I'm sorry about the long ass wait. School paired with Band makes for a very busy schedule. Still this long wait is silly. So I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. I made it long. It's a peace offering. LOL

Chapter 9: Carlisle's POV

I do not know how long I sat there staring at the picture. I do not remember anything, but that beautiful image of Bella and I under the tree. All I know is that it was nightfall when I heard a knock on my door.

"Go away," I hollered laying the picture down and putting my head in my hands. The knocking persisted. Finally I hollered, "Shut-up up and come in!"

The door opened and the last person I wanted to see walked into my office. Edward.

Edward was my first self-made companion. In effect, there are times Edward and I interact more like brothers then father and son. This was one of those times.

"What do you want?" I growled as I shuffled around my desk. If I could cry I knew my eyes would red and puffy.

"What is the matter?" Edward asked quietly.

"You can read minds," I bit out, "Why don't you tell me."

Edward cocked his eyebrow and said softly, "I've never seen you like this before Carlisle."

"Well now you have," I growled planting my hands in front of me and leaning over my desk, "Now that you have. Do me a favor and get out."

Edward shook his head and said, "You thoughts are whirling too fast. I cannot pin point them."

I sighed and turned away. I had almost thought he was worried about me, "I'll give you what you want Edward." Turning around I glared at Edward and said, "Charlie Swan has seen fit to ban me from Bella's presence."

"I'm sorry Carlisle," Edward whispered. He did seem sorry for me, but I did not believe him, "Yes, but do not think you way to her is free. Apparently she is in love with Jacob Black."

"That dog!" Edward roared, "She would chose one of them over one of us?"

"Yes well she is much safer with him do you not agree?" I snapped. Edward's eyes widened and he looked away, ashamed. I just snorted.

Finally Edward whispered, "She would have been safe with you."

"Yes," I whisper as I sat back down and picked up the picture, "And there in lies the rub."

I did not hear Edward leave, or much of anything else that night.

The next day I continued my life like nothing happened. I went to work. Ignored all of the staring and the rumors. I felt a pain hit my stomach at not remembering to tell Charlie about the rumors, but I quickly stifled it. Such thoughts led to Bella and I could not go there. I would not go there. I spent the day in a haze of the sick and wounded. I ignored my colleges, and hid in my office during my breaks plowing through the paper work. I did my best to keep all thoughts from my Bella, and they worked well for a while, but then my traitorous mind would always slip and I would see Bella's face in my mind. Sometimes photographic memories suck.

Finally the end of my shift came and I all but ran out of the hospital. I threw myself into my seat and sped home. There I stalked to my room and plowed through paper work there. It did not take long before Esme interrupted me.

"Edward told me what happened," Esme said with a sigh as she stood in front of my desk, "Do you want to talk about it?'

"Nope," I replied as I stared at the papers. Lucky for me I could perform two tasks at once.

"You should talk about it Carlisle," Esme said walking over to me and putting her hand on my shoulder, "It will do you some good."

"I'm fine," I lie. Looking at her I said, "I signed the divorce papers. They are on their way to our lawyer as we speak."

Esme nodded and said, "Good, but that's not what I wanted to talk about."

I ignored her and pulled out a few different plans that I had worked on sometime during the day, "Now that we are no longer a married couple, I think we should have separate rooms. Here are a few plans for you to look through. Just tell me which one you want. If none of these work then I can make some…."

"Carlisle stop!" Esme hollered. She threw the plans on my desk and took my hands, "Carlisle look at me."

I knew that I could yank my hands from Esme. I was stronger then her, even she knew that, but she did not know how strong. No one did really. I was old. There was a very good chance that I was one of the oldest living vampires apart from the Volturi. I had to be strong.

I looked at Esme with anguished eyes and said, "I cannot talk about this. Not now."

Esme nodded and stepped away from me. She still looked at me though, sadly. I turned away from her and said, "Leave me."

I heard her leave. I groaned and held my head in my hands. I could not do this. I did not want to function without Bella. I looked at the hand drawn portrait of my family and made my decision. When I first took in Edward I stopped living for myself. I now had someone that needed me. I was content with that. I needed that. Yet as the years pasted I stopped taking the time for myself. This, in part, helped me delude myself into marrying Esme. I stopped doing all of the things that I loved to do. Slowly I stopped being selfish, if only for a few hours. Bella had been my chance to start living. Yet that had been ripped from me. Now I just had my family, and I would live for them. I would function for them. Yes, they were my only reason for living now.

