When La Push Comes to La Shove
Part 3

Charlie's POV

March 16th, 2003

Charlie clasped his hands together as he stared at the floor; on the chair next to him was his phone. He had called the girls over a dozen times each and neither had picked up. He had taken a break to call Bella's friend Angela, who had immediately picked up.

He stared at the doors leading to where his eldest daughter was, praying that a doctor would come through and tell him that his little girl was okay, at the same time he worried she wasn't and a doctor was about to tell him that he had lost her. It had just passed midnight and already the hours alone were wearing heavy on his mind.

He picked up his phone again and dialled Alice's number, praying for her to pick up as it rang.

'Hey this is Alice! I can't come to—'

Charlie swore and hung up before half-heartedly dialling Rosalie again only to be met with a similar voicemail. He scrubbed a hand over his face and let out a heavy sigh. His middle daughter had never been good at answering her phone—always tending to leave it behind or forget to charge it—but he'd been really hoping today would be different. Today of all days.

I don't know who else to call. He hung his head, then an idea sparked. Bella had been hanging out at La Push lately—maybe they would come. He clearly couldn't do anything about getting her sisters to the hospital however he could surround Bella with her friends when she woke up.

He dialled Billy's number.

"Hello?"

Charlie breathed a sigh of relief. "Billy, it's me, Charlie, I'm at the hospital. Bella collapsed; I don't know what's wrong with her. The doctor's haven't told me anything and the girl's aren't picking up their phones. I don't know what's going on but Bella needs people to be there for her. Can you get some of the boys she's been hanging around with to come and see her? Be here for her when she wakes up?"

"Bella's in—" Billy swore, and there was a sudden rush of shuffling and more swearing on his end. Then, like he'd pulled the phone away from his ear, Billy yelled, "Jacob, get up. Get the others. Bella's in the hospital. We're leaving in five." Then, back to Charlie he said, "We'll be there, Charlie. I won't let you do this alone."

Charlie felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders, even if it was momentary. "Thank you Billy, you don't know what this means to me, especially since I can't get ahold of her sisters. I know you don't like this place, I just don't want Bella to wake up with only me there to see her, it would break her heart." He sighed.

"Trust me, Bella is going to forget what feeling alone feels like," Billy swore. "She's family, Charlie, and the boys sure as hell aren't going to leave her side. Not even when she's sick of them."

"That's a load off my back, I'm going to keep trying the girls, I've already called her other friend Angela." His shoulders slumped and he whispered, "Thanks, Bill. I don't think I can do this alone."

Billy hung up, and Charlie slumped back into the plastic chairs of the hospital waiting room. The phone hung limp between his fingers; he couldn't find the energy to try her sisters again. There were only so many times he could fail to get through.

He closed his eyes and tried to breathe, but all he could see was the sight of his daughter collapsed at the top of the stairs. A sight he knew he'd never be able to forget for as long as he lived.

~flashback~

A loud scream pierced the air, jolting me awake as I looked around blearily. A second scream, choked off by a sob quickly cleared the fog; I was alert and off the couch within seconds. Somehow I just knew… "Bella!" I said, panicked and bounded up the stairs.

My heart nearly thudded out of my chest when I saw her on the floor in front of Alice's door, writhing and clawing at her chest. I scrambled up the last few stairs, tripping over the last one when I saw the blood drip from her nose. I had just reached her when suddenly, with a choked gasp she fell still and silent. I felt cold spread through my veins.

"No!" I dropped beside her, rolling her fully onto her back. "Bella?" I pressed my fingers to her neck. I nearly collapsed with relief when I felt her pulse. "Don't worry, baby, I've got you, we're going to get you to the hospital. You're alright, you'll be fine, you have to be fine…." I lifted her into my arms, slightly stumbling with her weight.

I braced my back against the railing and made my way down the steps as quickly as possible. I grunted with the effort, but soon made it to the door.

"Fuck, I wish it were open! I'll have to put her down to—" My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as the front door suddenly unlocked and swung itself open. I had seen a few odd things happen around the girls, but this…

I shook my head. Something was wrong with my daughter—fuck, whatever the hell was going on, she needed to see a doctor.

