Summary - "Bella is an average girl, struggling with her homosexuality and her life at home. Can the love of not one, but three vampires help show her that she shouldn't be afraid? A/B/R/V".

Author's Notes – Inspired by my dear friend Hollowgo...

Rating - Older Teen to Mature

By: WDG and Lash_Larue

The Garden of Four - Chapter Thirty – Meeting Melinda

"I'm going to LaPush after school, dad," Bella told Charlie. "Dunno when I'll be back, will you be okay for supper on your own?" Bella had been keeping an eye on Charlie's eating habits since the bite, she and Shelia thought that it might be possible to speed up his first change with a combination of diet, exercise, and their alpha influence. Charlie would be stronger after he changed, even in his human form.

"Don't worry mom, Melinda will feed me," Charlie kidded her, but his cheeks turned pink when Bella raised an eyebrow.

"Melinda?" she questioned, trying to be casual.

"Just a woman at the school, don't you start sniffing around, Bells," he answered sternly.

"I'll play by the rules, don't worry, but neither of us can help picking up scents," Bella replied with a shrug.

"Ain't that the truth! I never noticed the dispatcher's perfume before, but now I sneeze every time I walk past her desk."

"Well, you have gotten pretty buff, dad. Maybe she's out to get you," Bella suggested.

"She's not my type, and thank goodness there are rules against that, anyway. Oh well, overall I've never felt better in my life. Thanks Bella, for wanting me to stay with you, for having the guts to ask to change me and the sense to do it without killing me. Man, once we deal with these Volturi assholes we have a lot to look forward to!" Charlie smiled his crinkly-eyed smile.

"We sure do, dad. Including your first change…"

Bella was clearly worried, but Charlie waved it off.

"It's not like it's something I can do wrong Bells. So it'll hurt a lot. I just hope my tail is longer than yours."

"DAD!" Bella exclaimed, and she swatted him on the shoulder, knocking him out of his chair.

"See? Much better, a couple weeks ago that would have broken my arm," Charlie laughed as he stood up. "Now go to school before you kill me, I'm still not quite in your league, kid."

"You'll do, Alice is here anyway. See you later dad," Bella told him, and she kissed his cheek and headed outside.

"Won't even leave a bruise," Charlie said out loud, "yep, things are looking up around here."

"Morning love," Alice greeted her as she got into the car.

"Hey, where are Rose and Vic?"

"They rode to school with the guys. I can't wait until we graduate, high school is pretty boring after a couple dozen times," Alice told her.

"Even this time?" Bella asked, slipping her hand beneath Alice's skirt.

"Well, not all the time, and unless you mean it, get your hand out of my panties."

"Oh, I mean it," Bella promised. "Drive slow, okay?"

"O – okay… God Bella, that's – "

They were late for their first class, but neither of them cared.

"When do I get a turn?" Victoria asked, wrinkling her nose at lunch when Alice and Bella joined the Cullens at lunch.

"And I seem to remember something about all of us," Rose reminded Bella.

"Soon, I promise," Bella told them, "I needed to loosen up a little this morning. The moon is coming up soon; I'm starting to freak out about Charlie, to tell you the truth. Hey Emmett, don't you have a smartass remark to make about me and Alice?"

"Not just now, Bells, I'm a little freaked about Charlie too. Don't tell him I said that though, okay?" Bella smiled and nodded, she knew how much Emmett liked Charlie.

"Carlisle says he's in great shape," Edward told her.

"The help he's been getting at Shelia's school will make a big difference too. He'll know what to expect," Jasper added.

"And you and Shelia will be right with him," Rose reminded her, "two alphas should be able to keep him from hurting himself."

"I'll be there too," Emmett declared, "if he needs to bite something he can bite me. Can't have him getting all messed up before we finish our tournament." Bella reached over and patted Emmett on the shoulder.

Someone rushed past their table on the way to the tray return.

"Lauren seems to have learned her lesson," Victoria commented.

"Took a while," Rosalie agreed, "but I think you're right."

"We could give her to the Volturi as a sign of goodwill," Alice suggested. Bella gave her a look. "I was kidding, mostly."

"Alice, can you still not see when they are coming?" Edward asked.

"No, they're worried about Jane, of course, but that mess in China has them occupied."

