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A/N: Enjoy!!!
"Bella?" asked a gruff voice I knew too well.
"Dad!" I managed to choke out.
Since I had walked out of Forks, I had maintained no contact with anyone there including my own father. He was my only known existing family as my mother had died when I was a little girl.
Charlie loved me not only for being his daughter but for being a living, breathing memory of her. Renée. My mother. I looked a lot like her and my dad had always said we were a lot alike, so he treasured me doubly.
I knew how much it would hurt him if I left but I still did. And I made no effort to contact him because I was afraid he would insist that I move back. I would be unable to face him, especially with a baby.
I didn't want to let him down. Forks, as such was a small town and being the police Chief everyone knew him. The gossip, if I showed up with a baby would be terrible. I didn't want to put him through that torment.
Hearing his voice all of a sudden caught me of guard and my eyes wet up. It reminded me of how horrible a daughter I had been to him..
"Bella, how are you?" Charlie asked, his voice filled with concern. Yes concern, not anger.
I deserved to be yelled at. I didn't deserve to be cared about. I felt like such a monster right then. I had never stopped to reflect how badly I was affecting everyone around me when I left Forks.
"Dad! I'm so….so…rry!" I said in between the tears that had begun flowing down my cheeks of their own accord.
"Bella, what happened?" asked Alice looking worried at my sudden tears. "Who is that? Is that your dad?"
I nodded mutely. She squeezed my hand reassuringly and I began to speak to my father again, this time somewhat more collected.
"Dad, I really am sorry" I repeated. "How were you able to call me?"
That just slipped out. But still, I was curious as to how he got my phone number.
"Edward called. He gave me your number" my dad said.
Of course. Edward gave my dad the number. He was more considerate of my own father than I was. Go figure. He was always the perfect one anyway.
"Bella, come home" my dad said. "I miss you".
I knew that Charlie wasn't very good at expressing his emotions, so for him to say this showed me how much I had hurt him.
I then realized that Charlie may not know about Ethan. I don't think Edward would have said anything about him to dad.
"Dad…there's something you should know." I said nervously.
"What is it Bella? Why do you sound so scared? You can tell me anything." He said. "it's not like your pregnant or something"
"Actually, I'm not"
Charlie sighed, obviously relieved.
"Because I already was. That's why I left dad. Because I was pregnant."
"You…But…What" Charlie spluttered.
I think he would explode if I said the 'P' word once more so I settled for "Dad, you are now a granddad. Actually you have been for 5 years. His name is Ethan"
"I don't know what to say" Charlie said.
I remained silent. I mentally prepared myself for him to disown me.
"Who's the father" he asked after a while.
"Edward" I said.
"Well okay….I guess… I want to see you and Ethan soon" he said not very coherently. It may be something to do with the mental imagery of his 'innocent' 18 year old having sex under his own roof.
"I will visit dad" I promised. "Soon. And I'll explain everything when I meet you. But I plan on staying here in New York. I have a good job and a place to stay here. "
"I can't force you to move here. There's nothing much here in Forks a talented girl like you can accomplish" he said
"Thanks dad" I replied, overwhelmed by his pride in me.
"When will you come?" he asked.
"Soon" was all I could say.
"And Bella?" he said.
"Yeah, dad?"
"About Edward. He's a good kid. Don't let him go once again. You may run out of chances."
I was shocked to hear my dad say this. He was never too fond of Edward. Edward had always been a perfect gentleman to him but Charlie always had something against him.
In fact a large part of my time with Charlie was spent with him trying to convince me to break up with Edward.
I replied "Sure dad. Thanks"
"Love you, Bells" he said.
"You too, dad" I replied before hanging up.
I sat there staring blankly, while Alice sat quietly by me. Finally she turned to me and asked "You okay?"
I said nothing.
"What's wrong Bella?" Alice asked shaking me.
"Alice, I abandoned Edward, I abandoned my father! That's what's wrong. What sort of person am I?" I asked desperately.
"A confused one" she replied. "But don't worry, Bella. We'll get through this together. After all what are friends for?"
"Thanks, Alice" I said and hugged her.
"Sure thing" she replied nonchalantly. "But now you have to sleep. You're gonna be busy tomorrow with Edward"
I blushed at the unintentional innuendo, and Alice giggled, realizing what she had said.
"I didn't mean it that way" she said quickly, "but who knows?"
I blushed even deeper. One day my face will permanently be stained, I swear it will.
"Shut up, Alice I muttered, playfully swatting her. She dodged effortlessly and stuck out her tongue at me.
I went to my room, shaking my head at Alice's child like demeanor. I changed into my nightclothes. Jumping into bed, I pulled the covers over me and tried to get to sleep.
I felt a slight poking on my side. "Stop it" I muttered.
I woke up groggily and saw Ethan there, shoving his finger into my ribs.
