A/N: So, I was brainstorming on Charlie a while back. Those that have been on the Twilighted thread from the start, or who have dared to wade through and read, know that my original plan for Charlie was different from what is in this oneshot, and how the story will ultimately play out. A few readers had posted the idea that Sue might help Charlie with understanding, and possibly bring in some Native American history to help him deal with Bella's unconventional relationship. This idea sat in my head for a few days and I kicked around some potential resolutions with a few friends who read TTH. Then I asked Einfach Mich about it, since she has done extensive research for her oneshot. She planted this idea in my head, so I owe half of the credit for this to her. The other half belongs to the author of this beautiful oneshot – algonquinrt. She has taken this challenge from me and, as with the other outtake she wrote for TTH, done a magical and beautiful job with it.

Just when I lose faith in myself, my friends are there to pick me up and dust me off. For that, I cannot ever thank them enough (and I'm not going to call them out by name, they know who they are). For reading this story, unique and different, going against the grain of societal norms, I thank you profusely. I've gotten several very touching reviews lately about changing people's views, and I cannot express how it touches my heart to read that.

I've left Algie's A/N at the bottom, since it contains an explanation of the title for this outtake.

The game was on. His beer was cracked and ready for him to take a sip. Yet he wasn't going to be able to enjoy either, because all his attention was drawn to the kitchen. Cupboard doors were slammed just a little bit too hard. Plates were stacked with a little too much of a clatter. She was thinking in there, and thinking was never good. Thinking meant a talk was forthcoming, and he wasn't sure this was a talk he'd been wanting to have with her. He didn't want to talk to anyone right now. He wanted to sit with his beer and watch the game and not think about that damn picture.

What the hell was that picture?

Until he'd seen that, he'd thought that his relationship with his daughter was a close one, even if much went unspoken. They shared the same quiet nature, not needing to fill silences with meaningless conversation or protestations of familial love. When she'd come to lunch, he'd assume she felt comfortable enough with him to acknowledge her relationship with Jasper without even needing words. The small touches and looks had been enough. Non-verbal confirmation that she'd found someone; that she was happy.

In not asking her to use words to confirm what he thought, had she kept information from him? Had she lied to him using his assumptions? She'd brought along Edward Cullen without so much as batting an eye, and he'd seen what he'd wanted to see: daughter, boyfriend, boyfriend's best friend. Really, thought, Charlie, what relatively new couple hangs out non-stop with the boyfriend's best friend? Furthermore, what best-friend-of-boyfriend-parents have the girlfriend's parents over to dinner? His head was starting to hurt.

He leaned forward in his chair, pressing his forehead into his hands. Baby, what are you doing?

With one more clatter of pots and pans, Sue finished in the kitchen and came out to the living room, striding to the television and snapping it off, facing him with her hands on her hips.

"Charlie Swan, enough with the wallowing already," she barked

He raised his head slowly, meeting her eyes.

"You saw it then?" he asked.

He had no idea what all of her stomping around was for, then. She'd seen it. Why was she pissed at him? It wasn't as if he'd known and kept it from her.

"What upsets you more, Charlie? What it is or that she didn't tell you?"

He pauses for a beat, unsure of his answer.

"She... she... Damnit, Sue, all I want is for her to be happy. How the hell is she going to be happy when she can't get married? Can't have a family? Can't tell anyone what the hell she's doing? Her whole life will be hiding from everyone. Starting, apparently, with me."

She moved toward him, then, touching him gently on the shoulder.

"Do you really think she hasn't told anyone? You saw that picture was in a place of honor, with family pictures. You saw that they treated her like one of their own."

His face contorted, agony etched across it.

"Charlie, it's been 30 years. Can't we?"

"We agreed. We wouldn't talk about it. We aren't going to open that up now. It's all just water under the bridge."

"Then without talking about it, imagine if things were different back then. Imagine that the world was more accepting, like it is now. Don't you think things would have been different?"

