Chapter 25 - Under My Roof

Charlie's POV

I arrived home just before five, hoping that Jacob was alright. Things had not been easy on the boy and he deserved something good to finally come his way. I noticed the car out the front when I pulled into the drive and I knew he was here. However I was not expecting to walk in and find Jacob sitting on the couch with Edward in his lap and both boys wrapped around each other.

I froze in shock and Edward pulled back, noticing me. Jacob followed his eyes and spotted me and within seconds both boys were sitting beside each other. "I need to start paying more attention than that." I heard the older boy mumble as I walked towards my easy chair, glad that I had not seen much of what I had walked in on because the back of the couch had been in the way.

"Edward," I greeted the older boy gruffly, I was not too happy with him for breaking Bella's heart but she seemed to be putting it behind her so in time I could too. As a father I wanted to hate him for making her cry, but in truth I knew he had acted as best he could in the situation and a small part of me respected him for that.

"Chief Swan," he responded with a polite nod.

"Is it safe to assume that Jacob was the person you spoke to me about?" I asked in full interrogation mode. I can understand feelings changing and moving on but if he's just been hopping from one obsession to the next I don't want him to break both my kids hearts.

"Yes he is," the boy insisted. "I'm not just moving my affections around from one person to the next."

Jacob turned to him. "You told him about me?" He asked shocked and confused.

"Well I started feeling things for you while I was still with Bella and I needed advice on what to do because I didn't want to hurt her." Edward explained.

"Anyway," I cut in, gaining the boys attention instantly. "We need to discuss what is happening with Jacob." I changed the subject to a more important one.

"Well that's easy," Edward insisted. "He can live with me." He took the younger boys hand and smiled at him.

"Like hell he will!" I shot that idea down immediately. Both boys turned to look at me in surprise and I elaborated. "Jacob will be staying here. I don't care how much room or money you have, you two are not taking this step in your relationship until you are certain it is what you want and are ready for. You don't rush a relationship just because the circumstances make it seem the most logical option; logic has no place in love. If you mix love and logic you are heading for disaster. I have seen too many relationships fall apart because something happened and then they rushed into the next step before they were ready. It happens all the time with teenagers who have sex before their ready and young couples who rush into marriage, usually because of an unexpected pregnancy. If Renée and I had waited a year or two after Bella was born before getting married things may have turned out a lot better. I'm not about to sit back and watch you kids make a mistake I have seen made many times over the years. Jacob you are sixteen, if you move in with your boyfriend and depend on him financially you will end up feeling like you owe him something, and sooner or later you will start to wonder if your staying with him because you love him or because you need him, and the next thing you know you'll end up feeling bought and paid for. You need to learn to have some form of independence before move in with your partner, because once you two live together you will both depend on each other. Just wait until you two are a bit more equal before doing something like that, when your a teenager even two years is a significant age difference." Neither of them had said anything while I spoke, they simply listened and allowed different emotions to play across their faces as they took in all I had said, eventually ending with resignation.

"Your right," Edward agreed, looking sadly at his boyfriend. "But you're not going through this alone," he vowed. The pale boy turned back to me. "I want to help however I can." He insisted and I nodded.

"Just as long as Jacob knows he has other options besides you," I conditioned. "As long as he knows he doesn't have to rely on you, you can help however you see fit." Edward nodded in agreement while Jacob remained silent and thoughtful. "The first thing we need to discuss is supplies," I began. "Jacob how did things go on the reserve?" I asked him.

His face fell even more. "Not good," the young boy replied.

"So there's no chance of someone grabbing supplies from your old place?" I clarified and Jacob shook his head. "And you wont be going to school on the reserve?" His silence answered that question and Edward hugged him comfortingly. Maybe those two will be good for each other. "Alright then we'll need to work out what to do clothes wise. Tomorrow is Saturday so we can go out shopping then and grab you the essentials."

"Actually," Edward spoke up. "I may already have a solution to that." Jacob and I each raised and eyebrow, signalling for him to continue. Edward addressed his partner. "As far as most of my family is concerned, you are already family and Alice has decided that she needs to take her newest brother shopping as soon as possible." Jacob groaned but Edward went on. "It will happen whether you like it or not. Once Alice gets an idea into her head she will go through with it, even if she has to kidnap you and drag you to the shops. And I'll be paying so you don't have to worry about a thing, except Alice getting you too many clothes, but you can always leave some at my place or at our hotel room."

"Do I even want to know why you boys have a hotel room?" I cut in.

"Just somewhere we can shower and change before heading home so that our families wouldn't know who we were with." Jacob explained. "Edward is a bit paranoid like that."

"You will be too," Edward insisted. "Once you meet Alice."

"You'll also need supplies for school," I reminded him.

"We'll pick that up tomorrow," Edward spoke up again. "It might distract Alice from clothes for a few minutes." Then something occurred to him. "If you can't go to school on the Res, will you be attending in Forks?"

"Yeah," Jacob responded quietly.

"I can have him enrolled by Monday." I announced and Edward nodded.

"Anything else we need to sort out?" Edward asked, seeming much more pleased than he was a moment ago.

"Sleeping arrangements." I answered. "We might need to pick up a new bed, maybe one that can be folded into a couch to save on space."

"Esme can help with that," Edward piped up again. "She loves interior decorating, just give her a price range and a size and she'll find you the best there is inside those parameters."

"Well transport should be discussed although there shouldn't be too much trouble there." I pointed out. "I can drive you to school on the way to work but you'll be there a few hours early, and when Bella is working mornings she might be able to drop you off, but you'll have to discuss that with her."

"I could drive you," Edward offered.

"Guys," Jake protested. "I can just walk to school, I'm no stranger to exorcise." The native boy insisted and from the look of him, I'd believe it.

"I don't mind waking up early to drive you," Edward persisted, causing the younger boy to chuckle in response. "I would offer to just buy you a car but I don't want to make you feel like I'm buying your affections with material possessions."

"Fine," Jacob sighed in surrender. "But just until I get used to the route, and then I can run there, it will help me keep in shape."

Edward grumbled his agreement and I spoke up again. "There is one more thing," I pointed out and both boys turned their attention to me. "I don't know where you both are in your relationship and I don't want to, but my rule is this, there will be no sex under my roof." Jacob blushed and averted his eyes and Edward ducked his head.

"Chief Swan I would like to assure you now that I would never disrespect the rules of your home." Edward assured, putting on his impression of a responsible young man from another century.

"Good," I responded, eager to be through with this conversation. I stood up to leave but added as a last thought. "And anywhere that you will be caught and arrested for public indecency is also out."

"Understood." Edward agreed and I found an excuse to leave this very uncomfortable situation.

Authors Note: I've said it before and I'll say it again, Charlie Swan is amazing.

joytiger - The Cullen's will show up more in future chapters, but Alice will be here very soon. Happy holidays to you too.

CrysosArgentum - Wait no longer.

aidabye - I agree, he'll be going to school in Forks.

~SophieAngel69