A/N: Thanks for reading! I am a bit behind on responding to reviews. If I haven't replied to yours, I promise I will! Thanks to everyone who put this story on alert and/or added it to their favorites. As I've mentioned before, I'm putting these up in a hurry and editing after they're already posted. So if you'd like to read a less error-filled chappie, just wait a couple days after the update notice to read. LOL!

BPOV

I almost couldn't believe that I'd made it home safely; after all, I was totally off my rocker. But, I pulled up to my house relatively unscathed (I did scrape my face a bit on the gravel in the Cullen's drive when I passed out) and practically flew to the door.

I paused on the top step to compose myself before entering. I needed to get grounded back in reality. Reality was Charlie watching a Mariners game in his recliner while drinking some Vitamin R. Reality was not hearing the velvety voice of Edward Cullen in the middle of the night at an abandoned house. Somewhere in the course of the evening's events, I had lost my connection with the here and now, and I couldn't help but think that opening this door was the key to my long term success in terms of staying out of a straight jacket. Either I'd open this door and find the real reality I sought, or I'd find Bella's Special Universe, in which, mythical creatures spoke to you on command regardless of whether or not they still existed in the same space and time as you.

Please be normal. Please be normal. I chanted to myself as I opened the door to reveal…reality. Thank you, God. Really, I mean that.

Charlie's head popped up and turned toward me when he heard me enter. His expression was somewhere between shock and amusement. I wondered why he was so enthralled with my entry, normally he would only grunt in recognition of my return home at the end of an evening. Then I realized two things: 1) I looked like hell and 2) Charlie knew what Jake had planned for our evening together. Crap. There would be talking…

I futilely tried to straighten myself up a bit before facing Charlie. "Bells?" He questioned, with that same look of amusement on his face only now mixed with a bit of confusion.

"Hey, Dad," I sighed. "Who's winning?" I asked in an attempt to delay his questioning.

"The Mariners are up 2-1. Since when do you care about baseball?" He replied with a quirk of his eyebrow. The amusement was starting to win out over his confusion and he looked like he might start laughing at any moment.

"I don't really I guess…" I trailed off. Out of topics to surreptitiously introduce, I decided to just rip the bandaid off, so to speak, and get this out of the way. No point in delaying the inevitable. "Alright, let's have it. What do you want to know?"

His mouth smiled, but his eyes were cautious as he asked casually, "How was your evening?"

"Fine," I replied coolly.

"You, uh, well sweetie, you look like there might be more to it than that. You have some dust on your face there." He pointed to my forehead and stifled a chuckle. Oh, you think this is funny, do you?

"Charlie, what were you thinking letting him propose to me?" I glared at him. I was angry.

"Woah, now, Bella, calm down. I didn't let him do anything. He did what he wanted to do. What should I have done? Talked him out of it?" Charlie asked incredulously.

"Well now that you mention it, YES! Yes, that's exactly what you should have done! Please at least tell me you didn't encourage this!" I could feel the tears starting to form behind my eyes as my vision started getting blurry. Stupid angry tear response.

Charlie was getting fired up, too, which was unusual for him. He actually stood before addressing my fiercely. "Bella, that kid is the best thing that ever happened to you. He treats you like a princess. He protects you without holding you back. He watches out for you and makes you laugh. He loves you, honey. Can you blame a father for wanting the guy who brought his daughter back to life when it seemed impossible to stick around? I mean is it so hard to understand that I might want you to stay with him?" His eyes beseeched me to see things from his perspective. I was trying, really I was, but I was just too tired and mixed up to think about his reasoning. I needed to settle down and be alone with my thoughts for awhile. There was just too much to process.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to blame you. I know it's not your fault." I sighed as he sank back into the recliner defensively.

"I'm just not really ready for this conversation right now, Dad. I'm going to bed."

Charlie still looked a bit hurt, but he nodded at me. "Okay, baby. Get some rest. Jake will be here tomorrow evening for dinner. He's bringing Billy, too."

I clenched my teeth together and had to count to ten to keep from blowing up at him again. I didn't know if I'd be ready to see Jacob in less than 24 hours. But of course, they made these plans without consulting me. I huffed a "goodnight" to him and went upstairs to get ready for bed.

I got into my pajamas and went to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. When I left the bathroom, I heard Charlie on the phone. Who could he be calling at this time of night? I decided to give in to my curiosity and listen to see if I could figure out who it was on the other end of the line.

"Yeah, she made it home just fine. I hope you know what you're doing, son. She didn't look so hot."

My blood boiled. You have to be kidding me. He called Jake? Ugh, those two were infuriating! "Ok. I'll be sure to tell her. Bye, Jake." Charlie hung up and I shuffled back to my bedroom and shut the door a little more loudly than normal. I hope Charlie realized I'd heard that phone call. He needed to remember where his allegiance should lie.

I climbed into bed, mentally and emotionally exhausted. What made the men in my life think they could do as they pleased without thinking of what it would mean for me? When had I become invisible? They had been treating me with kid gloves since October. I knew the why, but the question was when would it end? Was I ever going to be trusted to run my own life again?

Then I had a sickening thought as I remembered my brief mental lapse in the Cullen drive. Maybe I couldn't be trusted to run my life. Maybe I needed Jake and Charlie to look out for me like they always did. Was I being ungrateful?

These thoughts and feelings were getting me nowhere. I decided that counting sheep would be more productive and was pleasantly surprised that sleep found me quickly.

A/N: originally this should have been where EPOV came back into play, but it's late and my kids just got home from being out WITHOUT me all night! I'm calling it a night! Leave me a review!!!