11

When I sat up I noticed several things at once the first, Charlie was still standing where he was when I fainted with a worried look on his face telling me that maybe I wasn't out for very long and he didn't even have time to react or that Edward (who was kneeling next to me) had told him to keep away, the second thing I noticed was that the party was still going on again telling me I hadn't been out for very long, the third thing I noticed was Jasper, who was standing between me and Charlie in a protective manner looking between me and Charlie. I was afraid the poor kid would get whiplash with the way he was whipping his head around trying to keep an eye on both of us.

"Ugh, how long was I down?" I asked turning to Edward

Edward helped me to stand, "Only for a few moments love not very long the only other person who noticed was Rose and she quickly occupied everyone so they wouldn't see." he said reassuringly, I noticed that Charlie didn't like that Edward called me 'love' but I ignored it.

"Bells, I'm so sorry," Charlie started to say but he was suddenly interrupted by Jasper

"YOU LEAVE MY BELLA ALONE!" I stood there in shock and I could tell by the way Edward tensed up next to me that he was just as shocked as I was. this was the first time either of us was hearing him speak it made me proud yet sad. I only wished that it hadn't been a situation like this that made him speak, and he wasn't done. "THAT IS MY BELLA, YOU MADE HER SAD! I DON'T LIKE IT WHEN MY BELLA IS SAD!"

He stopped yelling at Charlie and came over to me to hug my leg with a death grip. I placed my hand on his head before I looked up at Charlie, "What are you doing here Charlie?"

"I was invited, and I wanted to apologize." he had the decency to look like he was sorry at least.

"In case me moving out wasn't subtle enough for you, that was me uninviting you." I was a little snippy I get that he is sorry for what happened I can see it written all over his face. He looks like he hadn't gotten a good night of sleep all week. "I left you a note telling you I would come over Monday after school to speak with you. did you think coming here and ruining Jasper's birthday party would make me forgive you for what you've done any faster?"

He looked down at the floor but didn't answer so I took that for a no. I was about to tell him to leave when Edward placed a hand on my shoulder and turned me to look at him, "Bella, maybe you should talk to him now, putting it off any longer is only going to make it worse."

I looked at him then sighed I knew he was right I motioned for Edward to take Jasper back to the party.

When they were back outside I turned to Charlie, "Dad I know you think I don't know what I'm doing here but I do." He looked up like he wanted to say something but I held up my hand silently asking him to let me finish, "Dad I love you and I never wanted to hurt you, leaving was the last thing I ever wanted to do. But you need to understand that I love Edward and trying to force me to stay away from him was not the way to go about this. Your reaction was justifiable it was the only reason Edward left that night, but he is who I want to be with and you cant do or say anything to change that."

"I know Bells and I am so sorry for everything, for yelling for knocking you down for reacting so fast. I just saw you slipping away and I was scared." he looked close to tears and I felt my own tears threatening to spill over.

"Dad I'm Not Renee, I would never have left the way she did." He looked at me surprised, "I know why she left you don't have to lie to me anymore, I've known since the moment she left." he nodded in understanding. "I grew up faster than you wanted and I get that you want to protect me but I know what I'm doing you need to respect that and trust that as well." I paused again walking over to him he was now seated on the couch I knelt down and gave him a hug then leaned back and continued, "I'm not moving back but I'm not going to leave you either. we will still have Monday night dinners and we can add some nights in there here or there."

"I'd like that." He said with a sad smile

"And I was going to tell you later and I know that you wanted something else but I got into UW." He looked up surprised, "I know what your thinking but I can't leave them, and I can't leave you. UW is giving me a full ride and I'm already used to the 3 hour commute."

We talked for a little while longer before going to rejoin the party. I know it will take him awhile before he gets used to all of this but for now he's trying and that's all I can ask.

The next few weeks went by so fast I'm pretty sure I missed most of it. School started up again and I was a little busier then before, and now that Jasper had discovered his voice it seemed like we would never get him to stop talking. Not that I'm complaining or anything but I never thought some one so little had so much to say.

It was Friday afternoon and I was exhausted I was used to the work load but lately I have felt off. I walked into the house and dropped my bag in the hall closet and made my way into the kitchen. Edward had took the kids to the zoo and I knew they weren't going to be back for hours still. The kids had many differences but put them in the vicinity of over a dozen different animals and you wont hear them argue about anything. They all love animals so we tried to take them to the zoo or somewhere animal related at least once a month.

I had intended to make myself a snack but I wasn't feeling well and I was so tired I decided to pass on the snack and go and take a nap. Maybe I was just too stressed, maybe everything and just caught up with me. Who knows but I was hoping a nap would help me.