Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

As always thanks to the lovely TwiDi for cleaning up my mess :) !

Sorry for the lateness, a lot of stuff going on with my Mom so writing was a top priority.

And yep Dr. Drake is from my GH obsession. I love GH and Days have since I was a kid lol.


Chapter 7

Bella's POV

We drove to the Doctor's office Tuesday; we both used a sick day to attend to this, not knowing how long it would take. I also knew I couldn't leave my cuz to handle this, on her own. Somethings in life should never have to be done alone—taking a DNA test to prove who your father is, is one of them.

The office was one of those upscale plush offices that you wish your doctor's office looked like. Private little areas for patients to sit, magazines that were actually from this year, and little mini TV sets in the private areas so you could watch what you wanted and not what the staff thought you should watch.

Rose gave her name to the receptionist, and less than five minutes later a nurse was out to usher us back into one of the rooms. Dr. Drake, a dark haired early 40s dream boat, came in personally to take the swab. He explained that it would be three to six business days before we'd get the results, and that Mr. Cullen's contact details were already on file. We didn't ask why, just glad that this wouldn't be a long wait.

Afterwards we decided to be bad and grabbed some Beef and Cheddars from Arby's before heading back to the apartment. There we kicked back and pulled out the Veronica Mars DVDs for a marathon of kick-assery.

"So, I sent in my application to EC Games last night," Rose informs me as we awe over Duncan Caine. We loved both Duncan and Logan, but were team Logan after Duncan left.

"Cool, hopefully it will work out for you," I mumble around a mouthful of cheddar yumminess.

"I hope so too. The pay is amazing, plus, I'd be doing something I love to do." She sighs. "Just being able to do all that coding on something that eventually is going to entertain millions of people; and have my name as part of something like that, just gives me goose bumps."

"Rosie baby, you have to be the hottest nerd I know." I laugh as she smacks me upside the head.

"Like you're not a nerd, how many books are on your Nook?" I give her a glare.

"I plead the 5th." She just laughs harder.

"I should probably call my Mom, and let her know what is going on," she tells me on a sigh.

"You know, I've been thinking, Rose, if we do go to dinner there, maybe we should hold off letting Aunt Irina know about it. I mean, what if Esme Cullen is a ninja and wants to kick your Mom's butt or something?" Did I mention the large amounts of Arbor Mist we are also consuming?

"I was kinda thinking that myself." She sighs, grabs another glass of the Kool Aid for grown ups and takes a large gulp. "Okay, I'll be back in a few. I need to call Mom, before I'm so drunk I can't remember the phone number or I blurt out something stupid." I wave her off and and snort when Logan says something sarcastic on the TV.

"Do what ya gotta do, cuz."

~0~

Wednesday was back to work; and no news from the doctor's office, though we didn't really expect it yet. Rose and I tried to act like there was nothing going on, but I could see the stress all over her face.

Thursday Rose came home ecstatic. While on break at work she checked her voice mail and she had be selected for an interview at EC Games. She set up an appointment with Angela Cheney the head of hiring and human relations there for Monday morning. Mrs. Cheney said they were very interested in Rose's application and wanted to meet with her ASAP. Rose quickly made the Monday appointment, and traded hours with a guy at work to have the time off.

Even though she was excited I could tell that all was not right with Rose and later I found out why. You see driving Rose to Dr. Drake's office was the easy part, the swabbing was no problem. The hard part was the waiting for the results.

For some reason, Tuesday night after the test and every night since, Rose had started having nightmares that she was on Maury with her Mom trying to find out who her Dad really is and all these faceless men kept showing up, and the answer of her true paternity stayed just out of reach.

I kept assuring her that her Mom wasn't a ho; and that she wouldn't lie about Carlisle being her Dad. In response, she reminded me of the years she believed the Max Hale was her Dad, and her Mom never corrected her on that lie.

Dr. Drake, and his lab, was quick though. When Rose got home from work on Friday, three days after, the test the results were in her inbox. With a 98.9% accuracy, Carlisle Cullen was her biological father.

