Author's Note: Hi all. Sorry for the delay. It's been a hell of a month. Family drama up the wazoo and bad news upon bad news. I'm tired of bad news so here's to hoping some good news will come my way soon. I also sat on the ending of this chapter because I didn't like it. I changed it a little this morning.

Thank you for all of the reviews and adds. Hope you like the chapter.

-Lisa

Chapter Twenty Five

"This is a terrible idea. There could be causalities," Bella commented as Carlisle pulled into Esme's driveway. Bella looked at the many cars parked and cringed.

"For the last time, I promised you there will be no games. Just please act like you knew nothing about this. Esme will be really disappointed," Peter pleaded with Bella as they got out of the car.

Charlotte and Peter walked ahead of Bella and Carlisle. He wrapped his arm around Bella's waist and rested his hand on the side of her stomach. "It won't be that bad."

"Famous last words. If it is terrible I will make you eat those words and sleep on the couch," Bella replied.

Trying to hide his amusement, Carlisle shook his head and agreed with Bella. They stood at the front door. Bella looked behind her and whispered into Carlisle's ear. "Whose cars care these? I don't think I know this many people."

Kissing her check, Carlisle grinned at her. "Just enjoy the party, okay? It's for you."

"And you," she quickly added. "You had something to do with this little thing's appending arrival."

"Right, but you are the one carrying the baby around," he answered back as the door opened.

Esme Mason stood at the door with a grin on her face as she stared at Bella. To most it seemed genuine. Bella, who felt Esme was her second mother, saw through the smile. Something was bothering Esme. "Welcome. Come on in! Oh Bella, you look so beautiful!" She told her as she moved to the side of the door to allow Bella, Carlisle and the kids to enter the house. Esme threw her arms around Bella. "I know you said no parties but we just had to do something! There is no way I could let you have this baby without a celebration! So Congrats Isabella," Esme paused and took a breath. She looked at Carlisle and threw a quick, smile. "And congratulations Carlisle. Bella there are many people in here who want to talk to you. A lot of them were friends of your parents."

"Thank you. You shouldn't have done this," Bella honestly told her. She was so worried about the silly games that she might have to play that she didn't stop to think about the people who would attend. Although she hadn't seen some of the people in what seemed like a life time, Bella was truly touched. She reached behind her for Carlisle's hand and squeezed it.

"Well, it wasn't just me. Alice did quite a bit and Peter, well, that boy is wonderful." She paused looking at Carlisle. "You did a wonderful job raising him."

"Thank you very much. His mother and I did the best we could. Bella has definitely been an extremely positive influence on him. She loves both of my children as if they were her own. I'm extremely grateful for that."

"Yes," Esme replied. "She is a special girl."

"How is my favorite pipsqueak doing?" Emmett, Edward's older brother asked as he picked up Bella and swung her once around.

"You idiot," his beautiful wife Rosalie had scolded him. They were high school sweethearts. They married in college and hadn't looked back since. They seemed like they were more in love each other as the days moved on. "She's pregnant. Put her down."

"Fine, Miss Sour Puss," Emmett whined as he placed Bella back on her feet.

Rose reached for Bella to hug her. "It's good to see you. How are you feeling Bella?"

"I'm great actually. Carlisle let me introduce you to Emmett and Rose Masen. Emmett is Edward's brother. We all grew up together and don't see each other as often as we'd like," Bella explained.

Shaking her head, Rose agreed with Bella. "No we don't. Carlisle I've heard a lot about you. It's nice to meet you."

As Carlisle began to speak to Emmett and Rose, Esme pulled Bella to another direction. "Bella, please mingle. A lot of these people are excited to see you. Your mom and my sorority sisters are here. Oh, and Mrs. Johnson is over there and I'm sure she'll want to talk to you," Esme told Bella referring to her former neighbor who was like a grandmother to Bella growing up.

After speaking to various people from different periods of her life, Alice met Bella. She handed her a champagne flute filled with punch. "See, it's not so bad."

