Title: Never Known

Chapter 25

Author: Britt

Disclaimer: I own Paige, Emma, Abby, Stacy, Amy, and Alex. I also sorta own Detective Cheney...though Ben could have an uncle whose a cop so who really knows. lol. All the rest are owned by the wonderful and talented SM!

Chapter Summary: This is present day…Bella is 22, Paige is 23, Emma and Abby are 7. Edward and Alice are 22. Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper are 23.

Author's Note: HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE! Those of you who do not celebrate...HAPPY 25th chapter of Never Known!

Emma

You know what's weird? All my life I thought my mommy was happy. She smiled when we weren't around gran…Victoria and James. She had fun, she played with Abby and me and just seemed happy but now that her mommy and daddy are back, it's I can't think of the word but she just looks really happy.

I giggled softly when I saw mommy jump on Eddie's back. I jut knew she was gonna fall, since she was always does.

My eyes widened when I saw Eddie actually catch mommy.

"Whatcha looking at little one?"

I grinned up at my grandpa. He was NOTHING like my old grandpa who was never really my grandpa in the first place. My grandpa Charlie was nice! He was quiet and cuddly.

"Mommy and Eddie are being silly."

I told him before snuggling into his arms.

Renee

Tears welled up in my eyes as I watched my normally very stoic husband's eyes sparkle as he held our granddaughter in his arms. He looked truly happy or the first time since Bella had been taken.

"It's shocking how happy he looks isn't it?"

I looked over and smiled, linking arms with Esme and smiling.

"It's astounding. I didn't think I would ever see that sparkle again."

Esme smiled.

"That's not true Renee. You and Edward were the only two people who hadn't given up hope on finding Bella. You two knew in your hearts that she was still out there…and you were right."

I smiled and nodded.

"Yeah…we were."

After we had stopped at the kid's house to grab a few items (clothes, pajamas, toiletries, etc.) we jumped into two cars again. Charlie, Esme, Carlisle and myself in Edward's Volvo and Alice, Jasper and Rosalie in Emmett's jeep and headed over to Bella's house.

"Wow." Emma and Abby had ran out before we had even gotten up to the porch and dragged us into the house. As I looked around the house I smiled. It was very obvious that Bella had a large hand in the decorating, especially the kitchen. Everything was stainless steel and clean, it was homey and beautiful.

"Grandma, guess what?"

I grinned as my grand-daughter's voice broke me out of my musings.

"What's that baby?"

Emma grinned and pulled on my hand.

"Everyone is set up in the living room. We're going to watch a movie and play a game!"

I simply smiled and let Emma lead me out of the kitchen.

A laugh bubbled out of my lips when I saw the living room.

Esme and Carlisle were seated on one couch and Charlie by himself on the other. Alice and Jasper were sitting together on one sleeping bag with a bowl of M&M's on her lap. Emmett had Rosalie perched on his lap on their sleeping bag with a huge bowl of popcorn in front of them. Abby was seated with Paige on her sleeping bag, just seemingly at peace with everything.

I caught Esme's eye who motioned with a smile to my right. I looked over and a grin spread across my ace as I saw my daughter laying with Edward's arms around her on another sleeping bag.

"Momma, I wanna cuddle!"

I heard Emma say and I smiled when Bella scooted back a little so Emma could lay between her and Edward.

I walked over to Charlie and sat down next to him and smiled when he put his arm around me.

"They look like a little family don't they?"

I nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, they do."

It was true. Edward has his arms wrapped around both girls. Emma was laying her head against Edward's chest while Bella ran her hands through Emma's hair. The love that Edward had for the two girls was sparkling in his emerald eyes.

"He really loves her doesn't he?"

I looked up at my husband and saw the uncertainty in there. It was uncertainty about Edward, as he already knew the answer to that question. It was uncertainty on the fact that his daughter was in-deed grown up, and he hadn't gotten to see it. I felt the same way, but I knew my husband shut his emotions in more than I did. Where I would yell and scream and cry, Charlie would simply hold it in. I knew that look; he was devastated at the loss of his little girl.

"You're feeling it all over again aren't you?"

He nodded.

"I don't know what I thought Renee, but this wasn't it. I knew how old she was…I always knew that she would be different when and if we found her because she had been away for so long. But look at her. She's a mother now, she's raised that darling little girl and now Edward, who you can tell just by looking at him that he doesn't want to let her go. She doesn't need me anymore."

I sighed and wiped a tear that had fallen down Charlie's cheek.

"Love, she will always need you. No matter how old a girl is she always needs her daddy in her corner. She loves you Charlie, you have to know that."

He nodded.

"I know she loves me, I've never questioned whether she loves me. But she has a family of her own now. What does she need her old dad for?"

I smiled, trying to hold my tears back.

"She needs you for a ton of things. Number one is dealing with the shit that she's been through over the years."

Charlie grimaced at the reminder.

"But that's the cop that she needs, not the dad."

I smiled sadly.

"Who's she going to go crying to when Edward breaks her heart?"

Charlie glared at Edward.

"He better not."

I laughed quietly.

"He will, just like she'll break his. It happens, hearts get broken, but then Edward will fix it again. However, she'll want her daddy to go threaten him. And then when it's time, who will Edward ask to get permission to propose? And who will Bella want to give her away? Charlie, she needs her daddy now more than ever."

He nodded and smiled, kissing my forehead.

"He really does love her doesn't he?"

It was obvious he needed some reassurance so I looked over at the little family before looking back at my husband and nodding.

"Yes, he really does."

TBC! I know it was short, but I was crying while writing Charlie and Renee's conversation so sue me, I had to end it here. Lol.