Six Months Later (Mercy- 8 months)

Standing in the kitchen cut up the two little pancakes I'm so happy to final go to the court hearing today. In a few hours she'll be all mine and Edward's forever and ever. Feeling two arms wrap around my waist I know my husband's touch. Turning to face him I reach up my arms around his neck smiling from ear to ear as I go in for my morning kiss nice and slow.

"Ma ma," calls Mercy making turn to see Mercy pulling up with the help of kitchen table.

"She's standing," I whispered in amazement.

Then it happened she took a couple of shaking steps towards me before falling on her butt. Holding my breath I expect her to start crying any second, but she burst out laughing and clapping looking proud.

"She's resilient just like her mom. Never doing the expected," Edward soothes my nerves knowing I don't like Mercy falling.

"Get the plate, Daddy," I try to smile as I scoop up Mercy putting her in her highchair.

Sitting in the chair I looked up to see Edward sliding the food on the tray, and Mercy picked it fistfuls nibbling away at what was sticking out of her hands.

"Seems like yesterday that she was so small she would fit in the palm of my hand," Edward said taking a seat on the other side of Mercy.

"Mo mo mo," Mercy chanted patting her tiny hand together making me and Edward look to see she had finished.

"Mo, Daddy," I laughed looking from Mercy to Edward.

"Mo it is," Edward shook his head laughing as he got up taking the plate with him.

Every day it seemed her now dark brown hair got curlier and curlier, and she was more beautiful than the day before. I knew somewhere that it had to be the fact that I saw her as my daughter. Today a judge would make it official that Edward and I were her forever mom and dad. That made me think about the woman who gave birth to her and walked away. For a long time I had been so angry towards this woman I didn't even know at all. Along the way I had to let go of my feeling cause I didn't know why she choose to do what she did. Even now I didn't know... Seeing Edward pretending to be a plane as he fed Mercy a little; it snapped me back to breakfast with my little family that was my own.

"Where you go?" Edward asked turning to look at me for a moment before looking back to Mercy who was loving the attention.

"Just thinking," I smiled as I shrugged a little.

I'm doing a lot of that today too," Edward nodded not asking even though he wanted to badly.

"Today is the day... I'm so nervous and excited," I admitted blushing just a little.

"I know," Edward agreed smiling my crooked smile.

Walking out of the courthouse I was surprised that it went so smoothly as it did. I was so glad Charlie and the Cullens had come with us cause it meant so much to Edward and me both. Mercy was happy as a calm unaware of what had just happened because Jasper was holding her as she clutched the white teddy bear she got. Then I spotted her watching us from across the parking lot. I knew those eyes even from here...

"I'll be right back," I said to Edward as he followed my eyesight.

"Okay," Edward nodded letting me go.

Crossing the parking lot I half expected her to run away from me, but she didn't move an inch from where she stood. For so long I wondered what she looked like who was she I didn't expect what I saw. Her hair was blonde and curly... There was small things that reminded me of Mercy.

"I'm not sure where to start. I'm Bella," I spoke up breaking the silence.

"Ella, I'm Ella," Ella stammered nervously.

"Ella is pretty name," I tried to be friendly.

"She's so big," Ella whispered looking over my shoulder.

"Mercy is almost up to weight with other babies her age," I reply without thinking first.

"Mercy is a good name," Ella mumbled as she wiped away a tear.

"Why did you leave," I asked unable to stop myself.

"I'm barely nineteen no family or any support... The doctor wasn't even sure she survive, and I could afford the bills. Plus she deserved a dad and mom who loved each other. And a family to make her feel special... How I grew up isn't," Ella explained with tears in her eyes.

"Do you want to hold her," I asked which took all my strength.

"No, this is fine," Ella shook her head a little.

"Alright," I said trying to not sound relieved.

"I couldn't have asked for more for her. Thank you for that," Ella smiled slightly as she spoke softly.

"We love her the world over," I smiled ever much the proud mama I was.

"I should go," Ella excused herself taking off before I could interject.

Standing there watching her retreating form a part of me wanted to go after her, but another part knew better than go after the woman who was a stranger. Looking back to my family I could see Edward's worried expression on his face asking to come to me. Shaking my head I knew I needed a minute to collect myself. Closing my eyes I took a deep breath in as I turned my focus to my family waiting for me, and my daughter who needed me to be the mommy that she needed every day. Opening my eyes I walked towards my waiting family... Just needing one of those hugs that only your dad can give; I walked strait into Carlisle open arms let him hold onto me.

