Carlisle POVA soft snoring was the first thing that penetrated my awareness, followed swiftly by the jerk of his arm as it tightened around me. I smiled – my eyes still closed – as I allowed myself to soak in the comfort of being home, in my own bed, in the arms of my love. Everything was blissfully quiet, the world only just waking up – like I was. I turned carefully, so as not to wake Charlie, and placed my hand on his chest, resting my chin on it as I watched him. He looked peaceful, content – and that, in turn, caused me to feel so as well. It wasn't often that I had the chance to watch him like this, and it was with some difficulty that I did so now without tracing his features like I wanted to.
I had missed him this past week, more than I had let on – as I always did. I knew that every separation was one he blamed himself for, so I did what I could to prevent him from feeling worse about it. After all, this time, it had been my choice.
I sighed softly, closing my eyes as my mind went back to the previous night and how uncomfortable things had been. Meeting Bella had gone about as well as I had expected, though worse than I had hoped. As much as I had tried to convince Charlie that all she needed was more time, and that things weren't as bad as he thought them to be...I couldn't deny that they were definitely not good. I anticipated some level of hostility toward me, given what Charlie had told me of the interaction they had had. Still, it had shocked me a little to have her storm off and slam her door the way she had. I had to keep reminding myself she was a teenager – a young woman who had just had her life turned completely around.
To say I was surprised by her sudden interest in me over dinner would be an understatement, and I felt hopeful that I had been right after all – that she really just needed some time to come to terms with things. I blushed, remembering my over-enthusiastic response to her compliment on dinner. And then, when she had asked me where I was from, I just couldn't help myself. I wanted her to know me so badly – and I wanted to get to know her, too – that I ended up rambling about my hometown, my family...everything.
I groaned softly. Carlisle, you are truly an idiot at times. You need to let the girl come to you, not bombard her at the first small sign of interest.
I really did hope that her asking about me last night was a true sign of her wanting our situation to improve. I knew it would mean the world to Charlie for them to be able to get past all of this, and for her to finally get to know him – accept him for who and what he was. And it would mean everything to me, too - not just because I wanted to finally be a part of Bella's life, but because I wanted Charlie to be whole and happy. I knew deep down he hadn't been, not since Renee had left and taken Bella with her. He had always tried to make the best of things, though, and maintain as much of a relationship with her as he could. He was typically honest and open, with one notable exception, of course - never telling Bella about us. And now that was coming back to haunt him. More than anything, I just wanted him to not hurt anymore.
I shifted a little, burrowing closer to him – needing to feel him. Charlie's snores paused for a second as he instinctively moved with me, picking up their low cadence again once we were both settled. Sighing softly, I watched as Charlie's lips twitched in his sleep, forming first a smile, and then a slight pout that left me wondering what he was dreaming about...and aching to kiss him.
My eyes roamed his face, taking in every feature, grinning when I remembered watching both him and Bella as we ate. She was so much like her father it was almost uncanny. The longer I observed her, the more of Charlie I could see. It wasn't just his eyes that looked back at me, or the curls in her long, brown hair – exactly the same shade as his. It was the way her lips would pucker just slightly as she thought...the small frown that appeared in the exact same spot on her brow as it did her father's...the way she ran her fingers through her hair when she became frustrated. So many similar traits - some obvious, and some only so if you knew them well...or, in my case, knew her father well. I wondered if either one of them were even fully aware of just how alike they were.
A quiet grunt-sniffle alerted me to Charlie's waking up, and I watched as he blinked several times before his eyes landed on mine. He smiled sleepily at me, his voice gravely as he murmured, "Good morning, sweets."
I chuckled softly as he pulled me on top of him, wrapping his arms securely around me as he lifted his chin up at the same time as I lowered my face to his, our lips brushing together briefly. "Good morning, love."
He pressed his lips to mine again with a soft hum, and I closed my eyes as I returned his kiss, enjoying this simple exchange of tenderness. I could feel our hard lengths caught between us, but I tried to ignore it. I didn't feel comfortable with the idea of doing anything - not with Bella on the other side of the hallway, and especially not with things still as precarious as they were.
Charlie's hands roamed my back leisurely as he deepened our kiss; the way his fingertips caressed my skin - alternating between firm strokes and barely-there touches – sent shivers down my spine. I pulled away reluctantly, shifting my weight so I rested most of it on my left arm while my right hand cupped his cheek. "Charlie, love, we can't...not right now."
His eyes flickered briefly before I saw the virtual penny drop, and he shook his head with a soft groan, muttering something under his breath. I frowned slightly, my thumb tracing his cheekbone tenderly. "Charlie?"
He grumbled, shaking his head again as he sighed and looked at me apologetically. "Sorry...you're right, baby...I wasn't thinking."
I smiled, kissing him lightly before whispering against his lips, "It's alright, love. It's going to take some getting used to...for all of us." I shifted so I could whisper in his ear, "I'm happy to be home, too."
His arms tightened around me, and he hummed as he nuzzled my neck. I smiled when he turned so we were on our sides, facing each other. He slipped his leg between mine, pulling me to him as closely as possible. We lay like that for a while, just enjoying being together again, stealing kisses and caressing each other.
I cupped his jaw with my hand, my eyes searching his; I could see the hurt lingering in their depths, though I knew he was trying to hide it. "Charlie, love, are you alright?"
He smiled tentatively, his eyes closing for a moment before he gazed back into mine. "Yeah, I'm fine, sweets. Better, anyway, now that you're home again."
"Good, I..."
We both lifted our heads and turned to look at the door as we heard music coming from Bella's room. Charlie flopped back down on the bed with another groan, muttering, "Oh yeah, definitely gonna take some getting used to..."
I chuckled, pulling my leg up and resting my arm on it as I sat up. I grinned at Charlie. "She's a teenager, love. It's what they do. Come on...go grab a shower while I make us some breakfast."
He put his hand on my thigh, rubbing his thumb along the outside of it as he smirked. "Join me?"
I frowned at him, my voice carrying warning disbelief as I said, "Charlie..."
His smirk gave way to a look of feigned innocence as he sat up as well. "What? I'm a man in love. Trying to seduce their lovers is what they do."
I blinked twice, shaking my head as I starting laughing. "Oh, Charlie..." I reached over and pulled his face to mine, kissing him tenderly before murmuring, "I love you, too."
He kissed me back and chuckled as he got up and walked to the bathroom. I called after him, "You'd better behave yourself, mister."
He turned to me with a raised eyebrow, and I could see his lips twitch as he raised his hand above his head and made a circling motion as if to indicate a halo there. He winked, and I lost it again, laughing as he stepped through the doorway. I was glad to see he still had a sense of humor about everything. I knew he would behave, though; he would do anything to try to fix this situation between him and Bella. I only hoped it wouldn't take too long – I wanted them both to be happy.
I got up, put on my jeans, and grabbed a t-shirt, pulling it over my head as I walked out of the bedroom. Bella exited her room right as I was tugging the shirt down my chest, and I blushed slightly, making a mental note to make sure to be fully dressed before leaving our room. Bella stood for a moment, her eyes wide and mouth slightly agape as she watched me with a blush of her own coloring her cheeks. I cleared my throat and ran my fingers through my hair, shifting my weight awkwardly. "I'm sorry, Bella... Good morning...I, err...I'm about to make breakfast. Is there anything in particular you like?"
