A/N for 2019-10-6: A few of you have expressed concern that this story is coming to an end soon-ish. Not quite. I expect there will be about fifty-six chapters in total, give or take a few as inspiration strikes. As for your other speculations, I offer no spoilers.

A reminder: I've written an outtake for the Babies at the Border fundraiser compilation (Twitter, AT BatB_2018) that comes right after this chapter. Donation deadline for the compilation is November 24th, 2019. The compilation will be released December 1, 2019. Lots of time to donate, still.

My beta is amazing. I know I say this a lot, but it is true. Thank you, Eeyorefan12 for all that you do.

~ Erin

Charlie had been ecstatic when Bella told him they were coming for the summer. He'd started talking a mile a minute, reminding her that he and Sue would stay at Sue's home in La Push so she and the kids wouldn't be crowded at his place. Then he'd fallen silent for almost a full minute when she had told him they would be staying at the Cullens' former residence.

Edward had already assured her it would be nothing to have it ready whenever they needed it.

She'd almost thought to pinch herself, walking around in what felt like an old home—and yet, not one that had ever truly been hers. She also hadn't appreciated just how many ghosts of her past the place would still contain.

But everywhere was full of ghosts, she told herself, if you lived long enough. Including the home she'd made with Matt.

The entire Cullen family relocated, though not so that the population of Forks would know. Edward, Jasper and Alice were the only public faces the Cullens presented to town. It would be too strange to have the entire clan together again after so long. Too much time had passed for Esme and Carlisle to be seen without heavy make-up, and it would be an uncanny coincidence to have Emmett and Rosalie there too. Most of the family was supposedly still in Alaska, working.

At the moment, Bella was trying to establish her own equilibrium with her father, discussing that evening's dinner plans. "So, is it just you and the kids coming for dinner tonight, or is he coming with you too?" Charlie asked.

"Yes, Dad. Edward is coming too. Unless you don't want him to?" She knew Charlie had hoped her reunion with Edward would be a brief one.

She heard his cough before he answered. She couldn't tell, over the phone, if a surreptitious, "damn it," was hidden underneath it. "No, no, he might as well come too, I suppose."

"Your hospitality is overwhelming, Dad."

He grunted in reply, then added, "I love you. Can't wait to see you and the kids."

There was no question of whether or not it was a singular or a plural you.

"Can I bring anything?" Bella asked, leaning against the kitchen wall to take a bit of weight off her feet.

"No, we're good. The kids like hamburgers, right?"

"For sure. See you then, Dad."

Edward came up beside her, his smile tentative. All smiles felt that way these days, though slightly less so, now that they were away from Vancouver. "Why don't I cut up some fruit, too?"

"A wise plan, Mr. Cullen." She let herself grin. Josh had eaten a hamburger before. Once. It was good to be prepared for his unpredictable tastes.

Edward slipped his arms around her. "Do you want to tell him tonight?"

Her gaze dropped to her bare left hand.

"Let's wait," she said. She didn't think her fears around Charlie's reception of the news were unfounded, and it could prove to be a long summer if her father reacted as she expected him to.

"You're still worried."

"Aren't you?" she asked.

He let himself chuckle. "For all your father's vengeful fantasies, I don't think he'd actually act on any of them."

"That wasn't really my main concern, but now that you mention it . . . " She quirked an eyebrow at him, and let herself smile.

"I love you," he said softly.

"Love you too," she murmured.

He pulled her towards one of the chairs at the counter, sitting down before lifting her onto his lap. "Did you and Matt have rings?"

The question caught her off guard, until she realized that Edward would have never seen her wearing one. "Yeah, we did."

"You don't wear it, though."

"No," she smiled a little, holding out her left hand, as if assessing its size. "It doesn't fit anymore. I never had it resized."

"Hmm," he said, gently brushing the finger in question with his own. He spoke very softly. "So, would you want to wear a new ring?"

Bella was surprised to realize she hadn't given an engagement or wedding ring from Edward any thought. Now, she turned her head to look into his eyes, reading the love in his hopeful gaze. She reached up and laid a hand against his cheek. "I would."

Edward's, "Okay," was soft and punctuated with an equally gentle kiss.

When they pulled up to Charlie's house several hours later, her father's cruiser was parked in front along with Sue's car, and one other that Bella didn't recognize.

Edward turned off the ignition and paused, staring toward the house. "I think one of Sue's children must be here." His remark sounded purely observational, but his sideways look communicated a great deal more.

"Seth or Leah?" Bella supplied.

