I was going to wait until tomorrow to post this, but I just didn't see the point in making you wait. This is where a lot of the past comes clean, and hopefully Bella and Charlie will navigate to some sort of understanding.

Tomorrow I will post another chapter, but for now, enjoy this!

AND YES! This will be LONGER than 3-5 chapters... just has to be ;)

Charlies POV

We were sitting in my living room with a blanket of tension covering the both of us. When I had invited Renee in, she seemed almost hesitant. I couldn't understand why though, why else would she have come all the way to Washington... to Forks for that matter and knock on my door for gods sake if she was going to act like she didn't want to?

She had tried making small talk twice now, but I wasn't being too cooperative. I was still lost in my thoughts of having found Bella, so the idea of playing this cat and mouse game with Renee was far from my tolerant zone. I knew I needed to tell her, but something was keeping me from doing just that, I had no idea what it was, but my gut told me to keep my mouth shut.

I watched her take a drink from her water glass, and then soon she was settling into her seat and from the looks of it, preparing to begin.

"I'm sure your wondering why I would just drop in like this... unannounced." She wouldn't look me in the eye, and kept her gaze firmly on the glass in front of her.

I just nodded my head and took a deep breath. I didn't know if I was ready to hear her reason, but either way, it was time that I heard what she had to say. From the looks of her face, I could tell this would not be a pleasant conversation, and as much as I would rather stick a fork in my eye than listen to anything bad, I made myself shut up and listen.

"I came to talk to you about, Bella." I figured that it was going to have something to do with Bella, but hearing her say it out loud did nothing for my nerves. Instantly my mind was wondering if the woman named Amy had called Renee or not. If she had, then I really had no reason to hide what I knew, but still, something was off, and I decided once again to just keep my mouth shut.

"What about her, Renee? Is there something you know? Has anyone contacted you with her whereabouts?"

I saw her face go pale, and then for the first time since she walked into this house, she looked me in the eyes.

"No... but, I do need to tell you the truth before she is found and you hear it from someone else?"

This wasn't going to be good, because in all honesty, when it included Renee, it usually meant bad news. I stayed with my gut and kept my mouth shut about knowing where she was, and signaled with my hands for Renee to begin.

As I sat in my recliner, I listened to a tale of a woman that ran her only daughter off. I heard words like, hate, and angry... things were uttered under her breath like unfair and jealous. I couldn't believe the way she was describing her relationship with Bella. She had basically abandoned her after she left for college and from the way her face looked, she didn't look all that ashamed.

I felt as if someone had reached into my chest and squeezed my heart when she told me about what she said to her when she was graduating. I had never in my life wanted to hit a woman, but by god, Renee was itching to become the first.

However, as much as I hated Renee right now, I hated myself even more. I knew that what she said had very well killed Bella on the inside, and to add insult to injury, I declined her invitation too. I was in that moment, that I understood what had really happened. Bella had reached her breaking point with us, she saw what a mess we were as parents and more than likely came to terms with the fact that she didn't need us, and then moved on.

As sad as that made me, I was proud of her. I know that sounds weird, but I was proud of her. She had made it out of an Ivy League University all on her own, and at the end of her time there, she was left with a decision to make and instead of punishing herself with pain or obligation, she simply cut the strings and moved on with her life. That to me, was just as significant as her diploma itself.

When Renee's story was done, I sat back and let the sick settle over me. I couldn't even look at her, she was too much to take in at the moment. Of course, she sounded ashamed, but she didn't look it. Instead, she wore a relieved expression and for the first time since her coming inside this house, she cracked a god damn smile. I was sick all over again.

"What the hell is wrong with you? You sit there and tell me you ran off our daughter because you were jealous of her and then you smile? What kind of monster are you?"

That seemed to hit a nerve, because her easy going mood was replaced with a steel expression. She stood up and looked down on me as if I were some disease that she would catch.

"You have no idea what it was like for me to carry that burden around with me for all these years! You have no idea what it was like raising a child that was better than you in virtually everything she did! I was the one who had to live with her, I had to be the one to sacrifice my life! So please do not tell me that I am a monster Charlie, at least I was around."

