No copyright infringement intended. Stephanie Meyer owns all the characters.
BPOV
The drive to Forks took longer that I though it would. It's been so long since I've been back. Edward insists that we visit Charlie as soon as humanly possible. He says that he's ashamed of himself that he hasn't even asked for my hand in marriage and got me knocked up before he even met my parents.
I tried to tell him that my mother is a lost cause and we'll never be able to track her down. She moves around a lot.
As for my dad, well I'm not sure why we haven't spoken in so long. I really couldn't answer Edward when he asked about it.
I guess that we just grew apart. It's going to feel weird when we arrive out of the blue on his doorstep and surprise him with the news of him becoming a grandfather and having a son-in-law.
"Bella, what road am I taking after the stop sign?" Edward pulls up to the stop sign right before my street.
"Well go straight through and take the second right. His house is on the left hand side. It's white and there should be a small blue truck in the driveway." I take a deep breath and try to relax my nerves. Edward does as I say and a few minutes later we're pulling up to the curb of my childhood home. Edward and I sit in the car for a moment and he shuts the engine off. We both sit in silence and I play with my fingers in my lap. Edward reaches over and takes my hand. I look up at him and he flashes his crooked smile. I relax in my seat already feeling calm. He takes my hand and kisses it with his eyes closed. His lips linger on my hand and I smile at the small intimate gesture of security, as long as I have him by my side, I can do this.
We can do this.
Together.
"Come on, let's go." He opens the door and comes around to open the door for me. Together we walk up the small walkway and up the steps until we're facing the door. I stand for a moment and raise my hand to knock. I pause right as my hand is about to hit the door when the door itself opens and I'm standing in front of my father.
"Bells?" my forehead wrinkles and tears start to form at the sight of him. He hasn't aged at all. He still looks the same as he did three years ago. I step forward and he opens his arms to me and I wrap my own around his. He holds me tight and then pulls away looking down. I knew that he could feel the hard bump that was there. I wipe my tears away and he looks back up at me and over to Edward.
"Who are you?" he asks defensively.
"Dad, this is Edward, my fiancé." Edward holds out his hand and Charlie just looks at it.
"Mr. Swan, it's a pleasure to meet you." Edward gracefully holds his hand out and after what seems like forever, Charlie stretches out his hand and shakes Edwards.
"Did you do this?" Charlie points to my stomach and Edward steps back.
"Sir, do you mind if we come inside?" Charlie grunts and I roll my eyes. He steps back and let's us in.
The house looks the same except there are more mantled fish hanging from the walls. There are a couple new blankets lying over the top of the couch and he has a new kitchen table.
Charlie grabs a beer out of the fridge and sits at the kitchen table. Edward and I are standing in the doorway and he moves to hold out a chair for me. I smile at him and take a seat. Charlie huffs and Edward moves to stand behind me.
"Dad, I wanted to tell you that I'm getting married. Edward proposed not long ago and well, I love him."
"Mhmm" He staring out the window and I pull the chair closer to the table making a screeching sound on the floor. He looks over to me and raises his eyebrows.
"What do you want me to say Isabella? You just show up after three years of no contact, not even a phone call and you now expect me to be happy to see you. I mean I am, it's just that, did I do something wrong?" he sets his beer on the counter and puts his elbows on the table and plays with his hands, a nervous trait that I must've got from him.
"I'm so sorry dad, I didn't even realize it's been that long. When I moved I just sort of lost track of time, and before you know, it's been three years I guess. I never meant to avoid you. I've been so busy with school, then I was fired and then I got a job with Edward and it's been, well…..that story is for another time." He stared at me the whole time I tried to explain why I've neglected him. He didn't seem to believe me. And I did feel bad that I haven't spoken to him in such a long time.
"What do you do Edward?" Edward still standing behind me comes around and sits beside me.
"I own my own business sir." He Edward sits tall in the chair and crosses his long legs with his hands in his lap.
Charlie leans back in his chair and sizes him up.
"What kind of business are you into?"
"I own an advertising company." I smile to think about everything that Edward owns.
"You doing any good in advertising?" Charlie narrows his eyes and I roll mine.
"Yes sir, I am." Edward holds himself with such confidence that it intimidates me sometimes. If my dad only knew.
"What's your full name son?"
"Edward Anthony Cullen sir." Charlie bites the inside of his mouth and releases a breath.
"Have you been in trouble with the law at all?"
"DAD!" Edward pats my leg and smiles at me.
"Bella please, I'm comfortable answering any questions that your father might have for me." Edward turns to my father.
"No sir, I'm a law abiding citizen." Charlie looks at my stomach and winces.
"And you're the one responsible for that?"
"DAD! Come on. Can't you be happy for me? For us? You're going to be a grandfather and this is how you want to behave?" I know that I shouldn't be scolding him since I was the one that didn't keep in contact with him. He turns to Edward and says "so you're going to marry my daughter are you?"
"Yes sir, I know that it's too late, but I wanted to ask for your permission. It's a little out of order but I when I asked her, it was a spur of the moment timing and I don't mean any disrespect by not coming to you first." Charlie stands and moves over to the sink and washes his hands. Edward looks at me and I shrug my shoulders.
With his back facing us he answers.
"You love her?"
"With all my heart and soul sir." Edward looks at me and I melt into his soft velvet voice and emerald green eyes.
"You going to take care of her?"
"With all that I have." Charlie turns around and stares at him.
"How much money is in your back account son?"
"DAD! You can't ask that, it's none of your business and money doesn't matter anyways. You know I've never been like that." I snap at him.
"No Bella, it's alright. He wants to know, so I'll tell him." I look back to Charlie and he has his arms crossed over his chest.