I hurried out the door and down the porch steps. I was across the drive and at my cruiser in record time. I paid no mind as the side door popped open on its own, I didn't have time to wonder.

I bundled Bella in and closed the door. Then, jumping in behind the wheel, I tore off down the road, my lights flashing and sirens blaring. I didn't care that it was late and most Forks citizens were probably asleep. I was getting my daughter to the hospital, everyone else be damned.

"Just hang in, Bells," I muttered, glancing at her in the passenger seat before swearing under my breath as I swerved through the traffic. I tried not to glare at the elderly Mr Pritte as I passed him going half the speed limit. "It's nearly nine at night. Why aren't you all in your homes?" I grumbled darkly.

I glanced at Bella again when I was sure I wouldn't run into anyone. She looked awful. The blood around her nose had mixed with her sweat and dried, no longer dripping, but now she just looked pale and fragile. Her hair stuck to her face, limp and tangled, while her every breath was more laboured than the last.

"Shit! Jesus, fuck!" I squeezed my trembling hands around the wheel and pressed the accelerator down as hard as I dared. "Stay with me, Bells. Please, just stay with me. We're almost there."

But like the world was against me, her breathing turned to a harsh wheeze, and when I shakily pressed my fingers to her pulse, it seemed weaker than ever.

"Fuck!. Fuck, no, please. Whatever goddess my girls are always praying to—Hekate? Please. I don't know who you are, or if you can do anything," I whispered, my chest hitching. "But my girls pray to you every day, and they believe in you so much. So please, please save my baby girl." I sucked in a shaky breath. "I just got her back—please don't take her from me. Please."

~Flashback end~

"I'm here!" The visitor's doors to the waiting room swung open and Charlie looked up to see Angela rushing in. He stood up, thankful someone had shown up. He couldn't bear sitting here alone any longer.

"What the hell happened?" Her hair was a mess, her shirt was inside out and frankly, she looked like a paper caught in a printer jam.

But she was the only one who'd answered his call and showed up, so she could have shown up wearing a printer for all he cared.

"I couldn't hear you on the phone but I knew something was wrong and Bella didn't answer when I called. What's going on? Is she okay?" Angela demanded in a furious rush of questions that made Charlie tear up a little. She spun around, glancing at the waiting room like the answers were printed on the walls. "Did something happen to Bella?"

"I don't know! I– I just found her collapsed on the floor; she was seizing up and– I just don't know," he whispered brokenly.

Angela gripped the roots of her hair. "Oh my god…" Her eyes darted about the room. "Wait, where are her sisters?

Before Charlie could respond, a young, dark-skinned nurse approached them. "Excuse me? Are you the family of Isabella Swan?"

"Yes." Angela pressed forward until she was practically in the nurse's scrubs. "Is she okay? What's going on? What happened?"

"It was a bit touch and go for a little while, Dr Banner—oh, excuse me someone I shall not name—" she said, clearly bitter about something. "—accidentally gave her some medication she had an allergic reaction to." Charlie stiffened and the nurse hurried to reassure him. "But she's stable now; they've just taken her out of surgery." Here she frowned. "Dr Banner has said she had a heart attack." Though she seemed to have an issue with the diagnosis, she continued, "My name is Yvette, I'll be your daughter's nurse for the duration of her stay."

Charlie sat down heavily. "A heart attack." He pressed a hand to his mouth. "She had a heart attack."

"But she's okay now?" Angela insisted, her eyes wide. "She's— she's stable? That means she's okay, right?"

The nurse nodded and then caught sight of the pendant around Angela's neck. A peculiar look crossed her face before it smoothed out into a blank mask and she scribbled out a note. "Yes. She is stable. Once we get her into a room the doctor can give you the details himself."

Then swiftly, making sure Charlie wasn't looking, she plucked the note off her pad and pressed it into Angela's hand under the guise of shaking it. "I will be back out shortly," she added before turning away and heading through the nearest set of doors.

