The Gift

Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyers owns all Twilight and the Characters

Chapter 19: A parent's point of view

ESPOV

What am I going to do with my son? I love him dearly what mother wouldn't love her son. He can be such a complete ass sometimes but what child isn't sometime or another. I always imagined that it would be Bella that he would marry, and we wouldn't be in this situation at all. But he is too proud and would do anything to defend our family. Rather it be someone picking on his little sister or a two bit tramp trying to set up his older brother he would sacrifice his own happiness to keep them safe and happy. So I can't bring myself to be angry with him, he did keep Emmett from a load of legal trouble. It broke my heart to see Bella run out of the house that night so many years ago crying and broken hearted. I felt like a piece of my heart died that night. I had helped Charlie raise her after Renee left and she was like a daughter to me. The two of them completed each other in every way shape and form.

When she was gone he was a different person. He had no life in his eyes, showed no happiness, and wept behind closed doors when he was alone. He was broken hearted and his other half was missing. I had talked to Charlie and he told me how she was. She was a mess just like him almost more like a zombie then Edward allowed himself to become behind the closed door. I had only prayed that this one year would pass quickly so that they could get back together and everything would be back to normal. I was wrong about that. Shortly after Edward married that gold digging tramp Bella got married and had a baby. I didn't think Edward would ever get past that but he did.

It has taken almost five years for us to be where we are today, and things are still fucked up maybe more than they were before. I had to admit that I was shocked that Carly was my granddaughter but I was more relieved that she wasn't Mike Newton's daughter. After listening to what Charlie said about the whole arrangement that Mike and Bella had. It had brought me back to the arrangement that Edward and Tanya had made when she came over that fateful day. What really got to me was how she looked when she came into the kitchen at her house the other day. She looked as if someone close to her had died and she would never see them again. How about yesterday when I watching her when he was so close to her. She would close her eyes and take a little breath almost as if she didn't want that moment to end. She isn't over him at all, just like he isn't over her at all either. I just hope that Edward and Bella can find their ways back to one another before it truly is too late.

"Mom," I heard Edward ay breaking me from my thoughts.

"Yes dear," I responded to him taking a pan of biscuits from the oven.

"Are you okay," he said taking a seat at the table.

"Yes," I said quickly putting the hot pan on the counter. "Where is Carly?"

"She is in the living room playing," he said before looking down at his hands folded on the table. "Have you seen Bella this morning?"

"She had Emmett take her home about thirty minutes ago," I told him remembering the events from earlier this morning.

"Morning Esme," I heard Bella's sweet voice say.

"You're up early," I told her getting a pan out of the drawer for biscuits. "Did you sleep well?"

"Okay," she said as Emmett walked. "Hey Em."

"Yeah B," Emmett said walking into the kitchen.

"Can you take me home before you head to the gym," she asked him.

"Sure," he said questioning her. "Don't you want to stay here with Edward and Carly?"

"He needs to spend some time with her," she answered him.

"Give me a few minutes and we'll go," he said walking out of the kitchen.

"Bella," I said once he was out of the kitchen. "You really don't need to leave."

"Yes," she said quickly. "I'm going to go check on Carly and then head out."

"I love you Bella," I told her as I hugged her goodbye. "Promise me you won't give up on hope just yet."

"I promise," she said hugging me in return. "I love you too."

Once I let her go she headed up the stairs and I started breakfast. Before I knew it I heard the front door close and Emmett's jeep start. Hearing that made me realize that she had really left again, and that it was time for Edward to step up his game and get his family back.

"What do you mean she left," he said slapping the table with his hand. "What kind of mother does that? Just gets up in the morning without even saying goodbye."

"Edward Anthony," I said using that tone that all mothers use when they are pissed off at their children. "You will not speak badly about Bella. Do you understand me?"

"Yes mother," he replied.

"She didn't leave without saying goodbye either," I told him taking the seat from across him.

"What do you mean," he asked looking up at me.

"She went upstairs before she left to tell Carly goodbye," I said taking his hand in mine. He took his other hand and gently rubbed it on his right cheek. "I guess that you and Carly were still sleeping when she left."

"I've made a mess out of everything," he said barely above a whisper.

"Yes you have," I answered him. "There still is hope here."

"I don't know," he said looking down at the table and shaking his head. "I've lost the one person who means the world to me."

"Don't think like that," I told him trying to encourage him just a little. "Let's not forget that you do have a little pawn in the other room."

"What do you mean," he said looking up.

"The two of you share something that means more than anything in this world," I explained to him. "You have to show her that you are the best father and not over react when something gets complicated or hard."

"When do I start," he said with an eager look in his eyes.

"Right after you bring me my grandbaby in here for breakfast," I said getting up.

"Thanks mom," he said hugging me. "I can't lose her again mom."

"I know," I said as he walked out. This whole family can't lose her again.

I just hope that he is ready to work his ass off this time to win her back. If she is anything like Charlie then she is not going to make it easy on him.

CHPOV

That son of a bitch hurt my little girl for the last time. I mean I didn't expect him to take the news that Carly was his daughter easy. Still yet you don't yell and storm out like he did. If our families weren't close friends then I would have let some of the La Push boys take care of him. I had to think about Bella and Carly and that would upset her in the long run.

"Sweetheart," I heard Sue say coming into my office.

"Yes," I answered her closing the photo album.

