AN- After I get this posted I plan on going back to fix the first few chapters in this story. I was reading them with a friend last night and for Heaven's sake! I expect you people to tell me when I type like a three year old! The typos almost killed me. So sorry for all who had to suffer through that. In my defense I was in a bit of a hurry to get them all posted. I have now learned my lesson. However, I'm not perfect and have no Beta, so if you do see something that makes your eye twitch (in annoyance, like a typo) please tell me so I can fix it!

I don't own Twilight or Lucy (" 'splaining" reference)


Explanation

BPOV

I knew Edward wouldn't be back until Charlie was asleep. I was waiting in the rocking chair. No way was I going to be half asleep when he came in. He "had some 'splaining to do." What on earth had happened? Not only had he made me spend an entire evening with him and Charlie in the same room, he had made me enjoy it. I didn't know what he was playing at, but I was surely going to find out.

Edward appeared at my window and climbed gracefully into my room. Climbed didn't describe how he moved. Glided would be more accurate. Watching him in the moonlight, I suddenly forgot why I had been irritated.

He noted me in the rocking chair. He went directly to my bed and stretched out, leaning with his hands behind his head. He was immensely satisfied with himself about something. The look was completed with a smug little grin on his face. I remembered.

I raised my eyebrows to say Well? He continued grinning at me. I continued getting irritated. I got up and stalked over to the bed, my hands on my hips "Well?" I fumed.

Suddenly I found myself lying in his arms. His eyes shone in the darkness, trapping mine. "You're beautiful when you're angry," he whispered, his velvet voice wrapping around me. Then his lips covered mine.

There was no particular urgency to his kiss, nor was it overtly passionate. But the confidence I could feel behind it sent my heart racing. It was as if this kiss were absolute truth, his love for me, and mine for him. Nothing had mattered before and nothing would ever matter more. My body melted and my mind soared. I was lost in the pure honesty of this kiss, forgetting everything else, including. . .

"Breathe, Bella," his soft voice brought me back to earth. Looking into his eyes I could see my own emotions, peace, love, joy, all reflected back at me. I sighed, leaning back and closing my eyes. I concentrated on taking deep breaths. Edward began to lightly trace my cheeks. I could swear there was something I had wanted to ask him.

"I assume you were asking for an explanation of my bizarre behavior tonight," he supplied. Sometimes it was like he could read my mind.

"Yes. What exactly was that all about?" I asked. He continued to caress the lines of my face.

"I had an important talk with Charlie." He said.

I sat upright and stared at him, "What? When?"

He laughed at my reaction and gently pulled me back down, into his arms.

"Tonight, during the movie," he answered.

I was more confused now than when he had started explaining, "But Charlie barely even grunted at you. I was there, Edward, there was no conversation."

He smiled at me, it was a little smug again. "Maybe I should have said, 'I had a talk with Charlie and he had thoughts with me.'"

"Edward, that's cheating. I have no idea what Charlie was thinking during the movie, but I have a pretty good idea what he thinks about you." I said, slightly miffed I had missed out on something.

"That was the whole point of the evening, Bella, to change how Charlie thinks of me, even just a little."

I looked at him skeptically.

He laughed again. "I didn't expect him to start calling me 'son' or anything, I just wanted him to understand me a little. I'm hoping that even if he never really likes me much, if he at least feels like he knows me," he paused his eyes going soft, "Then when I take you away, he won't feel as much like you're lost to him. Maybe he'll feel more like he knows where you're going, because he knows who you're going with. I don't want your distance from him to hurt more than it has to."

I was speechless. I, of course, had been worried about my dad; what he would do when I left, if he would feel like I had abandoned him. To know that Edward not only worried, but had actually made an effort to do something about it, was more than I had words to describe.

Instead of trying, I took his face in mine and returned the kiss he had given me earlier. I opened my heart, pouring out the love and gratitude I had for this amazing man. Edward held me tight, then released me once again so I could breathe. Stupid human lungs.

"I take it from the smug look on your face when you came in, that your little plan worked?" I smiled at him.

"As well as I could have hoped for. He's put the shotgun away, and as I left he actually thought, 'maybe that boy isn't such a bad kid after all'." His smug grin returned in full force.

I was stunned, "Seriously?"

I laughed, "Seriously, he went on to think about how we're too young to be getting married and such, but at least I don't think he hates me any more."

"That's more than I ever hoped for." I said honestly. "Too bad you can't pull the same trick on Renee. Maybe then she wouldn't hate me anymore."

My mother was avidly against my getting married. She had agreed to come, but still tried to talk me out of it every chance she got. I was glad Phil's schedule had kept her from being able to come until right before the wedding. I didn't want her to have too long to berate me.

"She doesn't hate you," Edward corrected me, "She's just worried that you're making the same mistakes she made. Sometimes it's hard for parents to look past their own weaknesses and see their children as different than themselves."

"I know," I said glumly.

"Don't worry, love," he whispered in my ear. "We'll think of something."

Knowing that he would try, and that he had done such an amazing job with Charlie, actually gave me some hope. "Thank you, Edward," I whispered, nuzzling his neck with my nose, breathing him in, "For everything."

He rested his chin on my head, laying his cheek to my hair. I could feel him smile. "I haven't given you everything just yet, Bella, but I'm trying." He kissed my hair softly, "I'm trying." While humming my lullaby, he alternated between stroking my hair and rubbing my back. I was so relaxed, felt so content, my eyes closed quickly and I was soon drifting into oblivion.


AN- Next chapter we finally get to more practicing. Yeay! These chapters always take more time, since I have to find just the right wording. Please be patient. I will post as soon as I can!