Disclaimer: The wonderful Stephenie Meyer owns the world of Twilight and all its inhabitants. I just wanna play with her toys. No copyright infringement is intended.

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Chapter 2: Trapped

Edward silently slipped into Bella's room through the window. He had waited until the exploring cat settled next to Charlie and the sound of low, rumbling snores began. The gentle beat of Bella's heart had slowed and he knew she was asleep. Tomorrow, she would express disappointment that she had succumbed before seeing him again that night.

Amazing.

When he crawled into her bed, she unconsciously pulled herself closer to him, resting her head upon his chest. He was humbled. How could the significance of such a simple act ever have escaped his observation? But it had. Before. Now, Edward struggled to define the force that drew them together, imagining pieces of vampires, strewn across a desert and overlooked for final rending, relentlessly seeking to rejoin the whole.

"Umm." Bella stirred slightly. The muscles of her face relaxed completely and her lips parted. She drew in a long, deep breath, then slowly exhaled. She smiled as her eyes began to scan the image in her mind. He wondered what she could be seeing.

"Edward," she whispered.

In another room, Charlie was dreaming. Edward caught a glimpse of cats. Soft, furry cats.... cats that didn't scratch. Charlie's nocturnal reverie was even quieter than the piano staccato of his waking thoughts. Maybe Charlie's quietness of mind was a reflection of an ability to exist completely in a moment without the need for the incessant internal chatter in which most humans engaged. Perhaps it was an innate trait honed by the hours Charlie spent staring into the water and soundlessly waiting, as much a part of the river as the fish he sought there.

Edward relaxed and let the joy he felt in that moment erase his worries and regrets.

Shortly before sunrise Charlie's house guest began to roam, scratching about in the hallway. Suddenly brave, emboldened by perceived concealment, the cat sniffed at the crack under Bella's door and began to emit a quiet threatening growl from deep within its chest. The noise increased, waned and then pitched again, pulling Bella from her dreams. Half-conscious, she looked at Edward quizzically then dragged herself from his arms and rolled away, grabbing for something in the floor beside the bed. Finding a shirt, she flung it toward the door.

"Shoo," Bella hissed as she burrowed back into the blankets and Edward's side.

The cat, growling more loudly, gambled it could fool whatever lay behind the door. He must have imagined himself larger and more dangerous than any mere domesticated feline. Unexpectedly, Bella bounded from the bed, calling the cat's bluff.

"Hush kitty, don't wake up Charlie," she whispered sternly, flinging open the door.

Bella tripped into the hall, kicking the cat box and sending it sliding across the hardwood floor. In response, the cat took flight, landing several feet away and ricocheting off a wall. Momentarily stunned, he hissed and continued a mad scramble, unable to get any traction on the smooth floor.

Charlie sat straight up. He was out of bed and in the hall before forming the first concrete thought. Surveying the scene, he regretted leaving the litter pan in the hallway, mentally chastising himself for the foolish thoughts that led him to place the tray close to Bella's door.

"I'll get this," Charlie said. "Go back to bed. It's time for me to get up anyway."

"It's Saturday, Dad. Sleep in." Bella's caretaker instincts were kicking in.

"Nah, I wanna get the cat down to the vet's, so I can get in some early fishing today."

"Okay, Dad," Bella mumbled like she was almost asleep already. Bella reached for the door knob. She backed into the room without saying another word.

Charlie swept the hall and moved the litter tray into his room. Then, he walked into the bathroom and looked into the mirror. Long, brick-red scabs had formed where the cat had raked his throat. Kitty, you are going into a box for the trip to the vet's.

When Charlie started the shower, Edward stepped out of the closet. Bella was kneeling on the bed.

"Next time," Edward begged "a little warning before you leap out of bed and throw open the door, if you please."

"Sorry," she said sheepishly. After a moment she continued, "I thought you left."

Edward sat down beside her. "I should go," he said with a smile.

"I fell asleep before you came back last night," Bella's complained as she climbed into Edward's lap. "I didn't get to see you again, so I'm not letting you leave." Edward, pleased to have accurately predicted her reaction, fell back compliantly when Bella pushed him.

Apparently Charlie's visitor is not the only harmless creature that's ready for a fight. The places on his chest, where Bella had shoved him with her small, delicate hands, tingled. On second thought, harmless is not a word that should ever be used to describe Bella.

Edward searched for the reasons he should leave. "Charlie might have trouble luring the cat out from behind the washer, if I hang around. That cat's too small to bother with, but he doesn't know that."

"Too small? Hors d'oeuvre maybe?" Bella asked mockingly.

"Absurd," Edward snorted. "Sleep Bella. You obviously need more," he sighed.

