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

This is another short chapter—I was writing more but it just didn't work. This is the funeral day. Poor Bella. As always please read and review they are much appreciated. I am doing double duty today. Ornaments and typing so hopefully I can get a lot done today. I will probably have one chapter up a night starting Monday night. That is if my son co-operates and sleeps for me.

Here is the last little bit from the previous chapter.

"I…. I don't know if I could have kept it together the last few days without you Edward. I know I was mad at you but I am so very glad you were here to take care of Charlie with Carlisle. If I had done this on my own I would be much worse." She paused looking up at me. "If you weren't here I would not have made it in time."

I pulled her closer to me. She laid her head on my shoulder and remained quiet for some time. Both of us were lost in thought. If it wasn't for Bella's heart beat I would have thought both of us had dead hearts. I didn't dare move any where. I wanted to console her and make the tears stop flowing. I knew I never could do that. This was something she needed to do for her father.

I heard Bella's heart beat slow again and I looked down. She was sleeping again on my shoulder. I gently put her on the pillow and remained where I was. I was going to be her statue, her rock. I was going to be her love.

~munchkin1978



Why?

Chapter 17

Bella hadn't heard from her mother since the day I gave her the keys really so when I saw the number come up on the phone I knew Bella was going to be upset. She was still sleeping and she stirred when her phone rang. She sat straight up and didn't answer it. Her emotions were blank and unmoving. It was almost as if she were dead with the exception of her heart beating. This was not like her. She usually had some kind of emotion in the morning. My memory of her realizing that I had stayed that first night echoing in my head.

"I can't do this Edward." She said bringing me out of my past memory of her.

"Yes you can Bella. I know you can." I told her taking her hands in my own.

She moved off the bed moments later and turned off her phone. She didn't want to talk to anybody else. She set the phone down and headed to the shower. I didn't follow her. She needed this time to think, to ponder her life with her father. I highly doubted she would talk too much to anyone today. Phone or in person.

I finally moved myself off the bed and headed to my closet. I took out the black crisp shirt that I had. I ran my hand over it and thought of how many times I had watched people die and perish before me. I didn't want that to happen to Bella. I wanted her by my side. I wanted her always. I would not leave her.

I smelt Bella later when she entered the closet. Her face was tear stained and she was dressed in a towel. Her chocolate brown eyes were sad and far away. She was still thinking. I wish I could see what was thinking. I was spoiled with the vision. I don't think I would worry so much if I could.

The tears came again as she wrapped her arms around me. "What is the matter?" I asked. I knew the answer but I asked it to distract her she needed to get it out.

Her sob escaped and I knew she was upset about Charlie and the funeral. I kissed the top of her head and moved her wet hair from her face. I made her look at me. She tried to look away as the tears continued to come. I let her be. I didn't want to push her away in her time of need.

"Bella let me look after you today." I asked her as I held her.

She nodded like she understood me. I couldn't leave her like this so I called Alice from my closet. She came and helped Bella into her dress clothes and took care of her while I watched in the wings. I dressed myself and waited till Bella was done before we moved down the stairs. The rest of the family was ready and Alice came down afterwards. Everyone was dressed in black. Even Emmett was behaving like a gentleman. He wasn't ribbing and that was not like him. He had not seen as many deaths as Carlisle, Jasper and I had.

Carlisle got into his Mercedes and we went and sat in the back. He knew I wouldn't be driving today. Today I was looking out for Bella. I didn't have to say anything to him he knew my thoughts as I always knew his.

'Is she alright Edward?' Esme asked her thoughts echoing in my head

I nodded no. Bella needed to get through today. Then start living her life again. Remembering her father in the positive ways she had seen him in the past.

'I took the liberty of having food brought to the house for Bella and her family.' She told me as our silent conversation continued. 'You take care of Bella today leave the rest to us.'

I sent a silent thank you and that was enough. As we arrived to the service I smelt them. They were here already. I couldn't see them yet but we could smell them. Bella felt me stiffen and she questioned me with out saying a word.

"They are here." I said to her as she settled back in her seat a moment later. Her face was wet with tears but they had stopped. She wasn't wearing makeup today. She had refused from Alice no doubt. She didn't need any. She was beautiful even with tear stained cheeks. She was beautiful to Charlie the way she was and she was beautiful to me the way she was.

Carlisle stepped out of the vehicle first. I stayed with Bella inside as I listened. People were here already. It was not just the wolves. I stepped from the car helping Bella when I heard the growl. It even made Bella jump and turn around to see Jacob standing behind us.

"Don't Jacob. She is already upset." I warned him.

"Shut up leach. You don't run the way I do things." He growled back.

"Today you will. You are on our turf today. Behave or we will rip you to shreds." I would have no problem in that department.

He scoffed and growled again. Bella just glared at him and his face softened. He saw how upset she was and that today was going to be a rough day for her. I was surprised he was backing down quietly and by himself with out an interjection from Sam.

