CHAPTER EIGHT: GRAVITY

As promised, I wasn't far when Sam called me back to the house. Charlie had been taken to the Rez hospital, where they could hopefully start the the arduous task of setting so, so many bones back into place.

Truthfully, I'm surprised he had made it through being moved to the sofa and all the talking. Billy couldn't hear the sound of Charlie's misaligned bones grinding against each other, or the minute groans he made when they did. Guess us Swans are made of hardy stuff. Sam met me in the living room, where he and a Billy awaited what is essentially, the beginning of this nightmare. I sat down opposite them, which caused them to give a disapproving look.

"May I remind you two that this is still my home even if I am a Vampire now. If I want to sit on my sofa, I absolutely do not need permission from either of you." I stated, jutting my jaw out, frustration seeping into my voice at having to stand my ground in my own damn home.

Billy held up his hands in a peaceful manner, clearly not wanting to provoke me any further. "Sorry Bella, it's just ingrained in us to be wary and on the defensive around Cold Ones. We have very little personal experience with them, I've known you all of your adult human life and I'm conflicted." he paused. He looked sad but made no move to continue.

"What are you conflicted about? I want us all to be as open and honest with each other. So spit it out Billy." I asked with a smirk, so he knew I wasn't being a dick.

"I'm conflicted because I have the fear of two generations instilled into me. My head tells me to stay away, be scared, to want you destroyed for what you are. But you're right Bella, I do know you. You act and speak the same. Your facial expressions, the way your brow furrows when you hear something you don't like and how you carry yourself are the same, albeit, you're not clumsy anymore" he chuckled at that. "and your face has the slight angular features of a Vampire. My heart tells me that you cannot be destroyed because you are Bella Swan, my bestfriends kid and like a third daughter to me. They're two very opposing feelings that are hard to reconcile." he finished. He was telling the truth. In the last 4 years I had become very close with the Black family and some other Quilette families. Billy cared for me in a fatherly fashion and to my surprise, I realised I cared for him like a daughter would.

"I still care for all of you too. My heart may not beat but it doesn't mean I don't feel. Becoming a Vampire, it unlocks more space in your mind. I have more space to think and feel. That isn't always fun." I replied with a small, sarcastic smile at them. "But you're here so I can tell you why this had happened. It's a little long, so better just to let me get all the way through it," I got up to leave pen and paper for both of them. "so better just jot down questions and I'll answer them at the end. Hold up your hand if you want me to pause." I looked between both of them, waiting for the go ahead.

"You're lucky I wrote this all down, otherwise you'd get patchy information. It was 2005, I'd not long found out that Edward and the other Cullens were Vampires. I'd introduced him to Charlie and they'd taken me to watch them play baseball during a storm." I was watching their reaction as I explained. "As we were playing a small coven of three heard us and detoured to see what was up. James, Laurent and Victoria." though the memories were hazy in my head, re reading it all still made me shudder a little. "Long story short, a gust of wind blew my scent towards them and it kicked off a hunt. James was a tracker with unparalleled senses, the Cullens, Edward in particular, reacted and defended me and in doing so made it the best game ever for James. Who knew being called a "snack" would be deadly huh." I chuckled. Dark humour was wasted on these two.

"That was in the March and why I had to leave under the false pretenses of not wanting to live in Forks. I went on the run with Alice and Jasper and everyone else led James and Victoria away."

From there I explained how far we went, Alice seeing the future, James tricking me into thinking he had Renee, luring me to the ballet studio and beating the crap out of me.

"Edward managed to get there first, but he didn't know that James bit me on the wrist. By the time the rest had shown up and were taking care of James, the venom was spreading up my arm. Think what you want about him, he had the choice to let me become a Vampire then but he sucked James' venom out of my arm so I would stay human. He didn't want this life for me." I won't lie, it was interesting watching the shock flash in their eyes. They didn't expect that. "The Cullens want to preserve life. Why do you think Carlisle is a doctor. Edward, Rosalie, Emmett and Esme were all on the brink of death when Carlisle turned them. He wouldn't have if they had a chance at survival. Alice and Jasper though were made and developed what Carlisle calls a conscience on their own, and found the rest some time ago.

James and Victoria were a bonded pair. Victoria is seeking revenge and figured Charlie would be my first meal and that you guys would take me out. A mate for a mate." I shrugged. "That didn't exactly work out how she planned. I wonder if she knows."

Billy leaned back in his wheelchair and blew out a gust of air. They obviously didn't know all that had happened. I hope they saw the Cullens in a better light.

"I see why you had to leave. We thought the worse happened when we heard you were in the hospital. It is good to know that the Cullens were trying to save you, not turn you." Billy paused a moment. "So, this James is dead, what about Laurent? And Alice sees the future? Does anyone else have abilities?" enquired Billy. I bit my bottom lip. I didn't know how much to tell. But, I did say I wanted us all to be honest with each other.

"Laurent mentioned about going to Alaska to see another 'vegetarian' coven. I can only assume that's where he went if he was close enough to scout Forks out for Victoria. He might have gone back for all I know, maybe I'll pay them a visit." I hesitated. "As for abilities, Jasper can manipulate your emotions. If you're anxious, calm. Lethargic to energetic. Edward told me that when we first encountered James, Victoria and Laurent that Jasper was covering him and Alice in- I suppose the best way to say it- in an air of boredom, cloaked them in the feeling of disinterest. He made Emmett look intimidating. It was impressive. And finally, Edward can hear what you're thinking as you think it." I nodded at Billy. "He heard what you thought the day you came to warn Charlie."

