Author's Note:

Hello all! Hope you have been well. Thank you for the adds and alerts. I know I have said it before and I will say it again, I appreciate it. Seeing the emails put a smile on my face!

Hope you enjoy the chapter.

Thanks for reading!

-Lisa

Chapter Twenty Nine

The sun peaked through the blinds in Bella and Carlisle's bedroom. Bella rolled over and stretched. Carlisle's side of the bed looked as if it was never slept in. His spot was cold. Bella then sat up and looked at her left hand and remembered their fight last night. Her eyes found the clock and she nearly jumped out of bed. It was well after eight am. She scrambled to get pull her robe on and ran into Emily's room. She looked in the crib and found it empty. Running down the stairs, she took note that no one was downstairs either. As quick as she could run, she checked Peter and Charlotte's rooms and they were empty too. Bella was on her way to grab her phone when she heard the front door open. She quietly walked downstairs to find Carlisle making his way to the kitchen. She took her time making her way down the stairs. She walked into the kitchen and slipped unnoticed into a chair.

Carlisle was at the sink filling the dishwasher. When he was finished Carlisle turned and was startled to see Bella sitting at table with her arms crossed.

"I didn't know you were sitting there. Good morning," Carlisle smiled as he sat the flowers on the table. He pulled a chair over and sat next to Bella.

Speaking softly, Bella looked at Carlisle. "Where is everyone?"

"It's Saturday morning. Peter had soccer practice, Charlotte is at rehearsal and Esme and Ed wanted to spend the day with Emily. That leaves just you and me."

"How does that make you feel?" Bella asked half sarcastically.

With a raised eyebrow, Carlisle looked at Bella. "What has gotten into you this morning? What are you thinking about?"

Scoffing, Bella rolled her eyes and looked at Carlisle. "Are you serious? Honestly Carlisle I don't think you know what you want. If you don't want to get married, that is fine. If-if you aren't ready to move on from Elizabeth I totally get it, but you honestly shouldn't have asked."

Looking a little startled, Carlisle stared at Bella. "Where is this all coming from?"

"Really Carlisle? Last night. It's all coming from last night, in the kitchen. You looked like you were I pain when I told you that Peter wanted to call me mom. You are obviously not over Elizabeth, which is okay Carlisle. We can move at whatever rate you are comfortable with."

"Bella?" Carlisle tried to interrupt Bella.

Sitting at the table, Bella played with her hair and continued to talk over Carlisle without realizing he had spoken. She closed her eyes and continued. "We are just in a awkward place right now." She opened her eyes and looked at Carlisle. "I gave you the ring back because you aren't sure. I understand that Carlisle. I don't want to be a second guess. I don't deserve that."

"Do you really think you are a second guess? After everything we have been through in the past year you think you are a second guess?" Carlisle asked as he watched Bella shake her head yes. "Oh Bella, no. You are not a second guess at all."

"Then why didn't you say anything to me last night when we were talking about Peter?"

Taking a deep breath, Carlisle began to explain. "I was thinking about Elizabeth and-"

"I knew it. Carlisle, I understand that you aren't ready and-"

"Can you let me finish please?" He paused until Bella nodded yes. "I was thinking about how much you two were alike. How big your hearts are. I thought about when I was engaged to Kate you protected my children from her, loved them back then before you even knew them. It's hard for me to think that was only a year ago. You went head to head with me, toe to toe when it came to how she treated them. Let's be real, Kate should have never happened," Carlisle smiled. "I was lonely and I just didn't want to be by myself any more. She isn't a nice person. She maybe beautiful on the outside, but where it matters, she is uglier than sin. I'm glad we broke up. That led me to you."

"It's water under the bridge now but I contacted her after you left and she laughed at me. I told her I was pregnant and she wouldn't tell me where you were," Bella confessed.

Shrugging his shoulders, Carlisle looked at Bella. "She never mentioned it yet but I'm not surprised. That is however, a prime example of why I think of her the way I do. You on the other hand, you are the complete polar opposite. You are so big hearted and love with every fiber of your being. There is no half way with you. You are so much like Elizabeth, I just can't understand how twice in my lifetime I have been so blessed I am to have someone I love so much that it physically hurts when we are arguing or apart. How lucky I am to have someone who has picked up and loved my children as if they were her own. I was thinking about all of these things when you came into the kitchen last night. Peter had actually asked me a few weeks ago if he could call you mom. We talked about it for a bit. I told him I thought it would be fine as long as it was okay with you."

