I see where getting the hang of reviewing, still wishing there was a few more considering lots of people have this story on their alerts!

Also I am really really r-e-a-l-l-y sorry about the late update, its been a stressful time at my place over Christmas along with work.

But HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

So, here we go again =]

Chapter 4.

EPOV

"What happened to you?" I asked quickly, needing to know why she had changed so much.

"I grew up. What other option did I have?" Her voice was quivering and I shifted my footing uncomfortably, "That's what happens when you have to raise a child on your own"

"I didn't have an option-" I began, wanting to explain to her so badly, what had happened to me.

"You always had an option. Don't give me that shit!" She yelled back at me. I stood there like a stunned fox in the headlights. I was a teenager back then and I made a bad decision, and yes, I was completely ashamed of that decision now but Bella should accept that I was too young, too confused.

"I know... okay... I want to be a part of her life okay? Starting from today," I said taking a step forward, "And I can't do that if you want to continue to harbour this animosity... this hatred toward me. We need to act like adults, make adult decisions... But whether you like it or not Charlotte is going to have a little brother or sister in the picture soon and I know how hard it is to not have family in your life"

Her face contorted into a snarl, and I knew instantly I shouldn't have bought up my other unborn child, but it's the facts, and I knew she could handle anything I had to tell her.

"I'll be in contact with you" She said before walking off quickly, getting into the old rusted cab and driving away. I stood in the one spot for what seemed like eternity before sighing.

"Shit" I mumbled walking over to my Volvo and sitting in the passenger seat. "Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!" I half yelled, repeatedly punching the steering wheel, every time it was hit it beeped.

I rested my head on the wheel and mulled over what just happened.

"I met my daughter" I mumbled, rolling my head to one side to see out the window.

"I met my ex-girlfriend again" I rolled my head to the other side.

"My daughter thinks I'm great" Rolls head.

"My ex thinks I'm a dickhead" Rolls head.

"My daughter looks like me" Rolls head.

"My ex looks like she wants to kill me" Rolls head.

I hit my head on the steering wheel a few times before it really began to hurt and I rubbed the spot on my head where it hurt.

I can't quiet remember how long I sat there for, I just remember thinking about Tanya and our unborn child, bringing a small smile to my lips before the guilt set in. Years and years, I wasn't there.

I never got to change nappies, urge her to let go of me on her first day of school, buy her Christmas presents- birthday presents, family dinners, take her on play dates, fight with her, laugh with her, watch her sleep...

I never did any of that. It is a wonder why Bella didn't want to kill me the moment she laid eyes on me.

However, I have my reasons. Reasons beyond which Bella cannot get angry at me for, and if she continues to treat me like an absurd teenager, I'll be the bigger person and walk away. I mean I teach teenagers, how much harder can having a teenage daughter be?

...?

I picked my phone up, slowly taking my head off the steering wheel, feeling the bump already starting to prickle on my forehead and reached for my phone in my breifcase.

"Emmett... hey... can I come over for a chat?"

-x-

"COME ON JETS!!!! WHOOOOO" I closed the door behind me and walked into the lounge room, Emmett was sitting on the sofa, beer in one hand a bowl of popcorn in the other, he was half sitting on the couch-ready to jump up at any moment, "COME ON!" he roared again, flinging the popcorn around the room. His eldest daughter Meagan, 13 standing on the sofa screaming profanities at the T.V. along with chucking chips at it. She wore Emmett's old Jets jersey along with his old football helmet.

I slumped down in the open chair and ran my fingers over my forehead, before pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Who are we playing?" I asked casually and quietly.

"Dolphins..." Emmett murmured, not taking his eyes off the T.V.

"And we are mauling them! 42-17, 10 seconds to go..." Meagan said, her eyes were scanning the television so quickly I wondered if she was actually taking anything in.

I waited patiently, and smiled when he started running around the room with his Jets shirt over his head, piggy-backing Meagan. Finally, after he had calmed down, he walked into the kitchen and returned with two beers in hand.

"Meagan, can you give us a sec?" Emmett said looking at Meagan as she was still celebrating. She nodded and bounded up the stairs before playing their home theme tune loudly. "What's up?" I took a sip of my beer.

"Bella's back" I said solemnly. He nodded and reached for his bag of chips. He always had spare junk food lying around.

"Yeah, heard that from Alice this morning... have you seen her?" I nodded took another sip. "How did that go?"

"It was wrong, like... I don't know. But I met my daughter... Charlotte Louise, she's incredibly. Like this feisty little teenager. She looks exactly like Bella, but has my eyes and definitely Mum's confidence" We both smiled and took a sip of our beers.

"So what are you going to do then? I take it Bella isn't letting you off the hook..."