Angela furrowed her brow and looked at the note:

There was a curse on her, it broke, her heart is fine, it's the rest of her that's weak. She needs rest and a witch's doctor.

Angela's eyes closed in a sigh of pained relief. "Oh, Bella." Then she turned back to Charlie. "Where are her sisters? I know they're fighting, and I'm pissed with them for hurting her, but I know there's no way they'd not be plastered by her bedside during the heart surgery or whatever the hell happened in there." She gestured somewhat manically at the doors through which the nurse Yvette had just walked. "So why aren't they here right now?"

Charlie sighed and scrubbed his hand over his face. "I can't get a hold of them. I called Billy Black as well, he said he and some of the boys would be here soon." He ran his hands through his hair, a clear sign of agitation. "I've called them both dozens of times, and I don't have any of the Cullens' numbers."

Angela's jaw clenched. "The hospital will."

Charlie shook his head. "I tried. They won't give out personal numbers of their staff."

"I never said I'd ask," was all Angela said before she spun around and disappeared through the same "staff only" door Yvette had gone through.

Angela returned a few moments later and handed him a slip of paper with Carlisle's number on it. But before he could even think to dial it, the visitor doors opened and Edward rushed in looking as if he had been swept up in a tornado. His clothing and hair were in a wild disarray and his expression was just short of manic. Upon spotting Charlie and Angela he hurried over to them.

"What happened? Is Bella okay?" he demanded. "Where is she?"

"Heart attack," Charlie choked out as his panic rushed him again. "She had a heart attack."

His knees seemed to give out underneath him and he sunk into the nearest chair. "A heart attack? She ha—" He pressed a hand to his mouth. "No, that's not– She couldn't– Why didn't—" He looked up, looking like someone had punched him in the gut and whispered, "Is she okay? Did she…"

"She's stable—" Charlie nodded, knowing exactly where the boy's thoughts were heading. "But that damn doctor, she had an allergic reaction to something he gave her, but they haven't told us anything else yet." He swallowed. "I think they're waiting to find her a room.

Edward slumped back and his gaze went distant. Then the doors slammed open again, and Charlie's head snapped up in time to see Alice and Rosalie race into the room with the other two Cullen boys hot on their heels.

"Where is she?" Alice demanded, running to her father. "I saw— I got your messages. Is she okay? What happened?"

Suddenly, all Charlie could see was red. "Where the hell were you two?" he snapped. "Your sister could have died and I couldn't reach you! What's the point of having cell phones if you won't answer them?"

Alice paled. "My–my phone died while I was out shopping with Jasper. It died before I could answer your calls."

Charlie's face reddened in anger. "Shopping? You were shopping?" He all but yelled. Then he spun to Rosalie. "And I know it's hard to remember to take your phone with you, but how else am I supposed to contact you if you don't have it on you?"

Rosalie's face crumpled in shame and tears that made all the anger flee Charlie. He rubbed a hand over his face. "Bella could have been seriously hurt, and I need to know I can contact you girls in the future. I can't do this again."

Then he opened his arms to them, and the three of them collapsed into each other in a giant hug of tears and heartache as they waited for more news from Bella. It was just approaching one am; it was going to be a long wait.

~Scene~

Bella's POV

I woke with a groan, shifting uncomfortably as my eyes fluttered open. I felt lightheaded and groggy.

"Miss Swan, can you hear me?" came a concerned voice.

I looked to my side, staring at the doctor who had just spoken. Wait…doctor? I looked around and tried to sit up, but my whole body felt heavy. That's when I realised I was in a hospital room. I was laying in a hospital bed, in a white stiff gown and every inch of my body ached with a dull fire.

What in the depths of hades…

Meeting the unfamiliar doctor's eyes, I nodded.

He smiled gently. "Good. Now do you know where you are?"

I furrowed my brow and tried to piece through my muddled thoughts. "A…hospital." I knew that much. "I don't– Am I still in Forks?"

