Wow. I am SUCH a bad Mom! I haven't updated since forever! I feel terrible for leaving you all hanging, but I hit a nasty road block with this installment and couldn't figure out how to end the chapter. It started out one way, then I ran it by my beta/husband , and he said it didn't make sense. So I deleted it and started the whole damn thing over. I actually had to walk away and leave it alone for a while, it frustrated me that much! But it's finally done. I like it, he likes it. (Hey Mikey, He likes it! lol. ) But that's enough of my explaination. On to the action!! Please enjoy!
xo
-A
---Charlie---
I never liked the kid. He had this air about him, like he was hiding something behind those weird amber eyes of his. He was too polite, too gentle and loving around Bella. Call it a father's intuition, but I knew that something was wrong between them. I've seen domestic abuse cases, and I know how they act in public. They put up a front; giving the impression that all is well when it fact it truly isn't. It scared me half to death that my daughter was involved with someone like that. She said she hurt her wrist in a pillow fight with Alice, but I didn't believe her for a second. I could see the pain in her face and in that instant I knew it was because that slimy bastard did something to her. If I never saw him again, it would be too soon. I'd give up my badge for one shot at the son of a bitch who thinks he can lay his hands on my daughter.
A light rain began to fall and I turned on my wipers as I pulled down our street. I saw Bella's truck as I approached the driveway and furrowed my eyebrows at the strange Jeep parked behind it. It was probably a friend she had over for dinner, so I just shrugged it off. She doesn't tell me much, so why bother putting up a fight? I pulled in next to it and shut the engine down. I turned to open the door and felt a white hot rage start to burn behind my eyes.
There, leaning against a tree and staring at the front of my house, was that piece of shit who hurt my little girl: Edward Cullen. He didn't even acknowledge the sound of my cruiser and therefore never flinched. He just glared at my front door, a horrible scowl on his face. He had his hands shoved in his pockets, and from the looks of it he had been standing there for hours. He was soaked to the bone. I took a couple of calming breaths to try and lower my blood pressure. It wouldn't help to have a heart attack before I got the chance to throttle him. I checked my gun in my holster, and made sure the safety was on. I didn't intend to shoot him, but a little threat never hurt anyone either. I let out one final exhale then opened my door and stepped out to face him. I slammed it roughly behind me to try and startle him, but he still didn't move. I moved slowly toward him, controlling my anger with every step.
"I know you're there, sir," he muttered.
"Figured as much," I answered, still being cautious. "What are you doing here, Edward?"
"Staring," he smirked.
"Don't be a wiseass," I snapped.
He didn't respond and kept his eyes trained on the house. Bastard.
"I know what you did," I said quietly.
"You don't know shit," he spat.
"I know you laid your hands on my little girl," I growled.
He twitched and finally turned his head in my direction. Instead of shock or dismay, a weird, maniacal grin crossed his face.
"But you don't know why, do you?" he chuckled.
"I don't need to," I swallowed my rage. "No reason you can give will justify you hurting Bella. I'm going to ask you once to turn around and walk away. Leave and don't come back."
"I can't do that," he shrugged.
"Why?"
"Because you haven't heard the best part! You haven't heard the reason why your precious little angel is all banged up!" he laughed again.
"I told you I don't -"
"Well you're going to anyway!" he cut me off with a roar. "Your sweet Bella isn't as innocent as she looks. She's injured because she committed the ultimate betrayal."
"What?" I snarled.
"I guess I have to spell it out for you," he rolled his eyes. "She betrayed me, Charlie. She slept with my brother."
"That," I gulped. "That does not mean you can beat her."
"Beat her?!" he barked. "You didn't let me finish! I found her with him and I went into a rage. I attacked him, and she tried to stop me. Naïve, foolish Bella didn't know that you should never get between two warring vampires and she got tossed. She broke Esme's coffee table."
"Are you high?" I shook my head. Did he just call himself a vampire?
"Can't get high when you don't need to breathe," he waved the comment off.
"Son, you just called yourself a vampire. Vampires don't exist," I tried to remain calm.
"We most certainly do," he grinned. "And don't call me son. I'm older than your grandfather."
"But…how…?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"I'd rather just show you," his eyes became dark and he turned to me. "Telling you would take too long." He suddenly grabbed me by my jacket and hurtled me across the yard. I slammed hard into the old oak in front of Bella's window. I barely had time to catch my breath before he was on top of me.
"We're stronger than you," he snarled.
"Let me go," I gasped. "This isn't going to help you."