"So, now we just wait and see if Esme contacts us?" I ask her.

"I could call her, but honestly, I need to process, and I need to focus on Monday. I want that job."

"Alrighty, then!" I give her thumbs up, proving that I am in fact a nerd. "Then I say we take a trip to the consignment shop and buy you a new outfit for your interview."

"I better get the job so we can afford your new addiction to consignment shops." She groans.

"Be my sugar Mama, Rosie." I give a silly wink, we share a smile before heading out the door to get dinner and some new to us clothing.

Esme's POV

After visiting with Rose, I came home to tell Carlisle about the meeting. He knew before I went what was going to happen. We both felt that it might be easier for Rose to face me, before facing Carlisle since she obviously had some anger issues with him. Not that I blame her; feeling like your mother had been abandoned by your father, and that your existence had been ignored your whole life by said father was sure to cause anyone to be angry.

I was trying to be strong—inviting Irina to the house. I know my husband loves me, and I know I love him. I'm terrified to come face to face with the woman who my husband turned to in his moment of pain, sorrow and weakness. But there is a part of me that is curious to see and meet this woman that shared his bed for that brief time when we were apart.

Carlisle and I decided that it would be best to have Rosalie have a DNA test so that there was no question about her paternity. Not so much for the two of us, but for the other people in our family, and circle of friends. It was mainly a formality to both of us—but a nessary one, especially when it comes to Carlisle's Uncle Aro and my own father Marcus. Two powerful men who—though loving and caring to their families—both need to see facts in black and white before they believe anything. In fact, after the divorce when I found out I was pregnant with Edward, Aro actually made me get a paternity test for Edward. Not that I had been with anyone else, but he is just that protective of the family, and their name. Aro was especially protective of Carlisle, having taken care of him since he was fifteen, when Carlisle's Dad, Anthony, died in a tragic accident; and his mother ran off with her tennis instructor, and five million dollars she stole out of the family accounts. Aro and his wife, Tanya, ended up raising Carlisle along side their own son Felix.

Carlisle was fragile in that time period—feeling abandoned by both his parents. Even though he was old enough to understand that his Dad didn't choose to be away from him, he couldn't help how he felt. I sometimes think that that time in his life was one of the reasons he shut down as hard as he did when Gemma died. Yes, I closed off too, and I fell down the spiral of depression. But Carlisle fell into the bottle and became an alcoholic. Though sober now, he still has moments when he has to step back, afraid that he is going to fall back into that bottle of scotch.

Once home I take a breath before going into the house. I worry that this situation is going to drive my loving husband back into a habit he has worked so hard to break. I worry that his sons will have to find out about their father's time where he drank twelve hours a day seven days a week.

"Esme, that boy is going to eat us out of house and home," Carlisle says with a laugh in greeting. He and Miguel were sitting in front of the TV in the den, munching on way too much junk food that Carlisle knows he shouldn't be having this late at night.

"Me, old man? You've eaten twice what I've had," Miguel teases back.

The "troubled" child that went through so many homes is so different from what it says in his paperwork. Smart, sweet and funny. Miguel was just lonely, and missing his Mom and his Dad. He sat down with Dr. Barnes yesterday; and the pair of them had a two-hour session. At the end of it, they sat up weekly appointments and; Dr. Barnes promised him if he behaved, she'd get him a visit with his mother. Something the child had been denied by his State-appointed psychiatrist. Dr. Barnes pulled me aside after the visit and told me she was going to look into Miguel's Mom's case. She was worried that with it being a State-run hospital—and one of the poorest of them—that perhaps Miguel's Mom's case wasn't getting the attention or care it should. I made her promise to keep me apprised, and if there was something that could help, I would do everything I could. If there was anyway to get Miguel his Mom back, we were going to do it.

"Both of you need to stop the snacking. It's way too late for ding dongs and chocolate milk." I roll my eyes when they both pout. "Carlisle, I know you well enough to know that this was probably your idea." I give him a mock scowl, and he jumps up and grabs me up in a huge bear hug.

