Chapter 62

Charlie sat in a big, comfy chair in the Cullens' living room sipping a cup of coffee. Everyone was gathered close by, except for Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie, who stayed behind to sniff out the house. Carlisle had convinced Masen to go with Emmett in order to keep him distracted from the situation. Although he did not crave human blood, he did not want to take any chances.

Carlisle and Bella sat immediately across from Charlie, who seemed to be sipping his coffee in order to keep from asking the million questions that were running through his mind. Edward had insight to all of it. The term 'vampire' crossed his mind over and over. Occasionally there was another idea, or thoughts of himself being completely nuts, but the reoccuring theme in Charlie's mind was more than just accurate. It was dead on correct.

Carlisle had wrapped his arm, and got him bandaged up. Charlie's eyes kept drifting to the red and white wrapping as he sipped from the mug.

"How are you feeling?" Carlisle asked.

Charlie took a long swig, then answered, "Good. Good."

"Good," Carlisle responded similarly. He looked over at Bella, which caused Charlie to do the same.

There was a long, uncomfortably and edgy silence. Alice saw Charlie shiver slightly and brought him over a blanket, placing it over his shoulders.

"Thank you, Alice," Charlie said. He forced a smile.

Charlie found himself feeling like some kind of animal at the zoo, with everyone staring at him and waited to see what he would do next. He never enjoyed being the center of attention, so the mood made him feel extremely uncomfortable. He decided to end the agony and speak his true thoughts.

"So, Jacob's a werewolf," Charlie stated dryly, nodding to himself, knowing he was right.

There were nods all around, and Bella answered, "Yes."

"Uh huh," he looked aound the room, "I was, uh, bit by someone. By something. Someone?"

"Charlie," Carlisle cleared his throat.

"Are there things like..." Charlie paused and continued, finding himself to be crazy, "Are there vampires? Well, I mean not vampires, but..." He was embaressed to let the words leave his mouth.

Carlisle looked to Bella, almost giving her a look of 'go ahead and tell him.'

"Bella?" Charlie asked, "Tell me what's going on Bells."

Bella looked down and back up, "Dad," she sucked in a breathful of air, "You were bitten by a..."

He turned an ear in her direction, as if to make sure he was about to hear her correctly.

"By a - a..."

"A vam.." Charlie started, and Bella finished the word with him, "..pire."

Edward read his thoughts. He wanted to know if it was one of them that did it. He thought it might have been Bella, but the thought quickly left his mind. He wanted to know if he was surrounded by vampires.

"Charlie," Edward said, "You were bitten by a vampire named Gianna. She's not with us. She's with a coven we try not to associate with."

"So," Charlie started, "So, you're all, as well, you know."

"Yes," Carlisle stated, joining the conversation.

"Bella?" Charlie asked.

Bella nodded, "Yes, Dad. But listen, it's not how you're picturing it. We don't get blood from humans, only animals. We help humans."

Charlie was in a state of shock. Bella knew she was throwing way too much at him, but she couldn't stop. Her words just flowed out of her mouth faster than Charlie's blood had flowed out of his arm.

"Our eyes, they're all golden. They're golden because we only eat animals. You'll know the ones who feed on humans because their eyes are red."

Charlie didn't talk. He took it all in, sipping his coffee still.

Alice tried to ease his mood, "Can I get you some more coffee Charlie?"

He stared up at her, as if seeing her for the first time, "Sure, Alice. Thank you."

She smiled and took his cup and went to refill it.

"So Alice is a vampire too?" Charlie asked, taking extra long to get all the words out.

"Yep," Alice called, peeking her head out of the kitchen with a smile.

Charlie took in a deep breath, and for a second Bella was scared he might have a nervous breakdown, or go into some kind of panic state, but he didn't.

"Edward," Charlie asked, "Did you turn Bella into a vampire?"

Bella's eyes widened and everyone turned to Edward. He knew the question was coming.

"I turned Bella only because she was about to, well, die," Edward confessed.

"She was about to what? When? On your honeymoon? In the spa in Switzerland?" Charlie had suddenly snapped back to life.

"Here," Edward said, "I'm sorry that we lied to you, but Bella was never in Switzerland. She was here the whole time."

"What!?" Charlie asked, "Bella..."

"It's true, Dad."

"You almost died? And I had no idea?" He was frantic, even moreso than when he was told that they were all vampires.

"I didn't almost," she started, "Well, okay, Dad don't freak out."

"Don't freak out?" Charlie shrieked, "Don't freak out?"

"Dad, listen. I was still human on the honeymoon and well, I got pregnant before we left. Because the baby was half vampire, it was crushing me. It was killing me."

"Renesme?" Charlie asked.

"Yes," Bella said, "Renesme is our daughter, our biological daughter. I know it seems impossible, but it's true. She ages fast and she'll continue to for a little while longer before she stops. Then she'll stay frozen like that forever."

It was too much for Charlie to take in. He felt sick to his stomach, and felt the room spinning around him. Alice returned with the coffee, but as he reached out for it, he passed out.

