Chapter 12: A Temptation

Bella and Edward were standing outside of Emmett and Rosalie's house. "I don't know Edward it still feels so…uncomfortable," she murmured.

"It's just one afternoon, I need to discuss something over with Emmett so you and Rosalie will get a chance to talk things over," Edward answered his arm around her waist.

Biting her lower lip they walked up to the house and Edward knocked on the door. The door opened and Emmett stood there with a grin. "Hi you two, come on in, make yourselves at home," he told them.

Walking inside, Bella looked around the house, the house sat in a small neighborhood, but to the young married couple, it was home. "Could I get you guys anything?" Emmett offered as they went into the parlor.

"I'm alright thank you," Bella answered.

Edward declined as well before Emmett walked towards one of the rooms there. "Rosie they're here," he told the person in the room. He returned to the parlor with Rosalie next to him. "How is everything?" Emmett asked as they sat down.

"Everything's going well, how are things here?" Bella replied.

"Things are going well here," Emmett replied.

Bella smiled as she sat back a little. "How did you two meet?" She asked curiously. Rosalie was quiet when Emmett reached over, holding her hand.

"It's a long story, but the short version is Emmett saved me," she answered after a minute.

Edward moved circles into Bella's hand. "What do you do Emmett?" She asked.

"Believe it or not I actually help Carlisle up at the hospital. Over the last couple of years I have been doing a lot of odd jobs and being the only son of the McCarty's and was really supposed to be next in line for my adopted dad's store. After dad passed I packed my stuff and moved out of Tennessee down to Texas that's where I met Rosie and Jasper," Emmett explained.

Esme walked down the stairs with a smile. "Esme I didn't know you were here," Bella commented standing up.

"Oh yes I've been coming here while Carlisle's been up at the hospital," Esme replied with a smile cradling Nicholas against her chest.

Bella walked over and looked at her little brother with a smile. "Would you like to hold him?" Esme asked curiously.

"Um…I'm not sure…I might break him," Bella replied.

Esme laughed softly before having the young woman sit down in a chair. "Mind his head and support his bottom," she instructed. Biting her lower lip, Bella sat completely still as she looked at the infant in her arms.

Edward was watching with a small smile on his face. "It isn't that hard once you get used to it," Esme commented. Laughing a little, Bella nodded.

"It's not too bad," she agreed.

Esme smiled as she brushed a strand of hair from her daughter's face. She took the infant back into her arms just as there was another knock on the door. "Who could that be?" She wondered.

"I don't know, we weren't expecting anyone else," Rosalie answered getting up.

Emmett, Edward, and Bella watched as Esme leaned forward a little to see who was at the door when her face suddenly paled. "Oh no," she whispered fearfully.

"Mother?" Emmett said quietly getting up.

He rested his hand on his mother's arm. "It's him," Esme whispered. Looking over in the hall just as Rosalie walked back, he saw who was visiting.

"That's Charles?" He asked quietly.

Nodding she rocked Nicholas close to her chest. Bella stood up from her chair, standing next to Esme while Emmett approached the man. "Can I help you?" He asked. The man looked up, a smile appearing on his face.

"Well, you grew up into a strapping young man," he commented.

Emmett stood there staring at him, looking a bit irritated. "Who are you?" He asked. The man chuckled lightly, sending chills up Bella's spine.

"Sorry let me introduce myself, I'm Charles Evanson, I am your father," the man informed.

Edward stood behind Bella, wrapping his arms protectively around her waist. "Sorry if you don't know who I am," Charles commented.

"Trust me Mr. Evanson, I know who you are," Emmett answered.

Charles looked over to see Esme standing there with Bella. "Hello Esme, nice to see you again. See you continue to be the adulteress," he commented gesturing to Nicholas. His eyes settled on Bella, and a smile appeared on his face. His smile sent chills up and down Bella's spine. "And you must be Isabella," he added. Edward grabbed Bella around her waist, pulling her behind him when Charles tried to get closer.

