Hey guys! Don't own Twilight etc.

Reunited

EPOV

What had been a very long day quickly turned into a long evening when I got home. I told Lily that her mom was well enough and wanted to see her, and now Lily was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement. She talks nine to the dozen about all the things that she's going to tell her mom about: the things that have happened at school, her new friends, her new teachers…

As much as I love seeing her so happy, she's giving me a massive migraine. As silly as it is I keep dwelling on the idea that once Bella sees Lily the last six years might come rushing back to her. It's not that I don't want Bella to remember. I do, both for her sake and for Lily's. I just don't want her to remember that she's made a life for herself in Alaska and want to move back there. I don't want the hurt and drama of a custody battle. And a part of me hopes that if I can just have a little more time I can prove to her that I can be a good dad to Lily and she won't want to leave.

It takes a long time to get Lily to settle down enough for her to sleep so it's late when I crawl into bed that night, dreading what may come tomorrow.

It's Saturday so Lily doesn't have school and I've switched with a co-worker and taken the night shift so that I can spend the day with Lily. I had slept restlessly and when dawn came I decided there was just no point trying to sleep any longer.

It isn't long before Lily joins me downstairs in the kitchen. Despite the fact that she couldn't possibly have slept that much herself, she's even more hyper than she was last night, and although her excitement is intoxicating, it also makes me worry so much more about what it could do to Lily if Bella can't handle seeing her.

Lily and I eat a quick breakfast and then Rosalie and Emmett come over to take Lily to the park, and I spend the remainder of the morning doing mundane things like laundry and cleaning the house, trying to keep myself busy and stop my mind from wondering. Rosalie and Emmett aren't gone long as Rose explains when they get back that Lily has been too keen to get home so we can go visit her mom.

After lunch I've exhausted all the other things I could possibly do to put off the trip to the hospital and have to finally give in to Lily's continuous questioning of 'can we go now?'

"Do you guys wanna come with us?" I ask Emmett and Rosalie hopefully.

Rose gives me a sad, wistful look. "I don't think that's a good idea, Edward," she says quietly. "Bella doesn't remember us; it'll be hard enough for her today as it is. She doesn't need two strangers lurking in the corner of the room as well."

"You guys aren't strangers," I insist.

"We are to her," Rosalie whispers and a single tear slides down her cheek. She turns away and leaves the room, not wanting Lily to see her upset.

"Sorry man," Emmett sighs apologetically as he goes after his wife.

"Looks like it's just you and me kid," I say to Lily. I take a deep breath and grab my keys.

"Are you sure she's ready for this, Edward?" my dad asks apprehensively.

We're standing outside the door to Bella's room, Carlisle having just given me the run down on her latest test results. Lily's waiting impatiently beside me and practically buzzing with excitement. I've warned her already that she has to behave and stay with me but I hold her hand tightly all the same.

"No," I say. "But it's her decision and she says she wants to see her."

Carlisle gives me a nod of support and places a hand on my shoulder. "I'll be waiting right outside, and I'll have a nurse ready with a sedative, just in case…"

"I hope that won't be necessary."

"Me too."

"Daddy, I wanna see mommy," Lily tugs on my sleeve with her free hand, the other trying to pull out of my grip.

"Okay, sweetie," I loosen my grip on her small hand and open the door to Bella's room.

BPOV

I sleep very little the night that Edward tells me he'll bring Lily for a visit the next day. In the morning the boredom of being in the hospital is even worse than usual since there's nothing else to occupy my mind. My dad visits for a while but even his awful dad jokes and anecdotes about the guys from the station aren't enough to distract me today, and he's only able to stay for an hour before he has to get back to work. I have made myself presentable and even changed into some sweats that my dad had brought in for me. It was hardly dressing up but it was better than the pyjamas I'd been wearing every day up until now, and it felt a little silly to dress up for a little girl who was actually my daughter.

I've just finished picking at my bland hospital lunch when the door swings open loudly, and suddenly there she is. My eyes glaze over as I drink in her appearance as she stands there smiling at me, holding Edward's hand. She looks like him. She has his strange bronze-coloured hair and emerald green eyes and even the smile she wears reminds me of his lop-sided grin. But I can see my own reflection in her too. She has my facial features, my nose, my eyebrows and my petite stature. If I hadn't known she was ours before she came in I would've been able to tell just by looking at her. She's a perfect blend of Edward and me. She's perfect full stop.

