Chapter 2:
Bella wiped the tears that wouldn't stop flowing as she sat in the waiting room.
It was full of everyone that knew and cared about Charlie.
Her wedding dress had gotten dirty as mud stained the bottom from when she tripped.
Edward tried to hold her hand but for once she didn't want his ice-cold comfort.
Across the room sat the whole pack minus one.
Jacob.
Maybe he would come back? If not for her then at least he'd come for Charlie.
A cough sounded in the room and Bella's bloodshot eyes found Billy's just as red as hers.
She could only imagine the pain he was going through. He had already lost one friend to a heart attack. He didn't need another.
She was quick to get up and get him a cup of water, even though Edward and Alice protested that she should sit down.
Bella ignored them. five minutes later she came back with a cup of ice water. and headed straight for Billy
She crouched before Billy as she handed him the drink. He was like a second father to her, and he was suffering just as much as she was.
With her breaking Jacob's heart and Jacob running away because of it, she knew Billy was feeling stressed out. on top of her ready to marry their enemy, Charlie's heart attack was the straw that broke the camel's back.
" you need to drink this Billy. Did you take your meds today?" she asked.
The elder looked at her with wide eyes.
"No..I, I completely forgot my mind was a whirlwind this morning and now this and I-"
The chief faltered as he looked at her. The strain of it all bearing on his shoulders. Of course, Billy would forget his medication at a time like this. With his daughters gone, and Jacob on the run, he didn't even think to take his meds.
"I can go get them chief," Jared mentioned quietly to him.
However, Bella shook her head.
"no need." She told Jared.
With ease, she lifted her dress a little and pulled out a small black bag. Inside the bag was Billy's medication.
"How?" He asked her.
Bella smiled tearfully at him as she put the two pills in his hand.
"'We are a family Billy. Dad and I always have your back." Was her simple explanation.
However, what Billy didn't know was that she and her father had sat down with Jacob a year ago and came up with a plan.
She and Charlie were put on Billy's list of emergency contacts. She, Charlie, and Jacob rotated in who would pick up Billy's meds, and anything else the Black household would need. Jacob was only sixteen he didn't need to be the only person worrying and taking care of his father.
Unbeknownst to Billy, it was Charlie and Bella who helped keep the fridge full and Bella would make casseroles they could keep frozen so that Billy and Jacob could just heat them.
It was the least she could do for them. Billy and Jacob had been there for her when she needed them most, and she wanted to repay them in some way.
And yet she had hurt Jacob. Hurt him so much that he ran away.
And what of her father? was the heart attack her fault? Did she stress him out so much these past two years that it all became too much for his poor heart to bear?
What kind of daughter was she?
"Bella," Billy called her.
She blinked snapping back to reality.
"You are a good daughter. To me and Charlie. don't do this yourself." He admonished with a firm voice.
Bella leaned her head in Billy's lap. Something she hadn't done since she was little.
With tender hands, Billy began to stroke her hair. A familiar Quileute lullaby emitted from his deep baritone voice.
Bella's eyes filled with tears again.
"I haven't heard that song in so long. Sarah used to sing to us before nap time." she laughed lightly.
Billy laughed with her.
"it was the only thing to make you kids go to sleep. And if you went to sleep then Jake was up and if Jake went to sleep you were up. The lullaby was our only solution."
"I think it was the spirits. They knew how rowdy we were." Bella admitted.
"I think they did too."
"I'm sorry Billy."
"Whatever for child?" he questioned.
"pieces and parts of my decisions brought us here. You tried to warn me and I was too stubborn to listen."
It was at this moment, that Bella felt a pang in her heart. She knew full well that everyone with supernatural ears was listening.
She was grateful her mother went to the cafeteria with Phil to eat.
"Sometimes the darkest things in our life can mean second chances, Bella.." he spoke cryptically.
Bella lifted her head to look into his eyes.
She knew the double meaning of his words.
She still had a chance.
A hiss, however, filled the room. All eyes turned to see Edward. He was standing up and looking highly pissed off.
" I think that's enough of this conversation."
