Authors note:

Hey! I want to apologise to all my readers as I am taking an awful long time with updating my stories. I know it's no excuse but Wimbledon has been on and I've spent most of my time watching that, also I've been having slight writers block. Though I know exactly what's happening in all my stories I seem to have lost confidence in myself in portraying all my ideas. [BN: Can you believe a writer this amazing is losing confidence in herself?? Please help me in convincing her that she is fantastic! The super powers of Raven-Rach unofficial beta extraordinaire aren't strong enough alone!!]

Anyway before I bore you to death I've started a new Twilight story called "Sorry Isn't Strong Enough" check it out if you want :)

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Chapter 6

Bella's POV

"Are you okay?" Charlie asked while staring at the TV.

"Ummm yeah. I'm fine," I mumbled. I was nervous. I couldn't actually understand why I was. I was fidgeting with my sleeves. It wasn't like I had done anything wrong exactly unless you count my little tantrum from earlier.

"Dad, I'm sorry about how I acted earlier," I apologised.

"It's okay, I understand that you're upset. You just found out Edward is a vampire for Gods sake," he replied.

"Wait… You think I just found out he was a vampire?" I said in response. It was still so surreal using the word vampire with Charlie and what was even more surreal was us talking like this, being so open. A burrow developed in-between Charlie's eyebrows accenting his crows feat. His expression became incredulous, he gasped.

"You knew… You always knew?"

"Yes…," I murmured bowing my head as if I was ashamed. Though really, I was far from it.

An awkward silence developed between us filled by the echo of the television.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked breaking the silence.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't. There's these rules. It would have been too dangerous for me to tell you," I explained, a hint of panic in my voice.

"Rules? What do you mean by rules?" he asked quickly.

Suddenly I heard a loud crash come from upstairs. It sounded like smashing glass. I could have sworn I could hear someone curse.

"Stay here," Charlie ordered sternly as he practically leaped from the couch. He walked speedily into the kitchen. Even though he told me to stay put I quickly followed him. I hovered in the door frame as he pulled his gun free from its holster.

"Dad what are you doing?!"

"Shush Bella! Go back into the sitting room."

I groaned and moulded my stance into one that translated that I wasn't moving anywhere.

He began to ascend the stairs, approaching each step cautiously. I walked forward slowly and waited at the bottom step, looking up and absorbing Charlie's every action.

First he quickly glanced at the bathroom before he turned and moved forward to my bedroom. He was surprised to see whatever he saw in my room as his calm expression disappeared.

"You! What are you doing here?! You know you're not welcome!" Charlie spat angrily as he went into my room.

"Sorry Chief Swan. I don't mean any harm and I'll have the window replaced," a familiar male voice replied.

I darted up the stairs as fast as I could without tripping and raced into my room.

"Emmett!" I exclaimed.

"Bella!" he said quickly. He took a step towards me but he stopped in his tracks. Charlie was glaring at him, cautioning him to back off. He still hand his gun in his hand though he wasn't pointing it.

"What are you doing here, and why may I ask did you smash my window?!" I questioned.

"Sorry, but I have something very important to tell you and I couldn't risk being seen. I used your window because Edward said that's how he gets into your room all the time," he replied.

Ugh… Great… He just said that in front of Charlie and he had to do it when he had a gun in his hand… Perfect…

There goes the idea of keeping that particular secret from Charlie -in search of a better term- 'out the window'.

Emmett didn't realise what he had just said until it was too late. He just did something incredibly idiotic but I couldn't stay mad at him. The compulsive side of his personality is one of the reasons why I like him so much. It is sort of endearing in a way.

I looked at Charlie and he was furious enough for the both of us.

"I didn't mean to break your widow but it was locked. I tried to force it open but I was distracted and forgot my strength" He continued. If there was one thing he was right about he did seem distracted. He wasn't himself at all. He was upset. I've seen him angry, I've seen him excited and I've seen him bored but I've never seen him like this.

"I think it would be best if you just left," Charlie demanded as if trying to control his anger.

"I can't. I've something very important to tell Bella," he explained the pain now leaking into his voice.

"Oh my God! This doesn't have anything to do with Edward does it? He's okay isn't he?!" I asked beginning to panic.

"No… No… It's not Edward," Emmett responded glumly. "I think you might want to sit down or something first. Sometimes I forget that your human."

"Wait where's Rosalie and Esme?" I inquired concerned.

"They're still waiting outside, across the way in the forest," he replied glancing involuntarily out the broken window.

"Still waiting? How long have you been out there?" I asked surprised.

"Only a few hours. We thought Edward would like if we kept an eye on you, plus we had to wait for the Blacks to leave before we could talk to you," he answered.

"What have the Blacks got to do with anything?" Charlie questioned. His query wasn't entirely unexpected but I wasn't about to give him all the gory details about werewolves.

"That's not important right now. What is important is that Esme and Rosalie shouldn't be left waiting outside alone. You could have at least used the front door but we have to support each other through this so you're all more than welcome to come in and stay here," I said quickly, changing the subject.

"Oh no they're not!" Charlie snarled.

"Dad, please!" I practically yelled in response, letting some anger surface.

"We thought it might be best if only one of us came to see you as we didn't want to risk any chance of being caught, plus I don't think Rose or Esme feel up to doing much right now," he explained.

"Look, I'll go downstairs and unlock the front door. Go to the others and tell them to come. Use your speed. It's dark. I'm sure no one will see you. We can use the kitchen. It will be better than stuffing everyone into my room," I suggested.

"Maybe you're right. Your room reeks of wolf anyway."

"Emmett…," I scolded.

"I know: none of my business," he sighed and he leaped out my window in one bound. I turned quickly and started to run downstairs. Charlie groaned.

"Bella, don't you even dare think about letting them into this house!" Charlie demanded.

"It's my house too dad!" I retorted. I hated fighting with Charlie but they had something important to tell me and I didn't want to exile them to the forest. They were as much of my family to me as Charlie is. I would have to at least try to explain that to Charlie.

I pounded down the stairs as Charlie stalked after me. I ran to the kitchen door frantically looking for the for the key normally left on top the kitchen counter. I found it and quickly forced the door open. Charlie leaned his back up against the kitchen wall and folded his arms. His expression was unyielding.

Suddenly I was engulfed into a crushing hug. It was Esme and it was as if she was holding on to me for dear life. She was distraught. No doubt tears would have been flowing freely if it were possible. She dry sobbed as she held me.

"Oh Bella," she cried as Rosalie and Emmett entered the kitchen hand in hand. Even Rosalie looked awful- well, for Rosalie.

"What's… going on? What's happened?," I questioned. I looked to Emmett. Rosalie was sobbing into his shoulder.

"Emmett, what is it you had to tell me?" I asked practically demanding. It was as if I was afraid of the answer but I had to know.

"It's… It's… Alice. She's dead."