"So the Volturi actually do some good, sometimes?" Bella asked.

"That depends on your point of view," Jasper told her, "there are parts of the world where the Volturi never go, and there are vampires there. Some of them get out of hand from time to time, but the others in the area deal with it."

"There usually seems to be a vampire with a special power involved when the Volturi strike. The exceptions are when there are immortal children or werewolves involved. The Volturi mean to exterminate those," Edward said.

"Well, there are damn sure going to be wolves involved this time," Bella assured them. "Lots of them."

"Fine by me," Emmett assured her.

The rest of the day passed without incident, and Bella said goodbye to her mates when they dropped her off at home and then pointed her old truck towards LaPush.

The pack was waiting for her at the fire circle.

"Hi Bella," Taylor said, and the other Quileutes added their greetings.

"Want a hot dog?" Leah asked, and Bella accepted it with thanks.

"Any time you're ready, Bella," Sam told her. Bella smiled her thanks and stood up. The chatter ceased at once.

"First, I want to thank you all for helping. You didn't have to," Bella told them.

"Hell, Bella," Jake said, "killing vampires is the whole reason the pack exists. Except for yours, of course."

"Thanks Jake. I'm working on an easy way for you all to tell the good guys from the bad guys. It might get kind of hairy during the fight. Sam, I'll try and maintain overall control of the battle, but it's up to you how to deploy your pack. You know them better than I do." Sam nodded his appreciation. "I suggest that you work in pairs, if not trios. I want to get out of this with as few casualties to our side as possible. Make no mistake, the Volturi are dangerous, but they aren't used to being opposed, and they've never seen anything like you guys."

There were many growls of anticipation at that statement, and many grins.

"I'm going to give them a chance to surrender," there were mutters of disapproval at that, "just one, though. Also, if any of them do surrender, they are going to have to satisfy me that they won't be a threat in the future, and that isn't going to be easy. If they can't convince us, they die. Now don't take this the wrong way, but after the battle is over, if there are some of them left that are trying to fake their way out of it, I think you guys should deal with them. Tell me straight, am I right in thinking that you wouldn't hesitate to kill what would in essence be a helpless vampire?"

"I wouldn't," Paul volunteered. "If they show up here, they die. That's the way I see it. This is our turf, if they come here they pay the price."

"That won't be a problem, Bella," Sam assured her.

"Okay then. I know you all like a good fight, but you're my family too now, and I don't want to lose any of you. I know I can't teach you anything about fighting vampires, like Jake said; it's what you're for. Initially I want you to take the woods surrounding the Cullen house in case any of them try to run. I don't ever want to have to do this again, and I know I can count on you to make sure none of them escape."

"Fuckin' a right, Bella," Leah said with a grin.

"Any lycans there will be on our side, and I'll make damn sure they know that you all are too. I don't want any old grudges to get in the way here. We are all wolves together, got it?" Bella told them firmly.

"Got it," Taylor agreed.

"How are we supposed to tell the good vamps from the bad ones?" Seth asked. "No offence, but vampires all kind of smell alike to us." Bella grinned.

"How do I smell to you?" she asked.

"Don't say 'yummy', Leah," Taylor cautioned her, and the pack laughed.

"You smell alpha," Sam told her.

"Well when this goes down, the good guys will all be wearing stuff that has my scent all over it. I've been sleeping on a big bunch of Mariners jerseys for the last week, and I'll keep it up until the fight," Bella told them.

"Nice one, Bells," Jake told her in approval.

"Most of our guys you already know anyway, my mates, my brothers, and my other dad and mom. There will be some women, sort of cousins, that you might not know, but I'll try and arrange a meeting before the fight. But the nose knows, right?" Bella asked, "and things will be moving fast."

"No problem tearing them apart," Avery began, "but what about burning them? Those damn vamps take a lot of killing."

"Charlie has that covered," Bella assured them. "Im going to use some of the younger lycans to gather vampire parts for burning, Sam if there are any pack members too young to fight, maybe they can help with that. It won't be without risk, once this starts the Volturi will attack anything that even looks like a wolf. That's your call too."

"Maybe you should just have them keep the parts separate until after the fight," Seth suggested, "that way they can't get back in the fight, and there won't be any chance of accidentally burning a good guy part, just in case one of our guys gets hurt."

