to him. I quickly decided I didn't know how much longer he would be able to listen. I needed him to know my secrets so I dove right in, "Dad, I need to tell you some stuff."

He shook his head, "Need to know basis only, Bella."

"I need you to know, please," I took an unsteady breath. Edward squeezed my hand in an attempt to comfort me.

Dad closed his eyes and quietly said, "OK."

"Dad, I love you," I began. "I'm so glad that I came to live with you. It's been absolutely wonderful being able to keep a relationship even though I've been through so many changes. Well, especially, one big change." I took deep breath. "Dad, I need you to know what I am…I'm a vampire."

He opened his eyes and looked suspiciously toward Edward. "So, the Cullen's…."

"Yes, they are all vampires. I found out before I started dating Edward."

"And you dated him anyway," he looked incredulous.

"Yes, I knew he was the one for me, Dad," I whispered. "I've always been happy with Edward. Remember that first night when I ran away to Phoenix?"

He nodded, and I could see the determination in his eyes to listen to my every word.

"I was being chased by a deranged vampire and Edward was trying to keep me alive."

"I'm sorry, I didn't take better care of her then," Edward apologized, his head bowed and his words spoken with sincerity. "I…we…almost lost her in Phoenix. It was a very close call."

"Edward saved me. Without him, I would have been dead long before that. He saved me from Tyler's van on that icy day… "

Charlie shook his head and closed his eyes again. "Do I really need to know all this?" he grimaced.

"I've wanted to tell you the truth for so long, Dad. I…I couldn't until now. It wasn't safe for you to know. Some other, very powerful, vampires don't like humans to know about us. They were quite upset when they found out I knew. I just… just couldn't put you in that situation." My shoulders hunched. I just couldn't tell my father that if he were to know before now he would have either had to be turned or killed. I loved my life as a vampire but I knew this was not a life Charlie would want.

Edward shook his head. "Sir, I'm sorry for all of the danger I put Bella in while she was human. I've always loved her so much; I couldn't stand to be without her. It's a bad excuse.…."

Charlie stopped him with a trembling hand. "If you've always loved her so much," he croaked, "why did you leave her broken and lost in the forest? She was so broken," He looked at me, a tear coasted down his cheek, "I thought I would never get her back."

Edward took a deep breath. I looked at him wondering what explanation he would give. We hadn't talked about the time he was gone in several years because it still hurt Edward to talk about it. He kept his eyes on the floor. "Um, well... I didn't want to make Bella a vampire," He confessed. "It is a very painful process. Being a vampire is not an easy thing. No matter how good we get at resisting, we are always tempted by human blood. I felt my presence always put her in danger. I wanted her to be safe. I thought she was safer without me around and I thought she would get over me quickly and be able to live a normal human life. I was very wrong."

He took a shaky breath, "I was just as broken without her. Bella was smart enough to know what she wanted and where she belonged. She was brave enough to save me from my own stupidity," Edward took another unsteady breath. He looked up with a pained expression. I still hoped someday he would forgive himself for the decisions he had made. Our topaz eyes met, "She is and always has been and will always be everything to me. I know better now."

Charlie nodded and closed his eyes taking in all of the new information. We gave him time to process it all. Edwards's words touched me in a way I didn't expect. There were two pains now. One for losing Charlie and one for the self loathing my husband harbored. I decided in that moment. After Charlie was gone, I would do everything in my power to help my husband forgive himself. I would work the rest of my existence for it if I needed to. Finally, Charlie opened his eyes and looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to continue.

"We had no idea I would be able to get pregnant. During our honeymoon, I got sick. You've seen how fast Renesmee has grown. Her pregnancy was very fast and very…. difficult. The only reason I am here now is because Edward was able to change me. I'm the only mother of a half-vampire child that has ever been known to survive the birth."

"I figured a bunch of that out before," Charlie nodded. Of course he had.

"I thought you had," I smiled my acknowledgement. I could hear Charlie's heart weakening with each beat, and my lip trembled. He was leaving me. His body was struggling. He would not be able to keep fighting much longer.

