Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. Stephenie Meyer created it all.

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Chapter 16: Laurent- Uncomfortable

The rest of the week passed relatively uneventfully. It was nice just to sit and not need to go anywhere and not be in search of anything. In a strange way, I found it comforting that Edward could read my thoughts. It was like I could share my inner peace and turmoil with someone. Although I was sure of my feelings now, I still couldn't get up the nerve to tell Bella. I know that she wouldn't disprove and in fact, I was sure she would be supportive. Still, I sat silently with Edward, the only one who was wise to my innermost thoughts. All he said was to have patience and that he knew fate had big plans for me. I'd have to take his word for it.

Charlie called this morning, he said he wanted to bring a box of clothes by for Bella. He knew that Bella couldn't be there but he still wanted to be able to be in her life in some way. I wondered how her own human scent would affect her. I decided to put it out of my mind. Bella and Edward were preparing for a 'picnic' in their meadow so that she would be out of the house when Charlie arrived.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" Bella asked again.

She was standing in the middle of Edward's room, which she claimed for her own after his marriage proposal. I walked in and sat on the edge of the new bed and she scowled at it. Alice bought it after Bella and I left after the incident with her father, I guess you could say she was hopeful.

"No, no, remember you said you needed to work on Edward?" I patted the bed to drive home my point. She sat beside me and rolled her eyes.

"He's driving me insane! The way he kisses me and sometimes, just sometimes the way he touches me. We both know he's holding back and as much as it may be about his 'I grew up back in the day' thing, part of me thinks if about him getting some sick pleasure from denying himself."

We had this discussion often. All around the house at night couples were persuing one another and Bella put her best effort forward to try to crack Edward, but would end up in my room more often than not pouting.

"Why is he like that!" She would huff, "It must be a guy thing!"

"Honey, I don't think it's a guy thing," at least I hoped it wasn't, "I think it's an Edward thing."

She ran her finger along the front of her teeth and dipped it in so that she cut it on her teeth. We watched as her granite skin knitted back together.

"You still have to tell your father about your engagement. I know you wish you could see him today."

"Will you tell him for me? I want you to."

"No, because you need an incentive to get yourself under control, I think you should work your hardest and that way you can tell him yourself. That's what you want, I know it." And I did know. I thought back to the night after we ran from the hotel in Indiana. How she cried and begged for her father in her sleep. I know that she wanted him in her life for as long as possible.

She nodded and said, "You know me so well."

~o~x~o~x~o~

Alice called Charlie to let him know that Bella and Edward were clear of the house and he told us he was on his way. Within ten minutes he was nervously knocking at the door and I let him. His racing heartbeat humored me.

He gave me the once-over and took an additional step away. Alice skipped to his side and took the box from his arms.

"Come in, Charlie," Esme came over and took his hand and led him to the couch. "Sit and relax."

"Yeah, in a house full of vampires," he muttered under his breath, I don't think he thought we could hear.

"Don't worry, Charlie," Alice assured as she came back down the stairs, "I don't see you getting attacked today." He nodded, but wouldn't understand the full weight of her statement.

We sat in an uncomfortable silence waiting on Charlie to talk first. It was the idea to let him take the lead today. Charlie sat there and looked around at anything but me, Alice and Esme. Jasper was away hunting, Carlisle was at work, and Rose and Emmett were off doing what they did best. Finally his gaze landed on me and I fought the urge to squirm.

"So..." he drew out the 'o', "You're the one that kidnapped my daughter, huh?"

I was dumbfounded. I didn't know what to say, 'no sir, she willing came with me even though you would think she was dead', I had a feeling that wouldn't go over well.

He busted out laughing, "Just messing with you, there..."

"Laurent," I filled in for him. He went to mock-punch my shoulder and subtly moved with his fist so that he wouldn't break it. Two could play at that game. I growled at him and he flinched. I let his heart rate increase a bit before I said, "Gotcha!" We all laughed.

"I do have a serious question, did you steal my soap, son?" I had half a mind to growl at him for real this time.

"Laurent, don't," Alice pleaded. I took at deep breath in and then let it out in a large gust.

"Fine."

"Okay," Charlie said slowly, "Anyways, so I was wondering... You're not a new vampire," he stumbled over the word, "right? Why are your eyes still red."

The man really knew how to cut to the chase, I could tell he was a police officer through and through.

"I had a slip," I shamefully admitted. My memory would never allow me to forget the precise taste of the man's blood. "Bella and I were hunting and there was a human..."

