The reason why I waited until the previous chapter to reveal the identity of the twins' biological father is because I had trouble deciding who it should be and I didn't want it to obviously be Edward because that would be...well, obvious. But yes, Charlotte and Susannah's—or Charlie and Susie—biological father is Emmett Cullen. Now I don't know if I want him to be the good guy or the bad guy, but I'm leaning towards the latter.

Any mistakes that you see are my own.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Twilight Saga. Stephenie Meyer owns The Twilight Saga and all its characters.


Neither Emmett nor I speak to each other as the waitress comes by to take our order. I order a green tea while Emmett orders a coffee, two creams, two sugars. Once the waitress—Georgia, her nametag read—leaves, we just stare at each other and I feel the tension rise between us.

"How are you?" I speak after a long, awkward silence.

"Good," Emmett replies, blankly. "I spent the last four years in Canada on a visitor's visa and got back last week."

I just nod and it's silent again. Georgia comes back with our hot drinks, setting down my tea on the table in front of me and Emmett's coffee in front of him.

"Can I get you anything else?" she asks, the question directed at Emmett. Who can blame her? He's a good-looking guy. But not as good-looking as Jake.

"No, thank you," Emmett says, not bothering to glance at the woman, who's giving him a flirtatious look.

Realizing that he's not paying attention to her, Georgia gives him a small smile before leaving our table.

"So, why were you up in Canada?" I ask Emmett.

"After everything that happened, I just needed to get away," he answers. "I only planned to be in Toronto for seven days, but I fell in love with the city so I decided to apply for the visa and stay longer." He pauses for a moment before speaking, "What about you? What's been going on with you?"

"Well, I'm still working at the diner with Leah," I tell him. "Actually, we're both quitting and getting new jobs at Ateara's. They're not doing so great over there."

"That's great," he says before shaking his head. "I mean, about you and Leah quitting and getting new jobs, not about the fact that Ateara's is not doing so great." He lets out a small laugh. "I heard the owner died last year and that his son took over."

"He did," I say. "My family and I still go there sometimes." I don't tell Emmett that Leah and Quil are finally dating. He doesn't need to know that.

"Nice," he smiles before leaning forward to take a sip of his coffee, blowing on it first. "What else has been going on with you?"

"I have a boyfriend," I tell him. "His name's Jacob and he's a cop." I put emphasis on the word, cop, hoping it will get the point across.

Emmett raises an eyebrow. "Is he good to you?"

"Of course," I answer.

"Is he a good father to the twins?"

And there's the one thing I was hoping we would avoid talking about.

"Yes, he is," I say, taking a sip of my tea. "He loves them like they're his own and they love him. They even call him 'Daddy.'"

If Emmett's hurt by this, he doesn't show it. Then again, he shouldn't be hurt by the fact that the twins call Jake "Daddy."

"And how are Charlotte and Susannah?"

I shrug my shoulders. "They're fine. They're in preschool now and doing quite well. Emily's their teacher so sometimes when I can't pick them up because I'm working, she takes them home with her and I pick them up after I'm done from her house. Sometimes, I even let them sleep over there if it's late into the evening and they're in bed.

"They've also been involved in activities like swimming, gymnastics, dance," I add. "And they're pretty much attached at the hip, being twins and all."

Emmett's eyes widen. "Wow, it seems like I missed out on a lot."

I just wave my hand like it's no big deal and take another sip of my tea.

"Have my parents contacted you since that day?"

I know what he's talking about and shake my head. "But from what I heard, they divorced four months ago and your mom moved to Spokane while your dad is still here in Seattle and working at the hospital."

"That must be awkward for you since you go there for your doctor's appointments," Emmett tells me. "I'm assuming, anyway."

I wave my hand again. "It's okay. We avoid Carlisle like the plague and vice versa whenever we're at the hospital." If only that were easy for Leah, though, considering she'll be working there soon.

Emmett's parents, his father especially, were not happy when we told them we were expecting, including the part where we told them it was twins. But his mother still supported us while his father called me a bunch of inappropriate names and tried talking Emmett and I into giving the twins up for adoption. I told him I didn't want to do that because I was willing to give up everything to be a sixteen-year-old mother. He told me I'd soon regret doing that.

