Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.
Edward~
Bella and I went back to her cafe to dry off before she had to go get Lilly from school. We had a lot to talk about but what I was more excited about than anything was the possibility of telling I was her father. Bella's hair was soaking wet. She bent over and dried it with the tiny towel. I wanted to touch her again. I wanted to hold her but she had to know the truth in order for all things to be fair and equal.
"We have to talk." I said softly. She stood up and smiled sadly.
"That sounds ominous." her eyes went from happy to sad in a matter of moments.
"It's not sad. Just complicated. Come sit with me." I pulled out one of the chairs from the small kitchen table she had in the kitchen. She walked to me slowly like she was trying to put off whatever I had to say that might dampen our happy moment in the street.
"God Edward please tell me you don't have a child in New york." her body trembled in her chair. I took the seat across from her and gently held her hands.
"I don't have a child. There was never anyone for me that way but you, love. What I have to tell you is going to be sort of shocking but I'm hoping you'll be happy." I said as softly and reassuringly as I could.
Bella took two deep breaths and let each one out.
"Okay, I'm ready." she looked into my eyes. A smile twitched on my lips. I couldn't help it. I was happy about what I had to tell her.
"I don't have a child but I do have a sister." I squeezed her fingers gently. Bella sucked in a shocked breath,
"What? I mean who is she? What is she like? My daughter has an Aunt?" Bella's reaction made me smile. She was always so full of questions.
"Okay as if that wasn't shocking enough, here's the part that's a doozy." I paused for a moment to sort out my thoughts. It was still sort of a jumble of emotions but it was getting easier every minute I was with her, "Alice is my sister. My half sister." I stared into Bella's wide brown eyes waiting for a reaction. Her brow creased while she processed this enormous piece of information. It was sort of adorable to watch. Bella was normally an open book but to watch her process the news was adorable.
"Alice is Lilly's aunt?" she said. I nodded, a huge grin on my face. Bella's hand flew to her forehead, "Oh my god!! this makes so much sense! They are so alike. I thought it was because they spent so much time together. Alice is Lilly's godmother after all so they see each other a lot. I thought it just rubbed off over time. I didn't think it's a blood thing!" she was rambling. It was so cute. I reached up and stroked her cheek gently. It calmed her. She began to breath normally and smile.
"I wanted to tell you first since you have more of a stake in this than Emmett, Rose or Jasper. We have to talk about some other stuff too." I told her. She stood and placed herself in my lap. I held her gently as she wrapped her arms around my neck.
"The only thing that matters now is us and how we can be a great family for Lilly." she said laying her head in the little spot between my neck and shoulder. I rubbed her back gently and kissed her forehead,
"I want to go to your dad and tell him my intentions. I feel like it's the right thing to do." I said softly. Bella sighed,
"But it wasn't your fault! We were tricked. You don't owe him an explanation." She sat up and looked deep in my eyes as she talked. It was hard to concentrate with her looking at me that way.
"I do owe him an explanation because if a man if ever did this to Lilly I would hunt him down."
"You sound like a dad already. Come on." she stood and tugged me by the hand, "Let's go get clean clothes and you can come be all manly after I feed my Dad dinner." she leaned up on her tip toes pressing her lips to mine in a way that was meant to be chased but it was erotic as hell because she was so close to me and she smelled so good after the rain. I caressed her face then ran my fingers into her rain soaked locks. She deepened the kiss. I groaned a little into her mouth. I fought my hips so they wouldn't move against hers. She took two big steps back placing herself against the wall. I trailed my lips down her face, stopping to nip and kiss over her jaw. Her breathing hitched. My pride got a boost when she moaned my name softly.
"Until tonight my love." I said and stepped away from her. I walked out the front door of the coffee house with a grin on my face and a bounce in my step. Everything finally felt back on track.
Bella~
I waited outside Lilly's school feeling like I would explode with happiness. Above all people I couldn't wait to share it with her. Finally Lilly would have what she deserved, a true family. It was to soon to say whether or not Edward and I would be together forever but I sure had hope. Remembering his lips on my neck or the way his eyes smoldered at me gave me a rush once again. To say it was a nice feeling was an understatement. The bell rang and all the kids came out to waiting parents and cars but my kid was absent from the group. I waited for the crowd to clear and then I saw her standing underneath an overhang with her teacher.
