Victoria was counting the hours, sometimes even the minutes, until she could see Charlie. Her moods shifted from 'I can't wait to see him' to 'he won't want me' faster than she could keep track. She tried pacing, relaxing in the bed, watching TV as the humans did, even reading the newspaper as if human interests could hold her attention. Nothing was making the time go by any faster.

She hadn't needed to bother keeping track of something as insignificant as time in decades, maybe centuries. Minutes, hours, years, they're all the same to a nomad, pretty much.

She was surprised by yet another knock on her door the evening before she would be allowed to see him. "Victoria, it's Carlisle. I've brought my wife, Esme."

"What do you want?" she asked, not meaning it to sound as harsh as it came out. The visitors weren't deterred.

"I've brought you new clothes." the female said.

Victoria hesitated for a moment, but opened the door and stepped aside so they could come in.

"This is Esme. My wife, and my mate." Carlisle said, smiling warmly at her. "And Esme, this is Victoria."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Esme said kindly.

"Likewise." Victoria said, being polite at least even if she were uncomfortable. She remembered that they were already introduced, having met that fateful day at the Cullen's baseball field, but why be rude to Carlisle? He was the least vile of all the men she had ever met, perhaps even more pure than Charlie, he who fought against crimes rather than committed them.

Esme handed her a small suitcase. "I thought you might like to dress up a little when you officially meet him. I know I would want to if I were meeting my mate for the first time. I wasn't sure what you would want to wear, so there are a few outfits for you to pick from, some accessories, hair products if you're into that sort of thing."

"Thank you." Truthfully, Victoria had never really put any thought into her appearance. It wasn't necessary as a nomad, though she did take pride in her bright red hair. However, she did want Charlie to find her pleasing in a way she couldn't explain, so she accepted the offer of assistance.

"Would you like to know anything about him?" Esme asked gently.

"What do you mean?"

"We realized that you haven't had the chance to talk to Charlie. I'm sure you watched him for a few days, but you must be incredibly curious. Is there anything I can answer for you?"

Victoria hesitated, but something in Esme's kind, loving face made her just as trustworthy as Carlisle. She suddenly wanted to tell her everything.

She started with her most burning question. "What's he like?"

Charlie spent a few hours in his room. First, he showered and changed his clothes, grateful that he had shaven how he liked the morning he was bit, since it seemed that was his now permanent mustache. Then, he laid in his bed, wondering why vampires even needed beds as he contemplated his new existence and all of the things he had left behind.

His thoughts drifted to his daughter and he wondered if she had a bed in the room Esme had mentioned she shared with Edward. He debated if he should check in on them or let them know he was watching, but she was an adult, and it was her life. Mating definitely seemed more serious than marriage anyhow.

Charlie couldn't hate Edward or even be mad at him. It was clear that he loved Bella very much and would go to any length to protect her. In fact, it was more of a comfort that his only daughter would have someone to love and take care of her every day for the rest of her life, though he wished it had been someone more normal like Jacob Black. Someone who wouldn't have had to take her away from her friends and family. Who wouldn't have changed her into this.

But as soon as he had that thought, he also remembered what Edward had said in the woods…"My love for her is a force of nature. It can't be fought against or reasoned with."

He suddenly remembered the dozens of times he always thought their relationship was too intense, the way Edward always looked at her as if she were the last drop of water in the ocean, the way he would catch her if she started to trip like it were his second nature, and how he would always step in and apologize or try to take the blame when Bella was in trouble, even when it was clear she had been the one to disobey.

No, Charlie thought, Edward is good for her. He would move mountains for her. He had already killed two men for her protection with his bare hands. He tried to deny himself her love to protect her, but in the end, couldn't hurt her. Yet, despite the violence, he spent every second adoring her and tending to her every need. Charlie questioned if he would ever find a love like that for himself.

He wondered what Victoria would be like. Could I ever love a murderer? Was she really a murderer if humans were really their natural food source?

He thought of the vegetarian analogy Jasper had used in the woods. Animals to vampires were like tofu to humans then. Still, he wasn't sure how he felt about it. He had dedicated his life to stopping criminals, not loving them.

Tomorrow was going to be an interesting day for sure.

"Why are you so kind to everyone?" Victoria asked Carlisle while Esme laid out some outfits for her to choose from.

Carlisle smiled. "I suppose it's just my nature."

"You must not have felt pain in your life."

"Oh, believe me. I have. I was turned against my will and had to hide in fear of my own father killing me, a preacher who hunted vampires. I spent centuries alone. I've lost many friends, family. Every day is still a struggle, though I do have a great life now." he smiled at Esme this time.

"What was your life like?" Victoria asked her.

"I had a good childhood, as good as any in that time I believe, however, I was married young to an abusive husband and when I tried to run from him, my parents sent me right back. Marriage was more important than anything to them, and the sanctity of it and my family's honor. He beat me regularly and nearly killed me a time or two. I had his son, a lovely baby boy, but he died shortly after birth. I attempted suicide by jumping from a cliff. Carlisle saved me and gave me this life and our family. I treasure it, perhaps more so than others due to the losses I experienced."

