Introduction of Bella's child :D

Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 3 – Like Mother, Like Daughter

It was a quiet Wednesday afternoon at Stanley & Co., so besides manning the telephone, Bella didn't really have anything to do. She decided to search up Tony Masen on the Internet – not because she was obsessed or anything, she was just extremely curious. Just as Bella clicked enter, Jessica called out from her office.

"Izzy! Come here!"

Bella jumped in surprise and quickly shut the search engine.

"Is everything okay?" Bella asked as she went and stood by the door of Jessica's office.

She noticed that Jessica was lying down on the sofa, though Bella was hardly surprised. Talk about hardworking.

"Has Tony called?" Jessica asked with a pout.

"No, why? What's wrong?"

"He said he would come and get me for lunch today but he hasn't showed up. Its nearly two!"

"Oh…"

Jessica narrowed her eyes at Bella. "You didn't say anything did you?"

"What do you mean?"

"If I find out that Tony came in and you sent him away, I swear I'll -"

"Are you serious? You think I did something? I have better things to do, Jessica."

"Yeah but -"

"Go call him or something, geez!" Bella said before going back to her desk.

Before sitting down, Bella let out a huge sigh. It probably is my fault he didn't take Jessica out to lunch…the sight of me obviously nauseates him.

****

To say that it had been a long day would be an absolute understatement. After two book signings and an interview, Edward was completely worn out, so he decided to take a walk in Central Park to clear his head.

Central Park was beautiful. Edward sighed in content as he took in the sights and sounds of nature. There were interesting sculptures everywhere, the birds were chirping, children were playing and the pristine lake and deep lustrous green foliage took Edward's breath away.

If only he had someone to share it with.

Edward realized that there were a number of playgrounds at Central Park. So far he had passed at least seven. As Edward walked past another playground, he heard a high-pitched giggle. Edward couldn't help but smile. He looked to see where the sound had come from. It was a little girl being push on a swing by…Bella.

Edward stood motionlessly as he watched the interaction between Bella and who he assumed was Bella's daughter.

"Stop, Mommy! Stop." The girl exclaimed.

Bella stopped pushing and the little girl jumped off the swing just as the swinging began to slow.

"Okay your turn!"

Bella smiled, shaking her.

"Please Mommy…" The girl said pouting.

Edward couldn't take the smile off his face. She is so adorable. Who could deny this girl anything?

Obviously Bella couldn't because she ended up sitting on the swing.

"Now what?" Bella asked.

"Hold on tight."

The little girl tried to push Bella but Bella barely moved at all, so the little girl tried again. Edward laughed.

As the girl pushed Bella the second time, Bella pretended to lose balance and fall off in exaggerated slowness.

The girl ran towards Bella who was on her knees, leaning forward on her forearms. Edward couldn't help but stare at Bella's perfectly shaped ass.

The girl squatted in front of Bella. "Mommy, are you okay?" She asked.

Bella sat up and wrapped her arms around the girl. She then went to lie down on the sand and pulled the little girl down with her. The girl attempted to get up but Bella's arms were locked tightly around her. Bella closed her eyes and smiled in content.

"People are looking, Mommy."

"Let them look." Bella replied.

Edward grinned. This was the Bella he remembered, the warm, fun, loving and carefree Bella. Edward just had to speak to her. He also wanted to clear the air after the incident last night and at this moment she seemed to be in a pretty good mood so before he knew it, he was walking towards the swings.

"Hello Ladies." He said, flashing a big smile.

Bella immediately recognized that voice and snapped open her eyes. Edward had actually made an effort to speak to her and here she was lying down on the sand like an idiot.

As Edward went to crouch down beside the girls, Bella quickly sat up, pulling the little girl up along with her.

"Bella…" Edward said with a somewhat pained expression on his face. "I want to apologize about yesterday. I didn't mean to make you upset. Its just that -"

"It's already forgotten." Bella replied evasively.

Although Edward knew that Bella hadn't really forgotten about last night, he didn't comment on it.

"So is this your daughter?" Edward asked.

"Uh, yeah…" Bella replied. "Baby, come say hello."

The little girl looked up at Edward and smiled.

Edward's eyes widened. The little girl was really small. She had pink rounded cheeks, which at this moment matched her shell-pink lips, she had the cutest little nose, her brown curly hair ended just above her waist, and her long dark lashes framed her big green eyes, which beamed as she smiled. She even had dimples that were as deep as the Grand Canyon - well perhaps not that deep, but they were still very pronounced and overall, she was absolutely beautiful.

