Hope you enjoy. I don't own Twilight but I absolutely own this plot.
Tortuous Week
Charlie POV~
I went and sat back down in my chair after Jasper apologized and confirmed plans for his date with Bella and simultaneously asking for my permission which I willing gave along with my own verbal warning of what I expect should happen. I noticed Bella Beans following me but, decided to let her sweat it out and force her into broaching the subject. It took about ten minutes of her blushing and avoiding looking at me before she broke.
"I'm sorry daddy. I know you expect better from me than to disrespect you and hurt your trust in me by not following a house rule as easy as leaving the door open with Jasper here especially when you could have had us stay in the same room as you the whole time. It won't happen again." She was sincere through her whole apology and looked guilty when she spoke of disrespecting me.
"You get one warning Isabella and, this was it. You have week of bathroom duty and eating MY cooking. If there is ever a next time any and all dates will be chaperoned. Understand me Belly?" I told her fighting a smirk at her punishment of eating my cooking. If her face is anything to go by she'd take bathroom duty for a month over my cooking. Muahaha, the silver lining of being a bad cook. While it's punishment for both of us I'm use to it plus I'll be able to sneak diner food for lunch.
"Bu-b-b-but daddy is death by food poisoning really necessary?" The cheeky little butt told me while stuttering trying to hold in her laughter. I burst out laughing causing her to lose control and join me. Once she gained control she spoke up again. "I'm going to get in pajamas and then as the last edible meal for a week I'll make us a few hot ham and cheese sandwiches. Do you want hoagie buns or rolls?" She asked as she stood going towards the stairs.
"Both please!" I called out; I caught the beginning of her giggles as she ascended the stairs.
Once we finished our dinner I gathered our plates and glasses and set the plates in the sink with hot soapy water and left the glasses to be refilled; Bella orange soda and me a coke after I rinsed the remnants of my beer. I returned back with our beverages and a surprise of a banana split for us to share. We spent the rest of the evening talking and relaxing together. It was about half an hour before I planned to go to bed that she brought up the Cullen's and the part of the legend she'd managed to find out.
"So what do you think dad? Do you think it's real? I mean if it is and, coupled with the fact that they don't interact with others outside of their family well, till us, why haven't they told us?"
"I'd have to say you should check it out, watch for signs that match what you were told. Under the circumstances that it could be true have you given thought that maybe it's dangerous for humans to know or that they are suppose to keep it secret? If you notice anything that cements the idea and you feel sure about it ask Jasper. I don't mean come right out and say it. Maybe drop hints that you notice there is something different about him and his family and if he'd admits there is keeping hinting until he seems to be ready for it to be revealed because if there is something like that going on and it was your secret wouldn't you need time to adjust to the fact that someone could know or will know?" I hope that she heeds my advice because while I believe she's open minded enough to handle it she's going to need time to accept it subconsciously and start to accept it consciously before she confirms anything. Not only that but, Jasper is going to need to accept the consequences of her possibly knowing and verbally confirming it.
"Is this part of the reason why you aren't talking to Billy? Does he think you're too open and accepting and you think he's to close minded or am I just way off base?" Leave it to my daughter to be blunt when I'd rather she be vague and noncommittal in her quest for information. Might as well tell her some of it or she'll never drop it.
"Yes that is part of it. By the way the way you asked those questions of me is the exact opposite of how you should handle the Cullen situation. Now I'm going to bed. I have and early morning and you have school kiddo you should hit the sack soon too. Love you." I told her as I went up the stairs not giving her the chance to question me anymore.
It was Tuesday night and we'd just finished having burgers I cooked on the skillet. Surprisingly they turned out pretty good. Bella wasn't happy because they weren't as healthy as she wants me to be eating but, oh well. Since we ate early so we could visit longer while I did paper work and Bella did her homework it was only four-thirty. While we were doing the dishes; Bella washing while I dried and stacked for us both to put away, the doorbell rang.
"You continue Bella, you can put them in the rack and I'll catch up." I told her and left to see who was here. Who I saw surprised me and I must have stood there long enough for Bella to come check out who was here because I heard her surprised voice tinged in worry.
"Billy, Jacob hi and Alice you too; funny that you all showed up at the same time." She tried to laugh it off. I was trying to not stair at Alice and invited them all in, helping Jacob get Billy in the house. I guided Alice in once it was clear and then shut the door sending up a silent prayer that it would all go smoothly. Bella ended up taking Jacob and Alice up to her room after sending me a probing questioning look to see if I was okay. I gave her a nod and wheeled Billy into the living room while she directed them upstairs. It was awkward until an advertisement for fishing gear played giving us segue into talking. Nothing too personal but, at least there wasn't fighting… yet. I could only hope everything was okay upstairs since we weren't hearing much noise.