"What are you doing," she said sitting across from me.

"Just looking at some old pictures," I answered her sitting back in my chair. I had gotten out the old albums from when Edward and Bella were young. I had to admit that they certainly were in love and Carly is the proof of that love. "I just don't know what went wrong."

"Sometimes we don't always know what went wrong," she replied. "Sometimes we aren't meant to know that."

"They were so happy," I started to say but stopped to take a deep breath. "The next thing I know she is running up to her room crying. I could only get a few words out every now and then. How do you cheat on someone and marry the other person."

"I don't know," she said coming around to my chair. "She did become a stronger girl because of that."

"I know," I answered her. "When she called me the other night and I went over. Sue I had flashbacks to that New Year's Eve night so many years ago."

"If she is anything like you then she won't make it easy for him," she said wrapping her arms around me.

"I will promise you this," I said firmly. "If he hurts her again or let it be Carly. I will hunt him down and end him for good. Family friends or not he will not hurt them again."

"Okay Charlie," she said with a giggle. "I think that might be a little harsh."

"I don't think so," I replied trying not to smirk. "How's Leah today?"

"I think you already know that answer," she said taking a deep breath.

"It'll get better," I told her. "I could take care of that situation for you if you wanted me too."

"Charlie Swan," she said playfully smacking my shoulder and walking towards the door. "Come on before your breakfast gets cold."

"Coming dear," I said laughing as I laid the photo album back on the desk. I just hoped that Sue was right about Bella. She was exactly like me in some aspects. If Edward wanted his family back then he had better damn well prove that they are worth the fight.

CARPOV

"Dr. Cullen to trauma 2," the announcement said.

Another day at the hospital but today like the past couple of shifts I have had an extra bounce in my step. Could it be the fact that my children are all somewhat happy? Could it be that fact that this time next year I will have four grandchildren bouncing around my house? Could it be the fact that Bella has reentered our lives with my first grandchild this Christmas? I don't know the answers yet, maybe there are some questions still left to ask.

"What do we have," I said walking into trauma two.

"Cora cut herself at the diner," the nurse said. "It looks kind of deep."

"Thanks," I told the nurse as I walked over to her. "How are you today Cora?"

"Been better," she said looking down at her hand. "How was your Christmas?"

"It was really good," I answered her. I put on some gloves and got to looking closer at her hand.

"Have you and Esme spoiled your granddaughter yet," she said.

"What," I said startled. I thought that no one else knew yet about Carly being Edward's daughter.

"Bella's little girl," she said trying not to show any pain. "I knew from the very first time looking at her that she was Edward's. I mean those two were inseparable for the longest time."

"They certainly were," I answered her cleaning up her cut. "Now for the spoiling I must say that we haven't gotten to that yet. If anyone knows Esme or better yet Alice they could already be spoiling her at this very moment."

"You know that they can both be stubborn," she said changing the subject back to Edward and Bella as I started to stitch up the cut. It was as if she was reading my mind about Bella and Edward. "They will work everything out."

"I hope so," I said as I finished up the stitching. It didn't take more than ten stitches so it went by pretty quickly. "Just keep this dry and come back in two days so that I can check the dressings."

"Thanks Carlisle," she said giving me a smile. "Bring that grandbaby the next time you all come in."

"I will," I told her as I left the room.

Maybe she is right about them. They can work through this and everything will be alright. I couldn't help but think about the sight that I saw this morning.

I made my way to the bottom of the stairs to see my lovely wife standing in the doorway to the living room. Walking up and wrapping my arms around my love I looked at the sight that her eyes laid upon. Laying on the couch sound asleep was Bella. She was curled up in a ball with the blanket lying at the foot of the couch. It didn't look comfortable at all. In fact it was a sad sight indeed. I couldn't understand how two people, who were crazy about each other, not put this nonsense past them and be the family they were meant to be. But things change, and people change. I felt Esme lean back against me and take a deep breath.

"Love," I said into her ear.

"Carlisle," she finally spoke after a minute of silence. Our eyes never left Bella sleeping. "He really did it this time, didn't he?"

"I honestly don't know," I answered her searching for an answer to give her. "She's not the same Bella that we knew five years ago. It's going to take a lot for her to forgive him this time."

"I know dear," she told me. "It was just so wonderful to have the whole family feel as one again."

"It was wasn't it," I said as she turned around to face me. Before Edward found out about Carly there was so much life in the family once again. It was as if Bella never left everyone was back to their old selves. It also felt so good to have the old Edward back as well.

"I had better start breakfast," she said wiggling her way out of my arms. "Have a wonderful shift and be safe."

"I will," I told her. Before I let her go I pulled her closer to me. I lowered my lips upon her soft ones. After thirty-three years of marriage it still amazed me that I could still feel sparks with either a kiss or a simple of touch from this woman. "I love you so."

"As I love you," she responded as I let her go.

"I'll be home as soon as I can," I said putting on my jacket and watching her walk towards the kitchen.

That was a few hours ago and I was wondering how things were going at home. I wondered if Edward was begging Bella for forgiveness. I couldn't help but let out a chuckle just thinking about that sight. I placed Cora's chart in the discharge slot and picked up the next chart from the intake slot.

"Dr. Cullen phone call on line one," the announcement said. I placed the chart back down on the nurses' station and picked up the phone.