Ch25 Home Again

Edward's POV.

I didn't want to go home, I wanted to stay in that place with Bella for just a little bit longer. … But I knew better so we drove back home, for most of the trip Bella allowed me to hold her hand. Until the road was getting to twisted or she was fearful of the seeds we were driving at, she really hated when I would speed. No one else seemed to care about my speeding so why did she? But that doesn't matter now because we were back in town and I was pulling up to Bella's house now. Bella and I were about to tell her father that we are dating and that I am planning to take his daughter on our first real date tomorrow night. We decided it was best, for now anyway, not to mention that I had been with Bella alone almost all week.

"What if he says no?" Bella asked nervously as I stopped my car just in front of the steps leading to her door.

"He won't and anyway, you're over 18 Bella." I reassured her again, squeezing her hand gently. "He can't stop us."

"What if he tries?" Bella asked still fearful.

"Then I won't allow him to." I said determined. "Nothing could keep me away from you Bella, and nothing could stop me from taking you on this date tomorrow night. As long as you still want to come on a date with me and you still want to be with me, that is?"

"Of course, Edward don't be ridiculous." Bella said firmly and my smile grew even wider to hear her say that.

We both got out of the car and walked hand-in-hand up the walkway. Bella was still very nervous about talking to her father about us but at least she wasn't trying to run the other way. I thought she might have tried that today when I noticed how fearful she really was to be doing this. Charlie seemed fairly reasonable to me so I wasn't seeing the big deal. But then again, I wasn't his daughter about to tell him that I have my first boyfriend after spending a whole week alone with said boyfriend. Ok, I guess I can see why she would be a little nervous about doing this, but still. Its nothing to worry about because we didn't do anything wrong.

"DAD!" Bella called as we walked into house.

"In here, Bells." Charlie called back from the living room it sounded like, that's where we both walked to now.

"Hello, Chief Swan." I said politely as I walked into the room with Bella at my side, he suddenly watched us very intensely.

Bella and I sat on the couch together, still holding hands and faced a very stern looking Charlie. His eyes were now glued to our hands intertwined and for a second I was feeling as nervous as Bella. I took a deep breath to calm and steal myself for what was to come. Bella seemed to be doing the same thing when suddenly Charlie was the one speaking and we both had to listen.

"You both come here, on my only day off and just walk in hand-in-hand like this?" Charlie asked seriously and Bella froze mid breath, I could tell this wasn't going to end well. "Well, answer me, Are you to dating now or are we just trying my patience because I'd rather be watching the game right now!"

"Bella and I are dating Charlie and I wanted to be hear to tell you in person." I said simply but with as much forces as necessary to make my point clear. "We aren't asking for permission because we are both old enough to make this decision on our own but we came here to inform you so you wouldn't be caught off guard. I'm in love with your daughter and I wish to make her happy."

"What Edward said, Dad." Bella said beside me but with just a little less confidence, … she was still so worried about this.

"… Alright, FINE!" Charlie stated sharply. "But you have to tell me one thing and I want the honest truth. How long have you both been sneaking around behind my back before you decided to tell me what was going on? Do you two have any idea what kind of trouble two teenagers could get themselves into by sneaking around? It drives me insane just thinking about what you've done."

"Dad, … DAD. WAIT." Bella shouted suddenly and blushing deeply. "Dad we haven't done anything so stop yelling. We've only been going out since the last dance about a few weeks ago."

"I would never do anything to disrespect your daughter Sir." I answered back honestly anyway. "I would never hurt her."

"Oh. …" Charlie said simply and all the heated redness slowly started to fade away from his face again. "Fine then."

From the second the words left his lips, Charlie went back to watching the very same game he had been talking about in the first place. Bella and I both forgotten on the couch. We were both very surprised to see how easy things went today and yet, it seemed to be too easy. I mean, I know Charlie sees that Bella is growing up but I never really thought he'd be the type to let go so easily. Bella and I both looked at each other and then stood to leave the room. It wasn't until we were inches from the door that Charlie spoke.

"You better be careful with my little girl, Edward." Charlie said not looking away from the TV. "I still remember where you live and I can just as easily pull up any records you may or may not have from your past. Are we understood, boy?"

And this I was expecting. "Crystal clear Sir." I answered back just before leading Bella back outside and towards my car.

"I can't believe he just did that!" Bella fumed as she climbed into the passenger side of my car again.

"I can." I said honestly. "I was waiting for it the whole time."

