EPOV

I sat on the lumpy couch in Bella's lounge room and pretended to watch the game blaring on the television screen. Bella sat snuggled into my side, her breathing even as she dozed. Despite her complaints about my coddling, she was more tired than she thought. This illness, minor though it was, was taking its toll on her depleted body. I listened to her breathe for a few more moments. The congestion was still there but it had started to clear. A few more days and she should be back to normal, provided she looked after herself. I snorted softly to myself. Of course she wouldn't look after herself; when did my Bella ever think about her own needs first? I would have to do the job for her.

Charlie shifted in his chair, sending me a quick glare. His muted thoughts were a constant background grumble; a mixture of anger at me and disgust at the sportsmen he was watching. Movement on the television took his attention again and he turned back to the screen.

I glanced around the lounge trying to settle myself. I hated being in this room, thought I had not mentioned it to Bella when she suggested we sit in here tonight. I had avoided it successfully until now. Usually Bella and I sat in the kitchen doing homework, but this evening I wanted her body to be able to relax. Of course, her bedroom was completely out of the question. Charlie would have a coronary at the thought of us together alone in Bella's room. I tried to wallow in the memories of our time in her bedroom – the feel of her sleeping in her arms, the scent of her hair, the love we had declared for each other on so many occasions.

But I my solace was denied me. The memories from this room overwhelmed me. The last time I had sat here I had been planning to leave. I had separated myself from Bella, deliberately causing her pain and confusion, knowing that I was going to abandon her. Even the feel of her lying softly against me could not damp the remorse and disgust at my betrayal. Not for the first time, I could not help but marvel at Bella's capacity for forgiveness and love. And with the swelling of my love in my silent heart I was finally able to seek solitude in my memories of her.

Charlie POV

I watched my daughter out of the corner of my eye. She had scooted up underneath the boy's arm, her head resting comfortably on his chest. She looked so content; finally peaceful. After so many months of watching her trying to hold together the pieces of herself I supposed I should be grateful. But I couldn't. Not when the source of her comfort was the author of all her pain.

I couldn't fathom why she went back to him or how she could have forgiven him for leaving without a word. I wanted to scream at him for so much as looking at her and at her for letting him. After all the damage he had caused, it made my blood boil to let him into the house. But Bella had made it very clear who she would chose and it would not be me. I had only just gotten her back. I couldn't lose my girl again. Not yet.

She had run from me twice; both times his fault. The first time she had ended up in hospital. His fault. She wouldn't have even been in that hotel, shouldn't have even been in Phoenix, if not for him. I still didn't know what he had said to scare her into running. She just forgave him and came home. She always forgave him.

The second time she had just disappeared. For three days she was just gone. I went out of my mind. I was about to ring the local hospitals when she reappeared. In his arms. As if nothing had happened. As if he deserved to be in the same room as her, let alone actually touching her.

How? How could she forgive him and just pretend that nothing had happened?

I looked up at the clock. Finally. 9:25. Five more minutes and I could kick him out of my house. It was the high point of my day. If only she didn't look so lost without him.

Why? Why couldn't it have been anyone else that she loved so much? Jake was nuts about her. He was a good kid. He wouldnever hurt her. What was this hold that Edward had over her?

I cleared my throat. Time to get this show moving. I wouldn't have him in my house a minute longer than I had to.

Bella stirred against Edward's shoulder. She blinked owlishly for a minute and I almost felt guilty for disturbing her peace. The boy looked down at her with a soft smile. "Welcome back," he said. In that moment, I couldn't deny he loved her. Bastard.

Bella drew in a deep breath and started to stretch. The breath caught in her throat and she began to cough. Hmm, I guessed it sounded better than last night but if it wasn't any better in a couple of days I would send her to Dr Gerandy. I smiled wryly to myself; she wouldn't like that. The smile faded. She'd probably want to see his father.

I looked over to see the boy's hands on her back, soothing her through the coughing spasm. He was touching her again. It made my blood pressure rise and my heart ache to see it was him my Bella turned to for comfort. He didn't deserve her.

I didn't want to stay in that room and watch them any longer. Watch his hands slide over her back. I didn't want to think about where else on my baby girl those hands might go. I knew what teenage boys were like and how they thought. I had certainly busted enough teenagers in public places in my years as a cop.

If I caught him touching her like that I'd tear him limb from limb.

I stood up, preparing to give Bella her five minute warning. I usually left them alone to say goodbye. I couldn't stand the loss and the fragments of terror in my Bella's eyes as she watched him leave.

"Five minutes, Bells. You can see him at school tomorrow."

I turned towards the door but Edward stood up before I could escape.

"Actually Charlie, I wanted to talk to you about that. Bella has a temperature. If it doesn't go down tonight, I think she should stay home from school tomorrow."

I turned back around to face him, my hands clenching against my side. He had the gall to tell me how to care for my daughter. When it was his fault, his departure, her mad dash to get to him that had left her susceptible to this illness. I could feel the anger growing.

"Edward," Bella protested, looking up at him from the couch. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm fine. I don't need to stay home from school for a cold."

He knelt down in front of her, taking her hands and holding them to his chest.

"You aren't fine, Bella. You are ill and you need to stay home and get well again. I worry about you, sweetheart. I want you to be happy and healthy."

Incandescent fury surged through my body. I could feel my blood pressure rising until my head felt hot and tight. Memories flashed through my mind in quick succession – Bella sobbing quietly into a pillow as I peeked through her door; my desperate race to reach her as she screamed after yet another nightmare; clothes flying around the room as she yelled at a shocked Renee; morning after morning, night after night, as she sat and pretended to eat, not talking, barely conscious of the world around her. And the worst memory, the one I would give anything to erase – the blank emptiness of her face as she lay on her bed, ignoring the sandwich I had brought her, silent and unnaturally still, barely breathing as I watched her helplessly.

Catatonic. She was catatonic for a week after he left. He dares to stand there and say ... she wouldn't eat... she is still so thin...she was lost, gone, I couldn't get her back and it was HIS FAULT.

For the first time in my career, I honestly wanted to shoot someone.

I must have made a sound because Edward's head whipped up to face me. He met my gaze with horrified eyes, shock etched in sharp lines over his face. I stared at him, wanting more than anything in this moment for him to be able to see what I had seen. For him to know beyond a shadow of a doubt the damage he had done. Because he had done this to my Bella and he should have to live with the consequences.

"Dad?" Bella's confused voice snapped me out of my rage. My fingers itched to pick up that boy and boot him out of my house and out of her life forever. But I couldn't; not if I wanted to keep my daughter. All I could do was hope that someday that Bella would do that for herself.

I pulled myself together and looked at my daughter. "Two minutes left, Bella. Then he needs to leave."

I walked out of the room.