Do i know you?

Chapter 7: Wet Plate Collodions

It was the next day, and everyone was taking the day off to help me move. Edward was always somewhere near by, and Dad never even left the same room as me. He was actually watching me, amused, while I fussed over what they were doing with my stuff. Alice was throwing out practically everything telling me I didn't need it, or that it was hideous. Rosalie was preventing me from doing anything to Alice, or fetching my stuff myself. Jasper sat with Dad with the exact same expression, like he was suppressing laughter, while Emmett didn't even try to hide it. As for Esme, when Alice couldn't throw something out or move it to my 'room', it became Esme's job.

When Alice found my old dress from when I was human she was almost laughing and telling me that it was definitely garbage. Finally when I had enough I did something I hadn't in hundreds of years. "Dad!" I whined and when he noticed he had to get between me and Alice his eyes widened.

"Yes Bella?" he responded after composing himself and I pointedly looked over at Alice holding my dress. "Alice, Bella tends to be a tad nostalgic, can you let her keep that one dress?" he tried and Alice huffed, but then smiled.

"Fine, but only if you and Bella go spend some father daughter time to get her out of here," Alice bargained and Dad looked at me and then nodded.

When I looked at him slack jawed he answered "I saved your dress dear." He grabbed me from Rosalie and placed his arm around me leading me upstairs. "I've been meaning to talk to you anyways," he sighed and I finally just relaxed into his side.

"Fine, but if Alice throws out anything else valuable it's on your conscious," I threatened, his response was merely a chuckle. He led me into his study. As we entered I closed my eyes, pushing back the memories of the last time I was here. Even though I had my father back I still found myself wrestling with my human memories. It didn't make sense, I was aware, but I was working hard and I was finally beginning to make some success.

"Bella, dear, are you alright?" Dad asked. I watched as he sat down on a couch by the door. I hadn't noticed the couch when I first came in here. I settled down next to him curling my legs under me.

"Of course, why would you think otherwise?" I asked looking at him innocently.

"Well you're making a big deal out of moving here. We had to fight with you to get you to even think of agreeing," he explained. I adverted my eyes down to my hands as I clasped and unclasped them in my lap.

"It just seems strange, I spent the whole time in this town trying to hide my existence from you, and now it just feel odd," I told him as I began to fiddle with my necklace.

"Why did you do that?" he inquired looking at me pleadingly.

"I don't know," I sighed after a moment of silence. "I guess it was just, when I saw your new family, I felt as though you didn't need me anymore and my being here would be an unnecessary difficulty to your new life. You had successfully replaced me an-" I was rambling when he cut me off.

"Replaced you?" he demanded looking utterly confused. "Why on earth would you think I could replace you?" he asked, hurt was reflecting in his eyes, making me feel bad about my assumptions.

"W-Well, with Alice and Rosalie, I just thought... even the boys. Especially today, with Alice, you see her as your daughter," I tried and failed to explain my reasoning.

"Alice and Rosalie are my daughters, but you, Bella, are my little girl. I didn't raise Alice or Rosalie, and replacing your memory was never my intent. I was hoping to find Edward a mate, and that's where Rosalie came in-" I giggled at that, Rosalie and Edward seemed to always be butting heads and the image of them being together was just too funny "-and Alice came here looking for a family she couldn't remember," he finished explaining and pulled me into a hug. "Bella, never a day went by that I didn't wonder how you were doing, where any children of yours may be, if you died peacefully, if you had a happy life," he whispered. I closed my eyes feeling ashamed of my thoughts, I should have known my father wouldn't try to replace me.