She blinked, seemingly snapping out of things as she muttered, "Umm, morning...French toast?"
I smiled, nodding. "I can do that."
She nodded in turn, her brow furrowing as she cleared her throat, her eyes flickering between me and the bathroom down the hall. "Excuse me..."
"Oh, yes...of course...sorry."
I stepped aside to allow her room to pass, which she did very quickly, closing the door behind her with a soft click. I thought I heard her say, "Oh. My. God..." but the soft thud as she presumably leaned against the door made it unclear. Either way, I figured it was better not to inquire, so I made my way to the kitchen. I was happy that she had given a request for something special for breakfast, taking it as a good sign that she was at least trying – and I would do no less. I didn't often make French toast, though I knew Charlie loved it, too. I reserved it for special occasions, though - birthdays and anniversaries, usually. I smiled when I realized that it was yet another thing they held in common, and I wondered whether they had ever had French toast while she had stayed here.
By the time Charlie was showered and dressed, I had already prepared a sizable stack of French toast. I was in the process of cooking it, as well as slicing bananas and toasting chopped pecans, when he walked into the kitchen. I didn't look up, but I heard his deep intake of breath and the low whistle as he stepped behind me, placing his hands on my hips as he murmured, "Pulling out all the stops, I see. Trying to impress someone, baby?"
I shrugged, my lips tugging up in a half-grin. "Perhaps...I ran into her in the hallway and asked if there was anything she liked. She said French toast, so I figured...why not?" I paused, stilling my hands as I looked over my shoulder at him. "Would you mind setting the table and warming the maple syrup?"
He smiled, kissing me lightly on the lips before moving to do as I asked. Bella walked in a while later, blushing when her eyes caught mine. She looked swiftly away, and I saw her eyes widen as she took in the food that was laid out on the table.
I kept my eyes on her, smiling softly as I said, "Bella? Would you mind putting the orange juice and milk on the table before you sit down?"
Holding my breath, I hoped that by asking for her help, I was doing the right thing. I wanted her to feel at home – to feel included. Last night, she had helped set the table without being asked to, but I wasn't sure how she would feel about my asking her for anything like that – I wasn't her father, after all. She glanced at me, nodding as she walked to the fridge without a word. I heard Charlie clear his throat lightly before wishing her good morning. Bella seemed to freeze for just a moment, something I would've missed completely had I not been watching her closely for a reaction. She recovered quickly, though, murmuring a "good morning" of her own as she straightened up, holding a carton of juice and milk in each hand.
She closed the door with a check of her hip and walked to the table, setting the cartons down and resting her hands on the back of her chair. I noticed her taking a slow, deep breath as she closed her eyes briefly – that all-too-familiar frown making a short appearance before she schooled her expression and looked up at me with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Did you need anything else...?"
She frowned again as she let her words trail off, shaking her head – seemingly at herself – as her gaze slid down to her plate.
I grabbed the last plate of French toast and made my way to the table, taking a seat. "That's alright; I think we're set."
Charlie had taken a seat already and was pouring a glass of orange juice. He glanced at her as he asked if she wanted one, handing her the glass when she said yes. The smile that played on his lips was almost identical to the one I spotted on Bella's, and I couldn't keep my own grin from forming. For just one brief moment, last night's awkwardness seemed forgotten, and things felt almost...normal. Charlie handed me a glass of juice as well before pouring a glass of milk for himself.
As we each started to plate up, I noticed Bella watching us with a slightly skeptical look as Charlie and I both put bananas, pecans, and maple syrup on our French toast. I smiled at her. "Would you like to try?"
She blinked as she turned to me with some uncertainty. "Umm, sure?"
I held my plate out to her so she could take what she wanted, watching her closely as she took her first bite. I bit back a chuckle as her eyes widened, much like they had the night before – and much like her dad's had the first time I made this for him. I took a bite myself to keep from saying anything about that, figuring that a reminder like that would only serve to harm the frail comfort that seemed to exist this morning. It was Charlie who asked if she liked it, and when she nodded, I saw him grin, winking at me before he said he was glad.
Bella added the toppings to her own plate, and soon we were all enjoying breakfast, which was interspersed with small talk. As we were almost done, I looked at her. "So, Bella, aside from the party tonight, did you have any plans for today?"
She cleared her throat as she put her utensils down and wiped her mouth. "Actually..." She shifted her eyes to Charlie as she continued, "I was hoping it'd be okay if I went to Port Angeles? I need some clothes since I didn't bring a lot, and I'm kind of running out of options."
Charlie mimicked her actions, frowning a little – his eyes cutting to mine quickly before finding hers again. "Have you checked out Pam's store yet, Bells?"
I shot him a quizzical look, only turning my attention back to Bella when she said, "I haven't...I'd forgotten about her, to be honest. I'll check there first, but Ch-...Dad..." Both she and Charlie flinched at her slip, and I had to bite my tongue. I knew this was a sore spot for him, but I could also tell she was trying. She took a sharp breath, letting it out just as quickly before continuing, "If I don't find anything there, can I? I'd be back before dinner..."
"I don't know, Bella..."
His frown deepened as he lowered his eyes – I put my hand on his thigh, wanting to lend him support. His eyes cut to me before flickering back to Bella as she said, "C'mon, Dad. It's Port Angeles! Nothing happens there, just like nothing ever does here. I can't imagine the place has changed that much..." She muttered, "Forks sure as hell hasn't..."
Charlie looked at me with a soft sigh, running his fingers through his hair as he asked in a low voice, "What do you think, sweets?"
At once, I wished he hadn't asked me – not because I didn't appreciate the fact he wanted to include me and wanted my opinion, but I noticed Bella stiffen in her seat, and I could almost see the shutters close behind her eyes as they hardened. Her voice was terse when she spoke again, reminding him that she was seventeen. She told him that Phoenix had been a hell of a lot bigger than Port Angeles and Renee never had any problems letting her go shopping on her own.
My grip on Charlie's thigh tightened when I sensed his temper rising, and I wanted desperately to avoid this becoming something it didn't need to be – a fight to assert who had the power between father and daughter. I could see - and agree with - Bella's point, but I knew that Charlie still saw her as a little girl. He hadn't been there to watch her grow up, so the idea of her off on her own was still new to him, and I could only imagine his fear of something happening to her, especially when he just got her back. His eyes flashed as he looked at me, his jaw clenching a few times as he took in my expression while I silently pleaded with him to let this one go – it wasn't worth it; there would be bigger battles ahead.
Finally, Charlie let out a short huff and nodded as he turned his attention back to Bella. "You're to check in town first – and put in an honest effort, young lady. I will hear about it if you don't."
He stood up and walked out of the kitchen after holding up a finger to Bella to indicate she was to stay seated and remain quiet. I winced internally but tried not to give any outward sign that I thought he was being a little harsh. She gave me a dark look, her nostrils flaring as she seemed to struggle with her own temper. I silently began to clear the table, sending up a quick prayer that this would go well.