He nodded. "You're in Forks General Hospital. Your father brought you in because you had a heart attack. I'm Doctor Gerald, and I'll be handling your care while you're here. Can you tell me the last thing you remember?"

I tried to concentrate on the question, but it was like wading through a thick fog. "I–I was outside my sister's room. And then…" I flinched. "Pain… I just remember feeling pain." So much pain. "I think I fell?" I said, my voice hoarse.

Hekate, I must have screamed myself raw.

I rubbed a hand over my chest and swallowed, glancing up at the doctor. "I had a heart attack?"

Dr Gerald nodded. "Yes, you did. It was only a minor one, but the stress it caused your body was far worse. According to your father, you were seizing when he found you before going unconscious. You lost a bit of blood, and when you came in your vitals were extremely erratic." Then he smiled reassuringly. "But you pulled through rather magnificently, and everything's looking good now."

He looked up behind me and I twisted my head to see a small screen by my bed showing a bunch of squiggles. He turned the screen towards me. "For someone who just had a heart attack, you're looking remarkably well. Your blood sugars are quite low, but I believe your nurse has ordered you some breakfast."

I blinked and glanced out the window I'd only just noticed. It was morning.

But I got home late at night. How… There was a clock behind the doctor's head. It was almost nine o'clock. Twelve hours. I lost twelve hours.

"And don't worry your baby is fine, we did an ultrasound. Unfortunately, it seems our equipment is acting up so we can't give you an accurate reading on vitals, but the nurses were able to get a clear enough picture."

Here he smiled like he'd just given me the news I was desperate for, and not something that confused me entirely. "It seems the town's speculation is rather accurate; you are a little over five weeks pregnant."

My mind blanked as the doctor continued to speak, handing me the sonogram. I stared at it uncomprehendingly.

It was impossible… I had activated my blood magic in my past life, that should have made me infertile in this life too. Unless— My mind stuttered to a halt. Unless it didn't count somehow? If being reborn made it so my activating my affinity was nullified… there was no other way to explain it.

Still this shouldn't have been possible, Edward and I only slept together a week ago! I should not be this far along.

How the fuck does anyone get this pregnant in a week?

I sure as hell knew I hadn't slept with anyone else.

But then I recalled something mother had said about witches' pregnancies. Something about how they were different, but try as I might I couldn't recall exactly what she had said. It had been an explanation made in passing while she was carrying Rose.

Did witches have speed pregnancies somehow? If I was over a month along in just a week, and that rate continued, would I give birth in a little over two months? I worked on containing my magic as my panic rose within me.

I gingerly touched my hand to my stomach, desperately wishing for this to be real, though fearing it was a mistake.

"—n. Miss Swan." The doctor's concerned voice cut through my panicking thoughts. Are you alright? Are you experiencing any pain or discomfort?"

I shook my head as I let out a ragged breath. "No. No, I'm fine– It's just— Are you sure my baby is alright?" I asked, biting my lip

The doctor looked at me sympathetically. "Yes, Miss Swan. Would it make you feel better if we had a nurse come in and do another ultrasound to show you?" he asked softly.

I nodded and sniffed. "Y-yes, Please." I had to be sure that this wasn't a mistake, or something my sisters had done to maintain the ruse. If the latter was true, I wasn't sure I could handle that.

~Scene~

I stared at the small blob on the screen, conflicting emotions waring within me. On one hand I'd always wanted a child of my own—I'd just assumed biological children were off the table and I'd have to adopt. Not that I would have loved the child any less, however I knew adopting came with some serious requirements. And that if I did adopt there was a good chance that I wouldn't just find a witch child in need of a parent—or parents if I had a partner—and that meant learning more about human ailments and such.

It wasn't a decision I had made lightly, in fact I still wanted to adopt when I was older, but now, this little blob just brought me closer to my dream so much sooner.

And on the other hand, I was terrified. I was pregnant. With a child.

The nurse finished up and cleaned her instruments before standing. "Feeling better, dear?" she asked kindly.

"Yes, thank you. Could—" I was cut off by the door opening and Dr Gerald walking back in.

