The Gift

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyers owns all Twilight and the Characters

Chapter 8 The Same Stone

BPOV

"Where is my Carly," Charlie asked sitting at the kitchen table. He decided to come over on his lunch break. My guess was to question the fact that Edward and I were back together and have been for about a week.

"Edward picked her up and took her Christmas shopping," I answered him. Smiling when I remembered how happy she was when she found out that it would be just the two of them going shopping.

"Have you told yet," he asked me.

"Dad," I answered him moving around the kitchen. I knew what he meant when he asked me that. "We just got back together last week. Plus I don't know how to tell him."

"Does he treat Carly better than Mike ever did," he asked changing the subject. He knew from the very start that Carly wasn't Mike's. It killed him every time he was around and Mike treated Carly like shit by ignoring her.

"A whole lot better," I told him smiling. Like Charlie Mike knew that Carly was Edward's daughter. So he never wanted anything to do with her. The only time he was around her or wasn't ignoring her was on special occasions with his parents. "They both enjoy spending time with each other."

"I just want you to be Bells," he said walking over and hugging me. "Still yet Edward needs to know the truth. He told you the truth, and you need to do the same for him."

"I know," I said taking a deep breath. "I'm just really scared."

"Sue and I are here for you," he said letting me go.

"Thank you," I told him. "Don't forget you and Sue are coming over to Carlisle and Esme's tonight for dinner."

"Oh yes," he said grabbing his jacket and gun. "We'll be there at five o'clock."

"Be careful," I told him as he walked out of the house.

I had a couple of hours left before I had to head over to their house. I promised Esme that I would help cook since she invited Charlie and Sue over. Of course she wanted to argue over it, but I told her it would help me catch up with lost time with her. How could she deny that? It was so quiet in the house and I wasn't used to this at all. Edward came over at eleven this morning and wanted to Carly Christmas shopping for my gift. I had to admit that this was the first time that I've ever let someone else besides Charlie and Sue take Carly out. I trusted Edward and knew that loved her in just a short amount of time. He told me before they left that he would just take her over to Carlisle and Esme's when they were finished.

I went upstairs showered, and got dressed hoping that would take some time off the clock. Making my way back downstairs I could help but think. Think about how much better this Christmas will be. Carly will actually have a Christmas full of love, happiness, and family. I walked into the living room to find her dolls in the floor where she left them. I got down in the floor and started to put them back in the basket where they belonged. As I was finishing I heard a knock on the door.

"Coming," I yelled getting out of the floor. Who could this be? I surely wasn't expecting anyone. When I opened the door I was shocked to see who it was.

"Isabella," he said.

"Mike," I answered. "You know that I hate being called Isabella."

"That's why I do it," he said bracing his hands on the door frame. "Now are you going to let me in."

"What do you want," I asked following him into the living room after he walked in.

"My mothers earrings," he told me. "You never gave them back after the divorce. She wants Jessica to have them."

"Here," I said taking them out of my ears and handing them to him. "Anything else."

"That's it," he said looking around seeing Carly's toys before speaking again. "Where's that little brat of yours?"

"None of your damn business," I told him. It shouldn't have mattered to him where she was. She's not his daughter.

"Tsk, tsk," he said waving his finger at me. "We don't want you know who knowing the truth now do we Isabella."

"Get out of my house," I said sternly.

"It's too bad it never worked out for us," he said running his finger along my cheek and down my jawbone.

"Leave," I said jerking my head away.

"One of these day you will loose," he said walking to the door. As he opened it he turned around and said. "On that day I will be there laughing. Laughing at all the destruction that you alone caused."

When I heard the front door slam I sank to the middle of the floor and started to cry. I was mad at him for calling her a brat and trying to drag Edward into this. He was such an asshole and I was glad that we were divorced. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't regret marrying him. At that time we were each other's way out of different situations. Mine was obvious considering that I was pregnant and alone after what happened at Edwards. His was because he was going to lose his trust and share of his parents business if he didn't marry. After I finished crying all my tears I stayed in the floor and let the darkness consume me.

