twispitefic

Title: Charlie Crashes the Prom
Author:

gehayi
Fandom(s): Twilight (1st book)
Rating: PG
Word Count: 530
Inspiration: Inspired by the epilogue, in which Edward takes Bella to the prom.
Author’s Note: Mervin asked in the epilogue: If Charlie is so suspicious of Edward and blames him for what happened to his daughter, why is he perfectly all right with Edward taking her to prom apparently against her knowledge? Why is he happily conspiring with a guy he supposedly hates? And why does he have him on speed dial?

Well, if I were writing it, I’d say that Charlie doesn’t know that it’s against Bella’s wishes as Bella doesn’t seem to have any will around Wardo. And he has Carlisle on speed dial because he is working in collusion with various cops to have this happen.

***

Edward and Alice were arrested by a joint task force of the Arizona police, the Washington police and the FBI as soon as they walked into the prom. Rosalie, Jasper and Emmett were brought in for questioning. From what one of the FBI agents said, Carlisle had already been arrested on multiple counts of malpractice and reckless endangerment.

But the only person Edward or I noticed was Charlie Swan, who was watching the arrests with a great deal of satisfaction.

“Police!” Edward gave Charlie a death glare. “Why? What have I done?”

Charlie didn’t answer. He simply stepped aside, let the feds and the state cops Mirandize both Edward and Alice, and then take them both away.

“Why?” I demanded, almost in tears. “What did he do that’s so wrong?”

“Multiple counts of aggravated assault,” Charlie said grimly. “Each charge is five to fifteen years in Arizona. Conspiracy to commit arson. He may not have done it, but he knows that Alice Cullen did—they have a photo of her driving away from the scene of a burning ballet studio. That’s a Class 4 Felony. 2.5 years for both of them. Conspiracy to commit grand theft auto—the car she was in was stolen, and she’s been overheard twice boasting about it. Class 3 felony. Two to eight and three-quarter years for both of them. Interstate stalking resulting in potentially life-threatening and/or disfiguring harm to the victim—now we’re into federal offenses. That’s punishable by 20 years in federal prison. And we haven’t even got into his attempting to Klaus von Bulow you and pass it off as medically necessary.”

“But...but I thought you were friends with Carlisle!” I wailed. “He—you’re on speed dial on his phone. And you seemed to like the other Cullens, even if you didn’t trust Edward as much as you used to—”

“You’re wrong,” he said quietly. “Carlisle shot you full of an addictive drug when you had a head injury. He didn’t even ask for permission, or use something less dangerous. That could have killed you or left you comatose for good, do you realize that? Your mother didn’t like Edward not leaving the room when she came to talk to you, either. Did you know that I found his fingerprints in the laundry basket? Did you know I found them on the windowsill outside your bedroom?”

He sighed. “After what happened to you in Arizona—I thought, all right, she’s young, she’s naive, but even she can see how vicious and controlling this creep Edward is. You wouldn’t have gotten hurt if not for him. But instead...you got back in his vicinity and you started acting like you’re a member of a cult. Oh, I’ve heard you argue with him a bit. But you always do what he wants. Always. And he never leaves you alone. I know the difference between love and Stockholm Syndrome, honey. I think you should learn it too.

“You’re going to get the counseling that you need. And you’re not going to be seeing him again, except in court. And if I can help it, he and his ‘family’ are going away for a VERY long time.”