Chapter Twenty Five

Look down, the ground below is crumbling.
Look up, the stars are all exploding.
It's the last day on Earth,
In my dreams, in my dreams.
It's the end of the world,
And you came back to me,
In my dreams.

~Last Day On Earth by Kate Miller-Heidke~

Edward didn't move. He stayed perfectly still, holding me and then he sighed, his breath ruffling my hair.

"You're afraid for Charlie?" He breathed and I nodded speechlessly. He sighed again and pulled back so that he could see my face. I chewed on my bottom lip as he perused my face.

"I love you… but he's my Dad. I can't let anything happen to him." I said softly. "If he's going to get into danger because of you… then you need to leave."

"He will investigate. Alice is looking now." Edward said quietly, "The Volturi will come."

"And if you go?"

"… He will give up. Consider it not his problem anymore. The Volturi will never know what he witnessed." Edward admitted.

I closed my eyes, tears pricking. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair! I'd waited so long… years waiting for someone to see me, to love me and now they would all have to leave.

Edward would have to leave.

His lips brushed over my eyelids and I clung to him, trying not to start sobbing.

"I don't want you to go." My voice was tight and wrought with anguish and Edward's arms tightened around me as he sat on the edge of the bed, gathering me onto his lap.

"I know."

A few months after.

"See you later, Mark." Charlie said, shrugging on his jacket. The deputy looked up from his desk.

"Cutting out early, Chief?"

"Yeah. I'll be back tomorrow." Charlie said, heading for the door. I walked ahead of him and climbed into the passenger seat. He always cut out early today.

We went to the cemetery and I watched as Charlie walked the damp gravel path to my grave. This was depressing, but he only visited once a year – probably the best thing to do, who needed that kind of misery more often than that?

There were already flowers on the grave. My Mom had sent them through Forks Florist, but I didn't mind that she hadn't come. She was too busy living life, who was I to hold that against her? A smaller bouquet of flowers from Billy and Jake laid beside those, pretty gerbera daisies. I'd have to thank him later, it was a nice thought.

Charlie put down a bunch of lilies and stood for a moment, staring at the gravestone.

"Hi Bella…" He stopped and sighed, "Another year, baby girl."

I stood next to him in silence as he rubbed his hair.

"Thanks for the flowers, Dad." I whispered as he turned to go.

Billy and Jake came over that night. Jake excused himself by saying that he had homework and sat with me in the kitchen while Billy and Charlie watched TV.

"How was he today?" Jake asked and I shrugged.

"Same as always. Still blaming himself." I said, "You've got number eight wrong."

He scowled and scrubbed out the maths problem. I watched as he redid it and fiddled with the eraser.

"How's the pack?"

"You'd know if you visited more often." Jake said, throwing me a sulky glance. I rolled my eyes and flicked his arm.

"I've been busy." I said quietly, glancing at the living room. Jake raised an eyebrow.

"Charlie's a big boy, Bells. You don't have to spend every minute with him. I though the Uber Vamps weren't coming…"

"I know… I just want to keep an eye on him." I said awkwardly – there had been no sign of any vampires since the Cullens had left town three months previously. The pack were out most nights, keeping any eye on the situation but there had been nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

"Well, no more excuses. You're coming to hang out tomorrow, whether you like it or not." Jake said firmly and I laughed, glancing at the clock. It was almost nine thirty and Jake saw my look, his expression turning to one of unhappiness.

"You're really-"

"Yes. Don't, Jake." I said warningly as he piled his books up. He scowled at me and I leaned over, taking his hand, "You'll watch Charlie tonight?"

"… Yes. Of course." He said quietly and I stood, kissing his scorching forehead briefly before going into the living room. Billy was patting Charlie on the back and I got the impression that I'd just missed an emotional conversation.

"You going to be alright?" Billy asked and Charlie nodded gruffly.

"Yeah. I think I'm going to head up to bed. Get that boy of yours home."

"You're welcome at our place any time, Charlie."

Charlie was silent and I stood in the doorway, watching as Billy paused, looking at him.

"Charlie?"

"… I thought I saw her, Billy. That night I got knocked out by those thugs… I could have sworn that she was there, looking after me." He said hoarsely. I felt Jake come and stand beside me, out of sight of our dads, and his hand squeezed mine as he listened.

"Where else would she be, Charlie? She always did take care of you and Renee." Billy smiled weakly and Charlie shook his head, scratching at his moustache.

"I'm fine, Billy. You go on home, I'll give you a call this weekend."

Jake squeezed my hand again before going into the living room and helping Billy towards the door. He caught my eye as he left and I nodded before going upstairs to get changed. I wanted to choose something appropriate for the occasion.