"Did we meet them before?" Mer asked from the back seat.

"Yes, but you were very little." Bella stared at Edward, waiting for his pronouncement.

"It's okay," Edward mouthed to her.

"Is it?" Bella asked aloud.

"Is what?" Meredith piped up from the back.

Edward nodded again.

"Why don't you run ahead and say hi to Grandpa?" Bella suggested.

"Okay!" Meredith had her seatbelt off and was out the door in a second, running up the sidewalk to the house.

Josh shrieked in jealous protest, kicking his feet into Edward's seat.

"Don't worry, Josh, your turn next," Edward said calmly, getting out and unbuckling him.

Bella got out too, stiffening when a familiar voice spoke.

"Hey Bella." Looking up, she found Seth several paces ahead of her.

She practically exhaled in relief. Seth was easy-going. Leah was not. "Hey yourself," she said cautiously.

In the past, she would've opened her arms to the man, but not now. Her stance was uncertain, as was his.

Seth nodded politely to Bella, and then directed his stare at Edward, his posture now stiff and brittle. Edward's form had also gone unnaturally still, his gaze not leaving Seth's face. Josh had hold of Edward's hand, but wiggled and jumped beside him, making Edward look even more like a statue. "We're just here for dinner," Bella said quietly.

Both men nodded, but Bella wasn't reassured by their silence. She stepped closer to take Edward's other hand, squeezing it. "We're just here for dinner," she said again.

"Yes, we are," Edward answered softly. Unaffected, Josh was now jumping up and down on the gravel beside them, enjoying the crunch it made underfoot. His actions seemed to break some of the tense visual exchange between the two men as he briefly drew Seth's attention.

"I have no interest in trouble," Seth finally said, his voice even.

Bella gave a quick nod. "Good, then let's go inside."

"My mother and wife are here, as well as my daughter," Seth said, looking at Edward, still not moving. It was a startling realization, understanding that he wasn't there to welcome them, but to block their path to the door.

"We all have family here," Bella replied, angry now.

"His wife doesn't know," Edward murmured to her.

"His wife doesn't know what?" Bella asked, more of Seth, than Edward. "About what you and he are? Or that I'm not actually crazy? Or both?" She arched an eyebrow at Seth.

Seth actually looked away, his discomfort clear in the twitch of his shoulders. "It wasn't my idea, Bella, and I didn't exactly get much say in it."

"No, you've just kept it up for ten years." She knew it wasn't fair to say it, but he was the first pack member besides Sue that she'd seen since she realized she wasn't insane, and it was hard not to let the volley of anger loose at him. She made herself suck in a breath, and recognize the logic of his words. "You're right though, you were just a kid when it happened. And I know the pack had to protect itself. It just—"

"It was awful," Seth finished for her. He looked at her, and then back at the house. "And it affected far more than just you. I know. I'm sorry."

She was far from ready to forgive the pack for what they'd done, but she could take Seth's apology and let it sit with her.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

"Pa!" Josh said, tiring of his hopping. He looked at the house. They'd talked about seeing Grandpa Charlie. Clearly, he understood one of his favourite people was tantalizingly close.

"Real soon, bud, hold on," Bella said, then turned back to Seth. "How does your wife not know?"

"We don't live on the rez, and most of us haven't phased in a long time. We'd have liked to keep it that way." He eyed Edward again.

"I'm sorry for that," Edward said to Seth. Bella could hear from his tone that he really was. The Cullens' presence was bound to force the change at some point, or bring it forth in more of the younger tribal members.

Seth shrugged, though the twist of his lips betrayed bitterness. "You're just here for the summer, right?"

Bella and Edward nodded.

"Good," Seth said. "Then I think we can possibly-" He glanced again at Josh before slightly lowering his voice. "-not kill each other over dinner."

They went inside, Seth first, Bella, Edward and Josh following at a circumspect distance. Josh squealed his delight at seeing Charlie.

After giving Bella a hug, and not glaring at Edward, whom he acknowledged with a cursory nod, Charlie whispered to Josh. "Come on, I have a big surprise for you in the backyard. You'll need your swimsuit, though."

Bella had dressed him in one at her father's request, figuring Charlie had unearthed the lawn sprinkler. She was surprised to find a kiddy pool, a slide, and a small playset centred in the plain yard.

"Oh wow," she said, catching sight of what her dad had done.

Josh was ecstatic. Charlie had placed the small slide so that it angled right into the pool, and Josh spent the next twenty minutes running a tiny circuit, splashing into the pool with delighted squeaks.

