Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Shadows
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Prompt: Hand, Topsy-turvy

Getting on the plane to return to school, leaving my father behind, was the hardest thing I'd ever done. I was sobbing before we even got to the airport, and no amount of reassurance from Alice that he would be around for Christmas made me feel better. All I could think was that I was losing time with him. In truth there was only one reason I was going back at all.

Charlie overheard me talking to Edward, telling him I thought I should take a leave of absence from school. I was sure Dartmouth would give me the year when I explained the circumstances. What was another year anyway? It's not like I was going to be an undead English teacher.

To say my father was upset is like saying Pompeii had a little trouble with a volcano. We argued back and forth, me telling him how much I was going to miss him and that I didn't want to waste a minute, him telling me that he wasn't worth messing up my life over. Only one thing he said convinced me to return. "Bella, my last wish is to see you graduate. Would you deny me that?" In the end, I couldn't.

I dove into my schoolwork, determined to make Charlie proud of me. Edward assured me it wasn't necessary to make straight A's, but I was determined. By the time the middle of October came around I was a mess. My clothes hung on me, I could see the worry lines forming in my face, and I found my first grey hair. If asked I couldn't say when the last time Edward and I were intimate. When I wasn't at class or studying, I was collapsing from exhaustion in my bed.

It was late, the light from my desk lamp made a glowing circle on the table. Books were piled like sentinels around me, mocking me with the vast amount of information I had to memorize from them. Edward had begged me hours ago to go for a ride with him, but I brushed him off, pointing to all I needed to learn. With a sigh he walked out. I hadn't seen him since.

From out of nowhere a hand slammed down on the table next to the notebook I was writing in. "ISABELLA MARIE!" my father's voice boomed next to me, causing me to jump and my heart to race. "What are you doing? Trying to kill yourself? Do you want me to bury you before you bury me?"

"Dad?" was all I could say, before I was out of my chair, hugging him. The smell of flannel and him brought me more comfort than Jasper could ever hope to attempt. "What are you doing here? How did you get here?"

He hugged me tight. "Edward's worried about you and called." He put his hands on my shoulders to hold me in place as he took a step back. Looking me squarely in the eye he said, "You've gone all topsy-turvy, putting more on yourself than anyone wants."

"Don't you want me to do well?" I asked, my chin trembling as my exhaustion robbed me of control over my emotions.

"Yes, but you don't have to be perfect." Charlie's hands fell from my shoulders, one of the capturing my hand and pulling me toward the couch. Following him I noticed little things. He swayed a little as he walked and seemed to be squinting. The grip of his hand on mine waxed and waned, like he'd realize he was letting go and squeeze tighter, only to almost let go again.

When we got to the couch it took him a little longer than normal to get comfortable, frustration with his body showing in his face. "Don't get old, Bella," he grumbled. "Hell is being a twenty-year-old man trapped in this old-man's body." He looked up to me, then to Edward who was chuckling as he came down the stairs. I hadn't even noticed he'd gone up.

"Well, I guess you won't have to worry about that, will you?" he asked me while looking at my husband.

"Not in that way, Charlie," Edward said with a smile. "We do feel old sometimes. Time ceases to have much meaning after a hundred years, so sometimes it's startling to see how fast things, like technology, change."

"But it does mean something to those guys waiting outside?" Charlie asked, making me look at them both in confusion. "Oh, come on Bells, it's the same vamps as always. I guess they're waiting for me to kick the bucket so you can change, though?" Then a strange look came on his face. "Would I want to see you as a vampire? Would it be safe?"

That was something that had never occurred to me. I'd spent so much time hiding the idea of vampires from Charlie that the thought of him wanting to see me changed was something I couldn't wrap my mind around.

"We'll see, Charlie," Edward said. My dad looked at him and sighed.

"You're right." Turning to me he started in again. "Where did you get the idea that I wanted perfect grades?"

"I didn't think you did, just that you'd be proud of me."

He shook his head. "I am very proud of you already, I just want to see you graduate. You don't have to be at the top of your class, just get that tassel turned and don't kill yourself in the process."

Tears flowed down my face, a mixture of relief and frustration at myself for getting to this point. A sob ripped through my throat and I found myself crying on my father's shoulder.

"Edward…" dad started.

"I'll plan a weekend away so she can relax."

"Somewhere without interlopers?"

Through my tears I could see Edward smile. "I can hear Alice is already on it."

Running late, but wanted to get this up tonight. More tomorrow, I hope...