"You won't come anywhere near her," Edward answered.

Charles's eyes moved over to Esme but Emmett walked over, standing in front of his mother and little brother. "So you protect her? After she abandoned you?" Charles asked.

"She was protecting us from you," Emmett answered.

Bella gripped the back of Edward's shirt swallowing hard. Charles looked at the people in front of him. "The little lady who opened the door, she had to be your wife. The Evanson men have good taste in women," he commented.

"I'm not an Evanson," Emmett answered.

"You are my flesh and blood you are one," Charles told him.

"How did you find us?" Emmett asked.

"It was only a matter of time before your mother finally led me to you," he replied nonchalantly.

"You were spying on me?" Esme asked in disbelief.

Charles let out a frustrated sigh. "The only way I could find my children," he answered. Bella moved out from behind Edward.

"You're not our father, especially after how you treated our mother. You were horrible to her," she told him.

Before she could react, she felt a stinging sensation across her face and she stumbled a little. "You will speak when spoken to Isabella," he snarled. Edward suddenly had a hold of Charles by the front of his shirt and shoved him against the wall.

"Touch her again! I dare you to touch her again!" Edward snapped.

Charles was looking at the young man when he was suddenly glaring daggers at him. "You must be the son of the man who helped Carlisle take my wife from me," he snapped.

"I'm not your wife anymore Charles so stop calling me that," Esme answered.

"As I told you before Esme a piece of paper doesn't dissolve a marriage, only death do us part," Charles told her.

"I can help you fulfill that vow," Edward answered.

Bella grabbed a hold of Edward's arm pulling on him to get off Charles. "Edward don't, please don't," she whispered.

"He isn't worth it Edward," Emmett put in.

Edward glared at the man in front of him before he released him. "If you lay another hand on Bella it'll take more than just Bella and Emmett to keep me from killing you," he hissed. Charles fixed the front of his shirt.

"Just like your father, putting your nose in other people's business. I am here to see my children and I have every right to see them," Charles answered.

"My name is Emmett James McCarty," Emmett put in.

"I'm Isabella Marie Swan," Bella interjected.

Edward had his arms wrapped protectively around Bella again. "I think enough has been said here, Mr. Evanson, I would greatly appreciate it if you left my home," Emmett informed.

"You're gong to kick out your own father?" Charles asked.

"You're not a father, you weren't a husband either. You're a beater," Emmett answered.

"She kept you away from me son," Charles told him.

Emmett glared at him. "I'd rather be dirt on the streets than be your son. You are not my father, Richard McCarty was my father, both Delilah McCarty and Esme Cullen are my mothers. Charlie Swan and his wife Renee were Bella's parents. The five of them still make better people than you could ever be, so get out of my house before I help you out myself," Emmett answered. Charles glared before he turned and left the house.

Edward looked over at Bella, examining the red mark forming no her cheek. "Are you alright?" He asked.

"It startled me more than hurt me," she assured him.

Looking over, Bella could see Rosalie holding Nicholas while Emmett was hugging Esme. Bella walked over and hugged Esme from behind. "Mother, I'll take you home tonight, I won't let you walk home alone," he told her. Nodding Esme hugged both her son and daughter.

"I'm alright," she reassured them.

She kissed them both on the cheeks with a small sigh. "I'll be alright," she murmured softly.

When Edward and Bella returned to the Masen house, they were both sitting in Bella's room in silence. "I knew he was evil, but I didn't think he was that evil," Bella said quietly.

"Well it didn't matter if he was or not, no one lays a hand on you while I'm around," he answered.

He stroked her face gently. "I'll protect you," he murmured. Bella smiled a little, resting her head on his shoulder.

They both ended up falling asleep on Bella's bed, but Edward woke up to the sound of coughing in the next room. The feeling of dread once again filled his chest. He closed his eyes tight as he pulled Bella a little closer, burying his face into her hair as he stayed up the rest of the night.