Carlisle stood up and knelt next to Bella and looked up at her. "You have no idea how much I love you Bella. We created a life together. I wouldn't trade you or Emily for anything. My life is complete with both of you in it. I want to be with you for the rest of our lives and beyond if it is possible. I thought a good while before I asked you to become my wife, by law. I have considered us partners since you moved in with me. I just want to make it legal and to celebrate it, us. Isabella Marie Swan, I love you more and more as the days go on. You could roll out of bed with the worst case of bed head and horrible morning breath and you'd still take my breath away. There are no second guesses when it comes to you, to us. I don't want to be alone. I don't want to be without you.

"With all of this being said, I wanted to know if I can place this," he asked as he fished into his pocket for Bella's engagement ring. "Where it belongs, on this finger of your hand. Will you still marry me Bella?"

Crying, Bella pulled Carlisle's head into her body and cried. She realized she had been very foolish and blind. It was true that Carlisle would walk to the ends of the earth for her. "Are you sure you still want me and my stupidity?"

"You are not stupid Bella, you are anything but and of course I still want all of you, even your insecurities. I love all of you." Carlisle paused and kissed her. "You better say yes or else Peter will disown me. I think he is the only person who wants you in this family more than I do. He loved you from day one." He paused before concluding. "Isabella, please let me love you for however long we may live on this planet."

"With a proposal like that how can I say no? Are you sure though you have no doubts about me? About us?" Bella asked a final time.

Shaking his head. "Absolutely not, none."

Bella giggled and nodded her head in agreement with Carlisle's comment. She then looked down and saw Carlisle still holding the ring. She smiled at him before kissing him. "Please put that ring back on my finger so we can plan our wedding, our life, our future together?"

Carlisle slipped the ring back onto Bella's finger where it truly belonged. He looked up at her and kissed her. He rested his head to hers. "I love you Bella with everything I am. Thank you for loving me."

"Thank you for hiring me and loving me. Who knew that meeting at the coffee shop would change our lives. Have we ever thanked Edward for the set up?" she paused with a smile as she also fell to her knees and knelt down. "Can you show me how much you love me? I feel that I have been so caught up in my own hormonal mess that I thought I lost you. Show me how much you love me."

"You want me to show you?" He watched as Bella nodded. "Come here Ms. Swan." Carlisle reached for Bella and pulled her on top of him. Both laughed as their lips touched. Carlisle's hands wondered up and down Bella's back before they found their way under it. He very gently rubbed her breasts before he removed her shirt. "Beautiful," he said before he licked and sucked on her. Quickly, he pulled down her shorts in one pull.

Bella reached down and pulled down Carlisle's sweatpants. He was waiting for her, at attention. They rolled over. Carlisle lined himself to enter Bella. Their movements were slow at first. Carlisle reached for Bella's hands before they clasped them above Bella's head. As they approached ecstasy, they moved more urgently. Finally they reached their moment where they knew they were meant for each other. They felt the love in their movements.

As they laid in bliss, Bella looked up at Carlisle and laughed.

"What's so funny?" He asked feeling a little smug. He pulled her closer to him.

"Well," Bella began as she licked her lips. "We are laying on the kitchen floor, naked. We just made love on the kitchen floor Carlisle," Bella giggled like a school girl.

Carlisle joined Bella in her laughter. "Indeed it would seem that way." He stopped to kiss her and stared into her eyes. "I think we should do it again!"

The weeks following Bella's birthday were filled with many family nights. The family went for walks together and played games, minus Charlotte who always decline. One Sunday afternoon Bella was doing laundry and making an early dinner while Peter worked on his homework and Carlisle entertained Emily. Charlotte was also working on her homework, of course away from the family and up in her room.

Bella had just switched the laundry and found herself checking on dinner when Charlotte marched into the kitchen. She looked at Bella with her arms crossed and with an attitude.

"Hey Charlotte, how is the paper going?" Bella asked stirring the pasta.

"Where is it Bella? What did you do with it?" Charlotte shouted at her.

"What are you talking about Charlotte? I don't know what you mean."

"My skirt Bella, my jean skirt. It was in my hamper and now it's gone. What did you do with it?" Charlotte demanded to know.

"I put it on the drying rack. I was afraid it might shrink. It all ready looked a little-"

"I got rid of it," Carlisle said as he entered the kitchen.