Bella hadn't visited Forks much since leaving, so she hadn't yet met Seth's wife, Camille, a petite and slender blonde, who spoke with a surprising French accent.

"Yes, she's from France," Seth said, beaming as he looked at his wife, then at Bella.

"How'd you two meet?" Bella asked. She'd heard about the engagement from Charlie and Sue when they visited, but not much else. She and Matt hadn't been able to come for the wedding, and Seth and Camille had been away when they last visited.

"I was on a graduate internship at Peninsula College, and this handsome young man happened to be in my tutorial. We met, and . . ." She held her free hand up to show she didn't have words to describe it.

"I fell in love at first sight, and convinced her to join me for the ride," Seth said, still grinning.

Bella wondered if that was the polite way of saying he'd imprinted. She wouldn't have even considered the possibility until now; The idea had been tied up with what she'd thought was her psychosis. Glancing at Edward, she saw nothing revealed in his features. She'd ask him later.

Seth and Camille's daughter, Marcella, had her mother's delicate features, and her father's dark hair, a generous tuft of which stuck straight up from her head. It made her look like a surprised troll doll. Only a few months old, she was at that blessed stage of babyhood where she didn't mind being passed from adult to adult.

"May I?" Bella asked. They were seated around the living room. Mer was chattering happily with Sue in the kitchen, and Bella could hear Josh still splashing while Charlie encouraged him from his station at the BBQ.

"Of course," Camille said, gently transferring the baby to Bella's arms.

It felt good to hold a baby, and beside her, she swore she could hear Edward smiling.

"Would you like to hold her too?" Camille asked Edward.

Bella didn't look up, but she knew Edward had tensed beside her. If she tore her gaze from Marcella's sweet face, she didn't doubt she'd see a storm brewing on Seth's. The coffee table vibrated slightly, resonating with the pulse from Seth's knee.

"I'm just getting over a cold, so I really shouldn't, but thank you," Edward said.

"Ah, yes. Charlie said you were a doctor?" Camille asked him.

"I am, but I'm on leave right now."

"Oh?"

"I wanted time to be with Bella and the children."

Seth coughed. It barely hid the note of disbelief.

"Dinner's ready!" Charlie called from the patio. He'd set up the picnic table and had placed the small kitchen table outside as well.

"I should check her diaper," Seth said, holding out his arms for his daughter.

"Sure," Bella said, feeling a pinch of sadness. She loved this stage of babyhood, and it was with distinct reluctance that she handed Marcella back to her father. "She's beautiful," she whispered. "Thank you for letting me hold her."

Seth only nodded, whisking his daughter away, as everyone else moved towards the table.

"Charlie said you were expecting another one?" Camille asked, as they sat down next to each other.

"I am," Bella answered quietly. She was surprised that Charlie had said anything. He'd let her and Matt spread their own news—then she understood. He'd wanted people to know it was Matt's, and not Edward's. A knot formed in her stomach. She'd known it would be hard for her father to accept Edward, but clearly it was going to be a lot harder than she expected.

"Congratulations," Camille offered.

"Thanks."

Josh and Mer took up most of her and Edward's attention during dinner, a few words spared for Charlie and Sue. When most everyone else was done eating, Josh still soldiered on, little bite by little bite.

"No rush, little one," Charlie said, as Josh eyed everyone else's empty plates. "I'm glad you like my burgers. Way better than fruit, huh?"

Bella all but rolled her eyes at this jab at Edward, prepared to defend him.

Sue piped up, sparing Bella the need to reply. "Enough, you. Let's clear this up and let Josh eat in peace. Nothing like having a lot of people stare at you while you finish your dinner."

This left Edward, Bella and Josh at the table. She was glad.

Lifting her eyebrows at Edward, he mirrored the expression. "Sorry," she mumbled, and then they both smiled and chuckled.

"Catpin," Joshua announced. He was looking at a smear of mustard and ketchup down his shirt.

Bella's forehead crinkled. "What do you need, sweetie?"

"Catpin," Josh repeated. He looked at the table.

"Here's your napkin." Edward said. He held one of the white squares out to him.

"Catpin!" Josh said, taking it and trying to wipe at the colorful blob.

Huh, Bella thought.

"Napkin," Edward repeated to Josh.

Josh's brow furrowed, and his mouth worked, trying to form the right syllable. "M—" He stopped, pouting.

Edward smiled at him. "That's a hard one. It's okay. I understand you."

Josh looked relieved, and went back to his squishy burger.

"He's talking more-using more words," Bella said, pleased.

"He is," Edward agreed.

