Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Bella~
I stood behind the counter at the coffee house the next morning. Alice was blabbering on about Halloween and the fall fair downtown. My thighs were aching and my back was bruised from the fall. it took all my strength not to scream this morning when Lilly hugged my waist to say good morning.
"Are you all set for tomorrow night?" I asked Alice. We ran a joint booth at home games for the high school. She sold Spartan apparel out of her half and on my half I sold coffee and other hot drinks. It was a great way to make money since we'd be at the games anyway. There wasn't really anything else to do around Forks in the fall.
"Yeah. All set." she replied. I moved slowly cleaning up tables and cups as I went.
"Is there anything you want to tell me?" Alice asked. I wanted to tell her about Jake. I didn't want to worry anyone with my problems. I smiled a little, hoping to lighten the dark questioning look on her face, "Why? what did you hear?" Alice turned the stool to face me completely. She crossed her thin pale legs resting her folded hands on her knees.
"Rumor has it that you and Jake had it out in your front yard last night." I shut my eyes tight, "God damn it! I didn't want anyone to know about that." I huffed.
"You honestly think in this town no one saw you two? I also heard it was because you were making out on your porch with Edward Masen and Jake saw it. I told Lauren you couldn't of been making out with Edward Masen because if you had I would of heard about it immediately if not sooner. If you did and you didn't tell me I am going to be offended in a big way." I leaned my head to the side and rubbed the heel off my hand over my temple, "No Alice. We talked. I told him he can see Lilly. That's it. God do you believe everything you hear?" Alice gasped, "You agreed? Why?" I shrugged, "I don't know. I think the decision was based on emotion and not intellect. It was the damn house. He just looked so proud of it and Alice it's falling down around his ears. I mean this place is a serious piece of crap and he bought it just because it was something that was still standing after the wreckage of us, what we were." I wanted to cry thinking of the proud expression on his face when he stood in front of the Maple house. "The house was a sweet idea. When does he get to meet Squirt?" the thought of Edward and Lilly actually meeting still stirred dread inside me. "Friday night at the game. I'll introduce them and then they are on their own." Alice shook her head, "And she is going to think he's what?"
"An old friend. I am going to talk with her tonight and make sure she understands he may not be staying." I had thought it over and decided it was best to tell Lilly he may not be staying just in case he left again. I knew what the shock of that could do. "I think he's here for good and I think he still loves you." part of me hoped he did and part of me knew there was no going back. We would never be Edward and Bella, Forks high "It" couple again. I didn't know if we could be anything else. I didn't know Edward the man but when he showed me the house, when he was pleading with me to see his daughter I saw traces of the Edward I knew. I just had to hope there was enough of the old him to make this risk worth it.
"I have one more question." I laughed out loud. Where Alice was concerned there was no such thing as one more question.
"What?" I sat down for a moment in an empty chair.
"Did Jake push you down?" her little Alice face was full of concern.
"No. I tripped." I got up as best I could and went back behind the counter.
"Lauren Mallory said he was yelling and calling you a whore. Is that true?"
"Yes. He's just needs time to get over it." I kept my eyes down so I didn't have to look at her.
"I think you should tell your dad." she said.
I shook my head, "Nope. Jake is my problem. No one else's."
"I think it's a mistake not to tell your dad. Bella, he's nuts."
"He's my problem. End of discussion." I went into the kitchen for fresh muffins. Alice stomped to her side of the store and slammed the a joining door.
I had an exhausting day at the coffee house. One by one I sent back gifts from Jake just to come home and find that he had them re routed to the house. It was beyond annoying at this point. I was grateful however that he wasn't coming to see me himself. I was wearing still wincing in pain from our last encounter. I went back and fourth on my decision about Lilly and Edward all day. I knew it was a stupid thing to do to risk my daughter but something about them seeing each other felt right. It felt like it was long over due. I had no one I could talk to about this. It felt like everyone I knew was on Edwards side. News spread quickly all over town about Edward buying the house. I drove by it on the way home and saw he already had crews inside working on something. I couldn't imagine the state of disrepair on the inside. The outside was bad enough. When I turned into the driveway my Dad's cruiser was already there. It was way to early for him to be home.