Charlie walked back in, and I leaned against the counter to watch the exchange. He stood next to her chair and put his cell phone and a can of what I recognized as pepper spray in front of her as he said, "If you really can't find anything suitable, you are to call Carlisle's cell and let me know you're heading to P-A. Call me when you get there, and when you're heading home. Be home no later than five."
I saw her open her mouth to object to his demands, but he shook his head and pointed to his phone and the spray again, his voice softening a little as he said, "Bella, I understand that you feel you're old enough, but you are my daughter. You are a seventeen-year-old girl, heading into a town you barely know. I'm a cop, Bells. I've seen what happens to girls your age, and I do not like the idea of you going alone, so be happy that I'm letting you. All I am asking for in return is that you adhere to the rules I set out. Keep the phone and the pepper spray on your person at all times. Call if you need anything."
They continued to stare each other down for what felt like hours, but after a minute I heard her heave a heavy sigh as she picked up his phone. "Fine." I saw Charlie raise an eyebrow as he gave her a pointed look, which was shortly followed by another sigh from Bella as she added, "Thank you."
Charlie nodded, muttering, "You're welcome. Good luck shopping."
She grimaced. "Thanks."
She picked up the can of pepper spray and rolled her eyes. She took another deep breath before turning to look at me, giving me a semblance of a smile as she thanked me for breakfast. I nodded. "You're welcome. I hope you have a good day, Bella."
Charlie put the dishes together and walked over to me, placing them next to me on the counter as he took a deep breath of his own. Bella walked out of the kitchen, this time without helping, though at this point, I was glad that she wasn't hanging around. Charlie looked like he wanted to just collapse, and I didn't think it would help for her to see that. He rested his hip against the counter as he put his forehead on my shoulder and said softly, "Tell me it isn't going to be like this all the time, that things'll get better?"
He raised his eyes to me, a pleading look in them as he searched mine. I placed my palm on his cheek, smiling tenderly at him. "In time, I'm sure it'll get better, love. She's trying, I think."
Covering my hand with his own, he turned his head to place a kiss on my palm. He sighed softly, murmuring, "I hope you're right..." He looked me in the eye again, and I could see the emotions warring in his – hope, fear, love...they were all there. "I'm sorry for putting you in the middle like that. I shouldn't have..."
I slipped my free arm around his waist, pulling him a little closer and brushing my lips against his. "Shh, none of that now. I know you weren't trying to, and I do appreciate you wanting to include me. It's just going to take awhile, baby. This was bound to happen – and it'll likely happen a few times yet."
Letting out another soft sigh, he smiled tentatively at me. "I love you, you know?"
My lips twitched as I fought back a grin. "I may have picked up on that over the years."
He gave a low growl, taking a step closer to me, and opened his mouth to say something when we heard Bella's door close. He instantly stepped back – a mixture of frustration and apology on his face as he did. I mouthed, "It's fine," right as Bella peered inside and said, "Umm, so...I'll see you later?"
We both turned to find her looking at us, her eyes going back and forth between us with a slight frown marring her brow. Charlie cleared his throat, his fingers running through his hair nervously as his eyes cut to mine briefly, as if asking if I was sure this would really be okay. I nodded, bumping his shoulder lightly with my own to get him to pay attention to Bella. He swallowed hard but nodded at her.
"Have fun, Bells...and be safe, please. Call if you need anything."
She gave a short wave in acknowledgment as she turned and left. We both stood quietly, listening to the front door close behind her, followed shortly by the truck door opening and closing and the engine roaring to life. Once we heard her pull out of the driveway, it was as if we were free to breathe again, in a way.
Charlie took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he closed his eyes. I hooked my fingers in his belt loops and tugged lightly, urging him to come to me as I wrapped my arms around him. I smiled, nuzzling his neck lightly when he held me tight. Kissing him right below his ear earned me a soft moan before he lifted his head, his eyes searching mine. Spreading my legs a little, I pulled him closer so he stood between them, one hand splayed between his shoulder blades while the other rested on his lower back. I smiled, tilting my head just so as I closed the distance between us. His contented hum was enough to fuel my need to remind him that we were still 'us', that we were okay, and that everything would turn out fine in the end. There was no rush in this kiss, no urgency – just a sweet, tender moment of reconnecting.
That is, right up until Charlie shifted his hips against mine – not once, not twice, but several times – forcing me to grab hold of his hips to still him. My voice caught when I tried to speak, and I had to clear my throat to get it to work right, though it still sounded lower than normal. "Charlie...not now, love. She could be back soon..." I took a slow breath to calm myself, because if I were being honest, I wanted him as much as he did me. That thought made me smile as I cupped his cheek, kissing his lips briefly. "Why don't we get this mess cleaned up first?"
He grumbled playfully about needing to learn to make the most of the time without kids in the house, causing me to chuckle. "There'll be plenty of times, love."
He sighed, pulling away and heading back to the table with a "Fine..." As he turned, he brushed the back of his hand against my crotch. I bit my lip to stifle my moan, but he caught me as he looked over his shoulder with a playful grin. I rolled my eyes at him, chuckling softly. "When did you become so insatiable?"
His grin became more pronounced as he said, "Oh, I think it was right around the time when you asked me if you could kiss me – it's kinda gone downhill from there." He winked, and I stepped up to him, smacking his ass lightly as I shook my head at him and laughed.
We set about cleaning the kitchen and ended up getting some other chores out of the way by the time Bella called to let us know she was heading to Port Angeles after all. Charlie reminded her to be careful and to keep the phone and spray on her at all times. It was clear to see that he cared for her and that he was worried about her going off on her own. As he disconnected the call, I stepped up behind him, slipping my arms around his waist, resting my hand over his heart as I kissed his neck and whispered, "She'll be fine, love. As you said, she's your daughter, which means she's got a good head on her shoulders. She's a sensible young girl, Charlie; have faith in that."
He gave a quiet huff as he leaned back into me. "It's not her I don't have faith in, sweets; it's the crazies on the streets I'm worried about."
The house line rang, and I went to answer it. "Swan residence."
Even though this had been my home now for the past decade or so, it had never made sense to me to answer differently. This house had been home to the Swans long before I had arrived, and even before Charlie was born, so to me that was what it was.
"Hey, Carlisle, it's Renee..."
She sounded strained, worried, and I couldn't help feeling uncomfortable as I asked her how she was doing. She and I had never really talked much, though there had been times – like now – when we had ended up on the phone. It wasn't that I didn't want to get to know her or didn't feel for her – exactly the opposite was true – but she was always reserved when I answered the phone. And part of me would always feel somewhat responsible for the breaking of her marriage, though rationally I knew it hadn't been my fault – it hadn't been anyone's fault, really.
Mercifully, Charlie came in to see what was going on, and when Renee heard him, she asked if she could speak with him. I made to leave in order to give him peace to deal with her, but he grabbed my hand, silently imploring me to stay, so I leaned against the table and laced our fingers together. They talked for a while as he updated her on Bella – I squeezed his hand lightly when I saw his smile as he told Renee about dinner, as well as breakfast, though the smile didn't last when he got to the Port Angeles discussion. I heard him say, "Yeah, you're probably right...that's pretty much what Carlisle said, too."
I ducked my head, turning it away so he wouldn't see me smile – for some reason, it felt good to know that Renee and I were, at least in that aspect, on the same wavelength. Charlie tugged my hand, and when I looked up, he narrowed his eyes at me – the smile that played on his lips belied any annoyance he feigned, though.
