Chapter Twenty Four

Bella

I stood nervously holding Jaspers hand as we saw the truck approach,

"It'll be fine Bella. its Charlie, he loves you and once he sees you are fine he'll relax. He probably wont like me but we'll get over that"

"Why wont he?"

"Well let me think, I arrive too late to save you in Italy then take advantage of his little girl and whisk her away to be my mate"

"It wasn't like that at all"

"That's the way he'll see it"

Before I had time to argue more the truck pulled up and Charlie got out, standing awkwardly at the bottom of the porch steps looking up at me. I smiled,

"Hi Dad"

He put one foot on the bottom step as if unsure he should get too close but Peter took his arm and pulled him up the steps to stand in front of me

"It's your Daughter for fuck sake, say hi, give her a kiss, she wont bite you"

As he moved away cackling with laughter I smiled again.

"He's right, I wont"

I held out a hand and he took it flinching slightly at my cold skin,

"Bella? It's really you?"

I nodded,

"Yeah me in the flesh so to speak. I missed you Dad"

He pulled me into his arms and held me tightly,

"I'm so sorry Bells I should have taken more notice, protected you better. I wish you'd never come to Forks"

I felt Jaspers hand slip from mine and I knew he was giving me time alone with Charlie which was very sweet of him but I missed his presence, the ache in my chest was deep and would swell the longer we were apart.

"Come in Dad"

We went in together and I took him through to the terrace out back in the shade of the vines. As we sat down I saw him looking around.

"Nice place, you renting it?"

"No, actually Jasper bought it for us, a home for me until I could travel and be around people again. Its comfortable and far enough from Volterra and its warm and sunny although that causes its own problems for me now"

"What, you can't go out in the sun?"

"Not when there are humans around or they'd know there's something odd about us."

"Oh?"

"I'll show you later. Did Peter behave himself when he picked you up?"

"Yes, I like him and his wife, they seem like good people. Where did Jasper go?"

He looked around for him,

"I think he's giving us time alone to chat."

"What's he like?"

"I love him Dad, and he loves me. He's sweet, kind, and thoughtful."

"Really? That's a different picture than the one Carlisle painted, he made him sound like a Soldier and Peter calls him Major"

"That's because I was a Soldier and then a Mercenary Charlie. Carlisle told you that because he knew it would take a Soldier to get Bella out of Volterra and you'd be happier knowing someone with the relevant experience was helping your Daughter."

Jasper appeared from the house and handed Charlie a beer before sitting down with us.

"So what is the truth about Major Jasper Whitlock?"

"He's a vampire who was once a man like you. He fought for what he believed in and was turned by a vampire to lead her Army. I spent years as a bloodthirsty vampire carving an Empire for my maker before escaping. Since then I've struggled to be a good man, learned to live on animal blood and I haven't had to fight since. I went to Volterra ready to fight for Bella's freedom but it wasn't necessary."

"For a good return I heard"

"No Charlie, I would have gone anyway. I liked Bella, she was the first person to treat me like a human since I was changed and she didn't judge me."

"Jake told me you attacked my Daughter, is that true?"

"Dad..."

Jasper cut me off,

"Your Father has a right to question me Bella. I didn't attack Bella although everyone else thought I was. I felt Edwards emotions, I knew he was about to overreact and I tried to intervene but the others thought I was attacking her and stopped me."

"And that's your story?"

"It's the truth Charlie whether you choose to believe me or not. You know what I am and how I came to be, I love Bella and I will look after her that's all I can promise. I hope its enough for you."

"We'll see, I don't know you well enough to pass comment. Bella seems OK and happy so I'm happy too."

"Can I ask you a personal question? Well a few actually"

"Feel free, I'll answer if I can"

"You say you live on animal blood and Bella?"

"Yes, its enough for us although we will always crave human blood"

"How do you live among people without attacking them?"

"With lots of determination but it is possible as you've seen in Forks."

"True. Bella said you bought this villa as a home for her?"

"Yes I felt it would be better if she had somewhere to call home until she's OK to fly, then its up to her where she wants to call home but it wont be Forks"

"Why not?"

"Because people know her there and they'd notice the difference in her. Also we don't age so it would become noticeable quite quickly, with all her friends knowing her so well"

"Do you have to keep moving for that reason?"

"Yes after a few years, it depends what age we start out at"

"Sorry?"

"Well if we start out in a new place at say 17 the fact we don't age doesn't become apparent for longer. How old would you say my friend Peter is?"

"In human terms?"

"Yes"

"Anything between 18 and late 20s I guess"

"See what I mean? If he starts in an area at 18 he cam stay until he gets to 30. He's actually slightly older than me but it would be difficult to tell."

"So Bella will always be as she is now?"

"Yes, she'll never grow old or sick. We don't suffer from any diseases or illnesses."

"Perpetual youth. It has its pluses then"

"Yes but she'll never be a mother, never have children of her own, never see her mother again or any other relatives, and she'll watch as all the humans she loves grow old and die."

"Did that happen to you?"

"No, I never saw my family after I was changed, I had a very different entrance to this world. The next time I was able to visit home my parents, my brothers, were all dead. I only had graves to visit."

"I'm sorry about that"

"Don't be, it was a long time ago and a lot has happened since. I know you aren't sure about me and I understand why so I ask only one thing Charlie"

"And what's that?"

"That you make up your own mind, don't accept what others say about me, good or bad"

"That's fair enough Jasper. OK"

Charlie

Bella showed me to a bedroom all set up for me and then showed me the kitchen and the fridge full of food and beer

"All this for me?"

"Yes, we don't eat or drink like you any more Dad and just in case you hear noises in the night, we don't sleep either"

"You don't?"

"No."

"So what do you do?"

She blushed and Peter walked in ready with an answer,

"Same as you Charlie, listen to music, talk, play games, watch TV, study."

"Study?"

"Yeah, I'm studying for a Doctorate in Chemistry at the moment"

I looked at him a little suspiciously but he grabbed a folder off the table and handed it to me, sure enough it held Chemistry work and the College letter regarding the work.

"Sorry I just wondered if you were pulling my leg"

"Oh he does Dad, it pays to treat anything Peter says with a healthy dose of scepticism."

"Hey Bells you looking for trouble?"

She smiled,

"Any time Peter, just say the word"

I watched this interaction so like the way I'd been with my friends, they were just like us. My little girl was still enjoying life in some form. The next few days I got to know the Whitlocks pretty well, Charlotte was level-headed and friendly a contrast to her husband Peter who was a perpetual joker but I sensed he'd be a good friend to have in a tight spot. He was ever watchful of us all and he and Jasper had a casual camaraderie that only came with long association and complete trust. Bella was happy and pleased to spend time with me although she was always watching for Jasper and more relaxed when he was beside her. It was plain they adored each other and I felt much happier about her.