A/N: I've reworked this a bit for those of you who are reading for the second time. In this AU, Alice did not "see" Bella jump off the cliff and therefore, did not return to Forks in New Moon. This story picks up several months later when Bella is graduating from high school. Thanks for reading!

BPOV

It was totally quiet in my room. I was moving a little slowly post-shower. It had taken quite the pep talk just to get out of the shower and now I was frantically searching for the motivation to continue on to getting dressed. In truth, I had no interest in making the evening go any faster.

I was more than ready to move on from Forks High, senior year there wasn't entirely a pleasant memory for me. What I wasn't so prepared to face was life after graduation. Over the last 8 months, I'd had to reorient myself in an effort to keep all of me in one piece (or as close to one piece as possible) and I couldn't help but feel that I might not be up to the task a second time, especially, considering I'd be off at the University of Washington without my Jacob.

The uncertainty I felt about the coming change had immobilized me entirely and there I stood, dripping wet, pondering my future instead of getting my gown on and heading out the door.

Just then a gentle knock at the door snapped me out of my reverie. "Yeah, Dad?" I called.

"Hey Bells." I gasped a little as Jacob pushed open the door.

"Jake? What are you doing here?" I could feel myself blush as I clutched my robe a little more tightly closed at the neck. Jacob laughed and winked at me.

"Relax, you're perfectly decent. I wanted to check on you. Figured you were kinda nervous, might need some help putting one foot in front of the other." A smug smile played on his lips as he quickly evaluated my state of undress as confirmation of his conjecture. I frowned and stuck my tongue out at him.

He chuckled as he swept over to me and tucked me in his arms. It was amazing how everything made sense again when I was placed there. How all of the uneasiness seemed to vanish in the warmth of his embrace. I let out a contented sigh and groaned in defeat, "Okay you win, I need you." He kissed my forehead and took my hands in his as he led me over to my closet.

With Jacob there it didn't take long to select a suitable under-gown outfit and pull my hair back into plaits. Of course, it would have been easier to do if he hadn't been making googly eyes at me the whole time and kissing my cheeks at regular intervals, not that I minded. It was nice to be adored, even if I was hardly worth adoring. The truth was that I owed him absolutely everything, my life even and here he was acting like he was getting a good deal.

"You ready?" I shrugged and raised one eyebrow at him. "Do I look ready?"

"You look beautiful." He grabbed my hand and pressed it to his lips. I marveled at the contrast of my alabaster skin against the copper hue of his and felt a rush of pure joy that I got to call him mine. I tucked his long black hair behind one of his ears and he leaned down to kiss me. I had to stand on the very tips of my toes to reach him. It was hard to believe that the calendar counted me as the older of us. In so many ways it felt impossible, a miscalculation.

I tucked my cap under my arm (I didn't want to wear it any longer than necessary, I looked ridiculous enough in the gown) and Jake led us down the stairs, hand in hand.

I was already feeling pretty emotional and Charlie didn't seem to be in much better control than I was. Charlie was going to drive me in his cruiser (graduation gowns and motorcycles do not mix) while Jake followed us on his bike.

"Bells, I just can't believe it." He snuffled.
"Hold it together, Dad." If he got any more exuberant, I'd have to find a place in this ridiculous costume to stash some tissues.

"I'm going to give you guys a minute." Jacob squeezed my hand and nodded toward Charlie before escaping through the front door. Sure getting dressed he helps with, but for this I'm on my own. I laughed awkwardly, not knowing exactly what to say.

"Bells, I know it wasn't ideal for you, living here with me. I just wanted to say…" I held my hand up to cut him off right there.

"Listen Dad, I want to get this out and then we have to shut up because I seriously don't think there's a hanky pocket in this thing." I gestured to the polyester tent on my shoulders, "Getting to live with you for the last year and a half has meant infinitely more to me than I could ever have imagined. I'm so glad I did it. I love you."

With that, I threw my arms around him as he mumbled incoherently. I stepped back and smiled at him, pretending not to see him quickly brush a tear from his scruffy cheek. He was never one for the big emotional displays, but I always knew that he loved me. He was a good Dad.

When I stepped onto the porch I saw Jacob's head flash up and immediately felt the weight of the moment Charlie and I'd just shared dissipate a bit. Charlie opened the cruiser door for me and I took a long, deep breath while I climbed into the cab. "Here we go." Charlie said. I swallowed the lump in my throat and echoed in my mind, Here we go…

A/N: Thanks again for reading! Reviews make me happy! If there are any questions, please ask!