Author's Note: Thank you everyone for your awesome response to the last few chapters! I'm really attached to this story for some reason. It's cute and lighthearted, which the world could use.

Some of the reviews and Facebook comments asked about Charlie in this story. He's not mean, but he's really disappointed in Bella for running away with Alice chasing after Edward. It's important to remember that this takes place just a day or two after the events in Volterra, so Charlie is terrified what she's gotten herself into, but I think you'll like where this is headed.

This is a fluff/transition chapter. I promise lemons to abound in future updates!


EPOV

Bella and I happily spent a few hours in my room after our lovemaking session. She giggled endlessly as I kept finding and throwing away inflated, or now partially deflated, condoms. My brothers were being immature, but we weren't upset with them. In fact, we were grateful for our strengthened bond and our family's approval, even if it did mean my brothers enjoying their theatrics.

My biggest fear had always been hurting Bella, but I realize now that I hurt her by distancing myself from her, by not listening to her. An accidental vampire bite meant nothing to her if she had to be without the one thing that made her truly happy against all odds…me.

Once I accepted that we felt exactly the same about each other, it was like a great weight lifted off from my shoulders. I still had a lot of apologizing and making up to do both to Bella and her father, but it was impossible to hold on to my fears for long in her presence now that I really knew the contrast of existing without her.

We took a long, relaxing bath together and dressed reluctantly, knowing that her father would pick her up soon. Alice had done all of Bella's schoolwork for her, copying her handwriting exactly.

When we heard Charlie pulling up the driveway, I gave Bella a kiss on the cheek and situated her on the couch beside Alice and Jasper. "I'll see you as soon as he's asleep. I love you." I whispered in her ear.

Carlisle handed me a rag and had me pretend to polish the stair rails. He wanted Charlie to think that he was being stern with me for running away and causing Bella and Alice to get in trouble to save me in Los Angeles, as far as he knew.

My father answered the door and greeted Bella's father warmly, inviting him inside. He said hello to Bella and Alice with a smile and they happily told him that they were all caught up and even ahead on their schoolwork. Charlie nodded politely, but clearly had something on his mind. This was one of those times when his thoughts weren't that clear to me, but there were vague glimpses of a car accident he had responded to during his shift.

"Edward, I see you staring at the girls pretending to clean. Would you come down here please?" Charlie asked. I heard a chuckle from another room where Jasper and Emmett were playing their insane version of chess. Someone's in troooouble. "Carlisle, I'd like to speak to Bella and Edward together if that's alright. I hope I'm not overstepping."

"Not at all. Edward?"

I walked downstairs and took a seat on the arm of the couch beside Bella. Knowing that Charlie couldn't harm me did nothing to calm my nerves because he could do something much worse, try to keep me from Bella. The fact that his thoughts were extremely muddled and not making much sense right now did not help my sense that this wasn't just another standard 'stay out of trouble' talk.

He stared at Bella for a long minute as she shyly avoided his gaze, probably fearing that he had somehow managed to figure out our little secret, and then at me for long enough to make me uncomfortable, and back to Bella. "You two obviously love each other. Why all the dramatics?"

I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding, relieved. "It's all my fault." I confessed. "I'm the dramatic one." Bella and Alice giggled a little at my bluntness.

"Why?" Charlie asked.

"Because I don't deserve her."

"Why not?"

"She's incredible. She's so much more than I could ever dream of being. She's…" I couldn't describe her or explain to anyone what my mate meant to me.

"And you've wrapped yourself up in her so much that you wanted to kill yourself because your broke up with her?" Bella had told him a modified version of the truth she told me. That I had went to Los Angeles and her and Alice had stopped me from jumping off of a clock tower with only minutes to spare. They caught me just arriving there.

"Not because we broke up. I would never, ever coerce her or make her stay with me. I wanted to die because I thought she was dead." Well, alright then. He thought. Kid loves her so much it's scary. But what the hell was he thinking?

"Then, why did you break up with her?"

"She deserves better. Someone who can give her everything she wants."

"What does she want that you can't give her?" This was quickly turning into an Edward drill session instead of talking to me and Bella together, but I was glad if it kept some of the focus off of her and let her relax. I heard Alice whisper "It's alright." in her ear, too soft for Charlie to hear. She must have had a vision while we were distracted.

"I can't have children."

"Even I know she doesn't want them. Hell, you two must have talked about that."

"I didn't believe her."

"Well why the Hell not?!" I wasn't sure why he was angry. I thought he hated my guts.

"She always sacrifices herself too much for others. I thought she was trying to protect me from the truth."

"You two need to learn to communicate better. No more of this he said, she said, let's run away from home crap."

"I agree." Carlisle said softly from behind me, his hand on my shoulder.

"Bella, you've always been a great kid. You're not grounded, but you do have a curfew and you best not miss any more school. Sorry if that makes you look bad in front of your kids, Carlisle."