"Thank you, Yvette. I'll finish up with Miss Swan and give her family the relevant information." The doctor looked through the reports on his clipboard as the nurse left before smiling at me. "Well, Miss Swan, you'll be happy to know there was no permanent damage caused by your heart attack. To you or your baby."

I nodded. "Doctor, is there any way you can not mention the second ultrasound to my dad?"

At the Doctor's confused look I hastened to explain myself. Purposefully babbling and glad I'd had water earlier so my throat didn't burn nearly as much as it had. "It's just that I know he has to be worried sick about me, and I honestly don't think it would cross his mind that a heart attack could affect the baby in any way. Not since it's so early into my…pregnancy. And he's just already so stressed, I don't want to add to it. I'll tell him later of course—when he calms down that is. Just not now." When the doctor still didn't say anything I added with a fake laugh, "Trust me, I'm enough to worry about without adding a baby to it."

The doctor frowned. "Miss Swan, we are legally obligated to notify your father of any procedures you've had done, so I can't let you tell him directly—" My heart sank. "However, there is nothing to say I can't write up the full disclosure in a letter and only verbally mention what care will be necessary going forward." He gave me a small smile

I grinned in relief. "Thank you, Doctor."

"Don't mention it, Miss Swan. I will hand you the letter before you are discharged. I believe I should go let your family know you are ready for visitors. Though it will only be one at a time," he warned.

I nodded. "Of course."

~Scene~

Charlie's POV (3rd person)

The moment Yvette showed Charlie to Bella's room, he burst through the doors. "Bells?"

She looked up, pale and her eyes wide. "Dad," she whispered, her eyes slightly glazed.

"Thank goodness you're okay." He rushed in and almost threw his arms around her, tears spilling down his cheeks before he froze. His eyes ran over her frantically before he turned to the nurse still at the door. "Can I…?"

She smiled, nodding softly. "Just be gentle. Our young Miss Swan has been through a lot, but she'll be okay. She just needs plenty of rest."

This last part was said pointedly like it was a conversation already had.

"I'm not made of china, Dad," Bella murmured, and he turned to see her opening her arms. "But I could use a hug. Please?"

Charlie's chin wobbled and he—gently—threw his arms around his daughter. "I was so worried about you, Bells. I'm so glad you're okay." He pulled her as close to him as he dared, mindful of the leads hanging off her and the bruises no doubt littering her. "I was so scared. I thought I'd lost you."

"You could never lose me, Dad," Bella murmured, pressing herself into his arms. "I'm too much of a pest to go that easily." she joked.

Charlie hugged her tighter as Angela and Edward walked in. "The girls are on their way up." Angela growled walking in, clearly furious.

Bella blinked for a moment, letting her arms drop to her sides limply. "They're here?" she asked quietly.

With her jaw clenched, Angela nodded, but it was Edward who softly said, "They wouldn't be anywhere else."

Bella picked at her nails, her jaw clenching. "I– I must have taken them away from other activities. What were they doing?" she asked with deceptive innocence.

"Being—" Angela cut herself off and turned away, her jaw clenched.

Charlie sighed. "I'm not sure, Bells. They've been away a lot since your fight, and I think they just wanted to give you time to cool down."

Bella pursed her lips. "Do you really believe that?" she asked, irritated.

Charlie began to respond however Bella waved him off. "Doesn't matter—what were they doing Angela?" Bella asked, more steadily this time.

Angela scowled and sighed. "Shopping with their boyfriends."

"Enough," Charlie cut in. "No matter what you might think, Miss Weber, Rosalie and Alice love their sister dearly. Whatever they were doing, they clearly didn't know what was happening. They're here now and that's what matters."

"If they love me so much they wouldn't be out with those—" Bella took in a shuddering breath and tried to calm herself. "Dad, you don't know what's going on, and I really don't want to get into it now but suffice to say, those boys, let the girls make some very dangerous decisions, and even supported those decisions. Except for Edward, he was the only one with common sense, however he waited too long to tell me," this was said pointedly at the shellshocked boy still standing by the door, staring at Bella with wide eyes. Like he hadn't expected to be allowed back in her presence again. "I don't know if I can even describe the amount of stupidity and danger rolled into that one decision."