EPOV

"Where do you want to go first," I asked Carly getting her out of the Volvo in Port Angles.

"I don't know," she said shrugging her shoulders.

"Where would your daddy take you shopping," I said. Those words were like venom coming out of my mouth. I looked down at Carly and smiled as she bite her lip just like Bella. I was somewhat shocked when she agreed to let me take Carly Christmas shopping for her gift.

"Paw paw always took me," she said looking down at the ground. Figures that asshole would find something better to do. If she was mine then there wouldn't be any special occasion that I would miss shopping with my sweet girl.

"I know this little store," I told her kneeling down and fixing her jacket. "Why don't we try there first?"

"Okay," she said taking my hand when I stood up. We walked down to the end of the shopping center to a little jewelry store. Walking in I saw a familiar face standing behind the counter.

"Can I help," the man said before taking a better look at me. "It's so nice to see you again Mr. Cullen."

"It's good to see you as well Aro," I told him shaking his hand.

"Who is this beautiful little one you have with you," he said coming behind the counter and taking a better look at Carly. "Is she your daughter?"

"No," I answered wishing otherwise. "Carly this is Aro he is going to help find your mommy's gift."

"Hi," she whispered shyly.

"Aro this is Bella's daughter Carly," I told him.

"My dear it's a pleasure to meet you," he said shaking her hand while she giggled. "Take a seat I will get you some things to look at."

"That would be great," I told him. When he walked away I bent down taking her jacket off.

"Dward," she said when I picked her up and placed her on the stool.

"Yes sweet girl," I answered her taking a seat on the stool beside her.

"Do you think my mommy is happy," she asked me out of the blue.

"I would hope that she would be happy," I answered her.

"Good," she said smiling. "He kept his promise."

"Who kept there promise," I asked her smiling knowing exactly what she meant by this. She was referring to the promise that she made to Santa.

"I can't tell you," she said laughing.

Before I could say anything else Aro came back with some items to look at.

"Mr. Cullen," he said laying them on the counter. "If I remembered correctly Bella's birthstone is a sapphire?"

"Yes," I said looking at all the sapphire pieces that he had laid out for us to look at. "When's your birthday sweet girl?"

"September tenth," she answered me. I swear that I could've picked my mouth up off the floor. She had the same birthstone as Bella. Could this gift get any better?

"My dear girl," Aro interrupted when I didn't say anything. "It seems here that you have the same stone as your beautiful mother."

"Really," she said.

"Yes," I told her as she looked at all the pieces. "So which one do you think your mommy would like."

She looked at the jewelry carefully before turning around to me. I knew which one she had chosen, because I would have chosen the same one. I pointed at the necklace with the three sapphire stones.

"Yes," Aro said picking it up. "What a lovely choice. The past, present, and future necklace."

"Do you think mommy will like it," she asked.

"I think your mommy is going to love it," I said handing Aro my credit card.

"Mr. Cullen," Aro asked as he boxed the necklace. "I have the other piece that you requested."

"Thank you," I said helping Carly off her stool.

"Here you go," he said handing me the bag with two boxes. "I hope to you soon. It was a pleasure to meet you Carly."

"Thank you," she said as I bent down to zip her jacket.

"We'll see you later," I told him as we walked out of the store. I looked down at my watch and noticed that I still had an hour and a half until we had to be back at mom and dad's. "How about some hot chocolate?"

"Please," she said with a toothy smile.

We walked towards a little café and ordered a couple of hot chocolates. I couldn't help but smile when she asked for extra marshmallows. How much I enjoyed spending time with her? Bella was right she was everything to her, but now I was starting to think that the both of them were everything to me.

"Can we put it under my tree," she asked.

"Why don't we leave it at Grammy and Poppy's under their tree," I said to her. "That way when you come over on Christmas she will have something to open."

"Okay," she said taking a drink. "Do you like my mommy?"