"Well, apart from the fact that she thinks I'm this womanizing impregnating bastard, she was exactly as I remembered... No joke Em, She looked incredibly... like she hadn't aged a day since 17" It was silent for a few moments before I smiled and he gave me an odd look. "But no, she was cold, stubborn and outright murderous" I paused and looked at the T.V.

"DAD!" Meagan said, bounding down the stairs before coming to a halt, out of breathe.

"What?" he said defensively,

"Mum's home!" Emmett jumped up off the sofa and I looked out the front window to see Rose walking up the path holding onto Ashleigh's, their youngest only 6 years old, hand whilst fiddling through her bag. Emmett quickly began picking up all the popcorn along with Meagan and throwing it under all surfaces.

"Quick Edward, hide the beers" Em said she he shove all the empty's and our original drinks into my arms and through the kitchen door. I stashed them in the bin then walked back into the lounge room.

"I thought you weren't feeling well? I mean... that's the reason you couldn't come to my mother's wasn't it?" Rose was livid. I could see it past her cold hard demeanour. "Edward," She said as she walked over to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Rose," I replied with.

"You're both grounded" Rose said starting for the kitchen, still holding onto little Ashleigh's hand. I found it absolutely hilarious that Rosalie can get away with grounding her husband.

"But Mum-" Meagan started before Emmett interrupted.

"I swear I was feeling unwell until Meagan came down-"

"Don't even pin this on me dad!-"

"Clean up the lounge room!" Rose bellowed from the kitchen. I smiled and decided to take my leave. I really don't think I could put it off any longer.

-x-

BPOV

Knock, knock, knock.

"Mum... mum come out, please"

Footsteps going away.

Footsteps coming back.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Bells... come out of there. Charlotte wants to talk to you"

Waiting.

Waiting.

"That's the only bathroom in the house with the only toilet in there..."

Waiting.

Footsteps going away.

Is this what my life has become? Has it really become this so... self indulge? Is that the right term? Has it become so hopelessly nothing that I really, really just don't care?

In truth I should be acting like an adult about this whole situation, you know calling Edward sitting down talking with him, maybe even having a coffee, discussing the years that have slipped us both by, the we should be acting like mature adults to discuss our daughter's life.

But no.

And I cannot do that because this man has haunted my dreams for the past 18 years. From the moment his sad lost eyes locked on mine that day when I was being driven off, to today when his smile reached his eyes because of our daughter I couldn't hide this secret anymore.

I was still irrevocably unconditionally in love with him.

But he'd hurt me.

Hurt me so bad I don't ever want to take that chance again, and that's possibly the main reason I kept Charlotte away from him for so long. It was because of my own selfishness that she never knew her father. And I'm almost positive that that makes me a horrible person.

A selfish, horrible person.

And I mean I care, of course I do. But how could someone be so blinded by the truth? So blinded by the existence... I need to stop thinking of this, stop thinking of him because I will tell you a secret.

Boys complicate EVERYTHING.

And I mean everything.

The glass should always be half-full... then why am I looking at it half empty? All the time?

Currently I was curled up on my side still in my towel after having my shower, on he floor of the bathroom. And honestly, I just couldn't summon the energy to stand up. But it was different. Fifteen years ago I promised myself I would not cry again over a certain Edward Cullen and now as I lie here, willing myself to cry I just can't seem to summon up the energy too.

"It's all a mess" I groaned, pulling my legs up to my chest even tighter. And closing my eyes.

I watched at the images flashed behind my eye lids and I could almost feel tears begin to well up in my eyes before-

"Mum I really need to go to the toilet!" Charlotte said, banging her hand on the door really hard.

I groaned and stood up, pulling on my dressing gown in the process. I quickly looked myself over in the mirror, noticing my blood shot eyes of the lack of water in them before opening the door and walking past charlotte.

"Mum... Mum we need to talk-"

"So you didn't need to go to the toilet then?" I snapped back. I know it wasn't necessary but I just needed to be alone.

"Jesus mum take a chill pill-"

Not now Lotty!" I snapped again, trying to slam the door in her face but she got into the room before I got a chance.

"No. I need to know what is going on!" She half yelled at me.

"You're too young-"

"I'm older that you were when you first got knocked up!"

"Stop saying it like that Charlotte, stop saying it like I was some stupid-"

"Maybe you were. Haven't you ever heard of protection?" She sneered back at me.

"And then you wouldn't be here" I said turning to face her.

"Mum I don't get it! I'm Sorry okay?..." Her harsh tone eased up a bit "But It's not fair. I just met my dad for the first time today and I want to be able to talk to my mum about my feelings and what is going through my mind. Instead she locks herself in the bathroom and refuses to speak to me for hours on end-"

"Okay... what do you want to talk about Lotty?" I said in a defeated tone.