"No, they've all been a great help to me and Esme today. They're always ahead on their schoolwork and the house is spotless. Alice hasn't stopped apologizing. Esme and I were talking about relaxing their restrictions some too. But what changed your mind?" I certainly wasn't going to ask, but Carlisle was curious.

"My first call this morning was a car accident. A young teenage girl who looked a lot like Bella. She lived by some miracle, but it was gruesome. It made me think about how harsh I'm being. I shouldn't try to control Bella. None of this is really my business. I just don't want to see my little girl hurt. I know I was rather harsh on you too last night, Edward." This was his way of apologizing. I would gladly take it.

"I deserve it. I broke her heart."

"And yours." Bella whispered quietly, reaching to hold my hand. I closed my eyes and relaxed at her touch. The action wasn't lost on Charlie. He was trying to figure out our relationship in his thoughts but decided the specifics didn't really matter as long as she was alright and not in danger of me hurting her again.

Alice was the one to change the subject. "Does this mean I can drag Bella shopping with me this weekend?!" Carlisle smiled and nodded at her.

"Drag is accurate." Bella said with a smile.

"Sure, I was going to go on a fishing trip with Billy anyhow. Why not? But no further than Seattle this time, and maybe take a parent?" Charlie playfully rolled his eyes at Alice and then smiled. He adored my sister. I was grateful. "Oh, and no boys." He winked at me and I smiled and looked away. He had no idea.

"Thanks, dad." Bella said quietly, smiling at him.

"Any time. You ready to go home? I thought you might want to do the grocery shopping while we're out and go watch a movie or something." It was clear that he wanted to spend some time with her after what he had seen. I couldn't blame him. He did truly love his daughter. I squeezed her hand reassuringly as she stood up.

"Thank you, Carlisle. Will you tell Esme goodbye for me?"

"I will. You know you're welcome any time, Bella." He smiled gently at her.

"See you at school, Alice."

"Bye, Bella."

I walked them to the door and snuck a chaste kiss with Bella while he went to unlock the car. "I'll be there as soon as he's asleep. Promise. I love you." I whispered in her ear.

"I love you too." she said, and she went to get in the car. I was counting the seconds until I could be with her again.


As soon as Charlie started snoring, I crawled into Bella's window, anxious to take her in my arms. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too."

Her soft lips were heaven on mine as we kissed, and I led us over to the bed. I lifted her quilt for her and joined her under it, taking her in my arms. "How did it go with your dad?"

"It was fine. He feels bad for yelling at you last night, kind of. He still doesn't like you too much for leaving like that, but he's trying."

"I'm glad. What movie did you watch?"

"I don't even know. I pretended to watch it so I could spend time with my dad, but honestly, I couldn't stop thinking about you."

"And why am I owed that honor?"

She smiled at me, her eyes full of love. "Because I love you. And I am so, incredibly happy to have you back with me. For good." She had finally accepted that I wasn't going anywhere. She trusted me. It meant the world to me.

"You have my word. I never should have left."

"I think you had to. You would have wondered what ifs forever until it drove you mad if you didn't." She said confidently.

I stared at her, at a loss for words. "You think I should have hurt you?"

"No. Definitely not. I wish you would have just talked to me and told me the truth. But you always thought you had to leave. You mentioned it a lot. I'm just glad it's finally over with."

"As I am. I can't tell you how much I regret it. I will show you how much I love and adore you every day for the rest of our lives to make up for those awful lies I told you."

"What is this about telling me you love me again?" She smirked at me as that lovely, tempting blush colored her cheeks. I gently took her face in my hands and kissed her, first softly but with a growing passion.

She hesitantly pulled back. She was smiling softly still, but her face looked almost apologetic. "What's the matter, love?"

"Just tired, that's all."

"Of course you are, I kept you up last night. And we've been busy today. It's alright if you don't want to. I'm perfectly happy just to hold you. Always."

She smiled and snuggled closer to me, wrapping a leg over me as she rested her head on my chest. Her soft gasp as she lifted her leg wasn't lost on me though.

"You're hurt."

"No, I'm fine."

"Bella. I heard that."

"It's alright, really. Please don't be upset."

"I'm not upset. I promise. I just need to know so I don't accidentally hurt you more."

"I don't want to make you regret it."

"I will never, ever, regret making love to you." I said absolutely.

"I'm not hurt. Just a little sore is all. It's normal."

"Why would you hide that from me?"

"I didn't want you to overreact." Well, she had me there. I did tend to overreact, especially concerning her safety.

"I'm sorry. I have treated you terribly. Not this, but always, even before I left. I promise to work on not overreacting about small things so much. You are my everything. Please don't ever be afraid to tell me when you're sore or even if you just don't want to. I will never hold that against you. I just want to be with you in whatever way you want me."

She seemed content and got more comfortable resting on me. "Well then. Tonight, you'll be with me in the way I want the most. My favorite pillow." she giggled, the vibrations against my chest making my undead heart flutter in love for her.

"Gladly."