Charlie awoke to Sue standing over him. He had forgotton where he was and sat up fast, looking around. He was still at the Cullens, and it took him several minutes to realize whether everything that had happened was a dream, or had really happened. He looked down at his bandaged arm.

"Charlie," Sue said, "Charlie it's okay." She sat down on the couch beside him and cradled his head to her.

"What's going on?" Charlie asked. Bella rushed into the room to be by his side.

"Dad, you're okay," she said, attempting to calm him down.

Charlie looked at his arm again and then to Sue, "Did you know about all this?"

"Yes," she confessed.

He breathed out heavily, "Well I was the only one out of the loop, huh?"

"Dad, it was for your own good," Bella said, "I didn't want you to have to get involved if you didn't have to."

Masen entered the room, "Hi Charlie. Are you feeling okay?"

Charlie nodded, "Yeah. Thanks." He looked at Bella and Sue, "Is that Carlisle and Esme's boy?"

They both nodded.

"And how old is he?"

"He'll be a year in December," Bella told him.

Charlie looked at Masen, "A year huh?"

Masen looked to be in his "tween" years.

"I don't even get carded anymore," Masen said with a laugh.

Bella was suprised at the drinking reference, but then heard Emmett laugh. Bella smiled, "Mase, do you even know what that means?"

He shrugged, "Not really, but Emmett told me to say it when someone talked about my age."

Esme and Carlisle entered the room. "If you don't know what it means, don't say it," Esme told him. They made their way to Charlie.

"I'm sorry this happened to you, Charlie," Carlisle said, "I know this must be all so overwhelming for you. I didn't want you to find out this way."

"I don't even know what to ask, or say," Charlie said. He looked at Sue.

"I'm sorry, too," she told him, "I hated keeping you in the dark about it. I thought many times about telling you, but I wasn't sure it was the right thing to do regarding your safety."

"My safety.." His voice trailed off.

"Oh, we tracked the scent," Emmett said, entering the room, "It disappeared by La Pushe."

"We'll know if it's back," Masen added, "I have that scent planted in my brain." He pressed a finger against his temple.

"We'll guard your house, Charlie," Carlisle told him, "In case she returns."

"No, no you don't have to."

"That's what we used to do for Bella," Emmett blurted out.

"That's what you used to do for Bella?" Charlie asked, repeating the statement in the form of a question.

"Yeah, you know, just to be sure."

"To be sure... Right."

"Are we sure it's Gianna?" Carlisle asked.

Alice appeared in the room immediately, "Yes."

"What would she want with Charlie?"

"You mean what would Aro want?" Alice corrected him, "Aro sent her," then added, "Their child was born already."

"Are they nearby?" Carlisle asked.

She shook her head, "No. Aro and the baby are in Italy."

"Gianna left her baby?" Esme asked, surprised.

"She's under Aro's control," Alice told them, "She does whatever he says."

"This was a message," Carlisle said, "They're planning something, or they're at least trying to state their dominance somehow."

"I'm almost positive Aro knows we all know about Gianna. So he doesn't care that we know he's behind the attack."

Charlie looked to Sue, asking tons of questions with his eyes.

"I'll tell you everything later," she told him, "I think you need to rest." She hugged him close and Bella could see tears in her eyes. Charlie hugged her back, still looking a little out of it.

"Dad," Bella said, "I'm really, really sorry. I hope you can forgive me for lying to you."

He managed a smile, "I want to know you'll be alright, Bella."

"I'm fine. I'm stronger than ever."

Charlie knew this was true, and believed what they'd told him about living off of animals. "How come I didn't turn into one?"

"Bella sucked the venom out," Carlisle explained, "The transformation hadn't happened yet."

"Wow. Well, this was a lot to take in," Charlie confessed. He looked at Sue, "Why don't you take me home. I don't think I can drive. Do I even have my car here? No. I don't." He answered his own question.

"Let me take you to the reservation," Sue said.

"The wolves can protect you there," Edward told him.

"You mean Jacob?" Charlie asked.

"Jacob, Paul, Seth, Sam, Leah."

"Okay. Well, yeah that makes sense." The sentence didn't sound like it made much sense to him as he spoke it. Sue guided him to the door with Bella close behind.

"Dad," she said again, "I love you."

"Love ya too."

She looked down, "Do you feel any differently about me? Now that you know?"

Pain crossed Charlie's face, "You're my daughter, Bella. I don't care if you turn into a... giraffe.."

Bella smiled and laughed briefly. Charlie managed a snicker, too.

"I'm serious," he told her, "Bella, I'll love you no matter what."

She hugged him, overly thankful for having him in her life; moreso than ever before. Like before, she did not want to let him go, or let him out of her sight.

Charlie cringed, "Too tight, Bella."

She let go, "Sorry. I'm going to meet you at the reservation in a bit. I'll look after you."

"You know," he said, "I thought it was suppose to be the other way around. Me looking after my daughter."

"Well, it's about time I returned the favor," Bella smiled, "You got to do that for the last twenty years. For the next fifty, it's my turn."