Bella drove to The Diner as Charlie gossiped about the subtle changes to the community since she'd left. Traffic was heavier than she expected, the town overrun with tourists and Bella's classmates. Many had come home early to spend time with their family as well. It made her feel somewhat better to know she wasn't the only one of her former classmates rarely visiting the area. Less guilty, somehow.

At least she called her father. Many didn't even do that.

She was relieved when they finally reached the restaurant. It was already busy, with only a couple of un-bussed tables empty. They sat at the counter rather than the corner booth they'd once preferred. She glanced around the restaurant, looking for any recognizable faces. Relieved to find none, Bella happily picked up her menu.

"I'm starving. Are the breakfast skillets still good?"

Charlie smirked. "You hated those. It was too much grease, you said."

"Well, Dad, I grew up and got over myself." She winked at him, and he laughed. "I thought I had to be tiny and perfect back then."

"You're still short."

"Yeah, all that coffee stunted my growth," she deadpanned as their server approached their side of the counter. "Speaking of which, I need coffee. Lots of it."

Charlie tried to stifle his laughter as she placed her orders, then gave his own. Once the server walked away, he said, "Ah. I missed you, Bells."

"I've missed you too. I'm not very good at showing it, though."

She sighed as their coffee arrived and reached for sugar packets. She shook three of them down before ripping them open and then dumped them into the cup.

"No creamer?"

"Sweet and black, like my soul." Bella pulled the butter knife from her silverware sleeve and stirred the steaming liquid as he chuckled.

"I don't think I've ever seen you this cheerful," she said.

Facing him, Bella leaned on the counter with one elbow and lifted the mug in the opposite hand. It was a familiar position for her, whether sitting at the bar or her work desk, with one leg crossed over the other. It gave her a viewpoint advantage, allowing her to scan her surroundings while still paying attention to the other person. She couldn't help but worry that someone unexpected might appear and rattle her.

Someone like my husband.

"I'm just glad to have some time with ya, Bells. That's all." Charlie glanced down at her slightly twisted frame and harrumphed before sipping from his coffee mug.

"What?" Had she done something weird? "Is there something on my face?"

He set his coffee down. "Nothing. I was just thinking about how much you've changed. That's all."

"Oh," she said, grinning. "That's all? " She took a long drink from her quickly cooling mug and put it on the counter. "So, what changes in particular? Am I not what you expected?"

He raised an eyebrow at that as if trying to decide whether she was teasing. "Just in appearance, so far as I can tell. You're louder and have a filthy mouth, but it's kinda refreshing. "

"Refreshing?"

"Yeah. You look very comfortable in your own skin these days."

"I am." She nodded, grinning. "I even threatened my boss this morning. You'd have been proud."

"You threatened your boss? That's… Risky. "

"Yeah. Well. I asked to extend my leave, and Nate threatened me first."

Charlie scowled. Her heart swelled as she recognized his 'protective father' persona stir, hoping to rise to the occasion. "Little bastard trying to get in yer pants? Want me to teach you to shoot?"

Bella was grateful she hadn't taken a drink as she cackled at the unexpected questions. She'd have spit coffee right into his face, for sure. Many patrons turned to stare at her or smile in surprise. Charlie shook his head and turned toward the counter as their food arrived.

As each began situating their dishes, he asked, "So was that it? This guy can't take a hint, or what?"

"Basically. I went off about it the day before taking my leave, so he's still pissy. It's fine, though. If they fire me, I'll sue his dick off."

Charlie snorted as he tried not to laugh around his mouthful of food. He took a drink to wash it down. "You know, Bells? I can't say I don't wish I'd seen some years in between, but I'm real glad to see who you are now."

"Same, Dad." They ate their breakfast in silence for a while, aside from asking for coffee refills.

Bella couldn't help but think of their similarities as they ate. It wasn't only their sense of humor and chocolate brown eyes - though she looked more like Renee. Many things in their lives had parallels. Bella was divorced and fine being alone, as he had been for many years. She knew that the men she chose would never measure up to what she once wanted and didn't feel guilty about not settling for less.

Charlie had once told her that 'other people move on from things,' but Bella was like him, consistent and stubborn. She supposed he'd been right. Bella had developed a routine existence, complete with her nightly glass of wine. She'd become like her father, married to his career and a can of Rainier. And, like him, she'd been content. Comfortable.