"Ms. Swan we'd like to speak with you please." she called. Silently I cursed her and just knew she was about to burst my happy bubble.
Inside Lilly's classroom sat the principal, a woman I didn't know and hadn't seen before and another teacher I recognized as a second grade teacher. Each of them stopped the current conversation when I entered the room. I looked down at Lilly in jeans and a neon green long sleeved shirt. She looked back up at me with her best, "I didn't do it. Please believe me." face. I kissed her head. Her teacher dismissed her to go play on the other side of the room. Each of the adults stood and introduced themselves to me and shook my hand. I took the tiny seat as it was offered to me.
"What happened?" I asked the group. Lilly's teacher laid her hands in her lap softly and smiled.
"It's not a problem but we thought you should know." she was trying to be gentle. Like she was about to tell me my kid was defective or something. The principal cleared his throat and gave a tight smile,
"Lilly has....well she's sort of has an imaginary friend." I looked among the adults and smiled,
"That's normal isn't it? Most children have one at one point or another." I said. The woman I didn't know had identified herself as a school psychologist. She smiled and addressed me directly, "Of course. Totally normal but most imaginary friends are the child's age. When we asked Lilly about it she said he's much older and well there's something else." they all looked at each other like this was the part where I would lose it.
"What is it?" I asked. Lilly's teacher smiled,
"Lilly docent have an imaginary friend. She has an imaginary father. She said he comes and talks to her at recess and sometimes when she's playing in her yard. We tried to get her to tell us his name but she says his name is Daddy. Ms. Swan, you can see how this is a problem. We are all well aware of Lilly's parental situation and we're concerned that perhaps the situation is effecting her more than we realized." the other adults nodded in agreement with her statement. I pushed myself out of the tiny chair and stood up, "thank you for the heads up. I will be sure and talk to her tonight." I went over and got Lilly gathered up and then carried her to the car.
Lilly rode home in silence. When I pulled in my Dad's cruiser wasn't there. I took Lilly in the house and got her settled in. When her back pack, jacket and rain boots were off I knew it was time to talk.
"Lil, do we have secrets?" I asked her. I pulled her up and sat her on the counter. She shook her head "No" and kept her eyes firmly on her lap.
"Why didn't you tell me you have a new imaginary friend?" I wondered. She wiped her eyes and wouldn't look up. She didn't like for anyone to see her cry. She was very much a Swan that way.
"He said I should keep it a secret. He said he would tell you." she raised her little tear stained face to me. I grabbed a paper towel and wiped her tears.
"Baby he's imaginary he can only talk to you." I kissed her forehead and got her a glass of water. She took it from me gulping down to calm herself.
"Mommy I didn't tell them but he's real. Daddy's real and he says he loves you and he's going to marry you." I knew my daughter had a wile imagination but not this wild. I smiled,
"Let me guess. He's got green eyes and pale skin and he's really tall?" I asked her. She shook her head,
"No Mommy. He's got black hair and it's real long. His skin is super tan like Sue's and sometimes he drives a little tiny yellow car. He said the car used to be really loud but he built it again so it would be quiet when he came to see me at school. He's nice. Sometimes he brings me cookies from the diner. He said he knows you don't let me eat junk but it's okay cause he's my Daddy." she put her arms up signaling me to put her down. My body was numb. She was describing Jake to me. They had seen each other but never had direct contact. No one but an adult would know Jake drove a yellow rabbit, his first car he had rebuilt himself when he wasn't driving his truck. Lilly ran and got on a chair. She opened her book bag and pulled a cellophane wrapped cookie. My heart almost stopped. He had been secretly seeing my kid and I didn't know for how long. Her teacher said he'd come to her at home too. He had been right underneath my nose and I never knew it.
"See! He's real! I saved it to show you." she held up the cookie and smiled like she was holding a prize. I gathered myself as best I could and walked over to her.