"Great idea, Seth," Bella told him, and the young shifter glowed with pride. "Just so long as the arms and heads can't match back up with the bodies it should work out good."

"I guess you'll let us know when hunting season opens?" Sam asked.

"It'll be pretty obvious," Bella assured him, and her teeth flashed in the firelight.

"Excellent!" Leah said. "Another dog, Bella?"

"You never give up, do you?" Taylor commented.

"Okay, we need to dig a circle right here, let's make it about fifteen feet across, it only needs to be about a foot deep, though."

"Where's your shovel?" Emmett asked.

"I'm supervising. Get to digging."

Emmett muttered something, but he and Rose had the thing dug in minutes.

"You are better than a backhoe," Charlie admitted. "Now we need a trench a foot deep dug up to those tanks in the backyard, then we can lay the pipe. Oh shit, I forgot to bring a pipe wrench," Charlie said in disgust.

"Charlie, we're vampires, we don't need a pipe wrench," Rose reminded him.

"Oh. Yeah. Sooner done, sooner I can kick your ass on the court, Emmett."

"In your dreams, wolf man, in your dreams," countered Emmett.

"We should set up at least six beds," Carlisle told everyone but Rose and Emmett, who were still busy outside. "I need to be able to give proper care to any of our friends who may be injured."

"Of course, Carlisle," Edward agreed, and the Cullens set to work setting up an infirmary.

"They've decided," Alice said suddenly. "The 23rd, a week after the full moon."

"I hope that gives Charlie enough time," Esme said worriedly.

"It's all the time he's going to get, at any rate," Alice said grimly.

"It will be time enough," Carlisle said confidently.

"Right then," Bella addressed her fellow lycans. "I know you all want to remove the threat the Volturi pose to us, and as many of you as can manage a commanded change can help somehow. We'll be trying the shift every other day for as long as we have left. Don't feel bad if you can't do it. Remember that even Shelia couldn't do it before."

"She's right, the best advice I can give you is to try not to fight it if you feel the change beginning. I know this is foreign to you, but we have a chance to remove the largest threat to our kind," Shelia told them all.

"Shelia and Alicia will decide who does what during the battle. Don't any of you go running off on your own, you hear? Stick to the plan and we'll get through this with minimal casualties," Bella said firmly. "Charlie will start things off, and I know you'll all understand that since he is the Chief of Police that he has certain procedures to follow. Don't get antsy; if by some miracle we can end this threat without a fight, we'll do it. Frankly I don't think that's going to happen though."

"Okay," Shelia said, "get ready. Bella, anytime you're ready."

"Let's do it," Bella said, and she and Shelia shook violently for a few seconds before assuming their pure wolf forms. The gathered lycans still could scarcely believe that they could change at will, but it was something most of them really wanted to be able to do themselves.

Bella nudged Shelia's shoulder with her nose, and Shelia licked the side of her face, then the blue-white alpha and the silver-white alpha faced their pack.

"Change!" they commanded in unison, and there were lycans trembling and falling to the ground all over the yard. In a few minutes there were nearly two dozen partially or completely transformed lycans present. The howls rang throughout the forest.

"They will get better," Shelia promised Bella, "we will be ready."

"I'll take them on a run," Alicia volunteered, "you two get on with your planning." Shelia licked her mate's nose, and Alicia sneezed before leading the others into the forest.

"Once dad starts things off, you and I will do our thing. Pair up the full wolves as you think best, but any intermediate lycans need to hang back from the main battle. They can help the younger Quileutes on parts detail, and assist as needed if someone gets overwhelmed. Nobody is ever alone, right?"

"Right," Shelia agreed, "now, about Charlie. You and me and Emmett in the room, right?"

"Yeah, I don't know if it will work, but he wants to try, and if it works he'll be stronger for it. Frankly I'd rather he not be there at all, but he won't hear of that."

"You could order him to stay away," Shelia suggested.

"He'd never forgive me if I did that. Besides, he knows what he's doing."

"Glad you think so," Charlie said as he entered the clearing, Bella saw a woman turn and disappear into the trees, but she kept quiet about it. "So, this Friday, huh?"

