GIVE ME A CHANCE

Disclaimer: The Cullens, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline

"You do realize that I ought to let Emmett beat the living shit out of you, don't you? But, I'm not. It would serve no purpose, but, cause greater issues. But, I am going to tell you to get your shit completely together, go make things right with my daughter, bring her and my granddaughter back home where they belong and, if you ever do this, or, anything else to make her unhappy again, I will personally kick your motherfucker ass from here to Bumfuck, Egypt and back. Do I make myself clear? After I get through with you then it will be Emmett's turn.

"You have done a lot of growing over the last few years and I am glad to see that. Now, what are your plans?"

"After I leave our meeting I am going to confess the same to my family. It is time that all of you know how badly I fucked things up and to understand why Bella had no choice, as I see, it to come to any of the family."

They stand at the same time, shake hands and walk out to their respective cars to leave. Charlie is heading home to let his family know what he was told and Edward is going to tell his family what he told Charlie.

CHAPTER 6

Both Charlie and Edward left the diner heading in different directions, but, each with the same purpose. To tell his family the story of what happened between Edward and Bella five years and the resulting divorce. Charlie knew he was going to have to have a firm hold on Emmett, or, he would hunt Edward down and beat the living shit out of him.

Edward wasn't sure what his family was going to say. He knew that his parents were going to be disappointed in him. Hell, he was disappointed in himself. If he hadn't let things get so out of hand he would not alone now. Bella and his daughter would be by his side. But, he was a dumb fuck and now was paying the consequences for it. His mind kept going over everything he had told Charlie.

By the time he had reached this point in his thoughts he realized that he had pull up in the driveway at his childhood home. He sat for a few minutes just breathing, dreading what he had to do, but, knew he needed to do. It was time for clearing the air. So, as he drew one more deep breath, he opened his door, stepped out, closing the door and looking up at the house, he began slowly walking up to the front door to enter the house.

As he moved deeper in the house he called for his mom, dad and Alice. Entering the kitchen he went over to the fridge to get a bottle of water and downed it in on go instead of slipping it. By this time everyone was present and looking to him to see what the problem was now. He looks at them and motions for them to sit down. "I have something that I need to tell you. In fact, I should have told you five years ago, but, was too ashamed to say anything." He quietly tells them with tears forming in his eyes.

So, without further ado, Edward tells them the same bit of facts he told Charlie. Leaving nothing out and adding nothing in, it is the reason why no one heard from Bella and knew nothing about the little girl she had. All three sit silently, just like Charlie had during the whole time he was talking. As he finished, a stunned hush still hung in the air.

"I have no excuse for what I did and the way I acted. In fact, I can't even come up with any good reasons. Bella was there for me through all of it until that final argument. I left for London thinking she would be over by the time I got back and I would be able to make amends. Man, was I wrong.

"Now, you know all of the truth. Why she filed for divorce and she has not kept in touch with anyone. It was my entire fault."

"Son, I -"

"Edward, weren't you aware of what you were doing? Why didn't you stopped?"

"Mom, I was drunk, so full of my own self-importance, enjoying the popularity from the adoring fans, and never thought about what it was doing to our marriage or to Bella. Fact is I just never stopped to think."

Alice, being Alice, just sat for a few more minutes before she reacted. She jumped up; throws back her hand, but, never made the connection as a fist did right to the jaw. She looked from her hand to Edward and back to her hand again, before it registered that someone else had hit her brother.

Emmett had burst into the room while everyone was still in a shocked state of mind, drew back his fist and hit Edward without thought for what he had done to Bella. After Charlie had gotten home and told Renee and Emmett what Edward had told him, Emmett tore out of the room, ran to his car, started it and threw it in reverse, backed out of the drive and with tires squealing, took off down the street to the Cullen's.

"All of this time- "he chokes out but can't continue just yet. "All of this time you have let everyone believe that it was just a misunderstanding and you wanted to find her to make amends. You lousy asshole. I should beat the hell out of you." He yells.

"Em, you can do whatever makes you feel better. I won't stop you or try to defend myself. I have no defense. I didn't know about my child and saw no reason to say more than what I did. But, now with by a father, I need to start things in the right; I need to correct my wrongs and then go and get my family. I want to be a part of Bella's and my daughter's life. Not an outsider that she doesn't know. And she has the right to know the rest of her family. Bella needs to feel comfortable letting her be around all of you.

"The only way that is going to happen is by everyone knowing the whole truth and not just part of it.
Bella made the decisions she did based upon my behavior and was trying to protect our daughter and she did that in the only way she thought possible."

"What are you going to do now?"

"I am going to take the next few weeks to clear my schedule as much as possible and then go to LA to begin getting my life back by getting my family back." With that being said he left the room and climbed the stairs to his old room on the third floor.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Bella and Jasper took Toni to Florida, spending time in the Keys and then to Disney World. Next, they flew back to Phoenix to pick up the cars and slowly made their way to L A by way of Vegas. It was during this time that Bella knew she had to keep her word to Jasper. He was helping, but, his stipulation was still there for the continued help. An agreement was an agreement. Time was running out and she needed to get it done.

