A/N: OK, here is the first full chapter. Hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I don't own it. Stephenie Meyer created the characters, I'm just using them in my story.
Chapter 1
Riley finally fell asleep around 4 AM, 2 minutes later, so did I. The alarm woke me up at 8:30. Riley was still out so I took advantage and got ready for the day, while he slept. I was too stressed to do it last night, but I could no longer put off the call to my dad, Charlie. It was a Saturday, so I knew he would be up getting ready to head to Billy's. I had to catch him before Dad made that trip or Billy would spill the beans for me. Dad's best friend was Jake's father Billy Black.
Jake had grudgingly promised not to tell his father about our split until I spoke with Charlie. I was just supposed to do it yesterday, so I know Billy knows by now. With a deep breath in then out, I dialed Charlie on my cell.
My nerves grew with each ring of the phone. After the fourth ring I was ready to hang up, but he finally answered.
"Hello?"
"Morning Dad."
"Bella honey, how are you? How's my boy doing?"
"Ry's great, dad. He's growing like a weed."
"Good, good, I'm getting ready to head down the Res. How is Jake? Do you guys have plans for the day?"
My nerves were in overdrive. "That's actually why I called Daddy. I'm in Longview. Riley and I should be there in 4 hours or so."
"That's great news, cant wait for you to get here. Are you here for a few days, or longer?"
"Dad… Riley and I, well, we're moving home. Jake and I split up."
"WHAT? Bells, what's going on? What do you mean you and Jake split. You can't just up and leave your husband. Did you two have a fight?"
"It's a long story, Dad. I promise I will fill you in when I get there. It's going to be a long trip today, and it was a trying day yesterday, so can we just talk later tonight?"
It was quiet on the other end of the phone. I checked to make sure the call didn't drop and then said, "Dad? It is ok for me to stay at the house tonight, right?"
"Bella, honey, I told you when you moved out that our door would always be open for you. Come home, baby girl and we'll talk. Do you want me to stay home and wait for you?"
"Don't worry about it dad, go see Billy. He's probably going to talk your ear off about this. Just please listen to me tonight? And Daddy, please don't hate me."
"Bella, you have me worried about you. I love you honey, and there is nothing you could ever say that will make me hate you."
Riley cried out. "I've got to go, Dad. Ry is awake and I need to change and feed him before we leave."
"Ok Bells. Please be careful, precious cargo is in your car."
"I'm always careful with the baby, Dad."
"I meant you too, baby girl. Love you."
"Love you too, Daddy. I'm sorry that I don't tell you that enough. I'll see you later."
Hanging up, I grabbed my sweet boy in a hug. Dancing to the bed, I blew a raspberry on his tummy before I laid him down to change his diaper.
"Morning, baby doll, we are going to Grandpa's today. He's going to spoil you…just wait."
After a bottle, another change, and checking out of the hotel, we were on the road.
It's after 3 when I finally pass the "Welcome to Forks" sign.
Just as I am turning down Charlie's street, Bon Jovi's song:
Who Says You Can't Go Home starts playing in my head.
I spent 20 years trying to get out of this place
I was looking for something I couldn't replace
I was running away from the only thing I've ever known
Like a blind dog without a bone
I was a gypsy lost in the twilight zone
I hijacked a rainbow and crashed into a pot of gold
I been there, done that and I ain't lookin' back on the seeds I've sown,
Saving dimes, spending too much time on the telephone
Who says you can't go home
Who says you can't go home
There's only one place they call me one of their own
Just a hometown boy, born a rolling stone, who says you can't go home
Who says you can't go back, been all around the world and as a matter of fact
There's only one place left I want to go, who says you can't go home
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright, it's alright, its alright
I went as far as I could, I tried to find a new face
There isn't one of these lines that I would erase
I lived a million miles of memories on that road
With every step I take I know that I'm not alone
You take the home from the boy, but not the boy from his home
These are my streets, the only life I've ever known,
who says you can't go home
I'm home.
This is where my life began, and this is where I ran from eight years ago. I sat in the car, just looking at the house I grew up in. Nothing elaborate, we lived on my Dad's police officer's, and Mom's teacher's salaries. A small white frame house, with green shutters and a tree sitting right outside my bedroom window. It was home though, and I loved it.
When I was younger, I used to dream of being an astronaut. I thought that would be the only way to see the stars. It was always either raining or getting ready to rain, so there were few clear nights. I welcomed the feeling of being home, though.
Riley started to fret, and I knew I needed to get him inside and changed before he worked himself into a real crying fit. "Come on sweetie, let's go inside."
I grabbed the diaper bag, my purse and my laptop, leaving everything else for later.
