Because yesterday was Reader Appreciation Day and I'm so grateful for you all, I am posting a couple of days early this week. :)

Disclaimer: SM owns Twilight.

Chapter 8: Lost in the Translation

The next morning, Bella was awoken by the sound of rain pattering against the tin of Charlie's quaint home. The sky was dark and grey, a misty haze settling over everything. The dreary atmosphere was a perfect match for Bella's mood and a welcome change from the sunny beaches of Florida. The sun was still low in the sky, hinting at the early morning, but Bella could already hear the sounds of people moving about downstairs.

Having spent most of the previous day in the congested atmosphere of an airplane, Bella felt grimy. Since the revelation of her pregnancy, she'd taken a fairly lackadaisical approach to her personal hygiene, wallowing in bed for days and foregoing showers. She was determined, however, to make a fresh start here in her new surroundings. Gathering her toiletries and some clothes, she headed for the shared bathroom in the hallway.

Opening her bedroom door, her senses were immediately assaulted by the smell of bacon frying. A smell that once made her mouth water in the early morning hours was now too much for her queasy stomach to handle. She clasped her hand quickly over her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut, hoping that the nausea would abate for just a moment.

"Bella, sweetie, are you okay?" she heard Sue ask. Slowly opening her eyes, she saw Sue moving down the hall towards her, gently reaching out to touch her forehead and cheeks. "You're not running a fever, but you feel a little clammy." Bella felt her stomach lurch and churn once again as Sue continued to stare, eyeing her with a quizzical look.

Unable to hold it in any longer, Bella bolted for the bathroom without a word, littering the hallway with her clothing. She reached the toilet just in time, expelling what little amount of food was in her stomach. The dry heaves continued for several moments, causing her insides to clench painfully.

Exhaling a soft sigh, Bella cradled her head in the crook of her arm, still resting on the bathroom floor. She was startled when she felt a cool cloth be placed upon the back of her neck, a soft hand rubbing her back in comfort and reassurance. She was even more surprised when she glanced beside her to see Sue kneeling on the floor, love and concern shining in her dark eyes.

"Are you okay?"

"Y-Yes," Bella stuttered. "I think I'll be okay after I shower."

Sue gave her one more gentle pat on the back before rising and exiting the tiny bathroom. Bella stood slowly, hoping that her early morning sickness had passed. She turned to move back into the hall, to gather the clothes she had dropped in her hasty retreat. She was shocked, however, to see them all neatly folded and placed by the sink, her toiletry bag resting atop them. For the first time in a long time, she smiled a genuine smile, wondering if this was the sort of motherly affection she'd been missing her whole life.

~ O ~

After staying in the shower until the water ran cold, Bella dressed and headed down the stairs. She could hear the quiet shuffle of plates and the low murmur of voices coming from the kitchen. Sue and Charlie were sitting at the table, eating breakfast and sharing the local newspaper. Bella sat down in an unoccupied chair, once again overwhelmed by the kindness that had been displayed since her arrival. Sitting in front of her were two slices of dry toast and a small glass of orange juice.

"Morning, Bella," Charlie said without even looking up from the sports section. Bella mumbled a reply, continuing to nibble on her toast. Charlie cleared his throat as he folded up the newspaper, giving Bella a stern look.

She stopped eating, choosing to bite her lip instead. Of course, she should have known this was all too good to be true. Charlie and Sue had been so kind to her since her arrival, but she felt like the other shoe was about to drop. Were they going to try to make her get rid of her baby, too? Or force her to give it away?

Bella looked back and forth between Charlie and Sue in a panic, trying to figure out exactly where this conversation was going. Sue looked slightly concerned, but Charlie's face was a blank mask. Bella wondered if this was the same face he used when interrogating crooks and criminals. A knot formed in her stomach as she waited with bated breath for what was to come.