They talked for a few minutes more, and whatever Renee was saying seemed to improve Charlie's spirits. I was curious about their conversation, but figured I could ask about it later. As soon as he hung up the phone, he pulled me to him and wrapped his arms tightly around me as he grinned mischievously. He leaned in, his lips dragging along my jaw until he reached my ear, his voice a low grumble that I could feel against my chest as he spoke. "Carlisle?"
"Hmm?"
I shivered as his breath fanned across my skin - any thoughts about his talk with Renee were forgotten as I became hyper-aware of him. My hands rested on his hips as he continued, "Bella's not here – she won't be back for a few hours. You know what they say about the cat being away, right?"
Nodding slightly, I swallowed several times, trying to find my voice. He moved his hands, cupping my ass as he pressed closer to me – my fingers digging into his thighs in response.
"Carlisle?" he said again.
"Yes, Charlie?"
He nipped at my earlobe. "No more excuses, baby. I need to feel you."
I moaned softly, shifting my hips against his as I whispered, "I need you too, love."
He pulled away slightly, his eyes searching mine briefly before he planted a searing kiss on my lips – one that I returned with equal heat. After a minute or so, he took my lower lip between his and bit it lightly before releasing it and growling out, "Get your ass to the bedroom, sweets. I'll be right there."
I heard him go to the front door, locking it while I made my way to the bedroom after grabbing my phone. I walked straight to our bed, placing my phone in its dock on the bedside table before pulling the small bottle of lube from the drawer and putting it on the bed. It wasn't likely anyone would call, but since Charlie had told Bella to call my phone in case of an emergency, I didn't want to chance leaving it out of reach.
Pulling off my t-shirt, I dropped it on the chair by the bed, my fingers immediately working on the buttons of my jeans. Charlie's chuckle reached my ears at the same time I heard the bedroom door shut, and I turned around, hooking my thumbs in my waistband and pushing my jeans over my hips. His eyes widened slightly – as did his grin - when he saw that I hadn't been wearing any underwear.
He flipped the lock behind him before stalking toward me, his gaze flickering to the bed briefly. I stepped out of my jeans at the same time his hands found my hips, and he leaned in, his lips a hair's breadth from mine as he said, "Always the Boy Scout."
He kissed me hard then, and I moaned as my hands found their way respectively to his hair and his lower back, pulling him closer to me. After a moment or two, I became annoyed by the fabric that was between us, needing to feel everything. I pulled away, just far enough to reach between us and tug on the hem of his shirt, lifting it up as I muttered between kisses, "Off."
He complied at once, lifting his arms so I could remove his shirt, throwing it on top of mine. As soon as that was done, my lips found his again – my hands moving to his belt buckle, undoing it and the buttons of his fly as quickly as my fumbling fingers were able to. Both of our hands hurriedly pushed his jeans past his hips, and he stepped out of them, kicking them to the side as he pulled me against him. His hands were seemingly everywhere, running up and down my back - his fingers now squeezing my ass, then brushing my entrance. I whimpered softly as he continued to tease me, his lips moving from mine down the column of my neck until he reached the join of my shoulder, where he sucked the skin lightly.
I closed my eyes, my head tilting to the side to allow him more room. My voice was husky, almost gravelly, when I spoke. "Oh God...Charlie, please, love..."
I could feel him grin against my skin before he pulled away, his eyes dark and mischievous as he shifted his hips against mine. I felt the rumble in his chest as he told me to get on the bed and crawl to the middle. Trying to stifle my groan, I bit my lip and moved to do as he said. Even after all these years, I relished every time he took charge; my Charlie had gotten to be quite confident in the bedroom, and I loved every minute of it when he let it show.
I didn't even make it halfway across the bed before I felt his hands on my hips again, the edge of the mattress dipping slightly as he leaned against it. Before I could turn my head to ask him what he was doing, I felt his warm breath across my skin, followed closely by his lips as he trailed open mouthed kisses down from my lower back until he reached my entrance. He paused for the briefest moment, and then his tongue snaked out, teasing my sensitive flesh, sending shivers of pleasure up my spine. I dropped my upper body to the bed, my head resting on my arms as I folded them for support. Every lick, every probe of his tongue had me panting for more – I could hear my voice pleading with him, but I had no idea what, exactly, I was saying.
When he pulled away, I bemoaned the loss of his silken warmth but was quickly assuaged by the feel of his slick finger as it entered me, his other hand rubbing soothing circles across my back. I heard him murmur, only picking up words here and there as he continued to prepare me for him, "So beautiful... Missed you... Need you, baby..."
"Need you, too...please, Charlie..."
He pulled me back slightly so that he could stand by the bed and told me to turn around. As soon as I was on my back, he pulled my legs up to rest against his shoulders, grinning as he caught the look on my face. Running his hands along my thighs, he pushed into me slowly – almost reverently - as he always did. This gesture never failed to make me feel loved and wanted, especially when I could see the restraint clear on his face as he bit his lower lip, his brow furrowed in concentration and his eyes closed. He held still for a moment, his eyes opening and finding mine as he smiled. "I love you."
I shifted my hips as well as I was able in the position I was lying, moaning softly, needing him to just move. "I love you, too, Charlie...please..."
And with that, he pulled almost all the way out before rocking back into me – slowly at first, but determinedly and with sure strokes. My hands were gripping the covers as he started to move faster, harder, hitting that most exquisite spot over and over again. When he wrapped his fingers around my shaft, pumping me as he continued to pound into me, I cried out, my shoulders digging into the bed as my back arched. "Fuck..."
I lost all sense as he drove me to my release – all I was aware of was him and bliss as I felt him come inside me moments later. His hands rubbed my legs tenderly as he lowered them slowly, one at a time. He crawled onto the bed with me, helping me move to the middle as my limbs were weak and trembling.
He lay on his back with his arms around me while I rested my head on his shoulder. One of my arms was slung over his chest while my leg was over his thigh; once we were situated, we just lay quietly for a while, both of us absorbed in our thoughts. I felt utterly content, and I hummed when I felt his lips against my hair. He rubbed my arm tenderly – I smiled, lifting my head so I could kiss him.
I pulled away after a minute and snuggled closer to him, tightening my arm around him as I nuzzled his neck. I mumbled, "I don't want to move..."
Charlie chuckled softly, running his fingers through my hair. "I hear ya, sweets...but we'll have to eventually."
I sighed, pouting. Maybe he felt my lips purse against his skin, or maybe he just knew me well enough to anticipate my reaction, but he started to laugh. It was good to hear him do so again - it had been too long. He had been so nervous ever since Bella's phone call asking to move here, had been so preoccupied by everything. I smiled, pushing myself up so I could look at him, my hand cupping his face as he watched me. His eyes showed signs of happiness again, though I could see the ghosts of worry lingering, too.
He smiled, pulling me on top of him, and I settled comfortably in his embrace, letting him feel most of my weight as I ran my fingers through his hair. His eyes closed for a moment, his smile fading somewhat as he sighed. I could guess what was going through his mind, so I pressed my lips to his, murmuring, "Everything will be fine, love. It's just going to take some time."
