Disclaimer- The characters belong to Stephenie Meyer, not me.

BPOV

I woke up to Edward's arms around me. "Babe," I said, stirring. He groaned. I had to pee and his arms were locked around me. "Babe, I gotta get up."

He picked up his arm and let me up. I climbed out of the bed- he was smiling with his eyes closed- I ran to the bathroom. When I was done, I went downstairs to see if Charlie had left, already. It was only 9:30- he was already gone. I went to get his clothes from the hamper and start a load of laundry.

The coffee was cold. I dumped it out and brewed a fresh pot and began to make some eggs. I knew Edward liked egg whites scrambled with a little bit of sharp cheddar cheese.

I jumped a mile when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Gotcha."

"Edward, you scared me!" I cried, turning around. "How'd you get so quiet! This house creaks and groans with every move I make."

"It just takes simple observation," he said, moving my hair aside to kiss his favorite spot on my shoulder. It wasn't a quick kiss, either. His lips didn't leave my shoulder. His arms and circled around my middle, pressing me to him. He had the morning wood, of course. I moaned softly, the goosebumps running down my shoulders. This was my father's house, though. I couldn't fuck Edward under this roof.

"I need a shower," I muttered.

"Your Dad's not around," he said. I felt his fingers running under the waistband of my pajamas. I leaned into him greedily. He had the morning wood, of course. No wonder he was trying so hard with me this morning. "He's not due back for a while. Isabella, I haven't touched you in a week." His fingers drifted under the hem of my tank top.

"Edward… Oh, that's nice," I sighed. His cold fingers worked their way up to my breasts. I moaned, again. There was no way I was going to be able to turn him down, now. "Let's do it, here."

"Whatever you say," he replied, his breath tickling my ear.

My pajama pants pooled around my feet. "Here on the counter," I said. He helped me up. The eggs were going to be ruined, and I didn't care. I reached over and moved the skillet off the eye.

"No, the shower."

"What?"

"No, not on here, we'd leave too much evidence," he said. His fingers moved the hem of my panties down just an inch.

I wrapped my legs around him and he lifted me off the counter, holding my butt.

"You just had one last night," I said as he carried me up the stairs.

"My hair dries fast," he said, setting me down on the tile. "Get in," he said, taking off my top. He tugged off my panties. "You look amazing," he sighed. "I'll be back in a moment," he said, kissing my cheek.

He went back to my room. I turned on the water and climbed in.

I sighed. I had second thoughts. Especially in my father's house.

I was in the shower for a lot longer than I expected. I tugged the curtain aside- Edward had left the door open. I didn't have any of my things- my shampoo, conditioner, my body wash. I heard some voices over the spray of the shower. Oh God, Charlie was home! I raked my mind- I had left eggs out on the stove, Edward was going to go get my shower things, which I did not have right now, Edward had taken the rest of my pajamas and panties, and… oh lord, I had left my pajama pants on the kitchen floor in the act. And, the shower door was open. It wasn't going to take an idiot to connect the dots, and Charlie was a police officer, he used to solve mysteries for a living. For the most part, he loved Edward, but deflowering his only daughter, I figured he wasn't going to take that well.

Slipping out of the shower, I reached out to shut the door, but Charlie appeared.

For the second time this morning, I jumped a mile and screamed, as did Charlie. I was soaking wet and naked. In a flash, he turned around. "Bells, I'm so sorry," he said. "I didn't see anything, I swear!"

"No, really, it's okay," I said, climbing back into the shower, my whole body flushing a tomato red. I thought I was going to pass out. He hadn't seen me naked since I was eleven and in the hospital, in a semi-catatonic state, while the medical examiners were taking photographs of me for evidence. I didn't really remember it at all, luckily. I'd just pretend all the obvious evidence hadn't been all over the house. I heard the door shut. "Dad?" I called. He was gone.

"Bella?" the door opened few minutes later, while I used Edward's shampoo and body wash. It was Edward. "I brought your things."

