Chapter Ten — 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐬𝐬

As parents we have a tendency to overprotect; it's okay to try and show them all positives but we cannot forget that the real world has teeth
—Johnnie Dent Jr.

"Charlie, what are you doing?" I asked as I walked into the kitchen to find Charlie filling a bag with different weapons.

"I got a strange letter in the mail. Did you know, Thea?"
Charlie asked.

I was confused.

"About what?" I asked.

"The Cullens? Did you know they were vampires?!" Charlie shouted.

I was shocked.

"What?" I asked.

Charlie glared at me.

"So you knew and let my fucking daughter marry one." Charlie said.

I could tell he was really angry.

"And the tribe, is it true? Is the legends true?" He asked.

I sighed. Whoever sent him that letter must have told him everything. So there was no point in lying or pretending not to know what he's talking about.

Charlie closed up the bag and walked out of the kitchen and towards the front door, opening it.

"Are you going to see Bella?" I asked, following out of the house.

"Got in." Charlie answered as we made it to the police cruiser.

I got in and buckled my seatbelt.

"After I deal with the Cullens, I'm taking you and Bella from away from here, do you hear me?" He asked.

"Yes, sir." I answered.

Charlie drove like a fucking maniac. He broke speed limits that he would normally give people tickets for.

When we got closer to the house, Charlie slowed down.

"Oh, Thank God....You're insane." I said, holding my chest.

Charlie cut the engine and I had to wait while he calmed himself down before he got out of the car and walked up the steps and just as Charlie raised his hand to knock, the door opened before he could.

Carlisle stood in the doorway, looking weary.

"Hello, Charlie, Althea," Carlisle said. "How are you?" He asked.

"Did you change her? We want to see Bella." I said.

Carlisle looked me at shocked.

"He knows everything." I said.

"Where is she?" Charlie asked.

"Er, it's not really the best time, Could we do this later?" Carlisle answered.

I rolled my eyes.

"No." I said, trying to see around Carlisle.

"Bella? Bella? I know you're in there!" Charlie shouted.

There was no answer. Carlisle looked uncomfortable.

"Come in, guys!" She called, loudly.

I ducked under Carlisle's arm, rushing into the room as Carlisle let Charlie in.

I only made it a few steps in before I stopped dead.

Bella was sitting on the couch, most of her blocked by the the side of the couch and I wanted to burst into tears.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked, looking at Bella, who didn't look like herself.

She was thin.

I could see her cheek bones and the dark circles under her eyes jumped out. Everything about her looked exhausted and sick.

"What the hell was going on, here?" I asked.

Bella glanced up and smiled at Charlie and I, sheepishly.

Charlie moved forward and pulled out his gun.

Rose jumped between Bella and Charlie, acting as a bodyguard, almost.

She hissed.

I jumped in front of Charlie, pretty sure my eyes were glowing as Rose hissed even louder and I growled.

"Rose, don't," Bella whispered. "It's fine." She added.

Rosalie moved out of the way, crouching near Bella's head definsively.

"Bella, what did they do to you?" Charlie whispered. He pointed his gun at Edward as he moved over to Bella and took her hand. "Are you all right?" He asked.

"I'm so glad you came to see me, Althea," she said. "Even though you brought my dad." She added, trying to smile. I looked back at her, attempting to smile, but it was more of a grimace.

"Actually, he brought me." I said.

Bella didn't answer. Then, she glanced at Rosalie.

"Help me up, Rose?" She asked.

Rosalie glared at Charlie and I, as if she wanted to kill us right then and there.

"Please, Rose." Bella said.

Rosalie leaned forward and and put her arm behind Bella's shoulders.

"No, don't get up." Charlie said as he watched Bella struggle.

"I'm answering your question." She said.

Rosalie pulled Bella off the couch and the blanket that covered her dropped to the ground at Bella's feet.

It was then that I realized why Bella was so sick.

She was pregnant.

"No fucking way." I said.

Charlie's face was so red. I quickly grabbed his gun before he could shoot Edward.

"Let's just calm down and talk about this." Esme said.

"Please just shut up and stand there." I said.

I looked at Charlie as he glared at everyone in the room but he also looked like he was going to be sick and most likely throw up.

"Give me back my gun." Charlie said, sternly.

"Vampires can't be killed by bullets, Charlie." I said, rolling my eyes.

Charlie started ranting and walking back and forth.

"Althea, please." Bella said as Edward walked outside.

"So, you're really having a baby?" I asked.

"Yes, you'll have a nephew soon." Bella answered.

"It's a boy?" I asked.

"We don't know but I just have a feeling." Bella replied.

"Oh." I said.

"Dad, do you want to sit down?" Bella asked.

"No, I want to throw up." Charlie answered.

I helped Charlie take a seat.

"Who sent you the letter, Charlie?" I asked him.

"You're pregnant, Leah's pregnant, now Bella is pregnant. You guys want to send me to an early grave. What did I do wrong for you guys to do this to me?" Charlie asked.

"You're pregnant." Bella said, smiling.

"Yeah, but mine was actually planned so was Leah's." I said.

"You guys planned to get pregnant and I thought Leah couldn't get pregnant." Rosalie said.

"That was a lie and yes we did." I said.

Charlie glared at Carlisle and Esme.

"You people are sick! How dare you allow your son to sink his teeth into my daughter and make her one of you?" Charlie asked.

"She's not one of us, yet." Alice answered.

"Shut the fuck up!" Charlie shouted at her.

Charlie looked at me.

"Grab Bella and go to the car." Charlie said.

I nodded and helped Bella up. I was not going to disobey Charlie even if I would physically win against, mentally he was the only family I had left and I would always side with him even when he's wrong.

"No, she can't leave." Rosalie said, placing her hand on my arm.

Charlie glared at her.

"You know the treaty, Rosalie, Althea is an elder, you would be declaring war if you harmed. So, this is what's going to happen. I'm going to get Bella and Althea out of here and if you guys even follow us, I know a groups of people who will come and kill you." Charlie said.

Bella gasped. I was shocked too. I never heard Charlie speak that way ever so he was really pissed off and in overprotective dad mode.

I grabbed Bella and carried her as best as I could out of the house and put her into Charlie's cruiser.

"How did he find out?" Bella asked, crying.

I shrugged.

"Someone sent him a letter and I guess told him everything." I answered.

"What? Who would do that?" She asked.

"Someone clearly more powerful than the Cullens." I answered as I watched Charlie walk out of the house while Emmett and Jasper restrain Edward.

"We're going to stay on the reservation." Charlie said, pulling out of the Cullens' driveway.

"How much do you know?" I asked.

"I know everything." He answered.