Hey everyone, it's the next chapter! Thanks to Stellarose for the review- I'm glad you like it, hope you keep reading. Also thanks to twilightgal101 again (have a cyber present). Everyone else, please read and review! It only takes a few seconds and I'll be eternally grateful!

-Saphella

Disclaimer: Twilight is Stephanie Meyer's

Bella

Despite his promises, Edward still drove at over twice the speed limit. He was a good liar, but I still knew that he and Alice were trying to hide something from me and the speed of his driving gave me less time to question him. When he pulled onto Charlie's drive, I made him stay in the car for a few seconds.

"Edward, I know you're hiding something from me. I'm part of the family now. Can't you just tell me? I promise I won't react badly."

He sighed.

"Bella, there's nothing…"

"Don't you dare say that one more time!" I interrupted. "I think I know you well enough by now to tell that you're lying."

He sighed again.

"Bella, it's better if I don't tell you. Please. Trust me. I love you."

I wanted to protest, but his words were well chosen. I did trust him, and to keep questioning him would be contradicting that. I opened my door, letting the subject drop for now. I saw Edward relax as he too climbed out of the car. He kissed me quickly before we reached the door.

"Thank you," he whispered, his lips a millimetre away from mine so I felt the words as well as hearing them. I kissed him back with increasing passion until he sighed and pulled back.

"Charlie at the window in three, two, one," he warned me, and I looked up to see my father. It shocked me how much he seemed to have changed in the three weeks since I'd last seen him. My more-than-perfect eyesight found tiny details no human would notice. The slight deepening in the wrinkles round his eyes, the barely greyer hair at his roots and the way his shoulders drooped a millimetre more than before worried me more than they should. It was just another reminder that my parents were still aging while I remained immortal.

"Are you all right, love?" Edward asked, and I thought for a moment that I must have subconsciously pushed away my shield to allow him to read my thoughts. One look in his eyes, however, showed me that my thoughts had simply shown on my face.

"Hmm? Yes, fine. Just thinking," I answered him. He took my hand and led me to the door.

As we entered the house, the sound of Charlie's feet hitting the stairs slightly irregularly reached our ears. I forced a smile.

"Hi, Dad," I said.

"Bells!" he exclaimed, running down the remaining stairs to hug me, ignoring Edward. "You should visit your old father more, hey?"

"'Course, Dad," I said. "Dad, you're crushing me," I added. Okay, it wasn't strictly true, what with my invincibility and all, but I needed to behave as though I were still human in front of him.

He stepped back to look at me.

"Your eyes are lighter," he observed before moving on. "So, what's the problem?"

"What makes you think there's a problem? Can't I just visit you to say 'hi'?"

"Bella, your face is like a book. Come on, I haven't got all day."

I looked at Edward sideways for support.

"Well, Dad," I began. "There might be a few… dangerous people in town soon, as well as some more… dangerous people, so we just wanted to warn you to be careful and try to stay indoors. And don't go into the woods or anything."

"Why?" he asked sharply.

"Need to know," I reminded him. He sighed.

"Bella, I'm tired of this whole 'Need to know' thing," he said, surprising me. "I know it's easier in some ways, but I should know about my daughter's life. I need to know what you've become. I need to know why I'm in danger. I need to know about Nessie. I need to know… everything."

I stepped backwards into Edward nervously. His hands appeared around my waist, gently offering support.

"If I tell you, the Vol… I mean, there are some people who wouldn't like it. You could be in even greater danger."

"I don't care anymore," Charlie answered. "Tell me everything. Please."

I tilted my head backwards to look at Edward. He looked at the floor, and then he nodded.

"Tell him, Bella. He deserves to know."

I turned back to Charlie.

"Let's go and sit down," I suggested.