A/N: I kinda like this chapter since Bella gets a moment with all of the men in her life (Charlie included). Let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

"Bella, we need to have a discussion." he announced, in his fatherly tone, which was exclusively reserved for talks about death and Edward. I unsuccessfully stifled a grimace in anticipation.

I exhaled heavily and nodded, signaling him to begin whatever onslaught he intended. Charlie looked at me with the oddest expression and I suddenly felt like I was five years old and I had just skinned my knee on my bike. "Bella, I know I don't tell you a lot, but you know how much I love you right?" his voice was thick with an emotion I couldn't place.

"Of course, Dad." I reassured him delicately. In most father-daughter conversations, I'm sure his statement would be considered common, but I knew how rarely Charlie expressed his feelings and my concern increased as to what he wanted to discuss.

"I just want you to be happy," he began and I immediately became guarded, fearing this topic. "I am happy, Dad." I stated as firmly as I could manage and he grimaced back at me in return.

"Bella, I know how upset you were when… Edward left." I flinched, knowing he was no doubt picturing my many bad months and Edward was likely nearby, listening. Charlie mistook my response and assumed I had responded to Edward's name, like usual.

"But you need to understand something; there isn't just one person out there for everyone." His words were absolute and I was struck by his confidence in that notion. I wondered how he would factor vampire soulmates into that rationale if he knew, but I didn't question him.

"I'm not saying your connection with the guy wasn't serious; believe me, I- I was completely lost without Renée." His voice was softer at the end and I was floored at my father's concession. He never spoke about his relationship with my mother and I knew beyond a shadow of doubt that he still loved her, but his admission still shocked me.

I found my voice and tried to be comforting, "I'm so sorry Dad." He bristled at my comment, but trudged on. "It was years ago and I moved on. That's my point, Bells. Let Jacob help you move on." His voice lowered considerably at the end and I could tell he was dreading my reaction. I just froze and scrambled to find a coherent response. I felt staggeringly idiotic; of course Charlie knew, we'd been sleeping in the same bed under his roof for a month. He was once again more perceptive than I gave him credit for and guessed at my thoughts.

"I don't care, Bella." he voice lurched in sadness and I reached out to touch his arm. I hadn't casually touched Charlie since I was a child, but I felt responsible for his pain and desperate to ease it. "You haven't slept in six goddamn months and he makes it easier." He said the words in a rush as if they would be less impactful that way. Charlie had never spoken this much to me at once and I feared from the look on his face that he would continue, but I didn't know how much more I could take.

"Every night, I'd sleep in the hallway or just stare at you waiting for the screaming and then he came and it stopped. That's not nothing," he said resolutely and I found myself nodding, wanting to convince him that I understood.

"I know, Dad. And I'm sorry I-" He held up a hand. "Don't you dare apologize, Bella." His voice was hard for the first time in the conversation, so I didn't push him.

"I do care about Jake. I'm just not- not ready yet." I faltered a little and I felt embarrassed, not even because of Charlie, but because I knew Edward was listening and I didn't want to hurt him. Charlie looked at me, enthusiastic about my concession and I ventured another.

"You know I'm just getting my footing and Jake helps with that. I'm just taking it a day at a time for now." He nodded in approval of that plan and added one more weighty declaration, "Just remember what Jake does for you and understand that you deserve that- from whoever you end up with." His tone implied finality to the discussion, but I felt dizzyingly grateful for my father in that moment.

He stood abruptly, clearing his throat, and grabbed his plate, "Alright, there's probably a game on. I'll put you out of your misery." I stood with him and gave him a quick one-armed hug to which he grunted in reply in typical Charlie-fashion. I took the plate from him along with his cup and silverware and made my way to the sink.

I heard the door open as I turned the faucet on and I knew Jake was back before I felt him behind me. He looped his hands around my waist and rested his head atop mine as I scrubbed Charlie's plate. Between his body heat around me and warm water running over my hands, I felt contentedly warm. I mulled over my father's words and wondered if I should have told him about Edward coming back. I quickly reasoned giving my father a heart attack would not have simplified the situation, but I decided to brainstorm a more palatable way to broach the subject with him tomorrow.

Jake leaned down, tickling my ear with his breath, "What are you thinking about?" I smiled to myself, wanting to rub in his failed stealth efforts at night, "Charlie wants us to elope." I felt more than heard the rumble in his chest.

"Fine by me, quick and dirty," he laughed, kissing my temple. I tried to suppress the tension his kiss brought to my stomach. I doubted I would feel that way if I didn't know Edward was out there waiting for me. I shouldn't feel guilty- he left me for six months. What if I had moved on? I bitterly wished it could be so easy. Charlie wanted me to be with Jacob. Jacob wanted me to be with Jacob. But did I?

