Short Stories and Oneshots

The Census Taker

Author: ANGSWIN

Platform: Fanfiction.net

Type: Twilight x Harry Potter

After everything that had happened, Charlie just assumed that he was used to the unexpected and supernatural...and that nothing would ever be able to surprise him again. However, that was before he was visited by the fascinating census taker from the other side of the government!

~~

Charlie Swan sighed as he shoved his unappealing frozen dinner into the microwave and set the timer – especially since he knew that he really should have cooked something healthier. However, it just did not seem worthwhile to go through all of the trouble and mess of cooking when he only had himself to please. After all, Bella had moved out when she had gotten married...and then she had later left the country completely with his granddaughter and the Cullens in order to protect their important family secret.

In addition to that, his relationship with Sue had been over before it even really had time to start. It was not anybody's fault, the two of them had just realized that the only thing they had in common, besides the fact that their children were actually supernatural beings, was their loneliness. However, they were both smart enough to realize that such feelings were not enough to build a relationship and life upon and so they decided to simply remain as friends.

In fact...after just a little bit of awkwardness...Sue had ended up with Billy. Charlie was man enough to admit that his best friend was a much better fit for her than he could ever be. That was especially true since Billy's son, Jake, had also left with the Cullens in order to be near Nessie. Then Sue's son, Seth, had joined them all later, after he had finished school, in order to be near his chosen Alpha.

It was all an extremely complicated situation that Charlie did not fully understand – especially since he was still coming to terms with the unexpected supernatural shift that his previously simple life had taken. The imprinting situation between Jake and his granddaughter had been especially difficult for him to process. Nevertheless, even Charlie finally had to reluctantly admit that it was obvious that ordinary rules could not be applied to their extraordinary family.

At any rate the end result was that he, Sue, and Billy were all missing someone and, consequently, there was no hard feelings between any of them at all. In fact, he had become better friends than ever with both of them because of the ordeal. Unfortunately, however, the end result was still Charlie's microwaveable meal for one.

~~

The man was distracted from such bittersweet musings, though, when a sharp crack of a noise suddenly same from the direction of his front porch. He could not immediately identify the strange sound. Therefore, his police training automatically kicked in and he cautiously made his way to the door – even as he spared a thought to the regrettable fact that he had already locked away his guns for the night. Consequently, he was both surprised and relieved when the crack was followed by a light knock. He still opened it carefully, though. After all, he knew better than most that things were not always as they seemed around his sleepy little town.

However, much to his further surprise, he opened the door to reveal an attractive woman about his age who sported both lively hair and a bright smile. As Chief of Police in a small town, he knew all of the residents by sight...and usually by name, too. Therefore, he instantly knew that she was a stranger to the area...and he could not help but to wonder if her unexpected appearance was connected in some way to the odd sound that he had heard earlier. However, all of this previous unease vanished completely with her first words.

"Hello!" She greeted him in a charming British accent. "Are you Charles Swan?"

Charlie studied the pretty woman with the lovely accent who stood on his threshold. Despite the mystery of her identity, he felt a private little thrill run through his body from her presence. With that feeling came a small push from his subconscious that encouraged him to stand a little straighter and to automatically tighten up his abs – even though he normally kept himself in pretty good shape.