He looked shaken. Esme took his hand again, "Charlie, please don't hold it against him, we've all had our slips. Except for Rose, Carlisle, and Bella, and we're going to do everything possible to keep her from living through the agony of slipping."

"Even you slipped?" He asked her.

"It was a long time ago and I cried for weeks." Esme's admission seemed to soften his features and he didn't look at me so harshly anymore.

Alice phone rang one and she answered, "I think it will work," she led straight off, not waiting for whoever was on the other end of the line to speak. She hung up and filled us in on the plan.

~o~x~o~x~o~

Moments later we were standing in front of the floor to ceiling window waiting for Edward and Bella to arrive. We would wait on one side of the glass to protect Charlie, and Bella would be outside with help from Edward. She would be able to hear him and I would tell him what she was saying, and we would all hope for the best.

"Are you sure this is okay?" Charlie asked.

"Alice thinks so." One day we would have to tell him a little more about ourselves.

"Here they come," Alice said about a minute before they arrived. Edward was holding Bella's hand firmly and when they got here they stood about fifteen feet from the window.

"And she can hear me from in here?" He asked in disbelief and I nodded.

"H... Hey, Bells," He greeted her, sounding unsure.

"She says she's sorry and that she wishes things were different," I conveyed the rest of the conversation in a similar manner.

Bella looked up at Edward and he nodded. He took his hands and moved them to grip her shoulders and they began to move closer until they stood only a few feet away.

"There's something I want to tell you, dad. Edward and I are going to get married."

A look of sadness overtook Charlie's features and he took a moment before his features changes to that of resignation, he spoke, "When?"

She shrugged, "I want to wait until I can control myself enough that you can be there to give me away."

Slowly, Charlie raised his hand to the glass to try to reach out to her in any way possible. Bella hesitated but stepped forward with determination. She placed her hand on the glass and lined to up with her father's.

"She can feel your warmth through the glass, sir."

It didn't take long for it to become too much for Bella. She took her hand from the glass and covered her nose and mouth with it and took off with Edward close behind her.

"That was really fast!" Charlie shouted, sounded thoroughly impressed.

"What's impressive," Esme said, "is her increased control. No newborn could have left you alive like that. She is so determined to get to normal and she's doing really well. We might get to have the wedding sooner than we thought."

Charlie slapped his forehead and sank back down into the couch. "Marriage," he groaned.

Esme sat down with him, her mothering instinct was in full force. "Charlie, Carlisle and I have been married now for over eighty years. Vampires just don't fall out of love. Everything will be okay," she promised.

"Eighty years? Okay, I know it's not proper to ask a lady her age but..." He phrased in such a way that he wasn't really asking.

"It's okay, I'm actually 111 years old." Charlie's eyes bugged out.

"I'm 105, and so is Edward," Alice added.

"Huh, you don't say..." Charlie looked at me expectantly.

With pride I stated, "251, son," A look of realization dawned on his face and he laughed.

"Point taken!"

Again we all sat in silence, waiting for Charlie to lead. When he showed no signs of talking I decided to speak up.

"It really tore Bella up to leave you like she did. After I told her about it after her transformation she took it even worse. She would cry in her sleep and talk about how it wasn't fair and that she missed you."

"In her sleep, huh?" He said as he eyed me suspiciously, "What were you doing with my baby girl while she was sleeping?" People just loved to tease us, everyone had at one point or another, but I couldn't quite tell if he was or not.

"Running." Obviously.

"So you guys... uh," he squirmed in embarrassment, "uh, you guys... it wasn't like...?"

"Definitely not," I answered for the thousandth time.

As time went on, and as more people asked, I was more and more sure about the kind of person that I wanted to be with.

Charlie seemed to have to have enough for one day and soon he mentioned about a basketball game coming on soon. I walked Charlie out and promised him that Bella and I would be staying in the area for a while. I watched him drive his police cruiser down the long driveway and once again sat on the porch. I liked the solitude of it. I loved being outside, but still having the feeling of being home.

I was lost in a daydream when I started feeling that feeling again. It made my hairs stand on end. The scent of musk and soil and the outdoors, like tree bark, began to fill my nose again. It was a scent that I only smelled once before but would never ever forget.

The leaves on the ground rustled and I looked towards the direction of the sound and Jacob stepped out of from the trees.

I knew he'd come.

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A/N: Next chapter is a one-time-only chapter from the fun mind of Jacob.

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