"But I'm not done!" he chortled. "There's so much more for you to see!"
He was out of his mind. I decided then to very, very slowly reach for my gun. It was already in his hand before I could move.
"I can read your thoughts," his face was grim. "And this," he flipped the gun once in the air. "Won't hurt me. But you…" he shut the safety off and stared at the weapon. "It could kill you."
"No, Edward!! DON'T!" Alice shrieked. And his eyes left mine to meet those of his pixie sister, who had streaked just seconds before into the yard.
"Stop!" Emmett bellowed from my door.
"Edward?!" Bella appeared from behind him. "What are you…Dad!"
I closed my eyes.
--Bella--
It was like a scene from a movie. In the pouring rain Edward held my father to the trunk of the old oak with his forearm. He was staring intently at the gun in his hand. Alice stood off to the side, pleading frantically with him to stop. Emmett stood in the doorway, glaring hard at his brother and I was at his side, feeling totally helpless.
"Bullshit," I muttered. "Let him go, you son of a bitch!" And I charged out into the rain. Or at least I tried. Emmett grabbed me from behind and pulled me back. "Put me down!" I struggled against his iron grip.
"Bella if you go any closer, he'll kill your father," Emmett whispered in my ear.
"What am I supposed to do then?! Stand by and watch?" I hissed.
"Just let us handle this. Please." he pressed his lips to my temple and I stopped fighting. He let me go and joined his sister on the lawn.
"Edward, let him go" he said calmly. "This isn't going to solve anything."
"It will make me feel better," he growled. I watched my father cringe as Edward pushed him further into the tree. That was the last straw. I stomped out into the rain despite Emmett's warning. Alice tried to stop me by blocking my path, but backed down when I glared at her.
"What? Because I dumped you that gives you the right to kill my father?" I growled and pushed my way past Emmett. "Let him go, dammit! This has nothing to do with him!"
"You didn't just dump me!" he yelled. "You betrayed me! You fucked my brother then lied about it!"
"I never lied about it! I never said a word!" I tried to defend myself.
"Lying by omission is still lying," he retorted. "And doesn't change what has to happen now."
"What do you mean?" I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Oh Edward, no," Alice covered her mouth with her hand and shook her head.
"What?" I turned to her. "What is he talking about?"
"Don't you dare," Emmett growled.
"You know what has to happen," Edward threw the gun in the mud and snapped his teeth at Charlie. "He knows about us. He must die."
"What?!" I cried. "No!! Emmett, stop him!"
I turned my pleading eyes to Emmett, who cast a brief, pitied glance on me before turning back to his brother.
"You're not going to kill him," Emmett stepped forward, placing a protective arm in front of me.
"He has to die and you know it. Those are the rules. If a human knows, they either have to become one of us or die. And I won't change him, so he must be dispatched," Edward looked over at his brother, his expression hard and full of anger.
"I won't say anything," Charlie croaked. "I swear."
"Foolish human!" Edward snapped. "It doesn't matter! They will find out and they will kill you! I'm just saving them a step."
"What? Who?" I yanked on Emmett's arm like a child.
"The Volturi. The Vampire elite." he explained. "They uphold our laws and enforce them when they are not obeyed. But they won't know if you don't say anything to them, Edward."
"What about me?" I snapped. "You told me. How come I'm not dead?"
"That's different," he muttered.
"Why?" I pressed on.
"It…" Edward shook his head. "It just is! Look, this has to be done! He knows too much!"
Emmett started to move forward, but I put a hand on his chest, forcing him to stop. I looked up at him, begging him silently let me take care of this. With a growl and a reluctant nod, he stepped back. I composed myself and turned back to my enraged ex-boyfriend.
"It's no different, Edward," I said calmly.
"It is," he insisted.
"No," I whispered. "It isn't. This isn't about killing Charlie, or me for that matter. It's about you and your wounded pride."
"Shut up," he returned harshly.
"I won't," I swallowed hard and took a nervous step toward him. "You're angry with me and I understand that. But how is hurting Charlie going to help?"
"I want you to feel it," Edward's eyes met mine. His once warm, loving eyes were now pitch black and cold.
"Feel what?" I asked.
"The pain!" he roared. "The intolerable pain you caused me when you betrayed me! I want you to know what it's like to lose the most important person in your life!"
"I already have!" I shouted. "The most important person in my life, the other half of my heart, lies buried in Phoenix because of some jealous asshole like you! That kind of pain is unbearable, and I can't… no, I won't deal with any more. So if you're going to kill anyone, then dammit," I took a deep breath and stepped in between my father and Edward. "Kill me."
