A/N Sorry for the late posting, relatives and the holidays have made my life absolutely insane. Thank You!!! For continuing to read, I promise that within the next two-three chapters' things will pick up! As a reminder this is AU, but not AH. Thanks to all who've R&R it means a whole lot to me.
Chapter 7: First Steps
Bella stepped out of the house. She could feel Charlie hovering at the bottom of the steps. Determined to not be a victim of her disabilities, she gripped the newly installed railing.
She slowly made her way down the front stoop, taking each step carefully. When she reached the bottom letting out the breath she was holding, her smile triumphant as Bella realized that she did it without help. Charlie could only stand on the sidelines, he was tense his lower lip managed to work its way between his own teeth, in a trait that Bella had inherited.
He watched with pride as her confidence grew by just making it out of the house without help. "Well Bells, we'd best get going." He said.
Bella held out her hand, "Ok dad, lead the way." Charlie huffed in to his moustache; it was as if she knew he needed reassurance. He grasped her slender hand in his own, a brief flash of memory flashed in his mind. Tiny fingers gripped his pinky with surprising strength. He stared in awe at the tiny bundle that was placed in his arm.
Charlie shook his head lightly, "Ready?" He asked before he started toward the patrol car. "Yea" she half breathed out, Bella's steps never wavered, her other hand held the white cane. She tapped the uneven ground; he could hear her counting the steps under her breath.
Stopping at the side of the passenger car, she pulled her hand from him grasp, automatically feeling for the handle. Charlie was already reaching for the door. Their fingers brushed, "Dad", she sighed exasperated, "I think I need to start doing some things on my own."
Once again Charlie felt a tug on his heart, he realized at that moment that Bella could take on anything that was thrown at her. "Ok Bells." He sighed softly "Let's get you back to school."
The drive from the Swan residence to the school was short. Bella being nervous didn't say much, she fidgeted in her seat. A strange sense of déjà-vu came over her. When she realized why she felt that way she gave a short snort followed by a burst of laughter.
Charlie glanced at her quizzically, wondering if the stress was finally beginning to get to her. "What's so funny Bells?"
Bella settled back in her father's cruiser, taking in a deep breath the scent of the car brought on a rush of memories. "I was just thinking that, it feels like your taking me to kindergarten." She said with a smile.
Charlie smiled at the memory. "Your mom couldn't do it; every time she tried to leave the house she would turn right around and take you back inside." He said with a chuckle, "But you were bound and determined to go. So you called the station and had me come to pick you up."
After turning off the main highway they had arrived at Forks High School, Charlie parked the car in the yellow bus lanes in front of the first building. "Charlie?" Bella asked in a whisper, "Can you describe what it looks like?" she asked quietly.
"We're parked in front of the main office" he started, taking a deep sigh he continued. "To the right side of the door there's a wooden sign saying Forks High School. When you open your door there's a little stone path that is lined with hedges."
Chuckling, Bella murmured "stones, nice" Charlie winced, he could see the difficulties that the tiny path would be for Bella, "There's no railing because the hedges form a natural wall. Once you get to the end of the path there's a small step up in to the main office."
Bella sighed, "Ok I guess this is it." She went to open the cruiser door, "I guess I'll see you after school." She said.
"All you have to do is call Bells." Charlie said, "And if any yahoo's get a little to frisky I'll swing by and throw them in to the think tank." Bella laughed, "I know dad, you've always have been just a phone call away."
Opening the door she slid out in to the cool moist morning, with a quick flip of her wrist she snapped her cane out. Charlie watched as she made her first tentative steps on to the stone pathway, he could see her hesitating briefly as the texture of the pathway changed.
He was ready to leap out of the car as she wavered slightly; he held his breath as she corrected her balance. Charlie could only sit in the still idling car as he was about to reach for the door she balanced on her good foot, turning slightly she raised her hand.
Charlie took a deep breath; he shifted the car in to drive. Thinking back on Bella's first baby steps; Charlie felt the same set of complex emotions on that day as he did when she stepped out of the cruiser.
As he drove to work he fought the urge to turn around and drag her back home. Chuckling, he finally understood why Renee had such a difficult time letting Bella go to kindergarten.
~*~