"What do you mean 'The Cullens are back'?" Charlie half-bellowed. I had made his favorite foods for dinner, trying to assuage the inevitable rage. "You're not getting involved with the Cullen boy again, are you?"

"Well, Dad, actually..."

"You can't be serious," Charlie raged, sitting back in his chair, gripping the armrests. "After what he did to you?"

"He really didn't do anything," I tried to defend him. Charlie got very red. "I mean, his family moved away. I just took the separation very badly."

"Bells, he left you alone in the woods. He had no communication with you for months. You didn't have to see yourself during that time the way I had to."

Poor Charlie. It didn't occur to me that I wasn't the only one suffering during that time.

"Bella, I just don't want you to get hurt again. I don't know how I can trust that boy. I don't know how you can."

"I can't explain it, Dad," I tried to explain. I couldn't even explain it to myself, how could I provide an excuse to Charlie? "I love him."

"Has he even apologized for everything he's put you through?" Charlie asked.

Hmm. No, he hasn't. But I guess I never expected him to. I didn't really hold him at fault for anything that happened. He was only trying to take care of me, after all.

"It means Alice will be coming back," I said, trying to distract my father. Charlie always was fond of Alice.

No such luck. Charlie was lost in his own reverie and mumbled, "Poor Jacob. Have you thought about him at all?"

"That's not really fair, Dad," I objected. It's all I had thought about since Jacob left the house the night Edward returned. I'm still at a loss of how I'd convince Edward to agree to visitation rights with Jacob.

"I'm not going to forbid you to see the Cullen boy, Bells, but things are going to be different this time. He's got to earn my respect and trust back. And that's not an easy thing to do once it's lost."

"I understand," I complied, relieved Charlie was even willing to find common ground on the Edward matter. He began to lay down a list of visiting hours and parental supervision rules which I only half paid attention to, knowing that Edward was waiting for me in my room during the whole speech. I was sure he'd take notes, eager to return to Charlie's good graces.

A few weeks had passed and things had returned to normal. Well, the old normal. The pre-Jacob normal, which no longer felt...normal. And how ordinary can life really be when dating one vampire, being hunted by another, and fighting with your werewolf-best-friend?

The Cullens moved back to their house, Carlisle was welcomed back to the hospital with celebration and Edward and Alice took their places by my side at the lunch table once again, earning wary glances from Jessica and jealous looks from Mike. But I couldn't just slip into the old routine, because without even realizing it, I had created a new routine; one that I missed more than I expected.

Edward resumed our life as if things had never changed. It was a relief to no longer have to sleep alone- to actually sleep through a night without nightmares. The thrill of Edward's touch hadn't faded with time. I could easily get swept away in his beauty, his scent, his touch. Sometimes we would just lie on my bed together as the rain beat against the window and roof, listening to music, saturating ourselves in each other's company.

But things had changed. I had changed during his absence. I hardly even noticed the subtitles until Edward returned. His company used to be sufficient for my happiness. But I still found myself watching the clock at school, until I realized that at the end of the day, I wouldn't be going to La Push to drink warm sodas. I always drove with the truck windows rolled all the way down, because Jacob always wanted the wind on his face. A dozen times a day I thought "I'll have to remember this and tell Jacob" before I realized I wouldn't be able to. I checked my phone messages every night, but he never called. And he didn't return my messages. Jacob and I had been inseparable for months- I had gotten used to our routine. I liked our routine. Things just weren't as bright without him. I laughed a lot less. And I was cold all the time.