"Grandpas home early." Lilly said brightly from the back seat. She climbed out of the car and ran into the house to see him. I walked slowly behind her trying not to let my stress show.
"We need to talk Little lady." My Dad said the minute I came in the house. I stood just inside the side door, "What did I do?" I asked. "Lilly go upstairs and start your homework." Dad ordered her. She stomped her foot, "I wanna watch Mommy get yelled at." she demanded. "Lilly.....homework....now!" he pointed to the living room and off she went dragging her book bag behind her, "It's not fair. Never get to watch the good stuff." she grumbled to herself and went up the stairs. I waited to hear her bedroom door close before I started yelling.
"How dare you speak to me that way in front of Lilly." I came the rest of the way in the house and put my purse and laptop on the counter. "Why didn't you come and get me last night after Jake assaulted you? He deserves to be in jail!" my dad shouted.
"He didn't assault me. We had words and that was it Dad." I moved around the kitchen getting the things I needed for dinner.
"God damn it Bella will you stop moving for two minutes?" he crossed in front of me and slammed the refrigerator door shut, "This is serious! Did he hit you?" his eyes darted over me in panic. I understood what he was going through, I was a parent too.
"No dad. He didn't hit me. I tripped over the sidewalk. The worse thing he did was call me some names and scare me a little." I smiled reassuringly at him. "I want you to come down to the station and file a report. Just so it's on file. Mike will handle everything and I'll watch Squirt tonight." I sighed, "No. I've got this handled. I've sent back the flowers and the gifts. He just needs a chance to get over this. Everything will be fine." I hugged my Dad for a moment and let him hug me so he would know I was right here and I was fine. "I'm gonna have some of the guys down at the station check on you a couple times a day just for a little while and I don't want you going anywhere alone. Take Alice with you to walk Lilly to school and someone should be with you when you close up at night. Promise me Bell's, promise me you'll take this seriously and do what I say." I pulled away from him when he was done talking. "Okay Dad. I'll do what you ask but no police report." I patted his cheek gently and went back to cooking dinner.
"How did this happen?" He asked.
"He said you told him I was out for a walk and he was waiting on the swing. You didn't know he was out there?" I put a pot of water on the stove and went back to the fridge.
"I never told him you were out for a walk. I would never tell a guy you just broke up with where you were. That's justs stupid." he crossed his arms over his chest. "If you didn't tell him then why was he waiting on the porch? And how did he know I was on a walk?" I wondered. "Sounds like he's stalking you. Sure you don't want to file that report?" he asked gruffly. "Yes. I'm sure. He will get over this in a few days. I just need to give him time." saying it out loud didn't make me believe it. I could tell my Dad wasn't buying it either. "I heard you went over to the Maple house with Edward Masen. What was that all about?" he sat down on a kitchen chair. He was in full on cop mode. I didn't enjoy being questioned but I knew I had to tell him eventually.
"He bought it. He wanted to show it to me." I got some things from the fridge and carried them over to the counter.
"That's a pretty big deal. Must be planning on staying around." I walked back to the fridge and got my Dad a beer. I handed it to him and smiled. It was best he hear this from me and not some random town gossip monger.
"I'm going to let Edward meet Lilly. I've set down ground rules and he knows if he screws this up it's done and he can't see her again." I watched my Dad sit his beer down mid sip and stare at me. "Dad, say something, please." I wrung my hands in front of me and waited for him to say something.
"Just be careful." he took a long drink of his beer. I let out the breath I was holding. Now I just needed to talk to Lilly.
I went upstairs to talk to Lilly while dinner was cooking. I was only slightly worried I had left Dad in charge of it while I went to check on Lilly. Her door was a jar and I could see her sitting cross legged on her bed studying my old photo album with pinkie at her side.