"We both know why Renee sent you here, though she wasn't sure on all the details about what you'd gotten yourself into down there in Jacksonville. I guess the specifics don't really matter. What matters is that you're here now and you've got a chance to get your life back on track.

"Based on what Renee told me, I just can't trust you, Bella. Therefore, your privileges here are going to be very limited, at least until you can earn some of my trust back. The drinking, the drugs, the parties—none of that stuff will be tolerated here."

Bella nearly gasped out loud. Drinking? Drugs? Her head spun in confusion. She'd been around James' friends a few times when they were smoking pot, but she would never touch that stuff. And the only time she'd ever had any alcohol was on her birthday. Why would Charlie think she was on drugs?

Renee.

Of course.

"But, I—" Bella started, but Charlie cut her off.

"No buts, just listen. These rules aren't negotiable right now, but if I see a positive change in you, we can revisit this discussion at a later time. Sue or I will drive you to school and pick you up each day. You may attend school-sponsored activities, but they need to be approved by me first. You can also have friends over, but only if Sue or I are here to supervise the visit.

"I've also spoken to the administration at the high school. I didn't give them the details of your situation, just let them know that you'd had some difficulties recently. They've agreed to give you a bit of time to get yourself acclimated to your new living arrangement. You won't be expected in classes until after the Thanksgiving holiday."

Charlie once again gave her a pointed stare, obviously waiting for some kind of argument, but there was none to give. Bella was so confused. If they thought she was on drugs, Sue probably thought her vomiting was a sign of withdrawal. That meant that neither one of them knew the truth—that she was pregnant.

How was she going to tell them? Would they still want her there if they knew the truth? James had abandoned her and she couldn't go back to Renee. This was her last chance. If Charlie wouldn't let her stay, where would she go and how would she take care of her baby?

"I understand," she finally managed to choke out, still trying to process everything that Charlie had said.

"You've got a couple of weeks before you need to be back in school. Until then, I guess you're just stuck here at the house with me and Sue."

"Bella, if there's anything you need, I'd be happy to take you out to get it. I usually run my errands during the day while Charlie is at work and you are more than welcome to accompany me," Sue added.

Bella simply nodded her head in response, picking up her toast and trying to settle her queasy stomach once more.

~ O ~

The next couple of weeks passed quickly. Bella spent the first few days in her room, sorting out her things and making the place feel like her own. After that, she tried to get to know Charlie better, spending time with both him and Sue. There had been no more discussion about the circumstances that had brought her to Forks and she struggled to act like nothing was wrong.

Since that early morning conversation, Charlie had made no mention of his rules or asked her any questions about her supposed drug use. He'd been nothing short of a doting father, dragging her down to the station to meet some of his co-workers, showing her off like she was his pride and joy. He tried to convince her to join him on an early morning fishing trip, but she had politely declined that invitation, knowing that the motion of the small boat on the water would not be a pleasant sensation for her overwrought stomach. She had joined him for lunch at the local diner, however, on several occasions.

Sue continued to be gentle and kind, allowing Bella to help with grocery shopping and the preparation of meals. She let Bella tag along on her daily trips, whether to the bank, the post office, or one of the shops around town. She'd even driven Bella to La Push one afternoon, showing her the reservation where she'd once lived.

It was easy for Bella to fall into a routine, but her secret began to weigh heavily upon her. She felt more confused and scared than ever. Not only did she need to tell Charlie and Sue the truth, but she also knew she needed to make sure her baby was okay. She had yet to visit the doctor, to find out when she was due or to make sure things were progressing as they should. She worried that something might be wrong with her baby and she wouldn't know before it was too late.

She noticed that Sue watched her closely sometimes, especially when she was fighting with bouts of morning sickness. Sue would also give her odd looks when she was eating, usually when she was giving into one of her bizarre cravings. More than once, Bella had considered confessing her secret, but always stopped short, still not able to completely trust her father's girlfriend.

