Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
A/N: I do not reread what I write because I'm insanely lazy and Word's spell check only does so much.. So there are probably lots of errors, please excuse and ignore them. Word's spell check only does so much.
"So you take any girl off the street just to work for your company whenever you feel like?" Charlie all but yelled at Didyme as he pounded his fist against the table. Things were not looking up right now.
Once we had decided to just eat at Charlie's instead of going out, I started to cook right away. Didyme seemed to be split between helping me and talking to my father alone. I didn't want them to talk without me. I knew that Didyme wouldn't say anything I wouldn't like, that would probably have been Sulpicia, and I knew she wouldn't say anything to start a fight with him, that would probably have been Athenodora. With one pointed look at Didyme, she followed me into the kitchen to help cook.
I had thought would wait in the living room for us to finish cooking, but he seemed to decide that he would watch us cook and talk at the same time, which I didn't mind. I had thought that he would maybe talk about what's happened since I've been gone, update me about Jacob or something. In retrospect, I should have known he would want to talk about my sudden decision to live over-seas.
It had first started off with Charlie just asking basic questions; well, at least they should have been basic. He wanted to know where she was staying and what exactly she was doing. I couldn't exactly tell him that I was staying in a partially underground castle and did basically nothing but relax all day. I wanted Didyme to lead this conversation because Charlie would have a harder chance of catching her lie; Charlie knew me to well and would catch me right away; especially since I didn't like lying to him.
Didyme answered Charlie's questions with ease. He seemed to get more and more upset though since he was technically asking me yet Didyme was the one answering. I would of course back up anything she said and added a comment or two about everything to try and make it seem like I was leading the conversation. I knew Charlie would see that I wasn't the one answering the questions, Didyme was, no matter how round about Didyme went about it, he was the police chief for a reason.
Charlie's questions towards me with Didyme answering them for me, was what lead to Charlie's outburst. He had just asked about high school and what would happen with my education and Didyme was saying how the company, or the queens but he didn't know that, would pay for any and all of my education costs as part of some benefit or something. The way she worded everything made it all sound really awesome and professional. Charlie obviously wasn't happy about this at all and was trying his best at holding in his emotions like we both tend to do, but he was at his boiling point. I think this is was what Didyme was waiting for.
Both Didyme and I had managed to get lunch made and get it served before this all blew up. In fact with all the talking Didyme was doing about the 'company' she barely managed to touch her food while Charlie and I were half-way done. I'm pretty sure Didyme planned this somehow.
"Absolutely not." Didyme said sounding very offended and upset at his question. "We met Bella when she was going for a tour through on of our company's establishments with her friend. We had quite the conversation and before we knew we were making up contracts to hire her. She is an asset to our company and we plan to groom her to become a reputable force in our industry." Even though I was touched by the words, since I knew what she was really saying, Charlie didn't seem fazed by them at all. In fact, he seemed to be slightly more upset.
"She's just a kid. She needs to go to college and earn a degree and then decide what company to work for."
I wanted to argue with Charlie about calling me a kid, but decided against it. Even though I was technically eighteen and the country did see me as an adult, I was still Charlie's daughter and to him I would probably always be a kid, his kid. I would be his kid that he would always look after and would make sure I was doing the best I could with life. I bet Charlie was looking at this as my options of doing whatever it is that I actually wanted to do with life, not that I actually had any clue of what I would do, was being taken from me by joining this so called company. I could definitely understand why he was upset; I would be too if I was in his position. I just hoped Didyme would be able to convince Charlie that what I was doing was a good thing.