"What just happened?"

"Charlie came home a little earlier than I expected," Edward said. "Sorry."

His hands appeared by the shower curtain, with my conditioner. "Did he say anything?"

"Nothing yet," he said. "I'm holding my breath."

"I'm gonna die."

"Don't, I've already left your clothes for you."

"Gee, thanks."

When I got out of the shower, dressed, and my hair dried, I went downstairs, and Edward was drinking a beer, while Charlie watched a basketball game. Edward threw me a look. He didn't normally drink this early.

"Hey, Bells, sorry about that," Charlie said.

"Dad, I'm sorry, I just leave the door to the bathroom open sometimes at my apartment and-"

"You don't have to explain," Charlie said. "The fish just weren't biting this morning. And I didn't see anything! Really!"

"Mom and Dad are ready to go to First Beach," Edward said. "Angela called your cell while you were in the shower, and she wants to meet us with Will and Wendi and Jacob."

"Okay," I said. "Bye, Dad."

"Have a good time, Bells."

Edward and I got in the car.

"Was it awkward in there or was it just me?"

"He seemed really normal."

"You got my pajamas out of the kitchen, didn't you?"

"Yes, of course," he said, as we pulled into the Cullen's driveway. I walked right in.

"Hi, Carlisle, Esme!" I called, entering. "Are Ted and Liz ready to go?"

"Yes, we're ready," Liz said. She was standing in the kitchen in cropped khakis and a white sweater and navy blue straw hat. Edward grew up around water and boats, she obviously knew her way around the water.

"So, is this like a regular beach or what?" Ted asked.

"There's more rocks and driftwood than a regular beach."

"I can do that," Ted said, hugging me.

"Good morning, Bella," Carlisle said, coming down the stairs. "Edward."

"Hello, Carlisle."

"Good morning, Bella," Esme said, coming up from the basement. "I'm going to go up to Seattle for a few days to help Alice with some wedding stuff. Is it alright if I stay with the two of you?"

"Of course," I said.

"Good. I'll see you there," she said, kissing my cheek.

We took Ted and Liz to La Push. Angela and Jacob were there with their kids on the beach.

"Aunt B!" Will ran to me. "Aunt B!"

I picked him up. "Hi, Will!" I cried, kissing him. "Liz, Ted, this is my godson, Will Black. He's my godson. Will, this is Miss Liz and Dr. Ted. Say hi." Will got shy and tucked his head into my neck. "He's a little shy at first," I said.

"He doesn't get it from me," Jacob said. He was carrying Wendi in chest-front carrier. She gave me a gummy grin.

"This is Jacob Black, Will's father. He was like a brother to me growing up, and now, he's married to my other best friend, Angela Black."

"Hi," Angela said, extending her hand.

"Angela's going to be the other bridesmaid in Jasper and Alice's wedding."

Liz zeroed in on Wendi. "Who is this!?" she cried.

Wendi studied her as Liz tweaked her little feet. "This is Wendi," Jake said. "My daughter."

"She's so cute!" Liz crooned.

"Dropping hints, Mom?" Edward kidded.

"You better marry Bella first, son," Liz replied darkly. Everyone laughed.

"So, tell me more about this reservation," Ted said. "We don't have them back east."

Jacob went on about his people and the land. I trailed behind and took some pictures. Will began to warm up to Ted and Liz, he even held Liz's hand while they walked. I took some pictures.

I got some beautiful pictures of my friends and family.

Jacob built a bonfire out of the driftwood, blazing pretty colors in the flames. Wendi fell asleep on her father's chest, while Will got a little cranky around naptime. I showed them the tidepools with the fish and turtles, too. At the end of the day, we had some beautiful memories of the beach.

Back at my house, we spent the evening by the fireplace, having a beer and a glass of wine with Charlie, listening to Ted and Liz tell stories about all the trouble Edward and Emmett got in trouble in as kids. He blushed the whole time. Edward and I made dinner.

