The Voice of Reason

Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to SM.

A/N-thank you for the awesome reviews!

Chapter Three

Bella sang to herself as she floated around the kitchen. She was in a very good mood. Her friendship with Jacob was back on track and this made her happy. To celebrate (and to soften up Charlie when she delivered the news about her possible suspension) she decided to tempt her father with his favourite food, fish pie. For once the voice was quiet in her head and she revelled in the silence. Perhaps it had even gone. She hoped so. It had gotten her into enough trouble already. Bella chopped up the ingredients and rolled out the pastry to make the pie. She wasn't a lover of fish, but her father ate nothing else. The freezer was full of the fish that Charlie caught on his fishing expeditions with Billy, so it wasn't like they were going to run out anytime soon. The hours drifted by and soon the kitchen was filled the tantalising aroma of the pie.

"I will never get used to that stench."

"Holy crow." Bella put her hand over her palpitating heart at the sound of Edward's voice.

"He's got a nerve talking about stench. He smells like a funeral home." The voice groaned in her head. "Does he have no concept of boundaries?"

The intrusive voice was back. Bella felt her skin flush as she tried to control her reaction to it. She smiled nervously at Edward. She was feeling very flustered. He was looking at the stove as if she was about to serve up something vile.

"He doesn't have to eat it." The voice sneered. "Tell him to piss off. He wasn't invited to this meal. This is for you and daddykins to air your issues."

"Be quiet." Bella muttered under her breath. "Butt out."

Edward frowned as he studied Bella with a disapproving air. "I see your attitude hasn't improved. I don't know what has got into you lately, Bella."

"Ugh, is this guy for real? How can you listen to this crap? Tell him to go and haunt somewhere else."

Bella's head was hurting. She tried to regain her composure to focus on soothing Edward and not the voice. "I'm sorry if you think…."

"You are not seriously apologising to this creep are you? He comes into your house, uninvited. He insults your food. Then he has the gall to criticize you. Are you seriously going to put up with this and say nothing?" The voice of reason was appalled.

"Bella, what is wrong with you? Why are you pulling that sour face?" Edward ducked his head and peered into her eyes. She had scrunched them up as she tried to stop herself arguing with the voice. "I think I should take you to see Carlisle for a check-up."

"Tell him to get out."

"No." Bella said under her breath.

"Tell him." The voice urged her. "Come on, girl. Think how happy you were earlier. He's bringing you down. Put your foot down and show him you won't be treated like this."

Bella opened her eyes again and breathed deeply. Edward was gazing at her in concern. He reached out and caressed her cheek lightly with the back of his hand. She shivered.

"I worry about you, Bella. I worry that you're letting yourself be influenced by the wrong people." Edward smiled at her tenderly as he tried to charm her.

Bella frowned, biting her lip. Did he know about the voice? She had been acting so erratic. It was making her look crazy. Maybe she was crazy.

"He's not talking about me being the bad influence, idiot. He means Jacob. The bloodsucker has been sniffing around. He must have smelt Jacob, moron. He can't see into your mind. Unlike me of course." The voice said sarcastically. "Are you really going to let him insult your friend, huh? Are you?"

Of course, it was obvious. Edward always got like this when Jacob had been around. She crossed her arms defensively across her chest creating a barrier between them. "Jake is not a bad influence." She said testily.

"Good girl. That's more like it." The voice praised her.

Edward sighed dramatically. He pinched the bridge of his nose, a sure sign he was getting frustrated. "We've had this conversation before, Bella. He is a wolf, therefore unpredictable and dangerous."

"Cheeky SOB." The voice cussed. "Didn't he run off like a spoilt brat because he was drowning in guilt over you nearly being killed again by a member of his own coven? Mmmmm…."

"That's right." Bella agreed out loud with the voice of reason.

"So you agree with me." Edward let go of his nose and smiled smugly.

"What? No, I don't." Bella did not like the look on his face. The voice of reason was right. His family had been a greater danger to her than Jacob or his pack would ever be. "Jake would never hurt me. He and his pack have done nothing but keep me safe. While you were off licking your wounds they protected me from Victoria. If you want to talk about dangerous and unpredictable individuals perhaps you should look at your own family. Does Jasper ring a bell? I mean he nearly bit me. Isn't that the reason you ran off with your tail between your legs in the first place?"

"You go, girl." The voice cheered.

"Bella, please." Edward was contrite now. His handsome face was full of hurt, his eyes glowing with pain. "You said you had forgiven me."

