A/N: I do not own these characters, just the story line. If you are under 18, please do not read this story. I'm sorry for the delay in an update. I have been sick and my brain would not cooperate with me to write a chapter. This was another hard chapter for me to write. You may want to have some tissues handy, I cried writing it.

I have no beta, so any mistakes are my own.

Chapter 8: The Loss

The next few days passed by with me crying and Carlisle holding me or him sobbing with me holding him. I didn't know if Carlisle or I would ever get over our loss, but at least we had each other and the rest of the family to help us get through this. Losing my father left me feeling empty. I would never see him sitting in his chair watching a game on T.V. I would never get to sit across the kitchen table with him again while he ate the supper I cooked. I miss him so much and it hurts knowing I will never get to tell him how much I truly loved him.

When Renee and Phil arrived, they decided to stay at a hotel in Port Angeles which I was grateful for. I haven't been back to the house since the day my father was killed. It was too hard to sit in there, knowing Charlie would never walk through the door again and greet me while he hung up his gun belt.

Alice and Rose went to the house for me and packed up everything. All of my dad's stuff was placed in storage except for a few of his flannels that my sister's kept for me. My stuff was taken to the Cullen house and put in my room. I was given a room that was right next to Carlisle's bedroom.

The funeral was the worst so far. I was sitting in the front row of the church with my mom, Phil, and Carlisle. Alice, Jasper, Rose, and Emmett were sitting behind us in the second row. Mr. Weber, Angela's father and pastor gave a beautiful speech about my dad. He spoke about Charlie being a dedicated Chief of Police to the town of Forks and a loving father.

I felt sick to my stomach as he spoke about the man that I would never see again. My dad was taken from me because I didn't listen. It was my fault that my dad's life was over. A strangled sob ripped its way up my throat and I curled in on myself. Carlisle wrapped his arms around me and held me close, trying to comfort me.

My mom placed her hand in mine and squeezed. I looked up at her and Phil was holding her the same way that Carlisle was holding me. Deputy Marks went up to the podium and spoke about my father and I continued to cry, not hearing what was being said.

I don't even remember going to the cemetery, but watching the casket being lowered into the ground was too much for my poor mind and body to handle. I remember watching as my father's casket was lowering into the ground and then the world tilted on its side and everything went black. When I came to, everyone was in my dad's home and I was lying on the couch with a group of people all watching me.

I saw Carlisle first then Renee and Phil followed by the rest of my family and Jacob. Carlisle helped me to sit up and handed me a bottle of water. I took it in my shaking hands and smiled my thanks to him. He gave me a small smile in return and sat next to me.

Jacob made his way towards me and hugged me while I started crying again. Our friendship was all but destroyed when I chose Edward over him and while I know we will never be the same friends we were before my nightmare began, I would always consider him a friend.

When the last guest left and it was just the Cullen's with Renee, Phil, and myself my mom started her questions. I was unprepared to answer anything from her. I know she is perceptive, but now was not the time for her to be noticing the things that I wished she wouldn't notice.

"Where's Edward?" She asked. Of course that would be the first thing she would ask me and I didn't know what to tell her. Luckily, Alice had an answer because I sure didn't.

"Mrs. Dwyer, my brother and mother died in a car crash a few days before Charlie died," she said sadly.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I had no idea. Is there anything I can do for any of you?" My mom looked at Carlisle first and then my siblings.

"Thank you Mrs. Dwyer," Carlisle replied.

"Call me Renee."

"Thank you Renee, but we are hanging in there. We have all suffered such great loss in the past week. It will just take us some time to heal," Carlisle spoke softly.

My mom nodded, "Well, if any of you need anything, please let me or Phil know." Renee turned back to me, "Do you want to move back home with me and Phil sweetie?"

I could see the hope in her eyes, but I couldn't and wouldn't leave the Cullen's. "Mom, I need to stay here. I have to meet with dad's lawyer and handle all his stuff. Plus, I need to be with the Cullen's. We are all truly heartbroken and I think we will have a better chance at healing if we stick together."

"Okay sweetie. But, if you need anything let me or Phil know. What are you going to do once you settle things with the lawyer? Do you have any plans for college?"

Great, another question that I didn't have an answer to. Come on Alice, don't fail me now.

Alice spoke up again, "My family and I are moving to a house near Dartmouth College in Hanover and we asked Bella to come with us. Rose and Emmett are enrolled to start college in the fall."

"That's great sweetie. Are you thinking about attending Dartmouth?" My mom beamed with pride.

I nodded. I was glad I finished high school before my dad was taken from me, but I never gave any thought to college. I didn't have a chance to. Edward was always with me, hitting me, yelling at me, and treating me like I was worthless. College was the last thing on my mind, but I couldn't tell my mom that.

"Well honey, we need to get going. We have an early flight in the morning. Phil has to get back for practices. Do you need me to stay?"

"No mom, you can go back with Phil. I'll be okay. I'll call you in a few days," I told her.

"Well alright," my mom said as she hugged me. "I love you honey and I'll talk to you soon."

"I love you too mom," I hugged her and then gave Phil a hug and walked them to the door.

I stood in the doorway and watched them get into their car and then I watched until I could no longer see their rental. Sighing, I closed the door and went back to the living room and curled up against Carlisle's side. I woke up when Carlisle lifted me from the car and carried me inside.

I was still half asleep, but managed to walk to the kitchen to get something to drink. Alice and Rose came in first and started fixing me some supper. After a few minutes Carlisle walked in with Jasper and Emmett. We all sat at the table while I ate. When I was finished with my meal, Carlisle cleared his throat to gain everyone's attention. We all looked to him, waiting for him to speak.

"As you all know, Alice told Renee that we would be moving to the house that we have in Hanover. I believe we do need to move. It is too painful for us all to stay here. Do you all want to go to Hanover or some place else?" Carlisle asked us.

We all agreed going to Hanover was a good idea and we started making plans for our move.

"Bella," Carlisle grabbed my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Do you want to go to Dartmouth?"

Alice smiled and reached for my other hand. "We can all go with you. Jasper can get us enrolled for the fall semester. One of us would gladly choose whatever major you chose so you wouldn't have any classes alone."

I liked that idea. I didn't want to go to college and have to take classes without one of my siblings. I looked over to Alice and she was caught up in a vision. We all waited for her to come back and when she did she gave me a tight squeeze.

"So, is that a yes?" Carlisle asked with a gentle smile.

I nodded and Alice said, "I saw Jasper getting us four enrolled at Dartmouth and you getting the Chief of Staff position at the hospital. I'm going for a degree in fashion, Rose and Emmett will go for a degree in mechanical engineering, and Jasper and Bella will be going for a degree in English Literature."

Every laughed at Alice. At least I wouldn't have to make any decisions and I would have Jasper with me. He would be able to help me anytime I would be sucked in by my grief.

Jasper and Alice came with me to see the lawyer the next day. All my dad's assets were left to me. I agreed to sell the house because it was just too painful to keep. The lawyer was going to handle everything for me and put all the money from the house and Charlie's accounts into the account that Carlisle had Jasper opened for me in Hanover.

According to Alice, I would end up with $1.6 million dollars after everything was done with the house and my dad's accounts. We left the lawyer's office and headed home to start packing. We were scheduled to leave in two days to head to the house in Hanover.

A/N: So, I hope this chapter was worth the wait. Hopefully the next chapter will come sooner. Reviews make my Carlisle smile a sexy smile.