A/N: Well, today marks three years since I started "Moonlit." Still not done, and only a few chapters left to put together, but it's so damn hard and nothing looks good enough. But, I want to mark the anniversary by offering up something to you awesome, patient readers.

It's crossed my mind more than once to pull Chapter 30 and rewrite it without the make out scene, so that the next chapter can focus purely on them discovering intimacy together. The scene as it stands now doesn't quite pull off what I want it to. Also, how fair is it that I created a build up on Charlie and Renee, and then just summed up w/ a quick "everything's OK" paragraph. Everything's still OK, but considering what more I could/should do, the following scene came to mind.

It's still possible that I will write this scene into the story. For now, though, thank you for sticking with me for 3 years. I appreciate your support more than ever.

(~*~)

It was odd to be outside walking in the woods with Charlie. At the same time, it was very comforting. It made a circle. After having been in the snow with Carlisle and talking about Christmases with Charlie, here she was having a Christmas walk in the woods with her Dad.

"I've always suspected there was something between you two."

Bella shrugged with a shy smile. "I remember. I thought you were being ridiculous."

"You threw a pillow at me."

"You suggested I take him to prom!"

"Pretty sure I said the opposite."

"Same difference." Bella winked at him.

"Bells…" Charlie was looking down, watching his feet as they crunched the snow and twigs. "How deeply do you love him?"

Bella started to ask what he meant, but then she realized she didn't need to. However, that didn't mean that she knew how to go about answering him. It was one thing to tell Esme and Alice that there was no other option in her mind but to spend the rest of eternity with Carlisle. But with Charlie, it wasn't so easy to say.

The only sound was the crunching beneath their feet as Bella tried to find the right words, and Charlie waited patiently. The tall trees were barren, the snow already fallen to add to the blanket of white. The world around them was still, a comforting chill ready to envelope her.

"I know that Carlisle is it for me," Bella said.

They kept walking, side by side, until Charlie fell behind her, stopping. His mouth opened, and shut again, as though he couldn't make the words come out. His eyes, though, said it all, and Bella's heart clenched at the emotions in them, the love and the pride and the tears just about ready to fall, though he fought them. Bella reached out and clasped his hand.

"I love you, Dad."

Charlie pulled her in, his arm around her neck as he kissed the top of her head and blinked furiously.

The winterland was still quiet around them.

Charlie broke away abruptly. "Bella, with us being part Quileute, will it even work?"