Chapter 21: Epilogue

Twenty Years On

***Charlie's POV

I pulled the door shut behind me and locked it. That should do it. Forty-five years of my life spent in this house and now I was saying goodbye to it. I climbed down the steps then turned and looked back at the place. It was sold to a young couple, just starting out. They'd be moving in tomorrow. I hope their marriage does better than mine did here. All in all, though, living here was fine. I had a good life.

I stood there remembering the first day we moved in. Renee was hugely pregnant with Bella and I insisted on carrying her up the steep stairs and through the front door. It was probably my last romantic gesture in our marriage. I about broke my back getting her up those stairs.

I looked up at the bedroom window that had been Bella's and remembered when she came back to me her junior year in high school, how quiet and observant she was. I think the two years she spent with me in Forks were probably the happiest of my life as well as the scariest. Living with a teen-aged daughter had its mystifications. But we got through it unscathed for the most part, I guess.

I twisted the gold band of my retirement watch around my wrist so I could check the time. I needed to take some links out of the thing so that it wouldn't slip. I had a while to wait, so I squatted down on the bottom step and pondered my strange life.

My stint as the Chief of Police of Forks had ended last night when they had a good luck/good riddance dinner for me. It was a good time. They held it at the United Methodist Church Social Hall in town and just about everyone in Forks came to see me off. The ladies of the Community League pulled together a nice pot luck dinner and in addition to the watch, I got a pretty nice set of fishing lures and a decent fly-fishing rod. My Forks folk new me fairly well, I think. There were the same funny and heart-felt speeches you always hear but I was surprised at who said the funny stuff and who said the heart-felt stuff. All in all, it was a good ending to a good career.

The best part was that Bella was there with Edward and the two kids.

Yep. I had two grandkids; the prides of my life. It seemed that Edward had been a little misinformed about the damn birds and the bees when he told me that he and Bella could never had kids. Go figure. Just about two minutes after he told me that, the bastard got her knocked up. That shows you what he knew.

But he turned out to be a pretty good son-in-law. I had to admit, he was damn good to Bella. And she glowed. There was no other way to describe it. When little Charlie was born, (I mean, they knew how to win the old man over, right?) she took to motherhood like she was born to it. He was a great kid and I loved teaching him how to hunt and fish.

And he was 100% human just like his little sister. He had Bella's brown hair but the kid had the greenest eyes I'd ever seen. Bella said that Edward's eyes had been green at one point but I wasn't interested in hearing why they weren't any longer. The less I knew about that vampire crap, the happier I was.

Charlie was now in college, in UDub, not too far of a drive from Forks. We spent a lot of time together over the past two years. He was studying to be an engineer. He liked to build things and he helps his Grandma Esme and Aunt Alice, who went into the architecture/interior design business together, with their building projects occasionally.

Two years after Charlie was born, Little Renee made her appearance. Although I didn't like the name too much, I'd have to admit, she was a little beauty. Her hair was as red as a penny but her big brown eyes could melt my heart in two seconds flat. She graduated from high school last spring and was now following her mother's footsteps at Flagler College in Florida, not too far from the retirement place that Renee and Phil had bought into. Bella let slip one day that she and Edward were going to give the kids the choice of what they wanted to do with their "lives." Literally. I didn't want to know about that crap either. Like I said, the less I knew, the happier I was. So far, the kids seemed to be enjoying who they were and didn't show any signs of wanting to become monsters. (I realize that was a little harsh, especially since my daughter now was 'one of those'.)

Bella had even mentioned to me that perhaps I'd be willing to make that change myself but I stopped her from even finishing her sentence. Nope. 'Ol Charlie Swan was content to live out his life the way he came into it, a frail, mortal man. I wasn't interested in eternity.

Bella and Edward hadn't come back to Forks much over the years. I preferred to take my vacations at their house wherever that was. They'd moved a few times since they married. Last night, I heard comments about their unnaturally preserved good looks when Jessica Newton whispered to Lauren Cox some catty statement about the amount of "work" Bella had done and how it must be nice to be the daughter-in-law of a surgeon. I had to laugh about that. Bella was never going to look older than the twenty-seven years old she was when she became one of "them."

After Charlie was born, they moved to a pretty nice old house in Chicago. I think Esme and Alice had helped Bella and Edward fix up the place so that it had all the modern conveniences but lost none of its charm. Both Little Charlie and Little Renee were babies in that house. I used to love visiting there, which was surprising as I am not an admirer of big cities, but there was something about Chicago that got under your skin. Edward composed music for a living and the long hairs liked his stuff, I think. You didn't hear it on the radio unless you listened to the classical station. I went to a concert once where they were performing one of his pieces and it put me right to sleep. Edward wasn't Willie Nelson when all was said and done.

When Little Renie (well, it was better than Renee, wasn't it?) was about two, I was invited to visit when they dedicated a memorial garden in honor of Edward's parents. Now, that was sort of funny since Carlisle and Esme were sitting right there on the front row but I wasn't going to say anything. There was a little square near Edward and Bella's house that had been pruned, preened and planted with maple trees and flowers. There were several paths that meandered throughout and benches were people could sit and enjoy the passing scene. Edward was there with this shriveled up old guy that was some cousin of his, John Masen. It was a pretty summer day and the bar-b-que was good, so, really I had nothing to think about it. Being the father-in-law of a vampire just taught you to roll with the flow and not to ask questions unless you needed to. I found I didn't need to very often.

Shortly after the dedication, Edward and Bella moved to Northern Canada, leaving the grandkids in the capable hands of Carlisle and Esme who moved into their house in Chicago. Bella and Edward were expected to be away for at least a year.

It was in Canada that my Bella became one of 'them.' I visited the grandkids a few times while Edward and Bella were gone and I was able to see Bella on Skip or Skype or some sort of computer gizmo. She talked to the grandkids every night that way. She would read them a story and listen to them talk about their days. I could tell she missed them. She didn't look too much different than she used to. But then, I always thought Bella was beautiful. She surprised everyone, though. She was able to come back home six months after she left. Seems that Edward had brought up with them several articles of clothing and stuff so that she could be desensitized to – well, I think that qualified as more than I wanted to know. I did notice she had one of my flannel shirts with her. She was wearing it when I spoke to her on the computer myself.

Renee, Bella's mother just proved to everyone what a goofball she was in asking Bella every time she saw her what beauty products she used to keep her skin so clear and pretty. She didn't even seem to notice that Bella's skin was always room temperature and her eyes were now light golden brown rather than that deep chocolately color she was born with. I sort of missed them myself. Renee didn't notice anything other than that Bella seemed to have the beauty product market cornered. I told you she was a goofball.

They moved with the kids to Portland, Maine for a while, then to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Finally, two years ago, the whole Cullen clan moved into to a big house in Vancouver, British Columbia. I was invited up for their first Christmas there and got reacquainted with the whole family.

Jasper was a historian. He wrote a lot of books about the US Civil War and it seemed he was gaining some clout in those egg-headed circles that read that sort of thing. We had some very interesting discussions about war strategy and small arms fighting. You'd think he had been in a war himself the way he talked.

The snooty blond, Rosalie, was always working in the laboratory Esme built on the back end of their property. For some reason, I noticed there was a hot tub on the deck attached to it. The big guy, Emmett seemed to like it. He was in it almost every night.

I guess that went with his occupation. Emmett was a personal trainer and in great demand. Evidently, he was really good at helping overweight people get back into shape. Since he was such a pretty upbeat and friendly guy, around him you always felt like anything was possible. I guess that's the kind of encouragement the out of shape needed.

Bella was always able to get a teaching job where ever they moved. She had gotten her master's degree and was now teaching part time in a community college. I think plans were on for her to get her doctorate degree eventually. She was always happy learning something. Her mind was never still.