Edward took his parents back to the Cullen's house while I cleaned up the kitchen.

"Need some help, Bells?" Charlie asked, entering the kitchen.

"That's okay."

"No, really, let me help," he said, taking a plate and a dishcloth, drying it. Charlie was always a man of few words. We worked in silence for a few minutes. "You know, Bells, it's okay if you need to pay attention to your own life and not come back for me so much."

"Dad, really, I like taking care of you."

"I always knew this day would come when you were born," he said. "Every father dreads this. When you stop being the most important man in your little girl's life."

"Dad-"

"No, really, Bella. I wasn't sure, but, I am, now. Meeting Edward's parents, it's pretty clear that he wants to progress in his relationship with you," he said. "We even talked about him proposing to you. I gave him the okay."

"You did?"

He looked away from me, out the windo and nodded. "Yeah. It was the hardest 'yes' I've ever said in my whole life."

I felt hot tears gather in my eyes. "Daddy-"

"But, it took me a while," he admitted. "He had to promise a lot of things. Like a fair prenup. I just wanted to know that he'd always take care of you before I gave him the okay."

"Even if he does marry me, you're not going to be any less important to me."

"Bella, when your mother left with you, I fell apart personally," he said. "I went about my life, did my job, paid my bills. I secretly hoped that she'd come back, as would you, but that all ended when she died. I didn't want to push you back into my life, but you chose to live with Victoria and Jim. When I got that call that I had to come to Phoenix to get you, I was horrified. When you finally came out of shock, I picked you up and held you, and you cried. And you just cried and cried. And a part of me was secretly happy because you needed me. Maybe I fed into your insecurities for a while, but in my heart of hearts, I know it wasn't right. When you became more physically independent, I let you take care of me because I was being selfish. It was hard to let you go, and I haven't been too good about it. You haven't been too good about it, either. Yeah, I do resent Edward a lot, but not because he's a bad guy or because he can't give you a good life. But, the thing is, Bella, I'm supposed to outlive you. What happens then? You need to have somebody to live on with. It's hard for me to admit that I'm not superman."

"Are you sick?" I asked through my tears.

"No, honey, I'm not," he said, taking my shoulders. "But, one day, I might be. I don't want to stand in the way. Sometimes, I feel like I do."

"I love you too much to ever leave you alone."

"Maybe I need to start dating," Charlie said. "Reverend Weber has a Middle-Aged singles group I'm going to start going to."

"You're actually going to start dating?"

"Well, hopefully."

"Oh no," I said, wiping my tears. "Dad, this isn't in response to what was going on this morning, is it?"

"Bella, you don't really expect me to believe you're not sleeping with him, do you?" he asked, picking up another plate. I blushed, and bent down into the sink.

"I thought all fathers wanted their daughters to stay virgins until they got married."

"We're not particularly religious, Bella," Charlie said. "You're an adult, a single woman in a big city. As long as you're monogamous, responsible, and not recording yourselves on video, I don't care. He's not mistreating you, he's not cheating on you, as far as I know. I'm letting you sleep in the same bed as him in my house, aren't I?"

"I thought you only did that because you didn't want to wake him up on the way out the door when you're fishing on the weekends."

"Well, that's part of it," he said, chuckling. "Just please, out of respect, don't have sex in my house."

"I won't," I said, my face still burning.

I spent the week with Esme, Alice, and the Masens in Seattle between my classes. Alice, Esme, Liz, and I picked out my bridesmaid dress for her wedding. She chose a dark purple for her wedding colors.

"She really does look good in the basic colors," I heard Liz say to Esme while Alice and the salesgirl were helping me out of the dress. "With the red in her hair."

"Have you seen her in royal blue?" Esme asked.

"She wore it on Thanksgiving. Amazing color on her," Liz said. "Does she look good in white?"

"Did you hear that?" Alice asked, grinning.

