Chapter 33

As Bella eagerly made her way through the bustling Seattle airport, she couldn't wait to see her dad again. It had been close to four years since she was last in Forks, and so much had happened in that time. The thought of reuniting with him after so long filled her with excitement.

As she approached the arrival gate, Bella spotted Charlie's familiar face among the sea of strangers. She rushed over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck in a light embrace. Charlie hugged her back, overjoyed to see his daughter again after such a long time.

As they drove away from the airport in Charlie's police cruiser, Bella started to talk about her time in Paris. "I really loved Paris, Dad," she said. "The city feels so different from major cities in America. I made an real effort to explore the lesser-known parts of Paris and immerse myself in its culture and not just see all the tourist destinations."

"I'm glad you had such a nice time, Bells," Charlie said, happy to see his daughter again and catch up in person rather than over the phone. "What were your classes like?"

"My classes were great," Bella said, reflecting on her newfound knowledge. "My favorite was my sculpture class. I learned to carve marble just like they did in the Renaissance era. My teacher taught us to use clay, bronze, and many other mediums to create our art. It was a transformative experience. The class even had a nude model, if you can believe it."

"Wow, that must have been quite an experience," Charlie said, intrigued. "Tell me more about the nude model. Do you think they found it awkward?"

"I don't think she minded at all. She was very friendly to everyone when people walked in while she was posing." Bella smiled thinking back to how much she loved it when she was modeling.

"So, what do you plan to study for your final year of college?" Charlie asked, amazed at how much Bella had changed since she lived with him.

"I haven't picked out my courses yet, but I want to take something where I can meet other people and be active in class. I don't enjoy sitting quietly and just learning. That's why I loved all the acting and drama courses I took earlier in college," Bella replied, happy to explain what she was looking for.

"Well, Bella, that sure sounds different from how I remember your likes and dislikes from high school. I'm proud of you for getting more confident and putting yourself in new situations," Charlie said, smiling.

"Thanks, Dad. I do feel a lot more confident now than I did back then. I feel like I can accomplish anything I put my mind to," Bella said with conviction.

"So, Bella, are you seeing anyone now?" Charlie asked tentatively, not really wanting to pry into his daughter's love life but feeling like he should ask.

Bella looked at her nervous father and thought of something to say that she found funny. "No one in particular, Dad," she replied with a reassuring smile.

Charlie visibly relaxed, but then Bella continued. "But you wouldn't believe all the sex clubs there were in Paris. It was like a mass orgy every night!"

Charlie's face turned pale, and the car started to drift off the road. Bella quickly grabbed the wheel and centered the car. "Dad! I'm joking. Relax," she said with a laugh, realizing it wasn't the best joke.

"Don't do that, Bella. I don't think I can handle news like that," Charlie said, relieved that his daughter was just kidding. "I guess you've gotten tired of your mom and me asking you questions like that. I understand. I never liked it when my parents asked me the same question after your mom left."

Bella felt bad for making her dad uncomfortable. "Yeah, sorry, Dad. The joke sounded funny in my head, but I guess it was in bad taste."

"How are you and Sue getting along?" Bella was glad to have the spotlight off her.

Charlie realized he couldn't put off sharing his big news any longer. He cleared his throat, steeling himself for the conversation to come. It wasn't easy for Charlie to open up about his emotions or personal life, but he knew he had to share his news with Bella before they reached home.

"Sue and I are doing great," Charlie replied with a smile. "Actually, I have some news." He took a deep breath. "We're getting married."

Bella was momentarily stunned. "Married? That's... that's great, Dad," she stammered, a wide grin spreading across her face. "I'm so happy for you. When did you ask Sue? When's the ceremony?"

Charlie smiled, relieved at his daughter's positive reaction. "I proposed to Sue a few weeks ago."

Bella could hardly contain her excitement. She had always hoped that her father would find love again for almost her entire life, and the thought of him being happy with someone made her heart swell.

"We're going to wait till next year," Charlie said. "Sue's daughter Leah is currently away at school. By the time we hold the ceremony, she will have graduated and returned to live on the reservation. Sue wants both of her children by her side. You'll be there right?" he asked Bella.