"You like it when I'm a bad boy," he whispers in my ear, smacking me on the butt.

"Eww! Old-people-love, man, I'm gonna go blind staying here." Miguel pretends to be grossed out, but he has a combination of wistful, and happy look in his eyes.

"What's with this 'old people' thing, young man? I'm not that old," I inform him.

"Miguel, my boy, let me tell you. Never call a lady old. It's dangerous," Carlisle informs our young guest.

"And they will make you go to bed because you have school in the morning." I point at the clock. "Seeing as it is ten I think it is time to head up to bed."

"Dude, I have a bed time?" He looks shocked.

"Yes, you have a bed time. Miguel, you are only thirteen, so the old people get to say bed time at ten pm. That's being easy on you. Jasper and Edward had a nine thirty bedtime till they were in high school."

"Harsh, Ms. Es. Harsh." He stands up and looks longingly at the junk food.

"It will be here tomorrow, Miguel, and so will you, okay?" I can't help myself, I stand up and give the boy a big hug and for a moment he hugs me back, and it let's me know there is so much hope that this sweet boy can heal and become more than just someone who get's lost in the system as a troubled child. He can be anything he wants, and damn it Carlisle and I are going to make sure of it.

~0~

Friday evening the results came in. Rosalie Hale was indeed Carlisle's daughter. He wanted to rush over and talk to her right then and there, but I talked him out of it. After meeting the girl, I could tell she would need a night to process this, as I'm sure this can't be easy for her at all.

I, instead, talked him into calling Edward and Jasper over to explain the situation to them. That leads us to right now where Edward was playing video games with Miguel while we are waiting for Jasper. Who, I swear, has never been on time in his life. I was almost a month late giving birth to him. He didn't talk till he was one; he didn't walk till he was almost two. He also, while a bright boy, was late so often to class in high school, he was almost held behind a year. The large donation that built the Cullen Library at the school is the only reason he was able to graduate on time, well, he was late to the ceremony as well, but he graduated.

"Miguel, how do you feel about going with Alice to the mall? She hates shopping, but I figure with you along, it might make her task easier. Plus, you can help give her insight into what to buy." I grab his attention before they can start another round of what ever game they are playing.

"Why would Ali need my insight?" He looks at me like I've grown another head.

"Well, that is simple, you're a teenager, but not that long ago you were a kid. So, you have insight into both what teens and kids want and need. Alice is going to buy some things for a woman's shelter that we just heard was in serious need of goods for both women and kids there." I give him a smile. "Plus, she can use a big stong guy like you to help her haul things back and forth to the car."

"I guess I can go. Ali is cool, she is like a ninja or something, always being where you didn't realize she was gonna be. Maybe she can teach me the secret of sneaking up on people."

"Thanks for going and helping me, Migs, and I'll be happy to share some secrets," Alice tells him, showing up out of thin air. "Plus, I really do hate shopping, so having you along for entertainment will help it go by quicker." She gives a sweet wink at the boy whose skin gets a faint pink tint to it.

The pair leaves, heading to do their shopping—and probably dinner out. I told Alice that we needed time to talk with the boys this afternoon; and she offered to take Miguel with her shopping for the shelter, and if things went well, she was going to treat him with dinner out. Alice wanted Miguel to feel special, and she remembered going out with Jane to lunch for the first time like a big girl made her feel special.

"Folks, I'm here." Jasper comes in, plopping on the sofa beside Edward. His blond hair tousled, and he looked like he just rolled out of bed. Looking at the clock, I roll my eyes. Sometimes I worry that we spoiled that one too much.

"We see that, bro, only oh— an hour late this time. Good for you," Edward says, sarcastically.

"Bite me, Red." Jasper taunts, knowing that Edward hates that nickname.

"Children, before this turns into one of your famous fights, that you are both too old to have anymore, your mother and I need to talk to you." Carlisle takes control, both boys looking properly chastened and guilty.

"What's up, Pops?" Jasper who, never stays quiet long, asks, leaning back on the sofa.

