Charlie was pacing nervously in the Cullen's living room. Jasper had tried to calm him. Esme had done her best to re-assure him. Even Emmett had attempted to give him a rather vulgar and inappropriate pep talk, but he was terrified. He was either about to meet the love of his life, or his worst fear. That line had become more blurred lately than he cared to admit.

At Carlisle's insisting, Edward and Bella were off hunting together. He thought the meeting would be less stressful for both Charlie and Victoria if she met Bella properly at a later time, partially due to Bella's newborn emotions and partially due to her hatred for Victoria.

Charlie was both grateful for Carlisle's suggestion, and even more nervous without his daughter by his side. The sun was just setting, and Victoria was expected any minute.

"No matter what happens, you always have a place with us." Carlisle assured him.

"There's no pressure." Jasper said.

"Just picture her naked." Emmett added, earning a smack on the head from Rosalie.

"Everything will work out as it's meant to." Esme insisted, resting a hand on Charlie's shoulder. "She's just as scared as you are. Now, we don't want to make her even more nervous with this many of us waiting to greet her. Why don't my lovely children wait upstairs unless they're needed?"

Charlie noted that Alice, the girl who could see the future, hadn't tried to re-assure him. He wondered what that meant but didn't dwell on it. He couldn't, because as soon as the four Cullen teenagers in the house retreated to their rooms upstairs, there was the unmistakable sound of footsteps coming up the driveway.

Carlisle opened the door to greet her while Esme kept her reassuring hand on Charlie's shoulder. "Good evening, Victoria. Please come in."

Charlie swallowed unnecessarily and tried to focus on breathing. He wasn't sure how he felt about this whole situation just yet, but nervousness was definitely the predominant emotion. His eyes landed on her fiery red hair and he froze, a nightmare from another time haunting his memory. Pain, a bone chilling laugh, the flames of Hell themselves burning his body from the inside out.

Victoria saw vampire Charlie for the first time and froze in place. Brown hair and slightly scruffy mustache, ruby red eyes, slender but muscular figure. He was nothing like her usual type, yet had she ever really had a type? The only man she had ever tried to get close to was James and it nearly killed her.

She swore she felt her mind re-arranging itself so that he would be present in her every thought, as if he weren't already. Despite the uncertainty and the doubts, she knew that she would never again be whole without him. It was both a comfort and a source of pure terror because the look on his face told her that he couldn't possibly feel the same.

Carlisle was the one to break the silence. "Charlie, this is Victoria. And of course, Victoria, this is Charlie. Won't you come sit down and get comfortable?"

"Thank you." Victoria said, following Carlisle's lead and taking a seat on the couch, though vampires didn't really need to sit. Carlisle and Esme sat across from her and Charlie sat beside them.

He was afraid of her, it seemed. She was carefully holding back her emotions, hoping that he just needed to get to know her. Trying to have faith as Carlisle had insisted on so many times. Faith even when something seemed impossible.

Charlie was warring with his emotions. He remembered the fear and the pain this woman had caused him. He knew that she was a murderer. Yet, he found her incredibly beautiful now that he could really look at her. He saw her pain. Her desire to love and be loved. It was difficult to look away from her. He was speechless.

"I've never been in a vampire's house before." Victoria said, looking at Carlisle and Esme. "Are they always this extravagant?"

"Not usually. Although, we can't say that we know many vampires who keep up permanent residences like us. Our cousins in Alaska live somewhat similarly, although they don't try as hard to keep up appearances with the humans."

Victoria looked around at the art, the large windows, the carefully chosen furniture and paint colors. "It's beautiful."

"Thank you." Esme said. "I put a lot of care into designing and preparing it for us to live here."

"It feels like every day I discover a new room." Charlie chuckled softly, slightly snapping out of his trance. Victoria noticed a slight twinkle in his eye. A kind one. They caught each other's gaze and time stood still for a moment. Their gracious hosts silently stood up and retreated to Carlisle's office upstairs.

"Have you known the Cullens long?" Victoria asked.

"No, only a couple of years. Since they moved to Forks. I didn't really get to know them until here recently after Edward started dating, and then…bit my daughter."

"You must be angry with him for changing her."

"I was, at first. But then, I saw how really truly happy she is, and how much he adores her and would do anything for her, and I can't fault him for that. I will never have to worry if my baby girl is loved and taken care of again."

"Are you angry with me for biting you?" Victoria asked, nervously shifting her gaze away from him. That was the big question of the evening. The one that she hadn't wanted to, yet needed to ask.

