Hello, dearest readers! You know how it gets worse before it gets better? Um, yes, it's time to fasten your seatbelts…

Thanks to SunflowerFran for beta'ing! Remaining mistakes are mine.

I don't own Twilight, but Boozeward is mine.

oOo

The house was silent when Bella returned later that night. It was past three p.m.

She took off her cardigan and shoes and went upstairs. No sounds came from Edward's studio. He usually listened to classical music on the radio when he was working, but tonight, the door was slightly ajar and no sliver of light was visible.

Maybe he'd fallen asleep on the sofa?

"Edward?" she said softly, opening his door just the slightest bit and stepping inside.

The grey evening sky made the room rather dark, but she didn't want to switch on the lights in case he was, indeed, asleep. She took another step into the room and her bare foot connected with something hard that made a clanging noise when it toppled over.

It was a bottle.

It was an empty vodka bottle.

Bella switched on the lights after all.

.

Hours later, when she had cried herself out, and the sun was rising, she called her dad. She knew that he'd react strongly, but, on the other hand, he was a social worker and would most likely be able to help her cope with the situation.

"I don't know what to do," she said. "Should I call him out on it?

"So… from what you're saying, I assume he's been drinking before?"

"Yes." Her voice was barely audible.

"Do you think he needs help?"

"I'm afraid he might. He was so good all this time… But there were seven or eight empty vodka bottles behind the sofa!"

Charles Swan cleared his voice.

"So, you're basically telling me your boyfriend's an alcoholic?"

"Yes," Bella whispered, and a new burst of tears splashed from her eyes.

.

"Come here, Pumpkin," Charles soothed, drawing his daughter into his arms.

"It all makes sense now, you know," she sobbed while he walked her to the kitchen.

"The late nights he spent in his studio, the mints, the moodiness… The lies, Daddy, all the lies!"

"Addictions make people sneaky," Charles sighed as they sat down.

He poured two cups of tea.

"Edward is going to need help. But right now, I'm more concerned about you. You had no idea he was drinking again?"

"I should have noticed! I should have seen it; he seemed to be slipping away from me…"

She blew her nose.

"He has become an expert at hiding it, I guess. How long has this been going on?"

"I don't know. Looking back, maybe even before we went to Wales. I can't believe I didn't realize…"

"Shhh, Pumpkin." Charles patted her arm. "None of this is your fault."

Bella shook her head, clenching the tissue in her fingers. They were silent for a few minutes.

"Do you think he'll accept help? Accept that he has a problem?"

Bella swallowed. The thought that Edward had been hiding this from her made her strangely angry.

"I have no idea, Daddy. Right now, it's as if I don't even know him anymore."

"Maybe you should take a few days for yourself. Come to grips with it. Didn't you and Leah plan to go to Brighton for a couple of days?"

Still sniffling, Bella nodded.

"Do that. I'll give you the money."

"Daddy…"

Charles smiled, warm brown eyes mirroring hers.

"My treat, okay, Pumpkin?"

"Okay," she whispered, hugging him fiercely.

oOo

Thank you for all the reviews for the last chapter! Your words mean more than I can say!