Watching Mercy tug on Emmett's hair as she waddled around the living room at the main house was to funny. He had to crawl around on the ground just so she could reach. Still unable to get Ella out of my mind I turned leaving the room; heading upstairs to Carlisle's office to be alone. Reaching the door I opened it just enough to slide inside; even though I knew only Charlie and Mercy didn't know where I was. Walking over to the window I noticed a window seat I hadn't noticed any of the countless times I had been in here before. Taking a seat I noticed as the sky release a down pour of rain which was normal, but today it seemed very fitting for it to rain with everything that was going on. All of it had left me a bit torn between happy and something else all together... Staring at the rain beating against the window I found the sound soothing instead of annoying; like in the beginning when I first came to Forks a few years ago now. Hearing a light knock I looked towards the door, and saw Carlisle coming through the door coming my way. Slowly he came to his chair sitting down before turning to face me.

"Sorry," I mumbled feeling guilty he felt like he had to knock.

"Today has been a hard day for you... Facing that woman like you did with such strength and grace... Not many could have been kind, but you were to someone," Carlisle trailed off at the end as he took my hand in his.

"I want to meet her for so long, and then when she was in front of me I wanted her to go away. All I could think is she's going to take her... That horrible," I stammered trying not to cry. "You're not horrible; you're just human," Carlisle corrected me gently.

"I don't feel so human... You taught me better," I sniffled as few tears fell down my cheeks. "I'm so proud of you. You did everything you could to be kind to her despite what you felt. That takes a lot of courage," Carlisle said smiling warmly.

"Charlie?" I asked changing the subject.

"He left a little while ago," Carlisle answered letting me get away with it.

"I should go help Esme clean up," I mumbled swinging my legs off the seat.

"Esme and Alice are already finished and Mercy is down for a nap in Rosalie's arms in her and Emmett's room," Carlisle whispered answering me my question and my next question too before I ask.

"It's okay to be happy, right," I questioned letting my guard down.

"You have every right to be happy. It's been a long road with Mercy with ups and downs along the way. Edward and you both have earn the right to be happy today of all days," Carlisle reassured me as he gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

Sitting in the living room on the couch with Jasper I zoned out on the tv not really watching what was on. I was waiting for Edward to return from his hunting trip with Emmett and Carlisle. We both hated being away from each other even for short periods. Hopefully he got back before Mercy noticed he wasn't here because she would have a melt down in a instant if she knew.

"Bella, are you okay," came Jasper's voice making me turn to look his way.

"Fine, why," I asked confused by the question.

"You haven't moved in twenty minutes," Jasper whispered looking worried.

"Huh," I mumbled as I stretched my limbs noticing they were slightly stiff.

"Where have you been," Jasper continued softly.

"I don't know I wasn't really think about anything really," I shrugged it off casually.

"You're hand is moving," Jasper pointed out making me look.

He was right it was moving like it wasn't apart of the rest of my body. Quickly he placed a pencil in my hand with a pad of paper on it. Soon the picture got clearer and clearer as my hand shaded and created depth. It was me as a child... I was alone in a closet... Then I saw I was wearing my bracelet...

"What," I whispered staring as it seemed so familiar yet like some far away memory.

Also it was like a word on the tip of your tongue, and you know you'll kick yourself in the butt later over it. As much as I wanted to there was something blocking me from remembering... Looking up at I could see Jasper eying me carefully, and something clicked that I had let got before.

"Bella," Jasper questioned looking at me weird.

"Alice knows something," I mumbled to myself more than to him.

"You're giving her too much credit. Only you know really... She'd never hide something," Jasper disagreed with me being completely serious.

"What does she know," I eyed him wanting what answer he could give to me.

"That the bracelet didn't come from Charlie, but she doesn't know who gave it to you either," Jasper answered looking apologetic.

"I've never been artistic before that I can remember, but now I just have this need to draw like nothing before," I said softly as Jasper handed me another piece of paper.

This time I found myself drawing a place I had never seen before... There was rolling hills and tall trees in the background and then I added a farmhouse with a barn down worn path. On the wrap around porch sat a pie that I knew was fresh baked apple pie. I could smell which was weird even for me.

"I'm was the tree house," I whispered as could see it in my mind.

Still I couldn't put it together yet; I had pieces that didn't make sense yet. I need to know what I didn't cause it was there right under the surface.