Things stayed the same for a few months. The relationship between Edward and me was balancing on a fine line, we'd have to fall off one edge or the other pretty soon.

Today, Edward, Emmett and I were in Edward's Volvo heading to Forks. Yes, Thanksgiving break had finally come. I'm going to find out what life is like for Charlie without me.

Jasper and Rosalie were going to Seattle, so they wouldn't be very far away, but Alice was going to Houston. Alice had begged her parents to let her go to Seattle, but to no avail. We would have to figure something out for the four week Christmas Break.

"Are we there yet?" Emmett was getting impatient. The drive had been much longer than expected. Mostly because Emmett wanted to stop every 45 minutes to get something to eat.

"Go to sleep or something, Emmett. It's still a few more hours." I turned around to talk to him. "Of course, you'll do nothing but sleep when you're there. There's absolutely nothing to do."

Emmett looked upset, "Is there at least a gym? Dude, I have to work out like three times a day."

I laughed at his expression, "I'm sure there's a gym in Seattle, and I get this feeling you'll be there more than here."

"Seriously Emmett," Edward was in a good mood. "Can you keep it in your pants for more than a few hours?"

"You try having a girl like Rose and controlling yourself."

I saw Edward glare at Emmet through the rear view mirror. Then I caught him glancing at me. I wanted to tell him to watch the road, but we were so close to Forks now it didn't matter. There were less and less cars on the road.

Emmet somehow managed to pass out in the last 30 minutes. I directed Edward to my house and could see the cruiser before I could see the house.

"So you're coming to my house Friday morning, right?"

"You'll have to come and get me since you made me leave my truck at school."

He chuckled and turned off the car. We sat there for a moment. I was waiting for him to kiss me on the cheek as was our customary goodbye.

"Bella?" his voice was hesitant. I looked at him a little worried. What could be on his mind? He caught me by surprise leaning forward and touching his lips to mine. It was too short, I wasn't ready to let this end. When he pulled back, I grasped his shoulders and pulled his lips to mine again. A fire rocked through me when his mouth started to move with mine. His hand found the back of my neck and my fingers moved to his hair. His tongue ran across my bottom lip begging for passage.

I opened my mouth to allow him passage and…"Could you two please get a room?" I pulled myself from Edward faster than I would have thought possible.

Edward growled "I've walked in on you and Rosalie before."

"You should have knocked."

"You were in my room."

"We just weren't going to make it to my room"

I listened to them bickering while I tried to slow my heart rate. I couldn't, not with the electricity still zinging between Edward and I. "I think I should go inside. Charlie's probably waiting for me." I climbed out of the Volvo and went to the back waiting for Edward to pop it open so I could get out my duffel. I had two duffels in the back, one that Alice had packed and one that I had packed. Alice didn't know about the latter, and hers was staying in the trunk all weekend.

Edward got out to open the trunk. I was afraid to look at him. What if he was upset that I had kissed him? He pulled out the proper duffel and placed the strap over my shoulder and kissed me right under the jaw. "I'll pick you up on Friday." I nodded and walked to the door without looking back.

Before I had the chance to pull out my key, Charlie burst through the door and pulled me into a long hug. "It's so great to have you home, Bells. It's been so lonely in the house without you."

A strange smell caught my attention. "Dad, you didn't try to cook tonight, did you?"

Charlie blushed, showing where I got the unfortunate trait. "I thought you might be tired from the trip. I didn't expect you to make anything."

"Don't be silly, Dad." I dropped my duffle at the door. I'd come back for it later. I headed to the kitchen and found Charlie's attempt at a chicken pot pie. It was a far too complicated dish, he should have known better.

Luckily, it was early enough in the process to save. I finished the cooking and placed it out on the table. Charlie looked ecstatic. I was wondering when the last time he'd had a good meal was.

"So, Bella, is there something wrong with the truck?" Charlie asked between mouthfuls.

"No, why?"

"Well, I was wondering why you didn't drive it home. I thought you loved the thing."

I laughed, "I do, but I had friends coming home, so it just made sense to come together."

"Mmm" Charlie thought that through over a bite of the pie. "I didn't know anyone from around here went to Dartmouth with you." Charlie coughed a little embarrassed about this topic. I wondered if he'd been watching the car. That was a terrifying thought.

"Well, they're not originally from here. Have you met the new doctor yet?"

"Yeah, Dr. Cullen. Good man. We're lucky that his wife was tired of the city life. He's done so much for the community already."

"Well, he has two sons, Edward and Emmett. They go to Dartmouth with me." I was hesitant to look up at Charlie. If he had been watching the car, he would head to get his shotgun to blow Edward's knee caps. He wasn't a fan of anybody who stood as competition to Jacob. I didn't know why he tried to push Jacob and me together so much. Jacob was a little brother, even if he was twice my size in both directions

"So you're close to them?" Charlie was obviously uncomfortable. I was becoming more and more sure that he had been watching.

I tried to calm him with less upsetting information. "Yes, Emmett's like a big brother. He's so protective of me. And his girlfriend is so much fun to hang out with. Alice and Rose are an unstoppable force of nature when you set them loose in a mall." I was trying to draw attention away from Edward. I wasn't ready to discuss him with Charlie.