"Yes," Shelia confirmed, "the moon will be full, and that should help. Are you really sure that you want to try this, Charlie?"

"It's gonna happen sooner or later, might as well be on my terms. Hell, with the two of you ordering the change I don't think I'll be able not to do it. Besides, Emmett would razz me forever if I blew it." Bella snorted.

"There is that," she admitted. "Is everything ready at the house?"

"Yep, man, that Rosalie can really handle some pipe!"

Bella was glad that she could not blush in this form, but she could still hear Shelia laughing in her mind.

Bella's teachers all wondered why she wasn't paying attention in class that Friday. Her biology teacher gave up after calling her name three times.

"Must be her time of the month," he decided, and he ignored her for the rest of the class. Her grades were perfect anyway, might as well concentrate on someone who needed the help. He called on Mike next.

"That was the longest day of school I've ever had in my life," Bella groaned, leaning back in her seat.

"Really," agreed Victoria from the back seat, "here, lean up a little, Bella." Victoria reached over the seat and massaged Bella's shoulders and neck, helping ease the tension from her.

"Thanks Vic, that feels great," Bella sighed. "You guys are going hunting, right?"

"Yes," Rose confirmed, "we all want to be as strong as we can, and the least thirsty we can be, just in case. Lycan blood isn't nearly as tempting as human, but no point in taking a risk. Emmett isn't worried about it though, Charlie is too good a friend for him to hurt. He really feels like Charlie is a kind of big brother, I think."

"I just wish it was over," Bella confessed.

"It will be fine," Alice assured her, "the wolfy parts kind of clouded the vision, but I plainly saw Emmett laughing his ass off, so things will work out."

Then they were home, and Esme escorted Bella to the dining room.

"Wow, mom," Bella said softly as she looked at the table.

"I guess I'm a little nervous myself," Esme admitted, "cooking helped. I should probably hunt too, will you be alright by yourself for a while?"

"Sure, and thanks," Bella replied. Esme kissed her cheek and sped after the rest of the Cullens. Bella loaded up a plate and ate without really tasting it, more to have something to do than anything else.

Before she could really slip into a funk, however, Charlie entered the room with Shelia and Alicia.

"Where is everybody?" he asked.

"Hunting, you guys hungry?"

"Does a male lycan lick his balls?" Alicia asked as she sat down and helped herself.

"I never thought about that," Charlie admitted.

"Just ewww," Bella groaned, "let's talk about something else, okay?"

"Stick with the lean meat and the vegetables, Charlie," Shelia advised, "you don't want a bunch of sweet stuff in your stomach when you change. Trust me, we've learned that the hard way."

"Okay, what about beer?"

"A couple won't hurt, we've still got a few hours," she answered. Charlie headed to the kitchen. "How are you doing, Bella?"

"Scared stiff, but okay. Alice says things are going to be okay. Still…"

"This will be different than your first change, Bella," Alicia assured her, "remember that Charlie chose this, and he will have the support of two alphas."

"It's still going to hurt," Bella muttered.

There was no way around that.

"I brought some gym shorts to wear," Charlie informed them when he returned, "so as not to scare you ladies too much."

"Right. Thanks dad. Jesus, are we a weird family, or what?"

"Not exactly the Cleavers, no," Charlie agreed, "maybe more like the Munsters."

"Who?" Bella asked.

"Never mind, before your time. So how will I know if this is going to happen?"

"The first thing most new lycans notice is a sort of itchy, tickling feeling," Alicia told him. "Sometimes it's nausea or dizziness. Bella and Shelia will be able to sense when it begins."

"Right, I know we've been over this all before, just refreshing my memory," Charlie said, and he took a swallow of his beer. "I guess maybe I'm a little nervous," he admitted.

"Join the club," Bella muttered, "what the fuck was I thinking, putting you through this?"

"Watch your language, Bells," Charlie said sternly, "I'm still your dad, and there are ladies present."

"Don't worry about it Charlie, Alicia and I are real bitches," Shelia told him.

Charlie tried to laugh, but it wasn't much of one, and for a bunch of lycans, they didn't eat very much.

"I'm gonna go catch Sports Center," Charlie announced as he rose from the table. Bella watched him leave the room, worry plain on her face.