Victoria was quiet, thinking, understanding. "And in spite of that, you are still nice to everyone you meet, even when I threatened your family. Why?"

"Just because I've felt pain, doesn't mean I need to share it with others." Carlisle answered. "In fact, because I've been mistreated, it's my goal to never mistreat another."

Victoria looked expectantly at Esme. "I strive to be the mother I wish I could have had myself when I was trying to escape my abuser."

"But you don't have children?"

"Perhaps not biologically. But I do have several that I consider my children."

"But why?"

"Why not?" Carlisle asked. "Does it bring you any joy to cause others to suffer?"

"It used to….I thought…" Victoria answered, confused, but thinking. "How do you protect yourself without violence?"

"Violence is unfortunately necessary sometimes, but it is not our preferred method. We prefer to try to avoid conflict in the first place and to make friends." Carlisle answered.

"Do friends not stab you in the back?" she pressed.

"It has happened, but we should never assume the worst."

"This doesn't make any sense. Isn't a nomadic life safer? A small coven?"

"There are other benefits to a family. When I was changed, I was alone and terrified. I tried to kill myself so many times," Carlisle started. "I grew tired of wandering aimlessly and decided to do some good in the world, especially once I realized I could survive off of the blood of animals, in hopes of atoning for whatever sin had caused me to become an immortal. I traveled some and then trained to become a doctor. Eventually, I found companionship in my son Edward and then a few years later my wife Esme. My family has grown since then. They are everything to me. I have love and respect. I can always turn to them when I need something, good or bad. You don't have to live your whole life in fear. You can have a place that you call home and people that want to be around you just because you are you. You've never experienced that before, have you?"

"No." she answered sadly. "But I think I would like to."

Esme smiled at her kindly before wrapping an arm around her. "You are more than welcome to consider me your mother. Everyone else does. And I think you would look stunning in the dark purple."

Victoria was shocked to find that she didn't have any objections. She felt confident that this woman had to be a witch, but a good one, if that were possible. She rather liked the purple as well.

Charlie knocked on the door of the room Bella and Edward shared.

"Come in, dad." Bella answered.

"Oh, I thought you two might be busy." he said, pleasantly surprised to find Bella reading a book on a bean bag chair and Edward across the room organizing a shelf of CDs. Edward laughed but Bella looked down at the floor, embarrassed.

"I'm guessing you know why I'm here?" he asked Edward.

"No. I only hear some of your thoughts, not all of them. And I really do try not to pry."

"Oh. I was hoping you two would be up to answering some questions for me." He walked towards Bella and looked at the bean bag chair beside her. "I'm guessing if I sit on this, my back won't give out or anything now that I'm indestructible?"

"No." she laughed. "Come on down here."

"What kind of music do you like, Charlie?" Edward asked, running his fingers over a large shelf full of records.

"Vinyl? I never thought kids your age-Oh…right. You're older than me." he realized with a shake of his head.

Edward laughed, "Only by about sixty years."

"Don't remind me. You're dating my daughter! Uhh," he hesitated "classic rock is good."

"Alright." Edward said, putting on Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon album.

"I thought you said the 60s were just tolerable." Bella teased.

"This was the seventies." he corrected, smiling, and sitting cross legged in the floor across from them. "If it helps, think of me as a seventeen-year-old with decades of memories and life experience, not a centenarian. No grey hairs here, after all."

Charlie shook his head, needing to change the subject, though that did help a little. "What was it like for you two when you first met? What did you think of each other?"

"You first." Edward said, gesturing at Bella.

"I thought he was adorable, but I tried to not dwell on it. I knew someone plain like me would never have a chance." Edward growled quietly, but she continued. "But no matter how hard I tried; I couldn't stop thinking about him. It got worse and worse each time we interacted, or when he ignored me!" she playfully kicked at him. He grinned. It was clear that they were getting along alright at least.

"I did try to stay away." he said, shrugging at Charlie. "I was rather rude to her too. I told her it was best if we weren't friends. She wouldn't listen." Bella playfully kicked at him again and he made a goofy face at her, smiling, happy beyond reason. "At first, I was confused by her. I couldn't read her thoughts. That had never happened to me before. I thought perhaps I just wasn't able to pick her out from the hundreds of other minds nearby, so I really didn't think too much of it. But then, we had a class together and I smelled her. I thought she was a demon sent to ruin decades of my progress as a vegetarian at first." He looked uncomfortable even remembering that first day.

"I thought you were used to being around humans by then?" Charlie asked.

"Oh, I was. But not her. God, definitely not her." Edward's eyes glazed over as if remembering something both amazing and terrifying. He couldn't elaborate further.

"I smelled better than anyone ever had to him before." Bella explained.

"She was my singer. One whose blood sings for me. Drinking the blood of your singer is said to be the most pleasurable experience of a vampire's life. One that they would do almost anything to have. Singers are incredibly rare. And their smell….I can't even describe it."

"You didn't kill her right away though." Charlie stated.

