Charlie had found the dorm, and the dorm room, but not his daughter.

"Uh, sorry dude," the bleary eyed, and distinctly male occupant told him. "I just moved in the other day."

He looked behind the boy, needing to eliminate the absurd possibility of her being somewhere in there.

She'd moved, and hadn't told him.

She'd spent the night in jail, and hadn't told him. Charged with multiple crimes.

Been assaulted. Sexually. And hadn't told him.

He took a careful breath in, trying to still the small flutter of panic that took shape in his stomach. That had been threatening all day long.

After her worrisome moping through—no, surviving—the Christmas break, he'd let her go with the feeling of grey hair beginning to sprout at his temples.

He was sure it was coming in white now.

"Any idea who might know where she is?" Maybe she'd switched rooms. She wouldn't have expected him to visit. A room change wasn't so odd.

Unlike all the other things that had been happening with her, it was a balm of normality.

"Maybe check with the residence coordinator?" The scruffy creature pointed to the door at the end of the hall.

The young woman there was much more helpful. She barely remembered Bella, but she remembered the Cullens all right.

"Yeah, she moved out the other day," she said, ponytail bobbing too chipperly.

When Charlie asked her to describe the people with her, he had a pretty good idea where she was.

"Hi Carlisle, Charlie Swan here...A little worried, actually...Bella's moved out...Really?...No, she didn't tell me." He made himself remember that Carlisle was a work colleague. That he'd have no reason to tell Charlie that Bella and Alice were living together. That they hadn't seen each other, after all, since before the holidays. But dang, would it have killed them to call, if they'd known? "Can you get me the address?...Thanks. And Carlisle?...Please don't tell her I'm coming...Thank you. 'Preciate it."

By the time Charlie pulled up at the house, tall and imposing for all its stately neighbours, he was good and worked up. Angry that Bella hadn't told him—anything—and that she was living with Alice.

And Edward.

Alice answered the door, the occupants having determined it would be best to put the friendliest face forward.

"Charlie!" she said, mastering a surprised expression. "Bella didn't say you were coming."

"She didn't know I was," he grumbled out. "Can you get her, please?"

"Um, maybe you should come up to see her. The doctor said she should stay in bed."

His thick eyebrows wedged together into one. "Doctor?"

"Yeah, she fell on her back hiking. Bruised kidneys. She just came home from the hospital today." She turned aside, space and posture inviting him in.

Upstairs, Bella caught the distant strain of his voice, and looked at Edward, alarmed. "Is that—?"

"Your Dad, yes."

The way he said it told her it wasn't a surprise. "You knew."

"Yes."

"Alice," she breathed out. "Of course." She'd been watching Charlie. She could hear his footsteps on the stairs. They sounded fast. Angry.

When Alice showed him into the room, Edward had moved himself off the bed to a chair immediately beside it.

It wasn't lost on Charlie that another room he'd passed on his way in had most of Bella's things. And that this wasn't it.

This room held the distinct flavour of a masculine touch.

Edward's room.

If he hadn't been so worried, he would have been bordering on enraged indignation.

"Bella, sweetie," he said, coming over to her, not waiting to ask, but pulling her into a tight hug.

Edward flinched, but didn't move, seeing where Charlie's hands went.

Bella hissed in a breath, and Charlie let go. "What happened?"

"I fell, hiking," she said.

"Jesus, kid, you've got to be more careful." Looking around the room, now populated by himself, Edward, and Alice, he said, "can you all give us a minute?"

"Sure," Alice said, looking at Edward pointedly. He hadn't moved, and was watching Bella for his cue. When she smiled at him, he stood to leave, nodding at Charlie as he left.

As soon as the door was shut, Charlie took the spot Edward had vacated, keeping his hand on Bella's. "You want to tell me anything, Bella? That any parent would want to know?"

She stared at him, swallowing nervously, thinking: Crap. What did he know?

"Surprised you're here, Dad."

He snorted. "I bet you are." Seeing that she wasn't going to volunteer anything, he pulled out the well folded fax paper from his jacket pocket. "I got this today." He put it in front of her. "A report from the Seattle PD, telling me my daughter had been assaulted, and then arrested on a variety of charges." It was his turn to swallow, watching her grow pale. "I think I can understand why you'd be reluctant to tell me about part of this, but—" he could hardly speak the words. His throat had closed up every time he thought of it, on the long drive there.