Without hesitation, Bella replied, "I wouldn't miss it for the world. Just tell me when and where, and I'll be there. I'm genuinely thrilled for you, Dad."

As they were almost back to Charlie's house. Bella started to think of the ramifications. She knew that she could no longer delay informing her former friends at the reservation that she was now a vampire. Bella had been so close with Jake and most of the pack during the year that the Cullens were absent. Although it was difficult to bid them farewell, she had made her decision and did not have any regrets about her new life.

"Is Sue at your house right now, Dad?" Bella asked, already thinking about how to plan their meeting.

"Yes, she is. She's excited to see you again," Charlie replied, smiling.

"Actually, I was hoping to have some one-on-one time with her. A little woman-to-woman bonding, you know? Do you think you could drop me off and then take off for an hour or so? Maybe come back with some pizza for dinner?" Bella asked, hoping her father would agree.

"Of course, Bells. I get it. I'll swing by the station first, do a little work, and then pick up dinner," Charlie said, feeling hopeful that Bella and Sue would hit it off.

As Charlie dropped Bella off in front of the house and drove away, Bella's mind raced with thoughts about how to handle the upcoming meeting with Sue. She worried that Sue finding herself alone with a vampire would scare her terribly, Sue was expecting to see her again as a human. Taking a deep breath, Bella walked up to the front door and let herself in. She could hear Sue working on something in the kitchen.

Bella called out from the front hall to let Sue know she was there. "Hey Sue, it's Bella," she shouted, wanting to give Sue a heads up before she walked in and startled her.

Bella walked into the kitchen, where Sue was about to turn around. When she caught sight of Bella in the doorway, she let out a piercing scream and backed up against the sink, clearly terrified.

Bella quickly put her hands up in front of her and said, "Sue, it's me, Bella. Please relax, I'm not going to harm you. You know me, I would never do anything like that." She spoke in a gentle, reassuring tone to try and calm Sue down.

"Bella? What happened to you? I mean, I know what happened, but when? Why? How?" Sue asked, still in shock. Charlie had talked about Bella for years, but he had never mentioned anything strange about her, like being a blood-sucking monster.

Bella motioned for Sue to sit down, and they faced each other. "Let's have a calm conversation," Bella said gently. "I want to tell you my story, Sue. I promise you, you have nothing to fear from me."

Bella took a deep breath and began her story. "After I graduated high school, I made a choice to become a vampire. I wanted to be with Edward and his family, the Cullens. They were my everything. And it was the right choice for me."

She paused for a moment, thinking back to that time. "Edward and I didn't work out in the end, but I don't regret becoming a vampire. I'm happy, confident, and outgoing. I love my life, Sue."

Bella smiled, hoping to ease any fears that Sue may have had. "I drink from animals, just like the Cullens. I've found my own path and I'm content with who I am. I'm sure you saw the video of my production of Grease. That was me, as a vampire. I don't see being a vampire as bad. It's a gift, and I cherish it."

Bella looked at Sue, hoping that she could understand. "I'm not here to harm anyone, Sue. I just want to live my life like everyone else. And I hope you can see that I mean no harm to you or anyone else."

"Have you ever killed anyone, Bella?" Sue asked, her voice full of concern.

Bella took a deep breath before responding, "I'll be honest with you Sue. I had never killed anyone until I was in Italy last month."

Sue's eyes widened in shock, and Bella knew she had to explain.

"I was in Rome and came across a man who was about to rape a young woman. I had to step in and save the girl. After I did and she was safe, I killed the monster," Bella continued, her voice steady. "You might not agree with how I did it but I could not let him go free Sue."

Sue thought about what Bella had said. While she didn't condone murder, she knew that sometimes, it was necessary to stop someone from doing harm.

After a moment, Bella continued to talk to Sue, telling her about her new life as a vampire and all she had done in the intervening years. She explained how she had gone to college and learned new things, gaining new perspectives on life.

As Bella finished talking about her time spent overseas in France, Sue seemed to be looking much calmer, processing everything she had just learned. She realized that Bella was still the same person she had always known, just with some new, extraordinary experiences.