I felt Charlie's chest heaving behind me as I stood between him and instant death. Edward's stony eyes bore into mine and he snarled.
"Move, Bella," he commanded venomously.
"No," I stood my ground.
"I said move," he growled again.
"Not a chance," I stuck my chin out.
"Don't," he leveled his face with mine, "Make me do this."
"I'm not making you do anything," I responded as evenly as I could. "I just won't let you hurt him."
"Get out of the way," he demanded.
"Make me."
He sneered at me once more and in a flash was hurling me out of the way to get to my father. I landed with a hard squelch in the mud and scrambled to my feet.
"Someone stop him!" I shouted uselessly, for Emmett had already grabbed Edward by the scruff and thrown him across the yard and into my poor defenseless truck, which groaned upon impact. Alice and I ran over to Charlie who sat slumped against the foot of the tree, breathing hard. She slid his arm over her tiny shoulders and hoisted him to his feet. He looked down at her incredulously, and she shook her head, indicating she would explain later. She helped him up the stairs and stopped to face me.
"I'll call Carlisle to come examine him as soon as I get him in," she answered before I could ask. I gave her a grateful nod and she ascended the stairs and brought my father into the house. I waited until she closed the door, then turned to face Edward. He sat on the ground in front of my now hopelessly damaged truck, head between his knees. Emmett remained in front of him, ensuring that he wouldn't move. I smoothed my hair out of my face, then grimaced as I realized that my hands, and now my hair, were covered in mud. I grumbled at my stupid mistake and walked over to Emmett. I stood next to him, staring down at Edward who still would not look up.
"Look at me," I ordered. He stared down at the ground, ignoring me. I kicked his foot and tried not to wince at the accompanying sting. "I said look at me!"
He continued to ignore my request. I growled and looked up at Emmett. He read my expression and hauled Edward to his feet, forcing him meet my eyes.
"What did you think was going to happen?" I asked. "That you'd kill my father and in my agony I'd come running back to your arms? That I'd realize the error of my ways and return to your side?"
"No, I…I just," he hesitated. "I wanted you to feel my pain."
"Pain?!" I sputtered. "Pain? What, did you forget about my brother?! Did you forget the constant pain I'm already in because he's gone?!"
"You're gone too! You're out of my life and I can't stand that ache!" he shouted.
"I'm still alive, Edward!" I cried. "I'm still here! Still breathing! Isaac is six feet under! He will never smile, or laugh or feel joy. He won't feel anger, or experience loss, or feel anything, ever again. Because he's dead! He is gone, Edward. And I have to live with that. So don't you tell me you wanted me to feel pain. I feel it with every breath, from the moment I wake up to the seconds before I fall asleep at night."
The silence that followed was deafening. We stood staring at one another for a long while, the rain coming down in sheets around us. Edward's eyes began to soften as the guilt from his actions washed over him.
"What have I done?" he whispered. "Bella, I…I'm so sorry…" He reached out to me but I backed away. "Please," he begged. "Please forgive me."
"Forgive you?!" I shouted hoarsely. "You tried to kill my father!"
"Bella," he implored.
"I can't forgive you for that," I shook my head.
"I won't be able to live without your forgiveness," he pleaded.
"Just stop, okay?" I felt my eyes burn as the tears threatened. "You need to leave. I don't want to look at you, I don't want to see you. Get out of here."
"Bella," he repeated.
"Go," I closed my eyes as the first tears escaped.
"Please," he begged again. "Forgive-"
"Now!!" I yelled.
Defeated, he turned and fled. I felt Emmett's arms wrap around me and I fell apart as the reality of the situation hit me. I almost lost my father. I stared death in the face and fought it back. My sobs turned into screams of frustration. I beat my fists on his chest as I cried, and he tightened his hold on me. I finally gave up, my hands sore and red. I allowed myself to sink into him, my sobs finally dying down into whimpers. I sniffled and pulled back in his arms to look up at him.
"You okay?" he asked.
"I think so," I sighed.
"We need to get you in," he said softly. "You're shivering."
"I am?" I looked down at my trembling hands. "Hmm. I guess I am."
He kept one arm around my shoulders as he escorted me to the door. I stopped briefly before we went in.
"What is it?" he frowned.
"How are we going to explain this to Charlie?" I croaked, my voice gone.
"We'll figure it out," he hugged me again. "Come on. Carlisle's inside, I'm sure he's thought of something."
I sighed again, leaned on Emmett's shoulder and entered the house.