Carlisle and I sit on the love seat, facing the boys. He grabs my hand; and we both take a moment before we change everything our children know about us. With a squeeze of my fingers, my husband begins to tell the boys his tale.

"Edward, Jasper we want you both to know how much we love you, and how important you are to us and how that will never change." Edward looks at Jasper, and they both look worried. Edward goes to talk, but Carlisle holds up a hand to stop him.

"Sweetie, let your Dad talk." He gives me a short nod before staring at his father.

"Before you were born, after your sister Gemma died, your Mom and I had a falling out, to put it simply. We fell apart, and didn't think there was anyway to save us. So we ended our marriage for a brief time. I wasn't myself, and I was drinking a lot. As you know, I don't drink now, but then I was drinking a lot. After your Mother and I signed the divorce papers, I rushed off and found myself drinking even more. There was a woman there and she was dealing with a husband who was cheating on her, and we both were feeling lost and alone. Things happened…" He stops.

"Carlisle, it's ok. Tell them," I encourage him, squeezing his hand like he had done mine so many times before. He nods again; and takes another breath, steadying himself.

"Her name was Irina, and I left her in a room alone in a hotel to rush back to your Mom when she called me frantic, needing me. I gave Irina a phone number for my office at the time, in case she needed anything, but I had to get to your Mom, my love, when she called crying, as she needed me. When I made it to your Mom, she was ecstatic, worried and completely stunned. She found out that she was almost four months pregnant with you, Edward." He pauses smiling at Edward. "I was so happy to know that you were coming. Your mom and I sat down, and I told her what had happened. We decided to work things out, it took some time and counseling. I joined a rehab program. I also took a sabbatical from work. During that time Irina, apparently, had tried to call me. You see, a few months after our encounter, she found out that she too was pregnant."

"What the fuck!" Edward leaps up, walks towards the window, pacing. "You knocked some strange woman up eons ago and are just telling us now?" he demands.

"Ed man, calm down." Jasper, who mainly looked shocked, tries to calm down his brother.

"Edward, I had no idea about Irina being pregnant till the fundraiser. My daughter showed up then and dropped the bomb on me." Edward pales, looking at Carlisle like he's seen a ghost.

"She? She was at the fundraiser?" He sits down in the arm chair, looking shaky.

"You saw her, son. She crashed the event trying to see me. Unfortunately, our first meeting didn't go well at all."

"Dude," is all Jasper says. He looks at Edward, and shakes his head. "Dude," he whispers again.

"Your Mom and I are planning on inviting her over; we'd like to have a family dinner. Introduce you two, to your half sister. This situation isn't ideal, I know this boys. You are being thrown a loop, just as your Mother and I are. However, she is family. I think that it would be good for all of us if we can get to know each other." Carlisle stands. "I want to know my daughter. I lost one, never getting to know who she would have become, never getting to show her how much her Daddy loves her. I've lost a lot of time with this daughter, but I don't want to lose her." His voice is so full of pain. "I don't want to lose any of my children."

Jasper jumps up, grabbing his father into a hug, Edward following. They share a moment, though Edward still looks funny. They whisper words to each other that I can't hear, but I don't begrudge them their moment. Instead, I feel my heart expand, the love for my three men filling it.

"We'll try, Dad," Edward offers in a hoarse voice, "we'll try."

"That's all I ask, son. Try, for me, and for your mother."

"How are you with this, Mom?" My youngest asks.

"I had known about Irina since it had happened, long time ago. Your sister is a shock, but all the same, I'm happy for your dad. I'm hoping that your sister and I can become friends. She is a lovely girl, smart and so pretty. I have this feeling that she is going to fit in with the family, if she only let's herself."

"Well, then, if Mom's cool, Dad's happy, Ed's trying, then I'm down with it. Who knows, she might have some hottie friends to hook me up with." And that, ladies and gentlemen, is as deep as Jasper gets most of the time.


AN2: Reviews are loved, but if you don't like it just click the damn X, my real life is sucky enough right now I don't need assholes trying to bring me down.