Charlie stood in the airport terminal waiting for his daughter to arrive. He had never been an emotional man around other people. He watched Renee walk out their front door without a glance back to him with a straight face. He watched his daughter disappear from his life without shedding a tear. No, those emotions stayed bottled up until he was alone that night in a bedroom with Renee's perfume still lingering on the bedding.

He was so good at hiding his emotions, that while he was so nervous he was ready to lose his lunch, his outward appearance was his normal Officer Swan mask. He wanted, no needed Bella to be welcoming of his relationship with Hermione. Hermione had become the largest part of his life currently, and he needed his two girls to get along.

He knew Bella didn't take too well to Phil when Renee first met him, and if he was honest with himself, he was terrified she would have a similar reaction to Hermione. Bella had always loved her things to be neat and orderly, and having a split family was hard for her to understand at a young age. When Renee finally introduced Bella to Phil, her temper tantrum was so great that Renee actually called Charlie to come visit them.

Like the dutiful dad he was, Charlie flew to Arizona to assure Bella that it was ok for her mom to move on with Phil and that he was a good man. He held her while she screamed and cried, saying it wasn't fair that they weren't a family anymore. Charlie told her that they would always be a family, and that Phil just made their family a bit more special. "A special family for a special girl," he had told her with a wink and a pinch to the nose.

By the time he left Arizona, Bella was more comfortable with her mom's relationship with Phil, and by the time they got married, she was happy to support both their happiness.

"Dad!" he heard yelled from across the terminal walkway. He looked up from his musing to see Bella making her way toward him. He couldn't believe his little girl looked so grown up. He still remembered her with plaited hair and dirty knees from playing out in the dirt. Before him stood a beautiful young lady, and he already knew he was going to have issues with the local boys.

Bella reached him with her duffle bag in tow. "Dad," she exclaimed while dropping her luggage and throwing her hands around his waist. "I've missed you."

Charlie wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. "Oh, Bells," he sighed. "I've missed you too. It's been way too long since I've seen you." He released her from his embrace. "Come on, let me get a good look at you."

"Dad, seriously?"

"Yes, seriously. I haven't seen my only child in more than a year." He held her out at arm's length. She stood before him in a pair of worn blue jeans, a light blue tank top, and an old red flannel. If people didn't know she was his daughter by their similar looks, they would sure know by their almost matching outfit. "Bells, you are so beautiful. You really got the best parts of each of us."

"Dad, stop." A bright blush stole across both of her cheeks, making a stark contrast with her pale skin.

"You know, you'd think you'd be a bit tanner after all that time in the sun," he laughed.

"Shut it, you know I'm just as antisocial as you." She slightly shoved him before reaching down to grab her duffle bag. "I don't get out much."

"I'm sure that will change," he said under his breath. "Well come on, let's get to the car. I'm sure we've got lots to talk about." He reached out to grab her luggage, "here, give me that."

"Dad, I can carry my own stuff."

"I know that, but let your old man do the manly work, ok?"

"Whatever you say," she chuckled. She handed him her bag. "Man away."

"You're damn right, I'll man away." He started walking toward the exit of the airport, "Welcome home, Bella."

The ride started out great. Charlie listened as Bella explained about her advanced classes at school and how she was super excited to see how they would compare to the classes at Forks High. It took until they were almost back to the house before Bella ran out of things to say.

"Bella, I've got a bit of news myself to tell you." He looked between the road in front of them and his daughter sitting in the passenger seat. "I've been seeing someone, and it's pretty serious." He watched the bright smile quickly slip off her face.

"What do you mean, you're seeing someone?" she frowned.

"Just what I said. I've been dating Hermione for several months now, and it's serious. I want you to meet her."

"You want me to meet her? Dad I just got here, and you already don't have time for me? I thought we were finally going to be a family again, just the two of us, and now you're saying that you have someone else in your life?"

"That's not fair, Bella." Charlie tightened his hands on the steering wheel, his only sign that he was starting to get upset. "I've been alone since the moment your mom walked out on me taking you with her. I've never complained to you or your mother about our yearly visits, but Bella, I'm tired of being alone."

"Yeah dad, I'm tired of being lonely too, that's why I wanted to move out here with you." She sat in the passenger seat, arms crossed over her chest.

"But this is different Bella. Of course I'm happy you want to be here, and I can't wait to spend time with you, but I love her. I never thought I would find someone after your mom left, and now that I've found Hermione, I don't want to give her up."

"You mean like you gave me up?"

"Damnit, Bella," Charlie yelled, slapping his hands on the steering wheel. "You know I didn't give you up, and if I'd had my way, the two of you never would have left. That's not fair, and you know it." Charlie struggled to calm down his breathing as Bella's cheeks colored again at his outburst.

"You're right, I'm sorry" she blushed, realizing what she had said. "That wasn't fair."

"No, it wasn't." Charlie felt his temper was controlled and his voice was back to its normal cadence. "Hermione is planning a big dinner for us tonight for the two of you to meet."

"No. I'm not going."

"Bella, please." They pulled into his driveway, and he placed the cruiser in park. "This dinner means a lot to both Hermione and I. I want us to figure out this family thing."

"I don't need any more family, dad. And I certainly don't need this dinner." She pushed open the door, grabbed her bag, and raced to the front door before disappearing inside the house.

Charlie knew Hermione was going to be so upset when he called her. He sighed before getting out of the cruiser. It was going to be a long night, and he hoped Hermione would be more forgiving than his daughter was. Charlie walked to his front door like a man walking toward the hanging noose. He just prayed this wasn't the death of his relationship.