I woke up and everything looked foggy. I looked around and no one was there. Where was everyone? Why is it all foggy around here?
Something caught my eye and I had to rub my eyes before I looked back again. My eyes widened in shock. Was I dreaming?
"Mum" I gasped. She started walking towards me, she was so graceful. I felt tears swarm around my eyes and I didn't bother wiping them away. She was here. She was foggy and turned solid.
"Hello Bella" she smiled sweetly at me before helping me to my feet.
"Mum? Where are we? What's going on? I miss you so much" I sobbed. She pulled me lightly into her arms, rubbing her hands up and down my back.
"I know sweetheart, I miss you too. So much. I miss Charlie too believe it or not. We're in limbo baby. You passed out and they allowed me to come and talk to you for the last time" she smiled weakly as tears strolled down her cheeks.
"Why did this have to happen with you mum? You didn't deserve it at all"
"I know it is hard baby. We have to accept it and move on. I guess we could call it fate. Everyone is bound to die in their life, but we didn't expect it to happen so early. Don't worry sweetheart, he's in jail and he won't be coming out again. I'm really thankful for that officer that accompanied my body from Phoenix to Forks. Will you tell him for me? Well without scaring him of course" she giggled. Hearing her giggle made me smile. I'm going to miss this.
"Of course mum. So much has changed in the past year. It all hasn't sunk in yet" I said looking down.
"I know sweetheart. You're having everything pushed towards you so quickly. You're strong. My baby girl is strong. Plus you are a wolf now; you will be stronger than ever. You have a big family. The pack is your family. They all care about you so much. They will help you to move on baby. I'll watch over you guys" as she said that I looked at her with a shocked expression.
"What? Mum? How did you know that I was a wolf?" I asked confused.
"Bella I know that Charlie is a wolf. We both knew that there was a chance that you were going turn into a wolf too. I think it was one of the reasons that I left Charlie. I'm so sorry sweetie. But I freaked out when I found out that Charlie was wolf. I don't think I could have handled two wolves in my house. So I decided to leave. But to this day, I still love Charlie. I will always love him. I made a mistake when I jumped into a relationship with Phil. I really wish I didn't" she sighed. There was more, I could tell from her expression.
"There's more to that, I know it mum. Tell me. I want to understand" I said lowering myself to the floor and crossed my legs. She followed.
"I always knew there was something about Phil that wasn't good. I didn't know what it was. I think Charlie might have felt the same way about Phil. He never did like him at all. I'm not surprised don't you think? Charlie was always good at sensing something about someone. You're lucky you didn't meet Phil very often, maybe once or twice and I'm glad about that. I made a big mistake. I should have left him a long time ago, but I didn't have the strength to. I loved Phil, I knew something was bad about him and I still didn't leave him. When I decided to leave him, it was already too late. I suffered the consequences" she sighed.
"Oh mum, I wish I was there for you. I wish I was a wolf earlier and I could have protected you. We should have protected you better" I whispered.
"Bella sweetheart, you couldn't have protected me. Please don't blame yourself. I know Charlie blames himself. He like you thinks he should have protected me himself. Pass the message onto Charlie will you?" she replied.
"Of course mum, whatever you want" I said nodding my head slowly.
"Baby it's time for you to go back. Go back to Paul and Charlie. They need you" she said taking hold of my hands. I looked up at her with horrified eyes.
"No mum. I don't want to leave. You can't leave me again. Please. Let me stay with you mum. Please" I begged her. She shook her head and smiled sadly.
She was standing up glowing. She had a hand outstretched. I tried to reach for her hand, but she was foggy. She was fading away. I was calling out for her.
"MUM!" I cried and sat up so fast my back cracked but I didn't care. I looked around the room and I saw Paul and Charlie looking at me with a concerned look. Where was she? Was it all a dream? It was real, I felt her.
"Swan? Are you ok?" Paul asked with a worried expression.
"Paul? I saw mum. I saw mum!" I said clinging to him.
"Bells? What are you talking about?" Charlie said with a confused look.
"I saw mum. She was in the flesh. She said we shouldn't blame ourselves. It wasn't our duty to protect her. She told me to tell you that she misses you too" I replied looking down.
"Oh Bells. I know it wasn't our duty to protect her, but I still felt like it was my job to protect her. I miss her too sweetie, we all do" I nodded and walked slowly over to my mum's body and planted a kiss on her cold forehead. I whispered an 'I love you' before I pulled away from her.
"Brian? Are you hungry? Would you like to come to the rez and try my cooking? You must be starving. Plus we would like to thank you for what you have done" I said smiling weakly at him.
"Of course Miss Swan, if it isn't too much trouble I would be delighted to try your cooking. It's my duty Miss" he bowed.
