Authors Note: Well, here it is. The final chapter of 'Meeting Mom'. I really hoped you enjoyed the whole story as well as enjoy this final chapter. It was a little sad to write, but enjoyable all the same. I'm so happy that the response this story has received - thank you all soo much! Every single one of them made me smile and I know my work is being appreciated.

Thanks for reading and enjoy:

The night was slow, but I spent my time playing the piano – I was in the middle of composing another piece of music that was inspired, again, by Bella. I let the music lift me, and transport me to my place – this speeded up the painfully slow night.

Today was Monday but it was a part of the extended weekend we were given. Thankful for the perfect timing, I made my way around to Bella's at a quarter to ten. Carlisle had advised me to go around later in the day, despite my ready excuse as an insomniac, so that it would be more teenage-like for Renée to understand.

I had dressed smartly, but casually as I made my way around to Bella's. I stopped by at the local store and picked up some yellows lilies for Renée, and I brought the promise of a new song for Bella; I hated the fact she couldn't accept gifts that were of monetary value, but luckily, Renée did. Charlie, I knew, would be at work as always. Yesterday had been a rare occasion and it was purely the fact that Bella was ill and he had returned from a business trip early that he had allowed himself to spend the day with us. I also thought that Renée may have impacted that decision.

"Oh, Edward, come in!" Renée welcomed as my knuckles made contact with the front door. "Bella's in the shower." I could smell the hot water and the shampoo that Bella used and often smelt of.

"I bought these for you," I said, handing her the small bunch of flowers. I enjoyed watching her face light up: what a lovely boy! Ooo, getting flowers of my daughter's boyfriend! Simply, I smiled. "What time is your flight?" I asked, as the night before she'd been unsure as to what time she'd booked.

"It's five." She had been hoping for that extra hour she could spend with both of us, despite the fact she'd be returning to Phil. It surprised me that she'd not thought about him that much – sometimes, yes, but her main focus was both Bella and I.

"I can drive you there," I said again, renewing my offer of yesterday and also because Renée had forgotten.

"Oh, thank you! It saves me the thirty bucks for a cab." She chuckled happily, walking from the living area to the kitchen and putting her flowers in water. I'd forgotten that she'd have to pack them or leave them here.

The sound of gushing water stopped, and two wet feet stepped onto the bathroom mat. But then I heard a mighty crash.

I ran upstairs quicker than normal, and luckily Renée remained obvlivious again to my inhuman speed, but focused on the crash like me.

Opening the bathroom door, Bella squealed as she lay there on the floor, pulling the fallen towel up from her chest to her neck and began laughing. The bathroom mat was askew on the puddle-ridden floor the shower curtain had been yanked off a few of the pegs.

"Bella, are you alright?" I asked, as Renée caught up behind me.

She nodded her head, smirking at her clumsiness.

"Bella! Put some clothes on!" Renée said, also smiling. Her thoughts were playful, but then she noticed me standing over her. "Come on, lover boy, let's get you out of here." I allowed her to direct me out of the bathroom and back downstairs. I heard the ruffle of the towel and the door creak open as Bella ran from the bathroom to her bedroom. The wardrobe door opened as she selected her clothes for the day.

Renée was thinking about where she'd put her passport.

"What's the matter, Renée?" I asked knowing the answer already but it was a perfectly acceptable question as the expression on her face was confused and frustration.

"I've lost my passport...?" she said it more as a question. "It must have run away." She mused, thinking of where she'd put it.

"I'll help." Easily enough, I located it. It had a rich leathery smell, but also smelt of ink from the stamps after passing through customs. I didn't let on that I'd found it straight away, but I did check behind the sofa, in pockets and cupboards with Renée. "Did you double check your handbag?" I asked finally, and Renée knew she hadn't.

"Oh, Edward, you're a star!" She gleamed, holding up the blue fronted passport. "You must think I'm crazy!" she blushed.

"Well, I do!" Bella said as she reached the bottom of the stairs. Her hair was still wet and hung with a natural curl. She was wearing jeans and a blue t-shirt with a grey cardigan over the top. "You always lose everything!"

"Renée, it's probably best to be ready in about an hour. It'll take us an hour or two to get to the airport depending on the traffic, and you'll need to check in," I reminded her and her thoughts were suddenly flustered again. Amazed, I wondered how someone who had been visiting for just over two days could have lost so many things!

For the next hour, Bella and I sat on the sofa watching Romeo and Juliet yet again. Bella mumbled the words along with the actors on screen and I listened to her rather than the TV; it was far more interesting. Renée was relaxing more now and finally joined us on the couch with a cup of tea and today's newspaper, pretending to read.