But, Charlie found his happily ever after eventually, and with the last person he expected to fall in love with. Bella had fallen in love with an unexpected person without the happily-ever-after. Sometimes, things ended that way, and she had already learned to live with that.


Bella drove Charlie back to the precinct after breakfast. As she parked the car to drop him off, he asked, "What do you have going on Thursday?"

"I have nothing planned for Thursday."

Not anymore, at least. I should have brought some books with me. Who takes a week's worth of vacation with no definite plans? Bella Swan, that's who.

"Well. You do, now. There's a bonfire out in La Push, and I want you to come."

Bella gaped over the suggestion. A bonfire? In La Push?

Bella hadn't been to La Push since the Newborn Battle. The pack wouldn't allow her there before the wedding, blocking her from the reservation that last time she'd tried. Even the wolf she later married had growled at her in fury that day, letting her know she was far from welcome.

"I-Is it f-for the pack?" She closed her eyes and cringed, hating her long-lost stutter for its return, revealing just how anxious the thought of it made her.

Charlie blinked at her in surprise as if the brief glimpse of her old, anxious self had jarred him. He immediately schooled his features. "Yes. And there's going to be people there you should see."

"I can't do that," she said firmly. "And I'm sure more than a few won't want me there. I have nothing to wear, anyway. My attire isn't exactly beach-friendly these days."

"I'm sure Leah would let you borrow something or even Sue. I already talked to Sue about asking you to come. She thinks it's a good idea."

"Dad…" Bella turned toward the windshield, unwilling to let him see how much the thought of being surrounded by the pack again unnerved her. "You don't understand. The wolves don't want me there. They made that very clear before I got married."

Charlie's voice hardened somewhat as he said, "And that was a decade ago, Bells. They aren't even the reason I want you to come. Fuck what they think, okay?"

"Dad…"

Charlie interrupted, "Is this because of Jake? Are you really that determined to avoid him?"

"Jake is part of it, but he's not the only reason. I've missed him, but he would never just take no for an answer. Besides, the last time I tried to see him, the guys told me I wasn't welcome and literally chased me away. I'm staying at a hotel in La Push right now because everything in Forks was full of tourists and my classmates. That's my fault for booking things as late as I did, okay? But… I can't go to that bonfire. I just can't."

"Bells…" Charlie sighed in aggravation. "I know the real reason you're here. So you can drop the bullshit about that class reunion. That type of gathering has never been your thing, and we both know it."

Bella spun on him, instantly angry. "What? I have every intention of going to the reunion."

"I get copies of the court schedules, Bells, and I know why you came home. I saw your face at dinner and know who you're trying to avoid. Now, I don't know what the fuck happened back then or when you ran off and got married without telling anyone, but clearly that shit didn't work out. I'm not judging you for it. I wish you'd have told me, but…"

"It was a drunken mistake." She leaned her forehead against the steering wheel, and groaned. "Totally cliche and idiotic. It never should have happened."

God, how could I have been so stupid? He was the Chief Of Police. There had to be a deputy at the courthouse to swear people in. Some of those people would be criminals from the local jail.

Of course, he'd have a court schedule! And every means necessary to access any provided information. Fuck! Bella felt like she might cry.

Incredulously, he asked, "Or maybe… you didn't give it a chance?"

Bella sat upright and blinked back tears, desperately trying to mask how much it all still affected her underneath the calm facade she'd constructed for herself. The truth was that she missed the pack. She always had, but they didn't want her around. It had been their refusal to let her see Jacob that initially spurred her fear of returning home.

What was there here for her without them? How was she supposed to start a healthy marriage with someone who openly loathed her for years? She still didn't understand what had changed for him the night she'd married him, but every spark of resentment he'd held onto seemed to return with a vengeance soon enough. And now, it was years later, and she couldn't change the past.

Jack's words came back to her from a few nights before. He could have come to you, Bella. You don't owe him shit.

Carefully, she said, "It's not like he came after me, either. It doesn't matter. What was done is done, and I just want to get it over with so he can go on about his life without being legally tied to me. We should have had it annulled like my first one."

"Yeah, well, judges rarely annul drunk Vegas weddings anymore, kiddo," Charlie teased.

Bella glared at her father suspiciously. "You know more than you're telling me. Did Leah tell you these things?"

He scoffed. "No. I didn't know Leah knew anything about it."

