Just a reminder, for this story Sue is not Leah's mother, she's Charlie's new wife. Another change, Seth will be Emily's kid. Let's take a look at Forks... and maybe a bit on Bella.
"Charlieee!" Sue yelled from her bedroom. It was what become their usual way of communicating.
"What?!" He answered from his post, the couch.
"What time do your kids arrive?" Sue was happy for the impromptu visit, she liked Charlie's kids a lot. What bothered her is that she was left with the task of picking them up. At least they were arriving at Port Angeles because God knows it would take her whole day if they were coming from Seattle.
Charlie didn't answer and Sue huffed. Firstly, when they got married she thought it was a match made in heaven. Both had busy schedules and understood whenever the other couldn't get home in time. But now that Charlie was injured... he became the laziest man ever. And they already took the cast from him! Now he says he gets cramps on his leg and that his bones hurt with the cold, but Sue knew better after 20 years of being a nurse... he just got lazy.
"Charlie?"
"Four thirtyyy! Damn woman, don't you see I'm busy watching the game?!" came from downstairs.
Sue couldn't wait for the kids to come. Well, they weren't kids anymore, but to her, they would always be little Emmett and sweet Bella. She always gave them candy whenever they get to visit at the hospital. She really hoped Bella or Emmett will bust Charlie's ass.
She went downstairs, ready to leave for the day when the lightbulb from the living room broke.
"Charlie, please change the lightbulb." She asked though she knew he probably will forget about it as soon as she leaves the house.
"U-huh." Charlie barely lifted his sight from the TV.
"And take a bath, do you want your kids to find you like this?"
Charlie lifted his right arm and sniffed his armpit. He made a face. "Ok, you're right. Sorry, it' just I fell asleep yesterday and missed the game. I bet to Paul that the Seahawks would win." He made an effort to kiss Sue's lips but she was already leaving. Charlie looked at the time and he realized she was going to be late.
He wasn't like this before, he always was a man of action. But since he broke his leg, something changed. He felt always tired and then there was this voice inside his head, telling to rest or he would never feel better. Now everything seemed like a big burden to him. He just didn't feel the need to make the effort...
He stood and walked to his bathroom. Yeah, since he broke his leg, the downstairs bathroom became his because it would be almost impossible for Sue to get him upstairs and she was working all the time. And now that he was home she was always nagging with little things. 'Charlie, the faucet is leaking. Why don't you take a look and fix it?', that was last week when they took his cast away. 'Charlie, I only washed mismatched socks, put the rest in the hamper so you can have a clean pair.' That happened yesterday. What was wrong with his sleepers? It wasn't like he was going out anyway. Oh, right. The kids. Renee called and told him they were visiting. And she asked to be extremely patient with Bella, that she broke up with her boyfriend and she was too emotional. Bleh! Women! Just give him twenty minutes with the boy and he would teach him the right way to treat a woman. Well, maybe just five minutes on the phone... and maybe it really wasn't necessary. Emmett probably already beat that punk's ass. Yeah, better save a seat for Bella. They could watch TV together, it will take her mind of any problem.
xxx
At the other side of town, Esme Cullen dismissed the caterer as he promised to deliver the menu they agreed upon at seven thirty. Everything was ready for the Christmas party, and now Esme had nothing to do for the day.
Trying to keep her mind occupied, she went to the dinner to have a late breakfast.
Once she ordered her favorite greasy food, she relaxed and watched the people passing by through the window. There was something about the last days of December that got her gloomy.
Her phone rang, and when she noticed it was her husband calling she ignored it.
Once upon a time, they were very happy in love. Maybe their house in Chicago was small, but it lacked in size was compensated with warmth. Then, Carlisle and Eleazar made that successful stain remover and money came in loads. Moving from Chicago wasn't bad, Esme was a very social person, making new friends wasn't a hardship. As a matter of fact, she decided to make her Christmas party the 'event' in Forks as a way to keep in touch with her friends outside town while establishing bonds with the people of Forks.
And it was that way the first two years.
But then, somehow her quirky but usually loving husband changed. Well, maybe everybody changed. His business partner Eleazar moved to Port Angeles because their daughters didn't like the small town, it wasn't up t their standards. And don't let her start with Carmen, her once BFF. Now status and image were everything. And Carlisle became so greedy. He only wanted money and to keep his business growing, and in going through that path, he lost what was really important: their son Edward. Carlisle was hell bent on making Edward work for him, dismissing his choices as immature and not productive resulting in Edward visiting less and less every year. At least he still called her.
And that made her sometimes feel so lonely...
She was so lucky this year Edward swore to come. He said he had special plans and that he was bringing his girlfriend, the elusive Isabella Swan, daughter of Forks' police Chief. Despite being so intertwined, Esme had never meet Bella in person. And she was itching to finally talk to her. Edward seemed pretty serious in his intentions.
Esme just had to wait. She called to Rosalie the day before and she told her they were on their way, to expect them one day before the party.
"More coffee, Esme?"
Gianna, the waitress, asked her. Esme just pushed her cup a bit closer.
"You know, I just tried the dress I want to wear for the party and guess what? It fits like a glove! I can't wait to boogie the whole night through." she said shaking her booty.
"I'm sure you'll love the music," Esme answered dejectedly, bringing her mind back to more monotonous thoughts.
This year she wasn't that enthused about the party. It became an obligation and the only one to blame for it was Carlisle. Each year the party had to get bigger, and each year it was most about showing off than to sharing with their friends. Oh, and this year he wanted to make a big announcement, so he was adamant to have Edward to come. Obviously, Esme didn't mention the plans her guys made to each other; if Edward knew his father wanted him here he wouldn't come.