"And I don't think it's any coincidence that it's happening more because he's with you more often."

"Hmm," Edward said, thinking this over. "If you go back to work in the fall, would you let him stay with me, instead of going to daycare?"

Bella blinked, mildly stunned. She lowered her voice. "You'd be okay with that?"

"I know you'll be safe," Edward said quietly. "And I don't want our family's lives on hold because of . . . other circumstances."

She knew what this was costing him. He hated being away from her, but if he was with Josh, it would mean Josh would start to talk more. And continue to bond with the man who was going to be his father, in the ways that counted.

"Having you with him instead of at daycare would be amazing."

"Good," Edward said, and then reached across the table and squeezed her hand.

"All done!" Josh announced, wiping his hands on his swim shirt. He looked hopefully at the kiddie pool Charlie had set up in the backyard, and the small slide.

"Go for it, kiddo!" Bella said.

He was off like a shot.

Since Mer had eaten quickly and then gone back to the deluxe set of crayons and a stack of paper Sue had provided at the dining room table, Bella foresaw prying her little fingers from them to get to her leave later in the evening. For now, her budding artist seemed content to amuse herself with creating her small masterpieces, especially when each of the grown-ups had taken the time to compliment her as they wandered by.

Seth and his wife had retreated to the lounge chairs by the back door, so Camille could nurse the baby in a bit more comfort. With Charlie and Sue still in the kitchen, this left Bella and Edward relatively alone in the yard.

"There's going to be a tiny bit of sunlight in a few minutes," Edward said quietly. "We can go inside, or perhaps you want to go lurk in the shade with me?"

Alice must have warned him, she realized. Wanting to avoid the stuffiness of the house, and more of Charlie's dark looks, Bella said, "Lurking in the shade sounds lovely."

Edward grinned, standing and holding out his hand. They walked the perimeter of the yard, coming to a wide pool of darkness provided by a towering fir tree. This left Bella facing the house, and Edward the forest.

It was, Bella recognized with a lurch, the beginning of the path they'd last walked when he left her.

"You remember," Edward said. It was not a question. He still hadn't let go of her hand.

"Yes." She really wished she didn't. That memory, and the fear that he could do exactly the same thing, no matter how irrational the thought seemed now, made her heart beat skitter and skip.

"I've apologized for that several times, and I know you've asked me to stop saying it, so I won't repeat myself."

Good, she thought. She just wished she could as easily stomp out the worry that he might leave.

He'd been holding her right hand, and now he took her left. "I've also told you that I wished I'd done something very different that day."

She searched her memories, struggling to find the one to which he was referring, but came up blank. The promised sunlight suddenly illuminated the wide space of the yard, and she wished her mind would be so brightened. Still, nothing.

"And I've told you that I didn't plan on asking you to marry me the way I did."

Oh. The memory clicked.

"I think I mentioned something about dinner." He looked back briefly to where they'd been sitting.

Bella chuckled and smiled. "Yes, we've definitely had dinner. Not at all cliché."

"Not cliché at all," he agreed, as an almost shy smile curved up his cheeks.

He didn't kneel. She suspected he didn't want to draw attention from their few onlookers. Instead, he held out his palm, in which sat a ring. The large oval of pavé diamonds was dull away from the sunlight, but the design was intriguing. "Will you marry me, Bella? And wear my ring?"

She didn't trust her voice not to crack, so she nodded instead. A fragrant mix of warm fir, spruce and cedar spiced the air around them as they kissed, obscuring and redeeming the scent's dark reminders as she created a new memory with the man she loved. Edward's fingers slipped the ring onto her finger easily. It fit perfectly, the lacy pattern of fine diamonds glimmering gently in the shade. Like Edward did, she mused, smiling at this similarity.

When Edward pulled away, he whispered, "People are starting to get curious. We should go back."

As Bella was about to move, Edward stopped her.

"Do you want to take it off for now? I know you said you didn't want to say anything tonight."

No, she wanted to announce it to the world. Edward Cullen wanted to marry her so much that he'd asked twice.

"Well, we're already together, and considering it's probably Sue or Dad who's going to have the heart attack, at least you know CPR."

He laughed, and they walked back together, following a path they'd already begun and completing the circle that had been broken ten years ago in the woods.

Author's post-script: Folks, if you want the next chronological chapter, go to "A Perfect Metaphor: Outtakes", which is a chapter I wrote for a fundraiser, and is entitled, "The Meadow".

DISCLAIMER: S. Meyer owns Twilight. No copyright infringement intended.