Bella's POV

I woke up the next day with a warm fuzzy feeling inside of me. Despite Jacob and Billy's attitude I was quite happy with my "date" with Carlisle. I rolled over and turned off the alarm and sighed contently. This was the beginning of a wonderful day.

I was wrong.

First my truck would not start. I had to walk all the way to school, and it was really cold. I was late getting to school because of all the walking. The only thing that kept me from turning around was seeing the Cullen's. I really liked them, and I really did need to have a talk with Edward. Yet, when I got to school, they were not there.

It was a cold, rainy day. There was no reason that they shouldn't be here. I suddenly felt a pang in my stomach. I hoped nothing serious had happened. Though I was quite sure Carlisle would call me if there had been. He would need someone to talk to.

Classes were boring and Angela was distant. She seemed sick. Her nose was running and her eyes were itching. She left halfway through the day. By the time school was over I was exhausted from the boredom and the nastiness of the day. It was then that I realized I would have to walk all they way back, and it was raining.

By the time I reach my house I was shivering and sneezing. I stripped in my bathroom and hung my clothes up. Then I buried myself under my covers and tried to do my homework. I was halfway through when I fell asleep.

I heard the front door slam shut and Charlie hollered, "Bella! Get down here!"

I groaned and rolled out of bed. I threw on a hoody over my rumpled pajamas and walked down the stairs. I felt awful. My head throbbed, I was cold, and I kept couching. I stumbled into the kitchen and said, "What is it?"

Charlie frowned when I came into the room and asked, "Are you okay Bella. You look horrible."

I told him, in short sentences, about my day. Charlie sighed, "You probably made your self-sick Bells," He stood up and grabbed the aspirin bottle. He took two out and gave them to me along with a glass of water. He then fished out cough drops and handed them to me. Shaking his head he asked, "Why didn't you call me?"

"I never thought of it," I replied with a groan. I felt extremely foolish. Despite his hate of cell phones, Charlie's was always on.

He shook his head again and asked, "Are you hungry?"

Food made me want to vomit and I shook my head. Charlie nodded and sat across from me. Finally he said, "I think you should know that there are a few rumors going around about you and Dr. Cullen."

"I know," I replied with a sigh, "I suppose Carlisle told you?"

"No actually," Charlie said feeling uncomfortable bringing Carlisle into the conversation, "He never got the chance."

"What do you mean?" I asked. The feeling of wrongness from earlier came back.

Charlie took a deep breath and said, "I know you like him Bella, but he is not the right companion for you." It sounded like he had practiced this speech, "So I told him he was not to come near you."

"What!" I shirked standing up. Which wasn't good since it made me dizzy and I had to sit back down, "Why would you do that?"
"Because you liked him Bella," Charlie replied looking away, "And because he felt the same about you."

"Yeah right," I snapped, "Carlisle Cullen is a good man, but he only thinks of me as a friend."

"Bella believe what you want to believe," Charlie said with a sigh, "But Carlisle is not to come around here."

"He's a good man," I growl.

"Yes he is," Charlie agreed, "But he is too old for you. Beside these rumors were what I was afraid of!"

I stood up again, this time slower, and snarled, "I don't care about rumors and neither should you. Carlisle is going through a hard time right now and I will not abandon him. Do you hear me?" I then marched out of the kitchen and up the stairs. I curled up under the covers and stared at the books he bought me. I refused to cry. This was not good-bye. I would speak to Carlisle again. Somehow. Tears slipped down my cheeks and I feel asleep crying.

Carlisle's POV

The next morning I was brought out of my trance by the phone ringing. I groaned and looked around my office for it. I finally found it hidden under some papers. I looked at it as it rang for a third time and sighed. I laid it back down and ignored it. A minute later the phone rang again. I groaned and answered it, "Hello?"

"Dr. Cullen?" Chief Swan said on the other end. He sounded tired and worried.

"What is it?" I couldn't keep the bitterness out of my voice.

"It's Bella," Instantly I felt something inside of me constrict and I asked in a strangled whisper, "What is it?"

"I don't know," Charlie replied I could hear Bella in the background, "She's really sick and I'm afraid to move her. I know I told you to stay away but…"

"I'm on my way," I hung up the phone and I ran vampire speed to my car. Then I broke every law of the road making my way to Bella's. Upon arriving I saw that Billy Black's truck was in the driveway and I groaned. I was just going to have to deal with the dogs.