"I only told her the other night, but I was drunk."

Charlie chuckled. "Maybe you shouldn't drink, Bells."

"Or, maybe I should make sure I bring a bottle of wine with me Thursday night," she grumbled.

"Does that mean you're coming, then?"

"It's that, or listen to you harp at me about it until I agree." She shook her head at him. "Why do you want me to go, Dad? What is your reasoning?"

He sighed and hung his head. "Billy's… not well. I should probably prepare you for when you see him. He doesn't have his left leg anymore, and he's had a few strokes over the years. Everything is still alright upstairs, and the old bastard seems as regal as ever, but… he's got maybe two years left, at best, Bells."

Her heart sank as she pictured it, comparing the visual to the once healthy man she'd known in her youth.

Charlie said, "He and I have talked about you a million times. He always asks if I've heard from you and how you are. It might be your last chance to see him again, and I know Billy wants to see you. He knows you're home right now and asked me to invite you. I hoped to surprise you both, but there was no way. Anywho. I hope learning you were invited by Billy eases your fear somewhat."

The tears she'd stubbornly held back spilled over, and she immediately brushed them away. Bella had loved Billy like a second father. He had wanted so badly for her to be safe and to choose his son over the monster she'd married instead. He tried to make her see reason many times, and she'd ignored every warning.

Billy was also part of why she hadn't wanted to come home after leaving Edward. She couldn't let him see the mess she was, the aftermath of a human attempting to love a monster who only truly wanted her because of his bloodlust and addiction to her scent. Edward had told her it was the cause of his attraction a hundred times.

Bella had been so sure of herself, so headstrong, and to hear Billy say, 'I told you so,' was just too much for her to handle while her mind and body tried to heal. Bella looked over at Charlie, who had gone quiet, wearing a mournful expression she'd not seen since Harry's death.

Oh, Charlie… I abandoned him when Harry died, too. It had taken years for her to forgive herself for that. Charlie clearly wasn't ready to say goodbye to his remaining best friend. And now, after seeing the haunted expression on Charlie's face, she knew she couldn't do that again. In that second, Bella would suffer whatever abuse the pack threw at her to make Charlie happy. Bella promised herself that, from now on, whatever happened to Billy, she would come home for Charlie. She was here now, and she could return for him again.

Determined, she knew that she could live through that damned bonfire, too. She straightened her spine and took a calming breath.

"Okay, Dad, I'll go. For you and Billy, but don't say I didn't tell you so if you see a bunch of wolves telling me to take my unwanted ass elsewhere."

She instantly felt lighter as Charlie chuckled, the smile returning to his face. "They won't, Bells. You would be surprised at how often you get mentioned. Some of them really missed you when you left."

Did they miss me? Seth had, sure. But the others? If so, they had a crappy way of showing it.

From what she could recall, her second husband had only discovered her by chance. He'd been out on his own, exploring life a little. She had been on vacation for her friend's bachelorette party - which was, again, so cliché. They'd spotted each other across a blackjack table and froze. She had to explain to her group how she knew him. Bella swore he must have been in shock because it took so long for him to respond. That's where the memory seemed to fade. She wondered if the universe got a kick out of repeatedly exposing her to a world where she never belonged.

And the pack's hatred for her? That was her own fault. Bella knew that. They'd protected her, and she chose their enemy instead. She broke Jacob's heart. Why wouldn't they hate her?

She forced a smile for Charlie. "I might need two bottles of wine. I'm sure Leah would drink with me."

Charlie laughed. "I'm sure she would. She'll keep anyone else from giving you too hard of a time. I'm real glad to see you two becoming friends."

Bella's smile was genuine as she reached for Charlie's hand and squeezed it. "Me too, Dad."

Charlie leaned to hug her before climbing out of the car and heading back to work. Bella glanced down at her sleek skirt, heels, and broken fingernail. If she was going to spend hours at the beach, she would need something to wear. Perhaps even a bathing suit if things went well while she was there… Or not.

Was that idea too presumptuous? Probably. Ugh.

Bella pulled out her cell to call Seth and ask for Leah's number. She scrolled through her contacts, finding the number already programmed into her phone. Bella assumed Leah had done that herself.

Hoping her step-sister wasn't at work, she began texting. Bella had two full day's worth of time to kill, a fingernail to fix, an outfit to buy, and hopefully a companion to keep her company.