Bella's face was red with exertion. Her sudden burst of ire died when she saw the torment on his face. She hated hurting him. Of course he was sorry. He was being overprotective because he was concerned for her safety. Bella rubbed her forehead to try and ease the ache. "Look, I just don't like you insulting my friends. Jake and his pack have been good to me."

"Of course." Edward agreed solicitously. "I'm sorry, love."

"Liar." The voice sneered.

Edward was about to embrace Bella when the front door opened. He paused, stepping back as Charlie Swan strolled wearily into the kitchen. When he saw Edward he scowled, his fingers instinctively stroking the cool metal of his gun. "It's past your curfew. What are you still doing here?" He snapped.

"I LOVE CHARLIE SWAN!" The voice sang.

"Dad!" Bella was aghast at her father's rudeness. "Please."

"Get going." Charlie barked at Edward. "I didn't put these rules in place for you to blatantly break them."

"I apologise, Chief Swan." Edward said stiffly. "I will see you tomorrow, Bella." He nodded before taking his leave.

"Good riddance." Charlie muttered when he heard the front door close.

"Good riddance." The voice agreed.

Bella didn't know what to think. Her father was such a bad ass. The way he had ordered Edward out of the house. He had never done that before. But then she and Edward had been abiding by the strict rules he had put in place. This was the first time that they had broken them. She swallowed thickly as she realised that she still had to tell Charlie about school. Damn, he was going to be pissed.

"Tell him you love him." The voice said quietly.

"What?" Bella said in her head.

"Jeez, you are so dense. Tell the guy you love him. He's your dad. He loves the bones of you; he just has difficulty showing it properly. Come on girl break the ice. Tell the man you love him and give him a hug."

Bella felt tears well in her eyes as she looked at Charlie. He seemed so tired. When was the last time she had really seen him as her father instead of an irritant in the background coming between her and her precious Edward. How selfish and insular could she be? With the voice egging her on Bella stepped forward and embraced Charlie. She rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes. "I love you, dad."

Charlie was stunned. He stood frozen for a second, his arms hovering around his daughter, hesitating. This was so alien for him. Bella had never done anything like this before, not since she was a young girl anyway. Charlie blinked as his eyes became moist before he slowly wrapped his arms around Bella and hugged her back. "I love you too, kiddo."

"Aww…" The voice said sweetly.

Bella smiled.


"You're not mad?" Bella couldn't believe that Charlie was being so understanding about all the trouble she'd gotten into at school.

"I'll go and see the principal tomorrow morning. We'll sort it out." Charlie replied congenially as he tucked into his fish pie. "This is delicious, Bells. For a bribe it sure is a tasty one." His brown eyes twinkled with mirth.

"Ha gotcha." The voice laughed.

"You got me." Bella conceded, blushing. "I'll try and do better at school, dad. I promise." She vowed earnestly.

Charlie stopped eating for a moment and studied her carefully. "Bells, you don't need to do better. You're top of your class in most subjects. So you acted out a little. We've all done it. You can't be perfect all the time. Just be yourself and you'll be fine. I'm proud of you kiddo."

"You're proud of me." Bella's eyes filled with tears. "Thanks, dad."

"You're welcome. And thanks for this fish pie." Charlie beamed at her as he resumed eating.


"Now wasn't that a nice bonding moment." The voice of reason said to Bella as she stood in the bathroom brushing her teeth.

"Uh huh."

"He even agreed that you could go to that bonfire party with Jacob tomorrow night." The voice continued.

"Yes, he did." Bella conceded as she finished brushing and rinsed her mouth with water.

"So…does that mean you actually agree that my advice is sound?" The voice of reason asked smugly.

"I wouldn't go that far." Bella said with a cheeky smile as she turned out the bathroom light.


Bella felt like an ice pop when she finally managed to shoo Edward out of her room so she could get ready for school. He hadn't been there when she had first fallen asleep. She assumed he must be hunting. She didn't want to admit it to herself but she was glad to have some time alone. But during the early hours she felt her bed dip and a cold arm snake around her waist.

"For fuck's sake." The voice of reason said groggily. "Tell him to piss off."

Bella had sighed heavily and wrapped her duvet tighter around her body to ward off the chill. She was too tired to have an argument with Edward. She was saving that for later when he found out she was going to be spending the next evening in La Push with Jacob.


Charlie kept his word. He drove Bella to school and went with her to see the principal. Bella was fascinated as she watched her father work his magic. He managed to soothe Mr Varner's ruffled feathers while making sure that Bella's apology sounded sincere even if she didn't actually mean it. Charlie made the excuse that exam pressure was affecting his daughter and spun it so it sounded entirely plausible.

