BPOV

"I'm gonna burn these shirts," Edward mumbled as we walked to my apartment. We were meeting Charlie at my place before heading out for breakfast.

He just had to wear a button down and I practically had to force him into his puffer jacket. There was a lot of frowning and muttering involved, but as I explained, it was freezing out.

The whole forcing him into a coat thing was for his benefit. I didn't want him getting sick because I had an idea he would be a force to be reckoned with when he didn't feel good.

"Stop," I laughed, squeezing his hand. "I told you a t-shirt and jeans would be fine."

"I'm no bum," he muttered.

"And I never said you were," I sighed, stopping as I tugged him to face me. "I love you."

He stared down at me, searching my eyes before capturing my lips with his. "I love ya, ya gorgeous girl," he groaned against my mouth.

"Are you better now?" I asked, pulling away.

"Much," he smirked.

A throat cleared behind us as we parted. "Uh, Bells?"

I turned to see Charlie scratching the back of his neck. His signature mustache was drawn down in a frown. He looked almost the same as the last time I saw him, though he looked a little bit fuller. Not fat, just more muscle I guess, which was very weird. Charlie never stepped foot in a gym before.

"Hey Dad," I smiled, hugging him quickly.

I saw Edward shift by my side.

"And this must be?" Dad asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Edward," he said and stuck his hand out.

"Nice to meet you or better yet, hear of you," Charlie added dryly, shaking his hand. "Seeing as though a couple months ago she was with someone else."

I glared at my dad, hating the look of doubt he put on Edward's face. I told him this morning about our breakfast with Charlie. Or more so Edward poked me until I was awake saying I shouldn't babble important things on the verge of sleep.

"We should go eat," I announced, scooping Edward's hand in mine.

"Yeah," he agreed and stared at the ground.

"Where we going?" Dad asked, walking with us at my other side.

"The diner down the block. It reminds me of Waylon's so I thought you would love it," I grinned knowing Dad was simple when it came to pleasing him. It was always better to stick with something familiar when Charlie was concerned.

"Good choice, kid," he nodded in approval.

The relatively short walk from my apartment to the diner was quiet. Edward played with my fingers and Dad kept stealing glances at him. Dad knew when I dated someone it was always a relationship. I never really was a casual dater. He loved Jacob and liked what he saw of Emmett, but with Edward he was acting more dismissive than usual for a first time meeting. It was so unlike Charlie to be so disapproving before really getting to know someone and it was throwing me off.

"So Edward, you go to school here?" Charlie asked after we were seated.

"No sir, I uh went to the University of Southern California," he informed cautiously, glancing up from his menu.

"You already graduated?"

"I got a bachelors in business from the Marshall School of Business," he shrugged like it was nothing.

It definitely wasn't nothing because not once had we discussed Edward and college. I knew a lot about him, but that was news to me. I mean, he wore his USC hoodie, but other than the day I asked him and he told me pretty much he didn't want to talk about it then, it hadn't been brought up since.

"That's great," Charlie smiled.

Charlie was all about education. When I got into Harvard I wasn't even sure I was going to go, but my Dad told me he would see to it that I would go worry free. I won a few state scholarships and grants, which is why I was here now.

"What is it you do?"

"I manage my uncle's bar," Edward said nonchalantly.

"You earned a business degree and you run a bar?"

"I also got into Boston College's Economics Master's program. I can send ya my transcripts and GRE scores if ya like, Chief Swan," he finished, tilting his head to the side. "What are the pre-requisites fa dating Isabella? I'm curious."

I was gaping. Edward so totally said that to Charlie and never in my life had I heard anyone other than Billy talk to him like that.

"But you don't have your masters," Charlie stated, unfazed by Edward's frankness.

"No, I came home ta help out with my niece. My brotha was servin' his country when she was born and her first few years of life. My ma didn't say they needed help, but I wanted ta be here fa my family," he said simply.

"Is your brother still serving?"

"He was shot and discharged."

"I'm just trying to understand, you gave up your life… your future for your brother."

"Dad," I hissed.

"With all do respect Chief Swan, I could write a fuckin' book fa you about my life and ya could dissect every fine detail… that's all fine and dandy, but I'm not askin' or lookin' fa permission from you to be with Isabella. This woman… yar daughter is what makes my fuckin' heart beat. I can guarantee you this, I might just manage a bar and look like a bum, but Isabella will never want for anything in her lifetime. She wants the world I'll give her the world," he shrugged, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

"That's a pretty big declaration," Charlie said, raising an eyebrow. "How are you going to feel when she gets a job offer after she graduates? It wasn't Bella's plan to stay here you know. I'm sorry Edward if I'm coming off as a jerk, but I only want what's best for my daughter."

Edward sat glaring and I was stuck speechless. Charlie Swan was never out of line until this moment.

"Ya know what? I don't need to sit here and take this," Edward snapped, sliding out of the booth. "I'll talk ta ya, gorgeous," he murmured, leaning down to kiss my head.

