Forgetful Swan

Charlie's answers

Freya was still in her locked in state, but her mother and father didn't want to leave her alone, so Didyme sat on her sofa with Freya sitting next to her, Freya's head resting on Didyme's shoulder her hands where being held lightly rubbing circles in her knuckles.

Jasper stood right behind Freya, his hand resting on her shoulder, sending relaxing waves to her, hoping it was working.

Marcus, Aro, and Caius sat in chairs in front of them, blocking Charlie's sight of the young girl. The guard stands outside the door, ready to help if needed.

"I have some questions, Mr Swan." Aro began keeping his face blank, making Charlie uncomfortable. Charlie nodded for Aro to ask what he wanted. "Who changed you?"

Charlie took a deep breath before answering.

"A red-haired woman named Victoria." At the name Jasper tensed up.

"How did you get away?" He quickly asked, catching everyone's attention.

"She left one day and never came back." Charlie replied, looking at him and then trying to catch a glimpse of Freya.

"Who is Victoria?" Marcus asked both Charlie and Jasper.

Before Charlie could speak, Jasper did.

"Victoria is a nomad vampire that has been after Isabella after someone in my family killed James, who I believe was her mate." The major was fighting to get to the surface in order to protect his little mate.

"Was you there?" Didyme asked, not wanting to think of him killing half a mated pair.

"No, no, no, I wasn't. I only know what the others told me, but I do know she has a gift of being able to sense danger." Didyme was ok with the answer.

After just a moment, Aro began his questioning again.

"How did you know Freya was still alive?"

"Victoria told me she was. I didn't believe her at first." Charlie looked to Marcus. "Until the zoo opened." He rubbed his neck. "It was a feeling that the zoo was made for her, so I kept walking around the outside of the place to see if the feeling was right, and when I saw her going in, I knew the feeling was right. So I followed her." He looked to Freya with guilt, which Marcus saw.

"Why did you choose Isabella, who wasn't your real daughter, over Freya?" Marcus asked, making Charlie's head snap to him.

"I wanted to be a good dad to her, but by doing that, I pushed my real daughter away and hurt her." He took an unneeded breath before continuing. "There is no excuse for what I have done, but I hope that over time, I can make up for what I had done to her."

Caius growled at Charlie, still not liking his answer.

"You're right. There is no excuse. Do you know what she was like when she came?" He hissed, leaning forward.

"Brother, calm yourself." Aro said, earning a hiss from Caius.

"Calm myself. I will do no such thing." He snapped before turning back to Charlie. "She was like this." He pointed to Freya. "She was so sad that you didn't see her that she shut herself down." He hit his hand on the desk. "The last time she was like this was when you asked to see her, but then you chose that pathic human over this sweet girl. At the same time, you were called and told she was dead because we couldn't allow you to cause this again, but here we are with Freya yet again lock in herself because of you." He said, getting louder.

"Dear brother, can you take Freya to her room to feed her, please?" Didyme called to Caius, who stood suddenly and went to pick Freya up like a baby and carried her out of the room.

Charlie sat watching with his guilt eating at him and regret for abandoning his daughter and causing her emotional pain to the point she shut down.

When Caius had left, Jasper walked around looking at the remaining kings and queen for permission to ask Charlie another question. Once he got nods from them, he turned to Charlie.

"If I gave you the option to save Isabella or stay with Freya, what would you choose?"

"Stay with Freya." He answered, not missing a beat.

"What if I told you Isabella is locked up somewhere in this castle? What would you say then?" He pushed stepping closer, making Charlie look up to him.

"I would still choose Freya. I should have seen the hate she had for my little girl in the beginning, but I was blind. But I'm not anymore. I want to get to know my little girl. I want to make it up to her even if she won't remember it."

Jasper took a moment, looking at Charlie to see if he could feel any dishonesty, but he didn't, so he nodded and looked to the others and spoke up.

"He is speaking the truth from what I can feel, but I still think you should be watched when you are with Freya just for my peace of mind because I don't want my mate to be harmed again she is too good for this world and I plan to keep her happy."

Aro and Charlie nodded, agreeing as Marcus and Didyme smiled at the young man who would do anything for their little girl.

"As long as I get to know Freya." Charlie replied with a small smile.