"Dad, I'm sorry," she started. "There wasn't an assault—"

"Bella," he said, voice a warning. "I don't want to be lied to."

"I'm not lying," she said quietly. "At the hospital, they thought it was. It wasn't."

"You signed a complaint."

"I didn't." She shook her head. "Someone did. I don't know who. Maybe a nurse? Not me."

He looked at her, eyes narrowing. "Your hand?"

"I hit someone."

"I'm assuming it's related to this?"

She nodded, paling.

He'd been a cop long enough to know that punches got thrown both ways. Things were rarely black and white. "Do I want to ask who?"

"Why?" she asked suspiciously.

"Can we talk about where you're living, for a minute?"

"What?"

"I just want to make sure you're safe, here."

Ah. "Yes, I am."

"It wasn't—"

"No."

He let out a breath. "OK. Then—"

"The man I reported missing," she said. "They still haven't found him."

He nodded, frowning, thinking.

After a moment, he said, "what the hell were you doing with fake ID, Bella?"

She rubbed her hands over her face.

Downstairs, Edward looked at Jasper, with a distinct I-told-you-so glare.

"A friend gave it to me," she said, "I didn't ask for it Dad. It seemed like a bit of a joke at the time. And no, I hadn't used it."

"It's a crime to have one, Bella. You do understand that. I mean—"

"Yes, Dad, I get it."

He huffed angrily. "We'll need to get you a lawyer, and—"

"No, Dad, you don't."

"Bella, you don't mess around with this sort of thing—"

"The court date was this morning. Everything was dismissed. Expunged. I'm trying to figure out how it wound up being sent to you."

"It's standard to get these reports when people are away from their home address," he said, shrugging. "Get the occasional one for people whose last fixed address was near us." He was working through things in his mind, taking in all that she had told him. "I have some questions for you."

"OK," she said, closing her eyes briefly.

"Why've you moved in here?"

"Um, well, Alice and I had been talking about it, and—"

"Bella, you and Alice haven't seen each other for weeks. Don't lie. You suck at it."

Well, if he wants the truth, she thought. "Edward and I are seeing each other again."

He said nothing for a bit, his mouth working over his teeth. "OK."

This was not the reaction she expected.

"You being careful?"

"What?"

"Are you using protection?"

"Oh my God, Dad," she choked out, blushing to a flamingo pink.

"Well?" His face was a complimentary aubergine.

"Yes, sure. Fine."

"Bella, honey, your Mom and I have been pretty clear about the reason why we got married. I'd really prefer—"

"It's not like that, Dad."

"It's not like what?"

Could this be any more horrifying? She thought, then turned away from the idea. Yes, yes it could. She wasn't sure how, but had no desire to tempt fate.

"We're not—it's not like that, Dad. And if we do, we'll be careful." She breathed in quickly. "Can we talk about something else? Please?"

"Fine," he said. "Who got your the fake ID?"

Apparently, there could be harder questions. "A friend."

"Bella," he growled out. "I've spent most of my day worrying about you, and driving, a really long way. Then I couldn't find you, and had to hear from a work colleague that you'd moved in with his daughter...which really meant your ex, who apparently isn't your ex? I could really use some plain old honesty here."

There was a pause while she took a breath in, sighing it out. "Sorry Dad—"

She was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Pardon me," came Jasper's drawl. "I couldn't help but overhear some of your conversation."

Charlie's voice had been clearly raised for much of it.

He flushed, wondering just how much had been heard.

"I gave Bella the fake ID. I've already apologized to her. It really was a joke. I knew she wouldn't use it, but it was tactless, and foolish."

He looked so abashed, Charlie closed his mouth. He'd been primed and ready to verbally eviscerate the boy. He felt strangely calmer now, confused, and found himself saying, "I suppose, seeing as the charges were all dismissed, no harm's come of it. But I don't want to hear about any other trouble from your quarter. Understood?"

"Of course, sir," Jasper said, nodding. "Um, Bella, Edward wanted to remind you it was time to take your next round of pills."

Sneaky, Bella thought, sending Jasper up to say this in front of Charlie.

"What pills?" he asked, worry renewed.

"Just some anti inflammatories, Dad," Bella mumbled, "nothing big."

