A/N: A couple of different points of view in this chapter. Hope you enjoy!!! Hey, if you haven't already please check out the one shot I posted written by my husband, 'To Dream or Not To Dream'

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, wish I did!!

Chapter 10: Riley and Elizabeth

Elizabeth's POV

I stayed behind not only to continue to get to know my new family, but I had to stop my mother and father from making a huge mistake. They love each other, they are meant to be. My mom is willing and waiting again for my dad to step up. She told me she is very much still in love with him. My mother the ever selfless one, left not wanting to cause any more pain to my father. I wish one of them would come to their senses and fight for what they want. They are so worried that they will hurt the other that they back away.

"What's wrong beautiful girl?" Riley kissed my hand. I have fallen so deeply for him. I knew it the minute I laid eyes on him.

"Just trying to figure out how to help my parents. I know my mom will not be truly happy without my dad. I have to help them." I felt helpless, I needed a plan.

"Alice" I said out load, Riley looked at me confused. I stood up quickly.

"I need to talk to Alice. Will you stay here? I love you." I kissed him feverishly.

"I'll be waiting, my love." His eyes danced.

I set off to find Alice. She was waiting for me at the door, of her house.

"Come on Liz, we can't talk here follow me." She whispered. I knew my father was in his room. I heard Alice reciting the countries of the world and their capitals. Her vision must be good if she is willing to keep from dad.

We ran to the coast and looked out the ocean.

"I love water it always helps me think and relax." Alice said to me with her arm linked with mine.

"What did you see Alice? How can I help?" I was getting flashes but I needed Alice to clarify. We work well together. Our visions feed off each others like putting puzzle pieces together.

"You need to have a conversation with Edward." She paused. "Liz, you need to gather every conversation you've ever had with Bella about her love for him. Talk to him first, you can pull him from this state of self-loathing he's in right now. I can't believe how upset he was when he found out she had left, even though he told her he couldn't be around her. Those two need a swift kick in the ass." Alice's tone went from serious to playful.

I chuckled, "I know Alice, come on I need to talk some sense into my father."

We ran straight to the Cullen's house. I didn't even stop and knock on his door, I just let myself in. I opened up the door and closed it behind me standing with my back against it, looking at my very startled father.

"Elizabeth, what are you doing? What is going on?" He asked me his eyes as wide as saucers.

I walked up to him and touched his face. I flooded his mind with images of my mother and the many moments we spent talking about him. He walked backwards, breaking our contact, until his back hit a wall then he slid down it putting his head in his hands. I stood there silently, waiting for him to make a move and speak. My patience ran out.

"Dad, are you really going to let her slip through your fingers again?"

Silence, I waited.

"Haven't you learned by now, that when you try to do what you think is best for her, you only hurt her more?" He looked up at me, finally a response.

"I can't Elizabeth, I can't hurt her again. I'm no good for her." I sighed with heavy frustration.

"Do you not realize that when you keep your distance from her, that you are hurting her?" More silence. I kneeled in front of him.

"Dad, Edward, look at me." He lifted his head just enough to make eye contact.

"She loves you more than you will ever know, even if you think you are no good for her, she does not see it that way." I touched his cheek and I showed him more images. His hands were in his hair, his head was down.

"Stop please, I can't take it." He whispered. I pulled my hand away.

"What are you going to do about it?" I asked sternly.

I sat down beside him. He was still silent.

"Do you love her?"

"Yes, more than anything in this world." He was sobbing.

"So I ask again what are you going to do about it?"

"Nothing."

Nothing, what did he mean nothing.

"Are you serious? Why?"

Why are men so clueless?

"I couldn't save her Elizabeth, I couldn't save Tanya. She was depending on me to save her, I failed. The worst part is that I am relieved that she is gone. The guilt is killing me, that is why I'm no good for Bella. I am a failure. I am a monster for being glad that Tanya is gone. I pushed Bella away, because looking at her, touching her reminds me of my failures, with her, you and Tanya. I'm not angry with Bella, I'm angry at myself and I lashed out at her."

He looked defeated.

"Dad, Tanya made a choice that day in the field, no one could've saved her. She knew her fate, she told me so. Alice had more than confirmed it to her. Tanya ran because she didn't want you to see her die. Alice and I saw it, we knew." He looked at me with confusion and anger.

"Why did you not tell me? How could you let her die?" His voice was raised with venom. He was fuming.

"Tanya didn't want you to know, she did not want you chasing after her, more importantly she did not want you get in trouble with the Volturi, she knew your protective nature would cause you to do something stupid. I spoke to her a lot before she died. She wants you to be happy, dad. She knew, and always knew that you loved my mother, that she is the only one for you. Tanya knew her fate and she accepted it with grace. Alice and I worked for days trying to find a way around it, but it always ended the same, with Tanya dead. You have been given the chance to have happiness, love and eternity with the woman, I know you love beyond words, yet here you sit sulking in your own self pity. Tanya scarified herself for your happiness, don't kick a gift horse in the mouth, accept it."

He looked at me. I touched is face again. I replayed my conversations with Tanya in my mind. Showing him. His face was blank.

"Thank you Elizabeth, I love you." I hugged him.

"I love you too."

I left him to his thoughts.

Alice met me at the bottom of the steps. She grabbed my hand and pulled me out to the back of the property.

She jumped up and down and hugged me.

"Good job baby girl, it's just a matter of time." She flooded me with images of them together. I smiled. It's about damn time.

A few more weeks passed and dad was still locked up in his room. He was really starting to make me mad. It had been a month since Tanya died and my mother went back to Seattle. I could slap them both. Patience was never my strong suit anyway. I talk to mom daily, she sounds lonely but for the most part she's doing well. She told me more than once that the ball is in my dad's court and she will keep her distance until he makes an effort to talk to her. Again she takes the high road and respects his wishes, ignoring her own happiness. I pulled myself out of my thoughts.

We were in the great room with Alice and Jasper.

Riley was in heavy conversation with Jasper so, Alice and I decided to go on small hunt.

Riley's POV

I was talking to Jasper about war and he was telling about his training he received in the confederate army. I was trying to bore Elizabeth so she would leave the house for a little while. I wanted to talk to Edward.

"Thanks, Jasper, I'm going to talk to Edward now." He chuckled

"Good luck kid." I ascended the stairs.

I knocked.

"Edward, it's Riley can I speak to you."

"Come in."

He was reading, sitting on his leather couch. He looked at me waiting for me to speak. I closed the door and faced him. I spoke before he could read my thoughts.

"I want to marry your daughter and I am asking for your blessing." He looked at me and smiled.

"I really don't think it would be my place to offer you my blessing, you should probably ask Bella. I really haven't been a part of her life." He said contently.

"I have asked Bella, in fact she gave me her grandmother Swan's engagement ring." I pulled the ring out of my pocket and showed him. "Regardless, you are still her father. Do I have your blessing? If she will have me?" I pleaded.

"Yes, take care of her. I give you my blessing." His voice was laced with sadness. He stood up and shook my hand. "Welcome to the family."

I had to speak up, I hate seeing Elizabeth sad.

"Edward, she's sitting in that cottage in Seattle all by herself, there is no reason for you two to be apart. Eternity is a long time to be alone. What is so complicated about it? You love her, she loves you, nothing else matters."

I left him with his thoughts.

I just had to ask her. Smiling I went to find her.