All characters are Stephenie Meyers. I don't own them I wish I did ;o)

Got my orders done today. So here is a treat. The next chapter is here. Sorry don't have much of an opening. I had the fluff in the last chapter. The next two are probably going to be not so much like the last.

Here is the last little bit from the previous chapter.

I pulled Bella close and she sighed. I looked down at her and gave her a crooked smile. She smiled back and snuggled into my side. I grabbed her shirt and she slipped it on having no issue of changing in front of me now. I couldn't help but stare. She was beautiful. She was my angel, my godsend to this damned vampire life.

She got up moments later wrapping the blanket around her and picking up her clothing that was strewn across the floor. She headed to the bathroom and cleaned up and came out dressed moments later.

It finally dawned on me what had just happened. I knew it was one of the girls that placed the idea in Bella's head. It was probably Alice. I smiled as she knew me all to well. She was probably having a vision as my thoughts rang out. I'd get her back some day but I would have to thank her too.

~munchkin1978



Why?

Chapter 15

Bella was dreading going to the house by herself. She didn't want to see the finality of the house as hers. Renee was however willing to go to the house and clean up before Friday. I gave her the keys that Bella had on my way to sign some paper work at the hospital. I knew what I had to do next and I was happy to do it. I made sure everything was in order before I left. I had stolen away while Bella had slept and typed my resignation letter from the hospital. I was not needed any longer and I was with Bella. I really couldn't be seen with her and still work at the hospital. I had left Bella with Alice and Esme. Esme had of course ordered dozens upon dozens more floral arrangements for the funeral from the Cullen family. Bella just didn't know it yet.

When I finally returned from the hospital Bella was on the phone again. Friends and family had been calling off and on all day for her. She talked to every single one and had a cry with them. I watched her cry then compose herself only to cry again with the next phone call. I wished I could take her pain away but it would disappear with time and I knew that time heals all wounds. I had convinced her to turn her phone off for awhile and eat. She hadn't been eating a lot since Charlie died. That was not good for her strength. As a doctor I was worried, as a partner I was extremely worried. Carlisle had noticed it as well and sat down with her and talked. She agreed to do better for her health.

Thursday had come and the evening was here as quickly as the week had gone. Alice helped Bella dress in the black pant suit she picked out for her. She looked exquisite but sad.

"You look lovely." I said quietly. "I'm sorry today had come."

"Don't be sorry Edward. You can't stop time. It will move forward. I have resigned to the fact that Charlie is gone. Never coming back. I am going to put on a brave face today and try to hold it together for myself and the others around me."

"You don't have to do that Bella. Your family knows." I knew she was going to do it for me. She was trying to placate me.

"Right now I do. She breathed out the air in her lungs and continued. "You have been there for me the last few days when I thought things were falling apart and never going to get better."

She confirmed it that she was holding it together for me. "I will always be there for you Bella. Now and forever." I always would be my love. I would always be were she was.

She looked at me. I knew I'd hit a sore spot with that last comment. I had left her and now I am back never to leave her again. She stepped down the last step and starred me in the eyes.

"What if I wanted forever to happen right now Edward?"

Forever…. I'd have to change her. I wanted to have forever with her. I didn't want to change her. I wanted her healthy and happy. I wanted to grow old with her.

"I'd have to change you." I said quietly.

"Would you?"

I knew what she was asking and why she had asked it. We were at an impasse the last time we spoke about this.

"Bella I can't."

"Don't you dare Edward say that it is because of the treaty."

"Bella that is part of it." I said watching her look at her hands. "The other part is I couldn't do that to you. I can't take your life away. I won't damn you to this life."

"Edward I wanted a life with you. I still do want a life with you. I want to be with you forever."

"I know Bella. I want that too."

"Then it is decision made, is it not?" She walked past me to the front door and turned around to look at me. Her face emotionless. "Are you coming?"

I followed her holding my suit jacket in hand and caught up to her as we reached the Volvo. I opened the door and she stepped in with such grace. I was in awe that she had changed so much. She was wearing heels; my clumsy Bella was wearing heels. She had not fallen down, nor hurt herself once. I got into the car and we drove off. The rest of the Cullen family following behind in their cars. We were all going to be there for her and for Charlie.

