I'll load three chapters again, because I am the WORST ever at waiting!

21

We pulled in front of my parents' home and I noticed the squad car in the driveway. I really hoped my father would be at the station and would have time to adjust to the thought of me being alive and Edward being in his home. My mother would accept anyone, but Charlie was harder to keep calm.

I got out of the car and walked slowly to the front door. I knocked instead of walking in and waited nervously as footsteps could be heard coming closer. The door opened and my mother gasped before screaming loudly. She grabbed onto her heart as if she was going to drop to the ground.

"Mom, it's me. I'm so sorry someone lied to you. I'm alive and I am so sorry," I cried and opened the storm door so I could hug her tightly. She sobbed into my hair and held me as if she never wanted to let go.

I finally pulled back and she asked, "Is Masen with you?" I nodded and motioned toward the car for them to come forward.

She saw Edward walking toward the house with Masen in his arms and looked back at me with a questioning glance. "I'll explain it all in a minute."

She held the door open widely and we all walked past her and into the family room. She yelled, "Charlie, come see, we have company."

My dad's steps could be heard walking across the hallway and down the stairs. I smiled widely when he entered the room and said, "Hi, Daddy."

He stopped cold and stared at me like he was seeing a ghost. I tried to explain but he pulled me into his arms and kissed my face over and over again.

My mother had taken Masen out of Edward's arms and when my dad turned around Edward held out his hand for Charlie's. My father gave Edward a double glance and then spun around to look at me.

"I can explain," I said quickly.

"Mr. Swan," Edward called out, and I shook my head at him so he wouldn't speak, but he continued on. "I apologize for my comments about sex and trying to seduce Bella in the hallway outside of her apartment."

"Edward, don't," I begged.

He looked at me with a terrified expression and then back at my father and said, "I'm not the same person anymore."

Charlie glared angrily and said, "I'm not too happy with any of the Cullen boys, but we have to put up with Emmett since he's Masen's father."

I could see the pain it cause Edward to hear those words, and I actually wished he would have blurted out the truth. I didn't want it to happen in front of Masen, but it would have made things easier if my parents knew.

Edward took a deep breath and then said to my father, "Sir, I need to talk to you professionally. Is there somewhere we can go for coffee and talk?"

My father tossed his head toward the garage and put on his gun before leading Edward out the door and into his squad car. I watched them drive away with trepidation and then turned my attention to my mother. She was talking with Masen and I watched with a big smile on my face.

She looked up at me and said, "Are you dating Edward?"

"It's complicated," I said sadly. "Can I make Masen a sandwich and then put him down for a nap?"

She nodded and we all went into the kitchen. I used one of her dinosaur cookie cutters to cut the bread of his sandwich. He chatted happily and telling his grandma all the fun things he does with Lucy. I realized he did need a sibling but Edward and I weren't anywhere near a decision that big.

When I got him down for a nap I returned to the kitchen and sat across the table from my mother. I smiled and my eyes filled with tears. "What's wrong, sweetheart?" she asked and took my hands into hers.

"Mom, I have to tell you something and I really wish I didn't," I admitted.

"It can't be that bad honey, look at the miracle you brought us, just say it," she encouraged.

I decided the best thing to do is just blurt it out and get it over with. I said hurriedly, "Masen is Edward's son, and we are hiding from a crime family who wants us dead."

She chuckled as if I had made a joke and when she saw I wasn't laughing with her the smile on her face fell into a look of shock. She glanced back at the stairs, obviously thinking of Masen and said, "But…Emmett."

"Emmett agreed to marry me in name only. We were never a real couple and Edward didn't know I was pregnant…well, he knew Masen was his when he was born….I mean he could count and knew then, but I never told him before he left for Germany."

"He's in the military?" she asked with confusion.

"No, Edward has a very high intellect. He was misdiagnosed as a child and went to a special school in Germany to learn how to manage his…condition. He's a very talented artist and he's great with money, and…" I realized I was rambling and stopped talking so my mother could catch up. I ended with, "I love him, mom."

She finally asked the big question I had been trying to ignore. "Is Emmett okay with all of this?"

I groaned and shrugged my shoulders. "I'm sure he is freaking out and trying to come up with all kinds of ways to find us. But we don't have anything in writing; we don't even have a custody agreement. If Edward is capable of parenting, I want us to be together as a family."

"So why are you running from some crime family? Is he involved in illegal activity?"

"Yes," I said sadly, "But he isn't one of them. He is working for the feds to crack a stolen art ring. He thinks their agent was working both sides. He needs dad's help to figure it out."

My mother shook her head and said proudly, "Well, your father will figure it out. He's very good at his job."