"Hi. What are you lookin at?" I went over to her bed and sat beside her.
"Your pictures. I like them. They're pretty." I smiled down at the picture she was looking at. Edward and I were staring into each others eyes as we danced. His smile was dazzling, even in photos.
"Do you remember who that is?" I asked pointing to Edward. Lilly shook her head, "Yep. I made up a story about him. I call him prince Edward. He was the prince and you were a princess. Aunt Rose was a queen and Uncle Emmett was king. Aunt Alice and Uncle Jasper were there too. You all lived in a beautiful kingdom where it never rains and it's always sunny." I bit my lip trying not to smile at her very elaborate explanation.
"And why don't we live there anymore?" I wondered. She rolled her eyes at my idiotic question, "You got to old and they kicked you out." Her face was so serious like it was the simplest answer.
"Gee, thanks Lill." I said and gently tickled her sides. She giggled happily and then settled in next to me.
"How would you like to meet the real Edward?" I took the photos from her lap and sat them on the floor beside us.
".gosh. Mommy, really?" she gave me a huge beaming smile.
"Yep. He's in town for a little bit and he really wants to meet you." I laid back against her head board and sighed at how comfortable I was laying here for a moment with her.
"He wants to meet me? Prince Edward wants to meet me?" she acted as if I had just said she was going to meet a major celebrity but I suppose to her a new person in her life was much the same thing.
"He does. He's going to come to the football game tomorrow night. He's going to sit with you and Uncle Em if that's okay with you." I said casually.
"It's way okay Mom. Way way way okay." she hopped over my legs and off the bed.
"What are you doing?" I asked her. I sat up and watched her rummage in her closet.
"I need something to wear! It's not all the time you go to a football game with a king and a prince!" she rolled her eyes again. I went over and knelt beside her, "Baby, you do know he's not really a prince? He's just an old friend of Mommy's that wants to see you." I brushed her hair off her shoulder and smiled. "I know he's not a prince for real but to me he is. Mommy he's so handsome." I laughed a little and stood back up, "I know he is but tomorrow night let's just call him Edward and leave the prince stuff at home, okay?" I kissed her forehead. She continued digging in her closet as I went down to finish dinner.
Edward~
I strolled into Spoons on Friday morning before meeting Em over at the house. He wanted to drop off some tools and I wanted to show him my little fire proof box that still had no key. Bella was cleaning up tables wearing a soft looking lavender tee shirt and a knee length denim skirt. I let my eyes move over her from her sandal clad feet all the way up to her lush shiny brown pony tail. She was so gorgeous. I smiled wide, "Good morning!" I said and walked up the counter. Bella smiled a little more than I had seen since I had been here. "Just the man I wanted to see. I heard something interesting about us last night." she crossed her arms over her chest and grinned from ear to ear. "It must have been a good something." I leaned my arms on the counter and smiled up at her. It was so tempting to touch her, "It was a good something?" I asked. She busted out in a fit of giggles, "Did you know that you were a prince and I was a princess? Oh and we lived in a magical kingdom where it never rains and it's always sunny?" I smiled wider, "If such a place exists why did we leave?" I pondered. She moved away and poured me a black coffee to go as usual. "We got kicked out for being to old." I laughed and snapped my fingers once, "Damn. That's the one that will get you kicked out every time! This is the best gossip I've heard since I got here." I took my coffee from her and let my fingers linger a moment on hers.
"Oh it's not gossip. This is according to Lilly. She was looking at pictures of us and made up the story." Bella rolled her eyes for a moment.
"She's got quite the imagination." I commented and took a sip of hot coffee.