He was out the door before I could even protest. I sat there just blinking at my father, the always kind and never rude Chief Charles Swan. The fine people of Forks wouldn't believe it if they were here to see it themselves.

"Mind telling me what that was all about?" I asked, finally finding my voice.

"He gave up his own life for his family. What makes you think he'll sacrifice for you?" he said bluntly.

"Okay, we need to rewind. You are not acting like my dad. I have not once seen you treat someone like that. Edward is a good man and he loves me. I know it might seem like just words, but I can feel his love for me," I sighed.

"And that's why I was so harsh. I don't want you making the same mistakes I did, kid. I loved your mother when we first met and she gave me the greatest thing in my life," he gave me a pointed look. "But Edward looks at you the way I used to look at her…"

"Are you saying I'm like Renee?"

If all the air could leave my lungs, I was sure it would feel like this. My father just metaphorically gutted me. Maybe that's why I'm so fucked up. I kept both Jake and Emmett at arms length because I couldn't love or so I thought. Then, I fly in feet first with Edward. What if I loved him now and then somewhere down the road I ran?

"I didn't say that," he said, grabbing my hand. "Your mother didn't want a family and she left. She only came back for you because she thought she could use you for her legacy. You would never do that to anyone. You have an amazing heart, Bells."

Again, I blinked at him.

"I love Edward, dad. Before when I was with Emmett… I wasn't a whole person. I met Edward and he's so supportive of everything I do."

"But what are you going to do when you graduate?"

"I know the plan was for me to come home and maybe look for a job in Seattle, but I don't think I could leave even if I tried."

"What if you change your mind? What if he changes his?"

"I'm an adult now, dad. I need to live my life, make my own decisions," I murmured, squeezing his hand that was still on top of mine.

"What happened with Emmett?"

"We decided to stay friends," I answered honestly but added, "You're going to have to apologize to Edward. He's not going anywhere."

"He seems very…proud," Charlie mused.

I smiled because that is the best word to describe him. Edward was also very loyal and family oriented. That was one of the reasons I loved him so much. He gave me a sense of family. I felt like I was his family and he was mine. For the first time in my life, I felt like I belonged.

"He is," I nodded. "I'm honestly surprised with you."

"Me?" Dad said incredulously.

"You were judgmental and rude to him and you just met," I snapped.

Charlie sat quietly looking embarrassed. The waitress came by with our drinks and it was awkward to tell her Edward left.

"You were going to have Christmas with his family." It wasn't a question.

"We're going to have Christmas with his family," I corrected.

Dad nodded, clearly not wanting to argue with me. He wanted a happy Bells, not a disappointed one. We talked more about the changes in our lives. He was seeing someone, but wouldn't say who. I gathered it was someone I knew if he was being this hush, hush about it. I told him about my class workload and how glad I was to almost be done.

We left the diner not too long after that and Dad said he was going to head back to his hotel for a while. I agreed because as much as I wanted to hang out with him, we had rehearsal for the recital and I also wanted to get back to Edward's.

A half hour later, I was unlocking the door to his apartment. He was sprawled out on the couch watching ESPN, wearing only his basketball shorts.

"Hi," I said meekly, slipping my coat off.

"Yar dad hates me," he mumbled, refusing to look anywhere but the TV.

"No, I wouldn't say that."

"Really? Because his tryin' to belittle me was so welcomin'," he snorted.

I toed my shoes off by the door and made my way over to my boyfriend. I sat down on the edge of the couch, leaning on his propped up leg.

"I love you," I whispered.

"Ya know I love ya, too," he smiled slightly, finally looking up at me.

I moved so I could cuddle into him and he shifted so his back was against the couch.

"I'm not making any excuses for my dad because how he treated you was wrong, but he even said the way we look at each other… he sees how much you love me and I think that scared him," I explained.

"Our love scares him," he snorted again.

"He sees how serious we are…"

"Point blank, it's simple Bella. I'm gonna marry ya someday. I'm so sure of that," he said, cutting me off.

"That's what scares him because now he realizes that I won't be coming home. Before, with Emmett, my dad could see we were dating and it wasn't serious. I always had this plan after going to school here I would move back and try to find a job in Seattle."

"Yar dad sees me as a threat," he said in understanding.

"Exactly."

Edward's hand came up cupping my cheek and he leaned in, kissing me slowly. I responded by deepening the kiss.

"Seattle's not an option now?" he asked softly.

"I think you're stuck with me," I giggled.

"Not complain' about that at all."

If only things could remain this easy. No one knew when their life would change, but I already knew this.

A/N: My Valentines gift to you all, even though I hate the holiday… This was super late because Charlie was giving me issues and I re-wrote him, like three times. Anyway leave me your thoughts. I have been really bad to responding to reviews, but trust me I read every single one of them! Like always huge thanks to Dolphin62598 and rainydays23 for beta'ing they're the best!