His eyes searched mine, the smile on his lips turning lopsided as he said, "I really hope you are right, sweets. I'd love nothing better than to have us just be a family...but what if she can't get over the whole 'Dad's gay' thing? What if she won't accept us? What if-"
I shook my head once before silencing him with a soft kiss. "Shh, none of that, Charlie. You saw her this morning. She is trying, love. You're her dad, and she loves you."
He snorted, making me frown as I shifted, nudging his side. "Charlie!"
He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment before finding mine again, an apologetic smile on his lips as he said, "Sorry, sweetheart, you're right...it's just...hard to believe right now, I guess."
I rolled off of him, tugging at his hip so he would roll with me. Once we were both lying on our sides, facing each other, I cupped his cheek and sighed softly. "Charlie...you know you have to try to get her to talk about all of this. She needs to hear what happened, and you need to allow both of you to work through this. It's a lot for her to take, and it's been a lot for you to carry with you all these years. This isn't going to get better overnight, love. No matter how much we might want it to."
He grinned softly, holding my hand to his cheek as he turned his head to place a tender kiss on my palm. "How did you get to be so wise, hmm?"
I smirked. "I learned; had to, living with you all these years." I winked.
His eyes widened, and before I could react, he pounced on top of me – he was straddling my thighs, his hands going straight to my waist and tickling me until I was laughing, writhing under him, and begging him to stop. He was relentless, though, and it wasn't until I finally managed to pull him to me, my fingers wrapped tightly around one of his wrists, that he stopped.
I wrapped my arms around his waist, securing him to me as I lifted my chin, kissing him breathlessly. He rested his elbows on either side of me, returning my kiss before lifting his head to look at me. He brushed the tip of his nose against mine with a tender smile as he said, "I will never know what I did to deserve someone like you, Carlisle...but I sure as hell am glad you're mine."
I grinned at him, tightening my arms briefly. "I could say the same about you, Charlie."
We stayed in bed, just lounging and talking about little things for a while – stuff that we had been planning to do around the house or the garden – right up until the phone rang. I reached over and answered, "Swan residence."
"Hey, Uncle Carlisle!"
I smiled, running my fingers through my hair as I lay back down with Charlie settling next to me. "Hey, Alice! It's good to hear from you." I glanced at the clock as Charlie started to make lazy eights on my chest with his fingertips. "What are you doing home at this hour on a Saturday night? No parties to go to?"
She chuckled. "Oh, no worries, I fully plan on adding a few gray hairs to Mum's head tonight. I was calling to see if it was still okay for me to stay with you and Uncle Charlie when I come to the States to scout colleges?"
Charlie muttered "Oh, fuck!" under his breath, and I frowned as he stilled completely. "Alice, can you hold for just a sec?"
"Sure thing."
I muted the call and lifted myself up to look at him properly. His face was buried in both hands as a continuous stream of curses flowed quietly from his lips. "Charlie?"
Nothing.
I put my hand over his tattoo. and he took a deep breath, but remained otherwise still. "Charlie, what's wrong?"
Still nothing, just a continued stream of curses as he seemed to berate himself, though over what, I couldn't hear. I frowned, glancing at the phone as realization dawned on me.
"Charlie...please tell me you told Bella that Alice is coming to live here for a while?"
He groaned, shaking his head as he scrubbed his face before burying his fingers in his hair, tugging on the ends in frustration. His eyes found mine, and the pain reflected at me had me aching for him as he said, "No...it completely slipped my mind with everything else that's been going on...Fuck. I can't do anything right lately...I'm sorry."
I rested my forehead on my hand, which was still covering his tattoo. "Oh, Charlie..."
With a sigh, he put his hand on the back of my neck, his fingers playing with the hair at the nape, his voice gruff with emotion. "Tell Alice that of course she's still welcome to stay here. I'm not going to go back on that just because of what's going on with Bella. Who knows...maybe it'll be good for her to have someone to talk to."
I raised my head and looked at him, searching his eyes to make sure that's what he really wanted. When I saw the determination there, I nodded and put the phone back to my ear as I un-muted it. "Alice, you still there, sweetheart?"
"Yeah, I'm still here. Everything okay?"
"Yes, everything's fine, lovey." I cleared my throat, my eyes on Charlie as I continued, "Uncle Charlie says you're welcome to stay, still; of course you are."
"Alright...I just thought with his daughter coming to live with you and all... As long as you're sure. I don't want to make things harder for her." She giggled softly. "Just clear some space in the closet for me, then. I hear that magical things can happen there."
I shook my head, chuckling at the horrible pun about what had to be Harry Potter. Alice was Potter-crazy, and she wasn't shy about sharing her love for both the books and films. With a wry grin, I said, "Alice, honey, I'm not going to put you in any closet, or are you trying to tell me you're wanting to come out of one?"
She laughed, and I could almost hear her roll her eyes, even as I saw Charlie do the same while he ruffled my hair.
"Haha, Uncle Carlisle, very funny. No, no coming out of any closets for me – I like my boys too much. Speaking of...tell Edward I said hi, and that I'll see him soon!"
I laughed. "Sure, I'll pass on the message, sweetheart."
We talked for a few more minutes, during which she promised to email me her itinerary and confirmed that I would be picking her up in Seattle. Charlie said he'd try to get the time off to come with me but wasn't sure he would be able to swing it. I asked her to give her mom a hug from us and to pass along our love to my parents as well, which she promised to do. She said she would be having a big party before she came here, to say goodbye to her friends and family, since she would be stateside for a few months.
After we exchanged goodbyes of our own, we hung up, and I turned to Charlie with a sigh. He grumbled, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands. "I know, I know...I have to tell her."
I sat up, smiling sadly at him. I had a feeling that the news of Alice's arrival would not go over well, though I hoped it wouldn't be too horrible. I had a feeling that Bella and Alice would get along well – provided Bella allowed herself to be open to the relationship, but I wasn't at all sure that she would be. Sighing softly, I ran a hand over my face, saying a silent prayer for things to work out for the best. Scooting to the edge of the bed, I turned and held out my hand to Charlie, who hadn't moved at all and still lay on his back, his hands over his face. I had to stretch and poke his side to get his attention.
"Come take a shower with me, love?"
His lips twitched to form a brief smile before he got up and took my hand, following me to the bathroom. While I turned the shower on and got the water to the right temperature, Charlie leaned against the counter, his palms on the surface as he stood, shoulders hunched. He was watching himself in the mirror, his eyes constantly moving as if searching for something. I stepped behind him, wrapping my arms around him, with my hand covering his heart, as usual. His eyes found mine in the mirror, and he smiled softly at me.
"Love, what is it?"
He shook his head with a sigh, his gaze once again going over his body before landing on where my hand was. He placed his own to cover mine and said, "How could I ever have let my truth stay buried for so long? How could I keep this – keep you – from her for all these years? I mean...I know why I did what I did back then...but, still...looking back...I don't know how I ever managed it."
He looked at me again, his brow furrowed and his eyes glistening with emotion. The room was slowly filling up with steam as we stood there, our eyes on each other. I wasn't sure what to tell him because nothing I could say would make any of this better; nothing could possibly make this easier for any of us. So, instead, I turned him around, my lips brushing against his lightly. "I don't know, baby. But we're here now, and we're just going to have to do the best we can. C'mon..."
