Thank you all for the amazing feedback.

As always, big 'thank you' to CoppertopJ for all the help. Mwah! All mistakes are still mine, because I can't help and change/add stuff in the chapter before posting it.

Riley and Charlie were in the kitchen, ignoring each other when Bella and Edward returned. Riley rushed to Bella, wrapping his arms around her. She returned his hug, a little surprised he was so affectionate after hearing her saying she didn't want him and that he was created in such violent ways.

"Riley, go to your room. I have to talk to Bella alone," Charlie said in a tired voice.

"No," Riley huffed, not budging an inch. "I want to be here. I want to hear what you have to say."

"This is not a conversation for children," Charlie insisted.

"I'm not a child!"

"Let him stay," Bella groaned. She was in no mood to have a big fight.

The outcome was clear – Riley was going home with her, now or in a couple years' time. It all depended on Charlie.

"Maybe you should move this conversation to the living room," Edward suggested softly. "I'll be in the guest bedroom," he added in Bella's ear.

"Stay." She grabbed his wrist, keeping her other arm around Riley. "Let's have this overdue conversation, Dad."

Charlie sat in his armchair, while Bella sat on the couch between Edward and Riley. Riley was leaning into her side, with no desire to ever part from her, apparently.

"I'm sorry for what I said earlier," he mumbled into her shoulder.

"I deserved it," she said softly, rubbing his back in a soothing manner. Bella had absolutely no idea how to act around him.

Charlie cleared his throat. "Okay, so let's hear your complaints about the way I'm bringing Riley up."

Bella felt anger surge through her body again. "Is that what you have to say after what you told me earlier?"

"It's what started this whole argument, Bella. You never complained about it before."

"Because I didn't know you were repeating your mistakes with him! I never pointed fingers at you for not being home, leaving me with the neighbors when I was too little to fend for myself, or when you even missed my graduation because work got in the way. Believe me, I understand how important your job is," Bella took a deep breath, "But I never believed you'd do it all over again with Riley."

"I tried, Bella, and I did my best. I was damn near forty when you dropped the bomb and I knew I had to help you. I always believed it was something temporary, until you got your life together. But you never showed any sign that you wanted to be part of Riley's life." He scratched at his shaved jaw, looking sadly at Riley. "You finished college, you went through therapy – which helped immensely, I could see the difference when you visited again, then you started working on your career…it became clear you couldn't accept him."

Bella squeezed Riley against her side, feeling him stiffening.

"Even if you wouldn't have brought this up, I was ready to talk to you about the possibility of taking Rile to live with you when he'd start high school. You know very well how hard it was to get into a good college. He'll have better opportunities there."

Bella stared in disbelief at her dad. He'd never led her to think he didn't want to have Riley there.

Riley snorted, which wasn't a sound Bella expected. She peered down at him, and he met her eyes, rolling his. "So, it comes down to your little free time and how you still can't explain to your lady friends who I am."

"Lady friends?" Bella repeated, turning to her dad.

Charlie's face flushed a deep pink. "Give away all my secrets, kiddo, why don't you? There might be one lady friend," he admitted. "I had to tell her something about who Riley was, and she might have gotten the wrong idea about you, but I'd never spill your secrets to anyone. Billy is still the only one who knows the whole truth."

Bella dropped her face in her hands. She felt Edward's large, warm hand on her shoulder, and she leaned into his chest. His familiar, musky scent kept her from losing her mind.

It was one of the most delicate situations she'd ever encountered.

If she'd ever believed the decision to abandon her newborn son in her father's arms was hard, the decision to accept him in her life and potentially take him to Chicago was a lot tougher.

Bella understood how difficult it was for her dad to juggle between family and being the Chief of Police, and then throw a lady friend into the mix, obviously it became too much. Bella was still not over the news her dad had finally found someone.

His whole speech still didn't absolve him of how he'd accused her of not owning her mistake. It wasn't like Riley had been 'an oops pregnancy' with her first boyfriend. Riley was the product of the worst thing that could happen to a woman, and Bella was certain her dad couldn't grasp how affected Bella was by the whole thing. He'd probably downplayed her whole mental state because she'd made the mistake to tell him how Riley's sperm donor used to be her then boyfriend.

