Chapter One

Funeral

Bella POV

Forks Cemetery, 1:45 pm January 1st 2006

The service was beautiful if not heartbreaking. I could hardly stand on my own and the more people came to me to give me their fake condolences for the loss of my 'father' it was all I could do not to scream that it was not the loss of my father I am suffering but the loss of my child! I swear there is no greater loss or greater pain than that of losing your child. No mother should have to outlive her child and even though I knew it was inevitable as I am immortal and my children are human I would have turned them if only they asked but I would never force them to be anything other than who or what they are. Now though as I bury my son I wonder to myself if I should have done so anyway, surely he would have forgiven me?

Staring at my son's casket I had to admit it was beautiful and it fit my son. The casket was made of cherry wood with carvings of a Wolf running and a Swan in flight above the Wolf. The Swan represented Charlie and the Wolf to represent his brother Billy. I remember him once saying if he should die before his brother at least let his casket show them go out together.

It was a closed casket because his body was too badly burned from the fire he was in. Charles was killed while rescuing Mike Newton from a fire in Newton's Outfitter's my old job. Charles was working on an arsonist case and got a tip that Newton's was the next target. It turned out that the arsonist was Victoria who was after my father after the pack and I slaughtered her newborn army.

Since she couldn't create another army or risk the Volturi who I had found out were already aware of the situation and were furious that she was going to send an army after me. I am great friends with the Volturi, in fact I consider Jane and Alec my children and the three kings to be like the annoying older brother's I didn't know I had although with Aro I wonder if he is like an older brother or a younger one he acts like such a child sometimes I swear!

Anyway since she couldn't take me on herself as she would have to get through the wolves and even if she did though she does not know it I am far worse than them so where she sees that as an easy victory considering she things I am human I would kill her easily. So since she couldn't she went after my son by setting fires all throughout town to make it look like a human arsonist so it couldn't be connected back to her. Once the fire was ablaze she fed on him savagely and burned his body. That is how my son died. Unfortunately she fled before I could kill her!

The cemetery was packed with people from the town and LaPush to say goodbye to their friend and Chief. The pack was here, the Cullens were here and surprisingly or not so surprising now that I think about it the Volturi were here as well. My ex-husband Angel was here with his mate and friends. I called him last night to tell him the news he was almost as devastated as me. Charles was his son, the only child I had with my husband before Angel left me for years before filing for a divorce after meeting his mate. Angel had no idea Charles was his son, he left before I could tell him and when I finally get into contact with him it is only by phone I haven't seen him in person in years and this was not something you could spring on the phone. I resolved to tell him after the funeral when we get a chance to talk, I considered not telling him but I couldn't do that to him. Angel deserves to know about his son.

They weren't the only ones from my past to show up, Dean who is a supernatural hunter and my ex-boyfriend showed up with his brother Sam. Those two are more danger magnets than I am so even though I love them and I do, I wonder what shit storm their presence is going to bring to my son's funeral. I shuddered at the thought before seeing who else is there.

Looking through the crowd of well-wishers I smiled when I saw who else showed up. My Uncle Elijah came with Katherine. I smiled and waved to them happy they came. Elijah is like my father even though he is my Uncle and Katherine is my best friend and like a sister to me, so I am happy they are here.

I looked around for Lexi who is like a mother to me but I couldn't find her. Frowning I scanned the crowd again sure I had missed her as I knew she would never miss my son's funeral especially when I need her but again I couldn't find her. I looked at my Uncle and mouthed 'where is Lexi?' I was expecting to see him tell me that she will be hear soon I never expected for him to talk to me in my head using the family mind link that those in our family have curtesy of grandma.

I am sorry Isabella, but Lexi will not be coming.

I stood still in shock for a moment at both the voice in my head and the message said voice gave me. Lexi was not coming? I tried not to think that she was abandoning me as I had thought she might in the past, but with her not being here when I need her here with me the most I couldn't help but think that she just might have.

With a blank face I turned back to the funeral procession just as Reverend Webber asked me to say a few words about my son who the town know as my father. Keeping my face blank and free of emotions I numbly walked up to the podium in front of my son's casket.

Once there I looked at the sea of faces of the people who loved my son. Other than the pack, Cullens, my ex's and their friends many other people showed up. The police department, the waitress and the manager of the diner me and Charles frequented, teachers and kids from school, his girlfriend Sue Clearwater and her children whom are also part of the pack Seth and Leah Clearwater came. My throat became tight as I saw just how loved my son truly was. Clearing my suddenly dry throat I began a speech about my son whom I would have to claim as my father for the benefit of strangers. It never ceases to both upset me and make me feel uncomfortable calling my son dad when all I want to do is call him son in front of others and to call Stefan Dad. I thought ruefully.

"Good Evening," I began hoping the crowd couldn't hear the shakiness in my voice. "My name is Isabella Marie Swan," Salvatore Mikaelson I finished in my head. "I am Charlie Swan's daughter, today I have the misfortune of having to bury the most important person in the world to me. A man who is very loved, by the town," I gave a pointed look towards the crowd and took a deep breath and continued in a rough voice ignoring the wetness I can feel cascading down my cheeks. "His friends and his family," I looked towards the pack and fixed my eyes on my youngest and only son still alive Billy as his body shook with heavy sobs. I longed to comfort him but knew I had to get through this before we can comfort each other.

"Now I know my father wouldn't want us all crying over him and he would probably smack us with a fish and say stop crying already and live will yah your cramping my style!" I say to liven up the crowd and I know my child he would say that word by word after blushing at the attention at his expense of course, if he got anything from me it was that.

As the atmosphere lightened a bit and the crowd laughed as those who truly knew Charles knew he would say exactly that. Smiling a little I continued in somber voice which contradicted with the smiles around me. "Charlie Swan was a good fighter, a protector, a friend, a brother, a father and a husband." As I said the last part I looked at Sue's shocked face which I guess is I couldn't blame her seeing as I never showed her that I approved or even liked her. I was always cold or neutral towards her but that was because she was dating my baby boy and ever since René' I have been a little overprotective of him. Not to mention I was waiting to see how far she was willing to fight for Charles if she can't handle a disapproving and bitchy mother in-law how would she handle having vampire mother in-law.

I knew she knew about the Cold Ones but she doesn't know about my kind of vampire or even that she was about to marry a human borne son of two vampires an original and a demonic vampire. Also she was shocked since I basically lied to the entire audience not in the know since they were never married they were just engaged but in my eyes they were.

"He will be missed. Goodbye Daddy." I finished solemnly, Goodbye My Son.

With a glance back at the casket I pressed a kiss to my palm and pressed it to the coffin where I knew his dead heart would be and muttered one last goodbye and our family motto to my son so he may hear my promise to him on the other side. "Goodbye my little Swan, I will love and miss you. Always and forever." I whispered in Italian and with a nod to Reverend Webber I returned to my seat.

After the service was over we had to wait while they set up a plot for Charles and the wake began. I decided to get a drink and mingle a bit as I headed toward the bar for a glass of Champagne I was intercepted by Angel.

"We need to talk," was all he said and looking into his deep soulful eyes I knew he had figured out who it was he really buried.

With a nod and a sigh of resignation and defeat I followed my ex-husband and the father of my child outside to have our talk hoping against hope that after this I will not have lost a friend as well as a son.