"What else did he say to you?" I kneeled in front of her trying to control the panic in my voice and my eyes. Lilly didn't answer me. "Lilly what did he say?" I almost shrieked.
"He said he loves me! He said he's always loved me and you kept us apart!" she cried out in huge pent up sobs. I felt tears prick at the corner of my eyes.
"Baby he's not your father. I know who your father is and it's not him." I could barely talk over the lump in my throat. Lilly cried with her whole body and it broke my heart.
"He said he loves me." she repeated again. I couldn't ever know what it took for seven year old to process the words of an adult.
"Baby did you really think he was your dad? I mean really deep deep deep down inside your heart, did you believe him?" I picked her up. She wrapped her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck. I started pacing the kitchen as I had when she was fussy as a baby.
"No." fresh sobs broke from her body. I felt horrible that her mind was so confused.
"Okay then let's start off fresh by saying we wont ever talk to him again and if he comes to you at school you get a teacher right away or you scream as loud as you can." I rubbed her back in soothing pats. She shook her head that she understood and promptly fell asleep on my shoulder. I got the cordless phone and called my Dad home from work.
Edward~
I felt like a horny seventeen year old counting the minutes until I saw Bella again. Before I was due back at Alice's for dinner with Rose, Em and Jasper, I ran to Port Angles and picked up a gift for Lilly. I searched the one toy store there until I found the perfect soft tan colored bear wearing jeans and a little shirt to replace the one Bella and I had cut open to get the key. She didn't know anything was wrong with Pinky but I felt bad just the same.
Rose and the gang definitely knew something was up when Alice attempted to cook for everyone. Her pasta with meat sauce had turned into a hard slightly black gooey mess. Everyone was sort of picking it over as we waited for the right moment to tell them. I took one for the team and pronounced myself full then pushed my plate away. After I did everyone seemed to sigh with relief and did the same.
"We have something to tell you and you might be sorta shocked but we hope you'll be happy for us." Alice said in her sing song voice. Emmett sucked in breath,
"Oh my god! You two are together?" he said in a shocked way. Before I could correct him Rose chimed in,
"They better not be the way he was sucking face with Bella this afternoon!" she said.
"Oh my god you sucked face with Bella and you didn't tell me? What kind of a brother are you?" Alice said without thinking and slapped my shoulder. The entire group went still and became very very quiet.
"Brother? Are you joking?" Jasper asked. I shook my head,
"No it's true. Along time ago Alice's mom and my Dad hooked up. She's my half sister." I told them. Emmett's mouth gaped. Rose simply blinked her eyes at us like we had lost it. Jasper as always was stoic and expressionless.
"Ali, maybe you better explain it. I seem to have lost them." I said to her and that's exactly when she did.
When the dust settled and most of the questions were answered it was a relief to know they were happy for us. Shocked and more than a little curious but happy. Almost right away everything went back to the way it always was. Em had a space he wanted to show Jasper and I tomorrow for shop head quarters. Rose and Alice talked fashion and there plans for the weekend I got Rose to agree to come with me and see Carlisle when Alice, Bella and I went down to sign the documents for our inheritance and his estate.
Now I was walking to Bella's house from around the corner I heard the voice of Chief Swan bellowing into the October night. I also heard Bella begging him to keep his voice down. I sped up my pace feeling deep in my bones that something was wrong. I took the walk way at a run and knocked hard on the front door. Chief Swan flung it open and looked at me.
"What the hell do you want?" he said gruffly. Bella appreared instantly,
"Don't be rude." she commanded him and took my hand leading me into the house.
"Is this a bad time?" I asked. Bella groaned,
"No. we just have a situation and my Dad thinks going in guns blazing is the way to handle it."
"Talk to her!" he commanded. Bella cocked her head to the side , her arms crossed over her chest.
"Daddy stop it!" she yelled. I looked between the two of them still holding the little bear in my hand.
"Make her see reason! Make her understand this is not a game!" he yelled.
"What the hell is going on?" I demanded to know.
"When I went to pick Lilly up today her teacher informed me Lilly's made an imaginary friend." Bella said. Her voice was exhausted and I could tell she had repeated it many times.