Esme giggled. Well, maybe this way they both could get back at Carlisle since he despises Chief Swan. Talk about irony, the girl that stole Edward's heart is the daughter of one of the people Carlisle barely stands. Let's see how he reacts once he finds out Bella Swan, the illustrious daughter of poor Chief Swan is Edward's girl.
xxx
Again, Bella was sitting on a plane, but this time she got her wish and she was staring out through the window. This plane was way smaller, but the seats were more spacious because Emmett was comfortably sleeping by her side.
But sleep never came to Bella, her troubled mind just jumped from one issue to another. What if Edward moved on? What if he didn't care? And in case he still cared, what if Edward thought she's looking out for him because of the baby? What if he still loved her but knowing about the baby put a strain on their relationship? Worst, what if he didn't want the baby? Bella was only sure of one thing, she already loved her baby. But everything else was so uncertain.
When she was with her mother, somehow those questions didn't plague her mind. Renee soothed her worries and promised everything would turn out fine. But now, alone with her thoughts, she wasn't so sure.
xxx
"He's so beautiful!" Edward's eyes beamed with pride at the image of the little bundle he was carrying.
Bella was tired but, as Renee, Sue and Esme told her, as soon the baby was out the pain ended to give place to one of the biggest joys she would experience in her lifetime.
"Look at your mommy." Edward got the baby closer to her, and when Bella took the baby's little hand to hold her finger, Edward kissed her forehead. "You just made me the happiest man alive."
"Wake up!"
"Uh?" Bella groggily opened her eyes, finding Emmett nudging her.
"We are about to land. You were so lost for a while, that I feel bad waking you up, but you need to fasten your seatbelt."
It was only a dream!
"What were you dreaming about? You seemed so happy and relaxed."
How could she explain? She didn't even notice when she fell asleep, overwhelmed with all the possible outcomes. But the one she dreamed of, that was something to hope for. "Possibilities, Emmett. Good ones."
xxx
While waiting for their luggage, Bella watched as Emmett was immersed in a call on his phone. For once, she thought he was calling Renee or Sue to explain they arrived well, but Sue was waving at her at the same time that a message came to her phone. Perhaps Charlie called? She walked closer to him, to let him know Sue was here.
"Yeah, I think we'll get there by seven. You too? Great! Oh, no, I think you're right. Let's play it by ear. Sure. Ok, I'll call you later." Emmett hung up with a smile.
"Who were you talking to?"
"A little surprise." He ticked her nose and turned to lift the luggage. "You're in no condition to carry the luggage."
"Hey! I can lift my bags."
"No, you're too distracted." And Bella bumped into another fellow picking his luggage. "See? Better go and hug Sue."
xxx
"You loved 'Sabrina, the teenage witch', right?"
After dinner, Charlie was channel surfing with Bella. Sue left to go to the hospital, as she changed to work the night shift so she could pick up the kids, leaving Charlie to hang up with them. But Emmett was pretty busy on the phone, and then one his old time buddies, Embry, came to greet him. So for now, it was only Bella and Charlie.
"I was like twelve, Dad." Bella rolled her eyes.
"Right, you had a crush on that Harvey guy. Do you remember how you wanted to dye your hair blond so you looked like her?"
Bella hid her face on one of the many pillows Charlie had around. "Oh God!"
"And then Emmett went but brought the wrong kind of dye and you ended with green hair and didn't leave home for like a week!" Charlie was chuckling. "Good times."
Bella was giggling too. "Yeah, then you wanted me to cut my hair like Emmett's. I'm so glad Sue managed to talk you out of that one. How are things between you two? She seemed in a hurry to leave."
"Meh, work. She's still as busy as always. I didn't realize how immersed in work we were until my leg broke." He lifted his straight bandaged leg from the coffee table as to make a point. "I mean, Forks isn't a town battling delinquency! Just folks overspeeding, a few guys with dope once in a while, and the usual scuffle at the bar. I'm learning to take things easy." He nodded.
Bella sighed, if only life was that easy for her.
"Oh, you frowned. Is there something troubling you? Renee mentioned you broke up with your boyfriend." Bella nodded. "Oh, baby. Don't you worry about it. There are plenty fish in the sea. And some of us didn't get it right the first time, like with your mother. See us now, we found our perfect match later in life. And we're all friends. Life is easy, we just like to complicate it."
Charlie's words didn't ease Bella's worries. Quite the contrary. Now she was almost certain that Edward would move on, to someone more amenable to his new job. She decided to change the topic of conversation before she got depressed.
"Does it still hurt? You didn't tell us." She pointed to his leg.
"Only when it's cold or when I move it brusquely. As soon as I get outside, I swear I feel my knees buckle. According to the doctor, I should be back to my old self by January. But those things he gave me, those make me feel so tired all the time. And then I think, why the hurry? I have food," and he lifted a bag of chips, "I have entertainment," he pointed to the TV, "nothing to worry for two more weeks."
With his last words, Charlie rested his head on the couch and closed his eyes. Bella realized Renee didn't mention her pregnancy to him, and she was glad. Who knows what Charlie would do to Edward in case he knew?
"You're too worried. Relax, baby. Nothing is gonna change in the next hour, so why don't you sleep for a bit?"
There was something, Bella couldn't pinpoint what, in Charlie's words and manners, that made her relax. He wasn't soothing like Renee, but he had a point. Nothing was going to change in the next hour, so why don't get a nap? So she closed her eyes.
xxx
Emmett came by ten minutes later, he just got off the phone after hearing Rosalie and Edward were fifteen minutes away from Forks. But when he saw Bella sleeping he decided it was better to leave their plans for the next day.
xxx