"I wanted to, trust me, at least at first. I ran away to our family in Alaska, but I couldn't stop thinking about her. And I don't just mean her blood. Everything about her. She was suddenly my entire world. The force which the sun rose and set by. The reason for my existence.

About a week later, Tyler nearly killed her with his van. Half of the family was trying to convince me to just kill her and get it over with, Alice was trying to convince me that she was to be my mate. I was fighting against it with everything I had, not wanting to subject her to this life.

When I saw that van sliding towards her, there was only one thought in my mind. Not her. I wouldn't have cared too much if he had killed any other human in Forks, but it just could not be Bella."

"You saved her?"

"He pushed the van out of the way."

"And that's how you found out he was a vampire?"

"No, but that's when I started suspecting something was up."

Edward continued, "I avoided her. I didn't even speak to her for weeks. I dodged all of her questions. I was so cruel. She was undeterred.

I thought if I exposed myself to her more maybe I could get used to her scent. I didn't want to kill her.

When I felt confident that I could at least control myself, I was fascinated and wanted, no needed, to know more about Bella. And the more I talked to her…well…vampires can think about hundreds of things at once. She's usually almost all of my brainpower. I've never stopped thinking about her for even a second since we met."

"You saved her life." Charlie said.

"More than once." Bella added. "My number had been up for a long time. I would have died in the van accident if not for Edward. And again, in Port Angeles that night I went dress shopping with Angela and Jessica. And again-"

"OK, I get the point!" Charlie insisted, not wanting to think about Bella dying. "Thanks…so when did you realize you were…. mates?"

"There was never any question how much I loved him and wanted to be with him whatever that involved."

"I've always loved her, even when I fought against it and didn't understand it, but I didn't realize she felt the same as me until she let me read her thoughts when I was trying to leave her."

"And that's what prompted you to bite her finally?"

"Yes, her pain became my own. It was crushing. I'm surprised it didn't kill me it was so intense. I couldn't stand to see her hurting or thinking that I didn't want her for another second.

At first, I was just running her to Carlisle because I knew he would be able to stop. I knew he wouldn't kill her.

But as she rode on my back, I still heard every thought she had. I felt how much I hurt her by lying to her and telling her I didn't love her and trying to break her faith in me, and I just couldn't take it. I stopped running and bit her myself. Then, I spent three days high out of my mind on the blood of my singer while she was in pain." he confessed guiltily.

"You couldn't prevent the pain." Bella said. "Don't feel guilty." She reached for Edward's hand and he stretched out and held hers, smiling at her touch.

"I hated hurting you."

"I wanted this. I've never been happier." she assured him.

There was a quiet moment before Edward looked at Charlie, reading his thoughts. "It's alright. You can ask me anything. I don't have to hide anything from either of you anymore and it's a lovely feeling.

Yes, you heard Bella correctly last evening. I did drink human blood a long time ago, other than hers, of course. It was in the late 1920s and early 1930s. I stopped because I couldn't handle taking lives, even though I deliberately sought out murderers, child abusers and the like."

Huh, we aren't so much different then. Charlie thought. Edward smiled in return. I could almost justify that type of murder.

"It was too much like playing God. I returned home to Carlisle and Esme and rejoined their diet."

"Makes sense." Charlie was quiet a moment, processing everything. "So, you're saying I may not know right away if this Victoria is my mate?"

"It's different for everyone." Edward answered. "Some people do know right away. Others take a little time, sometimes gentle nudging in Carlisle and Esme's case." Charlie looked at him, curious. "They were both too afraid of making the other uncomfortable to ask. I had to intervene." He laughed. "You see how that turned out for them. I believe Carlisle wants to give you a tour of his office and a crash course on the family history later."

"I'd like that." They were quiet for a moment, listening to the music. The way Edward smiled and admired Bella wasn't lost on Charlie, though Edward tried to look away and be appropriate for his sake. She really was his everything. There was no doubt.

"Alright, Charlie, you ready to get some of that newborn energy out?!" Emmett shouted, bursting into the room perfectly timed to the lull in conversation, and flexing his muscles.

"What newborn energy? Newborn?"

"A new vampire." Edward answered.

"Ah."

"I know you're ready for a good fight!" Emmett said. "Unless you're up for it, Bella?"

She looked at Edward nervously. "You can take him, love."

"Me too." Bella said, jumping up and looking fiercely at Emmett.

"Two against one! My favorite!" he laughed his booming laugh.

"Pervert." Edward said under his breath.

Charlie cracked up, starting to feel truly comfortable with his new family as he and Bella followed Emmett outside. "This I have got to see. Someone your size is going to get beat up by a girl?" he asked Emmett.

"Not a chance!" he responded.

Bella smiled menacingly at Emmett and flexed her muscles, mocking him. Charlie was amazed by her new confidence and how comfortable she was with everyone. He hoped that he would find the same confidence soon.

Author's Note: Victoria and Charlie meet in the next chapter! A review that made me giggle caused me to have to mention Charlie's mustache. Lol. The story will get less Bella/Edward and more Charlie/Victoria focused from here. I hope you enjoyed this update!

Also, I made a mistake on the release year for The Dark Side of The Moon. It has been corrected.