Hi all!

So, this is a re-write of my series Alone/Together/Thankful. It's so much better this time. Updates will happen at the same time as on Twilighted. It's not validated over there yet, but I decided to post over here, too.

If you visit my profile, you'll see I now have a blog. Please check it out. You'll find teasers for upcoming chapters.

Enjoy!

Chapter 1

CharliePOV

What a long day, I thought as I got into my cruiser. It wasn't a busy day, but most of it was spent catching up on paperwork and returning phone calls. At around two, I started to get an overwhelming feeling that I needed to get home. I couldn't figure out why, but it was definitely at the forefront of my mind. At around three, Bella sent me a text telling me she was home from her doctor appointment and that Alice was over. This was nothing new. The two of them were glued at the hip. That is, when she wasn't with Edward.

Edward Cullen, Alice's brother, was a good kid; athletic, smart, and polite. Traits like that were rare these days in teenagers. When Bella brought him over to introduce me, I thought I would have to worry. But she assured me they were being safe and that they were taking things slow. That didn't stop me from having "the talk" with her. To say we were both embarrassed and uncomfortable would be an understatement. I didn't know if she had already had this conversation with her mother, so I knew it had to be done. I wanted to make sure she heard it from one of us.

When I arrived home, I found Bella sitting in the living room. Her legs were pulled up to her chest and her head was buried in her hands. Alice was with her as well.

"Hey, Alice. What's new in your world?"

Alice gave me a weak smile. "Uh, call me later, okay, Bella?"

"Yeah," Bella said. It sounded like she was crying.

Alice left without saying a word to me, which was odd because she's usually so vocal. On any given day she would rattle on about anything and everything for a good half hour before she'd let me get a word in. I went into the kitchen to put my gear away and noticed dinner hadn't been started. This wasn't typical Bella when she wasn't working at Newton's. I walked back into the living room and sat in my chair.

"How was school, Bells?"

She didn't answer me. She didn't move. Something was wrong. First off, Edward wasn't here. Second, if something was bothering her, she'd be crying up in her room, not down here for me to see. I got up and sat next to her.

"Bells? What's wrong? Is it Renee?"

"No, it's not Renee," she said quietly.

"What is it? You can tell me."

"You're going to be...mad. Disappointed."

"No I won't. Did you fail a test or something?"

"No."

"Did you and Edward break up?" She didn't answer me, but I could tell her crying was heavier now. "Did something happen?"

"Yeah."

"Did he cheat on you?"

"No. I...I'm pregnant, Dad."

Pregnant? My Bella...pregnant? This couldn't be happening. All the air left my lungs and it felt like the room was spinning. Pregnant. My sweet little girl who was going to make a better life for herself than I did was pregnant? Where was Edward? Why wasn't he here?

"Oh," I said. I didn't know what else to say at that moment. What else could I say? "Does Edward know?"

"Yeah. I told him today."

"What did he say?"

"He left. He told me to take care of it or whatever and left. He doesn't want me anymore, Dad. What am I going to do?"

"So let me get this straight," I said. "That little prick gets you pregnant and then decides he doesn't want the responsibility?"

"Dad, please don't."

"Don't you dare defend him, Bella."

"I'm not. It's just...I'm so confused and hurt. I know you're upset and disappointed. I am, too."

"How far along are you?"

"Sixteen weeks. I'm due after graduation."

"What about your mother? Does she know?"

"Yeah. I called her after I got home. She hung up on me. I don't blame her. I feel so stupid. I mean, I know I am, but I feel it, too."

"I thought you guys were being safe?" I asked.

"We were. Every time..." she trailed off. "It was an accident. I didn't mean for it to happen. What am I going to do?" Bella looked at me through her teary brown eyes.

"Only one thing we can do. We need to talk with his parents; figure all this out."

"I can't, Dad. Not tonight. Please? I just want to sleep."

"The sooner we do this, the better. Let's go."

