True Love Never Dies
"Edward?" I asked softly to the beautiful vampire sitting beside me in the shiny silver Volvo. We were going to bring my new Honda Civic (the only car I let Edward convince me to let him buy for me), but decided that it would be better for Charlie if he recognized the car at least—my features hadn't changed much, but to a father I would look shockingly different.
"Yes, love?" He replied just as quietly
"I think I'm ready to go now." We had been sitting in the car in front of my old house now for about ten minutes. I was trying to pluck up the courage to see Charlie again.
The house looked almost exactly the same as ever, and I wouldn't be surprised if the inside was the same as well.
Edward took my hand gently, and brought it to his lips, barely skimming my porcelain coloured smooth skin. He let my hand down gently, and instead wrapped his palm around the back of my neck and brought us close, so that our foreheads were touching. His sweet breath filled the air, and though it didn't stun as it used to, it was still beautiful and an aroma I couldn't live without. His lips came closer to mine and he pressed them tenderly to mine, though the caution was unnecessary as I wasn't as breakable as I used to be. In fact, for the first year or so after my change I was stronger than him—even stronger than Emmett.
"Isabella Marie Cullen" He spoke softly against my lips. I could never tire of hearing him speak my new name. "You are ready. You are the bravest and most beautiful person alive. You can do this, I know you can. You're strong."
I stared into his liquid topaz eyes. Mine matched his most of the time, but this afternoon mine were exceptionally lighter as I had just taken an extended hunting trip to prepare for my visit with Charlie. I nodded slightly, and gave him a small smile. He pressed his lips to mine once more and then pulled away to get out of the car. I didn't mind when he did this anymore. Now that I was less breakable we were able to further our physical relationship and I no longer had a constant craving for him. Or rather, I had learned to control that 'need' a lot better than I used to.
We walked slowly (at human pace) up the driveway, and then to the doorway, where I rang the bell with slight hesitation. If my heart was still working it would be beating frantically right now, and even though Edward showed no evidence of it on his face, I could tell that he missed hearing it sputter around erratically, as it should have been doing right now.
Nothing happened at first, but suddenly I heard footsteps, coming from upstairs, and a heart—Charlie's heart—beating excitedly in anticipation of being reunited with his only daughter. The door lock clicked and suddenly, there stood Charlie.
He hadn't changed much. He had a few more gray hairs than I could remember and a few more lines in his face, but other than that he looked just the same. A wide smile plastered itself on his face as he looked at me and Edward standing on his doorstep. "I missed you Bells" He said.
Before I could even realize what I was doing, I jumped on Charlie and pulled him into a bone-crushing hug. I didn't know how much I missed him until now.
Edward's hand suddenly shaped itself around one of my shoulders, pinching it, attempting to wrench it away from Charlie. I let go suddenly, realizing how much force I had put into that hug. Charlie pulled back, panting and massaging his ribs. I looked at Edward, panic etched upon both our faces. "Wow, Bells, you're getting strong. You working out or something?"
Edward chuckled, a sure sign that everything was going to be okay. "Uh, kinda…Dad." I said.
I was right. The inside of the house looked the same as it did the day that Edward and I left for Alaska. In this moment it felt as if nothing but days had passed since I had been here. More human memories came flooding back to me—things I had forgotten after my change. The stronger memories had always been there, but the little things, like all the times I'd seen Charlie spend his evenings watching the games, and every day I spent cooking Charlie his meals came back to me in this moment. The time I had spent with Jake in this house…
If I could still tear up, I would probably be doing so now. Edward, sensing my distress, took my hand and gave it a squeeze. Edward spoke again to try and lighten the mood "She's taken up a bit of weightlifting lately" He said, and I could see that he was trying to contain himself.
I glared at him, and he stumbled slightly. I smirked, and he smiled my favourite crooked smile. I almost made myself stumble. We all sat down in the living room (Charlie on the recliner, and me and Edward on the couch). A short, but awkward, silence followed.
"So…Bells. You've graduated college. What are you up to now?"