And the two of them, Edward and Bella, seemed to be as crazy about each other as they ever were if not more so. You could feel the electricity in the air when those two were in the same room. And really, they'd been married for 20 years, you'd think they'd be done with all the handsy crap that went on between them, but no, not them. If they were standing still, Edward's arms were always around Bella, his nose buried in her hair. I don't know what kind of shit she washed her hair with but, man, you'd think she'd get tired of the way he was always sniffing her, like he was some sort of cat with a hunk of catnip. But then, my daughter was always a little strange in what she liked.

And here I was, leaving Forks for the second time in my life. (The first time was when I went to school in California where I met Renee). Esme and Carlisle had invited me to come live with their family and after thinking about it, I figured that was an offer I couldn't refuse. I'd be close to my daughter and see my grandkids when they were about. Vancouver had plenty of places to fish and hunting wasn't that far off. I think I'd be content there.

Just then, Bella drove up in her SUV, smiled brilliantly at me, rolled down her window and called out, "Come on Dad! It's time to go." For a vampire, my daughter was still pretty great.

Yes, my life was strange, but you know what? Strange can be pretty damn good.

FINI

AN: Well, my friends that's it. I hope I entertained you along the way. Please be sure to leave a note telling me what you liked or didn't. Constructive Criticism is always welcomed. I may be writing some out takes, if there's interest.

I thank you for being so awesome.

Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Outtake Mother Elizabeth

I heard childish squeals mixed with a baritone chuckle and looked up out of the kitchen window smiling at the scene in front of me. Edward was pushing one year old Charlie in the rope swing that was newly hung from a large branch of the maple tree in the back yard. Both of my men were gleeful and I smiled fondly.

We'd lived in our new/old house in Chicago for almost a year and I couldn't imagine a more wonderful place to raise a child. I supposed my original in-laws, Edward and Elizabeth Masen had felt the same way as they raised their child in the same home, that child who is now the father of my baby and husband of my heart. I stood there in utter contentment, marveling how my life had worked out. It was supernaturally incredible.

I sighed as I watched the two, my hands automatically peeling the potatoes I had rinsed. Suddenly, a little thrill, a frisson, caused me to shiver and the hair on my arms and at the nape of my neck stood on end. I saw movement from the corner of my eye and I slowly turned my head.

Standing just feet away from me was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. She was looking at the same scene as I was, Edward and Charlie playing on the swing. She was a little shorter than me with glorious dark bronze hair that was loosely arranged in a chignon at her neck. Soft curls escaped their confinement and I could imagine that she had the same trouble Edward did keeping that mane subdued. Her green eyes sparkled as she stared out of the window, evidently loving the view she watching. Her dress was simple and flowed from her shoulders to her ankles in elegant lines.

I was startled but not afraid. The woman radiated genuine love and peace putting me at ease. And curiously, I knew exactly who she was: Elizabeth Masen, Edward's biological mother who had died during the Spanish influenza epidemic of 1918. From the stories Carlisle and Edward both told, it didn't surprise me that Elizabeth showed up. Of course she would want to know how Edward's life had gone.

Over the next few months, Elizabeth visited us regularly. She never said anything, just looked in on our doings with a beatific smile that exuded happiness.

After the first visit, I would see her often. I'd be rocking Charlie to sleep in his nursery to find her smiling down on us as she stood in the doorway. I'd be hanging laundry on the line in the back yard, Charlie playing at my feet, and I'd look up and see Elizabeth watching from my bedroom window. I'd see her standing on the landing, listening to Edward work on a composition in the music room. And there were times when Edward, in a fit of passion, would take me into his arms and kiss me silly. When I would look over his shoulder, Elizabeth was there smiling at us. When she'd notice I was watching her, she'd smile her thanks and then fade away a shade at a time until she was gone.

I didn't mention seeing Elizabeth to anyone. She never communicated in words but somehow she made her preferences known. She was happy. She was content. She was thankful. But she made it plain to me that her visits were our secret and our little family, our shared joy.

I was also wondering if perhaps I was going crazy. I mean, most people don't see dead people, do they? And I was only seeing one dead person; the mother of my husband, someone who had died more than 90 years ago.

I was in a dreamy fog in those days; blissfully happy in my home with my husband and baby son, a son I didn't think I would ever have. Now, I couldn't imagine an existence without him. I know I was blessed. I had been willing to give up the possibility of motherhood in order to be with the love of my life, Edward. We didn't think a child was possible for us. We didn't believe a vampire could father a baby with a human in the regular way. It was a surprise to everyone when we proved with our little Charlie that it could be done.

I agreed to marry Edward; heck, I agreed to spend forever with Edward under the condition that I could spend forever with him. That meant that I needed to become like he was, a vampire. My human life would be too short. But when we found I was pregnant with Little Charlie, we put those plans on hold.

In fact, the reality of Charlie caused us to refigure a lot of our plans. I mean, how do vampires rear a human baby after all? We decided that perhaps I should stay in my soft, immortal form for a while, so that I could be the human momma that Charlie needed.

But Edward proved that vampires could be excellent parents. His supernatural skills unexpectedly lent themselves to it. Edward took the night shifts with a fussy baby, as he didn't need to sleep. That insured I got the much coveted rest that was often elusive for the parents of infants. Edward could also read little Charlie's mind – or at least see the image of what Charlie was crying about. We didn't have to guess, like a lot of parents did. Plus, Edward could tell a poopy diaper from a wet one three rooms away.

Edward loved every part of being a daddy. He sang Charlie nursery songs. He played for Charlie on the piano. He changed him, he bathed him, and he even braved his disgust of human food and would feed him, venturing a taste or two to try to encourage Charlie to eat.

It was one of my greatest pleasures to watch Edward and Charlie together. It gave me a warm feeling and my heart wanted to burst with the love I had for them.

So, I knew exactly how Elizabeth felt when she watched us.

One night, after we put Charlie to bed, Edward slipped between the covers of our bed to hold me as it was our habit. Sometimes Edward would hold me all night if Charlie would cooperate. This particular night, Edward pushed me away a little so he could look into my face.

"Bella, I've noticed something."

"Yes?"

"The other night when I was reading Charlie a story I thought you'd come up behind us but it was strange. I felt you right there but I could hear your heart beat in the kitchen, completely on the other floor. I turned my head but the feeling evaporated.

"Then the next day I was sitting with Charlie in the middle of the living room floor and I felt the same feeling but this time I looked up at you and saw you were looking beyond me, like you were smiling at something there. When I turned, there was nothing there."

"Oh."

"Oh? Do you know what I am talking about?"

"Yes, I do but I thought maybe it was a figment of my imagination, or I was going crazy."

"What?"

"I've been seeing your mother, Elizabeth, watching us for the past few months – her ghost or her spirit – I suppose."

"WHAT?"

"See, you think I am crazy."

"No, I don't but, please, tell me what you know."

"She's been visiting us for the past few months, watching us. It makes her incredibly happy. I am glad you are beginning feel her. Maybe soon you'll see her, too."

"Wow," was all Edward would say, then he looked around our darkened bedroom as if he could see her at this moment. He pulled me closer to his side and he whispered, "So, she watches us doing normal everyday things?"

"Pretty much."

He whispered in my ear, "Do you think she watches us make love?"

"Edward!"

"I hope she gives us privacy for that sort of thing." His eyes were darting around the room.

"I've never felt or seen her presence during those times, Edward. I don't think your mother would want to see you have your way with me, to be honest."

"How about the times you have your way with me?" His hand slid down my back to cup my buttocks.

"Do you think she'd be shocked to know how often I molest you?" I pushed my hips against his and felt his stiffening arousal.

"I think she'd be mortified but probably no more mortified than knowing that I can make you crow like a rooster when my tongue does its magic down below."

"Oh Shut! I do not crow like a rooster!" I sniffed but Edward just laughed.

"Cock-a-doodle-doo," he teased.