I grabbed his hand, pulling him into the shower with me. Once we were both under the spray, I grabbed the shampoo, putting a dollop in my hand before placing the bottle back on the shelf. Lathering up his hair, I began to wash it, massaging his scalp gently. I took my time with him, wanting to relieve him of as much tension as I could by taking care of him. After I was done with his hair and had begun to wash his body, he tried to do the same for me, but I just batted his hands away, shaking my head. I wanted to do this for him, and in the end, he surrendered to me completely.
When he was done, I directed him to stand under the second showerhead while I quickly cleaned myself. His eyes followed my every move, making me chuckle as I noticed how his body was responding to me. It had always been like this between us, and I prayed it would remain so for the rest of our days.
Turning off my side of the shower, I stepped over to him, my hands resting on his hips as I grinned playfully at him. "See something you like, love?"
His expression was serious as his eyes roamed my body before meeting mine, and he said in an even voice, "No."
I quirked a brow, my fingertips grazing along his shaft as I muttered, "Really? Could've fooled me..."
His chest rumbled as he pulled me to him roughly. "I don't see something I merely like, sweets; I do, however, see something I love."
I opened my mouth to tell him I loved him, too, but his lips claimed my own, swallowing any sound I made. We stood under the spray, languidly kissing each other as our hands roamed. Before too long, though, he began to pull me closer still, grinding into me as his kisses became heated, hungry, almost desperate. After a minute of this, he stilled, resting his forehead against mine as he closed his eyes and tried to get his breathing under control.
"Charlie?"
He raised his head, an indecipherable look on his face as his eyes locked with mine, his voice sounding almost pained when he simply said, "Bella..."
I frowned, running my fingers through his hair tenderly. "What about Bella?"
He shook his head with a small huff and a barely-there grin. "We probably should get out of here, in case she calls. I just..." He paused, rolling his eyes as he shook his head again, his voice barely audible over the shower. "God, I can't even believe I'm saying this...we have to stop, baby..."
I chuckled and pecked him lightly on the lips, relieved when I realized that he was merely worried about missing her call – or, more to the point, worried something might happen to her and he wouldn't be there to help. That didn't mean we had to stop, though, if I had a say in things – especially when I could tell he was still feeling out of sorts. "Sweetheart, I love you, but you need to shut up, dry yourself off, and get your ass to bed."
He blinked, a look of confusion clear on his face. I reached past him and shut the shower off before stepping out and grabbing us each a towel, handing him one of them with a raised eyebrow. When he still hadn't moved, I stepped up to him and whispered in his ear, "Now, Charles."
I rarely, if ever, used his full name – only when I really meant business – so when I did, it spurred him into action. It was almost funny to watch as he hurriedly dried himself off and went back into the bedroom. I took my time drying myself, hanging our towels up over the shower door. Pausing in front of the mirror, I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I tried to collect myself before walking into our room.
Charlie was sitting on the edge of our bed, facing me as I walked in, his eyes roving and dark as he took me in. I grinned, stopping right in front of him, and nudged his legs apart with my knee as I stepped between them. His hands went to my thighs, rubbing gently up and down as he looked up at me. I ran my fingers through his hair and smiled as I lowered myself to the floor, kneeling. His hands roamed up my sides before moving to briefly cup my face. He leaned in, kissing me; a small sound of longing passed his lips as my hands brushed the insides of his thighs.
I pulled back just enough to murmur, "Hands on the bed, my love, and don't move."
His eyes widened slightly, and he bit his lip in an effort to keep from grinning – he failed miserably, which just made me chuckle. I quirked a brow at him, and he moved to do as I said. Kissing him once more on the lips, I slowly began to work my way down his body, alternately kissing and nipping at his skin.
I flicked his nipple with my tongue and murmured, "Were there any messages?" I knew he would have checked straight away.
He moaned as I took it between my lips and sucked gently. "No, no messages..."
I grinned as I moved to his other nipple, biting it lightly before saying, "Then she's still out shopping?"
My hands were still on his thighs, slowly moving closer to where he wanted me to be but barely brushing against him with every pass even as my mouth moved lower. "Fuck...Carlisle, that feels good..."
I paused, and he added, "Yes, yes she's still shopping...Jesus..."
He shifted, trying to move his hand to touch me, but I gave a low growl, warning him. "Charlie..."
He stilled, muttering, "Fuck..." and causing me to chuckle as I moved lower still; my cheek brushed against his shaft, making him hiss at the contact. I turned my face slightly and licked the bead of pre-cum from his slit before looking up at him. He was watching me intently, his gaze burning with desire and need for me, and I loved that I could do that to him.
Keeping my eyes on his, I slowly wrapped my lips around his head, running the tip of my tongue around the rim before releasing him. "So, it's just you...." I repeated the action and continued, "and me?"
I needed him to see - to know - that even with Bella now living here, with everything that was going on, we could still be us – that we were still us. If I were being completely honest with myself, I needed to know, too - needed that reassurance just as much as he did. He nodded, his eyes hooded and his mouth partially open as he breathed out, "Just us, baby...God, please, Carlisle..."
It was enough for me – I ran my tongue down his shaft, relishing the feel of every vein as I ran over it. Charlie moaned softly as I worked my way up again before closing my lips around his cock. I hummed, closing my eyes as I let my senses guide me, taking in his scent, his taste, the feel of him against my tongue, the sounds he made as I drove him closer and closer to release.
His soft pleas for more were music to my ears as he asked me to please let him touch me or to keep doing what I was doing. I bobbed my head up and down, my teeth scraping his cock just lightly enough to tease before taking him all the way down my throat. His thigh was tensing under my hand even as I reached to gently roll his balls with my other.
"Please...so good, baby..."
I opened my eyes to look at him as I kept going – he was clutching the covers tightly, his eyes were screwed shut in concentration, and he was biting his lip. I wanted him to let go, though, so as I swallowed around him, I pressed and rubbed just behind his sack. It had the desired effect as he cried out, his head falling back and his hips jerking upward. I greedily took everything he gave, continuing to suck him gently as he came down from his euphoric bliss before letting him slip from between my lips.
He opened his eyes and looked down at me as I ran my hands over his thighs. I was hard, but I didn't care – the look on his face was all I needed in return; the feel of his lips against mine all I wanted. As we kissed, he threaded his fingers through my hair, anchoring me to him as he pulled me up to join him on the bed. Without breaking contact, he situated us so we were lying across it and slipped his knee between mine. His other hand began to roam my back slowly, making me shiver as he trailed his fingertips along my spine.
Before things could go any further, though, my phone rang, and we both groaned. Charlie crawled over me to answer it after checking the I.D. to make sure it was Bella. I heard her say that she was heading home and that she had found one or two things as far as clothes went, but that by and large the trip had been a waste on that front. She said she had managed to find the bookstore, which made Charlie grin as his eyes cut to mine. I smiled in return and after he told her to drive home safely, they hung up.
He put the phone back in its cradle and flopped back onto the bed with a heavy sigh, his face turned to me with a look of apology in his eyes. I cupped his cheek, smiling softly at him. "How about a movie, love?"
His brow furrowed slightly, and he cleared his throat, his eyes searching mine. "Sounds good..."
