Chapter 21: Annoyed

A/N: I'm really pleased with the response from the last chapter! I'm not too sure how many chapters are left, but I will try to make it a suitable length. Hopefully about 30 chapters in all, but it just depends on what ideal ideas come to mind. Hope you like this chapter and please press that little green button afterwards! It really makes my day when people tell me what they think of my work, even if they don't like it. If I know that you dislike Midnight, then I can improve the next chapter to help you out. So pretty please review – with a cherry on top!
Hope everyone has had a lovely break and happy New Year for when it comes!
Happy reading,
Katie x

P.S Going back and reading the past chapters, I have noticed quite a few errors in my work. I'm really sorry that I haven't checked them thoroughly enough, and if anybody would like to BETA my work, then please feel free to contact me through reviewing or PMing. Thank you.

Previously –
Before I knew it, Edward's belt was unbuckled and his trousers were at his ankles. Just the way I liked it. His extravagantly sweet scent took over my mind and his delicate, yet electric touches would not allow me to concentrate on anything but him. My head felt dizzy as Edward being everywhere meant that I was completely wrapped up in him.

"BELLA! EDWARD!" I looked up, startled at the shouting, to find Charlie standing shocked in the doorway...

***

Myself and Edward were completely startled. How the heck did Charlie just barge into our room in Alaska? He was supposed to be in Forks, Washington! Almost instantly, Edward grabbed the large gold comforter and wrapped me in it, covering up my nudity. I made a mental note to thank him for his selflessness later on. Only Edward would think about covering me up before himself. After precisely three long seconds of Charlie standing in the doorway, he finally recovered and turned in his heels and scurried down the hallway. Poor Charlie. I don't know who was more embarrassed. Edward let out a long breath which I didn't know he was holding. He looked ashamed. Upset even. I stroked his cheek, and as he lifted his eyes to study my face, I saw how guilty he looked.

"What's up baby?" I asked, unsure of his new strange mood. Sure when had just been caught by my father, but I don't think I've ever seen Edward look as guilty.

"I'm so sorry Bella. You're just so intoxicating that I completely shut myself off from the outside world. I should have heard or smelt Charlie coming but I was so selfish to wrap myself up in you." I cut him off at that point by locking my lips with his, showing to him that he didn't do anything wrong. It's not like we were expecting a visit from him anyway. He soon relaxed and deepened the kiss, but not so much that we wouldn't be able to stop again. We sat up and I ditched the gold wrap, walking to our extensive closet and pulling on a large navy hoody, leggings and so of my all time favourite converse. I only wear them when Alice isn't in close proximity, but since I'm raging at her for not telling me about Charlie, I'll punish her eyes by wearing my 'comfortable' clothes. That's probably why she was so chirpy and guilty faced this morning. There would be hell to pay when Charlie left.

That's when I reminded myself that Charlie was here. My father. I didn't know how it would affect be by him being here. I had just about come to terms that I wouldn't see him again. I thought that it would be easier that way. You know what they say – 'Out of sight, out of mind'. I froze, mid brushing my hair and looked at myself clearly in the huge crystal mirror in our bathroom. Could I cope with seeing Charlie again, or could I let him back into my life? I dropped to my knees and pushing myself up against the cold wall, curling myself into a ball and dropping my head into my hands. I would make sure that Charlie would be safe. If he gets too involved in this world, then the Volturi would soon come and pay a visit. I didn't want Charlie to have to make a crucial decision; doe or get transformed. Becoming closer to Charlie would also mean that the whole family would be implicated badly. Could I do that to them? Could I be so heartless as to punish them for my weak heart? On the other hand, it would be absolutely amazing to spend just a while longer with my father before he notices that I'm not aging and can never get pregnant. Might he wonder in ten years time why Edward and I haven't moved out of the family home and settled down? To spend some normal, 'human' moments with my father would be so welcoming to my now alien world. It would make me feel more human and less isolated from everyday people. Edward was my everything, but to feel a bit more normal, even if just for an hour, it would make me more eternally happy. I sounded so greedy to want more than Edward, but that's just how I felt. Maybe if I just spent a few hours with Charlie now and then, it might not make a significant difference to our secret world. Maybe, just maybe, this might work.

Edward found me crumpled on the bathroom floor, and he came and perched down next to me, wrapping his huge, welcoming arms around my torso, pulling me closer. My tearless sobs ripped through my body, and he didn't say a word, knowing that I needed a minute to just calm down and consolidate myself. I finally looked up, kissed Edward chastely on the lips and stood up. Edward followed suit, and we walked downstairs to what I knew would be one of the toughest moments of my life.

We rounded the corner and found Charlie sat at the kitchen island, Esme making coffee for him. She was always so welcoming and warm, that everybody just gravitated around her. It made sense that Charlie would do the same. I felt bad for Charlie; his eyes were droopy and he held his head towards the floor, indicating that he was upset and put down. I looked at Edward as I was clutching onto his arm to find him concentrated on Charlie's thoughts. I had no idea what must be going through his mind. Disappointment? Loneliness? I stood at the corner of the open plan kitchen where it joined into the main living area. Charlie didn't acknowledge our presence which made me believe that he was even more upset with us. I felt so bad that I could kick myself. Edward tried to distract myself by rubbing his usual soothing circles on the back of my hand, and though I was incredibly grateful, it just wasn't having its usual effect.

"Hi Charlie." I mumbled apologetically from across the room.

