Last Chapter Roundup…
Chapter 23 ended on June 15th, Edward couldn't' come that week, or the next due to school coming out and then having meetings the next with the faculty.
So he came down Friday 28th and they are flying to Boston together *with Charlie* on Monday July 1st for a week (Sunday 7th)
Chapter 24
June 29th 2013
Two Weeks Later
"Honey you don't need all that" Bella sighs, she is packed for their trip to Boston. Flora is completely hyped up. They will fly out tomorrow evening on the 11:00pm flight and get in Boston Monday the next morning around 7:30am. Edward recommended that one so hopefully Flora will sleep.
Tomorrow Edward will drive from the inn and they will all drive back to Seattle together. Charlie in his cruiser with Bella and Flora, Edward in his rental car.
They need to be at the airport by 9pm. Bella hopes Flora is asleep by then to make the flight easier. But she has her doubts looking at her daughter now. She reckons she won't get any sleep tonight either. Bella smiles and sits on her bed with her legs crossed at the knee bobbing her foot up and down as her little whirlwind races around the small rooming trying to find the best things she owns to pack.
"This?" She holds up a dress Aunty Alice bought her.
"That looks wonderful" Bella says hoping her daughter will be satisfied.
"I don't have nothing to wear Mommy"
"Anything" Bella covers her mouth with her hand and stifles her laughter.
"Mom" She pouts, her little hands on her hips. Her dark hair is darker as it is slightly damp still from her bath.
"Flora" Bella mimics.
Flora smiles and runs the few steps to her mother's bed. She jumps up and her mother holds her tight and close.
"I love you so much Flora" Bella tells her little girl, inhaling her scent. She lays back pulling her girl on top of her and rolling to the side. They fall asleep together heart to heart.
Edward rolls over and moans and groans looking at the ceiling. He is so excited about today, he feels like Flora feels, of that he is certain. He could barely get any sleep last night. This morning he is heading over to the house, and opting to spend a quiet day just the three of them. Charlie is going into the station to wrap things up as he will be gone a week.
"Uncle Jakie" Flora screams. "I'm going to Boston to see my other Pop Pop and other Nana!"
Jacob walks into the home. He smiles at Flora scooping her up and smothering her with kisses and tickles.
Bella smiles as she sees Jacob walk into the kitchen with her daughter. "Morning, what are you doing here?"
"I came to say, have a good trip" He cocks an eyebrow up at him. He found out through Billy and Charlie.
"Jake" Bella sighs. She didn't want to get into this with him. She knows, she can sense how he feels about Edward, and all of this. He has been there every step of the way for her and Flora.
"Hey munchkin, go show me your best newest drawing"
Flora nods with wide eyes. "I'll be right back" She is let down and runs off.
Bella licks her lips.
"Are you going up to Boston to play house with this guy?"
"With Edward, no" She tells him. He has never been out of line with her. Never. There is such a comfort there she feels around him. His feelings are just that his. She doesn't feel that way and he knows, he respects it. But he isn't shy about anything. "Flora needs to meet his family; his family want to meet her"
"Bella, this guy"
"Edward"
"This Edward guy" He smirks a bit.
Bella smiles a little and shakes her head.
Jacob steps closer. "If he hurts you or Flora"
"Jake, thank you" She smiles and pats his chest.
"I've seen you cry over him enough, I can't watch that again" He tells her.
"Thank you" She whispers. Even if he doesn't like Edward and she knows he doesn't, he loves and supports her, and Flora.
Staring at her he is still wondering why she never allowed them to try. Never gave him a chance. He licks his lips. "You know I love you Bells" He would have made her so happy, and Flora. He loves that little girl.
"Jake" She sighs and looks at her hand resting on his chest. "I love you too, but" She says the words to him she feels like she has said dozens of times.
"I know" He drops his head and rests his forehead against hers. "I know" He whispers.
"He's here!" Flora jumps up and down as she looks out the window. "Daddy's here, we're going on the plane!" She yells out in the house.
"Flora, please honey calm down" Bella doesn't want to rain on her parade but she is tired. Moving Flora out of bed with her was the best thing she ever did.
Bella moves and opens the door, she feels Flora rush past her and leap into Edward's arms.
"I didn't sleep a wink Daddy" Flora says holding his face. "I's too excited" She explains.