She was, in fact, watching us. Bella didn't seem to notice but I did, of course, and my attention was now divided between Bella and Renée's thoughts.

They're sitting so close, she thought, eyeing mine and Bella's position. We were actually behaving well as there was a space, no matter how small, between our bodies. Our hands were interlocked on her left thigh. They seem so... serious, and intense. I can't get over it! The way that he looks at her, and the way she is around him – she just seems so happy and relaxed! And Romeo and Juliet; it's such a romantic film. It's strange how they'd pick something like that... so old fashioned and so... true. Do they realise that they are almost living replicas of Romeo and Juliet, without the feuding families? Do they realise that they look at each other with an even greater intensity than portrayed? Does Bella realise that Edward's face is tilted more towards her own that the TV screen?

My head straightened itself after Renée's mind had moved on, now thinking about how our hands were positioned and the closeness that it showed. For saying Renée was a scatter-brained woman who forgot an awful lot of things, she was incredibly observant.

Bella pressed pause on the movie just as Romeo and Juliet have been married at Friar Lawrence's cell.

"Is it time to go?" she said, grabbing my hand and looking at the watch. It was twelve thirty, so it was time to start going. "Mom, you ready?" Bella asked, smiling as Renée fluttered folded the newspaper shut and put it on the sofa in replace for her bottom.

"Sure. My bag is upstairs," she said, running up the stairs to fetch it from Charlie's room where she had slept for the past three nights.

"She wasn't reading that newspaper was she?" Bella whispered as she bit her lip. I shook my head with a smirk on my lips, which Bella soon kissed away before Renée came stomping down the stairs with her bag in her hand.

"I had to buy another one," she said. "It was Alice's idea when we went shopping. She thought I'd never be able to fit it all in!" She laughed, pulling on her coat. "I'm ready!"

Bella put her coat on and I cursed myself for forgetting – I did not need one, and forgot my charade. I praised Renée's temperamental observation skills.

I drove slow as we had plenty of time, which was extremely boring but at least Bella was happy with my speed. She sat in the back with Renée and was talking about schoolwork and Charlie. Guiltily I thought how I had hardly allowed them to have any time alone, but I could not leave Bella for a whole day without seeing her, especially when I knew she was ill. I was selfish. But I was also jealous when I saw the genuine smile behind Bella's words to her mother. I hummed along to a familiar song on the radio to give them as much privacy that is possible for me, and continued to drive the distance to the airport.

"You'll have to let me know Edward, if Charlie's giving you a hard time. I'll set him straight." Renée smirked, interrupting my focus on the song's melody, and I saw her look at me through the rear view mirror.

"Thanks." I chuckled, grateful for her assurance, and I continued to hum along.

The airport car park was extremely busy and very expensive to park in, but I paid the parking fee with no problems and carried Renée's bag into the departure check in desk.

"Go and check in," Bella said, "we'll wait over here by the toilets."

Renée queued for twenty minutes before reaching the desk, and Bella and I just stood in silence, holding hands, watching her like a comedy. I saw the expression on her face change – had she packed the new lingerie Alice had bought her? Yes, she had. She smiled again. Oh, wait, what about the new pair of boots that she'd kept by the door? Oh, god, she'd forgotten them! Oh, no, she'd packed them under the orange socks. She sighed in relief.

Renée was a very amusing person.

"How far can we go with you?" Bella asked, looking around for directions.

"Up until passport control," I answered, knowing the system well. I could remember when the first airport opened.

"Don't be silly! You guys should go and enjoy your day!" Renée encouraged, and she truly did mean it. She didn't want Bella to see her cry.

"You're sure?" Bella checked, squeezing my hand for the real answer and I subtly nodded which she saw.

"Of course, of course." Renée smiled. "Oh give me a hug!" She pulled Bella out of my hand and into a hug. "Be good for your father," she whispered thinking I was unable to hear, "and hold onto the one, Bella, they don't make them like that often." She smiled.

"Will do, Mom." Bella laughed, pulling away, a little awkward by the embrace, but Renée pulled her back.

"If ever you want me, you know where I am. Just ring me, and I'll be there as soon as possible," Renée mumbled, saying her words exactly the same time they appeared in her head. "And Bella?" she asked, Bella nodded, waiting what was next. "There will always be a home for you with me. Don't forget that." Renée smiled, kissing Bella on the forehead, and having to stand on tip toes to do so.