I rested my head on his chest as I nestled in his arms, "You don't think your parents had that sort of love-life, Edward?"

"I don't know, honestly. My father never had a man-to-man talk to me because, in his mind, I was too young at the time. Wasn't it Queen Victoria who told her daughter to 'close her eyes and think of England?' She was a good old example of the times and my folks were a part of it."

"I hope they did enjoy their private times, Edward. Ours means so much to me."

"You like how I make you feel?" Edward asked, even though I knew he knew the answer.

"Absolutely. Always." I smiled into his eyes, his hands slid further down my thighs and he lifted me up so that was lying flat on top of him. He then adjusted our positions so that he could kiss me full on the mouth.

I purred into his kiss. "How do I make you feel, Edward."

"Alive. Awed. Amazing. Aching. Anxious…"

"Anxious? As if you were anticipating something wonderful?"

"Affirmative." His hands stroked down my thighs and he pulled them apart so that I was straddling him, my body deliciously aligned over his, pressing against him. I rocked my hips once or twice.

Edward moaned.

"Are you feeling a little anxious right now, Edward?"

"Aye. Anxious, aching, … aggressive."

Suddenly, Edward flipped us both over. I was lying on my back and Edward was propped over me, sliding my night gown up (I now wore night gowns instead of pajamas specifically for ease of access. Yes, I was a minx.) Edward groaned as he felt my bare body under him and he let me feel the full force of his 'anxiety' as he kissed me deeply – so deeply that I could faintly taste the sweetness of his venom, something that rarely happened.

Without much more foreplay, his boxers were off and he was inside me, slowly bringing me to my peak. He never stopped kissing me, his hands lightly brushing my nipples as my delight climbed higher and higher. I slid my hands down and gripped his butt, encouraging his movements.

I hit my peak just as he lifted off of me and arched his back, gasping my name in rapture. I could feel his shuddering cold release deep within me, bringing me completely to fulfillment. He collapsed into my arms and we lay there together blissfully spiraling back down to reality.

"How was that?" I asked, wanting to revisit our delight in words.

"Amazing. Awesome," he said in a breathy voice, then added in a completely different tone, "Awkward."

Surprised, I looked at him and saw him staring at the doorway our room. Following his gaze, I looked knowing what I'd find and there she stood, Elizabeth.

Her lips were twisted in a knowing smile, her eyes were sparkling under her arched eyebrows as she watched us. Fortunately, the duvet was still covering our lower halves but my husband was still inside me. Awkward, indeed. I now know how I would have felt had Charlie ever walked in on Edward and me in my bedroom during our courtship back in Forks. I was mortified. I kept on telling myself "we're adults," "we're married," but I was still utterly embarrassed. And of course, I blushed.

Even with his quick vampire mind, Edward was paralyzed with shock. After all, he hadn't seen his mother in ninety years and the first glimpse that he gets of her is right after he had made love with me – as we were still mostly naked - as he was still lying between my legs - as the ghost of his mother smirked at us from across the room.

The first thing Edward did was to roll off of me and make sure I was decent. Then he sat up (the duvet was covering his lap) and said in a shaky voice, "Mother?"

Elizabeth's expression changed as she looked at her son to one of loving adoration. I could feel the warmth of it permeating the room. And then she slowly faded from sight.

We both watched her fade, then turned to each other with questioning looks on our faces. "How long do you think she was standing there?" I asked.

"I don't know, Bella. My focus was elsewhere." He smiled down at me.

I sat up, "Do you think she's going to watch us every time from now on?"

"I have no idea, Bella. I hope not. I really don't want my mother to even know I do these things, you know?"

"She didn't appear to be very shocked, Edward. Maybe she's not as prudish as you thought."

"I wonder why she's visiting us. Shouldn't there be somewhere else she should be?"

I shook my head, stifling a yawn, "Maybe this is her heaven, Edward, seeing her son happily married with a sweet grandson. Maybe this is where she wants to be." I yawned again, "I am tired, I think I will sleep now. Hold me?"

Edward leaned back as I wrapped my mini-electric blanket around me and turned it on. We found as long as I was wrapped up in my little 'hot pocket' – named after an old nickname Edward had – I wouldn't get chilled lying in Edward's arms, where I could sleep all night long. Edward seemed content to hold me and now that Charlie was sleeping through the night, it became our nightly habit. That was my heaven.

Life went on for us as it had been since we moved to Chicago. I was taking some on-line courses towards a master's degree to keep my foot in the door of my career but most of my time was spent in taking care of my two men. Edward was a composer and had some modest success with several pieces. Recently, he was approached to do a sound track for a movie and he was kicking some ideas around with his agent about that. Little Charlie was happy and active and he was the darling of our hearts. With occasional visits from our family members, I couldn't imagine being happier.

My birthday was coming around and I was soon going to be twenty-five years old. One night, Edward found me peering critically into the mirror above our bathroom sink. "What are you doing, Bella?"

"Looking for crow's feet and/or grey hair."

Edward laughed, "There's none there, my love. You are still in the blossom of youth."

"I am aging, Edward. I hope I won't be too much older before I am changed."

Edward sighed. This wasn't his favorite subject but he still was resigned to doing it. It was my choice, after all. "I was thinking that perhaps I should look for a likely home for us to live in during the process. Carlisle and Esme have offered to come here and take care of Charlie for us while you get through your newborn stage." Esme had become a proficient cook since I had married Edward. I finally took the bull by the horns and explained the necessity of double checking the ingredients before she killed me. Accidentally, of course.

"I can't be around my child?"

Edward sadly shook his head, "Generally speaking, newborns are overwhelmed by the blood lust. As much as you love Charlie, he wouldn't be safe until that passed for you."

"I am not ready to leave him, yet." Bella looked sad.

"We still have time, Bella. You don't have to do it until you are ready."

"I am torn. I want it but I don't want to leave Charlie right now. It doesn't feel right."

"Then we won't."

I smiled at him, realizing that life was just a bunch of compromises sometimes, and got ready for bed. I wrapped myself up in my hot pocket and burrowed into Edward's arms. Heaven. Soon, I had drifted off to sleep.

I was dreaming of our meadow, that beautiful place near Forks where Edward first confessed his love and his nature to me but this dream was combining elements of our past with our present. Specifically, this dream was all about the sex. In our original meadow meeting, Edward had to be very cautious in the physical expression of his love for fear of hurting me or killing me. He now was completely in control of his baser natures and our love life was fantastic.

In my dream, we were lying on a blanket in the middle of the glade. I was wrapped in Edward's arms and I was enjoying the warmth of the sun shining down on us. My leg drifted off to straddle his and I could feel his desire responding to my nearness. My hips started to rock against his thigh and I could feel all my thoughts turn to loving him. Emotionally, physically, spiritually I loved him with my whole heart.

Edward shifted me so that I was lying atop him. I traced his jaw with my lips, just skimming lightly. He groaned and I could feel him clench his fingers in my night gown. Night gown? Why was I wearing a night gown in the meadow?

I was distracted from that thought by the play of his fingers along my thighs, drifting higher and higher. My knees spread apart and suddenly I was straddling him while still lying flat upon his chest. Edward grabbed my hips pushed me down onto him. He filled me.

"Bella," I heard him whisper as we moved together in perfect bliss. Suddenly I was awake to find myself overwhelmed with sensation as we made love. I think my blissful moans were what woke me. I sat up arching my back as Edward held my hips and continued to push and pull me into a delightful frenzy.

"Ahhh, Edwarrd," I moaned, teetering on the edge. I was so close, that when his fingers lightly brushed me there, I fell into that honeyed sweetness of sexual satiation. I slumped over Edward's chest, kissing his lips in love and gratitude. "You are such a good lover. I could do this all night."

Edward laughed and turned us to push me down against the mattress, still embedded in me. He kissed my neck and moved his hips in languorous circles, drawing out the orgasm that still popped through my body like silvery firecrackers. He gradually sped his movements and I squeezed my inner muscles causing him to gasp. "Bella, I won't last if you do that again," he said.

