Chapter Eighty Two

Bella

Peter smiled as we got out of the car.

"What?"

"Our dear friend Alice has been here"

"Is she here now?"

I couldn't smell, anything although that's how Peter had known, so I didn't have all the vampire assets yet. Jazz took my hand,

"Ready Mrs Whitlock?"

I smiled as I looked into his beautiful face,

"Ready Mr Whitlock"

Jake opened the door to us,

"You coming in or are you going to stand on the steps making eyes at each other all day?"

"Hi to you too Jake"

He smiled as I pushed past him,

"Looking good Bella, married life suits you, and you Jasper"

Charlie got up as we walked in and I was shocked by how frail he looked. Dropping Jasper's hand I ran to him and hugged him.

"Dad, I missed you"

"I kinda doubt that kiddo, well let me see the happy couple together"

"We're here Charlie"

Peter pushed past us towing Charlotte in his wake.

"Oh hi Peter, Charlotte. You two OK?"

"Better than you by the look of things, God you look bad."

"Thanks, I feel so much better for hearing that."

"Hey, I tell it like it is. You need a new Doctor, Charlie."

"Yeah well my insurance will only cover so much anyway I'm getting there, its just taking time is all. Come in and sit down. I want to hear all about this Paws Resort or whatever the hell they call it"

"I don't think there's much point in asking those two, they spent most of their time in their room by the sound of things.

I grabbed Peter and almost dragged him out.

"That's my Dad you're talking to, go hunt or whatever it is you do when you aren't annoying me"

"Well that's not often, not sure I can remember Bells."

"Try"

He heard the warning in my voice and put his hands up,

"OK you win Jeez we only just got here and already she's throwing me out"

"Yeah must be some kind of record even for you Peter"

He stood thinking,

"You know you may be right Em. I usually get to take my coat off first"

"You aren't wearing one. Now go"

Charlie

It was good to see Bella looking so happy and playing around with her friends. The fact they were all vampires wasn't lost on me but then she was part vampire herself. I couldn't quite get my head round that fact, I felt sad that Renee had never told me what happened but the others were right, I wouldn't have believed her if she had. I still missed her even though she was gone for ever now, I guess I never stopped loving her despite everything and I'd never be able to replace her in my heart. I saw Jasper watching me keenly, he knew more than he was telling. When Bella went out with Rose to get me some supper he came and sat on the floor at my side,

"When are you going to tell her Charlie?"

"Tell her what?"

He just looked at me,

"Hell I don't know Jasper. It isn't so important now she has a new life with you and her friends. They told me at the Hospital this virus had ruined my lungs"

"How long did they give you?"

"Six months, a year unless I can get a transplant and that's not coming off I know that."

"What about the alternative?"

"Being?"

"Accepting our help"

"You mean becoming a vampire like you?"

"And Bella, she's transforming as we speak"

"I thought she might. But would she want me in her life Jasper? Now she has you, now she knows I'm only a Step Dad."

"Of course. She'd want to do it herself, but she isn't venomous enough yet, but I could"

"You'd do that for me?"

"Yes and for Bella."

"And my lungs would be OK then?"

"Well strictly speaking you won't need them but yes, they'll be healthy again"

"You don't need to breathe?"

"No but its difficult without, we use our sense of smell a lot."

"I hadn't really considered it as an option. Maybe I should speak to her first"

"Sure, just remember it's on the table"

"I will and thank you. Not only for the offer but for making my little girl happy"

"She makes me happy Charlie."

"Yeah I see that too"

Bella and Rose came back in then with a mug and plate for me so Jasper went over and switched the TV to a basketball game,

"OK with you?"

"Sure"

We sat back to watch while Bella and Rose went out with Peter and Charlotte and I didn't enquire where, I'd probably be better off not knowing at this point. Emmett and Jake had also disappeared and strangely I missed them all.

Bella

We left Charlie and Jasper to watch the game while we set up a watch for Alice, she was close by and I didn't want her anywhere near my Dad. I explained what Milo had told Jazz and Rose laughed,

"Alice after Charlie? She must have been gutted seeing us turn up then. It will be fun running interference especially with Peter here, he hates, her always has done."

I left them to their chat while I went back in to see Charlie and reassure myself that Jazz was still there, if he was out of sight I got very nervous, it felt as if a part of me were missing. They both looked up and smiled as I came in and I went to hug my Dad first. He felt so thin and he looked almost the same colour as Jazz,

"Dad are you sure there's nothing else the Doctors can do for you?"

He looked at Jazz then back to me,

"Sit down Bella, I need to talk to you for a minute."

I sat beside Jazz and he took my hand in his, I knew it was going to be bad news.

"I've already told Jasper. The chest infection I had was caused by a virus and its damaged my lungs. Without a transplant I have maybe six months to live and I can't see me getting one of those when there are so many youngsters on the list."

"But they must be able to do something. I can't lose you now Dad"

Jazz touched my face with his free hand,

"Charlie and I were discussing that. I have offered to change him if he wants me to but he seems unsure how you would feel about that. He knows you are changing anyway."

"Thank you Jazz. Dad why do you think I'd be against anything that meant you stay in my life?"

"Well now, you know I'm not your real father and you have a new life with Jasper. I just thought..."

I pulled free of Jazz and went to kneel in front of Charlie's chair taking both of his cold hands in mine.

"Charlie you will always be my dad, you always were as far as it mattered, and I want you in my life always."

He looked at me and I saw tears in his eyes.

"I told you Charlie."

"It's always good to hear it son. So I guess I'll be taking you up on your offer. I just need a couple of days to sort things out, Harry and Billy will put my affairs in order. Where will we go? I can't stay here"

"No, you can come with us but I think the sooner the better"

"Yeah I thought there was something going on when Jake turned up with an overnight bag, followed by Rose and Emmett. You gonna tell me what's up?"

"We heard Alice Cullen might be making a play for you as a way of trying to control Bella"

He laughed which turned into a hacking cough and it took him a while to get his breath,

"Alice Cullen and me? Someone has a good imagination or a comic mind"

"She was here though"

"Yes true."

The smile stayed on his face for some time.