Chapter Fifty Eight

Bella

I woke up to see that the sun was shining just for a change. I lifted my head and realized I was still in Jasper's arms. He'd sat all night holding me and I felt a whole lot better for it.

"Hi there, how you feeling? I have some good news for you"

"Oh, they've found Edward?"

He shook his head ruefully, "Not that good, but we've arranged for you to be discharged into Carlisle's care." "Does that mean I get out if here?"

"Yes my love, it does." I felt even better. "Carlisle has arranged a private ambulance for you"

"Where am I going?"I had my fingers crossed as he answered,

"Back to our house in Forks if that's OK. Carlisle is taking some time off to look after you."

I nuzzled his neck, "How did you get Charlie to agree to that?"

He smiled and my heart skipped a couple of beats, "I just told him the truth. That you would be better with me than in a hospital. He saw you in my arms last night and he couldn't argue with his own eyes."

I kissed his neck and snuggled back into his body. I hated the blanket I was wrapped in but I guess it was better than freezing.

Charlie

Carlisle rang to tell me the ambulance had picked Bella up and she was now at their place. Esme had invited me for dinner and although it made me smile I agreed, I wanted to see if Bella was better for being out of the hospital, I'd come so close to losing her. When I pulled up Esme was standing at the door with a smile of welcome.

"Hello Charlie please come in"

I followed her into the house, a beautiful place with huge windows and very bright.

"Bella is through there" she pointed to the top of a flight of steps. "Do go up".

I followed the stairs as they curved round into a huge lounge area. Bella was laying on a huge white sofa covered in a thick blanket and with her head resting in Jaspers lap. He turned as I walked in

"Hello Charlie. Bella's asleep. Carlisle gave her some pain relief after the journey."

I nodded and walked round to look at her. She was fast asleep, a smile on her face and her hand grasping Jaspers tightly.

"Looks like you're not going anywhere soon" I pointed out.

He smiled down at her, "Where else would I want to be Charlie?"

I nodded, "Yeah I guess I can see that".

Suddenly he looked softer, younger, and very much in love.

Carlisle

When I walked in Charlie was already there, sitting talking to Jasper. Bella was still asleep but her colour was coming back, the drive over had taken a lot out of her and I thought some pain relief was in order but it was a struggle to get her to accept it. Once Jasper had sat down with her and promised to stay she gave in and she'd been asleep ever since.

"How's her pain now?" I asked him with a nod to Charlie.

"Much better now she's relaxed."

Charlie looked at me in query,

"Empath, feels all emotions so he's better than any monitors at watching our patient".

Charlie nodded, "Nothing surprises me any more"

Then Esme called him down for dinner, I followed him down so we could chat. He looked at the table all laid up and the meal steaming in its place,

"I take that all back. A meal smelling that good cooked by a vampire who doesn't eat! I can still be surprised".

She smiled at him, "I hope it tastes as good as it smells. I'll leave you to talk."

"Thank you Esme" he said as he took the first bite."

"Charlie I think we need to talk about what happens next."

He chewed and swallowed then asked, "Next?"

"Well its pretty obvious that Bella and Jasper belong together and to stay together she will have to be changed."

That stopped him mid chew, he choked the mouthful down and took a swig of water.

"Wait just a minute. Do you mean what I think you mean?"

nodded, "She's already spoken to us about it. It's what she wants"

He shook his head, "She told you that?"

"Yes. She already asked Jasper to change her once"

"Change her? Does that mean he has to bite her or something?"

"Yes it does. He has to inject his venom into her bloodstream"

"Then what happens?"

"The venom spreads through her body and changes her physically. It takes a few days to completely change her and then she wakes up as a vampire."

"Carlisle I think there's more to it than you've told me so far."

I nodded and sighed, "Yes. The three days she takes to change are extremely painful although with Jaspers help she wont suffer too much."

"So he can stop her feeling pain?"

"Yes he can take it into himself."

"So he'd suffer instead of her?"

"He can't stop it altogether but he'd feel most of it instead of her."

"And then she'd drink blood?"

"I'm afraid so, but we'd teach her to only hunt animals."

"There's more, I can feel it"

"Yes. For the first year or so she would be very blood thirsty and unpredictable but again with Jaspers help it would be much easier."

"So I couldn't see her for a while?"

"It wouldn't be a good idea, after all you still have blood running through your veins."

"Good point. But how come you can work in a hospital Carlisle?"

"Many years of perseverance."

Jasper

I was listening to the conversation downstairs. I wasn't sure it was wise to tell Charlie everything but I trusted Carlisle. I would look after Bella through her change and her new-born phase, making sure it was as easy as possible for her. Any relief from the burning and the thirst I could give her I would. I just had to hope that Charlie, once he'd talked to Bella, wouldn't stand in her way as long as she still wanted to make a life with me as my mate. I couldn't even contemplate the rest of my existence without her.

As I worried, she murmured and moved restlessly. I was projecting and I had to stop before I upset her too much so I dreamed of a life with her at my side, us as a family. I felt her move and saw she'd opened her eyes,

"What were you thinking just then Jasper?"

"Why?"

"Just tell me please"

"I was thinking of a life spent with you darlin'".

"Good, because that's what I saw in my dreams too. Has Charlie got here yet?"

"Yes he's having dinner and talking to Carlisle."

"Oh, about what?"

"I hope you don't mind, Carlisle was talking about the possibility of my changing you. Just a possibility" I added hastily not wanting her to think I was planning without consulting her.

"No Jasper" she whispered and my frozen heart cracked down the centre, "No possibility.

"Despite everything that's happened?"

She stopped me with a kiss, "Because of everything that's happened Jazz. It's just shown me how very much I love you"