Uh-oh. We had prepared for everything but this. I squeezed Edward's hand in mine, "Uh, well, you know…" I trailed off.
But then Edward spoke (my saviour!) "We're both working with Carlisle at the hospital there. As interns, of course."
I almost laughed out loud at that one. Me, around all that human blood at a hospital? Pfft! I would go nuts!
"Why that's amazing!" Charlie said. "And I imagine you're enjoying yourselves?"
Charlie and Edward launched into a long conversation about health care these days and I was grateful. I loved being home and everything, but I was never one to make much conversation. I looked up at Edward who rubbed his thumb in circles on the back of my hand reassuringly.
"So, you guys just stopping by or what? I see you didn't bring any luggage or anything." Charlie said.
"Uh, yes, well we're just stopping by for a day or two I suppose." I replied.
"All the way from Alaska for a day or two?" He asked.
Then Edward spoke, "No, actually, we're kind of passing through Forks before we head off to Seattle to meet the rest of the family and see some old friends." Nice cover-up.
"The rest of the Cullens will be there too?" Charlie asked, surprised.
"Just for a few days. Then we'll all be going our separate ways again." Edward said.
Soon it was time for Charlie to eat supper, and I realized that this was to be the first time I ate human food since my change. I was slightly nervous, remembering how revolting Edward found human food.
Edward and I sat at the table and watched Charlie prepare the food. Edward and I had offered to help, but Charlie insisted on preparing it himself. "You know Bella, I really missed you're cooking when you left. I had to fend for myself for once. But I managed, and well I think I'm pretty darn good at cooking now. But I'll let you two be the judge of that." He said, and he placed two hot plates of beef stir-fry in front of us, and then a third in front of him.
I sniffed the food in front of me. It didn't smell too horrible, and it didn't look all that bad either. I gingerly cut a small piece of the beef and slowly brought it up to my mouth. But as soon as the meat touched my mouth I almost gagged and threw up all my insides. It was the most revolting thing I had ever tasted. How Edward managed to take a bite of that slice of pizza so many years ago, I did not know. I turned to look at him, with a pitiful expression. He smiled at me reassuringly.
But then I saw Edward do something and realized how stupid I was. He brought the fork up to his open mouth, and the second he closed it, the piece of beef fell from his fork into his open hand in his lap, which expertly slipped it into the napkin he was also holding. I guess I didn't have to actually eat the food after all.
I tried to do what Edward did and succeeded but much more shakily that Edward. I guess even vampires need to practice certain things. But I managed though, and with making Charlie drop his cutlery a couple of times I was able to stuff chunks of food into the napkin without him seeing.
The meal was finally over before Charlie spoke again. "So how was it guys?"
"It was delicious. The best stir-fry I've had in years" Edward replied. It never ceased to amaze me how he could flatter, dazzle and compliment everyone and everything so flawlessly.
"I'm glad you kids liked it. Well, I shouldn't say you guys are kids anymore. Gosh, you guys are what, now, twenty-three? Twenty-four?"
Edward and I both chuckled, but it wasn't at Charlie's misuse of the word 'kids'. I had been eighteen for almost six years now, and Edward had been seventeen for over ninety.
We sat and talked some more with Charlie, until he let out a huge yawn. It was pushing midnight and Charlie, still human, needed his sleep. "Well, I think I'm going to bed. You guys will be alright?"
I nodded my head, trying my best to act tired like Charlie. I stood up and let out a fake yawn and said "Yeah, Edward and I will sleep in my old room alright?"
Charlie stood up and headed towards the stairs. I let out another yawn, just for effect, and I heard Edward snicker, too quiet for human ears. When he stood up beside me he tripped and would have fallen face forward into the coffee table had I not caught him immediately after.
"Whoa there, son. Guess you've picked up some of Bella's clumsiness." Charlie was getting pretty groggy.
"I guess I have" Edward replied and before I could do anything, he swooped down and picked me up, bridal-style.
Charlie, not interested in viewing his daughter and son-in-law's public display of affection, hurried up the stairs and in a matter of seconds his door slammed shut. A moment later we could hear his loud snores throughout the whole house.