Second Chances

By Ani aka Cherished Dreams

Disclaimer: I don't own Stephenie Meyer's characters. I own the plot though!

Chapter Three

"Bella?"

Bella had just landed when she heard her name, in the not-so-crowded mini airport at Port Angeles. She spun around to meet eye to eye with a golden haired guy, a guessing look on his face. It lit up when he saw her surprised face. "Bella!" He exclaimed in recognition.

He dropped his bag and picked her up in a massive hug, all the air in her lungs escaping. "Oh! Mike! H--how are you?" They had never really been able to visit each other, and only saw each other once or twice a year since they left to pursue their lives at different ends of the continent. Every now and then when they came back to Forks were they able to have their mini reunions, and reminisce and catch up with each other.

Mike picked up his bag again, and Bella was fully able to notice changes that had taken place from the last time they had seen each other. He was a little taller (did guys ever stop?), a little too tanned for Washington's wet weather but still pale in comparison to the people she had seen when she had visited Los Angeles. He had taken up an offer at the University of California, Los Angeles, surprisingly enough in Nursing. She didn't think she could see him in scrubs, and helping patients as they entered the emergency room. Maybe it was just her.

She finished her assessment and walked out of the airport and she walked him up to the car one of his sisters left for him, chatting about school life. They were interrupted by Bella's shrill ringtone. Bella smiled at him as he nodded to her phone, and she picked up.

"Hi Bells."

"Hi Dad."

"Uhh, well there's this uh case that the boys couldn't get to down here, so they mmm... called me in at the last minute. So I won't be able to pick you up uhh... til this is all sorted out. I can get one of the boys to pick you up. Will you be alright to wait uhh... for about an hour? Or d'you wanna take a taxi?"

She peeked at Mike who was chucking his bag in the back seat of the Corolla from the driver's side. "Just a minute Dad, Mike's with me." She covered the mouthpiece and called Mike's attention.

"Hey Mike. You're going to Forks."

He rolled his eyes. "You don't say Bella."

"D'you you could umm... give me a lift home?" She asked a bit shy.

He noticed her shy tone and snickered. "Aww come on Bella, you of all people, should know the Chief by now, surely. Why do you think I always chance a flight landing around the same time as yours?"

He darted his eyes around suspiciously, before dropping his voice dramatically. "I think it's all a big set up really. A conspiracy of some sort." At that he chuckles at himself and moves around to the passenger side to open her door. She muttered a small 'thanks', before uncovering the mouthpiece and letting Charlie know that she was getting a ride off Mike, who she just happened upon at the airport.

"Mike huh?" He said happily into the phone. At that she narrowed her eyes. Was he up to something? "Ok then kid. Make sure he takes care driving on these slippery roads. They're not as accident proof as they are in LA. No speeding!"

Bella laughed at that. With Mike, she never had to tell him to take care. He was a naturally safe driver. Sometimes boring, she could add, mentally... only to herself. "Sure thing Chief. See you when I get home. Bye Dad."

"Bye Bells."

She grinned at Mike who took her travelling bag and wiggled his eyebrows as he nonchalantly threw it in the back seat. She kept her laptop safely away from him and his throwing ways in her messenger bag on her hip.

They drove away and towards the city district of Port Angeles. "I'm feeling a bit hungry; wanna grab a bite to eat before we head home?" Mike asked as he eased to a stop at a red traffic light. "You always ask when we 'bump' into each other at the airport, before going home. Just choose a place and park'er there."

They broke out in a small laugh, and he eased the car into a space on the side of a line of restaurants. She got out of the car a smile still lingering on her face, when she read the sign of the restaurant he had parked next to. La Bella Italia was still the beautiful place she had always known it to be, the mood of the place seeming more authentically Italian since she had last visited it. The red haired waitress eyed Mike and practically ignored her, as she proceeded to seat them in the middle of the room. They ordered and ate as the talked some more, and they headed home before it got too dark.

Mike parked outside her brightly lit home, darkness surrounding them, and silently took her hand in his and played with her fingers. "I really miss you Bell." He breathed out. Bella had to strain to hear it. She squeezed his fingers, getting slightly nervous at the silence and the longing atmosphere around him. "I miss you too Mike. I miss Forks. It feels like home." He closed his eyes briefly, sighing, before opening them again and directing them at her. "I don't think you understand what I mean." He said slowly, hoping she would listen to the words carefully.