So, I did it again. It was his turn to be indulged. He gripped my hips as he shouted out his hot release and I smiled in delight and wonder. The sensation was warm this time - for the first time since little Charlie was conceived.

He collapsed on my shoulder and I giggled in delight.

Holding me close with one arm, he unwrapped my 'hot pocket' that for some reason had gotten wrapped around his legs. "What's so funny, Bella?" he said as he tucked me back up in my electric blanket.

My eyes twinkled at him, "Edward can you tell where I am in my cycle?"

He buried his face into my hair and inhaled, "You're about two weeks away, I'd say."

"So, I am ovulating?"

He inhaled again, not because he had to but because he liked doing it. I was on to him by now. "I'd say you were. Why?"

I put my arms around his neck and kissed his lips, "It was warm this time, Edward, just like it was for Charlie."

My vampire husband gasped in shock, "When you crawled on top me, the electric blanket fell down between my legs. It must have done the same thing the bath tub did the first time."

I nodded. That's the only way it could have happened.

Edward held me close. "How do you feel about having another baby, Bella?"

I thought for a moment. "I am happy. I didn't ever hope for it but if I am, I'm glad that Charlie will have a sibling."

"This will put off your change."

"That's okay. I wasn't ready for it yet anyway. But, you know we may be jumping the gun. Nothing like that could have happened tonight. From what Carlisle said, it takes a lot for our conception wagon to get on the trail."

"Your analogies are very odd, Bella," he chuckled.

"I am an odd woman. I thought you knew that."

"I did. I do. I love it. I love you. Now go to sleep. You need your rest." And he spent the rest of the night cradling me in his arms as if I was a rare jewel. I think I saw the loving shade of my ghost-in-law fade away just before I slipped off to sleep.

Charlie woke with the chickens, as he usually did, and I hopped out of bed before Edward could to go to him. Our day went on as usual. Edward was working on a composition in the music room – what was his father's old study. I tried to put the thought of a pregnancy out of my mind. It would be unlikely that we could once again unintentionally conceive and I focused upon that most likely outcome. I didn't want to let myself hope because suddenly, having another baby was what I wanted more than anything.

I worked out in the garden in the afternoon. Edward was lying down with Charlie while he took his afternoon nap. My husband loved to hold Charlie as he slept. He said that he could watch Charlie's sweet baby dreams.

I was covered with dirt when I finished weeding and digging about in the garden. My impatiens were a riot of soft color having done very well in the sheltered back yard this summer. I was sad to see they were nearing the end of their season. I put my tools in the garden shed and made my way back into the house. I decided to take a shower and get cleaned up before cooking supper.

But I was filthy. I didn't want to drag this muck through the house. I stood in the mud room and listened. I couldn't hear either of my men, so that probably meant Charlie was still down for his nap. I decided to strip off my clothes right there. Leaving them in a pile on the mudroom floor, I sneaked through the first floor and up the stairs completely naked, hoping Edward wouldn't see me. I didn't mind him seeing me that way but you have to admit, it was 'odd' that I was sneaking bare bottomed up the stairs in the middle of the afternoon.

I successfully made it to our bathroom and turned on the shower. Esme had outdone herself with it. We had a huge shower head that hung down from the ceiling and jets of water that shot out from the sides. It was so luxurious; my showers took a lot longer than they needed to. I had just shampooed my hair and soaped up my body when I felt a draft and then Edward's bare arms were wrapped around my waist.

"Oh, hello husband," I smiled.

He pulled me closer so that I was slipping against his hard body, "Hello, wife."

"Are you going to help me with my shower?"

"More likely get in the way of it. Charlie's sound asleep having dreams of puppies. I guess we know what to give him for Christmas this year." Edward stroked his hands up and down my body as I nestled closer.

"A puppy? That sounds like fun."

"Boatloads," he replied vaguely – he seemed to be distracted.

He inhaled deeply, "The steam just increases your delightful fragrance. It's like a drug..."

He stopped mid sniff, in surprise. "Your scent is different, Bella. It's fuller. You smell just like you did when you were pregnant with Charlie."

"Really?" I squeaked. This was too good to be true.

"I think so. I'd bet you're pregnant."

"Edward, you're better than a home pregnancy test," I laughed.

Edward held me, his eyes looking down into mine with joy, "Bella, words aren't enough to tell you how happy I am. I don't deserve this."

I chuckled, "Neither do I but I'll take it anyway."

I hugged him tightly, the warm water washing over us. He lifted my chin so he could kiss me – another patented K.O.A.K, never fear – and we continued on from there.

When we got out of the shower later, I looked across the room at the large mirror that had been installed over the sinks and gasped. There, written in the steamy fog on the glass was a huge heart. Inside was written in old fashioned script, "Many blessings, my beloved children. E. M."

We both were in awe. However, I was really beginning to hope she'd stop checking in on us whilst I was crowing like a rooster.

But in actuality, we never saw her again after that. It seemed that her time with us was limited and once she saw how happily we were settled, she could fade into her own eternity, wherever that was.

And as the rest panned out, indeed I was pregnant and due around the time Charlie would turn two. There was much rejoicing throughout the Cullen, Swan and Dwyer households. Our baby girl, Renee Elizabeth, was born on the tenth of June. Five days later we celebrated Charlie's second birthday and five days after that, Edward's one hundred and eleventieth. I was married to a freaking old man.

Of course, Rosalie wanted an in depth interview on the hows and whens of our conception story. Out of pity for Emmett, we decided not to tell her or Carlisle about the efficacy of a 'hot pocket' in assisting in the vampire conception process. Rose would have poor old Em in electrified boxers in a heartbeat. Emmett never knew how much he owed us.

Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Out take Renie at Sixteen

Out take: Renie at sixteen

The problem with having vampires for parents is they never sleep, they can hear a pin drop from a mile away, and they are obsessed with keeping their fragile human daughter safe. (I wasn't really that breakable, just much more breakable than they were.) To top it all off, my father can read the minds of the boys who are brave enough to show up at our front door to ask for me. He is NEVER happy with what they are thinking for some reason, so he will glower and growl scaring the boy to death and I am lucky if the kid will even say hello to me in the hallways at school the next day. Or the next month.

I may as well have been living in a convent.

I heaved a great, self-pitying sigh and slammed my fist into my pillow. Here I was, Renee Elizabeth Cullen, sweet sixteen and never been kissed. I think I was the only girl in my old school with the same problem. Even Lucy Womble had been kissed by Ricky Stevenson behind the football stadium bleachers field last spring. Ricky Stevenson would kiss anybody - except me. Dad got to him early. (But I really didn't want to kiss him anyway. He had bad breath and smelled like rotten oranges. Yuck.)

My mother was a little more sympathetic but she never really understood the agony I was in. When she was sixteen, the furthest thing from her mind was being kissed by a boy. She couldn't understand my desire. One day I will remind her if she remembered what it was like to be seventeen and not kissed. She and Dad met when she was seventeen and they couldn't kiss because Dad would have killed her. Literally. He got over it, though. Evidence points: me and my brother, Charlie.

And Charlie could care less. He had just graduated from high school and was heading down south to attend the University of Washington. Grandpa Charlie was ecstatic. He'd have his fishing and hunting buddy nearer at hand to help him torture the wild life. I could never understand that particular compulsion.

But anyway, we had just moved to Vancouver and I was attending a new school. No one really knew me there (or my Dad), so I was really trying to figure out how I could meet a young man without my parents freaking out on me. The problem was, Dad could sort of read my mind, as well. Not as well as with everyone else he met except for my mother, but he could get the general gist of my thoughts if I wasn't concentrating on keeping him out. That kept me on my toes. I found that thinking about rap music did a good job of blocking dad, so I've had a steady stream of Snoop Dawg, Lil' Wayne, and Kanye West looping through my mind lately to keep him out. The first day of school was coming up and I wanted this time to be different. I wanted to be normal. I wanted a first kiss - and maybe a second or third one, too.