I went with a knee length denim skirt that I'd worn exactly once before and a pretty blue shirt, tying my hair back. I felt a little nervous, however ridiculous that might seem, but I didn't have time to dwell on it. Less than half an hour later, I heard a soft howl. Jake was here. I checked in on Charlie, who was already snoring before slipping downstairs and out the front door. I saw the flick of a russet tail and waved briefly before starting to run. For once the heavens were clear and the full moon was large and low in the sky, pale light illuminating the path to the large white house.

It looked sad and empty, the windows dull and dark. I hesitated at the end of the path before approaching the door, which was slightly ajar.

I smiled.

I knew where to go.

Moving swiftly up the stairs to the third floor, I saw a flickering light and felt my smile widen further. Pushing open the door to Edward's bedroom, I found candles resting on every surface, casting warm golden light over the room. Soft music played in the background, some sweet tune that I didn't recognise.

The figure in the window turned and his smile lit the room far more brightly than the candles. He held out his hand and within a second I'd taken it, wrapping my other arm around him. Edward breathed a soft laugh, the air ruffling my hair.

"Happy Birthday, Bella."

We lay haphazardly on the couch, his arms around my waist and my cheek against his chest.

"The others are OK?"

"They're fine… we're in Alaska at the moment. Emmett is enjoying it – plenty of new animals to hunt." He smiled and I moved to rest my chin on my hands so that I could see his face.

"Rosalie is OK with it?"

"She is now that they've settled. We've started at the local high school."

"Aw, did you miss Forks High?" I teased and he laughed, leaning down to kiss me briefly.

"I did not miss Forks High."

"You didn't?"

"No, you silly, wonderful girl," in an instant I found myself underneath him, his eyes boring into mine, "I missed you."

Two Years After.

"How is Jacob?" Edward asked, his arms wrapped around my waist as we watched the heavy rain falling against the panes.

"Do you really want to know?" I asked cheekily and he chuckled, his hands running up and down my arms, leaving tingling trails in their wake.

"Yes…"

"He's… troubled." I murmured softly, leaning back into his chest, "He split from Sam's pack. Quil, Embry and Leah went with him. They want to keep phasing but Sam wants them to stop so they start aging again."

"It sounds very dramatic." Edward commented and I smiled, turning in his arms and pressing my lips to the corner of his mouth.

"It is. Very unsuitable talk for my birthday."

"Enough talk…" His words were extremely welcome and I closed my eyes as the storm raged on.

We kissed and stroked and loved and it was the perfect birthday.

Five Years After.

"She's driving me insane, Bells."

"Well, you're the one who started sleeping with her." Jake grunted at me and I pulled a face at him, "Look, Leah would kick my ass if she knew that you were bitching about her. And she's going to find out the minute you phase anyway, so just be a man and go apologise. It was probably your fault anyway."

"Thanks for the support, Bella. You're supposed to be on my side!" He poked me in the ribs and I wriggled away with a grin.

"C'mon… I like Leah. And I know you do. But we can argue about this later."

"Ah yes. You've got your one year date."

I stopped and threw him a dirty look. Those subtle and not-so-subtle digs were getting old quickly.

"Don't start on this again." I warned him.

"I'm just saying… he couldn't make more of an effort? Seeing each other once a year doesn't seem like a strong basis for a relationship."

"Says the Alpha wolf who's screwing his Beta because they can't find a better way to channel their anger?" I sniped and dodged his playful swipe, "Besides, you know the deal – it's me that's keeping him away. Can't risk other vamps following him here."

"But what do you do for the rest of the year?" Jake asked, slinging his arm around my shoulder.

"I miss him."

Jacob and I parted ways at the entrance to the road that led to the Cullen House – he to go and make up with Leah (so didn't want to think about that) and me to go and enjoy my birthday.

I had barely run more than a few steps up the road when I found myself scooped up and being carried towards the house at the speed of light.

"Edward!"

I started to laugh at his grin, as he ran us up the path. In a millisecond he had placed me on my feet, cupping my face and kissing me eagerly.

"I couldn't wait." He murmured between kisses and I pulled him closer, tightening my hand in his hair. His warm hands tightened against my hips, pressing our bodies together.

"Put her down, Edward! We all want a hug!" A booming voice parted us and I started, looking at Edward in shock.

"Is that…?"

Without waiting for his answer, I ran through the wall into the living room and found… everyone. For the first time in five years, the Cullens were home.

Emmett barrelled towards me, swiping me up into a hug. Rosalie watched in vague amusement and offered me a ghost of a smile. Jasper was holding Alice, his chin resting on her shoulder and Carlisle and Esme were hand in hand, watching me with warm expressions.