Even now, I still don't.

It's awkward again as we enjoy our hot drinks. Emmett is staring at me while I'm staring anywhere but at him.

"I wish I'd been there for you and the girls, but I just wasn't ready to be a father at seventeen," he says. "Even now, I'm still not ready."

"I'm sure you will be, eventually," I assure him. "You just have to find the right girl." Maybe Emmett should ask Georgia out on a date. She seems like a sweet girl. But I don't say this out loud.

"I'm sure I will, too," he smiles, weakly. "But anyway, I got a good job and an apartment. I'm a sales associate at Lowe's."

"Cool," I say, blankly.

We continue to make small talk, even after we finish our drinks. When it's time to leave, it's awkward again because neither of us know whether we should hug or not. So instead, we just (awkwardly) shake hands and I get in my car to go back home since I have the day off.


Jake is spending "father-daughter" time with the twins—after having picked them up from school—by taking them to the trampoline park and going out to eat afterwards. Leah is at her apartment, studying for her finals, Emily is either still at the school or with Sam, and Daisy is at the hospital, doing her volunteer work over there. So although Leah's car is parked in front of my house when I pull into the driveway, I know it's not really her. Because he doesn't have a car, Leah is letting Seth drive hers.

"Why am I the last person to find out you had coffee with the twins' deadbeat father?" Seth angrily asks, right when I open the front door and step inside, his arms crossed over his chest. I still keep a spare key underneath one of the flower pots, only so Emily, Leah, or Seth, can let themselves in when Jake or I—or both of us—are not home, especially when they have the twins with them.

"I'm sorry," I apologize and Seth's face softens. "I'm still really happy that you're home and I didn't want to ruin that."

"Are you going to see Emmett again?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.

I shake my head. "No."

"Good," he smiles for a moment before it disappears, replaced with the same angry look. "Because I hate that guy and so do Emily and Leah."

"Yeah, you told me that before," I remind him. "The three of you also told me that if you ever saw Emmett again, you'd murder him."

Seth goes back to smiling. "Only because we love you and we love Charlie and Susie."

"I know you do," I say. "And I love you all, too."

Jake is still out with the twins so I decide to cook Seth and I an early dinner and we continue to talk over Sue Swan's vegetarian lasagna. The same one I made when Rebecca was visiting from Hawaii and I invited her—as well as Rachel, Leah and Emily—over for dinner. It's when Seth and I are each enjoying a slice of apple pie—store-bought, unfortunately—with vanilla ice cream for dessert that Jake and the twins finally come home. Of course, because Seth is their number one favorite uncle, the twins' faces brighten with happiness when they see him and run towards him to give him a hug while Jake walks up to me and wrap his arms around my waist, leaning down to give me a kiss on the lips.

When Seth pulls away to look at them, he frowns, "Is that chocolate all over your face?" He glances back and forth between Charlie and Susie, who giggle.

I pull away from Jake to see for myself. Sure enough, there's chocolate smeared all around the twins' mouths and on their cheeks. I look up at him, raising an eyebrow.

He smiles sheepishly. "We had pizza and cake. Molten lava, to be exact." He's so handsome when he does that, it's hard to stay mad at him for long.

"Please don't be mad at Daddy, Mommy," Charlie says and I turn to find the twins gazing up at me with puppy dog eyes. "It's not his fault."

I reach up to ruffle her hair with one hand. "I'm not mad, sweetie. But did you girls have fun with Daddy?"

They nod, smiling widely.

"Good," I smile. "Now why don't you two go to the bathroom and wipe the chocolate off your face?"

"I'll go with them," Seth says and he follows the twins down the hall to the bathroom. I can hear the three of them talking and the twins giggling, and turn to face my boyfriend, who is grinning down at me.

"So, how did it go?" he asks, placing his hands on my arms, squeezing them gently.

I reach up to wrap my arms around his neck. "I'll tell you later. Right now, I'm just so glad you and the girls are home, safe and sound." I gently pull his face toward mine to give him a quick peck on the lips. "How did it go on your end?"