I loved Vancouver. It was a beautiful city, surrounded by water and mountains. And there were an abundance of Tim Horton shops around for me to get my coffee fix. And our new house was dead gorgeous. Grandma Esme had designed it.

Oh, I just had a thought. I should tell you about my family.

First, there's my mom and dad, Bella and Edward Cullen. Mom and dad met in high school but they knew the chances of a "mixed-marriage" (the mix being my mom was a 17 year old human and my dad was a 103 year old vampire) being successful were dismal, so they broke up. Eventually, when they got their emo out of the way, they reunited and lived happily ever after. Charlie and I were an unexpected blessing. Mom decided to become a vampire so she could stay with dad forever and a more perfect couple, I'd never seen. They really loved each other.

Then there's Grandpa Carlisle and Grandma Esme. Carlisle, an emergency room doctor, was the head of our family, but Grandma Esme was the heart. My grandparents didn't look like grandparents. They looked like runway models but that's only because they were vampires. Old age and debilitation wasn't gonna happen. They were the kindest and sweetest people you had ever met, though. I think they must have been the original hippies because they honestly believed "All You Need is Love" and every day was Woodstock in their world.

Grandma Esme and Aunt Alice owned an architectural and interior design firm. As a result, any home we had was always a thing of beauty and peace. Aunt Alice was the diva of design and she insisted that we all looked our best and had the best. My mom would grumble when Aunt Alice would drag her out for some therapeutic shopping but that's because my mom had always been a creature of comfort. She was happiest in a pair of old jeans and a t-shirt, to Aunt Alice's horror. But I loved going shopping, playing dress up, and having make overs with my Aunt Alice. She just knew a girl had to look her best to feel her best and being as I was the only human in the house (since Charlie was away at school) I needed that extra boost a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes would bring to a girl's confidence. (I wasn't allowed to wear them to school.)

Aunt Alice was married to Uncle Jasper, a historian specializing in the Civil War but really he cheated – he had been in the civil war, so all he had to do is write down what he saw with his own eyes. I teased him about it all the time. Uncle Jasper was my favorite – and you should see him dressed in the confederate uniform Aunt Alice had made for him as a surprise. He'd only wear it at costume parties but, Lord, is it right to say this about your Uncle? He was HOT! But I loved, as a little girl, sitting on his lap listening to him tell me stories; real or made up, I didn't know. His soft southern drawl was the sweetest lullaby. I loved spending time with him. And he loved spending time with me. He said it was because I was so sweet. I sure had him fooled.

Then there were Aunt Rosalie and Uncle Emmett. Aunt Rosalie was the sort of person who didn't mind making sure you knew where your place was in her world and I'd frequently get the sharp end of her tongue, but she made sure no one else was going to ever fuss at me. She was insistent that I learn to protect myself, so we'd frequently kick-box for fun. (Not at each other, because she could kick me into the next country if she wanted to.) She was almost as protective of me as my dad. And that was saying something. Uncle Emmett, her husband, was just a big ball of fun – make that mountain of fun. He was huge and stronger than he was big. He was always up for a game or a joke. I was his conspirator for all the practical jokes we played on my dad. Since dad couldn't clearly read my mind, we could spring a surprise on him once in a while. Uncle Emmy was all for that. I was the only one who could call him Emmy – my privilege for being his co-conspirator. Uncle Emmy never called me Renie (what everyone else called me so as to not confuse me with Grandma Renee, my mom's mom). Uncle Emmy called me Princess. And I guess, if I was really honest with you, that's exactly what I was – Princess Renie of the family Cullen and no one in the family ever let me forget it.

This was the first time since my parents had gotten married almost nineteen years ago that all of the Cullens were sharing a home. Before my parent's marriage, the Cullens had always lived together but when mom and dad got married and had Charlie right away, it was a mutual decision that our small family should have our own place, although we had a constant stream of family visiting.

Evidently, it was hard for vampires to live with humans. First, there was the chance blood could be spilled in the natural course of events – kids fell down and scraped their knees all the time. My mom, dad, and Grandpa Charlie had supernatural restraint when it came to that sort of thing but the rest would be very uncomfortable in that situation. Also, being attacked by a vampire in the throes of blood lust would have an unfortunate side effect for me and Charlie (and mom before she was changed) – we'd be dead. Plus, preparing human meals would be like living next to a paper mill for my vampire family. They really hated the smell of human food in any form: raw, cooking or cooked. Then, there was the fact that humans needed their rest and vampires only used beds for entertainment purposes. It wasn't fair to have a quiet/lights out policy for people who didn't sleep. But then, on the other hand, it was hard to sleep if there was someone else making a bunch of noise. So, they compromised. The Edward Cullens lived elsewhere.

But finally, my Grandma Esme had her heart's desire having us all living together again. She designed a 'compound' that would let the humans do their human thing without impacting the vampires and vice versa but we had a huge common area where we could all hang out and chill. We spent most of our time there. Our 'wing' of the compound had a kitchen that was vented downwind of everyone else and our bedrooms were sound proofed. For some reason my mother, who never slept, was very glad to have it. I heard her mumble to dad that the sound proofing would keep Uncle Emmy's inappropriate sense of humor out of their private business. I had no idea what she was talking about. Uncle Emmy could care less about her teaching and dad's musical composing.

Yes. I loved having my family around and I loved living in Vancouver. All I really needed now were some friends – a boyfriend in particular.

My first day of school was nerve wracking. I was so nervous. It was the first time I would be going to school without someone with me. Charlie was in Seattle having gone down two weeks before to start his first year in University. I hated to admit it, but I was going to miss him. He was unflappable and took everything in stride. He would have helped me get through this day but unfortunately, I was on my own.

Aunt Alice had "looked ahead" to see what I should wear on my first day. You'd think I would already know what I should wear to school, right? Well, I can tell you the truth. What was cool to wear in Minneapolis, Minnesota may not be so cool in Vancouver, British Colombia. Plaids were definitely out in Minnesota but I could see the kids were still wearing them in Canada, or at least in this part of Canada. So, Auntie Alice set me up for my first day's look: green vans, skinny jeans, dark green button up blouse, and navy blue hoodie. The blouse was cut so that I looked a little more curvy than I was. I made sure to pull the zipper up on my hoodie before dad saw me. He wasn't interested in making me look good. I pulled my hair back with a small head band and let my mane (I had my dad's weird hair) flow down my back. There was no controlling my hair. It had a mind of its own and as long as I could keep it out of my face, I was happy. Aunt Alice did my makeup and Aunt Rosalie offered to drive me to school in her fire-engine red BMW. She even offered to put the top down. But mom pulled rank and I rode to school with her and dad in their Volvo SUV (what else?).

"Are you nervous, Renie?" mom asked.

"A little." Then I changed my mind, "Actually I am a lot nervous. Maybe I should be homeschooled."

"Renie, you'll be alright. You'll make some friends. I remember when I went to Forks High the first time. I did okay." She and my dad exchanged a glance in the rear view mirror. Their eyes sort of glazed over and I know what they were thinking about. Mom and dad met on her first day at Forks High. It was almost her last.

"Maybe I'll meet my own soul mate today, hunh?" I asked just to tease my dad.

His response was predictable. He didn't say anything, just narrowed his eyes and growled.

"DAD! You need to cut that stuff out! I am sixteen years old and, while I really don't want to meet my soul mate just yet, I wish you'd back off so that I can be a normal teen ager. Do you realize I've never been on a date in my whole life? That's because you scare the shit out of anyone who shows any interest."

"Renie. Language," mom said.