"I haven't decided yet." he answered honestly. "Why did you do it? Why me?"

She wasn't sure where to begin. "I should apologize first, for scaring you. I came to your house looking for your daughter, but she was already gone. I took out a lot of my hatred of her on you and it was wrong of me. But the more time I spent around you, the more I realized I didn't want to be without you."

Charlie liked the sound of those words in her voice for some reason, her attachment to him, Charlie Swan, no one special, but his rational cop side insisted on some answers. "Why me?"

"I can't explain it."

"Do you still intend to harm my daughter?" He had to ask, though he wasn't sure if he could bear it if she said yes. He would have to kill her. He wondered if he could even do it, but was positive every member of the Cullen family would help him if necessary.

"No. I don't hate her anymore. James deserved to die for what he did."

"Why did you change me? You could have just gotten to know me first." Charlie insisted.

"That's…. not exactly how things work among vampires. We don't associate with humans."

"Never?" he asked, surprised.

"Never, unless we intend to kill them. Except for Carlisle's family." They were the only exception Victoria knew of.

"Where do you hide if you don't interact with humans?"

"The woods, mostly. Sometimes abandoned buildings."

"You never need supplies or want to see a movie or anything?" Must be awfully lonely living like that, Charlie thought.

"Not exactly. We just take what we need from our meals." she said. Charlie shuddered. He wondered how recently she had hunted, but he dared not ask. He didn't want an honest answer to that question. Not yet.

She continued, "I'm not entirely sure what draws me to you. I've never felt quite like this before."

"You barely know me."

"It doesn't matter. You don't feel it too?"

"I'm…intrigued. Fascinated. I'm not entirely sure how I feel just yet. There's a lot going on in here." He pointed at his head. "Bella says it's a normal part of being a newborn. You're incredibly beautiful." he said, caught off guard by his own honesty. "I want to know you more. But I'm also trying to decide how I feel about your diet."

"It's a natural one for vampires."

"But those are innocent lives you're taking."

"Not usually. I much prefer to drink from men. There are hardly any innocent men out there." She deliberately shifted her thoughts away from Charlie and Carlisle and instead to the monsters she preferred to diet on, several of which she had even caught mid-crime spree.

"How exactly do you determine who's innocent?"

"I know how they look. How they act."

"So, you're saying you've never killed an innocent person?"

"I can't promise that." she said. Charlie looked at her sadly. "Human blood is our natural diet. Come try it with me. You'll see."

"I can't do that." he answered, looking down at the hardwood floor.

"That's it then? Because I'm a human drinker, you want nothing to do with me?!" She stood up, hurt, and irrationally upset just like that. Her emotions rapidly shifted from nervous, but hopeful, to anger, hopeless, betrayal.

She wasn't sure what she had expected, but it wasn't this. It wasn't questions and doubts, but immediate love and devotion. Something gentle and pure like how Esme had described first seeing Carlisle. This wasn't that.

"I didn't say that." Charlie said, but Victoria had heard enough. She stormed out of the Cullen's home, slamming the door behind her so hard that the frame rattled and took off running into the woods. No one dared follow her.

Victoria was done with playing the Cullen's little games. Mate or not, she couldn't stand the way Charlie judged her, quizzed her. No matter what she felt for him, he didn't want her. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered.

She ran through the woods and into town, intending to feast away her sorrows. She supposed that his rejection was what she deserved for daring trust a man. Even someone as gentle as Carlisle could be wrong. Perhaps he was just skilled at hiding his particular evils.

At the request of the Quileute elders, Sam searched Charlie's house once more for clues, taking care to shut off the water and toss any open food, locking all of the windows and doors on his way out. Just in case Charlie could return, they didn't want him to find a ruined house.

Sam didn't find any new clues, but by the time he returned to the reservation, someone had secured an updated address for the Cullens. They knew the only way to get a straight answer would be to go see for themselves.

Billy, as Charlie's best friend, insisted on going with Sam, knowing the Cullens wouldn't hurt them. They took the first flight out of Port Angeles. They had to know the truth about Charlie, no matter what it cost.

Jasper and Alice did the best they could to console Charlie while Esme and Carlisle went in search of Victoria.

"Alice, have you seen anything?" Charlie asked.

She shook her head. "Things are still too undecided right now."

"I didn't mean to push her away."

"I know."

"I'm not sure how I'm feeling, but I did want to get to know her."

"You're feeling scared mostly." Jasper said. "Confused."

"Is she my mate?"

"I can't answer that for you. Even if I could, it's not my place." he said. "I'm sure Carlisle and Esme will catch up to her."