"And that you should eat something with them, too." Addressing Charlie, Jasper asked, "Alice was wondering if you'd like to join us for dinner?"

"Thank you," Charlie said, appreciating the gesture, "but I need to get going, find a place to stay for the night."

"You're welcome here," Jasper went on, "we have space."

"That's kind, but no, I won't intrude." He could barely stomach the idea of Bella and Edward being together. Knowing they would be sleeping in the same room—and bed, made his innards feel like they'd been glued together.

Jasper nodded, catching his mood, and leaving them alone again.

"So," Charlie said, "you and Edward." The way he said Edward's name, made Bella flinch. "Since when—?"

"A few days," she said softly.

He didn't say anything for a bit. Clearly, he wanted to, but with his lips opening and then shutting, she was glad of his finally silent discretion.

"How're you doing?" he asked, taking in the pills by the bedside, her pale complexion.

"Sore, but OK."

"Hospital stays aren't usually the result of being OK."

"No," she said, "they sent me home, and made me promise I'd rest for a week. So I'm keeping my end of the bargain. The Cullens are going to get my notes from class, and I'll try and keep up as best I can."

"In Edward's room."

"He offered," she said, "because the bed is bigger. He's not sleeping here, Dad."

He was just here when she was sleeping. All the time.

She didn't mention this.

Charlie made a derisive, "tch" at the back of his throat.

Fine, she thought. If he was going to think badly of him, let him. "Besides, Dad, everyone knows the best place to make out is the back of a car." Then she burst into a fit of laughter, watching him redden.

After his vascular system relaxed, he rolled his eyes at her.

"Alright," he said, "I'm convinced you're OK, and not dying. Keep it that way, OK?"

"That's the plan, Dad."

Much more gruffly, and with an emotion that made his voice uncertain. "You seem happier."

Her own words wobbled in answer. "That's because I am."

Edward knocked at this point, a tray balanced on one arm, sidling into the room.

"Hey," he said softly to Bella, "you need to eat." Walking in, he smiled apologetically at Charlie, genuinely sorry to interrupt their time, but Bella was late in taking her medication, and there was no way he was going to delay what she so clearly needed.

Repeating what Jasper had already offered, Edward looked at Charlie, and said "There's a guest room downstairs that Carlisle and Esme use when they're here. All yours if you'd like it."

"Be nice to have you nearby, Dad," Bella said, "I know I was kinda miserable over the break. We could visit tomorrow, before you go back?"

He was thinking about it, watching the way Edward was watching his daughter, seeing the way he was carefully laying things out for her.

Maybe he wasn't all bad.

And if they weren't sleeping together.

Edward's face was perfectly attuned to Bella, studiously ignoring Charlie's thoughts.

"It is late," he said, "if it's not too much trouble."

"None at all. It's all ready for you."

"Alice?" Charlie asked.

"Put us to work as soon you as arrived," he smiled, making a mock salute in her supposed direction.

"Not a bad housemate to have, I suppose."

"She's pretty awesome," Bella said.

After showing Charlie downstairs, and delivering him to Alice's capable hands, Edward returned.

"You OK?" he asked.

"Yes," Bella sighed, making a melodramatic swipe at her forehead.

"Are you sure you don't want Alice to look? Or tell you?"

"I am," she said. "If I can handle that, I think I'll be good."

Edward smiled, his lips stretched widely. "I could hear you blushing from downstairs."

"I bet you could." Her smile matched his. The medication the doctor had prescribed had begun to work, and she was feeling distinctly relaxed.

He leaned down, hands on either side of her head, brushing his lips over hers, teasing the sensations from her. When he finally let them have full contact she brought her own hands to his cool cheeks in an almost uncoordinated slap.

"You are barely sober," he chuckled.

She giggled in response, not stopping her kiss, curling one leg over his calf, and then the other, drawing their centres closer together.

"Bella," he whispered, feeling her pressed against him.

The sound made all her aches disappear.

Then her weakened grip gave way, and she slipped back that bare in to the bed, a pained hiss pushed from her lips.

His hands were there, light and cold against the ache.

"All in good time," he whispered, a soft kiss on her forehead.

She used her last, purposeful attention to curl her fingers into the give of his shirt, turning herself into his cold form, finally letting sleep descend with its quiet balm.