I smiled at her assurance and wondered if I would ever feel that trust in Edward. I had to admit it was driving me crazy to know Edward and my father were alone somewhere and I couldn't act as a buffer. He had made tremendous strides from where he was, but he still was too blunt and too quick to say whatever was on his mind.

I was so relieved when I heard the squad car pull up. I jumped up and ran to the door to see both men looking stoic and a bit stressed. I gave Edward a hug and when I went to hug my father he said, "Bells, can I have a minute alone with you."

I nodded as I tried to swallow down the bile rising in my throat. I followed him outside and he motioned for me to get into his car. I sat stiffly as he tried to find the words he wanted to say. He eventually turned to look at me and said, "What in the hell is wrong with that boy?"

"Who?" I asked innocently, but my father gave me a knowing look and I finally sighed and said, "There's nothing wrong with him. He's a brilliant man, but his thoughts come so quickly he doesn't see anything wrong with saying what is on his mind. It is like he needs to purge a thought so he can make room for more. It is hard for him to concentrate on one thing since he is capable of so many other thoughts at the same time."

Charlie thought about it for a moment and then said, "Tell him to stop talking about your talents in the bedroom."

I couldn't help the smile that grew on my face and I said, "Really, he said that?"

"Jesus Bella, I'm your father."

"Oh yeah, I'll tell him," I said, and then turned my head to smile. It honestly made me feel great for Edward to comment on my performance because I know how incapable he was of saying something that wasn't true. I had no idea how the subject came up, but I felt complimented.

"I got a call from Carlisle while we were out. He wanted to tell me you were still alive and you had run off with Masen."

"I didn't run off with Masen. He's my son and I can take him wherever I want," I said angrily.

"Well, Emmett doesn't agree," he said and I realized Edward didn't tell him he was Masen's dad. I was so angry that he managed to talk about us having sex but didn't think to tell him about Masen.

"Emmett doesn't have a say on how I raise my son," I said adamantly and shook my head.

"You're wrong and I would take him back myself if I didn't think he was in danger," Charlie said to stun me.

"You don't trust me to care for my child?" I yelled.

"Bella, you're seeing his brother, it has to hurt," he said to defend Emmett.

"Yes, it hurts Edward, not Emmett," I said as my voice rose. "I dated Edward four years ago, not Emmett. Do you hear what I'm saying, Dad?"

He stared at me as if I was speaking French. I felt my eyes fill with tears because I knew I was going to hurt my father. He saw me as his little girl, who worked hard to make it through college and was proudly making it through a divorce and raising my child with my ex under friendly terms.

Before I could say anything my dad spoke with a shaky voice and said, "Bella, why didn't you trust me. Why did Edward have to suggest you come to me?"

"I trust you," I said forcefully. "I was terrified of getting you hurt. I thought they killed Edward and I couldn't let you and mom end up hurt."

He nodded as if he was trying to understand so I finally asked, "Can you help us, dad?"

"I have a connection at the CIA. I can find out what they are doing. I have to admit Edward is very resourceful and thinks up unique ways to handle things."

"What do you mean?"

"He's kept a blog about every step he's taken. It is the perfect way to keep times and dates solid. It is like hiding in plain sight."

I thought about it for a moment and wondered if he would let me read it. I wanted to see what had been going on with him and Tanya. I knew it would be hard to read, because Edward would be so blunt about it. My father interrupted my thoughts and said, "Um…the thing that has not happened again between you two, I don't want it happening here. Put Edward in with Masen."

I nodded nervously and decided it was time to get everything out into the open. I took my father's hand and said, "That is a good idea, because Edward needs to get to know Masen better. Because….he's his real father."

I was watching my father's eyes closely and I could see the way he tried to keep the words from sinking in. He looked confused and then extremely tired. I began to cry so he pulled me into his arms and held me. I didn't deserve his tenderness. I had disappointed him so much.

He tried to quiet my cries and said, "Bella, we thought you were dead. This is nothing honey, it will just take a moment to get used to it."

I looked up at his concerned face and said, "Dad, I love Edward and he's changed so much. Please give him a chance."

It was a lot to ask of Charlie but he nodded and gave me a genuine smile. I kissed his cheek and then told him the entire story of how I ended up marrying Emmett. He was impressed with Emmett's generosity but chastised me for not coming to them with the truth. He finally pointed out the biggest problem.

"Bella, how are you going to tell Masen? I've seen him with Emmett and he idolizes him."

I looked over at the house and worried about Masen and what I was going to do to his development. "I'll ask a professional," I said, realizing I was in over my head.

My father leaned over and gave me a kiss before saying, "Okay, hop on out so I can get to work on this mess."

It reminded me of Emmett's words, telling Edward he always cleaned up his messes. Was my father doing it now? Had I moved from a stable arrangement back into Edward's crazy world? I got out of the car and headed into the house.