"He'll be fine, Bella," Shelia assured her.

"Yeah, sure he will…"

"Dear Renee,

I made it! I get out at 10am, the first of next month. I hope you'll be there, but if not, well, it was great knowing you.

I'm not good with mushy stuff, and I know I was kind of tough on you when you were here. I did what I had to do to survive, you know? But I really do miss you.

Ruby"

Renee poured herself a drink and stared at the letter.

"It's time to get ready, Charlie," Carlisle announced, and Charlie rose without a word and followed him up the stairs.

"Give us a couple minutes, okay, Bella?" Emmett requested as he too headed for the stairs.

"I'm gonna puke," Bella confessed.

"If you are, then get it over with. You can't do that in front of Charlie," Shelia said firmly, "let's go ahead and change, you'll feel more confident then."

"Yeah, you're right, come on, we'll change in my room, no sense scaring the vampires," Bella joked.

"It's going to be okay," Alice promised her for the hundredth time.

"We'll be right outside if you need us," Rosalie promised.

"Just think about how much fun it will be to run with him when this is done," Victoria suggested.

Bella kissed her mates and led her fellow lycans up the stairs.

"It really is going to be okay, right, Alice?" Rosalie asked.

"I sure hope so."

Charlie was pacing nervously when Bella and Shelia entered the room. Emmett was leaning against the wall trying not to look worried.

"Looking good, Charlie," Shelia told him.

He was, the added muscle was obvious, and his hair had indeed gotten thicker. He tried to smile, but wound up swallowing, all eyes turned to the clock on the wall.

"Maybe nothing will happen after all," Charlie began, "I mean it's kind of soo-"

It hit like lightning the instant the moon rose, Charlie was on his back thrashing and grunting in an instant, his body contorting rapidly.

"Don't fight it!" commanded Bella and Shelia together, and Bella was surprised to find that she did indeed feel confident now. What was happening to Charlie had happened to her, and she was secure in her power as alpha.

Emmett on the other hand, looked absolutely green.

"Help him!" Emmett demanded.

"We are," Shelia promised.

"Dad, listen to me. Can you hear me?"

From far away, Bella felt the touch of Charlie's lycan mind reaching out to her.

"Bells? It hurts, Bells… ahhh!"

There was a sharp crack as Charlie's right leg bent too far, and his face stretched visibly.

"Let go, Charlie!" Shelia ordered as Charlie curled into a tight ball and screamed for an instant before stretching rigid and shaking violently. Blood began to run from his mouth, and Bella looked sharply at Emmett.

"I'm okay Bella, I'm not gonna hurt him," Emmett promised. "I might puke though."

"Use the bucket. Dad, let the wolf in, do you hear me? I'm not asking, I'm telling, got it?"

"Yeah, boss, I'm trying- oh shit!"

A growl burst from Charlie, and he turned his head, snapping at his own arm.

"No you don't, old man," Emmett said as he wrapped his arms around Charlie. There was a metallic screech as Charlie's teeth closed on Emmett's arm. Emmett grunted, but refused to let go. A huge spasm sent them crashing into the wall.

"It's faster than I expected," Carlisle said as he watched from the other room.

"That's good, right," Alice asked, clearly frightened.

"I should think so, yes," Carlisle answered, and Alice felt a calm wash over her.

"Thanks, Jasper."

The growling and snarling was constant now, and the house trembled as Charlie thrashed violently. The sound of shattering bones was like a string of firecrackers, and white fur began to show on Charlie's leg as it reformed.

"It's nearly over Charlie, just a little longer."

With an ear-shattering scream that trailed into a howl, Charlie collapsed in a heap on the floor. He was somewhere between human and lycan, the shining fur uneven and patchy, clearly not completely changed.

"What the fuck is this?" Emmett asked desperately, not seeming to notice the chunk missing from his arm.

"Dad?"

"He's lost Bella, work with me, now!" Shelia demanded, and she threw an arm around Bella's neck. "Charlie, come to us, your alpha commands it."

"What is happening?" Esme asked, staring at the look of horror on Emmett's face.

"This may have been too soon," Carlisle answered, "the wolf may not have been ready to emerge. I've heard of this."

"What happens?" Victoria asked.

Carlisle just shook his head silently.

