AN: Hello Folks! Sorry for the delay, but better late than never. So, we are at the countdown to the end. Roughly, I estimate 4 regular chapters, an epilogue, and maybe a futuretake after this. So, if you can bear with me, we'll get this baby all wrapped up and then it's back to FtLoD.

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING!

~Unbeta'd~

That's What Little Girls Are Made Of...

Chapter One Fifty

EPOV

Well, after a long ass plane ride to who knows fucking where, and another few hours by SUV, we were finally at the safe house.

And my little girl was still pissed off at me.

The entire plane ride was spent with her tucked tightly between Esme and Carlisle. I couldn't catch a fucking break. We needed to talk, but the opportunity just wouldn't present itself.

Pissed off and not in the mood to be around anyone, I found myself at the back of the luxurious jet in a small conference room, nursing two fingers of expensive scotch.

I could feel my temper rising, so, I knew that separation from the rest of the group was the best thing for now. Hopefully, everyone would respect that and give me some much needed space.

No such fucking luck!

Hearing the muted sound of the door moving against the carpet, I didn't even bother looking back, knowing that it was either Jazz or Em. "Look, I know what you're going to say, and frankly, I don't give a fuck." I growled lowly. "So, please, let's just forgo the bullshit and let this one go, eh?"

"Um, Edward?" a timid voice questioned from behind me.

Turning, I was surprised to see none other than Margaret Cullen standing behind me, looking quite nervous in my presence. Curious as to what we could possibly have to discuss, I nodded toward the empty seat across from me.

Taking it, she fidgeted nervously. "Drink?" I asked, flipping over an empty tumbler.

"Please," she responded, relaxing minutely when she saw that I wasn't going to throw her from the room.

As we sat in comfortable silence, appreciating someone's expensive single malt scotch, I took a minute to look at Margaret – Maggie.

I mean I really looked at her.

It was scary how much she resembled Carlisle. I mean she was his doppelganger, right down to the kind blue eyes. How could I have been such an asshole to her? How could I not give a second thought to throwing her under the bus like I did?

God, I'm such a fucking asshole!

"I'll drink to that."

"Huh?" I asked dumbly.

"You're an asshole." Maggie stated matter-of-factly. I opened my mouth to speak, but Maggie kept going. "And before you ask the answer's yes, I'm afraid you did say that out loud."

An overwhelming feeling of guilt washed over me. "I'm sorry." It wasn't much, and it didn't negate what I'd done, but it was all I had at the moment.

"Apology accepted." Maggie said, giving my hand a squeeze. She was easygoing and had a forgiving heart just like Carlisle as well.

Too bad no one else wants to hear my apologies. I thought as I listened to Maggie speak.

"But on one condition," she countered, interrupting my thoughts.

"Oh?" I asked, curious as to what she had to say. "And what's that?"

"You have to forgive me too."

"Maggie, I..."

"No, Edward!" Maggie said forcefully. "Don't misunderstand me, it hurt like hell that you would turn on me after all I did to help Es and Carl, but I get it. Despite the fact that I pretty much saved all of our lives, I still betrayed your trust."

"Maggie…"

"No, Edward," Maggie said, cutting me off. "I need to say this."

Sighing, Maggie took in a mouthful of Scotch and winced before she continued to speak. "Edward, I did the unthinkable by keeping the secret about your parents for nine months. Nine fucking months, Edward!"

Her face twisted as the agony of her decisions plagued her. I just sat there quietly, waiting for her to continue speaking. "I was angry and happy all at the same time to have my brother home, but that gave me no right to keep them from you. My selfishness caused you and Isabella to grieve your parents for nine months." Shaking her head, she whispered, "the hell I must have put you both through." I could see the tears forming in her eyes, but I was frozen in my seat, unable to move.

"And do you want to know what I learned in those nine months? I learned the meaning of family. And, no matter what happens to me, Es and Carl will always be my family. I will never be able to forgive myself for keeping them from you, but I hope someday that you can...forgive me that is. Es and Carl are two of the most amazing people that I have ever had the privilege of knowing, but, they're your parents, Edward, your family, and your loyalties lie with them. So believe me when I say, you have every right to hate me, it'll be no worse than I feel about myself." I sat there stunned.

What the hell do I say to something like that?

Although, deep down, I'm mad as hell that Maggie kept my parents from me and I want nothing more than to make her suffer – the way my little girl and I did – enough was enough. Eleazar's dead, and we need to find a way to move on with our lives.

Who's to say that Eleazar would have kept my mother alive had Maggie tried to contact us any sooner.

I honestly believe that she was as much a victim in all this as any of us were. The thought of going through life unloved the way she did is unfathomable.

It's all water under the bridge now.

We are all we have now, and we have to stick together.

"Maggie, you're right, they are my family." Sadly, I watched her face fall at my words. "But..." giving her a crooked grin, "you are too, Auntie." I chuckled at the look of surprise on her face, but sobered quickly. "All bullshit aside, we should have stuck together. In all honesty, you never gave me a reason not to trust you once you contacted me. Hell, Eleazar fucked you over just like he did the rest of us."

"Language, Edward," Maggie scolded playfully.

"Sorry," I mumbled sheepishly. "What do you say we put this all behind us and get to know one another? After all, you're stuck with us now," I grinned, knowing that we were all she had.

Now that we had cleared the air, I couldn't help but think of Bella. Hoping that she would be proud of me for finally pulling my head out of my ass. Tugging at my hair, I sighed in frustration.

If only it were that easy...

"Hey..." Maggie said giving my foot a shove under the table. "What else is eating at you Gilbert Grape?" I let out a full belly laugh at her reference to the old Leonardo DiCaprio flick. "All my money says that it has something to do with a certain young brown-eyed beauty." Looking her in the eye, I could tell that her reference to Bella's age was just that, a reference, and not a cheap shot at me. "So...what's going on between you and my niece?"

I couldn't help the rose colored tint that warmed my ears and cheeks at being caught. "Oh come, Edward, even a blind man could see how much you love that girl."

"Yeah, well, that's a moot point now isn't it?" I know I sounded like a whiny little bitch, but I didn't give a fuck. "Said beauty's not even speaking to me right now." Needing to take the edge off, I threw back the rest of my scotch and hissed at the burn.

Maggie and I never did get to finish our conversation. The flight attendant ushered us back to our seats to prepare for landing.

Things were definitely still tense between Isabella and I, and she did her best to avoid me all night.

Lonely and feeling dejected, I bid my parents and everyone else good night and headed upstairs to my empty, cold room.

That was over an hour ago; sleep still eluded me. For the life of me, I couldn't shut my mind off. All I could think about was how much I wanted to hold my little girl. I was starting to feel like a caged wild animal.

Don't get me wrong, this was a fuck awesome cabin, and if we were here under different circumstances, I'd be stoked, but alas, we are not. And my king-sized bed – any other night – would have been a godsend.

Well, any other night with my little girl snuggled beside me.

Edward Cullen, you are royally fucked, and I don't me that in a good way, was the last coherent thought I had before I drifted off into a fitful sleep.

AN: Well, what did you think of Edward and Maggie's little talk? There were mixed reviews as to Edward's treatment of her, so I thought the two of them needed to clear the air. I hope you all enjoyed it. Next up we'll hear how Eleazar pulled of the kidnapping and what really happened to Carlisle and Esme. Until Tuesday!

Laterz Peeps!

Krazi

xoxo