Summary: Bella's father, Charlie Swan, is a police officer. One day Bella gets a disturbing call from Deputy Mark. He tells her the news and lets her know that she will be placed in Child Services. What will happen when they send her to the Cullen's house and meets her new brother, Edward Cullen? All human

Hello everyone. Some of you may be wondering why I haven't updated my Dream On fic. It's because I have a slight case of writer's block. So to get my mind off of it I've started writing this fanfic. Hopefully I'll be able to keep writing sometime soon. Thanks for all the support.

Disclaimer for the whole story: I do not own Twilight or any of the characters. I do own Linda.

BPOV

Only Time Will Tell

Chapter 1

Devastation

As I placed the onions in the pot of spaghetti sauce I thought of my mother, Renée. She had left Charlie and me long ago when I was merely four, a child. Thirteen years later and she still hadn't called or visited or anything.

I didn't realize I was crying until one of my tears fell into the pot, causing the sauce to splash and burn my arm. I quickly wiped the salt water off my cheek to assure that when Charlie stepped threw the front door—which he surely would soon—he wouldn't have to see my pain. It would pain him too.

I started growing a little worried when after the spaghetti was finished and on plates Charlie still hadn't arrived home. It wasn't like him to be this late without calling.

Suddenly the phone rang. I picked up the wireless phone. "Charlie?" I knew it was him. Who else would call at this time, dinner time?

"Hello, Ms. Swan." Deputy Mark, one of Charlie's work buddies said in a bored voice. He was panting slightly. "I'm afraid I have some bad news."

I silently braced myself for whatever was coming. "Yes?" I prompted. "What is it?" I was worried now.

"Charlie… well… he's…" Mark took a slow, deep breath, preparing himself for his next words, as did I. "He's dead Bella. Gone."

I was silent for awhile before I realized Mark was probably waiting for a response. "How?", was all I could manage.

"We were working on a case, you know, the Wilsons' case, and… well… he was shot. We're not sure by whom but I promise you, we will find out." He took another deep breath. "Until then, you're going to be placed in Child Services."

I started crying. "What? Why?" I couldn't believe it. My mother was gone, my father was gone and now they were going to make me move in with a new family, new house and start a new life?

"Bella, you're still only seventeen, you're not old enough to live on your own. I will be by in a little while to pick you up then we will go to the Child Services' office in Seattle. I'm sorry, but this is the only way. Please pack and I'll be there in forty-five minutes."

"O-okay-y." I stuttered before hanging up. I ran to the table and stuffed all of the spaghetti in my mouth quickly.

I ran up the stairs and burst into my room, sobbing louder than ever, and quickly pulled the big, black duffel bag out from under my bed. I un-zippered it and ran to my dresser. I pulled everything out of the drawers and stuffed it all in the giant bag and then I pulled everything from the closet and stuffed them in too. I didn't have much that I needed to pack so I was done within fifteen minutes.

I sat on the couch and cried into my hands until I heard a loud honk outside, coming from the driveway. I stood swiftly from the couch and grabbed my bags. I put my black high top Converse and ran to the waiting police cruiser.

"Hello Bella. You can throw your bags in the back." I did as he said and sat in the passenger seat. "Now let's get going." He turned the keys in the ignition and stepped down on the gas pedal.

________________________________________________________________________

"Hello? May I help you?" I heard the lady sitting at the desk in the lobby ask Mark. I was still trying to pull my bags into the building.

"Yes. My name Is Deputy Mark." He gestured to the badge that was pinned to his jacket. "I work in Forks. The chief down there… well, he passed on today." He tried to quiet his voice, so not to upset me. "He was shot on the job and this is his daughter." He gestured to me. "Her mother ran away long ago and no one has had contact with her in years. She has no one; the chief's parents died 10 years ago and her mothers parents died just a few years ago."

"Thank you for bringing her to us." The old lady behind the desk stood. "Hello, I'm Linda. I'm the secretary here. And, you are?" Her curly gray hair bounced as she walked towards me, her hand extended.

I took her hand in mine. "Bella." I muttered.

"Hello, Bella. Why don't we grab your bags and get you settled into a room. I will explain everything that happens to you once we've gotten you registered." She leaned down to grab my small backpack and led me down the hallway.

Deputy Mark waved to me and exited the building. He told Linda he would fax my registration form over later on.

Linda stopped me at a small room at the end of the hallway. "This will be your room until we find you a new family. You do. However, have a roommate. I believe she's in the Mess Hall, eating her supper." She dropped my bag on the bottom bunk of the bunk bed; it looked as if the top bunk had already been claimed. "She'll be back later on. Make yourself at home."

I dropped my huge bag on the bottom bed along with my bag of toiletries. "Thank you, Linda." I muttered sadly.

"Don't worry dear, we'll find you a new home with a loving family." She pulled me into a tight hug.

All I could do was nod.

"Good night." She smiled, walking out of my new room.

I sighed and dropped onto my new, uncomfortable bed; it felt like a rock. I stayed like that for ten minutes before I decided I should put my things away. I stood and moved my duffel bag over to the small dresser with nothing on it, the other one had, like the bed, been claimed. Carelessly, I shoved my clothes into the drawers and returned to my bed, grabbing my bag of bathroom goodies.

I began to make my way towards the quaint bathroom, nearly hidden in the corner of the room before a high pitched voice broke my concentration. "Hello." I nearly jumped through the roof.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" I turned around to see a girl, about my age, standing in the doorway. She was taller than I was and had long brown hair. "My name is Angela Weber."

"Hello Angela, I'm Isabella. I prefer Bella." I informed her, taking a step forward with my arm extended.

"Umm…" She eyed my hand as if it were a deadly snake.

"Oh, sorry." I muttered foolishly, only now realizing she must have been an abuse victim and didn't trust anyone to touch her. "Anyways," I murmured awkwardly. "It's been a long day. Do you mind if I go to bed?"

"No, by all means, do. I'm going to go to bed too." She nodded towards the bed I would be sleeping on. I noticed she never aloud her long sleeved shirt to move above her wrist, something a "cutter" would do.

So that's all for now. Enjoy and feel free to ask questions. I've decided that everyone that reviews gets a special sneak peak of the next chapter:D