Swans Aren't Just a Pretty Bird

"Charlie." Aurora said firmly and confident. Josh stood beside her, just as encouraging. The woman wrote it down and smiled. Joshua kissed the top of Aurora's head and started to sit on the bed beside her.

"Are you sure it's okay?" He asked her extremely concerned.

"Yes! It's fine! I don't mind. I married you for you, not your last name. I can understand."

Joshua's parents were getting divorced. There was a huge fall out and his father was walking out on his mother. He hated the name Giovana with a passion now and wanted to change it to his mother's maiden name. Aurora kissed Charlie's forhead, his eyes blinked open, big and buggy.

"He looks perfect. He has Charlie's eyes."

"Your hair too." Josh said waving his finger in the babies face. THey had decided all along that the baby would be named after Charlie.

I had taken back Emmett's ring, but left behind my grandmother's necklace. Aurora now wore it everyday. She had changed her perspective on me, and kept me close once again. She also had the idea that if it was a girl they would have named it Elizabeth.

"My mom's hair actually. The dark brown is from her." Despite him being a newborn, he already had a lot of hair on his head.

"I'll go see if Helen is here." Josh said and left the room. I sat next to Aurora and the baby. He really did look beautiful.

"You've done well Aurora." was all I could say.

"You will do great things Charlie Swan."

****

Since Aurora was older now, and on her own, I didn't hang around as much. Just like any child, they had to be rid of their parents at some point. I would visit frequently, but I wouldn't come into the house directly.

Charlie was growing up beautifully, and was anticipating his first day of school.

"Mom, do they teach science in kindergarden?" Charlie asked one morning while putting on his jacket. Him and Aurora were going to the park for the day. Aurora laughed.

"No sweety. They teach you things like writing and reading."

"But...I already know that stuff."

"I know honey, but you'll just have to stick with it for now."

"Can we go fishing some day? I hear it's fun. Do you think dad will take me?" Charlie was all for trying new things. Fishing, sports, swimming, theme parks, riding a bike. For only five years old he was looking forward to a lot already.

"We'll see honey, we'll see."

***

"Are you sure this place is nice? It sounds pretty gloomy."

"For the hundredth time yes Charlie!"

"WHy can't we live in Seattle directly?"

"You know your father doesn't want us living in a big city." Aurora was driving to their brand new home in a town called Forks. Charlie was skeptical and didn't like the sound of a place that constantly rained. I was quite excited, I could stay here and blend in on a regular basis. Heck, I could walk around town without worry of the sun beaming off my skin. I sat in the back of the car next to about ten boxes. A couch was on the roof.

Josh was already in their new house, waiting for Aurora and Charlie to arrive. When they pulled into the driveway, a light mist was coming down, a constant cloud moving across, never breaking. I stepped out of the car and stood back. A truck was pulled up backwards as movers brought their furniture into the house. Charlie stood infront of the house, I wasn't sure if he was happy or disapointed. Josh came over and stood next to him.

"WHat do you think?"

"What do I think? I think it looks awsome. It's almost like a cottage." Josh smiled at his son's aproval and grabbed his shoulder in that father son way. I watched as Aurora directed where furniture should go and Josh trying to talk about the new house with her.

****

"Mom, dad. This is Renee." Charlie said introducing a tiny little brown haired girl. She smiled lightly. She seemed nervous meeting them. This was their nine month anniversary, and Charlie had decided it was time for her to meet his parents. I liked her, I thought she was the perfect match for him. She was light and bubbly when she wasn't clouded with shyness. As to Charlie who was very akward and didn't like sticking around people very much.

"We've heard a lot about you." Aurora said happily. She was happy to not have to worry about having a girl. She liked just letting the boy go off and find whoever he wanted. Although it was 1986, she really didn't have to worry about debuts anymore.

I was having that feeling again about this being my grandson. He was now eighteen, and I still remained 19. And how my daughter was now fifty. She had Charlie when she was thirty-two, so she was worried about Charlie being on his own earlier than she would have hoped. Josh laughed at her, thinking she was being a little over-dramatic. Although I worried too, seeing human years fly by like crazy. For I was now 69...not feeling like it at all.

"Well, I'm going to go check on dinner." Aurora left for the kitchen, her hair glowing a slight grey in the light as she went. Josh followed, as I stayed behind. I had to come in the house for this one moment where he was actually going to introduce her. I saw him go off on constant dates and come back happier than I had ever seen him.

"You haven't told them have you?" Renee said suddenly turning to look at him.

"Well uh, no I haven't." Charlie scratched the back of his head nervously. He directed her to the sitting area and she sat next to him looking extremely anoyed.

"They kind of need to know! We're graduating in a week!" Charlie took her hands and looked funny at the left hand.

"Don't worry. We'll tell then." He then pulled out a tiny ring and slipped it on her engagement finger.

"Tonight." My eyes bulged at the ring that now graced Renee's little finger. I felt my breathing stop as they whispered and kissed lightly. Aurora then came into the room, telling them to come get dinner.

"Oh you are going to be shocked." I whispered to her as we walked in. I saw in the empty chair at the end of the table, straight across from Josh who seemed excited for the food more than meeting Renee. Charlie seemed to have the same look on his face when he came in.

Despite Renee's earlier happiness about telling them, she hid her hand pretty well. I watched the light dinner conversation in anticipation. I looked over at the window that was held nicely between two cabinets, a counter just underneath where Aurora would watch the misty rain come down as she cooked. A picture of Charlie and me when we got married hung above the window. It was a brown ugly colour but it still looked beautiful in all it's classic.

"So mother, we have something to tell you." Charlie finally said clearing his throat.

"Uh oh. He called me mother." Aurora giggled looking at Charlie from across the table.

"I, well we..." Charlie then grabbed Renee's left hand as she looked paniced at the now exposed ring. "...have decided to get married." In that moment Josh choked, Renee covered her mouth (Even though she didn't say anything) and Aurora's mouth dropped. Her shock turned into a grin and she smiled brightly at them. Tears seemed to be in her eyes.

"Oh! You two!" She then hit Josh.

"Ow! What'd I do?!"

"It's what both of you did!? Why is it I'm meeting this girl the same day you decide to marry her! And why didn't you pick up on it!?" She shouted at Josh. Charlie looked down a little embarassed.

"Sorry mom. I just..." Aurora held out a hand like she was directing traffic. Charlie immedietly stopped.

"Enough! No explaining! Should have done that earlier! In the mean time, when is this going to happen?" Charlie exchanged a look with Renee.

"Well, we were hoping over the summer. Once we graduate. I mean you two were thinking about leaving anyways because dad's retiring! I don't want to leave so maybe I could buy the house off of you guys!" Josh looked at Aurora and shrugged.

"We'll think about it." Charlie grinned while Renee still looked unsure. I wondered about Renee. She was happy and all, but whenever I had heard CHarlie mention Forks, Renee wasn't too pleased.

I listened to the wedding plans as Aurora helped try and plan, and Renee remained quiet the whole night.