"She's an adult that made a very well informed decision that will help her later in life. My company will pay for everything she needs while going to school and working for us as an intern. She will have free room and board, we will pay for all tuition costs including books, she will also have a food allowance. Her internship is one that actually pays, Bella made sure of that before she signed anything. You have a very smart daughter sir. Whether she goes to college to get a degree that would help her advancement in our company or gets a degree to switch industries entirely, she will not have to pay for it. Plus, she gets to experience something most people her age aren't able to. She gets to learn about a new culture and see things she might otherwise never would have without joining our company." Didyme said with such passion and conviction that she actually made me want to sign up all over again for this fictitious company again, or actually since in didn't sign up the first time, I definitely would now. "We are a very competitive company and we make sure we take care of our own, Bella is one of us now and while she remains with us, we will do everything we can to ensure her happiness." That was the closest Didyme would probably every get with revealing everything to Charlie.
Charlie didn't say anything right away and I could easily tell that he was really thinking over everything Didyme had said. I'm sure he wanted to believe it because let's be honest, all that this 'company' is offering me is kind of like a once in a life time shot that I'm sure anyone would want. Charlie's probably just afraid that there's something he's not seeing, something I didn't see, something that's going to end up hurting me in the long run.
"Is this actually what you want Bella?"
Charlie seemed so distraught over everything that it almost seemed like he was silently begging me to say that it wasn't what I wanted. He probably wanted to me to say no so that I wouldn't leave him again. I knew that he was upset when he lost me as a kid and then again when I left to hide from James and of course once more when I went to Italy. Now though, now he faces the possibility of permanently losing me when clearly he didn't want to. It actually hurts my heart that I have to answer him.
"I do Dad, it's a great opportunity." I made sure to answer with as much conviction as I could to show Charlie that I really did mean my answer.
"I just want what's best for you Bells." Charlie said in a sad almost defeated tone.
"I know Dad and I really think this is it."
I hadn't realized it at the time, but I really did mean what I had said. I didn't say that just to placate Charlie, I said it because I knew the queens were the best opportunity for me to do anything because they would and could do anything for me.
"Why don't I let you two talk some more in private? I'll just have my car come by and get me." Didyme said in a much more pleasant tone instead of the serious tone she had been using with when she was talking with Charlie.
"Actually, Dad if you don't mind, why don't I show Didyme my room, since that was somewhat the goal to this trip so she could see where I've lived recently. Would that be okay?" I didn't want to have a heart to heart talk with Charlie. That just wasn't something we did. This gave us both an out and if Charlie, for some weird reason did want to actually talk, he could tell me now.
"Actually Bells, I was going to go out with Billy and hopefully catch some dinner for the next few days. So, I'll do just that. Why don't you put up the food and I'll wash up when I get back?"
Charlie wanted to take the out. I almost breathed a sigh of relief, but decided that Didyme would probably tease me about it later, or at least tell someone that would tease me, so I refrained from doing so.
"Sure Dad, I'll see you later, k?"
I didn't think he was going to leave right away, but when he started to slowly get up from the table as soon as he had finished talking; clearly he wanted to leave right away. He was probably going to talk with Billy about this, and Billy would probably talk with Jake about it, possibly to have him check on me to see if what I was doing was stupid. If the pack finds out about these vampires, they might attack them because they are red eyed vampires and didn't have any plans on changing that.
"I'll be out late though Bella, so I won't be here for dinner." Charlie said as he started walking towards the door.
"No problem Dad, I'll see you later then right?"
I knew that even though Charlie still had to think over everything that I tossed at him, he was going to be okay with everything, he unfortunately didn't have a choice since I've already made my decision. This may not have been what Charlie had wanted for me, definitely at least not as soon, but I liked where I was heading right now. I mean, spending time in Italy, not the whole being mated to the three queens' things, that's, well, still being thought about.
Charlie left with just a nod of his head and I'm sure if this was any other family, they would have been hurt by Charlie leaving. I was actually glad that he was. This meant that even though he wasn't happy about everything right now, he at least wasn't that mad. If he was still really mad, he would have staid and argued with Didyme some more. He may still be upset about things, but at least he's calm enough to think about everything Didyme told him and then he'll hopefully not be so mad about it all.