"Did I already tell you I love Charlie Swan?" The voice sighed in her head throughout the meeting.

"Once or twice." Bella mumbled under her breath.

In the end the suspension was taken off the table. The principal agreed to a lighter punishment instead. Charlie shook hands with him and Mr Varner before following his daughter out of the office. "I gotta say, Bells." He said in an aside to Bella when they were alone. "You weren't wrong about Varner's breath. Phew." He pinched his nose playfully. "I'll see you later, kiddo. Stay out of trouble." He advised before he left.


Trouble did find Bella but it wasn't with any of her teachers this time. She had upset Alice. Edward's sister had grassed on her before she even had time to fess up to Edward that she was going to be spending the evening in La Push with her best friend. She had been putting it off all day even as the voice of reason berated her for being a wimp. Edward had kept his own counsel until lunch. But then he unleashed his disapproval.

"I can't condone it, Bella." Edward said severely, his eyes dark with displeasure. "Alice told me she couldn't see you. WE all know what that means."

"What a bitch." The voice cursed. "And you call her a friend. Tell them all to piss off. You can do what you like, when you like and with whom you like."

"I had to tell him." Alice said with a sickly sweet smile. "We're all worried about you."

Bella felt her blood boiling. She pushed her tray of food away and stood up. She was actually shaking. "Piss off, Alice. Stay out of my business." She had ranted before storming out of the canteen.

It had only gone downhill from there.


Edward insisted on driving her to the treaty line. His golden brown eyes were full of condemnation. It was clear he was struggling with Bella's newfound confidence. They had argued back and forth with the voice of reason urging Bella to stand her ground and not back down. Eventually Edward had to give up. Nothing he said or did was going to change Bella's mind, but that didn't stop him trying to make her feel guilty all the same. She had only conceded on one point, and that was he wanted her home by midnight and that he would be the one to pick her up at the treaty line. Bella had reluctantly agreed, thinking it was a small price to pay.

When they reached the invisible boundary they found Jacob already there, waiting. He lounged against his car, arms crossed and face impassive. He was wearing a shirt again which Bella found odd. Since turning wolf Jacob had told her that too many clothes were confining. Maybe he was just making an effort for her sake.

"Yeah, right." The voice piped up.

"I don't like this, Bella." Edward said darkly as he eyed Jacob with an intense dislike.

"Pompous prick." The voice sneered.

"Be quiet." Bella forgot herself and spoke aloud as she answered the voice.

"Excuse me. I have the right to voice my opinions." Edward said sternly. "Especially when…"

"For the love of…."

"Enough, Edward." Bella interjected before the voice of reason went off into one of its rants. She had to concede that Edward was trying even her patience. Jacob had pushed away from his car now and was smiling at her. Bella felt her lips curve upwards in response.

"How can you resist that cutie?" The voice said dreamily.

Bella was so caught up in Jacob's warm smile that she became distracted. It was only when she felt Edward grab the collar of her coat and press his cold lips to hers that she choked. Bella staggered back, coughing and spluttering. Edward looked mortified while Jacob was trying not to laugh.

"Ewww….get him off. Push him away. Ugh! That feels disgusting."

It took a moment before Bella recovered. Her eyes were watering because she had coughed so much. She met Edward's steely gaze guiltily. "Sorry. I don't know what happened."

"Yes you do. His attempt at kissing you made you gag." The voice pointed out. "Eww…I need to scrub my tongue. Now hop over that line before you catch some cooties."

Bella had to bite on her bottom lip to stop herself laughing at the voice of reason's reaction to Edward's unexpected kiss. It was very rare for him to instigate one in the first place. He was doing it to make a point in front of Jacob. Bella found that a bit pathetic and realised that Edward was actually feeling insecure. She had never seen him that way before. "I'll see you later, Edward." She said before walking across the invisible line separating the wolves from the vamps.

"Much, much later." The voice jeered.

Jacob was grinning in amusement. He had found Cullen's attempt at a pissing contest amusing. He threw his arms around Bella and yanked her against his hot body. "It's good to see you, honey." He breathed as he dared to drop a light kiss on top of her hair.

"God, that feels soooo good." The voice sighed happily.

There was the sound of screeching brakes as Edward tore off in his car in a tantrum. Jacob's grin widened as he slowly let go of Bella and took a step back. "Are you ready for some fun, Bells?"

Bella smiled back at him. "Yeah, I'm ready."

"I definitely am." The voice of reason agreed.

"Then let's go." Jacob opened the passenger door of the VW Rabbit and helped Bella inside.

A/N-thanks for reading!