A/N: I just realised that I made a mistake in the order in which I posted the last two chapters – missing Nessie's POV. I have changed that, and added her POV back in, moving Alice to the following chapter. Sorry for the mix-up guys! And as always, thank you for the kind reviews and the support in the story!

Charlie's POV

They came home a lot quicker than I had expected. It wasn't that I wasn't thrilled that they would be returning home and living with me… I just hadn't expected the Doc to clear them as fast as he did. But they both seemed to be looking better already, although Bella still ate like a bird, while Nessie devoured almost everything I put in front of her.

It was obvious to me as I watched them interact that Bella had always put her daughter's needs before her own… especially when it came to food.

When it came to talking, the interaction was similar. While Ness chatted away almost constantly… her curious nature giving her an unending number of questions, Bella was more reserved, watching and learning silently… speaking politely when spoken to, but not offering much.

I didn't push her. Edward had confided in me about their conversation in the hospital and how much Bella had revealed to him. Following that he had helped her write out her formal statement listing that bastard's accomplices and we had turned it over to the state police. There was still a search in place for the two that had left her with that monster.

As I retraced the early days of her disappearance, I tried to wrack my brain… I revisited old notebooks, and all of the leads that we had. Not once did any of the three people involved turn up on our radar. Not a name, a description or a mention… I couldn't help but blame myself. I had to have missed something.

"What are you up to Bells?" I had come in from working out in the shed – a place I knew that neither Bella nor Ness were comfortable with being anywhere near, and was surprised to see Bella sitting on the sofa, a large book beside her and a notebook in her lap. She looked focused on whatever she was doin.

Nessie was sitting on the floor at her feet, her doll in her hands as she brushed the hair. The doll had been a gift from Emmett and Rosalie, and the look of pure amazement that had crossed Ness's face when she saw it had stopped me dead in my tracks.

"Alice got me the books so that I could study for my GED. Hopefully I can pass and then start looking for a job to support us." Bella said absently and I shook my head. Was she serious? It had only been a few days since they had come home.

"Bells… there's no rush… we can enroll you in some classes at the learning centre next term and go from there. In the meantime… you've got everything you need here…" I tried to assure her and she looked up finally, setting the notebook down beside her.

"James… He… There was a small television at the beginning and he used to throw movies at me. A lot of documentaries and educational stuff." Bella explained. She hated talking about the bunker, but she still did when she needed to explain something. "Then it was books." She said quieter. "After all, nobody likes someone who can't read and write." She sighed, glancing back up. "I read a lot. I was smart as a child and reading was the only escape I had. "Every couple of months he would bring in a new box of books. Sometimes they were work books and sometimes they were novels… dictionaries… medical books… I read them all… and after Nessie was born, we read them together." She continued, closing her eyes. "Most of the stuff in these review books I know. I can pass the tests… And I need… something…" She sighed again and suddenly it clicked. It wasn't about supporting herself and Ness. It was about giving her something for herself. She needed to do this for herself.

The more I thought about it, the more I figured I should support her in whatever she felt was right… whatever the next steps were for my daughter. She had survived more than half of her life, locked in a concrete prison… and yet, she was here. Still fighting and courageously facing an entire new world. She was truly amazing… I just needed to allow her space to grow and adjust.

"Momma was talking to Miss Alice… and she said maybe I can go to school one day too!" Nessie jumped up suddenly and I laughed, I knew that school was probably a good idea eventually, but I wasn't ready for it yet. I was just getting to know this little miracle.

"We'll see." Bella said firmly, a frown plastered on her face. She still wasn't enthused with the idea of Nessie being out of her sight for more than a few minutes at a time.

"Any requests for dinner ladies?" I asked as I shrugged, winking at Nessie and watching as her smile grew wider.

"Mrs. Esme told me she brought over noodles… can we have that?" Nessie requested and I looked to Bella who just smiled. She wasn't picky.

"She sure did… I think she even left me instructions on how to heat it up… want to come give me a hand in the kitchen?" I asked my grand-daughter who immediately jumped up to help.

I had to admit. When I'd first figured on having both Bella and Nessie come to live with me again, I wasn't sure that I could help Bella with her daughter. I had worried about her lack of skills and the life that she had been forced to live locked up. I had talked to Esme and she had confirmed that it was unusual that once I got to know them, that I learned that Ness was the easier of the two to introduce back into my life. Bella had done a good job with her and even though she still jumped a lot – especially if I surprised her – she was adjusting okay, and I had already seen the changes in her since coming home. I just wished that I could connect to my daughter the way I could already connect to my granddaughter. Bella, she was tougher… quieter… less trusting, and definitely more jumpy – she was still terrified. I knew it would just take time… but I'd already lost so much time with her that I'd never get back.

"I can read you the instructions… I'm a better reader." Nessie smirked as she pulled me from my thoughts, and I couldn't help but let out the first full sized laugh I'd had since they had come home. This child. She was special. She was what had led us to finally find Bella, and I knew that one day she would help us bring Bella's smile back too.