I held Bella close as the thoughts of the dog rang out in my head. I ignored him and led Bella through the pathway. As soon as her family saw her they came to her taking her from me. She didn't budge though. She stood her ground till she saw her mother. Her mother hugged her and the tears started to flow again. I took the chance I had to talk with Carlisle and Emmett who was behind us now and Jasper joined us.

"The dogs are restless. They don't like this." I said quietly. I didn't want anyone sitting beside us to hear.

"We can see that. I don't think anything will happen. Alice has lost all her visions. She is walking blind at the moment." Carlisle said.

Wait… If Alice lost her sight into the future and the vision ended fuzzy that meant that the dogs had to do with it.

"Alice can't see the dogs?"

"It seems so." Carlisle said.

Bella was coming back towards me with her mother. Phil had shown up and was now sitting with Renee. I heard Phil offer his condolences to Bella and she accepted them. Bella was stopped by the priest and he spoke with her for a few minutes before he headed to the casket.

I watched as he blessed it atop where the American flag was draped over the casket. He then placed a cross with holy water on it before standing before everyone. He waited till everyone was seated under the white tents as it was now starting to rain again. Bella sat beside me with the tears evident on her lids. She was trying to hold them in. I kissed the side of her head as I watched the dogs sitting under the other white tent. They were smug watching my family and I with Bella's family.

The priest started and I continued to watch them. I was watching for any sudden movement. I didn't trust them. Even with Alice's vision yesterday. I still didn't trust Jacob as well. I listened to their thoughts. Sam was the only diplomatic one. He was hoping everyone behaved. Jacob was angry. Angry I was with Bella and not him. Angry that he didn't get to help. I watched him the most. His abrupt movements, his anger seeping through his pores as he glared at me, and I him.

I turned my head slightly and I heard the growl. I knew the rest of the Cullen's heard it too but they didn't react. Bella was crying already. She had done well up to now. I turned my head back and watched them some more. Each ones thoughts were along the same lines but still Jacob's was the worst. It was my turn to growl when he was thinking of Bella in a very un-appropriate way for the occasion. Bella stirred beside me. She took my hand and held it proving to Jacob I was the one she wanted here. Now it was my turn to be smug. I knew she had heard me growl but she didn't acknowledge it. Yet.

Half an hour later the priest was watching the flag be folded up and handed to Bella. She accepted it through her tears and quietly sat back down as the priest continued. The gun salute sounded off as Charlie's body was lowered into the ground. The priest was committing Charlie's body to the ground and I could feel Bella pulling to get up. Bella was straining to get up and go. I held her in place as more growls erupted from the pack. She finally curled into my side letting me hold her safely to my side. Her tears were staining my suit jacket but I didn't care. I heard each tear drop on it with a thud so loud I was sure everyone would hear them. The salty liquid soaked through moments after they had fallen. Her emotions changed in a split second and she wanted to go again as the flowers were lowered into the ground with Charlie. I finally let Bella go as soon as the casket came to a halt at the bottom. She had taken the few flowers Alice had got and dropped them down. Watching as each one cascaded off the casket.

She stood peering over the edge as others in her family came to drop their flowers. When she didn't come back was when I moved from my seat. Bella wasn't stable at the moment and Jasper proved that to me.

'She is emotionally a wreck Edward. I wouldn't leave her too long'

I nodded and went to get her. I put my arms around her and pulled her back from the edge as the final dirt was thrown in. Each grain of dirt made the finality all that much more up front. I led Bella finally back to the chairs and the final prayer said. The final gun salute signaling the completion.

People were leaving as the last gun went off. Then rain turning to a pour. The heavens didn't want to co-operate today. I rose from my chair and surveyed the remaining people. Bella didn't rise right away but finally she did and clutched to my side. Carlisle and the rest of the Cullen's had headed back to the cars letting us be for a moment.

"Come my love, I'll get the umbrella for you."

I lifted the umbrella up that was left for us. She didn't budge at first as I took my first step away. She wanted to stay with her father. I looked back and she followed my lead. It was already a rough day for her I was not going to push her to leave. I put the umbrella over both of us as we left the white tent. She looked behind moments later as we reached the path. Her final glance back was riddled with tears. We reached the car and I placed her inside so she would not get wet. I took the umbrella down and got in myself and closed the door, signaling that we could go.

As we drove away I watched Charlie's grave the dogs stood over it watching us as we left. Sam's thoughts and words echoed in my head.

'Cold one she will be alright. She is well looked after by you. Let us look after Charlie now. We will protect his body.'

Sam was taking over, putting aside his anger and hatred for us. I turned away back to Bella and held her close. I would be watching over her always. I wouldn't leave her side.


Well what did you think?

Charlie's funeral. I wanted to write so much more into this chapter but it was all so similar. Hopefully what remains is good enough to represent what I was writing. The song for this chapter is Anthem of the Angels by Breaking Benjamin. I think it kind of fit. There is a lot more in this story.

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

~munchkin1978~