We arrived minutes later. Renee had arrived before us and said her private goodbyes already. She was waiting for us in the lobby of the funeral home. Bella stood up from the car and straightened herself. She went directly to her and hugged her. Carlisle and Esme joined beside me and we followed. The others falling in step behind us. I listened to the people that were arriving. Family and friends getting out of their cars. Then I smelt them.

The wolves.

I heard their minds as each one approached. You couldn't miss their thoughts yelling back and forth at each other.

"The pack is here." I told Carlisle. I knew the others smelt them but now they were on guard. Alice and Jasper took one section of the room and Emmett and Rosalie took another. I stayed with Bella. Carlisle and Esme took the front. We would protect Bella at all costs. We wouldn't let anything happen today, nor tomorrow. I slipped my jacket on and prepared to meet others in Bella's family. I didn't want to come off as being freezing cold to everyone so I had to keep a heat pack close by if people started to question. They were here to see Bella anyhow and make sure she was holding up okay.

When the wolves entered the funeral home they were greeted by Carlisle who told them no trouble. They blew past him and entered as Bella looked up. All of them were dressed in simple white shirts and dress pants. They were not the dogs they ran around as. I stiffened as Jacob's thoughts echoed in my head.

'Stay away from her leach. She is grieving. She needs to heal with family. Not cold dead people'

In response to his thought the venom pooled in my mouth. He was dangerously close to having his life hang in the balance.

'Don't worry your dead head about anything. We will not disrupt Charlie's funeral. We've been told.'

I nodded swallowing the venom. I accepted what he had said. I didn't believe him in the least but I wasn't going to ruin the wake for Bella either. I stood as close to Bella as I could without her noticing. I'm sure she did but she didn't say anything.

When it finally came time to say goodbye Bella stood in front of the closed casket. She gasped in her air and let out her cries. She had held together for three hours without a tear falling or a sob breaking through. She had held up well considering her mother was a wreck. I let Bella stand on her own and then I joined her. Alice took her other side and Jasper waited outside. His emotion detector was out of sorts now. He had to re-group or he would need to hunt again. He was concentrating on keeping people calm, especially the wolves.

Alice and I helped Bella to the car. The wolves were waiting in the woods till we left. They were going to stay till they knew everything was fine. Jacob was still seething that I was with Bella and comforting her. He kept thinking it should have been him that was with her. I couldn't help but smirk and gloat by draping my arms across her, letting her head fall on my shoulder. It only made him madder.

Bella took her shoes off in the car and lay back against the seat.

"Bella, love, how are you doing?"

"Emotionally? I am drained."

"You have a great family. Very kind to look out for you." I was making small talk to distract her a little bit.

"I do. I wish it wasn't a funeral I had to see them at though." Her tears had stopped and she was closing her eyes.

"Sleep, I'll get you into the house when we get home."

"Thanks."

I don't think she actually really did fall asleep. She was awake when we reached the house. I helped her out of the car, but she tried to put her shoes back on. I took her shoes and carried her into the house. I set her down on the floor and her feet suctioned to the floor. The others were not home yet. They were securing the parameters around the funeral home. Just as the dogs were doing. Bella dropped her shoes and went and sat on the couch to rest for a while.

"Are you hungry?"

"A little bit actually."

"What would you like?"

"Just a sandwich please."

"I'll be right back my love."

I didn't mind making her food. It was for Bella. I wasn't eating it. But I did make her things I had tested out on the others. I made her a grilled cheese sandwich and came back with the sandwich on the plate and some soda for her sugar intake.

"Thank you Edward."

"Anything for you love."

She ate in silence which worried me a little bit. She had been quiet since we had another impasse earlier. She was never this quiet. There was always something she was doing. I couldn't chalk this up to the funeral. Something else was going on.

"Bella, love, are you okay?"

"Just thinking about the future." She told me in a quiet voice.

"What about the future?" I prompted.

"About me." She replied.

"What about you?" Now I was curious.

"Lots of things Edward. Nothing in particular."

I let it drop. I would ask again another time. I didn't want to push her. Maybe she would be willing to tell me. I hoped that she trusted me enough to do that.

Bella finished eating and put the plate down. She got up and we went hand in hand upstairs.

"Don't worry Edward. I just have to figure out what I am doing."


Well what did you think?

I should have had this out earlier but my son is still sick. He just keeps getting cold after cold. Thank god it is not the H1N1. The funeral is coming. What do you think will happen? Will Jacob and the pack behave?

Please read and review. Let me know what you think!

~munchkin1978~