"Charlie, follow our voices," Shelia urged.

"Come on dad, just a little more…"

"Charlie you son of a bitch, don't you fuckin' die on me!" yelled Emmett, and the body in his arms twitched.

Bella saw that, and felt a surge of hope.

"Move your goddam ass, old man! We can't wait on your flea-bitten carcass all night!"

In their minds, Bella and Shelia could see a wolf approaching, brilliant white with a faint grayness on his muzzle. On the floor, Charlie's body shook, and then flowed seamlessly into his intermediate form for the first time. His eyes opened, the clear ice blue of a lycan had replaced the familiar brown.

"Alpha or no, talk to me like that again and you're grounded."

"Sure dad, sorry, but sometimes you need a little kick in the butt."

"Yeah. Thanks you two, I was trying, but… anyway, thanks. You too, Moose, damn, sorry about the arm."

"No problem, Charlie. Give me a minute here while I find that piece you tore off."

"Here," Shelia handed it to him, and he put it back in place. In a moment there was no sign it had ever happened.

"That's pretty cool," Charlie admitted, "can we do that?"

"No, it would regenerate eventually, but it would take about a week."

"Well, stand up Charlie, let's have a look at you," Emmett said.

"Holy shit!" Bella said aloud.

Charlie was taller than Bella, taller than Emmett, and he did indeed have some gray on his muzzle, but –

"I gotta admit it, Charlie, you're a hell of a wolf," Emmett stated. Charlie tried to say something, but the best he could do was growl. He reached over and patted Emmett on the top of the head.

"Don't worry little fella, I won't bite you again."

"Smartass," Emmett muttered, then he grinned and gave Charlie a hug.

"How do you feel, dad?"

"Sore, tired, but good. I feel good, Bells."

As if to prove that his tail began to wag. Charlie saw it out of the corner of his eye, and for a while he seemed to forget that it was a part of him. He looked over his shoulder trying to see it better, but turning to do that moved it out of his field of view, so he turned some more.

In a moment he was spinning around in a circle.

Charlie was chasing his tail.

Emmett lost it completely; he fell on the floor and laughed his ass off.

"Yep, that's what I saw," Alice confirmed.

"Puppies…" Bella said, and then she too was laughing.

It was later on that night, after Bella was sure her father was asleep. She snuck out and took a deep breath, then made her way towards lycan territory. Jumping the fence she landed and sniffed out the scent to a small cottage near the edge of the woods. As she walked up the steps onto the porch, Bella felt kind of bad about doing this, but she just had to see if this woman was good enough for her dad. After knocking a couple of times on the door, she saw a light flick on upstairs, followed by the sound of someone coming down the stairs to the door.

Bella waited for the woman to unlock the door and open it before taking her in. She seemed nice enough, with her loose, shoulder length wavy dark brown hair, warm hazel eyes, and a smile on her face that looked as motherly as Esme's. Bella looked the woman up and down once more before saying, "So, you must be the woman whom my father is spending his time with nowadays." The woman just smiled and stepped back to let Bella in.

Closing the door she turned and said "Yes, My name is Melinda, it's nice to finally meet you, even so late in the night."

Bella held out her hand for the woman to shake. "Nice to meet You Melinda, I am Bella, as I am sure my father has already told you."

Melinda nodded. "Yes, he has. Still, it's good to see you."

Bella moved to the couch and talked some more with the woman as the night became early morning, around 4am she left the woman with a smile on her face and a weight lifted off her shoulders. It seemed the woman was a wiccan, an immortal wiccan, which meant that her father was not necessarily going to get heartbreak from Melinda. She could well live as long as he.

Walking back into the Cullen household as quietly as possible, she noticed that Jasper and Edward were playing chess in the living room, and Carlisle and Emse where in the kitchen kissing. Bella quickly walked away on that note. Shelia and Alicia were still in wolf form outside of Alice's bedroom door, sound asleep curled up together. Raising an eyebrow at the guarding position of the two other lycans, she walked into the room and shut the door.

Seeing all her mates sitting on the bed waiting for her, she smiled and quickly climbed out of her clothes except for her boxers and her shirt. Climbing into bed she snuggled with all of them, and went to sleep dreaming of her family at peace.

End Chapter 30