I was on my feet now, this discussion had gone on far enough. "That is what parents do, Renee! They sacrifice and raise their children! What the hell do you mean you had to watch her act like she was better than you!? The fact she could count was a vast improvement from you, Renee! Besides, your supposed to want your kids to be better than you, that is the point!"

I had far more that I wanted to say, but I couldn't make the words come quick enough. She was just ridiculous and the very idea that she would run Bella off so that she could feel better about herself had me ready to vomit.

All the while, visions of Bella were running through my head right now and all I could think was that seeing Renee was a mistake. I didn't want to see the pain in my daughters eyes as she watched her mother walk back into her life. Based off of what Renee was telling me, I didn't think it was the best idea.

We both stood staring at each other, and suddenly I didn't want her in my home. Renee was no longer welcome here, and I honestly had no desire to look upon her anymore. She needed to leave.

"Leave now, Renee... just get out." I watched her eyes go wide and then she took a deep breath and turned around and headed for the door. She never slowed and before I could tell her to never come back, she was gone.

Amazingly, I felt nothing for that woman. I had for the longest time carried a torch for her, but after all I had heard today, there was nothing left. All I would ever thank her for, was Bella, but she had managed to break even her too.

I flopped onto my recliner and let the information I had just heard settle over me. It was a lot to deal with, and on top of the news, there was a matter of the guilt eating me alive as well. I really hated myself now, before was just a warm up.

With my head in my hands, I let myself begin to plan. I would be going to see my daughter, and that was at least good news that she had agreed to do even that. I felt bad about not telling Renee, but not for her sake, for Bella's. I just didn't think it was a good idea, and Renee didn't seem all that concerned anyway.

I pulled the number from my pocket and dialed Amy so that we could arrange something new. I knew it was Bella's call, but I really hoped she would go along with the new idea.

EPOV

Saturday had been dragging on, it seemed like the more we did the more time slowed. I would take peeks at Bella sporadically to get an idea of what she was feeling, but every time I did, she would seem that much less connected to us. It was as if there was a stand in following us around and that stand in had no concept of our family or what we were doing.

I was about ready to jump out of my skin with worry, but then Ethan went to her side and grabbed her hand. It was such an innocent gesture, one he had done countless times, however this particular instance made all the difference. When he grabbed her hand, he looked up into her face with a worry brow and said, "Momma... you're not happy?"

I watched as my Love's face scrunched up in pain and she scooped Ethan off the ground and into her arms, cradling his small body to hers and kissing his cheek.

"No, baby, Momma is very happy! I was just day dreaming I guess..." Ethan's small arms wrapped around her neck and they squeezed each other for a long moment. "All of you make me so very happy, honey. Don't ever think otherwise." And with that, Bella was back.

I felt her hand slide into my palm and as I looked over, she mouthed the word "sorry" and laid her head on my arm and we all continued walking along. I just smiled and kissed her head gently, there was absolutely nothing she needed to be sorry for.

When we had seen a movie, eaten lunch and had a helping of ice cream, we saddled up and headed for home. Emma kept the conversation easy as she told Bella and I about a horse she dreamed about the night before. I held back a laugh as she explained it sparkled and had a clown nose. Emma was just too adorable for words, and the beauty of her innocent mind always calmed my soul.

When we pulled up to the house, Ethan was passed out cold and Emma was close behind him. It was only five o'clock, but we had done so much, that I figured the kids would be out for the night. As much as I hated the idea of letting Bella strain herself lifting either of them, I conceded and made sure to grab Ethan... even though he was younger, he weighed far more than Emma.

We made our way in and each of us prepared the kids for bed and then met out in the hall with big smiles on our faces. We both had realized that it was just the two of us for the rest of the night, and from the look on Bella's face, she had the same plans as I had.

I had just pulled her into my arms and was nibbling on her neck, when the house phone began ringing. I sighed and tried to ignore it, but Bella just laughed and pinched my butt before telling me that we should answer it. I slumped in defeat and hurried down the hall to our room to get it on the third ring, and imagine the surprise I felt when the person on the other line ended up being two people.

BPOV

Something was terribly wrong, I could see it all over Edwards face. Not to mention that his body language was stiff and his hand was in his hair. I took a step forward and braced myself for the worst, from the looks of my husband, this was going to be a death more than likely.