The problem was after so long of a time how to begin with all of the explanations. Included in the explanations had to be the telling of Toni's existence. They were all going to be so pissed about that. No telling what Edward would do or say, either. Shit, 'what a tangled web we weave when we try to deceive" she quoted in her mind.

They got settled into a hotel just on the edge of Vegas and were having a leisurely dinner when Bella mentioned she needed to do something after Toni was put to bed. Jasper looked at her with a raised eyebrow questioningly.

"Remember my promise to you? Will it is time that I do it?"

He nods his head in understanding and lets her know that he will be there with her if she wants. She thanks him and says yes.

So, the evening passes with putting her daughter down for the night. The last few weeks have been very trying for all of them but enjoyable. Toni has had a ball. She looks at her sleeping daughter and sighs, wondering if she could have or should have done things differently. But, all of the shoulda's, coulda's and woulda's or what ifs, doesn't change what is.

Bella wonders who she should call first. Guess her parents and then Edward's. She dials the number and listens to the ringing. Suddenly the phone is answered with a female voice, "Hello?"

"Mom, it's -"

"Oh, my God, Bella! Bella, honey, is that you?"

"Yes, mom, it's me." And she hears sobbing over the phone; suddenly another voice is on the phone asking what is going on. Bella recognizes her dad's voice and says hello to him. He explains that her mother is in shock, but, beginning to pull herself together.

But, before she can say anything else, he asks, "When are we going to get to meet our granddaughter?"

"Excuse me?" Bella asks, stunned to a stuttering silence from the shock of what he asked.

"Bella, Edward has told us everything. Why you left and got the divorce. About his behavior during the time leading up to the divorce. We just found out about the little girl a few weeks ago when Edward came up here."

"But, how did he find out?"

"Apparently from a picture he found at you last home after you fled with Jasper. He had seen a little girl in the car as you turned a corner, but, the connection was not made until he got here and Esme saw the resembles, got a photo album and showed it to him. To say that we all were shocked would be an understatement at this point.

"From what we can figure she is around four, is that correct?"

"Yes, she is."

"Bella, what is her name?"

"Antoinette Carlie Marie. I named her after Edward's middle name, her second name is a combination of Carlisle's and your name and the Marie is from both mom and Esme since their middle names are Marie. But, she answers to Toni."

He chokingly gets out, "Edward is not here right now, and we would like to get to know our grandbaby. You don't have to be any place right now, do you? So, please, bring her up to us for a few days. We would like to see both of you. And, Bella, how long has Jasper known about this?"

"Dad just has only known a few weeks. Considering what you have told me, about as long as you have, maybe a few hours longer is all."

"Bella, I am not going to say anything to you right now. You have been through enough and Edward is taking all of the blame. But, are you going to come?"

Bella looks over at Jasper to see what he thinks of the situation since she has had the conversation on speaker phone, so he overheard everything. He nods his head that she should go on up. So, she says they will be there sometime tomorrow.

"I still need to call -" "No, honey, you don't need to call anyone. The whole family, both sides, knows what happened and about Toni. Just come on, please."

So after she hangs up, she and Jasper start getting things packed back into the cars. They head to bed after that since they will need an early start to get there at a decent hour.

Charlie hangs up and deals with his wife. He then calls the Cullens to let them know about hearing from Bella and that she would be arriving sometime tomorrow.

So, there was a great deal of excitement in both households that night. Charlie did take the time to call Edward to inform him of Bella's arrival upon the morrow. They talked for a little bit, but, Edward told him that he was going to stay with his original plan and catch up with her in LA. That this is the time they all need to reconnect with her and their granddaughter. He did ask that Charlie quietly call him each evening and let him know how their well doing. Charlie said he would have Emmett send pictures each night of their stay there.

Charlie told him what Bella had named the little girl and gave him the name breakdown the same as Bella had given it to him. Then Edward asked the one question that Charlie had forgotten to ask, "What is Toni's last name; Swan or Cullen?" Charlie had to say he didn't know and had not asked.

In fact, Charlie had not really told the Cullens much more than that he had spoken with Bella and she would be arriving sometime tomorrow with the little girl and Jasper. Upon this realization he just shakes his head puts his forgetfulness on getting older and the shock of hearing from Bella.

A/N: Okay, Bella, Toni and Jasper are taking a roundabout way to LA through Forks. Edward is holding to his original plan on when to confront Bella. The excitement of finally meeting their grandbaby is building for both grandparents. Also, what is going to be said to Jasper about his involvement in helping her? What is going to happen when Edward gets to LA?

I hope that you do enjoy the story as it develops as much as you are enjoying my other stories.

I will try to update at least once a week and wish you good reading on this story and many others that are just divinely outstanding.

I welcome your comments of both good and bad as they show an interest. So, please, take a moment and review and I will answer back.