What if Edward couldn't stay away when he left Bella in New Moon?

All characters belong to the wonderfully talented Stephenie Meyer, I'm just borrowing them for a tiny bit :)

Author's Note: I'm so thrilled that you are all so forgiving for my lack of updating and left so many kind and supportive reviews. I feel this story picking up again, expect some exciting scenes in the chapters to come!

Chapter Ten

BPOV

Edward was driving and he was stressed. I could tell by the way the skin around his knuckles stretched across the bones in his hand. No doubt he was thinking up plans to whisk me out of the country while Victoria was being dealt with here in Forks. I sighed and he looked over at me concerned.

"Bella, are you tired? You've been sick, perhaps--" Edward said; I interrupted him.

"No, I'm just thinking...Victoria isn't going to stop whatever plan she's come up with. Even if you do take me to the far reaches of the earth and hide me in some dark cave under a volcano or something, she'll still find me" I told him.

"Do you really think I'd hide you in a cave underneath a volcano?" Edward asked with a grin appearing on his face. His face became serious as we heard a soft buzzing sound. Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulled out his cellphone. "Emmett?" He asked.

There was a brief moment of silence and I could see Edward visibly relax. "Thank you Emmett, I'll be in touch." He clicked his cell off and placed it back in his pocket. "Jasper and Emmett checked your house and the surrounding area, Victoria hasn't been there."

"Well that's comforting..." I said softly. It didn't take long for Edward to reach our driveway. The spot where Charlie normally was still empty.

"Charlie will be home in approximately thirty minutes. That gives us time to start his favourite dinner of fish with Harry Clearwater's fishfry" Edward said with a disgusted look on his face.

"How do you know that's his favourite?" I asked. He looked at me and raised an eyebrow. "Oh right, thought-reading thing..." my face went slightly red.

"I wasn't away that long Bella" Edward said with a tone of teasing.

"It felt like eternity..." I retorted under my breath as I stepped out of the car slamming the door shut. I should have known he would hear that because before I could turn around, he was in-front of me, both hands pressed up against the passenger door and his face inches from mine. His eyes were intense, not with anger but regret and sadness. He bent his head down and placed his cheek up against mine and sighed.

"I'm sorry Bella...that was inappropriate and inconsiderate." He said it with such sincerity I felt like the meanest person in the world.

"It's okay...I know you didn't mean it." I replied softly, my face getting warmer as the blood rushed to my cheeks. Even when I'm angry at him, he can still manage to dazzle me. I could feel his lips turn to a small grin as he placed a soft kiss below my ear. My breath began to get ragged...

"Come on love, Charlie will be home soon. We want to butter him up." Edward said with a sly grin as he began pulling me towards my house. Together we managed to cook up a small dinner with a few minutes to spare before Charlie arrived back home.

Edward and I barely had time to nestle on the couch before he informed me Charlie was pulling into the driveway.

"Are you leaving and coming back after dinner?" I asked.

'I told you, I'm not leaving you. Especially right now with the situation being as it is. I'll stay in the living room, you go and greet Charlie." Edward told me as he pecked the tip of my nose.

I hear the door open and I went in to see Charlie settling himself into his chair. His expression was happy as he sniffed the aroma of his favourite meal. "That smells amazing Bells! What prompted this?" Charlie asked as I placed a plate with fish, fries and salad.

"Oh...um nothing" I said as my face began heating up. I was a horrible liar. I grabbed a plate for myself and sat down to join Charlie. "How was your day?"

"Pretty good actually. We got a call about a random sighting but I checked everything out and came up with nothing but some messy tracks. A woman called from a campsite saying she saw a giant bear or something running through the forest. But like I said, nothing" Charlie finished as he forked another piece of fish into his mouth. "How are you Bells? You had a rough night...you look a lot better though. You're welcome by the way for calling into school for you"

"Oh yeah, thanks. I needed the day to relax I think." I said distracted. I was panicking about the conversation to come. I had to tell him before he walked into the living room to watch the game and find Edward sitting on the couch. I imagine how that would go. Charlie wasn't stupid. He knew something was up.

"So something else interesting happened today..." Charlie began. I looked up him, I had an idea where this was going. I better get ready. He cleared his throught and looked slightly uncomfortable. "I uh, I saw Dr. Cullen today at the hospital when I was there dropping some paperwork off." He stopped, probably waiting for me to burst into tears or collapse on the floor. I nodded for him to continue.

"He was saying how horrible he felt about having to drag his family away on an emergency. But I tell ya, that family sticks together. At any rate, he was asking about you and saying that..." he hesitated. "Edward was a mess. Basically describing you so uh...I guess if it makes you feel better, Edward misses you too"

I didn't know how to respond. Charlie was actually making an effort. I never told him exactly what happened in the forest. It seemed to work out now although I'm sure he thought Edward broke up with me (which wasn't a lie) but to keep all things with what Carlisle told him, I'll go along with it.

"Carlisle said the family is back now...which means Edward is back. Now Bella, wouldn't normally encourage this but after speaking with his father and seeing his concern regarding the issue...I think you should go...and..." Charlie seemed to have difficulty finishing the sentence.

"What dad?" I pressed. This was getting easier, my feelings of anxiety and panic were slowly subsiding with how the conversation was going.

"I think you should go and talk with Edward...now Bella, I don't know what it is about him but something's different. I don't like how you acted while he was away...you both weren't even dating that long. But, if this means seeing you happy again...then I think you should try and talk to him when he returns to school..." Charlie trailed off.

"Wow...um...thanks Charlie. But um...I uh...I know that Edward and his family are back." I said nervously. He raised an eyebrow. As if on cue, and I'm sure he planned it that way, Edward stepped into the kitchen.

"Good evening Chief Swan."