"What?" Charlotte said in confusion and frustration. "But dad-"

"Don't but dad me. You are thirteen years old and need to dress your age and not older. You are not wearing anything like that, do you understand? You are still a child. I get you are growing up but you will not dress like that. I don't care if Jane dresses like that. You are my daughter and you will not, it wasn't appropriate."

Huffing, Charlotte turned her attention back to Bella. "This is all your fault!"

Shaking her head, Bella began to plead with Charlotte. "No, honey-"

"Yes it is! You knew dad would take it away so you put it on the drying rack so dad would see it and take it away!"

"I'm trying hard to gain your trust. I wouldn't do something to betray you Charlotte."

"Charlotte, Bella didn't know I took it. I put Emily's dirty clothes in the laundry room and saw your skirt. I took it, Bella didn't know. We have never spoken of your skirt before."

Thinking out loud, Bella continued to think out loud. "I thought if you just put leggings on-"

"Leggings?" Charlotte asked in disbelief. "I'm not four Bella!"

Carlisle spoke up and looked at his daughter. "Enough! You get to your room, now!"

"There you go again dad, choosing her over me," Charlotte yelled. She was interrupted by Emily's cries. "I better go now. I made the little princess upset," Charlotte concluded as she stomped out of the room.

Bella walked over to Carlisle and took their baby from his arms. He was visibly upset over his eldest child's rotten attitude. "I'm sorry Carlisle, I really am."

"I just don't understand. You didn't do anything. If anything you were helping her by not saying anything about the damn skirt and yet she still has all this anger for you."

"It'll get better at some point, right?" Bella asked hopeful.

Shaking his head, Carlisle sat in the chair. "Jesus I hope so. Bella, I'm really sorry."

"Shhhh, forget about it," Bella said as Emily calmed down too and stopped crying.

Carlisle reached out and pulled Bella onto his lap. "No, I won't forget about. The way she treats you and Emily isn't right and it will get resolved. I don't know how to fix resentment but it will be taken care of. I love you and she knows it. She knows you aren't going anywhere. I don't know if it is jealously, but she has nothing to be jealous of. After we found out you were pregnant with Emily she knew you would be a permanent fixture in our lives one way or another."

Bella shrugged her shoulders as she watched Emily try to fight sleep while in her arms. "She used to really like me and we got along. I really liked the time we spent together. I don't know what happened."

"Neither do I," Carlisle told Bella as he kissed Emily's head before kissing Bella's cheek. "Bella, I am so glad you are here. I'm elated that we have Emily. You trust me and we are sharing our lives together. Bella, we will be happy. We deserve it. I promise eventually Charlotte will change."

"I know we deserve to be happy, we've worked for it, but Charlotte also deserves to be happy too

. She had to grow up fast when Elizabeth passed away."

Carlisle took a breath before he squeezed Bella a little tighter. "I love Charlotte. She's my first born but she needs to figure out how to control her emotions and express how she is feeling appropriately. What she is doing isn't healthy for her or for you. Maybe I need to change her therapist. Maybe she needs medication, I don't know but we will figure it out."

Two weeks after Charlotte's melt down over her skirt, she had a bit role in the school's production of Beauty and the Beast playing a towns' person in several scenes. In addition to Carlisle and Bella, Peter, Edward and Alice came to support Charlotte. Esme and Ed wanted to watch Emily. When the play concluded and Charlotte walked towards her family, she hugged her dad. Bella smiled as she handed her a bouquet of flowers. Charlotte took the flowers and nodded.

After they left the school, the family headed to Charlotte's favorite restaurant to celebrate her first performance. Edward and Peter were quietly discussing his last soccer game.

"I think we did so well because of the whoopee pies. We had red velvet with cream cheese filling," Peter explained. "Coach let us eat them before the game. I think it's our good luck charm."

"Where are these cakes from? I mean if they bring you such good luck I'd like to get some and see if I have any luck," Edward inquired.

"You can't buy them Uncle Edward. Mom made them," Peter told him nonchalantly.

Charlotte looked at Peter with daggers in her eyes. She was unable to control her anger as she yelled at her brother. "She isn't your mother!" She began as other patrons looked at their table. "We don't have a mother. Our mom is dead!"

Peter sat back in his chair. He didn't know if he should cry because he knew their mother was gone, or if he should scream at Charlotte because he knew Charlotte made Bella feel uncomfortable. His eyes found Bella, who looked away and had tears in her eyes.