Edward's eyes widened slightly, and Charlie wondered how much Bella wasn't saying.

"Imagine if one of the boys from the rez let me ride a motorcycle with no real instructions on how—take that danger, multiply it by ten and you can begin to imagine how monumentally stupid and dangerous what they were doing was. I don't even care about the danger it put me in wa—" she cut herself off, too furious for words as she clenched her fists.

Charlie rubbed a hand across his face. "I don't understand, Bella. In danger from what? What dangerous decisions? Why won't you girls tell me what's going on? There are only so many vague answers I can take."

"I–I can't get into a lot of detail." She looked over at Yvette. "Can you give us some privacy?" she asked. She nodded, eyeing all the visitors carefully before hurrying out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Bella looked back at Charlie. "Please understand that when I tell you this I have no evidence whatsoever, nothing that the police could go on, nothing that—if I wasn't your daughter—would even be cause to open an investigation. Can you listen as my father and not the police chief?

He stiffened. "What's going on, Bella?" His brows furrowed. "As your father, I need to know what danger you girls are in."

"There are some…people, who want to hurt my sisters and I. It's… a witch thing, I can't really explain it properly." She sighed, rubbing her hands over her face. "But these are the kind of people that don't just go away, or can be easily dealt with. They have problems with witches… We ran into them a few weeks ago, we didn't realise what they were at first but they could tell what we were." Bella bit her lip as if considering how to continue.

Charlie was thoroughly confused. Witches? As in…their pagan beliefs? He squinted. Was there someone in town who hated pagans? "If you girls are having problems because of your beliefs," he tried, "then that's definitely something I can do as Chief of Police." Was he doing this right? Something felt off. "Who is it? I'll bury them under so many discrimination laws they'll forget their own name."

Bella shook her head. "They don't live in town and these aren't your run of the mill witch haters, Dad. They're smart and unfortunately lethal given the right circumstances. And they don't make a habit of being caught."

Charlie shook his head. "Enough with the vague details, Bells. If you're in danger, there is nothing I can't do as Chief of Police. And even as just your father, I need to know these things. Who are you in danger from?"

Bella sighed. "I don't know their names, or even if the names we do have are real, but I do know what they are…it's been an issue in the witch community for a while… we call them witch hunters," she said.

Charlie was lost, but before he could say anything, the doors flung open and a pack of muscles burst into the room.

"Bellllaaaaaaa!" the smallest cried. It was Seth, Harry's kid. Despite the lack of room on the bed, or anywhere near Bella for that fact, he launched himself at her with tears in his eyes.

Behind him, the other walls of muscle from the reservation had similar expressions on their faces. There were at least seven of them and two young ladies, one of which had faint scars on her face. Charlie was sure he could recognise all of them if he had the space of mind to bother, but his daughter had just had a heart attack and that level of thinking was not happening.

"What the fuck—?" Behind them all, the door flung open again, and a furious Yvette stood in the frame. "Did I fucking say you could barge in here all at once? Together? Get out!" She pointed at the door. "This is not a clubhouse! Visiting hours don't mean smothering someone who's just had a heart attack! So. Get. Out!"

The boys spun back around to Bella like they were waiting for her answer—which just made Yvette even more furious—but Bella just smiled a little.

"Hey, Yvette? Can they stay for a few minutes? I promise they're house trained," Bella said, teasing the boys.

She scowled. "Three minutes and then I'm dragging them out myself." She left the room, closing the door behind her with a sharp click.

Bella grinned. "The warden has spoken, and as you all can see I'm fine."

"Yeah, cause a heart attack is just an everyday occurrence." Paul crossed his arms over his chest, scowling. "Don't downplay this, Bella. Do you have any idea how worried we were about you?"

Bella sighed. "I'm sorry to have made you worry. I'm better now, so it's nothing to stress about.".