"No, it isn't. Thank you for this. You all have done a fantastic job with this. It's beautiful, thank you," Bella told her friend as she hugged her.

"You have so little faith in me," Alice smiled. Both she and Bella watched as Edward made Peter and Charlotte laugh. Carlisle was to the side watching as well as joining in on the laughter. "Charlotte seems to be happy."

"Hopefully. We had a talk, again. We are in a good place, at least for now. She's a great kid. I just wish she could deal with her feelings. We would have such a better relationship. One day at a time I guess." Bella explained.

"Maybe this time it will stay?" Alice questioned.

Bella shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe, I hope so." She paused and looked around. "Do you know where Esme is? I haven't seen her in a while."

"I'm not sure. I don't' see her around here. I can look for her for you," Alice offered.

"No, I'll take a look for her. Thanks though," Bella smiled as she walked out of the room. She saw Esme standing on the deck, alone. She walked towards the French doors and went outside. "Hey, is this a private party?"

"Oh no, I just came out to get a breath of fresh air," Esme said wiping her eyes.

"Esme, what's wrong?" Bella asked concerned.

"Nothing honey."

"Esme? You are forgetting that you lie almost as well as I do. What is wrong?"

Taking a breath, Esme looked at Bella. She squeezed her hand. "I miss your mom so much honey. She should be here with you. She'd be so proud of you."

Bella chuckled. "Right, divorced and in an on again relationship with an older man. Being a household manager for some time. I haven't really done anything worthy of her pride."

"Oh Bella, you under estimate yourself. "You are beautiful person. The divorce wasn't you, it was Jacob, the little prick."

"Esme! Bella laughed. "I am surprised by your language.

"It's true! He gave up the best thing that had happened to him. And now you are with Carlisle, again," Esme said as her voice faded showing her unsatisfied.

"What's wrong with Carlisle?" Bella asked laughing.

Taking a deep breath, Esme looked at Bella and offered a halfhearted smile. "Bella, I really believe in my heart that there is someone out there for you. Someone who will love you unconditionally and will worship and love you. Honey, I don't think that man is Carlisle."

"Esme-"

"No Isabella, I've been quiet for so long. You were in pieces when he left you. You were in so much pain. I think more pain than you were with Jacob. I love you like you are my daughter, that's why I am telling you this. I can't lie to you honey. I don't want to lie to you. I don't want to see you hurt again."

Bella bit her tongue before walking towards Esme. She stood next to her and looked into the distance. "I want to be honest with you too. I had many doubts when Carlisle entered my life again. I didn't trust him. Honestly, what kind of person moves cross country without telling their partner? You are right when you say he hurt me more than Jacob did. It was another whole level of pain. When he came to me in that hotel, I want him so badly. I wanted to say screw everything that had happened between us and kiss him and, well, I'll just stop there," Bella told Esme with a smile. "I didn't. I put up a wall around me. I didn't want to get hurt yet again by another person I loved. We talked and talked and I still wasn't going to take him back. It took me talking to basically a stranger who told me how he saw us. He told me he saw a man who loved me and would do anything for me. I couldn't shake his talk. He was right. He also said he saw how much I loved him. I came to the conclusion that Carlisle loves me. I love him too. I can't explain it, but I need him as he needs me. He is an incredible father and I feel privileged to have one of his children. Peter is such a wonderful and thoughtful child. I know it's selfish, but I think of him as my own. I love him so much. Things have been a little difficult for Charlotte and me, but I know she will come around. I love her too. I pray that our relationship will continue to get better. Carlisle, as I said I love him. I feel he was made for me. He gets me on levels that no one else does. Esme, I know he was stupid in the past. Trust me, he knows he was wrong, I had a hard time letting it go. Sometimes I am still insecure but then he wraps his arms around me or sends me a text while we are working just so he I know he's thinking of me. He's a good man who made a poor choice. I'm so happy that I gave him another chance. I don't regret it. I know my baby is going to have the best father there is. I have forgiven him Esme. I know you aren't crazy about our relationship, but I love him. I hope you can forgive him. He's a good man Esme."