Bella grumbled indecipherably until sleep won out. An hour passed. Edward didn't want to leave her, but Charlie couldn't find the cat, and he had decided the only place left to look was in Bella's room.

Charlie opened the door slowly and looked around. Bella was curled under a blanket. When Charlie dropped a knee to the floor and bent to look under the bed, Bella's eyes flew open.

"Dad?"

"Don't get up. I'm trying to find that stupid cat," Charlie said as he struggled to focus on Bella in the darkened room. It appeared that Bella was suddenly wide awake and her expression suggested that she'd been caught doing something truly awful. It was the same look the truants he caught the other day had worn. Charlie was immediately suspicious, although he wasn't sure of what.

"Bella, are you sure the cat couldn't be in your room?" Charlie wondered if Bella might enjoy having a puppy. Cats were too detached, haughty even, and Bella deserved a more loyal companion.

"Uh, yeah. He hasn't been in here. Did you look in the laundry room?"

"Yup, no cat"

He looked around the room again, his eyes falling on the only place that he hadn't checked: Bella's closet. Hmph. Charlie stood as if to leave, but walked over in front of the closet. Was Bella holding her breath? What could she hide in there? Charlie mentally choked on a few possibilities before he decided that the only thing he wanted to think about was getting the cat over to the veterinary clinic. Still....

"Do you mind if I check your closet?"

"Yes. No. I mean there's no way he could have gotten in there," Bella stammered.

Surely Bella didn't think Charlie could catch me hiding in the closet, Edward thought. His silent laughter shook the tree he was leaning against. Of course, Edward had exited the house before Charlie entered Bella's room. Edward should have gone home to get his car, but he had been curious to see what Charlie would do.

Charlie believed that Bella had more or less agreed to the search of the closet, so he turned his back to her, opened the door, and looked inside.

"You're right. No cat," Charlie said. Was she dreaming about doing things she shouldn't be doing?

"Go fishing. I'll find the cat."

"What time do you have to be at work?"

"Not until ten. Edward's driving me. He can help me find the cat and we'll drop it off. There's enough time."

Charlie began to collect his gear, a thought forming in his mind. If the cat stays, maybe Edward won't hang around all weekend.

Edward continued to listen carefully. Charlie's furry visitor was keeping quiet, still nestled behind the washer. Charlie was rummaging through the refrigerator, putting his hands on something that seemed to be well-hidden on the bottom shelf. He pulled forth a small, plastic tub. Night crawlers.

"Might have some work for you boys today," Charlie clucked as he opened the lid and peered at the dark soil inside.

The sounds of the shower were replaced by the hum of a hair dryer. Charlie listened and poked at the dirt. A memory crossed his mind: Renee scowling while she held a similar container. She didn't like worms in her fridge. Come to think of it, she didn't really like fish in there either. Charlie continued to poke at the dirt until movement was discernible. Charlie concealed the bait in a brown paper lunch bag. You'll be better off if Bella doesn't see you.

Edward wondered if Charlie might be better off, too.

Edward knew Charlie was weighing his options where the cat was concerned. Allowing the cat to stay all weekend was starting to seem very attractive to Charlie and in the time it would take it Edward to run home and return with his car, Charlie might reach a decision. Edward walked to the front of the house, resolving to trap the creature before Charlie decided that he really wanted to keep the cat around a few more days. As long as Charlie wasn't looking, Edward could easily pull the cat from its hiding place.

Great, Charlie groaned to himself as he heard the knock at the door, certain that Edward was standing on the other side. Charlie opened the door, immediately noticing the absence of Edward's vehicle.

"Where's your car, Edward?" The question sounded like a challenge.

"Good morning, Charlie," Edward said politely. "I'm going to change the oil in the truck for Bella while she's working today." Edward bet that the idea might sidetrack Charlie.

"Oh, you are? Didn't know it was due for an oil change." I'd be real surprised if you could handle that yourself. But, hey, get right on that. Manual labor oughta be a new adventure for a kid like you. Nothing like hanging out in South America or LA or wherever.

Edward smiled and said nothing. The success of being able to divert the scrutiny of his arrival was tempered by the new direction Charlie's thoughts had taken.

Charlie idly wondered what kind of trouble Edward had gotten himself into when his family had moved away. Bella had made it clear that the topic was not to be discussed. Charlie pondered the likelihood that whatever the problems were, they had contributed to the Cullen matriarch's sudden dislike for life in LA and the family's return to Forks. Using law enforcement resources to search for anything involving the kid would not only be illegal, it would have been a waste of time; wealthy families like his had many ways of keeping their names out of public records and police files.

Charlie desperately wanted to believe that Bella would never get herself into any kind of trouble that might plague her for life. Guiltily, he recalled that Bella had been forced to mother Renee for years and bear his own indifference as he conveniently ignored the situation. Without appropriate parental supervision and support, it was far too easy to fall in with the wrong crowd.