"It's interesting you should mention stress Miss Swan." Dr Gerald said as he walked through the door. Glancing at the others in the room, he sighed before focusing on Bella again. "As that is exactly what caused your heart attack. High levels of cortisol in your body built to the point where you suffered a sudden cardiac arrest."

"Jesus," Charlie breathed.

"That's not fucking good," Paul echoed.

"No, it's not. I recommend that Miss Swan avoid any stressful situation for at least a week." he said, looking at her sternly. "The consequences could be disastrous if she continues to be as stressed as she is," he added, looking pointedly at her stomach which confused Charlie to no end.

Bella paled. "I never thought I'd be prescribed a vacation," she joked weakly.

Angela jumped onto the idea immediately. "I'll start looking up places to go," she said, whipping out her phone.

Esme was by her side in an instant, and Charlie blinked, wondering when in the hell she'd come in. "We'll pay for it of course. You need to relax, dear, and you shouldn't restrict your ideas due to budget."

"Keep it within the U.S," Charlie pleaded.

As they searched, Dr Gerald looked pointedly at the new visitors. "And I believe I said only one visitor at a time, so you all need to leave. Family only."

The boys all turned to Bella, but Charlie wasn't having any of it. The doctor was right. Enough was enough. He herded the crestfallen boys out, but didn't try with the other three. Particularly not when Angela had that same look in her eyes that Bella got. But without complaint, Edward left too.

"I'll get your sisters," he murmured. "They're down in the cafeteria getting you something to eat."

Bella nodded, and Charlie slumped into his seat; both of them exhausted. The other two kept searching for vacation spots, while both Bella and Charlie fell asleep.

~Scene~

Bella's POV

March 17th, 2003

"I don't think I've ever been on a vacation before."

Angela glanced over her shoulder at me from where she stood by her suitcase. She hummed. "Makes sense. You've been a slave to everyone else's wishes for your whole damn life. I'd be surprised if the curse ever let you even imagine taking a holiday."

I sighed, sitting down on the edge of my bed. "Phil took us on holiday once… only Renee ruined it. Alice scraped her knee on the first day and Renee—knowing she was allergic—put antiseptic all over her legs. Alice had a rash the whole time, and Rosalie and I spent the whole week tending to her—she couldn't walk without pain… I really hate that bitch." I mused.

In the end we didn't get to have much fun, but of course I'd made Renee pay for it. On the last day I'd put a scorpion in her swimsuit—she couldn't sit without discomfort for nearly a month afterwards.

I looked at the date on my phone and blinked. "It's almost Ostara," I said, startled. I usually kept better tabs on the holidays, and it disturbed me to realise I hadn't even noticed such an important day was only a few days away.

Angela flopped back on her bed beside mine. "What's that?"

"The spring equinox—to put it simply it's a day meant to celebrate new beginnings. The girls and I usually do a ritual and send a prayer to the goddess Eostre… This is going to be the first time we don't celebrate together," I murmured.

She rolled her head so she was facing me. "Is that something you and I could do? Or is it like a witches only kinda thing?"

I smiled brightly at her. "Anyone can celebrate. If you're willing to celebrate with me I'd be very grateful. It's an important holiday to me. The day varies every year, always between the nineteenth and twenty second but my sisters and I celebrate all three days. I would hate to miss it." Especially now that I'm pregnant. I can only thank Eostre and the other goddesses who preside over fertility a million times for the gift they have given me

I glanced at Angela again and knew that I would have to tell her soon that I was actually pregnant.

She grinned. "Sweet. I'm looking forward to it."

She closed her eyes, her hands settling behind her head, and I knew if I didn't say it now, I might never.

"Hey Ange, you remember when I told you we faked the pregnancy?"

"Yeah?"

"It's not fake anymore."

~Scene~

March 19th, 2003

Two days Later Angela and I were heading back to the hotel after visiting the spa. I'd gotten a full body wax from my neck down, and Angela had worked up enough Courage to get a brazilian. It wasn't that bad in the end, or so she'd claimed. In just these last two days I had relaxed more than I'd ever thought possible. I'd spent them only doing the things I'd wanted to do. Angela's idea, of course.