Edward squeezed her tightly in his arms, and she felt his lips on the top of her head.

"How much does he know?" Charlie asked carefully.

"Who?" Bella lifted her head from Edward's chest to look at her dad.

"Everything," Edward said in a grave voice, speaking for the first time since they'd congregated into the living room. "I know everything, sir."

"Well, I don't," Riley demanded. "So someone better tell me what's going on."

"Not now," Bella said quickly, before her dad could do more damage. "But I'll tell you in a few years. It's a promise, Riley."

"A few years?" he cried out. "I got most of your conversation with Pops earlier. I heard what happened. It makes sense why you don't like me," he said in a small voice.

Bella wanted to say that was a lie, but she'd be lying some more. She swallowed hard. "I'm just starting to see you as your own person, Riley. I'll admit, it might be a while until I get used to it."

"You don't have to take me to Chicago if you don't want me."

"Riley," Bella took his hands, squeezing them, "Give me a few days, weeks…to get my head around this. Pops is right. You deserve a better life than what I did to you. Even if Pops tried, I know what it is to grow up in a small town without parents. I'm so sorry," Bella said, glancing at Charlie.

"No need to apologize, Bells. I know I fucked up with you. I tried not to with this one, but when the job calls, you know how it is."

"Yes," she admitted, returning her eyes to Riley, who was worrying his lips. "I might not show it, Riley, but I do care for you. And I'm trying. I've been trying harder in the past few years, but it's hard for me."

Riley wrapped his skinny arms around her, mashing his face against her neck. "I love you, Mom."

Bella felt like her world tilted off its axis. She didn't deserve that title. She'd never been his mom, and she knew she'd never be his mom. All she could do was hope she could become his friend.

Bella doubted she could return Riley's words. Not at that moment, anyway. So, she patted his back and stroked his hair.

Charlie rubbed his hands together. "Shall I order some pizza?"

"What have you got in the refrigerator?" Bella asked.

"Not much, honestly."

Bella glanced at Edward. "We're going to the store. Anything you'd like to eat?" She turned to Riley.

"Pizza?" he shrugged.

"Not on my watch. How about some roast beef with veggies?"

"I guess."

Bella bit the inside of her cheek to keep from commenting on how poorly Charlie fed Riley, because that would turn into a new argument. "Come on." She patted Edward's knee, getting up.

"Can I come with you?" Riley inquired.

"Go and get dressed," Bella told him.

"I am."

"For the cold weather outside." Riley frowned, glancing puzzled at Charlie. Bella sighed loudly. "I mean, jeans and a sweater. Hurry."

Charlie chuckled after Riley shuffled out of the room. "Looks like you've forgotten your jammies are acceptable outside wear in a small town."

"Did I say that? I'm just pointing out that it's too cold outside for him to wear sweatpants and a t-shirt."

"Good luck winning the boots argument with him. Kid hates the boots."

"Let me," Edward whispered, going to the hallway where Riley had returned wearing blue jeans and a long sleeved shirt.

"Our conversation is not over. Once Riley is in bed tonight, I expect to talk to you," Bella said seriously, before she followed Edward out of the living room. It looked like he'd convinced Riley to wear his boots.

After putting their jackets on, they ambled out toward Bella's car. Riley climbed in the back, and Bella was surprised he didn't beg to ride shotgun.

"Want me to drive?" Edward asked softly.

"You wouldn't know the way. Thank you," she said, reaching up to kiss him. "I really don't know how this whole mess would have ended if you weren't here."

"It's my job to look after you and make sure you're alright."

"I could argue about that, but I appreciate it."

A smile tugged at his lips, before he opened the passenger door. Bella rounded the hood, getting in the driver's seat. She turned to look at Riley, who had his seatbelt on, staring at his lap.

"What's wrong?"

"How do you drive?"

Bella refrained from answering sarcastically, and instead said, "Decently."

"No, I mean…do you speed?" Riley shot her a wary look.

"No," she answered seriously. "I doubt Pops speeds."

Riley shook his head. "He doesn't, but Mikey's mom does. She brings me home after school when Pops is at work."

"Did you tell Pops?"