Bella opened her mouth to speak but Carisle's appearance had her fumbling to stand.
She held Billy's hand tightly.
Everyone waited with bated breath to see what the doctor would say.
Carsile stood in disarray.
His clothes were rumbled, his tie undone and his hair hung in his face.
"We were able to resuscitate him. However… he's in a coma and ..we had to put him on a ventilator. We are doing the best we can but the next twenty-four hours are crucial. You can see him whenever you are ready Bella. But I must ask that only two people be in the room at a time."
Bella closed her eyes and tried to calm herself down.
Instantly she felt a wave of calm.
A wave of unnatural calm.
With quickness, she turned to Jasper an angry fire in her eyes.
"stop manipulating my emotions." She growled at him.
Esme and Alice gasped.
"Bella, that was unnecessary. He was just trying to help." Alice chided.
"I don't care Alice. I don't want my emotions touched. Am I making myself clear?"
Bella didn't stay to hear Alice's responses.
She was quick to get behind her father's best friend and push him towards the double doors.
"come on Billy. Let's go see him."
What Bella didn't see was the shocked faces of everyone behind her.
They had never seen Bella angry before.
Bella swan had officially grown a backbone. At least in the pack's eyes. but in Cullen's eyes, she had made a grave mistake.
…
Once again, Bella found herself crying. She wasn't big on showing her emotions, something she and her father had in common. But ever since Edward proposed, her emotions had gone haywire. Most of the time the family asked Jasper to calm her. But today she had snapped. She wanted to self-regulate and be in charge of her own emotions.
Her father was connected to a lot of tubes that she didn't understand.
" He's going to pull through this Bella." Billy assured her. " he's stronger than he looks."
Bella nodded wordlessly.
After fifteen minutes, Billy rolled out of the room. telling her, he would grab Renee.
As soon as her mother entered the room, she began to fret over her and complain.
"oh, Bella! Your wedding has been ruined! I am so sorry baby girl! And you were so beautiful! And poor Edward! He looked like he was ready to marry you, that's the first time I saw him smile like that! Oh, baby girl! You must be so upset! Charlie just had to have a heart attack on your wedding day of all days!"
Bella turned to her mother. Eyes blazing with righteous anger.
"mom. I love you, but I need you to stop talking. please. Dad didn't choose to have a heart attack on my wedding day. It just happened. It was out of our control. My only focus is to make sure he gets better."
Her mother's eyebrows furrowed.
" you know you've been very snappy with everyone young lady. Don't think that Esme didn't mention to me the way you treated poor Jasper. He was just trying to help you by showing you some breathing tactics. Charlie may be in this bed due to his negligence but that does give you the right to be a bi-"
"Knock. Knock."
Renee's rant was cut off by an elderly voice at the door.
Both women turned to see old Quil with his cane leaning in the doorway.
"oh, elder Quil. come on in. Mom you are gonna have to step out please."
Her mother grimaced but stepped out anyway.
Elder Quil smiled softly at her and then turned his eyes towards Charlie. The machines beeping quietly.
" you gave us quite a shock old friend. But you will make it. even in dark times, some good can come out of it." He said as he looked at Bella. A double meaning in his words.
He smiled again and brought Bella into a hug.
" everything will be ok little niece. He's going to make it through. I just know it."
Bella pulled back and looked at him curiously.
" little niece?" she questioned
Elder Quil tilted his head and his eyes widened.
" has the old fool not told you your history, Bella? You my dear are my niece. Your aunt Molly Swan was my wife. Did… did Charlie ever tell you about his sister?"
" no way! Dad has a sister!? What the heck? Why did no one tell me!" she exclaimed.
Elder Quil or should she call him Uncle Quil responded with a sad smile.
. " don't get too upset honey. Your father and your aunt had some bad blood when she married me. It probably brought up some bad memories. When you get time, come see me and we can talk about it. But I'm going to step aside and let someone else in."
With that said, he kissed Bella on the forehead and walked out. Not giving her time to reply.
Bella felt weary as she sat down.
" Looks like I wasn't the only one with secrets huh Dad."
Of course, her father couldn't respond