Chapter 10 - Advice

Edward's POV

"Chief Swan," I greeted the older man with a slight inclination of my head. "May I have a word?"

What is he up to? The officer thought suspiciously, pushing the door open further and indicating for me to enter.

I walked into the house and took a seat on the couch. I waited until Charlie Swan took his seat before I took a deep unnecessary breath and began speaking.

"I need some advice about Bella, and I don't know who else to ask." I told him bluntly, no beating around the bush.

Charlie wasn't sure what to think, he was trying to work out what I was here for exactly and with the small piece if information he had so far he was wondering if he should have his gun with him for this conversation. He nodded for me to continue.

"I love Bella, " I began slowly, thinking carefully about what I said. "I truly and honestly do, I have never felt for anyone the way I do for her." I assured him. "But lately I don't know what to think; Bella and I are perfect for each other and I want to spend my life with her. It's not insecurities because of the wedding," I insisted immediately. "I want to marry Bella, I want to be her husband more than anything, but lately everything feels different." I confessed to the confused man who patiently listened as I spoke of my insecurities. "I don't know how I feel anymore, I want to assure myself it's just a passing phase and everything will be normal soon but it doesn't feel like it will end any time soon. I don't want Bella hurt, that is why I chose you to speak to, I need someone who will consider Bella's needs first and foremost, because I can't think of her right now. I don't know why everything is suddenly so different but when I look at her all I can think is how different we are.

"I know I love her and I know I care, but I have found myself wanting things that will upset her and when I tell myself her emotions are a reason not to do as I please, I don't care." I hesitantly admitted and Charlie resisted the urge to shoot me until after I had finished explaining the situation. "I know I should care, because I do care about Bella, but it feels as though... I don't know how to explain. It feels like Bella is not the most important thing in my life, but I know she should be; She is important to me and I want to feel that again, I keep hoping the feelings will come back, but they haven't so far. It is not fair to keep this from her but I know telling her will hurt her, and I don't want her hurt.

"I have started feeling things for someone else and I have no idea what to do about it. I have never felt love before Bella, besides the platonic feelings I harbour for my family, and Bella has always been different. I know I love her, and I don't even like this other person, I can't stand them. We would never be able to be in a relationship, no one would accept us, and we wouldn't even want that, we hate each other. I love Bella but lately every time I look at her all I can think is that we are both so different, we were raised in different worlds, we do not belong together, yet we have always fit so perfectly in the past despite this. However lately it feels distant, I remind myself how different we are, how much she still can't understand me, no matter how hard she tries, how she does not respect my personal views and belief's; That is the biggest part really. Bella and I hardly argue, and when we do it is usually very brief and ends with her giving up until later or getting what she wants, but I keep reminding myself of the biggest, well I wouldn't exactly call it an argument, clash of opinions perhaps, that we have ever had.

"Bella has never accepted my views, what I was raised to believe. She has agreed, grudgingly to play along but she constantly sulks and mopes about it. The way I was raised was very, traditional, I was always taught that pre-marital sex was something unacceptable and inexcusable, in my mind it is not even an option. But Bella; She doesn't see the point in marriage, she see's the emotional connection as what is important. She believes that once a strong emotional connection is reached then holding back in a relationship is as pointless as formal acknowledgement. She has no interest in a wedding and I find it an necessity, once you believe you are with the person you intend to share your life with you both agree to be together in a way that is formally recognised. Bella does not see it that way as we already have that deep emotional connection and she has no interest in formalities. At first it was ignorable as she is doing what I want but lately it irritates me. Whenever Bella tries something and I remind her of my views she rolls her eyes or groans in frustration, lately this drives me insane, I can't stand it and I don't know why. And the worst part is that with this other person my views don't even seem to matter. I love Bella but lately I don't know what I feel, but I know I don't want to hurt her.

"I am not thinking clearly and I need someone to give me advice but I need someone who wont put me first, because I don't want to hurt Bella." I explained again. "So please," I looked up to meet the man's eye. "I don't know what to do, I have never been more confused in my life and I need your help." I begged him.

I had been ignoring Charlie's thoughts while I spoke, too afraid that one wrong word would cause me too stop, I needed this, I needed someone to help me. "Right," the aging man began, his mind currently blank as he had no idea what to say.

"In some twisted way I actually respect you for coming to me with this," he admitted and then paused, his forehead scrunched up as he attempted to discern how exactly that worked, he soon brushed it off as unimportant. Shit, what do I say to this kid? "Look Edward," the chief began. "I am an officer not a shrink. But," he continued, "I do know a thing or two about relationships and how they don't always work out."

He sighed. "First of all, it's completely normal to," Charlie blushed and fidgeted uncomfortably in his lounge chair, "question your sexuality." He finished that sentence and I was honestly surprised, I did not mention that Jacob was male, at least I don't think I did... Charlie raised an eyebrow at me in question, much more comfortable now that I was uncomfortable, he was clearly much better when he was in control of a situation. "I've been a cop a long time kid, I've been interrogating criminals since before you were born," I chose not to correct him on that. "I know when someone is not saying something. It was pretty obvious how you refused to state this, other person's gender," he clearly was not happy with the knowledge that his daughter's fiancé was interested in someone else. "Not to mention you stated that no one would accept you two together so he's obviously a guy." The chief explained and I nodded silently in confirmation.

"You said you don't like him so it's obviously just attraction that has you so obsessed," he continued. "If you are interested in men and you've just discovered this it is normal to want to explore, and Bella is in the way of that so you find yourself getting easily agitated by her because you feel like she's holding you back." And he was saying he wasn't a shrink? He'd probably make a damn good one. "Maybe you will get over it, maybe you'll find a way to, experiment without cheating," I ignored the stab of pain that came from that statement. I knew what I had done was wrong, but that didn't mean I didn't want to do it. "I don't know, but you need to tell Bella." I wished I could say he was wrong. "If you keep this from her it could tare you apart, and if you tell her you two might be able to work through it, or maybe you would just break up; But either way, Bella will be hurt less if you tell her, and you will tell her about this, boy." The chief of police ordered, using the authority under which many criminals have crumbled over the years.

I swallowed. "I will," I assured him and he observed me for a long moment.

He seems sincere. "Right, I'll be working late tonight and Bella will be alone. You to will have the house to yourselves, that will give you some privacy while you tell her about what's been going on and you two can discuss what you are going to do about this. If it ends badly you will call me and I'll arrange to have to day off tomorrow to comfort Bella." He told me, stating what would happen, not suggesting. Charlie was no longer worried about leaving me alone with his daughter all night now he knew my views on sex.

"I will speak to her tonight," I vowed, which seemed to satisfy him.

Authors Note: Hopefully that makes up for how short the last chapter was. I apologise for all the rambling but this is honestly how I imagine a conversation between Charlie and Edward, getting straight to the point, patiently waiting for the other to explain themselves, and covering all possibilities for misunderstandings. They are both quite reasonable men, probably because they are both so old. Fun fact, while writing this I found myself tempted to make it follow roughly the same lines as my other story, 'Busted', if you don't know what that means go read the description and laugh. I promise I will not put that in this story.

lytebrytehybrid88 - I hope this was as interesting as you were anticipating, if not, I'm sure the next chapter will be.

~SophieAngel69