"Brian enough of the 'Miss Swan', please call me Bella everyone else does. We should have a bonfire tonight. It really is much fun. When will you need to go back?" I questioned.
"Yes of course Miss… I mean Bella. A bonfire does sound quite appealing. I have been transferred to Forks Police Department actually. I just need to buy a new house and I'll be all set for work" he beamed.
"Yes bonfires are very entertaining. There are stories told. Very interesting ones. Come along now, let's go to the rez" I said before I kissed my mother's forehead for the last time.
He nodded and followed us out. I didn't bother looking at Elena. I didn't hate her I just disliked her. But she will never replace my mother's place in my father's heart, I know that for sure.
We slowly made our way to the cars. Brian jumped into the bed of Paul's truck, since he caught a ride to the morgue with the body.
We started to head down to La Push. Brian was lying on the bed of the truck with his arms rested behind his head looking relaxed. He seemed quite relaxed with us, for someone who is a stranger to us I mean.
Brian's POV
As I landed in Forks, I looked out the window and shook my head in disbelief. The weather wasn't that nice. But I was told that Forks always had dull weather. I missed the warm weather from Phoenix already, but it didn't really affect me anyways.
I knew about the legends. I had a feeling that there was something to this Charlie Swan, maybe he was a wolf too?
I felt bad for their family for their loss. I don't understand why Renee didn't call the police for help. Did she really love someone that much? I don't know, maybe.
I was nervous about meeting the Swan family, I don't know why. It was just when I heard the name Swan; I volunteered to bring Renee's body to Forks. I still don't understand why, I just felt the need to. It was like Forks was calling for me.
As I volunteered, it seemed Forks Police Department needed a transfer from Phoenix. So they transferred me over too.
As I got the morgue, it was cold and made me shiver. That's normal anyways; at least I think it is. I sat down patiently and waited for the Swan family to come to the morgue. I knew this was going to be hard for them.
I leaned over my knees and looked down at my hands as I waited. I heard some cars pull up but I didn't look up until I heard the door open. My head snapped up so fast, I'm surprised that my neck didn't snap.
"Excuse me? Officer? Would you happen to be Officer Pratt?" she asked in a small voice. I looked up at her and she looked pretty.
"You must be Miss Swan. My name is Officer Pratt. You can call me Brian. We from the Phoenix police department are terribly sorry for your loss. The guys from the department send their condolences" I said bowing my head slightly.
"Of course. Thank you Brian. We are thankful for what you guys have done. Especially having an officer escorting my ex-wife's body. I really appreciate it. Thank you" an older voice said. I looked in that direction and there was this older man standing with a woman and another male. He must be Charlie Swan.
"Yes sir. Please follow me. She's right this way" I said before I turned to walk down a cold long hall before I stopped outside some double doors. I looked back to see them slowly making their way down the hall before I headed through the double doors and waited.
I watched through the windows in the doors to see that the daughter looked back at her father with a frightened look. I couldn't understand what she would be feeling. I never really had a family. I don't know who my parents are. I watched as he gave her a reassuringly look and nodded his head slightly.
I stood there silently as Charlie and his daughter entered the room. As soon as his daughter entered the room, she collapsed to the floor sobbing. My heart went out to her. The guy next to her was by her side right away. Rocking her back and forth as she sobbed staring at the body.
Charlie was leaning over the body with silent tears rolling down his cheeks. He was stroking his ex-wife's cheeks.
"Brian, please tell me that the man responsible for my mother's death is sentenced to jail for the rest of his life. Please tell me he's going to be rotting in jail" she begged me. I was so glad that I had the answer to that.
"He has be sentenced to jail for the rest of his life ma'am. He won't be coming out of jail. It sickens me to know what he has done to such an innocent woman" I said shaking my head in disgust. It was appalling.
She nodded slightly before she started to get to her feet. Her boyfriend I assume helped her to her feet as she started to sway slightly. She slowly made her way to the table as she looked at the body. She looked at the wounds that would make you want to be sick.
Something was wrong with the daughter. I was right. I guess her mind shut down and she hit the floor, out cold.
They panicked as she hit the floor. Her boyfriend was trying to wake her up by shaking her shoulders gently. It wasn't going to work that way.
"Sir? I think maybe you should just let her be. She'll come around" I suggested quickly. He turned to glare me and grabbed two fistfuls of my shirt.
"Don't tell me what to do. I know how to take care of my mate fool" he growled. Charlie came and put his hand on the boyfriend's shoulder.
"Paul? It's ok. Let him go. Maybe he's right. It was too much for Bells, her mind has just shut down. Swan is ok Lahote, now let him go" he said with authority. Paul turned to growl at me before he sighed and let me go. He turned back to his girlfriend and just waited.