Of course she's beautiful, she's Bella's daughter.

"She is the most beautiful child I have ever seen." Edward said.

"Yeah, she's really something." Bella stated proudly.

Edward flashed a smile at the girl. "What's your name, Beautiful?"

"Re-"

"Her name is Carlie." Bella said, cutting off her daughter. "Carlie Swan. Like Charlie, but for a girl."

"Hello Carlie," Edward said, extending his hand.

Carlie looked at Edward's hand but did not shake it.

"Wow, you really are mother and daughter." Edward said, remembering how Bella wouldn't shake his hand the day before.

Bella laughed.

"How old are you, Carlie?"

Edward watched as little Carlie went to whisper in Bella's ear. Bella smiled and went to whisper in Carlie's ear in response.

Carlie turned back to Edward and smiled. "I'm four." She said proudly. "How old are you?"

Carlie had such a sweet, melodic voice. Edward found it so endearing.

"How old do I look?" He asked.

Carlie started looking around as if there would be something to give her a clue. "Um… thirteen."

Edward and Bella started laughing.

"Actually, I'm twelve, but good guess!"

"Can you push my mommy on the swing?" Carlie asked.

"No, Baby. But maybe Edward could push you instead." Bella quickly said.

Carlie turned to Edward with a big smile on her face. "Your name is Eggward?" Carlie asked before giggling. "Do you like eating eggs, Eggward?" She said before placing her left hand over her mouth to muffle her laughter.

Edward and Bella laughed along with her.

"Sweetie, his name is Edward, not Eggward." Bella said, after the laughter had died down.

Carlie started giggling again.

"Okay Baby, its not that funny."

Carlie turned to her mom with a huge grin. "Get on the swing, Mommy."

"Yeah Mommy, get on the swing." Edward said.

Bella groaned and went to sit on the swing.

"Carlie, you can get on the other one. I can push you both."

"Can you help me up?" Carlie asked.

Edward nodded and lifted her up on the swing.

"Don't push her too high, Edward! And make sure you hold on tightly Ren…uh Carlie."

"Overprotective mothers." Edward muttered shaking his head.

"Shut up, Edward."

Edward chuckled and began pushing the girls.

They continued to laugh and shriek and play until they were all worn out.

The sun was just about to set and Bella, Carlie and Edward were sitting on the park bench, taking in the scenery.

"Can we get McDonald's, Mommy?" Carlie asked.

Bella let out a sigh. Although she hated feeding her daughter junk, she could never bring herself to say no to her. "Alright, alright. Say goodbye to Edward, then."

Edward pouted. "What? No invite?"

"Oh. I just thought…well, I mean, you're more than welcome to join us."

Edward beamed. "Yay! Lets go Carlie!" He said, getting up before offering his hand.

Carlie smiled widely, taking Edward's hand.

"Come on Mommy. Let's go!" Carlie said, offering her free hand to her mom.

****

Edward, Bella and Carlie were by the counter at McDonalds, trying to decide what to buy.

Edward felt something tug at his shirt. He looked down to see Carlie looking up at him with her sparkling green eyes while biting her lip.

So much like her mother.

"Eggward, if you get a happy meal, you get a toy too."

Edward couldn't help but smile. It seemed as though he always had this problem when he was around Bella and Carlie.

"Do you want a happy meal?" Edward asked.

"Yes. And you and Mommy get one too so we can all play with our toys."

"I already have a toy. I play with it everyday. Sometimes I let other people play with it because it makes me happy. Even your mom -"

"Edward, please!" Bella interrupted.

"I was talking about my toy car, what were you thinking?" Edward asked with a huge grin on his face.

Bella rolled her eyes. "Sweetie, I don't think a child size meal is enough for Edward." Bella said.

Edward turned to Bella. "What are you saying, Bella? That I'm fat?"

Bella nodded. "That's exactly what I'm saying."

Edward laughed, turning around. He noticed the people in the line were shooting annoyed glances in his direction.

Either they're very impatient, or they're just jealous that I'm with the two most beautiful girls in the world.

Edward turned back towards Bella and Carlie.

"Could I please get three Happy Meals – all with chips, nuggets and a coke." Bella said.

"Don't forget the toys!" Edward added. "And could we also get medium chips, a Filet-O-Fish burger, a Quarter Pounder with cheese and two apple pies please."

Bella turned to Edward with a surprised look on her face. "What's with all the food?"

"I'm fat remember."

The woman behind the counter laughed.

"Hurry the fuck up!" Someone in the line yelled.

"Edward go find a seat with Carlie, I'll get this."