"I won't, mom," Bella promised and I felt guilty that the jealousy was there – that Bella would consider living with her mom, away from me and a place I couldn't go.

"Come here, Edward!" Renée surprised me by saying and pulling me into a quick hug. It wasn't as long as Bella's but long enough for her to whisper words to me too. "Look after her, Edward, please. I know you love her, like I do. I love you too, I guess." She whispered and let me go, my cold skin completely passing her by.

"Thanks Renée." I smiled, touched by the emotion in her words. "I will, if my life depends on it."

"Come and visit me!" Renée said, cheering up from the emotional moment we just had. "Both of you! You're both welcome!"

"Of course," I agreed, thinking about the birthday present Esme and Carlisle had bought Bella before the... incident. "I promise to bring her."

"Anyway, if I stay and chat too long, I'll miss my flight!" She said, picking up her hand luggage and blowing a kiss to Bella. "Be good!" She warned again, a typical mother and blended in with the flowing crowd. My mind did not lose hers straight away, and I knew there was a tear falling down her cheek but I did not focus on it in case Bella realised something was wrong.

"Home?" I suggested and Bella nodded her head, linking her hand in mine again.

Once we were in the car, the questions began.

"So what did Renée think of you? Of us?" Bella pried eagerly into the depths of her mother's mind.

"She liked me, and Alice. She loved Alice." I chuckled. "She thought she was fun. She was really observant about us, about how close we were. She liked it how I looked after you." I smiled.

"Did I thank you for that?" she asked, leaning over to kiss me even though I was driving. I pecked her quickly and she returned to her seat and wiggled herself back into a comfortable position.

"What did you think?"

"Of Renée?"

"Yeah," she smiled, absorbed in her own thoughts about Renée.

"She's great. She reminds me of you though – there's a mixture of a mother and a child somewhere inside her and she is extremely amusing to listen to! Her thoughts are so spontaneous, I get no head start!" I laughed loudly, remembering the frustration. She was too like Bella.

"What about Alice? And Esme and Carlisle? She asked, eager to see if my family approved of hers, when in fact, it had be us that had so desperately wanted to be liked by Renée.

"Alice loved her, seriously, I think you just lost your best friend!" I smirked.

"What, why?" Bella said, faking hurt, but I could still her the curiosity in her voice.

"Because," I said, "Renée lets us buy things for her – shoes, perfume, clothes, flowers, food – do you want me to continue?" I asked rhetorically. "And we get told off if we buy you things. Renée enjoyed the pampering and the shopping and the make-overs."

"Oh," Bella huffed, "What about Esme and Carlisle?" her voice lightening up.

"Both of them thought she was great, especially Esme and the feeling was mutual. Your mother loves Esme! I don't think the in-laws will have a problem."

Bella scowled at the marriage joke and folded her arms sulkily.

"I'm not apologising." I said stubbornly and began humming her lullaby, which I knew she couldn't resist.

"Edward, stop it!" she hissed jokingly, and pulled my hand from the gear stick and into hers. "I'm pleased you liked her."

"I'm relived she liked me! I expected her to hate me like Charlie." I exclaimed and she laughed.

"Did they spend a lot of time together?" she asked, her voice higher than normal.

"They talked a lot." I replied, not sure where she was going with this. "Why?"

"I just wondered." She replied annoyingly un-descriptive. "What did they talk about?"

"You and me mainly." I answered truthfully, "Why?"

"I don't know. I guess I wished they'd talked about them. I wish my dad would forget about her." She sighed, turning her face to look at the blurry scenery as we passed it – my speed its normal speed now Renée was not travelling with us.

"He doesn't mind, you know?" I replied. "He just wants you now."

"Argh!" Bella groaned frustrated.

"What? What did I say?" I asked instantly, wondering what on earth could have provoked something so hostile.

"Because," she began, "he can't have me! I'm getting changed soon!"

"Not now Bella." I sighed, knowing that she was referring to a vampire and how she could not see Charlie after the transformation.

"Just promise me Edward, that you'll take me to see Renée before the change?"

I looked over at her and her wide brown eyes, determined that there was going to be a change, even though she had not agreed to my marriage compromise yet. She widened them further, if possible and I drowned in their deep beauty.

"I promise." I sighed through gritted teeth, and the guilty jealousy returned as I saw the smile that was spread across her face at the thought of her mother, despite the fact I would be looking forward to meeting her again too.

So?

How was it? Did I end it well enough for you guys? I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Like most of my stories, this was orginally just a couple of chapters, but then the reviews came and I got carried away. Again.

Please review :) Thanks for reading!

xxx