I took the spare key down from the broken slat above the door, and unlocked my father's house. Nothing had changed. Dad's recliner was in the same spot it's been in since Mom bought it for him ten years before. I think the only thing different was the flat screen television mounted on the wall, and the playpen Dad must have set up before he left.
I sat Riley down in the playpen with a couple of toys while I went to the kitchen to get his lunch ready and prepare his bottle. I needed to call Jake and let him know we arrived, but I was dreading it. I just had not been able to look at him, or speak to him, without feeling guilty for so long. We used to be happy. Jake was my best friend and had been there for most of the milestones in my life. Now I think we've reached the point where we would never be able to be friends again.
"Jake, I'm here."
"That's good, Bella. Did Riley handle the trip alright?"
"Yeah, he was an angel. He's always liked to ride in the car. Remember when you drove him around for hours when he was colicky?"
Jake groaned, "That was the only sleep he got for two weeks, driving him around all hours of the night."
"I think he just likes engines. He'll grow up to be a gear head."
"That's my boy." Suddenly, Jake got quiet.
There was nothing but an uncomfortable silence for a heartbeat or two, and then, "Glad you got there safely, Bella. I have to get to work. Go see Dad will you?"
"Sure, I'm hoping to see Billy tomorrow. Goodbye Jake."
"Bye, Bells. I…lo… Bye."
Then there was a dial tone in my ear. I took Riley's bottle and his favorite mashed bananas into the living room to feed him.
Afterwards, I put him back in the playpen to nap and started bringing my things in. I really needed to get over to McCarty Realty first thing Monday. I couldn't stay with Charlie indefinitely, and really wouldn't want to. I love my dad, but I love my space too.
I set my overnight in my old room and stripped the bed to wash the sheets. After starting the washing machine, I checked the refrigerator to see if Charlie had anything I could cook for dinner. It looked like the entire fish population of the Sol Duc River was in the freezer. Thankfully there were a couple of steaks and a few potatoes that hadn't sprouted that I could bake. I baked the potatoes while making a small salad, then set the steaks to broil. Charlie was just pulling in when the timer went off on the oven. Riley started to squeal when he saw his Grandpa. "There's my big boy." Charlie scooped Riley up into a hug and walked into the kitchen.
"Hey, Dad, I've missed you."
I gave Charlie a squeeze then took Riley and sat him in his highchair.
"Go wash up Dad, dinner is ready."
"Smells good Bells, my stomach has definitely missed your cooking."
"Have you been spending all your time at the diner? You need to be eating better. The doctor told you to watch your cholesterol."
"Bella, I've been ok, Sue makes me dinner at least twice a week and Stella at the diner insists I get a salad every couple of days. I swear the women in this town love to run my life."
I smiled at that. "They are just doing what Mom would have wanted them to do."
My Mom had battled cancer several years ago, finally losing her battle almost 2 years before.
"I'm good though, Bella. Dr. Gerandy is keeping me healthy."
"He better be keeping you healthy, Chief. You don't want your deputies benching you, do you? Besides I am going to be cooking for you now, so no more pizza and junk food."
I plated our dinners and put some cut bananas and cheerios on Riley's tray. We sat eating quietly for several minutes.
"I can't believe how big Riley has gotten. Jake was a big baby, if I remember correctly."
I almost choked when Dad brought up Jake. "Yeah, I think he was, Dad. I'm sure Billy can fill you in on all of that."
"Bella, Billy didn't know, or wouldn't tell me what happened with you and Jake. Please tell me. The last I heard from you two, everything was fine. What happened?"
"Truthfully Dad, we haven't been fine in a long time." I guess it was time to face the music with Charlie.
"Let me clean this guy up, then we'll sit down and I'll tell you everything. I promise."
"Sure Bells, sure. I'll clean up here while you settle Riley down."
Riley was fussy, and I know it was because I was nervous. I knew my dad loved me, but he wasn't going to like me much after our talk. I rocked Riley while singing to him, trying to get him to sleep, and after twenty minutes he finally started to doze. Swaying side to side I gently placed him in his pack 'n play for the night, made sure to turn the baby monitor on and took the receiver downstairs.
Charlie was sitting in his recliner with a beer in one hand and a bottle of water for me in the other.
Handing the water to me, he patted my hand. "Alright baby girl, tell me why you and Riley are here and Jake is in California."
Here goes nothing. "Dad do you remember when I got my first job?"
OoOoOoO
Ok so there is the first full chapter. There is some back-story that will take place in the next couple of chapters, and Edward will make an appearance in the next chapter.
I don't have a set schedule for updates, the first few chapters are written, I just need to go over them again.
Like I stated before this is my first foray into fan fiction so let me know what you think. I want the good bad and ugly of it.