"Yes, but we agreed he shouldn't comment on it, or she might not pick me from school anymore. We don't even live on her way to her house. She brings me home by making a big detour."

Bella rolled her eyes. A big detour in Forks meant ten minutes later home than usual, most likely. "Don't worry. I don't like speed." She met Edward's eyes, and noticed his ears were burning red.

As she started driving, she kept glancing in the rearview mirror at Riley, who gradually relaxed when he understood Bella barely went higher than thirty-five. Considering the roads were icy from the previous night's freezing temperature, she was cautious.

At the store, Edward offered to steer their cart. It didn't take Bella long to get familiarized with the new layout of Thriftway. She started at the vegetables and fruits section, making her way through frozen products, ingredients for baking (because Christmas without cookies wasn't possible), juice boxes, coffee, and several other items that caught her attention.

Bella was checking the whiskey brands available, because she had to give Billy something when they'd visit, when she heard her name being uttered in surprise.

"Bella?"

She turned around to see her best friend from high school, Angela Weber. Her friend had changed a lot – her long hair was cut shoulder length and her glasses were replaced with contacts. "Angela!" Bella handed Edward the bottle she decided to buy, before she welcomed Angela's hug.

"Wow. I was just telling Ben how every year we come home for the holidays, we don't run into any old friends. Everyone has left…with no apparent wish to visit."

"You're still with Ben?" Bella admired such long relationships that started in high school.

"Oh, yes. We're married now. We have a daughter." Angela looked over her shoulder. "They're around somewhere."

"I found the candies I was telling you about," Riley said loudly coming from around the corner. His arms were filled with a tower of bags holding an assortment of candies. "We put these on the tree, usually."

Bella smiled politely and shrugged at Angela, but before she could help Riley, Edward placed the whiskey in the cart and hurried to Riley's side.

"Did you leave any for the other shoppers?" he laughed.

"Of course!" Riley's eyes widened when he could finally see in front of him.

Angela was looking at him oddly. Bella felt like she had to introduce them, and for the first time, it wasn't a scary concept. Maybe because Angela didn't live in Forks anymore, or because Angela was never a gossip machine.

"Uh," Bella swallowed loudly, extending her hand for Riley to come closer. He did, cautiously. "This is my son, Riley. And this is Edward, my boyfriend." It wasn't as painful as she'd believed to say those words out loud.

Angela stared at Riley in shock. He was almost as tall as Bella herself. "I had no idea," she gasped.

"I never made a big issue of it." Bella shrugged, feeling Riley squirming.

Just then Ben approached their group from the other end of the aisle. His eyes were wide as coins, set on Bella. He was holding a toddler, covered in white powder.

"Oh my God, what happened?" Angela asked, worried.

"She broke a flour bag. Thankfully, the store clerk was next to us when it happened and she didn't make us pay for it. Hi, Bella."

"Ben." Bella nodded. "Nice to see you."

"We should catch up. You have the same Facebook?" Angela took a few steps back, toward her family.

"Yeah." Angela was the only one she hadn't deleted from her old so-called friends. But before Bella could tell Angela her phone number, she'd steered Ben away.

"Shit." Bella spun around to stare at Edward. "Are you good with technology?"

"What do you need?"

"To hide my photos from Angela. Without unfriending her."

"That's tough. I'm not sure it's possible."

"She can't see these pictures. She doesn't know," Bella said urgently. Angela was likely to judge her for her lifestyle. Bella usually didn't care what others thought of how she lived her life, but Angela was her friend and Bella could remember how close they used to be. "If it's not possible, I'll unfriend her, but if she tries to contact me…we'll be back to square one. Shit. I don't even know what I have as a profile picture." Bella dug in her pocket for her phone.

"Are you a serial killer who has to hide her secret identity?" Riley asked curiously.

Bella had managed to forget he was present in her mild panic-attack about Angela finding out about Bella's lifestyle.

"You know that saying, I'd tell you, but then I'd have to find a place to bury your body?" Edward joked.

Riley laughed, as if Edward had said some big joke.

Bella handed Edward her phone. "You have until we leave the store to find a solution."

He frowned, accepting the phone. Bella pushed the cart for the last few aisles of the store, in case she'd forgotten anything.

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