"I want to know her more but…I can't agree with killing innocent people."

"It's a struggle." Jasper said. "One I face every day."

"She just stormed out of here so quickly! Are you sure she isn't a newborn too?"

"I'm sure." Jasper answered sadly.

Alice put an arm around Charlie, but it was all she could offer. All of her visions involving him or Victoria were a blur. In fact, visions of some family members were missing entirely all of a sudden. She wasn't sure why but didn't want to frighten anyone by telling them until she could at least attempt to explain it.

Victoria ran as fast as she could, taking her anger out on trees, boulders, sometimes even just air. She punched. She cursed. She shouted obscenities at the wind.

She had known better than to trust any man. Yet, her thoughts wouldn't drift away from Charlie, even knowing that he didn't want her. If he didn't want to share in her diet, how could it ever work? Surely, he wouldn't expect her to belittle herself by drinking from animals like some kind of savage. It was unnatural.

Besides, could he ever love a woman who had once wanted to kill his beloved daughter? Why was Bella always interfering in Victoria's love life? It wasn't fair!

Victoria eventually found a burly man hunting in the woods alone. A perfect target for her violence. A release. A reason to celebrate.

She was holding him by his throat with one hand, his feet dangling from the ground. Her mouth flooded with venom with the anticipation of sinking her teeth into him, but Charlie's face popped up in her mind and wouldn't go away. She knew that humans didn't mate, but she couldn't live with herself anymore if she took away someone's husband or child. Her mind was flooded with images of this man and what he could mean to others, and fear of what if someone had killed Charlie like this. What if she had actually killed Charlie those many nights ago while she haunted his dreams?

"Go…" she whispered, dropping the man with a loud thud, and collapsing on the forest floor. What is happening to me?!

Carlisle and Esme continued to search for Victoria, but she could have been almost anywhere. They weren't having much luck. Rosalie and Emmett joined in after a day, as did Jasper and Alice. She hadn't exactly left a forwarding address.

Edward and Bella returned home and did their best to keep Charlie calm.

Charlie wanted to help search, but everyone decided it was best that he and Bella were still kept a safe distance from humans. They didn't expect anyone to bother them at the house.

"I didn't mean anything by it! I was just trying to get to know her." Charlie insisted, sobbing into his hands.

"I know, dad. I'm sure she'll come around." Bella said, rubbing his back. She wasn't entirely upset that Victoria had run off. In fact, she was rather glad, but she still wanted to be there for her dad more than anything. She hated to see him upset.

"She kills people! How could I possibly be with someone who kills innocent people?! I…was…a cop for God sakes!"

"I know."

"Things are a lot...different once you're a vampire." Edward added. "Your whole outlook on things changes. There are thirsts…urges…that are nearly impossible to control. I can't possibly describe the appeal of human blood in a way that someone who has never experienced it would understand. Many people are aware of our lifestyle, and that they don't have to kill humans, but this life is not our nature. It's a fight every single day to not take the life of an innocent. Not everyone can be a vegetarian. I've certainly slipped up."

"She's not even willing to try."

"Time will tell." Edward answered calmly. "There was a time when I wasn't willing to try either. Several years, in fact."

Charlie shuddered, not wanting to think of his daughter's lover, his son-in-law by venom or whatever the hell you wanted to call him, as a murderer. He did his best to think of him as a love crazed teenager instead. He wished that helped with the internal struggle he was facing, but it really didn't. Not by much.

Edward caught familiar thoughts coming up the driveway and went into panic mode. Bella knew that look on his face and she didn't like it.

"Bella, Charlie, both of you go upstairs please and stay there no matter what."

"What's wrong?!" she asked.

"Nothing is wrong. But there are some humans coming up the driveway. There isn't time to run away. Can you both stay in our room until I send them away?"

Bella nodded, trusting Edward with her life. Charlie followed her and they went up to Bella and Edward's room, shutting the door as if that would help stop them if they really wanted to hurt someone. She turned on the TV to distract them.

"I'm afraid the family isn't home right now. It's just me, alone. Can you come back tomorrow?" Edward asked downstairs.

What a weird way for him to greet human visitors. Bella thought. I didn't think we kept any human friends. "I'm sure you would much rather discuss your concerns with Carlisle. I assure you, it's just me here." There was a pause. "Yes, we did bring Bella with us when we moved, but not against her will. She's my mate. But we didn't harm Charlie. We weren't involved in his disappearance."