I wasn't going to let Bella go through this by herself. I needed to know what we were going to do; what Edward was going to do. I had heard a few weeks ago that he got into Northwestern University in Chicago. Bella had applied to some pretty prestigious schools as well: Penn State, NYU, University of Minnesota, but had yet to hear back from them. Why she applied to the University of Minnesota I had no clue, but she said their science program interested her. As we drove to the Cullen home, I knew all of this was no longer an option for her should she decide to keep the baby. I prayed she'd choose adoption.

"Charlie," Carlisle said after opening the front door. "What can I do for you?"

"Where's Edward?" I asked.

"Inside. Why?"

"Has he told you?"

"Told me what?"

Bella now joined me at the door. "Can we come in? I think we all need to have a chat."

"Sure."

Bella and I walked in and joined the rest of the Cullens in the living room. The minute Bella saw Edward, she turned to walk out the door, but I caught her arm and pulled her back. Edward looked just as uncomfortable.

"What's this all about, Charlie?" Carlisle asked.

"I think Bella has something to say."

"I can't," she said.

"Yes you can."

Bella took a deep breath, looked at me, then Alice, then Edward. "I'm pregnant."

No one said anything for a few minutes. I could hear Bella crying again behind me. Edward looked bored and was staring out the window. I felt like walking over to him and punching him for his lack of emotion, but figured that wouldn't get us anywhere.

"You're...what?" Carlisle asked. His hands were gripping the back of the chair that Esme was sitting in.

"Are you sure?" Esme calmly asked.

"She's already been to the doctor," Alice said.

"Edward, what do you have to say for yourself?" Carlisle asked.

Everyone was quiet as we waited for Edward to say something. Five minutes passed and he still hadn't said anything. Instead he turned his gaze from the window to the floor.

"He said he didn't...want me," Bella cried. "He said I just ruined his life."

"Edward," Carlisle said, "say something."

"What do you want me to say?" he finally said.

"That you'll be there! That you'll support her!" I yelled.

"How far along are you, dear?" Esme asked.

"Sixteen weeks."

"Ha! We weren't together then!" Edward said.

"Yes we were! Remember that weekend in Seattle?"

"Uh, no. I was in Chicago, remember? That's around the time you were messing around with James."

"I never did anything with James! We were study partners for a project. That's it!"

"Sure you didn't. That guy's wanted you from the minute he saw you," Edward replied as he stood.

"But I only want you!"

"How could you do this?" Edward asked.

"How could I? If I remember correctly, you were there, too."

"Why is it that you're just telling me now? Shouldn't you have noticed before?"

"I did notice. I thought maybe it was just stress from college stuff, so I gave it a few weeks. I wanted to make sure -"

"Yeah, make sure it wasn't his," Edward interrupted.

"That's enough!" Carlisle shouted. "Who knows about this?"

"Just us. Bella hasn't told anyone," Alice said.

"And it will stay that way. There's no way you're going to tell everyone that it belongs to me," Edward demanded.

"It? Try them."

"What?" I asked.

"The doctor did an ultrasound today, and said I was carrying twins," Bella said as she pulled an ultrasound picture from her pocket. I looked at it briefly before handing it to Esme, who then gave it to Edward.

"Well this just keeps getting better and better," Edward said.

"Fuck you, Edward," Bella said angrily before turning for the door. Alice and Esme followed behind her. I stood there, just watching the Cullens. Carlisle was standing by the large living room window; Edward was sitting on the couch; and his brothers, Emmett and Jasper were sitting on the stairs, shaking their heads.

"So? What do you plan to do, Edward?" I asked.

"I don't know."

"Better figure it out quick. But I am warning you, if you so much as tarnish her name or do anything to bring her more grief, you will be sorry."

"Right," Edward said smugly.

"Do not test me, boy."

Bella's POV

As I looked at the ultrasound pictures, I realized my life was already changing, although I couldn't yet tell if it was for the better or not. I didn't know what to do. Do I keep them or give them up for adoption? I was so young, so unprepared. I knew working at Newton's wouldn't allow me to give them the life I would want for my children. Yet, part of me didn't want to lose them. This was all so overwhelming.

