Safely back at the Swan residence, Edward helped me, again, out of the car. It seemed that he was not yet willing to let go of my former helplessness. I offered no objection as he scooped me into his arms and secured his lips to my own once more. Completely lost in the kiss, I did not notice that we were moving, although that could have been due to the inhuman grace with which he moved. He set me down on my feet in front of the door.

We had stopped to hunt on the way back to the meadow to prepare for my close interaction with Charlie. I could smell him already, and even though I was no longer thirsty, the smell was disgustingly tempting to my weak resistance. As we walked through the front door, the smell became overpowering. I wondered longingly how long it would take for me to be as indifferent to it as Edward, this was borderline torture. The smell had always been present in the house, but now that I had to come face to face with the very core of it, I was concerned.

“No worries.” Edward squeezed my shoulders in encouragement as he felt me tense, “I’ll be right there.”

I nodded weakly and opened the door. Charlie sat stiffly at the kitchen table with Alice and Carlisle. He looked up at Edward and I as we entered. His eyes locked on to my own and grew wide as he surveyed the vivid red around my irises.

“Bella.” He breathed.

“Hey dad, how do you feel?” I edged conversationally as I cautiously walked over to the table and took a seat, grimacing at the intense attraction his blood radiated.

“ I feel…. Alive.” He shrugged.

“Good, lets try to keep it that way.” I joked mildly.

An awkward silence followed my statement, finally broken by Alice.

“Well Carlisle, these three have a lot to talk about, lets give them some privacy.”

Carlisle nodded his agreement and they exited to the living room to stare vacantly at the morning news and tune in their sensitive ears to our conversation, no doubt.

I focused on not breathing as we continued to sit in the quiet.

“Bella, why didn’t you tell me?” Charlie surrendered the silence.