"Shh," I replied. I had immediately told her and Angela about Edward asking Charlie's permission to propose to me and they were excited. I told them they could both be my maids of honor, I couldn't possibly chose between the two of them.

Alice tried on her dress; it was a strapless trumpet-shaped Monique Lhulliuer with a purple sash. It looked amazing on her as they pinned up the hem for alterations. She was a little disappointed that she couldn't wear a big giant ballgown she was so tiny, but she looked elegant in this selection. "I always wish I had a daughter to do things like this with," Liz whispered, seeing Alice, thinking I couldn't hear her.

"Cross your fingers," Esme whispered.

Alice's eyes caught mine in the mirror. I smiled back. We had been conspiring that Edward might propose to me in the next year. We already talked about a future together, which I had told Alice about.

I had a list thing I had to buckle down and do for Alice's wedding. I had to plan the bridal shower, the bridesmaid's luncheon, and a toast at the wedding and the rehearsal dinner. Liz actually gave me a book called The Maid of Honor's Handbook.

I wasn't quite sure my friendship with Liz was normal. Alice despised her mother-in-law-to-be, but Liz and I were getting along. I worried that Liz would turn into somebody I hated someday.

Back at Alice's and my apartment, we got the mail and went out for lunch.

At the restaurant, Alice freaked out. "Bella, look at this," she said, handing me a letter she had just opened.

"What is it?" I asked. I read the paper- our building had been under new owners since Christmas. Alice and I hadn't thought anything of it, but we had been out of contract for over a year. We had been living in that apartment for four years, now. And now, they wanted us to sign another contract for our place- one year was the only option they were giving us. If we didn't sign another contract, we'd have to move out by the end of March or they'd triple our rent. "Unbelievable," I said.

"What is it?" Esme asked.

Alice and I explained what was going on, by the terms of this letter.

"Just talk to your land lords," Liz said. "See if they'll make an exception in your case, since, Alice, you're getting married and moving out in June."

"We'll have to," Alice said.

"I've never seen such strict landlords," Esme said.

After lunch, we made an appointment to see our new landlords to explain our situation. I couldn't afford our apartment by myself.

Our new landlords wouldn't relent. "We have to be homeless between now and my wedding!" Alice whined.

"Why don't you move out to Jasper's right now," I said. "And I'll find my own place."

"You really want to put yourself through that?"

"Of course, you'll help me move."

"You better!"

After searching for an affordable single bedroom apartment (I even resorted to studio apartments), Edward asked me to move in.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"You practically live with me when I'm not working," he said. "You haven't replaced your car, you drive mine. Let's get it done before March. You're going to have the last part of your semester to work through in April and May and then Alice's wedding to deal with in May and June. And then, all through this, you're going to have to get a job."

"Good point," I said. I had to call Charlie on his cell to let him know that I finally found a place to live. I knew he was home, but his phone kept on going to voicemail. This was big news and it irritated me that he wasn't available, so I kept on calling him. "Dad?" I asked when he answered the phone.

"Bells, I'm kind of busy right now," he said, almost whispering.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm kind of on a date."

"What?!"

"I can't talk now. I'll call you in the morning," he said. "'Bye."

"Edward!" I yelled. "My father's on a date!"

"That's great!"

"No, it's not!" I pouted. "I want to know who he's out with! He said I can call him in the morning, but not right now. Do you think he's having her over tonight?"

"So what if he is?"

"I'm just going to die!" I cried. "I just can't imagine Charlie having sex! He's too old!"

"I don't think he's going to have sex like we do, Bella," Edward said. "He's probably got a bad back, he's not that flexible."

"Ew," I said. "You've never had to deal with a parent dating."

"I haven't, but Bella, neither have you," he said. "Besides, it doesn't mean he's sleeping with her on the first date. Maybe he's being old fashioned. I hope."

