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A/N- Capricorn75 has bullied me into posting the rest of it. Thanks.
I escaped and went straight home to Charlie's. I sobbed in the car on the way there. I was so emotional.
Charlie was sitting at home, watching ESPN with Jeannie, who was toddling around, moving toys around the living room, but getting grumpy. "Hey, Bells, how did the shower go?"
"Great," I said. "Does she need a nap?"
"Yes," he said. "She's getting pretty cranky."
"I'll put her down, I need one, too," I said, picking her up.
Jeannie screamed and fought me on the way up the stairs. In my room, I changed her out of her outfit and into a fresh diaper. Then, I changed out of my dress and into some lose-fitting pajamas. I sighed and curled up on my bed. Jeannie pitched a fit while she watched me from the crib. I picked her up and hugged her.
What was I going to do without Alice? Alice was my best friend. One of them, anyways. I needed her support. I never thought I'd get pregnant again, so quickly. Alice had to be resentful of me because I was pregnant without meaning to be.
In bed with Jeannie, we began to fall asleep.
I was walking. Again, on the beach, near Edward's house.
Edward wasn't there. Neither was Jeannie.
I saw Mike's figure in the distance. I was afraid to approach him, out of shame. But, he came towards me.
"Bella?" he asked. I looked into his face- there was a kindness to it. A kindness I didn't think I'd ever see again. One I had almost forgotten.
"Mike?" I asked. I felt the tears running down my cheeks. He hugged me. "Mike, I'm so sorry! About everything!"
"Why?" he asked. He kissed me. "Why should you be apologizing? I left you without any warning. I should be apologizing to you."
"But, Mike- I- I've fallen in love with somebody else!" I cried. "And I'm pregnant, and it's going to destroy so many relationships-"
"Because you're making yourself miserable, still mourning me," he said. "Bella, do you really think I wanted you to be sad over my death for this long? I don't want you to take a vow of celibacy and wear black forever. I want you to live again. What you've been doing, working all the time, that's not living. Going out, enjoying people, enjoying life and being open to relationships, that's celebrating life."
"Oh, Mike!" I cried. He kissed my tears away.
"I'm not a part of your life anymore," he said. "Not in the physical sense. But Jeannie is. And she needs a male presence, somebody other than Charlie. If you've fallen in love, it's OK. I can't be there for you. I was a little angry at first, but it's really OK to start over. I can't be there for you anymore. Let me go."
"That day with the thunder-"
"That was a garbage truck," he laughed. "Really, Bella, you were looking too hard for a sign. Go back and let me go. The only thing keeping you from life is your memory of me." There was a tugging at my arm. "It's time to let yourself be happy without me." The tugging increased. "I have to go, now. Good-bye. I love you. Never forget that."
"I love you, too," I whispered.
The tugging woke me up- Charlie was holding Jeannie. He didn't look too happy. "Hey, Bells, you want to explain something to me?" he asked. He pointed at my baby bump. I pressed hand to it, guiltily. "I just got off the phone with Carlisle Cullen. He asked me if I knew that you were pregnant."
"It's not what you think," I said, sitting up. "OK, maybe it is. I'm having another baby."
"Bella," he said, angrily. He put Jeannie in the crib. "Bella, no! Please, God, no! Not like this! Who's is it?"
"I'm not saying," I said. "Not yet."
"You'll look like the town whore!" he snapped. Jeannie began to whimper. "I didn't even know you were seeing anybody! I'm disappointed in you! I can't believe this! No wonder you stopped nursing! Do you not know who the father is?"
"I do!" I cried. "But it's better that I don't mention him right now."
"He's a really good guy, isn't he, then?" Charlie snapped. Jeannie began to cry. "I can't take this! Get out of my house!"
"I'm taking Jeannie with me," I said, picking her up out of the crib.
"Oh, no you're not!" he cried.
"I'm her mother," I said. "Try and stop me!"
"Just wait until your mother hears about this!"
"I'm not a teenager any more!" I cried. "I took care of you after the accident, I run a store, I can damn well take care of my daughter and my baby and myself!"
"I'm not going to have you in this house with an illegitimate pregnancy unless you tell me who did this to you!" he cried. Charlie was being stubborn. He meant it. I wasn't about to give Edward up like this.
"Then, I'll go,."
"You leave tomorrow," he yelled.
A/N- By now, you should know reviews are like cookies to writers! Leave me some!