"I'm awake, Ethan" I grumbled. I glanced at my alarm clock and saw that it was still 2.00 am.
"What are you doing here so late…or early?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.
"I couldn't sleep, mommy. I had bad dreams. I'm sleeping with you"
Before I could say anything, Ethan climbed in beside me and lay down. I didn't have a chance to ask him what he was dreaming about, because he fell asleep at once.
I tried to go back to sleep but couldn't. Instead I looked at Ethan, thinking about how Edward moving in would affect him and how those two would get along.
Ethan looked so peaceful while he slept, so blissfully unaware of the change that was going to take place in both our lives soon.
I've always regretted the fact that Ethan didn't have a chance to meet his father because he certainly deserved to. Plus, Edward would make a wonderful father…
I don't know when, but at some point during my deliberations, I fell asleep.
I was woken, for the second time today by Alice. She had the most awful ways of waking people up, but I got up immediately, not giving her an opportunity to try her torture methods on me. I looked beside me but Ethan was already up. Wow, that kid sure has energy!
Ethan was, unlike me a morning person. Sometimes I really doubted he was my child but the painful memory of my labor was enough to convince me otherwise. Sorry. Unnecessary details. I know.
It was 7.00 in the morning and Edward was coming over at 8.00. He had evidently accepted Alice's offer to have breakfast with us. I quickly hopped into the shower and enjoyed the feel of the warm water on my limbs.
I shampooed my hair with my favorite strawberry shampoo and soaked in it's delicious aroma. Too soon for my liking I had to step out of the shower so as to be ready before Edward got here.
I dried off and dressed simply in sweats. I pulled my hair up into a messy bun and didn't bother with make up. I didn't see why I had to deck myself up to stay at home. Edward was generally used to seeing me like this so I figured that it didn't matter.
Edward was due to come in around half an hour. I realized that this would be the first time he was meeting Ethan properly, and Alice at all. I was slightly nervous but knew that they would all love each other.
I walked over to the kitchen and saw Ethan and Alice in Alice's room packing stuff they would need for the day's outing. "Good morning baby! Morning Alice!" I called.
"Glad to see you alive and unzombie like" muttered Alice. She was right, I usually was in a terrible state in the mornings, but today had an obvious difference.
Alice suddenly realized what I was wearing and nearly had a heart attack. "Bella, please tell me you're changing" she said.
"Fine" I sighed. As I had learned on numerous occasions there was no point in arguing with her. "But I'm not wearing anything fancier than jeans"
"Firstly Bella, jeans aren't fancy. And secondly yes you are."
She gave me a short denim skirt and a halter top which I threw back at her. "Jeans" I nearly growled.
"Fine" she said. "Don't get your panties in a twist."
"Don't get what in a twist?" asked Ethan, who had been standing there.
I blushed. "Nothing, baby" I said hurriedly. Alice began laughing and I glared at her. She shut up at once.
We finally compromised on jeans and a fitting V neck sweater. Alice quickly put some lip gloss on me before I could protest, and gave me a look daring me to wipe it off.
I didn't.
I thought about what to make for breakfast and suddenly had a brainwave. I quickly began whipping up batter for blueberry pancakes-Ethan's favorite, and if I recalled correctly Edward's too.
I was just finished with them when I heard the doorbell ring. I rushed to get it almost tripping over myself in the process.
Thankfully, almost.
I pulled the door open and my breath caught at the sight before me. He was gorgeous as usual. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt that fitted him well, showing off the perfect contours of his sculpted body.
His hair looked like he had put an effort into it, but it remained stubbornly wild. I realized that I had been staring when he said, "Well, Bella! Aren't you going to invite me in or shall I stand here all day?"
I blushed and moved aside, letting him in. He stepped inside, looking around appreciatively. It was then I noticed he was carrying heavy looking bags in his hands, presumably containing his stuff.
"Let me get that" I offered.
"I don't think you could handle the weight" smirked Edward.
I glared at him, but let it go. Alice had come out by them and by the way her eyes were moving rapidly I could tell she was sizing him up.
Sure enough she soon gave a small nod, her sign of approval.
"Hi!" she said. "It's nice to meet you in person Edward."
"You too. Thanks for letting me stay here" he replied.
Alice waved her hand dismissally.
Right. They had talked to each other before.
Ethan had bounded into the room by then. He looked at Edward and then to me in confusion.
He looked a few seconds longer and his eyes widened in recognition.
"I know you" he said to Edward. Edward didn't reply, and waited for him to go on.
"You're the doctor who looks like me!!"
Edward froze, not knowing quite how to react.
"Mommy, who is this" Ethan asked curiously.
I sighed. This would be a good time as any to tell Ethan. .
"Ethan, darling, I'd like you to meet Edward. Ethan, this is your daddy."
How will Ethan react???
Keep reading Runaway to find out!!!
Now I sound like one of those lame TV commercials, don't I?
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