I mumbled a sorry but then my glorious mom turned to my dad and said, "You really do need to let Renie have these human experiences. If you don't she'll never know whether she wants to stay human or become immortal. You're forcing her into her choice by not giving her one."

He looked a little shocked by that. I guess he didn't realize what he was doing beyond keeping anyone with a penis away from me. I could tell he was going to have to think about that a bit before we could have an intelligent conversation about it.

We pulled up in front of the school and after refusing my parents' offer to accompany me inside, I got out of the car and walked through the double doors into what I presumed was the office. The secretary greeted me and then directed me to the guidance department where I was introduced to an apple-checked counselor who printed out my schedule, gave me a school map, and then turned me loose on the campus. It was still several minutes before the first class was supposed to start, so I found a quiet nook so that I could see where mine was located. I was relieved that it was Math. I always found math easy. It didn't matter where you were in the world, 1 + 1 always equaled 2. That was something I could rely upon. It was comforting.

So, I gathered up my bag, my map, and my schedule and went looking for the room. I found it without too much difficulty and wasn't surprised that no one was there yet, including the teacher. I was ten minutes early. I didn't know whether they had assigned seating or not so I just sort of hovered near the teacher's desk waiting, which just increased my anxiety.

Finally, people started to trickle into the room. I tried to look friendly and make some eye contact but my fellow students pretty much ignored me. Maybe they were as shy as I was (actually, I wasn't shy at all. I am the Princess). One boy sat down in a student desk near me and I asked him, "Excuse me, are there assigned seats in this class?" He just stared at me and didn't answer. When I said "stare" I meant "gawped". His eyes were as big as saucers and his mouth gaped open. Somebody threw a paper wad at his head and said sneeringly, "She asked you a question, retard." I looked over at the boy who did the throwing with disdain. I hated name-calling.

I then turned to the gaping one and said as sweetly as I could, "Well, I am going to assume there aren't assigned seats and sit next to you." I sat down and said, "My name is Renie Cullen. I'm new."

His voice squeaked and he blushed vermillion, "My name is Rand Walker."

"Rand?"

"Yeah. My parents are big Wheel of Time fans. I am just glad I wasn't born a girl. My name would have been Nynaeve."

I laughed. My parents were sort of goofy, too. At least they hadn't saddled me with a weirdo name. I took a good look at Rand and liked what I saw. He was lean and tall with thick blond hair, sort of like my Uncle Jasper's. He had grey eyes and when he smiled – oh, his dimples were to die for. Stop drooling, Renie.

I gathered my wits together and told him, "I was named for my grandmothers. My name is actually Renée but they came up with Renie so they could differentiate between the two of us."

"I think Renie is a fine name," he said gallantly. Just then, the teacher arrived in a flurry of papers and demanded our attention for the rest of class. I sat there and was able to relax for the first time so far that day. Math was math was math – I had no worries there and after learning the teacher's expectations we were set to work on some review problems so the teacher could assess our levels. Rand and I finished about the same time and after we turned in our papers, the teacher let us talk quietly.

"Did you think the review was hard?" I asked.

"Uhm. Not really. It was what we did last year. Did you have any problems with it?"

"No. Math comes easily to me for some reason." His eyes lit up when I said that.

"What other courses are you taking this term?" he asked.

I looked at my schedule, "Let's see, English, Social Studies, Info Tech, Biology, Photography, a study period and eww, I have to take French. I've never taken French before. I was taking German in Minnesota."

"We all have to take French as it is the second language of Canada - and the first in some places back east."

I nodded. "I wonder whose idea it was for me to take Photography?" Mom and dad had registered me for school here while I was finishing up my sophomore year in Minnesota. I wasn't into taking pictures that much.

"Sometimes when you are late in scheduling, you have to take what's left."

I nodded, "Are you taking any of these classes with me?"

He reached for my schedule and looked it over, "I think we will be in Biology together, can I save you a seat?"

I grinned, "Please do!" Just then, the bell rang and we were dismissed. Rand was kind enough to show me the way to my next class. Wow. I think I made my first friend.

As I was sitting waiting for my second class to start, I was trying to remember what my dad told me about mom's first day at Forks High. He said he was drawn to her at first because he couldn't read her mind, then he smelled her and it was a whole new ball game. I had to laugh, my dad the vampire mind reader. It frustrated him that he couldn't read mom's mind unless she let him. I inherited that from her to a degree but dad could read me a little, especially if I wasn't aware of him trying to listen to me.

Hmmm. Suddenly, I remembered how protective my dad was and it dawned on me that dear old dad was probably in the top of a tree somewhere near my school campus following me around with his mind. AND reading the minds of my classmates. Poor Rand.

Well, I had a message for my dad.

Dad?! I thought as clearly as I could, Give it a rest! Go home and love on mom or something.

Then I started internally rapping as loud as I could:

I went asleep last night

Tired from the fight

I've been fighting for tomorrow

All my life.

Yea I woke up this morning

Feeling brand new

'Cause the dreams that I've been dreaming

Have finally come true.

It's a new day

It's a new day

It's a new day

It's a new day

(-Will.)

I think I made my point. It was a new day, a new year, and a new start and I think it was going to be pretty damn good.

Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Out take Bella's Gift

AN: I think this will be th last out take that I will write on this story. I thank you so much for reading and leaving reviews. It's very nice to hear from you.

Out take: Bella's Gift

It's a boy, Mr. and Mrs. Cullen!"

I stood there, still as a statue, and forgetting to fidget. Every cell in my body was in shock as I stared at the little being that was my son. I was a father. A FATHER! I could hardly believe it. It all seemed hypothetical on an emotional level until I saw with my own eyes my son being born. My eyes felt as though they were welling up with tears as grateful and loving emotions overwhelmed me.

I watched as the doctor took our little son over to the warming table to make sure all was in working order. I heard as he called out to one of the attending nurses, "One minute APGAR score: nine."

So, he was healthy. I heaved a sigh of relief and looked down at my wife, my miracle girl. It was a miracle that she loved me. It was a miracle that she wanted to be with me. It was a miracle that she gave me a son. She was staring in the direction the doctor took our baby, a bemused expression on her face. I leaned down and kissed her on her forehead, "Thank you, Bella."

She looked up at me with a happy smile, "For what?"

"For everything." I shook my head in wonder and awe, "Everything." I reached down and grabbed her hand as we heard a strong cry, our baby telling the world he was here.

The doctor, having swaddled our son, brought him over to me, "Would you like to hold him, Mr. Cullen?"

I nodded and held my arms out and took him, making sure my cold hands didn't touch him anywhere on his skin. I looked down into his little red face and was instantly enamored. I could hear his heart beating away like a train engine and his brand new lungs filling and emptying of air. The sound of his blood rushing through his arteries and filling his capillaries was entrancing. I could simply stand here all day and watch the beauty of his bodily functions. "He's beautiful, Bella," I said to my wife. "Would you like to hold him?"

"Oh, yes," she said as she held out her arms for the little one. Her eyes were smiling.

We gazed together at the small wonder she held in her arms. "He's beautiful, Edward."

"You both are," I answered. Bella was glowing, she simply became more beautiful during her pregnancy and it seemed motherhood would do the same for her. My heart was full.

I remembered watching as she walked down the staircase of the Cullen home on the arm of her father on that day last December when she married me. I knew then I was living a dream.

The doctors and nurses had finished their work and set Bella's room to rights – from delivery room to hospital room. Both Bella and the baby were doing well.

"Mr. and Mrs. Cullen, I believe there are a few people who would like to come in and meet the new member of your family," a nurse said, "would you like me to get them now?"

I looked at Bella, it would be her decision, "Give us five minutes alone, first, please," she asked.

The nurse nodded and left the room. I scooted up on the bed and enfolded my wife and my son in my arms. Bella held the baby, who had drifted off to sleep exhausted from being born, then turned her beautiful face to me. I leaned down and kissed her – gratitude, joy, happiness and of course, desire, expressed in my caress.