"She sure does. She thinks you're a prince. She almost fell over when I told her she would see you at the football game tonight. She's really excited." I was happy to hear that. It took some of the pressure off. "Well I'm excited too. It's not every day I get to attend a football game with a beautiful girl." I looked at the clock above the counter and grimaced, "I hate to cut this short but I'm late to meet Emmett. I'll see you tonight." I winked at her and walked to the door. I got back in the car and looked through the big glass window. Bella leaned on the counter resting her chin in her hand. She gazed out the window. I didn't know if she was watching me leave but I hoped she was. I sat there a moment and than blew her a kiss before I drove away.
Em's company truck roared up Maple street as the painters started working on the outside of the house. I turned and watched him hop out of his truck, happy smiling and whistling as usual. Em was almost never in a bad mood.
"What's up Edward? Oh you hired painters! Good move!" he slapped my back and walked up the yard carrying an arm load of heavy tools.
"You need some help with those?" I asked him. Em laughed, "Hell no. I bench more than this." I opened the gate to the back yard and walked over to the shed. It was leaning to one side and when we were done with it I fully intended to let Em blow it up. That would make him happy. Em put everything in the shed and closed the doors. "I need your help with one more thing. What do you know about fire proof boxes?" I asked him and walked down to my car on the street. He followed behind me, "I know you can't blow em up. Why?" I opened the trunk and pulled out the box, "This was given to me by my dad's partner Carlisle. He said it was to be given to me and only me. Em, I think there is something in this box. Something my Dad may of wanted Lilly to have and my mom is trying to get his will changed. She's willing to go as far as to commit estate fraud. I need to know what's in this box so I can stop her and get Lilly what is hers." I looked at it sitting on the trunk of the car and honestly it was just starting to make me mad. Em pointed to the lock, "Wheres the key? It's got to have a key." he studied it all over. I laughed, "Oh it came with a message. It's in the last place your mother will ever look." Em looked at me with a puzzled expression, "What the hell does that mean?" I shrugged, "Beats me. I've searched the house. His car. The only clue I've gotten is a picture of Lilly from his wallet and a piece of paper with the name of some make your own toy place written on it."
"Build a bear?" he raised his eye brow in question. "yeah that was it." Em's smile widened, "Lilly loves that place. All little kids do. The bears start out empty and then you stuff em and dress em then you name them. It's pretty fun I'm embarrassed to admit." his cheeks flushed. "What does one have to do with the other though? I don't get it." I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed. "Well we can try to break it and risk whatever is inside." he shrugged. "No. I don't know what's in there so let's not do that. I'll just have to try and put the pieces together. Not now though. I am meeting Lilly tonight. Did you know you were a king and Rose was a queen?" I shook my head as he looked at me, "Never mind. Anyway. When do we start work on the house?" a car door slammed across the street. Both Emmett and I turned to look. Quil and Embry strolled twoards us. "What goes on gentlemen?" Em said. Quil jerked his heard to the house, "Heard it got bought but I didn't know it was you Mccarty, your old lady has gotta be stoked." I laughed, "No no it wasn't Em. It was me. I bought it a few days ago." I still felt an over welming surge of pride over my purchase. "Your kidding? You bought it?" Embry said with narrowed eyes. "Yep. All mine." Embry's body stiffened, "Hey. We gotta get back to work. Em when you get in come to the office and pick up your check." they both turned and walked back to their truck and peeled out down Maple street. "What just happened?" I asked him. "I don't know but it was nothing good." He replied.