"Well, yeah but he's a cop!" Bella said stunned. "AND he just threatened you. … Using fake records and stuff!"

I chuckled softly. "Its not like I have any real ones he could use against me, so yeah, he'd have to fake some." I was feeling very giddy right now and that's because the worst was over.

Dealing with Charlie was sure to be the worst part of this process with Bella so I was just glad to see that things worked out so well in our favor this time. Bella was much more relaxed now that she was holding my hand and I was driving back to my place. Esme already knew about me and Bella because of that breakfast one morning so it wouldn't be a surprise when we walk in together. Bella, though was a little worried that Esme and Carlisle would still have something bad to say about us being together, as if that could ever happen. They both love Bella so much and are just so glad to see the two of us finally very happy. And we are happy!

"Well, what if they do think it's a bad idea?" Bella asked stubbornly as we walked up the walk to my front door.

"Then who cares?" I said simply shrugging. "Bella it doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks, as long as you want me then we can be together. Nothing else could keep me away from you."

She smiled up at me but when she looked back at the door I could still see worry in her eyes. "Ok, you're right." Bella said softly just before walking into the house. "It will be fine."

"We're home!" I called into the empty room to let anyone here know someone was entering the house again. "Come on, Bella. We can go fine a movie to watch or something."

"OH Bella!" My mother said pleasantly as she came around the corner and meeting us in the hall, on our way to the living room. "I'm so glad you are back, we've missed you all so much. I called Alice and she told me the boys were taking her and Rose on a date but that you and Edward would be coming home soon."

"Umm, yeah." Bella answered carefully, before my mother pulled Bella into a tight hug and then myself.

"We are going to go watch some movies." I said before pulling Bella back into my arms, … I guess I have sharing issues.

"Oh of course, Dear." Mom said happily. "Are you two hungry? I was just about to get started on dinner."

"That sounds great Mom." I said smiling, mom was a great cook and I was actually missing her home cooking.

I walked Bella into the living room, leaving my mother to cook. Bella seemed much more relaxed now and was smiling brightly again. When we walked into the room we found my father sitting on in the main chair of the room, watching some medical show. As we entered he looked up and smiled at us, I wasn't sure if Mom or the others had told him about Bella and I or not but I didn't see a problem. Dad didn't seem to have a problem with us holding hands but Bella still tensed a little when he was looking at us.

"Hey, Kids." Dad said happily. "How was the shopping Bella, or did Edward come in and ruin the whole trip?"

"Oh, umm. No we shopped some." Bella said hesitantly. "Alice was a little upset to end things early but the guys took them out for a date night so she was ok. I think anyway?"

I chuckled softly. "She'll get over it soon enough." I answered back and lightly squeezed Bella's hand to reassure her.

We walked over and sat down on the couch together, still holding hands because I didn't want to let go just yet. Bella was relaxing a little bit but she wasn't sitting as close to me right now. Dad looked over at her and smiled but I could tell he noticed something was wrong with her … just as I could tell. I wanted to tell him that everything was fine and that she was just worried about what he thought, but I didn't want to put Bella on the spot like that. She was already nervous enough. Dad simply nodded and turned his attention back to the TV once again.

"Is there something you kids would rather be watching?" Dad asked and turned to hand Bella and I the remote control.

"Oh, umm no." Bella answered quickly. "You were watching first so we wouldn't want to take it from you."

"Nonsense." Dad replied happily. "It's a rerun anyway and I think I can smell Esme cooking in the kitchen. I was just on my way to go see if I could steal some of her wonderful treats."

I new this wasn't a rerun, its not that kind of show so he was simply trying to make Bella feel better. My parents were always trying to help whenever or however they could. That's just the type of people they were and the rest of us try to follow their lead. We all try to do our best to be helpful but its not as easy as the make it look. Sometimes its easy while other times its not. Dad handed the remote to Bella on his way out of the room and then winked at me.

Bella held the thing like it was covered in mud or something then looked up at me confused before offering the controller to me. "Here, find something you want to watch, I guess." Bella said.

I chuckled softly. "Come on, Bella." I started teasingly. "Its not going to bite just flip till you find something good."

"Its your house so you find something you want to watch." Bella said stubbornly as she placed the remote into my lap.

I continued smiling as I picked up the controller and started flipping through shows. Nothing really good seemed to be on at this time anyway so I guess it didn't matter. I was just really happy to be back home and to have Bella sitting here with me. As I started going through the channels all over again, I leaned over and wrapped my arm around Bella's waist just before pulling her closer to me. Now that my dad wasn't in the room anymore I saw no reason for her to be sitting so far away. I wanted her closer to me.