Bella felt it and laughed, "Edward, you can still want me after witnessing what you just saw?" She seemed amused.

"Oh, Bella, I feel completely unworthy to even touch you. Yes, of course I love you, I desire you, I need you, I want you. This right here," I squeezed them both in my arms, "is my universe."

She leaned towards me and kissed me again and we lost ourselves for a moment. Suddenly the door burst open and Alice rushed in a little too fast for human eyes to see.

"Let me see!" she cried. A few steps behind her were the rest of my family, keeping the ruse up a little better than my excitable sister.

"Alice!" Rosalie chastised, "Remember where you are!"

"No one saw me," Alice shrugged, but held her arms out for the baby, "Can I hold him?"

Bella slipped the little one into his Aunt's arms.

"He's beautiful, Bella," Alice said in awed tones.

Emmett showed up with an armful of sports equipment. I saw a football, a baseball glove, a hockey stick, and a basket ball. I looked at him in disbelief. "Emmett, aren't you jumping the gun a bit?"

"You can never start too early, bro. He's got natural talent." I was wondering how Emmett could tell that from the glimpse he had of the baby.

Esme looked as if she could cry from happiness. She leaned over Bella and myself and kiss us both on the cheek. "I am so happy for you both."

"We're delighted to make you a grandma, Mom," I said.

Esme grinned brightly.

Carlisle was looking at some charts then looked at us, "He's very healthy. He weighed almost ten pounds! And he's twenty one inches long. He's going to be a good sized man."

I looked up to see that Rosalie was now holding the baby. She had a dazed and happy look on her face, "Bella, if you ever need a sitter, I'll be there. I love babies."

Alice was standing next to Jasper, her arms about his waist. He said, "Congratulations, Edward and Bella. He's a fine boy."

I nodded my thanks, looking for the last member of our family. I knew he was here because I could hear his amazed thoughts. I saw him standing in the corner, a shell shocked look on his face.

"Charlie, I am glad you're here. When did your flight get in?" I asked.

Charlie bashfully shuffled over to Bella and said, "As soon as I got the call, I was able to get a flight out of Seattle pretty quick. I got here about an hour ago."

He put his hand on Bella's arm and looked down at her, "How are you doing, honey?"

"I'm great, Dad. It wasn't too bad. The doctor says everything is fine." Charlie leaned down and kissed Bella on the head and squeezed her arm. His thoughts were full of relief and happiness. He then turned to look at the baby. He was awestruck.

Bella and I had decided to name any child we had after her parents. Carlisle and Esme were going to share eternity with us but Renee and Charlie's time with us was brief and I know we'd want a reminder of them after they had gone.

Bella asked her dad, "Would you like to hold the baby?"

Charlie took a deep breath and nodded his head, "Sure."

Rosalie gently laid our baby son in Charlie's arms.

Bella said, "Dad, I'd like you to meet your grandson, Charles Edward Cullen. We're going to call him Charlie, after you."

Charlie was stunned and his eyes filled with tears. He looked at Bella and me, still sitting together on her bed and smiled shakily, then looked down at Little Charlie still sleeping in his arms.

He had to clear his throat a couple of times before he could answer, "Thanks, kids." He looked down at Little Charlie and said, "Hi there pardner."

I pulled Bella a little closer to me and smiled. Carlisle stood next to me and put his hand on my shoulder. I could hear his wordless expression of joy. In fact, joy was the common theme in the thoughts of all my family and this joy centered around the beautiful girl in my arms. Even more that bringing us little Charlie, Bella's presence in our lives had brought the Cullens joy and fulfillment and helped us to become more human than we had ever dreamed of being. It was Bella's gift to us all.

Chapter 25: Chapter 25 OUt take Charlie's a Playa

Outtake: Charlie's a Playa

"Dad?" I opened the front door to my father's home – what had been also my home for a few years as I was growing up – and all the poignant 'coming home' feelings blossomed in my heart. I was happy here. I was devastated here. I was loved here. This home represented stability and my father's unfailing care.

Dad's cruiser was outside but there was no answer to my call, so I walked down the hall to the kitchen and looked around for a note or any evidence of my father.

It was the same as it always had been in there except now I could pick up on a lot more than I ever could before. For instance, I could tell that someone besides my dad had been in here this morning. In fact, I could smell her. Yes, her. Dad had had a woman in here.

Hmmm. I looked around a little more. I noticed that the pictures on the mantel had been rearranged. No more pictures of Renee but a heck of a lot of pictures of Little Charlie and Renie. Yes. Dad had bought into Gramps-hood lock, stock and barrel.

I hadn't been to Forks since I had been turned four years ago. I don't know why that was the case except that it seemed that Charlie preferred to come visit us in our home rather than us coming here. I always thought it was because Charlie liked getting away from the small mindedness of Forks but now I was beginning to think there was another reason. That reason was all around me in scent. I sat down on the sofa and an entirely new scent surrounded me – another woman, different from the first.

I stood and ran up the stairs. The scents of different women were everywhere up here, even in my old bedroom.

What in the heck had Charlie been up to?

I walked to my dad's room dreading what I'd find there and stopped at the closed door. Uhm. On second thought, I decided not to go in there. I backed away as if the door was a live snake and returned downstairs. Perhaps I could have dinner ready for Dad when he got back from where ever he was, like old times. I went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator expecting to find nothing but Vitamin R and maybe some left over takeout meals. Instead, I found a cornucopia of Tupperware dishes with neatly written tags on them saying things like "Meatloaf" and "Veal scaloppini" and "Chicken pot pie." The tags had a variety of writing on them as though they were written by different hands. Feminine hands.

I stood there in bemusement when suddenly, the phone rang. I picked it up hoping it was my waylaid father, "Hello?"

Quiet first and then a feminine voice, "Who are you?"

I was rather flustered that someone would call and then ask me who I was rather than identifying herself, so I said, "Whom are you calling?"

"Whom do ya think?" She was poking fun at my grammar. (I was correct by the way. Direct objects are always 'whom.' English Teacher, here.)

My eyes widened. I couldn't believe her chutzpah. "Perhaps you have the wrong number?" I was really floored by this woman's behavior.

"Is Charlie there?"

"Uhm. He's not available right now." I wasn't telling this bitch anything.

"Is that so!? Well, when he gets available, tell him that Trish called wanting to thank him for the good time last night." She sniffed when she said that as if the good time was along the order of something I just didn't want to think about my dad doing.

"Okay. I'll tell him."

"So, who are you?" she asked rather pointedly.

"I am Bella."

"Bella? I haven't heard that name before!"

"Then you must not know Charlie very well." I knew that I was the apple of his eye.

"Honey, I know him well enough." She laughed suggestively.

"I'll be sure to tell him you called. Goodbye." I hung up on her. I know I couldn't blush anymore since my change but boy did I feel like I was. What in the world was going on with Charlie?

I pulled a few of the Tupperware out and decided I could warm up some of the meat loaf and make him some potatoes, a salad, and I saw another container of some sort of green vegetable. Green Bean casserole, I think. It looked like cat food to me. I washed a baked potato, turned on the oven to 350°, then oiled it with olive oil (since when did Charlie keep olive oil in his pantry?), wrapped it in aluminum foil, then threw it in the oven and set the time for an hour. I set the table and waited some more.

Where was Charlie?

The phone rang again.

I almost decided not to answer it (why the Chief of Police didn't have caller ID, I didn't know) but then if it was Dad, I didn't want to miss him.

"Hello?" I know I sounded tentative.

Another pause, then "Bella?!"

I recognized that voice, "Jacob?" I said hesitantly.

There was silence. I knew what he was thinking. I was the enemy now.

"You've come to visit Charlie?"

"Yes. I wanted to surprise him."

More silence on the line, then, "He's fishing with my dad."