Alice POV~
It was only a little awkward showing up at the same time as Billy and his son. Since he doesn't leave the reservation much and the wolves block my visions and I filter out visions that don't put my Charlie and our daughter in danger I didn't see them until it was too late. When Bella brought us upstairs to her room I could tell she was reluctant to leave her dad alone. Me and Jasper are lucky we've found our mates in them otherwise we'd be screwed because frankly I don't see either of them giving up being in each others lives unless it was to keep the other safe. We were sitting there silently each of us looking around Bella's room pretending to not be listening for anything angry or distressing from downstairs. When it became apparent we weren't going to have trouble or at least not yet Bella broke the silence.
"So Jake anything new in the girl area *cough, Leah, cough* that you'd like to share?" She chuckled when he glared and threw and pillow at her head. Looking at what Bella was wearing you could tell she gets her fashion from her dad. She was wearing the same dark denim straight legged jeans from school but now instead of the dark blue long sleeved scoop neck sweater she was wearing a blue flannel that she tide at the bottom and underneath a plain with shirt. I assume she took the flannel from Charlie's closet because except that he was wearing a gray shirt and Bella's undershirt and jeans were made for women they were almost dressed exactly the same. It's rather scary how much alike they are. They both even went barefoot, like they are right now, when ever they could. If it wasn't for Charlie's explicit "NO Bella makeovers" I would have her in all the top brands and wearing skirts, dresses, designer jeans, and absolutely no plain shirts and the only sweaters she'd have would be cashmere. All sweatshirts and a ten mile radius of her would be destroyed too. I must admit though that she'd dread having girl time with me and wouldn't be comfortable in her own skin. Double edge swords suck. Jake blushed heavily and if it weren't for my recent hunt and the tinge of wolf there would have been a serious problem. As it was, with his russet skin unless you were looking for it or a vampire you'd never notice it. Apparently Bella was looking for it because she chuckled before nudging him for a response.
"We've been hanging out but, with the age difference and everything else I'm not gonna push for more than friendship right now. It doesn't help that my dad and Sam keep trying to keep us a part. So far they've been mildly successful. They just keep saying it's the age gap and that I never know when I'm going to see my 'soul mate'. Psh I just think Sam doesn't want her happy in someone else's arms… I mean with anyone besides himself. Her mom is trying to push her into helping her cousin, Emily, plan her and Sam's wedding. Telling her she just needs to accept that Sam and Emily are perfect for each other. She actually told her that she should be more like Emily. Something about the perfect house wife or whatever." The way Jake was ranting I could tell he really cared for this Leah and if he wasn't in love with her yet he would be at sometime in the future. Too bad I can't see how it will turn out and maybe a way to help him. Some people just have to find it themselves though. He continued when Bella adeptly asked what Leah was like before during and after Sam.
"She was pretty normal. Not overly girly but, not a tom boy either. The started dating when she was fifteen. She was always sweet but protective. People call her bitter and some not so nice names insinuating that she's easy and a, um, female dog. They think they're really funny because our legends say our ancestors were wolves and others say they could turn into wolves. I think they are just jealous; the women because she is the beauty of the Quileute and the guys because she ignores their advances. Wouldn't you if you lost your fiancée to your cousin? Anyways what about you guys, any interests?" I could tell he was trying not to say more than he already spilled. Looking at Bella it looked like she was looking into the match making business. I'll have to distract her till Jake is ready himself. Bella answered after giving me a sideways glance.
"I don't know about Alice but, I like Jasper, one of Alice's adoptive brothers. We have a date this Friday night." She informed him in a mumble while blushing madly. Her look gave me a shock but, I brushed it off figuring she was referring to how I never talk about guys.
After that it was light conversation. Everything from them reminiscing about fishing to favorite foods and music was talked about. I even threw in some stories about my family well, altered ones anyways so they'd be believable and not give our secret away. If I was human I would have been exhausted from laughing at all the stories they told from when they were little and Bella and Charlie would hang out with the Blacks, at the end of the two hour visit. Charlie had called up telling Jake that Billy wanted to get home. Bella and I followed him down and said our goodbyes. I felt bad because it was pouring down and Jake had left his wind breaker in the car not figuring it might rain as they were leaving and not his short sleeve dark gray shirt would be soaked. I saw Bella head to the closet and pull out a black water proof flannel lined, of course, wind breaker. When he tried to decline stating he'd be fine and that I might need it when I left I shook the purple rain coat I had left on the deacon's bench and Bella promptly told him it was a jacket Charlie never used and someone who would should have it. She shot Charlie a pointed look when saying this and he looked away while whistling and pretending to not hear her. I had to cover my mouth to not laugh. Bella led me back up to her room after finishing saying goodbye and nudging her dad in the ribs. We visited a little more and talked about school and the coming week before I said I should head home. She nodded and told me she'd see me tomorrow. As I was heading into the hall her next comment made me stop in my tracks.