Dad called Renee last night and was able to speak to her. He told her I was pregnant with twins. She flipped out of course and wanted to come and get me, but Dad told her that forcing me to uproot in the middle of senior year wasn't the best thing. He said she decided she was coming anyway, if nothing more than for everyone to sit down and attempt to talk like civilized adults.

Like that'll happen, I thought to myself.

Everything was starting to crumble around me. The man I loved more than anything didn't want me; Dad looked at me with sad, disappointed eyes, but said he wasn't mad at me; Renee wouldn't speak to me period; and Alice kept saying things would work out. But how could they? I didn't want to do this alone, yet there seemed to be no hope that Edward would be by my side through any of this.

The next morning, I walked down the stairs, grabbed my backpack and keys for the trunk when Dad stopped me. "Honey, I know today is going to be hard. If you need me, just call. I'll come and get you, even if it's ten minutes after you get there."

"Thanks, Dad. I'm sure I'll be fine."

Charlie gave me a kiss on the cheek and ran back out to his cruiser, which was already running. I stood there for a moment and waited until he was gone before I went outside. Thank God it wasn't raining today. I climbed into my truck, put the key in the ignition and turned it. Nothing. I tried it again. Still nothing.

Looks like you're walking, I thought to myself.

I thought about calling Alice, but decided against it. I needed the quiet to just think about what I needed to do to get through today. I knew it was going to be awful. When I finally arrived at school, I had roughly two minutes before the bell rang. I darted to my locker, grabbed my book, and ran to my first class. Edward was there, only not in his usual seat. Today he sat next to Tanya, a girl I despised more than Jessica. When Edward noticed me, he kissed Tanya on the cheek.

"Oh, Edward, you're so sweet," she said with a smile, while looking at me.

I took my usual seat in the back and prayed today would go by fast. It took every ounce of courage I had to keep from looking and talking to Edward. I couldn't even talk to Alice. My morning sickness coupled with anxiety was not a good thing. I ended up spending my lunch hour in the bathroom. I wasn't hiding - not completely - but I did throw up a few times from the smell of the food. It was a few minutes before the bell when I heard the bathroom door open.

"Did you hear about Edward and Bella?" I recognized the voice as Jessica.

"Yeah. I heard they broke up. How sad," Angela said.

"I heard she's pregnant and doesn't know whose it is."

"What do you mean?" Angela asked.

"You remember when Edward was gone a few weeks ago? Well I heard she was dating some other guy on the side and now she doesn't know who the father is."

The door opened again, but I didn't hear any footsteps.

"What did Edward say?"

"He dumped her right on the spot!" Jessica laughed.

"Shut your mouth!" another voice said. It was Alice. "You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about!"

Angela and Jessica hurried out of the bathroom. A second later there was a light tap on my bathroom stall door.

"Go away," I said.

"Bella, please? You haven't talked to me all day."

"He already has another girlfriend!" I cried. "Tanya of all people!"

"No, they're not dating. I would know."

"But he kissed her right in front of me."

"Bella, please, open the door."

I sat there for a moment, then walked out. She immediately put her arms around me and let me cry. Out of all the Cullens, she was the only one who still talked to me. I didn't understand that. It wasn't like I did this to Emmett, Jasper, or Rose. Why did they have to dump me, too?

"What am I going to do?"

"You are going to wash your face, walk out of here with your head up and not let him know he's getting to you. And, you're coming over tonight, too."

"Alice, I really don't want to."

"Oh relax, Edward won't be there. He's with Carlisle doing something. I'll have you out of the house before he comes back."

"Fine," I said in defeat.

I splashed some water on my face, grabbed a towel, and walked out with Alice. People looked at me, and I wasn't sure if it was out of sympathy, or if they were just curious. Either way, I didn't want the attention. In Biology, Edward sat next to me, but didn't look or talk to me. Inside I was crumbling. How would I get through these next twenty-six weeks without him? I wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.