"Oh. Do you know when he'll come home?"

Jake said in a sneering voice, "You think it's safe for him? You sure you won't get hungry?"

"I'll ignore your rudeness, Jake. If you see my dad, could you suggest he come home?"

More silence, then, "Bella, I am sorry. That was rude. I just can't understand why…"

"Jake, have you ever been in love?"

"Well, I've liked a girl or two."

"No. I mean in love so much you'd do anything for your heart's desire, even change your mind?"

I startled a laugh out of him, "No, I don't think so, Bella."

"Well, I have. I don't regret a thing I've done. It's not me who is unwilling to be friends, Jacob."

I heard a deep sigh, "I guess not. If I see Charlie, I'll tell him to go home."

"Thank you. Uh, wait a minute, Jake…"

"Yeah?"

"Why did you call here? You knew that Charlie wasn't here when you called."

"A friend of Charlie's called me saying that a strange woman answered Charlie's phone and said her name was Bella. I was just checking."

"Oh. Okay. I was just wondering." I hung up the phone. So far this trip had been disappointing and confusing.

I decided to take a run up to the meadow. I turned off the oven to make sure I wouldn't burn Charlie's house down. I was so conflicted. This trip wasn't turning into what I'd hoped.

I needed Edward. I was sorry that I didn't ask him to come with me. He was hip deep in writing a score for a musical and I knew he was just barely keeping his head above water meeting deadlines with it. Personally, I knew that Edward worked faster than any other composer writing today and I believed his current employers were simply taking advantage of his stellar work ethic. But he told me he was fine and not to worry. I don't think his butt had left his piano bench in three days.

Little Charlie and Renie were visiting Renee and Phil in Florida for a few weeks and you'd think that would give me the opportunity to have a second (or third or fourth) honeymoon with my sweetheart but he was tied up.

Lord, how I missed him.

I slipped into the forest and ran in a northeastern direction, zeroing in on the meadow's location by smell. Edward told me once that running was his favorite vampire activity and for him, when he really let loose, it was like flying. I now knew exactly what he meant. I could just keep up with Edward when I was a newborn but now he left me in his dust. He rarely did for long. He wanted to be with me as much as I wanted to be with him.

Truly, I missed him. I was aching with longing for him. Maybe coming to Forks by myself was a mistake.

I was beginning to sound like a mopey teenager.

Finally, I got to the meadow. It was lovely in the summer, wild flowers everywhere. And there was no one else there to disturb my vigil. As the sun set in the west, I sat in the center of the glade, inhaling the beautiful scent of fir forests and flowers and I remembered.

I remembered coming here for the first time on a day of firsts. Edward admitted to me his nature but he also revealed his feelings for me. He explained how hard it was for him to hold himself back because my blood called to him. We later discovered, after I was changed, that it wasn't my blood that called to him, it was something about me. He still was as enamored of my scent as much as he ever had been but this time without the burn of bloodlust.

I laid back and stretched my arms above my head, gazing at the purpling clouds above me and sighed. I was remembering the last night we had together before my flight. Each time we made love touched my soul in ways I'd never dreamed before.

I remembered sliding my hand along the planes of his body, marveling at how soft and warm he felt to me now. I remembered demanding that he not move as I slowly, tantalizingly let my fingers drift along his arms, his chest, gently, gently teasing and tasting with my tongue the fulsome beauty that was Edward – but I avoided places more attuned to what I was doing. Taunting him with my touch-coming so close to where I knew he wanted attention, only to drift away. His muscles were shuddering and shaking with need and desire and he moaned my name in a guttural growl. I remembered how I smiled wickedly, then put my lips to the shell of his ear and described what I wanted to do to him and how I wanted to do it, my hand stroking down his chest. I soughed my whispered words downwards, following my hand until I came to him aching, needy, throbbing and made him whole. I remembered how he curled around me in rapture, crying my name.

"Edward," I longingly whispered out loud. I shut my eyes remembering the feel of his lips and his arms around me when suddenly I felt those lips and those arms. I gasped and opened my eyes and there he was leaning over me.

"Edward!" I flung my arms around his neck and tackled him, causing us to fly backwards twenty feet.

He laughed, "I couldn't let you go without me. I had to come. I am sorry."

"I am not sorry. Not a bit. So far this trip has been a disaster. You saw what state I was in when you arrived."

He chuckled again, "I could tell you seemed a little lonely and perhaps…needy?"

"I missed you so much. I am so glad you knew I would and came to me."

"The minute you left the house I shut down. I couldn't work. I couldn't think. All I could do was long for you. I said the hell with this and got on the next flight out of O'Hare to Seattle. I was right behind you all the way."

"How did you know I was here in the meadow?"

"That was the easiest of all, I was lured by your alluring fragrance. As soon as I saw in what direction you went, I knew exactly where you were going; here, our meadow."

I hugged him tightly, kissed him and for the first time ever we made love in this place, the genesis of our love, our meadow.

An hour later, we walked hand and hand up the steps to Charlie's front door to find my Dad sitting in front of the television, eating the dinner I'd put together for him.

"Dad!" I ran to him and hugged him.

He grunted a little and managed, "Bells. Edward. This is a surprise." He was smiling so I could tell he was happy. "The kids here?"

"Ah no, Dad. They are in Florida visiting Renee so I thought I'd take this opportunity to see my dear old dad." I responded.

I looked hard at my father. Something was different, "Dad! You shaved your moustache!"

He self-consciously stroked his upper lip with the hand that wasn't holding his plate, "Well, I thought I needed a change."

I looked at him and narrowed my eyes, "Dad, what's with all the food in your refrigerator. Did someone die?" I was remembering how when Grandma Swan died everyone in town dropped off a casserole. I guess they believed we needed to eat through our grief. But no one died lately that I knew of.

"Welp. Just some friends of mine fixing me some food," was all dad said.

"Do they think you're starving up here?" I asked.

"Well, no. Just being neighborly."

"Hmmm. Oh, that reminds me. Trish called."

My dad's ears started to turn red, "She did?" He was staring at the ubiquitous sports event on his TV, obviously trying not to look at me.

"Yeah, she did. She wanted me to tell you that she had a good time last night." I tried not to say it with the same emphasis Trish gave it but it was hard not to.

Dad sort of slid down in his chair and hunched into himself. The red had spread from his ears, down his neck, to his cheeks.

He didn't say anything, I didn't say anything and Edward just stood to the side, an amused smirk on his face. Dad was lasering in on what was showing on the TV screen and I was lasering in on dad's face. "Dad," I asked, "Are you dating?"

"I can't see why it's any business of yours but I go out now and then with some friends."

"Friends? As in more than one? How many, Dad?"

"Now, that really isn't your business." Dad was getting huffy.

"Dad? I can smell at least four different womanly scents all over this house, even in my old BEDROOM. I purposely didn't go into your bedroom because, well. I just don't want to know more. But I can tell you one thing. I am never going to sit on that sofa again!" I was pointing to the offending piece of furniture. I was getting mad now. "You didn't raise me like that!"

"Now, Bella, calm down. I am an adult and I get to make my own choices, especially concerning my love life. Seems to me that was your argument a few years ago, if I remember rightly."

Edward came over to me and put his arm around me, "Now Bella, Charlie's right. You need to stay out of it."

"But Edward, what if he gets some sort of rotten disease?"

"Trust your Dad, Bella, just as he had to learn to trust us."

"But I wasn't playing around with every p… man that crossed my path." I shot Dad an angry look.

"I am sure your Dad's not doing that sort of thing either, Bella. But the point is, even if he was, it isn't our business. You are embarrassing your dad. As much support and love as he's given you, you should at least respect him enough to give him his privacy."

I sighed. Edward was right, as usual.

Men always stuck together.

"Well, Dad, at least you aren't starving."

"But, hey." Both Edward and Charlie looked at me, "Keep those women out of my old room, okay?"