We were silent for some time as Sam and Billy took it all in, when an idea popped into my head.

"Sam, there is a chance that Riley or Victoria will return to Forks to see if their plan worked. Would it be worth going into my room to see it you can pick up their scent?" I wasn't sure if he would want to. It would be good for him to be able to recognise their smells but I also really wanted to see him in wolf form. Sam looked shocked at my suggestion but started nodding.

"That's not a bad idea Bella. That way I can share it with the rest of the pack. Though it means I'll have to phase and might cause some damage. Are you okay with that?" Huh, he was being polite. Maybe there was a way forward after all. Or maybe it's just respect to Charlie.

"I've no problem with it. I'll be able to fix whatever you might break." I smiled at him. Sam headed out back, asking us not to follow. I figured that once he phased he might be more inclined to attack me until he regained his senses. Then he nosed the door open.

Sams massive head completely filled the doorway. Fur as black as the darkest night, with yellow eyes bright against his fur. There was a part of me that knew we were natural enemies.

There was also a part of me that wanted to pet the big doggy. But I kept that to myself.

"Sam i don't think you're going to fit into the house. Do you want me to grab some things that they touched instead? Blink twice for yes, once for no." Sam blinked twice in response. I grabbed some marigolds from under the kitchen sink, headed upstairs and smelt out items that had the strongest smell. Sam knew what I smelt like, he could sort the stenches. I brought them down to him, laid them on the floor under his head and stepped back. He took four large lungfuls of each item then looked back to me. "Did you get them?" I asked. He blinked twice back at me. "Awesome. Least we'll know if they pass by, at least."

Just as I was about to take the clothing to the wash room, Billys phone started ringing. He answered, the voice on the other end frantic. I was by hide side before he had a chance to say my name.

"Bella, it's Charlie. Somethings gone wrong. He's asking for you." Billy sounded far away. This wasn't good.

"But he's on the Rez. I'm not allowed on the reservation anymore." I looked wide eyed at Sam. "Please Sam, can I have permission to cross. I need to see him." I implored. Sam seemed to struggle with this. He had a duty to his people against my kind, but it was Charlie, I hoped it was enough.

"Fine but we have to go by car. We'll drive, you follow in your truck." he finally answered. Thank god. I just hope Charlie was gonna pull through this.

It was an agonisingly slow drive, compared to how quickly I could've run there,but we eventually made it. Billy had called ahead to clear out those who were not comfortable being around me. One doctor stayed, treated me no different to anyone else. I liked her. But as I listened to her tell me what was wrong with Charlie, I became still, like a statue. I couldn't believe this. After everything we had gone through.

Turns out Riley had created a failsafe, incase I didn't drink from Charlie when I turned. He'd basically hit Charlie in such a specific way that, when he went from sitting to laying down, caused a bleed on his brain. He'd been put in a medically induced coma, so they could figure out the best course of action. So far, the coma was the only course of action they had.

I couldn't lose my Dad. We didn't express ourselves much with each other and less said always tended to be more between us. I loved Charlie to the ends of the earth. He had been my rock when I was at the lowest points of my human life. To lose him after coming out of that, then to die be after the torture of Riley and Victoria. It was too cruel.

Unless..

I sprinted out of the room, to the waiting area where Billy and Sam were. Neither of them were taking it well. They knew the chances of him surviving this was almost non existent. Charlie was like a brother to him. I walked towards them, sitting down slowly. What I was about to suggest may not go down well.

"What if I change him?" I didn't sugar coat it. This wasn't a suggestion you could dance around. They looked at me with a mixture of disbelief and rage.

"How could you suggest such a thing? He's your father and us, protectors against Vampires and you're suggesting, in all your newborn glory, to bite him? Are you mad?" Billy rushed out.

"No, I'm not mad, I'm a daughter that doesn't want to lose her Dad and I have the power to fix him. Please. Can you just think about it? Even if we woke him up and asked him." I couldn't cry but god, i wanted to. "If he says no, I'll let him go, I promise." I had clasped my hands together, I was about to drop to my knees to beg, when Sam cleared his throat, getting both Billy and my attention.

"Billy, if Charlie says yes, then it is his choice and he fully understands what it entails, then I see no reason why we shouldn't allow it. This was our thought process when we knew Bella was dating Edward. If Bella can promise to keep him controlled. She's a newborn herself but she carries and controls herself as well as the Cullens did." Sam looked at me then. "We will wake him. And we will ask. If he says yes, then we will renegotiate the treaty."

"Thank you Sam. Thank you so much." I finally did drop to my knees, relief flooding through me. I got up and walked to Charlies bedside. Sam and Billy went to talk to ghe doctor, so we could start to wake him up.

He was hooked up to noisy machines, I could still hear his broken bones grinding against each other. But his heart still sounded strong.

I sat there, completely still, as the gravity of question I was about to ask settled over me.

Would my Dad join me in eternity?