My stomach was already turning at this point, but then I saw Edward turn to face me and his words had me confused.

"Put him through." Put who through? Why did Edward look like he was about to pass out? I had all these questions and more running through my head and then suddenly it was upon me.

"This is, Edward Cullen." he said into the receiver. His eyes never left mine and his grip on the handle looked as if the phone would crack under the strain of it. I didn't get to focus on that for too long, because the next part sealed the deal.

"I am Isabella's husband, what can I do for you Mr. Swan?" I didn't hang around for the answer, before I could hear another word, I fled the room and was down the stairs and in the kitchen with in seconds. I had no idea what to think or even what to feel. Actually, that is only half true, I felt like a coward. I ran away before I could have my moment and worst of all, I left my husband in there to do it for me.

Disappointed didn't even cover the way I was feeling in myself, that was just the beginning. Hadn't this been what I wanted? I thought it was, but now faced with a real live call staring me in the face, I turned and ran away. I hated myself in that moment and even more so I hated Charlie. In the course of two days, my careful, happy world had come down around me. All I really wanted was to find my way back to that comfort zone I had lived in from the first time Edward held me in his arms... it seemed so far away now.

I stayed put as a coward in the kitchen for god knows how long, all I knew was that I had started sipping on my third glass of wine when Edward made his way down the stairs and to me with long strides. It wasn't until I was safely in his arms did the reality of what had happened wash over me. Instead of questions, there were sobs. He never tried to shush me, instead he held me quietly and rocked me in his arms until my cries died down.

"Are you ready to talk now, Love? If not just say the word and we will go back to holding each other." Deep green eyes were boring into my brown ones and the fear and panic that was sitting inside of my chest began to melt. As long as I had my love, my Edward... everything would be okay. I took a deep shaky breath and nodded my head yes and before I could say the words aloud, we were walking toward the oversized lounger.

Edward cradled me into his lap and began gentle stokes along my arms to my fingers. We stayed that way for a few moments and then he broke the silence. "As you know, Love, that was your dad." I just nodded my head and kept it tucked into his neck. Edward seemed okay with my response and carried on.

"He called for a few reasons... the first was to let us know that he will be coming here this weekend." My heart actually squeezed and for the tiniest moment, I thought I was having a heart attack.

"He's really excited to be coming, Bella. He said that coming here is like having a dream come true." I felt my sobs starting again as he said that. I didn't know if it was from pain or from disbelief, either way, it was there.

"Why now? Did you ask him that?" My voice was barely audible and it was cracking with every word. This was really the only thing I wanted to know, it was the only thing that mattered to me.

Edward didn't answer right away, and instead he took a few moments as if collecting his thoughts or searching for the right words. When he either found them or had resolve, he told me.

"Charlie said that he was ashamed... of himself." Edwards voice sounded foreign, as if he were in another world completely. It caught my attention and I sat up to see his expression clearly. I regretted it instantly, because the man before me looked torn. His eyes were glossy and his face was twisted in pain.

"Baby?" I whispered to him. Nothing. I tried again and this time he heard me. Edward turned to face me and then cradled my cheek with his hand and spoke gently to me.

"She took you from him... your mom, she lied to both of you." I felt the tears hitting my eyes long before he had even finished that sentence. He lost me at she took you from him. I knew already what and who he was talking about.

"Tell me... tell me everything." I sobbed.

I dropped my head back into his neck and together we held one another. I was hurting... and because of it, so was Edward. I felt his tears running down over my face and in turn, I felt his fingers catching my own.

We sat that way far longer than I had intended to, but ten minutes later we were both calm enough to continue. We didn't move positions, nor did we try to speak above a whisper, instead I sat still as I waited for Edward to break the news of what had actually happened.

"Charlie said that when you were about six, your mom left in the middle of the night with you while he was on duty. He said that he found a note from your mom explaining that she wanted a divorce and that when she got settled, she would let him know..."

I let the words settle into me and willed myself to remember something... anything. I did remember waking in the back seat of the car and being cold, but it was such a small memory, that I couldn't remember if it had been the day we left. My only sold memory of being young was when my mom and I lived in a one bedroom in Phoenix. It wasn't much by any standards, and often times I stayed alone because she worked, but that was all I remembered.