A young man greeted me at the door. I supposed that this was Jacob Black. He never said a word to me, just nodded his head as I walked through the door. Billy Black refused to look at me. I rolled my eyes, and I childishly hoped he would notice. He did, and he gave me the most curious look.

"Where is Bella?" I asked looking around.

Charlie led me to Bella's room and I found her lying on her bed, moaning and thrashing about. I ran to her and quickly restrained her. I put my hand to her forehead and found she was burning up. She was moaning something in a low tone. Even I could barely hear her, but I heard her.

"Carlisle," Bella moaned, "no,"

She then leaned into my touch. My hand had felt like heaven to her. Poor thing. I was gripped with a fear. A cold chill that almost caused me to hyperventilate, she was hot, too hot.

I pulled back the covers and found that she was soaked through. She needed to be changed. The covers were soaked as well. Her temperature needed to come down.

Turning to Charlie I said, "Get me something to change her, and then get me some covers and sheets." Turing to Jacob I said, "Go to the store and get ice. A lot of ice."

Jacob nodded and ran out the door. I heard him clomp down the stairs and was afraid that he would fall. I shook my head and turned my attention back to my sweet Bella. Charlie scrambled to get her pajamas and I laid my hand on Bella's forehead. She leaned into my cool touched again and sighed a little, moaning, "My Carlisle."

I felt an electric bolt slam into my very being, into my soul and I quickly pulled away. I could not think of that now. I could not think of how her words affected me. I could not. I would not. Not now. She needed me.

I pulled back her covers and gently started to unbutton her shirt. Then I slid down her pants. I blanked out anything else. I paid no attention. I did not want to, and yet did, but it would not be right. I knew that.

Charlie handed me another sit of pajamas and I quickly put them on her. Again I paid no attention. I was a complete professional. It helped that Charlie was glaring at my back while he was gathering new covers and sheets. I picked Bella up and wrapped her in my arms. She moaned in pleasure and wiggled as close to me as possible. I bit off a groan. Bella had never before been this close to me. I rejoiced in it.

I watched as Charlie switched the sheets and covers and then I gently laid her back down. I wrapped the covers around her tightly. Just at that moment I heard Jacob pull into the drive. I ran down the stairs, a little faster then I should have, and helped him carry in the ice. I knew he was shocked about how much I carried. I knew I should have acted human, but this was Bella. I could not help it.

We piled the ice around her and then I sit down in a chair.

"What do we do now?" Charlie asked.

"We wait," I replied with a sigh, "We wait for the fever to come down." I knew we should have probably given her an aspirin, but it was impossible in her present condition. She was far to deep into sleep.

Charlie nodded and said, "I'm going to talk to Billy." He quickly left. I knew it must hurt to see Bella like this. I glanced at Jacob from the corner of my eye. I felt hostile toward the boy and I wished he would leave. I could not bare have him stare at me.

"What do you want?" My voice came out harsh.

"Carlisle thank…" I interrupted him and spat out, "Do not ever thank me for loving Bella." I did not care if the boy knew or not.

Jacob stood up straight and I stared at the woman on the bed. I was so scared for her. So very scared. If she were to die, there would be no way for me to turn her. I would lose her, and I would go crazy. Though I did not think she would die, but I could not explain that to my heart.

Suddenly I heard a sigh. I looked up and I saw a very defeated Jacob look at me. It was almost like he was giving in. He smiled sadly at me and said, "I so want to hate you. I want to hate you so much for taking Bella away. I felt like she could have really liked me if you had not come, but you did and Bella was gone forever."

I gave him the most particular look and he gave me a lopsided grin, "You don't see it." He shook his head at me and said, "I'll let you figure it out for yourself." Then as an after thought he said, "Bell and I are not together. Never was. Charlie just said that so you'd stay away from her. Though to be truthful that is never going to happen. Charlie should just get over that." Then he was gone, and I was flabbergasted. What did the boy mean?

I shook my head and went back to staring at Bella. Her heartbeat was still wild. I sighed and just sat there. Watching my beloved. I sat there long after the sunset.

Bella's POV

The world was hot. Fire hot. Shapes were spinning all around me. Crazy shapes. Edward was fighting Carlisle. Carlisle was killing Edward, and Jacob was watching…laughing. Charlie was sitting beside him, but he wasn't laughing. Just shaking his head and saying, "Its for the best Bella. All for the best."