"Except he's not imaginary! He's real and he's a grown ass man. That guy could of taken Lilly anywhere Bella!" the chief shrieked.
"Who is it?" I asked them.
"It's Jake. He had Lilly convinced he is her father and she wanted one so desperately she believed him. This is all my fault. If I just would of called you in New York and not believed all those stupid lies then this would of never happened. He would of never gotten near my baby." she wiped her eyes. I wrapped my arms around her tight and fought the waves of anger racking my body.
"She wont let me go over to La push and kick his ass." Charlie said clearly frustrated.
"Can she file a report or put the school on alert?" I said through gritted teeth.
"Yeah. It's done. Mike came over not an hour ago and took care of it." he told me.
"Bella, baby, I need to talk to your Dad. Where's Lilly?" I smiled as I said her name hoping Bella would smile too.
"She's asleep in my bed." Bella's eyes were tired and her skin was paler then usual. I kissed her forehead ever so softly,
"Sit down for a few minutes. Just breath. I'll be right back." I kissed the tip of her nose. I could feel Charlies confusion. It was understandable.
Charlie and I went out on the porch. I stood in front of the porch swing. He paced in front of me like a caged animal.
"I love your daughter. I always have." I figured to get right to the point and be direct was best.
"That's why you left her pregnant and alone at eighteen?" his words hurt but I deserved them.
"I intend to spend the rest of my life making it up to her sir. If she'll have me."
"What makes you think after everything that's happened your Mama is gonna be okay with this?" he asked me.
"Bella told you?" I wondered. He gave a curt jerk of his chin.
"If she doesn't like it that's her loss. Honestly at this point I don't want her in my life or theirs." I stepped forward a little and stood in front of him. Not the gangly kid I was seven years ago. I was all grown up now and ready to handle my life on my terms.
"She almost died you know." he said solemnly, "Bella....she....when you left it was awful. She wouldn't eat. She would cry herself sick and then when she was all cried out she would sleep for a day at a time. She knew she was pregnant but nothing could make her snap out of it." he sighed and jerked his head towards the house, "the pictures on the mantle in there. She's not in one of em because she was so skinny and sickly after Lilly was born. She couldn't even nurse her because her vitamin levels were so bad. Alice stepped in and made Bella do what she could for the pregnancy but you know Bella. She's...."
"Stubborn." I interjected. He laughed,
"I don't even think that's the word for it but yeah, stubborn."
"I wont ever leave her again. I'd marry her tomorrow if I could." I told him. He smiled warmly,
"What's stopping you?"
I thought over his words carefully.
"Sir may I have your daughters hand in marriage?" I asked him. I couldn't hold back the smile on my face.
"Yeah son. I think that could be arranged." He extended his hand to me and I took it, shaking it firmly.
When we came back inside the house Charlie went to bed while I talked to Bella. She decided to pull Lilly out of school for the rest of the week. Charlie was going to have a couple of his guys patrol the school during recess times to see if he could catch Jake in the act. I kicked off my shoes and laid back on the couch bringing Bella with me. She snuggled in next to me seeming to take great comfort in being in my arms.
"Cute bear." she commented and picked it up off the coffee table. I smiled,
"I got it for Lilly. I miss her." I fought back a yawn and squeezed Bella tighter.
"She'll love it. Edward, I think we should tell her. She deserves the truth." Bella said into my chest. Her tiny fingers played with a button while I stroked her hair.
"Tomorrow we'll take her away to the zoo or something and we'll tell her. I don't want to do it here with everyone being so upset." Bella nodded in agreement. She needed to sleep and I didn't want to be apart from her so I pulled the blanket off the back of the couch and tossed it over us. It was the best sleep i'd had in seven years.
A/n- Hi guys. Thanks for being patient. The reviews for last chapter were totally, insanely awesome! I love reading them. Also don't forget I'm on twitter now (fanfictrips) ill be posting story progression updates there. Okay so please please please please I am begging you guys to help me get to a thousand reviews before the end of this story. If that happened i'd be on cloud nine. Let's make it happen!!