"Well, at least I didn't have to eat anything." Didyme said as she pushed her plate away from her.
I couldn't help but laugh out loud at her. The air was thick with tension since we first got here and I was fully expecting that tension to last at least until later this evening when I talked with Charlie again and he hopefully accepted this whole thing. Didyme provided the perfect comic relief at the perfect time.
"Thank you, I needed that." I said once I stopped laughing.
"Of course sweetie, it's what I'm here. Are you finished eating? If you are, I would love to see your room since I'm predicting I'll be spending a lot of time in there."
If it had been Sulpicia or Athenodora to say that I would have probably been blushing like crazy because they would have meant those words in a completely none 'G' rated way. Luckily for me, Didyme is a lot tamer when it comes to teasing me, not that she doesn't do it, but she's not nearly as bad as the other two.
"I am, but I want to clean up real quick."
As I started speaking I heard the water turn in from the sink. Didyme was no longer sitting in her seat, in fact, I couldn't actually see where she was, but from the disappearing dishes, I assumed she was cleaning up.
"You don't have to do that." I protested as I raced around trying to beat her to clean something.
"Of course not, but I'm faster, which means we get to your room faster." Didyme said as she stopped moving next to me and pecked me on the cheek.
I had a plate in my hand, when I had started to move around to try and clean up, but when Didyme kissed me, I paused and immediately lost my plate. I stayed still for a couple more seconds as I fought to make my blush go away. By the time I started to try and clean, the dishes were already in the drying rack and everything else was put up.
"Come on Bella, your room is upstairs I believe, right?" Didyme said as she leaned against the wall.
"Well, thanks for cleaning and not letting me help." I said with a small pout.
Didyme laughed, walked up to me, wrapped her arm around my waist, gave my cheek another kiss and started to walk me towards the stairs to go upstairs.
"I'm sorry sweetie, if I had known you were going to be so sad, I would have at least left something for you to do. But, really it was no problem for me to clean, not only was it faster, but it was also a way for me to repay you for your efforts in making me food when you knew I wouldn't eat any of it."
"Well, we had to fool Charlie." I mumbled as we climbed the stairs.
"Mmhm, I like the sound of that." Didyme practically purred in my ear as we continued our now much slower ascent.
"The sound of what?"
"The sound of 'we' coming from your mouth, I hope to hear a lot more." Didyme answered in my ear once more as we reached my door.
"So um, this is my room." I said, thankful I didn't stutter, as I opened to the door and looked away from Didyme while I waited for my face to stop being so red.
"This is a nice room Bella. The window and the practically attached tree will be perfect to make sure we can get in out with no problems." Didyme mused as she looked out the window. "If that is okay with you of course, we would never come here without your permission; but I'll have to admit, we are very fond of spending the night with you."
I almost blushed, almost, but I remembered it was Didyme I was talking to and not one of the other two vampires. I knew what she meant, and I was touched. Just like couples like to fall asleep in each other's arms, or get sad when they don't have their lover lying next to them like they normally did. I was happy she felt that way.
"I wouldn't mind, I've grown accustomed to having something cold next to me when I fall asleep." I admitted, making sure not to mention Edward, even though that's clearly who I was talking about. Luckily Didyme is a lot better at hiding her jealousy, if she even felt it, than the other two because I'm pretty sure the other two probably would have growled a little at that.
"I wouldn't mention that in front of Dora or Cia, those tend to get jealous a lot more easily than I and neither of them are very fond of being reminded that you used to be with Edward. Although to be honest, I'm not too fond of it either." Didyme said as I walked to stand next to her to stare out the window that she didn't seem too interested in turning away from. "Why don't we go back to the Cullen's and see what all has happened since we were last there? Then perhaps we can discuss dinner plans; I'm interested in taking you out in Seattle to see what it has to offer."
"Sure."
I think this was the first time that I didn't bother correcting her, either verbally or even silently, about Edward and I being together; if we ever are still together that is.