Ever since I'd told her the news, she'd dragged me to every relaxing spot in the city and made sure that everything we did was because I wanted to, and not because I was catering to someone else. It was a very aggressive way of relaxing and learning to love myself. It was nice.

As we were walking down the street my heart nearly lept out of my chest as I spotted a pale woman with flaming red hair down the street. I pulled Angela to a stop and turned to get a better look but she was already gone.

Victoria. It had to be her… I shook my head. No, no I was overreacting.

"Everything okay?" Angie murmured.

"Yeah… Yes. Everything's fine, let's get back so I can show you how to make the protection bracelets…" I said, putting the woman out of my mind.

No stress was what the doctor'd ordered, and that was what I was doing.

~Scene~

"And done!" I said with a smile as I held out my wrist. The bracelets were a basic but useful bit of spellwork, weaving your protection into the fibres of the cords. "The bracelets are really more of a danger indicator of course. If you're safe it's fine but if you're in dan—''

My bracelet suddenly snapped and fell to the ground, shrivelling up during its descent.

My skin went cold. No—

Angela crouched down by the now pile of dust, and glanced up at me with wide eyes. "What the hell does that mean?"

No no no no no no no no.

"I– I need to call Dad, we need to go back—now. That's not normal– That– that's a death sentence. Can you pack?" I said hurriedly as I grabbed my phone off the side table.

"Are you serious?"

"As a bullet to the head." I didn't pause to explain any further. There was no time. I threw my stuff haphazardly in my bag as I listened to the phone ring. "Pick up, Dad. Pick up." I mumbled.

He answered on the third ring. "Bells? Is everything okay?"

"Dad! Where are Rosalie and Alice?" I asked, panicked. "Are they there?" I prayed that they were. I prayed and pra—

"Yeah, they're just— Oh, Alice, your—" Dad cut off and suddenly Alice was on the phone.

"Something's coming!" Alice's panic matched mine. "I can feel it. Something awful."

"I know! I think I saw…her…earlier—" I explained, unsure of how to go on.

"Put her on—" Dad's voice in the background cut off before he was suddenly louder. "—loudspeaker. Good. Now tell me what's going on. Why are you all panicking? What's coming?"

"I– I don't think I can explain it right now, Just– Just get out of the house, go to the reservation– or the Cullens. Either one, I don't care– you aren't safe in that house. None of you are. The girls know why. Just go" He made a noise of disagreement, and I rushed to add, "Do you remember what I told you in the hospital, Dad? About the people who are chasing us?"

"Yes, but that doesn't explain why your sisters are currently packing like war is on the way."

I sighed in frustration. "Because it might be– look. Witch hunters aren't anything to sneeze at. They are ruthless and depraved individuals who quite literally believe that we witches are abominations and it's their job to kill us all. They want us dead, and nothing short of death will make them stop. I– I really don't think you want to know the sort of things they are capable of, just trust me that this is a bigger issue than you can handle as Chief of Police.

"Dad, there have been whole departments in bigger cities who haven't caught a hunter, just please take the girls and go. I saw one of them here, tell the girls it's the woman, they'll know what that means, there are two more of them– so just go, alright?" I said hurriedly.

There was a long pause where I expected him to come back with more arguments, but he just said, his voice tight, "Fine, we'll meet you at Billy's and then we'll disappear wherever we need to."

I blinked. That hadn't been what I'd been suggesting at all, but it took me by surprise. Was he really saying he'd uproot his entire life to keep us safe from a threat he didn't even believe in in the first place?

"Tell Rose to call the Cullen's and get them updated. They know about the hunters. They can help," I added.

There was another long silence, and then suddenly Alice's voice came through the phone. "This is real, isn't it," she whispered.

"Yes. Angela and I will be on the first flight back. We should be back by this afternoon."

She sucked in a long, deep breath, and then in a steadier voice than I'd expected, she said, "Okay. We'll pick you up, and then we'll end this."

Authors' Notes

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