June 20th 2010

"Do you ever wonder what it would have been like, if you and Renee had stayed together?" I asked quietly. Charlie sighed and shook his head. We were still stood on the porch, looking out over the garden, which was quickly growing brighter in the afternoon sun.

"I try not to." He said, "But then, when I see what you and Bella have achieved, and how happy you are... I can't blame the teenage parent thing anymore... there's always the thought that... if I'd have tried as hard as you did, to keep Bella happy and provide for her... If I'd been more accepting of what she needed... then maybe things wouldn't have ended the way they did." He whispered at the end and I felt bad for bringing it up, so I decided to change the subject.

"I never forget when you we had to tell you about Emma..." I chuckled and he did to.

"Well, you have a daughter now, you can empathise with just what was going through my head." He said and I rolled my eyes.

Charlie stood straighter, "You see at that point, I had been able to convince myself that you were still sleeping in separate beds every evening."

I wanted to tell him that it only happened once prior to Bella's pregnancy... but that would have been a lie.

July 21st 2005

"Do you have any idea how irresponsible you two have been?" Charlie yelled where he was stood shouting at us. Bella was holding my hand tightly in both of hers, my other rubbing her back gently.

"Chief Swan please..." I started when Charlie whirled around, stopping his pacing abruptly to scream at me.

"I'm not even ready to talk to you yet young man!" He snapped and I shut up.

Charlie put his head in his hands as he flopped down in his arm chair. Bella got up from where we were sitting and made to walk over to him. I caught her arm and shook my head, not knowing exactly what kind of frame of mind Charlie was in. It wasn't that I thought he would ever hurt her as such, it was just that I didn't want him to lash out, or upset her... I never wanted that.

Bella smiled encouragingly and let go of my hand, me sitting on the edge of my seat ready to jump up as she sat down on the arm of the arm chair, wrapping her arms around her father and kissing his temple.

"I'm sorry dad." She whispered.

Charlie sighed and shook his head, sitting up and pulling her into his side, "You don't have to apologise Bells, I'm just worried for you... that's all."

Charlie's eyes flashed to mine and I stiffened, swallowing and standing up.

"I'll give you two a minute." I muttered and went to walk out of the room when Bella caught my hand. I squeezed it and she did back, smiling thankfully at me as I left.

I watched just outside the door, leaning against the wall with my hands in my pockets, head tilted towards the ceiling.

"I hope you know what you are doing Bella." Charlie said quietly.

I think she may have nodded, "He'll take care of me, and the baby... I know he will."

Charlie sighed, "I know that, it's just... it's a big task, having a baby, at any age... and speaking with experience..." He sighed again, "I just don't want you to make the same errors me and your mother did."

I heard Bella swallow, "We won't."

Charlie must have been smiling, "I love you Bells, my biggest achievement."

Bella sniffed and I was sure she was crying, "I love you to dad."

There came the sound of them getting up and moving and Bella came out of the door. She smiled and indeed she had been crying. I beamed back and she wrapped her arms around my chest in a tight hug. I rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head.

There were heavy footsteps and I looked up form smiling at Bella to be met with a steely eyed Charlie. I swallowed and Bella looked up, tightening her arms around me as Charlie spoke.

"Edward can I have a word?" He grumbled.

I nodded and put my hands behind my back to remove Bella's vice like grip on my belt, which meant she wasn't going anywhere.

"Dad..." She started and Charlie straightened up, walking towards the kitchen.

"Now." He said firmly and disappeared into the kitchen.

Bella lowered her arms slowly and I touched her cheek in comfort, knowing she wasn't set on the idea of me being in a room alone with her father. I and Charlie had always got along okay, but I wasn't sure exactly where our relationship stood now.

Okay, scratch that, I knew exactly where it stood.

Well with hell, was exactly where.

I shut the kitchen door behind me and went to stand in front of Charlie.

He glared at me, "If you hurt her..." He spoke clearly and quietly.

"I will kill you... or slam the biggest law suit on you I can okay?" He asked.

I swallowed and nodded, "Yes sir."

Charlie nodded and sat down, turning back to his paper.

I took that as my cue to leave and turned when Charlie barked after me.

"Oh and Edward?"

I tuned slowly, ready to duck if he was holding his gun.

He wasn't, he simply looked at me over his paper. He coughed, "You'll be a good dad."

I smiled and ducked me head in appreciation, "Thank you sir."

Bella was waiting for me on the porch, she was sitting on the step, hands on her stoma, looking out over the yard. I went and sat next to her, wrapping one arm around her shoulders as she leant in closer to me.

I shivered and subbed her shoulder, "You're freezing."

She shrugged, "I'm okay."

I took off my jacket and placed it over her shoulders, she sighed and I kissed the top of her head.

"We have to tell your parents." She whispered and I sighed, wondering just how judgemental my father would be, and how excited y sister would be.

On both accounts, it didn't bare thinking about.