"Nothing of great importance, well. I mean it is important but you know. I can't believe it mum!" She said with a squeal at the end. She jumped on the end of the bed and bounced up and down happily. "He's incredible-" I knew that "And he has a sense of humour-" I knew that too "And his first love is teaching he said, but he secretly wants to by really old cars and do them up and sell them-" He always wanted to do that, "And he said I look just like you-"

"Everybody says that-"

"Yeah but MY dad said that. So it makes a big difference" She had the biggest shit eating grin on her face that I knew I couldn't wipe off with a few words so I nodded and sat down on the bed next to her.

"What else did you to chat about?" I asked casually.

"Not a whole lot. We only really had about 5 minutes together. But when I mentioned Charlie he got this enormous smile on his face and I get the feeling that it reminded him of you"

"Of course it did" I said with my own smile. "I've only ever called him Charlie behind his back since I was little..."

"But he seemed hesitant mum. I got the feeling he was on edge" I nodded.

"When Edward can't control a situation he was always nervous about the outcome-"

"It's more than that. I want someone to tell me what is going on..." She leant over to me and put her arms on my forearms.

"I can't. I promise you I will tell you... just not now" I said placing my hands on top of hers.

"Will you come and talk to Charlie then?" She asked rubbing up and down my shoulders.

"In a moment honey..." I gave her a kiss on her temple and watched as she walked out of the room.

I sat down on the bed, putting my elbows on my knees and my face in my hands. I should have refused to leave 18 years ago.

I should have told Charlie that I bluntly refuse to leave, maybe this whole situation would be a bit easier IF I had just not left.

"Why me?" I grumbled out.

I got dressed, cleaned the shared room, talked to Renee for a little bit and just when I was certain I had nothing else in the room to occupy my attention I walked downstairs.

"Dad, would you please talk to me in the kitchen?" Lotty looked up from her spot on the couch with her homework scattered all around her and went to move also. "No, just your grandfather" He looked up also before walking out of the room.

"Why?" I asked as I turned the kettle on and turned around to look at him.

"Bella, if only you knew the full extent to which-"

"You were ruining-"

"Don't be dramatic Bella!" Charlie snapped at me.

"Why are you not taking this seriously?" I almost yelled back at him. I furiously walked over to the cupboard and grabbed a mug down.

"Do you think I don't appreciate the seriousness of the situation Isabella?"

"But why did you have to lie?" I looked at him, I wanted an honest answer.

An answer to the question I have been asking myself for years.

"Because it was the only way" he stammered out. He quickly walked to the fridge and grabbed a beer out, opting to stand next to the kitchen sink instead of sit down at the table with me.

"To lie?" I asked accusingly.

"I was always raised to tell the truth! And the person lying to me is the one who taught me wrong from right!" I paused to look him straight in his dark brown sorry eyes. "Has everything you've told me in the past 15 to 18 years been a lie Charlie Swan, Chief of Police?"

He looked utterly guilty, and for once, I did not feel sorry.

"Don't you get it Bella? One less person out of this town the better for everybody. You had a chance to get out, and excuse to get out of this godforsaken town. And I threw you out with all my might. It wasn't that you were pregnant, it was a chance to make something of yourself, somewhere else" he looked at me, begging me to see reason.

"What is so wrong with this town?"

"I didn't want you to end up like me, in a boring-"

"Safe environment" I interrupted quickly.

"In a dead end small, gossiping town" he finished.

I looked at his eyes, quickly moving back and forth from one to the other.

"Okay I see your reason with trying to get me out. But why him? You wanted to shot him after it happened" I said quietly. No doubt charlotte would be listening on the other side of the door.

"We wanted to get him out also. He needed a fresh start to make something of himself, he has a brilliant mind, and could make amazing things happen anywhere else, like you... but look where he ended up anyways" he said softly.

I could finally feel the tears beginning to clog up my vision and I swiped them away with the tip of my finger.

Yes he had a brilliant mind.

And yes he could make things happen anywhere else.

And almost everyone else in this town needed a fresh...-

"Wait" I said suddenly looking up at the man who raised me. "What do you mean- 'We wanted to get him out also'," I stood up and walked over to him, making sure he knows I'm furious.

He didn't say anything for a few moments and it clicked in my mind.

He continued to stare at me.

I could almost feel his guilt seeping through my anger.

I said the name so bluntly I knew I could have ground a pencil with my teeth.

"Esme"

Chapter End

I really am sorry again this chapter took so long to load, and I know I was bound to have a few spelling mistake because of my hurry to get it posted, but I still hope you enjoyed it.

Also! Totally think rOcKeRfOoL is impatient- but I still love it. Makes me love updating even more =]

Reviews are loads better than being grounded from your significant other :p