Chapter 34

The party was light and enjoyable. Everyone was intermingling fine and new friendships continued to develop. Emmett and Paul talked intensely about a game that was on the TV with a friendly competitiveness. Rosalie and Paul's girlfriend lingered at their sides, chatting about something else.

Bella sat closely with her father and Sue, pretending to take swigs from a can of Coke. Charlie and Sue each dabbled in a glass of wine and munched on some some chips and dip.

Carlisle joined them. "Thank you for coming, Charlie. Sue."

"You're welcome," Sue smiled, "It's nice to have everyone here getting along like this."

"Yeah. I have to say I enjoy myself whenever I come by," he looked across the room with a smile at Alice, who was sharing a laugh with Edward and Jacob, "Was this Alice's idea?"

Carlisle smiled, "It was Esme's believe it or not. But Alice organized everything."

"You know Alice," Bella told her father.

"She's a good kid," Charlie stated. He coughed roughly, and Sue patted his back.

"Dad, you okay?" Bella asked.

"He's been coughing and sneezing the past couple of days," Sue told her, then looked at Charlie, "It's from all that ice fishing."

Charlie looked at her and gave a half smile. "Just a little cold. I'm fine." He changed the subject, "Jake seems a lot happier these days," Charlie said, "I'm happy for him," he looked at Carlisle, "So how far along is Esme? She's not really showing yet."

Carlisle was caught off guard and Bella distracted her father by pretending to bang her elbow, "Ow!" She rubbed her arm and got up from the chair.

"Bells, you okay?" Charlie asked.

She moved away from them, rubbing the spot on her arm convincingly, "I must have hit it just right."

Charlie grabbed her arm gently and rubbed the spot. Bella moved her fingers around and let a look of pain linger on her face.

"Are you okay, Bella?" Sue asked.

Bella was sure she knew there was nothing wrong. "I'm fine. I'm fine."

"Hey Carlisle," Jasper called with a smile from across the room, "Come here for a sec. Jacob needs to ask you something."

Carlise excused himself from the table and joined Jasper and Jacob.

Edward made his way to Bella's side, "Thanks for coming, Charlie."

"Yeah," Charlie took a sip of wine, "Thanks for inviting us."

Alice directed her thoughts to Edward and had him and Bella meet her in the other room where nobody was. She grabbed Esme on the way.

"Let's tell Charlie," Alice said, "I've seen what would happen if we do. There won't be any bad consequences."

"Tell him we're vampires?" Bella asked.

"Not exactly. I think we should just let him know who Masen is."

"He won't believe it," Edward told her.

"I think he'll believe it the second he sees him. They've only been here for a few minutes and Masen's just been in the mix of everything so he probably hasn't noticed yet."

"Does everyone else know?" Bella asked.

Alice nodded, "Your dad is technically a part of our world. He's the only one who doesn't know anything."

"I don't want him to be in a position that could put his life in danger," Edward told her.

She shook her head, "It'll be fine. Like Emmett said before, he already saw Jacob transform into a wolf."

"We need to talk to Carlisle," Esme told Alice.

Edward found his father and pulled him to where their secret meeting took place.

"Can we kind of tell Charlie?" Alice asked, "Or show Charlie?"

"He knows something's up," Edward told him, "He wasn't totally convinced on your elbow fake there either, Bella."

"I thought I was pretty convincing."

Esme and Alice smiled.

"I don't know," Carlisle said, "I don't want to put Charlie's life in jeopardy."

"It won't be," Alice told him, "I've seen it. And besides, I think Sue is planning on telling him herself."

"So is Billy," Edward explained, "His thoughts have been pretty loud. Since he's been with Sue and now that he knows about Jacob, he thinks he should know about us, as well."

"Let's just see his reaction when he sees Masen."

Edward looked around at them all. "I think he just did. Emmett's talking to Charlie now, and Masen's on his arm."

"What's he thinking?" Bella asked.

"He's thinking that he looks just like Carlisle."

The two elder Cullens looked at each other.

"It'll be fine, Carlisle," Esme assured him.

"I'll go talk to Charlie," Alice said with a smile.

They all made their way back to the party.

Bella smiled, watching Seth try to throw M&M's into Renesme's mouth from a few feet away. A few landed on the floor before their teamed efforts were a success. He gave her a high five. She looked over toward Alice, who took Masen from Emmett's arms and began to talk to Charlie.

Sue and Esme began to chat. Edward knew that Sue was certain the child was theirs. She had been filled in by the boys about the night they had a campfire, but had never seen Masen herself. Billy wheeled over to Bella and Edward, "He's gotten so big."

Edward nodded, "We don't know when he's going to stop growing."

Billy looked to Bella, "Does Charlie know?"

She shook her head, "I think he has an idea now, but I don't think so. Not before today anyway." She looked across the room at them. Masen had a hand on Charlie's face.

"I bet your dad doesn't have a cold anymore," Edward told her.

Bella smiled.

Emmett joined them, "Hey guys." They all said hello back.

"Uh, Billy," Emmett said, "Can I ask you a few things? You know, about the lunar eclipse."

Bella looked at Edward. Billy looked at both of them, "Yeah. Sure Emmett."

Edward smirked and pulled Bella away.

Paul grabbed a beer from the fridge. He was whispering to a few of the other guys, and Seth put himself into the mix.

Sue looked over at the group of them, "Seth!"

His head snapped in her direction, "I'm not having any," he protested.

Paul grinned and made fun of him. Sue eyed Paul, who immediately stopped.

After a few more glasses of wine, Charlie looked more relaxed, and Edward filled in the rest of the family that he had let his curiosity about Masen go, at least temporarily.

"I'm sure he'll bring it up again," Edward told Carlisle.

"I still say we turn him," Emmett said, joining the conversation.

Bella looked up at him, unsure of how to feel.

"I'm just kidding, Bella."

She smiled, "I wonder if he'd want that."

"Save it for another day," Edward said, "Emmett, let her enjoy the party."

"I didn't mean anything by it," he told her.

"No, it's fine Emmett." Bella assured him.

The later night creeped in upon them and their guests started to filter out. Carlisle and Sam got deep into a conversation about their meeting with the Volturi, before shaking hands as Sam made his way with Emily back to the reservation.

"Come by any time," Billy told Emmett. Jacob helped his father out the door and said his goodbyes to Renesme, who looked heavily ready for bed.

Bella gave Charlie a long hug, and Sue walked out with him and the two of them left together.

The Cullens all stood together, looking around the empty room. Music still played from the stereo and the TV had a re-run of Jay Leno playing.

"Well, I'd say that was a success," Alice stated.

"Not a bad party mama bear," Emmett said to Esme.

"I think everyone needed to let loose a little," Carlisle agreed.

"Now ladies, go clean up!" Emmetted laughed.

Rosalie shook her head with a glare, unable to keep a smile from her face at the same time.

"You ain't mad at me Rose," he turned his back on her and she charged, taking him to the ground and getting him into a hold he couldn't escape."

"I let you win," he said from within her grasp.

"Yeah, yeah," she said, letting him go.

Bella put Renesme to bed and everyone began to clean up. Rosalie smiled at Emmett, who had Masen clinging to his leg.

"I have to talk to you when we're all done cleaning up," Esme whispered to Carlisle, looking at Masen and Emmett.

He nodded, "I think I know what you're going to say."