Chapter Twenty Five

Charlie

My three weeks was soon up and I had to say goodbye to Bella, not knowing when I'd see her again.

"Ring me Bells, just so I know you're OK"

"I will Dad. Take care, love you"

"Love you too"

Jasper and I shook hands.

"I still wasn't sure about him but it was merely a Dads caution I think because he had shown himself to be a great partner for my Daughter. It was obvious they adored each other and I know he made her happy, she smiled all the time he was with her. The only time I ever saw her less than radiant was when he went hunting without her. She decided as it was my last day she would spend it with me.

"Bella were you never scared by the fact Edward was a vampire?"

"No Dad I knew somehow they wouldn't hurt me"

"And it didn't worry you that Jake was not only a wolf but the bitter enemy of the Cullens?"

"No because I knew Jake wouldn't hurt me either and he and Edward finally realized that if they fought they would both lose me. Talking of which have you seen Edward?"

"No, he stays away and just as well as it was him who got you into this mess in the first place."

"He didn't mean to Dad and I'm sure he's hurting."

"But he's not the one for you any more?"

"No, Edward was a young girls fantasy boyfriend but not a man, not like Jasper."

"No I guess you're right there. Billy and the others will be relieved I finally got to see you, I guess I've been real worried but now, well you're still here in my life. What are your long-term plans?"

"Once I can fly we'll come back to the States and find a home, I'd like to go to College, take English Lit or maybe a History degree"

"And Jasper?"

"He already has a Doctorate in American History and English Literature and he's interested in learning so he might join me"

"If not?"

Then he'll be there to help me and maybe do something with his hands, build us a home, rear horses. He's a real Cowboy, rode from when he was a little boy and I hear he's great with them although I've never seen him ride"

"Horses aren't frightened of him? After all they are his food supply"

"Don't let him hear you say that, he'd never feed from a horse, we stick to deer, bears, wild cats, that kind of thing"

"Right yeah. Still can't get my head round that but I guess its natural for you"

"Not really, natural would be feeding from humans, we're considered very unnatural by other vampires"

"Have you met many others?"

"No, just a couple of nomads. In general vampires tend to wander in ones or twos, not many live in large groups like us, except the Volturi of course."

"Yeah the Volturi, now they do scare me."

"Me too, at one time"

"But not now?"

She smiled a secret smile,

"No not now."

Peter

We took Charlie back to the Airport for his plane offering to wait but he waved us off,

"I'm big enough and ugly enough to look after myself but thanks, and thank you for being such good friends to Bella"

"Hey, we love her like family which means I guess you are too. Now there's a scary thought."

"Maybe you two can come visit me sometime"

"We'd like that Charlie, now go before they call your flight."

We watched him into the terminal building, hand raised in farewell as he went.

Bella

Watching Charlie go I realized just how much he meant to me and I knew I'd be able to control myself because if I couldn't I'd lose him and I couldn't bear the thought of that. I was looking forward to a time when I could see Angie again. It was nice to have a friend who knew about me and was willing to still remain friends although I wasn't so sure about Jake. It sounded like he was even more anti Cullen than before. The thing that amused me the most was my Dad sitting down to talk with vampires and werewolves, my dad the most down to earth guy I knew.

Although I missed Charlie it would be nice just being the four of us again, I'd missed the easy familiarity we had as a family. Peter and Char went to hunt after dropping Charlie at the Airport so it was just Jasper and I and we made good use of the time alone. I'd missed his body close to mine as we lay looking at the stars or walked and hunted. I couldn't remember my old life well but I was sure I'd never felt so close to anyone in my entire life, it was as if he were my anchor to the planet and I knew without him I would go spinning off into blackness unable to function alone. Even being apart for a few hours as we had been while my Dad was here had become uncomfortable. Where I should have been conscious of Charlie's rich sweet blood tempting me I was only aware of a dull ache throughout my body, yearning for my mates return.

Jasper

I'd monitored Bella's emotions as a way of keeping Charlie safe but there was never a feeling of strong yearning for his blood, I probably felt thirstier than she did which was good. It meant it wouldn't be long before she could fly, I knew she was looking forward to getting away from Italy, it held only bad memories for her. We needed to talk about where she wanted to live although Peter kept putting me off, delaying me until Char finally explained,

"Peters worried about losing Bella. While she stays here he's got his sister but once you go back State Side she or both of you might want to leave, branch out on your own, and he hates the idea of that. He's also worried Bella might want to go back to the Cullens, to be nearer her Dad."

"Peter is worried?"

She nodded with a wry smile

"Most unlike him, isn't it? But you and Bella are all the family we have."

Bella

We had discussed going back to the States but only in the vaguest terms, now Jasper was confident I could fly, with his help if it got a bit tough, we had to make firm plans.

"Where do you want to go Bella? Where would you like to call home?"

"Anywhere as long as it's with you..."

I wanted to add and Peter and Char but I wasn't sure if that was the right thing to say so I held back,

"Do you have property of your own or did you always live with the Cullens after Maria?"

"No, I have a couple of places, an apartment in Seattle I rent out and a house, well half a house in Oregon."

"Half a house?"

"I bought it with Peter and Charlotte when I first left Maria and got some money together, it was an investment and I lived there for a while before I took off to find my own way and then I met Alice. You know the rest."

"Do Peter and Char live there?"

"Most of the time yes."

"Is it big?"

"Well I guess so, it's a Ranch and we have horses. Peter and I like to ride but I haven't been there in a while we had a...difference of opinion, well they and Alice more than anything and I left with her, haven't been back since."

"You fell out with Peter? But he and Char came with you to Volterra?"

"Yeah, I guess our falling out was like most family tiffs, soon forgotten."

"Do you think they'd mind if we took over your half of the house? Just for a while at least, I feel more comfortable around friends."

He smiled in relief,

"I'm glad you brought that up because I wasn't sure how to. They'd love us to set up home with them and the house is plenty big enough. I just thought you might want a place of our own."

"Anywhere with you Jasper"

And so it was decided.