Bella then looked over at Carlisle, who had a stone dead look. He stood up and spoke sternly and quietly to his daughter. "That is enough young lady. Look around at this table. Everyone here came to celebrate you and to congratulate you on your accomplishment. We all love and care about you, however that's enough from you. I understand you miss your mother, I miss her too and will for as long as I live. You will miss her for the rest of your life as will Peter but you are beginning to push away people who love and care about you Charlotte and it's time you stop it. You will apologize to Peter and Bella and to Alice and Edward. Then you will get up and get into the car. You and I are leaving and we are going home. If your behavior keeps up you will not be allowed to partake in any school activities. You will not be able to spend with your friends outside of school. This attitude has been going on for almost a year and I'm done with it. You are being selfish and don't care who you are hurting in the process. Now apologize and we are leaving."

The table grew quiet. Charlotte looked at her father and felt as if she was going to cry. She looked at Peter who returned her look with sympathy. Even though she had been a jerk to him, Charlotte loved her brother. "Peter, I am sorry for yelling at you." She looked at Edward and Alice. "Uncle Eddie and Alice, I'm sorry I acted out and you saw it. I'm kind of embarrassed." She paused and looked at Bella. She shook her head and looked at her father. "I'm not apologizing to Bella. I'm ready to go home and be punished."

"We will be talking on the way home. Charlotte Anne, I love you but I am disappointed in you. Let's go please," Carlisle said. Bella stood up with tears in her eyes to get her jacket on.

Alice saw the distress written all over her face. "We'll take Bella and Peter home Carlisle. No worries," she smiled.

Carlisle nodded his head as Charlotte began to walk away from the table. "Thank you Alice that is kind of you." Carlisle stopped to kiss Bella's head. "I love you and see you at home."

"I love you too," Bella said before she stood up. She grabbed Carlisle's hand and looked at him. "Don't be too hard on her Carlisle. She's just a kid. We'll figure things out later."

Knowing he wanted answers from his daughter and he wasn't going to wait until later, Carlisle just nodded. He didn't want to start an argument. "We'll chat when you get home. Enjoy dinner. I'll see you guys later."

Bella watched Carlisle join Charlotte in the lobby. She sighed.

"Really her attitude is getting old. All she does is complain and is mean to everyone, it's not just you," Peter tried to reassure Bella. "I think one of the reasons is Jane has a boyfriend and has less time to spend with her. You know because of her non-awesome attitude she doesn't have many friends."

"I kind of miss the shy girl I first me. I really don't know what I did to make her hate me so much," Bella said.

"Her friend is dating? What do they do, go to the playground? Thirteen year olds can't date," Edward commented.

"Jane's parents aren't home a lot so her boyfriend goes over there. I'm sure they aren't just doing homework," Peter explained.

Bella shook her head. Thinking about the possibilities. No matter how much Charlotte hated her, she was thankful that Charlotte didn't have the opportunity to entertain boys like Jane apparently did.

After Peter and Bella returned home from dinner, Charlotte was up in her room while Carlisle sat on the couch reading a book. Peter and Bella brought home dinner for both Carlisle and Charlotte, even though Peter didn't think his sister deserved it. Peter placed the food on the counter and went to bed. Bella sat next to Carlisle and leaned on him. Bella caught Carlisle up conversations of dinner.

"I'm so sorry about Charlotte Bella," Carlisle blurted out.

"It is what it is Carlisle. I can't change her or make her like me. I have realized that," Bella admitted sadly.

Carlisle wrapped his arm around her. "She couldn't give me one good reason for her attitude. I believe she is just going through something she might not even know how to explain, like a hormonal change? It's the only thing I can think of."

"Maybe but I've accepted the fact that our days of shopping and getting our nails done are long gone. They are nice memories and I'll hold onto them but I'm done. I have been disappointed. I love her Carlisle as if she were my own but I'm also done with being walked on. I'll keep doing what I am doing but I really don't have any hope left that will reestablish our relationship and," Bella began to cry. "That kills me to say. I do love her Carlisle, I do."

Carlisle was heartbroken to hear how Bella felt but he respected it and understood. He agreed with Bella and honestly, couldn't blame her for her feelings. He still had hope in his hear that their relationship would change.

Author's Note (again!)

Hey again-

I just wanted to let you know there will be no more big Bella/Carlisle fights. Bella admitted she was hormonal and Carlisle picked up on her insecurity. Communication is key for them!