Bella knew it, and it always hurt to do something like this, especially to him. She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath. "Mike. There was a reason why... why it didn't work out between us. And... I think--I think maybe... you need to move on from that thought... of an us... in the future. At least, for the time being."

He had started nodding his head at the windscreen in front of him, before she was even done with her sentence. He laughed mirthlessly. "Its a little hard, knowing just how much you're worth. How much you mean to me. It's a little harder; we're so far away from each other. It always kills me to see you; you don't know just how happy I get when I see you on these visits." He said wistfully.

"I'll still always love you... in a way, you know?" He grasped her hand gently and lifted them to his lips, softly pressing on her knuckles.

Her heart panged painfully in her ribcage, hearing those familiar words from his mouth. They just didn't seem right coming from him. He was a great guy, definitely and if she were any other girl, she would be jumping up at the chance to be with him. But she just couldn't. It felt all wrong. Like it wouldn't be being honest to herself and to him. Again, one of the big reasons why she didn't stay with him long back in their high school days. She bit her lip hoping the shooting pains to her eyes would stop.

"I love you too in a way, you big lug." She said ending with a playful tone. His lips quirked upwards, nearing the start of a smile. She leaned over to kiss his cheek quickly, and grabbed her bag from the back in the process.

"Say Happy Thanksgiving to your family for me."

He nodded at her, and raised a hand to wave out the window. She turned and saw her dad peeking curiously from one of the living room windows, letting the soft light flow out into the dark yard. "Happy Thanksgiving Bella."

Thanksgiving with her father was always a quiet affair. Preparing for it though was a big rush to get plenty of ingredients and containers. The morning after her arrival, she woke early to one of Charlie's Thanksgiving holiday breakfasts - something he named and learnt to make himself. A huge plate of waffles, with maple syrup overflowing and spilling over the edges, a great big spoon of vanilla ice cream on top, was waiting for her after getting ready for a day of grocery shopping and cooking.

"Daaddd! I swear you're trying to fatten me up every time I come visit you." She whined playfully, before taking a seat across from him picking up the set fork. She learned to be more open around him and vise versa, as she grew up and away from him. He chuckled lowering his newspaper to start eating with her. They filled each other out with the latest news, and succumbed to comfortable silence as Bella washed their plates and Charlie sat there in the kitchen reading the paper.

She finished drying the plates and putting them away, when Charlie spoke up, folding his paper and setting it down on the table. "So how long will you be staying?"

"Just until Sunday afternoon. I have classes again Monday evening. Will you be over at Billy's today?"

He nodded, standing up and pulling a few big notes out of his wallet. Bella accepted it without protest. He never let her pay for their meals when she stayed over. He had always found a way for her to have no choice use it. She sighed.

"Thanks."

"Oh Bella?" He said stopping at the door.

"Yeah Dad?"

"Be careful. I don't want to hear you've ended up in the emergency room this Thanksgiving." He said, his lips pressed into a tight line. His forehead showing off it's age with pronounced wrinkles.

Bella laughed at that, remembering both accidents the previous years with the microwave and the capsicum, and promised him she would before heading out to her Ford Escape. Her old red truck had died two years back, and this one allowed Charlie to take it out on the road when he felt like camping for a few days. He had taken up camping with his La Push friends every now and then for a weekend, when the season was well enough.

She decided to drive over to the library, which like many things in the small town was alongside the highway next to a small flower shop. When she parked her truck by the library, a thought sprung up in her mind and she got out and headed over to the florist instead on a mission.

When Bella emerged from the florist, she was very proud of herself, welding a small bouquet of a wide variety flowers. She raced, as fast as she could manage, to her truck, pulled out and headed to the upper part of the town, where the well off folk lived. She bumped along the old bridge, and turned sharply into a near non-existent driveway.

Bella sat in her truck, long after she had turned off the engine and drank the tall white house in, long forgotten memories resurfacing slowly. She picked up the bouquet from the passenger seat and stumbled out; heading towards the door she knew was unlocked.

Mothers were big on her mind since the bookstore back at Philadelphia. Renee had sent her daughter her Thanksgiving wishes and hopes of seeing her for Christmas. There was one other mother that she wanted to be thankful for, no matter how long she had been out of Bella's life.

She turned the big door knob and pushed it forward. As it swung open to its entirety, she was met with a startling pair of eyes near the bottom of the stairs.

Author's Note: DUN DUN DUN. – Queue Prairie Dog gif here – (I urge you all to go google it, if you haven't seen the gif before). After finding that, go tell me how happy you are that I've been releasing chapters 3 days apart! XD But mostly that you love the story.