"Come in, Annie," I coaxed. Bella seemed to stunned to speak. Annie walked over to the loveseat I was sitting on and buried herself into my side. "Annie, this is Bella. Bella this is Annie."
"Your beautiful," Bella gasped out. Tears began pouring down her face. She stood warily, as if she were approaching a wild animal. "Can I—can I hug you?"
Annie looked up her, tears began streaming down her face as well. In that moment there was no denying they were mother and daughter. Annie nodded her head and Bella knelt down in front of our little girl and flung her arms around her.
"I never thought I'd get to hold you again," Bella cried. "I'm so sorry I gave you away, please don't hate me. I was only trying to do—"
"—what was best for me," Annie finished, pulling back to look Bella in the eyes. "I know. Mom, dad, Edward. They all explained it to me. I know why you did it, and I'm glad you did because I got the best parents any kid could ask for."
Bella nodded sadly and stood back up. Annie went with her.
"I went to get this from the car," Annie said, handing Bella the album that was in her hands. "It's an album of me and my parents, and there's a few of Edward and I as well. I thought you'd like to look at them. I know my parents sent you pictures, but we never got replies so I wasn't sure if you had seen them…"
Bella smiled and walked over to cabinet, pulling out an almost identical book. "I kept them all in here, along with copies of my ultrasounds and pregnancy photos. Emmett was very adamant that we document everything."
Annie smiled softly. "They used to show me those pictures when I was growing up. I always knew that you were my mom, but my mom was always my mom." She emphasised the last "mom".
I felt as if I was intruding on a mother/daughter moment, so I excused myself. "Did you want a cup of tea? I'm happy to make them."
Bella smiled slightly and it stunned me. I never thought I'd ever see her smile at me again. "Cup are in the top left cupboard. Tea, coffee and sugar is in the pantry," shesaid.
"No sugar and half a bottle of milk?" I joked, recalling how milky Bella loved her tea. Her smile wavered a bit as she nodded.
Damn it, Cullen. Take it slow.
I walked into the kitchen and began making the teas. I could hear what they were saying from the kitchen as it was located just of the living room, but I tried not to eavesdrop. They needed private time.
Having stalled enough, I brought out the teas for us all and sat back down on the loveseat. I smiled as I watched Annie and Bella squished on the single-seated lounge talking with watery smiles.
It was going just fine until the front door opened and a deep voice followed shortly behind. "Hey babe! We sealed the deal faster than expect—Oh, what's all this?"