"Hi Ghost Girl."

"Muscles! What are you doing here?" I laughed, looking around at them all. Alice giggled, hopping from one foot to the other as I made my way around, hugging them all.

"We haven't seen you in so long! And since Edward has had you all to himself for a few years, we decided that tonight was our turn. Don't worry, we'll let you have some time to yourselves." She winked and I buried my face in my hands as Edward scowled at her.

Esme tutted, gathering me into her arms.

"Don't tease, Alice. Bella, sweetheart…" She kissed my cheek lovingly, stroking my hair back, "You look well."

"I'm pretty good." I whispered and my smile faded. I buried my face in her shoulder, not wanting to cry all over her but she hushed my weak mumbles, hugging me tightly. I felt Edward step up behind me and joined us in our three way embrace.

"I just missed you guys."

We spent the evening talking and laughing, each person sharing their stories of the last few years. I caught them all up on the latest gossip at Forks High – our class had obviously graduated, but that didn't stop Emmett chortling at the news of Lauren and Tyler's on-again-off-again engagement or Jessica's latest attempts to get Mike to beg her to take him back.

"High school never ends." He snorted.

"Nope." I agreed, feeling Edward's hand brushing against mine where we sat curled up on the sofa, "Angela and Ben got engaged though. I hope they make it, if no one else."

Carlisle smiled at me and I grinned at him.

"How's it going, Doc?"

"Not bad at all, Bella. Life is very quiet without you. How is your father?"

"He's fine. He went fishing for his birthday, just for a change." I rolled my eyes. Charlie had turned fifty three this year.

"Do you think he'll work up to retirement?"

"Given the chance, yeah. They'll have to force him out of the station when he hits sixty." I laughed.

Edward smiled, resting his cheek against my hair. I snuggled back against his chest, catching Alice's smile at our closeness.

"We need to hunt before we set off in a few hours." Carlisle said, getting to his feet. I got to my feet and began to say my goodbyes, trying not to well up again.

"We'll come again in a few years." Carlisle said, embracing me warmly and I smiled.

"It's been so good to see you." I murmured, moving around the group to hug them all. When I reached Rosalie, she surprised me by wrapping her arms around me, lightly and briefly before sinking back to Emmett's side.

Edward and I watched them from the porch and I felt my heart clench as they vanished into the darkness. Edward's arms slipped around my waist, resting his cheek against my hair.

I was only living for these few hours with him. I couldn't waste them.

Twelve Years After

"He's such an ass." Leah growled, swiping her short hair out of her face. We were sat in Jacob's garage while he finished cleaning up after dinner. I grinned, folding my legs underneath me as she paced the garage.

"Yeah… you just working this out?"

"Bella, he's like a big, hairy toddler and I want to punch his stupid, irritating face."

"And that's my cue to leave." I hopped off of the bench and she frowned at me.

"What?"

"When you start talking about how much you want to punch him in the face, you usually end up in compromising positions which I do not want to be a witness to. Besides…"

"Your friend is coming tonight, right?" Leah sneered at the word 'friend' and I rolled my eyes.

"Have fun. Use protection."

"Hilarious. Mock the infertile wolf girl." Leah muttered.

"Those wolves really do smell bad." Edward murmured, his face buried in my neck as we lay on his bed. I smiled, smelling his hair. His usual sweet scent filled my senses, but I knew what he was talking about, the woody, slightly animalistic scent that accompanied the wolves. It didn't smell that bad to me, but my sense of smell wasn't as strong as Edwards.

"Should I go and shower?" I asked teasingly and laughed as his arms tightened around me, preventing me from leaving the bed.

"You're not going anywhere." He growled, lips brushing against my throat.

We didn't talk much on these nights. We touched and kissed and whispered, but we rarely approached the heavy subjects. The other three hundred and sixty four days of the year were for being sullen.

Tonight was just for us.

Twenty Eight Years, Four Months, Nineteen Days After

Beep… beep… beep…

I curled into the chair, my heart heavy and my eyes fixed on the still figure in the bed.

Charlie's breath was shallow, the tube in his nose looking unnatural and making him seem more fragile than I had ever seen him.

Jacob was driving Billy home. They'd come and taken Charlie to the hospital when I'd called.

When I'd found him unconscious in his chair in the living room, the bottle of beer spilled at his side.

My eyes were sore from tears. Jacob's hands had been twitching to comfort me, but Billy had been with us. Instead, I had sat in this chair, watching doctors come and go.

Critical condition.

His heart…

I didn't understand.

I didn't understand. The doctors, they all spoke so quickly, I didn't understand what they were saying.

