RWMtB: Ever After

JacobxBella; SethxSarah

Rated T

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or the franchise, as it belongs to Steph Meyers

RWMtB: Ever After

Charlie and Renee: Starting Again

Charlie smiled softly as he watched Billy and Tiffany, happy that his best friend had found love again after Sarah. He couldn't remember a time he had seen Billy so happy and enjoy himself with a woman since his wife's passing, and yet here he was making a relationship work with Tiffany Call. As surprising as it had been, it was obvious that the two of them really liked and cared for each other. It wouldn't surprise Charlie if Billy told him soon that he was in love with the woman.

Observing them together did make Charlie kind of sad, though. Not sad for them, but sad for himself. He had tried hard to move on and try different relationships after Renee, but they never worked out. He eventually decided to completely commit himself to his job while making time and effort for his friends and daughter, especially when Bella first moved to Forks to live with him. He had been content in being a bachelor but had often found himself desiring companionship. Charlie had tried dating again, before and after Sarah showed up and Bella and she moved back to stay, but it just didn't work out. He couldn't figure out why it was at the time, but it didn't take him long to figure it out.

Renee. Renee who had always been his first love and had his heart, no matter how many times he'd try to get it back. Charlie had tried to deny it, but the truth always looked him in his face, especially when Renee moved back in with him. He still loved and was in love with Renee, but the most he could ever be with her was friends. Renee had made it clear to him before that she just wasn't happy with him, so there was no point in bringing up what he was feeling about her to her, only for her to reject him, no matter how nicely she did it. He'd like to start anew with Renee, but if all she was willing to give him was friendship after all these years, he'd be content with that.

"They sure look cozy, don't they?" Renee's voice suddenly asked from beside him, causing Charlie to jump a little.

Looking next to him, he found his ex-wife looking at Billy and Tiffany much like how he'd been doing. She had a soft smile on her face looking at them as well, but her blue eyes held a hint of sadness to them. Charlie briefly wondered why she was feeling sad or attempting to hide it, but it then occurred to him that it was probably because she was thinking about her failed marriage to Phil and had ended in divorce. He hadn't particularly cared for Phil, but never spoke about how he felt because for one, Renee would disregard what he had to say, and two, she was happy. Also, it was probably a good thing he never said anything because it would have seemed like an 'I told you so' when her marriage ended, and he wouldn't hurt Renee like that.

Renee looked up at him and asked, "You've been quiet all evening. Not enjoying the party?"

Charlie smiled in amusement while asking in return, "Since when have I ever been a party person?"

"That's true," Renee replied with a laugh, Charlie chuckling with her. When their laughter died down, she looked at him again asking, "Something on your mind?"

"You could say that, but it's not worth talking about."

"Charlie, you can tell me. I promise I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to. Besides, I'd like to talk with you as well about something."

The police chief considered for a moment before nodding, the two of them moving to go out the backdoor of the Swan residence, leaving the hustle and bustle of the impromptu party. Once they were on the back porch and the door shut behind them, they sat on the steps and stared up into the night sky, the cool, crisp air cooling to their skin from the previously warm environment. They sat in silence for a moment before Renee asked, "So?"

Charlie was silent for a moment, trying to put into words how he felt and be able to properly communicate it to his ex-wife. Like his daughter he had trouble expressing how he felt, something he was sure that had led to his divorce with Renee, but he was determined to get out what he had to say. After another moment of silence, Charlie finally took a deep breath before saying, "I was just thinking about us, have been thinking about us for some time now."

Renee's eyes widened in surprise. "Us? What about us?"

"Yes, us. I want to be honest saying this and I'm afraid if I don't say it now, I'll never say it. Renee, I love you. I've always loved you and still do, am even in love with you. I know it's been years and our marriage wasn't good and ended, but I've always held a torch for you. It's probably pathetic of me, but it's true. Even though you weren't happy with me, I was happy with you. I've never felt the way I feel about you with any other woman, no matter how many times I tried. It's not obsession, I can tell you that. But I know what I'm feeling and my feelings for you haven't changed in the past…how old is Bella?"

"…Don't make me think too much about how old I am."

Charlie chuckled before continuing. "Anyway, all I'm trying to say is that I still have feelings for you and that I still love you. Even though I know it's not an option, I'd like to be with you again, to make a relationship between us work again. I'm not expecting you to return my feelings or anything, I just wanted to let you know how I felt to get it off my chest."

Silence followed Charlie's words, the man looking out into the darkness of night while the brunette next to him processed all that he'd told her. Renee couldn't believe what her ex-husband had told her. Charlie was still in love with her, still wanted to be with her. It seemed as sudden as it was shocking, but the truth was that her heart raced in her chest from his heartfelt confession. Charlie had never outwardly spoken about how he felt about her before, not even when they dated and he'd asked her to marry him. But Charlie was a different man now, one that she had honestly been wanting to get to know better, as well as start over with the Charlie that she knew and still loved in her heart. Yes, like Charlie, she still loved him too and in the past few years of living with him, her feelings for her ex-husband had resurfaced. Like him, she wanted to be with him again and make it work this time around, but a few things stopped her from doing so.

One reason was that she felt she didn't deserve Charlie or even a man like him. Charlie was as humble, hardworking, and loyal as they came, and though he didn't speak much he always understood more than he let on. She had originally found these traits boring and they had irked her in the beginning, but she later realized that it was just who he was and added to his charm, the charm she had never fallen out of love with. She had treated Charlie terribly, especially after leaving, using their daughter to hurt him more than she already had. And as if to rub it in his face, she would always chase a man that was the opposite, "perfect" man that Charlie could never be. No, she didn't deserve Charlie. But the main reason why she was apprehensive was because she was scared. She was afraid that this time around, their relationship would actually work and they would be happy, happier than they had been before things went sour. She was so used to never being truly happy that the concept of reaching everlasting happiness without filling that void with material things was foreign to her. Even so, she knew she would get that with Charlie, the unconditional love that he had plenty to give. The only question that remained was that even though her feelings for her ex-husband had rekindled, was she still in love with him?

Oh, who was she kidding? She hadn't ever really fallen out of love with Charlie, but it had just been easier to walk away then try to make their relationship work when things got hard, especially when Bella came into the picture. But if life had taught her anything, as well as hearing Bella's story with her ex-husband, the easy route won't ever be as rewarding as working things out for a better outcome. Walking away had been easy because staying just seemed too hard. This time however, she was older and wiser and was willing to give it a go again.

Taking Charlie's hand into hers, Renee laid her head over onto his shoulder, leaning against his body before whispering, "Yes. I feel the same way and I would like to start again with you, too."

Chocolate brown eyes widened in surprise, Charlie almost not sure he had heard correctly. Despite himself, he smiled and laid his head over onto Renee's, the two of them sitting with matching smiles on their faces, their feelings for each other flowing true between them. They were starting again, giving a relationship another go, only this time things seemed clearer and worth the trouble that was sure to come with starting over. After all, love was a powerful thing that would find itself back where it needed to be. And for Charlie and Renee, it had found itself once again.

"Charlie," Renee began. "How do we break this to Bella? She's sure to be shocked."

Charlie blinked for a moment before answering in a question, "Surprise dinner?"

Renee simply laughed and shook her head, Charlie laughing along with her. They would have to tell their daughter they were back together again soon, but for now they'd simply enjoy the knowledge for themselves.