Sorry for both the delay and the absurdly short chapter. I had a lot of work to do two nights ago, and had a rough night last night and didn't get around to it.

I know this chapter probably seems a little odd, but I need to form a bond there for events later in the story. I hope you like it anyway!

As always, please review. Standard disclaimer applies.

"So what's with the truck?" Charlie asked Carlisle casually.

Carlisle was sitting in the living room with Charlie while Bella did her homework upstairs in her room. Carlisle had known the question was coming, but it still made him slightly anxious. Charlie was going for nonchalant, but his heartbeat was a dead giveaway. Carlisle prayed that Bella's father was not as observant as she.

"A vehicle is kind of a necessity for her. I knew something expensive and flashy would upset her so I went with something plain," Carlisle said with a shrug. "I went one better actually," he continued with a grin. "I even got something used. It was painful, but I knew she would prefer it."

Charlie shifted his weight uncomfortably. "I appreciate the gesture Carlisle but I'm not sure... It goes against my nature to accept such an expensive gift from someone."

Carlisle nodded, he expected something like this. "It's a trait Bella picked up from you," he said fondly. Charlie blushed, and he chuckled.

"I mean I know you're... well off, Carlisle but-"

Carlisle couldn't help the laugh, even though it was rude. "Buying that truck for Bella was equivalent to you buying Billy a pack of gum. It's truly no trouble at all, I won't even notice."

Charlie still looked uncomfortable, but it seemed as though he was going to let it slide. "Well if you're sure..."

Carlisle smiled serenely. "I am. It was Edward's plan to replace the truck when it eventually quit anyway." Carlisle paused to chuckle. "You should be glad it was me."

Charlie gave Carlisle a wary look.

"Trust me, you don't want to know. Let's just say that he would have spent a minimum of five times what I did, without flinching."

Charlie chuckled. "She would have hated him."

Carlisle laughed as well, agreeing. Carlisle was struck by a sudden idea, and laughed internally as he thought.

"You ever get tired of driving that cruiser everywhere Charlie?" He asked, perfectly casual, ten minutes later.

Charlie grunted. "You have no idea," he muttered, more to himself than anything.

"So it would be nice to have something else?"

"I sure as hell wouldn-" Charlie cut himself off sharply to glare at Carlisle, who allowed a Cheshire cat grin to spread across his face. "Don't even think about it," Charlie warned. Carlisle laughed loudly in response, earning another glare.

"Don't give me that look Charlie, I could dig enough money to buy an F-350 out of my couch." Normally Carlisle wouldn't boast of his wealth this way, but he knew Charlie was uncomfortable with people spending money on him, just as Bella was. Furthermore, he saw the look of longing in Charlie's eyes when he had mentioned it.

"In all seriousness, I would be delighted to go to the dealership with you tomorrow. I had forgotten how good it feels to gift people with things they can't afford on their own," Carlisle said sincerely.

Carlisle had evidently underestimated just how badly Charlie wanted something he could take out fishing with him, because the man was actually considering his offer. He hadn't expected even that much, and the reality made him extremely happy. "I won't go as far as Edward and do such a thing behind your back. But if you decide you want to, don't hesitate to say so. It's been a very long time since I've been able to do such a thing for someone who didn't have access to the same funds," he said with a wry smile.

"I'll make you a deal," Charlie grumbled. "We go to your place right now. Whatever you actually have stashed in the couch," he said with a grin, "you can use to get me something. Fair?" Clearly, Charlie was thinking that Carlisle was kidding when he made the crack about having enough in the couch. Little did Charlie know, he was completely serious. Carlisle knew damn well there was fifty thousand dollars in each cushion of the longest couch in the living room.

Carlisle grinned and stood, "Lets go." Charlie wavered, clearly not expecting the wide grin that crossed Carlisle's face. "Bella!" Carlisle called.

Bella's quiet mutter came from her bedroom. "Hang on a sec." A few seconds later, he heard a pen drop to the desk and she jogged down the stairs. "What's up?"

Carlisle grinned widely again. "Your father and I were discussing vehicles, and whether or not I was allowed to buy him something more equipped for his fishing trips," Carlisle began. Bella began to grin, sensing where this was going already. "Just like you would, he objected. I said that I had enough money in the couch to buy a... truck that would dwarf your own, anyway." Carlisle had edited his sentence deliberately, he knew she would have no idea what an F-350 was.

"Okay," Bella said carefully, clearly holding back laughter.

Charlie cut in this time, "I told him that whatever he actually can dig out of the couch, he could spend on me."

Bella laughed aloud. "Bad idea dad," she said with a giggle.

Charlie groaned. "Well lets get this overwith then," he muttered, heading toward the door. Bella turned and grinned at Carlisle, who chuckled.

"I'm surprised you're not on his side, considering how you are about gifts," Carlisle told her.

"Hey, if I have to suffer through it so does he," she said with a giggle. Carlisle grinned in response.

...

"Okay, lets get this overwith," Charlie grumbled once more, walking into the living room. Carlisle pointed at the three-cushioned couch across from the T.V.

"Inside the cushions, you'll have to unzip them," he said.

Charlie tugged the first cushion off and unzipped it, pulling the cover off roughly. Clearly he had a feeling he shouldn't have bluffed, but it was too late now. Just then, his cell phone pinged.

"Relax, he's going to love it once it's done." Alice, of course.

Charlie had found the square cut in the underside of the cushion and pulled it open, to reveal five stacks of ten thousand dollars. Carlisle heard the whoosh as his breath exited his lungs, and he was next to the older man immediately.

"Are you okay?" Carlisle asked, concerned. Charlie shook his head dazedly.

"How much more is there?" He asked warily.

"The same in the other two," Carlisle responded.

"Jesus," Charlie said softly. After heaving a sigh, he gave in. "Well a deal's a deal I guess. We can go tomorrow."

"Once it's yours, you'll be in love," Carlisle said confidently.

"Alice?" Bella asked with a grin.

Carlisle nodded. "Alice," he agreed.