"The world isn't more accepting. That's what worries me. Look at all the hate out there."

"Oh, please. That's bullshit and you know it. Sure, the world isn't perfect, but it's so much different now. Just the fact that people are talking about it and discussing it and voting on it is progress. It's not where it needs to be, sure, but it's getting there. Even if it is more slowly than I'd like."

"She'll be hurt."

She ruffled his hair with her fingers in a gesture he was sure was meant to comfort. It didn't feel like enough tonight.

"Honey, what will hurt more? The judgment of strangers or the judgment of her father?"

He exploded. "How can I judge something when I haven't even been told what I'm judging? This is all supposition! Conjecture! I'm in the dark here and she hasn't told me a damn thing. Maybe it is just a picture. Maybe I'm reading too much into this."

She sighed, and cradled his jaw in her hands, turning his face until he met her eyes.

"Charlie, this has been between us for 30 years. I married Harry. You married Renee. Billy..." She trailed off.

"Imagine how things could have been if we'd had the courage to face things. Imagine if any of our parents had been wise enough, or intuitive enough. Stop and think about how much it would have meant to have parents who accepted everything at face value and communicated that they wanted nothing more than their children happy."

He was hurt, and angry. You can't turn back the past, only look to the future.

"And you think Bella has that in the Cullens and not me?"

This went beyond hurt; he was devastated to think Sue was right. His daughter would turn to strangers over him? Were they really that distant? He was already beginning to re-evaluate every facet of his relationship with her daughter when he heard Sue's voice cut through his thoughts.

"What if she's afraid to tell you? Look, we both know you aren't the most upfront about your feelings. What if she has no idea where you stand? If she's thinking that you'll think she'll disappoint you, or that you'll think she has no morals or even worse? What if she's every bit as concerned about your happiness, and is willing to keep up appearances to make sure that you aren't disappointed or disapproving?"

Could Bella really think that something like her choice in relationships could drive a wedge between them? If that really was the case, he'd failed as a father.

"How could she think that? I don't care what she does or who she's with! If she wants to join a lesbian harem I won't care as long as she's happy and no one hurts her!"

She smiled at him, returning her fingers to his hair.

"Maybe then, that's all she needs to hear."

"So what do I do? Call her up and say, 'Hey, Bella, if you have some sort of three-way going with those boys, that's fine by me?' That's crass."

She rolled her eyes in that timeless expression of women that was a universal sigh over the thought processes of men.

"No. I'm merely suggesting that you call her and give her the opportunity to open up to you. Maybe drop a few hints that you are okay with whatever direction her life will take."

He smiled at her, wondering where the hell he'd be without her wisdom, before pulling her into his lap.

"For what it's worth, I wouldn't change a thing. I'd rather you be here now than have had whatever that was back then."

She sighed contentedly, and rested her head against him.

"I feel the same way.

"Now promise me you'll call Bella."

He had no idea what he was going to say to her, but he'd call her. Maybe write things down first. For now, though, the game was on, he had a warm woman on his lap, and his beer wasn't getting any colder sitting there.

She poked him in the ribs.

"I mean it. Call Bella."

He sighed and took a single sip from the can as he reached for the phone, handing it off to Sue. She climbed off his lap and hit the speed dial for Bella's number, handing the phone to him as she walked away.

The panic didn't set in until he heard her voice:

"Hello?"

A/N: Again, I'm so honored that the lovely MsKathy allowed me to borrow her characters. The title of this outtake popped into my head before I even started to write it... the pyramid: a three-dimensional triangle that needs that fourth side to support it. The Red Pyramid has the second-largest base of the pyramids, but even more notable is that it was the first successful cased pyramid built in Egypt, leading to what's known as the era of the Giza-style pyramids.

When MsKathy divulged her idea for Charlie and Sue, it seemed almost mythological; the idea that you could see progress in the acceptance of non-monogamous hetero lifestyles in our society.