"We had an entire discussion about how we're not a particularly religious family and he doesn't quite expect me to be celibate," I said. "He probably was dropping hints to prepare me."

"Do you think he thinks about us committing the actual act!" Edward said. "No, probably not! He probably doesn't want to! Don't you think about it!"

The stubborn part of me didn't want to admit that Edward was right.

I couldn't think about anything but my father being out on a date. My father wasn't a romantic person- he rarely did gentlemanly things like Edward did, unless I elbowed him and hissed directions. He didn't kiss women, he didn't open doors, he didn't have a woman looking at him in a romantic way. He was my Dad. A normal, sports-watching, fly-fishing old man who didn't have much to say, unless it was very important. He had a little bit of a gut when I wasn't cooking for him and grey in his hair. Did women think he was... distinguished? I couldn't sleep that night.

Around five-thirty in the morning, I climbed out of bed to tug on a pair of boxer shorts and called Charlie from the kitchen on my cell. He had been asleep.

"Okay, Bella," Charlie said groggily. "Why are you calling me this early in the morning?"

"Because you went out on a date last night and didn't tell me!" I pouted. "Who is she? Is she nice? Does she have a job? I want to make sure she isn't after you for your retirement pension!"

"Oh Bella," Charlie said, chuckling.

"Why are you laughing?!"

"Because you sound just like I did when you first started dating Edward."

"I do not!"

"Yes, you do," he said. "Now you know what it's like."

"So, who is she?" I asked. "How long have you been seeing her? How many times have you been out with her?"

"Her name is Courtney," he said. "She teaches English at Forks High."

"I don't remember an English teacher named Courtney at Forks High."

"She just started teaching there a few years ago."

"How old is she?" I asked, feeling suspicious.

"I don't know, maybe her late 30s, she's divorced," he said. "It's impolite to ask a lady her age."

"Did you meet her at Reverend Weber's singles group?"

"Yes," Charlie replied.

"What did you do last night?"

"We went to La Bella Italia."

"Don't you go anywhere else?" I complained. "When do I get to meet her?"

"When she's ready to introduce me to her kids."

"She's got kids!?" I cried. I sounded like a whiney child. "What ages!?"

"Twelve and fifteen," Charlie replied. "Boys."

"Dad, you can't be a stepdad!" I cried. "That means you'll have to support them! And you're retired!"

"Bella, we've only gone out on two dates," he said. "It's not marriage. Besides, her ex-husband is still an active force in their lives."

"There's an ex?"

"Bella, come on," he said. "Why were you calling me last night, anyways?"

"Because Edward asked me to move in with him."

Charlie paused. "I'm officially awake, now. Bella, I need to tell you something- why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?"

"Dad!"

"He needs something to chase after. Is Edward up, yet?"

"No."

"Wake him up."

"Dad, I'm not going to do that!"

"Yes, you are," he said. "Go, wake him up, we need to have a discussion."

"No."

"I have his cell phone number," Charlie said darkly.

"Bella, what's going on?" Edward asked sleepily, walking into the kitchen.

"Ah, I heard him right now," Charlie said. "Give him the phone. You have no excuse."

I begrudgingly gave Edward the phone. "It's my Dad."

The one thing about cell phones is that you can hear them from a few feet away. "Edward, make sure that Bella can't hear what I'm telling you," Charlie said.

"Sure thing," Edward replied, retreating to the bedroom. I sat in the kitchen, pouting, until Edward reemerged with the phone. "Okay, Charlie and I had a discussion," he said. "He's agreed to let you move in with me for a period of time."

"There's a limit?"

"Yes," he said. "He knows that you've got a lot going on between now and June. You have until August to find a new place to live. We discussed a few other things. He just wants you to get through the next few months, get a job, and then move out. Unless he goes through with a proposal that you're not supposed to know about. Okay?"

"I can handle that."

"I love you Bella. Don't do anything stupid."

Too late for that, I thought. "I love you too, Dad."

"'Bye."