He was seventy six years old. Not old. Not old at all, there was still years left in him, years of fishing and football games and…

I sighed softly, watching the steady, reassuring, cold beep of the machine, the little light flashing across the screen. Time had slowed down, measured only in beeps, in heartbeats.

A nurse came in, glancing through the chart at the end of the bed. She moved to the machine, jotting down numbers. I watched her, listless, until she paused by Charlie and reached down, squeezing his fingers before disappearing.

That tiny show of affection for a man she barely knew made my eyes sting with tears again. I uncurled from my seat and leaned forward, brushing my fingers against his.

My fingers did not pass through him.

My chest clenched painfully, even though I had already known…

So I took his hand in mine, stroking the calloused fingers, feeling his faint pulse against my skin.

An hour passed. Then another. All measured out in those painful beeps.

His fingers twitched against my palm. I swallowed, my throat dry.

"Charlie… I'm here, Charlie." I whispered.

His eyelids fluttered. The beeps increased briefly. His dark eyes met mine and then closed again, a single weak tear leaking from the corner. I leaned forward, clasping his hand tightly.

"Charlie…"

"…Bells." His voice was hoarse and faint but I gave him a weak smile as he looked at me, faintly confused, "Bella, what are you doing here?"

"Looking after you. I couldn't leave you alone here." I said, as though it was obvious and he frowned, tightening his grip on my hand.

"Bella, I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" He closed his eyes again and I moved to sit on the bed, lifting his hand to my lips and kissing it quickly.

"Charlie, no."

"It was my fault, baby girl. I was chasing him and-" he wheezed and I shushed him again, stroking his hand.

"Charlie, I know what happened. It wasn't your fault." I said and he stared at me. I forced myself to smile, pushing the tears back, "I've been here, all the time. I couldn't leave you."

He was silent, his eyes slipping closed and for a moment, I wondered if he'd fallen asleep. But after a few minutes, he opened his eyes again, watching me. I tried to read his expression, sadness and… what was that? Understanding?

"I saw you before, Bella."

"I know."

"You were there. You told me that it was going to be OK." He whispered and I nodded, bowing my head to hide my tears from him.

"And the Cullens were there."

I opened my eyes sharply to see him looking at me. Neither of us spoke and then he smiled weakly, shifting uncomfortably in the bed.

"They weren't quite right, were they?"

"…No."

"And you're not… here, are you?"

I couldn't stop the tears dripping down my cheek.

"I'm here."

"But you're not." He said softly, "Because you died, Bells. Is that why you're here? Am I dying?"

My chest hurt, my heart clenching painfully and I bowed over on the bed, clutching his hand. Charlie let out a soft sigh.

"You came for me… came to look after me again. You were always looking after me."

We were silent, listening to the beep of the heart monitor. Was it slowing down or was it just my imagination?

Charlie slept. I brushed his hair back from his forehead, I stroked his hand, I hummed tunelessly as the hours ticked by, past ten at night, eleven, midnight, one…

Edward stood beside me.

His hand was on my shoulder, his lips against my forehead.

"Alice saw." He said simply and I nodded, so tired, so numb as Charlie sleeps, "He's not in pain. The medication is working."

I nodded again, not trusting myself to speak.

Two AM.

Three.

"Bella…" The sound that came from my dad was softer than a sigh, so quiet that I barely heard it.

The beeping stopped and a single continuous noise invaded my ears, harsh and unforgiving. Edward moved out of sight, hovering outside the window and I stood beside Charlie, clasping his hand as the nurses rushed in, a doctor following, their voices aggressively loud after the peace of the night.

They used the defibrillator, shouted numbers and statistics to each other.

They called out the time of death and covered his face.

Edward stood beside me as I pulled the cloth away, pressing my lips to his cool forehead.

The others were waiting. My family were waiting to help me.

I put my arms around Edward's neck, letting him lift me and cradle me.

"Take me home." I whispered, as the tears began to fall again.

A/N: Writing this chapter was effing hard. I had the ending planned out when I started writing, over a year and a half ago. Charlie was always going to die and that was one of the reasons I had to stop writing, because I knew I couldn't handle it. Hell, I couldn't handle it now, so this chapter is not as polished as I wanted it to be, but I can't go over it anymore. I hope you understand.

Last Day on Earth – Please go listen to this on youtube. I wanted to post the whole song at the beginning, it's absolutely perfect for how Bella is feeling in this chapter – her last tie to the world has been severed and Edward has come back for her.

There will be one last chapter/epilogue to come.

Reviewers will get their chosen Cullen/Werewolf and an empty movie theatre. Do what you will – it would be amazing if we could get to 1000 reviews by the end of this story!

Love

Katie