Jacob PoV

"Can I have a quick word with you, son?" Charlie looked totally normal and relaxed when he said this, but I knew when the father of the girl the boy was dating said this, he meant business. He had obviously seen us standing together in the kitchen and had drawn his own conclusions. Not it was for me to find out how rough the sea would be.

I nodded and we both stepped outside on the front porch. The sun had already set, and I knew I had to leave for my shift soon, but I couldn't do that with Charlie in the house. So, I stood outside, patiently waiting for whatever parental lecture there was to come.

Charlie took his time, looking in the distance first before his gaze swept to me. He looked at me like it was the first time he really saw me, noticing what I'd become. I no longer was the sweet and small boy who had played together with his daughter in the sandbox.

I was a man and therefore a threat to his only daughter.

"What are your intentions towards my daughter, Jacob?", he asked slowly.

As I replied I tried to look him straight in the eye. I would show him that I was worthy of his daughter. "I love her."

He seemed surprised but not as much as I'd expected. He nodded, again looking at the forest in the distance as if the answers he sought were there. "I don't think I have to mention the fact that if you ever hurt her, you'll have to deal with me?"

"No sir." I tried to sound as calm as possible.

"To tell you the truth, I've seen this coming for a long time now. This Cullen kid hurt her real bad and when she started spending so much time with you I knew it would only be a matter of time before something more came out of it. I've seen it at the hospital and when you two didn't see each other for three weeks. But she's still my little girl and so there have to be a few rules. First, always home before dark." I nodded and he continued. "If you are with us or she is with you, the door must be open and someone, Billy or me, must be in the house."

I nodded again. I could live with that.

"And third, no sneaking out and no fooling around. I am too young to be a grandfather, understand what I am saying?"

"Yes sir." As if I would ever risk anything like that with Bella. I loved her and one day I'd like to have a family with her but first we should have had our lives figured out.

"It's settled then." Charlie seemed satisfied. "You are a good kid Jake and I know you'll do right by her. Just follow the rules and there won't be any trouble." He held out his hands and I shook it, sealing a mutual agreement between two men caring for the same woman.

When we returned inside, Bella had just finished cleaning up and was wiping her hands at her jeans. My dad was sitting in the living room, watching a show on TV. He turned his head when he heard us enter. "Everything alright over there?"

Charlie nodded. "It's fine. So, Bells, you coming? It's getting late and you haven't been home almost two days." He jingled with his car-keys. Bella agreed. She thanked Billy for the tea and the hospitality before she came up to me. "See you tomorrow?" she asked quietly.

I smiled. "Definitely." Not wanting to push my luck I only gave her a small kiss on the cheeks before I shoved her towards the door. "Go on now, you dad's getting impatient."

She smiled back and mouthed and inaudible I love you.

I love you too I mouthed back before the pair went out and closed the door behind them.

"She's a nice girl", my father said from his place in front of the TV without looking up. "You chose well."

"I wonder where I got that from." I grinned. "I gotta go, Sam's waiting."

Billy nodded and I went back into my room to take a quick shower and change before I went off to join the pack.