A/N: Long story very short. Life got super super busy since I last posted. I got caught up in many appointments for my daughter, and my son was born. But I finally finished chapter 19 and here it is. Please pardon any grammatical errors, for this puppy is very, very raw. Right off the presses raw. I have a plan of where I want to send this story, and I will post as often as I can. Thanks for sticking with me. I hope you like it!

xoxo

-A

-Bella-

I kicked off my shoes in the foyer and looked down at myself in disgust. I was covered, head to toe, in mud. I needed to shower before this shit dried and became impossible to get off. I heard Emmett chuckle beside me, and looked up at him.

"What?" I asked, my brow furrowed.

"Nothing," he smiled. "You're just cute when you're lost in thought."

"Shut up," I snorted and bumped him with my shoulder, then grimaced at the slight shock of pain. I may as well have walked into a wall. I twined my fingers through his and tugged his hand. "I have to check on Charlie and I'm not doing it alone."

"You know I wouldn't make you," he responded with a kiss to my forehead.

"I know," I sighed.

"We're in here," Carlisle called softly from the living room.

"Come on," he guided me to the living room.

We followed his voice to couch, and I wanted to cry all over again when I saw my father. He was asleep under a blanket, a pained look on his face. His breathing was slightly labored and every once in a while he would grunt as he exhaled. Alice sat on the arm of the couch and gently stroked his hair. Carlisle adjusted the blanket around him and stood as we entered.

"How is he?" I asked, trying to be strong.

"He has two fractured ribs on the left, and some bruising on the right," the doctor answered. "I gave him a mild sedative to help him sleep. He probably won't wake for another ten or twelve hours. About what happened, Bella…"

"I don't know what to tell him!" I sputtered. "What am I going to do? How do I explain this? 'Hi Dad, by the way, my ex-boyfriend and his family are vampires. But don't worry, they won't eat you?' What do I say? How-"

"Stop," Alice interrupted softly. "Just listen."

I shifted uncomfortably under her stare and forced myself to look at Carlisle. His gentle eyes and kind smile broke the tension and I felt myself relax next to Emmett.

"When we got him inside, I tried to make clear what had just occurred and what Edward had told him," Carlisle began. "But he forced me to stop. He insisted that he had already heard too much and didn't want to know anymore. All he wanted to do was forget what happened and what Edward said, and basically pretend he never heard it. He doesn't care who we are or what we do, as long as we're not hurting anyone. As far as he's concerned, vampires don't exist and this whole incident never occurred."

"Typical Charlie," I sighed. "If he doesn't like it or doesn't want to hear it, it never happened. But how will we explain his injuries?"

"Hunting accident, he decided," the doctor grinned. "He figured it was the best way to account for the bruising and the fractures. I gave him these for the pain," he handed me a bottle of oxycodone, "Just make sure he takes them as directed."

"I can't thank you enough for helping us," I smiled. "I don't know what we would have done without you. I'd hug you, but…" I looked down at the pitiful mess that used to be me.

"No worries," he squeezed my shoulder gently. "You're family now. I'll always be here to help you. Go clean up and get some rest, you look a little weary." He adjusted his trench coat and proceeded toward the door. He stopped briefly by Emmett and the two gripped forearms. "Take care of her." he said softly.

"Always," Emmett nodded. Carlisle mimicked the gesture, then swiftly turned and left the house.

I stared after him. He was an absolute Godsend, and I still couldn't believe that such a genuine being actually existed. I was blessed, and even more so that he had instilled his actions and beliefs on his family. I turned back to Alice, who had returned to watching Charlie sleep, her face calm and serene. I didn't know much of Alice's life prior to immortality, but I knew she couldn't remember her parents, and I also knew a father-daughter bond when I saw one. He was so fond of her, and she gazed at him with such adoration that a part of me was jealous that my attachment wasn't as strong. Of course I loved my father, but her love for him seemed more genuine and pure. She smiled sweetly as she brushed his hair back from his forehead, then looked up at me.

"Mud baths are great, Bella," she chuckled gently, "But you're supposed to undress first."

"Wiseass," I smirked. "Is he going to be okay? Can…can you see anything?"

"He'll be fine," she said, standing up. "It's going to be some time before the wounds heal, but as far as everything Edward said?" she shook her head. "He's already put it out of his mind and in a few days, it will all seem like a bad dream to him."

"I don't know how anyone could forget that," I murmured. "Why, Alice? Why would Edward do this to me?"

