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Chapter 4 - A Fathers Love

I did not dare open my eyes when I woke. Was it all a dream? No the cold arms around me were real. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes; he was here, with me, forever. A wide grin spread across my face as I took in his perfection. He chuckled at my reaction as a crooked smile appeared.

"Good morning." I sighed drawing myself closer to him.

"I think you mean afternoon." He corrected.

"Afternoon? Charlie!" Oh crap! And I had told him I was going to bed early last night also!

"It's ok, he has already checked on you." A sheepish smile replaced the crooked one, "I hid in the closet before he came in. He is a bit worried, but he heard you crying last night and figures you must not have fallen asleep until early this morning." Sadness and self loathing filled his words.

I reached up and touched his face, rememorizing everything about it. "What should I tell him? About you being home again I mean."

"He already knows."

"What? How?"

"Alice told him this morning. We thought it would be better if he knew that I would be coming over."

"Oh." I could only imagine what Charlie had said to that. The pain on Edwards face confirmed my suspicions. "Ok well what do we do now?"

He gave me a half smile but it didn't reach his eyes. "Get dressed and go talk with Charlie. I know your acting skills probably have not improved but try to act surprised when he starts talking about us being home." A real smile finally appeared when I stuck my tongue out at him for the acting jibe. "I will knock on the door and take it from there."

I sighed not ready to leave his grasp. "I guess that means that you have to leave doesn't it?"

"Just for a very little while, you will be back in my arms in no time."

"I'll miss you."

"And I you." He kissed me until I was dizzy and forgetful and then he was gone. I tried to ignore the pain his sudden absence had caused.

My eyes closed for a second before checking the clock. Two o'clock. I rolled out of bed and jumped in to the shower, letting the hot water wash off all of the sadness and worries that he would not return. "He is coming back", I repeated to myself. I dug through my closet trying to find something half decent to wear when I noticed a box sitting on the floor. I picked it up to inspect it and found a note attached.

I noticed your wardrobe could use a boost. Consider it a welcome home present.

Alice

A welcome home present? She was the one who was home again, but no point arguing with a card. Inside was a beautiful blue blouse, simple with the perfect neckline. I threw it on with a pair of jeans and proceeded to dry my hair. Before heading down the stairs I accidently caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I actually smiled at my reflection, I didn't look healthy yet but I looked better.

Charlie noticed also. He looked shocked when he saw me. He started to smile but stopped, remembering the news he had to deliver.

"Hi Dad. Sorry I slept so late, I don't know what happened."

"Don't worry about it Bella, that's what teenagers are supposed to do. Why don't you sit down kiddo, I need to talk to you about something." He motioned toward the chair opposite the kitchen table from him and I slowly moved toward it trying to keep my face blank.

"What's up Dad?" He sighed and just looked at me for a minute, thinking about all the pain I had been through.

"Alice talked to me this morning before leaving for the day."

"Oh yeah? Everything ok?"

"Not really, she had some interesting news to tell me. Bella please don't get upset, I feel it's my job as your father to tell you this." I nodded trying to get him to continue. "The Cullen's have come back to town. It seems Carlisle preferred his job here more than LA." I turned my head away from him and bit my lip, I made my breathing get heavy and fast hoping I looked convincing.

"Bells I swear I won't let him near you –" A sudden knock on the door cut him off. We both stopped breathing. Should I get the door or let Charlie? Before I could make a decision Charlie was already halfway to the door and I only had time to see him open it. There he was, for the second time that minute I stopped breathing. Relief poured in to me as I took in his perfect face marked with repentance.

"You! How dare you show up here? Do you have any idea what you have done?" I didn't think Charlie could be that mad. I saw Edward flinch at his words.

"Dad!" I went to take his arm which he was mercilessly jabbing towards Edward to emphasize his points.

"Don't defend him Bella. He needs to know what he did to you, he may not have seen what you looked like when Sam found you in the forest but I did and it's not something I am going to forget!"

I looked up at Edward to see his face momentarily fill with horror before composing himself again, he did know what I had looked like, he had just seen it in Charlie's thoughts. This was too much, I was about to cut in again when Edward spoke.

"Chief Swan, I am here to beg for the forgiveness of your daughter. I know I don't deserve it but I have to at least try. Leaving Bella was the biggest mistake of my life; I will do whatever it takes to earn her forgiveness." He was staring right into my eyes as he said it. It was time to intervene. I would not let him feel any more guilt.

"Dad let me talk with him. Please. I need to do this." I looked into my dad's eyes, begging him to understand. Charlie stared disbelievingly at me before storming off.

Edward reached out his hand to take mine and led me out of the house. We walked to his car and he closed the door after I was inside.

"I'm sorry about that." I was grateful to Charlie. He was just trying to protect me, but this time I did not need protecting.

"I don't deserve anything less. Please don't start anything with Charlie over me."

"I will start exactly as much as I need to. It may take him some getting used to the idea of us again but he will." Edward was silent for a moment lost in thought.

"You look beautiful." I blushed at the compliment. I would have to remember to thank Alice for her life saving present.

As we sped down the empty roads I realized that I had even missed his insane driving.