"So, do you like being a vampire?" Charlie barely choked out

I grinned as best as I could. "I absolutely love it. I'm actually very good at being a vampire! I have always had excellent control. I've never tasted human blood, I only drink animal blood. The Cullen's keep that kind of diet, that's why they can be around humans. I have a really cool power. Not all vampires have a power but I do," I wanted him to know that I didn't regret my choices. I wanted to share this part of my life with him while I still could. "I can shield my mind from the mental attacks of other vampires and even extend it to protect others. The Cullen's have completely accepted me as one of their family. They are the best friends I've ever had. And I get to be with Edward forever." I whispered the last of it. I don't know if Charlie heard but Edward did and he rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb, adoration in his eyes.

I could hear Carlisle coming to open the door, so I stopped. Charlie looked up when he came in, "Do you know what they have been telling me?"

Carlisle nodded, "Yes, I do." His calm façade was back.

"Is it really true?"

"All of it. I want you to know that we love Bella very much, and you don't need to worry about her. I will always take care of her as if she were my own daughter." His eyes burned with an intensity I did not expect.

With this indication, Charlie relaxed considerably. He closed his eyes and opened them slowly. "Thank you, Carlisle…. I love you, Isabella," he whispered. His heartbeats were extremely faint. He wouldn't be with us much longer. The whole in my heart burned my father was dying right here beside me.

"I love you too, Dad," I murmured.

With that, his eyes closed for the last time. I sat there holding on to Edward with one hand and holding on to Charlie with the other, my past and my future. I listened as Charlie's heart and breathing became even more shallow and slow.

I closed my eyes. Charlie filled every thought. I thought of how happy he had been when I came to live with him and the way he looked when he was captivated by a football game. I reminisced of how I loved to cook for him and our comfortable silences. I remembered how his face turned eight shades of red when he found out about the motorcycle. I thought of the way he always came home happy after fishing. I recollected his determination to find Jacob and how he grieved over Harry and Billy. I reminisced about how handsome he looked the day he walked me down the aisle and the awe3 on his face when he held Nessie for the first time. I lingered on each and every memory of him. I could not, would not forget my father.

Over the past few years we had become closer than I ever thought possible. I had Renesmee to thank for that. Charlie could not hold back his love or affection from her. She brought out things in Charlie I had always thought were there, hidden. It made this separation all the more agonizing.

I already missed him desperately. I missed the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled and the way he looked at me. He had never been much for words but there was a look in his eye that made me recognize just how much he loved me. It was hard to think of life without him. A little voice in the back of my head reminded me that the part of my life without him would be much longer than the part with him. I stooped from the sting of this thought.

Edward let go of my hand to wrap his arms around me. We stayed like that and listened as first Charlie's breathing stopped, then his heart. Sobs started to rip through my body as Carlisle noted the time of death. Edward held me as I grieved, burying his face in my hair. My dad was gone, in his place there was nothing but an expanse of emptiness. I gazed upon his face. It was calm and peaceful, a smile played at his lips. The beginning of healing calmed the hole in my chest ever so slightly. I had been here with him and despite the pain of it I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. A small part of me was relieved; my dad had finally known the truth. The throbbing pain of loss nearly drowned out the small bit of healing.

I felt safe and loved in Edward's arms. I knew he would help me through the agony. I only wished to be able to ruin his shirt with my tears. The heart ache had no place to go but deeper inside, burning itself into my silent, wounded heart.

Once I was pulled together enough to make it out of the hospital, I told my sweet husband that I was ready to go. He kept one arm around me and we walked out past Sue and the wolf packs all congregated in the small waiting room. When they saw me, tears fell from every eye. They knew now, I was glad not to have to say the words. They cried the tears I could not. Part of me wanted to be them to share the sorrow and grief but I wasn't ready yet. I started to shake and sob at the thought. Edward pulled me tighter and led me out to the car.

Please reveiw. Please. I hate begging for reveiws but I really would like some.