I was screaming and screaming and screaming. I could not stop, and then suddenly Carlisle was standing right beside me. Covered in blood, looking sad and lonely. Tears of blood were streaming down his face and he was mumbling over and over, "I don't want to be alone. I can't be alone." I was crying myself and I was holding him, because despite the blood, he was still the most beautiful man on the planet, and I loved him.

Then everything changed. It was suddenly so cold, so very cold. Snow was falling. Everything was white. Carlisle and I were alone. He wrapped his arms around me and I was even colder. I felt my hot body became colder and colder. I was becoming too cold. I was beginning to shut down. I felt myself grow tired and I slumped into Carlisle's embrace. I felt something wet hit my hair and I looked up. Carlisle was bleeding tears of blood again, "I am sorry Bella. I am sorry that I am cold."

Suddenly, everything became connected. Edward stopping the car, the Cullen's grace, and perfect features. The fact that Carlisle's hands were always cold. That he was cold. Everything jumped and turned and spun. I remembered all of those times that Carlisle and Edward walked faster then they should have. I remembered that none of them ever ate, and when they did they had to shove the food down. Now that I thought about it, the Cullen's did not seem remotely human. Carlisle was the most human, but even he was too perfect to be true. They were all too perfect, and way too pale. What were they? Then the answer hit me like a tone of bricks.

They were vampires.

They had to be. That was the only thing I could think of that was perfect and pale. I began to toss and turn. I moaned. They were vampires. Oh my god, they were vampires. All of the horror stories sprang to mind, but when I tried to attach them to Carlisle. It did not work. He was too good, too wonderful, and far too human. He was a good man, and that was fact and truth. He was perfect. I loved him, and I would not damn him. Not until he told his story.

I began to feel calmer. I felt myself drift off. I felt arms wrap around me. It felt wonderful. I knew I was asleep, and I needed to wake up. I began to open my eyes and light hit them. I groaned and turned my head away. I was suddenly made aware of the fact that a hundred pound weight sitting on my chest. I looked around and found that I was surrounded by something white. It took me a moment to realize that it was ice. I tried to sit up, but I could not and then I began to shake. It was so cold.

I was just about to panic when I heard a soft voice whisper, "Hush Bella. I am here."

"Carlisle?" I whispered. I looked up into his pale and perfect face. His brow was creased with worry lines and his mouth was twisted in a frown, but there was a profound look of relief in his eyes. His beautiful blue eyes. It was so hard to think of him as a vampire. It was easier to say that he was an angel.

"Yes my dear," Carlisle said with a smile, "How are you feeling?'

"Cold," I replied my teeth chattering. It tried to smile through the chatter.

He smiled back and said, "Let me take your temperature."

He took it and sighed. Then he smiled and hollered, "Charlie she's awake."

I could hear Charlie and another pair of feet charge up the stairs. I stared as Charlie and Jacob charged into my room.

"We need to take the ice off. She's fine."

They quickly took the ice off and I shakily got out of bed. Carlisle held me up and Jacob gave a class of water. My bed was wet as was my pajamas. I looked down and I saw they were different.

"Who changed me?"

"I did," Carlisle said. I felt myself turn every shade of red and I looked down. Carlisle just said, "Do not worry. I did not look."

I gave him a grateful smile, "I should change."

Carlisle nodded and helped me to the bathroom. Then he left and came back with another sit of pajamas. I slowly changed and left the bathroom. My bed was newly made again, and Carlisle helped me back in it. He gave me a sweet lopsided grin and said, "Do not scare me like that again."

"I won't," Then I did something both wonderful and foolish. I kissed him on the cheek. He closed his eyes, almost as if he were relishing in the touch, and then he pulled away with a little smile, "Go to sleep my Bella."

My heart stopped. He smiled at me once more and turned away. He looked at Charlie, but before he could say anything Charlie said, "Will you stay with her tonight. Just in case she gets sick again."

It hit me. He was relenting. I should have known that we would. It made me feel silly that I had been so mad at him, yet I had been in the right. I am sure that he knew it too.

Carlisle nodded his head and said, "I must call my family first, so they do not worry."

Charlie nodded and Carlisle left to go find the phone. I looked at Charlie and said, "Thank you."