"Me too" He pushes his forehead to hers and kisses her nose making her giggle with delight.
Bella stands and smiles.
"Morning" Edward turns holding Flora on his hip.
"Morning" Bella says softly. "Do you want breakfast?"
"I would love something to eat" He looks around; he knows Charlie is at the station as his cruiser is not outside.
"Mommy made us pancakes and hotdog"
"They are sausages" Bella clears up.
Nodding he follows her into the kitchen with Flora in his arms.
Flora laughs and is the center of attention, enjoying all that she is getting lavished with from her parents.
Bella smiles and laughs, it is easy and really nice. Sitting here with Edward and Flora is so nice, it is like a dream. It feels like something she has dreamt up. In one of those many dreams she used to have about them being a family. A perfect little family. Her eyes drift down remembering that.
Edward looks across the table at her. She is so beautiful, so beautiful. Her heart is magical. They created this little human, this amazing little being. Flora and Bella make him feel whole, and alive, he can't really put into words how they make him feel. How Bella makes him feel. Instead he just stares at her.
Flora bounces as she sits in her booster seat in her Daddy's car.
"Keep still honey" Bella says. "I need to strap you in"
"But I'm just so excited" She squeals holding her lamb.
Bella gets her secure and kisses her head.
"Is she in?" Edward loads the last bag into his rental. He glances at Charlie loading his bag into his cruiser.
"Yup" Bella turns trapped between Flora's open door and Edward's body. She lifts her eyes to his. "I'm gonna go with my dad" She tells him. They are taking two cars because, Edward has to return his rental and when they arrive back next week they need Charlie's car at the airport to drive back to Forks.
He looks at her and nods. "Okay" He is a bit sad over that fact, but he has Flora in with him.
"Drive safe" Bella says as he steps aside to let her pass.
"Buckle up" Edward gives her a tiny smile.
"Don't say anything" Bella says settling into her seat next to her dad.
Charlie just looks at her. It is so clear what is between them. If this is how it was between them when she was 15, this innocent dance around each other, he can see how it happened. He doesn't agree one bit, but he can see it and understand a little more. "Ready?" Is all he says.
"Ready" She swallows. She is so nervous, so scared, so unsure right now. All she has is faith that things will be alright.
"What's this?" Flora says pointing above her head. She is sitting next to her dad and mom. Pop Pop is across the aisle sitting next to two other people.
"That is the button for your light" Edward says patiently.
Bella says nothing. She has flown before; the last time was when she and her mother came back when she found out that she was pregnant. Each time Renee has seen Flora, she has come to Forks.
"Well what is that" She points to something else over head.
"That's your call button"
"Like a telephone?"
Smiling he shakes his head. "Not really, it calls the nice ladies they will come and see if you need something"
"Can we push it?"
"No"
"But I need something" Flora pouts to her Daddy.
"What do you need?" Edward questions.
"Um…well"
Bella turns highly amused by this whole conversation. Her smiling eyes catch Edward's as he waits for their daughter to explain what she needs.
"Ah, water"
"We have to wait for a bit" Edward says to his sleepy girl. It is just before 9pm, and she has been going all day. Leaning down he kisses her forehead when she yawns and snuggles her lamb close to her.
Bella grabs a blanket from her huge carryon purse and covers Flora, she locks eyes with Edward when he grabs the other side of the pink blanket helping her cover Flora with ease. "Thanks" She whispers.
"How did I miss it?" Flora pushes her hair from her face.
Bella smiles while Edward holds her in his arms.
"You fell asleep" He says simply.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" Her eyes wide with question.
"Because you needed your sleep, so you would be ready to see my dad and mom, and my sisters"
Flora looks around the new environment. "Is this Boston?"
"Yup" Edward kisses her head and places her on her feet. "Hold your mom's hand while I help your Pop Pop get our bags"
"It looks like the airport" Flora mutters looking from side to side.
Bella bends and lifts her. "It is the airport in Boston"
"Oh…right" Flora nods.
"Edward"
Bella looks at the blonde man that vaguely resembles Edward. In height and complexion.
"Hey Dad" Edward pulls the last bag off and rests it down. He hugs his father briefly.
Carlisle stares at Bella and Flora.