"You have my permission to pursue him but, if you hurt him I'll make you regret ever even crushing on him. That and be discreet is all I ask because losing the respect he's earned by dating someone he shouldn't would crush him." She said it in calm chilling voice leaving nothing in question, the protectiveness in her voice told me who she was talking about but, I still tried to play dumb.
"Who? Jake? I just met him don't be silly…" The rest of the sentence died on my lips at the look she was giving me. She wasn't going to let this go and I might have made it worse. What she said next was almost a death sentence to any chance of forgiveness and understanding in the future.
"You know who I mean and, I've seen the way he looks at you and when your name comes up. If you already moved on to liking someone else don't come around here for a while. My mom was already more than enough bitch than he should have to deal with in one life. I'm serious and I want a serious honest answer. Now." Yeah, playing dumb was bad.
"I'm sorry Bella you surprised me and was scared that you'd hate me for liking your dad. Thank you for giving me a chance and not ignoring me even after seeing I have feelings for your dad. I really do like you and want to be friends with you. I feel protective over you like an older sister or mom maybe." I mumbled the last part hoping that if she heard she wouldn't comment, at least not yet.
"As I said you have my permission just don't hurt us please. I'll see you tomorrow tell Jasper 'hi'. Oh and, if you do anything 'intimate' don't do it here in respect for my hearing and sight and smell. I'd hate to be scarred for life." She winked and closed the door at my fish impression I was forced into after that last comment and at the complete one-eighty she just pulled with her mood and tone. She is going to be a handful.
"I promise." I called through the door hearing her giggle more. Great, the smartass tricked me into not rechristening the house. The worst part is that she didn't even know.
When I made downstairs I went to the living room and snuck up on Charlie wrapping my arms around his shoulders from behind. He jumped slightly but, managed not to make a sound. I rested my chin in the curve of his neck for a moment before I walked around giving him a chance to observe my dark wash jeans that are practically painted on my ass and lay neatly over my round toed heels and, the emerald green satin cap sleeve blouse. I sat on his lap waiting for commercial before speaking.
"I've been given permission to pursue you and threatened to not hurt you and finally tricked into promising to not rechristen the house once we've gone public to my family, although she doesn't realize that part." I told him without preamble. "It seems she doesn't want to be 'scarred for life'. I didn't realize just how extremely protective she is of you till she said she'd make me regret even crushing on you. I reassured her though so don't lecture her. It's her right."
"Thank you so much for allowing me to be apart of our conversation anything more you'd like to say for me?" He asked sarcastically and continued before I could open my mouth. "I wasn't going to say anything. I am happy though that we can sort of date now."
"Well I should head out. You two will need snow chains the next couple days possibly; tomorrow definitely. Bye, love you." I kissed him and left after grabbing my jacket and hoping in my car.
The next day watching that van skidding in and sliding towards Bella tore at me but, I was relieved when Jasper stopped it form hitting her. Well, there is her opening to concrete proof. I can see the next couple days will be filled with her pointing out our eyes changing, cold extremely pale skin and, extreme gracefulness and how we all hold these characteristics even though none of us, except 'the twins', are blood related. I was able to ride in Charlie's cop car to the hospital while Jasper was in the ambulance. On the way I called and explained to Carlisle what happened and that Charlie and me would arrive at the same time. I also informed him that Jasper would be okay and to allow him in the room. Us three and the rest of my family would be out for the day. I could see Bella forcing Charlie back to the station and him giving in after she relented to Jasper, Edward, Kate, and I all being with her. Rose would go home pissed and drag and pouting confused Emmett with her while she ranted and inevitably cutting him off sex and giving him the cold shoulder. Emmett being Emmett would take advantage of it though and use Thursday and Friday to talk to Bella. Thursday night though is a little fuzzy; she's going to Port Angeles with Angela and Jessica but what happens isn't clear yet. There are too many variables at the moment to see clearly. I'll send Kate and Edward to keep an eye on her since me and Jasper will be hunting to prepare for Friday. So busy for two short days, short but important days.