"I hope you do not live to regret it." Charlie said with a sigh.

I looked back on what I had realized while asleep and smiled slightly. I shook my head and I lay back down. Waiting for Carlisle to come and…. what? What would Carlisle do? I smiled slightly. I would find out soon.

Carlisle's POV

I listened as Bella's heart slowly began to slow down to its normal speed. I sighed when I heard her heart slow to where I knew she was asleep, yet she still tossed and turned. She must be having one hell of a dream.

I was beginning to go into a type of wakeful slumber that I usually went into when my mind was unoccupied. I would think of times passed and they would form a sort of dreamscape, when I heard her awaken. I rose and saw her struggle under the weight of the ice. I could not have that.

"Hush Bella. I am here." I whispered. I dared not touch her. I did not want to make her even colder.

"Carlisle?" She whispered. Bella looked so pale and tired, yet so beautiful. I smiled down at her and struggled against myself. I so wanted to kiss those pink lips. I wanted to love her. To show her just how much I was worried about her. Yet I could not. Not now. She was not Jacob's, but she was not mine. It was too soon. She was still sick.

"Yes my dear," I said with a smile, "How are you feeling?' I tried to put her at ease.

"Cold," She replied her teeth chattering yet she tried to smile for me. Her eyes told just how tired she was.

I smiled back and said, "Let me take your temperature."

She nodded and I took it and sighed. Then I smiled and hollered, "Charlie she's awake."

I watched Bella's face, and I felt my heart break. I loved her so much. I had fallen so hard. I turned slightly as Charlie and Jacob entered the room.

"We need to take the ice off. She's fine."

I heard as Jacob and Charlie's hearts almost stopped in relief. It was times like these that really put me in awe of humans. I loved them so very much.

We quickly took the ice off and Bella shakily got out of bed. I held her up yearning to pull her body flush against me. She was still a little hot, and I longed to bring her temperature down. I had no idea what was wrong with me. I usually did not feel these amours feelings so strongly. It must have come from relief and the need to be close to her. I watched as Jacob gave her class of water. Then watched as Bella looked down at herself. I suddenly realized where this was headed and I felt like the worse kind of cad. Though it did help that I felt nothing when I changed her.

"Who changed me?"

"I did," I replied. I felt completely embarrassed, and I was a little sad that I could not show it. I so wished I could sometimes. I saw her embarrassment and I sighed, "Do not worry. I did not look."

She gave me a grateful smile and said, "I should change."

I nodded and helped her to the bathroom. Then I grabbed her some more pajamas and handed them to her. By that time Charlie had started on to the bed. I helped and Jacob went downstairs to get Bella some more water. We had just finished with the bed when Bella stumbled into the room. I helped her to bed and I gave her a grin and said, "Do not scare me like that again."

"I won't," She whispered, and then she did something that I did not expect. She kissed me on the cheek. Her lips were warm and sweet, so different on my skin, yet so wonderful. I felt a type of peace and closed my eyes. Relishing in her touch. Then I pulled away. I could not let Charlie and Jacob see us like that. Yet I could not bare that she think I did not want her lips there. I was suddenly done pretending that I did not love her. I looked into her eyes and whispered, "Go to sleep my Bella."

I heard her heart skip a beat and I smiled. Yes…there it was. What I had wanted to hear. At least that fazed her. I only hoped it was for the best, that she felt for me what I felt for her. I suddenly stood and turned away. I looked at Charlie, but before I could say a word Charlie said, "Will you stay with her tonight. Just in case she gets sick again."

I knew then that we were accepted. I could see the defeat in Charlie's eyes. I promised myself that he would not regret it. Jacob was smiling grimly and I knew that he was both happy and devastated.

I nodded my head and said, "I must call my family first, so they do not worry."

Charlie nodded and I left to go find the phone. I was halfway down the stairs when I heard Bella say, "Thank you." It was the second time I almost stumbled because of Bella Swann. I recovered and focused on walking, elated beyond belief. Billy was sitting in the same place. He was staring at me thoughtfully. Softly I said, "My family and I are not the monsters you make us out to be."

Billy said nothing for a moment then finally, "But most of your kind are."

I smiled sadly and said, "There is evil in all of us. Vampires included." Then I went to find the phone. This night was going to hold something special for Bella and I. I only hopped it was of the good verity.

So what do you guys think? Good, bad, or ugly? LOL So just hit the pretty button!