I blanched for a moment pondering that thought- had I already moved on? I had been with Jake for two months now all day every day and we felt like magnets, tied to each other. I felt like was on the cusp; I was right there with Jake and I could so easily cross that boundary with him. But I functioned with him out of necessity, because I used to function with Edward and he left. So where did that leave me?

I was drawn back to reality when I realized Jake was watching my face and I knew he could read me like a book. He narrowed his eyes in concentration and huffed out a breath. "Why don't you go take a shower honey? You need to think some things through," his voice was tight, but he didn't let his underlying feelings slip through. I stared at him in astonishment as he leaned down to kiss my cheek, "I'll be watching the game with Charlie." He strode out of the kitchen without a backward glance and I listened to him turn up the baseball game, giving me privacy.

I turned off the faucet and exhaled heavily, knowing Edward would be waiting for me in my bedroom. I didn't know how to face him or what to say, but I also couldn't quench the thrill I felt knowing he was here. I bounded up the stairs, catching the fleeting sound of Jacob and Charlie cheering for something on the TV.

When I entered my bedroom, it was the first time in my life that I felt uncertain about being there. I had grown up in this house and always considered my room to be a haven of sorts, but I was hesitant now. I saw him sitting quietly in the rocking chair beside my bed and my breath caught seeing his face illuminated by the moonlight coming through my window. He made no movement toward me, but his eyes followed me as I made my way over.

I saw the love fixed in his gaze and I couldn't help but question it now, which made my chest spasm in pain. I sat on my bed and took a moment to compose myself, "Will you come sit with me?" He carefully stood up and moved toward me at human speed, before sitting down beside me. I reached up and traced my fingers across the side of his face, over his cheekbone, and then his lips. He kissed my fingers and a shudder wracked my body as my nerves overcame me. I felt like I was defusing a bomb that would undoubtedly go off any moment, decidedly killing me. Surely, I was a maniac for wanting to keep touching it.

I stared into his eyes and I was compelled to release the fear festering in my body before it destroyed me. I wasn't eloquent or tactful but I was honest, "Did you lie or do you truly not love me?" My voice breaking in a painful gasp at the end was certainly not eloquent.

"Oh my Bella," he exhaled, pulling me to him. His body enveloped mine and his words flowed ardently and forcefully into my hair, "I lied darling. I lied and you believed me so easily. How can you doubt my love for you? How can you not know how utterly, insatiably in love I am with you?" His mouth was at my ear and my whole body trembled in relief. I felt the ice gripping my heart shatter and it beat freely for the first time in six months.

I cried into his neck, unable to meet his gaze as my vulnerability poured out, "Why would you lie? Why would you leave me?" He didn't answer at first, but his arms grew almost uncomfortably tight around me as he clutched me to him. He gently lifted my face to his and his eyes were smoldering, "I thought I was keeping you safe. I thought I knew what was best for you, but, Bella, I was wrong. I will never leave you again unless you tell me to go; I can't."

I ached to believe him with everything in me, but when his mouth moved toward mine, a sound escaped me. I pulled away in self-preservation even as I watched the hurt register in his eyes because it was basic survival for me. His eyes searched mine, imploring them to tell him why and I couldn't decide which action would hurt him more; silence or the truth.

"Bella," he said roughly. "Am I too late?" His voice broke and I felt my own tears resume. If I was being honest with myself, I didn't know how to answer that yet, but I opted for a definitive truth instead. I stared at his chest, unable to meet his eyes as I spoke, "If I kiss you now and you leave again, it will kill me this time." He groaned low in his throat and crushed me to his chest. His lips moved against my forehead and I felt him shivering. I had never known a vampire could shiver but he did so violently as he held me. "I saw. I saw what I did to you and I'll never forgive myself but I will spend the rest of my existence making it up to you, Bella. I will regain your trust and you will know the inexorable truth in my words when I say I will never leave you again."

I sighed heavily against his shoulder and tried to fight off the unadulterated hope swelling in my chest. "Can you just hold me for tonight?" I asked and he immediately shifted us so I was lying on my back with his arms cradling me. "Of course, my love."

I snuggled into him and began to drift off as he hummed my lullaby. I felt whole and at peace in his arms and the rest of our problems could wait until tomorrow. Only that wasn't really true, because my body immediately went rigid as I heard Jake's footsteps coming upstairs.

A/N: What will Jacob do?