I nodded my head for Edward to continue, and so he did. "He said that your mom sent letters throughout the year, not often, but enough to let him know you were both okay. She didn't even fully divorce him until you were about ten or so... well, then he said that Renee told him that you didn't know him, and that it wasn't fair to force a relationship when you didn't even remember him."

I was sick all over again, my tears were coming faster and harder now as the reality of what my mother had done sank in. I was robbed of my father, and of my home. Renee had taken me away without even asking my opinion. On top of that she hadn't even given me the chance to know my own father, I hated her.

Edwards voice interrupted my thoughts, "Baby, do you want to hear more, or are you done for the night?"

I shook my head no and answered him, "No, please... I want to know... I need to know." That was all my love needed to hear, so he continued rubbing my arm and telling the story.

"I know that I don't know either or them, Love, and honestly its your call on what you want to believe, but I... I believe every word he told me." Edward met my eyes and all I saw there was honesty, if what he had heard was good enough for him, then it was good enough for me too. I may not trust Charlie and Renee, but I trust Edward. Mind, body and soul.

"Well, Charlie went on to tell me that after you had gotten accepted into Yale, that you called him... and it was the first time he had talked to you since you were maybe eleven. He said that he felt bad that he didn't have the money to help you for college, but that you didn't ask him for anything. It shocked him and he had no clue why you were calling him, but then you said you wanted him to know that you made it in... that was the proudest day of his life he said, well... up until he received your graduation announcement that is."

I sat straight up in Edwards arms and cried out in frustration and pain, "Then why didn't he come?! It meant so much to me, Edward... and nobody was there..." It was the first time I had ever admitted what that painful reality. I was ashamed of it, it made my achievement less real because I had no one to share it with, no one there to witness that moment in my life where I achieved something. I had always felt that way, but this was my first time saying it aloud.

"I'm so sorry, love. I can't imagine what that must have felt like... I'm so sorry!" and he was, he genuinely was. I could see that clearly as I looked into my husbands watery eyes. It pained him and because of that it pained me all over again. The way we loved each other was causing the circle of pain to go round and round, and it was doing nothing for my fragile heart.

"I asked him that very question though... and he told me that he wanted to go, wanted to go so badly, but that he was ashamed... ashamed of the way he had failed you. Charlie told me that he couldn't face the other parents who had raised there children... he felt like you only invited him out of obligation, that's why."

My mouth was hanging open in shock while I looked on from Edwards lap. This was like a horrible soap opera, or even a really bad TLC show being aired on live television. I didn't know what to say to that confession, it was so real and honest that I had no choice but to believe it. I was still taking that last part in when I felt Edward shift beneath me.

"Baby, he called for another reason..." he hinted.

"W-what else is there?" I asked with a cautious tone. Edward took my hand into my own and rubbed my fingers while he prepared to tell me the rest.

"After you graduated, he wanted to make it up to you that he hadn't gone, and called your mom for your address..."

I felt my brow furrow as I heard that last part. I knew there was no way she gave him one, because she and I had already had our falling out long before graduation day. As far as she knew, I graduated and then was chopped up into a shoe box and buried. Edward read this expression clearly on my face and proceeded slowly.

"When he called, Renee, she told him you wanted time to your self and that you called her and said not to look for you... that you wanted to live on your own and explore who you were..."

Anger seeped through my veins at this statement, and what I thought was hate before had now been trumped by an all consuming rage. How dare she!? What the... and... then to tell... Ugh!!!!

"All this time he thought you wanted nothing to do with him... but then just recently he called Renee and demanded she tell him where you were... she told him she hadn't spoken to you in years, and he flipped! He couldn't believe that she had just let that be as if you were on a holiday... he feared you were stuck in prison in some country, and that's why he hired, Amy."

My heart actually felt as if it would jump out of my chest as the story played out in my head. Renee had lied to all of us. I felt robbed... cheated.

I would never get that time back, all that time she had stolen from me, and there wasn't a judge or jury powerful enough to ever give it back. In that moment a large part of me died that day, I couldn't even cry... I wanted to, but I couldn't. Instead I let Edward hold me, and together we let the reality of my life settle between us.

