Chapter Seventy Nine

As requested I'm writing a couple more chapters just to tie up loose ends. Thanks for all the reviews and for reading the stories.

Bella

Charlie came back with us to the house rather than Peter's to give them a break but things didn't seem to get any easier. He was fine when he'd just hunted although he wouldn't follow our diet of animals. He tried it once but he just seemed to get out of control that much quicker. When we were alone Charlie calmed down enough to talk about his feelings. He still insisted on blaming Jasper for what had happened to him and the fact that he'd lost all his friends. After all, Billy and Harry were hardly likely to welcome him with open arms now he was their enemy, and hunted humans. I tried to explain that Jasper had done everything he could to keep Charlie out of their world but he just shook his head and mumbled something about not doing enough.

"Well he could have left you with Alice" I snapped in the end.

"He would have done if it hadn't been for you coming after me. I've seen the way he looks at me. He doesn't want me here any more than Peter and Charlotte did but its their fault so I'm their responsibility."

I could feel my own anger rising at his pig headedness but I bit my tongue.

Jasper

I knew we were heading for a show down, Charlie and I. Bella did her best to keep the peace but he was spoiling for a fight. He seemed to think that because he was a new-born he had the advantage and under normal circumstances he would have been right but these went normal circumstances. I'd dealt with newborns for decades and I'd never lost to one yet. I tried to hold my temper in but he kept pushing me and I knew the day was coming when I would have to show him who was boss. I felt sorry for my beautiful Bella. She had told me again and again that I was the most important person in her life and she would protect me from anything but it was her father standing against me and that had to make a difference.

Charlie

I couldn't control this rage inside me whenever saw Jasper, especially if he was with my little girl. He'd stolen her life and she just couldn't see it. She was dazzled by his good looks and reputation. I needed to make her see what he really was and what he'd turned us into. His friend Peter came over to talk horses and they arranged to go off to a thoroughbred sale which would leave Bella and I alone. She'd wanted to go with him but I persuaded her to spend some time with me. It came to something when I had to beg for time with my own daughter. She just couldn't stay away from him. I had to do something, I just didn't know what.

Bella

I watched as Jasper and Peter drove away, feeling the emptiness always there when we were parted. I knew Charlie was watching me but I turned and went back into the house ignoring his cruel smile at having parted us for a little while. He followed me in and sat watching as I arranged some flowers Jasper had picked me into a glass vase.

"I'd have thought he could manage decent flowers for you, not those leggy old things"

"I like wild flowers Dad. If I wanted bouquets he would get them for me"

"Yeah I know, he walks on water where you're concerned".

I sighed, "Dad I don't want to have this conversation again. I love Jasper and he loves me,. We are happy in this life. I'm sorry you aren't but there's not a lot either of us can do to put that right. He helps you if he can and so does Peter but you don't seem to appreciate that".

"They only pretend to help so they look good in front of you. They both hate me, they resent my being here in my daughter's house".

I turned on him, "It's not my house its our house, Jasper and mine, we renovated it together, its ours and if you stopped being so obnoxious for a few minutes you'd see that they would help you. All you ever do is bitch or start fights with them. One of these days they're going to say enough is enough and take you apart"

He sneered, "Yeah, it would take the two of them"

I'd had enough,

"Dad, if you can't behave then I suggest you go. Find yourself somewhere else to live,. Somewhere you'll be happier".

"Oh, So its time to kick your old man out is it?"

"Yes perhaps it is." and I walked out. I knew he was finding it hard but he was ruining our happiness too.

Charlie

So he'd finally turned my own daughter against me and I had no way to pay him back. I knew seriously that he could probably take me although I'd give a good account of myself. Maybe I should let him then my daughter would see what kind of man he was. I wanted him so badly I could taste it and every time I killed I imagined it was him. I needed an ally, someone who didn't like him, who saw him as a threat but who? Then it dawned on me, they thought I'd run off to Italy to join the Volturi and the Volturi didn't like Jasper Whitlock, they didn't trust him, could I use them?

I must have spoken out loud because I heard Bella's voice behind me.

"Don't even think about it Charlie"

I whirled round,

"What? You worried I might bring him more trouble than he could deal with? Think the mighty Major Whitlock might fail?"

The fury on her face transformed it,

"You have no idea what you are contemplating. I won't let you bring the Volturi down on us, I'll see you dead first".

I stepped back,

"You're threatening your own father?"

She shook her head,

"No Charlie. My fathers gone and in his place is a blood thirsty vindictive savage. My Dad would never have threatened me"

"I'm not threatening you."

She walked to stand toe to toe with me.

"You listen to me. Jasper and I are one entity. You threaten him, you threaten me."

"He really has got you twisted round his little finger hasn't he?"

"No, he's got me twisted round his heart as he is around mine."

I laughed,

"You haven't got a heart any more, just a lump of stone."

Bella

So it had come down to this, my father was thinking of bringing the Volturi down on us without even realizing what that would mean, death to all of us. He couldn't see beyond the red mist permanently over his eyes.

"I have a heart and it belongs to my husband. If you threaten him I will act Charlie"

"Are you threatening me?"

"If that's what it takes"

He laughed in my face,

"Bella honey, don't threaten me. I'm still your father and I know what's best for you".

I shook my head,

"No Charlie you don't. You've become another Victoria or James. You see only what you want and damn the rest of us."

He backed down but I would watch him and if I saw the slightest indication he was going to make good on his threat I would act. I took him hunting while the others were away and it calmed him again for a few days.