"Yes," I said shocked when she asked this. "I like her a lot. Why do you ask?"

"Do you like me," she said biting her lower lip.

"Of course," I told her. "You are my sweet girl. Plus I love both you and your mommy."

She just giggled as she finished her hot chocolate. I didn't lie to her when I told her that I loved her and Bella. In reality I loved them both dearly with all my heart. When we finished our hot chocolate we headed to the Volvo and started the drive home. Once we were on the road I glanced back in my rear view mirror and saw that she was sleeping. I smiled knowing that this was the best afternoon I've had in a long time that didn't involve Bella. I drove home in silence staring at the road and looking back at the bag in the seat. I just hoped that Bella love Carly's gift and mine as well.

Pulling into the driveway I noticed everyone else's car parked except Bella's. I thought she told me that she was coming early to help mom cook. I shook my head thinking that maybe she came with Charlie and Sue.

"Sweet girl," I said opening her door and unbuckling her. "We're at Grammy and Poppy's. It's time to wake up."

I carried her into the house where Alice meet me in the hallway looking happy.

"Ali," Carly said looking up from my shoulder.

"Carlybug," Alice said taking her from my arms. "Did you have fun."

"Lots," she said looking over at me. "Thank you."

"Anything for you sweet girl," I told her as she wiggled out of Alice's arms and hugged me. After she let me go she handed me her jacket and went off with Alice.

"Edward," I heard mom yelling from the kitchen. I hung our jackets up in the closet before walking into the kitchen. "Did you pick Bella up?"

"What," I said when I walked all the way in. I saw Sue helping mom cook and no Bella. "She said that she would meet me here."

"I heard Charlie say the same thing," Sue said sitting a bowl down on the counter.

"Something is not right," I said trying to think about where she might be. "Carly is with Alice. I'm going to go and find Bella."

"Be careful," I heard mom say as I ran out of the kitchen.

I ran out of the house without grabbing my jacket and straight into the Volvo. I didn't know where to start as I pulled out of the driveway. All I could think about was is she okay. I just drove until I ended up at her house. I pulled into her driveway to see her car still parked there. I jumped out of the car and ran straight into the house.

"Bella," I yelled once inside. I glanced in the kitchen and she wasn't there. I saw the pies that she had made still sitting on the counter.

"Edward," I heard her say in a tired tone. I walked out of the kitchen and into the living room to see her getting up from the floor.

"Bella," I said picking her up and kissing her with longing.

"What's wrong," she asked when we pulled apart. "Is Carly okay?"

"She's fine," I told her sitting on the couch and sitting her on my lap. I cupped her face with my hands and I could tell that she had been crying. "Alice is watching her. I was worried about you. When we got to mom's, she let me know that you hadn't gotten there and I jumped in my car."

"I'm sorry I made you worry," she said placing her forehead against mine. "I must have fallen asleep."

"Why have you been crying," I asked staring into her eyes.

"Mike came over as I was leaving," she whispered.

"What did he do," I said coldly.

"Nothing," she said taking my hands into hers and squeezing them tight. "He just gets under my skin. I know that I shouldn't let him."

"I swear," I said moving her to the couch and myself standing up. "I will go after him."

"Please don't do it," she said getting up and wrapping her arms around me. "You are so much better than he is. First I have to tell you something."

"Can it wait," I said wrapping my arms around her.

"It's important," she pleaded.

"I just want to make sure you're okay," I said leaning down and placing my lips on hers. I pulled her close to me squeezing her small petite body against mine. Our lips moved as one as she moved her arms from around my neck and moved them. She moved them to where she had tangled them in my hair. A moan escaped from my lips as I deepened our kiss. We broke apart for air a minute later and looked into each others eyes. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," she whispered to me.

"We better get going," I told her.

I released her from my hold as she headed to the kitchen. I helped her with her coat and she held the pies. Once we were in the car I was relieved that she was safe. I drove back to mom's knowing that everything was okay.

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