I had lived my entire adult life hating my father and all along it was for nothing. I couldn't believe my mother had done this, couldn't believe she would think this would never come out. She caused so much pain with her lies, and on top of that, it didn't only involve me... I had two sleeping children up stairs, tucked tightly in their beds and dreaming good dreams, and now they would be in the middle of this mess too.

Renee had robbed my kids now... robbed them of a grandpa, robbed them of Christmas and birthday presents, and tomorrow morning, Edward and I would have to explain to them that they had another grandpa... and as much as I hated it... a grandma.

They would be confused no doubt, Esme and Carlisle were all they had ever known, and trust me when I say that I was more than fine with that. But now, no, now I had to let them know the truth and do my best to make this as easy a step as possible. It was in that thought, that the main question I needed to ask hadn't been voice yet. I turned fully in Edwards arms again and he met my eyes.

"Does he know we have children?" I asked in a small, scared voice. The pain that shot through his eyes made my stomach turn once more but when he shook his head no, my heart joined on ahead with it.

Well that was just perfect, great! Not only did I get married, but I had kids... I had an entire lifetime of things that he would discover in a weekend. Suddenly I found myself feeling very bad for Charlie, not just because of me, but because of everything. What a horrible way to find out that your a grandpa, no set up for exciting news, or even a fun grandparents day card... no. Charlie was going to just have to walk in a room and wait until Ethan or Emma looked to Edward or I and said Momma or Daddy.

"It's not right..." I choked out. I couldn't let that happen, I may not have had control of our past, but I had complete control of the now. I would not allow either Charlie or my kids to experience that. They deserved better than that, they all did. I was off of Edwards lap in an instant, he followed right after and was holding my waist to his chest.

"Talk to me baby, what do you need? What do we need to do? I'll do anything, Love, anything at all." His voice was sincere and soft. This was hurting him too, and in that instant I fell in love with him all over again. He was my complete other half, my everything. I turned in his arms and kissed him gently for a long drawn out moment and when I felt his fingers tracing my cheek bone, I pulled back to see his eyes.

"I would like to call my father" I stated proudly. A small smile lit up his face and after a small kiss to my nose, he turned us and led us up the stairs to our room. When we walked in, Edward made his way to his night stand and pulled out a small note pad from the drawer.

"Here is the number, Love." He placed the pad in my hands and then cupped my chin for a second. "Would you like for me to stay in here with you? Or would you rather have some privacy?"

I had to think about it, I wasn't sure if I wanted him to leave my side, but a wave of calm washed over me and it made my decision for me. "I think I would like to do this alone... if you don't mind." Edward just smiled and shook his head gently to me.

"I don't mind, Love." and with that, he kissed my forehead and made his way out of the room shutting the door behind him. I took a deep breath and grabbed the cordless from the cradle and began punching in the numbers one by one. I did it so cautiously, doing my best not to hit the wrong button with my shaky fingers. When the last number was dialed, I took a deep breath and waited for the line to pick up.

I almost hung up, but then he answered, my father answered the phone. "Hello?" he asked. I forgot how to talk for a moment, but when he repeated it, I snapped from my daze.

"Uh... yes, Charlie... I mean, Dad. This is Bella." I waited for a response, but when I didn't get one, I began to panic. I feared that I had just talked into one of those ridiculous answering machine tricks, and just as I was about to hit end, he spoke.

"Isabella? Is that really you?" he questioned. I couldn't help but smile as I heard the hope in his voice, he really did want me, he wanted me as a daughter... I wasn't unworthy like the way I had felt all those years ago.

"It's me... I-I uh, I wanted to call you and talk to you for a little bit... we have some things that we need to catch up on. Things I want you to know before you come down this weekend. Would that be okay with you?"

"It's fine, Bells. You can tell me any old thing you want. I'm just so darn glad that it's really you..." I heard his voice breaking and it caused the tears in my eyes to spill over. This was going to be the hardest conversation I had ever had, and given the past Edward and I shared, that was really saying something.

So for the next hour and a half, I told Charlie the last thirteen years of my life. He heard it all, from freshman year at Yale to the birth of Emma and Ethan. I heard the breaks in his breathing when I told him of mine and Edwards wedding, then again as I gave him the news about being a grandpa twice over. It was more than I could have hoped for, and it was just a phone call. I still had an entire weekend ahead of me and he would be here, in my home.