Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight; it is the property of Stephenie Meyer. The original characters and plot are mine. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Thanks to biddy429 for beta-ing!

Chapter 2 - Explanations

The next morning I woke early after a very restless and painful night, I got out of bed, with some discomfort; I showered carefully taking my time and dressed in comfortable clothes. I was still too stressed to think about breakfast so sat just staring out of the hotel window, not thinking of anything in particular. I did not seem to have the ability to focus on anything; I was in way too much pain to think of anything else.

As I sat there looking down at the street below and at the people walking about, familiar faces floated through my mind and in turn each pain brought a new wave of pain both mentally and physically. The worse of all was my father and I winced at the pain that his image caused me. I needed to start a new life and make myself a promise to try and forget about all of this and hopefully put it behind me. I may never be able to forgive but somewhere I should be able to forget at least. I needed to try and live again as it was the only way I could survive so the answer would be to bury the past and live for the future.

After a while I lay on the bed and some hours later I began watching mindless TV. I did not like being alone, even in a building full of people I felt so alone that it would not surprise me if I was the only person alive on planet earth at this given time. The sounds of the TV show washed over me but I didn't hear the words merely the sound of the voices as I drifted.

KNOCK KNOCK

I virtually jumped out of my skin at the sound of the knock on the door; I stared at the door afraid of who might be on the other side. Slowly I moved to the door and tried to be absolutely silent, there was no voice to follow the knock so I had no idea if it was Uncle Charlie or someone else. I wouldn't let anyone but Charlie in and I certainly was not about to ask who it was!

"Bella?" a strong voice called through the door, "Bells can you open the door?" as soon as I heard his voice utter my name I virtually ran to the door and pulled it open. Charlie stood there looking at me as if he had never seen me before; it has been over three years since we saw one another. There was no welcoming smile from him, he just nodded to me and I held the door open wider to allow him to enter the room.

"Hi Charlie" I said my voice barely a whisper and not carrying very far. He slowly walked into the room and looked at me, really looked at me. I blushed and shut the door and locking it before moving away. This action was not lost on him and his frown deepened and I blushed even more.

"What did he do to you Bella?" he asked as he pulled me into his arms and I stiffened trying to keep myself from crying again. This only made him hold me tighter and before I knew it the tears came. He held me secure for a while until the teats subsided slightly then moved us over to sit on the bed, his hand rubbing circling motions on my back the entire time. My uncle cradled me to his chest in a very protective and caring manner. He let me cry until I had nothing left and finally I looked up at him my eyes red and swollen.

"I'm sorry." I apologised looking down and my hands.

"What are you apologising for Bella?" I was saying sorry for crying and wrecking his shirt, Charlie looked at me and placed one finger under my chin, raising my face so that I was looking at him. "Bella, no apologies are needed, I don't need any! What did he do Bella? This is worse than I thought and from the look of you there is something you have not told me isn't there?" He said and I nodded in agreement.

"Em, I don't know how it happened, he was a mess after mom but he pulled himself together at first for us... but then he didn't even try at it later..... he was gone a lot and then when he was there he was always drunk and always so angry. He always apologised the next morning but now he's never sober, ever." I answered my voice wavering the entire time as I tried to explain my father's actions. I wanted to defend him but I couldn't anymore, he just scared me now.

"He hits you?" Charlie said, appalled and I nodded moving to show him the bruises and his expression darkened even more. I stared at him and he looked up at me and hugged me fiercely to his chest. "I will sort this out, I promise you and thank you for telling me Bells" He said and I clung to him just as fiercely. He was going to save me and hopefully this nightmare was going to end.

****

The plane journey to Forks..........

I looked out the window as the plane began its decent and thought about how my life had changed in the last month and a half. Charlie had forced Phil to admit what he had done and he is going to be charged with assault. He is pleading guilty and had agreed to pay recompense to me as ruled by the Courts. Oh, yeah you can beat your daughter up and get a fine to pay but only if you were once a star base ball player, you even get the opportunity to settle out of court and keep it from the press, yeah that's how to do it. Nevertheless, its $700,000 or thereabouts. I still wasn't pleased about the turn of events even if I know that it was the alcohol and his pain that brought out the violence in him, he had hurt me and caused me unnecessary pain and for that I can't forgive him.

Charlie had recommended that Phil check into rehab for at least 3 months and Charlie went with him to the clinic to ensure that he kept his word. So at least for now, I was safe!

I am on my way with Charlie to his home in Forks, Washington where he is the Chief of Police. Charlie asked the Court if he could be my legal guardian until my 18th birthday which was coming up soon, the Judge asked me if that was what I wanted so I agreed. I was so pleased that I was given the opportunity to say what I wanted and expressed my delight in telling both the Judge and Charlie that I would love to live in Forks with him.

When I was little I used to visit my Uncle Charlie for the summer, then after a while and as I got older it turned into "when my dad wanted to get rid of me for a few weeks." It all stopped around four years ago and I only got to see Charlie very briefly or not at all. I knew that things had just gotten more complicated but I missed seeing my uncle who could always make me smile. When the overhead lights flashed to indicate that we could remove our seatbelts, I looked over at Charlie and he nodded and then until everyone else got off the plane. The night I had phoned Charlie, Phil had broken a couple of my rib so I was still in pain and trying to cope with it and getting jostled by other passengers would just suck.

"Come on kiddo." Charlie said as he stood and made his way down the aisle, I followed behind trying to move steadily in a way that I hoped would not cause me as much pain, which seemed impossible. Luckily I managed to get off the plane without causing further pain to myself.

"Hey I can carry a bag you know, I'm not an invalid" I offered and Charlie smirked but kept the three bags tightly in his grasp, he did however slow down so that he could walk beside me. "Just an offer" I said and he chuckled.

"Bella if it wouldn't cause you more pain I would let you carry a bag" he said and I nodded trying not to laugh, but it hurt just doing that even! We walked through security with Charlie carrying our bags and headed out to his cruiser which had been parked in the car park.

"I made an appointment for you at the hospital here for tomorrow." He said putting the bags in the boot of the cruiser and I sighed. Doctors are okay but sometimes I swear they just like poking you and asking if they are causing you any pain and all that after you tell them it hurts!

"Sounds horrible" I said and Charlie laughed and I smiled with him. It was a comment I had always made about doctors and hospitals but I still found it amusing. The drive was long and I was sore and cranky by the time we reached the house. I love my uncles' house because it's a simple two story house on the edge of a trail that leads into the forest. The trees here are amazing everything is so green that it's almost alien, but it is precisely what I want, to be as far from Jacksonville as possible and anything that reminded me even remotely of it!

"I figured we could go shopping for a car after the hospital" Charlie said conversationally and I nodded, I would spend money on anything right now just because I hated that it was Phils'. Charlie just glared at me when I reached for one of the lighter bags from the car but I stuck my tongue out at him, he just laughed so I wasn't in trouble "Don't hurt yourself Bells" he said opening the front door.

"Charlie, if I don't hurt myself there's nothing for the doctor to do tomorrow." I said whinnying while grinning; Charlie just shook his head knowing I was just trying to bug him. I like to be random, it's been my habit for far too long and I didn't really want to change. Charlie knew me so well anyway and I think he was quite glad that a part of the old me was still there making him smile!

We had reached my bedroom by now and Charlie stopped just inside the doorway and said, "I didn't have the chance to update your room for you so we'll have to do that tomorrow. Seems like there's lots to do tomorrow so maybe you should eat dinner and call it a night then Bells?" he asked and I nodded, I back down to order something for dinner. I have a feeling if I don't cook this will be a nightly thing.