"Sue, I love Charlie greatly and don't want to be estranged from him," Bella began. "Alice, who is a member of the Cullen family, has assured me that with makeup and some other tweaks to my appearance over the coming years, I can stay in Charlie's life and he would never know about vampires. I'm begging you, please don't tell him. It's extremely dangerous for a human to know about our world. I understand that you and the others at the reservation know, but you guys are part of the supernatural community as well. I just want to have my father in my life for as long as possible. Please, Sue, don't say anything." Bella had put her cards on the table, and now it was up to Sue.

Sue studied Bella closely, she noted that despite becoming a vampire, her personality remained the same as the Bella she had known from the reservation. Sue thought about how much Charlie loved his daughter, and didn't want to be the one to break his heart by revealing Bella's true nature. "Ok, Bella," Sue said, "I won't tell Charlie, but I do think you should talk to Jacob while you're here. The pack should know what you've told me."

"Thank you, Sue. I'll reach out to him tomorrow when Charlie is at work. I'm sure he'll insist on a face-to-face meeting and try to act all tough, just like old times when they used to discuss vampires," Bella said with a smile.

Bella and Sue chatted until Charlie came home with the pizza. As Bella eagerly devoured her slices, Sue watched with a priceless expression on her face. Charlie was pleased to see that his future wife and daughter were getting along so well.

After dinner, they all settled into the cozy living room, and Bella excitedly began sharing more stories from her college career. She told them about her closest friends, the fun times they had together, and her adventures while studying abroad. Bella pulled out her phone and started showing Charlie and Sue all the hilarious pictures and videos she had taken over the years.

This time around, Bella had taken precautions to ensure that there were no incriminating photos on her phone before arriving in Forks. Charlie was thrilled to see his daughter so happy and carefree, and he enjoyed seeing her college life through her eyes. Even Sue, who had been skeptical of Bella at first, found herself drawn in by Bella's charm and infectious enthusiasm. By the time Bella finished sharing her stories, both Charlie and Sue had big smiles on their faces, and Sue felt much more at ease with Bella than she had before.

When it got late, Bella said goodnight and went to her room to 'sleep'. It was unusual going through the whole process of brushing her teeth and changing into her pajamas. Bella didn't miss any of it, but she still found it weird that she never had to go to the bathroom. She wasn't an expert in anatomy, but she couldn't help but wonder where all the blood went. It seemed fishy to her, but the fact that she didn't need to pee was a dead giveaway that vampires didn't have to.

Bella decided to go through all her drawers in her room. Although she had been fortunate enough not to lose any essential memories, she couldn't recall the small things, like what she had in her room or the things she had jotted down in notebooks. As she rummaged through the items, she discovered her diary hidden underneath several notebooks. Bella smiled at its familiar cover and decided to read it, getting cozy in her bed as she opened it.

As she read through the pages, it felt strange, like she was reading someone else's words, even though she knew it was her own writing. The diary entries became even more bizarre when she reached the parts about Edward and the Cullens. Bella had been aware not to mention anything vampire-related, so she wrote in code, hoping that if anyone read the diary only those familiar with vampires would understand it. It was amusing to read, almost like discovering the hidden thoughts of another person.

As she read about her time with Edward, Bella saw everything in a different light. She realized that she didn't like how her human form was treated by Edward. It wasn't that he had done anything terrible to her, but his personality was too domineering, making all the decisions for her. Bella was grateful that she had been able to break free from that mold. If she had never become a vampire, she would have remained Edward's doormat. That thought made her somewhat angry, and she closed her eyes, attempting to calm down.

Bella's last entry was right after her 18th birthday, where she had written that Edward was acting strange in class. Little did human Bella know that her life was about to take a dreadful turn. She felt sorry for her past self for having to endure all the heartbreak, but she recognized that it was necessary for her to become the person she is today. Bella placed the diary back in her desk. Those were someone else's stories, and she had big plans for the future, and nothing and no one would ever hold her back again.

As Bella pondered her upcoming conversation with Jake, she realized she needed to be in the right headspace to deal with the pack's bigoted views. She knew from past experiences that some of them were not exactly open-minded when it came to vampires, and she didn't want to lose her patience with them. So, she decided to take matters into her own hands and feed now to give herself a bit more tolerance for their potential bullshit.