WELL HOWDY DOO. Guys, I am so so so sorry for the time between chapters. Life really got in the way and I put out chapters tool quickly and started to blank. I'll be back with two chapters a week, starting with this longer chapter.

*In this AU, human memories aren't lost during the change, instead the moments of their human lives that had the biggest emotional impact on them are remembered. eg happy, sad, angry, elation, pain etc*

Chapter 10: Answers

I don't know how long I was sat there.

When I was with Edward he always gave off this aire of being aware of his surroundings. The noises of the forest, the thrum of thoughts (in his case), the quiet pulse of heartbeats, human or animal.

But even though I was within hearing distance of the Rez hospital, I just felt.. Blind. In every sense, with every sense. Hearing, sight, spacial awareness. I was trapped inside my head with a million thoughts of the immediate future like a whirlpool of hope and despair taking up all that new space in my head.

If Charlie didn't want to turn, what would I do? I was days old to this life and I had no direction. And if Charlie did want to turn, the question remained the same, only I would be a newborn caring for a newborn. The Cullens had, at minimum, 70 years of practice of being able to integrate themselves within human society (as best as they could). How I was supposed to do it with another newborn who might not have as good control as I do?

I didn't have the answers, nor time to search for them, as I heard Sam call me from the hospital to come back. He was hundred yards from the hospital boundary, so he didn't need a phone to call me back.

I stood, dusted myself off and made for Charlie but stopped as soon as I started. I was covered in blood and dirt from hunting. "Sam, I hope you can hear me still, can you find me a jacket or something to wear, please? I'm covered blood from the deer and whilst I'll be fine in the dark of the trees, I won't get away with it inside. Please, Sam."

I didn't hear him acknowledge what I said, so I just hoped that he heard me, otherwise I wasn't going further than the tree line.

Sam met me 15 yards from the tree line with a scrub top. He looked somewhat apologetic as I eyed it up. "I asked for a top from the orderly that came in to drop off that letter. I just said you spilt a drink. Luckily you brought a jacket with you."

Had I? I didn't remember doing it, though more often than not grabbing my coat was muscle memory, so even coming here I thought to grab and put it on. I didn't even technically need one anymore, I was immune to any weather extremes. "Thanks Sam, if you head back up and open the window I'll come back through it, just in case." He nodded at me and turned to head back in. I quickly changed into the scrub top, chastising myself for not hunting more cleanly. I suppose practice makes perfect, but still, Charlie didn't need to see me like this. I took a few running steps and vaulted for the first floor window, barely making a sound as I pulled myself inside. Charlie was wide eyed as I appeared in the room but quickly recovered.

I walked over and sat next to him, plastering what I thought was a hopeful look on my face but his eyes narrowed. He was my Dad, he knew me better than that. " Bella, I've had time to think. To really think. Billy also told me some of the Tribal history, of the Cullens, the Treaty, what it all means." He paused, taking a deep breath in, almost like he couldn't believe what he was about to say. "I want you to change me."

What? I know Alice's letter should've assuaged my fears but there are some things you need to hear yourself to be believed. I was stunned.

"Are you sure Dad?" I reached for his hand but stopped an inch over it. I could feel the heat blasting off of him. Would the icy touch of Vampire me change his mind? Or make him more determined?

"Of course I am Bella." He closed the distance between our hands and grabbed mine, not flinching, not a pause in his words. "You're my daughter. I have seen you hurt the worse I've ever seen and managed to come through the other side. We have been through that together. Only to see you be hurt, tortured by Riley and Victoria, turned against your will. I will not leave you. I love you far too much. I have protected you the best I can in this life and I will continue to do so in the next."

I stared at him. It was in the top 5 longest speeches he's ever made, but definitely the most emotional. Charlie doesn't get this way often, and with silent tears trailing down his face, I knew his mind was made up. I got to keep my Dad around forever. I never had to lose him to old age or illness. I could feel a lump in my throat.

"Okay Dad, then change you is what we'll do. There are some things that need to be sorted out, but I figure we'll be ready by tomorrow." I gave his hand a very light squeeze. I looked over to Billy to see if he could help but stopped. He looked so sad, so hurt by the choice Charlie had made. "Billy, remember what I said. He'll still be him." He didn't look convinced and nothing I could've said would convince him. He'd have to see for himself. But I had a feeling they needed a moment, so I stepped out of the room, motioning for Sam to follow.