Charlie didn't look up from his coffee mug. Instead, he sat incredibly still, tracing the outline of the mug with his baby finger. It was unlike Charlie to be so quiet. Usually he had an opinion, and he would express it, just like he did in my human days. I recall the time when he tried to persuade me to forgive Jacob on one of the many times that he had upset me. Charlie knew that I would never be able to stay mad at him, so Charlie being Charlie, he me over by his outright opinions. The old Charlie was not present. From the few months that we had moved to Alaska, I noticed now that looking at Charlie, he had become dramatically older in his appearance. The vampire in me knew that there were a bigger percentage of grey hairs on his head, and that the corner of his eyes had also sagged a great deal. He was still dressed in his Police Chief uniform, and I struggled to recall a time that I had seen him out of it. I was struggling and came up with nothing.

"Hey Bells." Charlie had finally spoke, and at that moment, he eventually lifted his head in my direct and the sorrow that escaped from his eyes was so intense that I bounded across the room and locked him into a fierce hug. Not to strong, I reminded myself.

"I missed you Dad." I sobbed tearlessly, and Charlie inhaled, almost on the brink of tears himself.

"Me too kid, me too." We both pulled away simultaneously, knowing that neither of us likes the emotional stuff when we're together.

"Sorry about earlier, Dad. We didn't mean for you to see that." I mentally blushed, and I realised that Charlie's cheeks had turned beetroot red. I guess I always got my blush from him. He looked surprised that I wasn't as red as him, and when Edward came to my side and pulled me close to him, Charlie learnt just how much I had grown up in the few months away from home.

"Edward." Charlie nodded his head as he acknowledged his presence. Charlie didn't look too happy about talking with Edward after what he had just seen. To Charlie he probably saw that as Edward attacking me and violating his daughter's rights, but realistically, it was probably the other way around. I giggled slightly, but not so much that Charlie would notice; only Edward. My confidence has rocketed since our marriage, and I now felt like an equal to Edward, not my usual 'dippy' self.

We sat chatting animatedly for about an hour on the sofa, but Charlie was more interested in the baseball game that was on the flat screen and the can of beer that was constantly being topped up in his hand by Esme. Also, Edward was more interested in twirling my hair around his fingers and teasing me with his electric touches that would send my mind spiralling. There was no way I could concentrate on anything when Edward was with me.

Of course Alice was nowhere to be seen as she knew I was raging at her. The little pixie was probably at the mall, buying more and more designer clothes, shoes and handbags which were completely unnecessary. Alice is clever, and when she knows that someone is mad at her, she disappears for half the day, then comes back when the rage and pent up frustration has diffused. She will reappear in a few hours, credit card completely topped up, and as chirpier as ever. She should have warned us that Charlie was coming. It wasn't a very good joke when your own father catches you in bed with your lover – even if he is your husband. Very funny Alice. Very funny indeed. Moreover, Emmett was as much to blame. Sending Charlie upstairs to meet his daughter when he knew full well what we were up to called for as much frustration which Alice carried. There hasn't been a day gone by in my new life in which Emmett hasn't expressed innuendos or crude jokes about mine and Edward's sex life. I knew that Edward was completely seething when it came to Emmett; he had had enough of all of the jibing. Something had to be done – and sooner rather than later.

"So Charlie, was there a main reason why you came to visit us?" Edward asked politely, but I knew that Edward was trying to mingle into Charlie's mind. As Edward used to say, he only hears what a person is thinking, so if they are being distracted, by say a baseball game, Edward won't know what's going on. Instantly, Edward face was one of realisation, and he smiled proudly down at me.

"What?" I whispered to Edward. Edward just smiled even wider and shook his head.

"Charlie will tell you soon. Don't panic, love. It's good news." I relaxed at his side. Charlie turned around in his recliner chair and started to ramble on about nonsense which didn't even make sense. You could tell he was nervous. His heartbeat danced erratically and small beads of sweat made their appearance on his forehead. I just smiled, nodded and added the occasional 'Yeah' in between, but I honestly didn't know what he was talking about. I finally decided to intercede to try and get him to go straight to the point.

"So Dad. What was it that you wanted to tell us?" I asked innocently, but inside I was worried about what he was going to say, so I wanted him to say it fast. He didn't realise that a minute to him felt like an hour to me with my vampire senses. It felt strange calling Charlie 'Dad'. I now reserved that name for Carlisle, but I thought that it would be ruse to only call my real father by his first name. This may be one of the last times that I see him, so I wanted it to be a pleasurable experience for him.

"Err, well Bells. I thought I could tell you over dinner tonight. I've booked a table for the three of us at a local restaurant that Esme recommended to me when you two were um... busy." The blood flooded to his cheeks once more. It was strange how quickly I had gotten over the embarrassment, and I was a bit annoyed that Charlie couldn't too. It was hard to just keep sitting still when a human was in the house, especially when you could see the blood flush to their cheeks. Do not kill your father, Bella, I told myself.

Edward groaned at my side, obviously due to the fact that we would be perched at the toilet in the morning, throwing up the contents that we would be forced to eat tonight. I rubbed his hand that was flung around my shoulder, and kept up the happy facade which was becoming incredibly hard to maintain.

"Sure Charlie, that would be... great." Edward politely replied, and Charlie turned around in his chair, propping his feet back up, taking another sip of beer and pressing play on the remote. I don't know what it was about Charlie and baseball, but he just couldn't seem to get enough.

You could say that about me and Edward.

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