"Bella this is my father, Carlisle Cullen, Dad Bella Swan, her father Charlie Swan" Edward makes the introductions.
"Bella" Carlisle smiles he extends his hand his eyes drift from Bella's face to Flora's. He looks back at Bella who looks nervous. He knows she is not even 21 yet but she looks younger than he expected. She is a lovely young woman.
"Are you my other Pop Pop?"
Carlisle smiles.
"Charlie Swan" Charlie interrupts. He is the Pop Pop.
"Yes, hello Charlie" Carlisle shakes hands with Bella's father.
Flora waits for her answer.
"You must be Flora. I am so happy to meet you, I'm Edward's dad"
"He is my dad" Flora responds from her place in her mother's arms.
"I know" Carlisle smiles. "You can call me Grandpa, or Granddad, maybe even Grampy?" He glances at Bella. "If that is alright with your mom" He guesses Pop Pop is what Flora calls Charlie.
Bella can't speak. This is Edward's family, the whole situation is overwhelming. She remembers him talking about his father, his crazy mother, his sisters. She remembers how much love was in his voice when they talked, when he spoke about them. Never did she think that they would meet. Not when they were 'together' certainly not after. Now she is standing there holding her daughter as she meets her other grandfather for the first time. And she meets Edward's father.
Edward looks at Bella.
"Is it okay Mommy?" Flora looks at her mother.
She blinks and turns to her daughter, she smiles. "Of course, of course"
"You are doing fine Bells" Charlie says. Edward is making Flora laugh as he shows her the car seat his sister got for her. Carlisle is nearby laughing and talking to both of them.
Bella glances. "I don't know why this is so hard" She looks at her father. "Why is this so hard?"
"I guess, because your memories about him and you together stopped 5 years ago, and now you are here with this huge 5 year space between you both" That is a lot of time. They don't know each other, they are different. Bella is different. Her life is different, Edward's is. It is like being lost for 5 years and suddenly finding each other again. That space is currently still there, hanging between them. Charlie is guessing she wants to be mad and love him all at the same time. He knows she must have seen this at some point, longed for this. But then pushed it into a pile of 'it will never be' Now it is and she can't clearly cope with it. It is surreal for her.
Bella nods. "Deep breath"
He pulls her close and kisses the top of her head. "It will be okay kid"
Charlie looks at Carlisle in the driver's seat.
"I'm glad" He starts as they make the 30mintue drive to the hotel. "We have a chance to talk"
"I'm going to be honest with you here Carlisle" Charlie rubs his chin. "If I could I would haul your son's ass off to jail and throw away the key"
Carlisle nods. "I don't, I have never approved of what happened when I found out"
"When did you find out?"
"In 2008, May"
Charlie looks to his left, stunned.
"Neither of us knew she was pregnant, I wouldn't have convinced him to come back to Boston" He thought he was doing the right thing, Edward was doing the right thing in leaving and coming home. There was no way he would have told him to leave if he knew his son got someone pregnant. Let alone a 15 year old girl. They would have dealt with whatever at the time.
"You convinced him to go back to Boston?"
"He got a job offer, one he wanted" Carlisle explains. "He wasn't sure so I questioned him about why he is not taking the job, he told me about this girl, a very young girl, and I told him to break it off before-"
"Before he is ruined…forget about my Bella"
"No, it wasn't like that" Carlisle says calmly. "I didn't want her hurt; this would have only hurt both of them"
"Bella was hurt"
"I'm not going to defend Edward's actions with your daughter, they were inexcusable" He says plainly, what Edward did goes above and beyond wrong. But the Edward he knows must have felt something so strong and something he was unable to ignore for him to go to that place. "There is no doubt in my mind he was in love with her" He glances over for a moment to Charlie. "Know he was hurt as well"
Charlie's mouth twitches. "He will never hurt enough for what Bella went through, what he put Bella through"
"Okay" Carlisle says. There is nothing more he can say. He can't blame Charlie Swan for feeling the way he does. If this were Rosalie or Bree he would be the same way. Edward ripped a hole in Bella's heart, and her father watched it all unfold before his eyes. He has been scarred from that. Bella has healed somewhat but Charlie has not. It is very hard for a parent to forget how much their child has suffered and or has gone through.
Hope you enjoyed and will continue to read and review
Up next we will meet the rest of the family with Flora and Bella.