The fall air was crisp and cool as the sun went down. I was waiting for Lilly and Bella by the gates of the football field. As I was standing in wait several people smiled at me or asked for an autograph. Mostly it was high schoolers from the opposing team but it was nice not to be totally hated. I heard Bella's laugh before I saw her face. I would know her laugh anywhere. It was light and care free like an angel sighing. They walked a little fast when they spotted me. Bella's eyes narrowed but the smile didn't leave her lips. My heart rate tripled. I couldn't believe I was about to meet my daughter for the first time. Bella opened her arms and hugged me gently for a moment. She smelled like heaven. Her hair was down over the shoulders of blue and gold 'go Spartans' shirt. Lilly wore a matching one with her hair in pig tails. "Edward this is Lilly. Lilly this is Edward." Bella took a step back from us and I knelt in front of Lilly and extended my hand, "It's very nice to meet you." I said in a low voice. Lilly shook my extended hand and smiled. I was in awe of the perfect creature we had created. In my eyes she was the most beautiful child in creation. I was sure there were others that would agree with me. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Lilly Renee Swan. I'm seven." she bit her lower lip a moment after her statement realizing the introductions had already been made. "I'm Edward Masen. I'm twenty six." I stood up but didn't let go of her hand. "Let's walk your Mom inside and then get something to eat." Lilly's smile faded, "I'm not allowed to eat crap, right mom?" Bella and I both chuckled, "It's a special night honey. Eat what you want." Lilly pumped her little fist in triumph.
The three of us walked inside. Lilly chattered away about her grandpa and football. Going over and over all the things he had taught her. I was listening but I was watching Bella too. Lilly was the light of her life. When she was near her Bella's body and soul relaxed and she looked at peace.
"Well this is me. Lilly you know where I am if you need anything." she leaned down and kissed her forehead. Lilly wiped the chap stick off her forehead with the back of her hand. "I'll walk her back here after the game, if that's okay?" I said. Bella smiled, "Sure. Just make sure she doesn't eat to much junk and no soda. It's water only. If she needs a potty break come find me." I blew out a breath and looked down at Lilly. Lilly smiled up at me happily. "I think we can handle that." Bella waved goodbye and we were on our own.
We walked to the concession stand in silence. I wasn't really sure what to say and I couldn't expect the seven year old to be a great conversationalist. "So....Um...what would you like to eat?" I looked down at her from the corner of my eye. "A hot dog please with ketchup and some cotton candy." I grimaced, "You aren't planning to eat them together, right?" She giggled. It melted my heart. "No!" I laughed along with her as we moved up in line. She relaxed a little and told me about her school and her teacher. I got the impression she didn't have many friends. We sat down on the bleachers as the marching band was taking the field. Lilly ate slowly and didn't talk with her mouth full. When she was done she had some questions for me. "Are you my uncle?" the question stunned me into silence for a moment. "No. I'm a friend of your mom's. We went to high school together." "Oh." she seemed a little sad. "What's wrong?" I asked. She turned to me very seriously, "I had a friend. His name was Mr. Masen. He gave me a bear and was really nice. He died and I miss him. He wasn't my uncle either." she was talking about my dad. "I know. I miss him too." I said sadly. "Did you know him?" she asked me with peaked curiosity. "I did. He was my dad." I smiled a little. I hoped he could see this where ever he was and I hoped it was making him happy. "Tell me all about your bear." I said. I scooted closer to her on the bleachers and wondered what was keeping Em and Rose. It was almost kick off. "She's pink and she has cool clothes cause Aunt Alice made them for me. Pinkie is a magic bear." I grinned down at her. She opened her giant bag of cotton candy and took a huge bite. I handed her a bottle of water and a napkin. "What makes her magical?" Lilly smiled with her teeth full of blue goo, "She's magic cause her heart is a secret. Mr. Masen told me to never ever give her to anyone because she's special and her heart is the magic key to everything. I take her everywhere! I even stuff her in my back pack so no one can steal while I'm at school." my mind was racing. Lilly's bear was special. My father had given her a special bear....a bear with a heart that was the key to everything. I cast my eyes sky ward for a moment and sighed to myself. Oh Dad, how could you trust a seven year old with the key to everything?
A/n I hope this chapter is well received. I worked so hard on it and I wanted it to be just right. I hope I achieved what I wanted it to be. I think the Lilly Edward meeting was priceless. Next chapter is not happy stuff. I am going to warn everyone now. As always thank you for the reviews and support. I really would like to see this story hit a five hundred reviews by the end.