"Hey, … Edward?" Bella asked confused but I could see her smiling from the corner of my eyes.

"What? No one will care." I explained shamelessly. "I don't like the space that you had between us. I can't hold you over there."

"Well, what if your dad comes back?" Bella asked as she watched the doors, as if he'd just walking in at that moment.

"So, what if he does Bella?" I asked back. "Trust me, no one here is going to care if we are dating. No one in this house is going to care if we sit together. I mean, Emmett and Rose were making out on the couch and Mom walked in to ask if they wanted anything to drink or whatever. Rose stopped and smiled up at her before asking if she could stay over for dinner and then go shopping with Alice the next morning. Rose and Jasper both spend the night here."

"Yeah, well … I don't know." Bella said forcefully. "I just feel weird … like, they will hate me now or something."

"No one could possibly hate you Bella." I answered honestly as I found something with fuzzy animals to watch, Bella would like it at the very least. "Just try to relax and trust me a little."

"I trust you." Bella said as she finally moved closer and leaned her head against my should. "I just don't want to upset your family. I really love them and I don't want anyone to think badly of me for being here. I don't want to over stay my welcome."

"Oh of course not." My mother answered for me as she came walking into the room with a tray full of food. "You are always welcome Bella, dear. Always. … Edward haven't you told her that before? Why make the poor girl worry over nothing?"

"I've told her, Mom." I said simply. "She just worries too much. Bella is afraid that you all won't want her here because we are dating now. She thinks you and Dad will have a problem."

"Edward." Bella hissed at me softly and then buried her blushing face into my side. "I'm really sorry Esme."

"Oh think nothing of it." Mom said with a smile. "Bella dear, you will always be welcome and Carlisle and I are just so glad to see the two of you so happy now. Edward has never been so relaxed when you're around him and also he's never been so anxious except when you're not around him. Its kind of really cute to watch. When you girls all left he was a bit of a mess."

"Mom!" I gasped, why did she have to say that? "Ok, thanks for the food but really, I think Dad is waiting for you."

"I wasn't much better without him." Bella whispered with a slight smile and I couldn't help but love her even more.

"Aww, that's just so adorable!" Mom cooed before leaving the room once more, most likely going to find Dad again.

"Your mom is one of my favorite cooks." Bella complimented as we both started to dig into all this food.

"Only one of?" I asked with a smile, Mom was the best. "So who is your all time favorite if it isn't my mother?"

She blushed again and ducked her head slightly. "Well that's a silly question." Bella said as if the answer was obvious. "My favorite cook is you, silly. I've never tasted anything better."

"I'm flattered but I know it's a lie." I said smiling after another bite of her delicious food. "My mother is much better than I am."

She shook her head. "I love yours better." Bella said stubbornly. "After this week I have to say you're my favorite."

I was flattered. I've always felt that I was a good cook but next to my mother, I was nothing. It was nice to know that Bella thought I was a pretty good. I know she was only being bias but it was still nice to hear all the same. Bella was a wonderful person and I still can't believe that she even wanted to be with me. It was amazing to think that just a short time ago, Bella and I were just friend. Best friend and would always be friends but still, just friends. Now, we are dating and spent almost a whole week together, alone! It was wonderful and I personally wouldn't mind doing a little more of that in the future, possibly the near future. First things first though, I still have to take Bella on a real first date! And because this is going to be our first real date it is going to have to be perfect. Even though, Bella and I have gone out together before, this is going to be special. Things have to go perfectly and everything has to go just right. I don't want anything to go wrong and I have a very special thing placed for the very end of the date. It might be a little bit much considering its only our first date but I've been thinking about this a lot and I don't see any reason to put it off till later.

…

That night I offered Bella to come up to bed with me but she insisted on trying to sleep in her 'guest bed' as she called it. The bed itself truly did belong to her, Esme bought one for each of us and painted the rooms to fit each one of her kids. My mother was just like that sometimes, once you walked into this house you instantly became part of the family. Mom didn't care if we stayed the night together because she trusted us and its not like we were a bunch of teenagers under her watch anymore. We were just young adults that happened to still live under her roof, for now that is. I seriously hoped to find a place of my own soon enough but found it more difficult to leave than it should have been. I've never had any problems with my parents and this place was just so close to where Bella and her father lived that I didn't want to go anywhere.