Chapter 2

The next few days suddenly became a blur of organisation. As far as Charlie, Renee or anyone else that Bella knew outside the Cullen family was aware, the plan was simple. Edward, Bella, Alice and Jasper were heading to Vermont at the end of the week, to move into the house where they would live while they attended Dartmouth. Dr. Cullen and his wife would follow in a few weeks, once Carlisle's contract finished at the hospital. And Rose and Emmett were still off in New York enjoying their newly renovated condo. Bella tried not to think about them too hard.

The reality was much different, however. Bella had wanted to see the world. By which she had meant that, after she became a vampire, she wanted to see the world. Edward had taken her a bit more literally, however, and decided that – Volturi aside – they could spare a few weeks to just go travelling. He wanted Bella to enjoy a bit of the world while still human – while food and sunlight had a useful meaning. Bella had only argued a bit when he'd broached the subject after she had agreed to his marriage proposal. Still, when Edward talked about the beauty of South America, she had sort of gotten caught up in the whole idea of it.

They had intended to go to Isle Esme for Bella's change anyways; the wonderful private island that made Esme's eyes sparkle when she talked about it. Bella couldn't conceive of anyone buying her an entire island off the coast of Brazil, and had gone to as far as to make Edward swear he'd never waste money on such a thing. He'd pointed out to her that Esme had never once considered it a waste. Still, no islands; that was the deal. Instead, Alice, Jasper, Edward and still-human Bella were heading down to the west coast of the continent and would spend a few weeks working their way across to Rio. Edward wanted to show her some of the most beautiful areas in Peru and Bolivia before they entered Brazil. Then, once Carlisle's contract was finished, they could all meet on the Isle and Bella would be able to begin the rest of eternity surrounded by her family.

Bella was rather giddy with excitement in the days right before they left. Charlie attributed the bounciness to the fact that she was moving across the country with her…fiancé rather than to the real reason. Bella was grateful for that. She really hated lying to Charlie. She hated even more that she couldn't wipe the smile of anticipation off her face. She knew she was leaving him – for good – and that it would be weeks before Charlie knew about her 'death'. It would be the worst thing he likely ever experienced in his life. Worse than losing her to Renee the first time. But Bella had made her choice. She couldn't regret it. But she could regret that Charlie was going to have to mourn a daughter who wasn't really dead.

Instead, Bella was trying to focus on the positives. The afternoon the day before they left Bella asked – for about the hundredth time – where they were going.

'Peru. And Bolivia,' Edward said. As he had every other time.

'Alice?' Bella turned to her nearly sister instead.

'Uh….no,' the pixie decided. 'No, I don't think so. You'll find out tomorrow. That's soon enough! Does it matter anyways?'

No, it didn't, but that had never stopped Bella from wanting to know the answer.

'We should get you back to Charlie's,' Edward interrupted, more to distract her than anything.

It worked. 'Yeah,' Bella agreed with a sigh. It was hard to put on a show and make Charlie believe that this was the last night he'd see his little girl until Christmas, not the last night ever. And she had never been a great actress.

Edward wrapped an arm around her as they walked out to the car, sliding into the – at least for Bella – cold seats. It hadn't stopped raining for a single moment all week and besides everything else Bella was just looking forward to seeing the sun.

'Love,' he started and then seemed to think better of it. Instead he threw the car into gear and barrelled down the gravel drive at the same speed he usually did everything: much too fast. Soon, it wouldn't matter. Soon, Bella would probably be driving cars the exact same way. Well, probably not.

He pulled up to Charlie's driveway not too many minutes later. The lights were on in the house, to combat the gloom of the outside. Bella made no move to leave the car.

'Bella,' Edward started again. 'Do you want me to come in? Stay the evening?'

She shook her head. 'No, I have to do this. I have to spend this last evening with him. For him, not for me. I know that. This is for Charlie. I just…keep wondering if I'm suddenly going to break down in tears.'

'As far as your father knows,' he said, turned in the driver's seat to face her, 'you are moving across the country for school. That would precipitate tears in most people. I don't think Charlie will find anything amiss if you seem to be a bit sad about leaving.'

She sighed. He was right, of course. But she wanted Charlie's last night with her to be a happy one. A good memory. Not a memory of her crying the entire time.

With another half sigh Bella shoved the door of the Volvo open and climbed out. 'Goodnight,' she said, leaning back down to see Edward on the other side of the car.

'Goodnight. I love you.'

As always, Bella felt everything else fall away from her at those words. For a moment it was just she and Edward and no one else in the world. 'I love you,' she replied, and shut the door.

Taking a deep and steadying breath Bella trudged up the drive and steps and through the front door into the light beyond. 'Hey Dad,' she called, hearing the noise of the TV from the living room.

'Hey,' Charlie answered back, half distracted. He was probably watching the sports channel, as usual.

Bella hung up her coat and kicked off her shoes – for the last time. She had changed at the Cullen's before she left, seeing no reason to wear the dress back to Charlie's, especially when Alice probably wanted to pack it or something. In socks she padded into the other room and took her accustomed place on the sofa. Charlie was indeed watching sports, or rather sports news.

'How was the party kid?'

Bella ignored the 'kid' title. Charlie could call her whatever he wanted tonight. 'Pretty good, actually. Better than I thought.'

'No tumbles or injuries?'

She smiled; it came more easily than expected. 'No Dad. It was all fine.'

He turned his head slightly to look at her and for one second of panic Bella thought she'd let something slip into her voice. 'Guess you were bound to have an injury free night eventually.' He grinned.

Bella relaxed with a sigh. 'Yeah, guess I was due for it. Anything on tonight?'

He shrugged, eyes back to the scores on the TV. 'Not much. You want to, you know, do anything?'

Bella let out an entirely believable long suffering sigh. 'It's after ten o'clock Dad. I think it's a little late to do much.'

He didn't respond for a moment, eyes focused on the screen. 'Yeah, guess you're right. And you're leaving pretty early right?'

He was fishing for something but Bella didn't know what. 'Not until ten.'

'Right.'

Another lengthy silence descended. Normally, Bella would have no problem with that. She'd stick around for a bit, maybe read a book and then head off to bed. Charlie was usually there himself by eleven. Tonight, it didn't feel normal, but she could just be projecting that onto the situation. She didn't really know what to do, any more than she had in the car before she left Edward.

'Think I'll just sit here for a bit. You can watch the sports if you want,' she finally said. After all, it was the spending time together that was important. That much she could do.

'Sure kid.'

Bella smiled. At least, afterwards, Charlie would have this night to remember.