Edward quickly gave the lady behind a fifty-dollar note and took Carlie towards a table for four that was free.

"Do you need a baby chair?" Edward asked.

"No! I'm not a baby!"

Edward laughed. "Yes you are."

"Am not!"

"Fine, you're not. I'm sorry."

Bella came with a tray full of food. She placed the tray down and sat beside Carlie.

"Mommy, Eggward called me a baby."

Edward huffed. "I can't believe you just told on me!"

Bella and Carlie laughed.

Bella passed Edward his fifty-dollar bill. "We didn't need it."

"Keep it." Edward replied.

Bella glared at him.

"Fine, fine." Edward said, putting it in his pocket. He resolved to slip it in her bag later, when she wasn't looking. He was like a pickpocket, but reversed.

"Lets eat!" He said, quickly.

Carlie grabbed a Happy Meal box and opened it, taking out her toy.

"I got a car! And Birdie is driving!"

Edward grabbed another box and took out the toy.

"I got a car too! And a convict is driving."

Bella laughed.

"No! That's Hamburglar!" Carlie laughed. "Who do you have Mommy?"

Bella took out her toy. "Aw…I got Hamburglar too."

"Now we can race!" Carlie exclaimed.

"Lets eat first, baby."

Edward grabbed an apple pie and passed it to Bella. "Here, I know how much you love apple pies."

"You must not know me very well because never really loved them."

"Well remember that time at my house when we were watching American Pie and you started jerking m-"

"Edward!" Bella said cutting Edward off.

"What? I was bringing back memories."

"You might have forgotten, but there is a little four year old in our presence."

"She doesn't understand."

"Understand what?" Carlie asked.

"Do you know what jerk means?" Edward asked.

"No. What is it?"

"Don't worry, Sweetheart. Edward's just a jerk."

Edward scoffed "Am not!"

"You so are!"

"I'm the epitome of…not jerk!"

"Not jerk? I thought you were an author. Maybe you should go back to grammar school!"

Carlie dismissed the fact that the two adults were bickering and began eating her chips.

After eating a Happy Meal, a Quarter Pounder, an apple pie, a Fillet O Fish burger and chips, Edward was bloated. Thankfully, he was able to convince Bella and Carlie to take a walk with him.

They were completely silent as they walked through streets of New York. Bella thought now would be the right time to tell Edward about the accident.

"My parents died in a car crash a couple of weeks after I gave birth to Carlie."

Edward stopped walking. "You mean both Renee and Charlie…"

"Yes." Bella barely whispered before picking up her daughter and squeezing her tightly.

"Oh my god, Bella. I'm so sorry…" Edward moved to give Bella a hug but she took a step back. Although she longed to be in his arms, she knew that it wouldn't be good for her. He was like a disease and if she wasn't careful, she'd catch it and would have to suffer.

"Its fine, I don't need sympathy. I just thought you should know."

"Who helped you with Carlie then?"

"No-one. And after a while, we ran out of money, which is why I decided to work at the strip club."

"Oh my god…" Edward breathed. Charlie and Renee were dead? "All this time I thought they were in Arizona…"

"That's where it happened. We moved there after I found out I was pregnant and…" Bella stopped. She didn't want to tell him too much. "…And yeah…"

After escorting Bella and Carlie home. Edward took the cab back to his hotel. He wasn't invited into Bella's home, much to his dismay, though it was probably for the best since he had so much on his mind.

Charlie Swan was the Chief of police in Forks and at times, Edward had found him quite intimidating. Charlie would always question Edward's motives when it came to Bella, which scared the crap out of him. However, it was usually rather playful between Edward and Charlie and they had bonded over the years. Charlie had taken Edward to his first baseball game, they'd gone fishing a number of times and Charlie was even the one who snuck Edward his first beer when he was sixteen years old.

Renee, on the other hand, was very approachable. He remembered the night when she had talked to Edward about condoms and STD's. That was definitely a night to remember. She baked the most delicious cookies and she treated Edward as if he were her own son. Renee had even allowed Edward to sleepover with Bella a couple of times - after she had the talk with him.

Edward couldn't believe it. They were his future mother and father in law. Charlie was supposed to walk Bella down the isle, while Renee cried her eyes out over the fact that her daughter was growing up. But that wasn't going to happen anymore, because they were no longer here.

Edward also thought about the little Carlie. Besides Bella, he had never seen anyone like her. Edward couldn't even begin to describe the feeling he felt when he was with the two girls. He enjoyed every single moment with them, and hopefully Bella would allow him to spend more time with them.