~ O ~

Days before Thanksgiving, Bella once again woke up with morning sickness. She rushed to the bathroom like always, hovering over the toilet and expelling the meager contents of her stomach. This particular morning, however, she was feeling more emotional than usual. The gravity of her situation weighed heavily upon her heart and she was simply overcome.

Giving in to what she was feeling, Bella collapsed onto the cold tile floor. She wrapped her arms tightly around her stomach as sobs wracked her body. She coughed and gasped for air as the tears poured from her eyes. This was all just too much and she wasn't sure how much more she could handle.

"Oh, honey."

Within seconds, Sue was on the floor with her, gently helping her to sit up. Sue leaned them both against the bathtub and wrapped her arm around Bella, gently tucking her into her side. She stroked Bella's hair, whispering calming words into her ear.

"Shhhh, it's all going to be all right."

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Bella muttered through her tears. "I don't deserve it."

"Of course you do. We all make mistakes."

"But I've been lying. This whole time, I've been lying…keeping a secret."

"Bella, you can tell me anything and I promise it'll be okay."

"Charlie's going to be so angry. What if he doesn't want me anymore when he finds out?"

"Oh, sweetie, Charlie wants you here no matter what. Your father loves you so much."

Bella pulled away from Sue, dropping her eyes to stare at the floor. She wanted desperately to tell her the truth, to let go of some of the burden she carried. Her secrets were eating away at her and she knew all of this stress couldn't be good for her or her baby.

"I'm not on drugs," she whispered, almost hoping Sue hadn't heard her.

"I've thought for a while that maybe you weren't," Sue replied. "You don't show any of the signs of an addict or someone in withdrawal. You do show the signs of something else."

Sue's words hung in the air between them. Bella wanted to confess, but the words just wouldn't come.

"Bella, are you…are you pregnant?"

"Yes," she managed to squeak out before sobs wracked her body again. Sue just pulled her to her side once more, holding her hand and stroking her hair. She continued her words of assurance from before; Bella wanted to believe that things really would be okay.

The two women spent the next hour sitting together on the bathroom floor. Finally relieved of one burden, Bella felt like she needed to expunge the rest of the grief she carried. She confessed everything to Sue, telling her about Renee, the men, the constant moving, and the loneliness and depression she felt upon relocating to Florida. She told her about James, about how their relationship began and ended, and about the horrible events of the evening she found out she was pregnant.

Sue sat there and listened intently, crying silently at some points as Bella spoke of the things she'd had to endure. She held Bella's hand through most of the confession, squeezing it in reassurance and urging her to continue.

Once Bella had told Sue everything, she felt lighter, like she'd shed the giant boulder she'd been carrying on her back for so long. Only one more obstacle stood in her way—telling Charlie the truth.

~ O ~

Charlie arrived home that evening to the smell of Grandma Swan's beef stroganoff filling the house. It was his favorite meal, one that he usually only had on special occasions. For a moment he was apprehensive, wondering if there was some birthday or anniversary he'd forgotten.

Entering the kitchen, he found Bella and Sue already seated at the table, grim looks upon both their faces. When they heard him approach, Sue looked at him with a forced smile plastered across her face. Bella didn't even look up to greet him. Things had been going too well these past few weeks, but now he was concerned about his daughter.

Bella had been so well-behaved since her arrival in Forks, never once questioning the rules she'd been given. She helped Sue with the housework and cooking, never complaining or showing an attitude. Bella was quiet and considerate, making Charlie question the information Renee had given him. As a police officer, Charlie had come in contact with many drug addicts and teenage delinquents, but Bella exhibited none of those characteristics.

Her demeanor at the dinner table, however, worried Charlie. Coupled with Sue's apprehensive face, Charlie wondered if Sue had caught her breaking the rules. Did she find pills in her room? Or catch her in the act? Sitting down at the table, he pushed his feelings aside, knowing that the pair would tell him when they were ready.