The wrong crowd indeed. Vampires could not have constituted a more dangerous association. Unless one counted werewolves.

Edward ached. He had caused nothing but grief for everyone. He was ashamed that Charlie thought less of his family than they deserved. Together, Carlisle and Esme were the most marvelous system of checks and balances: approving, supporting, supervising, or correcting, as needed. Carlisle had supported Edward's decision to leave Forks and the entire family had followed; when doing things Edward's way had proved so disastrous, Esme had called the game. Esme's priority was keeping her family together. The decision to return to Forks as a family had been made before he returned from Volterra.

Looking at himself through Charlie's eyes, Edward saw, that physically, he was staring at the door step, and Charlie was staring at Edward, both men momentarily lost in remorse and fear of the future.

"Well, Bella's getting dressed," Charlie said. "She'll be down soon."

Abruptly Charlie realized an immediate concern had arisen that he could do something about; because inside the house, the smell of Bella's shampoo was still thick in the air and he had just told a high school boy that his daughter was not fully clothed. Maybe keeping him outdoors will discourage any speculation on that subject.

Knowing that Charlie expected Edward to engage in the crass fantasies that most high school males wasted their imaginations upon was humiliating; but Edward sensed the feelings of concern for Bella's vulnerability that the scent of the strawberry shampoo raised in Charlie, and Edward understood the urge to protect her from anything untoward. He was reminded that it wasn't the smell of Bella's shampoo that had once ignited the worst fantasies Edward had ever had. Relieved that those urges were completely subdued, he shoved away the melancholy mood that nipped at him.

Charlie muttered, "That cat's hiding somewhere. Why don't you check around outside in case it got out."

"Sure, Charlie."

Bella came downstairs as Charlie closed the door.

"Is Edward here?"

"He's outside looking for the cat." Enthusiasm colored Charlie's voice.

"Outside? It's raining."

"Edward seems to like making himself useful," Charlie said taking a longer look at Bella.

"Dad," she admonished, recognizing the sarcasm in Charlie's comment.

"Shirt's a little snug, isn't it?" Edward might be off-limits, but what she's wearing is not.

Charlie was right. Considering that Bella was going to be working with that wretch Mike Newton much of the day, the stretchy material hugged Bella's body in all the wrong ways. On the other hand............Charlie would be aghast to know whom he was helping analyze precisely how well Bella's clothing enhanced her natural attributes.

"It's just a regular shirt. Everyone's wearing them. Besides, Alice sent it to me," Bella replied, playing her ace.

Alice could get away with anything. Fortunately for Charlie, Alice was a 'vegetarian'. Otherwise, with only the barest suggestion, Charlie would open a vein himself and hand Alice a glass.

"Hey there, kitty. Come out and keep your paws where we can see them!" It seemed Bella had taken it upon herself to make another search of the laundry room. Charlie found her sitting atop the washer peering between it and the wall. "Looks like the newest prisoner in the Swan penitentiary wasn't able to tunnel out after all."

"Come on. I thought you liked me," Charlie said, reaching for the cat.

Charlie and Bella verbally attempted to coax the cat out of the space behind the washer that it now seemed to have claimed. The cat yawned, but made no effort to move, other than to beat its tail against the wall.

"Bells, there's a box in the trunk of the car. Fetch it for me, will you."

Edward met Bella on the porch.

"You're just in time. There's a rabid beast with fangs in my house," she whispered.

"Er......Sounds highly dangerous," Edward chuckled. He started to ask if Jacob Black had suddenly appeared, but reconsidered. Anyway, Charlie had already claimed the job of opening a can of worms, in more than one way.

Bella laughed. "What should we do?"

"We could make a run for it, but I'm afraid Charlie has already considered keeping the cat all weekend. As long as I'm around the cat will try to escape. Losing that old man's cat would be a very, very bad thing." Carlisle would have Edward and all his siblings combing the vicinity. "You'll have to distract Charlie while I capture your saber tooth tiger."

"Any suggestions?" Bella was taking her role in the conspiracy seriously.

"Why don't you make your breakfast and sit down at the kitchen table. Charlie left a brown bag there. Don't open it. Just ask him what it is." Edward decided to try and keep Charlie's secret.

"What is it?"

"Something Charlie thinks you wouldn't like to see sitting on the table."

Bella protested, "No fair. Tell me."

"Fishing paraphernalia. Charlie knows you aren't the biggest fan of fishing." He could have told her the bag contained fishing lures; but that seemed too concrete a description, more likely to raise her ire, if in fact, she were averse to the worms and discovered Edward knew Charlie had left them lounging on the table since their eviction from the refrigerator.