"Thanks Charlie" I said clearing my throat. He nodded before he walked over to the woman and the other male. Was that maybe his son?
We stood and waited for her to wake up. It felt like a long time before she woke up.
"MUM!" she cried and sat up so fast I heard her back crack. Ouch.
"Swan? Are you ok?" Paul asked with a worried expression.
"Paul? I saw mum. I saw mum!" she said clinging to him.
"Bells? What are you talking about?" Charlie said with a confused look.
"I saw mum. She was in the flesh. She said we shouldn't blame ourselves. It wasn't our duty to protect her. She told me to tell you that she misses you too" she said looking down.
"Oh Bells. I know it wasn't our duty to protect her, but I still felt like it was my job to protect her. I miss her too sweetie, we all do" she nodded and walked slowly over to her mother's body and planted a kiss on her cold forehead. She whispered an 'I love you' before she pulled away from her.
"Brian? Are you hungry? Would you like to come to the rez and try my cooking? You must be starving. Plus we would like to thank you for what you have done" she said smiling weakly at me.
"Of course Miss Swan, if it isn't too much trouble I would be delighted to try your cooking. It's my duty Miss" I bowed.
"Brian enough of the 'Miss Swan', please call me Bella everyone else does. We should have a bonfire tonight. It really is much fun. When will you need to go back?" she questioned.
"Yes of course Miss… I mean Bella. A bonfire does sound quite appealing. I have been transferred to Forks Police Department actually. I just need to buy a new house and I'll be all set for work" I beamed at her.
"Yes bonfires are very entertaining. There are stories told. Very interesting ones. Come along now, let's go to the rez" she said before she planted a kiss on her mother's forehead for the last time.
We slowly made our way to the cars. I didn't have a car so I jumped into the bed of Paul's truck. We started our journey to La Push, wherever that was.
I was lying on the bed of the truck with my arms rested behind my head, I was quite relaxed. I was relaxed with these strangers too. There was something about them that I couldn't quite figure out.
We arrived shortly and I leaped out of the truck, landing into a crouch. Their house was beautiful. I stood there in awe.
"The pack and the elders will be here shortly for the bonfire. We're going to find some wood for the bonfire. We'll be back" Paul said before tugging the male and Charlie with him.
Bella and the other woman headed into the house. Bella looked over her shoulder and beckoned me in. I nodded before I headed up the stairs of the front porch.
"So Brian. Are there any types of food that you are allergic to?" she questioned as she walked into the kitchen.
"Nope I'm not allergic to anything thank god for that. I love my food. I've got a big appetite. I hope you don't mind" I replied.
"Ah that's quite alright Brian. I'm used to that all the time. The guys here have a big appetite too" she said. But I felt like her tone showed that there was more to it. "Would you mind helping me Brian?"
"Not at all Bella. I'm sure the others will be a while so I'll keep myself busy. What's to help?" I smiled at her.
"Well there are burgers that need to be done. I'll start on the salad and dessert. We need to make some chicken wings, fries and steaks. The guys love their meat. Oh what's your favourite dessert?" she smiled.
"Wow that sounds good. Erm… I love strawberry cheesecake"
"Oh wow! That's my favourite too! I'll make some of them for dessert then"
"Sound great Bella" I said before I started flipping burgers. There were so many burgers to be flipped. We made light conversation when we were busy in the kitchen. I was surprised to see that the other woman wasn't in the kitchen helping, but I chose not to mention it.
After a while Bella had three big cheesecakes in the fridge. She was baking cookies and pies too. Apple pies, I could smell them from the oven.
We heard laughter from outside and we started to speed up our cooking. All the burgers were done, the salad was ready. Fries and chicken wings were nearly done and I had just started on the steaks. We piled up the chicken wings and fries into metal trays and put them onto the tables near the bonfire.
We grilled the steaks on the pans before we piled them onto some more metal trays and grabbed a hand full of paper plates.
As we made our way to the bonfire, I looked at everyone and they all had russet skin. Were they all wolves? I guess the elders weren't here yet. The bonfire was surrounded by young adults.
"Guys? This is Officer Brian Pratt. Call him Brian. Brian these are the guys. That's Sam and Emily. Jared and Kim. Quil. Jacob, Embry, Seth, Colin, Brady and of course you know me and Paul" she smiled as she pointed to each one as she mentioned their name. I nodded at them politely. "Come on guys, let's eat I'm starving" she giggled.
We all dug in and then the elders came. I was too busy eating. When I was finished I looked up to look at the elders. I stood up and dropped my plate. Everyone turned round to look at me, even the elders.
"Dad" I gulped. 'Holy Shit' I heard someone say.
A/N: Dun Dun Dun! :P Thanks for the reviews