"And what about the other one, Edmund?"

I sighed. He was far too observant tonight. "Edward, Dad. And, are we really going to talk about boys?"

Charlie smiled, apparently okay with avoiding the topic as well. "I guess not. So what are the plans for tomorrow?"

"Did you get the turkey or would you rather I cook some of the fish before it gets freezer burn?"

He blushed rather delicately for a police chief. "Well, here's the deal. Sue's coming over tomorrow and she was gonna bring some stuff."

"So that's how you've been staying alive," I chuckled. I was glad to hear that someone was feeding him. He certainly had lost the ability to do so for himself when I moved home, "But I really think I should make something too. If I remember correctly, Seth eats three times as much as I could ever make in one sitting."

Charlie chuckled, "Yeah that kid seems to have a black hole in place of his stomach." The way Charlie chuckled was more nervous than amused. I was scared to find out what was on his mid. What if the reason that he was nervous was because he had moved from Jake to Seth? I know that Harry, Seth's recently deceased father, was one of Dad's best friends, but Seth was nearly four years younger than me. Some states would consider a relationship between us illegal.

I pushed that thought aside so that I wouldn't stress myself out. "So Dad, how have things been going at work?"

Charlie and I were very simple people. The rest of the night was spent in a little conversation, but mostly a comfortable silence. After dinner I cleaned the dishes and watched a game with him. I didn't like sports, but I'm pretty sure Charlie enjoyed the company.

I went through my normal procedure of getting ready for bed. I showered and brushed my teeth. It was too much trouble to dry my hair, so I always went to bed with it wet. I put on my ratty t-shirt and sweats. I was almost asleep when I heard my phone buzz n the bedside table.

It was a message from Alice. I am so bored. I miss you guys like crazy

I laughed quietly so as not to wake Charlie. Alice was always crazy, but now that she was going through her first real Jasper deprivation, I knew she would be more so than usual. Hey Alice. I miss you too. I wish you were here so we could figure out why I do stupid things.

What stupid things

Oops. Nothing in particular, Alice. Just typical Bella.

The phone vibrated furiously. I sighed. She couldn't just accept my answer. She had to call and find out. I clicked the accept button. "Hello?"

"Bella, what did you do?" There was excitement in her voice. She loved to know every inconsequential detail about my life.

"Nothing, Alice." I had a sinking feeling that this was not going to end well.

"Isabella Marie Swan, you will tell me right now what happened or I will call Edward and tell him how you talk about him in your sleep."

"No, you can't." I was so loud that Charlie's snores stopped momentarily. I held my breath as I waited for him to proceed. I sighed in relief as his breathing resumed. "Alice, he can't know that."

I could hear Alice start to smile. She knew that she was about to get what she wanted. "Then you will tell me what it is that happened today that has you so freaked."

I took a deep breath and let the words fall out of my mouth. "I kissed Edward."

There was silence on the other end, then, "Thank God. I thought I'd have to force you."

"Alice, this is serious. I made total fool of myself. How am I supposed to face him on Friday? And his family? Did I mention that Emmett saw the whole thing? They're probably laughing about it right now?"

"Bella, Bella. Calm down. You don't know that. For all you know, he's wanted to kiss you too. I mean, doesn't Emmett keep telling you that Edward likes you? I think Emmett would have a pretty good idea of what Edward feels."

"I thought so too, but after the first month of waiting, I just thought it was a joke. I mean, everything was absolutely the same between us."

"Bella, why do you have to be so blind? Okay, let's work through this. Did he kiss you back?"

I thought that through. I had pushed the kiss far from my mind to keep Charlie from figuring out my stress. Now I brought it to the forefront of my mind. I thought about the way that his tongue had felt against my bottom lip just before Emmet interrupted. "Yes," I said hesitantly. "He started to right before Emmett piped up."

"And did he seem angry at you when you left?"

I thought that through too. He had been angry, but it was aimed toward Emmett's presence, and past behavior. When we had been alone again, he had kissed me under the jaw. My heart squeezed at the memory. He usually kissed me on the cheek when we said goodbye, the neck was so much more intimate. "I don't think so, but I didn't see his face. He didn't act angry, though."

"Then you're overreacting, Bella. And again, thank God. I've been waiting for this to happen for months."

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, Alice. I have to say good night for now I have to get up and prepare a feast for some family friends."

"I can't believe I'm missing a Bella thanksgiving."

I sighed, "Alice, I'll make another Thanksgiving Dinner at the guys apartment when we get back just for you."

"Yay," she was so easy to make happy, "Well get your sleep and tell me everything about meeting his family. Oh, this is so exciting." I listened to Alice for five more minutes before I could get her to hand up.

Sleep was slow to reach me. Now that the kiss was in my mind, I couldn't get rid of it. I tried to think of Seth and his humongous appetite. I hoped Charlie had enough fish to satisfy the hunger of a ravenous growing boy.

Finally, with my plans for the meal the next day pushing away all other thoughts, I was able to fall into a sound sleep.