When Edward and Bella returned inside, Charlie was opening a can of tuna. "Oh, you. Edward. I forgot about you." Trying to actually. "Why don't you go turn the TV on and wait in the other room." See, Bells? I'm nice.

"I'm okay, thanks. I'll wait for Bella."

Charlie grunted. "Suit yourself."

Bella didn't waste any time launching the plan to divert Charlie's attention. "Dad, ugh! Fish doesn't do much for cereal," she said, wrinkling her nose.

"The cat doesn't think your cereal will do much for that milk you're pouring," Charlie pointed out as he noted the animal had begun to growl. Crazy cat. Charlie sat the can in the floor in front of the washer.

Bella smirked and sat down at the table. "So what's for lunch?" She reached for the sack and tossed Edward a look that let him know she had not been satisfied with his description of its contents.

Charlie was quicker, more so than Edward would have thought him capable of, snagging the bag before Bella could get her hands on it. The movement was motivated by unexpected desperation. Edward focused on Charlie, looking for the source. But the thought was already gone; all that remained was an echo.

"Nothing you'd be interested in," Charlie muttered, puffing out his lips and pouting a little.

Perhaps Charlie deserved his time fishing. "Uh, Charlie? Do you need a hand getting your stuff to the car?"

"No, thanks. I've got it," Charlie said as he headed out.

When the front door had closed behind him, Bella said, "I still want to know what's really in the bag. Don't think you and Charlie are getting away with something." She spooned another bite into her mouth.

"Give the man a little privacy," Edward told her. "He doesn't want to disappoint you and he knows you don't like anything to do with fishing."

"You sound like you're changing sides," Bella observed. "Traitor."

"Never." Edward laughed.

Edward had his hands on the cat before it could react. The cat's eyes glazed over, as if he might be counting his remaining lives, hoping it were true that cats had nine and that he had at least a few left. The cat uttered a moan of resignation as Edward lowered him into the box.

"There you go, tiger." Edward hoped Charlie really didn't want to keep the cat a few more days. "Here's something to keep you company," Edward said as he shoved the can of tuna into the box, vaguely aware of the cat's futile attempt to scratch his stone hand.

Edward turned his attention back to Bella. "Fishing is not so bad. It keeps Charlie entertained and away from home for hours, but if you'd rather he spent the time with you, I'm sure you have only to make your preference known." Edward sat down at the table across from Bella, the box in his lap. The cat was silent, no longer making threats, concentrating instead on drawing as little attention to itself as possible.

"When you put it that way, fishing does have its points," Bella agreed. "Are your prey usually so cooperative?" she said looking at the box.

"No reason to belabor the effort. The more efficient and faster the hunt, the sooner I can return here to you," Edward winked.

"Do you think there's a bounty on our quarry?" Bella asked, once again excited by their conspiracy.

"I'll be satisfied to have the quiet enjoyment of your company," Edward replied.

"I always wonder what you do all night; now I know. You are thinking up perfect things to say," Bella said just as Charlie re-entered the house.

Charlie was surprised to see Edward holding the box, his hands resting on the closed flaps. Not a scratch on them. Wouldn't want the boy to need stitches, but a few nasty gashes wouldn't have hurt for long.

"Well, Edward's making himself useful again. No concerns about allergies today." Charlie took the box, speaking as if Edward wasn't even there.

"Antihistamines are miracle drugs," Edward noted. A simple statement. A lie of omission.

"Dad, you want anything special for dinner tonight?" Bella asked. "I'll be home in plenty of time to cook." Bella scanned the contents of a cabinet, then opened the freezer.

"Dunno, I think that tuna smells pretty good. Maybe I'll stop and clean up my fish on the way home. We can throw them on the grill."

"Okay, I'll make a salad and fries." Bella was fumbling with things in the freezer.

"I better get started then," Charlie said, taking one last look at Edward.

"Later Bells," Charlie called over his shoulder as he opened the front door.

"Have fun, Dad," Bella replied. "Oh, wait," she said as she reached into the refrigerator. "You're forgetting your night crawlers."

Charlie turned to see Bella holding a container much like the one that was already in the cruiser. She smiled.

"I don't know how I could have forgotten them." Charlie seemed contrite.

Bella opened the tub and Charlie's eyes bulged. "This stinks and it's moldy. Looks like they've exceeded their useful shelf life," she said as she dropped the container in the trash. " You better stop and buy more or we'll be ordering pizza tonight."

Charlie looked relieved and a tad hopeful.

After Charlie left, Edward turned to Bella and asked, "So have you ever seen the movie Tremors?"

A/N: In the next chapter, Charlie is having a good day; it's sunny and Bella says Edward is away with his family. That means Charlie will have his daughter and his flat screen to himself. Or does it?