I stare into her face for a few seconds, waiting for some sense of recognition or snippet of memory to come into my mind, but there's nothing. It's all blank. And yet I can't help but feel an irrevocable connection to this little girl.

"Mommy!" She cries happily, dropping her dad's hand instantly and running to jump up beside me on the bed, and I have to admit, as strange as it feels to have this perfect little girl call me 'mommy', I like it.

Her little arms wrap around me in a huge hug and despite the mild discomfort I feel from the impact on my still sore body, I hug her back as strongly as I can, deeply inhaling her scent of kid's soap and sweat.

"Hi, Lily," I say softly, taking in the excitement in her little face, and just like that what could've been a potentially awkward silence dissolves into a relaxed conversation as Lily launches into telling me about her new school, her new home, her new friends, about spending time with her grandparents (both Charlie and Edward's parents) and about everything that has happened since my accident. It's strange hearing how life has gone on without me. I might not be able to remember it, but this little girl depended on me for the first four years of her life and I feel a twinge of sadness at the thought that she might not really need me at all.

"And Katy at school," She rambles on, "She said her mom's gonna take her to the zoo for her birthday next week, mommy. Do you remember when you took me and that funny-looking monkey kept showing you its butt?"

I freeze, my eyebrows shooting up. I glance at Edward at the mention of this life that I can't remember. His anxious expression mirrors mine, but I'm also amused by what Lily's saying. Edward opens his mouth to speak, about to step in. I look back at her little face. It's a minor slip on my part to freeze like that, but she doesn't seem to notice and is just watching me expectantly.

"Sure, honey, that was really funny" I say, interrupting whatever Edward was about to say. "Grandpa Charlie told me it was your birthday while I was asleep. What age are you? Four?"

"No mommy! I'm five!"

"No way!" I tease, "You couldn't be!"

"But I am mommy, I am! We had a party and everything!" Lily goes on to tell me all about the party they had here at the hospital for her birthday and about all the presents she got. She reminds me a lot of Alice; she never shuts up, she has way too much energy and her energy is contagious.

Lily and I spend hours talking and laughing. There are a few more awkward questions about the past but I manage to redirect her each time, distracting her with other questions, and we maintain a comfortable chatter.

Eventually, Edward clears his throat. He has been so quiet up until this point that I'd almost forgotten he was here. "Lily, we better get going, it's nearly dinner time and mommy needs to rest." I want to protest, to beg him to let her stay another while, but he was clearly reluctant to bring her here to start with and I figure I better not push my luck.

Lily lets out an audible sigh. "Alright daddy." She reaches up to give me another hug and a kiss on the cheek goodbye. "Can I come back and visit tomorrow?" she asks me.

I glance at Edward.

"I don't know, honey, it's up to daddy. But I hope you can come back soon."

Satisfied with my answer she jumps off the bed and makes it halfway to the door before stopping and turning back to face me.

"Mommy? When are we going home?"

The question completely throws me. I look to Edward for help but he's gazing at me with a hurt expression on his face but looking almost as expectant as Lily.

"I…I don't know sweetie. Not for a while anyway. I need to get better," I tell her.

I look back to Edward but he's avoiding my gaze.

They turn to leave, Lily shouting "Bye mommy!" over her shoulder.

"Bye Bella," Edward says in a flat tone without looking at me before he follows Lily out and shuts the door behind him, and suddenly I'm alone again.

EPOV

On the way home in the car Lily chatters animatedly about her visit with her mom, as if I hadn't been there the whole time. Then again, I would be surprised if either of them had realised I'd been there the entire time. When we first went in, Bella only had eyes for Lily and the two had got on like a house on fire. As much as I hated to admit it, Bella was a natural with her. The whole time, Bella had only acknowledged me when she needed help, and even then she didn't really need me, as she skilfully manipulated the situation herself. From our entering the room until my saying it was time to leave Lily hadn't looked at me once. I don't know what I expected Bella to say when Lily asked about going home. I know it's not fair to assume that if Bella recovers fully she'll want to just stay in Forks. She'd made her home in another state. But I also know that I don't want Bella taking Lily so far away from me again, I won't allow it and I will fight to keep her near me.

I should be elated. Bella's meeting with Lily went impossibly well, but a selfish part of me can't help but wonder what this will mean for me. And as juvenile as it is, I felt completely cast aside and ignored during the visit. And it hurt a lot.

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