Esme looked at Bella. She cupped Bella's face in her hands. "I don't know when you grew up to be such a beautiful, smart woman but I am proud of who you have become, as would your parents. It's important to you so I will give Carlisle one more chance. If he screws up, I might kill him. Ed might mount him on our wall."

Chuckling, Bella looked at Esme. "Thank god he isn't going to do anything that stupid again." Bella looked at Esme again. She reached for her hand. "I've been missing my mom. I mean, I always miss her but lately with this one on the way, I've missed her even more than usual. I miss my dad too. Every day I wish they were here." Bella paused as tears came from her eyes. "I'm lucky though because you and Ed were there for me every step of the way. I had wonderful parents who were robbed of their life, but I was fortunate because you and Ed were there for me. I love you two as if you were my parents."

"Oh honey, we love you too. You are my beautiful daughter that I never had."

Bella nodded and continued. "When mom was alive I could never picture her as a grandmother. She was so young and beautiful. Her smile made everyone happy around." Bella paused to reminisce. "I know mom isn't here. I know I will miss her for the rest of my life and she will never meet this baby or any more that I might have. But this baby will have you and Ed. I was wondering if it was okay if the baby calls you and Ed their grandparents. I know I'm not Edward or Emmett but I would be honored if you were my child's grandmother and Ed their grandfather."

Immediately, Esme wrapped Bella up in a hug. "Oh Isabella! I would love nothing more than to be that involved in your child's life. I would love to be a part of their life in the capacity. I promise to tell the baby all about Renee and our crazy times together. Oh Bella, I'm so incredibly happy that you think so highly of Ed and I."

"You may not have given birth to me, but you are my mom now, by choice not obligation. Jasper and I could have gone to a foster home, but you kept us together with you and never forgot my mom and dad along the way," Bella explained.

"I loved your mom like she was my sister. We grew up together. I have one request as the grandmother for the baby."

"What is that?"

"I don't want to be grandma. Ugh. Anything but that," Esme laughed.

Laughing, Bella looked at her surrogate mother. "What do you have in mind?"

Feeling her eyes fill with tears, Esme looked at Bella and pulled her close. "I like nana. My nana was a sweet woman. I have many found memories of her. I'd be more than happy to be nana to this one," Esme told her as she touched Bella's stomach.

"If I can't have my mom here, I'm glad I have you Esme. You are the next best thing," Bella said hugging her.

After breaking from the hug, Esme placed her arm around Bella's shoulders. Why don't we get back there? This is a party to celebrate you silly girl!"

"We have so much stuff," Bella told Carlisle as she sat on the couch. Carlisle and Peter brought in most of the items packed in his car. There was at least another car load at Esme's house that Edward promised to bring over later in the week. "I don't think the nursery is big enough for all of this stuff."

Carlisle walked over and sat next to Bella. She melted into him and placed her head on his shoulder. "I think it will. It was a good day. It was really nice to meet all of those people and hear all of those stories about you." Carlisle smiled. "It was better than watching you play silly games."

Looking at Carlisle, Bella questioned him. "What stories did you hear?"

"Well, Mrs. Webber said you and her daughter used to play dolls together and went to dances together when you were in middle school."

"That's true. Her daughter is Angela. She worked with you and Edward a few years ago before she moved to Oregon."

"Oh right, I remember her. I didn't realize you knew her." Carlisle paused and continued. "Mrs. Johnson said you got made at your mom one time when you were six and you packed up and moved to her house," Carlisle told Bella what her former elderly neighbor had told her.

Bella laughed. "I wanted to keep the cat I found on the street. My mom said no. I packed a few dolls and my favorite snacks and I marched next door and rang her door bell, with the cat. Turns out the cat was Mrs. Johnson's. My only runaway attempt was foiled."

"You are so adventurous, Carlisle teased. "I also heard about the time right after you graduated when you kissed Edward?"