I rolled my eyes at him, leaning in to brush my lips against his and murmur, "Sweetheart, it's not like it's the first time we've ever been interrupted, nor will it be the last. I'm fine." I grinned, rubbing the tip of my nose against his as I added teasingly, "You can always make it up to me tonight after Bella leaves."
He grumbled playfully as he muttered under his breath. When I quirked a brow in question, he just rolled his eyes and shook his head, saying, "Nevermind. Let's get dressed, baby, and you can pick a movie?"
I smiled, nodding in agreement, and before too long we were dressed. Charlie went to grab us a couple of beers and a small bowl of honey roasted cashews, which were a guilty pleasure of mine, while I debated between Radio, Rudy, and Invincible. Charlie loved football, and these were some of his favorites. I ended up putting in Rudy, and I caught Charlie's grin as he settled on the couch, one leg along the side so I could snuggle up with him.
I accepted the invitation, leaning in and kissing him briefly before settling against him. The moment my back was against his chest, he put his arms around me and nuzzled my neck. He whispered, "Thanks, sweets."
Turning my head, I pecked his lips. "You're welcome, love."
I hit play, tossing the remote next to my phone on the coffee table so I could burrow further into his embrace as the movie began. It wasn't long until we were absorbed in the movie, oblivious to the world around us. My head was resting against his shoulder, his arms snug around me as my fingers lazily caressed his forearms. One of us would make the odd comment about what was going on; it was always the same, both of us wanting to shake Rudy's father for putting his son down all the time and not supporting his dream. Charlie inevitably had a hard time when Rudy's best friend was killed, and I could always tell when he'd relax again once Rudy started to really work toward his goals.
It wasn't until Bella cleared her throat that either of us realized she'd gotten home.
I looked over Charlie's shoulder at her. "Oh, hey, Bella...home already?"
When I saw the look of discomfort on her face, I started to sit up, but Charlie tightened his grip on me. He had also noticed her expression, and when I turned to him, I saw that his jaw was set. He shook his head as he murmured quietly, "She's going to have to get used to seeing us together, sweets."
I inhaled lightly at the determination in his eyes. The way his arms were still wrapped around me combined with the look on his face to make me realize that he had meant what he said last night. He was through hiding me - hiding us.
Closing my eyes briefly, I nodded. I was torn – I didn't want to make Bella uncomfortable, and she certainly appeared to be just that. But at the same time, Charlie's words, as well as his deeds, had me feeling lighter than I had before. The fact that he had always hidden me away had stung more than I would ever admit, so to have him be affectionate with me – even with something as simple as just holding me – in front of her...I couldn't deny that it made me feel like he had finally let me in fully. I had every part of Charlie now, and I struggled to try and keep my perspective. I had to remind myself that Bella was there...and she was still getting used to the idea of her dad being gay. As much as I loved Charlie for trying to stand his ground, I knew he didn't want to hurt her any further.
I twisted around so I could face him. I brushed my lips against his ever so briefly, whispering that it was okay and asking to let me get up, under the pretense of needing to go to the bathroom. He reluctantly let me go then, and after a quick "I love you," I walked past Bella, smiling softly – albeit hesitantly – at her. Her eyes followed me as I walked down the hall and escaped to the bathroom, closing the door behind me with a heavy sigh.
Part of me felt like a coward for leaving them alone, but I wouldn't have been able to school my reaction for very long, and I didn't want to make things worse for them by being too happy about Charlie's show of affection to me. It felt as if it was rubbing it into her face, and I could not do that to her – I knew Charlie couldn't either, if he thought about it. I knew that he was reacting to what was going on, and that wasn't always the best way to go, but I couldn't very well point that out to him in front of Bella. In all, it was better to just give everyone a few minutes and step aside for the time being.
I could hear them talking, catching bits and pieces of the conversation. All I really got was a sense that Bella felt she needed to go to Seattle in order to get the clothes – and shoes – that she wanted, as none of the shops in Port Angeles had what she was after.
I didn't reemerge until after I heard Bella's door close. I was a little shocked to find Charlie standing right outside the bathroom, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and a curious look on his face. There was music coming from Bella's room, and I briefly wondered if she had put it on because she liked it, or if she used it as a barrier.
Any thought I had was driven from my mind when Charlie stepped up to me and pulled me to him, his fingers hooked through my belt loops. He frowned slightly and murmured, "You're a terrible liar; you know that, right?"
I could feel the heat rise on my cheeks – he rolled his eyes, his lips twitching in amusement. "Thank you. Again."
"You're welcome, sweetheart." I frowned slightly. "How did you know?"
He chuckled, shaking his head. "Like I said, you're a terrible liar. And you didn't flush."
He grinned at the puzzled look on my face. "You always flush, and you always wash your hands. I didn't hear you do either. I'm willing to bet you were just standing around in there, trying to keep your emotions in check."
A brief sound of disbelief escaped me as I closed my eyes, resting my forehead against his. My Charlie, the cop. Of course he'd pick up on that. I sighed softly, pressing my lips to his tenderly. "You know me too well, I think."
He shrugged, smirking, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "Hate to break it to you, sweets, but you're not that hard to figure out."
I scowled at him, huffing indignantly and causing him to laugh. Narrowing my eyes at him, I purposely didn't respond to his kiss. I wasn't really upset, and he knew it. When he kissed me again – this time guiding me back to the wall, effectively pinning me as he pressed hard against me – I couldn't help but return his kiss. I was very aware of Bella being in the house, just a couple of doors away, so I tried not to let us get too carried away, but it was very difficult.
Charlie pulled away with a soft hum of contentment, giving me three short pecks against my lips before he let me go. He rested his forehead against mine and smiled. "C'mon, baby, let's finish watching Rudy before we have to start thinking about dinner?"
I grinned and rolled my eyes at him as I pinched him lightly in the ribs. "You mean before I have to start thinking about dinner?"
He chuckled, twisting away as he grabbed my hand to pull me to the living room. "Potato, potahto..."
Muttering, "Ass," under my breath, I bumped his shoulder, causing him to stumble slightly. He just laughed, pulling me to him as he whispered against my lips, "And here I thought you liked my ass, sweets?"
Squeezing aforementioned ass with both hands, I kissed him hard before leaning in and speaking softly into his ear, "Wait until Bella has gone to her party, and I'll show you just how much, too."
He groaned, his forehead resting on my shoulder as he muttered, "Fuck..."
I grinned, turning my head and nipping at his neck, whispering, "That's the general idea, love."
He looked up with an almost pained, pleading expression in his eyes, his voice low as he said, "Christ, Carlisle..."
I kissed him tenderly, cupping his cheek as my thumb brushed his cheekbone lightly. "Movie?"
He took a deep breath and nodded. "Movie."
We settled back onto the couch the way we were before we'd been interrupted. Once we hit play, our attention refocused on Rudy, both of us grinning like idiots by the end. I turned to look at Charlie, placing my hand on his cheek and pressing my lips against his when I saw his glistening eyes – I knew better than to suggest he had gotten emotional over the movie, though.
He tightened his hold on me for a moment before letting me go. He ran his hand along my thigh and smiled at me. "Need a hand with dinner, baby?"