"I want to check out the house in the Capitol State Forrest. Do you know where I could get a map from?" He nodded and went off to find one whilst I formulated a plan. It was safest to turn Charlie at the state forest house, in the middle of no where but I needed to see the layout of the house, what they had there, what was needed and how far of the beaten track it was. I also needed to grab the Supercab, things from our house. I know I feel more me wearing my own clothes, being surrounded by familiar things, I'm sure Charlie would be the same. At least I hoped he would.

I toyed around with the keys to the two houses in my hands, trying not to think of the last time I was at the Cullens house.

Sam came back about 10 minutes later with a map and I ran him through the plan. "The one thing I still can't figure out though, is how to change him. I am as much of a newborn as he is going to be, I don't want to risk not being able to stop if I was to bite him." Sam flinched, though minutely. I didn't begrudge him that. "Would you mind if I accompanied you to Capitol Forrest? I have a feeling that despite what's about to happen, that you and your Father will still be involved. So its probably best if I know where you are if you need us." I was not expecting that. I was grateful that Sam had given me permission to change Charlie, but i didn't think he'd extended the familial relationship we'd all created past both our changing.

"Sam, I don't know how to thank you for that." I held out my hand to him, if he meant what he said, it would start here, with us trying to be as normal as we could be. He looked down at my outstretched hand with a small smile, shook it, then pulled me into a quick hug. "Start by bringing Charlie back to us." I was speechless, gratitude spreading through me. "I'll do my best. Let's go back in and fill Charlie and Billy in on what the plan is."

Sam and I ran to the Cullens home first. The house smelt empty, no one had been here in a long time, cobwebs starting to form around stairwell. They'd even taken the furniture. Sam had gone into the main garage to see to the truck we'd need and I assumed to look through what they had left, if anything. I walked, human speed, around the house, feeling too much. Before he left, before my 18th, I thought this place would be my future. Both in my mortal and immortal life. I went into every empty room, thinking of the what ifs and could've beens.

I wasn't prepared for the pain. I would rather go through the transformation a hundred times over. But I forced myself to do it. I would have to use this house in the coming years, so better to get it over with as soon as I could.

I left Edwards room for last. Standing at the closed door, this is where I imagined we would've whiled away portions of our forever. In one of the places our love grew. Evidently not.

What I did not expect to see was his room, left as it was. The only room with anything it, all of Edwards belongings and another letter, addressed to me. Alice again.

Bella,

If you're reading this then you're on your way to making plans for Charlie.

On the shelf above the stereo is a box. In it you will find access to a bank account that was set up in your name, before we left.

I know you feel like you do not have a right to this, but please use it. There is more than enough money in there without it even making a dent to us. Here is also a mobile that will work with your immortal hands, make use of it too.

I am trying to do what I can for you, to make up for everything.

We all miss you

Alice

x

There was no date on this letter, but I knew it was old as all trace of her scent was gone. I found the box she had instructed me to locate. Sure enough there were bank cards in my name and a phone. I cradled the mobile carefully and powered it on. Might as well use it. I headed back downstairs to stand in the empty kitchen, leaning against the side when Sam came back in.

"Truck is sound and the tank is full, but apart from that, the garage is as empty as the house." He looked around, quietly amazed at how a vampires house looked. I chuckled sardonically, momentarily thrown back to when I came here for the first time. "Not what you expected, huh?".

Sam chuckled too. "No I suppose not, it's very open. But then it was their home, where they didn't have to hide who they were." Huh, Edward had said almost the same thing.

"Do you want to drive or run to the Capitol house, Sam? It's getting dark now, so we'll be able to make more of a straight line to it without having to hide from people." I suggested running, because it would be quicker than driving and it would help me concentrate on how best to turn Charlie without killing him. "Yeah we can run, I could do with fully stretching my legs."

"In that case, I'll wait inside here whilst you change, just.. bark? softly when you're ready." I turned to go sit at the top of the stairs, turning the phone and bank card around in my hands. I needed a bag and figured I'd try Alice and Jaspers closet. Luckily, as if she'd seen me needing it, was a small black backpack. I put everything in there and put it on. It wouldn't affect my speed at least.

I heard Sam bark a moment later I went outside to meet. I forgot just how big he was and was yet again very tempted to stroke him, enough that I almost reached out. I wonder..no.

I looked him in the eye, turning in the direction we need to go. "Ready?" I asked and he huffed an affirmative. We set off, making quick work of the miles between Forks and Capitol Forest.

The running didn't help. Even with my brain all turbo charged for thinking, I still didn't have a solution to changing Charlie.

How was I going to do it without killing him?