Dinner was a terse affair filled with stilted conversation. No one wanted to acknowledge the giant elephant in the room. Bella tried to concentrate on the sound of forks scraping across plates, but the thrum of her own heart beat loudly in her ears. She tried to eat, but found it difficult to force food down her throat. Sue had promised her that Charlie would be understanding; she hoped those words were true.

Once everyone had eaten and the table was cleared, the trio retreated to the living room. Charlie would normally flip on the television, tuning in to whatever sporting event he could find. Tonight, however, that action didn't seem appropriate. He sank down into his worn recliner, waiting for someone to enlighten him.

Bella and Sue had followed him into the room, both moving to sit on the sofa. He watched closely as they huddled close to one another, Bella clutching tightly to Sue's hand. He'd known the pair had gotten friendly in the weeks since Bella arrived, but this kind of closeness was something he'd never witnessed.

Sitting there, Bella wracked her brain for the right words to say. She'd spent part of the day rehearsing the speech she would give Charlie, but now that he was in front of her, she'd forgotten everything she'd memorized. Sue gave her a gentle pat on the back, urging her on.

"Char—Dad, there's something I need to tell you. I-I've never…I'm not on drugs. I don't know why Renee told you that," she spoke while staring down at her feet.

Charlie exhaled a giant sigh of relief, glad to have his suspicions confirmed. He couldn't understand why Renee would tell him such horrible lies about their daughter, though. Renee had always been a little irrational; maybe she was just confused.

"But there is something…something I need to tell you. I'm—"

Bella sucked in a giant gulp of air, unsure if she could continue. Once the tears started flowing, she knew she wouldn't be able to choke out the words. She stared down and her hand, holding onto Sue so tightly, and shook her head back and forth.

"Charlie, she's pregnant," Sue finished for her.

Squeezing her eyes shut tightly and curving her shoulders inward, Bella braced herself for the ranting and raving she knew was coming. Renee had been livid when she had found out; she imagined her father would feel the same. Sue had only been so nice because they weren't related. It wasn't her bastard grandchild that would be coming into the world.

"Did your mother know about this?" Charlie asked with a slight quiver in his voice.

"Yes," Bella whispered.

She looked up just in time to see Charlie stalk out of the room and into the kitchen. Moments later, she could hear him speaking, but the words were muffled and unintelligible. If she had any doubts about whom he was speaking to, they were immediately squashed.

"God damn it, Renee!" Bella heard Charlie yell before the sound of the phone slamming down onto the receiver echoed throughout the house.

Charlie came stalking into the living room. His face was flushed red and the vein in his forehead was protruding and pulsing with anger. Still fearful of his reaction, Bella cowered and turned herself towards Sue. Immediately realizing that he'd scared her, Charlie's face softened.

"Oh, Bella," he said as he took a seat on the couch. "I'm so sorry, baby girl. But why didn't you say something sooner? You could have told me. You can tell me anything."

"I was scared," she whispered.

Tentatively, Charlie reached out the grasp her tiny, shaking hand. As he gave it a gentle squeeze, she looked up at him, seeing tenderness in his eyes. Bella's lip began to quiver and Charlie reached out, pulling her forward and hugging her to his side.

Bella clung to her father, soaking his shirt with her tears. She felt like a little girl again, seeking comfort in her father's arms. She had missed Charlie more than she had known, now thankful to finally be in a place where she would be cared for and loved.

Holding his fragile daughter in his arms, Charlie felt like such a failure. For all these years, he had assumed she was better off with Renee. What young girl didn't need her mother? But seeing her now, seeing the obvious pain in her eyes, he knew he'd made a terrible mistake. He just hoped the damage wasn't irreparable.

Glancing over at Sue, he saw the tears flowing down her cheeks as well. He moved to grab her hand, seeing the hope and love in her eyes. As they held his crying daughter between them, he knew they would have to work through this sordid mess—together.

~ O ~

A/N: Thanks again to my beta lislar for making sure the things I write don't super suck. As always, reviewers get a teaser of the next chapter.