"It went well," Jake says. "Charlie and Susie behaved themselves at the trampoline park and the pizza place. That's why they had cake afterwards. It was a reward for being such good girls."

I laugh. "Yeah, but I wouldn't get used to it. They're good now, but believe me, once your back is turned, they're all over the place."

Jake chuckles. "Don't worry, I can handle Charlie and Susie. I mean, I knew what I was getting myself into when I asked you out on a date and you immediately became my girlfriend after that."

"You didn't even ask," I say, laughing again.

"I didn't need to," he grins before leaning in to kiss me again. It ends up being a make-out session right there in the space between the dining room and the kitchen and I momentarily forget there are other people in the house. It's when we hear a throat clearing, followed by giggling, that we pull away to find the twins smiling widely at us while Seth just looks uncomfortable.

"I'm five years old again," he mumbles before speaking out loud. "Anyway, I'm going to head out. Leah's probably hungry so I'm going to go pick up dinner for her."

We follow him to the front door and he crouches down to give the twins each a hug before standing up to do the same with Jake and I. We say our goodbyes to him and watch him leave, walking down the stone path towards Leah's car. We watch him get in and wave as he starts the engine and drives away.


It's late into the evening and while I get ready for bed, Jake having already done so and the twins already in bed, asleep, I tell him about my coffee date with Emmett.

"I was hoping we wouldn't have to talk about the twins, but there we were, talking about them," I say in between brushing my teeth. "I'm just glad he didn't say anything about wanting the three of us back. I would've rejected him." I spit into the sink and rinse my mouth with mouthwash.

"Does he know you have a boyfriend?" Jake asks.

I nod. "Yes."

"And does he know that said boyfriend is a cop?"

"Yep," I say, popping the P. "I even put emphasis on the word in case he ever tried anything. Then again, we were in a public place so there's no way he would."

"Well, I'm just glad that's over," Jake says.

"Me too," I agree and after rinsing the mouthwash off, I move on to washing my face. "I won't be seeing him again anytime soon. Unless of course, we run into each other at the grocery store or something. Other than that, Seattle's a big city. There's lots of people who live here."

"Good," Jake smiles. "Now, changing the subject. How do you feel about a spa weekend?"

"Hold that thought." I wash my face using cleanser and pat dry using my hand towel hanging on the rack. I then move on to moisturizing and after washing my hands, I leave the ensuite bathroom, closing the light and joining Jake on our bed.

"To answer your question, I think that's sounds like a wonderful idea, but when I brought up with you, you told me you'd rather do anything else than get a facial."

Jake just laughs. "No, not for you and I. I mean for you, Emily, and Leah. When I was picking the twins up from school, Emily mentioned something about you not having made any time for yourself because you're too busy working and being a mom and that she bought a spa package at the Alderbrook Resort & Spa for the three of you."

I snort. "I've had time for myself. I make time for myself."

"Really? When's the last time you've done that?" Jake smirks.

I think about it for a moment. "When Charlie and Susie slept over at Emily's house."

"And when was that?"

"After you and I had our first date," I tell him.

"That was a month ago," Jake says. "And that seems like a really long time."

"But I can't just leave my girls," I practically whine. "I mean, yes, I've done it before, but they were always with someone I knew and trusted and I was always within driving distance in case there was an emergency."

"I understand that," Jake says, calmly, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me against his side. "But parents need a break from their kids every once in a while. And it's too late to back out now. You leave Friday evening so you should start packing tomorrow."

"But Leah has finals," I say, hoping it'll be a good excuse not to go.

"Which she'll have time to study for," Jake says. "It's just two days, Bella, unless you count Friday. You'll be fine and so will the twins and so will Leah."

"I guess you're right," I say, giving up. "This should be fun."

"And don't worry about finding a babysitter because I am sitting right here," he grins, pointing to himself.

I laugh and Jake turns off the lamp, filling our room with darkness. We get underneath the covers and I snuggle closer against his bare chest as he wraps both arms around me. A moment later, I yawn and close my eyes, falling asleep.