"Emmett Mason is a dead man! Why would he tell you that?" Bella asked. She stared at her boyfriend who tried to hide his laughter. She lightly hit him. "That isn't funny Carlisle. I really thought I loved Edward and I was dating Jacob. I was about to move to Arizona. Edward and I went for a hike and ended up in this field. He had no idea how I was feeling. I kissed him on the hike."

"And what was Edward's reaction?"

"He was shocked to say the least."

"And the kiss, how was it?" Carlisle asked trying to hide his smile.

"It was like kissing my brother. It was terrible. There was nothing there. He was confused why I did it. I eventually told him, years later and on my wedding day. I was so embarrassed by it, but he understood and laughed it off. He was a good sport. I wanted to crawl under a rock and rot."

Carlisle kissed Bella's head. "Edward was probably just as mortified as you but didn't let it show!"

Playfully Bella hit Carlisle before settling back into his arms. "Shush you! I'm glad things didn't work out between Edward and I."

Laughing, Carlisle agreed. "Me too."

Just as they were giggling and laughing, Charlotte came into the room. "Um, dad I was wondering if I could go out tomorrow night with Jane. To the movies?" She asked nervously.

Sitting forward to grab her water bottle, Bella looked at Charlotte's face. "Is everything okay honey?"

Charlotte looked from her dad to Bella back to her dad. "Um, I really want to go. Jane has a friend who might be coming along."

"A boy?" Carlisle snapped.

Nodding, Charlotte looked away. "Yes. Jared is in high school. He's a freshman and-"

"Absolutely not!" Carlisle shouted.

Seeing that he was angry with the thought, Bella placed an arm on Carlisle's arm and tugged at it. "Carlisle-"

"Don't Bella. I said no. He's too old for her and that's the end of the story."

"But daddy, Jane-"

"Charlotte, I said no and that's the end of the story. Enough. If Jane's parents' are letting her go out with an older boy, that's their issue. I said no."

Charlotte scoffed. "Are you really talking to me about age differences?"

Carlisle stood up and looked at his daughter standing before him. He hated raising his voice but Charlotte was pressing her luck. "I am an adult, as is Bella. It is different. You are thirteen years old. You are still a child. Unless you want to be grounded again I suggest you drop the subject."

Looking at her father, Charlotte stomped out of the room and up the stairs. Her bedroom door soon slammed. Carlisle sighed and looked at Bella. "I hate treating her like that. I wish she was able to understand and reason."

"She's a teenager, it's her job to raise hell," Bella smiled as she stood up and walked over to Carlisle. She wrapped her arms around his back and rested her head on his back.

Turning around, Carlisle looked at Bella and kissed her lips. He placed his hands on her stomach and rubbed it. "Your right. I just hope she isn't like her sister in thirteen years." Bella stared at Carlisle and didn't say anything. Carlisle didn't know what had gotten into Bella at first. Then hit him like a ton of bricks. "Oh shit, Bella, I'm so sorry. I-"

"How long have you know, the sex of the baby?"

"Since the first ultra sound picture you sent me." He paused before stuttering on his words. "I've always referred to her as her, at least to myself and-"

"Carlisle?" Bella asked.

"Yes?" Carlisle replied feeling Bella was going to be angry with him.

"It's okay," Bella smiled.

"You're not angry with me?"

Shaking her head, Bella smiled as she grabbed his hand. "Angry, no. I kind of have felt that she is a girl. I think they call it mother's intuition."

Pulling her into him once more, Carlisle smiled. "I see. Do you want to tell people?"

"No, let's keep her our secret for a little while longer, until she comes along." Bella stopped and kissed him. She rested her lips on his as she talked. "Old, wise Dr. Cullen, since you know what your next born will be have you thought of any names for her?"

"I thought we were going to talk about it after we met the baby?" He asked about Bella's suggestion.

She shrugged her shoulders and looked at the man she loved with her whole heart. "Maybe I have a little."

"What were you thinking about for a boy?"

"Well," Bella started as they sat back down on the couch. "If she were a boy I kind of like Charles after my dad. A little Charlie would have been nice especially since Jasper stole my mom's name."

Rubbing her shoulders, Carlisle looked at Bella. "You can still use her name. She was your mother too."