Edward growled loudly and both newborns upstairs were hit simultaneously with two things, an overpowering disgusting stench of werewolf, and a mouthwatering smell. Human blood, they realized at the same time. Bella stopped breathing.

Charlie didn't think to do that and started dashing towards the door, venom dripping from his teeth in anticipation, a low growl starting in his throat. It was the most delicious thing he had ever smelled. He couldn't wait to sink his teeth into it, consequences be damned. Most rational thoughts left his head and he inhaled deeply, savoring what he hoped was about to be the best meal he had ever had.

Bella grabbed his arms forcefully and shook her head, pressing him against a wall.

Charlie wanted to fight and get closer to the source of that delectable smell, he growled louder even, but as he gazed into the eyes of his daughter, red with gold rings starting to form around the edges, he knew that he had to stay with her. She was his entire world. He couldn't let her down. Humans weren't the diet for him. He would not slaughter anyone, especially not in front of Bella. Sweet, innocent, beloved, gentle Bella.

"You have my word that if you return here tomorrow, Carlisle will be waiting to speak with you, and he will be happy to answer all of your questions. I have no intention of harming you or skipping town." Edward said, "But this is our territory and coming any closer to the house right now will be seen as a hostile action. Trust me, you don't want to mess with a newly mated vampire."

Bella still held her breath and clutched Charlie tightly in her arms. They heard a car start and she took a preliminary sniff. The air was clear. The humans were retreating.

She let go of his arms. He was cautious, slowly relaxing his posture and taking a small breath at first. "That's what humans smell like? Hell! No wonder Victoria doesn't want to give it up. I can't imagine how they taste!" He was suddenly overwhelmed with regret for scaring her away. He had no idea! No wonder so many vampires protested the Cullen diet. That smell….it was simply indescribable.

"He's just saying that he understands it a little more. No one is at risk." Edward said to Bella's panicked expression when he materialized instantly upstairs to check on them. She visibly relaxed at the sight of him. "That was our friends from Forks."

"Friends?" Charlie asked.

"Sam and Billy." he answered. "Investigating your disappearance. I'm surprised they didn't put up more of a fight to come in. You two did wonderful." Edward put his arms around Bella, and she relaxed even more at his touch.

"I growled at my daughter!" He shouted, in disbelief. He was upset with himself for how he acted, and even more terrified that he really could have hurt her if he had wanted to. "Bella, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"I'm surprised that's all you did. Most newborns would have ripped her limbs off and ran after the humans anyhow. I thought I was going to have to run up here and put her back together for a second. It was terrifying! And Bella, you weren't even tempted, were you?" Edward asked his mate, amazed.

"A little. But I held my breath."

"You're amazing." Edward said, kissing her softly.

Charlie sank down into one of the beanbag chairs in the floor. "I'm sorry, Bella. I wouldn't have hurt you." he repeated.

"I know."

"I've got to find her and apologize. That was painful." Suddenly, all of his thoughts were on Victoria. What had he done?

"We'll help you." Edward said calmly. "I'm sure we will find her soon. But I need to call Carlisle and let him know what's happening. This could get messy if they realize we have you."

"Can't I just tell them I wanted this? I mean, they're my friends. My best friends."

"Well, our treaty is broken. There is only one wolf so far so they can't do too much damage physically, but they could choose to reveal our secret. That would be…. catastrophic." he said ominously, grabbing his cell phone from the nightstand and dialing Carlisle's cellphone.

"For us or them?" Charlie asked.

"Well, it would have to be one or the other." Edward answered no less ominously. Bella and Charlie exchanged a glance while Edward left the room to call Carlisle. They hadn't missed his tone nor its implication. Not a bit.

"Charlie!" Edward yelled a second later. "Could you get the door this time please?"

Charlie raised an eyebrow, but trusted Edward not to let him do anything stupid like slaughter a bunch of innocent humans selling Girl Scout cookies or something. He ran downstairs and opened the door just as she started to knock.

"Victoria." he said, shocked and relieved. She was a vision of beauty standing in front of him. Her hair was a mess, her blouse was ripped a little around the shoulders revealing creamy skin, and her eyes were wild with passion and another emotion he couldn't identify. "Please come in."

Author's Note: Cliffhanger! I hope you liked this update. I really struggled with it. I promise to update again soon but wanted to go ahead and put this chapter out there.

I intended to make this story only about 10 chapters but have changed my mind. I don't want to rush it. There will still be at least a few more.

One plot point is in response to a review from ChristyWIX. It was a valid concern that I wanted to add regarding Charlie's house.

Thanks for reading!