Alice grimaced. "He's very bitter. He's never faced rejection before, and he's dealing with the pain the way any wounded teenager would. He wanted to hurt you the way he was hurt."

"But he neglected to remember that I've already faced that pain," I tried not to growl. Emmett wrapped a comforting arm around my shoulders, and I felt my anger subside marginally.

"Right, because also much like a teenager, he didn't think," she laughed mirthlessly.

"But very much like an angry immortal, he went to extreme measures," Emmett muttered through his teeth. "The coward is lucky he ran when he did, because I almost tore him in half."

"And you're a better man because you didn't," I put my arms around him and hugged him as tight as I could.

"But he-"

"No more, Em," I cut him off. "It's done. He's gone, and Charlie's going to be okay." I felt him relax a little and released him. "Where is he, Alice?"

"Back at the house," she answered after a brief pause. "He's contemplating what to do next. He feels lost and out of sorts."

"He's not going to do anything stupid, is he?" I asked.

"Not in the foreseeable future," she sighed. "And I should know. But that's enough about him. You get upstairs and get in the shower before that shit dries in your hair. And you leave her alone!" She pointed at Emmett and he held up his hands in mock innocence. "She needs rest!"

I smiled weakly and leaned heavily into Emmett while he escorted me upstairs. He kissed my forehead before heading in for a quick shower himself. Zombie-like, I trudged around my bed room gathering my things while waiting for Em to finish. I paused and looked at myself in the full-length mirror, cringing at my reflection. There was mud every where except my face, which was tear-streaked and red from crying. I noticed faint bruises blossoming on my hands from where I had pounded on Em's chest in frustration. I must have bitten my lip when I landed, because it was slightly swollen and bruised as well. I swiped at the blood that trickled from the wound and sighed. I didn't know what tomorrow would bring, and I didn't much care at this point. I was just glad this night was over.

I turned to leave the room and grab a towel just in time to see Emmett return, clad only in a towel. I felt my heart leap into my throat and had to throw some ice on the heat that immediately flooded my stomach.

Now is not the time! He must have sensed my reaction, because a mischievous glint hit his eyes and he smirked.

"I can always help you with that shower, you know," he said as he approached me, the towel sitting dangerously low on his hips. He positively oozed desire, and I swear it if I hadn't been covered head to toe in muck, I would have jumped him right then and there.

"The hell you can, Emmett Cullen!" Alice shrieked before I could respond. "Keep your hands to yourself or I will tear them off!"

"Cock blocker" he muttered, lowering his head.

"I heard that!" she shouted.

I stifled a laugh and slipped out of the room and into the bathroom. I started up the shower and stripped, grateful to be rid of the mud-caked jeans and t-shirt. I took my time, making sure all the filth was thoroughly rinsed away and my aching muscles were more than relaxed. I turned the water off and stepped out, toweling off and slipping quickly into my underwear and a big fluffy robe. I figured there was nothing Em hadn't seen before, so I hadn't bothered to grab pajamas. I wiped the mirror clean and stared at my reflection again. My face looked refreshed, but my eyes were worn and tired. I couldn't wait to curl up next to Emmett and fall asleep.

A slight smile touched my lips when I entered my room and saw a shirtless Emmet on my bed, reclining against my headboard with one arm behind his head. He laid on top of the comforter, the towel he'd been wearing now replaced by a pair of black jogging pants. He turned his head to meet my stare and my heart skipped a beat. He was amazing, even more so now that I had seen the lengths he was willing to go to just to protect me. Just looking into his eyes I could feel myself falling in love all over again.

"You coming to bed or are you going to stand there and stare all night?" he chuckled, patting the space next to him. I shook myself free of my reverie and crossed the room to his side, sliding the robe from my shoulders and kicking aside in the process. I crawled under the covers he had pulled aside and into his waiting arms. I laid my head on his bare chest and sighed as his icy skin cooled my still-heated cheek. He tucked the blankets around me and held me close, kissing the top of my head.

"Em?" I finally spoke after a few minutes.

"Mmm?" he mumbled, absently stroking my hair.

"Can you just hold me tonight? I…I don't think I'm really up for…" I trailed off, uncertain of how to broach the subject.

"Baby," he lifted my chin until our eyes met. "I will never force you to do anything. If you want more, then by all means I'm ready. But if all you want is for me to hold you, then I'll hold you forever." He sealed his promise with a tender kiss.

"I'd like that," I smiled against his lips. He released my chin and I nuzzled my head into his chest. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, letting it out in one long, contented sigh. As I drifted off, I unmistakably heard him respond.

"I'll never let you go."