"I know. I did love her middle name."

"Which was?"

"Emily," Bella whispered.

Carlisle smiled. "I think I would love to have a little Emily or Em running around here."

"Carlie!"

Scrunching his nose, Carlisle shook his head. "Um, I'm not crazy about it. I think I like Emily a lot more."

"Carlisle don't you see it! Her middle name can be Carlie."

"Carlie?"

"Yes. That's a combination of my dad's name and your name."

Looking confused, Carlisle shook his head. "Bella I'm not following you."

"My dad was known to everyone as Charlie more than Charles. Even when people referred to him as a police officer they called him Officer Charlie. So you take Car-like your name-Carlisle and combine it with Charlie and you get-"

"Carlie. Emily Carlie," Carlisle said as he placed his hand on Bella's stomach. "When you put it like that I love it." He looked at Bella and found her lips again. "I love you Bella."

"I love you too," she said returning his kiss.

"Okay I get it, you love each other, gesh, can you stop or go up to your room please?" Peter asked as he sat down on the chair next to the couch.

"Hello Peter," Bella smiled as she melted into Carlisle's arms. "What are you up to tonight?"

"I wanted to read but Charlotte had her tv on and it was so loud. You would think she would have shut it off before she left."

"Peter, what do you mean she left? She didn't leave," Carlisle said. "She got mad at me, stomped upstairs and slammed her door. She hasn't been downstairs since."

"Well she isn't in her room. I went in to ask her to turn down her tv and she wasn't in the room. She wasn't in her bedroom, in our bathroom, the office or your room."

Bella could feel Carlisle getting angry. Calm down. Maybe she is just hiding up there somewhere. I'll call her on her phone." Bella leaned behind her to grab her purse off the table. She searched for Charlotte's number bad pressed it. From the other side of the room, Charlotte's phone blared it's ring tone.

Without saying anything to Bella or Peter, Carlisle stood up and ran over to the stairs. "Charlotte Anne, come down here right now." He repeated himself a few seconds later. When there was no response, he stormed up the stairs.

"I'll look in the basement," Peter said as he ran downstairs.

Bella could hear Carlisle repeating his daughter's name. As Peter entered the living room, Carlisle fly down the stairs.

"She isn't downstairs," Peter stated.

"She's not upstairs but her window is opened."

"She climbed out the window? We are on the second floor!" Peter exclaimed.

"When she said she wanted to see that boy I didn't think she met tonight," Bella told Carlisle.

"She's in big trouble, isn't she?" Peter asked already knowing the answer.

"Huge trouble. I'm calling Jane."

"She mentioned the movies. I assume she means in Port Angeles. You are clearly are too upset to go so I will go and check there for her."

"I'll go with her," Peter volunteered.

Carlisle shook his head as he hung up his cell phone. "Jane didn't answer her phone. Don't leave until I call her father." Carlisle stepped into the kitchen and called Tom, Jane's father. Carlisle was quiet and then hung up the phone after saying goodbye. "Jane isn't home either. He is going to search the neighborhood and all around here. Bella, honey you don't have to go find her."

"Carlisle, you are this close to breathing fire. Peter and I are leaving. We'll be home in a little more than an hour. I'll call you when we are on our way back. You decompress. I hate seeing you like this," Bella told him.

Realizing Bella was right, he looked at Peter. "Don't cause Bella any more stress."

"I won't," Peter said as he began to walk out to the car.

Bella walked towards Carlisle. "You need to be calm for when you speak to her. Just try and cool off. I love you and will be back soon, with Charlotte."

Placing a kiss on her lips, Carlisle looked at Bella. "Thank you for doing this. This shouldn't be your responsibility to do this. I love you too and will see you soon."

Bella kissed Carlisle once more and left. She got into her car, buckled up and started the car. She and Peter made small talk until Bella reached for her phone. "I think we should call Uncle Edward to talk to your dad. He needs to calm down. Can you hand me my phone, I can't reach it."

Bella looked down to pull up Edward's cell phone number.

Peter yelled but it was too late.