"Well I want to make sure that if he's going to marry you, that he can support you. You deserve everything Bells. And it's my responsibility to make sure that the right man can." I stand and start pacing the small kitchen floor. Is he going to freak when he finds out about Edward's worth? I brace myself for his reply.
"I haven't checked my account in over a month so I'm not sure now, but the last time I inquired, it was around…." He pauses for a moment and shakes his head. He then pulls out his phone and dials some numbers. Both Charlie and I are staring at him wondering what the heck he was doing.
After a few minutes he looks up to Charlie and says, "six hundred and twenty eight thousand dollars and fifty six cents."
I turn my head to Edward and he looks at me with wide eyes asking what's wrong, then turns back to Charlie.
"That's not including my investments, property or other business that I own." Charlie looks back to me and scratches his head.
"I'm more than capable taking care of your daughter sir, if you'll let me that is?" I know that Edward was going to play the wealthy card just to prove to my dad that he's good enough. I shake my head and walk into the living room, leaving both of them in the kitchen to work out who's more macho, my trying to be intimidating dad, or wealthy possessive of Bella, Edward.
I turn on the t.v. to some sitcom that's playing when I hear laughter coming from the other room. I look over and see both of them walking towards me.
"Well Bells, looks like you got a good man here. He just asked me again if he could marry you. I told him that as long as he loves you and can provide for you, then he's got my approval."
"Thank you dad, it means a lot to me." I rub my tummy and he puts his hand on my shoulder.
"May I?" he asks, wanting to feel the hard bump as well. I nod and he gently puts his hand on my belly and he closes his eyes.
"If only your mother could see you now." He says still touching me. I look over at Edward and he tilts his head telling me he'll give us some privacy. I nod my head and look back to Charlie. He eyes are open now and a small, very small tear escapes his eye and I smile wiping it away. I must get the water works from him.
"Do you know where she is?" I ask not sure if I really want to know.
"No, she's never called since you moved out. In fact she's never called since we got a divorce." He puts his head down and really starts to cry. I hug him and hold him while he sobs into me. If only I would've known. I suddenly feel guilty that I was so selfish and didn't realize that my actions would most definitely affect others who love me.
X
"Are you sure you don't want to stay here?" Edward and I decided to stay in the town's hotel for the weekend. I assured him that we would be fine there but he kept insisting that we wouldn't have to pay. Edward told him that he would be happy to stay with him. I simply glared at him and he hugged my side harder. Once Charlie had left to go get some groceries for that night's dinner, I yelled at Edward asking him why we couldn't stay in the hotel.
"Bella, your father hasn't seen you for years and he wants to be with you. The least you can do is stay here. It's only for two night's." I didn't fail to notice that he only said me.
"What do you mean me stay here? Where are you going to be?" I cross my arms over my chest in a very Charlie like manor.
"I'm going to stay in the hotel." He simply states.
"Oh no you're not! You're with me. If I'm here, then you're here." I yell at him pointing my finger in his chest. He takes my finger and kisses the top of it and then my forehead.
"Isabella, I would rather not defile you in your dad's house when he's just down the hall." I slouch back against the couch and pout.
"I'll be back in the morning, don't worry, I'll be here before you wake up ok?" he picks up his jacket and puts his gloves on. I huff out a loud breath.
"Wait a minute, aren't you staying for dinner!" I jump up from the couch and rush over to him at the front door.
"Yes of course, I'm just going to go get your bags." He giggles and I breathe a sigh of relief. I walk back to the couch and a few minutes later Charlie and Edward come walking through the door, bags of groceries are hanging off Charlie and Edward has my bag in one hand and groceries in the other.
"I really wish you would let me pay for some of this sir, after all Bella can sure eat a lot, and I guess I would be the reason why." Charlie laughs and tells Edward that it feels good to have his daughter back and the company as well. He wouldn't dream of asking Edward for anything. Edward agrees but says he still wishes he could help.
I mumble something as I walk into the kitchen to help unload the bags.
"Did you buy the whole store dad?" I ask taking out some bread.
"I wasn't sure what you guys liked so I bought a little of everything."
"Whatever you have Mr. Swan is fine." Edward took the bread from me and placed it on the counter.
"So when were you thinking of getting married?" My dad asked grabbing the pasta tearing open the bag and dumping it in a tupperware container.
"As soon as possible sir." My head snapped to Edward and he looks at me and mouths "what". I shake my head and look at my dad.
"We haven't really talked about it. I was hoping sometime before the babies are born. Charlie's eyes are wide and he walks over to me and puts his hands on my shoulders.
"What do you mean babies Bellls?" I smile and place my hand on my stomach.
"I'm having twins dad." Both of us look into each others eyes and his expression is warm and joyous. He takes me in a hug and holds me gently.
"I'm so happy for you. I can't believe that I'm going to be a grandpa of two babies. This is the one of the best moments of my life." He states.
"I'm so glad that you're not mad." I tell him still hugging him.
"Why would I be mad?" he asks.
"Well I'm not married first and well…..it's the same with mom.
"Bella, you're twenty eight years old, your mom was nineteen. The age difference is huge, not to mention the maturity level." I pull back and smile.
"I know you'll be a great mom kiddo." I kiss him on the cheek and thank him.
The rest of the weekend went painfully slow. Edward did stay in the hotel over night, while I slept in my old bed.
We said goodbye to Charlie Sunday afternoon and headed back to Seattle.
A/N: Gosh it was so hard to write this chapter. I'm sorry if it wasn't what you expected. Just sorry.
Oh also, I've been informed that you can't have twins from the dad's genetics. It's only the mother egg that can allow 1 or more. SOOOOOO let's pretend that Edwards got super sperm and in my world he can make anyone have twins. Ok?
Besides wouldn't you like to have his twins? I WOULD!