I grinned, shaking my head as I grabbed his other hand and lifted it to my lips, placing a soft kiss in his palm. "No, but I won't say no to your company."
He smirked and patted my thigh. "Didn't figure you would. C'mon, then."
We got up, and when we got to the kitchen, he took his usual spot at the counter. He was just out of the way but close enough to allow us to have a conversation as he leaned against it with his hands resting by his hips. We had gone shopping for groceries not long after Bella had hidden herself in her room the previous night, so I took a moment to go over our dinner options before turning to Charlie. "Chicken alfredo, or my ravioli?"
The way his eyes lit up at the mention of my ravioli made me laugh – he didn't even need to say the words. "In that case, sweetheart, you actually could give me a hand."
I pulled out the block of parmesan cheese and handed it to him with a grin. "Here you go; you know what to do with that."
He groaned softly, but took the cheese and started looking for the grater and a bowl. Before too long, we were both busy, and we chatted easily as we worked side by side. I made the dough first, which Charlie put through the pasta machine to make sheets while I cooked up the mushrooms and spinach. Once those were done, all that was needed was for me to put the ingredients for the filling in the food processor, and we soon had a large batch of ravioli ready to cook.
I had put a pot of water on to boil already, so everything was set to go. Charlie took out a jar of my homemade tomato sauce from the fridge and began to carefully warm up enough sauce for tonight's dinner - under my watchful eye, of course. Last time I had left him to his own devices, he had managed to burn the sauce, and neither of us relished the idea of revisiting that particular smell...or the clean up.
Whether the smell of food had lured her out or she simply figured that dinner would be the same time as last night, I didn't know, but Bella showed up shortly before the food was done. With one glance at what was cooking, she began to set the table without a word. Charlie and I exchanged glances but remained quiet as well, unsure of what to make of it – though I took it as a good sign.
We all sat down together, making small talk as we passed the food and began to eat. Bella told us a little more about her day in Port Angeles, though there really wasn't much to tell. As soon as she took her first bite, her eyes widened, and she looked over at me with a smile. "This is really good...Carlisle..." I noticed the pause before she said my name, but at least she was saying my name.
I caught Charlie's smile out of the corner of my eye and squeezed his thigh when I saw him trying to hide it behind a bite of ravioli. Before long, the conversation moved to the party Bella would be attending, and Charlie asked her if she was sure she knew how to get there. She gave him a wry smile and said, "Just how big do you think this town is...Dad?"
Again, there was a pause, but at least she hadn't started to say his first name. I thought we were making some progress, however slight, and I could feel the tense atmosphere begin to crack just a bit as she joked. Charlie smiled at her, but he insisted on making sure she knew how to find Jasper's house, and he also told her to keep his cell phone in case she needed to call.
I could see the tension in his shoulders and knew he was worried about letting his little girl go out - with teenage boys, no less - so I rubbed his knee soothingly and asked Bella what she thought of Forks High so far. She gave me an impenetrable look before answering quietly, telling us about the Literature class she loved and the math teacher she couldn't stand.
I wondered what that look was about, but didn't feel like I could ask her...yet, anyway. We talked for a few minutes more before she turned the conversation back to me, asking about the hospital and the hours I usually worked. She frowned suddenly, looking at me curiously. "By the way, please tell me you don't work in the ER?"
Charlie and I turned to each other with what were – I was sure – matching puzzled looks before we both looked back to Bella. "I do, as a matter of fact – well, at times, anyway. Why?"
She groaned, sagging slightly in her seat, an air of defeat around her as she muttered, "Great."
I sat forward, my elbows resting on the table as I watched her with concern. "Bella?"
Shaking her head, she sighed and ran her fingers through her hair as her eyes fell on mine. "Nothing. I just tend to end up there more often than I'd like. Gym and I don't get along."
She huffed in annoyance, and I could see Charlie's shoulders relax ever so slightly. His lips twitched minutely as he said, "Let's hope you and Gym won't be having any big fights this year, hmm?"
She rolled her eyes at him and muttered, "Whatever, Dad." Clearing her throat, she added, "May I be excused? I need to get ready for the party."
At Charlie's nod, she picked up her dishes and rinsed them before putting them in the dishwasher. As she walked out of the kitchen, she stopped and looked over her shoulder at me with a small smile, thanking me for dinner.
"You're welcome, Bella. Is there anything in particular you would like at some point?"
I felt Charlie's hand on my thigh, rubbing it gently while I waited for her to answer. She tilted her head for a moment before shaking it, making it seem as if she had something on her mind she decided against saying. "No, nothing I can think off right now. I'm fine with whatever."
"Alright. Let me know if and when you do think of something, and I'll see what I can do, okay?"
"Sure."
And with that, she walked away. Charlie helped me clear the dishes, and I was surprised to find that there had been no leftovers. I asked him if he thought there had been enough or if we needed to make more next time, but he shook his head.
He leaned against the counter, his hands gripping the edge and his eyes fixed on his toes as he sighed. I stepped in front of him, putting my finger under his chin and lifting it up so he would look at me. I smiled softly at him, the worry for his daughter – his little girl – apparent in his eyes even as he returned my smile hesitantly.
"Sweetheart, I know you're worried. And I know you know the things Edward's done, but they're normal teenage things. I can tell you with complete confidence that he's a good kid - better than most. He wouldn't do anything to hurt her or betray our trust. We're much better off with her hanging out with him than anyone else. Trust me."
He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment before nodding and looking at me again. "You're right, sweets. I know it, but that still doesn't make this any easier. She's my little girl – she'll always be my baby – and these are young, hormonal, teenage boys..."
Bella's door closed, abruptly putting an end to his argument. I sighed and pleaded softly with him to try to relax. He nodded right as Bella poked her head in to say she was leaving. I turned to her and said, "Have fun, Bella."
Charlie cleared his throat. "Yeah, have a good night, Bells. Don't forget...midnight."
I bit my lip when it appeared she was trying not to roll her eyes at him, instead offering a quick, "Okay, see ya," before hurrying out the door.
Turning back to face Charlie, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and hugged him. I whispered in his ear, "Not too bad for letting your cygnet out to fly for the first time, Papa Swan."
His arms went around my waist even as he grumbled at my teasing, muttering under his breath, "Smart ass."
I chuckled, pressing my lips against his neck before lightly grazing his skin with my teeth. "I seem to recall making you a promise earlier, love."
He tightened his hold on me briefly before pulling away enough to claim my lips with his own. We stood like that for a few moments, our bodies molding together as we kissed, but it wasn't long before Charlie began to push away from the counter. He never broke our kiss as he walked me backwards, moving us through the kitchen to the hallway. He started to guide me to the bedroom, but I chuckled and stepped away in the other direction, winking when I saw his pout.
I locked the front door and turned around to see his smile returning. As soon as I was close enough to him again, he pressed me against the wall and kissed me hungrily, one hand cupping my ass while the other lifted my shirt. He pinched my nipple as he bit my bottom lip, and I moaned as I pulled my head back and whispered breathlessly, "Please, Charlie...I can't wait any longer..."
With a wicked grin, he moved to the middle of the hallway and led me to the bedroom, where I fully planned to make good use of the next few hours we had alone.
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*sigh*
ReplyDeleteI think Carlisle is my favorite :)